Ashton Pope

SPORT: Motocross
LOCATION: Miles, TX

CHECK OUT HER PROFILE

Monster Army:  Ashton, you have been killing it this year racing.  You are starting to set up yourself up for a good run at turning pro soon.  Update everyone to some of your highlights over the last few years. 

Ashton: The last couple of years I have been jumping around different series just trying them all out. Last year I won the National Enduro in Nevada. I have gotten top 5 in the Womens Pro/AA class in WORCS. Also took two 2^nd’s from the OMA Nationals.  

MA:  What is it like being a ripping teenage girl racer living in Texas?

Ashton: Its has its advantages and disadvantages. I live in West Texas so I always have to travel really far for the races. But I get to ride year round and a lot of great tracks are within 3 hrs of my house.  

MA:  Why is Texas heaven to any racer who wants to be pro one day?

Ashton: In Texas you can ride all year round and don’t have to worry about snow or anything like that. Texas also has a lot of really great tracks. We also have a lot of fast riders here to look up to.  

MA:  Describe your style of riding as you see it?  Do you see yourself as more flowing or more aggressive?  Give us some details.

Ashton: I would say my style was more flowing but I am really trying to be more aggressive especially when it comes to moto.  

MA:  Do you see being a girl as a help to you or does it make it harder to get sponsorship?

Ashton: I think in some cases being a girl has its advantages over a guy. But guys can make a living at this sport , I think eventually it will get that way for the women too. Especially with awesome women riders we have out there today.  

MA:  Tell us about your home town.  What is it like?

Ashton: I live in a small town called Miles. It is a farming community and there is only like 800 people in the town. I am the only one that rides in my town so I have to ride by myself a lot. Rodeo is really big here so a lot of people in my town think that racing dirtbikes is easy and stupid.  

MA:  How did you become such a good rider?  Run us thru when you first started to ride and who was your influence in getting started.

Ashton: My dad was my biggest influence. I started to ride when I was 12 years old. It just started out as a weekend thing, then my dad built me a track at my house. He started working with me. I ride at least 3 times during the week and every time I would go out there and ride he would be out there coaching me and helping me get better and still does.  So I have to give a lot of credit to my dad for my helping me as much as he does.  

MA:  I know a lot of riders who live in Texas have enough land around their house they can ride daily.  Can you ride your moto at your house?

Ashton: Yes! Since I live in a farm town there is nothing but fields around me. I have a small arenacross track, a corner track and also made some trails in my pasture. Its really nice just pull your bike out of your garage and go ride.  

MA:  Besides all the free product you get, what is the best part about being a good rider?

Ashton: I think the best part is all the people you meet throughout the years and places I travel to go race. Also representing a company like Monster is something to really be proud of. 

MA:  I know you have ridden many styles moto.  What is your favorite to compete in?

Ashton: I really love riding moto and offroad. So the races that combine the two are my favorite.  

MA:  How do you find the needed time with school and homework to continue to progress your riding?

Ashton: I just learned how to balance it all. I also have a part time job at Gold’s Gym in San angelo, which is 20 min from my house. I work in the mornings, come home in the afternoons to ride and work out then do my homework at night. Except Tuesday and Thursdays cause that’s when I have all my classes set up on those days.  

MA: What are you goals for the 2010 season?

Ashton: To finish top 5 at every round of WORCS next year in the Women’s Pro/AA class and hopefully to get into the WMA and run all the rounds.