Firstly congratulations on making History Maria, two and three wheels at the same Isle of Man TT, how was that experience.
There are plenty to ask as more often than not there are females as the passenger, as you don’t have to buy the sidecar, you are joining a team that already exists. The sidecar is also a really good advertising board, so it can be fairly economical to go racing when sponsors are on board.
I am the first woman to race a side car and race solo at the same TT and with all the disruption in the weather we did 5 races in one day, so I actually raced both races in one day. Both races were reduced to only 2 lap Well seeing as I have blown the chance to races, so it was very doable physically and I came back feeling very proud of myself. It was be your passenger this weekend at Festival of Speed, I would like to be the first in the one of my best TT’s ever. queue please as your passenger somewhere There is another female driver, a very fast lady else. round the TT at the moment, Estelle Le Blond, she had a male passenger whilst I had a Manx After watching you race round the Isle of Man TT circuit on both on the motorbike lady, Julie Canipa so we were the only alland the sidecar I can see that precision is female crew this year indeed precision and not madness at all. If at all possible can you describe what it is like You once told me that you had to get used to race a sidecar, I mean I know you are a to all the different racing lines, how are you doing now with keeping them separate? thoroughbred with your motorbike and you have a different set of genes to me - as I It reminds me of a Royal Ballet Dancer love riding a motorbike, but off road on having to learn 3 pieces at once and remember them all whilst they perform one, trails and I love racing a car, but I would only do that at club level as time and money and understudy for another. How are all prevails and probably too does my lack of your racing lines and how does it work race horse in me, but tell me what IS the with a passenger on board feeling is it possible to put into words With the sidecar, it really is a skill, determination a partnership, a synergy between passenger and Well for one they are completely different riding positions, you are higher on a motorbike as you driver. We don’t have intercoms, no have a greater perspective, whereas my sidecar I communication, but a few set signals for am leaning over my bike inches from the ground example if there are fast riders coming up behind you, you would get a squeeze on the leg with my legs behind me, I am leaning right over - they’re doing their job and I am doing my job, my handlebars, you have a much lower, a very so it works. There are similarities with the racing different perspective of the circuit. lines in all forms of racing actually, if I am Because I know the TT course already, I really driving my side car on the best lines that I can do, that’s where the passenger can do their best enjoyed being in this new low position and learning the course from being on the ground, a job. lot lower. Your toes are scraping the ground sometimes, hitting 160mph top speeds at times. But when you get involved with other traffic, you naturally have to take a different line, or slow down. That is quite fascinating as they have I obviously love 2 wheels, as I have been racing motorbikes for over 22 years and that’s through to keep an eye on what’s going on or they may have to braise themselves to an early braking or and through what I do and love but getting to take the side car to the TT was so special and so get ready for an overtake. enjoyable and I loved every second of learning this new sport at the TT and I wouldn’t want to Maria, I am going to find a lady passenger to interview and ask her everything as to what it is put them up against each other. like being a passenger www.thefrankmagazine.com