Hall to race for U.S. at Junior Motocross World Championship

When the FIM (Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme) Junior Motocross World Championship takes place July 4-5 in Jinín, Czech Republic, Team USA will be represented by riders from nine different states.

In addition to competitors from Texas, California, Wyoming, Michigan, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, and Virginia, North Carolina will also be represented in the form of 11-year-old Morganton native Abshur Hall, who was among the racers named to the U.S. roster by the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) in April.

Hall has been competing in motocross races since 2020, but has never been out of the country, so he’s excited about the upcoming opportunity.

“I saw it last year and I thought it would be super cool to go,” Hall said of the Junior World Championship. “If I win it, it’s gonna be such a big thing and it’s just gonna mean a whole lot to me.”

Hall’s grandfather, Noel, is the one who found out that Hall had been invited to compete at the international level. AMA Deputy Director of Racing Mike Burkeen called Noel, and he relayed the information to Hall, who was “speechless” upon hearing the news.

“He called me and told me what happened, and I was so shocked,” Hall said. “I couldn't even speak.”

“I don’t even know how to explain how much it means,” he added of representing his country, before thanking his supporters, his sponsors, and “God for keeping me safe.”

Hall was a fifth grader at Salem Elementary School during the 2025-26 school year before recently becoming a homeschool student, and in addition to riding dirt bikes, he also plays youth football for the Salem Tigers.

During the Junior World Championship, Hall will be one of four U.S. riders — fellow male racers Jax Baker and Carter Holmes as well as female racer Yumena Berning are the others — to compete in the 65cc class. And when he makes his way to Europe, Hall will look to continue the momentum he has built over the past couple of months.

Since the beginning of April, Hall has posted numerous first-place finishes. He won the 65cc (ages 10-11) and 65cc (ages 10-11) Limited classes on April 4 in Axton, Va.; the 65cc (ages 10-11), 65cc (ages 7-11) Unlimited, 85cc (ages 9-11), and 85cc (ages 9-13) classes on May 30 in Lynchburg, Va.; and the 65cc (ages 10-11) and 65cc (ages 10-11) Limited classes on June 5 in Winter Garden, Fla.

“I feel like I’m improving a lot now since I’m getting to ride a lot more, and it helps a lot with corner speed and everything,” Hall said. “I love it (motocross) so much. You get to meet new friends, and it pushes you to your limits to get better and better, so you have to believe in yourself to do it.”

There are several ways to help with Hall’s expenses for the trip to the Czech Republic. One way is by making a donation on GoFundMe at gofundme.com/f/help-abshur-race-for-team-usa-in-czech-republic.

Other ways to donate are as follows:

• Via Venmo (@Kaytlin-Hall-2).
• By purchasing Hall’s official merchandise at abshurhall260.printful.me.
• By buying $5 raffle tickets — which can also be purchased by sending money to the aforementioned Venmo handle — for a drawing that will be held today (Saturday, June 20) and will see the winner receive $600 in store credit (or their choice of one of five different guns) to use at Thin Red Line Firearms in Hildebran.
• By attending a Ride Day Benefit today from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Silver Creek MX, located at State Road 1971 in Morganton. Rider entry fee is $40, hamburger plates will be available for $10, and the aforementioned raffle winner will be announced during the event.