Most of us couldn’t even ride a pedal bike when we were four years old. Shelby Turner, on the other hand, was already competing in dirt bike races by that age. Her entire family is involved in the sport, and she is able to practise on tracks they have at her home in Barons, Alberta.
Now 16 years old, Turner has garnered attention on both the motocross and off-road circuits. In 2010 she won the Canadian CEC Ladies National Series. As if that wasn’t enough, she was also the Canadian Western Pro Women’s Motocross champion.
Turner said she’s quite a bit younger than the average female racer, but she doesn’t find this intimidating. Instead, she’s just a few years ahead of the game. When competing in off-road events, Turner rides a KTM 200 XC-W. She also has a KTM 150 SX that she rides for motocross.
Unfortunately, Turner was unable to compete in 2011 due to an injury she sustained early in the season during a cross-country race. However, she is excited to be back on her bike and competing again this year.
“I’ll do as many (events) as I can,” Turner said. “I’ll try and do the Women’s Motocross Western Series again. I’ll also try and do the western side of the ladies CEC stuff, and then I’ll fill in with the Alberta provincial rounds. Hopefully I’ll also be able to do some American (races).”
Turner is also hoping to get an invite to the X Games this summer. This high-profile event will be held July 1. If she’s able to attend, it is sure to be a highlight of her summer and just another feature on her already impressive rider’s resumé.
Another advantage of dedicated competing is the strong group support that pervades the sport. Turner called the off-road community her second family and said it was really nice to know people who understand what it is to ride. As riding is a family pastime, the Turners tend to spend their summers biking with friends who are also involved in the sport.
As far as female competition in dirt bike racing, Turner said she would like to see even more competition, but she's glad to see the sport growing.
“It always seems like a struggle to get a full gate like the men’s classes, but I think it’s coming around,” Turner said. “The interest is starting to show up, and it’s really nice to see . . . I think the more that the girls get exposed into the pro side, like the men's, the more the sport will grow.”
Turner started riding for the fun of it, and continues to compete because she genuinely enjoys it.
“I think the biggest challenge is having yourself prepared for every round,” Turner said. “It’s really hard to keep your bike running for a big two-hour off-road race. A lot of times endurance comes into play. Also, I think you have to be able to have enough skill to be able to accomplish the big obstacles.”
There should be no doubting that Shelby Turner has what it takes.
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