2021 AMA Amateur National Motocross | Post-Race Interviews

INSTAGRAM | @swapmotolive
INSTAGRAM | @swapmotolivedotcom
INSTAGRAM | @ogio_powersports

2021 AMA AMATEUR NATIONAL MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP | COMPLETE COVERAGE

The 2021 AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship brought the top young riders together for a week of action at Loretta Lynn’s Tennessee Ranch. Once the checkered flag flew on the final Pro Sport Moto, we hit the pits and grabbed quick interviews with a few of the top prospects. Hear from Jett Reynolds, Chance Hymas, Preston Kilroy, and Levi Kitchen in this installment of How Was Your Weekend.

JETT REYNOLDS
250 PRO SPORT – 23RD | OPEN PRO SPORT – 37TH

How was it?

The last week at The Ranch didn’t go as planned, and there were a lot of dark spots. I came into looking forward to my last year and then going to Unadilla next weekend, but I had a couple of mishaps and ended up with a broken collarbone. I’ll get it fixed up Monday morning, take a few weeks, and then it’s time to put in the work. I’m excited for a completely fresh start and won’t look back.

It’s unfortunate, and I’m sorry, especially because of the summer you had planned. But the future is good for you. You know where you’re going in 2022, and like you said, it’s a fresh start, so there are some good things to look forward to.

Yeah, I’ve got a fresh start, and my career starts now. The time starts now, and I’m thankful for all my sponsors for sticking with me and believing in me.

PRESTON KILROY
250 PRO SPORT – 3RD | OPEN PRO SPORT – 3RD

How was the week?

It was a good week. I had some bummer Motos, a few tip-overs, a few bad things, but we’re going to clean it up and move on to next weekend with the big boys.

When you’re in that situation, TGE last Moto you’re going to do at The Ranch and the pressure of that class, was that one of the most intense races you’ve ever done?

Yeah, for sure. This was my last year at The Ranch, and I wanted to prove myself and do good. I never got a title here, I’ve always seemed to have bad luck. I was looking forward to it and was out front, but made a small mistake and couldn’t get the bike started. It is what it is, it’s motorcycle racing. We’re ready for the next one.

Light at the end of the tunnel, though, because you’ll finish out the summer racing the Nationals.

Yeah, that’s the plan, to do good at these last five Nationals and show what I can do.

CHANCE HYMAS
250 PRO SPORT – 2ND | OPEN PRO SPORT – 2ND

How was it this week?

My week at Loretta’s started off really bad, but I managed to turn it around, got a bunch of seconds, and won the third Moto of 250 Pro. In the last Moto (Open Pro Sport) I was leading, had put myself in the perfect position to win the championship, but I made a little mistake, crashed, and went back to fourth. I came to second place and second overall. The bike and my riding were really good; I’m just a little bummed at my overalls, the two second-place overalls. But honestly, my riding got better through the week, so I’m not too bummed about it.

I watched everything, and you put in charges, which is especially impressive at a place like this. Sorry about the last Moto, but it is what it is.

Yeah, it’s a learning experience, for sure.

It doesn’t sound like you’re going to race Unadilla, but from what we hear, it sounds like the future is pretty bright for you, that you’ll be okay even though you didn’t leave with a title.

Yeah, my future should be good. I’m excited about the future, that’s for sure.

What are your immediate plans? Jake Weimer (riding coach) told me that you have a banged-up shoulder but that you’ll do the two small combines at Ironman and Fox Raceway.

Yeah, I’ll do the two Amateur events at Ironman and Pala, then take some time to let my shoulder recover and go on from there.

LEVI KITCHEN
250 PRO SPORT – 1ST | OPEN PRO SPORT – 1ST

How was the week?

I came in really excited for my last amateur event and pretty much did exactly what I wanted to do, which was win both classes and the Horizon award. That had been a big dream of mine.

How was it to come to this race on everyone’s radar and as the guy to beat?

Obviously, it’s a good feeling, but there is a pressure that comes with it. I already knew that I was doing the outdoors after this and that I have the whole Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha team with me, so I just wanted to come in and do the best that I could. I knew by speed was there and my fitness is good, so the goal was to win. I would have been pretty pissed if I didn’t win, I guess I could say [Laughs]. I’m looking forward to going pro, that’s a big step, but I think I can do pretty damn good.

You raced RedBud, and that was great because it showed the speed you have. How is it to do a Pro National and then come back to this?

Early in the week, the Motos I was doing, I fell a few times and stuff, but I got better as the Motos went on. And I think that was because I did RedBud; those Motos are so much longer, and these are 20-minutes. By the end of the week, I felt much better with my sprint speed, and one day I came from way back to the win. It was a little weird to go from two 35-minute Motos down to these. The wait time between Motos, because the last two days my races were at 3:330, I just had to sit around all day. I had to go run or ride a bike because I couldn’t just sit around.

Unadilla is seven days away. What are your expectations? Yeah, you did RedBud, but I don’t think that was a full showing, more like a chance to test the waters.

Yeah, with RedBud, I’m glad that I did it. I didn’t sleep at all the night before because I was super nervous and stuff. I’m looking forward to Unadilla because if I can get rid of the nerves, yeah, they’re always going to be there, but if I don’t ride as tight and can get into a good flow, I have little goals set for myself. I want to get a top-10 overall and chip away. I even believe that with a holeshot, I can lead for a little bit. I don’t care if I tip over; I just want to run the pace.