Dirt, "brap" and getting a hole shot: that’s what little girls like Angel Simkins are made of in motocross.

Simkins, who often sported a tutu paired with her blue and black racing jersey, took third place in the Women’s B division for the 2026 Central Montana Motocross series. For High Country Motocross Association, Simkins placed first in Women's B.

Following in the muddy treads of her parents and older brother, Simkins' veins run with dirt bikes and racing. 

“I started riding when I was only about 6 years old, on a 50," she said. "I was super scared at first; I remember I accidentally did a backflip.” 

Now 13, Simkins blazes the track on her YZ85 and competes in the 15-and-under group. To race in CMMX or other regional amateur circuits, riders pay a membership to join the association and practice at home or on club tracks. Simkins enjoys a family track in her backyard, where she can work on various skills and track features. 

“I am always trying to get better at cornering, whoops, that, and doubles too,” she said.

Motocross whoops are a series of evenly spaced, repetitive bumps, usually 10 to 12 feet apart and roughly waist-deep. They are designed to test a racer’s rhythm, body positioning and throttle control. Doubles are two consecutive dirt mounds: a jump and a landing ramp, with a flat space in between that riders must clear. 

On getting through curves, Simkins said that “On the corners, if you have your foot down too much, you’ll fall, so you just kind of dab it, and try not to hit a rut.” 

In the last year, she had the opportunity to attend a professional racing clinic where she focused on mastering various skills. 

“We did practice on cornering, standing up, keeping our feet on pegs, jumping, staying balanced, riding with just one arm,” she recalled.  

During her novice seasons, Simkins was called a Sunday Joyrider. 

“I used to be really slow," she said with a laugh. 

But during this year's 16-race circuit throughout Washington, Idaho and Montana, Simkins flipped a switch and ended up leading the pack in points and finishing the season in first place. She has the help of a family-run pit crew: Her dad, mom and brother keep her bike tuned. And physically, Simkins works hard behind the scenes. 

“I run my practice track; you have to be working out, running and conditioning, and really just have the guts to try your best,” she said.

In a sport of this caliber, the learning curve can be steep, and often filled with wrecks, crashes or injuries. Simkins has been spared so far, but has had her fair share of wipeouts, hard landings, laying her bike over, even clipping a tree near a jump one time. Despite the bumps and bruises, for her there is nothing else like it. 

“Motocross is the best sport there is; I love doing it," she said. "It’s the adrenaline rush and the camaraderie.”

When she’s not on her bike, Simkins stays busy with school extracurriculars like volleyball, basketball, wrestling and track. She also participates in BPA and FFA. And outside of school, she likes to go hunting, fishing and running. 

The motocross lifestyle can be a big commitment for families, with the time invested as well as the financial costs of gear and upkeep. Aside from the dirt bike itself, pennies add up when it comes time for new boots, riding pants, protective gear and helmets every few years. 

Simkins said, “My new $800 helmet is pretty cool. It tracks my time and my laps, and gives alerts if I crash.”

One way to offset the cost for racers is to pick up sponsorships. Simkins already has several from Maverick Motor Sports, Brand X Construction, Winki’s and JB Customs. 

Her dream sponsors, she said with a smile, “they’d be Monster and Redbull.” To get a sponsorship, riders must reach out to companies and businesses and fill out an application. They also have to show proof of their abilities and how much they win.

This upcoming season, Simkins could potentially race in the Women’s A division with older riders. 

“I’m kind of nervous and excited," she said. "If I don’t, I’ll still be riding against much younger racers, but if I do, it will be better competition and more challenging, so we’ll see.”

The 2027 circuit will start up in April, with races each weekend right up until the end of August. It's a busy season filled with travel, meeting up with race friends and finding ways to improve at each track. 

Simkins acknowledged that even after getting first place. 

“My goal for next year is to keep my head up and do better," she said. 

As she leaves the starting gates next spring, Angel Simkins might be donning a cape or tutu and smiling beneath her helmet, but either way she’ll be ready to grip it and rip it.  

 Angel Simkins taking a sharp corner at a race in Billing this summer. (Photo courtesy/Alyn O'Boyle)
  

    Angel Simkins of St. Regis getting some airtime. (Photo courtesy/Alyn O'Boyle)