The barren hills overlooking Tehran might be last place you’d expect to find a rising motocross scene, especially a women’s motocross scene, but amazingly that’s exactly what the Iranian capital boasts.

Banned by law of Iran from operating a motorcycle on the road, a small band of women led by Nora Naraghi stuck two fingers up to religious law makers by taking up motocross instead.

“Nora Naraghi stuck two fingers up to religious law makers by taking up motocross”

Also banned from Tehran’s only legit track, they built their own track in the hills to practice and in 2009 established the first Iranian national championship race for women with the help of a local club.

Naturally Naraghi won and made the Daily Telegraph in the process – which is more than any British motocross champion has ever managed!