BEVERLY — Speeding around the track, professional motocross racer Ashley Fiolek can't hear the engine on her bike. Instead, she uses the vibrations beneath her to tell when to shift.
"Some people don't get it," Fiolek said.
She's had friends try riding with their iPods on to block out the sound of the engine, and they have trouble.
"I guess I'm just used to it," she said. "You're in tune with the machine. If someone's behind me, I can see the shadow, or someone will sign how many seconds they're behind.
Fiolek, who is deaf, just went pro.
"I'm the first girl ever, in history, to be on the Honda Red Bull team," she said.
Fiolek doesn't mind getting dirty as she speeds around a dirt or clay off-road track, navigating ditches and jumps to beat other competitors.
The 18-year-old from Florida was out in western Massachusetts for the Southwick Pro National race last weekend and yesterday stopped by The Children's Center for Communication and Beverly School for the Deaf.
She spent some time getting to know the kids and riding around on her Honda 250 four-stroke motorcycle.
We caught up with her and an interpreter to find out what it's like to race and why, exactly, she dyed the tips of her hair.
So, I like your hair.
It's my good luck charm. Before a race in 2004 I decided to dye it just for fun, and I won, so now I always do it. It's always hot pink; that's what I like. It's a little faded, but I'll dye it before Saturday.
Your next race is in Delmont, Pa. How do you feel?
I hope it doesn't rain.
What's your favorite condition to ride in?
I like it dry and hot. I'm in good shape, and a lot of girls can't handle it. I also like clay tracks with deep ruts, because most girls have a hard time with that. My goal is I want to be the first woman to qualify to race on the guys' team. Right now, my lap times are so close to the guys'.
Have you ever beaten any of their times?
Oh yeah. But the thing about the guys is the race is 30 minutes, so you have to be in shape enough to do that.
And only 15 minutes for girls, right?
Yeah, sometimes I think I can do it, but I want to wait until I feel completely confident. I have to be 100 percent positive that I'm going to qualify, because if I don't, it will be bad for the woman's side of the sport.
Do you ever feel at a disadvantage because you're deaf?
I always felt like I didn't understand how being deaf was going to stop me. It's a hearing sport, but I can do it. Ever since I was little, my parents said just do it, and I've been doing it ever since. A lot of people don't even know I'm deaf, and I think it's kind of cool that people just ignore the issue.
Is it ever difficult communicating with your team?
Most of the time I read their lips, and my mechanic can sign some. And my mom is there, too, so she helps me out. But being deaf, I don't see that as a barrier.
Any advice to other kids who are deaf?
When people say you can't do that because you're deaf, ignore them.
How did you get into racing?
My dad used to race, and he'd take me to races. I started riding when I was 3 and then racing when I was 7, and I've been racing ever since.
And now you just went pro last year.
It's a lot of fun. We travel a lot on the East and West coasts, and sometimes we get to travel to Europe. I love the pro thing. When I was a little girl, my goal was to become pro, so I'm happy I'm able to do it.
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