Fourteen-year-old Derek Sanchez King will race in the 2025 MotoAmerica Parts Unlimited Talent Cup, but first, he had a little work to do in the AMA Road Race Grand Championship at Daytona International Speedway on October 18-20.
Sanchez King raced to victories in the 400 GP Expert and AMA 400 classes with additional podium finishes in the 400 Superbike and ASRA 400 classes and was rewarded for his efforts by being named as the 2024 Nicky Hayden Road Race Horizon Award, which honors the late Nicky Hayden and recognizes the racers with the necessary skill and determination to excel in the professional ranks.
“Derek is an incredible kid with a knack for high speeds and racing success,” AMA Track Racing Manager Ken Saillant said in an AMA press release. “Although he’s only 14 years old, he carries himself with the demeanor of a seasoned professional, and I cannot wait to see what he accomplishes going forward.”
Sanchez King, who hails from Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, will bring his skills to the Parts Unlimited Talent Cup next season.
“When I found out I got the Nicky Hayden Horizon Award, I didn’t know what I was feeling,” Sanchez King said in the AMA press release. “Getting this award is amazing. It’s felt and still feels like a dream to have received this award as several of my friends have received it and now I will be part of this history.”
For more information on the AMA Road Race Grand Championship, visit https://americanmotorcyclist.com/racing/track-racing/road-racing/ .
