Out of the Blue | Peyton Belisle | Brought to You by Schrader’s

Out of the Blue | Peyton Belisle | Brought to You by Schrader’s

By Jensen Amyotte

Name: Peyton Belisle

Date of Birth: September 3rd, 2006

Hometown: Smithers, BC

Occupation: Ski/snowboard tech and snowboard coach

Race Number: My race number for the 2024 season was 10 but I’m changing it to 93 for the 2025 season.

Bike: Honda CRF 250R

Race Club: Cycle North

Classes: Ladies, Open Jr, and 250 Jr

When not on a dirt bike how do you keep yourself busy? Are you involved in any other sports or extracurricular activities?

I love to snowboard. It’s the next best thing to dirt biking. I also try to get out on the snow bike a few times a year.

As a racer, are there any obstacles you feel a female racer has to deal with that maybe a male racer does not?

I feel that women do face a lot of challenges the male racers do not have to deal with in motocross. The first challenge I think female riders experience is stereotypes. I find that female riders feel the need to prove themselves more because women are perceived as “too weak” or “not tough enough.” I also find that there is a lack of representation of females in motocross, so it makes it harder for young girls to envision themselves in the sport.

An obvious challenge I think females have to face is the physical aspect of the sport. Women’s anatomy is simply just different than a man’s, so we have to work twice as hard to keep up with physical strength to be able to manoeuvre a bike.

The last thing that I think is harder for women is that we are very safe and cautious. In a situation where a male might just send a jump, it might take females way longer to work their way up. Despite all these challenges I don’t think it should discredit women in the sport and it just shows how hard women work.

Who is your all-time favourite rider and why?

My all-time favourite rider is Eli Tomac. I’ve always loved watching how he rides and the way he handles himself in interviews and as a person.

What is your favourite track and why?

My all-time favourite track is Perris Raceway in California. I love the jumps and it always forms really fun ruts. I also really enjoy Whispering Pines in Kamloops, BC. The facility is always great and the track is just a lot of fun. Lastly, Motopark in Ontario will always hold a special place in my heart.

Do you have any pre-race rituals?

Before each gate drop I look each way down the line and hit my helmet twice with my left hand. I also write on a piece of tape “confidence, trust yourself” and put that on my handle bars.

What are your plans for this upcoming season? Any specific events you’re looking forward to?

My plans for the 2025 season are to hopefully race the west WMX Triple Crown Series. I would also love to go across to the east and follow the whole series, but that will probably be an in the moment decision. 

What are your biggest accomplishments to date?

My biggest accomplishments so far are probably getting 10th in the west WMX Triple Crown Series and overcoming breaking both my ankles after overshooting a jump. Also, just seeing how far I’ve gotten in the sport, I used to watch some of the ladies race and I’d be in awe and now I’m actually lining up with them.

What is the biggest lesson that racing has taught you so far?

The biggest lesson that motocross has taught me is resilience. There are so many things in motocross that can “go wrong” and it is very important on how you react. It would be so easy to walk away from motocross when it gets hard but after a few years motocross has really taught me how to get up and try again whether it’s a jump I’m struggling with, I’m not getting the results I want, or injuries. Motocross has also taught me the importance of hard work, what you put into something is what you get out of it.

If you could give 1 piece of advice to a female of any age who wants to start riding what would it be?

Something that I think is very important when getting into motocross is community. You want to find your people at the track and surround yourself with people who are going to support you and help you excel in the sport. You also want to have a community back home that supports you, even if they don’t do motocross it makes it much easier when you have friends who understand the sacrifices you make and the importance of what the sport means to you.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Well, I want to race for as long as I can. And then eventually I really want to get into dirt bike coaching or personal training in the gym. I’ve already started doing a bit of coaching with the tykes at the Future West Moto provincial races, and I definitely want to take that further.

Who would you like to thank? 

I would like to thank my mum and dad, Kourtney Lloyd, Cycle North, Mike from Holeshot, Eye Candy Custom Cycles, Honda Canada, Fox Canada, Ryno Power, M7 Designs, and Fitness North West. Thank you all for making this possible!!