Slaw
As we near the 44th edition of the AMA Amateur National Motocross Championships at Loretta Lynn’s, let us take time to remember some history.
Since 1997, the AMA has awarded the A Class (remember, no B Class rider can win this award) rider who shows the most promise as they prepare to enter the professional ranks the Nicky Hayden AMA Horizon Award. Nick Wey, who went on to have a long, successful pro career (and now has kids, Vincent and Donovan competing), was the awards first recipient.
Since then, names like Travis Pastrana, Davi Millsaps, Mike Alessi, Ryan Villopoto, Josh Hill and more recently, Justin Cooper, Jalek Swoll and Levi Kitchen have all hoisted the trophy.
With LL next week, lets look at the entire list of every Horizon Award winner in history.
1997 | NICK WEY
1ST: 250/Open A Stock
1ST: 125 A Stock
1998 | BILLY PAYNE
1ST: 250/Open A
2ND: 125 A
1999 | TRAVIS PASTRANA
1ST: 125 A
1ST: 250/Open A
2000 | BEN RIDDLE
1ST: 125 A
1ST: 250/Open A
2001 | JAMES STEWART
1ST: 125 A
1ST: 125 Modified 12-15
2002 | EVAN LAUGHRIDGE
1ST: 125 A/Pro Sport
1ST: 250/Open A
2003 | DAVI MILLSAPS
1ST: 125 A
1ST: 125 Modified 12-15
2004 | MIKE ALESSI
1ST: 250/Open A
1ST: Four Stroke 201cc — 650cc
2005 | RYAN VILLOPOTO
1ST: 125 A
4TH: 125 A/Pro Sport
2006 | JOSH HILL
1ST: 125 A
1ST: 125 A/Pro Sport
2007 | TREY CANARD
1ST: MX Lites A
1ST: MX Lites A/Pro Sport
2008 | DARRYN DURHAM / PJ LARSEN
Durham
1ST: MX Lites A/Pro Sport
6TH: Motocross A/Pro Sport
Larsen
1ST: Motocross A/Pro Sport
2ND: MX Lites A/Pro Sport
*Note: The award was split in 2008.
2009 | DEAN WILSON
1ST: 450 A/Pro Sport
1ST: 250 A
2010 | JASON ANDERSON
1ST: 450 A
13TH: 250 A/Pro Sport
2011 | JUSTIN BOGLE
1ST: 450 A
2ND: 250 A
2012 | ZACH BELL
1ST: 250 A
3RD: Open Pro Sport
2013 | MATT BISCEGLIA
1ST: Open Pro Sport
1ST: 250 A
2014 | RJ HAMPSHIRE
1ST: 250 A
1ST: Open Pro Sport
2015 | BENNY BLOSS
1ST: Open Pro Sport
3RD: 450 A
2016 | CHASE SEXTON
1ST: Open Pro Sport
2ND: 250 A
2017 | JUSTIN COOPER
1ST: Open Pro Sport
1ST: 250 A
2018 | DEREK DRAKE
1ST: Open Pro Sport
1ST: 250 A
2019 | JALEK SWOLL
1ST: Open Pro Sport
30TH: 250 Pro Sport
2020 | STILEZ ROBERTSON
1ST: Open Pro Sport
1ST: 250 Pro Sport
2021 | LEVI KITCHEN
1ST: Open Pro Sport
1ST: 250 Pro Sport
2022 | CADEN BRASWELL
1ST: 250 Pro Sport
2ND: Open Pro Sport
2023 | DAXTON BENNICK
1ST: Open Pro Sport
2ND: 250 Pro Sport
2024 | DREW ADAMS
1ST: Open Pro Sport
1ST: 250 Pro Sport
2025 | ENZO TEMMERMAN
1ST: Open Pro Sport
1ST: 250 Pro Sport
