Royal Enfield Announces BTR Road Racing, Flat Track Programs

Road Race

The field is set for the 2022 Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race. (BTR) season, and as promised, the new program is the largest yet. The BTR Road Race roster doubles in size from the previous season, with 15 women on the grid, and the Royal Enfield exhibition is set to visit six MotoAmerica venues in 2022. Professional road racer and crew chief Melissa Paris also returns to Royal Enfield BTR as the mentor to the women through each phase of the program.

“The excruciating process of selecting the participants from hundreds of applicants is now over, and we have our BTR Road Race field in place,” said Breeann Poland, marketing and communications lead, Royal Enfield Americas. “We are excited to welcome back four women from previous seasons — plus one making the switch from flat track — along with 10 new faces. Royal Enfield, MotoAmerica and all the BTR sponsors are looking forward to sharing the stories, personalities and progress of these amazing women from different backgrounds and experience levels as they go through the season.”

Each of the 15 participants receives a Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 motorcycle that they will spend the next three months (the “Build” phase of the program) designing and building. Melissa Paris will work with each rider to create a design and build her race bike before beginning training.

The Riders

Kayla Thiesler, Michaela Trumbull, Alyssa Bridges, Trisha Dahl and Bridgette LeBer make their return to the Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race. program, with LeBer crossing over from the flat track side and returning to her road racing roots. They will be joined by 10 new women joining the program, which was opened up to racers of all experience levels for 2022, rather than focusing on new riders. Find bios on all 15 women coming soon at the Build. Train. Race. website.

2022 BTR Road Racing Roster

Kayla Thiesler, 26, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Michaela Trumbull, 29, Sheridan, Wyoming
Alyssa Bridges, 31, Orange County, California
Trisha Dahl, 31, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Bridgette LeBer, 29, Port Angeles, Washington
Ash Truxal, 31, Oakland, California
Chloe Peterson, 31, Steger, Illinois
Cora Tennyson, 36, Brandenburg, Kentucky
Crystal Looy, 34, Thousand Oaks, California
Hannah Stockton, 23, Kansas City, Missouri
Jenny Chancellor, 46, Tumwater, Washington
Jessica Martin, 38, Savannah, Georgia
Kayleigh Buyck, 30, Sodus, New York
Nicole Pareso, 34, Carrolton, Ohio
Patty Paul, 57, Berrien Springs, Michigan

“Holy smokes, I get to do this again!” exclaimed returning BTR Road Race rider Alyssa Bridges of Dana Point, California. “This program has changed so many things in my life, and I can’t believe we get to do it again. I’m honored to be asked to return for a second season. This time last year, I had never modified a motorcycle to such a great extent and never set foot on a racetrack. I’m sure this year will be different from last, but I’m so grateful to be asked to join again.”

“This whole experience is a dream come true,” said BTR Road Racing newcomer Kayleigh Buyck of Marion, New York. “I never would have thought I would be chosen to be a part of something so inspiring and motivational. I only hope this encourages many more women to chase their dreams and help the sport grow!”

The Sponsors

Along with a number of riders, many sponsors are back for the 2022 Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race. program. The Road Racing program sees the return of S&S Cycle, Maxima Racing Oils, BOXO USA and Öhlins USA Suspension while new sponsors Arai Helmets and AGV come on board for the 2022 season.

The BTR Road Racing women will each build out their own unique sponsor decks that can extend to include a different number of sponsors and/or parts. Stay connected for more information on each race bike throughout the Build phase of the program at https://buildtrainrace.com/road-racing/.

“It means the world to us to have such generous support from these great companies,” said Poland. “Being able to send the Royal Enfield BTR women out onto the track with premium parts, support and protection is everything. Huge thanks to everyone who is behind our 2022 BTR Road Racing program. We can’t wait to see it all come together this season.”

The Schedule

Up from the previous year’s schedule of three rounds, BTR Road Racing is slated to run six rounds within the MotoAmerica FIM North American Road Race Championship for the 2022 season. Along with a return to Brainerd, Pitt Race and Barber Motorsports Park, BTR has added VIR, Road America and New Jersey to the 2022 schedule.

“The Royal Enfield BUILD. TRAIN. RACE. racers and crew were a pleasure to have in our paddock last year,” said MotoAmerica Communications Manager Paul Carruthers. “The series was embraced by our fans, the rest of the paddock and the industry. We’re excited to welcome them back this year for twice as many rounds, and with even more racers.”

