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BEND, Ore. (June 28, 2007) – Two rounds into its 2008 season, the AMA/WMA Women’s Motocross National Championship Presented by Kawasaki has experienced tremendous growth and more exposure than ever before. Thanks to a stellar lineup of talented riders and tremendous support from its sponsors and affiliates, the WMA is taking the next step towards the national spotlight.
Arguably the biggest news to come out of the series this season is the addition of Women’s MotoX to the ESPN Summer X Games this August. The largest extreme sports event in the world, the X Games will help boost the sport of women’s motocross onto the front pages of the newspapers and television screens all over the world.
Another factor in the WMA’s recent rise is the story of the series’ current points leader and only overall winner, 17-year old Ashley Fiolek. In addition to being one of the fastest riders on the track and receiving outstanding support from her bike manufacturer Honda, Fiolek possesses a quality that separates her from not only her competitors, but the majority of individuals to ever ride a motorcycle. She is deaf.
Picking up the sport 10 years ago at the age of seven, this St. Augustine, Fla. native followed her father into one of the world’s toughest disciplines. When she began, she aspired to be the first woman to race in a men’s national event. Now, she is working towards a women’s national championship in her first year as a professional.
Without the ability to hear the revs of the engine as a notification, Fiolek learned how to shift by feeling the vibrations through the bike. A technique taught to her by her father.
“Because I am profoundly deaf since birth I had to learn how to shift by ‘feeling’ the vibrations of my bike,” said Fiolek. “Most kids learn by hearing when it is time to shift so my dad had to sit with me and the bike and help me learn how to sense things.”
She quickly moved up through the amateur ranks, garnering nine championships from 2004 to 2006, including the 2004 Loretta Lynn’s Amateur National Championship, her favorite track. In 2007 she began her professional career, making her debut at the WMA season finale at Steel City where she finished fifth overall. Prior to the start of the AMA/WMA Women’s Motocross National Championship this season, she entered the FIM Women’s Motocross World Championship. Boasting a best overall finish of third, she currently sits third in the points and will continue to pull double duty throughout the summer.
While her dream to compete with the men is still a very real possibility, considering she has been as close as 1.5 seconds away from a qualifying spot, Fiolek is content where she stands and is proud to be a part, if not the face of the evolutionary period of women’s motocross.
“This is my first full year racing the WMA Nationals, it is a big change from the amateur scene and I am really enjoying it. I have been riding dirt bikes for over 10 years now and it has given me so much confidence and it is definitely what I love and my passion in life.”
The AMA/WMA Women’s Motocross National Championship Presented by Kawasaki continues its season today at Thunder Valley, in Lakewood, Colo., before moving on to races in Washougal, Wash., Southwick, Mass., and Delmont, Pa. The ESPN Summer X Games debut August 1-2 from Los Angeles.
Interview opportunities are available to the media by contacting AMA Toyota Motocross Championship media coordinator Brandon Short via email at Media@MXNationals.com or by phone at 951-203-2605.
For more information on the AMA Toyota Motocross Championship, presented by FMF, log on to www.amamotocross.com for live timing and scoring at @theWireLIVE!. Racer X Illustrated will host a new and improved webcast on www.motocross.com, with live racing action hosted by Jason Weigandt. The Racer X Motocross Show on Motocross.com has also been added on Saturday night of each race weekend, featuring practice footage and interviews taken earlier in the day.
Credential requests for each round of the 2008 AMA Toyota Motocross Championship Presented by FMF must be submitted via email to Media@MXNationals.com three weeks prior to the race. Media members interested in interviews with the riders of the AMA Toyota Motocross Championship Presented by FMF should contact Brandon at 951-203-2605 or email Media@MXNationals.com.
The Women's Motocross Association (WMA) owns and operates the women's professional motocross series, known as the AMA/WMA Women's National Motocross Championship, the WMA Cup event which is the worlds largest women's motocross event - and also promotes women's amateur-class racing, through the WMA membership organization at its events. The WMA has an American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) charter and the AMA sanctions all WMA events. The WMA is committed to the promotion of women's racing, providing the highest quality women's motocross events and creating opportunities for women in all areas of the sport. For more about WMA visit www.wmaracing.com.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Brandon Short
Media@MXNationals.com
(951) 203-2605
Fiolek Goes Two-for-Two in
AMA/WMA Women’s National Motocross at Wortham
WORTHAM, Texas (June 8, 2008) – Rookie phenom Ashley Fiolek took her second win of the season on Sunday at round two of the AMA/WMA Women’s National Motocross Championship Presented by Kawasaki. The American Honda/Red Bull/Alpinestars rider swept the weekend’s motos at the Monster Energy Freestone Motocross National Presented by Yamaha, Kicker Audio, and Berkey’s Plumbing.
Fiolek took Saturday’s moto after grabbing the Meterman Holeshot Award and showcased one of the greatest races in WMA history with a head-to-head battle with American Honda/Honda of Houston/Fox Racing/Bad Boy Energy Drink’s Jessica Patterson, winning by just half a bike length.
In the final moto, it was Fiolek again nabbing the holeshot with Patterson in tow. The two Honda riders resumed their battle until Patterson found trouble and stalled her bike, allowing Suzuki/Shift’s Sarah Whitmore to assume the runner-up spot. Fiolek would cruise to sweep the weekend’s motos, leading every lap during the 30-plus minutes of racing.
