Kayla Yaakov First Woman to Ride Ducati MotoGP Bike

Kayla Yaakov has been dreaming of riding a MotoGP bike since she was three years old, and at Ducati's centennial celebration in Italy, that dream roared to life.

The rising American motorcycle racer became the first woman ever to ride a Ducati MotoGP racing bike during an exclusive two-day experience at Italy's legendary Misano World Circuit. Yaakov took the controls of Marc Márquez's Ducati Desmosedici GP26, the exact machine competing in the current MotoGP World Championship.

The historic moment happened after World Ducati Week 2026, where thousands of Ducati enthusiasts gathered to celebrate the iconic Italian manufacturer's 100th anniversary. Yaakov joined Ducati riders, employees, and fans from around the globe for the world's largest gathering of Ducatisti, held every two years at the circuit nicknamed after MotoGP legend Marco Simoncelli.

During the exclusive MotoGP Experience, Yaakov received personal coaching from Casey Stoner, a two-time MotoGP World Champion, and Michele Pirro, Ducati's official MotoGP test rider. She also completed laps on Nicolò Bulega's WorldSBK-spec Ducati Panigale V4 R, giving her the rare opportunity to ride two of the most advanced racing motorcycles in the world on the same weekend.

"To have the opportunity to ride Marc Márquez's Desmosedici GP26 is something I'll remember for the rest of my life," Yaakov said. "It's something I've been wanting to do since I was three years old and I'm incredibly grateful to Ducati for making this experience possible."

Why This Inspires

Yaakov's achievement represents more than just a personal milestone. Already one of America's fastest young road-racing talents, she competes in the MotoAmerica Supersport Championship aboard her Ducati Panigale V2 for Rahal Ducati Moto, proving her skills on the track week after week.

Her invitation to the MotoGP Experience reflects Ducati's commitment to developing riders and creating opportunities that celebrate success at every level of racing. The program, hosted by the Ducati Lenovo Team and DRE Academy, typically offers a small group of clients the chance to experience championship-winning technology alongside factory engineers and instructors.

For young racers everywhere, especially women breaking into the male-dominated sport, Yaakov's journey from three-year-old dreamer to MotoGP history-maker shows that barriers are meant to be broken.

Yaakov continues her 2026 season this weekend at California's famed Laguna Seca raceway, carrying momentum from Italy back to American soil.