Kathy, or Kat, is racing an SV650 bike in the Bemsee Clubman Minitwin Championship in 2007. She started racing in 2006, completing a full season on a 400 in the Rookie 400 series.

How long have you been biking?
Always had a love of bikes since being a little girl, which was confirmed after a pillion ride on my uncle's RG500 when I was around 12 years old, it was fantastic. My Aunty also had a bike, which I thought was really cool, really inspired me to ride my own bike.

As a teenager I spent plenty of time riding pillion on ex boyfriends bikes but always want to ride. Finally in 2002 booked on a Direct access course, I passed my test on the 2nd attempt (19-11-02)had a shiny SV650s ready and waiting in the garage at home (which I promptly dropped on the drive, first time out!!)

Had the SV for about 10 months it was a great bike to learn on but I wanted something a little faster (to keep up with the boys!!) Bought an ZXR6 Ninja off of Ebay and rode it back from Birmingham, woooohooo it was fantastic I found it loads smoother and faster, (wont say how fast it went on that journey home!!)

In Nov 2004 swapped my Smart car for the 03 limited edt Yellow R6. Wow what a bike, I really miss it. Alas the R6 was sold to pay for the race bike (ZXR4). Not sure how Im going to manage this year without a road bike, will really miss the ride outs..

What inspired you to start racing?
This web site!! As soon as I saw this site and realised girls were out there doing it. Did my first track day in June 05 at the ladies day, and haven’t looked back (also have avoided looking at my bank statements!!)

What are your ambitions?
To make it on the podium!!

Who are your mentors and who do you look up to in racing?
Mentors have been Moose and Sooz, they have been a great help and massive inspiration, along with the rest of the girls!!

Who is my Hero?? All of the GP riders, their talent amazes me everytime I watch (if only)

What do you do in your spare time?
Don’t have a lot of spare time; I work Full time as a Diagnostic Test engineer for Affiniti (Telecoms) When not working Im usually out walking our dogs, we have a Great Dane and a Labrador, they are the love of my life (sad I know)

Who's your favourite racing hunk?
Hmmm so many to choose.... Probably Marco Melandri

Race my report Lydden Hill 24th /25th March.

Clubman Minitwins, Clubman 400 

Set off from Sunny Wakefield “ Up North” on Wednesday morning 10.30am, stopped via Peterborough to pick up Susie Grayson’s pikey caravan ( Thanks Sooz) and dragged it to Lydden. Crappy roadworks and being cluless in all things Caravan eventually managed to get there for 5pm!!  Then had the Krypton factor challenge attempting to erect the large team marquee in the freezing cold (and dark), massive thanks to Leila for driving over to help. Spent a cold night in pikey van, other team members not arriving till early hours the next morning..

Thursday,  Brrwwww bit chilly.  Spent my first full day on track on the Sv650, it’s completely different beast to the 400 I’m used to so just tried to remember the track and get used to the bike…
Drove to MHP to pick up Deb Cartwright’s RVF.

Race 1 Clubman 400
I must be mad but have only ever had 1 session on a track day on Debs bike :oO, Got a great grid spot as managed to complete a few races last year (Only just!!) was a change not to be right at the back, so tried to make the most of it. Managed to pull 2 massive wheelies on the start !! and spent the rest of the race trying to recover….Overall gridded 6th and finished 8th . Was reasonably happy on a new bike.

Race 9 Clubman Minitwits
1st race on the Minitwin, some very fast rookies / riders in this class so again wanted to take full advantage of my great grid position 8th……

Lost the front 1st corner on the warm up lap!!!

Race 10 Clubman 400
I admit it was a little silly to run x2 classes but I figured the experienced would do me some good and possibly make up for the amount I missed last year (crash happy) Was unlucky enough to have the first and last races of the day. This worked well and for 1st and last sessions but  did mean that I would have 2  race’s together in the afternoon..  Everything had been arranged for the 400 to be waiting in collecting after completing the race on the MT.  As I had crashed had to abandon the bike and run like the wind to collecting for the next race, just managed to make it in time!! jumped on the RVF then realise my transponder was still fastened to the minitwin… Was eventually allowed out, massive thanks to BB & the time keeping peeps for manually timing my race… More points for this as well??
Started 8th finished 7th.

Missed the last Clubman MT’s as bike still poorly.

Sunday
Race 1 Clubman 400

Started 7th and finished 7th Managed my fastest time of the day but still very very slow into Paddock.

Race 11 Clubman Minitwin
1st race on my new bike.  Started in 30th place at the very back of the grid, not sure why but was a little more nervous than the norm. Quite a few crashes in this race, and found myself dodging bikes in various places.  Hope everyone is ok??  Finished 18th .

Race 12 Clubman 400
Started 7th and finished 7th, think someone’s bike caught fire in front of me during this race…

Race 22 Clubman Mini’s
Started 18th and finished 17th, starting to feel a little more at home on the bike.

Overall not a bad weekend on 2 new bikes. Hoping to get some tracktime in on the SV so I can learn to rider her properly.

 Looking forward to Snett.

Kat on Deb's 400

... and on her SV650

Chris on the SV