“This is just unreal,” said Fiolek. “I never expected to go wire-to-wire in both motos. It’s too bad that Jessica (Patterson) had her problems. I enjoyed racing with her. She brought out the best in me. The last thing I expected after two rounds was to be the points leader.”
Whitmore maintained her hold on second in the moto to take the runner-up position overall while Team Green Kawasaki’s Tatum Sik continued her impressive riding for third in the final moto. Pro Tok/John Burr Kawasaki’s Mariana Balbi rounded out the overall podium after a fourth place in moto two.
The AMA/WMA Women’s National Motocross Championship Presented by Kawasaki resumes in two weeks at Thunder Valley Motocross Park in Lakewood, Colo. The series is also sponsored by: Honda Rider’s Club of America, Dunlop Tires, Alpinestars, The Original Pink Box, Thor MX Gear, Drill Tech Drilling and Shoring, Team Powermadd, Polisport, Bad Boy Turbo Shot and ZLT Racing.
AMA/WMA Women’s National Motocross Championship Presented by Kawasaki
Freestone County Raceway – Wortham, Texas
June 8, 2008
Round 2 of 6
AMA/WMA Women’s National Motocross Championship (Moto Finish)
- Ashley Fiolek, St. Augustine, Fla., Honda, 1-1
- Sarah Whitmore, Cheboygan, Mich., Suzuki, 3-2
- Mariana Balbi, Brazil, Kawasaki, 5-4
- Sherri Cruse, Bakersfield, Calif., Suzuki, 4-6
- Casuandra Regal, Kemp, Texas, Honda, 8-5
- Ayla Cabus, Riverside, Calif., Yamaha, 7-9
- Alisa Nix, Ukiah, Calif., Yamaha, 10-7
- Katie McGuire, Lancaster, Calif., Yamaha, 9-8
- Jessica Patterson, Tallahassee, Fla., Honda, 2-18
- Tatum Sik, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki, 22-3
AMA/WMA Women’s National Motocross Championship Points
- Ashley Fiolek, St. Augustine, Fla., Honda, 95
- Sarah Whitmore, Cheboygan, Mich., Suzuki, 80
- Jessica Patterson, Tallahassee, Fla., Honda, 64
- Mariana Balbi, Brazil, Kawasaki, 61
- Katie McGuire, Lancaster, Calif., Yamaha, 59
- Alisa Nix, Ukiah, Calif., Yamaha, 56
- Tatum Sik, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki, 56
- Sherri Cruse, Bakersfield, Calif., Suzuki, 48
- Tarah Gieger, Vero Beach, Calif., Yamaha, 48
- Ayla Cabus, Riverside, Calif., Yamaha, 46
Interview opportunities are available to the media by contacting AMA Toyota Motocross Championship media coordinator Brandon Short via email at Media@MXNationals.com or by phone at 951-203-2605.
For more information on the AMA Toyota Motocross Championship, presented by FMF, log on to www.amamotocross.com for live timing and scoring at @theWireLIVE!. Racer X Illustrated will host a new and improved webcast on www.motocross.com, with live racing action hosted by Jason Weigandt. The Racer X Motocross Show on Motocross.com has also been added on Saturday night of each race weekend, featuring practice footage and interviews taken earlier in the day.
Credential requests for each round of the 2008 AMA Toyota Motocross Championship Presented by FMF must be submitted via email to Media@MXNationals.com three weeks prior to the race. Media members interested in interviews with the riders of the AMA Toyota Motocross Championship Presented by FMF should contact Brandon at 951-203-2605 or email Media@MXNationals.com.
About the National Promoters Group (NPG)
The National Promoters Group (NPG) comprises 12 individual promoters of the AMA Toyota Motocross Championship Presented by FMF which sanctions outdoor motocross events throughout the United States, and remains the Nation's premier outdoor motocross championship series. NPG's mission is to raise awareness of motocross racing through the production of professional championship racing events nationwide.
About AMA Racing
AMA Racing is the competition arm of the American Motorcyclist Association and is the leading sanctioning body for motorcycle sport in the United States. Its professional properties include the Monster Energy® AMA Supercross Series, an FIM World Championship, the AMA Toyota Motocross Championship presented by FMF, the AMA Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited, the AMA Flat Track Championship, the AMA Supermoto Championship and the AMA Pro ATV Championship. In amateur and pro-am competition, AMA Racing sanctions over 4000 events in 24 different disciplines and supports over 110 thousand active members. For more information about professional racing, visit www.amaproracing.com. Accredited media outlets can also access an on line Press Room at www.amaproracing.com/pressroom. For amateur racing information visit www.amadirectlink.com/amrace/amasports.asp.
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I recently got back from California where I test rode the new Honda 150 CRF, it was a great experience and the bike really hauls!
I am getting ready for the Winter Olympics now and I am training and riding hard!
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We recently got back from Texas and I had a blast! I did pretty good at Lake Whitney and I won the girls 12-15 65-105 class on my stock 85 so I was pretty stoked about that!! From there we went to Oak Hill and I won the Womens amateur class 99 and up on my supermini! It sure was a mud-fest the last day at Oak Hill but alot of fun! Now I am just doing some different qualifiers to get ready for Loretta Lynns.....
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