I hadn’t been riding that much since I left motocross in 2012, but this year I was eager to get back to it. So recently I’ve been out at the track more, where I’ve started a new relationship with the outdoor product manufacturer Husqvarna. My agent spoke with the Husky people, and they were able to let me ride a 125 2 stroke, and I just love it! It’s so much fun, the power is smooth and the bike is wicked fast! Even though I’m kind of small, the bike just feels right. It’s super light and easy for me to whip it!
Taking the competition out of riding makes it even more fun. I can go when I want and ride with any of my friends. I still workout and train, but at my own pace. Everyone keeps asking me about racing. Although I don’t plan to do any this year, I might sign on for special events, so watch my twitter, because I sometimes throw out there where I’ll be riding and maybe you can come and ride with me, or just hang out and watch.
I have to admit that I’ve been a little bored since I stopped racing fulltime, so I’m starting up the Ashley Fiolek Foundation. During my motocross years, I had opportunities to visit deaf schools and other organizations to talk to children about not giving up and always pursuing their dreams. It was a truly rewarding experience and I want to be able to continue doing that with the foundation. I’ve been working with my dad and my agent on this project. It’s a slow process, but it’s worthwhile and I’m sure it’ll be awesome once everything is up and running.
The first of my ideas is the Dirt Bike Outreach (DBO) program. The idea behind it is to visit different organizations and speak to kids about their visions for their lives. My idea is to try and get them to understand that absolutely anything is possible, if you’re willing to work hard and surround yourself with the right people. I want them to understand that racing a dirt bike for a professional team was my dream and even though some people said it wouldn’t happen, it did!
When I finish the short DBO presentation, where I talk about how motocross changed my life, we’ll all go out and ride dirt bikes. It’ll just be a simple beginner course that gives kids a feel for how exciting riding can be. I don’t expect anyone to become a racer from this program; I just want them to see my passion for riding, and get passionate about whatever it is in their life they like to do. That way they’ll be able to make their dreams a reality, too.
At the end of the day, I just hope it will be one of the best experiences they’ve had so far!