Olsen to Meen Team
Norway’s best female motorcycle racer, Caroline Olsen, starts an exciting season
Photo: Brian J. Nelson
Caroline Olsen dreams of becoming the world’s fastest woman on two wheels.
Molly Jones
The Norwegian American
The racing journey of Caroline Olsen began a decade ago when the motorcycle racer from Halden got her driver’s license for a 125 cc. At the age of 17, she already felt the need for speed and after a few crashes and speeding tickets, her mother signed her up for a safety class—or what she thought was a safety class, anyway. It was in fact a racing class, and Olsen has been hooked on the sport ever since.
She quickly made a name for herself in Norway’s motorcycle racing scene, winning the Norwegian rookie 600 championship in 2009 and the Norwegian Superstock championship in 2011.
“History was made when I, as the first woman ever, won the Norwegian Championship against the guys in 2011,” she says.
She turned pro in 2012 and soon thereafter decided to take the next step; in 2013, she left Norway for the bigger challenges awaiting her in the United States. Unfortunately, Olsen’s first season in the U.S. was stopped short when she was involved in a horrible crash, resulting in a significant shoulder injury that required multiple surgeries and two years of recovery time.
Olsen wasn’t willing to give up her dream of becoming the world’s fastest woman on two wheels, however, and she returned ready to compete. In 2016 she rode for Team LOXY/M4 Suzuki in MotoAmerica, the most competitive series in the U.S., and ended her first full season ranked 13th in overall points in the 600 class.
Her performance didn’t go unnoticed, and now the professional motorcycle team Meen Motorsports has announced that the 27-year-old will join them as a Superstock 600 rider for the 2017 MotoAmerica series.
Photo: Brian J. Nelson
Olsen looks forward to an exciting season ahead.
“I have to thank Ameen Sajjadi for this amazing opportunity. Meen Motorsports is without a doubt one of the top teams in the MotoAmerica paddock. I feel honored to be underneath the same tent as current champions Bryce Prince and Josh Herrin,” said Olsen in a press release.
“This all would not be possible without the help of my rider coach Jason Pridmore and the support from my family, mechanic Sean, and sponsors: Kalan Venture, LOXY, Burton Volvo, Ringstad, Sons of Norway, Nordic Crane, JP43Training, Nordic Naturals, MotoVixen, Traktape, Dunlop tires, Dainese, and Arai,” she added.
Established in 2012, Meen Motorsports is a relatively young team but has already seen great success with the two national MotoAmerica championships.
“I am very fortunate to be able to work with a rider like Caroline. Her drive to keep improving is what let me know she would be a great addition to the Meen Team. She is not only very motivated but always professional as well, making it a real pleasure to work with her,” said team owner Ameen Sajjadi. “I look forward to a good season with Caroline, steadily progressing race by race.”
The Superstock 600 series started off with Road Atlanta on April 28-30 and will be followed by the Virginia International Raceway May 12-14. Olsen’s goal is to continue developing her career, finishing among the top ten each race this season and fighting for the coveted spots on the podium.
This article originally appeared in the May 5, 2017, issue of The Norwegian American. To subscribe, visit SUBSCRIBE or call us at (206) 784-4617.
