Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Roadracingworld.com Website Editor Melissa Berkoff, 33, made history Saturday when she became the first woman participant to stand on the overall podium of a WERA National Endurance Series race shorter than 24 hours in length.

The WERA National Endurance Series has run for about 30 years.

Melissa Berkoff stands atop her self-tuned YZF-R6 as she accepts her team’s trophy from a WERA official. Teammate Chris Pyles is at her right.

We think a woman was part of a team that podiumed in a 24-hour race (with about five teams entered) at Las Vegas circa 1976, but we’re not sure and no database exists to quickly check.

Berkoff, who is also the team owner of Neighbor Of The Beast, co-rode with Chris Pyles and Scott Fisher on a Mediumweight Superstock-class Yamaha YZF-R6.

The 6-hour race at Summit Point was entered by 38 teams, with 9 teams in the Mediumweight Superstock class.