Young local motocross phenom Kennedy Lutz recently returned from Wortham, Texas where she won her class in the second round of qualifying motocross races for the Loretta Lynne Amateur National race at her ranch in Tennessee.
The U.S. is divided into seven regions, explains Ken Lutz, Kennedy's dad, head cheerleader, team manager and pit crew. Each region has eight races. Competitors need to finish in the top five riders in order to advance to the regional qualifier. At the regional qualifier, riders need to finish in the top five in the boys' classes and in the top three in the girls' classes to advance to the U.S. final at Loretta Lynne's ranch.
Canadian riders can choose the region they want to compete in. The Lutz team chose the south central region because that's where Kennedy practiced in April to prepare for the Saskatchewan Motocross circuit. Kennedy qualifies for the regional qualifier in San Antonio, Texas previously.
Kennedy won the girls' class, which includes riders ages nine to 11 riding an 85cc motocross motorcycle, at Wortham and finished in 17th place in the boys' class. Her first place finish earned her a place at the national event at Loretta Lynne's ranch in Tennessee where she will race August 2 to 7.
Only 20 girls and 40 boys from both Canada and the U.S. qualified for the national final. An American Motorcycle Association (AMA) sanctioned race, the Loretta Lynne Amateur National features all the top AMA super cross and motocross riders from the U.S. "The kids that do well when they are 14 and 15 are now the guys you'll see on TV four or five years from now," Ken states.
Kennedy currently races an 85cc Yamaha Four/two stroke from Schrader's.
On the Saskatchewan circuit, Kennedy is currently battling with former Yorkton rider Jaret Biro in the 85 cc boys' class. "On her 85 it's either her or Jaret Biro taking turns winning. It's usually whoever doesn't make a mistake wins," says Ken. She was tied for first but after missing a round to race in Texas, she has dropped in the standings.
In the ladies' class Denaye Giroux is the only female rider who can beat Kennedy consistently in the province, Ken adds.
There's no age limit for turning pro in the ladies' class. There's simply a bike size limit, Ken explains. As a result, though she's only 11 years old, Kennedy will challenge her first women's pro national race at Calgary. "We don't have a race close by and we decided we're going to go race with Denaye in the pro women's. So she (Kennedy) will race her first women's pro-national at age 11 in Calgary," Ken elaborates.
Kennedy has proved her ability on the motocross track. As a result of her record, she has attracted sponsors including Schraders, Yorkton Dodge and Gardon Securities.
Kennedy's younger sister Kamry, who recently turned nine years old, has decided to try her hand at motocross racing too, says dad. "She's not as fast but she's having fun, You never have to tell her to ride her bike. She wants to ride it, so that's a good thing," Ken closes.
