Landon Gibson is not satisfied on his results from the 2025 Monster Energy AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship at Loretta Lynn’s Ranch. Expecting to win—and with lots of people behind him expecting the same—he walked away with fifth overall in Open Pro Sport (5-11-3 moto finishes) and third overall in 250 Pro Sport (3-2-5 moto finishes). But then, he keeps it in perspective: just a little over two years ago he was on a supermini at the Daytona Ricky Carmichael Daytona Amateur Supercross.
In March 2023, Gibson picked up the #1 plates in both Supermini 1 (12-15) and Supermini 2 (13-16) Classes at the RCSX event, then he started to grow and began to fast track to the big bike. His crew—along with support from then-KTM Orange Brigade team manager Daniel Blair—decided to sit out Loretta Lynn’s so he could get on the big bike and get to work. One of his first big bike races was the 2023 Ironman Raceway Scouting Moto Combine (8-6 for fifth overall that day).
In 2024, Gibson finished third overall in Schoolboy 2 (12-17) B/C and fourth overall in 250 B. He then made his SX Futures debut a week before his 15th birthday—becoming the youngest rider to race the program.
This go round at the Ranch, he made the jump to the pro sport divisions. He put in great rides and landed three moto podiums in six motos. Bummed to leave without a title, Gibson still holds his head high knowing how far he has come….and what is next.
First, the SMX Next – Motocross Scouting Moto Combine at Ironman Raceway this Friday, then the 16-year-old will be making his professional racing debut at the final two rounds of the AMA Pro Motocross Championship. Here is Gibson on his week at the Ranch.
Racer X: All right, Landon Gibson here. Walk us through your week at Loretta Lynn's.
Landon Gibson: Yeah. You know, I had an all right week. I was third in the 250 Pro sport, and then I think I was fifth overall with a 5-11-3, which is kind of crazy scores in the open pro sport. But yeah, I just need to be a little bit better. I need to be more consistent. I need to get better starts. Yeah, that's pretty much it.
You mentioned the 5-11-3, the second moto cut short because of lightning. I feel like you kind of suffered from that because I don't know where you were off to start, but you're one of those guys that charges late into the race. You probably were going to make a lot of passes up late. What's thoughts on the shortened moto? Obviously it's a safety reason, but you're probably bummed out, right?
Yeah. I mean, I was definitely bummed out. I honestly did not expect it at all because I was just getting going. Everyone else was just getting a little tired, and I saw a whole group in front of me, and I'm like, "All right, this is my time." Like, "I'm ready to go. Let's go!" And I see the checkered flag come out and I'm like, "Oh my God, I don't even know what place I am, dude." And I came off and I saw that I wasn't in the top ten. I'm like, “Oh,” I go to my mechanic. He's like, "You're 11th, dude." I'm like, "God, that sucks, bro." So, yeah, it wasn't good for sure.
So, that's obviously in the middle of the week. But obviously like pretty strong rides though. I feel like your fitness was really good last year just a little bit more crashes, a little bit more inconsistent. What did you do in the last 12 months, because your speed is there, you're even faster, but now you're more consistent.
Yeah, for sure. I mean, I feel like there's numerous reasons. I feel like one of the biggest reasons for me is bike setup. I got my suspension dialed in this year. I got it exactly how I like it. And I feel like I'm mentally just a little bit stronger. My body, I'm kind of maturing, growing into it. And I think that that's where the fitness comes in. I'm at, like, the peakest point right now in my fitness. And, yeah, I think that that's where it comes in, into these Combines, even the 25-plus-twos. I'm still there the last few laps, so I feel like that's where it comes in.
You mentioned speed and fitness, everything. Obviously no titles. I feel like last year kind of frustrated with the week. Are you walking out of here with your head held high this year?
I mean, yeah, last year I was definitely, definitely frustrated walking out of here. I just didn't really have what I wanted last year and necessarily I didn't have what I wanted this year. I mean, the results weren't really like nothing crazy, but I'm happy with my riding. I feel good and I feel like that's the biggest thing for me. As long as I feel good, I'm riding good, I know that I can put myself up front. I do [that], and then I'll win for sure.
