HER STORY: meet Chun Mei Liu – "Most fans of motorcycle racing in Taiwan have got to know how racing works because of me"
Chun Mei Liu was the oldest rider on the inaugural WorldWCR grid and made her experience count as she consistently battled for the top ten
Chun Mei Liu (WT Racing Team Taiwan) was a consistent performer in the inaugural FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship as she fought for the top-ten positions, securing a best of seventh in the opening race of the season. She’s had a different journey to racing on the world stage, starting out relatively late compared to some of her rivals but has helped grow the sport back in her native country.
FROM NEW TAIPEI CITY TO MISANO AND BEYOND: her journey to WorldWCR
Chun Mei Liu proudly represents Taiwan in the WorldWCR’s historical first season and she’s an inspirational figure for many young riders from her country and region. The 42-year-old from New Taipei City is an experienced rider and is also a trained motorcycle mechanic and technician, who is comfortable working on her own bikes. The WT Racing Team Taiwan rider confesses to loving all kinds of motorcycles and it is now on the Yamaha YZF-R7 that she is enjoying racing with the fastest women on the planet in 2024.
HOW IT STARTED: on a bike at 17, playing other sports
Liu describes her initial forays into the world of motorcycling, commenting: “I first started riding when I was 17 years old and the Yamaha Cygnus was my first bike. I immediately felt excited and thought about being able to ride long distances.” She continues: “I also played basketball, tennis and badminton when I was younger, but it was motorcycles that I was most into. This has always been my passion and something that's in my blood. Compared to other sports, motorcycle racing is the only one I can be truly focused in and concentrate on.”
RECENT RACING ACTIVITY: strong performances in Asia
Over the last five seasons between 2019 and 2023 Liu has ridden in the Asia Road Racing Championship building up her experience in China and Japan, racing against male competitors. She also competed in the 2021 Taiwan Motorcycle Road Race Championship and the 2022 Taiwan Superbike Series, enjoying great success along the way. She started competing on 50cc and 125cc bikes, making her way onto more powerful machinery as her experience increased, riding on bikes such as the Yamaha R3 and Kawasaki 250cc.
INCREASING THE SPORT’S POPULARITY IN TAIWAN: limited race tracks, finding fans
Liu explains the local racing scene in her home nation saying: “We don’t have so many tracks for racing like in Europe. Even compared to China or Japan, we’ve only got three or four motorcycle tracks. It’s still hard for people here, the fans, to get into contact with motorcycle races. I feel like I’ve made a good contribution to motorcycle racing in Taiwan, because I was really the only one to go overseas for so many races and represent Taiwan. So now my fans and most fans of motorcycle racing in Taiwan have got to know how racing works because of me.”
She continues to describe how more Taiwanese riders are themselves becoming more interested in racing due to the increased presence of more powerful bikes on the road in the East Asian country. “Motorcycles are a very frequently used mode of transport in Taiwan, not everyone has a car, but most people have a motorcycle, like a 50cc or 125cc, both men and women,” she explains. “Now interest in the sport is increasing because more people are intrigued and there are more heavier bikes around. In the past the bigger capacity bikes were more restricted, but now more people are riding bikes of 500cc or more, so it’s developing.”
A DEDICATED MOTORCYLIST: day trips on motorbikes
When it comes to her riding habits away from the racetrack, Liu admits: “I’ll ride every type of bike I can get my hands on! I mostly ride around Taiwan because it’s a small island and it’s easy to get around. Usually, I take four to five days trips, just riding around. I go onto mountain roads and explore as well as riding on the expressways, all kinds of roads. I hope to ride more on the roads and explore in Europe too, but for now I’m too busy with racing and work.”
CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE: praise for her manager
Acknowledging the role her biggest motorcycling influence has had on her career, Liu reveals: “My manager and coach is really the person who has taught me most in racing. Every time I make a mistake in training, he doesn’t go easy on me! That’s one of the reasons why I’ve developed in the sport. He has made me one of the best riders in Taiwan. In fact, he is my manager, my coach and my mechanic! We’ve been working together for 23 years.”
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