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Amateur motocrossers to fill Aonia Pass this weekend
They're racing this weekend at Aonia Pass Motocross Park to qualify for what they call "The Lorettas:" the Loretta Lynn-sponsored AMA/Air Nautiques Amateur National Motocross Championships. With the gates at Aonia Pass Motocross open all week, crowds are expected to peak at several thousand for Friday's practice session, followed by Stock classes racing Saturday and Modified classes racing Sunday. Last year saw 1,500 riders competing, and each rider was supported by several family members. Most motocross families camp at the track, or stay in high-dollar motor homes. The amateur riders range in age from four years old and up, male and female, with dozens of classes broken down by age, ability, and size of bike. This weekend's racing is an area qualifier for the amateur national motocross championships. Racing at Loretta Lynn's Hurricane Mills in Tennessee, the championships have grown into the largest motocross event in the world, with nearly 22,000 entries in this year's nationwide program. The race has been held every year at the Hurricane Mills home of country music legend Loretta Lynn. In the series' two-step qualifying procedure, riders must ride an area qualifier like this weekend's races at Aonia Pass and finish in an advancement position to ride at the regional championship. Only if the riders finish in an advancement position can they ride at the big National race at Hurricane Mills at the end of July. As always the Wilkes County EMS will be on hand to deal with the inevitable injuries that come with motocross racing.
Local businesses are also looking forward to the annual boost in business that motocross families bring. Restaurants and grocery stores see the most, but many rider families are finding their way in to Washington to see the sights and shop.
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