Both hands off the bars, Ivan Tedesco celebrates as he crossed the finish line jump earning his first motocross national win at the Lakewood (Colo.) 125cc National in 2005. (Larry Lawrence photo)

Ivan Tedesco earned his breakthrough motocross win in the Lakewood (Colo.) National in 2005. Tedesco, who rode for Monster Energy Drink Kawasaki, had been racing the series for five years and had been very competitive, but this was his first overall victory in the outdoor nationals.

“It’s great to get my first outdoor national win,” said Tedesco, who until that season had been considered more of a Supercross specialist. “I made a commitment to train hard to improve in motocross and it’s really paid off.”

The 1-1 moto finishes for Tedesco gave him the 125cc series lead. After Lakewood Tedesco led Mike Brown by seven points. Brown took seventh overall that day with a 7-8.

A large crowd of over 22,000 attended the return of the Lakewood National, a track that previously hosted AMA Nationals in the 1980s. Riders were nearly unanimous in their hope that Colorado would host a national for years to come after the ’05 event. They got their wish. Not only is Lakewood a regular on national calendar today, the track had the honor of hosting the Motocross des Nations last month.

While it took “Hot Sauce” five years to win his first national, it took him only a week to win his second. Tedesco followed up his Lakewood victory with a win a week later at Washougal, Wash. He went on to win the 2005 AMA 125cc Motocross National Championship.