Fuel Jocelyn's Off-Road Dream in Spain

Hi!

My name is Jocelyn, if you have made it this far you may already know my story, but maybe not! So read on if you are interested in how I got to where I am today!

How I got started: as a Pee Wee Rider (50cc), 4 ½ - 9 years old, 45 min race

I began my riding journey at the age of four. My dad was a rider, so naturally I was drawn towards the sport. As a family, we found ourselves traveling to regional events on the weekends. The seed to compete was planted as I watched my dad, my biggest hero, race in the tri-state area. I pleaded with my parents to let me try and at 4 ½ they conceded. I was hooked! This sport is extremely family oriented. We began camping most weekends at the track, surrounded by other people who were focused on God, Country, and all who had a family first mindset. It was exactly the group of people my parents wanted my brother and I to grow up around.

There were not many girls’ classes locally, and of them were not competitive like me. My parents could never persuade me to ride in a girls’ class, I wanted to go fast, and the boys were fast!

Other fathers often scoffed at my audacity to sign up with their sons. However, they paid me little mind as they could not imagine I posed any threat. Most would offer a politically correct smile of encouragement and return focus to their rider. In the final moments, my dad would offer his silent encouragement by braiding my ponytail and we would wait for the green flag to waive.

My determination couldn’t be matched, and my results began to land me on the podium. Eventually, I was met with acceptance from the boys and their fathers. Their smiles became genuine when they would call out “Hey, there’s ‘That Girl!’”

Minis: (65cc-100cc), 9-14 years old, 1 ½ hour race

In time, I was accepted as “one of the guys” hanging out with them and walking the course Saturday prior to the race, and then banging bars with them on the track the next day.

One day, a spectator approached my dad encouraging him to consider the national level girls division. He recommended GNCC (Grand National Cross Country) which is the largest offroad racing organization in the country. He insisted that there were girls there that I could compete with, I was completely repulsed by this idea. My talent had always exceeded that of other girls in my sport, so the competitor in me did not want to race them. After some convincing, I was signed up to ride the girls 8-15 class at the infamous Unadilla National. I placed 2nd in the class at the age of twelve! The highlight of the day was being interviewed on the podium where I had never been heard of and where I innocently explained that I had never raced with other girls that were fast!

In 2017, my family and I made the switch to racing GNCC full time. For thirteen weekends in 2017 we traveled up and down the east coast hitting tracks in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, West Virginia, Indiana, Pennsylvania, New York, and Ohio. In my first season, I was the girl to beat each Sunday in the girls’ class. I had finally found other fast girls to ride with. It was at GNCC that I found my closest competitor and now friend Prestin Raines. The two of us were turning lots of heads in the industry, as it was uncommon to see young girls like us ‘Rippin’ like we did! I owe many thanks to her for feeding my competitive fire. In 2017, I won my first National title in the girls 8-15 class, at the age of thirteen.

Women’s: (125cc), 15 years old, 2-hour race

In 2019 I made the switch from a “mini” bike to a full-sized frame dirt bike. I was now racing a 125cc Husqvarna, competing in the 10 AM race, where the course grew in length to 10 miles per lap, and was much more difficult than the youth race. Racing the Women’s class at 14 years old, I found myself dominating my competitors, winning by 7-10 minutes, and sometimes lapping many in my class. During the 2019 season, I locked up my second National Championship.

My dominating results in 2019 opened the door for consideration of the WXC class. WXC is the most competitive professional female offroad racing class in the world. It consists of the best competitors from around the globe, including Canada, Australia, New Zealand, to name a few. After consideration with the American Motorcycle Association and GNCC, I was advanced to the Pro women’s, WXC class. This was a special situation that required a rule change. The rules did not allow girls my age to join the class, hence the involvement of the organizations. In 2020, I made history by being the youngest female accepted into this premier class, at the age of 15.

WXC: (250cc), 15 – current age, 2-hour race

In 2022, in Beckly West Virgina, I found myself finishing third place and securing my first ever professional podium! I completed that season finishing 5th in series points. Unfortunately, injuries happen in this sport. 2023 required me to have my second knee surgery, replacing my LCL and popliteal tendon. It was imperative that I let this knee fully recover and allow time for the proper therapy and strength to return.

It’s 2024 and I’m back, loving every minute of it! All my hard work is paying off as I have been presented with the opportunity of a lifetime. In May, I was selected to race for team USA at the 98th FIM ISDE, this upcoming October in Spain. I will be making the trip on team Eric Cleveland Memorial (Women’s Club Team), with Ava Silvestri from California and Olivia Pugh from Washington as my teammates. I have been dreaming of this since I was about ten years old.

International Six Days of Enduro, (ISDE) is the highest level of off-road motorcycling in the world. This event has been held every year since 1913 and migrates to a new country each October. This event is referred to as “The Olympics of Off-Road”, where over 25 countries send their best competitors to a different hosting nation annually, to fight for the world titles. This is the most grueling offroad race. Riders are expected to race for six days straight, covering 100+ miles a day. They are allotted 25 minutes/day to mechanic on their own machines, no help is allowed from other mechanics or bystanders. The USA holds 2 qualifying races in the year, to help determine who they will pick to represent the country. Only 3 riders qualify for each division and only the top 6 women in the USA are selected to attend. For 16 years my main goal has been to compete at this level. I am grateful for the opportunity, and excited to represent the USA.

My dad has been my coach, mechanic, and teacher since the first day I threw a leg over a bike. At the end of the day, he is the very reason I even got started in this sport. His mentorship has driven me to keep moving the bar of success. Owen, my brother, has been the riding and training partner of a lifetime. As we grew up together, we have made many achievements simultaneously. He pushes me day in and day out on the bike, as I am always trying to keep pace with him. He is my best friend thanks to this sport, and I would not want it any other way. My mom is the glue that holds this race team together. She keeps our heads on straight, pulls our weight when we cannot, and is the best pit crew you have ever seen. Thanks to the countless hours of blood, sweat, and tears, my family and I have achieved this together. I would not be where I am today without them. They have supported me and pushed me in ways that would make most people want to quit. I give all the credit and thanks to them.

I am telling you my story in hopes that you will be willing to help support me as I train over the next 3 months to be the best I can be when I represent the USA in Spain, October 14th – 19th. I have always been committed to working hard, but overcoming the financial obstacle of this magnitude is not something I can do without the support of my community. I am hoping that people like you may be willing to help me raise the funds I need so that I can direct my focus to being race ready!