I think we can all agree that dirt bikes are Gods real gift to the world, but that doesn’t mean he’s got your back every time you swing a leg over and twist the throttle. Jess Graham has lived through the worst of it, but you’ll struggle to see her at the track, sporting anything less than a huge smile on her face. This self-confessed KTM gal has a fascinating story on her road to finding motocross.

Name: Jess Graham
Location: Auckland
Bike: KTM 250 SX-F / 500cc Solo

So it was March 2020 when I got into MX. When I got back to NZ after doing some epic nursing contracts in Queensland, I asked Billy (who also rides MX, FT and solos - we met racing speedway, that’s when we first got together), “Should we get some dirt bikes?” Stupid question really, haha, because who wouldn’t want to! It was one of the best decisions ever.

My first bike in MX was a 2020 KTM 250 SX-F - it still is. Why? Because KTM, that’s why - They’re sexy bikes and their frames aren’t bulky like the other competitors. I was tossing up between Honda and KTM originally, but KTM won out.

My first ever motorbike was when I was about 9 or 10 and rode it a handful of times - it was a little 125cc junior speedway solo bike. I’d ride the junior track at Rosebank after the meeting, but never got into it because I was too shy. I also rode around on the beach or parks but had the cops called on me pretty much every time.

Eventually I came back to speedway and was given a 200cc solo. I was 15 years old by this time, wasn’t on it for too long, but definitely was pretty good on it, regular battles for podium spots with the boys.

Then, because I was turning 16, I had to upgrade to a 500cc solo. Man, these bikes are powerful, mindless machines; absolutely relentless and unforgiving to those who fail to dominate the bike beneath them.

I ended up on life support when I was 16 - I had 24 rib breaks, flail chest, punctured lung and a traumatic intracranial haemorrhage. I had forgotten to turn the chain oiler on and my primary chain had heated up and ripped apart as I entered Go-Kart corner at Rosebank Road - rookie mistake. My back wheel locked up in the slide and the bike threw me into the fence, it then came in behind me and crushed me against the fence. Apparently when people came to me I was knocked out and had blood coming out of my ears, nose and mouth. My helmet was cracked in the accident and taken away from me, and sadly I never got to keep it.

I remember the paramedics, and my beautiful Mum, in the back of the ambulance telling me that I needed to stay awake. I was just so tired! It was overwhelming, it felt like my mind was incredibly heavy. The darkness was hard to fight; it kept pulling me back with its inviting warmth and peacefulness. Every fibre in my body was telling me to give up and sleep. You have no control, you’re at the mercy of those around you.

I also remember being conscious of the fact that something was breathing for me. I tried to hold my breath to see what would happen, but it was just followed by a deep and forceful breath, so I went back to sleep. My first breath off life-support was sooo fresh and cold - I swore I’d never take breathing for granted again but I do, again - it’s just natural I guess.

Since then I’ve broken my collarbone, my back, and my shoulder blade plus a few more ribs. With my 2 biggest accidents my neck brace broke, so I feel very lucky to not be paralysed and I never ride without a neck brace because of that. But nothing really can stop you from doing what you love.

One of the first things that I had learned in speedway was throttle control, and one of the first things I learned in MX was that turning right was extremely hard! Haha.

I don’t really wish that I had known anything in particular before riding. You just learn as you grow, and as you grow you learn things that are particular to you with where you are at that moment. Learning is all part of the fun.

What I found easy about riding speedway was sliding - I used to just have so much fun doing it and I never went out to win, always to just have fun… But you can’t help it if the competitive streak decides to come out on the track!

On the solo riding side, I struggle with the whole thing now, but I’d say the big thing for me is hitting a grippy patch - especially when entering a corner. I remember I used to be so fast and controlled - it felt like I floated over ruts. I managed to get my lap times down to 15 seconds around Rosebank’s big track when I was at my peak.

At MX I struggle with fitness, before COVID I was at the gym 5-6 times a week trying to stay fit for MX. But I think you can do all you want at the gym, but ultimately you need to ride to get ride fit.

Jess’s husband Billy trying to keep in front at Rosebank Road.

I don’t think I would really change much on my bikes. I’ve not had much experience with MX bikes either so I don’t have anything to compare it to. But my bike is set up for me and it’s adjusted, as my riding changes, to suit me so it’s perfect at the mo.

I enjoy MX the most because it’s so much fun - the speed, the jumps, just the variety of it, and you can also ride most weekends regardless of the weather. But I would say that I am most proud of my riding at speedway. Solos look easy but you can’t understand the feeling of riding one until you’ve had a go. They feel unnatural, the vibration is unreal, and the power that they exert is massive - you have to learn to control all of that without brakes and without gears…while sliding sideways. But you can’t compare the two, MX and speedway, they’re 100% different.

I’m a Mumma to a 3 year old little man, Koda. He’s pretty much a full-time hobby when he’s not at day care! I also LOVE the beach, sitting up on the sand dunes at a west coast beach does something great to my soul. Photography is another hobby I recently got into. Capturing moments and memories in life because life is priceless and beautiful. Other than that I’m a pretty boring person at home, ha.

For work I started off as a registered nurse working in neurosurgery / HDU, then moved onto the Emergency Department. Eventually went over to Aussie and did some rural and outback contracts. But you know, you spend most of your life at work, so you have to be happy and enjoy what you do. Since realising how unsafe and undervalued our healthcare system is for nurses here in NZ, especially after being in Aussie, I quit nursing and am now doing marine engineering. And I absolutely love it!

The best advice that I’ve had and that I would give is to HAVE FUN. When you lose the fun, the whole game changes - and not in a good way. Take the time to bask in the complete happiness and freedom that riding brings you, while you can. The last bit of advice that I would like to give to others would be to just do it. Don’t be afraid to have a go, and don’t forget to have fun. You have to live life before life leaves you.

As mentioned by Jess, she takes a pretty decent image on the old camera too. She has helped us here at The Dirt with some images for gear and bike reviews and she does it with a huge smile on her face. You can check out here talents on her Instagram or Facebook pages.

Instagram - @jess_graham_photography
Facebook - Jess Graham Photography

Here is some of her work: