BIKERS CLUB SEPTEMBER 2019 ISSUE | Page 9

THE INTERVIEW Aishwarya Pissay BY BIKERS CLUB BC: Aishwarya Pissay, the 23-year-old biker who is a national and international rally champion? How does it feel? AP: I feel extremely happy to bear the Indian flag on international platforms and be the first Indian athlete to have won a world championship on motorcycles at the FIM Baja Rally Cup 1st in Women's & 2nd in Juniors. BC: Why MOTORSPORTS? How did you start road racing? And how long have you been racing? AP: I started riding motorcycles as a passion. Riding gave me a sense of freedom and I felt alive every time I was on a bike. Over a period when I had travelled a bit on motorcycles. I started training at Apex racing academy for circuit racing after which I started racing and winning a couple of championships, and due to my performance in 2017, TVS Racing signed me on as a factory racer which helped me pursue racing professionally. BC: When did you decide, that you want to become a professional road racer? What was your family's reaction? Do your family support you? AP: I come from a conservative family where doing anything apart from a 9 to 5 job is a taboo, so they wanted me to get a 9 to 5 job and pursue this as a passion. But when TVS racing signed me on, things changed and their thinking too. BC: Tell us about the struggle behind being Aishwarya Pissay. AP: It has not been a easy journey, I am a self made person as I started working at the age of 18 and have been supporting my mother to run the house and also funding my training, racing etc,. BC: How many bikes you own? which is your favourite bike? why? AP: I own the TVS Apache RR 310. My favourite is the TVS Apache RTR 450 Off-road machine. BC: Any particular bike you DISLIKE? AP: No! WWW.BIKERSCLUB.IN