CALISTOGA, Calif. (Oct. 1, 2011) - As you look out at the field at tonight’s Calistoga Half Mile, you will see a full contingent of the world’s best flat track competitors. While most are young men, upon a closer look, you will find that three of these AMA Pro riders are young women.

Competing in the AMA Pro Grand National Championship Expert Twins class is 24 year old Nichole Cheza. Hailing from Clio, Mich., Cheza joined the ranks of pro racers in 2004 and has more than earned the respect of her fellow racers. Currently ranked in 24th, she is determined to someday be the first female Grand National champion.

Her greatest honor to date was being named the 2003 AMA Female Athlete of the Year. “That was really incredible,” she says with a smile. “My goals are to get into the top ten in the next two years, then inside the top 5 and finally win the championship. Hopefully, I will be able to accomplish that within the next few years.”

When not at the track, Cheza enjoys lifting weights, gymnastics, playing with little kids, hanging out with her friends and snowboarding.

With her sportswomen and businesslike manner both off and on the track, Cheza is definitely an excellent ambassador for women in motorsports.

Competing in AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com Pro Singles class is the 2006 AMA Female Athlete of the Year…Shayna Texter.

Hailing from Willow Street, Pa., this young lady recently earned the distinction of being the first female to win an AMA Pro Singles Grand National when she took top honors at Iowa’s Knoxville Speedway. In fact, she wrenched, finance and rode her way to a come from behind victory.

Texter actually comes from a racing family. Her grandfather and her father Randy, who both passed away last year, raced and her brother Cory also races. Her desire to compete actually began back in 2003 when she watched her brother race. After being a spectator for the first half of the season, she decided she wanted to give it a try. And from the beginning, it was obvious she was hooked.

A definite hard charger, Texter notched numerous amateur races before turning Pro in 2008. Currently ranked in ninth place in the AMA Pro Singles Points battle, she has more than proven her ability on two-wheels. Her love of the sport is obvious and there is no doubt that she will go a long way in the world of two wheels.

Trying her luck in AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com Pro-Singles class at Calistoga is road racing standout Elena Myers.

The first woman in AMA history to win a road race, Myers took top honors at Infineon Raceway in 2010.

A native of Discovery Bay, Calif., Myers, who races in AMA Pro Road Racing Motorcycle-Superstore.com SuperSport class, began riding at age eight, with the help and encouragement of her parents. She started with pocketbike racing,[ then progressed to mini bikes, then to Supermoto.

In 2006, Myers raced in the USGPRU 125cc GP National Championship Series and the WERA 125cc Grand Prix National Challenge Series and WERA West 125cc Grand Prix Sportsman Series events on a new Honda RS125 purchased by John Ulrich and sponsored by RoadracingWorld.com, under the Kids: Don't Smoke! banner. Myers battled at the front of the field, with several wins.

Turning pro in November of 2009, she made her AMA Pro Racing debut at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida armed with a pair of Team Hammer-prepared Suzuki GSX-R600 race bikes.

“I am really excited about trying my luck at Calistoga,” says Myers. “I watched last year and can’t wait to get on the track. A number of road racers get their start in flat track. But, I’m doing it a little differently. I have raced some dirt track events at Lodi and I have been practicing a lot. Road racing is definitely my focus, but I would like to race some selected flat track events on a regular basis. It will be fun.”

Be sure and watch these three women as they take to the race track at this year’s Calistoga Half Mile.