How I got started

My name is Amber Hughes I raced motocross from the age of six until I started college in 1997 at the age of 17. My cousin had a dirt bike, and like all girls I wanted everything he had. So Christmas 1986 I got my first PW 50. I raced from then on and accomplished many things during my motocross career. I was fully sponsored by a variety of people including: American Suzuki, Cernic Suzuki, AXO, Renthal, Mechanix, Pro Circuit, Scott USA, Motul Oils, Shoei, Hammerhead Graphics, Acerbis, Pro Choice, Dunlop, Lab Tek, Braking, Cometic Gaskets, Wiseco, EK Chain, Fog City, and Action Photos. In April of 2002 I started racing again. I was racing casually for fun until I decided to go for it all in 2004. While training I suffered a torn ACL and had to have it repaired at the end of 04. Since then I have just raced casually. I am again interested in making a go of racing full time again before I turn 30.

Goals for the Future

For the 2010 race season i will have just turned 30 and can not compete in the +30b/c class at Lorettas. I am very much looking forward to training and setting my goal for the year for a top 5 in Women and +30b/c. I know i can do it. Once my leg is healed from the horrible break this year. I will be able to train and ride and work to accomplish that goal.

Why do you like this sport?

Motocross is in my blood. It was very odd to have the girl racing when I started back in 1986 now it is a lot more common to see women racing. Growing up it was very satisfying for me to beat all the boys, it kept me moving forward. Motocross is an independent sport, you can go out and ride your hardest and know that only you can make a difference with your results. Motocross has the best people, I have met so many lifelong friends in the sport as well as sponsors that still remember me from "back in the day." Traveling is the best part of motocross, going to all the different parts of the country, racing the different tracks and the time away from home.

Some Personal Information About Me:

I have been a very active and determined person my whole life. As well as racing when i was growing up I was maintaining a 3.8 GPA, doing Poms with my school and dancing (tap, ballet and jazz) on a competitive level. I stopped racing and went to college and received a degree in accounting, I am now a tax accountant and have just received my Masters in Taxation and have passed the CPA exam. I have always been very active and have kept myself very busy. I am a determined person that sets my goals high and really reaches them.

I am the only female racer to qualify and race in all the stock youth classes that were available at Lorreta Lynns Amateur Nationals. I started in the 50cc class in 1988 and went to 60's, 80's, then in 1995 raced the schoolboy class and finished a respectable 22nd out of 42. I had the holeshot in one of Schoolboy motos and was featured in the Racer X paper in an ad for Cernic's Suzuki using the holeshot photo. I competed in LL for 10 years in a row.

2009 - Broken Tib/Fib and Tib Plateau in Febraury. Was out all season, due to the surgery needing to be re-done after 5 months of non-union.

2008 -
Raced regionally in the MDRA, Gold Series, MAMA, Ultimate Series and misc races in District 6 and 7. I have not lost a race yet this year in the Womans class. I switch to a Yamaha after racing my entire career on a Suzuki, which was very different for me. I chased Yamaha bucks races and did not follow any series. I broke my Navicular in July and that put me out for 12 weeks. I also started pit bike racing.

2005, 2006 & 2007 -
Raced regionally - winning all but 2 womens class races entered. I also raced +25B where available. I tried to race mostly Suzuki buck races, including District 5 Spring Series, District 7 Gold Series, District 13 Extreeme Factory Series, Ultra Series, Loretta Area`s and local races.

2004 -
Raced regionally, winning all the womens classes entered, but mostly riding the collegeboy, 125C and 4 stroke class, consistenly in the top5.

2003 -
Raced locally, winning all the womens classes but mostly competing in the collegeboy and alumni class of Mid Atlantic Motocross Association.

2002 (1st year back) -
Finished 6th overall at Budds Creek in the Pro Womens Class (3,9), 1st overall in the Women?s Class of Mid Atlantic Motocross Association and holding Schools for beginner motocross riders

1997 ?
Finished 14th at Loretta Lynn?s after a DNF in moto two. My results were (3,42,1)
Finished 1st at Washougal Motocross National in the AMA/Women?s Outdoor Series
Finished 1st at Unadilla in the AMA/Women?s Outdoor Series

1996-
Finished 1st - High Point in the AMA/Women?s Outdoor Series
Finished 10th - High Point in the Amateur day B class (there were 96 entries in the class)
Finished 2nd - Unadilla in the AMA / US Women?s outdoor series
Seeded 1st for the RM cup in the B class for our region
Loretta Lynn?s ? broke my wrist in practice

1995 ? This was a exciting year for me. I became a member of the U.S. Women?s Motocross Team. I usually raced against guys, as we have very few women in the Mid- Atlantic Region. MTEG sponsored a Women?s stadium cross series.

Finished 1st ? Anaheim Supercross
Finished 1st ? Anaheim Off road
Finished 1st - San Diego Supercross
Finished 1st ? San Diego Off road
Finished 4th ? Loretta Lynn Women?s Class
Finished 22nd ? Lorretta Lynn 12-15 Youth Class

I am proud of my many accomplishments since I started racing on a 50cc bike. I won the Maryland State Championship in 1995 and in the previous years. I also was the State Championships in New Jersey and Pennsylvania and finished #1 in District 7 AMA in 1988, 1990, 1991, and 1992.