Carolynn Sells

Carolynn Sells (born 6 May 1973 in Preston, Lancashire) is an English former road racer. The highlight of her racing career was winning the 2009 Ultralightweight Manx Grand Prix, making her the first and as of 2024, the only woman to win a solo race on the Isle of Man TT Mountain Course, an achievement that earned her a Guinness World Record,^[1] and made her the Isle of Man Sportswoman of the Year 2009.^[2] She grew up around motorcycle racing, a sport her father Dave Sells took up when she was five years old. He began racing in the Manx Grand Prix when she was 12. She has stated that her sole purpose, when she began short circuit racing herself at the age of 27, was to obtain a National Race licence so she could race on the Isle of Man TT Mountain Course.{{}}

Carolynn Sells
Sells on the top step of the 2009 Ultra-Lightweight Manx Grand Prix Podium
Nationality	British
Born	(1973-05-06) 6 May 1973 (age 52) Preston, Lancashire
Current team	Retired
Bike number	13 (Manx Grand Prix), 113 (Irish Roads)
Motorcycle racing career statistics Manx Grand Prix career Manx GPs contested 13 Active years 2003-2009 Manx GP wins 1

Racing

Sells raced numerous times on the roads of the Isle of Man, including 13 Manx Grand Prix starts between 2003 and 2009.^[3]

She also raced on the roads mostly in Ireland (between 2004 & 2008).^{[4][failed verification][better source needed]}

However, she started her racing career by participating in short circuit club racing, mostly in mainland Britain (between 2000 & 2009);^{[citation needed]} her first race was at Jurby Airfield on the Isle of Man on her father's TZ250 race bike.^[5]

Race Teams

Date range	Team
2000-2004	Trikbitz Racing
2003-2009	Martin Bullock Raceteam
2004	KS Performance Racing
2009	Paul Morrisey Racing

Awards

Short Circuits:

• Andreas Racing Association (Isle of Man) Champion of Champions [400cc class], 2002 ^[6]

Manx Grand Prix:

• Guinness World Record, first female to win a solo motorcycle race on the Isle of Man TT Mountain Course at the Manx Grand Prix in 2009 ^[1]
• Les Williams Memorial Trophy for Best Performance by A Newcomer from the North West, 2003
• Lesley Ann Trophy for the Best Performance by a Female Competitor at the Manx Grand Prix - 2003, 2006, 2008 and 2009

Southern 100:

• First woman to have an overall win of a solo race at this event, during the 50th Anniversary meeting in 2005.^[7][8]