FIM Women in Motorcycling Commission held an Autumn meeting at WSBK Round in Portugal – a perfect opportunity to invite input from Women racing, whose wealth of experience and knowledge accumulated over 10 years makes significant impact on the progression of females racing careers.
The agenda consisted of CFM Director, Janika Judeika, and 9 CFM members outlining initiatives completed in 2023 along with projects to be implemented in the future. Discussion focused on the launch of FIM Women’s Speedway Academy in August, to distribution of FIM Portrayal Guidelines, to the new-all-female FIM Women’s Motorcycling World Championship targeted to run with WSBK in 2024.
Under the guidelines of promoting gender inclusivity and female participation in the sport, the Commission holds the role of enabling growth of women in Motorcycling, both on and off the track. Over the breadth of varying disciplines, CFM remains responsible and accountable for providing opportunities for all generations of women to ride, race, and enjoy Motorcycling, while simultaneously supporting women who have risen above insurmountable challenges to pursue a racing career over the years.
Within stated context, CFM must ensure transparent communications with all entities involved to fulfill short and long-term objectives. Female inclusivity and participation requires FIM Organizers and Promoters agreeance on how these goals are to be achieved, who pays, who promotes, and for which market of rider’s? Equally, the decision making process must involve women who have accumulated direct understanding on how to navigate all challenges presented to pursue a racing career over time.
Two current structures come to mind: Women Motocross World Championship provides the best female MX rider’s in the world Rounds to race with the overall goal of claiming the coveted WMX Title. The all-female WMX Championship holds top standing within MXGP/Infront Series, with grass-roots, regional and National Championships providing a tier pathway for females to develop their MX careers.
Switch to Road racing, and the world has only 2 Women competing in Moto3 and MotoE, with no females competing in WSBK, WSBKSSP, or WSBKSSP300. Why? The cost to train, race, coupled with limited opportunities to gain a ride – as a woman – against equally competitive male rider’s – has meant massive obstacles for the only 2 females currently racing, to overcome.
Ana Carrasco and Maria Herrara hold the highest female status amongst WSBK/Moto3/MotoE rider’s for their sheer determination to pursue racing careers against all odds. Ana holds distinguished record of winning 2018 WSBKSSP300 Championship, the only woman to do so to date, and Maria commands huge following for her achievements in WSBKSSP, Moto3, and Moto E over the course of 10 plus years. Both Ana and Maria have developed skilled strategies to race from one season to the next, on level playing field as their male counterparts.
The projected launch of FIM Women’s Motorcycling World Championship, within WSBK Series offers women opportunities to further develop their race-craft at the pinnacle of the sport. Questions arise: will the Series dove-tail the structure of FIA F1 Academy, whereby costs have been shared between driver’s, Teams, and F1? And, will the Series directly support current Women racing Road: Ana and Maria who have spent best part of their whole careers elevating the profiles of women racing WSBKSSP/SSP300/Moto3/MotoE for the next generation of females rider’s to aspire to?
If FIM Women in Motorcycling Commission act on the recent prerogatives set by FIA Women in Motorsport Commission, and F1 Academy, then dialogues need to exist between FIM CFM, FIA Women in Motorsport, and women who have achieved highest echelon standings in their respective racing careers. Sharing common interest of accelerating the profiles of Women racing either FIM or FIA Motorsport disciplines more than doubles the exposure of those supporting gender equity in sport.
At the recent FIA-FIM Commission conference at Lille in February 2023, resounding agreement was reached on strengthening collaboration between the two International Motorsport Federations. Chaired by Jan Šťovíček, as FIA World Motor Sport Council member, along with FIA and FIM representatives, actioning these directives requires bold moves, putting CFM and FIA Women Motorsport Commissions on the same page, including women whose careers have planted their names in the history books of the very Federations that govern.
And, to tell all reading, watching, and eying what has been said above, must be the most powerful portal to get the messages out: Media – yours truly – MXLink.
Words: Sharon Cox.
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