I recently had the opportunity to chat with WMX Pro Racer Sherri Cruse. She’s been a consistent contender for the WMA Championship, placing in the top five since Glen Helen. She is currently tied for third place with Vicki Golden in the provisional point standings.
Sherri Cruse is one of the top riders in the WMA.
I am 20-years-old. I was born in Ventura, California and raised in Bakersfield, where I still live. My whole life is motocross and training for motocross, Ha Ha.
FB: Tell us about your team. (Name, number, members, mechanics, etc)
SC: Well I am basically a privateer. I ride a Cernic’s
Suzuki with help from Axo, Dunlop, Von Zipper, Troy Lee Designs, Race Tech Suspension, Pro Circuit Motors, Motion Pro, Zip Ty Racing, RK Excel, Odi, Throttle Jockey, Rekluse, Shock Doctor and MMI. Randy DiFrancisco, who is a speedway champion, does all my bike stuff and keeps them running perfect. He is my mechanic sometimes and other times it is Ryan Adler, plus there’s some other people in Bakersfield that help me out, I am really lucky. Miki Keller does my PR and some sponsorship stuff as well. Plus Travis Pastrana helps me train...so it is big group effort.
FB: What’s your story on how you got into Motocross?
SC: I started riding when I was nine. My parents made me wait as long as my brother (Jeremy) had to. One day we went to watch my brother ride in the desert. When we got to there my dad opened the back of the trailer and surprised me with a
KTM 65cc. After that I started to race with my brother. He was the person that drove me the most! My brother was the main reason I was so determined. I just had always wanted to show him I was good enough, I suppose. I have raced motocross since then. I did WMA amateur races when I was younger, then I did a year of WORCS only and came back to race Pro in the WMA.
FB: What is the best part of motocross?
SC: Just putting a really good moto, riding your best and then wherever you end up in the results doesn’t matter. Of course, winning is pretty great (laughing).
FB: What is the hardest part of motocross?
SC: Training! If could just ride 6 hours a day I would!
Cruse has a handful of top-three finishes for 2009.
I love having our practice and both motos on the same day. It is a great opportunity to race on Pro day with all the fans and media at the track. The fans are so supportive and that motivates us all to ride hard. Having more media and the new television package for the WMA on Versus helps the women pro racers’ visibility and hopefully gets more girls into riding at all levels. The only downfall is that the schedule for all the racing is so tight that we only get one 15 minute practice that is actually a timed qualifier, you get like one lap to look at the track, one to start doing the jumps/picking your lines and then you have to go all out to try to get a good gate pick. We are totally grateful to be racing in the pro program, it is a huge step forward for women’s MX, but with more practice we could put on a better show (especially at new tracks for the new girls).
FB: Can you describe a little of how you are training for the outdoors?
SC: I kind of have two programs. I split my time between Bakersfield and the East Coast. When I am in Bakersfield I do strength training and a lot of core work in the gym three days a week, cardio three days a week, and then I moto about four days a week. On the East Coast I work with trainer Todd Jacobs and do workouts in the morning, moto in the afternoon, and workouts in the evening.
FB: What is your strategy for defeating both Ashley Fiolek and Jessica Patterson?
SC: I plan to stay consistent. Patterson has a bad moto under her right now. I have pretty much stayed in the top three since Glen Helen. I am a couple of seconds off her lap times in qualifying, I just need good starts and to really charge hard.
FB: Who are your heroes?
SC: For Women’s racing I really liked Tania Satchwell’s style growing up and I looked up to her (she won the championship in 2001). I like Kevin Windham a lot, and my Mom is one of my heroes as well.
FB: What are some facts that fans don’t know about you?
SC: I have probably the best team behind me. Better then any other girl at the track does.
FB: What are your plans for the future?
SC: For this season I want to finish in the top three for points in the WMA and win X Games Gold. Next year I hope to get a team ride and win the WMA Championship.
FB: Any nicknames? If so, can you tell us how you received the nickname?
SC: Ha, Ha. I have a few but I am not telling them all. My friends at home call me Cruser, it was my dad’s nickname.
FB: Thanks Sherri, and good luck.
