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RYDERDARRIGO Loretta Lynn Amateur National Motocross Champion
Ryder Darrigo’s very first trip to the Loretta Lynn Amateur National Motocross Championship was just last year as he competed in the 51cc (4-6) Special
LTD class, emerging with a second place overall finish at the end of the week. The Californian returned to the Ranch in 2018 eager to take the next step to the top of the podium, moving up to the 51cc (4-6) Limited class. Although he eventually got the job done with a trio of moto victories, it wasn’t as cut and dry as it may seem. The Cobra rider faced his fair share of adversity in the open- ing moto as he didn’t get the optimal jump out of the gate, but he still managed to salvage a third place position by the time the field crossed the finish line for the first time. From that point forward, it was time for Darrigo to go to work as he methodically picked his way to the top of the pecking order -- overtaking second one lap later and then first. On the same lap that he overtook the lead, he utilized the clear track to lay down the fastest lap of the moto as he eked out an advantage ahead of the competition. Although Darrigo only had half of the race to work with, he amounted a lead of more than thirty seconds at the finish line. In the second race, he was able to execute the start to perfection and jump out to an early lead, but a slight mistake on the very next lap dropped him down to second position. It set up an enthralling battle for the win as Darrigo rode
the next couple of laps in second position, searching for a way into the lead, but the opportunity didn’t come until the penultimate lap. He won by only ten seconds at the finish line -- a minute gap compared to the first moto -- but the Cobra rider had immense speed yet again as he set the fastest lap of the race by almost four seconds compared to his closest competitor. The third and final moto wasn’t a must win scenario for the young Californian, but he decided to chase down the leader and take the win anyways, pushing all the way to the checkered flag as he set the fastest time on the final lap of the moto. It’s a tes- tament to his will to win and his confidence in his ability to push for the win with the championship on the line, but Darrigo left no doubt that he was the top dog in the 51cc (4-6) Limited division.
2018
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