“KTM has been looking to expand its GNCC team with a female rider for some time now and Maria is the perfect fit. She has already had great success in the WORCS races, and we feel confident she will meet all expectations moving to the GNCC series” explained KTM Off-Road Race Manager Antti Kallonen a couple months ago. As I am a pretty avid follower of all forms of Off-Road motorcycle racing, I was intrigued when I read this press release this past fall that KTM had signed on Maria Forsberg to race the entire 2010 GNCC Off-Road series as a member of the RPM/KTM Racing Team. While I had been aware of Maria’s dirt bike skills, I did not know that the 22 year old had already earned four WORCS Women’s Championships! Along with her success in the WORCS series, the Washington native has competed in just about every other type of racing that you can do on two wheels. Anxious to learn more about her, I tracked Maria down with the help of KTM’s Media go-to-girl Christy LaCurelle.

By Jim Kimball

Q: Maria; I had heard that you were “discovered” riding your dirt bike in a campground back when you were 16 years old – is that true?

A: Yeah it is; I was camping with my family and we were doing some riding. A guy by the name of Mike Hulbert was also there with some of our mutual friends, and we all went on a long ride together as a big group. After that he asked me to ride for him, and actually he still helps me a lot thank goodness through his company RPM Racing.

Q: While you have competed in several styles of Off-Road Racing, I primarily know of your success in WORCS Racing.

A: I really try to race in almost every type of off-road event as possible, because I feel that with competing in all the different forms of racing that you do; that it will ultimately help you in the different types of racing that you do. I have raced in the ISDE these last two years and have come back with Gold Medals. Then I have also raced a number of Endurocrosses to help me with my more technical racing – I am not that good at Endurocross right now, but I love it! Also I have competed twice as the only woman in The Last Man Standing; along with being the only woman to finish the Fun Enduro in Mexico.

As you said though, my focus has been in the WORCS series where it has really helped my riding a bunch. It is a bit more high-speed than I personally would like, but it is good for me as it helps with my faster moto skills.

Q: Speaking of “moto skills” have you ever competed in the WMA series?

A: Yes, I have done a couple rounds. I really like motocross a lot, but it is definitely not what I am best at! Still, I try to do as much moto as I can to better myself. Switching to your 2009 WORCS season; this was the first time in a while where you didn’t win a championship. I feel it still went pretty well in spite of my injury. In April I crashed, dislocating and breaking my elbow, and it took a lot longer to heal than what I hoped for. I missed three of the WORCS rounds because of it, but I still ended up on the podium with third overall – which I was very happy for.

Q: Now, going into 2010 you are trying yet another form of Off-Road racing right?

A: Yes, and I am very excited about it! I am going to be racing the entire GNCC series; I have done two GNCC’s in the past, and absolutely loved them! I like GNCC because it is a longer and more technical type of racing; I have always wanted to do the entire series. Luckily for me KTM wanted a woman racer in the series, and they have offered to help me along with my longtime sponsor RPM Racing – which I am extremely grateful for.

Q: Okay Maria; you have certainly excelled in WORCS Racing, as well as several other off-road series; what do you want to accomplish in your first year of competing in the full GNCC series?

A: My goal is to hopefully win the championship; I know that it will be tough, and that there is a lot of competition, but I am going to try my hardest.

Q: Any other racing plans in your near future?

A: I really would like to do more racing in Europe; I love meeting all the different types of people who are into racing. I want to do at least one more ISDE, and then continue trying to win GNCC Championships.

Q: In the meantime, what are you doing for fun?

A: Well, I love to mountain bike and run; actually I have now competed in two half marathons. I also like camping, and really anything that is outdoors.

Q: I thought that I heard that you sometimes model…

A: Well; not really, but I guess you are right – I have done a couple photo-shoots.

Q: On that note let’s wrap things up; any final comments Maria?

A: First, thanks very much for taking the time to track me down for this interview. I really would like to add some thank you’s too KTM, RPM Racing, MSR, GPR, FMF, Bell helmets, SIDI, PG Graphics, definitely my mom and dad, and everyone else that has helped me!