Nicole Van Aswegen has qualified to represent South Africa at the FIM World Women’s Super Bike Championship in Europe.
South Africa (27 March 2024) — Nicole Van Aswegen has her heart set on Europe to represent South Africa at the first-ever FIM Women’s Motorcycling World Championship. The championship will take place at six European tracks, including the United Kingdom, Italy, Portugal, Hungary, and Spain. Her racing number is #21!
Nicole has had an incredible career to date. She has a full-time job, so she spends her weekends training and racing wherever she can. She started competing in the sport in 2005. She has made waves in the South African Motorcycle industry as the first female motorcycle racer to ever compete in the 600cc South African National Championship in 2009.
Continuing to make history in 2015, Nicole became the first lady to ever podium in a National SuperSport race.
In 2023, she was appointed as the BMW South Africa Brand Ambassador and Motorsport South Africa Brand Ambassador and finished 4th overall in the Superbike 1000 class.
The challenges she has faced and overcome have paved the path for many young women who aspire to compete in the very male-dominated arena that is motorsport.
Nicole is ready to take on the challenges of the 2024 sporting season and this year is a major one for women’s motorsport. The inaugural FIM Women’s Motorcycling World Championship will see a major international super bike competition bring the world’s best together.
Each participant needs to put up 25,000€ and then cover their travel costs and the like. The 25,000€ entry fee covers the use of a GYTR race-kitted 2023 Model Year Yamaha YZF R7 and basic essentials, such as Pirelli tyres, fuel and racing service. Nicole has already covered the deposit of 10,000€ and she has launched a BackaBuddy fund to hopefully get the South African public behind her efforts as well. South Africans have already helped Nicole reach 45% of her goal to cover the remaining money needed to compete.
Nicole has managed to gather an impressive list of sponsors who are supporting her. These include Motorsport South Africa, FIM Africa, the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture, Amlagum Welding Shop, Andalaft Racing, Bikewise, Hi-tech Elements, Arai Helmets and Onex Race Suits.
“I would just like to thank my current sponsors for all the support thus far, I am super excited about this adventure because in South Africa I have only been racing against guys.”
We asked Nicole about her hopes for the championship, and she shared that she would love to earn a podium, but just the chance to compete is exciting.
“My goal would obviously be to podium place, but I will be happy with a top 5 and just to be racing against these girls is a privilege, as they race for a living and get paid to practice all week, I have an 8-5 day job so can only ride weekends”
Nicole has set up a BackaBuddy fund so if you would like to support her, you can donate here. You can also email Nicole here if you have other sponsorship opportunities to share with her.
The Championship Race Dates and Tracks
- Round 1: 14th – 16th June – Misano World Circuit ITA
- Round 2: 12th – 14th July – Donington Park Circuit GBR
- Round 3: 9th – 11th August – Autodromo Internacional do Algarve POR
- Round 4: 23rd – 25th August – Balaton Park Circuit HUN
- Round 5: 20th – 22nd September – Cremona Circuit ITA
- Round 6: 11th – 13th October – Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto ESP
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