Elena Myers

Elena Myers made history as the first woman to win an AMA Pro road race, breaking barriers in professional motorcycle racing with technical skill, fearless speed, and a winning streak that put her miles ahead of any woman—or most men—in the sport.

EARLY YEARS

Born in November 1993, Elena Myers grew up in California as the daughter of Matt and Anita Myers. Her father, a self-described “motor-head,” introduced her to motorcycles when she was eight years old, figuring it could be something they could bond over. It worked. Ten years later, she’d be racing professionally.

But speed wasn’t new to her. Even as a five- or six-year-old, Myers was the kid on roller coasters with her hands up during the scariest drops while her parents white-knuckled the safety bar. “I’ve always loved roller coasters,” she said. “I was the one with my hands up, going down the scary part of the ride, with my parents holding on for dear life, so I’ve always been drawn to the adrenaline and speed.”[3]

At eight, she traded theme parks for engines. She started on pocket bikes, then graduated to minibikes and supermoto as her skill—and need for speed—escalated. By eleven, she won her first race in the United States Grand Prix Racers Union National Series, competing against adult amateurs on John Ulrich’s Team Roadracing World. She was 5-foot-3, barely a teenager, and already leaving grown men in her dust.

At thirteen, Myers made a bold move: she left traditional school to race full-time. Her mother, Anita, supported the decision, and Elena enrolled in independent studies so she could travel the racing circuit—Florida, New Jersey, Wisconsin, Ohio, California—chasing checkered flags instead of homecoming dances. She graduated high school early in February 2011 with straight A’s, proving she could handle both throttle and textbooks. When asked about missing typical high school experiences, her response was pure Myers: “Who cares about that? I race motorcycles!”[1]

OTHER INTERESTS

There’s not much public record of what Myers does when she’s not on two wheels. What we do know: she wore blue fingernail polish during her historic AMA National win at Daytona—a colorful, girly footnote in a male-dominated sport—and she’s logged serious travel miles thanks to racing. Beyond that, motorcycles seem to take up most of the oxygen in her life, and she doesn’t appear interested in changing that.

EARLY SUCCESS

Myers’ professional debut came in March 2010 at Daytona Speedway when she was just sixteen. That same year, she became the first woman to win an AMA Pro sprint road race—albeit a shortened, red-flagged event. Still, it counted. It was history.

At thirteen, she’d already signed with the Kawasaki Green Team, a major contract that signaled the industry was paying attention. John Ulrich, owner of Team Roadracing World, had spotted her potential early. “I could see that she had a knack for the speed and judging distances,” Ulrich said. “She was pretty aware of what was going on around her.”[2] He signed her to his pro team when she turned sixteen, betting on her talent—and he was right.

But success didn’t come without turbulence. After her best season, Myers had a falling out with both her father and Ulrich, forcing her to scramble for a new team. She landed with Triumph and kept racing. “The bikes got bigger, and I got faster,” she said simply.[2]

On Saint Patrick’s Day in March 2012, Myers returned to Daytona International Speedway and made history again: she became the first woman to win a full-distance AMA national professional race. She was nineteen. It was a moment 76 years in the making—no other woman in AMA Pro Racing history had done it. The comparisons to Danica Patrick started immediately, though Myers had more wins under her belt at that point than Patrick did in IndyCar.

Handling 350-pound bikes requires more than muscle—it requires technique, precision, and guts. “A lot of it is technique because most of the top riders in the World Championship are no bigger than me,” Myers explained. “They’re not these huge, muscular guys.”[3] She had all three, and it showed.

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

• 2001: Won first race at age eleven in the United States Grand Prix Racers Union National Series[1].
• 2010: Became the first woman to win an AMA Pro sprint road race (shortened due to red flag) at age sixteen[1][6].
• March 17, 2012: Became the first woman to win a full-distance AMA national professional race at Daytona International Speedway[1][3].
• 2013: Recorded the best-ever finish by a woman in the Daytona 200, placing ninth[5].
• Likely the youngest female to enter the AMA circuit, debuting at age thirteen with five years of racing experience[1].
• Only woman in 76 years of AMA Pro Racing history to win a professional road race as of 2012[4].

INSPIRATIONS

Her father, Matt Myers, was the spark. He introduced her to motorcycles at eight, hoping it would be a shared hobby. It became her career. “My dad introduced motorcycles to me when I was only eight years old, and I had quite a passion for it then,” she said. “My dad’s been kind of a motor-head for most of his life, so he figured that it could be something that he and I could do together. Sure enough, 10 years later, I’m out here racing professionally.”[3]

John Ulrich also played a critical role as an early mentor, recognizing her ability and giving her a professional shot when she was still a teenager. Their relationship eventually soured, but his early faith in her talent was formative.

REPUTATION

Myers earned respect the hard way: by winning. “It’s definitely helped get some respect from everybody, especially the other riders,” she said after her 2012 Daytona victory. “I think that’s definitely the most important respect that you can have, knowing that your competitors know that you’re competitive, and they know you’re going to be there week in and week out.”[3]

She was one of the most popular racers in the series, drawing the longest autograph lines at events. The media dubbed her the “Trophy Girl” of AMA motorcycle racing—a cheeky nod to both her looks and her wins.[3] But make no mistake: her popularity came from performance, not novelty.

In an industry still struggling with gender diversity, Myers didn’t just participate—she dominated. She broke a 76-year barrier not because she was given a chance, but because she was faster than the men trying to beat her. That’s a reputation built on results, not headlines.

FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

As of 2016, Myers was the owner and rider of Team21Motosport, having completed six seasons of professional racing by that point.[5] However, no information about her current racing schedule, goals, or plans beyond 2016 is publicly available. Whether she’s still competing, retired, or pursuing new ventures remains unclear.

References:

Elena Myers Is Making Motorcycle Racing History – Russ Brown
Elena Myers returns to place she made history – ESPN
Elena Myers is Trophy Girl of AMA motorcycle racing – Fox6Now
Burning rubber: Elena Myers’ love of racing – Deseret News
FIVE QUESTIONS: Elena Myers Court, Team21Motosport Owner/Rider – Cycle World
Elena Myers Facts for Kids – Kids Kiddle