Kayla Yaakov is 19, making history and could be a star in motorsports

On March 5, at Daytona International Speedway, motorcycle enthusiasts witnessed a historic event. An 18-year-old girl named Kayla Yaakov, wearing strawberry blonde hair, displayed incredible skill and determination, ultimately securing third place and making history as the first woman ever to finish on the podium at the Daytona 200.

This remarkable achievement catapulted her into the spotlight of motorsports. Since then, Yaakov has proven she's more than just a one-hit wonder, sitting in third place in the Supersport division of MotoAmerica with nine podium finishes. At 19, she remains focused on her dreams, stating, "I think it s pretty awesome. I m in a position that I ve wanted to be in for years."

Her journey to this moment began at a young age, with her father David racing cars and bikes. By three years old, Yaakov was already in go-karts, and by four, she was on motorcycles. She eventually moved on to motocross and found her true passion in road-racing, becoming the youngest American to race full-sized road racing motorcycles at age nine, winning against adults.

At 12, she had amassed 47 regional championships and nearly 400 victories. In 2023, she signed with Rahal Ducati Moto to race in the MotoAmerica Supersport class. Her performance at Daytona, overcoming mechanical issues to secure her historic podium finish, sets the tone for an exciting future in motorsports.