Ride like a girl | British Motocross champ establishes training academy to inspire women onto two wheels

British MXGP champion, Lauren Collingwood has established the UK’s first all-female motocross training academy, with the goal of inspiring more women and girls into the sport.

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Offering training days dotted around numerous UK locations, the Girls That Moto project is open to all ages and all levels of experience.

Collingwood told MCN: “I started racing at 6 years old, back then there was only a handful of girls racing.

“As I started to get older, the opportunities for women in the sport were, and still are, a lot less than those available to men. Even at the same level there is just not the same amount of support.

Despite competing in a male dominated field, Collingwood has gone on to become five-time British MXGP champion, she has also won a Super Cross Championship and placed at the European MXGP.

“I am currently racing the British championship and as many other championships as I can over in the UK. We aim to do more world championship rounds but as a privateer, it’s super hard to get to all of them,” Collingwood added.

“I want to push and promote the sport for the women and girls of motocross. I thought that a female trainer racing at the top level would be a great start to motivate these girls to become the best they can be.”

Many of the sessions are held in Collingwood’s hometown of Doncaster, at Fat Cat Motoparc. Currently, the project caters to women and girls that are already familiar with two wheels, albeit not necessarily riding off-road.

Uptake has reportedly been strong so far, but Collingwood aims to expand the project further: “Some attendees may be beginners and others of them may be racing in championships, but we work together to bring the best out of every single one of them!

“In the future I am hoping to host complete beginner and experience days for girls that have never been a part of the sport before so we can bring more girls to motocross and create an even more amazing environment.”