CHAMPIONSHIP
VOL. 54 ISSUE 31 AUGUST 8, 2017 P81
claimed his third career title with 3-3-1
moto scores, with TM rider Mark Stone
Jr. of Texas holding on to second.
Reynolds did go home with the 85cc
(9-12) class title, giving him a total of
nine so far. His Bakersfield, California,
neighbor Ryder DiFrancesco claimed
second in this class, and then won the
85cc (9-11) Limited division with 1-2-1
moto scores.
Tennessee's own Nate Thrasher won
two motos in the 85cc Mini Sr. (12-14)
class, but the format at Loretta Lynn's
counts all three motos. A mistake in
the middle race, saw Thrasher finish
ninth, opening the door for KTM rider
Kaeden Amerine, from Kansas, to
claim the title with steady 2-1-2 scores.
California's Josh Varize was the runner-
up in the overall results.
Haiden "Danger Boy" Deegan has
California phenom Jett Reynolds
rode into the 2017 championships with
an unprecedented winning streak of
eight titles in a row; he's the only rider
in Loretta Lynn's history to have swept
both of his classes four consecutive
times. But the 12-year-old Kawasaki
Team Green rider finally had his luck
run out in the last moto of the 85cc
Mini Senior (12-13) class when he went
down in a muddy heap in the first turn.
That gave KTM rider Matt Leblanc,
of Louisiana, the opening he needed
to take off from the rest of the class.
But Reynolds came charging back,
climbing all the way to second-place
late in the moto, which was more
than enough to clinch the title after
winning the first motos. Just when it
seemed like Reynolds would keep the
streak going, his motor let go. Leblanc
(Left) Justin
Cooper was this
year's standout
A-class rider. He'll
be making his pro
debut at Unadilla
this coming
weekend with
the Yamalube/
Star Racing
Yamaha team.
(Bottom left) Jett
Reynolds saw his
eight-title streak
come to an end,
but he still went
home with one
title. (Below) Ty
Masterpool was
the top Youth rider.
