WSBK – Interview Ana Carrasco: “Riding like a girl is a good thing!” – Used KAWASAKI

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Interview Ana Carrasco: "Riding like a girl is a good thing!"

WSBK - Interview Ana Carrasco: & quot; Riding like a girl is a good thing! & Quot; - Used KAWASAKI

On September 30, 2018, Ana Carrasco made history by becoming the first female motorcycle champion (excluding sidecar). Present at the launch of the new Z125 and Ninja 125, the 21-year-old Kawasaki rider gave an interview to French journalists, including Site of course.

A small point. A huge point. This is all that separated Ana Carrasco from Mika Perez after the World Supersport 300 final this year, contested "at home" at Magny-Cours. Arriving 13th in this breathtaking race – one more in the category – the Kawasaki rider took a long time to understand that she had just obtained the 2018 title. !

The tension has since subsided. On the other hand, the smile that she already displayed often before her coronation is not about to fade. We understand her: this young Spanish girl (22 years old on March 10) is to date the only woman to have won a world crown in motorcycle speed … in "solo", because Kirsi Kainulainena won the 2016 title in side- because.

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Invited "brand" by Kawasaki at the European press presentation of the Z125 and Ninja 125, the "queen" Ana accompanied us on the circuit to perform a few laps on the handlebars of the new little green sports car. She was also kind enough to answer questions from journalists, including MNC … Interview with a sacred Ana.

WSBK - Interview Ana Carrasco: & quot; Riding like a girl is a good thing! & Quot; - Used KAWASAKI

To win a motorcycle speed world championship is a very difficult task. But is it even harder for a girl ?
Pfff … It’s difficult to say, because each driver traces his own career. We all go through various times and many are difficult. Sometimes it is good to be a woman, it can be positive. But of course there are downsides too. I think that in the end, being a woman or not is not that important in this sport. Above all, you have to have the means to win, like me: I have a good team, a good bike and Kawasaki supports me. I am fortunate to have been able to put together all the ingredients to fight for the championship and I just tried to do my best to achieve this goal. In the end, whether you are a man or a woman, what counts above all is this set of things.

We agree. But then, why aren’t there more women in motorcycle racing? What difficulty in particular must be overcome ?
I think the hardest part is finding people who believe in you. When you are a woman, yes. Some people find it hard to believe what they have never seen. Personally, I have never doubted my abilities. But it was complicated to exploit them. The click took place at (another first for a woman in world motorcycle speed, Editor’s note). A lot of people realized that I could fight for the victory and the title. After that, I started to get more support from a lot of people. They brought me what I needed.

You’d rather be seen as an amazing girl, or an amazing pilot ?
That’s what I always say: on the track, I am a pilot. Outside, I am a woman. It’s like that. My job is exactly the same as the other pilots. I’m just another competitor.

WSBK - Interview Ana Carrasco: & quot; Riding like a girl is a good thing! & Quot; - Used KAWASAKI

On social networks, you have a slogan: #RideLikeAGirl. What do you do differently from the boys that made you world champion ?
Ah … Actually, this hashtag is a tackle for those who make fun of girls, those who consider that girls cannot drive or pilot. We wanted to reverse the meaning of this sentence, to prove that riding like a girl is now a good thing. Beyond that, I consider my riding style to be completely normal. The fact of being a woman is not decisive. I have strengths: I am very constant in the race for example, I manage to do the same lap times from start to finish. But obviously I have other things to improve … I’m not the perfect pilot! It turns out that this year I rode well, we worked well, but we still have to improve for next year and for the future..

Exactly, what is your program for next season ?
We are working on it. What is certain is that I want to stay with Kawasaki for many years to come. We will be fixed in December.

You are very young, but you rode a 125 cc 2-stroke. Did you like it? More than 4-stroke ?
I actually rode in the Spanish championship in 125, it was my first season. It’s different, but I prefer 4-stroke: it’s easier to drive, the power doesn’t come in the same way at all. I am more confident.

WSBK - Interview Ana Carrasco: & quot; Riding like a girl is a good thing! & Quot; - Used KAWASAKI

You raced in Moto3 too, but you were unlucky with the sponsors and then some dirty crashes. You would go back if you could ?
Not for the moment. I had my chance and it didn’t. I feel good in Superbike, in my team, with my current entourage … I don’t want to change. It’s hard to find people who love you in the competitive world, it depends so much on the results. I’m not saying I’ll never change, but today I’m fine in WorldSBK.

You’re a bit like Johnny Rea, who found his place in World Superbike !
(Laughs) Yes, a little. It’s possible, we’ll see.

You won the World Supersport 300 title with a Ninja … 400. Isn’t it weird to fight against Yamaha YZF-R3, KTM RC390, Honda CBR500RR? In your opinion, shouldn’t we homogenize and clarify all this ?
La Dorna is doing its utmost to establish regulations that level the performance of all motorcycles in this championship. It is not easy because each manufacturer has his own machine. According to the rules, one brand can have one advantage, then another. But the organizers are working on it and I’m sure the situation will be clearer next year. It is important for the public and for us too.

