ROAD TO THE RANCH: LUKE FAUSER
Luke Fauser has had a fairly high rate of success throughout his six years of competition at the Loretta Lynn Amateur National Motocross Championship, achieving a total of two number one plates and two additional overall podium finishes. The Pennsylvania native first competed in Hurricane Mills back in 2014, recording a 27th place overall finish in the 51cc (4-6) Limited class. A few years later, Fauser returned in the 51cc (7-8) Limited class and put together 3-1-1 moto scores to take the first title of his budding career at the Ranch. He quickly gained the attention of the Orange Brigade KTM program and backed up his number one plate the following season with a 3rd place overall in the 65cc (7-9) Limited class. 2019 was Fauser’s last season competing in the 65cc classes and he went out with a bang, taking 2nd place overall in the 65cc (10-11) Limited class and 1st place in the 65cc (10-11) class, going 1-1-2 as he performed well in the typical muddy and sloppy conditions in the third and final moto of a grueling week of racing. After transitioning to the younger 85cc divisions in 2020, Fauser looks primed to make another push for the top step of the podium this year in Tennessee. The Orange Brigade backed rider earned his tickets at the Mid-East Youth Regional at Baja Acres, taking the top spot in both of the 85cc (10-12) classes against some Loretta Lynn podium regulars.
How’d the Regionals go for you?
Regionals went well, I ended up going 1-1 in 85cc (10-12) and 85cc (10-12) Limited. It was really good racing with most of my competition that will be at Loretta’s.
What’s a typical day of training been like for you getting ready for Loretta’s?
I’ve been putting in a lot of work with Dave Kilgore. A typical day of training for Loretta’s is doing a warm-up for fifteen minutes then we do two twenty-minute mottos. Other days we’ll do some technique, then at the end of the day we do five laps around the track or we will do a bike ride.
Do you have a pre-race routine?
I don’t really have a pre-race routine, I just relax and think about what I need to do to win.
Is there one specific year at Loretta’s that has been the most memorable for you?
My most memorable race at Loretta’s is 2016 on my 50 cause it was the first win at Loretta’s and it was a very exciting experience.
Do you feel more pressure heading into Loretta’s this year to back up your number one plate from last year?
I don’t really feel more pressure coming off winning last year cause I’ve been putting the work in to have myself prepared. I’m also taking the necessary time off and having fun so I don’t get burnt out.
What do you think is the key to success at the Ranch?
What I think is the key to success at the Ranch is getting good starts, staying up, and putting together all of the techniques and all of the other stuff that I learned in the past.