Melissa Paris, once a top-tier motorcycle racer, made history as the first female to qualify and participate in the FIM World Superbike Championship. Post-racing, she’s committed to elevating young athletes, particularly women, in this team-dependent sport.
How Melissa Paris became a World Superbike racer
Hailing from Northern California, Melissa’s initial thrill came from chasing her brothers on a BMX bike. However, her true passion for motorcycles ignited during her college years.
Captivated by the rush of flat track racing, she struck a deal to repair damaged bikes in exchange for riding time—an arrangement that kept her glued to the track.
Pursuing her racing dreams meant juggling a packed schedule. She dedicated most of her free time to mastering her skills on 125 and 250cc bikes, which wasn’t cheap.
Balancing full-time studies with a job, she funded her near-weekly competition entries. Her hard work paid off when she shot to prominence as the 2008 Lightweight National Champion.
Beginning her professional career in 2009 with a debut at Daytona on a Yamaha R6, Melissa secured a 21st-place finish. That same year, she broke barriers as the first woman to qualify for a World Supersport Race.
Melissa Paris’ World Superbike racing career
In 2010, she participated in the AMA Daytona Sportbike series, earning a respectable 15th place.
The following year saw her compete in the British Supersport at Brands Hatch, and she became the first female rider to test a Yamaha MotoGP prototype, which she described as “the coolest motorcycle you could possibly ride.”
Melissa’s career spanned multiple prestigious events in the U.S., including AMA Pro Flat Track and MotoAmerica Supersport races.
Globally, she seized a fourth-place finish in Spain’s 2014 FIM CEV Repsol International Roadrace Championship and became part of the inaugural all-female team to qualify and complete the 2016 Bol d’Or 24 Hour World Endurance Championship Race.
In 2017, Melissa joined the first all-female team to qualify and finish the LeMans 24 Hour World Endurance Championship Race, coinciding with the founding of MP13 Racing.
Launching a racing team
Her racing adventures revealed a crucial insight—top racers are supported by many helping hands.
Inspired by this, she launched MP13 Racing to offer a nurturing environment for young girls entering the racing world.
Yet, she lamented, “There just unfortunately aren’t enough of them,” highlighting her mission to change that.
Recently, Melissa joined Royal Enfield’s Build. Train. Race. Program, mentoring women with little to no racing experience.
Here, she guided them through building race bikes, training them for the track, and ultimately letting them loose to race, emphasizing her belief in a shared space for men and women in motorcycle racing.
Her ethos? Pursue your dreams with dedication, because if you’re not willing to invest the effort, success will remain elusive.
World Superbike Racer Melissa Paris’ Resources:
Help support MP13’s flat track motorcycle racing team on Patreon.
Check out the latest about the World Superbike rider on Instagram.
Get the latest news about the former professional road racer on Facebook.
Learn more about her career racing SuperSport motorcycles on LinkedIn.
Follow the former AMA Pro Flat Track racer on X.
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