Chun Mei Liu

Chun Mei Liu is the oldest rider competing in the FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship, proving that age is just a number when you’ve got the skills—and the wrench—to back it up. A trained motorcycle mechanic and technician from New Taipei City, Taiwan, she’s been turning heads on the world stage while educating an entire nation about what real racing looks like.

EARLY YEARS

Born on October 25, 1981, in New Taipei City, Taiwan, Chun Mei Liu’s path to motorcycle racing wasn’t typical. But then again, nothing about her journey has been conventional. Taiwan’s racing infrastructure doesn’t exactly roll out the red carpet—there aren’t endless tracks like in Europe or even neighboring China—so building a career in motorsports required more than just talent. It required grit, resourcefulness, and a refusal to accept that women didn’t belong on the grid.

What set her apart early was her decision to not just ride motorcycles but to understand them inside and out. She trained as a motorcycle mechanic and technician, making her comfortable tearing down and rebuilding her own machines. This hands-on knowledge gave her an edge that many riders—male or female—simply don’t have. She knows what’s happening beneath her when the bike doesn’t feel right, and she can articulate it in a way that makes engineers listen.

OTHER INTERESTS

While racing and wrenching dominate her life, Liu’s focus has also been on education—not in the classroom sense, but in bringing the sport to the people of Taiwan. She’s openly stated that most fans of motorcycle racing in her home country have learned how racing works because of her. That’s not bragging; it’s fact. In a nation where motorsports took a backseat to other sports, she became an ambassador simply by showing up, competing, and refusing to quit.

EARLY SUCCESS

Liu’s competitive career gained serious momentum between 2019 and 2023 when she competed in the Asia Road Racing Championship (ARRC), racing against some of the region’s toughest competitors. The ARRC is no joke—it’s where riders from across Asia prove themselves before moving to bigger international stages. She held her own in a male-dominated field, gaining invaluable experience and showing that Taiwan had a rider worth watching.

In 2021, she competed in the Taiwan Motorcycle Road Race Championship, and in 2022, she entered the Taiwan Superbike Series. Both campaigns were successful, and in those two years, she claimed two national championships. Those titles weren’t handed to her—she earned them on tracks that don’t forgive mistakes, against riders who weren’t about to go easy on her just because she was breaking barriers.

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

• 2021: Won the Taiwan Motorcycle Road Race Championship[1].
• 2022: Claimed victory in the Taiwan Superbike Series[2].
• 2024: Competed in the inaugural FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship (WorldWCR) as the oldest rider on the grid at 42 years old, consistently battling for top-ten finishes[3].
• 2025: Returned to WorldWCR at 43 years old, continuing to represent Taiwan with WT Team Taiwan on a Yamaha YZF-R7[4].

INSPIRATIONS

When asked about her racing idols, Liu doesn’t hesitate: Casey Stoner. Specifically, Stoner in his prime on the Ducati. She’s cited his unique skills and ability to extract performance from a notoriously difficult bike as something worth studying. “Casey Stoner in his prime was incredible on the Ducati. His unique skills made him one of the top racers to learn from,” she’s said. Among current riders, she watches and learns, constantly analyzing what makes the best riders tick.

But perhaps her biggest inspiration comes from closer to home. Liu has worked with the same manager, coach, and mechanic for 23 years—a man she credits with making her one of the best riders in Taiwan. “He has made me one of the best riders in Taiwan. In fact, he is my manager, my coach and my mechanic! We’ve been working together for 23 years,” she explained. That kind of partnership is rare in any sport, and it speaks to the loyalty and trust that have been the foundation of her career.

REPUTATION

Chun Mei Liu holds a unique position in Taiwanese motorsports. She’s not just a competitor—she’s an educator, a trailblazer, and a national representative on the world stage. Her claim that most Taiwanese racing fans learned about the sport through her isn’t hyperbole. In a country where motorcycle racing infrastructure is limited and the sport struggles for visibility, she became the face of the movement simply by doing the work, year after year.

On the international level, her reputation is one of consistency and professionalism. In the inaugural 2024 WorldWCR season, she was the oldest rider on the grid and used that experience to her advantage, regularly fighting for top-ten positions. She’s not the flashiest rider, but she’s steady, smart, and hard to beat on her day. Teams and fellow competitors respect her technical knowledge and her ability to work on her own bike—a rarity in modern racing where most riders hand everything off to mechanics.

FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

Liu is back for the 2025 FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship season with WT Team Taiwan, once again piloting a Yamaha YZF-R7. At 43, she remains the oldest rider on the grid, but she’s showing no signs of slowing down. Her goal is clear: continue improving, keep fighting for top finishes, and represent Taiwan on the global stage. She’s proven that age doesn’t dictate competitiveness, and with her wealth of experience and mechanical know-how, she’s a rider who can still surprise the competition.

Beyond results, her presence in WorldWCR matters. Every time she lines up on the grid, she’s proving something to the next generation of Taiwanese riders—and to women everywhere—that it’s never too late to chase speed, and that knowledge, experience, and determination can carry you just as far as raw talent.

REFERENCES

[1] WorldSBK: HER STORY: meet Chun Mei Liu
[2] Sports247: Her story: Meet Chun Mei Liu
[3] Females in Motorsport: Meet the WorldWCR Class of 2025
[4] World Racing News: WorldWCR Meet Chun Mei Liu
[5] WorldSBK: Chun Mei Liu Rider Profile
[6] Wikipedia: 2025 FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship