Earlier this year, Levi Morris got his ticket to ride in the Rocky Mountain ATV/MC AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship when he qualified at regionals. Next week, the 9-year-old from Homer, Georgia, will punch that ticket at Loretta Lynn’s Ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee, where he’ll compete against 42 other riders in his age group for the national amateur title.
Levi, a 4th-grader at Banks County Elementary School, is the son of Shannon and Amanda Morris. His mother says the last few months qualifying and preparing for the race have been “crazy.”
In February, Levi finished 3rd overall at the area qualifier in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. In June, he placed 5th overall in the South Central Youth Regional qualifier at 3 Palms in Conroe, Texas.
“He’s worked really hard for this but he loves it,” Amanda Morris tells Now Habersham. “A lot of miles, a lot of sweat and a few tears, but in the end, it has been more than worth it. Anybody that races amateur, this is the biggest event that they can do,” she says, referring to the AMA championship.
Unstoppable
Levi started motocross racing about two years ago and has made it a daily part of his life. He spends hours each day practicing on two tracks at home.
His mom describes him as naturally competitive, fearless, independent, and fast.
“There’s no stopping him,” says Morris. She acknowledges motocross can be a dangerous sport, but adds, “It’s always a mother’s prayer to keep him safe.”
It’s a sure bet this proud mom and many others in Northeast Georgia will be praying for safety and hoping for a win as Levi competes next week, August 3-8, for the national title at Hurricane Mills.
