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| Year
of Birth
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1975 |
Home
Town |
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Glasgow,
but born in Seattle, USA |
Height |
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5 foot 4 inches |
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Racing
Debut |
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Knockhill 2001 |
Best
finish |
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1st |
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Eleanor Forrest became the first lady rider to
win her class during the De Montfort Pre-TT Classic
Road Races 31st May 2004 at Billown, Isle of Man,
on a Leonard Honda which she had not even ridden
before.
Not only was she first in the 350 class, but she
was also second over-all and had lapped every
other competitor in her class. |
A quote from Eleanor after the win: "When
I crossed the finish line I didn't know I had won because
there's nine laps and you don't know where anyone else
is. The organisers waved me over and I thought I'd been
disqualified. When I found out I had won I was completely
gob-smacked.
When I first started racing I think people just thought
'oh, that's nice, a woman's racing', so it's great to
be able to genuinely compete with men - and win."
Eleanor competed in the Manx Grand Prix in 2003 as a
newcomer in the ultra-lightweight class. She started
racing in 2001 on a RS125.
"Although I won the Pre-TT Classic Support race
on a borrowed Classic bike (350 K4 Honda), I also race
a GP125 and GP250 (both my own bikes) plus this year
I have been riding a Classic bike (172cc Honda) for
a sponsor and occasionally a ZX6R. It keeps me busy
but it is great experience."
Eleanor intends to be back on the Isle of Man
in August to compete in the Manx Grand Prix.
How long have you been biking?
I have loved motorbikes since I was a child, and
I got my first road bike in 1996
What inspired you to
start racing?
I had been watching racing since I was a teenager,
and had done a few trackdays, but the turning
point was probably when I went to watch road racing
in Northern Ireland, the Ulster Grand Prix and
North West 200. There were a couple of female
racers out, Kate Parkinson and Anita Buxton -
who really impressed me. I didn't start racing
because I thought I was fast, it was more because
I had always dreamt of riding as fast as I wanted
on the road without any constraints (like traffic
or speed limits).
Do you have a regular team or occasional helpers?
Who?
My female friends are not really interested in
racing, and most Scottish guys are more interested
in short circuits, so last year I went to many
of the road races, including the Southern 100,
myself with my two bikes. However, I was not alone
for long! Last year and this year I have been
helped at every race meeting by Noel Gault who
has been a star, and a number of other people
such as Adrian Elwood and his team, Terry Gilmour
and Joe Wright. Stewart Cole (Scotune) helps me
prepare my race bikes. He came to the Manx with
me last year, and I could not have managed without
him. Last year my sister Catriona and my friend
Diane came to one meeting and hopefully they were
not put off !
I just want to race on the roads so badly that
I am prepared to travel to meetings alone. But
of course it is a lot more fun if you've got someone
to help you !
Who are your sponsors?
Seacat provide me with crossings to Ireland and
back so that I can contest the Irish road race
championships. Stewart Cole helps me prepare the
bikes and KBC provide me with helmets. I ride
a Classic bike for Sam Dempster plus Peter Berwick,
Terry Gilmour and Adrian Elwood also support me.
I don't have a race team or any financial sponsors.
What are your plans after
this season?
I plan to continue racing on the public roads
in 2005. I hope to do the Irish road race championships,
the Manx Grand Prix, Southern 100, Pre-TT Classic
and perhaps a couple of meetings at Scarborough,
all going well.
What are your ambitions?
It is known to take 3-4 years to learn public
roads circuits, which is very different from short
circuits! I am prepared to be patient and serve
my time like all of the best road racers have
done. But ultimately, I would like to be a genuine
contender on the roads in every class I contest.
My aim is to be known as a really fast rider,
not just fast for a girl!!
What do you do in your
spare time?
I run about 30 miles a week, do some fell running,
the occasional marathon & half marathon, and
I love hill walking. During race season and even
out of season I spend a lot of time working on
my bikes - I find it really satisfying. I make
my own decisions about gearing, jetting, bike
improvements and so on. I am like a sponge for
information - Stewart Cole and Peter Berwick have
both taught me a lot.
Who's your favourite
racing hunk?
Max Biaggi
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