Category Archives: Women in Motorcycling

FMN News South Africa, Women in Motorcycling

NICOLE VAN ASWEGEN OVERCOMES CHALLENGES IN SECOND ROUND OF THE FIM WOMEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP AT DONINGTON PARK

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Donington Park, UK – July 14, 2024 – Nicole van Aswegen faced challenging weather conditions and a new circuit at the second round of the Inaugural FIM Women’s World Championship held at Donington Park. Despite these obstacles, Nicole showcased her determination and skill, delivering commendable performances in both races over the weekend.

The changing weather during qualifying proved to be a significant challenge for Nicole, who had only practiced in dry conditions. This resulted in her starting 18th on the grid for the first race. Despite the setback, Nicole remained focused and ready to compete.

In the first race, Nicole had an impressive start, quickly gaining three positions. Unfortunately, the group she was in lost the tow with the front pack, and Nicole ultimately finished in 16th place. Considering this was her first-time racing at Donington Park, it was a solid result.

Starting 18th again for the second race, Nicole didn’t have as strong a start, losing a position initially. However, she quickly settled into a rhythm and worked her way up to 14th, demonstrating her resilience and determination.

Nicole reflected positively on the weekend, stating, “Racing at circuits where you have limited opportunities to practice is tough, but the experience of competing with the best in the world is truly amazing. Each race teaches me something new, and I’m excited to keep improving.”

Nicole extends her heartfelt thanks to Andalaft Racing for their incredible efforts throughout the weekend, as well as to all the sponsors who make her racing journey possible. She also expressed deep appreciation for everyone who sent messages of support.

“Your support means the world to me. Thank you for believing in me and cheering me on every step of the way,” Nicole said.

Nicole now sets her sights on the next round of the championship, which will take place at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve in Portugal from August 9th to 11th. She is eager to apply the lessons learned from Donington Park and continue her journey in the FIM Women’s World Championship.

Published by: Motorsport Marketing Services

Picture Caption: Nicole van Aswegen

FMN News South Africa, Women in Motorcycling

NICOLE VAN ASWEGEN SHINES IN CHALLENGING FIRST ROUND OF THE INAUGURAL FIM WOMEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

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Misano Adriatico, Italy – June 16, 2024 – Nicole van Aswegen delivered a commendable performance in the first round of the Inaugural FIM Women’s World Championship, held at the Misano World Circuit. Despite challenging conditions and several on-track incidents, van Aswegen showcased her resilience and racing acumen over the weekend.

Race 1: Saturday Drama and Determination

The first race was marred by multiple accidents, reflecting the unfamiliarity many riders had with the track. Nicole started in 14th position and made an early move to 13th on lap 1. However, she briefly slipped back to 14th and subsequently to 15th and 16th as the race progressed. A red flag incident paused the race, offering a brief respite and a chance for strategic adjustments.

Upon the race’s restart, Nicole demonstrated her tenacity, steadily climbing back to 15th position and ultimately finishing 11th by the end of the day. Post-race, she expressed her mixed feelings about the result:

“I’m happy with the progress I made today, but I know I need to build more confidence in the bike. This is my first time racing this particular model, and it’s been a learning experience,” van Aswegen commented. She also acknowledged the difficult conditions and wished her fellow riders a swift recovery from any injuries sustained.

Race 2: Sunday’s Steady Performance

Sunday’s race saw Nicole starting again from 14th position in row 4. She had a remarkable start, quickly advancing to 11th place. Although she lost a position on lap 2, dropping to 12th, she maintained this position with consistency and skill for the remainder of the race, ultimately finishing in 13th place.

Nicole’s performance across the weekend was a testament to her adaptability and determination in the face of adversity. The opening round presented unique challenges, particularly with many riders, including Nicole, having no prior experience or testing at Misano.

Looking Ahead

As the championship progresses, Nicole van Aswegen is focused on building her confidence and familiarity with her bike. The experience gained from this weekend is invaluable as she prepares for the upcoming races.

“This weekend was tough but full of learning opportunities. I’m looking forward to refining my approach and coming back stronger,” she added.

Nicole extends her best wishes to all the injured riders for a speedy recovery and is eager to continue competing in this historic championship.

Massive thank you to everyone who has assisted Nicole on this journey whether through corporate sponsorships or through her Back-a-Buddy campaign. Including: ETL Group, Amalgum Welding Shop, Andalaft Racing, Bikewise, Department of Sports and Culture, MotorSport South Africa, FIM Africa, Hi-Tech Elements, ONE X, SBK official eyewear, Arai, Baker Baynes and Stefanutti Stocks

Published by: Motorsport Marketing Services

Picture Caption: Nicole van Aswegen

FMN News Zambia, Women in Motorcycling

LEAH HEYGATE SHINES AT THE FIM WMX WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP IN TEUTSCHENTHAL!

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For those who don’t know this past weekend, June 1st and 2nd, I headed to Germany to participate in the 4th round of the FIM WMX World Championship in Teutschenthal. Preparations were all last-minute as I wasn’t sure we would be able to arrange everything needed, like bike hire, pits, etc., but it all worked out. I wasn’t able to test ride the bike, but luckily, I was able to bring my front suspension with me and set the rear as best we could.

On Thursday, we went to the welcome office and picked up all the passes. This included the car pass, rider, and mechanic passes. Friday was busy, but overall, it was a good day. I got to set up my bike, put a sticker kit on it, walk the track, and do scrutineering. Overall, it was a great day and a wonderful experience.

The rain had arrived, which meant that the track preparations had to change. We watched the crew clear the track of mud and basically bulldoze all the mud they could off the track.

Saturday was when everything started: free practice, timed practice, and finally a race. I knew the track was going to be muddy as the ladies were first out, and my plan was just to learn the track—and that’s what I did. I came out with a P18 in free practice and a big smile on my face.

By timed practice, the track had dried out, but I let all the nerves get to me, and I rode terribly. Luckily, I was still able to qualify with a P33. Following this, I knew I had so much more in me and that I could do much better. The sun was out, and the track was completely different from the one I rode in the morning. With deep breaths and a lot of heart and belief, I raced heat 1 as well as I could. I got a great start and just kept consistent to work my way to 20th in heat 1, scoring my first-ever world championship point. I was filled with lots of emotion and gratitude that I was able to do this race, and I hoped I could do the same the next day.
Sunday was a later start, very different from what I’m used to. I only had to be at the track at 8 am. The track had been prepped again, but the rain had also fallen throughout the night, meaning the track was going to be completely different from the day before. I decided not to go out on the warm-up laps to keep the mud off my bike as much as possible.

I lined up, and it was cold and wet, but I wanted to give it everything. I got a good start and just put my head down, riding as best I could through all the mud. It was tough, and I felt like I was all over the place, but I pushed on, only to see the pit board on my last lap say P14. I was over the moon. I was so shocked and proud to have competed against the best women in the world and come out with an overall of P16.

This would have never been possible without all the companies, friends, family, and organizations that supported me. To everyone, my deepest thank you for letting me live my dream—I am so, so grateful.

Special thanks to:

• REMA TIP TOP
• JCB
• SPECTRA
• LINER INVESTMENTS and family
• Uncle Graham
• The Lubinkhof family
• Uncle Paul
• The Reeves family
• 12 Designs

To my family: my brother and dad for coming with me, and my mum for everything she does—I wish she could have been with us. Thank you for helping me follow my dreams and supporting me every moment.

To Carmen at MSA for organizing my license and everything so quickly, thank you.

To the Becker Racing team that welcomed me into the pits and made me feel like family, thank you for everything. And of course, my mechanic Lars—thank you for everything you did for me this weekend. It was so great working with you, and I had the best time.

Lastly, thank you to all the people that have sent messages and supported me from all over the world. I appreciate all of you and all the support.


Once again, thank you all.

Published by: Leah Heygate

Environmental News, FIM News, Women in Motorcycling

EQUAL GENDER OPPORTUNITIES CRUCIAL FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF MOTORCYCLING

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Within the framework of the FIM Sustainability Week, the FIM Women´s Commission is pleased to present a significant document that compiles a series of recommendations that will be the foundations for the organisation on this matter. Gender equality is intrinsically linked with sustainable development and achieving this equality in our organisation.

Having been ratified by the FIM Board of Directors, the recommendations are the result of a fully inclusive consultation process that involved guidance from the International Olympic Committee and input from the wider FIM family. The overall framework is designed to support and encourage ongoing development in the required areas through three main points of focus, those being.

1: Portrayal guidelines – according to the previous issued HERE
2: Increasing female athlete participation
3: Increasing female representation in key and decision making roles

With the FIM taking the lead, national federations will be able to adapt and adopt the recommendations to best suit their local requirements and circumstances, whilst still respecting the fundamental principle of ensuring equality between women and men. The FIM Deputy CEO and Operations Director and CFM Director will be responsible for implementing the strategy with the support of the entire management team.
With careful consideration and monitoring at each level of participation, volunteering, leadership, coaching positions, and media presentation, those responsible will be able to determine the year-on-year progress being made in terms of gender equality within the FIM family and wider motorcycling community.

Janika Judeika, FIM Women’s Commission Director explained: “This tool has been developed for the institution and for the national federations to ultimately increase female participation in all sporting and non-sporting activities, in a structured consultative process with the FIM administration, commissions, FMNs and athletes, in line with the IOC guidelines. The objectives and actions outlined in the document will serve as a blueprint for the Women’s Commission work in the next couple of years. We are determined to implement these actions and evaluate their efficiency by collecting the relevant data and making the necessary adjustments as we go along. We believe that motorcycling can benefit greatly as a sport from having equal number of men and women involved in its different levels and aspects.”

FIM Equal Gender Opportunities Recommendation HERE

FMN News South Africa, Women in Motorcycling

NICOLE VAN ASWEGEN SECURES TOP 8 FINISH IN ITALIAN TEST AHEAD OF FIM WORLDWCR DEBUT

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South Africa’s fastest female superbike racer, Nicole van Aswegen, recently demonstrated her exceptional skill and determination during a test session in Italy, securing a remarkable top 8 finish despite having no prior experience on the track. This impressive performance underscores her readiness to compete in the inaugural FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship (WorldWCR), set to commence at Misano World Circuit on 14-16 June 2024.

The Italian test, held last week, was a pivotal opportunity for Nicole to familiarize herself with the European circuit and the Yamaha R7. Despite the unfamiliar terrain, she showcased her talent by finishing among the top contenders, a testament to her rigorous training and unwavering dedication.

While Nicole will not be participating in the upcoming test sessions this week, which places her at a slight disadvantage, she remains undeterred. She plans to utilize advanced simulation racing to maintain her competitive edge and prepare for the first round of the WorldWCR.

“This experience was absolutely incredible,” commented Nicole. “Finishing in the top 8 on a track I had never raced on before was a huge confidence boost. Although I won’t be testing with the other ladies this week, I’m committed to making the most of sim racing to stay sharp and ready for the competition.”

As the countdown to the WorldWCR begins, Nicole continues to train with determination and resilience, eager to represent South Africa on the global stage.