Q&A: Stacey Nesbitt, Canada's First National Female Motorcycle Racing Champion

Tell me about motorcycles in your family. Your dad rides; have you been exposed to motorcycles for a long time, and wanted to try it out?
Yeah, I've been following racing all my life. My parents brought me out to the race track, and even before then back in Ireland, they were going to the race track and watching the Isle of Man and Northwest 200, then we came to Canada and were watching the Canadian Superbike Series. And it was cool, then I was given the opportunity to try it… my dad never raced, but he's always been into the bikes. He has his own license and his own bike. My mom did ride, but she never got her license here, and she hasn't really ridden a bike since we moved to Canada. My sister had two years on a CBR.

I heard news that you're the first female to win a national championship, is that correct?
Yes, in Canada for sure. There was talk about worldwide, but I'm not sure how true that is so I want to verify that. But yes, in Canada that's true.

I heard it was a big surprise for you.
Yeah, it was really a surprise. Because honestly, I thought about it and there was a women's cup, but that was just for women so I'm the first female to win a mixed male and female championship.

That's amazing!
Thank you.

What does it feel like to be a girl in this male-dominated sport?
It's really cool to be able to be one of the girls to do it, to show other girls, "Hey, you can do it; it's not just guys."