When the gun goes off in the Ladies Class at the first race of the Monster Energy Motocross Nationals next month, Alissa Hibbert might be caught looking around.

But Hibbert, a rookie making who will be making her professional debut, isn't planning on being left behind.

The nationals event is scheduled for June 5 at Whispering Pines, located north of Kamloops on Westsyde Road. It kicks off the series, which will comprise nine events ranging all the way from Nanaimo to Moncton and ending Aug. 21 in Walton, Ont.

Hibbert won't be going to Nanaimo or Walton or Moncton with the series - the only national event in which she'll take part is the Kamloops event, and she's not expecting to roll up the start line and dominate.

"I just want to get as much experience as I can," says Hibbert, a 22-year-old Kamloopsian. "The girls at that level are so good and I just want to . . . see where they ride and how they deal with the track.

"Maybe I'll talk to some of them and get some pointers."

Hibbert is new to racing but has spent a lot of time on a dirtbike.

Her family has been riding all her life and she started riding "five or six years ago."

And then came a twist of fate three years ago. Hibbert's cousin, Cody, tried to convince her to buy a racing bike, and did a pretty good job - she bought a Honda CRF 150R, and has raced eight teams at Whispering Pines this season.

"It's been really good," Alissa says. "I'm not finishing first, but I'm gaining a lot of experience and having a lot of fun."

Of course, the decision to start racing was met with mixed emotions from the family.

"My dad was pretty excited but my mom was nervous," Hibbert says. "It's something I could see myself doing for a while. But I'm 22 - I wish I had started years ago."

Lack of experience aside, Hibbert does have a competitive edge that comes from a lifetime of playing hockey.

Hibbert, a goaltender, had three consecutive shutouts in March to lead the Kamloops Vibe to the provincial senior A women's hockey title in Fort St. John.

She also competed at the Western Shield championships, for the top female senior teams in Western Canada, and has learned to deal with pressure and nerves and expectations.

"I'm pretty competitive," Hibbert explains. "Mentally, you learn to prepare yourself. This is my first (nationals event) but I've been to the Western Shield, and that's the highest level.

"I'm prepared to deal with the stress and all the nerves."

Hibbert, who manages two Petro-Canada stations in Kamloops, hopes this is the start of something great, but she's still easing herself into things. She hopes to compete in Williams Lake and Kelowna later this summer, but is focused only on June 5.

And Cody will be there, helping Alissa through her first race.

"He's racing in the amateur day Saturday," Alissa says. "But he plans to be there Sunday - he's calling himself part of my pit crew."

mhunter@kamloopsnews.ca