LOS ANGELES -- Ashley Fiolek, who, at 20, is already a two-time defending Moto X Racing champion, was supposed to have her thumbs wrapped around the throttle of her Honda, hugging the turns and looking to lock in an X Games three-peat on Saturday night.
Instead, the 2011 Best Female Action Sport Athlete ESPY nominee sat in the Staples Center stands, sidelined in street clothes, thumbs hammering Twitter dispatches draped in disappointment to her 17,000-plus followers:
AshleyFiolek67: I'm really sorry to all of my fans! I feel like I let you guys down. :( I'm blessed that I'm ok just a concussion n the doctor n my teams
AshleyFiolek67: Wouldn't let me race so I had to sit out. :( I'm sorry but I still love you guys n will make up to you guys. #feelingdown
Fiolek sustained a forcible crash in Saturday afternoon's practice and was knocked unconscious for approximately 20 seconds.
"The doctor here wouldn't clear her officially and then her Honda team manager also said, 'No,'" explained her mom, Roni Fiolek, during Saturday night's main event, on the odd occasion of sitting beside her daughter in the friends and family section.
Three years ago, in her professional rookie year, Ashley Fiolek became the youngest AMA Pro WMX champion in history, and her success hasn't let up since. She again took the title in 2009, was runner-up in 2010 and currently leads the 2011 points standings.
In her rare moment on the sidelines, espnW spoke with Fiolek as she watched Vicki Golden take home her first X Games gold.
espnW: What's with those nasty rollers that ate up you and Jessica Patterson and Jackie Ives?
Ashley Fiolek: It was kinda tricky right there, but it wasn't really that hard! I don't know! If you over jump that, it kinda messes up your rhythm. I've been practicing those every day. I just made a mistake and it threw me off. That's it.
espnW: You took quite a tumble, how are you feeling tonight?
AF: My head is hurting again and my stomach feels a little sick.
espnW: How did it feel to have to sit out and watch your race?
AF: [fighting tears] It really sucks, you know? I worked hard -- everybody worked so hard for this. And to get here just to practice, it's really depressing. But Vikki Golden rode really good. Everybody put on a good show. I hope the fans were happy with the race. I'm sorry I wasn't out there. I feel like I let them down. But I just gotta get ready for next year.
espnW: When we talked to Tarah Gieger earlier this week, she told us how hard you've been working at practice together out on the Honda track.
AF: Yes. And I was rooting for Tarah. We're good friends and we're on the Red Bull Team together. We've been practicing together and having a good time. She had a good race, she finished second, but I know that she's bummed! I'm sure she wanted gold.
espnW: Maybe Tarah will get her wish in Sunday night's Enduro X race. What do you think?
AF: Well, I'm bummed I can't be in that one either! It should be interesting because it's something new and different. I'll actually be flying home so I'll be trying to catch it on TV. I'm excited to watch it. I'm picking Tarah for that one. I'm sure she's going to do really good. And I heard some Red Bull guys talking about how she was crashing into stuff and she is really ready for it. I know she wants that one and I think she'll win it.
espnW: It's the first time many of your fans will see an Enduro race. What should they expect?
AF: Wow, it's way different than racing. There are rocks out there, and logs! Lots of things you have to jump over. It's like an obstacle course on a bike. I think it will be really fun for fans to watch. It's really exciting.
espnW: How do you practice for that?
AF: Red Bull built a track. They're good about helping out their athletes. They want them to win!
espnW: Speaking of Red Bull team riders, what do you think about what your teammate Travis Pastrana is trying to do Sunday in RallyCross, even after the crash?
AF: I think he's an idiot!! [Laughs] He's in a lot of pain, he's crazy, but I think he'll do good. You know, he's Travis!
Ashley Fiolek will focus on recovery for the three remaining stops of the 2011 AMA Women's Motocross Championship, which continues on Aug. 27 in Southwick, Mass. RallyCross airs on ESPN and ESPN3.com Sunday at 5 p.m. ET. Men's and Women's Enduro X debuts on Sunday at 9:15 p.m. on ESPN2.
