With support from the Spanish Motorcycling Federation, the Albacete Circuit and BMW Motorrad, the FIM and its Women in Motorcycling Commission are giving women riders from all over the world a chance to train with high-spec motorcycles and professional coaches on a major road-racing circuit.
Promoting the presence of women in all motorcycling activities is one of the FIM’s key objectives. This year the focus is on Road Racing with a view to involving more women involved in this popular and prestigious discipline. This ambitious objective is now becoming a reality with the organisation of a professional road racing training camp for female riders at the Albacete circuit in Spain on 4-5-6 October 2013 during the FIM European Road Racing Championship event.
The first ever Road Racing Training Camp for women, organised by the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) and its Women in Motorcycling Commission with the support of the Spanish Motorcycling Federation (RFME), BMW, Alpinestars and Pirelli, has attracted interest in many parts of the world. The initial number of 15 participants was quickly beaten when 26 women from 14 different countries registered for the Training Camp.
“The great number of participants is a clear signal that we are on the right track and that there is a real existing potential in Road Racing and that has to be supported and developed”, said Mrs Nita Korhonen, FIM Women In Motorcycling Commission Director.
The FIM Women’s Road Racing Training Camp has also received the support of big names of the sport: Mr Ismael Bonilla (Spain) – former Grand Prix rider in the 250cc class from 1996 until 2001, and Ms Shelina Moreda (USA) – the first woman to have raced a motorcycle at Indy Raceway and the only female to be racing in the AMA Pro Harley class, will be the two professional coaches supervising the training camp.
“I am really excited about this opportunity to be a trainer in a camp organized by the FIM. I love to share my passion for motorcycling and getting people more involved and seeing them grow as a rider is fun for me. Females are getting more and more interested and active in motorcycling and I am sure camps like this will have a huge impact for the future of the sport” predicts Mrs Shelina Moreda.
During the weekend the participants will also get the chance to follow the FIM European Road Racing Championship race. They will certainly be following the fortunes of Ms Maria Herrera (Spain), the first ever female rider to reach the top step of the podium in the prestigious CEV Repsol championship. Ms Herrera will visit the training camp to meet all the riders and share with them her impressive road-racing experience.