Astrid Madrigal (Pons Italika Racing FIMLA) has been the first Mexican rider to compete in the FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship. In terms of passion for the sport, they would be hard-pressed to find a better ambassador. Madrigal finished her second season in WorldWCR at Jerez, and as a regular top ten finisher, she looks to take a step into 2026.

TAKING ALL CHALLENGERS: “I was always clear that I wanted to be someone in motorcycling, someone important who could really promote the sport”

First jumping atop a motorbike at just six years old, theMexico native’s first brushes with the sport were in motocross and fell in love with the hobby. As she grew up, she began to realise the lack of representation of women among racers. Undeterred, she knew her path was to fight to be the best, whether the competition was male or female. While female riders have fought for more visibility in the sport before her, even at her young age, Madrigal has been a trailblazing figure for women in motorsport in Latin America.

On her introduction to the sport, Madrigal said: "I rode motocross for the first time at 6 and it was like love at first sight. And then I saw a girl, Dalia was her name, and it was an inspiration for me to see a girl competing. But as I get older and saw different two- and four-wheel disciplines, there were no women. It was difficult and I figured I would have to just go out with the boys and try to be the best among the boys. I never thought of myself as a woman rider, just a rider. When the topic of promoting women’s motorcycling was raised - because I was something of a pioneer as a woman rider in Latin America - I jumped at the opportunity. I thought, ‘Yes, this is the way, if more women join, then I can try to be the best among the women’. I was always clear that I wanted to be someone in motorcycling, someone important who could really promote the sport."

BUILDING A PLATFORM: “My work in Mexico and in Latin America in general is to promote fresh talent, both boys and girls”

Aside from her drive to be the best on track, Madrigal also concerns herself with the legacy she leaves off track, specifically the paths she can clear for more riders from the Americas to break onto the world stage. She and the Italika Racing project are working hard to continue to boost the profile of motorcycling in Latin America. In recognition of her efforts, she has been appointed an FIM Ambassador for Latin America to work on the sport’s development for both girls and boys.

On her work to promote new talent in the Americas, Madrigal said: "In Mexico, we have a sports platform called Italika Racing, where we promote motorcycling across Latin America. Part of this is our high-performance riding school, where I help to develop young talents. They come and improve their riding and learn how to keep their motorcycles in order. We staged the first event of the year and had 24 girls aged between 13 and 25. And these girls come from all over, not just Mexico but also the United States, Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Peru, Venezuela, and Colombia. Then last year, I became an FIM Ambassador for Latin America. My work in Mexico and Latin America more broadly is to promote fresh talent, both boys and girls. So, I guide them and prepare them for life as a rider, how to work with a team in the garage, how to communicate and present themselves, with the aim of teaching them what it’s like to be part of a World Championship. It is not easy to start from scratch and take them to a very high level. The collaboration between Italika Racing and Pons Motorsport, a European team competing in WorldSSP300, is very valuable in this respect. In the end, we want Latin America to reach a similar level to Europe."

MAKING THE JUMP: “We had to build the castle so to speak, and now that it’s built, I will be able to guide and help other young girls"

After earning her stripes racing against men practically her whole career, with the advent of WorldWCR, the Mexican rider was chomping at the bit to fight on a level playing field: a women-only class with all riders on the same machinery. While she doesn’t by any means underestimate the high level of talent in the field, she is resolute in her dream to one day be a World Champion.

On what it means to her to now race in WorldWCR, Madrigal said: "It’s a dream for me to be here. When I was a child, I always thought I was going to race with men and never imagined that we women would make so much ‘noise’. It started as a seed, with two people, then three, four, five, and now we have built a World Championship. For me, being here this year is a great effort, and my goal is to place in the top five. It’s tough because there are a lot of girls with a lot of experience, but I have no doubt that I have the ability. Ultimately, I want to be a World Champion. I also have the assurance that the girls who come after me will have an easier path than I had. We’ve come a long way from our work in Latin America to having a World Championship. We had to build the castle so to speak, and now that it’s built, I will be able to guide and help other young girls. Longer term, the dream for all of us would be to see this series grow, and to be able to bring it to Latin America, of course! I think Dorna has done well to make it a one-make series, because it means the rider must make the difference. So doing that and encouraging that for everyone is very important. There are still many things to do, a thousand things, but we are going in the right direction, let's say."

Watch Madrigal take on the 2026 WorldWCR campaign by subscribing to the  WorldWCR YouTube channel and follow the Championship on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Facebook.