So much happens in this crazy, two-wheeled life I’m living! With the wet-dry-wet-dry chaos of the Sydney ASBK round behind us, we packed everything into the trusty HiAce and hit the road for sunny Queensland. The plan was to drive up, leave the van at stunt riding guru Matt Mingay’s place, then fly home and come back again to race Round One of the Qld state titles at Queensland Raceway. Bit of a juggle, but that’s racing life.
Dad and I were on a plane before sunrise, picked up the van, and went straight to the track. I’d worked a few days that week, so I missed Friday practice and had to jump straight into qualifying. I ended up fourth after only a handful of laps, which I was pretty happy with.
Race one got a bit wild. On the last lap, I got hit, and my bike unfortunately took out a lapped rider. I felt terrible, especially because he was just as shocked as I was – upright one second, upside-down the next. In race two, I came home in third, then things picked up with a second, and finally a win in the last race!
Since we had late flights Monday, we swung by a friend’s workshop to repair and clean the crashed bike – my good ASBK bike, of course. We also had to strip some parts, like the front brake discs and K-Tech rear shock, for our spare bikes back home, since we were heading to the Easter Cup at Mac Park.
After getting home late Monday night, I was back at the airport early Wednesday – this time flying to Thailand to ride the new Ducati V4 at Chang International Circuit. Stepping off the plane with my helmet as carry-on, I was about to throw a leg over one of the most serious bikes in the world on a MotoGP track. I couldn’t wait to see how the V4 and I would gel – especially down that long straight where it could really show its teeth. Seriously, this bike is fast. And doing laps with Michele Pirro? Unreal. But more on that in my first proper article next issue!
Back home, it was time for the Easter Cup at Mac Park, and with Scott Nicholson – current leader of the Supersport 300 championship – also racing, I knew it wasn’t going to be easy. Still, I qualified on pole and was stoked. I led the first race until, coming onto the front straight, the front tucked and down I went – something I’ve done a thousand times, but not like that.
Race two was red-flagged twice and eventually abandoned, but in races three and four, I finished right on Scott’s tail. I made sure to get good points for the SA championship. I also raced my R7, and we’re still working hard to dial in the stock front fork set-up, which is how the rules stand in the women’s world racing championship. The weather was more of that classic wet-dry-wet-dry mix, so I just focused on keeping both the Ninja and the R7 in one piece.
It was an awesome weekend. We camped at the track, had late nights around the fire with the Roaring Sporties crew, and egg-and-bacon rolls in the morning. Even the Easter Bunny swung by and left me a few choccy eggs!
This weekend’s a rare one off, so I’m planning to spin a few laps on the Ohvale, then start packing everything we need for Queensland’s ASBK. Just a few things left to sort on the bike. Wish me luck, and if you’re at the track, come say hey!
Lastly, on a much sadder note, I want to honour Markus Chiodo – a past ASBK champion and a true legend in the paddock. I have so many great memories of you at Monza, racing around on the pallet truck, hat backwards, big smile always on your face. You always came over and asked what I was up to, and that energy will be missed more than words can say. The whole ASBK family is heartbroken by your passing. My thoughts are with your family and friends – of which there are so many.
