ISSUE 03 | MARCH 2020
BC: How many bikes you own, and which is your
favorite? Which was your first bike in life? Do you
have any memories of it?
NY: I own two bikes, one is Honda CRF 150
motocross bike, and I also own a Ducati 899
Panigale, which is my favorite bike. This was the
bike I always wanted to have, which I finally own. I
go on the track to race every year, and I am very
grateful for that.
My first bike was KTM RC 390, on which I started
racing on the track, which is one of the most
beautiful bikes that one can start of with if you are
somebody who wants to get on the track racing. I
learned the art of track racing on that bike.
Racing is Meditation for
me, I think only about
lines, corners,
performance when I'm on
the track
DR. NEHARIKA YADAV
BC: Have you taken any formal training?
NY: I have never taken any formal training except
for the certificate program that was given to me by
Ducati. I had a few hours of track racing training
with the Ducati instructor. I got trained under Anand
Dhanraj, who's an excellent trainer.
I can say I have self-taught myself. And whatever I
have learned, learned through watching other
racers on the track, and also through my own
practical experiences being on track every month
for the practice. I have learned by asking my fellow
racers and watching YouTube videos. I am proud of
the fact that because of my fast learning skills, I
could pick up those tips without any formal pieces
of training.
BC: Who's your idol?
NY: I don't have any single idol, but I get inspiration
and the motivations from all the racers who race on
Buddh International Circuit and the racers who race
MotoGP. By watching them, you get an adrenaline
rush and the passion that comes out, and when you
get a chance to race with the finest racers in the
country, you get to learn many things and
techniques. So I would say I don't have any single
idol.
BIKERS CLUB ® MAGAZINE | PAGE 14
BC: What do you think about racing as a sport, and
why there are not many racers from India, especially
women racers?
NY: Racing, as a sport, is adventurous but very
expensive. And because of the risk and danger
attached to it, not many families support it, forget
about women, but not many men come forward for
this sport. And those who are interested don't get
any monetary or family support. And also, not many
companies come forward to support financially.
I think this sport is very inborn; nobody can teach
you or push you to pursue this passion. You require
a basic instinct to be a racer, and you have to be
given a platform and allowed to be on track to kill it,
in terms of performing well and achieving the
milestones. I think and hope in the coming few years
this sport will get its due which is pending and the
people and companies will come forward for sure.
BC: Which is your best track performance till now,
and on which bike?
NY: My best track performance till now is at J.K.Tyre
Superbike National Championship in 1000 cc
category in 2019 on my Ducati 899 Panigale, where I
clocked 2:16.
I had pushed myself even though I have not had
enough practice sessions and practice time on track
before the race because of my commitments. So I call
this was my best performance till now.
BC: Which are the toughest and the easiest racing
tracks in the world?
NY: I think Buddh International Circuit is the
toughest amongst the three circuits I have ridden,
Mugello, Sepang, and Buddh. The reason being BCI
is toughest because of its design, which is mainly for
four wheels, and there are a lot of straights, so
covering those straights and then going to the
corners is tough. Sepang is also I consider it tough
because of its twists & turns, and you have to have a
lot of practice and be familiar with the track.
BC: Tell us about your low and high phases of life?
NY: My life has been full of ups and downs, but I
consider my car accident was the lowest phase of
my life which was lethal, people have lost their lives,
but I survived and came out strong. Almost for the
two years post the accident, I went through severe
depression because of my right hand's movement,
which was not coming back.
I went on to meet many surgeons in the country, but
they were not able to understand it, and with each
passing month, it was getting more and more severe.
My case became a study for the doctors here and
abroad. I was not able to perform my daily routines,
like eating and changing clothes. And there came the
point where I would have to leave my dental college
and the career in case the movement did not come
back. I lost my confidence in me.