Jenny Tinmouth

She may not be as famous as Evel Knievel or Steve McQueen, but what Jenny Tinmouth has done for biking – and in particular female biking – should not be underestimated. As well as being the fastest woman in the history of the Isle of Man TT (119.94mph), she was also the first woman to lead a British championship race; the first to score points in a British championship race; the first to stand on the podium; the first to race in the British Superbike Championship; and the first to earn a place in a full factory Superbike team (Honda Racing) in that same series. In addition, she was also the first female to race in the World Supersport championship and the first to own a team in the British Superbike Championship. No woman has ever done more for the sport.

Through articles in mainstream magazines, to appearances on various TV programmes, Jenny has spread the word that biking is for everybody, not just blokes.

Her skills on a motorcycle eventually attracted the attention of Hollywood and she was chosen by Tom Cruise to do the stunt riding for the ‘Mission Impossible’ movies. She has since performed in various other major movies and TV shows, again spreading the biking word to some of the most influential people in the world. She has been the subject of features in major newspapers including the Guardian, the Observer, the Financial Times, the Daily Mail and The Times, and has been featured on mainstream television shows including ITV’s ‘Good Morning Britain’.

Tinmouth’s astonishing achievements and bravery in a male-dominated sport have not gone unnoticed. In 2012 she was invited to Los Angeles to be presented with an ‘It Girl’ award by the Women’s International Film and Television Showcase for being ‘an inspiration to women across the spectrum of all ages around the world’, and in 2013 she was invited to the Women of the Year awards in London; an extremely prestigious lunch event celebrating the success of ‘very extraordinary and inspirational women from all aspects of life’.