You two need no introduction, but tell us anything new in your lives outside of motocross.

Boy outside of motocross… Right now we are taking a break from motocross and motorcycles through the month of December. We are getting ready for the holidays and just doing family things, before Christmas we will go back to Michigan (that is where we are originally from) to celebrate the holidays with families. Some people don’t know but Ashley has a little brother, his name is Kicker, so when we are not doing motorcycle related things we are doing things with him, he is into skateboarding, riding his PW, playing video games, and of course eating junk food J

Jim, you put Ashley on the 125 two stroker last year and she seemed to handle the bigger bike well. How was it early on in the year ?

Actually early on it went better than expected, Ashley's first big bike race was at the Mini Olympics in SX, Ashley won the championship, we were so excited. Following the Mini Olympics, Ashley went to Texas and won both the Spring Classic and GNC championships. I don’t think we thought it would go that well, I mean Ashley trained for it but the transition to a big bike can be difficult! We went with the 2 stroke so Ashley could get use to the height first without the weight of a 4 stroke. Running a mod 144cc helps even the playing field with the 4 strokes so we didn’t see it as a disadvantage. Of course in the WMA you cannot bore or stroke the 125 so it was more difficult to race against some of the fastest professional women racers in the US, but now she is off the 125 and on a CRF250R and seems to be adjusting well.

Ashley, what was the jump to the big bike like for you ? What was better and what wasn't ?

Oh Wow, I love the big bike for sure I don’t miss my mini any more at all! I think my 125 has more power and it is smooth and easier to ride. The only thing that is more difficult is if I go down, then of course, it is a lot heavier to lift up then my 85 was.

 Jim, you mentioned going to the four stroke. When does that happen ?

Kind of already did, Ashley started riding and racing a CRF250R in California in October and really liked it! But our plan was for Ashley to ride the 125 though 2007. When we got home from California we needed to make a decision, ride the 4 stroke and have the power but not know if Ashley could start it if she fell or ride the 125 and be underpowered but know Ashley could start it. We chose to stick with our plan and race the WMA Cup in Texas over Thanksgiving weekend on a 125! Of course we didn’t get the results we wanted but Ashley rode the wheels of the 125! I am keeping one if Ashley decides to get lazy J

Ha !  Ashley, how different was it for you after being on two strokes for so long ?

 At first I wasn’t used to the 4 stroke and I was thinking "Oh no, I love my 125 more!" It took me awhile to get used to the changes on a 4 stroke. But then the next time that I got on one and was getting used to it I was thinking "Wow, I really like this"! 4 strokes have awesome power..ha ha. I can’t wait to be racing one!

Jim, I see you and Ashley at the track going over the layout and discussing each section. You two seem to have a good system in place as far as working together as a team. Tell us about that.

LOL… Well I think we do have a good program in place, which of course includes looking at the track and lines. Ashley has a ton of heart and never quits no matter how much she has to do to get something right. At the same time, Ashley and I are both stubborn so working together as much as we do can be challenging J We have our moments for sure but Ashley knows why she races a motorcycle and what she wants out of it so we just keep on working.

Ashley, what are some of the things your dad is able to help you out with when dissecting a track's layout ?

Well my dad and I always try and walk the track before a race. Then we have some plans in place before I practice so that when I am out there I can try some different things. It is nice to have someone else’s opinions and to have a plan before you just jump out there J

Jim, I guess you all were ready for a learning year on the big bikes. How would you grade Ashley in 2007 ?

Umm… Ashley won 3 championships at the first 3 nationals and things were going better than expected, at the World Mini’s Ashley struggled and then got hurt, forcing her to miss Ponca and LL which were to be her final amateur nationals. So as far as amateur racing goes on a big bike I would say an A. In August Ashley made her WMA professional debut in not so perfect conditions on an underpowered bike and still did very well so I guess professionally I would say a B.

Ashley, what did you accomplish in 2007 that you set out to do ? Was there anything that didn't happen that you had expected ?

Well I won Lake Whitney and Oak Hill but then I was hurt and didn’t make it to Loretta Lynn’s. 2007 was my last year there so that was something that I didn’t get to accomplish. I had planned on doing better at my first pro race but the weather was a little rough and I struggled a little. I will be back in 2008 with a new plan and some new goals that I am hoping to accomplish J

Jim, what are the plans as far as Ashley turning pro, and what is your opinion of women's motocross in this day and age ?

Ashley made her WMA professional debut in August at Steel City and finishing out 2007 at the Cycle Ranch in Texas for the WMA Cup. In 2008 Ashley will only race women professional events, the WMA and some AMA amateur events that have a women’s pro class. Ashley will go to Europe next year to compete in the 5 rounds of the FIM Women’s World Championship. Ashley will also continue to race amateur events in boy’s classes.

