The FIM and Dorna WSBK Organization (DWO) are launching the FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship (WorldWCR) this year. The inaugural season of the championship will kick off in Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli and comprise six rounds (two races at each round) integrated within the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship. A provisional permanent entry list with 24 riders has been announced. We caught up with some of the riders on the entry list, today we give you the 4th installment in this series, the story of South African rider Nicole van Aswegen.
Photos © Nicole van Aswegen
Nicole has never been a stranger to motorsport ever since she was a kid, and she’s always been passionate about speed. But she only started racing much later in life. “My parents used to do drag racing since I was two or three years old. I love speed and I love the adrenaline. But I thought car racing was boring. So I said to my dad I wanted to ride bikes. He took me to a parking lot and said if I could get my knee down in the parking lot, then he’d take me to the track. I got my knee down on a little 50cc bike. But I only started racing when I left school because I was a cheerleading captain, and I was in gymnastics, so I couldn’t actually ride bikes then.”
When Nicole started racing, even though 21 wasn’t her first choice of racing number, Nix21 became her nickname and followed her ever since. “I wanted to race with #19 because that’s my birthday, and 9 is a lucky number to me. But back then there was another girl racing with #19 already. So I chose the closest number #21. It stuck from there. Everyone started calling me Nix21.”
Nicole’s career in South Africa quickly took off. She became the first female rider to be on the podium in a national series. She also became the lady’s champion in 2010. “I came in third in Cape Town in our national championship, racing with all guys. No female has ever been on the podium in our national series in South Africa before. In 2010, we had one year of ladies’ championship on 600cc bikes. I won the championship by 150 points.”
It’s a hectic mind game more than anything. When you come in 10th or 11th against the guys, you start to feel maybe I’m not good enough, maybe I should just stop. There are many times we are battled emotionally. But sure you have to pick yourself up.
In Nicole’s racing career of more than a decade, she has competed internationally, but never for a full season. Of course, it was the funding, or the lack of it, that prevented her from getting onto the international stage more. “It was always a dream to go race overseas. But in South Africa, we battle to get sponsors to race, never mind to go overseas. When the exchange rate wasn’t as bad as it is now, I managed to race in the UK in 2012. Moving to Europe is also not an option. I work here, moving to Europe without a salary was quite hard.”
Now the opportunity came for Nicole to go overseas for a full season in WorldWCR. She also gets to see more women who are also racing.”I’ve always been racing here in South Africa and I’ve been the only girl racing with all the guys. Other girls come in and out. They race with you and then they disappear. I stuck it up. I always said that I wish there was a ladies’ championship. So when I saw this come up, I thought I gotta go see how fast I am compared to these girls!”
Before actually racing the other riders on track, Nicole already considered how she could perform among the field. “Not knowing the tracks would definitely be my weakness. I’ve never been to any of these tracks that we’re gonna be racing at. I know Ana has been to most of them a few times. I know for example Beatriz and Sara, even if they haven’t been to some of the tracks, their teams are going to take them there. I can’t go test there because it will cost way too much money. I’ll have to learn the tracks on the same day of Superpole. I’ve also never raced in the rain. In South Africa, when it rains, they cancel the race. My strength would be that I’m coming from racing 200hp bikes, I’m strong enough to go down to the R7. I’m also a lot older than them, so maturity could also be on the positive side. I am the fastest girl in South Africa by far, and I raced with the guys. My goal is to win, obviously. I’ll be happy with results of top ten or top five.”
I’m going there with an open mind. It’s been a dream for my racing career. Unfortunately, it only happens when I’m a bit older. I need to just take it in and enjoy it. Obviously, I’m gonna try my damnedest.
Even though Nicole couldn’t go testing in Europe, she has been actively preparing in South Africa as much as she can. “I’ve purchased an R7. But we don’t have the racing parts here in South Africa so I need to find people to make me race fairings. I’ll be doing a few club races on the R7 to get used to it. We’ve also got a few simulators here. A lot of people have offered to help and let me use their simulators. I’ve been watching onboard footage every night before I go to bed. It helped me a lot.”
Besides her own racing career, Nicole also started the Basadi (Sesotho for women) program with Morongoa “Mo” Mahope to help other girls get into motorcycle riding and motorcycle racing. “It started off quite well. Unfortunately, Mo had to go for a shoulder operation so she hasn’t been able to assist. But we are meeting with people from a training school. We are hoping our program can go from there and then go to the track and get more female riders involved in racing.”
Besides WorldWCR, Nicole is also racing in the ZX10 Cup in South Africa. We wish her all the best in her season in WorldWCR and beyond!
The 2024 WorldWCR Calendar
1. Pirelli Emilia-Romagna Round, MWC “Marco Simoncelli” – 14-16 June
2. Prosecco DOC UK Round, Donington Park – 12-14 July
3. Pirelli Portuguese Round, Autódromo Internacional do Algarve – 9-11 August
4. Hungarian Round, Balaton Park Circuit* – 23-25 August
5. Acerbis Italian Round, Cremona Circuit* – 20-22 September
6. Prometeon Spanish Round, Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto – 18-20 October
* Subject to homologation
On April 15, we continue this series with the story of British rider Alyssia “Lissy” Whitmore. Meanwhile on April 5, we bring you the story of Sara Price’s debut at the Dakar Rally.
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