Sonya Lloyd

Sonya Lloyd is a 23-year-old American motorcycle racer who went from winning her first amateur flat track race to competing in the FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship—all while earning a degree in Biological Engineering from the University of Georgia.

EARLY YEARS

Born around 2002, Sonya Lloyd’s path to professional motorcycle racing didn’t follow the typical karting-at-age-five trajectory. Details about her childhood, family background, and early years remain largely private. What we do know is that she grew up playing soccer and cheerleading—traditional team sports that had nothing to do with throttles, apex speeds, or getting sideways on dirt ovals.

Lloyd enrolled at the University of Georgia around 2020, pursuing what most would consider a sensible career path: Biological Engineering. It was during her freshman year, at age 18, that she discovered amateur flat track racing. No childhood dreams of being the next Valentino Rossi. No parents who raced. Just an 18-year-old college student who tried something new and happened to be really, really good at it.

OTHER INTERESTS

Beyond the racetrack, Lloyd’s interests reveal someone who’s equal parts data nerd and adrenaline junkie. She’s stated that motorsport racing, technology, and data are among her passions—which makes sense for someone who spent four years studying engineering while simultaneously learning how to nail corner entry at triple-digit speeds.

For winter training when most tracks are frozen over, she heads to Buckeye Lake in Ohio for ice riding sessions with Larry Pegram and other flat trackers. Because apparently, sliding around on frozen lakes is how you spend the off-season when you’re serious about this whole racing thing. During an internship in Spain, she made time to travel to Barcelona for MotoGP, where Ducati director Paolo Ciabatti offered her a 2-up ride—the kind of experience that would make any racing fan lose their minds.

EARLY SUCCESS

Lloyd won her first Mad race in amateur flat track shortly after she started racing around 2020, and she kept winning regularly. But it was a comment from a road racer that changed her trajectory. Someone suggested she try road racing, so she hopped on a 400cc bike and discovered she had a knack for pavement too. She applied to Royal Enfield’s Build. Train. Race. program and was initially denied due to lack of experience—a rejection that clearly didn’t stick.

Once she made it into Build. Train. Race., Lloyd finished second in the championship, earned podium finishes every weekend, and snagged a pole position. She also found success racing regularly in WERA and AHRMA road racing events. All of this while carrying a full course load in one of the more demanding engineering programs at a major university. Sleep was apparently optional.

In 2024, Lloyd graduated from the University of Georgia in May with her Bachelor’s degree in Biological Engineering. That same year, she made her rookie debut in MotoAmerica Twins Cup with Jack Moto Racing, riding a Yamaha R7 alongside teammate Dominic Doyle. She became the top female finisher in the series, consistently scored points-paying positions, and notched multiple top-ten finishes. Strong performances at Roe America and a solid finish at Kota showed she could hang with the boys at the national level.

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

• CIRCA 2020: Won first Mad race in amateur flat track racing[4].
• PRE-2024: Finished 2nd in Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race. Championship with podium finishes every weekend and one pole position[1][2].
• 2024: Graduated from University of Georgia with Bachelor’s degree in Biological Engineering[1][4].
• 2024: Top female finisher in MotoAmerica Twins Cup rookie season with Jack Moto Racing on Yamaha R7; multiple top-ten finishes and consistent points-paying positions[1][2].
• 2024: Made FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship debut in Spain[1].
• 2025: Competed full season in FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship with Team Trasimeno, backed by Yamaha USA factory support, on Yamaha R7; teammates included Jessica Howden and Emily Bondi[1][3].
• UNSPECIFIED: Finished 6th in AFT Bultaco Cup (Professional American Flat Track) as the first female and youngest racer invited to compete[1].
• UNSPECIFIED: Became youngest racer and first woman invited to race Mike O’Neil’s vintage Indians in the 1950’s Indian Cup[1].

INSPIRATIONS

Lloyd has worked with notable figures in the racing world, including Larry Pegram for winter ice riding training sessions and Paolo Ciabatti of Ducati, who offered her a memorable MotoGP experience in Barcelona. However, specific childhood heroes, racing idols, or defining moments that sparked her interest in motorsports haven’t been publicly documented. Her path seems less about chasing someone else’s dream and more about discovering her own talent and running with it.

REPUTATION

Media coverage has positioned Lloyd as a “rising star” and “intriguing newcomer” in the WorldWCR series. She’s broken barriers as the first female and youngest competitor in both the AFT Bultaco Cup and the 1950’s Indian Cup—the kind of “firsts” that matter not because they’re novelties, but because they demonstrate genuine skill earning her a seat at tables previously reserved for men only. Her ability to balance a demanding engineering degree with a rapidly ascending racing career, then transition to full-time professional racing while working at Siemens Digital Industries, suggests someone with exceptional discipline and time management skills—or possibly superpowers.

FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

After completing her 2025 full season in the FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship with Team Trasimeno, Lloyd is preparing her race-craft, program, and plans for the 2026 season in both the Women’s World Championship and MotoAmerica[1]. She’s currently working full-time at Siemens Digital Industries as a Technical Marketing LDP while plotting her next racing moves—because apparently one career isn’t enough. With Yamaha USA factory support already secured for WorldWCR competition on the R7 platform, she’s positioned to continue developing as both a road racer and a professional who actually has backup plans that don’t involve moving back in with her parents.

References:

Sonya Lloyd Racing – About
Off Track with Carruthers and Bice – #302 Sonya Lloyd
Sonya Lloyd Racing – Homepage
Revival Cycles – Lloyd Brothers
Sourcing.com Article on Sonya Lloyd