Beatriz Nelia
Motorcycle racing //
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Beatriz Neila Santos crashed hard in 2017 but came back swinging to dominate women’s motorcycle racing, claiming multiple European Cup titles and making history as the first FIM Women’s World Champion.
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Since I was little I have always liked motorcycles…At only two years old I dreamed that I was on a motorcycle. When I was eight my father gave my brother a motorcycle for his fifth birthday and they let me try it out…From the first moment I tried it I didn’t want to get off of it, I loved it.
As I got older, motorcycling became my life, everything revolved around my sport. It is something that I love and that I would choose again and again.
That they push hard to become better riders every day, so they don’t miss out on the opportunity to compete in this World Championship. Fight for your dreams.
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FULL BIO: Beatriz Nelia
Spanish motorcycle racer Beatriz Neila Santos has carved out her place in motorsports history as a dominant force in women’s motorcycle racing, claiming multiple championships and breaking barriers in a male-dominated sport.
EARLY YEARS
Born on April 15, 2002, in Madrid, Spain, Beatriz discovered her passion for motorcycles at age eight when her father gave her younger brother a minibike for his fifth birthday. While the gift wasn’t intended for her, Beatriz convinced her family to let her try it out—and that was game over. “From the first moment I tried it I didn’t want to get off of it, I loved it,” she recalls. What started as a curious test ride quickly evolved into an obsession that would reshape her entire life. By age nine in 2011, she was already competing in minimoto races around the Madrid area, proving that sometimes the best gifts are the ones that find their way to the right person.
OTHER INTERESTS
Information about Beatriz’s interests outside of motorcycle racing is not publicly available.
EARLY SUCCESS
Beatriz’s meteoric rise through Spain’s junior racing ranks was nothing short of impressive. After cutting her teeth in minimoto competitions, she systematically conquered each stepping stone: MiniGP 110cc in 2012, MiniGP 140cc in 2013 (finishing 10th in the Cuna de Campeones series), and the Copa España Velocidad Challenge 80cc class in 2014 where she placed eighth. But it was in 2015 and 2016 that she truly announced herself as a force to be reckoned with, claiming third place in both the Femines Championship Catalan Velocidad and Femines Championship Mediterraneo Velocidad in 2015, then returning the following year to win both championships outright on a Honda CBR300. Her progression was textbook perfect—until 2017 brought a reality check that would have ended many careers before they truly began.
NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS
- 2016: Winner of Femines Championship Catalan Velocidad and Femines Championship Mediterraneo Velocidad[1]
- 2020: Women’s European Cup Champion with 4 wins out of 5 rounds[2]
- 2021: Women’s European Cup Champion[3]
- 2023: FIM Women’s Motorcycling World Championship winner, becoming the first female champion after the series was elevated to World Championship status[4]
INSPIRATIONS
Beatriz credits her family as the driving force behind her racing career, particularly her father and younger brother whose minibike started it all. Her involvement in elite development programs like the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup and VR46 Master Camp connected her to the legacy of motorcycle racing greatness, though she hasn’t publicly named specific racing heroes. “As I got older, motorcycling became my life, everything revolved around my sport. It is something that I love and that I would choose again and again,” she explains, suggesting her greatest inspiration comes from the pure love of the sport itself.
REPUTATION
In the paddock, Beatriz is known as a fierce competitor with an uncompromising approach to racing. Her reputation was forged not just through victories, but through her remarkable comeback from a devastating 2017 crash during Red Bull Rookies Cup pre-season testing that broke her right femur, left wrist, and nose. Initially expected to be sidelined for 4-5 months, she shocked everyone by returning mid-season in June, demonstrating the kind of mental toughness that separates champions from also-rans. Media coverage consistently highlights her perseverance and dominance in women’s championships, while her advocacy for women in motorsports has made her an inspiring figure for aspiring female racers. She’s earned respect not just for what she’s accomplished, but for how she encourages others: “Fight for your dreams,” she tells young women looking to follow in her tire tracks.
FUTURE GOALS/PLANS
Currently competing in the FIM Women’s Motorcycling World Championship under Yamaha and Pata Prometeon Yamaha team partnership, Beatriz remains focused on defending her world title and continuing to elevate women’s motorcycle racing. With confirmed involvement in top-level Women’s World Championship events for 2025 and beyond, backed by Yamaha’s support, she’s positioned to remain at the forefront of women’s motorsports while working to inspire the next generation of female racers to push the boundaries of what’s possible.
References:
Wikipedia – Beatriz Neila
Paddock Sorority Interview
Sports247 Profile
Yamaha Racing News
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