Brandon Clarke
Landon Gibson has been named the 2026 recipient of the Nicky Hayden AMA Motocross Horizon Award, an honor given to the A-class rider who shows the most promise as they prepare to make the jump into the professional ranks.
“It’s such an honor to win this Award. Knowing the riders in the past who have won it makes it so special. I’m so grateful for the opportunity to be able to win this award.” Gibson shared.
Gibson may not have walked away with either Pro Sport championship at Loretta Lynn’s this week, but he is leaving the Ranch with one of the most prestigious individual honors in amateur motocross.
His consistency across both Pro Sport classes was hard to overlook. He finished second overall in 250 Pro Sport and backed it up with another runner-up finish in Open Pro Sport, putting himself inside the top three in both classes and capping off an impressive final chapter of his amateur career.
A Pretty Prestigious Piece of Hardware
The AMA Motocross Horizon Award dates back to 1997 and has become one of the most prestigious honors a rider can receive on their way out of the amateur ranks.
Nick Wey was the first recipient in 1997, and the list that followed quickly became a who’s who of American motocross. Travis Pastrana, James Stewart, Ryan Villopoto, Jason Anderson, and Chase Sexton, are just a handful of riders who have earned the honor.
Now carrying the name of the late Nicky Hayden, “The Kentucky Kid,” the award isn’t solely about who wins the most motos or championships at Loretta’s. It recognizes a rider who demonstrates the ability, performance and professionalism necessary to succeed at the next level.
Gibson’s Road to This Moment
For Gibson, the Horizon Award isn’t the product of one good week at the Ranch. It’s the culmination of an impressive amateur career.
Across 1,307 races, Gibson has collected 597 podiums, 274 overall wins and two AMA Amateur National Championships, all while carrying a remarkable 4.3 average overall finish.
Those numbers tell the story. Gibson has spent years establishing himself as one of the top riders of his generation, both on and off the track and now he closes out his amateur career with one of the sport’s most prestigious honors.
