ON YOUR MARKS—Sean Cantrell, 10, left, and Tyler Weyman, 10, both of Thousand Oaks, rev up for the National Motocross Championship races next month. The boys are heading to Tennessee with three other local riders to compete in the world's top amateur motocross competition. Five of the area's fastest kids on wheels have qualified for the 28th annual Amateur National Motocross Championships next month in Tennessee.

Dirt-biking heroes Carson Mumford, 7, of Simi Valley; Tyler Weyman and Sean Cantrell, both 10, of Thousand Oaks; Zac Commans, 12, of Camarillo; and Dillan Epstein, 14, of Agoura Hills will compete in the world's top race for amateurs Aug. 1 through Aug. 8 at a track built on ranch property owned by country music star Loretta Lynn in Hurricane Mills, Tenn.

MX Sports Inc., a Morgantown, W. Va.-based motocross production company, coordinates the annual competition, which includes a national qualifying program consisting of 52 area races from February through May and 12 regional championship races conducted in June at various motocross tracks across the country.

Of the 20,000 hopefuls from across the country, fewer than 1,400 earned qualifying positions at the big show.

"I've been dreaming about this for the last year and a half and been working so hard for three to four days a week," Tyler said. "To have it come true is so cool."

It's Tyler's first year going to the Loretta Lynn ranch, and Sean's fifth year.

Most of America's top professional motocrossers, including James Stewart, Ricky Carmichael, Travis Pastrana and Jeremy McGrath, have won AMA Amateur National Championships at the Lynn track The race is so prestigious that last year's teenage stars—Justin Barcia, P.J. Larsen, Darryn Durhman and Blake Wharton—were awarded pro contracts after the race.

"The Amateur Nationals at Loretta Lynn's is the event every motocross racer in the country wants to compete in," said Tim Cotter, event coordinator. "A win at the Amateur Nationals can serve as a springboard to a lucrative professional motocross career."

Tyler, who attends Ascension Lutheran Elementary School, has been riding since he was 7 years old, and Sean, who attends Cypress Elementary School, has been riding since he was 5. Both kids have at least a 3.5 grade-average and qualified in the 65cc class.

Tyler rides for Team TRE and is sponsored by The Racers Edge, Fly Racing, Chiropractic Sports Institute, T.O. Powersports, Eks Goggles, TCX boots, Maxima oils, FRS and CrossFit Westlake.

Sean rides for Thor and T.O. Powersports and is Sponsored by Thor, T.O. Powersports, Alpinstars, MC Enterprises, Shoei helmets and Dunlop tires.

Both riders have won several races in the last two years on their way to the national event, competing nearly every weekend both in and out of California. Tyler and Sean traveled to Texas earlier in the year and competed in the Spring Nationals, where Sean took home the No. 1 plate at Oak Hill.

Riders can enter a wide variety of classes, from minicycle classes for children as young as 4 all the way up to a senior division for competitors over 50. There are also classes for women and classes for both stock and modified bikes.

The track is built on a section of Loretta Lynn's Tennessee ranch and campground. The rough course contains a variety of jumps, corners and other obstacles designed to test the skills and stamina of the racers in the heat of an East Coast August.

Most riders attend the event with the help of their families. In fact, many groups consider the event their family's summer vacation.

Tyler and Sean will make their long journey to Tennessee with their parents, Terry and Michele Weyman and Mike and Tina Cantrell.

—John Loesing