Alberta Up for the challenge Two Alberta ladies are heading to the women’s pro motocross nationals by DOUG WALTON
FLYING HIGH: Racking up a long list of accolades, Charlotte Poulin hopes to add another accomplishment to her list of championship titles.
A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH: With her competitive spirit and determination, Jodie Fyk has been given the opportunity to compete in three rounds of the CMRC/Suzuki Woman’s Nationals at the 2008 Monster Energy Motocross Nationals. —photo by Natasha Eckel
The sport of motocross has come a long way in the last decade, when men did all the racing and the ladies watched from the sidelines. Now, with a full gate at nearly every event, the ladies are showing that they too can have the motocross blood flowing through their veins.
It was recently announced that the 2008 Monster Energy Motocross Nationals would be going to Edmonton’s renowned Castrol Raceways. Immediately the excitement started flowing through local clubs, racers and dealerships with the anticipation of this big event.
For one local dealership, sitting back and watching the races wouldn’t be enough. Cars Motorsports, a division of CARS RV & Marine, went on the hunt for two talented and dedicated women racers with an offer that would be hard to turn down. Cars Motorsports offered full dealership support for two local amateur racers to represent them at a national level. The dealership is pumped and feels it will be a great opportunity for both women to experience racing with the same support that some of Canada’s top talent receives.
Acting on behalf of the dealership, my first call was to Jodie Fyk, a marathon runner turned motocrosser who started racing only two years ago. In her first year of competing, Fyk’s competitive drive put her on the podium for a third-place series finish in the Alberta Oldtimers Motocross Association’s (AOTMX) ladies series. This past season, Fyk showed that same competitive spirit and determination to finish top five and only a mere 24 points from standing on the podium yet again. Fyk is a local clothing store owner who finds herself working long hours each week but somehow manages to fit in her training and stay competitive. With the support of her husband Mike, Fyk plans to compete in three rounds of the Women’s Nationals sponsored by the Canadian Motosport Racing Club/Suzuki Canada at the Monster Energy Motocross Nationals, as well as maintain her points chase in her local series. Aboard the sponsored Kawasaki 250 four-stroke, sporting the lucky number 13, Fyk will come out of the gate with fierce determination.
My second call was to local provincial champ Charlotte Poulin. Her number, 99, is well known across the province for representing one of Alberta’s fastest ladies in her age category. I too have joined the long list of male riders who have had the opportunity of being passed and beaten by this friendly, yet strong competitor. With multiple AOTMX provincial series title wins behind her, Poulin hopes to add another accomplishment to her list:
• 1997 CMA Canadian Ladies Amateur National 2nd Place (Regina, SK)
• 1998 CMA Canadian Ladies Amateur National Champion (Grenthal, MB)
• 1999 CMA Canadian Ladies Amateur National Champion (Regina, SK)
• 1999 CMA Canadian Ladies Amateur Provincial Champion
• 2000 CMRC Canadian Ladies Amateur Provincial 2nd Place
• 2001 CMRC Canadian Ladies Amateur Provincial 2nd Place
• 2002 to 2005, she raced AOTMX only racing +30 Novice Men’s placing top five three out of the four years. (It wasn’t until 2006 that there were enough ladies to make a class.)
• 2006 AOTMX Series Ladies Provincial Champion
• 2007 AOTMX Series Ladies Provincial Champion
• 2007 BCOTMX Ladies International Old-timer Champion (not an official class yet)
Poulin will be competing in the same three national rounds as Fyk and will team up on the sponsored CARS machines to take on Canada’s best female racers.
I wish the ladies great success and can’t wait till race day.
