Pakita Ruiz

Francisca ‘Pakita’ Ruiz is a Spanish motorcycle racer from Palma de Mallorca who has spent nearly two decades proving herself against the boys—and winning. With a younger brother as her mechanic and a passion ignited at age six, she’s become a multi-time national champion and a standout competitor in the inaugural FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship.

EARLY YEARS

Pakita Ruiz grew up on the sunny Balearic island of Mallorca, Spain, where she got her first motorbike at age six. The moment she swung her leg over that bike, she felt something she’d never experienced before—pure, unfiltered excitement. It wasn’t just fun; it was a revelation. She’d found her hidden bike (the exact details remain charmingly vague), and from that point on, there was no turning back.

As a kid, she watched races on TV, mesmerized by the speed and skill. She adored Valentino Rossi, and his iconic number 46 would later become her own—a tribute both to him and to her grandfather, who influenced her choice. But it was attending a local race in her city that sealed the deal. Watching those bikes tear around the track in person, she realized this wasn’t just something she loved to watch—it was something she needed to do.

Her family became the backbone of her racing journey. Her younger brother, three years her junior, started working as her mechanic in 2014 when she was around 17. He’s an electrician by trade, not a trained mechanic, but he learned everything on the job. As she puts it, “Now he tells me, ‘you’re the rider, I’ll take care of the rest.’ He hasn’t studied as a mechanic, he’s an electrician, he just learned along the way.” He’s been her right-hand man ever since, sharing every second off the track with her. It’s a family affair, and they’ve made it work through sheer determination and DIY spirit.

OTHER INTERESTS

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EARLY SUCCESS

Ruiz officially began her racing career in 2006, competing in junior Minicross, Supermotard, Pit Bike, Motocross, and Scooter championships on bikes ranging from 65cc to 125cc. She was just nine years old, but she was already hooked. She participated in the Cuna de Campeones program, a breeding ground for young Spanish racing talent, and quickly made a name for herself.

By 2011, at around 14 years old, she claimed her first major title: the 80cc Open Champion of the Balearic Islands. It was proof that the little girl who’d fallen in love with her first bike at six had the grit and skill to beat the boys on the track. She wasn’t just keeping up—she was winning.

But it wasn’t all smooth sailing. In 2014, Ruiz hit a wall—not on the track, but off it. She couldn’t scrape together enough budget to keep racing. Christmas came, and she seriously considered giving up. “Despite being alone against the boys, I won championships,” she later said. “Then Christmas came in 2014 and since I could not find enough budget, I considered giving up racing.” Thankfully, she didn’t. She found a way to keep going, and the racing world is better for it.

By 2015, she was back and fiercer than ever. She won the Balearic Islands Supersport 600cc Championship and claimed the Spanish Women’s Champion title in Stock 600cc. Then she did something remarkable: she won that national title four more times in a row, from 2016 through 2019. Five consecutive years. That’s not luck—that’s dominance.

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

• 2011: 80cc Open Champion, Balearic Islands
• 2015: Balearic Islands Supersport 600cc Champion
• 2015: Spanish Women’s Champion, Stock 600cc
• 2016: Spanish Women’s Champion, Stock 600cc
• 2017: Spanish Women’s Champion, Stock 600cc
• 2018: Spanish Women’s Champion, Stock 600cc
• 2019: Spanish Women’s Champion, Stock 600cc
• 2020: Women’s ESBK Speed Supersport 600cc Champion; 5th in Interprovincial Championship
• 2021: Yamaha R6 Cup Champion (only female on grid); won first race at Circuit of Jerez-Ángel Nieto, securing pole and finishing ahead of Xavier Denis and Alberto Urquijo
• 2022: Women’s ESBK Speed Supersport 600cc Champion
• 2024: Competed in inaugural FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship (WorldWCR) with PS Racing Team 46+1; top 10 in every race, top 5 on three occasions including back-to-back 5th places at Jerez Prometeon Spanish Round

INSPIRATIONS

Valentino Rossi was Ruiz’s childhood hero. She watched him race on TV, captivated by his style and swagger, and chose his number 46 as her own—though her grandfather also played a role in that decision. Closer to home, she looked up to Spanish sporting legends like tennis star Rafa Nadal and trial rider Laia Sanz, both proof that Spanish athletes could conquer the world stage.

But perhaps her biggest inspiration has been her family, especially her younger brother. “I always had my brother to share every second off the track with and in fact he is my right-hand man and my biggest support during these years,” she’s said. That bond—built on trust, hard work, and a shared dream—has kept her going through the tough times.

As for what drew her to motorcycle racing in the first place, she keeps it simple: “From the moment I got on my first bike for the first time, I felt a great excitement and fun that I had never felt before. I watched races on TV as a child and I loved Valentino Rossi, but it was watching a race in my city that helped me realise what it really meant to me and what I wanted to do.” And when asked why she races? “What drew me to motorcycle racing? It was simply because I am passionate about it.”

REPUTATION

Ruiz has built a reputation as a smart operator with sheer force of will. She’s not the flashiest rider, but she’s consistent—and in racing, consistency wins championships. In the 2024 WorldWCR season, she finished in the top 10 in every single race, a feat that speaks to her skill and reliability. She’s known as a barrier-breaker, too: the only woman on the grid when she won the 2021 Yamaha R6 Cup, and the first Mallorcan woman to compete in the Women’s World Championship.

Media coverage has been overwhelmingly positive, with outlets celebrating her pioneering spirit and the unique family dynamic that fuels her career. She’s a Spanish phenom who’s earned respect not by demanding it, but by quietly racking up wins and podiums. Her story isn’t just about breaking barriers—it’s about doing it with grace, grit, and a mechanic brother who learned everything on the fly.

FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

Ruiz is set to build on her strong 2024 WorldWCR performance with an even better showing in the next season. She remains with PS Racing Team 46+1, and her goal is clear: keep improving, keep finishing in the top 10, and push for those top-5 finishes more consistently. After nearly 20 years of racing, she’s still hungry, still passionate, and still has plenty to prove. With her brother by her side and that number 46 on her bike, she’s not slowing down anytime soon.

References:

Her story: Meet Pakita Ruiz – Sports247
HER STORY: Meet Pakita Ruiz – WorldSBK
SBK, Pakita Ruiz: Why do I race with the number 46 – GPone
Paquita Ruiz won her rivals in the first race of the Yamaha R6 Cup – FUCHS
WorldWCR Meet Pakita Ruiz – World Racing News
Meet the women of the inaugural running of WorldWCR – Females in Motorsport
Paquita Ruiz is riding high – Majorca Daily Bulletin
Mallorcan in first Women’s Motorcycle World Championship – Euro Weekly News
Interview Pakita Ruiz – Palmen in Motorradsport