The world of racing is one of the most competitive and challenging ones. In recent years, more and more women rose through the ranks and made a name for themselves in an industry that is undoubtedly male-dominated.
A close look at the history of motorcycle racing makes it clear to everybody that women were not always welcome in this sport. In fact, the first regulations set by the Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme prevented women from competing. Here is a shortlist of the top female racers that you should know about!

Maria Costello
Maria Costello is a prominent British motorcycle racer that once held the Guinness World Record for being the fastest woman alive. Costello is an inspiring racer for young generations as she was the first woman to win a podium prize in a race around the Isle of Man TT course. Throughout her career, she won a Bronze TT Replica and no less than 7 Manx Prix Silver replicas.
In 2005, the racer was awarded the Northamptonshire Sports Personality of the Year Award and she was nominated for the East Midlands Sports Personality of the Year. Apart from her success on the racing track, Maria Costello promotes numerous campaigns that encourage people to partake in sports and to lead a healthy lifestyle.

Ana Carrasco
Ana Carrasco started her career on the racing track when she was just 16 years old. The racer took part in the Supersport 300 World Championship in 2017 and she became the first woman to win in the solo class and the first woman world champion.
Carrasco was born in Spain and she made her debut in the 125 Championship. She became part of the Team Calvo KTM in 2013. That same year she won her first World Championship points. The motto that she swears by is “A woman in a man’s world”.

Melissa Paris
Another professional bike racer that you will definitely find inspiring is Melissa Paris. The resume of this American racer is impressive. She stands out as the first female to ever qualify for a World Supersport race. Moreover, she also raced in the FIM World Endurance Championship.
Melissa Paris is the wife of Josh Hayes, the AMA Superbike Champion and it is the first and only female to test a Yamaha YZR-M1 MotoGP. Melissa is also known for the numerous charitable foundations that she promotes. In 2011, she auctioned one of her helmets to raise money for breast cancer research.
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Shelinda Moreda
Shelinda Moreda is a well-known professional racer that learned to ride motorcycles on her family’s farm in California. She received her first dirt bike when she was only 12 and she started racing professionally six years later, once she received her AMA Professional license.
Moreda is the first female motorcyclist to race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the Zhuhai International Circuit in China as well as the first woman that completed a Suzuka endurance race. In 2016, she finished first in the Women’s Championship that took place in Qatar.
Apart from being a racer, Shelinda Moreda is also a spokesperson and a model. Her popularity in the media came after a couple of marketing campaigns that she did.
In an attempt to help young girls feel empowered and make a name for themselves in the bike racing business, Moreda opened the She’z Moto Camp, a motorcycle-riding school that trains young female racers. This school is female-centered and it recognizes the need that women have to learn from other women.