Trail Rider Magazine

A HUGE part of being successful in this sport is your support system! "My parents have always been a huge support from the me I got on a bike. My boy- friend Steve has been a huge support to my training and mechanics. The last two seasons and has pushed me to the next level." Along with her parents and her boyfriend, Taylor said she's "been fortunate enough to be with Team Trail Jesters and have had the support of Ross Mauri the last five years. I wouldn't be at the level I am now without his and the team's support. Along with Trail Jesters, I am lucky enough to have the support of KTM, FMF, Moose Racing, Steve Hatch Racing, Hammer Nutri on, Alpinestar, Edelmann sales, Motorex, Seat Concepts, Specialized super B Ba eries, XC Gear, Bulletproof Design, P3 Carbon, Motool, Dun- lop Tires, Renthal, Flow Vision Company, Acerbis, IMS Products, Engine Ice, and WickFlow." Taylor has experience racing in and out of New En- gland, including a full GNCC series in 2019 in the WXC class. "Although it was an atypical year with COVID, I was s ll able to travel and race in South Carolina, Flor- ida, Georgia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania. Indiana, and Ohio." Taylor's goals for the 2021 season include being consistent with nutri on and off-track training and "to be able to run consistently in the top five in WXC for GNCCs and the J Day Women's pro championship, both are not going to be easy, but I love a challenge!" Being a woman rider in a sport previously known as "for the boys" can be somewhat in mida ng. Al- though as far as I can see, the boys and men alike are not only suppor ve but cheering on their fellow women racers! It is inspiring to see a family or gener- a ons of riders, partners, husbands and wives come together because of racing. It involves intense compe- on. There are morals, and there are unwri en rules to abide by. Many that live the racing "lifestyle" can relate, including our next rider known as "Boots." Bri any Piechota aka "Boots, 26, who currently resides in Massachuse s, finished 16 th overall in the J Day Off-Road women's class. Boots got her "race fever" at 21 when she a ended her first J Day race, the Wizard GP in Rocky Hill, CT. Piechota grew up riding four-wheelers and eventually tran- si oned to two wheels. Taking note from the skills of Paul Goye e aka "Poacher," she ventured more into riding sand tracks and woods riding. Bri any is currently running a Yamaha YZ125 in the J Day women's class. Bri any keeps mo vated on the track by con n- ually improving her skills to accomplish her goals. "I have goals that I want to achieve on two wheels and am always willing to learn more and train more. I don't like disappoin ng myself or the peo- ple suppor ng me." When it comes to Boot's most challenging aspect of racing, there seems to be an all-around focus on MENTALITY. "Mentality. Mental toughness is huge in our sport," she said. Mo va on goes hand in hand with the excitement of racing. "The adrenaline, the ba les — something about that gate drop and hi ng jumps makes you smile big under your helmet," she said. With the fast paced "hustle and bustle" of the races, each racer tends to have their most memo- rable moment. For Bri any this was being selected the featured rider for the ZRT thro le sponsored J Day race. "That was pre y cool!" she said. And Bri any won't stop there; her 2021 racing goal is to compete for a championship spot in NESC and to con nue improving. As for her personal goals, "Just to keep doing what I do and not let things bother me. Focus on what really ma ers," she said. When Boots isn't on the track, she likes to work out and stay ac ve with hiking, pedaling and anything outside. Aside from training, Bri any finds her support system within her friends and family at the J Day races. Her dad is one of her biggest supporters and has been with her at many of the J Day races. Also, Paul Goye e aka "Poacher" "has been the biggest support, has helped and taught me a lot, and is always wrenching on my bikes for me!" Taylor Johnston Taylor Johnston

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