Growing up in Shasta County, Northern California, Jasmine Noelle had an unlimited helping of horses to ride and dirt play around in. Beyond these nature-loving roots, Jasmine also had a strong love of the performing arts and dedicated much of her youth to them. With the support of her family, Jasmine performed leading roles in plays, took dance classes, acted in commercials, and sang in concerts. Acting was where Jasmine always planned to go in life and her sights were set on LA.
But when it came time for college, the acting schools Jasmine sought weren’t in session due to COVID-related closures and disruptions. She changed course and began taking acting and psychology classes at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix. Jasmine loved the scientific approach of psychology that allowed her to study real, authentic human behaviour.
With a Bachelor of Psychology degree in hand, Jasmine built a box truck into a tiny house so that she could go wherever the wind, or the acting jobs, called. But the week she had planned to set off for LA, God tapped on her on the shoulder with other plans, and Jasmine received information about an amateur motorcycle racing program.
Jasmine applied, was accepted, and shocked even herself when she felt called to drive her little house, cat, and motorcycle in the opposite direction of her LA dreams for the calling of racing…a new concept she never ever thought would have fallen into her lap and one that felt too good to pass up.
After only one year in the amateur racing program, Jasmine was accepted into the national Royal Enfield Build.Train.Race. program in 2026. This is a focused initiative that enables a group of individually selected female motorcyclists to customise and race-prep their own Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 streetbikes, then learn to race them, and ultimately compete in their own feature events during select MotoAmerica race weekends.
Heading into the season with the aim of making a name for herself, Jasmine didn’t want to just warm up this year, she came in ready to rock and roll. Squeezing out all of her potential and making those who cultivated her learning curve in this sport proud, Jasmine has just finished her first season as the champion, taking home three race wins along the way!
In a recent interview with Driven Women Magazine, Jasmine shared some background about her road to success in the Royal Enfield Build.Train.Race. program.
DW: Where does your love for that feeling of speed came from?
JN: Growing up, I had a need for speed. I’d beg my dad to take me to Kids Kingdom Park in Redding, CA, and he’d spin me on the tyre swings. I’d never get tired. I always wanted to slide down the biggest, fastest slides, run through all the tunnels, and climb to the highest point I could get to. I was a menace with pig tails in pink. I always could tell my dad was proud of my ambition– I was a little version of him. From skydiving instructor to taking his Kawasaki sport bike internationally, sailing, skiing, hiking, biking…I am proud of who my dad is and proud to take after him.
My favourite car growing up was my dad’s pickup because, as a little kid, I got to sit in the front seat and he’d roll down the window so I could hang out the window. I still chase that feeling today. I think that was probably the experience that put motorcycles in my mind. I had to imagine a bike had that “wind in your hair” feeling everywhere you went.
DW: How long have you been racing in the motorcycles?
JN: I’ve only been at this since last year. However, when I found it—or rather, when it found me, I was at a point in my life where I was seeking adventure and ready to jump all in when I found one. I wasn’t expecting this, but I loved motorcycles so much for so long that I couldn’t pass it up, I put my other dreams on hold, and I dedicated a whole year to this. Every day, I was put there for training. Not knowing where it would even take me…I figured, honestly, I was just soaking up the experience because it would end soon; instead, it actually picked up immensely and has taken me nationally!
DW: How did you come to compete in the Royal Enfield Build.Train.Race. program?
JN: This program is by application and interview. I had heard about the program; I knew they only took a handful of women into BTR worldwide, and that it would be miraculous if I heard back. Then, lo and behold, I did. The full process consisted of a video submission, a race reel, stats, and for the final contenders, a live interview. I remember after the interview process, knowing they had narrowed the final selection to a very small group, I just had to wait and sit with my thoughts. That week showed me how badly I really wanted it. When I read the acceptance email, I was just blank-faced and stunned. I sat in silence for a whole minute until my eyes welled up with tears, and I took in the full shock and awe of what this would mean for my life.
DW: What is the story behind your 711 race number?
JN: 711 is my race number because it represents priority to me. The original 7-Eleven gas station adopted that name as a nod to its extended hours, 7am-11pm, symbolising a work ethic that outshone the normal business hours of the time. Since middle school, my best friend and I have run to 7-Eleven for a slushie on 7/11 every year. What started out as just a silly tradition became a meaningful symbol of dedication and the prioritisation of what’s important. Even after years have passed, throughout high school, college, and moves across the states, my best friend and I still chat about flights or FaceTime on 7/11 as a tribute to friendship. I found it meaningful as a race number that represents priorities and a tribute to what and who you make time for.
