To say that racing is in Taia Little’s blood would be an understatement. Although she has only been racing for eight years, Little has an abundance of flat track riders in the family to lean on for advice. Little’s father Paul was a talented racer and although he is now retired from turning laps, Little can talk race set up as well as track conditions with uncles and current Expert riders Tyler and Brandon Seguin as well as uncle Phil who does battle in the Intermediate ranks. Of course, Little can also take track pointers from younger brother Seth, who as a front runner in the Novice ranks, is usually on the track before Taia gets a chance to turn some laps.
First going to the track at the age of four months to watch her dad race, Little has been at the track nearly every Saturday since that early beginning. Getting her first bike when she was just three (a Suzuki 50), Little heard the words that many youngsters hear when they get their first bike; “If you can start it you can ride it.” Start it she did, and it seems like Little has been turning laps and turning heads ever since.
Quiet and unassuming off the track, that attitude quickly changes as soon as Little straps on her helmet. Racing in the Expert ranks against the best riders Canada has to offer, Little has shown time and time again that she won’t be intimidated. Little isn’t afraid to stick her front wheel into the smallest of openings, and even when she gets passed by another rider, she often goes into attack mode, looking to recapture the position as quickly as possible. Little was a competitive dancer for 13 years but after her first race at the age of 11, dad Paul exclaimed, “Have you ever seen her smile like that at dance?” At that point the family was hooked, and the Little’s have been piling into the family RV every race weekend since.
Although only racing for eight years, Little has picked up her share of awards along the way. At Welland County Speedway, which just happens to be her home track, Little has earned numerous titles including 2017 85 Champion, 2017 Youth 250 Champion, 2018 Youth 250 Champion, 2018 Open Novice Champion, as well as some impressive results in the Expert class last season. She has also won titles in the national series as she was the 2017 Beginners Champion in the Flat Track Canada series and followed that up one year later with the Youth 250 title. In 2017 Little was awarded the Flat Track Canada Rising Star Award and she even made a splash stateside last year while becoming the 2022 Women’s Champion during the Daytona Bike Week Series.
Little has seen her 2023 season start with a bang and she has earned a legion of new fans along the way. June 3rd saw Welland County Speedway host the first ever Canada versus USA Battle at the Border. With 22 ultra talented Experts on hand, the event would see a unique one lap qualifying run to try to make the Dash for Cash. As the fourth rider to take the track, Little set the quickest lap early on her Suzuki 450, but then began the nervous wait as 18 more riders still had a chance to knock her from the top position. Rider after rider took their shot, but when the dust had settled it was Little holding onto the top qualifying position by a tenth of a second over track ace Doug Beattie.
One week later Little would take things a step further as she took part in the opening round of the 2023 Flat Track Canada series. With qualifying races over, Little once again lined up against some of Canada’s best for the Expert DTX final. Known for generally playing catch up after a not great start, this time Little got a tremendous start and found herself in second place early on in the 12-lap final. On lap three Little pounced on a slight opening left by 2015 National Champ Doug Lawrence and made a pass for the lead as the crowd roared. Lawrence hunted Little for the next eight laps, briefly retaking the lead on lap 11, but Little took no time at all in answering back. Just one lap later Little took the checkers with most of the crowd on their feet and cheering as she crossed the line. With both uncles Tyler and Brandon in the race that she had just won, they met her at the line for an emotional celebration and that was followed by an enthusiastic victory lap with dad. While it can’t be confirmed, there is a chance that this is the first ever victory by a female in the Expert class in Canada which would put her name down in the history books. Even if not the first ever, it is certainly the first in decades and according to most historians the first ever at Welland County Speedway, which puts the 19-year-old in very elite company.
With her first victory under her belt, Little now has her sights set on the remainder of the 2023 season as she goes after that elusive second victory in the Expert ranks. While Little can’t say enough about the contributions made by mom and dad to her racing program, she knows none of this would be possible without the help of some amazing sponsors. Little would like to thank CorrPak Merchandising, Tammy Ten, The Spice Lady, Fix Air Heating and Air Conditioning, ML Designs, Archie Subs, FXR, and Moto Gear for all being a part of her 2023 racing program.
- From Todd Vallee
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