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KILPATRICK
JO SHIMODA
It’s very rare that a rider shows up at Loretta Lynn’s for the first time and leaves the Ranch with an overall podium in
their pocket -- but that’s exactly what Jo Shimoda managed to do back in 2013 in the 65cc (7-11) class. In fact, the Japanese native’s results have grown to be more impressive with each and every passing year, as he’s only finished off the podium
in three out of eight classes that he’s con- tested at the Amateur National Champion- ships. Shimoda had the most consistently successful week of his career at the Ranch last year as he stamped his authority on both Supermini classes, earning a second place overall in the Supermini 1 class and the first Loretta Lynn’s number one plate of his career in the Supermini 2 class. He has welcomed a fresh change in congruence with his graduation to the B class, joining the AMSOIL Factory Connection Honda team in preparation for the 2017 season. He’s found immediate success since moving onto the bigger bike, earning five overall podium finishes throughout some of the major nationals thus far, not including a national title at Mini-O’s at the end of 2016. The Japanese teenager confirmed that he’ll be a serious threat when the gate drops
at Loretta’s this year, earning himself two overall victories and a third place overall at the Pala Amateur Regional at the begin- ning of June, making him one of many competitors that is capable of taking the B class by storm.
JORDAN BAILEY
Jordan Bailey has been a title contender
at the Ranch going way back to his days on mini-bikes. The Floridian earned the first of his seven Loretta Lynn’s Champion- ships in 2007 in the 51cc (4-6) class, but that proved only to be a slight indication of what was to come. The former Team Green Kawasaki sensation was the talk of the town in Hurricane Mills last year, capturing number one plates in the ultra-competitive 250 B and Schoolboy 2 (13-16) classes, proving to be one of the most consistently fast riders in the competition. Bailey has since moved on from Team Green to the shade of the Rockstar Husqvarna canopy, but he’ll undoubtedly be looking to replicate his recent Loretta Lynn’s success dur-
ing his first A class outing at the Amateur National Championships. In addition to the bike change, he also made the change from Millsaps Training Facility to the Red Dog Training Academy in his home state of Florida, completing a refreshment of his entire program for the 2017 racing season. Although Bailey hasn’t been able to add any more national titles to his collection so far this year, his incessant podium finishes throughout 2017 make him a surefire con- tender for the top step at the big dance.
KILPATRICK
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