Racing against the odds
My journey as a young female racer
Annabelle McCarthy
From mini bikes to the big tracks
As a young female in the world of motorbike racing, I don’t think about being “different.” I just love the speed, and the thrill of racing other people. But, it became clear, I was one of the few girls in a sport dominated by men. That doesn’t scare me, it motivates me!
Focussed on the competition
Every race is a challenge, not just against the clock but against expectations. People sometimes assume I’m here for fun, not to win. I’ve learned to turn those doubts into motivation. When the visor goes down, it’s not about me being a girl – it’s about my skill, my focus, and my determination to beat all of the other riders.
Being successful at a young age means juggling a lot: schoolwork, training, and keeping sponsors proud. It’s tough, but every podium finish reminds me why I do this. I hope to inspire other girls to pursue their passion despite all of the obstacles they may face.
Believe…
If you want to race, don’t let stereotypes hold you back. Work hard, believe in yourself, and never be afraid to take that first lap. The sport needs more fearless female riders at grassroots level. I’m proud to be a part of changing perceptions and inspiring other young women to follow their dreams, no matter who the other competitors are. My journey has taught me resilience, focus and the importance of self-belief.
Getting started in minimoto racing
From the age of 6 years old Annabelle has shown a very keen interest in motorcycle racing. In 2021 Annabelle started her racing journey on a Minimoto and competed for two years in a field of up to 25 riders, consistently finishing in the top 10 with multiple podium places.
2023 was Annabelle’s first year competing on a larger 50cc 6-speed bike capable of speeds up to 65-70mph consistently in the top 15 of 23 riders and achieved top ten places (8th and 9th). Annabelle finished the season as one of the top three fastest females in the UK in her class in a very male dominated sport.
Moving on up
In 2024, at the age of 13, Annabelle competed in the British Minibike Championships in the FIM MiniGP UK 190cc class on a bike capable of reaching speeds of up to 100mph. She came 6th in the UK and was the fastest female in the category and of her age in most other competitions. She also competed in the Extreme 200 class in FAB-Racing FAB-Racing, the official partner series of British Superbikes where she finished 11th out of 24 competitors. Annabelle was given the opportunity to ride in the Freetech Endurance Championship Junior Talent Cup where she finished 4th out of 11 riders on a bike she had never ridden before and in the good old British rain!! This earned her a place as part of a three-person team for a six hour Endurance race where the team came 15th out of 60 teams, 6th in class, she posted the fastest lap time of the team and her participation gave the team 2nd place in the mixed category.
Building experience, speed and results
In 2025 Annabelle entered a final season in the British Minibike Championships in the FIM MiniGP UK 190cc class, and the newly formed MGP 17 class on her Suzuki GSXR 125 and a full season with Freetech in the Junior Talent Cup on her Suzuki GSXR 125 and as part of a team for 4, 6 & 8 hour endurance races on a Honda CBR 125.
At the end of 2025 Annabelle finished:- 3rd in the UK on her Suzuki in the British Minibike Championships MGP17 class – Multiple 2nd & 3rd place podiums. 5th in the UK in the FIM MiniGp 190 class – Narrowly missing out on the World Finals qualification. 4th in the UK in the Freetech Junior Talent Cup – Multiple 2nd & 3rd place podiums in the Junior races. Team Endurance Champion – Multiple 1st place finishes in 4hr, 6hr & 8hr races at Freetech and NBS Endurance. Was the Fastest rider in her Freetech endurance team.
Looking forward – the next race season
We started planning early for 2026 and so bought a Kawasaki Ninja 400cc and entered the Bemsee Team Green Junior Championships final round of the year at Donington Park where surprisingly Annabelle came 3rd place in two of her races and 4th in another. The grid was full of other Junior riders who had been riding their Kawasaki Ninja’s for the whole season, this was only Annabelle’s 2nd time on her new bike and had never ridden at Donington Park.
Throughout the race season Annabelle has managed to achieve multiple 3rd and 2nd place finishes in the endurance mixed team Production category and even achieved a 1st place podium in the 6 hour endurance event at Pembrey in South Wales and the NBS 8 hour endurance race at Teeside. On a recent trip to Andalucia, Spain for the final Freetech round Annabelle was not allowed to race in the Women’s category, as at 14 years old, she was still too young so she had to compete in the Junior races. She achieved 4th, 3rd and 2nd place finishes which gave her 2nd place overall.
Annabelle’s 2025 season has been nothing short of exceptional. Competing as the only female rider of her age, across three individual British championships, she’s shown grit, passion and determination. Her results speak volumes and she has been celebrated as ‘the most successful young female competitor ever in the history of two different British motorcycle racing series’. With her sights already set on 2026, there’s no doubt that Annabelle is a name to watch in British motorsport.