Motocross in Manitoba is not just for boys anymore, or at least that's what 17-year-old Barretta Bedarf believes.

Bedarf has been dirt biking for a few years now.

She only started racing back in 2006, and since then she has primarily raced against men. She is quite proud of the fact she "runs with the boys."

"There are a couple other girls like myself that race, but some of the time, I am the only girl on the track. Basically, all I can say is 'girls can ride too,'" she explained.

Bedarf said she does get some negative comments from male riders, but it's the positive ones that she takes note of.

"I've gotten a few bad comments like 'girls can't ride,' you know that sort of stuff, but it is the good comments that I like. This one time I was riding and some of the guys came up and said 'good job' to me because I have the guts to ride with the guys."

As Bedarf further explained, some of the guys she rides with are very aggressive on their motorcycles, and it takes a significant amount of courage to get on the track with them.

"When it comes to racing, you really need to let go of your fear," she said.

Gender aside, Bedarf races dirt bikes for the love of the sport, and she proclaimed it really doesn't matter who she races against, whether male or female.

Despite the energy of the sport, Bedarf said she feels most at peace on the track.

She said flying down the race course - and through the air - is when she feels most comfortable.

"When you are in the air, it feels like freedom," Bedarf described. "When you jump the bike, you just have to lose everything."

The last race that she competed in was in Beausejour at a rodeo fair at the end of September. She placed sixth out of 23 racers and is hoping her next race will go even better.

Bedarf doesn't currently compete on a fixed circuit, however, in the future, she is looking at joining a racing team a few of her close friends are a part of - which would further advance her racing career.

Bedarf confessed she isn't really ready for ESPN, but she is continuing to work on her riding and can't wait until the race season starts again.

"I haven't been to any big-time events because I am not super good or anything. But I have been to a bunch of weekend races, not races that are on TV or anything, just normal races," Bedarf said. "I can't wait for racing to start again. I've already started getting ready for it."

This young woman who primarily lives in Winnipeg, but has spent a substantial amount of time in Portage la Prairie, recently became the newest and only sponsored rider for Ollies Skateboard and Clothing in Portage.

According to Lori Faurschou, owner of Ollies, Bedarf is a high-energy individual with a passion for the sport.

Farschou said she is very proud to sponsor such a charismatic individual.

"It's really refreshing to see that girls are also involved in motocross. With Berretta's energy and enthusiasm she will go very far," Faurschou said.

According to Faurschou, she and Bedarf met through Bedarf's passion for Fox Racing clothing.

"She has been an awesome customer when it comes to Fox Racing and that's how we met. She came in and started purchasing a lot of Fox and we got to talking. She was so energetic and when I met her I just loved her personality so I decided to sponsor her," explained

Faurschou.

Currently, Faurschou is trying to get Fox Racing to sponsor Bedarf, but she encourages other business to support other young people in the community.

"I think it is very important to support our youth and some of the things that they are accomplishing at such a young age. They are our future so we need to get involved with the activities that they are involved with," stated Faurschou.