WSBK - Interview Ana Carrasco: & quot; Riding like a girl is a good thing! & Quot; - Used KAWASAKI

Another concern, or another question to be addressed: it is a world championship which is played only in Europe. There are very high championships elsewhere, especially in Asia. Do you know their pilots and do you think you can beat them ?
(Laughs) I don’t know! But the best Asian riders are already racing in WSSP300. I would like the championship to go to all races, like the Superbike. But, it takes a little while to develop. Already next year, we will travel to Qatar for the final and there will be more of us on the starting gates. The next year, maybe we’ll go to Asia? I like to ride, so the more races, the happier I am !

If you hadn’t made it on a motorcycle, in which sport would you have liked to play at a high level? ?
In motorsports, that’s for sure (smile). I would need an engine, yeah.

You could take part in a road race, like the Tourist Trophy ?
No I do not like it. Finally, I like to watch, but I wouldn’t want to drive in these conditions. It’s too dangerous, it’s not my type of competition.

You have your driver’s license ?
Yes !

So you’re better than Marquez !
(Laughs)

WSBK - Interview Ana Carrasco: & quot; Riding like a girl is a good thing! & Quot; - Used KAWASAKI

Your dream of becoming a world champion has come true. You have others ?
I want to go up to Superbike. I know I’m still young, it might take me a few years to get there. But that’s my goal and I think it’s possible to achieve it. I have to change categories at the right times.

It will first be necessary to switch to Supersport "very short". What will you have to work for to drive a 600 cc ?
The big difference is the style of riding. I’m also going to have to build up some muscle. Two years ago, I rode in the European Moto2 Championship. I was training on 600s and was pretty fast. So I want to ride in Supersport. I do not know if we will wait a season, two … But I am convinced that I have the level and I want to try my luck.

How your riding style will have to change ?
The power of the bike changes the approach. The weight ? Not so much, because the gap is smaller. On a 400 you have to be fluid, enter the curves quickly and especially not to break your speed. It’s totally different on a 600 because you have to take more advantage of the engine: you have to try to put the throttle on as soon as possible, so adopt a little more broken trajectories, in "V" rather than in "U".

WSBK - Interview Ana Carrasco: & quot; Riding like a girl is a good thing! & Quot; - Used KAWASAKI

You have just started motocross for your training. It was your team manager David Salom who advised you to get started ?
It’s a discipline that was completely unknown to me before the last race this season. I had never done one. We thought it would be good to make me a little more aggressive. In my category the races are very hotly contested, with groups of 10 to 15 pilots. You have to be sharp and I have to improve in this area. Motocross must help me.

You are planning to take part in MX races ?
No no. I’m just going to practice. Since this is a bit of a dangerous activity, we approach it a little differently. I don’t really do motocross per se, say I ride dirt, sand, etc. But I don’t fly away !

We saw in which you do jumps … but small jumps! You will not go higher ?
(Laughs) No, only small jumps! No FMX.

WSBK - Interview Ana Carrasco: & quot; Riding like a girl is a good thing! & Quot; - Used KAWASAKI

Do you plan to do flat-track? It’s very trendy among MotoGP riders because it makes the slide work hard without taking too many risks.
Yes, I should do it this winter. This is part of the program that my team has planned in order to prepare me as well as possible for the coming season. Many riders hurt themselves while training in motocross. The dirt-track is easier, you just have to control the bike. I think it’s a good workout. It’s important to do different things.

Motocross is known to be a macho world. If you drove there, the guys would probably be like, "let’s beat that girl". Do you feel like you’re a speed target ?
I don’t get the impression, no. This season was different because I was leading the provisional, so naturally everyone was focusing on me. But not because I was a woman, just because I was leading. All leaders are targeted as well. I did the same myself: when a driver was leading the championship, or fast everywhere, I would focus on him to try to match him.

You take advantage of the winter to go to university too. What do you study ?
The law, I am in the second year. The university helps me a bit by adapting my schedule. In the winter, I concentrate a little more on studying. But as soon as the season starts, I focus entirely on the competition.

WSBK - Interview Ana Carrasco: & quot; Riding like a girl is a good thing! & Quot; - Used KAWASAKI

You continue your studies to please the parents, or is it for you ?
We are like that in the family, studies are important. I myself think it’s good for my future. I don’t know when I will have my diplomas, because the most important for me today is motorcycle racing. But when my career is over, I will still have this. Sports careers are not very long, we go up to 30, 32 years old…

Except Rossi who will continue to ride at 41 !
Yes, but it’s Rossi.

Look at Biaggi who was Superbike champion at the same age. Or Gibernau who returns to MotoE !
It’s certain. But I prefer to have two planes: the one where I keep running and the one where I stop and I bounce back with a "normal" job. Obviously I prefer the first !

Why did you choose the right ?
Because I like sports law. And because by projecting myself into the future, I think it will be good to know all that. If my plan goes perfectly, I would then like to allow other drivers to advance to the world championship. I will know a lot of things that others don’t, so it will be a little easier to support someone.

Interview by Matthieu BRETILLE – Photos DR

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