Acing the ride and turning the tide
It’s only when the helmet comes off, that people realise that it’s a woman racing among the men,” says Superbike racer Neharika Yadav. Indeed, when the race track doesn’t differentiate on the basis of sex, why should anyone else? “Although it’s a male-dominated sport, women have come up and are doing really well,” she says.
Doesn’t it being a high-risk sport deter her? “If you start seeing the negatives of what you’re pursuing in life, you’ll never be able to give your best,” says Neharika, who has ridden at the Mugello and Sepang International Circuits.
The Gurgaon racer, who juggles racing with her profession, dentistry, says, “Once a month, I practise with my group of racers at Budhh International Circuit. I also run my clinic six days a week.”
It was at the Noida circuit that Neharika’s biking journey started. “I was inspired by the all-male riders, and I made my mind to come back and ride.”
Neharika also boasts of being the only female alongside 33 male racers in the 1000cc category at the JK Tyre Superbike Championship, over three years, riding a Ducati Panigale 899, and clocking a best time of 2.18 seconds.
The racer, set to speak at the event #Gurgaonwaali by SheThePeople today, along with motorbiking trainer, Mandeep Merwah, also wants to do her bit for women empowerment, “By going to rural areas and giving them a glimpse of the fact that there is a woman riding among men, and hence motivating them.”