Although still categorized as an “amateur” in many facets of the rule-set, North Carolina’s Daxton Bennick would ease his way into the professional ranks on Saturday via his first ever outdoor national on the AMA motocross circuit. And by all means, would the number 241 thrive, with a phenomenal run in practice, where he claimed the overall pole position! That alone would portray to the field that his speed was legitimate, and after beginning the opening moto in ninth place, Bennick would sustain a flow that was applauded by all in attendance. Battling with the best in the 250cc division, the Yamaha rider would flow to the inside and outside of the left-hander just past LaRocco’s leap — toggling his lines based upon who was in front of and behind him, when slicing his way through the pack. The stamina of Bennick was tremendous, as he maintained a stellar pace amongst traffic, making passes all the while. Moving as far forward as seventh at tone point, Bennick would have to deal with the pressure of veteran’s such as Justin Cooper and RJ Hampshire; whom he’d give a formidable battle to, while nearing the halfway point. His surrounding Star Racing Monster Energy Yamaha team would cheer alongside thousands of fans, as their rider from the East Coast demonstrated world-renowned skill on a demanding Michigan circuit. As laps began to subside, Bennick would zero-in on Tom Vialle; and although he was unable to move forward around the KTM rider, Bennick would keep the Kawasaki rider (of Jett Reynolds) at bay, en route to a tremendous tenth-place finish. Next to come, would be the second moto, where he luckily evaded a nasty first-turn pileup that captured that of series leader Hunter Lawrence. Though Bennick’s starting position was a bit worse than his last run, where he acquired a fifteenth on the first complete circuit while vowing to move forward in a valiant manner. He would manage to continuously leap over the makeshift rolling-double that was just after the first downhill ski jump, emphasizing the smallest of nuances while striving to reside inside the top-ten. Bennick would then find a similar flow to Husqvarna’s RJ Hampshire while weaving to the left and right side(s) of the raceway, knowing that there was little time to waste as he reeled-in the likes of Ryder DiFrancesco and Mitchell Harrison, amongst multiple others. As time eventually neared expiration, it would be Bennick who gathered a tremendous final moto score of ninth as the checkered flag was thrown shortly thereafter — accruing tenth overall, in his first ever outdoor national!