Lynch set for big debut

CLONDALKIN motorbike racer Nicole Lynch will make her debut in the WIL Sport European Junior Cup in Spain on Saturday, April 3, becoming the first Irish female rider to ever be selected for the competition.
The series will be held at eight of the European rounds of the FIM Motul World Superbike Championship with Lynch competing in Spain, Germany the Netherlands, United Kingdom, Italy and France from April to October 2016, returning to Ireland after each round.
She is one of only six female riders racing in year’s cup and she said: “I’m delighted and so excited to be involved in such a big global event.
“The championships have many big name riders, but because they are in the minority, I’m told that the female racers usually attract a lot of interest from the media and the scouts.
“It will give me an opportunity to try and prove myself and help me to pursue my dream of becoming a professional motorbike racer.
“It’s going to be tough and challenging as the standard is very high, no matter what happens, taking part will be the experience of a lifetime. “
In a new initiative launched in 2015, to encourage more participation in the sport, Lynch and her female rivals will also be racing to take the women’s European Cup trophy, presented to the overall highest scoring female competitor in the Junior Cup.
So that the focus is on talent, the European Junior Cup is a one-make class; each rider is provided with an identical, race-prepared Honda CBR 650F and individual technical support at each venue.
They can also bring their own mechanic but, to prevent any illegal modifications, all machines are kept by the organiser and transported from race to race.
Lynch added: “Because of the way the European Junior Cup is set up, the first time that I will actually get to even sit on my race bike will be two days before my first race.
“However, Cotter Motorcycles in Ballymount have been brilliant, they stepped in and provided me with a 2015 version of the exact bike on which I’ve been practising hard for the past few months.”
The European audiences for the championships run into the millions with live TV and extended highlights coverage on British Eurosport, Channel 4, Eurosport (Pan-Europe) as well as stations in Spain and Italy where the sport is hugely popular.
“Taking part in the Cup is costing in excess of €50,000 and there is still plenty of opportunities for a sponsor to become involved and benefit from the exposure that this event attracts”, said Lynch, who provides regular updates to her growing audience on her Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts in addition to writing a monthly diary since 2015 for Bike Buyers Guide, Ireland’s largest bike magazine.