Photos by Carl Stone

When we see the image of the world Motocross racing, the picture comes to mind: Boys who like to get themselves dirty in a Motocross event unafraid of the numerous falls and other mishaps, revving up and roaring at every turn, with their tooth chipped; they eventually got dirt sprayed on their faces trailing behind someone very special, who is very unique. The boys’ comfort zone is about to be compromised.

Entering into this picture is Ashley Fiolek, an 18 year old deaf champion motocross rider from St. Augustine, Florida, she is the the first deaf person to ever win the American Motocross Association’s (AMA) National Championship, and is no. 1 in the United States, she currently is the points leader also. She also has a list of sponsors including Honda, Red Bull, and T-Mobile.

She was also the first female rider ever on the Honda Red Bull Factory Racing Team.

“I was the first woman to be on a factory team. I ride for the Honda Red Bull racing team and it is a great feeling to be the first woman to do this,” Fiolek said proudly.

She has broke yet another barrier for women, deaf or hearing, by shredding the stereotype that girls are not good enough to compete in boy’s motocross, Fiolek was better than most boys in her age, she was more daring, by calculating the turns being careful, holding the lines and keeping the lead.

Due to her deafness, she has to be “absolutely sure that a lane is clear before moving over,”  Fiolek explained.

In fact she is so talented that people don’t realize that she is deaf.

“Some people don’t know I am deaf until I stand in the podium after winning an event,” Fiolek says with an incredulous look. Last year was her first full year in the Women’s pro series and she wanted to be on the Podium every race. People are discovering who she is because of her newfound podium presence, which was becoming a regularity.

“I wound up winning the series in my rookie year so this year I just want to try and improve my lap times and to try and win the championship again,” Fiolek states.

With the rigors of the sport and the nicks that come with it, nothing can daunt her, noting that “In my sport all riders are bound to get hurt,” Fiolek states, “as matter of fact, I have broken my wrist, collarbones, humerus, and even my nose.”

Fiolek didn’t get to the top on her own. Her mother, Roni, takes care of all “behind the scenes” stuff, her father Jim is the riding coach, and her 5-year old brother is the cheerleader.

Her mother Roni said, “Ashley wanted to race and ride ever since she was about 3 years old, It was in her heart and it was her passion,” pointing out, “My husband and I never drove fancy cars or had a big house because we always wanted to support Ashley in her dreams.”

It was a fitting statement because her parents have had a passion for the Motocross racing sport, even before she was born.

Conceded Fiolek gratefully, “My family has always been there for me my whole amateur racing career, and now my professional career,” emphasizing that “I know they have given up a lot for me and I really appreciate them.”

“I feel that motocross helped shape who I am, making me feel more confident about myself,” a smiling Fiolek said.

“I think supporting your children no matter what they are involved in is extremely important to their success and growth as a person,” Ashley’s father Jim said. “With Ashley, it has been easy to get behind her to help her reach her goals and dreams, especially when you see how hard she works and how much heart she puts into everything she does!”

“Of course sacrifices have been made by the whole family but when you see Ashley doing what she loves and succeeding, inspiring kids and adults including me and her mom, and being a role model to younger kids, it is all worth it,” said Jim. “We will do the same for our son Kicker.”

Roni glowingly confided, “When Ashley was younger an older fellow woman motocross racer said “Ashley will change the way the world looks at our sport!”

She and her husband Jim thought that was a little heavy to be saying about a nine year old; she had just started competing at seven years old, and by the time she was in the girls 9-13 class came the eye-opening revelation, “Now we see what she meant!”

Miki Keller, who founded the W.M.A. (Women’s Motocross Association) in 2004, mused “I kind of expected when she got to the pro class that she would do well, but not that she would dominate the way she has.”

Fiolek grew up in Michigan and attended a total communications school. Then she and her family moved to Florida to train year-round to compete in major Motocross events, enrolling at Florida School for the Deaf and Blind remaining there until the 9th grade when she started being home-schooled under the Keystone National High School. When she was a Junior, she switched to a school for athletes called OnTrack, where she recently graduated, receiving her High School diploma.

Fiolek was recently selected as one of Purple’s 2009 Dream Bigger Trailblazers.

With her eyes brimming being bestowed such an honor, she said, “I think its awesome to be selected, I was really shocked when they notified me of this award,” gushing, “It feels really good to be nominated with the other winners in the trailblazers and it is nice to get my story out there because I want Deaf people to realize that they can do anything that they want to do and you should never stop dreaming or setting goals for yourself!”

Concluded Roni, “Ashley has brought together the hearing, male dominated sport of motocross, to the deaf, woman side of motocross and it is a wonderful feeling. She inspires a lot of people and we get a flood of emails that talk about how she inspires people all of the time.”

Gleamed Roni, “She also inspires me everyday and I am proud she is my daughter.”

**Ashley Fiolek Statistics**

2008
1st AMA/WMA Women’s National Motocross Championship
2nd GNC International Final, Women 99-250F Pro
2007
1st Lake Whitney Spring Classic, Women’s 99-250cc 12+ Amateur
1st GNC International Final, Women’s 99-250F n/p
1st World Mini Grand Prix, Girls 65-85cc
5th WMA Steel City National
6th AMA/WMA Drill Tech Women’s Cup
2007 Xtremey Award – Most Inspirational Athlete
2006
1st Lake Whitney Spring Classic, Girls 12-15 85-105cc
1st GNC International Final, Women’s 99cc and up (250 max)
1st NMA National Championships – Women’s 125-250cc, Girls 65-85cc
AMA Winter National Olympics – 1st Women’s Supercross 99cc and up, 3rd Women’s Motocross 99cc and up
AMA Amateur National Motocross Championships – 11th boys 85 Mod 14-15, 14th Women’s 99cc-250cc
2005
1st GNC International Final, Women’s 99cc and up (450 max)
1st Branson MX National Championship, Girls 12-15 class
7th AMA Amateur National Motocross Championships, Women’s 99cc and up
#1 Woman/Girl Amateur Racer of the Year, Amateur MX magazine
2004
*Champion – AMA Amateur National Motocross Championships, Girls 9-13 class
1st AMA Winter National Olympics, Supercross Girls 9-13 class
1st AMA Winter National Olympics, Motocross Girls 9-13 class
AMA Youth Motocrosser of the year
AMA Youth Rider of the Year
AMA Winter National Olympics – Thor MX Outstanding Achievement award
* First deaf person to win an AMA National Championship

PROFILE
Born: Oct. 22, 1990, Dearborn Heights, Michigan
Residence: St. Augustine, Florida
National #: 67
Began riding: 1993, age 3
First race: 1998, age 7
Training: biking, motocross
Hobbies: Writing, drawing, photography, making videos, texting/IM
Height/weight: 5’2”/106 pounds
Current racebike: Honda CRF250R
Mechanic: Cody Wolf