In an effort to continue growing motothenw.com we have brought on famed WMX rider Jessie Wharton to drop in here once a week and provide you her thoughts, viewpoints, and other cool stuff. Here is what she has to say...

Hey everyone! So this is my first write up with MototheNW.com and I’m really stoked actually! See it gives me a legitimate excuse to be able to babble nonsense to anyone that will listen ;) nah I’m just kidding about that, actually I am really excited about this because this time of year things are happening! When I think of summer I think of outdoors, Mammoth, TNMX, family bbqs, and those long hot days putting motos in at Riverdale or Washougal. But most of all I think of Lorettas.

For most families across the country, Loretta’s is not only the family vacation, but a dream destination. And I’m pretty sure it’s not for the scenery of the Tennessee hills, but rather the claim to fame of their rider making it to the most prestigious motocross event in the world. That event is known as Loretta Lynn's.

And it’s almost time for the 2012 Red Bull AMA Amateur Motocross Championship at Loretta Lynn's. But to get to the “Ranch”, you first have to undergo a few races to prove you are qualified for the national, the Area and Regional qualifiers. The first step are the “Area” qualifiers, where you riders try to earn a top position in your respected class. Then a certain transfer position is given, some qualifiers allow 15, or 12. Once you’ve completed the Area qualifiers and if you earned a transfer spot, it’s onto the Regionals. The Northwest Regional allows 4 transfer spots, and the Southwest Regional allows 5. So you can imagine how hard it is to get a top 4 overall out of a full gate of riders.

That is why earning your right to race Loretta Lynn’s is so highly sought after from anyone in the motocross community. It is only the cream of the crop when you line up on race day. And earning that 1 of 40 spots on the line in your class at the ranch comes with dedication, sacrifices, wins, and even loosing sometimes.

That is why I thought it would be cool to see what each rider thinks about LL and what it means to qualify, or not qualify. So I’ve tracked down some of our NW riders that have lined up at their Regional to see if they have what it takes to get a spot into the famous Loretta Lynn’s dude ranch.

Stay tuned and I’ll try to bring a write up each week with some questions and interviews with your very own NW riders! Click Read More to see interviews with Chris Alldredge, Mike Smith, and Brook Whipple

Name - Chris Alldredge
Number - #588
Age - 16
Classes Raced - Schoolboy 2 and 250 B
Classes Qualified - 250 B Stk and Mod
Region - Northwest

So did you make it?
“Yes, I made it at Honey Lake.”

Is this the first time, or have you gone before?
“I have been going to Loretta's since 2004, and haven't missed a year since.”

What keeps bringing you back?
“Wanting to win more titles there keeps bringing me back. I try to look at LL as just another race because I seem to ride better that way. My goal is to of course always make it and it feels like just such a relief when I do because it's one less thing I have to worry about.”

What are your plans for after LL?
“Plan right now, if everything goes the right way, is to head to Bulgaria for the Junior World Championships.”

Name - Mike Smith
Number - #994
Age - 30
Classes Raced - 30+ Vet B/C
Classes Qualified - 30+ Vet B/C
Region - Northwest

So did you make it?
“First time ever!”

Is this the first time, or have you gone before?
” .......i am 30. Been wanting to go since on 60's. Fam never had the $$$. This year has aligned itself to be THE year. Everyone says "u gotta go 'A' next year"... im no hero, iam no savage... but i tell u what. I am gonna do it for all gutter rats that lived a life of disparities only to come back to RACE MOTO”

What does LL mean to you?
“LL been a dream since on little bikes, never had the means to go before, now - even though i STILL do not have the means to go, i have great friends and fam supporting me to help get there. I feel exstatic. I am in a postition to do quite well in a class that i believe i will do very well in. Confident.”

What was the moment when you realized you were/werent going to make it to LL? how did you feel?
“Once i crossed the finish line at honey lake going 5-1-1 is when i realized i was going. “

What are your plans for after LL?
“Bringing home HARDWARE”

Name - Brook Whipple
Number - #13
Age - 17
Classes Raced - Womens 14+
Classes Qualified - None
Region - Northwest

So did you make it?
“I did not make it this year. I went 3-10-7.”

How many times have you tried?
”I have tried since 2010"

Have you gone before?
“I did not make it this year do to unfortunate luck but i did go in 2010 and 2011.”

What keeps bringing you back?
“Knowing that you are in the top 2% of the best riders in the country....there is nothing like knowing you are riding with the best, and competing as one of them.”

What does LL mean to you and why?
“Ive only been racing since 2009 and going into 2010 and qualifying my first year trying made me believe that I had a chance at being the next loretta lynn champion. I never realized the work it took to be at the top until i started training. Motocross is about the skills but its mostly about being fit and at Loretta's you find out who wanted it the most.”

What was the moment when you realized you were/werent going to make it to LL?
“With a bad start in moto one, i was able to work my way from 7th to 3rd and stay up the whole moto. In moto two, I was in second for half the moto when I tipped it in a corner and was to short to start my bike(by the time I got going I was dead last) by the last lap i was coming up on a girl passing for 7th knowing it would set me up safely for the last moto. She didn't jump the table in front of me so I went inside she went outside and in the next corner I was coming in to fast and kinda block passed her but then in the next corner which was the finish line, i went inside she went out and ran straight into me, taking both of us out a foot before the finish making everyone pass us.... last moto i had to get second, i was in second and crashed on the half way point, was in fourth and high sided on the last lap....I knew it was over....”

What are your plans now?
“I really wanted to make it again this year but with things not working out in my favor I will be finishing out the year with going to Mammoth, Norman and a few of the other amateur nationals and going to compete as a top competitor.”

Are you going to try next year?
“ I will be there next year competing for my spot at Loretta Lynns but as a pro in the wmx!”