She is used to battling against the men, and often beating them, but now Taranaki’s Nicki Smith will be racing for New Zealand in an international challenge against some of the elite female racers from Australia.

The 35-year-old has been loaned a race-ready 1982-model Yamaha XJ550 for her to enter the Barry Sheene Motorcycle Classic at Hampton Downs, near Meremere, over Labour Weekend.

Respected avid classic bike racer Bill James, from Wanganui, has loaned the bike to Smith for her to participate in the FIM Women in Motorcycling event at the Hampton Downs meeting, a weekend of classic bike racing that will also feature top British rider Maria Costello, MBE.

The Barry Sheene Motorcycle Classic event crosses the Tasman each year, Australia and New Zealand alternating as hosts for the popular festival, and it will be the first time Smith had taken part.

“The format pits the Kiwi riders against the Aussies in a one-on-one showdown,” Smith explained.

“The bikes don’t really matter too much and I will be matched up against an Australian rider who has a similar lap time to me … so, while I’m on a 550cc bike, I may come up against someone on a 250cc bike or a 750cc bike. I won’t know until the weekend.

“It’s simply my aim to beat whatever Aussie rider lines up against me and to score points for my country.

“I have never raced this classic Yamaha but I’m really looking forward to getting out there on the race track.

“The Women in Motorcycling event is really to show that motorcycle racing is not just for the boys and it’s not a scary sport.”

Supported by Kiwibike Motorcycle Insurance and BikesportNZ.com, Smith is no stranger to motorcycle racing and has been competing with success against the men since she started racing about seven years ago.

“I’ve always been up against the boys and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I enjoy the challenge.”

Competing in the 650 Pro Twin class, she finished ninth overall in the New Zealand Superbike Championships last season, despite crashing twice, and she finished with a national ranking of No.6 in the class the previous year.

“Consistency is the key and that’s what I’m hoping will be in my favour at Labour Weekend too. I have to use standard road tyres on the Yamaha XJ550 and that means being smooth and not too aggressive, especially if it rains.”

Smith will also ride a 1976 Italian Moto Morini 500 in a separate race at the Barry Sheene Motorcycle Classic.

© Words and photo by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com

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