Can you provide any insight on suspension changes when you said you got that better?
Yeah, I mean, I actually I went to stock stuff from the A-kit and it just works better. I mean, that's all I know. I did testing with both, and I like it better, and I like the way I guess it fits my riding style more. So, yeah, that's what works for me.
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Mitch Kendra ![]()
Mitch Kendra ![]()
Mitch Kendra
Yeah, I asked you this during SMX Next - Supercross a little bit. You train with Justin Barcia, guys that are a lot older, lot more experienced. What's it like at the test track to be able to lean off those guys and everything? And I'm sure you BS with them a little bit, it looks like you having fun too, like you're doing wheelies and stuff. What's that like at the track?
Yeah, I mean dude, it's honestly I feel like it's a big advantage for me to be there. I've got all the guys helping me. Chase Sexton especially, me and him are like boys. He helps me a lot every day. He'll tell me stuff, you know, he'll mess with me a little bit here and there. He'll be like, "What are you doing today?" It's good help because we have Ryder D [DiFrancesco] there as well. And we just have a few other guys, and I feel like it's a big help because I'm able to push and see their speed, and then I see my speed to them, and I see the place they get at the races. And I think I could be there too. So yeah, I think it's a big help.
I don't know how much you can go into it, but last year I saw you having a real long heart-to-heart chat with Daniel Blair. I know, obviously he's not working with you guys anymore, he's at ClubMX now. But what was that conversation like with him? Can you just explain a little bit about what it was like working with him? He was a big part of your progression the last two or three years.
Yeahm from what I remember we were talking about, he was just like, “Dude, you know where you belong. You know where you are." He's like, "Don't get frustrated." He's like, "I know it's not what you wanted, it's not what I wanted for you." And then pretty much he was just telling me that stuff, and he was just telling me, like, things to work on back at training, like things to do to help me. And I had the Combine the next weekend, I believe, just like I do this weekend this coming weekend, Ironman. And he was just telling me stuff to do go work on during the week for this for the coming weekend last year that we have this year. And then we also talked about some personal stuff.
The Combine next weekend. Obviously you had a really good ride at RedBud but the bike blew up at the end there second moto. But are you looking for redemption? Walk us through thoughts heading into that race.
Yeah. I mean, I'm just looking to put myself up front and do the same thing I did at RedBud. I was 30 seconds out front at RedBud. So, if I do that same thing, I can promise I'll be happy with it.
Racers always are look forward and ahead. Do you ever reflect on like how far you've come the last two years? This week it's not perfect but it's so much better. Like you lost to Temmerman but the guy's probably going to win the Horizon award [which he did], he won but all one moto this week. There's guys that are really good. How do you keep getting better?
When I get frustrated and stuff, obviously I get frustrated just because I want to win. That's just what's in me. But then I look back where I was two years ago and I really wasn't expected to win, you know? And now I'm expecting myself to win, and I have a lot of people behind me expecting me to win. And I feel like it's just I've taken a big step, that's for sure.
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Mitch Kendra ![]()
Mitch Kendra
The Combine next weekend, then do you have any insight on what's after that?
Yeah. So, I'll be racing the Combine next weekend and then I believe I'll be doing the last two outdoor nationals, which is Unadilla and then Budds Creek will be the last one, so.
That'll be pretty cool. Do you have any idea on a pro number yet or no?
Yeah, I think the pro number is going to be 723. So, back to my original number from when I started as a kid.
And that's the number you got to run when you first got in big bike, right? Right back to it.
Yes, sir. Right back to it. So, we'll see what happens.
One last one. I know you're probably locked in but walking around the pits, did you have anything that made you go, "Man, this is cool," or did you jump in the creek or anything that stuck out to you aside from the racing?
I mean, yeah, floating down the creek. That was awesome. Went to Loretta's, like, I don't know, maybe a country store thing across her house. And there's a tunnel in there. It's pretty cool as well. Yeah, just a few things outside of it that was fun.
