Stefy Bau

Stefy Bau (born February 17, 1977 in Milan, Italy) is an Italian former professional motocross and supercross racer. After a career-ending injury in 2005, Stefy became the General Manager of the newly established FIM Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme Women's World Motocross Championship.
Her national used to be number 211. 211 was the first number that AMA assigned her when she turned pro in the USA amongst the men in January 2000. Today 211 is synonymous of 211 MX School, 211 media, 211 Outreach and 211 Engaging, Bau's companies in the motorcycle industry. Bau now consults for companies and athletes that aim to make a mark in the Powersports industry. Bau is also a member of the CFM, Women Commission inside the FIM Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme

2005 was the best and yet the worst year for Bau's racing career. She was asked by the FIM to become the first woman to compete in a round of the FIM Motocross World Championship in the MX2 class. Bau's ability to be media friendly made this opportunity into an example of communication and women empowerment around the world. Featured on magazines as far away from her sport as Il Sole 24 ore. Bau made history once again in Castiglione del Lago, Italy competing for the Honda factory racing team. In October of that year, Bau had the accident that ended her racing career. She destroyed both of her ankles, risking the amputation of both legs.

2003 For the first time in the history of motocross racing [M2R helmets] honors Bau with a signature helmet sold worldwide. That year Bau became the first woman to enter a male motocross competition in Qatar.

2002 Bau conquered another WMA AMA Women Professional Motocross title and she made history by qualifying at the [Budd's Creek] round of the Men Outdoor National championship. In that same year Bau was asked to be featured in another PlayStation 2 videogame called Freekstyle by EA Sports Big.

2001 Bau suffered a wrist injury and was forced to keep her season short. She won the Women Loretta Lynn's championship, adding another prestigious title to her career. In this same year Bau traveled to Japan to become the first woman to compete in one round of the Men Professional championship there.

2000 Bau became the first woman in modern motocross to be granted the Professional license to compete against the men. Bau, abroad a Kawasaki Team Green, raced four supercross races Anaheim, San Diego, Anaheim and Daytona during the 1999 Supercross series. In the same year she also competed in the men Motocross Outdoor National Championship and in the Women Outdoor National Championship often racing both events in the same weekend.

1999 Bau dominated the 1999 WMA AMA Women National Motocross Championship by winning every round. 1999 was also the year that Bau was asked to be in her first videogame by EA Sport called Supercross 2000. In this same year Stefy wins the unofficial 125cc and 250cc Women World Motocross Championship held in [Colorado]. Racers from all over the world traveled to Colorado for a chance of being the best in the world and the Italian dominated.

1998 was a year the United States saw a reappearance of Bau. She competed in the unofficial Women's World Cup (in conjunction with the AMA National Outdoor Championship) held in Binghamton, New York. Bau triumphed in the competition but, results show she finished in 2nd place because of a technicality; "passing on a yellow flag".

1997 was a big year for Bau. In Italy she turned pro in motocross and rode for the team Yamaha Belgarda adding another FMI (Federazione Motociclistica Italiana) Italian Women's Motocross Championship under her belt.

Bau continued her dominating streak in Italy in 1996 by winning yet another FMI (Federazione Motociclistica Italiana) Italian Women's Motocross Championship, though this time it was different because in this year, Bau also raced downhill mountain bikes in the Downhill Mountain Bike Italian Championship with the factory team Olympia Downhill Mountain Bike. After a few races, the Italian Cycle Federation asked Bau to represent her own country during the Downhill Mountain Bike World Championship.

In 1996, Cagiva decided to build a prototype bike for Bau; an identical copy of David Strijbos's. That year, Bau dominated the circuit by winning every single race she had entered.

In 1995, Bau won the Campionato Italiano UISP Motocross Amatori, now known as UISP Trofeo Italia Motocross. In that same year, Bau simultaneously raced several races in the Italian Sport Production Championship on board an Aprilia 125 cc with Team Tino, conquering as high as few pole positions.

In 1992, Bau made her first imprint onto US soil by arriving at Perris Raceway in California to compete at the unofficial first ever Women's World Cup. Bau's goal was to beat 1992's "Fastest Women in the World", Mercedes Gonzalez and she conquered that goal. From that time on Bau and Gonzalez stayed in touch showing mutual respect in the still male dominated sport.

In 1991, at the age of 14, Bau began racing with bigger bikes 125cc. That year is the year Bau won her first FMI (Federazione Motociclistica Italiana) Italian Women's Motocross Championship. From then on, Bau won 7 of the 8 FMI Italian Women's Motocross Championships from 1991 to 1998.

Bau raced 80cc mini bikes up until 1990 finishing a staggering top 5 in every National Championship event she entered up until that point.

Bau started riding dirt bikes at 4 years of age. In 1983, only 6 years of age, she entered into her first race finishing an impressive 3rd place. She was the only little girl competing. After that first race, Bau began a winning streak that lasted her whole first year of racing career.

Bau currently resides in Tallahassee, Florida and Milan, Italy.

Honors

2008 requested as “motocross expert” to FIM bi-annual meetings
2005 Honorary PhD in science of communications following the participation at the male World Motocross championship event in Italy
2000-2004 Only woman to hold a male professional motocross license
2002 Women’s National Motocross Pro champion
2002 Character in Freekstyle videogame (Blockbuster hit)
2001 Awarded best World female extreme athlete at the NEA awards in Germany
1999 Women’s Motocross World Pro Champion
1999 Women’s National Motocross Pro Champion
1998 1991 seven time Women’s Italian Motocross Pro Champion

Firsts

2008 appointed Manager for the Women’s Motocross World championship
2005 First woman to participate at a male World Motocross event (Italy round)
2005 First woman motocrosser to be featured on Italian national economic magazines following the participation at the male World Motocross event
2005 First woman motocrosser to have extended features on the most prestigious Italian national sport newspaper, “La Gazzetta dello Sport”
2003 First woman invited to compete against pro motocross male racers in Qatar
2003 First woman professional female athlete to be featured on CNN Arabia
2002 First woman in motorsport to have a replica/signature helmet sold worldwide
2001 First woman invited to compete against pro motocross male racers in Japan
2000 First woman motocrosser to participate to a National TV show on USA channel about female extreme athletes
2000 First woman motocrosser to be invited to a TV talk show in Orange County, CA.
2000 First woman motocrosser to be featured in 2 PlayStation videogames (Supercross 2000 and Freekstyle)
1997 First woman to win a national amateur male motocross championship in Italy
1986 First girl to enter and win a children’s amateur National male motocross championship in Italy
1983 First girl to enter and win a children’s amateur regional male motocross championship in Italy

Public outreach/teaching

2008 Invited as a guest speaker “motocross expert” at the FIM congress, in Durban South Africa
2008 Founder of 211 international MX school
2007 Motocross coach
2007 Motocross schools in South America
2007 Founder of 211 Trips – the Ultimate experience for the motocross fan. www.211trips.com
2007 Invited guest to the Italian World Men Motocross championship round.
2006 volunteer for the Road to Recovery – company that helps injured riders.
2006 invited speaker to a chiropractic promotional dinner in Tallahassee
2000-2007 Motocross teacher reaching young girl that want to learn how to become a motocross athlete
2003-2005 Mentor for up and coming motocross female athletes – Ashley Fiolek
2001 Invited speaker to an elementary school in Philadelphia
2001-2002 Invited guest speaker at Toys for Thoughts motorcycle ride in Philadelphia
2000 Invited speaker to the National conference of Women on motorcycles
2000-2005 invited speaker to local news TV stations prior to racing weekend