Jake Buono to compete in national motocross championship

Manchester’s Jake Buono is getting ready to enter 11th grade at the high school this fall but he has something to do first. This week he’s on his way to Loretta Lynn’s Amateur Motocross National Championship.

Motocross is a form of off-road motorcycle racing held on enclosed off-road circuits. The motocross championship named after the country music star, is held annually on Loretta Lynn’s family ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee. It is known as the world’s largest amateur motocross race. It is the final stop for amateurs before they join the professional ranks. This year the race is being held July 29 through August 3.

Jake first had to place in the top eight in an area qualifier. He then competed in a regional race. There he had to place in the top six of the eighty-four qualified racers to move on to the national event. He placed fourth. Youth and adults from all across the country go there to compete. A total of 42 riders in his class will compete for the national amateur title.

Jake, who has been racing since 2014, is not the only racer in the family. His younger brother Jesse went to Loretta’s in 2015 when he was 7 years old and competed in the 50cc class, placing 32nd. 

Jake will be competing in two races this year, 250cc and 450cc.

Jake’s mother Angie Buno stated, “It’s an exciting week filled with racing and meeting new friends from across the country. We are so excited to go.”

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by Sara Swanson

Sara Swanson is an editor, writer and founder of the Manchester Mirror.