up to speed Racing Roundup

What’s what in the world of AMA amateur competition

BY KEATON MAISANO

Ryder Sigety

Racer Spotlight

Like Peter Parker, 14-year-old Ryder Sigety leads two lives.

By morning and early afternoon, Sigety is a normal high school student, strolling from classroom to classroom, turning in homework and chatting with friends. A model student who takes honors and AP classes, Sigety excels in his studies.

When the end-of-the-day bell rings, however, the New Jersey native becomes something else entirely. But instead of putting on a red and blue spandex suit like his comic book counterpart, Sigety puts on a helmet and hops on his motorcycle.

“I get to do a lot of fun stuff during the day,” Sigety said, “and when I get home, know I have to do what I have to do. I can just have fun at school and at the races too.”

Supermoto Superstars

Three riders — Lukas Hoellbacher, Josh Mclean (shown) and Jeffrey Panelley — emerged with AMA No.1 plates recently, and became national champions following the conclusion of the AMA Supermoto National Championship Series.

With 175 points — 51 more than second position — Hoellbacher won the 2022 AMA Supermoto Pro Open National Championship. Mclean, who also tallied 175 points in his respective class, claimed the Pro Lites title. In the Amateur class, Panelley won by a narrow 7 points to take home the No. 1 plate.

To go along with his Pro Lites No. 1 plate, Australia native Mclean added to his impressive season with a second overall finish in the Pro Open title race.

“We actually did it,” Mclean said. “It was not easy, but we managed to pull this off.”

A successful local racer with more than 20 local and regional championships by age 10, Sigety turned his sights to the Grand National Cross Country stage in 2020. The transition paid off quickly when Sigety won the 2020 10-11 65cc GNCC Championship.

“When we tried our first GNCC and I won, I kinda saw I could get that championship,” Sigety said. “Once you get into that national level, it’s just a whole different level of work you have to put in, so I tried to keep up with it.”

Two years after his debut GNCC season, the Yamaha factory-supported racer found himself a three-time champion, all while maintaining his status as a public-school student.

On top of the schoolwork, training and racing, Sigety has managed a YouTube channel that documents his racing journey. Often editing on long road trips back from races, Sigety’s dedication and work ethic bleeds into all aspect of his life.

As for the 2023 season, the goal is quite clear for Sigety: win another GNCC title.