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Connecting women and opportunity

Womanthology is a digital magazine and professional community powered by female energy and ingenuity.

Connecting women and opportunity

Womanthology is a digital magazine and professional community powered by female energy and ingenuity.

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Nita Korhonen, Director of the FIM Women in Motorcycling Commission – Women riders make history by showing their speed and skill to take all three podium spots in mixed race, with the best male rider finishing fourth

FIM Women in Motorcycling Training Camp

Nita Korhonen was appointed Director of the Women in Motorcycling Commission (CFM), which is part of the Féderération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM), in October 2012. Nita has been a member of CFM since it was established in 2006, with her responsibilities rapidly developing beyond her initial PR and media relations remit to become the leadership role she occupies today. She has a Master’s degree from Finland’s University of Jyväskylä’s Sport Science Management training programme, having written her thesis for the FIM about the factors of success of 54 world champion motorcyclists.

Nita Korhonen
Nita Korhonen

“…we didn’t want to limit the camps only for pro or possible future racers, but also wanted to offer this possibility for amateur riders as well. After three camps it seems that we made the right decision…”

Women in Motorcycling – getting more women into the highest level of road racing

This was the third time we organised a training camp for women together with BMW Motorrad Motorsport and the second time when Bike Promotion was on board as well. This road racing project was started in May 2013 when we had a meeting with Dornaat Jerez MotoGP event where we discussed the possibilities how to get more women into the highest level of road racing – after all Ana Carrasco for example has done a great job in MotoGP.

High level training camps

We decided that the high level training camps are the best possibility to both see the level of female riders and to improve their riding and racing skills. However, we didn´t want to limit the camps only for pro or possible future racers, but also wanted to offer this possibility for amateur riders as well. After three camps it seems that we made the right decision. Now in Brno we had four different groups in order to be able to provide everyone what they needed.

26 women from 11 countries

In Brno we had 26 women from 11 different countries so this was our record. This time we also had a race for the first time. All who wanted could take part of the mixed competition between female and male riders and it was pretty cool to see the podium full of only women.

Word has spread – ex MotoGP riders offering their support

FIM Women in Motorcycling Training CampI am also happy that the word about our camps has spread around and I have been contacted by ex MotoGP riders who would like to give their input to our camp. This time Simon Crafar, who is highly appreciated racer and instructor, joined our camp by holding a work shop for the participants.

Also our other trainers ex MotoGP rider Jürgen Fuchs, Sabine Holbrook, female Supersport 600 rider in the FIM European Alpe Adria Championship and Maria Costello MBE, who held the Guinness World Record for being the fastest woman to lap the Isle of Man TT course for five years gained really good feedback from the participants.

Legendary circuit

We organised two previous camps in Spain, at Albacete and Almeria circuits and now this was our first time at the legendary Brno MotoGP circuit. I am sure we will go back there as we all enjoyed so much riding on this beautiful track. You just can´t think anything better than riding with BMW S 1000 RR on that circuit. The bike is just so powerful but smooth and easy to handle which everyone – including me – appreciated a lot. 

Mixed gender open race made history

 

We had 26 girls from 11 different countries in Brno, we made history in a mixed gender open race showing that many of the women on the camp are extremely strong competitors, and it would be great to see more women competing at the highest level of road racing. And, more importantly, everyone genuinely enjoyed themselves. So all in all we are really happy and already discussing the possibility to organise the next camp in February in Spain.

http://www.fim-live.com/en/

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