Page 62 - MPG-AUGUST

PONCA CITY OKLAHOMA
KAEDEN AMERINE
Fresh off of the first Loretta Lynn’s Amateur National title of his burgeoning career and a second place overall in the Supermini class at the Monster Energy Cup, Kaeden Amerine came into the 2017 Motoplayground Race at Ponca City with a renewed sense of confidence. The Rides Unlimited KTM backed athlete dominated the Mini Sr. ranks at the inaugural event in 2016, scoring three moto victories and a second place. Amerine has since moved on from the Mini Sr. 1 class and places the majority of his focus on both Supermini divisions, but he was still eager to defend his title in the Mini Sr. 2 class. The Kansas native finished four out of six motos on the podium, earning two second place finishes and a moto victory between all three classes. He found his greatest suc- cess in the Supermini 1 division where he battled with former teammate, Nate Thrasher, and California’s Jeremy Ryan all the way to the checkered flag. Amerine lined up in a stacked Supermini 1 heat race where he was pitted against both Kawasaki competi- tors, and utilized his impeccable starting technique to rocket out to the front of the field in the early stages of the race. Between his EBR tuned engine and his sensational prowess out of the gate, Amerine was one of the most consistent starters anytime that he lined up throughout the weekend. The Rides Unlimited rider held firm in the lead for the opening half of the race, keeping Thrasher at bay until the fourth lap. At that point, the Kawasaki rider found his way through and demoted him back to second position where he would eventually cross the finish line. Nonetheless, Amerine was still in a good position for the overall victory heading into the final moto. He pulled another immense holeshot ahead of the competition, setting his personal best lap of the race on the second time around the circuit as he sprinted away from the field. The Kansas native maintained a comfortable advantage from the drop of the gate all the way to the checkered flag, amounting a lead of almost five seconds by the time he crossed the finish line. It’s now been two years in a row that Amerine has hoisted the heavy hardware at The Motoplayground Race at Ponca City and he’ll more than likely be making it three in a row next year at this rate.
62 MPG • AUGUST • 2018