Four years of European competition came to a climax for Auckland Motorcycle Club member, Avalon Biddle, when she secured the 2015 European Women’s Cup title last weekend at Jerez in Spain.
With just one round remaining this coming weekend in France, Biddle has an unassailable points lead, following five wins (Aragon, Donington, Portimao, Misano & Jerez), and two DNF’s, in the seven races to date.
Running as part of the European Junior Cup, in support of the World Superbike Championship, the result came on the eve of Biddle’s 23rd birthday.
Having started riding at age 5 in mini motocross, Biddle’s racing career took off when she started in Auckland Motorcycle Club miniature road-race at the Mt Wellington Kart Club circuit in 2006, quickly followed by Streetstock and 125GP.
Since that time she has been a regular competitor in both the Auckland Motorcycle Club Summer Series, and the New Zealand National Road-Race Championships.
Twice runner-up in the National 125GP category, Biddle has won both the NZ Grand Prix and NZ Tourist Trophy titles in this class.
More recently her summer focus has been on the 600’s, however for the 2014-2015 National Championships she accepted an invitation to compete in Superlite, and delivered a National title on the Yamaha R450 of road-race commissioner Greg Percival.
2012 was Biddle’s first season in Europe. Based in Italy and competing in the Italian Women’s Championship, Biddle secured a fine second placing Overall, on a Honda CBR600RR.
2013 proved more challenging; and for 2014 Biddle reverted to the Moto3 class, still running in the Italian CIV. It was a development year for the brand-new Rumi Moto3 machine, but valuable experience was gained, and tangible progress was made with both the engine and chassis of the 250cc four-stroke weapon.
For 2015, the lure of the European Women’s Cup led to Biddle’s first International Championship victory. On the world stage, in a one-make class (running Honda CBR650F’s), Biddle has been the class of the Women’s field in 2015, setting a benchmark for fellow Auckland Motorcycle Club members, and the wider New Zealand road-race community, to emulate.
‘It’s a long shot for a Kiwi to win a motorcycling championship in Europe, which is the mecca for our form of racing. There are few people who have done it, (with one being my boyfriend Jake Lewis who won the European Junior Cup title in 2013). He’s supported me massively this year, as well as ex-pat Kiwi MotoGP racer, Simon Crafar. These guys inspired me – and in turn I hope I can inspire other Kiwis and females to persist in following their dreams, no matter the obstacles or criticism they face along the way. I’ve been racing for 10 years now so it’s a long road to get here.’
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