GREENVILLE —
When Greenville resident Brent Ash leaves later this week to visit the Loretta Lynn Ranch it won’t be to listen to the country and western star sing.
Ash will ride in the 2012 Red Bull AMA Amateur National Motocross Championships set for July 29-Aug. 4 on a track at Lynn’s ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tenn. Ash earned the berth in the national championship with his fourth and seventh-place finishes in the 450cc motos at the North Central Regional in Mount Carroll, Ill.
The 18-year-old said he’s “very excited” to ride against 40 of the top riders in the country from seven regions. There were more than 29,000 attempts to qualify in the 36 classes for 1,410 available start positions at the national final, according to a news release from MX Sports, Inc. Some of the top motocross superstars, including Ricky Carmichael, James Stewart and Ryan Villopoto, won championships at the Loretta Lynn Ranch before moving up to the pro ranks.
“It’s a big deal just to get to this point,” said Greg Schnell, a former racer who’s been coaching Ash for the past three months.
Schnell said Ash is very capable of finishing in the top 15.
“It’s pretty much up to him when he gets there,” said Schnell. “He needs to be mentally strong.”
A top 15 finish would win Ash a bet with his coach.
“Me and Greg made a bet,” said Ash. “If I get top 15 he has to get a tattoo. If I lose I can’t shave for six months.”
Ash may have a “baby face” but he’s definitely a veteran on a motorcycle.
“I started riding when I was four years old,” he said.
Ash first rode a PW 50cc bike on the grass at the Wright Park Municipal Golf course in Greenville with the approval of golf pro Bo Hartline.
“I starting racing at age six,” he said.
Ash first raced at the Swan MX in Lindale and the Village Creek MX in Fort Worth and has competed at tracks all around the Northeast Texas area.
“I’ve got a lot of trophies at the house,” he said. “More seconds than firsts.”
He’s already reached one big goal by making it to the national championships.
“We had a goal to get him to Loretta Lynn,” said Schnell.
Ash, who graduated from Zenith Academy in Greenville, plans to attend Paris Junior College after this big event and continue racing.
“I don’t know what I would do if I wasn’t riding a dirt bike,” he said.
Sports
Related Photos
-
Greenville rider Brent Ash turns a corner at Caddo Point MX as he prepares for the national amateur motocross championships starting Sunday at Loretta Lynn Ranch in Tennessee. David Claybourn / Herald-Banner
Discussion
Brent Ash to ride at Loretta Lynn's Ranch
MOTOCROSS
- Sports
-
-
Quarterback battle to highlight Red-White game
Three quarterbacks competing for the starting job will show their skills tonight at the Greenville Lions’ Red-White spring football game.
-
Bobby Holley shoots 720 series
Bobby Holley led all league bowlers for the past week at DB's Sports Grill & Bowling in Greenville with a 720 series in the Guys Night Out league. Holley's high game was a 268.
Kerry Sheehan led the women with a 552 series in the Monday Summer Mix.
-
A&M-Commerce adds softball to athletic program
Coming soon, Texas A&M University-Commerce will no longer be the only school in the Lone Star Conference to not have a softball program.
A&M-Commerce President Dan Jones made the announcement during a press conference held inside the Alumni Center on Monday.
“I am thrilled about the addition of this program,” he said, mentioning that A&M-Commerce is one of the oldest universities in Texas and the only charter member left of the original LSC. “As long as we’ve been here, we’ve never had a womens softball program.” -
No. 1 Pilot Point stops Commerce
Pilot Point’s Skylar Cagle showed why she’s one of the state’s top pitchers while leading the Lady Bearcats to a sweep over Commerce in a Class 2A regional semifinal softball series on Friday night.
Cagle struck out 22 batters in 14 innings as No. 1 state-ranked Pilot Point won 1-0 and 3-2 to advance to the regional finals. Cagle improved her season record to 23-0 as Pilot Point upped its team mark to 36-2.
Commerce finished the season with a 27-7 record after advancing the farthest in the playoffs in school history.
-
Commerce Lady Tigers to face No. 1 ranked team
Tonight the Commerce Lady Tigers will play Pilot Point, the No. 1 ranked softball team in the state.
But to Commerce Jeff Davidson, it’ll be just another game.
“It’s still another game,” he said. “It’s their best against our best.”
The Lady Tigers will face Pilot Point at 6 p.m. in Mount Pleasant at Northeast Texas Community College in the first game of a best-of-three Class 2A regional semifinal playoff series. Game two is set for 8:30 p.m. and if need be, game three is at 10 a.m. on Saturday. -
Northeast Texas Trail ride planned
The organizers of the new Northeast Texas Trail (NETT) have scheduled its inaugural event to introduce the multi-use trail to potential users.
On Saturday at 7 am, teams of cyclists and equestrians will begin separate relays from trailheads in New Boston and Farmersville. The meeting point will be Love Civic Center in Paris (2025 S. Collegiate Dr.). Estimated time of arrival is at 2:30 p.m. Golden spikes will be driven into the ground at various points along the route which was originally a railroad corridor. -
Wilson wins gold, silver at state track meet
Buck Wilson of Commerce won gold and silver medals this weekend at the state meet while Rains pole vaulter Charlotte Brown won over a lot of hearts.
-
GHS athletics hands out awards
The Greenville Lions held their Athletic Banquet at the Greenville High School Auditorium Saturday evening.
-
Storms test area athletes' patience
Patience was a necessity for local athletes competing on Friday at the University Interscholastic League State Track and Field Championships in Austin.
-
Local MMA fighters set to compete
Three members of Chop Shop Mixed Martial Arts, a Greenville-based mixed martial arts gym, will compete on May 11 in Ascend Combat’s Mayhem 3 in Shreveport, La.
- More Sports Headlines
-
Quarterback battle to highlight Red-White game
Sheriff: No Sign Killing of 2 Kids Was Planned
Obama Defends Drone Strikes, With Limits
Raw: Jurors Deadlock on Jodi Arias Penalty
Boy Scouts Decision "First Step" Say Activists
Raw: Utah Teen Arrested in Death of His Brothers
Closer Look at Okla. School Where Children Died
Two Suspects in Murder Known to London Police
Boy Scouts Mom Supports Gay Inclusiveness
"Be Ready": NOAA Warns of Busy Hurricane Season
SeaWorld: Penguins Are Coolest Thing in Florida
Obama Renews Call to Close Gitmo
Obama Offers Drone Strike Defense
Raw: Heckler Interrupts Obama on Guantanamo
A Slice of Apple History Up for Grabs
