Elisa Gendron

Elisa Gendron-Belen is a rising American motorcycle road racer who’s carved out her place in MotoAmerica’s hyper-competitive landscape while juggling college, customer service gigs, and a sport management degree—all before saying “I do” to fellow racer Levi Badie in January 2026.

EARLY YEARS

Growing up in New Hartford, New York, Elisa had a front-row seat to professional motorcycle racing—her father, Bruce Gendron, was a pro racer himself[1]. She wasn’t content to just watch from the sidelines. At 12 years old, she picked up the sport and immediately excelled[2]. Her mother hails from Puerto Rico, and Elisa’s dual heritage would later play a role in her international racing opportunities[3]. Before she was tearing up racetracks, though, she was striking pins—Elisa spent four years on her high school’s varsity bowling team, earning back-to-back Most Valuable Player honors and serving as team captain in 2020-21[4]. She was also named a Mohawk Valley Sports Honoree in 2021[5].

OTHER INTERESTS

Gendron-Belen isn’t just fast on a bike—she’s strategically minded off it. She enrolled at St. John Fisher University specifically for its sport management program, one of the best in the country[6]. While completing her degree, she also rowed on the women’s crew team[7]. Her academic focus aligns perfectly with her career ambitions: she’s multi-lingual and has her sights set on a career in the motorsports industry, ideally with internship opportunities both in the U.S. and abroad[8]. She’s already working in the industry, holding customer service roles with KYT Helmet Americas and Chicken Hawk Racing[9].

EARLY SUCCESS

Before stepping up to the national stage, Elisa proved herself in regional competition. She earned multiple regional titles in ASRA/CCS racing over two years, demonstrating the kind of consistency that gets noticed[10]. In November 2023, at just 20 years old, she took her talents international, finishing third on the podium in a Latin American International Women’s Cup race in Mexico—an impressive showing sponsored by Team Puerto Rico, honoring her mother’s heritage[11]. That same year, she made the leap to MotoAmerica’s national championship, joining Karns Performance to race the SportbikeTrackGear.com Junior Cup aboard a Kawasaki Ninja 400[12].

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

• 2021: Named Mohawk Valley Sports Honoree[13].
• 2021-2022: Earned multiple regional titles in ASRA/CCS racing[14].
• 2023: Finished third in Latin American International Women’s Cup race in Mexico at age 20[15].
• 2023: Competed full season in MotoAmerica Junior Cup with Karns Performance[16].
• 2024: Graduated from St. John Fisher University with a degree in sport management[17].
• 2024: Competed in MotoAmerica Junior Cup, earning five points in the championship[18].
• 2025: Raced full season in MotoAmerica Twins Cup, finishing as top female finisher[19].
• 2025: Competed as a wild card in the FIM WorldWCR round in Hungary[20].
• 2025: Dropped three seconds per session at Ridge Motorsports Park, showcasing “tremendous growth” on one of the calendar’s most technical tracks[21].
• 2026: Married fellow racer Levi Badie in Upstate New York on January 17 after a short engagement[22].

INSPIRATIONS

Her father, Bruce Gendron, is her most obvious inspiration—she literally grew up watching him race professionally[23]. That firsthand exposure to the sport’s demands, dangers, and rewards gave her both the skillset and the grit to follow in his tire tracks. Her mother’s Puerto Rican heritage has also shaped her path, opening doors to international competition and connecting her to a broader racing community[24].

REPUTATION

Gendron-Belen has built a reputation for steady, measurable improvement. “Elisa has shown consistent growth as a racer, both on and off the track,” a member of the BGB Racing team noted[25]. She’s known for her work ethic and her ability to drop significant time as she learns new circuits—her three-second-per-session improvement at Ridge Motorsports Park is the kind of progress that turns heads[26]. In 2025, she concluded the season as the top female finisher in the Twins Cup, fighting through tricky mixed conditions at the New Jersey Motorsports Park finale to finish 21st after starting 24th[27]. She’s also earning recognition as part of a new wave of women making serious inroads in American road racing[28].

FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

The 2026 season marks Elisa’s second year in the Twins Cup class and her fourth consecutive season as a full-time professional road racer[29]. She’s back aboard a Suzuki GSX-8R fielded by BGB Racing, with support from sponsors including Bison Leathers, Charlie’s Chop Shop, Certified Knee Draggers, EvolveGT Track Days, and others[30]. She’s also continuing to build her career in the motorsports industry, leveraging her sport management degree and her customer service roles to position herself for long-term opportunities in the field[31]. With a new last name, renewed backing, and another year of national-level experience under her belt, Gendron-Belen is positioned to keep climbing the ranks of American motorcycle racing.

References:

Countdown to Commencement: Elisa Gendron-Belen – St. John Fisher University
Countdown to Commencement: Elisa Gendron-Belen – St. John Fisher University
American Gendron-Belen On The Podium In Mexico – Roadracing World
Elisa Gendron Belen – Women’s Rowing – St. John Fisher Athletics
Elisa Gendron Belen – Women’s Rowing – St. John Fisher Athletics
Countdown to Commencement: Elisa Gendron-Belen – St. John Fisher University
2021-2022 Women’s Rowing Roster – St. John Fisher Athletics
CCS Amateur Gendron-Belen Planning To Race In Mexico In 2023 – Roadracing World
Opinion: A New Era For Women In Road Racing? – Roadracing World
Karns Performance Racing Announces Its 2023 MotoAmerica Junior Cup Team – MotoAmerica
American Gendron-Belen On The Podium In Mexico – Roadracing World
Clark, Gendron-Belén Set For Junior Cup Campaign – Roadracing World
Elisa Gendron Belen – Women’s Rowing – St. John Fisher Athletics
Karns Performance Racing Announces Its 2023 MotoAmerica Junior Cup Team – MotoAmerica
American Gendron-Belen On The Podium In Mexico – Roadracing World
Clark, Gendron-Belén Set For Junior Cup Campaign – Roadracing World
Countdown to Commencement: Elisa Gendron-Belen – St. John Fisher University
2024 Junior Cup Championship Points – Roadracing World
What The Teams Said: New Jersey Motorsports Park Finale – MotoAmerica
Gendron Belen Joins Dobbs And Lloyd At WorldWCR Round In Hungary – MotoAmerica
What The Teams Said: Ridge Motorsports Park – MotoAmerica
Wedding: Racers Elisa Gendron-Belen and Levi Badie – Roadracing World
Countdown to Commencement: Elisa Gendron-Belen – St. John Fisher University
American Gendron-Belen On The Podium In Mexico – Roadracing World
Best Week Ever: Elisa Gendron Belen – MotoAmerica
What The Teams Said: Ridge Motorsports Park – MotoAmerica
What The Teams Said: New Jersey Motorsports Park Finale – MotoAmerica
Opinion: A New Era For Women In Road Racing? – Roadracing World
MotoAmerica: Elisa Gendron Belén Returns to Twins Cup for 2026 – Roadracing World
Best Week Ever: Elisa Gendron Belen – MotoAmerica
CCS Amateur Gendron-Belen Planning To Race In Mexico In 2023 – Roadracing World