Monster Energy Interview: Daxton Bennick

The 42nd running of the Monster Energy AMA Amateur Motocross Championship held at famed country & wester singer Loretta Lynn’s Ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tenn., gives the motocross community – industry and fans alike – an amazingly accurate portrayal of the future of pro motocross racing. And out of the many titles and podium finishes, one stood out amongst the rest – Daxton Bennick’s (Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha) 1-1-1 effort in the Open Pro Sport class, earning him the AMA’s most prestigious award for amateur motocross racers – the AMA Nicky Hayden Horizon Award.

To put Bennick’s Loretta’s performance in perspective, other racers with ties to Monster Energy that have won the award in the past at Loretta’s include Ryan Villopoto, James Stewart, Jason Anderson, Chase Sexton, Josh Hill and Justin Cooper.

Racing Loretta’s since 2012, North Carolina’s Bennick won his first title, the 51cc (4-6) Special Limited on a KTM in 2013, then followed that with five more overall titles and 13 overall podium finishes through his impressive racer career at the Ranch.

Beyond Loretta’s, Bennick has enjoyed a productive rookie year racing pro, from winning the opening two rounds of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross’ SX Futures program (Anaheim 2, Calif., and Arlington, Texas), as well as making an impact on the AMA Pro Motocross Championship this summer, most recently scoring a top ten (9th) 250 class finish at Unadilla, N.Y.

Monster Energy caught up with Bennick in the pro pits at Unadilla to get his take on his massive week at Loretta’s and what’s in store for one of the AMA’s brightest young pro motocross racers.

Daxton, Open Pro Sport is the pinnacle of classes at Loretta’s. This was your first year racing that class. Talk about what it means to you to win that championship.

Yeah, it was cool. Honestly, this’ll be my last year. Our goal was to win the A classes (Open Pro Sport and 250 Pro Sport, where Bennick placed 2nd to Monster Energy’s Gavin Towers) and get the Horizon Award. Weather was crazy at the Ranch. Great way to finish out.

You were the defending 2022 250 B champ at Loretta’s. Talk about the gap between B-class racing and what you experienced in the Pro Sport classes (including 250 Pro Sport).

I’d say the B class was kind of just me and Haiden (Deegan) last year. In 250 A, yeah, there’s a couple more guys, making it a bit deeper of a class. But mainly that’s it. I trained hard and felt like I was overprepared.

1-1-1 is an absolutely powerful statement. Let’s break down your motos a bit, talk about your mindset prior to the gate dropping, your start, early race laps, the turning point that got you into the lead, and the finish.

Moto 1

I spun pretty bad out of the gate, came out around 15th. Worked my way up and was in the top five by the end of the first lap. There was a LOT of intensity, but I was able to just pick through pretty easily. Once I got to the lead, I knew I had a lot of time left. Got into a good flow, fast laps, was hoping the bumps and won by 15 seconds. It was a good moto to start things out on Tuesday, for sure.

Moto 2

Had some weather on Wednesday, but we weren’t delayed. I had two motos (Open & 250) and the second moto was around 5:30 (p.m.). I pretty much went in just like the first moto, although I did pull the holeshot. I remember the track being rough. Got the flow back and built a gap, even though as the race went on it got really, really rough. Moto 2 may have been the most fun race of the week. After that, starting on Thursday, it poured.

Moto 3

Saturday was good. I got a second place start, then actually crash. I was a little worried. Got up in 5th, but didn’t see anyone in front of me that could beat me. Juju (KTM’s Julien Beaumer) was right behind me, then I think he went down. I was able to get into the lead a couple laps later. It was a 15 minute moto (shortened from 20 minutes due to weather), so it was really cool to go 1-1-1 in that class.

Excellent work. So this year got off to a blazing start in SX Futures at Monster Energy AMA Supercross as you won both the Anaheim 2 and Arlington (Texas) Futures rounds. Talk about that a bit, along with your SX Futures podiums at East Rutherford (NJ) and SLC.

That first round at Anaheim 2, there was a lot of pressure on me. The team (Star Racing/Yamaha) expected me to win. I was on a six-month deal. I knew I was capable and was able to execute, got the win. Same thing at Arlington. Then I got a terrible start at New Jersey, but almost made the pass for the lead on the last lap, right at the checkers. Obviously, growing up as an amateur motocross racer, I never really raced supercross. So it was pretty cool to experience that. Now I get to race it as a pro.

In July, you debuted at RedBud, America’s Motocross Track, and reeled off a top ten finish in your very first Pro National. Talk about that a bit.

RedBud was a good weekend. I love that track. And we got it done. I’d qualified first out of my group, but didn’t know what to expect beyond that - other than it was going to be a long race and those guys were going really fast. I ended up going 10-9 on the day, and coming from behind in the second moto was really cool. (I) kind of surprised myself a little bit. I knew I’d be fast, but I’d never had raced a 35-minute moto. So that was a cool learning experience for sure.

You followed RedBud with solid efforts at Southwick (14th) and Spring Creek (11th). With all that pro experience this season, SX Futures to MX Nationals, do you think you had an advantage over most Pro Sport class racers heading into Loretta’s?

Yeah, definitely did. Obviously, those motos were way longer than Loretta’s. But the track at Loretta’s really surprised me. It was really rough. The roughest year I can remember. I mean, last year (’22) was rough, but nowhere near this year. I had that 5:30 (p.m., Wednesday) moto and it was beat. Bumps were so big. I felt I had no break out there. I was prepared, but the track was a lot different than I remembered. Just because there’s so many different bikes, sizes - big and little - it creates track conditions that you normally don’t race.

You raced aboard KTMs for pretty much your entire career at Loretta’s. Talk about the move to Star Racing/Monster Energy/Yamaha and how that’s been working for you.

Yeah, it was a very big decision. I had a really good deal at KTM, pretty much left that for nothing at Star (Racing/Yamaha). 6 months and a handshake. Looking back on it, it was a lot of risk, but it definitely paid off.

Are you caught up at all in this Haiden Deegan hype at the Nationals (laughter)?

To be honest, he’s doing really well right now. Can’t really argue with it. Doing good for sure. But it kind of makes it seem like I can be there. We grew up battling and I know I can be there.

So in winning titles from 51cc to 450cc at Loretta’s, which one stands out as the best?

It’s actually going to be pretty surprising. I’m going to say 250 B stock in 2020. I’d broke my collarbone the week before, and I ended up getting 2nd overall. Levi Kitchen (Monster Energy/Star Racing/Yamaha) beat me. That was a really cool year and I got a lot of looks after that.

Right on. Again, congrats from everyone at Monster Energy on your Loretta’s Open Pro Sport title and Horizon Award.

Thank you. And thanks for the support from Monster Energy.