DW: Can you tell me about your own race-specification Royal Enfield Continental GT 650?
JN: These REs [Royal Enfields] are not on-the-market bikes by the time we are through with them. You really can’t buy what we’re riding on because of the customisation involved! It’s incredible. We take stock bikes, we cut into the frame, we get into the engine, we pull out wires, replace exhaust systems, shed the street features- kick stands/lights/turn signals. We put on the beautiful custom fairings painted with our own chosen designs and we put this thing back together into a Frankenstein project that will effectively run at 100+ [fuel] and endure life as rough and tough race machines!
DW: What professional-level rider coaching you have received?
JN: I’m very fortunate to have Fast Freddie Spencer as a coach… a motorcycle enthusiast internationally understands who he is, what he’s accomplished, and the wisdom he possesses. That being said, Freddie is extremely personable and down-to-earth; he is there when you need him. We are free to balance our own to-do list at events- including maintenance, mechanical adjustments for each track, looking over our [track] map, and reaching out as needed to our coach.
I thrive particularly when the freedom is mine. I have soaked up sit-down time with Freddie like it’s gold. He speaks in very abstract terms about racing concepts. He is very analytical. He shares insights into the overall feelings we are looking for and the concepts to be achieved; then we must go put down some laps and contextualise the knowledge into matter-of-fact gear clicks, braking pressure, and tip-in points, etc. It’s very beautiful how he paints the picture of what I need to develop.
DW: Describe your first race experience for me.
JN: That first race was intense pressure. I did expect this. Even on the club level, I take it so seriously, I care so much more than I even understand. I do about everything I set my mind to. My ambition to succeed by pure willpower is an attribute I have a lot of trust in. Hard work is the baseline of my self-confidence. But at this level, there’s a point where care becomes too heavy, where fear starts to be a crippling amount. I was just about there!
You don’t want to mess up on camera in front of those crowds, and yet, you are new, you are going to make mistakes. On a different note, I didn’t know I could be leading the pack in my first race, and I did for much of it! I was finally passed on the last lap, with only three corners left, if I recall. That was painful to lose [laughs], but I was so stunned, honoured, and proud to have run at the top of the pack on my first try. I put in a lot to be ready; it wasn’t exactly a whim or a surprise. I have given my full-time attention to this sport, but I was so honoured to be where I was in that race.
DW: You are not averse to taking risks during a race, why do you feel that you race like this?
JN: In this sport, everything we do is tangible risk. Speed, lean angle…everything that we need to do to get better increases our risk, but isn’t that just life? Life has risks, whether or not we see the consequences as dramatically as in this sport, but you can’t dwell on that. For those of us who pick up and love this sport, the costs and benefits are roughly equal. If you look where you shouldn’t go, you’ll often end up there. It’s a well-known motorcycle rule: look where you want to go. Therefore, avert your eyes from the risks and turn them toward the direction you need to go to succeed.
DW: What would you say to any women looking to take up professional motorcycle racing?
JN: My hope is that the more women in Motorsports, the less special it becomes, ironically. What I mean is that I want this to be an equal-opportunity dream for young men and women. I don’t want us to be special because we are girl riders; I want us to be special for our talents, our successes, and our love of this sport. So, to those interested in pursuing motorcycling or any dream, really — I’d say there is a line where reality and dreams come together; our job is to find that golden line and walk it, believing in ourselves, rooting for ourselves, and cultivating ourselves.
DW: Is there anything else that you would like to share with Driven Women Magazine?
JN: To all the driven women out there, it is such a privilege to connect with other driven women following their dreams and hearts. I’m a big believer in being dream chasers! I believe that you find your reward…I started van life full-time when I prepared for my grand escapade to go find my dreams in LA. I dream of being on screen. I had my motorcycle pulled right up into the back and all the comforts of my little home; this was my way of making my dreams a reality. I don’t know when I’ll get back to acting, but nonetheless, I’ve found a dream I never even knew to dream, and since I had set myself up to be a dreamer, I had what I needed to jump right in. I plan to go through all of life like that. I have seen how far it has already taken me; I won’t be slowing down the dreaming anytime soon. So, from my Driven heart to yours, go get ’em, girl!
Overjoyed at the way her story has taken shape, Jasmine feels all of her interests and passions have partnered together beautifully. She loves where she’s at, knowing where God has put her, and who He has made her to be. From this platform she has been given, Jasmine hopes to cultivate her own mission and create positive change in the world. Racing has not taken over completely though and Jasmine is still keeping up with acting, writing music, and doing modelling shoots on the side as she prepares for the second season of the Royal Enfield Build.Train.Race. program.
Photographs by Joshua Shipps.