Mikayla Nielsen

Mikayla “KayKay” Nielsen is a three-time AMA NGPC Pro Women champion and rising star in Women’s Motocross who races with grit, heart, and the kind of toughness that comes from growing up riding two-strokes in the Southern California desert.

EARLY YEARS

Born July 1, 2005, in Riverside, California, Mikayla Nielsen started riding dirt bikes at age three. Her parents would take weekend trips to the desert, renting an RV and loading up bikes for the whole family. Her dad bought a 650 for himself, then picked up bikes for Mikayla and her sister so they could all ride together. Those early desert sessions weren’t about competition—they were about family, freedom, and learning to twist a throttle before most kids could ride a bicycle.

By age seven, she was racing at Starwest Supercross, cutting her teeth against local competition and discovering she had a taste for going fast. Nielsen grew up as a lifelong KTM rider, working her way through the amateur ranks on two-stroke machines. She wasn’t handed anything—she earned every gate drop, every podium, and every bit of respect in a sport that doesn’t care about your age or your gender, only whether you can hold your line.

OTHER INTERESTS

While grinding her way through the motocross and off-road scene, Nielsen balanced an extremely successful racing career with attending public school. She’s not just a throttle-twist wonder—she’s organized, disciplined, and driven in all areas of her life. Her training regimen includes working with Tom Danielson, a former Tour de France cyclist, who helped elevate her fitness to a level that allows her to compete in multiple championships simultaneously. Nielsen typically spends mornings at the track from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., following a schedule written by Danielson, then comes home to unload, wash bikes, and refuel before doing it all again the next day.

EARLY SUCCESS

Nielsen made a name for herself at the 2019 Rocky Mountain ATV/MC AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship at Loretta Lynn’s Ranch, where she won the Girls (11-16) class on her KTM. She also finished 31st in the Mini Sr 2 (13-15) class that same year, proving she wasn’t afraid to race against the boys. The win at Loretta’s wasn’t a fluke—it was a statement. Nielsen had been steadily climbing the amateur motocross ranks in the Girls class for years, establishing herself as one of the fastest racers at events like the World Mini Grand Prix.

Her versatility became clear early on. While dominating in motocross, she was simultaneously crushing it in the off-road scene, competing in NEPG Off Road series and other endurance formats. Nielsen grew up racing two-strokes successfully, winning several championships as she progressed through the ranks. She didn’t make the jump to a four-stroke 250F until later, but when she did, the bike obviously worked—because she kept winning.

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

• 2019: Won the Girls (11-16) class at the Rocky Mountain ATV/MC AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship at Loretta Lynn’s Ranch[1].
• 2023: Won her first AMA NGPC Pro Women Championship, narrowly edging out Ava Silvestri with a second-place finish at the final round in Laughlin, Nevada[2].
• 2024: Turned professional in early March at the Freestone Spring Championship and signed with Mark Samuels’ SLR Honda team, debuting her new red bike after years of racing KTM orange[3].
• 2024: Won her second consecutive AMA NGPC Pro Women Championship[4].
• 2025: Won her first-ever WMX race at the season opener at Fox Raceway in Pala, California, finishing second in Moto 1 and winning the second moto[5].
• 2025: Won her third straight AMA NGPC Pro Women Championship in October at the final round in Laughlin, Nevada—despite racing with a broken hand that had to be taped up, leaving her to manage the throttle with only her index finger[6].
• 2025: Finished third overall in the WMX Championship while simultaneously competing in the full NGPC series[7].

INSPIRATIONS

Nielsen’s biggest inspiration came from her family. Her dad got her started on bikes, and those early desert rides with her parents and sister shaped her love for riding. She’s said that racing against the boys has always been more fun for her—they’re more competitive, though she’s quick to add that the girls are plenty competitive too. It’s that mindset, that refusal to back down from a challenge, that defines her approach to racing.

REPUTATION

Nielsen has earned a reputation as one of the most versatile and determined competitors in women’s motorsports. She’s known for racing smart, racing tough, and racing hurt when she has to. The 2025 season proved it—she wrapped up her third consecutive NGPC title while managing a broken hand, all while competing in a full WMX schedule. She’s not flashy, she’s not loud, but she shows up and gets it done.

Her off-road training gives her an edge in motocross. She’s able to apply techniques from endurance racing—like line choice, throttle control, and bike management—to the high-speed chaos of motocross tracks. Nielsen races #1 in off-road and #51 in motocross, and she wears both numbers with pride. She’s established herself as a rider who doesn’t just compete—she wins. And she does it with the kind of quiet confidence that comes from years of putting in the work.

FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

Nielsen extended her contract with SLR Honda for a third season heading into 2026, continuing her partnership with Mark Samuels’ team. She’s made it clear that she wants to keep competing, building, and pushing the limits for women in motorsports—whether that’s on two wheels or four. Her focus remains on her off-road championship, but she’s proven she can juggle multiple series and still compete at the highest level. Nielsen has said she just likes to race, and she does it well. The plan is simple: keep showing up, keep winning, and keep proving that women belong at the front of the pack.

REFERENCES

[1] Mikayla Nielsen – The Loretta Lynn’s Vault
[2] 2023 FMF AMA NGPC Final Round Results – Cycle News
[3] Swapmoto Race Series Rider Profile | Mikayla Nielsen
[4] 2024 NGPC Round 7 Results – Cycle News
[5] Mikayla Nielsen wins 2025 WMX opener at Fox Raceway
[6] Mikayla Nielsen: Third AMA NGPC Pro Women Title | MOTORESS
[7] Mikayla Nielsen Interview – Cycle News
Focused Athlete: Mikayla “KayKay” Nielsen – FLY Racing
MIKAYLA NIELSEN – OFF THE BEATEN PATH – Motoplayground
Off-Road Racebikes—Mikayla Nielsen’s 2023 KTM 250 SX-F
Mikayla Nielsen Information and Statistics – Racer X
Mikayla Nielsen : « The plan right now is to focus on my off road … – WMX Inside
Mikayla “Kay Kay” Nielsen Interview | Monster Energy WMX Title Chase
Nielsen: “You Want to Win the First Race, and I Just Raced My Little Heart Out Those Laps”