Mia Rushten

Norwegian road racer Mia Rusthen is a fierce competitor who went from dreaming of pirouettes to chasing podiums—and survived one of the most terrifying crashes in the inaugural FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship to fight her way back.

EARLY YEARS

Born April 29, 2002, in Oslo, Norway, Mia Rusthen didn’t grow up covered in motor oil. From age four, she spent endless hours dancing, dreaming of becoming a ballerina. The grace, discipline, and hours of grueling practice? Those stayed with her. But somewhere along the way, she fell hard for something louder, faster, and infinitely more dangerous: motorcycles.

That pivot wasn’t a gentle one. Rusthen traded tutus for leathers and threw herself into the Norwegian racing scene with the same intensity she’d once brought to the barre. By 2017, she was already proving she had what it took, competing in the A2 Standard-cup and making it clear she wasn’t there to play nice.

OTHER INTERESTS

Though racing became her world, the years spent training as a ballerina left their mark. She carries that discipline, precision, and commitment to excellence with her onto the track—qualities that served her well when she had to fight for every inch of progress, both in competition and in recovery.

EARLY SUCCESS

In 2017, Rusthen claimed the A2 Standard-cup overall title in the Norwegian Championship and was named Female Performer of the Year by Borg MC-club. The wins kept coming, and by 2018, she’d earned something massive: an invitation to the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Selection Cup. Out of 113 participants, she was one of just two girls invited. She competed against some of the fastest young riders in the world—and held her own.

That same year, she joined the Yamaha Racing Family and became a proud member of the Yamaha Racing R3 bLU cRU Benelux team, running her first full season in the IDM Supersport 300 Championship. She was carving out a name for herself in a sport that didn’t always make room for women, and she did it without apology.

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

• 2017: Winner of A2 Standard-cup overall in the Norwegian Championship[1].
• 2017: Named Female Performer of the Year by Borg MC-club[2].
• 2018: Invited to the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Selection Cup—one of only two girls among 113 participants[3].
• 2018: Competed in first full season in the IDM Supersport 300 Championship with Yamaha Racing R3 bLU cRU Benelux[4].
• 2023: Competed in the Women’s European Championship with Trasimeno team[5].
• 2024: Selected as one of 24 riders for the inaugural FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship (WorldWCR) with Rusthen Racing on a Yamaha YZF-R7[6].

INSPIRATIONS

Information about specific inspirations is not publicly available, but Rusthen’s journey—from ballet to bikes, from local championships to the world stage—speaks to someone driven by an internal fire that doesn’t need permission or validation.

REPUTATION

Rusthen built a reputation as a determined, no-nonsense competitor who refused to be counted out. Her transition from the Women’s European Championship to the new WorldWCR series in 2024 marked a new chapter—she was ready to race on the biggest stage yet.

Then came Misano. On June 15, 2024, during the first race of the inaugural WorldWCR season, Rusthen crashed hard at the final corner on Lap 5. She suffered a severe head injury with concussion and was placed in an artificial coma. The racing world held its breath.

Her family provided updates as she fought her way back. She was transferred to Ullevål Hospital in Norway, still in a coma but stable. Days turned into weeks. Then came the news everyone needed to hear: she was awake. She was progressing. By July, she had walked—with support from her sister. By October, she was walking on her own.

Sixteen weeks after the crash, Rusthen returned to the paddock at the WorldSBK season finale in Jerez. She doesn’t remember the accident—just braking hard and losing control of the front. She admitted recovery would take a year, but her positivity and determination were undeniable. The paddock welcomed her back like the fighter she is.

Her family launched a crowdfunding campaign to support her ongoing care and rehabilitation, and the motorsports community rallied. Mia Rusthen became more than a racer—she became a symbol of resilience.

FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

As of late 2024, Rusthen has made it clear she’s not done. Doctors told her full recovery would take about a year, but she’s already eyeing a return to WorldWCR with a wildcard ride in 2025. Her positivity is infectious, and her determination unshakable. She’s walking, she’s healing, and she’s already looking ahead to getting back on a bike.

Rusthen Racing did not participate in the 2025 FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship season, but Mia’s comeback story is far from over. She’s playing the long game now—and if there’s one thing we know about her, it’s that she doesn’t quit.

REFERENCES

[1][2][4][13] About Mia – Mia Rusthen Racing
[3] World Champions Start Here – Selection Event – Red Bull
[5] Good news for Mia Rusthen: she may soon be transferred to Norway – GPOne
[6] Introducing the 24 riders set to fight it out for WorldWCR glory in 2024 – WorldSBK
[7][8][9] Latest update regarding Mia Rusthen following incident at Misano – WorldSBK
[10] Rider ‘stable’ but in artificial coma after WorldWCR crash – The Race
[11] Mia Rusthen update provided by family – Crash.net
[12] Major development in recovery of Mia Rusthen – Crash.net
[14] Mia Rusthen: “I don’t remember anything from the accident. It’s going to take me a year to recover” – GPOne
[15] Injured WorldWCR racer Mia Rusthen to attend Jerez WorldSBK – Crash.net
[16] First clue dropped about Mia Rusthen’s 2025 racing plans as recovery continues – Crash.net
[17] Family of Injured Motorcycle Racer Calls For Help – Visordown
[18] 2025 FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship – Wikipedia
[19] Mia Rusthen – WorldSBK Rider Profile