Kayla Solheid: The Path to Pro

Kayla Solheid hopes to be a pro motocross racer, and the 18-year-old is well on her way after several successful seasons in the amateur ranks. She races women's classes on the national level, but she also participates in local racing.

For Solheid, though, "local" means racing in both Minnesota and Texas. She grew up in Minnesota and started her racing career there, but now lives in Texas. Solheid will be riding in the Texas Women's Series, but she still heads to Minnesota in the summer months to race there.

That kind of commute would be daunting enough for any rider, but Solheid also travels to nationals all over the U.S. She began racing nationals in 2007. "Before that," Solheid says, "I rode for fun and just tooled around."

While Solheid says her early riding was just for fun, she's actually been a competitive motorcrosser for seven years. She followed in the footsteps of her twin cousins, who were racers themselves.

"When I was about six, me and my family would always go up to a cabin with my aunt and uncle and my grandpa and my cousins. My cousins had two PWs, so I always rode around with them," Solheid explains. "I really liked it, and they had one of their races nearby, so I went. Then I tried (racing) and I liked it. From there, it just kept progressing."

Solheid's progression was aided by her dad, who bought Solheid her first motorcycle. While some family members were nervous about Solheid's racing, her dad has been unyieldingly supportive. The result is a strong father-daughter bond.

"My dad really liked it and it really brought us together," Solheid says of her racing. "My sisters had their team sports, like hockey and figure skating and soccer, so he couldn't really be as closely involved as in racing, where it's a family thing. We all go together."

With her dad working on her Suzuki and Kawasaki race bikes and her mom providing meals and moral support, Solheid has turned into a consistent top-five finisher.

In fact, she earned second at Lake Whitney in Texas, one of her first national events. Her first year at Loretta Lynn's netted Solheid a ninth-place finish, so she met her goal of a top-ten debut in the legendary competition. This past year, she returned to Loretta Lynn's and took fifth.

"Just this past year is when it all kind of came together. This year I'm looking for some wins," Solheid says. "I'm going to ride the amateur classes one more year and try to get some top podiums at all the nationals."

Solheid graduated high school this year and will start classes at the University of North Texas in January of 2012. She would like to make motocross her career, but realistically notes, "It's really hard for women because they don't make as much as the guys. I don't know if I could actually live off of it, but I definitely want to do it as long as I can. I might have to get a part-time job on the side, but if I can stay in the pro ranks and continue getting top tens, that will help me get by."

Whatever the odds, Solheid is doing everything in her power to make her pro racing goals a reality. She works out every day to make her a stronger, more competitive racer. "Working out and working on endurance and strength is key to becoming a good athlete. Good strength, good cardio, good eating habits and getting enough sleep are the keys to success," she says.

Solheid has advice for other women who want to pursue motocross racing: "If you love it, stay with it and work as hard as you can. Down the road, you'll see the results if you're working hard, training hard and really want it in your heart."

Clearly, a pro career in motocross is something Solheid really wants in her heart. Keep an eye on this lady racer as she rises through the ranks.

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