Off the Road Again

Motocross, a form of motorcycle racing that takes place on enclosed off-road circuits, has been around for more than a century. It began in the United Kingdom, but it’s since spread well beyond. It came to the United States some 50 years ago.

Krista’s father embraced it during its early years; he was a racer. Krista began following in his footsteps when she was 7, riding dirt bikes in the backyard of the family’s home in Fort Dodge, Iowa. By the time she was 14, she was racing. “I picked it up – and developed a passion for it –fairly quickly,” she said.

Men and women in motocross tend to compete separately due to differences in body size and overall strength. That notwithstanding, Krista often participates in co-ed races on the local and regional levels. More to the point, she’s been able to do so successfully.

As an indication of her skill level, Krista qualified for and placed 32nd in the highly regarded Loretta Lynn national championship in Tennessee last year, to date her most memorable race.

“This is the event everyone who races motocross dreams of competing in,” she said. “You race the fastest 42 riders in the world, having to place within the top eight at an area qualifier and then the top six at a regional qualifier before making it to the national championship.”

Krista is working on making it to the national stage again this year, but this time she’d like to finish in the top 10. It’s an ambitious goal, given the caliber of the athletes.

With its courses of hills, jumps, sharp turns and often muddy terrain, motocross can be a dangerous sport. Krista has suffered 5 concussions, a separated shoulder, a fractured vertebra and lacerations that required sutures, for example. Still, she insists people can stay with motocross for most of their lives. “Once you get a taste of what motocross is all about, it’s hard to give it up,” she said.