Jackson Settle, a sophomore at St. Anthony High School, won his first two national championships in the American Motorcyclist Association’s Amateur Flat Track Championship in Du Quoin, Ill.
Jackson competed in four of the amateur class races: 250cc, 250 junior, 250cc open singles and 450cc production road to the pros. He won first in the 250cc and 250 junior races, placed fifth in the 450cc production and placed ninth in the 250cc open singles.
AMA hosts its national championship each year with roughly 200 people participating – including some from Canada and Australia this year.
The closest Jackson had come to winning was in 2022 when he won second.
He was first introduced to the sport through his father, Gregory Settle, in 2017 when he was in first grade. With help from his father, he practices on tracks in Neoga and the St. Louis area. When he’s not riding, he keeps his body in shape by running, going to the gym and eating right with the help of his mother, Amanda Settle, a dietician.
Jackson loves the adrenaline he gets from racing. Although he’s crashed a few times, he doesn’t let that shake his confidence.
“I’ve crashed a few times, nothing too bad. It doesn’t really scare me too much,” said Jackson. “It hurts a little for a while, but then it’s all good.”
Jackson used three different bikes for the AMA championship because each class has different specific requirements.
Jackson competes every chance he gets, which is usually every weekend. One upcoming race he’s preparing for is the Winter Throwdown in Florida, which is the next biggest race after AMA’s, he said.
He also hopes to race professionally next year when he turns 16, which is even more competitive with more people and bigger races.
Jackson gave special shoutouts to numerous sponsors, partners and additional supporters, including his parents, brother, photographer and media manager Stacy Harshbargar and grandmother, Mimi.
“He competed against kids from all over the world that are at that level,” said Harshbarger. “So it’s a pretty big deal.”