Page 22 - MPG-AUGUST

THE USUAL SUSPECTS
NATE THRASHER
Nate Thrasher experienced his
first glimpse of podium success at the Loretta Lynn Amateur National Motocross Championship last year, taking a third place in the Mini Sr.
2 division. A lot has happened
since last August for the rider out of Tennessee, as he made the move from the Team Green Kawasaki squad to the Orange Brigade KTM program just after the Thor Winter Olympics. It was more than obvi- ous that the move suited his style
at the beginning of the new season when Thrasher came out swinging at the Daytona RCSX, taking both number one plates in the Supermini divisions. He continued with another title at Spring A Ding Ding and three overall podiums at Freestone and the Cal Classic, closing out the spring events in a cool and calcu- lated fashion. Thrasher’s road to the Ranch has been a smooth one so far this year, most notably going 1-1 at Muddy Creek Raceway for the Southeast Regional Qualifier. The Tennessee native performed well in his home state and displayed his mud riding skills while doing
so, proving that he’s a threat at the Ranch no matter the conditions.
JETT REYNOLDS
2018 will mark the first year since 2010 that Jett Reynolds isn’t competing at the Loretta Lynn Amateur National Motocross Champion- ship -- last time he was ineligible for competi- tion due to being too young, whereas this time it’s due to injury. The Team Dunlop Elite rider had an incredible streak of overall victories at the Ranch come to an end last year, halting his progress at nine consecutive championships after losing the Mini Sr. 1 division with the help of a mechanical failure. Reynolds was out for redemption this year and gunning for his tenth and eleventh Loretta Lynn National Champion- ships, aiming to tie the likes of Adam Ciancia- rulo and Mike Alessi, but a crash in early April at the California Classic took him out of action for the summer. Regardless, the Californian was able to collect quite a few titles preceding his injury, most notably at the JS7 Freestone Spring Championship where he won three number one plates, including the Supermini
1 division. The Team Green Kawasaki rider just put together his own riding facility out in southern California and he’ll undoubtedly be on the grind throughout the end of 2018 in an effort to get back to peak form. Racing at the Ranch won’t be the same without the nine-time Loretta Lynn’s Champion, but he’ll be back next year with a vengeance -- and that’s going to make for some great racing.
22 MPG • AUGUST • 2018