Iranians break barriers on motorcycles on the circuit

Iranian Maryam Talaí breaks through her country’s barriers behind a motorcycle at 160 km / h on a race circuit.Although you cannot drive a motorcycle on the road, which is prohibited by Iranian law.

Tarai (1980, Shiraz) grew up in a house with four brothers who are crazy about cars, racing and adventure. Restrictions on Iranian women no longer interfere with her dreams..

“”I love motorcycles.They are part of my life“She tells Efe in a racing driver’s suit.

“It gives me the power to be behind the bike, and it’s a kind of meditation for me,” he says.

Iranians reach 160 km / h on the circuit and 190 km on a straight highway with a 250 cc motorcycle.

But since the Islamic Revolution led by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in 1979, the path to realizing her dreams has not been easy in a country where laws and customs have restricted what women can do.

Tarai started riding and racing in Canada in 2009.The country he moved to many years ago.

However, when he returned to his home country, the Motorcycle Federation did not allow Tarai and other women to use the circuit.

“We tried it over and over again, but in 2016 we were able to train on the circuit one day, two hours a week,” he explains.

“”For three years they have allowed us to compete further“, addition.

Currently, about 30 women are competing on motorcycles in Persian countries.

Banned on the street

Pilots find these difficulties “strange” to compete on motorcycles. And in addition to this, the law prohibits women from driving motorcycles on public roads.

“”It’s okay if the woman is a passenger driving a motorcycle with a man.. But if it moves 25 centimeters forward (to the driver’s position), that’s terrible, “he explains.

“It’s just weird. Women can drive big cars or even fly planes, but they can’t do this concretely,” he continues.

If police stop a woman driving a motorcycle on the street, police can fine the driver and even detain the vehicle.

Despite recent advances and allowed competition on the circuit, he still faces the taboo of being a motorcyclist.

“”They think we are weird.Many do not accept us“The Iranians say.

In fact, during women’s competitions, men will not be able to compete on the circuit and these races will not be aired.

“”Even my grandfather can’t come“, The pilot explains.

This is “I don’t know we are women”, even though they are wearing racing driver suits that “hide” their bodies.

In addition to being a pilot, Tarai is a photographer, making documentaries, pimping cars, and hundreds of animals in a country frowned upon because these animals are considered impure. I have a shelter for dogs.

For all women

Her biggest adventure is in Africa, where she traveled for six months in 2019, and is proud to “learn many other cultures” and “how far can she go”.

“”I have done something Iranian women have never done before.A completely different thing“,it says.

This is all a way of fighting to push the boundaries of what women can do in Persian countries.

“We’re trying to change the system. We’re trying to get people used to it and organizations to get used to it,” he claims.

And not just for her.

“I break the barriers for women in Iran. I do it for all women, not just for myself,” she says.