David Jones, a 42-year-old amateur dirt bike motorcycle rider from Cleveland, won one of 35 divisions in the annual AMA National MotoCross Championships in Tennessee.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Forgive David Jones if the smile on his face is a bit wider lately. The 42-year-old amateur dirt bike motorcycle rider from Cleveland won one of 35 divisions in the annual American Motorcyclist Association's Loretta Lynn National MotoCross Championships held in Tennessee on Aug. 2-7.
"It is the Little League World Series of motocross," said Tim Cotter of MX Sports out of West Virginia. He has organized and run the event since its beginning in 1982. There were 1,386 amateur racers who qualified for events from ages 4 to a masters division for racers over 50.
Jones, who works for the City of Cleveland Streets Department, used his furlough days to participate in the event held in over 100-degree heat at the Loretta Lynn Ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tenn. He has participated in the event for over a decade, but said his best finish prior to winning it all was fifth in 1999.
"The heat index was like 123 degrees," Jones said. "The actual temperature was 105 degrees. You then have the issue of your uniforms, which adds another 10 degrees, plus the heat coming off your bike. So we were racing about 140 degrees when it is all said and done."
Winners are determined by the best combined finishes in three motos, which are 20-minute runs over a one-mile closed course circuit, plus two more laps after that.
Jones finished fourth, fifth and seventh in his motos in the Vet B/C 30 and over category. Another Northeast Ohio racer, Randy Salamon from Brunswick, placed third with finishes of third, 10th and eighth in the sweltering conditions. For Jones, the win was equally sweet and unexpected.
"My previous four years were disastrous," said Jones, who practices at dirt courses in Medina and Canton. "I either wrecked, crashed out, or just couldn't get around turn one, two or three."
AMA Loretta Lynn National Motocross Championships
Hurricane Mills, Tenn.
Northeast Ohio finishers
250 C Stock: 11. Mario Testa, Lodi.
250 C Modified: 16. Clinton Schaffer, Medina; 37. Mario Testa, Lodi.
450 B Modified: 35. Shane Waite, Cleveland.
Vet B/C 30 Plus: 1. David Jones, Cleveland; 3. Randy Salamon, Brunswick; 30. Darin Zaremba, Avon.
Senior Plus 40: 39. David Jones, Cleveland.
51 (4-6) Stock Shaft Drive: 11. Josh Lord, Brunswick; 24. Garrett Baker, Shelby.
51 (4-6) AMA 1 Stock: 9. Austin Johnson, Mantua.
65 (10-11) Stock: 36. Adam Almon, North Royalton.
85 (9-11) Stock: 19. Austin Stigman, Tallmadge.
85 (9-11) Modified: 16. Austin Stigman, Tallmadge; 19. Michael Hand, Mantua.
85 (12-14) Stock: 31. Jeremy Hand, Mantua; 36. Darren Walsh, Hamilton.
Schoolboy 2 (13-16) B/C: 37. Todd Krieg, Elyria.