The sound of silence at RedBud 2012

BUCHANAN, Mich. -- Professional motocross racers flooded the town of Buchanan on Thursday for the annual RedBud race.

Some of the top racers in the world will be competing for the title on Saturday afternoon.

ABC 57 got to talk with the top female rider on Thursday and her abilities or disabilities might surprise you.

Ashley Fiolek and is originally from Michigan but is currently based in Florida. She’s been racing since she was seven years old and she’s got a unique ability to stay focused.

Right now she’s one of the top racers in the world and at 21-years- old, Fiolek has won three National Championships in the last four years as a professional racer.

“When I was watching her when she was only 13 I was like, ‘Dang! This girl’s going to be fast,” explained fellow racer Sarah Whitmore.

Whitmore is one of Fiolek’s oldest friends and competitors. But for RedBud media day, she played a different role for Fiolek.

 “So you want me to translate,” asked Whitmore as she and Fiolek got ready for interviews.

While most racers hear the roar of 50 bikes while on the track, Fiolek hears nothing.  

“ For her, she was born deaf, so she doesn’t know the difference between hearing the bike and not hearing it,” translated Whitmore.  

Instead of listening to the bike for her cues to shift, Fiolek says she uses the vibrations in the handlebars as indicators. But not being able to hear the other racers has its advantages.

“On the one hand it’s better because she can’t hear the other bikes so she can’t feel the pressure,” explained Whitmore.  

But as the defending RedBud champion, pressure is just one more thing, Fiolek has learned to work with.

“She said she doesn’t see it as a disadvantage or a disability, it’s just how she is and she just loves to race so that’s what she does,” said Whitmore.  

Fiolek missed the last round of races due to a head injury from the X-Games, but she says for Saturday, she’s just hoping to stay up, survive the heat and hopefully pull out another victory.

For more information on RedBud and schedules click here: http://www.redbudmx.com/