Each year, the A or Pro Sport classes create some of the most-watched races at the Monster Energy AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship. In that group, the top rider earns the coveted Nicky Hayden AMA Motocross Horizon Award, which goes to the athlete with the most promise heading into the professional ranks.
Well, at the 2025 event, Enzo Temmerman made the Horizon Award an easy decision by winning five of his six motos in the 250 and Open Pro Sport divisions en route to claiming both titles. The Team Green Kawasaki rider faced some adversity though, splitting his chin in a simple tip over, as well as having lightning in the area cut one of his motos short. That's the only moto he did not win. Still, Temmerman rose to the occasion, besting the field in the grueling Tennessee heat. When it was all said and done Saturday afternoon, Temmerman was clearly the class of the field, as he walked off the podium with his second #1 plate in consecutive days. The Californian said he came to the Ranch with the goal of winning motos and that getting the Horizon Award was a “Nice cherry on top.”
After Kawasaki waited 14 years between Jason Anderson's 2010 Horizon Award and Drew Adams' 2024 award, Temmerman gets back-to-back awards.
Temmerman raced a few rounds of the AMA Pro Motocross Championship earlier this summer in preparation for Loretta Lynn’s and at the time said he will be at Ironman Raceway this weekend, although he is not sure just yet if he will be racing the SMX Next – Motocross Scouting Moto Combine or the Pro Motocross national. We feel like it will be another pro round, but we will see.
This is what Temmerman had to say on his week just moments after he received the prestigious award at Saturday’s trophy presentation.
Racer X: Enzo Temmerman, walk us through your week at the Loretta Lynn's Ranch.
Enzo Temmerman: Yeah, it was a really good week for me. Won five out of six motos and won two titles, both 250 Pro sport and Open Pro Sport. So, perfect way to go out. I think this was my last Loretta's, so happy with both titles.
You had a little bit of your charging to the field after bad starts, you had the moto with lightning that had to get red flagged, hit your face on the bars, like, a little bit of ups and downs to deal with. But, you just fought through adversity, right?
Yeah. So, first moto had to come to the pack and still won it. And then second moto of 450, I started really good. And then I got into the lead and then crashed about halfway through the moto. Split my chin open right there and still was able to win the moto. Went and got stitches before the next moto and then went out and won the 250 moto coming from behind. And then my moto, yesterday, I didn't have a good start and I was sitting 1-1, and I came back to win the last moto to sweep that class. And then today I holeshot. My first ever holeshot at Loretta's and then I led every lap.
There you go, ended with a good one, right?
Yeah.
I think it was yesterday you were battling with Landon Gordon, and you had the scrub in the middle of the track to take the lead. Walk us through that pass, that was awesome, man.
Yeah. I went through the sand, railed outside, got right on him, and then out to the next corner and then scrubbed by him on the jump. So, that's pretty cool.
What was it like battling with those guys? Kade Johnson's up there, your teammate Landen was up there, Landon Gibson was up there. There was just so many guys that are fast in that class. How was it being in the battle?
Yeah, some heavy hitters in there for sure, you know, and not getting a good start didn't help me in a few motos. And it was pretty tough to pass those guys, they're all quick and they all they've all got pretty good endurance. So, it was tough to get around everybody. But we made it happen.
And then going back to last year, are there things you learned last year that you could apply this year. Like you said, your final go at the Ranch. What did you learn last year racing in the pro sport classes for the first time?
So yeah, last year was kind of a rougher year at the Ranch here. I think I got a sixth overall in 250 Pro Sport and was sitting, I want to say I was sitting fourth in Open Pro Sport and DNF'd last moto. So, definitely a rough week last week. Much better this week!
The Horizon Award, you just got that a few minutes ago. Has it sunk in yet? Does it feel like the emotions hitting yet or is it still just kind of fresh?
Actually, I wasn't even thinking about the Horizon Award when I came here, I was just coming here and I wanted to win [motos]. The Horizon Award just came with that. So, a nice cherry on top.
What was the highlight of the week off the track?
Definitely hanging out the first couple days I got here, it was super cool. Met a lot of new people, so that's cool.
And then Drew Adams won the Horizon award last year. Now, you make it back-to-back Kawasaki guys to get the award as well as win both pro sport titles. Did you look up to Drew as a teammate, as a friend? And what's it like to have back-to-back Horizon Awards for Kawasaki?
Yeah, it's good for them for sure, you know, Kawi has won it the last two years. I wouldn't really say I look up to Drew, I race him a lot. We're cool though off the track, but definitely somebody I want to beat.
Do you know what's next from here?
Not yet.
Maybe we’ll see you at Ironman for…
I'll be at Ironman. I'm not sure yet if I'm racing the national or the combine.
Awesome. Thanks. See you next week.
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Mitch Kendra ![]()
Mitch Kendra ![]()
Mitch Kendra ![]()
Mitch Kendra ![]()
Mitch Kendra ![]()
Mitch Kendra ![]()
Mitch Kendra
![Blood on the #21 machine after he split his chin in a moto mid-week.]()
Blood on the #21 machine after he split his chin in a moto mid-week. Mitch Kendra ![]()
Mitch Kendra ![]()
Mitch Kendra ![]()
Mitch Kendra ![]()
Mitch Kendra
Main image by Mitch Kendra
