Melissa Paris
Motourage presents our exclusive interview with AMA Pro Road Racing’s Melissa Paris. The Daytona Sportbike competitor dished about the good, the bad and the ugly on racing, crashing, life and the origin of her lucky number 13.
After an amazingly difficult run at Virginia during the
AMA Big Kahuna, Melissa is on the mend, recovering from a broken tibia AND fibula. During
Daytona Sportbike race one of the weekend, Melissa hit a slick spot between turns three and four and low-sided. We were front and center, overlooking from the Pagoda deck as it happened. She walked away unscathed from that incident, but was unable to finish the race. Luckily, husband Josh Hayes was nearby and available for a lift back to the paddock. Only 28 of the 43 bikes on grid finished that race.
Race two proved to be even more ominous, not only for Melissa, but for many Sportbike competitors. Immediately following the start, something went horribly wrong for a group rounding out of turn one on that first lap. A couple of riders didn’t quite make the turn. When Melissa’s attempt to split two of the riders and avoid the wreck failed, she hit the brakes and tried to stop her 300 pounds of bike before it rammed into the fallen riders. Unfortunately, she took a direct hit to the leg from another oncoming bike, breaking both her tibia and fibula. Rumor was, you could hear her shouting expletives of pain for miles around. Turn one was too far for us to see what was going on, so we waited with fear and anticipation as we watched the ambulances, firetrucks and other rescue vehicles make the run back and forth to turn one. By the time we heard Melissa had a broken leg, I think we were all just thankful it wasn’t worse. Looking back at race two, only 38 of the original 46 entries made it to the grid. Out of the 38 that started, only 23 finished. Five of the DNFs were due to the crash on the first lap. It certainly proved to be a miserable weekend for Melissa and many other riders.
Melissa gets a ride from Josh
In happier news, we were able to catch Melissa while she was house-ridden with her broken leg (that only lasted a few days). She’s already back up-and-at-em and planning to rally for her 250 GP race, less than two weeks away. She’s just a few points away from leading the Eastern and National USGPRU 250 divisions – we wish her luck and a speedy recovery!
Motourage: You compete in a variety of series, including AMA, WERA and USGPRU. Which series do you find the most challenging and which are the series you compete in for fun or to gain practice time?
Melissa: I do compete in a lot of different series! A big part of that is because I still have so much to learn, that I try to take advantage of any chance to ride. Obviously, the field in AMA is so deep… there are so many really fast people out there, that I always learn a lot, and it seems like I always take big steps at those event. But club racing with CCS and WERA is challenging too, probably because I expect a lot more out of myself. USGPRU… well, that’s so much fun, because I LOVE riding my 250 but I put a lot of pressure on myself at those races, because I know I’m capable of winning!! I’m six points out of the 250GP championship right now, so I’ll be trying to race at our next round despite the broken leg. I want that championship more than you can even imagine.
Meli playing in the dirt
Motourage: What’s in your garage? Based on all the divisions you’ve raced in, just in 2009, there are quite a diverse set of bikes involved. What bikes would we find if we peeked in your garage and if you’re racing others on occasion, where do those come from?
Melissa: Sadly, you wouldn’t find many roadrace bike in my garage!!! My R6’s and 250 stay on our truck on the road most of the time. Between Josh and I, our garage is packed with Yamaha motocross bikes though! I really love riding my 250 motocrosser SO much. It’s the most fun way to train for roadracing definitely. We also have a ton of bicycles (road, mountain, bmx) skateboards and a LOT of other fun stuff.
Motourage: You’ve mentioned you like to ride motocross for fun. Have you competed in motocross?
Melissa: I’ve done 2 motocross races I think… The first time I actually crashed and separated my shoulder, which sucked. The second time went a little better.. I won the girls class and I think I got second in the beginner class. It was so weird to me that they had a woman’s class… there are a lot more girls doing that than roadracing right now. And there are some STUPID fast girls racing mx too. So impressive!
Motourage: Over your lifetime, you’ve been involved in so many different sports; baseball, track, swimming, BMX and now motorsports. Looking back on your experiences, which do you think help prepare you most for your professional race career; either athletically or mentally?
Melissa: My parents always encouraged me to be involved in sports. I’m REALLY glad that I got try so many different things. I think my parents understood that you need to try to find your “thing.” For me, as a kid, that was baseball. I have four older brothers, but the one closest to me, Chris, used to practice with me for hours… and I remember him practicing at BMX for hours as well. I think he taught me a lot about what it means to be dedicated and work hard at something!
Melissa's red hot number 13 Yamaha
Motourage: Looking at your race schedule, I wonder how you find time for anything else! What does a normal week look like for you, in terms of practices, workouts and racing?
Melissa: A normal week? Haha.. what’s that? I’m just off of a seven week straight run of racing where I didn’t get to come home at all. I loved it. Usually though, when we are at home, we try to either ride bicycles or motocross every day. It’s really rare that we don’t do anything at all. Chaz Davies stays with us right now, so its really good because when one of us is feeling unmotivated, there is always someone else to prod you along.
