So where were we? Oh yes, that’s right I’m just going into my first race round of 2024 with the EMRA back at Rad Torque raceway. The first time I’ve ridden at that track since the first accident a year before. It was my first real race in a year and my first real race on the BMW. Up to this point I had owned the bike for a year and half and had not done two full weekends of racing on the bike or Bridgestone Tires.
I had switched to Bridgestone, knowing that the nationals were coming up and that’s the spec tire used. I had been running Dunlop for years as one of my main sponsors, Vass Performance supplied Bridgestone and Dunlop. So now was as good a time as any to make the switch to Bridgestone. In 2023 Heinrich Zahn from Langley Chrysler, stepped up and helped me by supplying me with some sets of tires for the year.
We had made some changes to the BMW prior to the first race round. We put a better Ohlins Fork Kit in and a Sutter clutch. So, I was learning a whole new setup from tires, forks, and just the bike in general. I was excited to race the BMW, just to get back on it and feeling comfortable. I was determined to get back to riding at the level I was in the year prior. I was nervous too; I didn’t know exactly how it was going to go. But I knew regardless of what the results were, I couldn’t let it deter me.
Heading into this first round of 2024 I have to mention Steve Sokil. He’s been with us as my crew chief, friend since 2021. He was one of the people who came to the hospital to see me when I was injured. Having him back with us took an enormous amount of stress off of me and Brad. His calming personality, and his amazing attention to detail. I always know the bike is perfect when I go out. It makes it so I can concentrate on riding, because I have 100 percent trust in him and I know the bike is the best it can be.
That first race weekend came up fast. My goal for the weekend was to get up to speed so I could be ready for nationals. I was just trying to get through the weekend, I was feeling very nervous. On Saturday qualifying it was raining and cold. I rode for my first time ever on rain tires for around eight laps. I wasn’t happy with my results or the lap times I did, but Brad and Steve were very happy with what I did. They thought it was a complete victory. Now it was time for the big test: nationals.
I mentioned previoulsy that I had bought an R7 and the reason we got it was for me to race in the Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship (“WorldWCR”) that runs in conjunction with WSBK. I got it as a training bike, as I had never raced on a twin cylinder before or something with that little of horsepower. My plan was to race in this championship in 2024. But with my injuries in 2023, my plans got pushed back. I was excited for CSBK because this would be the biggest event I’ve ever been a part of and this would help prepare me for the WorldWCR. But to be honest after competing in CSBK, I knew that I needed more time on the national stage before making the jump to the World stage. But more on that later.
The weather was looking good for the whole CSBK weekend. There was a strong contingent of local riders who were going to race there, as well as the eastern guys. It was also going to be on TV. It didn’t feel like a club race, I could tell that the stakes were higher and there was more pressure. But being out there with the fastest riders in Canada, I wanted to prove that I belonged there. I qualified in 17th position, which doesn’t sound great. But I was only 1.5 seconds off my best time ever on a bike and tires that were still foreign to me. One of the cool parts when racing in nationals was being able to get feedback from the Factory Bridgestone technicians. I felt like a factory Superbike racer, with the helpful expertise of the techs!
On Saturday it was race day. My first CSBK Pro Superbike race was about to happen. I was feeling really nervous. The walk out was really cool, standing on the grid, the umbrella girls, and the anthem. Some of the guys I’ve watched race on TV were on the grid ahead of me. I was mega nervous, but I wanted to get through it, to prove to myself and anyone who doubted me that I could do this still.
The flag drops, I’m trying to get a good start and then in turn 11, Harold high sides to the moon in front of me, I crash into him because I had no way of avoiding him. Me and the bike are laying on top of Harold in the middle of the track, I surfed on top of him like a toboggan you would buy from Canadian Tire. I got my first crash out of the way, in the safest way possible. Except Harold was a bit banged up.
The bike was rushed back to the hot pits, with virtually no damage. My helmet didn’t even touch the ground. I rushed back to get checked out by the paramedics, with Nadine Vass making sure I got there on time. Steve and Brad only had to change a lever and get re-teched. Virtually no damage, it was very lucky.
My nerves got the best of me, I didn’t think that I should restart. But Brad and Steve didn’t give me the time to think about it too much and they sent me out. I just felt nervous, after dealing with the two crashes from last year I was battling with my internal dialogue. At the time, we didn’t realize that the bike during the crash was put into Rain mode, so I did the whole first race while in Rain mode, which makes a noticeable difference. I went the exact same speed in the race as I did in qualifying. I rode within myself the entire race, I got to a point where I felt comfortable and didn’t push past that.
When I finished the race Brad and Steve were both so happy for me finishing the race, having a crash and being brave enough to get back out there and do it. I felt happy that I finished the race and that I didn’t give in to how I was feeling at the time and not restarting. Then I got interviewed by CSBK for an Instagram reel, which was so cool because they told me that I was the only the 5th woman in CSBK history to race in the Pro Superbike class. That gave me some more confidence to keep going and finish the weekend.
At the end of the day it was great to eat dinner with the On Track Performance crew; Justin, Ryan, Louise and Zach and his girlfriend Georgia drove up. My sister also flew in to watch me race. I was glad to be back racing and be around my friends and my sister. It felt good that I was able to make them feel proud. With racing it’s an individual sport, but man does it take a team to help make it happen. I’m fortunate enough that I have the best people in my corner.
With Race 2 up the next day, it was time to get some sleep and come back to the track feeling prepared and ready. Finding out that I was only the 5th Woman in 40 plus years of CSBK history to do this, was huge for me. It gave me extra motivation to prove that I belong and to prove that woman are fast too.
