Victorian women’s motocross mainstay Kristy Gillespie has wheeled her motorbike into the pits for the final time. The two-time Australian Women’s Motocross Champion has officially retired from competitive motocross racing, amicably parting ways with her team GMR Motorex KTM last week.

In a racing career that has lasted over a decade, the Albury-Wodonga local has won an incredible eight consecutive Victorian Ladies titles, making her one of the most prolific motocross riders Victoria has ever produced.

Kristy, 25, played soccer as a junior and became addicted to the sport when she took part in a Come and Try Day 14 years ago. Since then she has won eight Victorian titles, her first state title was in 2006, and has won two Australian Women’s Motocross titles in 2008 and 2010 and a New Zealand Women’s Motocross title in 2006.

“Every win was pretty special,” Kristy said. “If I had to pick favourites I’d say winning two Australian titles was pretty special. The one moment I remember the most, which I probably shouldn’t remember, was in 2006 where we had two rounds of the Australian Women’s MX Championships.

“I won every race in the first round and won the first two races in the second round. I had to finish 12th or better to win the title and my bike decided to quit on me with two laps to go,” Kristy recalled.

Kristy also looks back with immense joy on the day she won a race against the guys in the B Grade class at the Victorian Senior Motocross Championships in Cobram last year. “It was pretty cool to lead the boys around for a race and Cobram was close to home,” she said.

She picks out the Goulburn Valley motocross track as her favourite in the state. “I really don’t mind it. It’s my favourite track at the moment,” she added.

Source: Motorcycling Victoria.

Kristy is optimistic about the future of female motocross racing in Victoria: “There’s still going to be good racing in the Ladies class. There are a number of very talented and competitive girls moving up into the senior competition this year.”

She said retiring from competitive racing was one of the hardest decisions she’s ever had to make.

“I’ve been racing for a fairly long time,” she continued. “Things change. I got married, I have a house and there are bills to pay. I can’t do everything so something had to give.”

Kristy got married to fellow motocross rider Jarrod Long in the summer. She will remain involved with the sport for as long as she feels useful and will take part in some innovative coaching initiatives.

“This certainly won’t be the end of me riding a dirt bike, I still enjoy it,” she added. “I’m working with Peta Thomas and Beck Lisbeth on Motorcycling Victoria’s Girls Only Motocross Ride Days.

“There are a lot of girls out there that want to get involved in the sport and these days are a great way to get them out on the track. I’m really looking forward to it. It will be cool to give something back to the sport that has given me so much,” Kristy added.

On why she loved the sport, Kristy added: “I guess it’s the adrenalin that it provides. No track is identical and every lap is different. It’s also a really good challenge.”

“Without [KTM Australia] I wouldn’t have been able to be out on the track for the last few years. They were happy to continue to support me this year,” she said.

Kristy believes she has reached a lot of her goals out on the track and is looking forward to achieving some personal goals off it.

“I’d like to thank my parents and family for all their support. KTM have been amazing, especially in the last six years. Glenn and Kristy MacDonald have also been huge supporters of mine since I started my career,” Kristy added.