Cameron Godfrey just made his dream come true.
The 15-year-old dirt bike racer has qualified for the largest amateur motocross race in the world, the 35th Annual Rocky Mountain ATV/MC AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship, presented by AMSOIL, to be held this August at the historic Loretta Lynn Ranch. Godfrey took on more than 22,000 hopefuls from across America to earn one of just 1,482 qualifying positions.
‘The Amateur National at Loretta Lynn’s is the event every motocross racer in the country wants to compete in,’ said Event Director Tim Cotter. ‘A win at Loretta’s gives a racer instant national notoriety and can serve as a springboard to a lucrative professional motocross career.’
Most of America’s top professional motocross racers, including James Stewart, Ricky Carmichael, Travis Pastrana and Ryan Dungey, have won AMA Amateur National titles at Loretta Lynn’s.
Godfrey who attends Brandon High School and is in the 10 grade, has been riding dirt bikes since he was 6 years old.
With the help of sponsors such as MCR, Golling CDJR Clik Racing Thor Mom and Dad who help pay his way to the races, Godfrey has had the opportunity to pursue his dreams. He has won many races in the last 10 years and competes nearly every weekend at local tracks and at many out-of-state tracks.
Godfrey will make the long journey to Hurricane Mills, Tennessee. The race runs Aug. 1 to 6. Godfrey and his family will be camping on-site for the week-long event, and will participate in many non-racing evening activities.
Godfrey is just one of the over 22,000 racers across the country who spent the last four months qualifying for the event. The top finishers in Area Qualifiers and Regional Championships earn a gate position in the National Championship race at Loretta Lynn’s. Racers may enter a wide variety of classes, from mini-cycle classes for children as young as four, all the way up to a senior division for riders over 50. There also are classes for women and classes for both stock and modified machines. In total, there are 38 different classes of competition. Godfrey will compete in the highly competitive 250 C Limited 12-16 and 250C classes.
The track is built on a section of Loretta Lynn Ranch and Campground in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee. The course contains a variety of jumps, corners and other obstacles designed to test the skills and stamina of the racers. The motocross track is used only once a year for motorcycles, so there is no hometown advantage. Racers compete in three 15-20 minute races over the course of the week per class, sometimes in grueling temperatures. Proper training and preparation are paramount.
Most riders attend the event with the help of their families. In fact, many consider the event their family’s summer trip, nicknaming it the ‘World’s Greatest Motocross Vacation.’ Besides the races, the week-long event hosts many family-friendly activities, including swimming, talent show, concerts, and live entertainment.
The race action will be broadcast live daily at www.RacerTV.com for a total of 40 hours of live coverage. In addition, two highlight shows featuring the event will air on NBC Sports Network in the fall.
For additional information on the Amateur National, visit the official website at www.mxsports.com or call (304) 284-0101. Also, follow the official Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts for exclusive content and to catch the latest news.
About the Rocky Mountain ATV/MC AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship
The Rocky Mountain ATV/MC AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship is the world’s largest and most prestigious amateur motocross racing program. The national qualifying program consists of 59 area qualifiers (February through May) and 13 Regional Championships (May through June), hosted at select motocross facilities across the country. The qualifying system culminates in the National Final (first week in August) hosted annually since 1982 at the home of country music star Loretta Lynn in Hurricane Mills, Tenn. Nearly 22,000 racers attempt to qualify in 38 classes for the 1,482 available positions at the National. Christened ‘The World’s Greatest Motocross Vacation’, the National event serves as a launch pad for some of the biggest names in professional motocross and supercross, including Ricky Carmichael, James Stewart, Ryan Villopoto, and Ryan Dungey. The national program is produced by MX Sports, Inc., a West Virginia-based race production company and is sanctioned by the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA). For more information, visit www.mxsports.com.
– Edited by Julie Jacobson Hines, Local News Editor
