News 7 Aug 2023

Wood leads Australian charge at Loretta Lynn MX

Podium finishes throughout the week for Callow and Nolan.

Image: Supplied.

Australia’s charge at the 2023 Monster Energy AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship was led by Tiger Wood, the GasGas racer demonstrating race-winning speed throughout the week at Loretta Lynn’s.

Wood began his campaign in fine form by sealing the opening race victories in both the 125 Jr. (12-17) B/C and the Schoolboy 1 (12-17) B/C classes, before going on to post a second-place finish in each following moto, placing him in contention overall.

Unfortunately, the US-based 16-year-old’s week came undone on the final day with mechanical issues that struck his MC 125 in the rain-soaked conditions, resulting in P4 overall in Schoolboy 1 and P7 in 125cc Jr. for the 2023 edition.

Of the other Australians in the mix, Huxley Nolan lined up in the Mirco-E (4-7) Limited class, recovering from a P16 finish in moto one to go 3-4 in motos two and three, landing him sixth overall.

KTM-mounted Tommy Callow scored a P3 finish in moto two of the 450 B Limited category, but a DNF in moto one and DNS in moto three saw him positioned 35th overall. Additionally, he was 23rd overall in 450 B with 13-20-38 scores.

Also competing in 450 B Limited, Fire Power Honda-backed Will Campbell scored a pair of top-six results before a DNS in the final encounter dropped him out of contention. He also contested 250 B Limited and was 34th overall with a 15-10-DNS scorecard.

Meanwhile Yamaha-mounted Brad West finished 16th overall in the highly-competitive 250 Pro Sport category with 17-15-29 results and was P30 overall in Open Pro Sport after a DNS in the final moto. Noah Smerdon was 17th in 250 Pro Sport and 34th in Open Pro Sport.

In the Mini Sr 1 (12-14) category, Tomi Doble (KTM) finished 26th overall and was P33 overall in Mini Sr 2 (13-15) after a DNF in the third race. Schoolboy 2 (12-17) B/C saw Blake Thomas (KTM) ranked 32nd overall with 39-30-27 finishes.

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