Ashley’s Column — From Italy, With Love

Circa 2010

Since there are no races going on in the United States right now, some of my sponsors have had me out doing other fun things in while I wait for my training period to end and for my season to start.

Last weekend my mom and I went to a NASCAR race in Bristol, Tennessee, where we got to meet and hang out with the Red Bull race team. I wasn’t sure what to expect but I had a fantastic time! Some of the Red Bull gang that I know from California flew out, too, and met up with me and my mom in North Carolina before we all drove over to Bristol.

Once in Bristol, we met up with Kyle from Red Bull. Kyle works the race circuit and really hooked me up! I got to meet Brian Vickers and Scott Speed from the race team, I got to sit in both of their cars when they were out on the starting grid, and I also got to sit in the pit box. The morning before the races, my mom and I even got to take a ride in the pace car. I sat in front and my mom was in back. It was a blast, but my mom was hanging on for dear life and had her eyes closed most of the time!

It is nice to have sponsors who are involved in other things besides motocross because it means I get the chance to have different “sporting” experiences. I hope I get to have some of these experiences again!

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Today I am writing you from Italy, where I was sent to participate in Red Bull Moto Chix. Ten amateur female riders from Italy were picked to participate in this show. My job, along with Stefy Bau (a retired professional motocross rider and FIM coordinator), was to work with the girls for a couple of days and get them ready for their big race. The prize awarded at the end of the race was a trip to the US for this year’s MxOn Des Nations in Lakewood, Colorado.

It took us four hours to get from the airport to the location where filming and racing would take place. Once we got there, we stayed in a big castle-like hotel that had a beautiful view and great food! I also got to ride on the track that the girls would race on for practice. It was a different kind of track than what I usually drive in the US. This track was longer and had more large hills than I’m used to!

It is nice to have sponsors who are involved in other things besides motocross because it means I get the chance to have different “sporting” experiences. I hope I get to have some of these experiences again!

check this out

The whole experience of working with the girls was a lot of fun, and I am glad I got to meet and hang out with them. One time, when I was sitting on my bike, all of the girls gathered around me and Stefy. As Stefy gave them some riding instructions, the girls all started looking around and looking at each other. I didn’t know what was going on, so I looked over at my dad to see what was happening. He signed to me that everyone could hear some kind of “beeping” noise, and that everyone was trying to figure out what it was. Suddenly, the girls started moving closer and closer to me. Then one of the girls pointed down to my cardio watch! I was like, “Oops, my bad! That means it is 6:00 in America.” I guess when you are deaf you don’t really need a beeping alarm to go off!

Now I am back in Northern Italy, close to Milan, and will hang out here for a few days before my dad and I head over to Bulgaria for the first round of the FIM Women’s World Championship. I can’t wait! It’ll be fun to see all of the girls and race with them again.

And I hope to see you at an outdoor USA national this year!

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