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Supercross & Motocross
WMX: Anything But Drama Free
Even while their male counterparts continue to do battle, the Women’s Motocross Championship is providing the highest drama of the season.
Team Honda Muscle Milk's Ashley Fiolek (Photo: Honda Red Riders)
While title leaders Ryan Dungey and Blake Baggett, along with their respective challengers in the 450 and 250 classes, continue to generate attention as the 2012 motocross season approaches the home stretch, it’s the women of the WMX Class who have actually provided the most captivating competition this summer.
Sure, stalwarts Jessica Patterson, Tarah Gieger, and Ashley Fiolek have separated themselves from the field, but the way this championship is shaping up, we are in for a spectacular conclusion.
As expected, the season began with Fiolek, the reigning champion, and Patterson, the most successful women’s rider of all time, staking their claim to the title early. Following closely behind was Gieger, who has cemented herself as the third member of the division’s “big three.”
Patterson made the switch from Star Yamaha to Rockstar Energy Racing Suzuki this season and meshed quickly with her new bike, Meanwhile Fiolek’s continued involvement with Team Honda Muscle Milk developed even further with the addition of a teammate in Sayaka Kaneshiro. As for Gieger, her strong relationship with Troy Lee Designs/Lucas Oil Honda entered its next phase, with the veteran rider prepared to capitalize on any of her rivals’ mistakes.
To no one’s surprise, Patterson and Fiolek traded wins to start the season. However, the third round proved to be the first major turning point of the season. While leading the second moto, Fiolek went down and hard. She finished the race to salvage a spot on the overall podium, but the physical damage threatened to end her title defense early.
Fiolek admitted that she was a bit woozy through the remainder of the moto and has only a vague memory of even finishing. Follow-up tests revealed she had suffered a concussion, eliminating her from action for the following round.
In her chief rival’s absence, Patterson took control of the championship, winning at Thunder Valley and securing her third race win the very next weekend at High Point. However, while opening up a 33-point lead, Patterson wasn’t perfect. Gieger kept her honest and nearly stole High Point. Yet without Fiolek on the track, it was hard for much ground to be made up on the six-time champ.
While out of action, Fiolek also discovered an additional injury -- a fractured pelvis -- which, combined with the lengthy recovery process from her concussion, forced her to withdraw from the X-Games, where she stands as one of the event’s biggest draws.
With a three-week break in action before hitting the halfway point of the season, Fiolek healed up and was ready to fight back despite the considerable damage done to her quest for a fourth championship. She entered RedBud facing with a massive 63-point deficit to Patterson, however, in the downtime from competition, the points leader suffered her own season-threatening injury, breaking her hand in training.
Despite a severely-swollen hand that she could barely even use to hold onto the bike, Patterson chose to race at RedBud regardless of the pain.
Fiolek took full advantage of her opportunity get back into the championship picture, dominating at her home race. Gieger tentatively assumed control of the championship, and closed to within nine points of the lead after Patterson fought to a 14th-place finish.
Sure, stalwarts Jessica Patterson, Tarah Gieger, and Ashley Fiolek have separated themselves from the field, but the way this championship is shaping up, we are in for a spectacular conclusion.
As expected, the season began with Fiolek, the reigning champion, and Patterson, the most successful women’s rider of all time, staking their claim to the title early. Following closely behind was Gieger, who has cemented herself as the third member of the division’s “big three.”
Patterson made the switch from Star Yamaha to Rockstar Energy Racing Suzuki this season and meshed quickly with her new bike, Meanwhile Fiolek’s continued involvement with Team Honda Muscle Milk developed even further with the addition of a teammate in Sayaka Kaneshiro. As for Gieger, her strong relationship with Troy Lee Designs/Lucas Oil Honda entered its next phase, with the veteran rider prepared to capitalize on any of her rivals’ mistakes.
To no one’s surprise, Patterson and Fiolek traded wins to start the season. However, the third round proved to be the first major turning point of the season. While leading the second moto, Fiolek went down and hard. She finished the race to salvage a spot on the overall podium, but the physical damage threatened to end her title defense early.
Fiolek admitted that she was a bit woozy through the remainder of the moto and has only a vague memory of even finishing. Follow-up tests revealed she had suffered a concussion, eliminating her from action for the following round.
In her chief rival’s absence, Patterson took control of the championship, winning at Thunder Valley and securing her third race win the very next weekend at High Point. However, while opening up a 33-point lead, Patterson wasn’t perfect. Gieger kept her honest and nearly stole High Point. Yet without Fiolek on the track, it was hard for much ground to be made up on the six-time champ.
While out of action, Fiolek also discovered an additional injury -- a fractured pelvis -- which, combined with the lengthy recovery process from her concussion, forced her to withdraw from the X-Games, where she stands as one of the event’s biggest draws.
With a three-week break in action before hitting the halfway point of the season, Fiolek healed up and was ready to fight back despite the considerable damage done to her quest for a fourth championship. She entered RedBud facing with a massive 63-point deficit to Patterson, however, in the downtime from competition, the points leader suffered her own season-threatening injury, breaking her hand in training.
Despite a severely-swollen hand that she could barely even use to hold onto the bike, Patterson chose to race at RedBud regardless of the pain.
Fiolek took full advantage of her opportunity get back into the championship picture, dominating at her home race. Gieger tentatively assumed control of the championship, and closed to within nine points of the lead after Patterson fought to a 14th-place finish.
SX Seattle
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