FARYAL ASHRAF Fights Male-Dominated Biking Culture to Become Pakistan’s First

July 2, 2025

from www.dw.com

• FARYAL ASHRAF is blazing a trail as Pakistan’s would-be first female motorcycle road racer, taking on a deeply entrenched boys’ club that would rather she stay home. Drawing inspiration from MotoGP and international female riders, she bought her own sports bike and started training despite facing harassment from local biker communities who clearly didn’t get the memo that talent doesn’t require testosterone.
• When the traditional motorcycle scene shut her out, ASHRAF did what smart women do – she went around them. Using social media as her platform, she’s built a following and become a role model for Pakistani women who are tired of watching from the sidelines. The response proves what we already knew: there’s a whole generation of women ready to ride if someone just shows them it’s possible.
• Here’s the kicker – motorcycle road racing is still illegal in Pakistan, which means ASHRAF is fighting for a sport that technically doesn’t exist there yet. But she’s not waiting around for permission, keeping Germany’s autobahn as her backup plan if Pakistan can’t evolve fast enough. Smart move, because sometimes you have to be willing to leave to get what you deserve.

motogp, motorcycle racing, pakistan motorsports, social media activism