Trailblazer backed by MotoGP and IndyCar winners gets historic Daytona 200 podium

Kayla Yaakov has become the first woman to finish on the podium of the Daytona 200 motorcycle race at the famous speedway, riding for a Ducati team with a high-profile management structure.

Yaakov rode a Ducati at Daytona for the Rahal Ducati Moto team, owned by three-time IndyCar race winner Graham Rahal, with former World Superbike Champion and MotoGP race winner Ben Spies as team principal. 

Ex-BSB and World Supersport rider PJ Jacobsen is her teammate, but didn’t finish the race, whereas Yaakov took third place, beating ex-MotoGP rider and Moto3 race winner Darryn Binder late on, the South African beginning his first season of MotoAmerica competition in Daytona.

The Rahal Ducati team began competing in MotoAmerica in 2024 as a collaboration between Rahal and Spies, the latter having already been aware of Yaakov by that point and keen to have her as a rider.

“In 2018 I saw a video of Kayla Yaakov training on her bike in their driveway and my daughter started watching it over and over,” Spies wrote in an Instagram post after Yaakov’s Daytona podium.

“I could see she had a huge talent and I told [Yaakov’s dad, David] that he can message me anytime he had a question on development and her path. 

“I would get a message a few times a year on which bikes and how he should look at her path long term. He had a great plan but also listened to my feedback and the timeline she should be on certain bikes. 

“When she turned 16 and became a professional I started speaking with her directly and gave small tips on weekend preps from hydration to meals and thinking more big picture.

“Middle of 2023 Graham Rahal calls and says let’s get to work and build a team, do you have riders in mind? 

“Kayla was the first person I said. 

“Without hesitation he said 100 percent, I love it. I called David and told him something big was in the works and if it goes Kayla has a spot. 

“Fast forward to 2026 and she’s the first female to be on the Daytona 200 podium and sitting 3rd in points to start the season. 

“Being a dad of two daughters makes our relationship naturally closer for me and I’m so happy for everything she’s accomplished so far. 

“She wants to be the best out there, not just the fastest woman. 

“She has the killer mindset you cannot teach which makes things easy from a mentor standpoint. I’m just so proud of her.”