LAKEWOOD — The telltale sign is the ponytail sticking out of the bottom of the helmet.
These aren’t your typical “sugar and spice and everything nice” girls. They are motocross racers, who were ready to show their worth Saturday in the fifth round of the AMA pro motocross championships at Thunder Valley Motocross Park.
Vicki Golden knows pain. She has been riding with a fractured wrist for about a month. Motocross racers put their bodies and lives on the line every time the bar drops to start the race. Some might caution that the track isn’t a place for girls.
Don’t tell that to Golden or Miki Keller, the founder of the Women’s Motocross Association and current women’s director for MX Sports. Women’s motocross has gained momentum in the past few years.
“It’s tough but things are changing really quickly,” Keller said. “I do think that more and more people are opening up to it and seeing it as another really important, legitimate championship.”
According to Keller, women have been racing in motocross events since the 1970s, but never have received much acknowledgment or publicity.
Golden, a 16-year-old rookie from El Cajon, Calif., recently was signed to the Geico Powersports Honda team. This is a big step, racing for a nationally recognized name.
“When you have a passion, you definitely want to get out and do your best and try as hard as you can to make it happen,” said Golden, who finished fourth overall in the women’s division behind the winner, Ashley Fiolek.
Fiolek, 18, has been dominant on the women’s circuit this year, leading the standings by more than 30 points. Fiolek, who is deaf, has been one of the prominent faces of women’s motocross. She won both races Saturday.
“I want to be the first woman to qualify with the boys,” Fiolek said as her dad, Jim, interpreted. “I definitely think I can do it if I keep pushing myself.”
Keller cites a new television deal with Versus as a boost for the sport’s profile.
Short falls short.
Ivan Tedesco won the 450cc class first moto race, with Colorado Springs native Andrew Short about eight seconds behind him. Short didn’t produce in the second moto, though, and couldn’t secure a win in front of his homestate crowd. Tedesco dominated both motos and cruised to the overall win, notching his first victory in the 450 outdoor series. Short finished second, and Tommy Hahn was third.
First win.
Jake Weimer, who was 10th in the 250 class standings going into Saturday’s race, grabbed the second moto and overall win. It was his first career win.
“This was something huge for me,” Weimer said after the race. “I didn’t know if I was going to ever get an outdoor win.”
Rustin Meyer of Colorado Springs was the top Colorado finisher in the second 250 race, finishing 25th, and 24th overall.
That’s gotta hurt.
Even though Mike Alessi broke his patella 20 days ago, he was up and racing at Thunder Valley on Saturday. Alessi, who is second in the 450 standings, crashed during his first moto and had to scoot off the track, grabbing his knee. After a few minutes, he got back on the bike and continued to race before pulling out early. He thought he might race the second moto, but didn’t line up.
Anica Wong: 303-954-1720 or awong@denverpost.com
