Benoni racer’s Spain adventure
Benoni superbiker Janine Davies, along with fellow South African female riders Nicole van Aswegan and Loumarie Grobler, recently participated in the first ever Women’s Training Camp in Albacete, Spain.
The riders, the only three female national 600cc racers in the country, attended the camp, which was organised by the Federation of International Motorsport (FIM) to create awareness of female motorsport athletes around the world, and to teach them more about the world of racing.
Speaking about her trip, Davies said: “I learned so much from the trip; not only did I receive a few tips on the riding side, but also from behind the scenes of the racing world, like dealing with sponsors and media and how to promote yourself as a racer.
“The South African women were a lot faster than they thought we would be.”
Davies said that there is not much difference between female riders overseas and here, in South Africa.
“South Africa’s women riders are definitely strong and talented racers,” she said.
The Benoni rider said that there were many things that she got to experience for the first time, including racing on an incredible European track, meeting top officials from FIM, riding with the best women racers in the world, finishing as one of the top riders and riding a 1 000cc bike.
Davies said she thought this would be her last year as a professional racer, but, following the camp and the chance that there may be an international female race in the not too distant future, and that there could be a world champion, she has decided to continue for another year or two.
She thanked her husband, Dan, for joining the women on the trip, and her father John and Motorsport SA for the opportunity to take part in the experience in Spain.
