By Catherine Garrett | [email protected] 

Draper’s Bryson Green, 12, and Parker Miller, 10, qualified for the AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship at Loretta Lynn’s Ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee July 30 through Aug. 4. 

Both riders made the national event by placing among the top spots at the Pala Raceway near Temecula, California recently. 

“Just qualifying for this event represents dedication and commitment to the sport of motocross and is cherished as a major accomplishment,” said Bryson’s dad, Bryan Green, owner of Draper’s Edge Powersports and founder of the Edge Mini-MX racing league. “Kids at the national level have full-time coaches, managers and equipment mechanics. It’s quite a thing for someone to make it and these kids have gotten there with much less. I’m proud of both of them.” 

Parker Miller has gone to two previous nationals, where he finished 22nd as a 6-year-old and 25th in the 8-year-old division. This year, he hopes to overcome the bike troubles he experienced in his first year and avoid rocks that slowed him last year. “I feel like I am riding faster this year,” he said.

Bryson said he is thrilled for his upcoming experience on the national stage. “I’m super stoked,” he said. “I’m just focusing on trying to get at least one good moment there.”

Over 40 hours of live online streaming coverage of the national event will be on RacerTV.com during the six-day event. 

Bryson Green

The Green family’s motorcycle history dates back to the 1960s when Bryson’s grandfather, Noel, began riding competitively for more than two decades. Bryson’s father, Bryan, remembers being on a motorcycle before a bicycle and Bryson himself was racing at 4 years old. 

In his first race, Bryson placed second to last. “I still loved it and I got a tiny trophy,” he said. “I told my dad that it was the ‘funnest day.’” 

Through his dad’s efforts to form the Mini-MX league eight years ago in conjunction with Rocky Mountain Raceway, Bryson has been able to compete in hundreds of events in multiple divisions in motocross, endurocross and supercross across 10 states over the years and won several events, including his age division at the St. George Winter Series twice, the Western Off-Road Championships in Las Vegas twice, the 2017 Draper EnduroCross race, the 2017 Herriman EnduroCross race and the 65 age group (7- to 11-year-olds), 85 age group (9–15-year-olds) and the Supermini for up to 15-year-olds. 

“When he does well, it just adds fuel to the fire,” Bryan Green said.

Bryson has been able to enjoy success in racing in a more affordable fashion by selecting specific events to compete in, by using stock bikes and suspensions and by keeping the bikes maintained regularly. “We wanted to prove — to ourselves mostly — that motocross racing does not have to be expensive and time-consuming,” Bryan Green said. “We do not practice or race as much as many of the national level riders. Obviously, the more ‘seat-time’ you have, the better, but we see a lot of families burn out from all the travel and time committed to racing.”

Bryson said he has enjoyed the ups and the downs of the sport. “It’s fun to build your adrenaline up and jump high in the air,” he said. “But, I’ve also learned to never give up, especially after crashing. It doesn’t matter what happens, I always get up and finish the race.” 

“I’m pretty proud of him,” Bryan Green said. “He’s mature beyond his age and has a desire to be successful and is not afraid of the hard work it takes to get there.”

Bryson said his dad is the “biggest help ever” and is grateful for Colby Sorenson and Tracy Bronson — his training support — and sponsors Edge Powersports, Fly Gear, Husqvarna Motorcycles USA, Maverik Country Stores, Michelin Tires, 6D Helmets and Scott Goggles.

Parker Miller

Ten-year-old Parker Miller started in motocross when he was 5 and won his first race in the RMX PeeWee Shaft beginner division. In the past five years, he has been the RMX ArenaCross Series champion and the RMX Summer Series champion for his age division and also won the Utah MX Challenge, the Utah State Championship and the KTM Junior Sport Cross Challenge. He has also finished in the top three at the Transworld Mini Majors, the Utah State Championship, the AMP California Amateur State Championship PRO-AM, the RMX Summer Series and the Arizona Open.

 “I like the competition,” he said. “It pushes you to be better than others.” 

“It’s fun to see one of your kids have such a drive and determination for something,” said Parker’s dad, Chris Miller. “He’s been able to see some big-time competition and be a part of some cool experiences.” 

Parker’s focus on motocross keeps him on his bike for several hours a week and each weekend he participates in a race somewhere. “It’s a family deal,” Chris Miller said. “It’s a full-time job to maintain his bikes and things, but my wife and I support him in every way except we can’t ride the bike for him. We’re here to help him with what he’s trying to achieve.”

Chris Miller said he has been impressed by his young son’s drive to work for his goals of winning a national championship and moving on to ProNationals when he’s older. “Parker puts the time, effort and emotions into this,” he said. “He has seen that in order to get good results, you have to work for it. You can’t just show up and ride your bike.” 

Parker’s parents have also seen their son work hard at home for his riding privileges as he helps with yardwork and mowing the lawn, in addition to household chores.

Parker is sponsored by Edge Powersports, KTM, RMX Series, 6D Helmets, Sorensen MX Training and Utah Motor Racing. 

Bryan Green said the riding circuit is all-inclusive and learning to ride gives kids “an outlet for life.”  

“We employ a positive approach and encourage riders to advance rather than diminish efforts,” he said. “We’re here to help people get started and stay riding.”