DAMASCUS TWP. — Jocelyn Barnes may well be the most talented local athlete you've never heard of, but that's about to change.
An elite dirt bike racer since she first began riding at the age of four, Barnes has dominated each and every level of competition, locally, regionally and nationally.
Now, she's poised to step out onto the world stage.
In October, Barnes will be representing the United States at the 98th Annual International Six Days' Enduro. This year's event will be hosted by the International Motorcycling Federation and held October 14-19 in Galicia, Spain.
“I'm so excited," Barnes said. “I'm ecstatic. This is such a huge step up for me. It's something that I've been dreaming about since I was eight.”
This race represents the highest level of offroad motorcycling in the world. The Olympics of Offroad (as it's commonly called) has been held every year since 1913 and attracts elite riders from more than 25 countries.
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Only six women in the nation are chosen each year after competing in a pair of qualifying races. It's an honor Barnes has been gunning for all her life.
“I am so grateful for this opportunity and very excited to represent the United States,” she said.
Overcoming adversity
Barnes has experienced a little bit of adversity at every turn on her way to becoming an offroad champion.
First and most notably, she was determined to make a name for herself in a rough and tumble sport largely dominated by boys. Not surprisingly, she experienced pushback right from the start.
“Other fathers often scoffed at my audacity to sign up with their sons,” Barnes said. “But my determination couldn't be matched and my results began landing me on the podium. Eventually, I was met with acceptance from the boys and their fathers.”
That acceptance gradually morphed into admiration and respect as Barnes started piling up the awards and accolades. Her breakthrough moment came at the Unadilla National where she placed second in the girls 8-15 class at the tender age of 12.
“The highlight of that day was being interviewed on the podium where no one had ever heard of me,” said Barnes, who up to this point in her career had only competed against boys. “I innocently explained that I'd never raced with other girls who could ride that fast.”
By 2017, Barnes had made the move to Grand National Cross Country full time. GNCC is the largest offroad racing organization in the nation and competing at that level required a huge commitment from the entire family.
Barnes traveled up and down the East Coast for 13 weekends, hitting tracks in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, West Virginia, Indiana, Pennsylvania and New York.
She won her first national title a the age of 13, setting the stage for a whirlwind ride to the top.
In 2019, she made the move from a mini-bike to a full-sized frame. This transition entailed longer races against older girls.
Undeterred, Barnes quickly went about the business of dominating the field, powering her way to a second national title at 14.
Once again, though, she began consistently landing on the podium … a fact that led to her looking around for the next big thing.
Breaking down barriers
Following the 2019 season, Barnes petitioned officials to be promoted to WXC class. This would require the cooperation of two governing bodies (GNCC and the American Motorcycle Association) and a major rule change.
“The WXC is the most competitive professional female offroad class in the world,” Barnes said. “It consists of the best riders from all over the globe. But, my dominating results in 2019 opened the door for consideration.”
And so, in 2020 at the age of 15, Barnes became the youngest female ever accepted into the premier class. Once again, she quickly proved that she belonged with one stellar performance after another.
In 2022, Barnes steered her Husqvarna 250cc 4-stroke to a third place finish at Beckly (WV). It was her first professional podium. From there, she went on to finish fifth in the season standings.
Unfortunately for Barnes, it was at this point that injury began raising its ugly head.
In fact, she had to sit out the entire 2023 season after undergoing the second knee surgery of her young career. This particular operation saw surgeons replace both her lateral collateral ligament and popliteal tendon.
“It was imperative that I let the knee fully recover and allow time for the proper therapy and my strength to return,” Barnes said. “Now I'm back and loving every minute of it.”
Total team effort
Following moths of recovery and intensive rehab, Barnes is laser-focused on Spain … a journey she couldn't even begin to undertake without the support of her family.
Jocelyn is the daughter of Buddy and Jessica Barnes. She has a brother, Owen, who is her riding and training partner.
“Thanks to countless hours of blood, sweat and tears, my family and I have achieved this together,” Barnes said. “I would not be where I am today without them.”
Still, a trip to Spain is a huge undertaking and Barnes is appealing for a little bit of help in raising funds to make her dream a reality.
“I've always been committed to working hard, but a financial obstacle of this magnitude is not something I can do without the support of my community,” she said.
If you'd like to help Barnes as she strives to represent the United States at this year's Olympics of Offroad, please visit her GoFundMe page.
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