By Rusty Nixon Correspondent
HURRICANE MILLS, Tenn. — Sometimes, things are better the second time around.
Local motocross racer Eric Saunders is almost sure of it.
“It feels really good. I think this just might be my year,” said the 16-year-old from Lakeville of his qualifying for the largest amateur motocross race in the world, the 28th annual Air Nautiques/AMA Amateur National Motocross Championships at Loretta Lynn’s Ranch, Aug. 3 through 8. “I’ve been working really hard. I’ve done a lot of things differently this year and it’s really giving me a lot of confidence.”
Saunders took on more than 20,000 hopefuls from across America to earn one of just 1,386 qualifying positions.
While racers can only compete in two different classes at the pinnacle event of Amateur Motocross, Saunders actually qualified in four different classes. The magnitude of the event isn’t lost on Saunders.
“It really is the Super Bowl of motocross,” he said. “You’re talking about taking on the top 40 guys in the country. Some of these guys come from all over the world to train for a year and be part of this event. It’s pretty sweet just to be there.”
Sponsors such as Tony Stewart Racing MX, Pilot Travel Centers and K&N Filters are part of Saunder’s success. He has won over 500 races in the last 10 years,

It isn’t Saunders’ first time to “be there” for the event at Loretta Lynn’s. A year ago the young rider made the trip and his dedication to be back was the center of his year of training.
“I’ve done a lot of psychological training for this year, physically I’ve just been riding the bike a lot,” said Saunders who also acknowledges the toll that the heat in Tennessee in August can take on a rider.
“The humidity is incredible,” he said. “I wish that there was a way to work on your breathing in that kind of heat. Our attic is about 120 degrees and I’ll go up there and ride a stationary bike for about a half hour to try and get used to what it’s like. We’ll be going down about a week early to try to get used to the heat.”
“The Amateur Nationals at Loretta Lynn’s is the event every motocross racer in the country wants to compete in,” says Event Director Tim Cotter. “A win at the Amateur Nationals can serve as a springboard to a lucrative professional motocross career.”
Most of America’s top professional motocrossers, including James Stewart, Ricky Carmichael, Travis Pastrana and Jeremy McGrath have won AMA Amateur National Championships at Loretta Lynn’s. The race is so prestigious that last year teenaged stars such as New York’s Justin Barcia, South Carolina’s PJ Larsen, Pennsylvania’s Darryn Durhman and Texas’ Blake Wharton were awarded pro contracts after the race.
The track is built on a section of Loretta Lynn’s Ranch and Campground in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee. The course contains a variety of jumps, corners and other obstacles designed to test the skills and stamina of the racers.
“I really think that this will be my year,” said Saunders. “There’s a movie called ‘Peaceful Warrior’ where the character is obsessed on making the Olympics and he learns that obsessing on things won’t get them. When you don’t get success most people give up. Sometimes when you don’t have success it’s just around the corner waiting for you to turn and find it. I believe that I just have to turn the corner. I really think I can be one of those top kids.”