USA Insider No.113 presented by Lucas Oil – Loretta Lynn’s

Jason Weigandt

Welcome to our weekly web-exclusive column, Transmoto’s USA Insider Presented By Lucas Oil. Penned each week by our man on the ground, Transmoto’s US Correspondent, Jason Weigandt, USA Insider presents the story-behind-the-stories of the AMA supercross and motocross scene.

The annual Red Bull AMA Amateur National at Loretta Lynn Ranch is complete. This is the largest amateur moto event in the world, and even though most teams and riders are ramming their way through the amateur process earlier and earlier, it still matters. But tomorrow’s stars are no longer today’s graduates. Instead, you have to look deeper into the ranks to find the next standout, because teams are in a talent race, and they’re often signing riders to pro deals two or even three years before their amateur careers are finished.

Just witness what I witnessed down on the starting gate at Loretta’s a few days ago. Three riders in the Expert class (the final amateur rung before turning pro) told me they didn’t even care how well they did at Loretta’s because they already had pro deals signed! Matt Bisceglia will be the next GEICO Honda young gun, and Shane McElrath will join the Lucas Oil/Troy Lee Designs/Honda team. They’re both starting this weekend at Unadilla. Further, Thomas Covington told me he’s already signed to ride for Mitch Payton’s Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki team at the Hangtown opener next year.

All three are good, but none of them represent the absolute dominant can’t-miss talent that used to send teams calling. Bisceglia is strong and solid, but some are wondering if he has the out-and-out speed to win races as a pro. McElrath has struggled with the pressure of leading races, plagued by arm pump and just tightening up. Covington is the youngest of the set, at 16, so he has room to grow. He wasn’t quite on the level of McElrath or Bisceglia during the week, though.

You have to look deeper to find the real buzz. It’s one level beneath that Expert level, in the Intermediates. The headlines centered around Aaron Plessinger, who notched two titles in that division. But deeper comes the hype on Jordon Smith. He manhandled one Intermediate class, but struggled with crashes in the mud in his other class, which Plessinger won.

No matter. Anyone who has seen Smith ride throughout the year says he’s the fastest Intermediate in the country, and very likely may well be the fastest amateur of all – even faster than Bisceglia or McElrath, who are a full season ahead of him.

Smith, of course, already has his deal signed. He’s with GEICO Honda already, so he has the perfect transition to the pro ranks. When will it come? Sooner rather than later – don’t be surprised to see him on the gate at Hangtown next year, too.