FIM Women’s Motorcycling World Championship – 2024 calendar, bike, and details were announced at WSBK Final at Jerez in the weekend. After many months of consultation, decision making, and confirmation on what the Series will provide, the following details have been released.
The new all-female 6 Round Series will invite applications of entry from women 18 years and over to race within 2024 MOTUL Superbike World Championship on Yamaha’s R7 bike. The Opening Round begins at Misano on June 14 – 16, Round 2 at Great Britain’s Donington Park on July 12 – 14, Round 3 at Portugal, Algarve on August 9 – 11, Round 4 at Hungary’s Balaton Park Circuit on August 23 – 25, Round 5 at Italy, Cremona on September 20 – 22, and Round 6 at Spanish WSBK Final in Jerez on October 11 – 13.
The package for racing is impressive with entry costs of €25,000 for permanent rider’s which include as stated in the announcement: ‘use of Yamaha YZF R7 MY 2023, a GYTR Racing Kit, Pirelli tyres, fuel, racing service and access to the Paddock Village. Amongst the benefits of running under the umbrella of WorldSBK, the new series will enjoy global broadcast coverage, Pirelli prize money and PR opportunities ensuring the rider sponsors’ visibility on a global scale’.
Such a big step forwards requires further analysis on what this means for women competing in Road Racing Series around the world. Currently, there are a number of females racing in National SBK Championships, including Yamaha’s National R7’s Cup which culminates in the top 36 rider’s competing in a SuperFinale, as was witnessed at the Final WSBK Round at Jerez at the weekend.
There are no females currently racing WSBK Supersport, or Supersport300, and only 2 rider’s: Ana Carrasco racing Moto3 and Maria Herrera competing in MotoE after a career pathway in Moto3. From this perspective, the new 6 Round Series offers an opportunity for females whose race-craft remains short of gaining entry into WSBKSSP/300 yet remains ready to advance to the next level, outside the parameters of National Championship level.
Without a doubt, progression for women in Road Racing at World Cup level has been challenging, with the most pressing obstacle to overcome, gaining financial resources to not only race but to practice and test pre-during-post season.
Take a glance back to the running of the European Junior Cup which included Women’s European Cup raced within WSBK Rounds from 2010 to the final in 2016. New Zealand’s Avalon Biddle won the Women’s European Cup in 2015 and 2016, a feat accomplished on the back of gaining much needed financial support to be able to race.
Avalon’s switch to compete in WSBK Supersport SSP300 the following season, prompted a return to NZ, followed by achieving victory as the first female to win NZ Supersport 600 Championship in 2019. No doubt, Avalon, along with Ana and Maria have accentuated the realization that women can compete at WSBK and Moto3/E level, even though opportunities to do so are few and far between.
If actioning FIM Women’s Motorcycling World Championship provides a platform for women to gain race-time, refine their skills, knowledge, and experience on and off the track, boxes have been ticked. And, if the Series showcases female talent within the programme of WSBK reach to global audience, all female rider’s will gain much needed exposure to elevate their racing careers further into the future.
Header photo: FIM Women’s Motorcycling World Championship Image: CFM
Words: Sharon Cox
Comments are closed.