Page 62 - MPG_AUGUST_2017
P. 62
KILPATRICK
JADEN PALMER
Jaden Palmer had a breakout year during the 2016 racing season that eventually culminated in a second place finish in the 51cc (7-8) Limited class, the first Loretta Lynn’s podium of his career. The New Jersey native also became a social media sensation after taking the KTM Junior win during the seventh round of the Monster Energy Supercross in Arlington, Texas, throwing his bike down and celebrat-
ing with a dance move in classic Bubba Stewart fashion. Following his success
at Loretta’s, the youngster went to the Monster Energy Cup in Las Vegas and
put himself on the podium in the KTM Junior class, capping off an exceptional year of results in the spotlight. Palmer has kept relatively quiet on the national stage throughout the beginning of 2017, but his results throughout regionals indicate that he’s more than prepared to battle for the podium at Loretta’s. The eight year-old has graduated onto the bigger bikes and seems incredibly comfortable on his KX 65, taking the overall victory in the (7-9) Limited class, as well as fourth overall in the 65cc (7-11) class, at the Englishtown Youth Regional. Keep an eye out for the north easterner at the sharp end of the field when the gate drops at Loretta’s, and keep an eye out for his dance moves on the podium.
SAM WISE
Sam Wise has had a decent run of results throughout his second year contesting the A class thus far. The Minnesota native’s debut season at the top of the amateur food chain was cut short at the Byron Mo- torsports Park Regional where he suffered an injury that would sideline him for Loretta Lynn’s, disallowing him the opportunity to back up his stellar performance in the B class one year prior. Wise put together two fourth place overall finishes at the Ranch in 2015, competing in the 450 B Limited and 250 B Limited classes, to earn the two best finishes of his career. He’s lurked in the shadows throughout the majority of the 2017 racing season thus far, earning solid top ten finishes in both A classes at the JS7 Freestone Spring Championship. Wise rose to the forefront of the podium hope- fuls for thirty-sixth running of the Amateur National Championships after he stole both overall victories at the Spring Creek Regional, securing himself as one of the riders to watch when the action kicks off in Hurricane Mills.
62 MPG/GRITMOTO• AUGUST • 2017
JTENHAGEN