the women’s motocross category might still be underground. Nearly ten years ago Miki developed the Women’s Motocross Association, or WMA, only 4 years after she had been introduced to a motocross bike at an event arranged by the snowboard industry. Her passion and drive to make more of the motocross scene led her to develop more women only classes at the various men’s MX races and with this the WMA was born. Taking a break from her challenges in the sport, Miki was super keen to share her experiences with me as well as some encouraging words to get the UK women as pumped as those friends of ours across the water.
is very accepting but there’s still a motocross industry resistance to really accepting women as pro racers. We are chipping away at that with racers like Ashley Fiolek on the American Honda team and Jessica Patterson on Rockstar Suzuki but we still struggle for time and exposure at the WMX Nationals in USA. But ESPN X Games has been very good about treating the women as pros since day one. There’s lots of talent in women’s racing these days. Meghan Rutledge out of Australia is fantastic, Sayaka Kaneshiro on Muscle Milk Honda, Kasie Creson and many more. There are some amateurs coming such as Jennifer Burton and Brandy Richards who are very fast. Also a young girl from New Zealand named Courtni Duncan that I think will be one to watch. I even do some training with a 7 year old girl in North Carolina named Gray Leadbetter. It is an exciting time for Women’s Motocross.”
we now have a handful of pro women making a very good living from racing
“I have seen a lot of change. There’s so many more females racing at all levels and the level of competition is much higher. The women are closing the gap between them and the men’s pro privateers in terms of speed and talent. Additionally we now have a handful of pro women making a very good living from racing as well as gear, product and programs aimed at female riders. I think the attitude toward female riders has changed and
The association was developed to nurture women’s professional racing and riding and today with motocross growing larger it covers more than just racing. With