By Danny Brault

Photos: Allison Kennedy

Thanks to Racer X Canada’s assistant designer, Jolene Van Vugt, we’ve learned that a top U.S. pro will make their debut in the Canadian MX2 series. Need a hint? It’s not a he..

            It’s Yamaha’s Sarah Whitmore!

            The Cheyboygan, Michigan native has a break in her busy schedule and has decided to test her skills against the boys. However, it’s not the first time Whitmore has raced men, she regularly races in men’s classes at local events in Michigan and does quite well. The 20-year-old has been one of the top women racers in the U.S. over the last few years and sits second in this year’s WMA pro series behind Jessica Patterson. We caught up with the very friendly and laughable Whitmore, while she was on her way to the mall this morning.

RXC: We hear you’re coming to race the Gopher Dunes national?

Sarah Whitmore: Yes, that is the plan.

How did that decision come around?

I don’t really know, it’s just something my dad and I have always talked about for years—about going there and racing. I talked to Jessica Foster and Ryan Gauld earlier and they told me that this one [Gopher Dunes] is the new track on the circuit and it’s going to be sandy and it happens to be an off-weekend for me.

So I take it you like sand?

Yeah well I live in Michigan and we have a lot of sand obviously. My track is super-sandy and rough, and I just like the sand and ride a lot better in it. I figure if I have chance at qualifying, that it would be on a sand track.

Have you raced in Canada before?

I was supposed to race Walton last year but I was sick so the last time I raced it [Walton] was in ’99.

How did you do?

I think I got third on an 80cc.

Who will be coming to Gopher with you?

Just my father, I think. Probably my father and maybe my brother.

What bike are you riding?

I will be on a YZ 125, so that might be a little more difficult.

Do you have much knowledge of the racing scene in Canada?

On the woman’s side but not much on the men’s side. I’ve raced against Heidi Cooke forever, when she used to do the WMA and Jessica Foster is my best friend and I’m really good friends with Jolene [Van Vugt]. So everybody I know [in Canada] is through them.

Have you thought much about your expectations for Gopher?

I don’t really have any expectations—I just want to qualify. I don’t really know how fast everyone is going this year. I watched Walton last year and everyone was riding well, but Walton is the biggest race and more people go there than anywhere else.

Other than Gopher do you plan to race Walton or other Canadian events?

Actually when I get home I’m going to sign up for Walton—I haven’t even signed up yet! [Laughs] I will sign up for Gopher this week and Walton.

Well you better hurry, there is already 49 signed up!

In what the women’s class?

Yes.

Oh gosh!

Women’s racing is really growing these past few years.

Yeah I know, it was fricken’ huge last year at Walton.

Where do you live Sarah?

My home base is Michigan but I’ve probably been there a total of three weeks this whole year. I live in Georgia at GPF and at Josh Woods’ place. I knew that you—Josh Woods—everyone in Canada knows him [laughs]. I stay there in the winter time to ride and train, and I’ve been to France twice already this year and to California for the first two rounds of the WMA.

What were you doing in France? Racing?

Yeah I did. The first time I went over, I was invited to race the [women’s] national and I get along with everyone over there. I just back yesterday, actually, I was over there for three weeks just riding and training.

How was that?

I like it a lot, definitely. It sucks because my French isn’t that great yet and it’s hard to talk to everybody, but everyone is really, really nice, the tracks are good and it’s a good experience. It’s something that I’m really lucky to be able to do.

Is your father with you at all of your races?

My dad—besides France—is with me every single weekend. He is my mechanic, we work really well together and we’re a really good team. Everything with the bike—he’s there [laughs]—I don’t know how to work on bikes but I can tell what’s wrong with the bike, like my suspension. I don’t know what I’d do without him.

[Laughing] Have you ever cleaned an air filter?

Yeah I can change my air filter and change my oil, but that’s about it. I can change tires pretty well when I walk over to Dunlop and have them do it [laughs].

What’s your weekly routine?

I run at least five miles a day. [Laughs] I don’t know, pretty much just run and ride everyday. It’s boring but that’s all I do—ride and train.

What do you do when you’re not racing or riding?

Right now I’m going to the mall [laughs]. I ride horses with my mom and hang out with friends.

Your mom has her own horse?

We live on a farm and we have horses, donkeys, mules, dogs, cats, a tortoise … yes we have a lot of animals. You know, I’m kind of like the country farm girl.

Have you raced against the boys much?

Not at the pro level. It’ll be a first, but I figure, ‘Hey it’ll be a good start, that’s where all the guys from down here go to get used to it.’ At home I race against the guys because it’s more competitive and if I could I would just race against guys. Racing with women is awesome and I enjoy it so much, but racing against the guys is 20 times more fun. Beating a guy is the best feeling in the world. There is nothing like seeing the look on a guy after you smoked him!

Well hopefully you’ll see lots of those looks at Gopher Dunes. Good luck Sarah and we can’t wait to see up here!

Okay, sounds good. Thanks and talk to you later.