Sputnik - Behnaz Shafiei has become a pioneer in Iranian motor sport as she recently managed to make a 15-meter jump on a racetrack near Tehran. However, her jump is far greater than that because it was just a year ago that Iranian women were prohibited from riding motorbikes.





Behnaz, 27, could only dream about�taking part in�a motor sports competition and her dream was enough to�drive her to�success. She has become a beacon of�hope for�all women in�Iran who aim to�excel in�sports that are seen generally to�be male-dominated.

Although her love for�riding started much earlier, it was four years ago that Behnaz bought her own motorbike. Earlier, she used to�borrow her brother's and ride stealthily.


Women in�Iran are still prohibited from�riding bikes in�public, but�last year authorities allowed women to�train in�separately designated bike tracks situated not far from�Tehran.
�If I don�t ride my bike for�two days, I feel sick. Just the very thought that I may lose it terrifies me,� the racer told Sputnik Persian.


Behnaz has been riding for�the past�15 years and trains six days a week. She is one of�only six female racers who have gained access to�amateur tracks in�Iran.

So far, two female competitions have taken place in�Iran, one of�which was won by�Behnaz.

There was also an organized master class, which was attended by�50 women. The event was attended by�women from�all over�the province, including a 60-year-old who attended the lesson with�her 40-year-old daughter.

Behnaz�s love for�riding started when she was 15-years-old. For the first time in�her life she saw a woman on�a motorcycle in�a small village near�Zanjan.
�I was very surprised and asked if women could ride a motorcycle. She showed me how it's done and I really enjoyed it,� the racer recalled.


Over time her passion for�motorbikes only intensified and she decided to�devote herself entirely to�the motorsport. Behnaz was resolute in�her ambition and she began to�go to�the Ministry of�Sports until�she received permission to�train legally.

At this moment in�time, women in�Iran are rapidly paving their way in�karate, light athletics and volleyball. Behnaz hopes that the next step for�her and women like�her will be to�obtain permission to�ride motorbikes around�the city.