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Janika Judeika’s role as Director of the FIM Women’s Commission is a vital one, and her particular experiences as a competitor and in her organisational formation have steeped her in the world of sport, uniquely preparing her for this role. She had a hand in the creation of the FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship, and while she sees that as a badge of honour, to her, the most significant achievement one can strive for, even for someone in her high position, is to be able to help and encourage others to achieve what even they might not believe they are capable of.

LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT: “I had the chance to attend an MX World Cup round where my friend was competing, and I fell in love with the paddock”

Born to a family of educators in Latvia, Judeika broke the mould and set her own path as a winter sports athlete, unknowingly showing an affinity for high-angle corners and a need for speed as she competed in both skeleton and bobsled. She went on to study in Riga, Latvia, at the RSU Latvian Academy of Sports Pedagogy, where she first experienced the thrill of motorsport while attending an MX World Cup round where her friend was competing. That experience sparked a burning interest in the sport.

On her first contact with motorsport and the feeling it sparked within her, Judeika said: “While studying at sports university, I had the chance to attend an MX World Cup round where my friend was competing, and I fell in love with the paddock. I just knew I wanted to be part of it. I gradually got more involved, volunteering to serve as secretary of the motocross commission, and then, step by step, I collaborated at the European level and with the FIM. It’s been 18 years already! It’s funny, because I never had a plan. All I knew is that I didn’t want to be a teacher, because I came from a family of teachers. Fortunately, I had a fantastic professor at university who led a module in sports governance, and thanks to her I just fell in love with the subject. I also had coaching certifications, but I realised my passion is more about the governance, the administration, this is what challenges me and drives me.”

FIGHTING FOR HER VOICE TO BE HEARD: “In the very beginning, I found my every statement or comment was being second-guessed”

As she developed her resume first as secretary of the motocross commission, then up to the European level, and on to working with the FIM, she faced challenges throughout; among them, making her voice heard and respected by her male counterparts. While she felt her opinions were often met with scepticism, she resolved within herself that this was the job for her and that she would persist to prove herself.

On her experiences as a young female member of the commission, Judeika said: “At first, as a young member of a commission, it was already a huge challenge to be accepted. The FIM Motocross Commission was a group of about 30, nearly all men, just two women. The biggest challenge for me initially had to do with decision-making. Sometimes my duties were to go and inspect the tracks before the World Championships and in the very beginning, I found that my every statement or comment was being second-guessed. I felt somehow that had my male colleague said the same thing, it would have been immediately accepted as fact, but coming from me, it was kind of like, are you sure? I accepted this though, and told myself, “OK, I want to be here, and I will prove myself”. And it soon stopped. As soon as you demonstrate your knowledge and prove that you’re not there to fill a quota but because of your expertise, experience, and knowledge, then it’s fine.”

TAKING ON CHALLENGES TOGETHER: “If you have the right people standing next to you who support what you do, then anything’s possible”

Judeika’s early introduction to motocross didn’t just spark a love for the world of motorsport, but also a love much more personal, as she met her husband, a former motocross rider. The husband and wife got married, and have since given birth to a son and a daughter, yet the commitment of the pair to supporting one another allowed Judeika to maintain the career she loves

On becoming a mother, and how she has managed to maintain her successful career with her two kids, Judeika said: “I met my husband, who was also a motocross racer back in the day, and inevitably we got pregnant. I immediately questioned how I would manage things; I had no idea. Fortunately, my husband was super supportive, and my mum too. I remember receiving a request to assist with a project and telling them that I couldn’t help because I’d just given birth a month earlier. But my husband reassured me that between the two of us, we could manage. I realised he was right. And that was the answer. If you have the right people standing next to you who support what you do, then anything’s possible; you just need to plan everything properly. So, I schedule my appointments each year before the season starts, for example. There is not one recipe for making your situation work, but in this world, your job needs to be your passion. My son is nine, my daughter five. They know what mum is doing and have come with me to events. My eldest child already understands when he can be there, when he can't, and knows that if I can bring him along, I will. He doesn’t ride bikes. He thinks he can only race bikes once he’s as old as his daddy, and I haven’t corrected him for now!”

FIGHTING FOR REPRESENTATION: “The FIM has existed for 120 years, but women only started being involved in motorcycling in the late 20th century”

Judeika’s position as Director of the FIM Women’s Commission puts her at the head of advocacy for women in motorcycle racing, as he and her colleagues work with national bodies to promote the status of women in the sport as a whole. Their work focuses on advocating for diversity, inclusion, and equity for women not just as athletes but also in sports governance.

On the work her and her Commission are undertaking, Judieka said: “The Women's Commission advocates for women in our sport. We liaise with governing bodies such as the National Federations and Commissions and work to promote diversity, inclusion, equality, and equity for women competing in motorsport, as well as for women in sports governance and leadership roles. The FIM has existed for 120 years, but women only started being involved in motorcycling in the late 20th century. We are moving forward though perhaps not as quickly as we would all like. We work to encourage national federations to nominate more women to leadership positions, and we also cooperate closely with our sporting commissions, because ultimately the goal is that this commission cease to exist as a separate body and just be part of the other existing commissions, which would truly demonstrate that inclusion exists.

Speaking specifically about WorldWCR, Judeika continued: "WorldWCR is a real milestone, and the outcome has been brilliant, exceeding all expectations." Especially on the media side, where I think there was some initial scepticism. Every race has brought a battle to the line - the final race of the 2024 season still gives me goosebumps! I think this already proves it was the right time. There’s finally a place for these women riders to compete together, same race, same equipment, same track. Moving forward, we need to ensure that riders coming to WorldWCR are really ready to take part in this championship rather than another series to which they might be better suited. This is the challenging part. To do it, we need to work actively with the National Federations. We already have a European Championship, which serves as a stepping stone to the World Championship, and there are competitions in Latin America, Asia, and Oceania. Still, we need to ensure that each championship is of equal quality and of a similar standard.”

WorldWCR returns in Spring 2026. Keep up with the Championship by watching on the WorldWCR YouTube channel and follow the Championship on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Facebook.