2022 Royal Enfield BTR Road Racing Schedule

May 20-22 (Round 1) Virginia Int’l Raceway, Alton, Virginia
June 3-5 (Round 2) Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin
July 29-31 (Round 3) Brainerd Int’l Raceway, Brainerd, Minnesota
Aug. 19-21 (Round 4) Pittsburgh Int’l Race Complex, Wampum, Pennsylvania
Sept. 9-11 (Round 5) New Jersey Motorsports Park, Millville, New Jersey
Sept. 23-25 (Round 6) Barber Motorsports Park, Birmingham, Alabama

Flat Track

Now in its third year, Royal Enfield’s groundbreaking Build. Train. Race. program, which fosters a class of women riders in building their own unique Royal Enfield race-ready motorcycles and provides guidance and training throughout an entire race season, returns for the 2022 American Flat Track season. With a field of 15 riders and a total of seven rounds in the upcoming season, Royal Enfield BTR will have a larger presence than ever in the classic American motorcycle racing circuit.

“Following our success of the last two seasons with the Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race. program, it only made sense to go even bigger for 2022,” said Poland. “We continue to be overwhelmed by the support and enthusiasm from fans, sponsors and the entire American Flat Track paddock, and we’re so excited to have an even larger presence this season. We have an incredible group of women and a full race schedule ahead — this is going to be a big year for Royal Enfield at American Flat Track.”

Build. Train. Race. participants each receive a Royal Enfield INT 650 motorcycle which they design and modify into their own unique race bikes. This twin-cylinder classic-style motorcycle is an ideal platform for flat track racing. Crew Chief Erik Moldenhauer will work with the women, providing technical advice and support throughout the build and race portions of the program while Moto Anatomy X Royal Enfield racer Johnny Lewis will help provide on-track training.

The Riders

Seven returning riders will be joined by eight new participants, growing the Royal Enfield BTR presence in the American Flat Track paddock to 15 racers over last season’s nine. Jillian Deschenes and Jaycee Jones return and will likely continue their battle for dominance. Lana Macnaughton, Gabrielle Hughes, Nean Kiskela, Malary Lee and Erin Ferris are also back and hungry for more in 2022.

2022 BTR Flat Track Roster

Jaycee Jones, 23, Fallbrook, California
Lana Macnaughton, 32, Nampa, Idaho
Gabrielle Hughes, 24, Akron, Ohio
Nean Kiskela, 41, Portland, Oregon
Jillian Deschenes, 33, Otsego, Minnesota
Malary Lee, 31, Buda, Texas
Erin Ferris, 31, Graham, Washington
Anna Serena, 36, Miami Beach, Florida
Stephanie Pietz, 35, Mesa, Arizona
Kaiela Hobart, 28, Bremerton, Washington
Zaria Martens, 18, Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin
Alex Bumpus Mcdonald, 33, Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Makenna Hiatt, 22, Camano Island, Washington
Moriah Hummer, 35, Fort Collins, Colorado
Mia Reese, 28, Woodstock, Illinois

“I learned so much through the program that I apply to my daily life on and off the track,” said returning rider Jaycee Jones of Fallbrook, California. “I am beyond excited to be on the team again. It’s going to be a good year making new friendships and having more competition.”

“I can’t explain how stoked I am to be part of the Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race. team this year,” said newcomer Zaria Martens of Germantown, Wisconsin. “The BTR program is such an amazing opportunity for women racers. I’m so glad that I am able to be on the team this season.”

Find more information coming soon on the 2022 BTR Flat Track Racing line up.

The Sponsors

Royal Enfield is thrilled to welcome back a generous host of sponsors for BTR Flat Track. Returning to the team are S&S Cycle, Maxima Racing Oils, BOXO USA and Öhlins USA Suspension while new sponsors Arai Helmets and AGV come on board for the 2022 season.

“The support of these outstanding sponsors is key to the success of Royal Enfield BTR,” said Poland. “We couldn’t do it without them. Sending the Royal Enfield BTR women out onto the track with the confidence of premium parts, support and protection means the world to us. Our continued thanks to everyone backing our 2022 BTR Flat Track program.”

The Schedule

Along with the team roster, the BTR Flat Track schedule increases in scope as well. On the heels of last season’s four-round circuit, the BTR program will visit seven American Flat Track venues in 2022. Racing will begin at the Volusia Half-Mile in Barberville, Florida, March 10 for “BTR Select,” which will invite returning riders and new participants who have their builds complete to compete in an exhibition race. The first BTR Flat Track full-grid event will be the I-70 Half-Mile in Odessa, Missouri, (April 23), after the entire field has completed its race bikes and training.