Legends

 


Background

In 1992, Mercedes Gonzalez was the "Fastest Women in Motocross".  1992 was also the year Mercedes retired from the sport to pursue a career in mountain bike racing.

Mercedes started riding motorcycles in 1969.  Her father rode motorcycles and she fell in love with them.  Her parents bought her a motorcycle when she was 5 years old.  At the age of 7, Mercedes raced her first motocross race and hasn't stopped.

Her competitive spirit and love for winning is what propelled her to be the best she could be.  Anyone who has had the opportunity to meeting Mercedes knows she is serious when it comes to winning.

With role models like Yamaha mounted Sue Fish, Mercedes set her goals early, setting out to become the fastest racer that she could be.

Major Motocross achievements: 

* 5 times Women’s MX Champion – Loretta Lynn’s Amateur Nationals

* 9 times Women’s MX National Champion IWMSA, WMXA, WMSA, WIMSA
* Top contender in several major events in Men’s Intermediate Class
* Won multi women's titles in Mammoth Mountain MX over the last 2 decades
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Major Cycling Achievements:
Elite Women
**Silver Medallist 1995 Downhill World Championships (Germany)
1996 4th Overall Downhill UCI World Cup Championship Series
1996 Bronze Medallist European Championships (Italy)
1996 6th place Downhill World Championships (Australia)
1997 Spanish Downhill & Dual Slalom National Champion
1997 7th place Downhill World Championships (Switzerland)
1998 5th Overall Downhill UCI World Cup Championship Series
1998 Spanish Downhill National Champion
1999 5th Overall Downhill UCI World Cup Championship Series
1999 5th Overall Downhill Norba National Championship Series
 

Other Achievements: 
First Women to win a Mickey Thompson Off-Road Series event.

Won the Car Class – Superlites at Denver Mile High Stadium (64,000 fans attended).

What is she doing now?
Mercedes is happily married to x-MX Pro, Derek Natvig.  Mercedes is a stay-at-home mom raising their son, Cameron.

Mercedes actively supports the Women's MX League throughout the year while participating when she can.  She is currently working with Ricky Johnson as the two promote the "School of Champions" motocross training schools.  She also puts on Women's Motocross Schools, aligned with the WML, to help raise the necessary funds to produce women's motocross events.  Check out Mercedes's new column, "Speedy Chicks", on the Supercross.com web site.


Rick and Mercedes - "School of Champions"

Her devoted spirit to women's sports is undoubtedly an asset to her success.  Mercedes is a tribute to women and their ability to do what they set out to do in life.