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Iranian woman chasing her racing dream

posted by Pretty Tough | Girls Who Are Fun Fierce & Feminine
Monday, September 27, 2010 at 10:31am CDT

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Noora Naraghi recently traveled 1500 miles from Iran all the way to Tallahassee, Florida to learn motocross from Stefy Bau, former two-time women world motocross champion and owner of 211 MX school, the elite world wide motocross academy for women.

Naraghi already made news world-wide when she decided to go against her country laws and create the first ever women motocross championship in Iran. The race was held last year at the club that Naraghi and her family own, and despite the skepticism from most people, it was an incredible success. Eight female participants (one of them being Noora’s mom) competed in a five lap race and opened the eyes of all Iranians present. The racers were covered from head to toe, as per Iranian law, but that didn’t discourage them from giving it their best.

Naraghi says: “we have to wear our “hejab” everyday so it was no different for us, just another day.” She wants to be a motocross racer, and was granted permission by her husband to travel to the US and train from one of the world best.

Instructor Stefy Bau, an Italian woman that moved to the U.S. 10 years ago to follow her dream, is currently training with Naraghi. Bau conquered American and World titles in the sport and she laid the groundwork for other women in this sport. Bau had a career ending injury in 2005 but she was able to turn things around and became general manager of the Women World Motocross Championship mentoring younger girls. Bau also founded the 211 MX school, and has been training women world-wide since. Stefy is part of the Women Commission inside the FIM for
Motorcycle world wide.

Stefy: “I’m very happy to be able to train Noora and share my
knowledge with her. She is a determined person and wants to make changesin the world. She reminds me of a young me. I feel lucky to have mether.”

Together, Naraghi and Bau are changing the sport of motocross one lap at a time. Motocross teaches participants to never give up, and these inspiring women are fighting for their dreams and demonstrating this principle day in and day out.

To contact either Stefy or Noora, you can go to www.211mxschool.com or
email 211mxschool@gmail.com