Local racer competes for national spotlight in motocross
Published 2:28 pm Thursday, July 15, 2021
- Ilwaco High School student Harley Jefferies is competing in the 40th Annual Monster Energy AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship.
ROSBURG — Rosburg’s Harley Jefferies just made his dream come true. The 16-year-old dirt bike racer has qualified for his third time to the largest amateur motocross race in the world, the 40th Annual Monster Energy AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship, to be held Aug. 2-7 at the historic Loretta Lynn Ranch.
“The Amateur National at Loretta Lynn’s is the best of the best motocrossers in America and around the world,” Tim Cotter, director of MX Sports, said in a press release. “Just being here makes you an elite racer and a top athlete. A solid finish at Loretta’s would you give you instant National recognition and a possible professional 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.
Jefferies, who attends Ilwaco High School in 10th grade, has been riding dirt bikes since he was 4 years old. He was ages 5 and 6 the first two times he raced Loretta Lynn’s.
With the help of sponsors such as Harley’s Grama Mary Ann Jefferies, Steve LeHotta and Marina Koontz who help pay his way to the races, Jefferies has had the opportunity to pursue his dreams. He won the Woodland MX 2020-2021 series and competes nearly every week at Portland International Raceway “PIR” and is competing in the Washougal MX Series.
Jefferies will make the long journey to Hurricane Mills, Tennessee along with his Mom, Dad, Steve LeHotta, Marina, Mark and Cheryl Koontz. Jefferies and his family will be staying nearby the track for the week-long event and will participate in many non-racing evening activities.
Racers may enter a wide variety of classes, from minicycle classes for children as young as four, all the way up to a senior division for riders over 50. There are also classes for women and classes for both stock and modified machines. In total, there are 36 different classes of competition. Jefferies will compete in the highly competitive 250-C class.
The race action will be broadcast live daily at www.RacerTV.com for a total of 40 hours of live coverage. In addition, highlight shows featuring the event will air on MAVTV in the fall.
