When Ravenna junior Jacob McPherson arrived home after competing in the 43rd Annual Monster Amateur Monster Energy National Motocross Championship at the Loretta Lynn Ranch in Hurricane Mills, TN in August, his season was only really just beginning. Since competing on one of the biggest stages of amateur motocross racing, McPherson has taken his racing skills to a new level, having captured nine straight championships to close out the motocross season.
“I did as good as I did and won a lot more than I ever have,” McPherson told The Weekly Villager on Jan. 2.
McPherson’s success was recognized when he was honored at the 2024 ATV Motocross National Championship Banquet in Sandusky, OH last November.
“I went to the banquet and got my trophies,” McPherson said. “It was a big honor.”
McPherson took a big step this year when he switched bikes and started riding on a Husqvarna FC 250. According to him, it was a big adjustment riding a bike that had a lot more power. He started training on the bike when he trained to qualify for the AMA Monster Energy National Championship and continued doing for the rest of the season.
“You just have to practice a lot on the 250,” he added. “I got the hang of it pretty fast. I just like fast things.”
Having previously raced on a Husqvarna TC 150 before competing in the AMA Monster Energy National Championship, McPherson said that the biggest difference between the bikes was the motor.
The Husqvarna TC 150 operates on a two stroke motor while his the Husqvarna FC 250 runs on a four stroke motor. McPherson said that the four-stroke motor is easier to maintain because of how closely it resembles an automobile motor.
“The four stroke is like a car motor and the two stroke is like a chainsaw motor,” McPherson said. “The four stroke is like a car motor so it has more durability.”
When he competed at the AMA Monster Energy National Championship, McPherson said it was one of the most difficult races he had experienced, primarily because he was racing on an open track compared to woods racing.
During McPherson’s winning streak, he said he was living and breathing motocross constantly as the races were held weekly. He acknowledged it was a busy time but knew when he needed to lock in to capture each victory. He added that the secret to his success was to take every race in stride and not get too ahead of himself.
In several of his races following the AMA Monster Energy National Championship, McPherson returned to his roots as a woods racer. He said two of his most memorable races were the Grand National Cross Country race and the AMA National Promotions Group race, which were two national championship races compared to some of the amateur races he competed in during the year.
“I have surprised myself a lot,” acknowledged McPherson. I did not think I would do this well this year.”
Now that the motocross season has ended, McPherson is preparing to get on his bike and train for three months at the Croom Motorcycle Arena in Florida to hone his racing skills.
McPherson said he will be training on several different tracks while being at the Croom Motorcycle Arena and is aspiring to get even faster.
As he prepares for the 2025 season, McPherson said he is considering again competing at the AMA Monster Energy National Championship but once again will have to compete in area and regional qualifiers to earn a berth and will be competing in a higher age class.
Needless to say, McPherson is eager to continue raising his ceiling even after enjoying a career year.
“I hope I am better next year,” he said. “That is the goal.”
