Page 18 - MPG-AUGUST

THE USUAL SUSPECTS
CHANCE HYMAS
Chance Hymas has shown years of consis- tent improvement at Loretta Lynn’s through- out his amateur career, matching his best ever finish in 2017 with a second place in the 85cc (9-11) Limited class. The Idaho native hasn’t finished outside of the top ten in all four years that he’s competed in Hurricane Mills, regularly swarming around the podium positions all the way until the checkered flag. Hymas has looked incredibly strong through- out the 2018 season in the Mini Sr. and 85cc ranks, maintaining consistent podium form from one major race to the next. He grabbed a handful of number one plates at Spring A Ding Ding as well as an additional couple of overall podiums at both the Daytona RCSX and Freestone. Hymas kept it up at the Cali- fornia Classic with a couple of second place results, placing his confidence in the sweet spot moving into his Loretta Lynn Quali-
fiers. The road to the Ranch was paved with podiums left and right for the Team Green Kawasaki backed rider, earning multiple tick- ets on both his 85 and his Supermini. Hymas was also one of the standout riders during mini week at Mammoth Mountain Motocross, collecting a pair of podium finishes as well as a big bear in the Mini Sr. 1 division, sending a message to his competitors in preparation for the big dance.
KATIE BENSON
Katie Benson has experienced the podium once before at the famed Loretta Lynn’s Ranch, scoring a second place in the now defunct Girls (9-13) division back in 2016. The rider out of Delaware showed the same speed at the Ranch last year, earning a fourth place overall in the Girls (11-16) class, but this year she’ll be aiming for the podium. She’s one of the top qualifying competitors for the class this year and she’s a considerable threat for the podium in the Women (12+) Am- ateur division as well. Benson landed a third place in the Girls (11-16) class at the Loretta Lynn Southeast Regional as well as a second place in the Women (12+) Amateur class, showcasing her podium potential against somewhat different competition. The KTM rid- er earned some impressive results throughout the early months of the season; dominat-
ing the Women (12+) class at the Monster Energy Amateur Supercross in Tampa, the Women’s Open class at JuniorMotoX, and she even scored a first place in the Womens class at the fifth round of the GNCC Series in South Carolina. Benson has the riding skills whether it comes to racing indoors, in the woods, or on a motocross track -- proving that she’s ready for the unpredictable week of rac- ing that the Loretta Lynn Amateur Motocross Championship has to offer.
18 MPG • AUGUST • 2018