Sisters in the saddle to beat world records

The Pilbara Motorcycle Sisters have been part of a nationwide effort to set two new world records for female bikers.

The Karratha-based group’s members Leah Scholes, Michelle Brett Hopkirk, Joanne Waterstrom Muller and Julie Bridge made the 5000km trek to Dubbo, NSW on April 9 to take part in an event that, with 1002 participants, set new records for the most women on bikes and the most women at a motorcycle meet.

The Pilbara team were the furthest-travelled at the event.

Pilbara Motorcycle Sisters vice-president Ms Waterstrom Muller said distance was no barrier to their involvement in the ride.

“We thought it would be exciting and something different ... we thought ‘why not?’,” she said.

Ms Scholes and Ms Hopkirk drove cross-country to Dubbo with four motorcycles on their car trailer to get there, while the other members flew in.

The ride was organised by 2 Wheel Babes’ NSW motorcyclist Debb Dagger, who led the original world record for most women riding motorcycles at once in 2014 before it was broken in the UK.

Ms Waterstrom Muller said the record was an achievement for women in what was often seen as a male field.

“It was just fantastic to see so many women in one place — there was a whole tribe of us,” she said.

“It’s all about empowering women basically.

“(The Pilbara Motorcycle Sisters) are all-female, and I think it makes other people look up and think if we can do it and be strong and empowered, then they can do it.”

The event also aimed to raise awareness of suicide prevention and domestic violence.