On this special day, we are honoured to present to you some of the influential female motorcycle riders that we think you should know about. Without further ado, let’s get right into it!
Shelina Moreda’s love for motorcycles started with her first motorcycle, a dirtbike at the age of 12. Shelina’s racing career started just 6 – 7 years ago and she obtained her AMA Professional license following her novice year. Currently, Shelina races at the Pro level in the USA, China, Qatar, Japan, and Europe. Shelina Moreda has several “firsts” in her career, including being the first female to race a motorcycle at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, as well as being one of the first female team member to complete any Suzuka endurance race. Shelina was also the first female to race at the Zhuhai International Circuit in China where she raced and finished 3rd on the Splitlath EBR Superbike. Moreover, she competed and finished first in the 2016 Women’s Championship in Qatar. Other than racing, Shelina runs She’z Moto Camp which is an all-female motorcycle riding skill school.
“My dad never knew what he was starting when he made us do chores on the motorcycles, like bringing the cows in from the fields”.
“I began racing motorcycles because I was raised to believe I could do anything I set my mind to. I always dreamed of being out there dicing with the guys I saw on TV, and I’m just crazy enough to turn it into a goal and chase that dream”.
Maria Costello is a British motorcycle racer from Northampton England. Costello was the first woman in the history of the Isle of Man motorcycle races to stand on the podium when she won third place in the Ultra Lightweight category of the 2005 Manx Grand Prix. With an average lap speed of 114.73 mph (184.64 kmph) around the Isle of Man TT course, Maria Costello also held the Guinness World Record for being the fastest woman to lap around the Isle of Man TT course until Jenny Tinmouth took the record during the 2009 TT. Costello took part in the senior race of the Manx Grand Prix where she finished 8th and won a Silver replica award. Over the years, Maria Costello has won a total of eight Manx Grand Prix Silver Replicas and one TT Bronze Replica.
Costello won the BBC Northampton Sports Personality of the Year 2005. Besides this, she won the Manx Motor Cycle Club – Lesley Ann Trophy, EMRA – Outstanding Achievement Award in 2002 and 2004, and the Best Lady Award in 1995. Costello was also appointed as a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2009 Birthday Honours. Besides racing, Maria Costello also took part in motor journalism and appeared in a few television programmes.
One of our local heroes, Anita Yusof from Ipoh, Malaysia has travelled solo with her FZ150i and explored countless routes in 40 different countries. She is the first Muslim woman to ride around the world solo and the first Malaysian to get into the Asia Book of Records for the longest solo bike ride. Anita is a lecturer in the Physical Education Department at IPG Campus Ipoh and a mother of two sons.
Anita learned to ride a motorcycle in April 2012 and just 3 years in 2015 she embarked on her first-round the word adventure. She began her journey from Putrajaya on September 11, 2015, returning home a year later through Bukit Kayu Hitam on September 16, 2016. She crossed over 40 countries around 4 continents, racking up a total distance of 65,369 kilometres, riding solo on her Yamaha FZ150i.
Ana Carrasco, born in Murcia, Spain started her racing journey at the age of three and started competing in official races at the age of 6. She has accumulated numerous victories and competed in several championships from 2005 – 2021. In 2009, Ana Carrasco became champion of Extremeña 125cc class, the Murcia 125cc class and the Copa de España 2T. She has several “firsts” in her career as well. In 2011, she became the first female to score points in CEV 125 Championship, the first female to win the Supersport 300 World Championship and the first female to make it into Moto3. She also took part in the CEV Moto2 European Championship in 2016.
Melissa Paris is a professional motorcycle road racer, avid bicyclist, motocross and flat track enthusiast. Going back to 2011, Melissa Paris was the first female to ever qualify for a world supersport race. In 2010, by testing the MotoGP M1 prototype, she became the first female in history to test a MotoGP machine. She took part in the British BSB series in Brands Hatch in 2012. A year later she competed in Daytona 200 and finished tenth. In 2014 Melissa Paris took part in the Spanish CEV Superstock Championship and also became the first female to complete in Suzuka Endurance race.
In 2015, Melissa Paris achieved first place in 24 Hours of Barcelona, took part in Wera West Superbike Championship and MotoAmerica Supersport. She was also a member of the first all-girl team which qualified and competed in the Bol D’OR 24 Hour in 2016 and 2017 Lemans 21 hour. In 2017, Melissa Paris founded MP13 Racing Team.
Ngo Kim Bee, also known as Bee Bee is a motorcycle racer from Malaysia. Bee Bee started her motorcycle racing journey in 2017 and just a year later Bee Bee had 10 wins in 2018. As of 2021, Bee Bee has competed in races like the Sportsrider SBK series, MSF Super 1000 Ladies Category, Ducati Desmo Cup and MSF Superbikes Time Attack.
Patsy Quick’s first glimpse of the desert was on an overland trip to Algeria with her husband. After that trip, Patsy started spending more time on a bike, becoming a motorcycle courier. However, it wasn’t until her thirties that she really started racing. She started competing with British Women’s Enduro Champion and European Champion in 2002. Around the same time, Patsy also got into Optic 2000.
Patsy made a move to Dakar Rally in 2003. After four attempts, Patsy Quick successfully completed Dakar Rally in 2006, making her the first British woman to finish the Dakar.
The Spanish motorcycle racer, Laia Sanz holds over 30 championship titles in numerous international trail, cross country and enduro competitions. She is a thirteen-time Women’s Trial World Champion and ten-time Women’s Trial European Champion in outdoor motorcycle trials. Besides this, she is the five-time winner of the Women’s Enduro World Championship and the nine-time winner of the Dakar Rally in the women’s category.
Elena Myers is a pro motorcycle racer from America. She was the youngest female to ever enter the AMA racing circuit and in 2010 she made history as the first female to win an AMA Pro Racing Sprint road race. She was also the first woman to win any kind of race at Daytona International Speedway. Elena Myers was under contract with Kawasaki Team Green at the age of just 13. She competed in the MotoAmerica Superbike Championship as well.
Beryl Swain was a motorcycle racer from London. She made history by being the first solo woman to compete in a TT race on the Isle of Man circuit. On her first outing with an Italian Iton 50cc race bike around the 59.5km tight course, she came 22nd out of 25 in her class. However, her racing career was cut short because of the changes in race regulations and rules.
Jenny Tinmouth was the first female to race in British Superbike Championship. Clocking in 119.945mph / 193 mph, she currently holds the fastest lap record (for female) at the Isle of Man TT and holds two Guinness World Records for these achievements.
Jenny has achieved many firsts for women in motorsports and has attained many awards. She also performs stunts for films, vehicle manufacturers, TV programmes and YouTube.
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So Excited!
These women are inspiring! So cool