The Sunday News
Dalphine Tagwireyi
MOTORCYCLE racing has predominantly been a preserve of men and with the gradual growth of the sport in the country, Zimbabwe boasts only two female bikers.
Motorcycle racing, also known as motor racing or bike racing is a sport of racing motorcycles. Major genres include road racing and off road racing, either on circuits or open courses, and track racing. Other categories include hill climbs, drag racing and land speed record trials.
One of the country’s bike racing rising stars is Tiffany Fisher.
Only in his second year since she started racing, the 27-year-old Fisher has been awarded an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity after having started her racing career in 2013 on the megelli 250 class.
In what she described as a major highlight in her bike racing career, Fisher was chosen to be part of South Africa’s Monroe Racing Team for the 2015 season.
In an interview with Sunday Leisure Sport last week, an enthusiastic and optimistic Fisher said her perseverance in the male dominated sport has seen her dominate in the national series against seasoned male bikers hence her being snapped by the South African team.
“The national series was an intense competition as the seasoned bikers I was racing against dominated the sport for long and it was a notable achievement as I beat them and won my first race against them all,” said Fisher.
Monroe Racing South Africa is a professional race team sponsored by Monroe Shock Absorbers in South Africa.
After impressing Monroe officials during the Zimbabwe national championship Series last season, Fisher was selected to be part of the South African team. She tested her new machine, the Adrenalin/Monroe Honda 600 at Kyalami Race Track in Johannesburg last year. And as part of the deal Fisher will also promote the Monroe brand in Zimbabwe.
“My brother inspired me to learn how to ride a bike and I also had encouragement from other male bikers to start racing. I’m so glad I did that and kept with it because the perseverance has paid off, this is the beginning of bigger things,” said an elated Fisher.
Last year, Fisher battled it out for top honours against seasoned male riders such as her Harare counterpart, Phil Archenoul and Bulawayo riders Ian Gutherless, Tim Schultz, Fuzzy Walker and Dave Moaut in the superbikes section of the national Series.
And only last weekend at the John Love Trophy national champs at the Victoria Fall Road circuit in Bulawayo Fisher came out tops in the Megelli 250cc category beating the likes of Mouat, Vaughn Blom and Matthew Schultz.
“It is such an exciting sport, I can finally say I’m in the same league as the guys and its easy for one to make a mark by setting out to have fun and being determined and also just being there to compete with the guys as they treated me as an equal,” she said.
“In motorbike racing, Bianca Schultz from Bulawayo is the only other female motorcycle rider in Zimbabwe and I am grateful for the recognition (from Monroe) as this is predominantly a man’s sport as their belief in me is the boost I need to continue dominating,” said Fisher, adding that it was a privilege to be part of the Monroe SA racing team and Adrenaline Power Sport as she had learnt so much from them.
When she tested the Honda in SA at Kyalami last year in December she said she had wonderful support and guidance from experienced racers who ply their trade with the Monroe team.
“In fact, it just shows that motorsport is no longer exclusively for men in Zimbabwe as we women are doing extremely well in the sport and at times are performing better than men and I have complete respect for all of the race competitors,” she said.
Fisher disclosed that she will feature in the national championship in Zimbabwe alongside her South African teammate Themba Khumalo.
“I think it’s a privilege to be included in the Monroe Racing Team, they are a great team and I’m learning so much more about motorbike racing. I’m really excited and can’t wait to get the races started as the motoring season has already started,” she said.
Prior to her current team, Fisher had been racing for Sables Motor Club and in her maiden appearance in bike racing she turned out for Survivors.
“I haven’t met any challenges as a female biker, in fact I have been supported the whole time since my interest in the sport grew and now that I am a team member for Munroe. I have had no challenges as a Zimbabwean female racer, in fact I hope to give everyone out there a challenge and not be awarded favours because of my gender. I prefer to be treated as an equal,” she said.
Fisher said she followed a natural healthy diet and an exercise routine of two hours a session twice a day.
“I find it extremely competitive as I will be challenging national champions who have dominated in the sport hence I need to be fit and well prepared and there is a growing interest in participating among individuals,” she said.
She encouraged more female participation in the sport.
“It would be great to have more female racers because it is just Bianca and I and we keep each other motivated, however we need female domination to scrap off the notion that only men can achieve in racing.
The inclusion of Fisher in the Monroe Racing Team for the 2015 season comes as a big boost to the sport in Zimbabwe as most riders in this country have been struggling to find sponsors or a big team to ride for in the local Series.
