AMA Motocross Horizon Award
Tuesday, August 8, 2017 at 9:21PM Nicky Hayden AMA Motocross Horizon Award Goes To Justin Cooper
35 AMA National Championships awarded at AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship
Nicky Hayden Horizon Award and Racers of the Year announced
PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- Thirty-five AMA National Championships were awarded, and four racers were recognized for their impressive performances, when racing concluded at the 2017 Rocky Mountain ATV/MC AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship that took place July 31 - Aug. 5 at Loretta Lynn's Ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tenn.
Thirty riders took home the 35 AMA National No. 1 plates, with five of those riders securing two AMA National Championships apiece.
"It is with great pride and confidence that I say the Rocky Mountain ATV/MC AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship was a huge success," AMA Motocross Manager Kip Bigelow said. "We would like to congratulate the 30 newly crowned AMA National Champions, as well as all of the talented racers who showcased their skills in the country's most prestigious amateur motocross event."
Justin Cooper of Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., was honored with the Nicky Hayden AMA Motocross Horizon Award after claiming the AMA National Championship for both classes he competed in -- Open Pro Sport and 250 A -- aboard his Rock River bLU cRU Yamaha.
The Nicky Hayden AMA Motocross Horizon Award recognizes the rider best prepared for the professional ranks, based on their attitude, enthusiasm and past performances as an amateur. The award recently was renamed in honor of 2002 AMA Superbike Champion and 2006 FIM MotoGP World Champion Nicky Hayden, who passed away in May and was the inaugural winner of the AMA Horizon Award in 1997.
Based on his two AMA National Championships in the Junior (25+) and Senior (40+) classes, Mike Brown, Bluff City, Tenn., was named AMA Vet/Senior Racer of the Year. Brown swept both classes on his Rockstar Husqvarna, taking first in all six motos he competed in.
Fox Racing's Ty Masterpool of Paradise, Texas, was the recipient of the AMA Youth Racer of the Year, winning AMA National Championships in the Supermini 1 (12-15) and Supermini 2 (13-16) classes aboard his TM.
AMA Amateur Racer of the Year was Garrett Marchbanks of Coalville, Utah, who won two AMA National Championships aboard his Monster Energy Kawasaki Team Green machine. Marchbanks took all three moto wins in the Schoolboy 2 (12-17) class and finished with a second and two firsts for the overall in the 250 B class.
"The success of this event would not be possible without the support and partnership we share with MX Sports," AMA Racing Director Kevin Crowther said. "Each year, the MX Sports team does an exceptional job of organizing the event and making it an outstanding experience for AMA members."
Crowther also thanked all of the AMA staff and volunteers who played a critical part in the overall success of the event.
Open Pro Sport - Justin Cooper, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.
125 C - Jeffrey Chambers, Punta Gorda, Fla.
250 A - Justin Cooper, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.
250 B - Garrett Marchbanks, Coalville, Utah
250 B Limited - Derek Drake, Sand Luis Obispo, Calif.
250 C - Stockton Stinebaugh, Caddo Mills, Texas
250 C Limited - Stockton Stinebaugh, Caddo Mills, Texas
250 C Jr. (12-17) Limited - Rene Rodriguez, Layton, Utah
450 B - Brock Papi, Groveland, Fla.
450 B Limited - Ezra Hastings, Aurora, Ind.
450 C - Wesley Allen, Fairfax, S.C.
College (18-24) - Tanner Basso, Alpine, Calif.
Junior (25+) - Mike Brown, Bluff City, Tenn.
Vet (30+) - Taylor Painter, Cleburne, Texas
Senior (40+) - Mike Brown, Bluff City, Tenn.
Senior (45+) - Jay Wagner, Warsaw, Ind.
Masters (50+) - John Grewe, Rockford, Mich.
51cc (4-6) Special LTD - Roxyn Rinehart, Anniston, Ala.
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