Australian riders Tayla Street and Ruby Chapman have delivered outstanding performances on the world stage, finishing fourth and second respectively in the 2026 FIM Women’s Speedway events in Croatia. Press: Motorcycling Australia

 

Competing against the world’s best female riders on July 4, Street narrowly missed the podium in the inaugural FIM Women’s Speedway World Cup (WSWC), while Chapman claimed a superb runner-up finish in the FIM Women’s Speedway Gold Trophy (WSGT) for under-16 riders.

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The 2026 season marked a significant milestone for women’s speedway, with the former Gold Trophy elevated by the FIM to full Women’s Speedway World Cup status for the first time.

Street announced herself as a genuine title contender by winning two heat races before progressing to the World Cup final. Although she couldn’t match the pace of eventual winner Hannah Grunwald, fellow German Celina Liebmann and Slovakia’s Anna Hajkova in the deciding race, fourth place represented an improvement on her sixth-place finish in last year’s event.

“I didn’t quite have the speed in the final, but after only 14 months on a 500cc laydown solo, to finish fourth in the world is something I’m pretty bloody proud of,” Street said.

Chapman also enjoyed an outstanding campaign in the revamped Gold Trophy, finishing second overall behind unbeaten British rider Demi Blu Harris to continue Australia’s strong record in junior women’s speedway.

The two world championship events concluded a two-day FIM Women’s Speedway Academy, where riders from nine countries received coaching from an experienced panel that included former Speedway Grand Prix winner Matej Zagar, FIM Track Racing Commission Director Armando Castagna, FIM Speedway Race Director Phil Morris and FIM Long Track Race Director Glen Phillips.

The performances by Street and Chapman continue to highlight the growing strength of Australian women’s speedway on the international stage.

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