
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 2nd’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.