Roberta Ponziani
Motorcycle racing // Teramo, Italy
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Roberta Ponziani is an Italian motorsports rider known for her achievements in two-wheeled racing. Born in Italy, she started racing minibikes at nine and won the Italian CIV Junior Championship at 11. She has consistently finished third in the Women’s European Championship and became the first female Italian Speed Championship champion in 2023. She participated in the inaugural WorldWCR season in 2024.
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Roberta Ponziani is an Italian motorcycle racer who made history as the first female Italian Speed Championship (CIV) champion and has become a rising star in the FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship.
EARLY YEARS
Born in Teramo, Italy in 1996, Roberta discovered her passion for motorsports at age nine when she happened to pass by a track with minibikes. Despite having no family connection to motorcycling—no one in her family owned a motorcycle or watched races—she asked her father if she could try riding, revealing a natural talent that would shape her future. Outside of racing, her family runs a bakery where she has been involved in making cakes and biscuits, and she studied at university for three years, including learning Chinese[4].
EARLY SUCCESS
In 2014, at just 11 years old, Ponziani became the Italian Minimoto Champion in the Open A category, competing as the only girl on a grid full of boys[1][4]. She continued her impressive trajectory by winning the Italian CIV Junior Championship for mini-bikes in both 2014 and 2015[1][2][5]. Her exceptional skill caught the attention of future MotoGP winner Marco Bezzecchi, who praised her tenacity and talent as they competed against each other in junior competitions[5].
NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS
- 2014: Won the Italian Minimoto Champion in the Open A category[4][5].
- 2015: Won the Italian CIV Junior Championship for minibikes for a second consecutive year[5].
- 2020: Began racing in the Women’s European Cup, finishing third overall[1][4].
- 2023: Became the first female Italian Speed Championship (CIV Femminile) champion[4].
- 2024: Achieved her first WorldWCR podium at the Acerbis Italian Round at Cremona Circuit[2].
REPUTATION
Roberta has established herself as a determined and talented competitor in women’s motorcycle racing, known for her ability to battle against male counterparts from an early age. In the 2024 FIM Women’s Motorcycling World Championship, she demonstrated consistent performance with the MotoXracing team, often finishing in the top five and securing a podium at her home Italian Round[2]. The final round at Jerez reinforced her status as a consistent podium contender with two more top-five finishes[4]. Throughout the season, she maintained a positive mindset and expressed gratitude for her team’s support, solidifying her reputation as a resilient and capable racer.
FUTURE GOALS/PLANS
Looking to 2025, Ponziani is set to return to the WorldWCR championship, aiming to build on her recent podium success and compete at the highest levels of women’s motorcycle racing. Her partnership with the Yamaha Motoxracing WCR Team is expected to continue as she pursues her long-term aspiration of making a significant impact on women’s motorsport[4][5]. Roberta remains committed to not only advancing her own career but also inspiring the next generation of female racers and contributing to the growth of women’s presence in motorcycle racing[1].
References:
Roberta Ponziani: First CIV Women’s Winner
Roberta Ponziani – ESC Live
WorldWCR: Roberta Ponziani
HER STORY: meet Roberta Ponziani “Everything came quite naturally to me straight away”
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