Claymont student honored for finishing third in national dirt bike racing competition

Jon Baker, The Times-Reporter
·2 min read

NEW PHILADELPHIA ‒ A Claymont High School student has been honored by commissioners for her success in dirt bike competitions around the eastern United States.

Madison Harmon, 15, a 10th grader at Claymont, finished third in the 2023 Grand National Cross-Country Girls Supermini Championship. She is the daughter of Chelsey and Dustin Legg of Dennison.

Madison Harmon, 15, of Dennison, was honored by commissioners for placing third in the 2023 Grand National Cross-Country Girls Supermini Championship. She is shown with Commissioners Greg Ress, Kristin Zemis and Chris Abbuhl, from left.
Madison Harmon, 15, of Dennison, was honored by commissioners for placing third in the 2023 Grand National Cross-Country Girls Supermini Championship. She is shown with Commissioners Greg Ress, Kristin Zemis and Chris Abbuhl, from left.

She competed 12 different times in 2023 in the Grand National Cross-Country Series. In the races, riders travel through racetracks ranging in length from 5 miles to 12 miles, over terrain as varied as hills, woods, mud, dirt, rocks and motocross sections. The events, which can last for an hour and a half, are a test of both survival and speed. She competes in a division for girls between the ages of 11 and 16.

The events are held in such places as Florida, South Carolina and West Virginia. The 2023 series concluded on Oct. 21 with a race in Crawfordsville, Ind.

Madison has won 33 races in the last four years and competes almost every weekend. She has been riding since age 11.

She started riding four wheelers, and then starting racing, which led to her involvement in motocross. But she got out of that because it was too dangerous.

'It's pretty gnarly'

Racing on the tracks can be tricky.

"Five- or six-mile tracks, it's pretty gnarly. A lot of times it's muddy. Some kids don't finish," Dustin Legg said.

Added her mother, "In an hour and a half, we only see her four times."

Madison said she hopes to win a national title. She isn't sure, though, if she wants to do this professionally.

"You are very brave," Commissioner Kristin Zemis said. "I find the whole thing terrifying."

Madison will be recognized for her achievement at the Grand National Cross-Country banquet in Morgantown, W.Va., on Dec. 9. But she won't have time to take a break from racing for long. The 2024 season begins in February in Union, S.C.

Reach Jon at 330-364-8415 or at jon.baker@timesreporter.com.

This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Claymont student honored for finishing third in dirt bike competition