TogetHER — The Women Behind Every Race: Reflecting on Misano's First Edition
On September 10th, Misano World Circuit hosted the first edition of "TogetHER — Women Behind Every Race," a new initiative born from a simple but powerful idea: the women who make motorsport run are rarely the ones standing in the spotlight.
Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli promoted the project in collaboration with the FIM Women's Commission and the FMI (Italian Motorcycle Federation), and it took place during San Marino Grand Prix week. Female students from secondary schools, universities, and master's programs were selected to spend the day inside the paddock, meeting the professionals whose expertise keeps a MotoGP weekend running: engineers, mechanics, logistics coordinators, media executives, and team managers.
We spoke with Biancamaria Calderoni, Head of Sporting Office at Misano World Circuit, who was instrumental in bringing TogetHER to life.
Calderoni told us the spark came from an unexpected place: an article about Cristina Toteri, a welder at Aprilia Racing who works on MotoGP chassis.
"This stimulated a reflection on how many women work behind the scenes in the motorcycle world, and often they don't appear," she tells Females in Motorsport.
That reflection led her to Antonella Martometti at FMI, who connected her with the FIM Women's Commission's Janika Judeika and Marina Bermudez. The idea took shape during the WSBK Championship weekend in Misano this past June, and from that first meeting, TogetHER was born.
The day itself unfolded in three parts. "Prologue," held at 11am at the Square Lounge, opened with welcomes from Misano World Circuit Managing Director Andrea Albani and FMI President Giovanni Copioli, followed by testimonials from figures including FIM Women's Commission Director Janika Judeika, FMI General Secretary Giorgia Santini, and Cristina Toteri herself, the Aprilia Racing welder whose story started it all.
At 2pm, "Stories" moved into the paddock, giving participants direct access to women working across MotoGP: press managers, media facilities executives, and team coordinators from Ducati Corse, Aprilia Racing, IntactGP, and Gresini Racing. The day closed with "Final Lap" at 5pm, a pit lane walk through team garages, a final group photo, and closing remarks.
Calderoni says the students' response confirmed everything the project set out to do.
"The girls greatly appreciated both the meeting with the female role models and the visit to their workplaces," she said.
"The experience in the MotoGP paddock was deeply inspiring for them."
Meeting professionals across engineering, mechanics, logistics, and media gave the students a comprehensive view of what a career in motorcycling can look like beyond the racetrack.
One moment stood out to Calderoni above the rest. On the morning of the event, the students introduced themselves one by one, sharing their studies and their dreams.
"I truly realized that our project perfectly met their needs," she said. Even earlier, during the selection process, she noted how many applicants expressed a genuine, deeply held passion for motorcycling, particularly in mechanical and engineering fields, often in just a few words on their application forms.
FIM Women's Commission Director Janika Judeika framed the project's purpose simply: "Sometimes all it takes to change a young woman's future is to open one door and let her see what is possible. With TogetHER, we want young women not only to dream about being part of motorcycling, but to step inside the paddock, meet the women already shaping our industry, and realize: there is a place here for me too."
FMI Secretary General Giorgia Santini echoed that sentiment, describing the initiative as a way to "bridge the gap between education and the professional world," and to build a future in motorcycling that is "increasingly inclusive, skilled, and open to talent, regardless of gender."
For Calderoni, September 10th was never meant to be a single day.
"TogetHER would like to be an initiative that goes beyond a single event," she told us.
The project's long-term vision includes school tutoring, educational programs, and a future dedicated Career Hub, aiming to build a permanent bridge between young women and careers across every part of the motorcycle industry, from STEM to management, communication, and logistics.
If Edition 1.0 is any indication, that bridge already has its first crossing. As Calderoni put it: "We are not just sharing stories; we are opening doors and creating real pathways for the future of motorcycle."
Photo Credits Fabrizio Petrangeli
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