Reigning Women’s Motocross Association Champ Signs Factory Deal
By Jim KimballThey say that good things happen to good people, and Ashley Fiolek is a perfect example. It all began years ago, when Ashley, who is deaf, began riding a 50cc minicycle at age 7.
With the help of her parents, she soon started winning AMA Amateur Motocross Championships and ultimately graduated to the top-level of female competition, racing in the Women’s Motocross Association in her first full season last summer. Fiolek excelled, winning the prestigious championship in her first year.
While ‘08 was stellar, ‘09 is starting off even better. Just prior to the second Anaheim round of Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, the Honda Red Bull Racing Factory Team announced that they had signed Fiolek, now 18, for the 2009 season.
Q: It must have been awesome to win the championship in your first attempt!
A: Yeah, for sure it was. You know, when the season started I knew I was ready, but I didn’t even think about actually winning the championship. I just wanted to be consistent. I knew it was going to be very difficult racing weekend after weekend, but after the first round, I knew I had the speed. Things kind of fell into place for me, and I ended up winning the championship. It definitely gave me a lot of confidence…
I think the biggest difference in the pros, or the biggest surprise to me, was their race pace and how fast they go throughout the entire race. The tracks get super rough, something a little different than what we see in a five-lap sprint in the amateurs. So I think it was the rough, rough tracks and stuff like that that were most different.
Q: You’re very friendly and well liked by everybody, including your competitors. Still, was it awkward to come in as the new girl, and so quickly start beating the established pros, like defending champ Jessica Patterson?
A: Well, JP’s definitely a great champion. She’s won a lot of races and a lot of championships because she knows how to win, and she trains very hard. I have a good relationship with all the girls, but when we’re on the track, we’re racing. When I raced in Europe, Livia Lancelot (the 2008 Women’s World Motocross Champ) and I even hit each other and went down, but it’s really just about racing on the track. When we’re off the track, I’m friends with everybody. The other girls and I have a good relationship, and that’s the way I think it should be…
