By now you probably know that the biggest amateur national motocross event of the season is underway. The 2009 Air Nautiques Loretta Lynn’s National Championship has kicked off with racing today and will continue through Saturday as the nation’s top amateur riders from 50cc all the way to 450cc vie for a championship title. Winning Loretta’s is practically a prerequisite for success in the professional ranks, and many of the riders on the cusp of turning pro opt to wait until after the first week in August so that they have one more shot at racking up the wins.

The track has been changed this year and reports have that the racing is as intense as the heat. Whether you know someone racing this year or not, the live scoring feature is pretty cool and I’ve been keeping tabs on the race action by checking in throughout the day. It’s a circus, gang, and as the grassroots foundation of our sport, Loretta’s epitomizes amateur motocross.