‘Girl Power’ for Dover
FEMALE biker Michelle ‘Girl Power’ Laidlaw will make her return to motorcycle racing after a two-year hiatus at Monday’s Heroes of Speed meet at Dover Raceway in St Ann.
“I’m not aiming for outright speed this time around, but to improve on my last time at Dover,” Laidlaw told Auto. She will be contesting the Motorcycle Class B races.
Laidlaw, who has been riding since she was in her teens, revealed it was a spill during practice for the 2011 event that made her move to the administrative side of things as the liaison personnel between the bikers and the Jamaica Race Drivers Club.
“I started on dirt bikes then transitioned to sport bikes. The spill woke me up to the reality of the difference between riding on the street and on a circuit in a professional manner,” she said.
She joins an intensive two-day LesPow GP Motorcyclists’ Training Programme for bikers seeking to move into the professional arena, taking place today at JamWest Speedway in Westmoreland and on Monday at Dover Raceway. Three certified overseas instructors will conduct the training.
“The programme will not only assist in improving motorcycle road usage, but help to further advance our local existing circuit riders,” she said.
The LesPow Training Programme has attracted the attention of 27 riders across the island including another female whom Laidlaw tips as her potential rival for the next season.
“One of my intentions is to pave the way for other female riders, one of whom is Lisanne Pessoa. Hopefully, she should be the next female to make her debut on track and she says she’s gunning for me,” Laidlaw said.