Motourage: After leaving SDSU, it appears you moved directly into the world of motorcycle racing. Did you have any other regular jobs before taking on motorsport?
Melissa: While I was going to school I was working full time in the accounting field (I have a degree in accounting). I started racing my third year of school, so I was REALLY busy; working, school, racing. When I graduated I took a really great job offer, but after a day I knew something wasn’t right. I remember calling my Dad and telling, him, “this isn’t me Dad.. I want to race.” He was so supportive. He told me to move home with him, while I figured out how I was going to get a job that would pay for me to race… then josh and I got engaged, haha!
Motourage: If you had not started a career in racing, what would have been your profession of choice and why?
Melissa: Its so hard to say. Even though I had a degree in accounting, I knew that wasn’t what I wanted to do. Knowing what I know now, I think I’d prefer a job where I felt like I impacted people’s lives more. Doctors, nurses, teachers.. those are real heroes… I tell Josh that after all I’ve learned about training and fitness I’d like to be trainer when I’m done racing. I think so many people have the wrong idea about what it takes to be fit!
Melissa and Josh at VIR
Motourage: Everyone probably knows you’re married to AMA Superbike rider Josh Hayes. Rumors are that you routinely give him a run for his money on practice days. Is this true?
Melissa: It depends what we’re practicing at! If we’re in go-karts.. yeah I might have a chance… I don’t think I’ll ever touch him on a mx bike.. He’s an animal. Swimming and roadracing, he doesn’t have a chance! I’m sure most would laugh, but I sure do PLAN on beating him on a road race bike one of these days!
Motourage: With the volume of travel required for your job I imagine finding time together as a couple can be difficult. What are some of your favorite things to do together as a couple?
Melissa: It is nearly impossible! Honestly, we really enjoy training together.. also, going to the beach is good!
Motourage: You describe yourself as a potential beach bum. You’ve lived and traveled all over – what’s your favorite beach area?
Melissa: Sadly, I haven’t gotten to see too many different beaches… But even so, I think I love my beach right here in Oceanside pretty well. My favorite frozen yogurt place, Red Cup, is right here, there’s a cool pier, and lots of really cool, laid back people.
Motourage: Being of a competitive nature as you are, I imagine one of the worst things for you is not being able to finish a race. What thoughts go through your head in those situation?
Melissa: I probably shouldn’t repeat what goes through my head… I can’t deny that I’m very emotional. I put everything I have into racing, so when I have a mechanical or crash or whatever, it just burns me up inside. It’s indescribable.
Xray on left, recovery riding on right!
Motourage: One of those situations happened recently in Virginia, when you rolled away with a broken leg. Everyone wants to know how you’ve been getting along since that pile up at VIR and when you expect to be back in the saddle?
Melissa: Yeah, that wasn’t too fun. I broke my tibia and fibula. I flew straight back to CA and Dr. Ting put a rod in it. The first week was no fun at all, but its starting to get better bit by bit. I’m trying to do my PT and work really hard, because I am in the 250 championship still. I need to be able to ride in 13 days if I’m going to try to make it happen… It’s a long shot, but I have to try!
Motourage: You’re a beautiful young woman in a traditionally boys’ sport. I’m sure occasionally people who don’t know who you make a few wrong assumptions and underestimate your ability. Do you have any good stories?
Melissa: You know, for the most part, people are really cool. Within the sport I think people understand that girls aren’t at any disadvantage really. I think when I was just doing track days and stuff.. especially when I would take my 125 to track days I’d have more funny experiences. One time this guy was asking me about my bike and actually called it “cute.” Passing him was enjoyable.
Motourage: Many people might say number 13 is unlucky. How did you decide on your number and why?
Melissa: Even when I was playing other sports when I was little I used 13… If its unlucky for everyone else, its lucky for me!
Motourage: You rode in this year’s Daytona 200 to raise money for the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation, an organization working extensively on breast cancer research. Is there a personal story or motivation behind your support of the Love Foundation?
Melissa: When I was putting my program together at the beginning of the year, my Dad suggested that I should pick a charity to raise money for. Our sport can be really selfish, the way you have to dedicate yourself to it. That way I can try to contribute too! A girlfriend of mine hooked me up with the Women’s Motorcyclist Foundation who were already involved with the Dr. Susan Love foundation. It just seemed like the perfect fit!
The team at Motourage would like to thank Melissa for taking the time to speak with us. We wish her a quick recovery and the best of luck throughout her racing career and in life in general.
Didn’t get enough of Melissa? You can find more information online:
The AMA Suzuki Superbike Showdown just five weeks away.
During a successful racing career, Morehead was known as the “Findlay Flyer,” and was one of the leading AMA Pro Grand National Championship racers from the mid-1970s through the 1990s. In all, Morehead won a total of 23 AMA Nationals during his 26-year professional racing career. He finished ranked in the top-10 17 times. Morehead was a fan favorite and was one of the oldest riders on the AMA Pro circuit when he retired.
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