Top amateurs from all over the country showed off their skills at the 13th annual Monster Energy Ricky Carmichael Daytona Amateur Supercross, March 6-8, at Daytona International Speedway. In all, 1339 entries were filled in 35 amateur classes with racing playing out on the same but tamed-down course the pros competed on Saturday night.
By Shan Moore | Photos by Rob Koy
One of the standouts among the “A” riders this year was Ryder DiFrancesco who will be a full time pro Supercross racer next year. The Monster Energy Team Green Kawasaki rider won the coveted 250cc All Star (A/B) title as well as the Open A main.
Among the B riders, Orange Brigade KTM’s Daxton Bennick won two classes, the 450cc B and the Schoolboy 2 division, while finishing second in the 250cc B main.
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Evan Ferry and Monster Energy Team Green Kawasaki Krystian Bennick had great rides, as well, with Ferry topping the highly competitive 250cc B class, while Bennick won the 450cc B division.
KTM’s Landon Gibson and GasGas’ Thomas Wood both won two titles in the minicycle ranks, with Gibson topping the 85cc (10-12) and Mini Sr. (12-14) classes, while Wood took titles in the Supermini 1 and Supermini 2 classes.
Other riders taking multiple titles were Yamaha’s Logan Best (125 12-17 and Schoolboy 1), Senior rider Tony Lorusso (Sr. 40+ and Sr. 45+), Tayce Morgan (65cc 10-11 and 65cc 7-11), Gavin Batson (250cc C, 250cc C Jr. and 125 C), and Anderson Waldele (Mini-E 4-8 and 50cc 7-8).
The 250cc All Star race drew perhaps the most attention and it turned out to be a showdown between DiFrancesco and NSA/bLU cRU Yamaha’s Gage Linville, with DiFrancesco squeezing into the lead at the drop of the gate. The lead was short-lived, though, as Linville quickly passed the Kawasaki rider right after the start to take the point. From there, Linville turned in an impressive ride, keeping DiFrancesco at bay until lap 12 when Linville hit a Tuff Block, allowing DiFrancesco into the lead.
DiFrancesco stretched out the lead during the final four laps and took a comfortable win ahead of Linville, with Monster Energy Team Green Kawasaki Gavin Towers in third. Yamaha riders Austin Kapoukranidis and Magnus Smith were fourth and fifth.
DiFrancesco returned later in the day to compete in the Open A race where youth won out over experience, as DiFrancesco topped veteran Mike Alessi (Smartop MotoConcepts Honda) in an exciting main event. Alessi grabbed one of his patented holeshots to start the race, while Ezra Hastings and DiFrancesco battled for second. DiFrancesco made an inside pass to get around Hastings on lap two and then set his sights on Alessi. On lap five, DiFrancesco ducked under Alessi and took control of the race, leading the way to the finish.
Alessi held on for second, while Towers, Hastings and Magnus Smith took third through fifth.
Ferry took a dramatic win in the 250cc B main, edging out KTM’s Daxton Bennick for a narrow victory. Lappers played a major role in the later stages of the race, hindering each of the major players in critical places, as the front-running duo pulled away from Noah Smerdon (KTM), Ivan Aldama (Yam) and Jaxon Pascal (KTM).
Triangle Cycles Yamaha’s Katie Benson led after the start of the WMX main with Jaime Astudillo (KTM) in tow. On lap five, Astudillo closed on Benson and was all over the Yamaha rider, finally making a pass on lap eight to take the lead.
Astudillo, who has been racing the WMX GPs in Europe, won the race with Benson in second and Hodges in third.
In the Junior 25+ race, it was no surprise when Mike Alessi grabbed the holeshot to start the main event, leading James Roberts (Husqvarna) through the opening lap.
Alessi quickly pulled away, as Roberts and Michael Ashe (Suzuki) battled over second. GasGas-mounted Logan McConnell pushed Ashe during the early laps, which turned into the best battle of the race. Finally, with the laps winding down, McConnell made a pass for third on the final lap and the final order was set.
At the finish, Alessi took an easy win, followed by Roberts, McConnell and Ashe. Lowell Spangler was fifth on a Honda.
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