Kayleigh Buyck

Kayleigh Buyck turned a childhood spent clinging to her dad’s motorcycle through upstate New York’s endless backroads into a championship-winning road racing career, claiming the 2022 Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race. title in her debut season.

EARLY YEARS

Born around 1992, Kayleigh Buyck grew up in the farmland and open roads of upstate New York, splitting time between Sodus and Marion. Her earliest memories of speed came wrapped around her father’s back, passenger on a motorcycle cutting through those seemingly endless backroads where the ride mattered more than the destination. It was the kind of childhood that imprinted itself—wind, engine rumble, the lean into curves—long before she ever thought about racing.

The transition from passenger to pilot happened naturally. Buyck eventually moved from the back seat to her own handlebars, learning to ride in the same territory she’d memorized from behind her dad. But the real spark came later, during a track weekend that flipped a switch she didn’t know existed. “I fell in love,” she said simply. The controlled chaos of a racetrack, the precision, the speed without apology—it was nothing like the backroads. She purchased a sportbike shortly after and described the feeling as being “on cloud nine.”

That track weekend didn’t just ignite a hobby; it set a trajectory. By the time Royal Enfield announced its 2022 Build. Train. Race. program—a women-only road racing initiative designed to lower barriers and build community—Buyck was already an accomplished rider and racer, hungry for structure and competition.

OTHER INTERESTS

Outside of racing, Buyck keeps her cards close. No public record exists of hobbies, side hustles, or how she spends time when she’s not on two wheels. Whether that’s intentional privacy or simply a life consumed by motorcycles is anyone’s guess.

EARLY SUCCESS

Buyck entered the 2022 Royal Enfield BTR Road Racing program as one of 15 women selected to design, build, and race a Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 over six rounds. The program’s structure was straightforward: participants spent three months building their machines, then moved into a “Train” phase that included a test session at Barber Motorsports Park with guidance from Sportbike Track Time and mentorship from Melissa Paris, a seasoned racer who helped the newcomers dial in their bikes and sharpen their racecraft.

The series kicked off at Virginia International Raceway, and Buyck wasted no time proving she belonged. By the time the championship reached its final round at Barber Motorsports Park during the MotoAmerica weekend, she’d already racked up three wins from the first five rounds. The title was within reach, but it required a podium finish—and she had company. Jenny Chancellor and Chloe Peterson weren’t about to hand it over.

The final race turned into a proper battle. Buyck fought hard off the line, then broke away with Peterson for a bar-to-bar duel that lasted to the checkered flag. When the dust settled, Buyck had done more than secure the podium—she’d won outright, claiming both the race and the championship in one decisive ride. For someone who’d spent her childhood as a passenger and only recently committed to road racing, it was a hell of a debut season.

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

• 2022: Won the Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race. Road Racing championship, securing three wins in the first five rounds and clinching the title with a victory in the final race at Barber Motorsports Park during the MotoAmerica weekend[1][2].

INSPIRATIONS

Buyck credits her father for planting the seed, those long motorcycle rides through upstate New York giving her an early education in two-wheeled freedom. The track weekend that ignited her racing passion remains a turning point—proof that sometimes one experience is all it takes to rewrite the script. During her BTR season, she found guidance in Melissa Paris, whose mentorship helped her translate raw ability into racecraft[4].

REPUTATION

Buyck entered the BTR program without fanfare and left it as a champion, earning respect for her ability to battle wheel-to-wheel and deliver when it mattered most. The final-round duel with Peterson showcased her composure under pressure, and her willingness to go door-to-door for the win signaled she wasn’t interested in playing it safe. Media coverage painted her victory as both thrilling and well-earned, part of a broader narrative celebrating the BTR program’s success in creating opportunities for women in a male-dominated sport. The program itself had become a fan favorite, and Buyck’s championship run added legitimacy to the effort[1][4].

Her peers saw someone who’d done the work—built the bike, put in the test sessions, and raced smart. There’s no controversy in her story, no drama beyond the kind that happens at racing speed. Just a rider who showed up, learned fast, and won.

FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

Buyck’s racing activity after 2022 remains undocumented. Whether she continued competing, moved to another series, or stepped back from racing entirely is unclear. What she did make clear at the time of her BTR championship was a hope that her success would mean something beyond her own trophy shelf. “I never would have thought I would be chosen to be a part of something so inspiring and motivational,” she said. “I only hope this encourages many more women to chase their dreams and help the sport grow.”[2] If that’s the legacy she’s building, the scoreboard will take care of itself.

References:

Roadracingworld.com – 2022 BTR Final Rounds Coverage
Total Motorcycle – Inspiration Friday Feature on Kayleigh Buyck
YouTube – Paddock Chat With Kayleigh Buyck
MotoAmerica – 2022 Royal Enfield BTR Preview at VIR