Jayden Londerville Named First-Ever Digging Deep Rising Star Award Winner
The Digging Deep ATVMX Podcast is an online radio show primarily focused on the coverage of ATV racing – past, present, and future. The project was initially sparked by host, Cody Janssen’s, extreme love for ATV racing, a love that so many of us share. As a fan and historian of the sport who holds the rare combination of vast industry connections and Pro Class experience, the project quickly took off. It didn’t take long for the lifelong ATV enthusiast to realize that this new endeavor could benefit the sport he so deeply loved, filling a void and offering fellow ATV racing fanatics content unlike ever before.
Digging Deep regularly welcomes the biggest names in ATV racing to the podcast, both past and present. The project, which was born during the 2019 season, has continued to expand since its’ inception, taking on the role of a media outlet and not just audio files. From the beginning, the vision was to showcase untold stories and highlight nuggets that fans may have missed. Most of the content shared is related to the professionals, like those of the Phoenix Racing Honda Team, but every so often there are additional stories that simply must be told.
Allow me to take you back to June. Racing had resumed after the COVID-19 delay, and our ATVMX community had gathered in the fields of Illinois. On that weekend at Sunset Ridge, Phoenix Racing Honda’s Jayden “JJ” Londerville won all three of the 250cc classes (Youth All-Star, 250 Mod, and Schoolboy Sr.) – a feat only previously accomplished by two riders (Ford, Walker). Jayden had accumulated a few wins at the first two stops on the tour, but when you claim three overall victories in one weekend the ATV racing world is going to take notice. For an encore, Londerville did it again at Pleasure Valley – following up the performance by winning all 6 motos the next weekend in Pennsylvania.
To give our story a little context, “JJ” had never won an overall on a 250cc machine prior to 2020. In fact, the last time he claimed an overall victory on the national stage was back in 2017 on a 90cc mini quad – but Jayden hit his stride and substantially elevated his game this season. He amassed 27 moto victories and 14 overall wins en route to hard-fought National Championships in all three of his classes. The last rider to achieve this daunting task just received his AMA ATV Pro Rookie of the Year award – Bryce Ford (2018).
One of the ideas that Digging Deep proposed to further benefit the sport this season, was to present two awards: Most Improved Pro Award and a Rising Star Award (amateur or youth). It became quite apparent that no one was more deserving than “JJ” for the latter, not just because he won more events than any other rider this season, but also because ATV Motocross has without question prompted substantial growth in “JJ” (and we’re not talking about his height). The 2020 season has seen the now 3-time National Champion thrive both on the track and off. The soft-spoken boy we once knew has turned into an honorable young man, and ATV Motocross deserves a share of the credit. He is still as kindhearted as ever, but inside that helmet lives a fierce competitor. Confidence inside the helmet has helped prompt more confidence and personality to show outside of it as well. Having began to spread his wings, the future for this young champion is bright on and off the track.
The Phoenix Racing Honda Team pieced together another strong season in 2020. The Mickelson brothers, Haedyn and Noah, earned a handful of top 10 finishes amongst the fastest ATV racers in the world. Grant Olson grabbed one podium and a 5th in the championship points standings in his first year on the ultra-competitive 250cc machines. Grayson Eller podiumed three times and finished 5th in points at the top level of amateur racing in the sport. Jeffrey Rastrelli showcased his world-class speed and ended the season in the Pro Class top 5, right where he belongs. Joel Hetrick, 2019 AMA ATV Pro National Champion, added 5 victories to his already legendary career. However, the team’s efforts may have been headlined by the three titles earned by this rising star. ATV Motocross has helped shape Jayden “JJ” Londerville into the person he is today, just as the sport once did for his pro teammates (as well as Cody Janssen of the Digging Deep ATVMX Podcast). After a truly unforgettable season, Londerville looks to be a major factor in the future of ATV racing. Congrats on your Youth All-Star, 250 Mod, and Schoolboy Sr. National Championships, “JJ”! And congrats on your Digging Deep Rising Star Award!