As far as women’s motocross goes I think it is getting bigger everyday and the industry should embrace it, ultimately women’s motocross will help the sport to grow and I think is a good way to get outside companies to put money into our sport! Of course women’s motocross is not without its problems, the fact that women professional motocrossers that hold WMA professional license racing for money are allow to race amateur events and race against 12+ year old amateur girls doesn’t seem to make a lot of sense and takes away from the validity of women’s professional motocross! It is funny, when MX Sports made the 35B/C class at LL, there were several forums with 10 page threads about Kevin Cozad racing the 35B/C because he once was a professional! Kevin doesn’t hold a pro license, not sure if he ever did yet people were in uproar about it. Yet no one seems to care that Ashley, Tarah, JP, or Sarah (women that hold professional licenses, that race for money, and make their livings as professional motocross racers) are allow to/can line up against 12 year old little girls on big wheels and beat up on them – hardly seems fair to the little girl trying to come up in the sport and make a name for herself in amateur motocross. In many cases these same girls choose not to attend races like LL because they feel like they won’t qualify if they drive across the country just to race a professional or they eventually quit. Either way it is not good for the sport as a whole! This is a problem that the governing bodies need to address and in the mean time Ashley is committed to only women’s professional motocross.

 Ashley, you get to spend a lot of time with your dad as a result of racing. What are some of the things you two are able to do while pursuing motocross and being on the road so much ?

My dad and I spend a lot of time together and that is pretty cool. We get to hang out and meet new people that all love mx as much as we do! I love to fly and he is a great guy to travel with and just have fun when we are not riding too! We have done some wakeboarding and rode go-karts and just have a good time J

Jim, you and Ashley have a really good rapport going as far as giving her signals and info during a race. Tell us a little about your system for doing this.

Well we do use a board but I don’t always write things down. Sometimes it is easier to just sign something to Ashley when she goes by. In many cases it is a sign that we have been using when we are doing drills or practicing so she knows what I want her to do so rather than write it down I just sign it! This way it is a secret J

Ashley, your dad always seems cool, calm and collected at the races. Is it always as smooth between you two as it appears ? Or do you sometimes have different opinions on things ?

Ha ha ha…Well I know my dad is always trying to help me out to do my best but sometimes we don’t always agree and we do argue with each other! Sometimes I will just go out and do it "my way" because I am stubborn then we will fight about that…but we both love each other and I know he is working for me so later on we can always resolve conflicts between the both of us!

What do you two do to celebrate a good outing at the races ?

I would like to say go out to eat but Ashley loves to eat so we do that anyway J I would say most of the time after a national, as a family we have all worked so hard to get prepared that when it is over we usually take a week vacation and enjoy things that don’t have anything to do with motocross.

Ash- Ha ha I get so happy and then me and my family go out to eat… I love to EAT! Haha…

Jim, if you could write the script for the remainder of Ashley's racing career, how would it go ?

Man that one gets me choked up… I think Ashley has already done some amazing things on a motorcycle and because of her heart and desire we have been able to enjoy a lot of things as a family above and beyond motocross! At the same time I know Ashley is not done with what she wants to accomplish so more will be written so I would say…

Ashley goes on to win a WMA championship (hopefully several)…

Ashley goes to Europe and wins an FIM world championship (hopefully several)…

Ashley becomes the first woman to qualify for a men’s pro outdoor national (this is several years down the road)…

Ashley is one of many women motocross racers that help define women’s professional motocross and what women are capable of at that level…

Ashley through her racing inspires people to go out and do whatever they want to do in life…

And of course Disney make a movie about her J

How about you Ashley ? What do you need to accomplish in order for you to consider your racing career to be a complete success ?

Well I think everything that my dad said is pretty cool, I would love for all of that to happen! I would also just continue to meet more exciting people and I hope that one day when I am done racing (hopefully way in the future!) I will be able to have a job that is still dealing with MX and still doing what I love to do!

17. I gotta get the sponsors in here. Who all is helping you out ? Any special shout-outs you would like to give (either of you) ?

American Honda, Alpinestars, Red Bull, Oakley, Arai, Leatt, Pirelli, Factory Connection, Dubach Racing Development, ProTaper, Factory Backing, PowerMadd, Polisport, EVS, Kicker, OGIO, Braking, Vans, Cernics, and Donn Maeda at Transworld.

Thanks for the time, and best of luck in 2008 !

Doc Melloy #483