By Race Chapman

​The Southwest Regionals at Pala Raceway in Pala, CA, on June 10-11 will be one stepping stone to one of motocross' most prestigious events, the Loretta Lynn National Championship. Both the Southwest Regional and Loretta Lynn will be streamed live on FloRacing.com. 

The Loretta Lynn Amateur National, which takes place July 31 to August 5 in Hurricane Mills, TN, is the most important single event in amateur motocross. It's a rite of passage for every racer with aspirations of being a professional and provides the biggest exposure for young riders to potential sponsors and teams. 

It is the Olympics of motocross, with more than 1,000 racers descending upon the track to prove their status as the fastest in the country. But before these riders can even begin to think about the logistics of traveling to Loretta Lynn Ranch, they must qualify against the best racers in their state.

It starts with the Area Qualifiers, in which hopeful amateurs line up against the best competitors in their part of the state. Should they place well enough, they move on to the Regionals, which is the last obstacle between them and the intense experience of racing at the notorious Loretta.

Altogether, there are eight regionals scattered about the country. This year, the Southwest Regional is held at Pala Raceway. The Southwest region includes Arizona, Utah, Hawaii, New Mexico, Nevada, and Southern California.

SoCal is considered the mecca for motocross in not only America but also by the entire world. 

Every top team is based out of California, as are most of the major industry players. California is the biggest single purchaser of motocross bikes and related equipment on earth. Every company (even bike manufacturers in Japan and Austria) looks to California when designing its new products. The state's whims drive the entire industry, since it has biggest and most concentrated rider base.



If actors wants to make it big, they move to Los Angeles. If motocross racers want to make it big, they move to Southern California. Any race in Southern California will be extraordinarily competitive. The racers have to elevate themselves to the next level, since the area is so saturated with talent.

Pala is no stranger to big races. In 2010 and 2011, it hosted the final round of the AMA Pro Motocross Series. Situated between SoCal's desert mountains, only about 50 miles from Baja California, it is a decidedly harsh environment. There is little relief from the sun, which bakes the loamy dirt, creating a treacherous and challenging terrain for the racers. Deep ruts, big braking bumps, and slick hardpack will be there to test the fitness and finesse of the riders.

But if they can overcome the heat, difficult track, and cutthroat competitors, they will earn their status of being among the fastest motocross racers in the most competitive region of the United States. And more importantly, they will earn their chance to prove themselves against the best motocrossers in the nation in Hurricane Mills this July.

The Southwest Regionals from Pala Raceway in Pala, CA, will be streamed live June 10-11 on FloRacing.com. 

How To Watch

ON TV: Now available on Roku and Apple TV 4 -- download the FloSports app today!
STREAMING: Available only on FloRacing. A yearly FloPRO subscription provides access to ALL FloSports sites.

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