Yamaha BLU CRU Riders Reign Supreme at Loretta Lynn's
Yamaha BLU CRU riders lead the way at the 45th Annual Monster Energy AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship, earning 11 AMA National Championships and 29 moto victories / Aug 11, 2026 /
Every summer, the nation’s top amateur motocross racers flock to Loretta Lynn’s Ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee, with one goal – to leave with a Monster Energy AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship number-one plate. Countless hours of hard work and sacrifice lead up to a grueling week of racing that tests speed, consistency and endurance, and once again, Yamaha BLU CRU riders rose to the occasion, earning 11 class championships and 29 moto victories.
Leading the charge in the prestigious 250 Pro Sport Championship was ClubMX Yamaha’s Ryder Malinoski, who put together 1-2-3 moto scores to earn the title. Malinoski got the week off to a strong start with a Moto 1 victory, leading teammate Jesson Turner across the line for a stellar 1-2 finish. He then put together two podium finishes to secure the crown in the hotly contested championship aboard his ClubMX Yamaha YZ250F.
“I’m super pumped to earn my first championship at Loretta’s aboard the Yamaha,” said Malinoski. “One of the highlights was the first moto of 250 Pro Sport when I finished first, and my teammate Jesson Turner finished second. It's something to remember and build upon. With the exception of the first Open Pro Sport moto, I finished on the podium in every other race, which is a testament to my team and the Yamaha platform. I’m looking forward to making my Pro debut at Unadilla.”
In the 250 B class, consistency was the key for Tanner Dorman. The New Yorker never finished outside the top four, putting together 2-3-4 moto scores to secure the national championship aboard his EBR/Altus/Yamaha YZ250F.
“This has been a dream of mine since the day I started racing,” said Dorman. “To finally achieve it, it is a feeling that I can’t even put into words. I’m so incredibly grateful for every person, every opportunity, and every moment that helped me become a Loretta Lynn’s Champion.”
Jett Kellogg also enjoyed a career-best week at Loretta Lynn’s. The BLU CRU rider who trains at ClubMX brought home the 450 B Championship with 1-3-1 moto scores and finished runner-up in the 450 B Limited class (4-5-1). His performance aboard his YZ450F earned him 2026 BLU CRU Amateur Rider of the Year honors, and he also was the recipient of the Ryder Colvin Scholarship Award from the RDC Foundation.
“What an experience it was at Loretta's this year,” said Kellogg. “I raced 450B and 450B Limited and brought home a championship and a second place. These are by far my best results at the Ranch, and I'm proud of that. As a racer, I wish I could have done a bit better in the Limited class to bring home two championships, but that's racing. Big thanks to ClubMX and Yamaha for all of their support in preparing me for the races. Being named 2026 BLU CRU Amateur Rider of the Year was an unexpected surprise but one I am very proud of. The icing on the cake was winning the Ryder Colvin Scholarship award from the RDC Foundation.”
Yamaha’s veteran racers also celebrated a successful outing at The Ranch. ClubMX Yamaha’s Brandon Haas continued to add to his impressive Loretta Lynn’s résumé, sweeping all three Vet (30+) motos aboard his YZ450F to earn his fourth championship in the class. Haas also earned a career-best third overall (4-3-3) in the Junior (25+) Championship, and was named AMA Vet Rider of the Year with his performance across both classes.
“It was a great week at Loretta’s!” said Haas. “I felt awesome on the bike. The new ‘26 YZ450F chassis fits my style very well, and I was able to go 1-1-1 in the Vet class to win my fourth championship. As I near 40 years old, I had my best-ever finish in Junior 25+ class with third overall. That led to the AMA Vet Rider of the Year honors. Every year that award has been given out, I’ve always looked up to who it was given to, and every time I thought, ‘That is one bad dude right there!’ So, now, years later, to get it, I’m very proud and humbled. By Wednesday, I knew I was going to get that award, and it motivated me to finish the week strong!”
Former AMA Supercross Champion Ezra Lusk completed another perfect Yamaha performance, sweeping all three motos to earn the Masters (50+) title aboard his YZ450F despite battling an injury during the week.
“It was pretty tough,” said Lusk. “The day was pretty hot, but I had a goal to get out front, get a little more settled in than I had been in the first two motos, and put the hammer down as long as I could. I struggled a little bit this week with an injury and tried to find the flow, but man, I had a blast this week. It’s awesome coming back here. I never got to ride here on a big bike. My last year was on a little bike, so it’s awesome to come back and do it.”
Yamaha’s young guns also impressed at Loretta Lynn’s, with Jaydin Smart adding another perfect performance for the BLU CRU. The Altus Motorsports BLU CRU Yamaha rider swept all three motos in the 85cc (10-12) class aboard his YZ85 en route to his fifth AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship. In the 85cc (10-12) Limited class, the young Californian overcame adversity to finish third overall (1-18-2), receiving the BLU CRU Youth Rider of the Year award for his outstanding performance that saw him earn four moto wins across both classes.
“This is my fifth title at Loretta Lynn’s Ranch, and it feels amazing,” said Smart. “I have been wanting to go 3-for-3 for so long, and I have been working hard at World Moto Training Facility with Martin Castelo to make it happen. Now we look forward to defending our 85cc title at the BLU CRU Super Finale in France for Team USA.”
Smart’s teammate Gauge Brown also took home a number-one plate, bouncing back from a challenging start to his week to capture the 125 Jr. (12-17) B/C championship aboard his Altus Motorsports BLU CRU Yamaha YZ125 with 1-2-1 moto scores.
“Winning the championship means everything,” said Brown. “My family and I sacrificed so much this summer for this. I’m really stoked with my riding here. Loretta’s is my favorite track. We’ve been putting in a lot of work, and I’m really happy with how I rode.”
After opening the week with a victory aboard his Triangle Cycles/NXL LVL 101/Monster Energy/Yamaha YZ85LW, Cooper Johnson came out on top of a tight Supermini 1 (12-15) championship battle. The Pennsylvania rider entered the final moto two points out of the lead following a fourth-place finish in Moto 2, and rallied back with a runner-up finish in the finale to secure the title with 1-4-2 scores.
“I had put in so much work at NXT LVL training with Jessica (Patterson-Ray) and Eddie (Ray) preparing for this event,” said Johnson. “We came in focused on this goal, and to leave the mini ranks with my first Loretta’s Championship is amazing. Now I can solely focus on preparing for the BLU CRU Super Finale in France and bringing the 125cc Championship for Team USA again this year.”
Cole Trenkle had plenty of reasons to celebrate at The Ranch, sweeping all three motos in the 125 C class to earn the championship on his 16th birthday. In that final moto, Trenkle quickly made his way to the front and rode away to victory, leading an all-Yamaha championship podium, with Jay Stanley and Andrew Johnson finishing second and third, respectively.
It was another close title fight in Schoolboy 1 (12-17) B/C, with Hudson Vagele entering the final moto tied on points. Vagele got the start he needed and finished runner-up to secure the championship with 3-1-2 moto scores.
Rounding out Yamaha’s BLU CRU list of champions at the Monster Energy AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship was Anthony Puglisi Jr., who earned the Micro 1 (4-6) Shaft Dr LTD championship with 1-1-3 moto scores.