Top 10 women motorcycle racers: part two
Our pick of the best women racers (part 2)
YOU might think there's not been very many female motorcycle racers in the history of the sport and, compared to the boys, that's true. But there's certainly been more than enough to justify this second top 10 listing. We selected 10 of the best female racers back in April. But after a further trawl through the archives, we decided it was only fair to pay tribute to another 10 super fast women who could kick our asses!
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10. Inge Stoll, TT/Grand Prix
The first ever female competitor in the Isle of Man TT races deserves special recognition, not only for her bravery in racing but in dealing with the sexist dogma of the 1950s. Stoll was Sidecar passenger to Jacques Drion and took part in the TT in 1954 and 1957 with a best finish of 5th place. Sadly, both she and Drion were killed in a crash at the non-championship Czech Grand Prix in 1958.
9. Tamsin Jones, Dakar Rally/enduro
Motorcycle races don't come any tougher than the Dakar but Tamsin Jones completed it in her first attempt in 2010. She has also twice been the first woman home in the insanely tough Red Bull Romaniacs extreme enduro and even holds the current female record for riding to the highest altitude on Mount Everest (17,581 feet).
8. Anita Buxton, road racing
Anita Buxton was the first woman ever to win an international road race. Her moment of glory came in the 400cc race at the Ulster Grand Prix at Dundrod in 2004. She was never headed in the race but crossed the line just 0.1 seconds ahead of a very humbled Joe Phillips.
7. Elena Rosell, Spanish CEV championship/Moto2
As the only female ever to win a round of the ultra-competitive Spanish CEV championship (the traditional breeding ground for MotoGP), Elena Rosell earned her place in the Moto2 world championship which she contested in 2011 and 2012 with a best finish of 20th at Sepang in 2012. But a few too many crashes saw her return to the Spanish series in 2013.
6. Shayna Texter, AMA Pro Flat Track
As the first female to win a Pro AMA Flat Track race in the series' 55-year history, Shayna Texter's place in American racing history is assured. She had already racked up 33 amateur class wins before turning pro in 2008. Her first win came in 2001 and she notched up another three victories the following year, making it all the more ironic that she rides for a team called All-Balls Racing!
5. Elena Myers, AMA Supersport
Myers is the first woman to win an AMA Pro Racing road race in America (she won the 600cc Supersport race at Infineon Raceway in 2010) and also the first female to win a professional motorsport race of any kind at the legendary Daytona International Speedway (Supersport 600 race, 2012). Still just 20, Myers has also tested a factory Suzuki MotoGP bike and her ambition is to contest the premier championship full time.
4. Carolynn Sells, Manx Grand Prix
Sells ensured her place in racing history by becoming the first woman to ever win a race around the 37-73-mile TT Mountain Course. Riding an FZR400RR Yamaha, Sells won the Ultra-Lightweight event at the 2009 Manx Grand Prix at an average speed of 106.02mph but retired from racing shortly afterwards, feeling she had nothing left to prove. She is now a rider liaison officer for the Manx Grand Prix.
3. Catherine Green, Motostar British Championship
Green made history by becoming the first female to win a British championship race when she beat all the boys in the 125cc/Motostar race at Cadwell Park in 2012. Riding an RS125 Honda, Green finished a hugely impressive third overall in the championship in the same year. And when she's not racing bikes, she's racing a bobsleigh!
2. Tomoko Igata, 125cc Grand Prix
The now retired Japanese racer still holds the distinction of scoring the highest finish for a female rider in any class of Grands Prix thanks to her seventh place at the 1995 Czech Grand Prix. Igata also finished an impressive sixth overall in the highly competitive All Japan 125 Championship in 1991. She returned to race in Japan after retiring from Grands Prix in 1996 but never enjoyed the same success again.
1. Stefy Bau, motocross and supercross
Bau is the most successful Italian rider - either male or female - ever to compete in the USA and her racing CV is astonishing. She won seven Italian national championships, five American national championships and three women's world titles before retiring in 2005 due to injury. She is now general manager of the FIM Women's World Motocross Championship.
Want more?
Top 10 women motorcycle racers part one
Visordown readers' Top 10 customs
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