Five and a half questions with Royal Enfield BTR 2023 champ Mikayla Moore

If you're not familiar with the BUILD TRAIN RACE program, see Jen Dunstan's story from two years ago. The program invites a select group of women to build their own race bike from a Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 and then race it as a support class at MotoAmerica rounds, with mentoring in all three aspects of building, training, and racing at each step along the way. Royal Enfield also has an identical program in flat-track racing. It should be no surprise that Moore won the roadracing title in all-conquering fashion. If you drew up the perfect resume for a BTR competitor, it would look a lot like Mikayla Moore's profile.

The 19-year-old Maryland resident works in her father's motorcycle shop, so the build part wasn't new to her. And she's been club racing and working with the track-day organization Evolve GT, so while most past BTR participants had no racing experience, Moore did. Of course the real goal of the BTR program is not just to run and win some races, but also to inspire other women to get involved in motorcycling, and Moore is well qualified to do that, too.

Common Tread: How did you get into the BTR program? I understand that 2022 champion Kayleigh Buyck was involved.

Mikayla Moore: In 2021 I got an e-mail to see if I had interest in doing the flat-track program for the 2021 season. I didn't get the information back in time as far as the schedule and logistics. In 2022, I took a whole year off racing and then I checked back in on the program and saw that Kayleigh was a part of it, which was cool. There's two other ladies I know in the program. I said, 'Why not just try for it? The worst they can say is no.' And then Kayleigh actually recommended me to come to the program because she knew that with my experience in all this that I would be able to help show some of the other ladies how fast these Royal Enfields can go.

CT: Did you imagine you'd come in and win every race?

MM: Going into this program, I thought I would struggle a little bit because I'm not able to adapt quickly to bikes, so I'm really actually surprised. After the first round, I was able to get quickly adapted to it. Then also we have a great team, so everyone kept each other positive.

CT: Even the director of the BTR program says these aren't race bikes. So how did they differ from the bikes you've raced and ridden before and how have you had to change your riding style?

MM: I actually have a (Kawasaki) Ninja 400. That's what I mainly ride. I also have a ZX-6R, but I don't have as much time on the 600 as I do on my 400. I train a lot on my 400 because in my opinion it's similar to the Royal Enfield. The characteristics are different in some ways but in others they're pretty similar. On the 400, I find myself driving more into the corners and I have a little more acceleration and pickup on the Royal Enfield. I do see that on my Royal Enfield I don't lean off as much as I do on my 400, but I still get the bike turned how I need to. My riding style maybe changed a little bit.

CT: Since the BTR program is invitation only and it seems riders are limited to two years, you may be asked to come back next year, but it's uncertain. What are your future goals and plans?

MM: My other goal, even if I didn't come back next year, is if I could come back as a mentor or even as a mechanic. I love being hands-on with bikes. But then also I've been watching the other classes, Junior Cup and even the Hooligan class. So my main goal is just to stay ready for whatever opportunities come my way, so when the opportunity does come I'm able to capitalize on it.

CT: Obviously, like every other young racer, you've had great support from your family, and I understand you also gained by racing against your brother.

MM: Me and him we battled a lot and now he's real big into aviation endeavors.

CT: So does that mean you're now the fastest in your family?

MM: I think I may be, because actually I have an AMA championship.

CT: Indeed, she does.