Knisley seeks national motocross championship
Jimmy Knisley will attend Uniontown High School in the fall but that is not the most important thing on his mind right now. The local youngster recently had a dream come true as qualified for the largest amateur motocross race in the world, the 25th annual AMA/air Nautiques Amateur National Motocross Championships at Loretta Lynn’s Ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tenn., Aug. 1-5.
The 14-year-old dirt bike racer will get to share the track with his father, Jim, who has also qualified.
“It’s an advantage to have my dad ride too. We talk about the tack conditions and the best lines to take.”
Jimmy has been racing since he was five years old. His sponsors include Tom Clark Motorsports, FLY Racing, Bridgestone Tires and Rebel Gears. He has won several races this year and competes nearly every weekend.
Jimmy’s parents, Jim and Patty, along with his sister, Jenna, will pack the family camper and head to Tennessee for the race. He has earned one of the 42 gate spots for the 85cc 12-13-year-old class.
He is one of over 20,000 riders who spent the last four months attempting to qualify for the event. The top finishers in area and regional qualifiers earn a berth to the national championship race. Racers may enter a wide variety of classes for children as young as four, all the way up to a senior division for riders over 45.
There are also classes for women and classes for both stock and modified bikes.
Most of America’s top professional motocrossers, including Jeremy McGrath, Ricky Carmichael, Travis Pastrana and James Stewart have won AA Amateur National Championships.
At victory at the race is so valuable that last teenager Ryan Villopoto from Poolsbo, Wash., was rewarded with a six-figure pro contract from the Monster Energy/ProCircuit/Kawasaki factory racing team after winning his event.
This year’s course at Loretta Lynn’s Ranch and campground contains a variety of jumps, corners and other obstacles designed to test the skills and stamina of the racers.