She’s just 19, but she touches speeds above 130kph on the track. Rehana Reya, from Chennai, the winner of the inaugural All Ladies HOMR (Honda One Make Race) in Chennai, at the Madras Motor Race Track
For how long have you been riding motorcycles?
I started riding a year ago, when I turned 18 and got my driving licence. I learnt on Yamaha YZF-R15. Currently I am part of the Biker Babez team, a motorsports club based in Chennai.
Who is your inspiration?
My brother Abdul Wahab. He is a former TVS Motor racer, and national champion in 2011 and 2012.
How were you selected to take part in this race?
My team had an opportunity from Honda. The Ten10 Racing Academy trained me, and others, for a day. What I have discovered is that, on the track, even if you go fast, you still are safe because you are wearing a suit, helmet, boots and gloves.
Who was your trainer?
S Sarath Kumar from Ten10 Racing; he is one of the most successful racers from India.
What all did you learn after winning this race?
I learnt discipline, concentrating on your target, and how to push your body and mind to the limits to achieve your goal. One more takeaway is that if you want to show your racing talent, you should do it on a track. Public roads are no place to race. Unfortunately, all across India, we see boys racing their bikes on public roads; that is silly and should be avoided.
Which is your dream bike?
While I love Harley-Davidson motorcycles and I want to buy KTM 390 Duke, my dream bike is Ducati Diavel. I like Vespa scooters too.
Do you look forward to more such races?
We want more companies to step in for conducting women track races in India. There are a lot of participants from other parts of the country; all they need is proper support.