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ENZOTEMMERMAN Loretta Lynn Amateur National Motocross Champion
Enzo Temmerman has come painfully close to the podium in recent years of competition at the Loretta Lynn Dude Ranch, but he’s never quite put together the full week’s worth of results in order to get the job done. The Californian has finished in fourth place on multiple occasions at the Ranch and he was more de- termined than ever before to make it onto the box in 2018. He entered the 85cc (9-11) Limited class as well as the 65cc (10-11) Limited division, but he really broke through the barrier of normality on the smaller bike. The KTM rider didn’t make it easy on himself throughout the entirety of the three moto format, often fighting back from bad starts and coming on strong in the late stages of the race. The first moto was the perfect example as Temmerman crossed the finish line in eighth position on the opening lap, even falling back to tenth just one lap later. It was all progress from that point forward as the Californian put on a hard charge towards the front of the field, passing back into eighth position just one lap later. There was no shortage of overtaking in the remaining laps as Temmerman sliced and diced his way towards the podium, eventually slotting into second position on the final lap of action. In the second moto of the week, Temmerman found himself at a larger disadvantage off the start than the first, wavering back in thir- teenth position on the opening lap. This time around the Californian wasted no time in the early stages of the race, carving his way into the top five by just the fourth lap. At that point, a whopping sixteen second gap sat between Temmer- man and the leader -- a seemingly impossible feat -- but the KTM rider put his head down and began a spirited charge throughout the second half of the race. He knocked ten seconds off of the leader’s gap in the matter of two laps, setting the fastest time of the race as he moved into second position. On the penulti- mate lap, Temmerman completed one of the most impressive comeback rides
of the entire week; although it was just the second moto, the Californian made a strong case for the title. He had the speed to win in the third race, but it wasn’t
a necessary accomplishment in order to clinch the championship. Temmerman executed his best start of the week in the 65cc class, crossing the finish line in sixth on the opening lap, and he methodically worked his way forward to a sec- ond place finish. He made it look easy as he scythed through some of the fastest 65cc riders in the nation, setting the fastest lap in the process on his way to the first Loretta Lynn Amateur National Motocross Championship of his career.
2018
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