From about the age of 7 I have always liked motorbikes, I remember seeing an electric motorbike in a catalogue and asking my mum if I could have it. We had a slight hill outside our house and I couldn't help but think how good it would be to go whizzing down it on this little bike. Unfortunately I didn't get my electric bike but I have certainly made up for it now.
At the age of 16 I took my CBT so that I could ride a moped on the road and then as soon as I was old enough I took my full bike licence. I couldn't wait to get a proper road bike, and had always dreamt of owning an Yamaha R1. When the time came that I wanted to buy a bike, I told my boyfriend Tony that I was going to buy one but he didn't seem keen on the idea, so he said he'd do me a deal. He offered to buy me a motocross bike in exchange for me not getting a road bike, so I agreed. And that's were it all started.

Tony's passion is motocross and he used to ride when he was a teenager but an unfortunate road bike accident ended his career and after Tony didn't have any involvement with the sport until I started riding.
So off we went to watch some motocross races. At first I didn't even think about racing bikes, I just wanted to ride and sure enough I came home one day to find Tony has bought me a Suzuki RM 85. I loved it and couldn't wait to ride it.

When the first time came to ride my Suzuki, I found it very strange trying to pull away on a sandy surface and the technique of riding a motocross bike is so much different to a road bike, so I think it was safe to say I was pretty useless that day.
Every weekend, off we went to little tracks where I could ride and get used to the bike and slowly I started to get better, then after about 6 months we decided it was time to get a bigger bike. The Suzuki was great because I could get my feet down easily but really it was too small for me so we swapped my little Suzuki RM 85 for a Honda CR125. The power of the 125 was really different from the 85 but it didn't take long to get used to it.

One weekend we went to watch some racing and I spotted a girl out there racing with the guys, I started to think that maybe I could race too. I started entering club level races and loved it even though I wasn't at the front, I still had a great time.
Eventually I upgraded again to a Honda CRF250 and found it much easier to ride. I practiced all the time and entered some girls and ladies meetings and earned reasonable results.
In February 2007 I had an unfortunate crash whilst training in Spain which left me with a broken Tibia and Fibula so I couldn‘t ride for about 2 years.
I started racing again in March 2009.

I raced just one full championship in 2009 and came 8th overall in the MCF Woman's Nationals. I came 1st at ORPA British Championship in ladies class. My best result at the British Championships this year was qualifying 7th and then getting 12th overall.

This year I will be racing the Ladies British Championship which is just 2 rounds, and the Cumbria Twinshock Club are hosting a 6 round Ladies Championship so I will look into racing these events. And then of course other races when I don't have races scheduled.

I'd like to thank a few people who have helped my throughout my 2009 season.

Firstly thanks to Tony for all your support over the years that I have been riding and racing, I couldn't have done it without you.
Keith Thorpe - You have been an awesome mechanic and has given me great confidence in my bike.
Ian Calvesbert from Fox Racing - Ian and the guys from Fox have been fantastic in supplying me with riding kit and casual clothing and supporting me even while I was injured.
Vic Allan - Thanks for giving me advise and words of wisdom and I feel privileged to have had the chance to work with you.
Dave Thorpe - Thank you for your help and advice recently. You have been a great inspiration to me with my riding and also with my training.
Johnny Valentine from Grafikprint - Thanks Johnny for the graphics for my 2009 season.
A P Gooch Ltd - Thank you for the sponsorship.
T Charles Builders - Thanks to Terry for helping me out with graphics and plastics for my bike, and for the bike parts.

Achievements:
SMX Ladies Champion in 2005
2nd at Cuijk, Holland in Ladies Class in 2006
11th at Girls National in 2004
13th at Girls National in 2005
10th at Girls National in 2006
2nd at ORPA British Championship in ladies class in 2006
1st at ORPA British Championship in ladies class in 2009
8th at MCF Woman's National Championship in 2009

Race Calendar for 2010:

Ladies British Championship:
RD1 - 28th February - Little Silver, Devon
RD2 - 26th September - Blaxhall, Woodbridge

Cumbria Twinshock Club:
17th/18th April - Armthorpe
5th/6th June - Hawkstone Park
10th/11th July - Mallory Park
25th July - Brampton
29th/30th August - Bassenthwaite
18th/19th September - Ponrillas

Links:
www.apgoochbasementwaterproofing.co.uk

Thank you to Girlracer for giving me great coverage throughout my 2009 season and promoting me as a female motocross racer, Cheers Gary and Julie!