Vicki Golden’s X Games, Motocross Life Has Silver Lining

Apparently, there is a fine line between brave and stupid. Vicki Golden feels like she may have crossed that finish line two years ago.

Motocross racing started as a lark – at 7, she only wanted to do everything that her big brother, Robert, was doing. But conformity became competition, and pretty soon she was one of the best on the track.

Now, Golden, 18, is one of the top young up-and-coming riders on the women’s circuit and she is looking to cement that reputation with a top finish at the X Games this week in Los Angeles. She finished fourth last year, but that in itself was a huge feat considering what it took her to get there.

“We all have something wrong in our heads. A lot of people think we’re brave. No, we’re just stupid,” Golden said from her home in Murrieta. “I look forward to the X Games every year. I’m more excited because I found out how much I love Supercross. I like riding outdoors. I love the more technical side of the riding that supercross brings.”

Two years ago, Golden led the WMX Rookie of the Year standings. In fact, she was practicing for the X Games at a local track until she crashed.

Golden doesn’t exactly remember how it happened, just that she crashed. Big. She thought it was just a couple of broken ribs, so Golden figured she’d drive to her mom’s work in San Diego instead of driving home to Temecula, where they lived at the time. Toward the end of the drive, about 15 minutes from her destination, she started feeling “a lot more pain.” Then, of all things, she got pulled over by the CHP.

As the officer was writing her speeding ticket, Golden said he looked at her and said, “Hey, are you dying?” I looked at him and said, “I don’t know.” I really wasn’t sure.

Turns out, Golden ended her rookie season right then and there. She had a collapsed lung, a lacerated liver and other assorted injuries. Complications with her injuries turned it into a six-month recovery.

Now that she’s back, it’s just like Christmas again and she’s getting a new bike.

With the rapid development of the women’s motocross tour and Golden’s taking on of the more aggressive arena course riding, the sport is once again new and exciting for her.

“We (women) haven’t been riding that long, but more and more girls are getting really good and riding supercross,” Golden said. “It’s awesome to see. It’s what we want and what we need.”