AMSOIL Swapmoto Race Series Profile | Brayden Lessler

Brayden Lessler

Age: 18

Classes: Pro Open & 250 Pro

Hometown: Ramona, California

Sponsors: NOST Suspension, SPY Optic, RP Racing, North County Yamaha, Rossi Designs, Dunlop, SiDi, THOR MX, Mobius

Brayden Lessler was the surprise of the Open Pro class at the third round of the AMSOIL Swapmoto Race Series West Coast Open. Aboard a modest YZ450F, the teenager from Ramona held off the Lawrence brothers and their race-prepped AMSOIL/GEICO Honda CRF250R motorcycles around the wide-open track. Even with two of Honda’s top young prospects on his tail, Lessler never seemed fazed and claimed a convincing win in Moto One of the class. Almost instantly the talk of the pit area was about the unknown winner, so we searched the pit area and found him under an EZ-Up while Pete Russell of NOST Suspension worked on a fork leg.

After a few minutes together, it all became clear. Parental permission to skip college for one year let Lessler put his full attention into motocross and he recently made the jump to the competitive A Class. “This is my first year in A Class, so I’m just trying to get my feet in the water. I feel like the speed is coming more and more with training,” he shared in the shade. When asked if there was a major difference between the B Class and A Class, Lessler explained that the experience of the other riders is most noticeable. “It feels like the speed is similar, but the race craft is different. I feel like in the last few weeks, since the Arizona Open, I am picking up time on the top guys. I want to keep growing and get the results.”

Although Lessler isn’t a nationally known rider, he’s invested in his program and joined former French pro Yannig Kervella’s training program and spends his week riding with others of his caliber. “I train four days a week with Yannig Kervella and ride with Jo Shimoda and those guys. We have a big group to train with,” he noted. “During the week I ride with guys like Jo and I see their lap times. I’ve been inching closer and closer.”

Clearly, that was the case at Milestone, as Lessler kept the Lawrence brothers honest in each of the 250 Pro and Open Pro motos. What was the breakthrough in the first race? “That was my first race where I felt that I was the aggressor. I was right behind Jett (Lawrence) and when he made a mistake, I was able to capitalize on it and led laps,” he recapped. But instead of boasting about his win, Lessler explained that the displacement of his YZ450F was helpful. “I felt good and knew that they were right there, I could hear them running it in. I had a power advantage with the 450 in Open Pro, but they were able to get close in the tight corners. It went back and forth, but I felt really good.”

What comes next for Lessler? He intends to hit the crown jewels of amateur motocross over the summer but says he wants to be on the gate for the AMSOIL Swapmoto Race Series to stay sharp. “I’ll do all of the normal amateur Nationals and throw in some local races like this. I saw how the series was doing on Instagram with a good turnout and good guys, so the competition helps me gain speed. I hope to continue to get results like this.”