Monster Energy Interview: Kyleigh Stallings

Monster Energy Team Green Kawasaki’s Kyleigh Stallings dominated the opening two WMX class motos at the Monster Energy AMA Amateur Motocross Championship, aka “Loretta’s,” last week in Tennessee. Stallings guided her KX250 to two convincing moto wins, taking a 1-1 lead into Saturday’s third and final moto – and needed only a 7th place finish in order to secure the overall WMX championship.

But rather than glide to another win, or podium finish in Moto 3, Stallings, who managed to pull the STACYC start holeshot, made things rather interesting when she wadded up on the opening lap in Loretta’s notorious “Ten Commandments” jump section - and watched as nearly the entire WMX field passed her by - with the class championship on the line.

“(It was) definitely somewhere I knew I shouldn’t have been,” said Stallings of her view of the race from the ground.

In the end, the two-time Loretta’s champ would remount, buckle down, pass back nearly the entire field back and, with a come-from-behind 4th place Moto 3 finish, added a third Loretta’s title to her trophy room.

Monster Energy caught up with the Team Green rider and got her take on a fantastic week of racing at Loretta’s, the breakdown of her three championship motos, the team behind her success, and what’s happening on the track the rest of the 2023 competition season.

Hey, congrats on your first WMX title! You’d won the Girls (11-16) Loretta’s titles the past two seasons, then stepped up with some of the top women racers in the world. Gotta be pretty rewarding to bring the WMX crown back to Oklahoma!

Thank you. It has been very rewarding, having all of my hard work pay off. I’ve been putting in a lot of work at Reynard Training Complex all summer

As in Robbie Reynard? That’s straight up Oklahoma MX royalty right there! Last year you placed 11th in WMX at Loretta’s. What made this year different?

(Laughter) Yes, the Robbie Reynard. Last year was hectic for me, having to juggle between Supermini and 250 because they are such different bikes. I think that definitely did play a part in how I rode them both because of the huge difference between the two, focusing on just the 250 has helped a lot this year.

Interesting. Talk about the opening two motos, beginning with Tuesday’s opening WMX moto – which you won.

My first moto of WMX was good; I should’ve been a little more aggressive at the beginning of the moto to give myself a good gap, but it was still a fun battle. Was able to get the win, which was key.

Excellent start. Then Thursday was a wild one, weather-wise. One would guess that you don’t ride many mudders in Oklahoma. Talk about the race conditions, your thoughts going in, then how you handled things.

Thursday was definitely a muddy one. I had watched it rain all morning so I knew to expect mud. I had a couple opportunities to train in the mud beforehand, so I knew I was prepared for however the track would’ve been during my moto. I came out strong in Moto 2, and built a ten-second gap on the second lap. (I) was able to come away with the win.

So heading into Saturday’s third and deciding moto, you had some time to think about strategy. Who was going to be your main competition, and talk about your confidence level heading in at 1-1.

Going into my last moto with a 1-1 score I knew that all I had to get was at least a top 7 to get the overall championship, so I was very confident going into it. The strategy was to do what I had to do, to just do my laps and to get it done.

From your thoughts in the Moto 3 gate, to the start, first few laps and, eventually, your title-clinching 4th place finish, breakdown your final race at Loretta’s leading to your WMX championship.

The nerves were definitely there on the gate of my third moto at Loretta’s. I got the holeshot and ended up crashing in the Ten Commandments (jump sequence) on the opening lap. I got up in almost last place, which was definitely somewhere I knew I shouldn’t have been. I knew I had to make as many passes as possible. I got back up to 4th place by the fourth or so lap, and stayed there knowing that I didn’t need to push any harder. And that I was right where I needed to be in order to get the championship.

Excellent account! Even though there’s only three spots on the podium, it takes an entire team to get a rider to one of those spots. Talk about your team – parents, coaches, trainers, mechanics, all that helped you win the most important amateur women’s motocross event on the planet.

I couldn’t have done it without my parents (Keith & Cori Stallings) who have helped me get to where I am today. My dad has been my mechanic pretty much my whole racing career and has definitely been with me through it all. My trainer Robbie Reynard has also been a huge part in what has gotten me to where I am. I have been training with him for the last six years and I have won multiple national titles training with him.

Team Stallings! Also, can't forget the sponsors. Talk about your relationship with Kawasaki, how that came together, and the great support you’ve received from Team Green.

I wanted to try several different brands before I made the ultimate decision, Kawasaki was the best fit for me, and I was the most comfortable. We met with Ryan Holliday and Ajax Motorsports about putting me on Team Green, and it has been a huge blessing. They have both helped me a lot in my program.

Very solid. So what’s your plans the rest of the summer before you go back to school?

I will take off two weeks after Loretta’s then it’s back to training getting ready for the Baja Brawl, Ponca and Mini Os. I am homeschooled, so it is definitely a huge help being able to ride Monday-Thursday and not having to juggle that with public school.

Seems like both programs, school and MX, are working out well for you. Thank you for the insight. And good luck the rest of the way in '23.

Thank you. And thanks to Monster Energy for their support!