The American Motorcycle Association (AMA) has many reasons to celebrate motorcycles and riders from month to month throughout the calendar year.

July is unique. The AMA is again celebrating one of the fastest growing membership ranks: women riders.

Grassroots rookie – In the race

Huntington Beach resident Angie Okos, 31, began riding motocross 10 months ago.

"Before I was riding motocross I was riding in the cornfields of Indiana, where I’m originally from," she said. "I knew how to use the clutch but really had no clue how to really ride ’til I took lessons.

"It’s amazing how much you can learn that’ll make it more and more fun. My riding wasn’t anywhere close to in control before the lessons. Now I enjoy really riding."

Okos shops at Langston Racing. "I like shopping there because it’s so convenient and right next door to Lake Elsinore MX Park," she said. "I like John and Angie over there. They’re very helpful.

"My very first race was the 2008 Lake Elsinore Grand Prix. Since then I’ve done a few races at Glen Helen. Next I signed up for Mammoth and I’m going to that race on my Yamaha 250F. My pit crew is coming from Indiana.

"This has been a great experience – absolutely the best part of being in California."

On the go – Moto Mom

Melissa Rodriguez of Corona, a mother of three teenagers and a 4-year-old, works for Alvord School District.

"I used to ride all the time," she said. "Then I had the kids and just hung it up for a long while. Riding at the track back then was more like babysitting than actually riding. They’d be all over the place. I couldn’t enjoy myself when I had to watch them riding on the little track and I would want to ride on the big track.

"Now that two of my boys are teenagers, they just want to hang out with their friends in the neighborhood. I still go riding with my eldest daughter at the track on my Suzuki RM 125.

"Recently I took lessons from SoCal MX Training to sharpen my old skills and was trying to find someone to ride with that’s my age and skill level. My instructor, Shelly [Beckstoffer], was awesome."

"For the next five years I’m dedicating just to my riding. It’s all about me from now on," laughed Rodriguez.

Industry women to turn to

Lisa Madden is the retail manager at Langston Racing. She occasionally rides her brother’s YZ 250F.

"My favorite part about my job is helping out the customers with fitting their [protective] gear so that they feel safe and confident before they go out and ride," she said. "Especially for women – they need to seek out gear that is specifically designed to properly fit women, like chest protectors, pants and gloves.

"Typically, women in general have a narrower heel than a man, proportionally larger calves and shorter lower legs than the men. So, women’s boots are a prime example of our industry focusing on the specific safety needs for women.

"I think that one of the best ways we’re going to continue to grow women’s interest [in motorcycle riding] is to encourage each other to participate and support the industry.

"I have more fun riding dirt bikes in the desert with my girlfriends than when I ride with the guys. It just makes me feel more confident and at ease when I’m with the ladies, because they’ve been through all the same experiences as me, you know, like just starting out, and we have similar riding skill levels."

On the streets

Filomena "Fillie" Powers, the finance manager at Quaid Temecula Harley-Davidson/Buell, has worked with the company for more than 25 years.

"I first started riding dirt bikes when I was 12," she said, "then raced motocross at age 16 in Riverside and Corona. Quads, too.

"My dad taught me to ride and my mom said I could race with the boys as long as I was a lady off the bike, then it was okay.

"In 2000 I started riding Harley-Davidson full-size bikes. Currently I ride a Soft Tail Deluxe and a Street Glide. Both are big bikes.

"Our dealership has a very large clientele of ladies. Kelly Davey helps them out from our parts department and Jacqueline Smith is in our motor clothes department, so our lady customers do feel quite comfortable shopping here."

Oh yeah, it’s Ladies’ Night

"Every three months we host a special dinner and desert night here at Quaid called Ladies’ Night," Powers said. "We were the first Harley-Davidson dealership in the country to start a Ladies’ Night.

"It’s a very educational, friendly and informative get-together. We show the ladies how to pick up their bikes, how to put gas in it, how easy they are to balance and when to lay the bike down in a hairy situation.

"Every woman gets a unique gift from us and 15 percent off purchases in our store. Last time the Old Town Temecula Merchants got together and created [an extra] gift bag with chocolate motorcycles, gift certificates, purchase discounts – all kinds of goodies. That was very nice of them to do so."

Rich Quaid, co-owner of Quaid Temecula H-D/B, is also the president of the Southern California Harley-Davidson Dealers Association.

"I think that Ladies’ Night is a good thing that encourages women to get out," he said. "They can have fun, learn about the business and discover new products in the motorcycle market. Whether the guys like it or not, the women are the decision-makers in every household.

"It’s really unique for a man to see 50 to 60 women all riding their own bikes onto our location. Fillie has done a very good job with this garage-night-style outreach for the women."

Thoughts from a professional

Nicole Madsen, a 16-year-old from Taft, races motocross professionally.

"I started riding when I was 7 years old and racing at age 11," she said. "I’d really like to do Supermoto next – something new and way different.

"A Women’s Supercross class would be fun and crazy. I want to go out of the box. I guess there’s Endurocross racing, that’d be really cool and fun.

"I wish my family could go to all of my motocross races, travel along and see what I see. It’s just me and my dad; that’s all we can afford with the traveling expenses.

"I’d like to tell the girls working up in the amateur classes [that] what doesn’t kill you will make you stronger. Keep your head up and look at the bright side."

Nicole said she looks up to Jeremy McGrath, Ryan Hughes and Sherri Cruse for inspiration.

Loving to live, loving to ride

Ashley Fiolek has been riding and racing since she was 7 years old. Now 18, she races professional women’s motocross.

"Oh yeah, and by the way I am Deaf! I love racing, I love life and I love that more and more people are getting into Motocross!" she exclaimed in a recent e-mail to the Valley News.

Ashley took the time to answer a few of our questions.

Valley News: Do you make yourself accessible to the general public trackside? How do you feel about that?

Ashley Fiolek: Definitely. I think it’s awesome! I love taking time to talk and mingle with fans because their encouragement and expectation drives me to do well at the races. I want to make sure I don’t disappoint them and hope they enjoy watching me.

VN: What’s your take on women in the motorcycle industry? Are women well represented at events both competition and fan-wise?

AF: Well, I do think it is improving and that is a really good thing. I think every year more and more girls start racing and for sure there are more female fans. I’ve noticed a lot more little girls recognizing and coming up to me at the races and that is a good feeling.

Racing wise, the women’s classes are now included in Saturday’s program with the men’s competition. We still have a lot of areas to work on before we are at the same level and given the same preferences as the guys; it’s definitely getting better. It’s great to be recognized as professional athletes just like the men, though.

VN: How long have you been involved with Honda and how long do you plan on riding with the team?

AF: I joined Honda in 2004 after winning Loretta Lynn’s Amateur National. I joined the Honda Red Bull Racing team this year and it is awesome! Being the first women to ever sign with Honda’s factory team is a dream come true.

I would like to stay as long as possible because it is a great team, wonderful bike to ride and I really just couldn’t be happier. I am just going to keep working hard, keep producing great results and do my best to stay on the team for as long as I can!

VN: If you could make up a funny job title for what you do (instead of pro Motocross rider), what would it be?

AF: Professional Dirt Destroyer

VN: What else would you like to share with other women who enjoy racing or attending events? Anything inspirational you would like to say to the women out there – maybe draw from your experience.

AF: I would have to say just make sure you’re always having fun! Watching or riding, always enjoy yourself!

From personal experience, set goals yourself and never give up. Not a lot of people would have thought I would have made it as far as I have because I am deaf. But I believe that if you are passionate about something, then you will always find away around a perceived problem.

Nothing is impossible; just keep trying your best!