FEATURE - TAYLA RELPH INTERVIEW - JUST BIKES

FEATURE - Tayla Relph interview

Words: Tayla Relph, Russell Colvin, Mike Ryan

Photos: Russell Colvin, unless indicated.

At time of writing, the inaugural FIM Womens’ Circuit Racing World Championship was just a few weeks away from its opening round. A first for road racing, this all-new, all-female championship runs in conjunction with selected European rounds of the FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK). The six-round championship gets underway at Misano on 14-16 June and concludes at Jerez in October. All riders will be on the Yamaha YZF-R7.

The FIM Womens’ Circuit Racing World Championship (WorldWCR) will feature Aussie representation, with Tayla Relph among the 24 female riders on the grid. Tayla will be racing against talent from all over the globe, like Beatriz Neila Santos, Mallory Dobbs and 2018 World Supersport 300 Champion, Ana Carrasco.

The WorldWCR will be tough, but Tayla is up for the challenge. The 27-year-old has been circuit racing since she was 10, with national-level race and round wins on her CV. An international championship is on a whole new level, though.

Ahead of travelling to Europe for the WorldWCR opener, Tayla sat down with JUST BIKES to talk about what lies ahead.

JUST BIKES: Tell us about your history in racing and motorcycling.

TAYLA RELPH: I started riding motorbikes on my third birthday. Mum and dad took me to a Crusty Demons of Dirt show, where I threw a tantrum and said, 'I want a motorbike' and refused to leave until they said ‘yes’! I started on dirt, like most racers do, then transitioned to road racing at the age of 10.

JB: When did you find out about the WorldWCR and what was the application process?

TR: I follow WorldSBK on socials, so I first found out when it was announced across their social media platforms last October. I wasn’t going to fill out a registration form until they announced the championship would run on Yamaha R7s, then I thought about it a bit more.

We initially had to email through an expression of interest, then further details. The championship then conducted their own research about each rider, I presume. Around 45 registrations were made, but only 24 females were selected.

JB: When did you find out you’d be on the grid – and what was your reaction?

TR: The official confirmation came through via email at 1AM on a Wednesday morning, so safe to say I didn’t get much sleep that day - or the seven days that followed! Confirming our spot entailed sending a 10,000 Euro deposit, which is $17,250 Australian dollars. We were only given seven days from the confirmation email to send that money.

JB: Apart from being the first circuit racing series exclusively for women at an international level, what else makes this championship special?

TR: This will honestly be the turning point that’s needed to help promote women in sport, given it’s provided with the right level of support. This is an historic moment for so many females, and I hope, too, an historic moment for men to rethink their views and opinions to “hey, women racing competitively is actually a normal thing.”

When I was younger, I had no females to look up to in motorcycle racing and there were so many times that I was nearly bullied out of motorsport because I was a female, but I was just so incredibly lucky that I had a supportive family that didn’t let me give up when the nasty comments got to me.

I am so proud that I can now stand tall, on the world stage, and be that positive female role model to younger females - and males - the role model that I wish I had when I was 10 years old. To me, that’s nearly just as significant as lining up on the grid in a World Championship!

JB: What are your feelings ahead of the first round?

TR: It’s safe to say I am feeling all of the emotions that come with looking ahead to racing in my first World Championship season. Every racer has the goal to race in a World Championship, and honestly, I was at a point in my career where I didn’t think that would have been possible. But now, as a 27-year-old, it’s a dream come true.

JB: Looking at the championship’s entry list, who do you think will be the strongest competition?

TR: In all honesty, it’s hard to say who’s going to be fast, who will be at the front, what the championship will look like or what the grid will look like. It’s not really something I am thinking about, I’m just focusing on myself and how I can be the best possible rider when I get over there. I’m not really focusing on the other girls, their results and what they have achieved, as each country has their own level of ‘fast’ riders.

JB: You’re familiar with Yamaha R3’s from ASBK Supersport 300, but WorldWCR runs the larger, heavier R7. Given you only rode an R7 for the first time recently, what are your initial thoughts on the bike?

TR: I’m loving the Yamaha R7 and it’s a bike that I am really enjoying riding. My times so far have been very quick and my pace seems to be getting quicker each time we jump on. The transition so far has been one of the best and smoothest of my whole racing career.

JB: Over in Europe, what support will you have in terms of technical assistance, crew, etc.?

TR: Each rider/team can only have three people working for them, which levels out the playing field, so those running under official teams can’t have an army of support. The championship provides support, consisting of a team of mechanics and suspension/data technicians that we all have access to when needed.

JB: Your dad, Steven, and partner Ted will be travelling with you to Europe. What will their roles be?

TR: Ted is the Team Manager for TAYCO Motorsports and will double as crew chief/mechanic, and my dad’s role will be rider assistant/mechanic.

JB: Where will you be based for the championship?

TR: We will be basing ourselves across several countries, due to visa restrictions and so forth, so we will be living between the UK and certain areas of Europe. Our first month will most likely be spent in Europe to try and get to the circuits prior to racing them.

JB: What are you most looking forward to at the first round?

TR: Just being a part of the World Superbike paddock as a rider. It’s something that every rider dreams of achieving, and now I get to finally be one of those riders. It’s very exciting, to be honest.

JB: Of all the circuits on the calendar, which one do you think will be the most challenging?

TR: Portimão I think will be the most difficult to learn, but in saying that, the style of that circuit is very similar to The Bend Motorsport Park. All tracks will be pretty difficult to learn, given we only have one Free Practice session totalling 20 minutes before we dive into our first qualifying session.

JB: What are your expectations in terms of race results and championship placing?

TR: I know I have some serious pace here in Australia, but racing in Europe is a whole new kettle of fish. We really won’t know until we’re over there, but given how the likes of Marcus Hamod and Cameron Swain went in the European R3 Cup, I wasn’t too far off them at last year’s final round of the Australian Supersport 300 Championship at The Bend.

I really believe I have what it takes to get it on the podium for Australia, and of course, the ultimate dream of being the first ever Women’s Circuit Racing World Champion.

JB: It’s going to cost around $200,000 to compete in the entire championship. You’ve got a GoFundMe page running, but who are some of the organisations and individuals who have provided financial support so far?

TR: While we still have a very long way to go in finding enough funding to do the whole championship, the sponsors who have come on board have been extremely generous. I would like to thank R Marine Crawley, GJ Gardner Homes Warrnambool, AMX Superstores, The Midfield Group, South West Track Days, TAYCO Creative, RST, Kabuto, Capital Property Conveyancing, UNIT Clothing, BFT Warrnambool, Motorcycling Australia and FIM Oceania, Cintay Fabrications and, of course, all the beautiful people who have donated to my GoFundMe page.

JB: What would you say to young female riders who are looking to get into road racing and follow in your wheel tracks?

TR: Never give up, even when things get tough. It’s racing and with that will come ups and downs, but keep pushing and fighting as hard as you can. Set targets you want to get to and, as long as you have those in place and are prepared to put in the hard yards, you will make it, no matter what gender you are.

I hope this Championship is exactly what is needed for females to be represented in the sport of motorcycle road racing.