Brandy Richards, AMA Motorcyclist of the Year

by John Stumpner

Following the example of successful people is one way to start on the road to success ourselves. We look up to and try to follow the example of our heroes. We learn about people, past and present, that have accomplished great things so we can see what is possible and try to follow their example. The motorcycle community has many inspiring people whose examples we can follow. One such person is motocross racer Brandy Richards.

Brandy Richards started motocross racing when she was 5 years old. Since 2017, she has won every Women’s Professional Race in the World Off Road Championship Series. Also, in the 2021 season, she won every race she entered in the 2021 National Grand Prix Championship Series. She also led the U.S. women’s team to victory in the illustrious International Six Days Enduro. You can follow Brandy and her KTM motorcycle on Facebook and Instagram, just Google search “Brandy Richards.”

Motorcycling in general requires a sense of balance and a certain amount of hand – eye coordination. Just like riding your bicycle, the motorcycle has to remain balanced on two wheels. A biker also has levers and controls on the motorcycle that require the use of both feet and hands. Many types of competitions test a biker’s skills. One of the ultimate skills tests is the International Six Days Enduro cross country event. This motocross event requires the rider to complete a series of 28 riding skills tests spread out over a 1250 plus mile course that takes six days to complete. These skills tests must be completed in a certain period of time. Also, the rules limit the spare parts a rider can bring along and require the rider to perform all their own repairs. Many riders cannot successfully complete all the tests, much less be the best or win the various tests. In 2021, not only was Brandy the best in the Women’s Division, but she won every one of the 28 skills tests. This is the first time in the 100 plus year history of the International Six Days Enduro that any rider, man or woman, has won all the tests.

For this accomplishment, among her others, the American Motorcycle Association named Brandy the AMA Motorcyclist of the Year for 2021.

Looking up to and trying to copy our heroes is a good way to be successful. The motorcycle community has many such heroes we can look to for good examples. ABATE of Wisconsin continues to work to make sure that bikers will always be able to set good examples for other bikers and people in general.

John