Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1530649
P88 INTERVIEW I MOTOAMERICA ROAD RACERS: AVERY AND ELLA DREHER him completing his high school education through Florida Virtual School, allowing him to focus entirely on racing. "I graduated high school about a year early. I worked kind of far ahead with all the high school stuff; got that done just so I could put all my focus onto racing." Ella and Avery are second- generation racers. Their dad, Aaron, and their uncle, John, grew up in North Dakota and club road raced at Brainerd. Avery, being the oldest, was the first to get into the minibike scene. He started in motocross, but after breaking his collarbone, his dad decided to give Avery a shot at road racing. He raced a two-stroke minibike at first and then hopped on a Kawasaki 300 and picked it up quickly. "My rookie season definitely exceeded my expectations," she said. "I wasn't expecting that in my first year, my learning year. And just taking the advice from my coach, Dale Quarterley, and working to put it into action. I put in work, and it paid off for sure." a whole different platform. It's a different chassis. So, I had to learn how to ride the bike differ- ently and how to use the power to the bike's best ability because it's obviously a whole lot differ- ent than the 400. It was a tough hurdle to get over to learn that bike. And throughout the races, I kind of got up to par with the Aprilia and just kept learning it more and more as the season went on." For sister, Ella, it was the jump to race MotoAmerica for the first time on the big stage in the Junior Cup. And to say she was a rev - elation in the class would be an understatement. Three podiums and being in the battle for the top three in the championship all season was a surprise to many in the paddock, even Ella herself. FROM HUMBLE BEGINNINGS TO THE NATIONAL STAGE Avery, 18, MotoAmerica Junior Cup Champion of 2023, began his journey like many racers—on a modest Honda CRF50 dirt bike. His introduction to the sport was fueled by family pas - sion, with his father and uncle fostering his love for speed. "The goal from day one was to be a National Champion," Avery says. His dedication saw The siblings in full flight as Avery leads Ella at Road America.