I’ll admit it… I definitely left a fair bit out of my last TARZY! column. ASBK Round 1 at Phillip Island kind of took over (for good reason), but everything else that’s been going on lately has been just as full-on – just in a completely different way. So here’s the catch-up: it’s been busy.
It all kicked off with the Adelaide Motorsport Festival at the beginning of March, and straight up – that weekend was unreal. It’s hard to explain the vibe unless you’re there. It’s not just bikes, it’s everything. Cars, trucks, drifting, classics – all packed into one place with constant noise and movement. You’re either in it, or you’re missing out.
Having my bike there was cool, but everything around it is what made the weekend. I got invited up on stage with motorsport broadcaster Charlie Barlow, which was a bit of a surreal moment. No time to overthink it, just straight into it, talking about my journey and what I’ve been doing so far. It’s different to being on track, but I’m starting to really enjoy that side of things.
Then straight into a live interview with British GT racer James Baldwin, chatting about my racing, my goals and everything building behind the scenes.
There was also so much to take in. Some of the bikes on display were next level – Anthony Gobert’s AMA Supersport Yamaha, the Kirk McCarthy Suzuki GSX-R750 Superbike and a heap from Adelaide’s Castambul Classic Cycles museum. And I won’t lie, the Indian Bagger was right up there for me!
I also got to meet two people I’ve looked up to for a long time – Australia’s first para drifter Christina Vithoulkas, and truck driving moto influencer Trucking With CJ. Completely different worlds but somehow all brought together in the same place.
But honestly, the best part wasn’t any one moment. It was the constant interactions: chatting to people, taking photos, especially with younger girls who were so curious about bikes and racing. That stuff sticks with you.
And then, just like that, it was over. No slowdown either; Mum and I packed up and hit the road to Sydney that night. We drove through, slept in the van halfway and rolled into Sydney Motorsport Park on the Monday afternoon for testing. Straight into setting up the pit, and not long after that I was out on track. And of course… it was wet.
Honestly, I didn’t mind. I threw on the wets from Phillip Island and just got stuck in. It wasn’t about chasing lap times, it was about getting back into the flow, feeling things out again and just dealing with whatever the track threw at me. Getting comfortable being uncomfortable.
The next day we got a full dry session, which made a big difference. That’s where things started to come together – more laps, more confidence and slowly building the pace back up.
I also jumped on The MotoDream podcast, which was a nice change of pace, just sitting down and talking through my journey, my dream garage and how it all started.
We made a few changes to the bike as well – new rear spring and a slight geometry adjustment – just trying to keep building. Riding under lights at SMSP is a whole different feeling. Everything looks faster, tighter and it keeps you on edge. And I’ve got to say – Sydney is growing on me. The more laps I do there, the more I enjoy it.
This month definitely pushed me. Racing against bikes with more straight-line speed meant I had to find time elsewhere – braking later, carrying more corner speed and properly trusting what the bike was doing underneath me. And that’s the biggest thing right now: just building. It might not always look huge from the outside, but it’s there every time I ride.
It was also International Women’s Day on 8 March while I was in Sydney, and even though I couldn’t ride because of ASBK regulations, there was no way I was missing the women’s track day! Spending the day around other women in the sport – talking, helping out, hearing their stories – was such a good reminder of why I love doing this.
All up, it’s been a big month. A lot of kays, a lot of laps and a lot happening behind the scenes. But that’s the part I enjoy most. Because it means we’re moving forward.
