Ashley Fiolek - Pro Motocross Racer

[Note: If you don't know what's going on with a post like this, here's some background information!]

I absolutely love motocross, especially freestyle. I have this thing about extreme/action sports, specifically those seen at the X Games and the like. It's odd that I don't partake in these sports, given the fact I enjoy watching them so much, and an automotive/motorcycle enthusiast at heart...

One of those riders is 19 year old Ashley Fiolek, a two-time national champion in women's motocross (2008, 2009) and two-time gold medalist in Women's Super X at the X Games (2009, 2010). Winning championships and gold medals aren't what I find amazing about her, nor is the fact that she's such a young, winning rider at only 19. What I, and everyone else, find so inspiring is that she's racking up these wins, championships, and gold medals all while riding deaf! She hasn't heard anything her entire life.

To succeed in the sport, or even learn how to ride a dirt bike, you need to know how to shift. By listening to the engine, you'll eventually grasp the sound it'll make when you need to change gears. In a car or maybe on a fancier motorcycle, you have an RPM gauge to help you out. No such thing on a stripped down, racing dirt bike. Ashley had to learn how to feel the different vibrations of the bike to know when to shift. Not to mention you need to be able to hear the other riders around you, which is also something she's had to adjust to. Combine these things with the general act of throwing a 200+ pound motorcycle around a dirt track, jumps included, and have the raw talent to quickly become one of the elite riders, and Ashley Fiolek becomes today's inspirational figure. ;)

P.S. She's also a Christian rider, which is pretty cool. =)