(Walnut, Illinois. June 20, 2021) – Illinois is known as the “land of Lincoln”, and Walnut, Illinois, is known as the state’s capital for premier motocross racing. The small northwestern Illinois town of Walnut, which is not far from former president Abraham Lincoln’s boyhood residence, is home to one of the country’s most impressive motocross facilities. Sunset Ridge Mx has been a staple of the Midwest motocross community for over 20 years, and it has been a favorite stop on the ATV Motocross National Championship tour for the majority of that time. Sunset Ridge is a special place to so many of us, including the Ford Brothers Racing team who will always cherish the memories made at this beautiful facility.
In 2019, Sunset Ridge saw Cody Ford become the first AMA ATV Pro Class rookie to earn an overall podium finish in nearly a decade. The eldest Ford brother’s 3rd place overall podium finish shocked the ATV racing world, something that fans and the Ford family alike will never forget. On that same weekend in 2019, younger brother, Bryce Ford, was in the midst of a dominant double championship run and went four-for-four in moto victories in the series’ top amateur classes. Last season, it was Bryce’s turn to impress as an AMA ATV Pro Class rookie – and that is just what he did! Bryce led his first laps as a professional and earned 4th overall on the day, tying his career best overall finish to date. With so many great memories flooding their minds upon arrival at Sunset Ridge, it was nothing but good vibes for the Ford family heading into another great weekend of racing.
Stop me if you’ve heard this before: Bryce Ford is fast on an ATV. The sophomore pro kicked off the day with the third-fastest qualifying time heading into the day’s motos. Meanwhile, older brother, Cody, qualified a strong 9th in his own right. Along with his blistering speed, another exceptional quality in the race craft of young Bryce Ford is his impressive starts. Bryce led the pack early in both motos on Saturday, but quickly in both scenarios he found himself on the ground. In Moto 1, he officially grabbed the holeshot and led the fastest group of ATV racers in the world through the first few corners, before tangling tires with eventual winner, Chad Wienen, and hitting the ground. The youngster was forced to come from dead last and overcame a large deficit to claw his way back inside the top 10 at the finish. In Moto 2, Bryce again led the AMA ATV Pro Class into the first turn – but immediately hit a large kicker, sending him flipped over the first corner berm. The second-year pro would again have to mount a frantic charge, coming from dead last all the way up to 9th by the time the checkered flag flew. Bryce Ford salvaged his day to the best of his ability, with 10-9 moto finishes earning him 9th overall in the Pro Class. He ended his weekend on a high note however, signing up for the Pro-Am division once again and winning both motos in dominant fashion. These growing pains will double as learning opportunities for Bryce Ford, and when he puts it all together like he has in Pro Am – he’s going to be dangerous!
Eldest brother, Cody Ford, entered Sunset Ridge on a hot streak. The third-year pro had amassed three consecutive finishes inside the top 10 heading into Round 5 and would look to keep that streak alive. Confidence was on the side of the rider known as “The Foreman”, as he had not only strung together several strong performances, but he was also returning to the location where the highlight of his racing career took place. That confidence was on full display early, as Cody ran comfortably inside the top 10 for the entirety of Moto 1. Late in the opening moto, Cody was forced to hold off his brother who was on a furious charge after being down on the first lap. Cody would hold off Bryce, but it made for some great photo opportunities with the boys frying in formation, just like it was a photo shoot! Much like his brother, Cody found himself caught up in a first turn tangle at the start of Moto 2, forcing him to come from the back if he wanted to keep his streak alive. Ultimately, Cody Ford was able to claw his way back to 11th, which would earn him 10th overall at Sunset Ridge with his 9-11 moto scores. This was Cody’s fourth consecutive top 10 finish, the longest streak of his career!
“Sometimes life throws you a little off, but you get back up and move on.” The Ford Brothers Racing team posted to their official social media accounts. But both boys were positive following a race weekend that dealt them a tough hand. The entire crew should be proud of the way this duo fought back, and I think the lessons learned in Illinois will pay off at Pleasure Valley and beyond.
The second half of the 2021 ATV Motocross National Championship season will get under way at Pleasure Valley Raceway, in Seward, Pennsylvania, on 4th of July weekend. As they reflect on past successes, this is another event that will promote good vibes only for this team. Bryce Ford earned the first ever Pro Class podium finish of his career at Pleasure Valley last season, and Cody Ford pulled his own weight by grabbing the win in the Pro Mod division. So, needless to say, the crew will look to recreate past success at a facility that has recently treated them well. See you in Seward, Pennsylvania, the weekend of July 3/4!
