The third season of the FIM Women‘s Circuit Racing World Championship (WorldWCR) kicks off on March 27 in Portimao. Seven rookies are joining the grid this year as part of the 24-rider full-time line-up. We continue with our WorldWCR Special Series of riders‘ interviews. Today, we give you the story of Italian rider Arianna Barale.
All photos © Arianna Barale
Hailing from Borgo San Dalmazzo, Italy, Arianna Barale discovered her love for motorsport through her father. At just six years old, she began her own journey on two wheels. “My dad has always been a motorcycle enthusiast. Since I was little, he took me to see his races. When he had time, he made me do a few laps in the paddocks of the circuits on a minibike. From the beginning, I always wanted my passion for motorcycles to become a job.”
Arianna also ‘inherited’ her racing number 41 from her father. “My dad bought a motorcycle with the number 4. When he arrived at his first race, however, the number 4 was already taken. So he put the number 1 alongside the 4. Since that race, he always used that number, and then passed it to me.”
Though her goals have always been clear, Arianna’s path has been anything but easy. Like many families chasing a dream in motorsport, financial constraints have been a constant challenge. “The economic difficulties have never allowed me to train as I should have. I never had the opportunity to enrol in a motorcycle school, and I had to learn ‘on my own’. My father gave me advice on what I could improve, as far as he could. I’m proud of my path because everything I’ve done is the result of my efforts and my parents’ efforts. Despite all the difficulties, I have always given my best to become a professional rider.”
My idol has always been Valentino Rossi. His driving, his wickedness on the track have always enchanted me.
At the age of 13, Arianna made her debut in the CIV Pre-Moto3 category in 2020. However, that year did not go smoothly for her. “I suffered a serious accident at Mugello. I spent two months in the hospital, and I had to learn to walk again. It wasn’t easy to get back on the bike. I relied on a mental coach to recover 100%.”
In 2024, Arianna stepped up into the Women’s European Championship. A year later, she claimed her first victory at Misano and eventually finished the season in 3rd place overall. “My best memory is definitely the first race of 2025, where, despite many problems with the bike, I won my first European race. I felt a lot of emotions, only at that moment, you realise that all the sacrifices you made, paid off in the end.”
This year, Arianna joins the full-time line-up of WorldWCR, ready to race among the best in the world. “It certainly won’t be easy this season. I will race against the strongest girls in the world, but this doesn’t scare me. On the contrary, it gives me the desire to train as best as I can to arrive as prepared as possible. I will try to bring the Italian flag to the top, and my goal will be to finish the season in the top 10.”
Women in motorcycling have had to make their way in a predominantly male environment, often with reduced budgets. I feel proud to be part of this championship because I’ve dreamed of it since I was a child.
To prepare for the demanding season ahead, Arianna has moved to Spain to focus better on her training. “Thanks to my team, I had the opportunity to move to Spain. In this way, I can train together with my teammates. Obviously, it’s not easy to live away from my family, but I have a goal for this 2026, and I want to prepare my season in the best possible way. In the morning, I dedicate myself to studying online. In the afternoon, I train. I go to the gym, to the pool, running, or cycling. Of course, I also train on a motorcycle.”
With the WorldWCR coming up in two weeks, we wish Arianna all the best of luck this season and beyond!
The 2026 WorldWCR Calendar
Round 1 – 27th-29th March: Autodromo Internacional do Algarve, Portugal
Round 2 – 17th-19th April: TT Circuit Assen, Netherlands
Round 3 – 1st-3rd May: Balaton Park Circuit, Hungary
Round 4 – 12th-14th June: Misano World Circuit “Marco Simoncelli”, Italy
Round 5 – 10th-12th July: Donington Park, UK
Round 6 – 16th-18th October: Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto, Spain*
*Subject to contract
Paddock Sorority 
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