THE ATPI FIM Women’s Speedway Academy was launched with even a JAMES BOND stunt girl having a go at the sport.
World speedway boss Armando Castagna hailed the “trailblazing moment” at the National Speedway Stadium in Manchester.
It was the biggest-ever attended event with world champions Jason Crump and Greg Hancock present to tutor 15 female riders including Bond stunt girl Katy Bullock and multiple Enduro champions.
Director of FIM Track Racing Commission Castagna admitted: “This is a wonderful occasion for the FIM. It is a trailblazing moment for women in motorsport and speedway.
“I believe this is the biggest number of competitors we have had here in Manchester. We are proud that the FIM has been able to give this platform for female racers.
“It is also excellent that so much expertise is on hand for advice from Jason Crump, Greg Hancock and Grand Prix Race Director Phil Morris.
“This is a fantastic stadium and one of the best tracks in the world in Manchester. We want women in speedway to grow every year and become a bigger force in the sport.”
Bullock starred in the film No Time To Die, Black Widow and Jason Bourne but admitted she was nervous when first on a speedway bike.
But she also believes that it’s a myth that women aren’t brave enough to compete in motorsport.
She added: “It was nerve-wracking purely because I didn’t know how the bike was going to react.
“I’ve ridden lots of bikes but this is so different the way the bike behaves.
“Are women brave enough to ride bikes. Hell yes. I also feel in lots of cases women are stronger mentally while guys are genetically stronger.
“Women are more methodical when it comes to racing. We will learn whereas some men will go full belt and crash.”
British Champion Katie Gordon was also in action alongside the best female rider in the world Celina Liebmann.
But there were also first-time racers from the media and other motorsport disciplines. World Enduro Champion Jane Daniels was at the NSS as well as multiple Enduro champ Rosie Rowett and motorsport presenter Sophie McGinn.
McGinn added: “It’s my first go at this and it’s something I’ve always wanted a shot at.
“It’s pretty crazy, I’ve done off-roading and track racing and it’s a completely different discipline.
“Off-road there are a lot more bumps and jumps and on track is on tarmac, smooth and flowing.
“You come to speedway and you have to forget everything else you’ve done and learnt on a motorcycle. It’s a completely different riding style and feeling. And there’s no brakes which is the weirdest thing.
“It’s amazing that we’ve been given the opportunity. I’m a huge advocate for women in motorsport, regardless of discipline.
“I would love to see women grow in speedway and to get a world champion one day. That’s why it’s super-important to do these days and have an academy.”
Rowett has won 22 bronze medals in Enduro plus won the ISDE Women’s Trophy with Team GB.
She added: “It’s nothing like Enduro and it’s good to do something different.
“All the girls in the paddock are talking about coming to our sport. It’s good to get girls doing as many sports as possible. It pushes us all to do something new.
“This would be great for Enduro and Motocross. I competed last weekend in the E-bike World Championship.
“We’d like more recognition. We recently won the The International Six Days Enduro and we got zero recognition. Yet the Women’s football has gone viral.”
Four-time World Champ Hancock flew in from the States and held classroom sessions alongside Crump, Morris and Great Britain Speedway Team Performance and Psychologist specialists Chris Neville and Jeremy Hunt.
Hancock believes the potential of women becoming more successful could have a massive impact for the entire sport.
He said: “We are now making a solid attempt at creating a World Championship for women. I don’t think it’s that far away.
“You can see there’s a lot of interest and everything has to start somewhere to build up to it.
“This is going to be fascinating to watch. There’s a lot of talent out there. It’s going to be an interesting journey to follow.
“I got a chance to go out the MX GP too and there’s the women’s motocross which has been there for a while. The girls are absolutely insane. It will be exactly the same in speedway.
“It can only be a massive positive for the entire sport, it’s going to be a great move.
“The timing is right and there’s a huge push for women in so many sports. I think it’s fantastic we have this opportunity in speedway.”
Janika Judeika, FIM Women in Motorcycling Commission Director, said: “Sometimes you have to have momentum. I really believe that this is the time for women in speedway.
“The most important two points from this edition of the WSA are that the women speedway riders are now more visible to the world and that the discipline is becoming more inclusive.
“The female participants have really shown what they can do out on the track and have even impressed some of the most experienced experts in the sport.
“We have been so fortunate to have two World Champions on hand to teach the women. In the near future I am confident there will be more opportunities for women Speedway riders under the FIM. With this momentum we can be excited about the future.”
Words by Holeshot Media.
Images by Taylor Lanning.