Honda Red Bull Racing’s Ashley Fiolek successfully wrapped-up the 2009 Women’s Motocross Championship at the final round of the series held at Steel City Raceway in Delmont, PA, over the weekend, overcoming a broken collarbone to clinch the Women’s title for the second consecutive year. The gutsy Honda rider has dominated the women’s motocross all-season-long aboard her Honda CRF250R. She took five-straight overall round victories, won 10 of 14 races and captured the championship with a 5-point margin over second place, fellow Honda rider Jessica Patterson.
Launching from the Steel City start gate in sixth place in moto one, Ashley raced her way up to second position behind Patterson when she cross rutted and crashed, breaking her collarbone. Doing the math and knowing she only needed to finish in 11th position or better to seal the championship, the 18-year-old courageously remounted and battled through the pain and the pack to grab seventh at the checkers and her second professional motocross title.
"Coming into the final round I knew I just had to ride smart in order to win," said Fiolek. "I got away to a great start at the beginning of the season, winning the first five rounds, and I had a big enough points lead that I only needed to finish the first moto in eleventh place or better to earn enough points to take the title. I was in second place when I crashed but I made myself keep going.
"I’m so excited to win the Women’s Motocross title for the second year in a row. It’s been an amazing debut season with the Honda Red Bull Racing team and I’ve had so much fun. The entire team works so hard and they’ve given me a lot of support throughout the whole season. I’ve learned a lot along the way which is just amazing."
With the title wrapped-up, Fiolek received trackside medical attention and missed participating in moto two. Honda’s Jessica Patterson went on to win both motos and the overall on her CRF250R, finishing the series in second for the second straight year.
