Aishwarya Pissay: The female pro biker who is speeding ahead

Aishwarya Pissay

Aishwarya Pissay, a professional biker from Bengaluru, who has 4 championships to her name, is making waves all over with her zest for the sport. In a country where most people do not look beyond a few sports such as cricket, football and hockey, Aishwarya has managed to not only opt for a rarely pursued profession but also excel in it. Aishwarya Pissay has not had it easy ever since she decided to enter professional motorcycle racing, but that did not deter her from pursuing her dreams. Aishwarya tells us about herself, the sport she loves so much and her plans for the future.

1. Could you tell us a little about your background?
I was raised in Bangalore and I am a professional motorcycle racer today. My love and passion for motorcycling happened by chance when I took a year off post-high-school in 2014. I used to go riding with my college seniors around the city of Bangalore and that is where I picked up riding.

2. When did you develop a fascination with racing?
The seeds to my fascination for racing were sown in my childhood as I used to watch MotoGP races with my father and was thrilled to see the racers in action. Once I picked up motorcycling, I took part in ‘Chase the Monsoon' (Kutch to Cherapunji), Saddle Sores (1,000 miles in 24 hours) and Bun Burner (2,500 miles in 36 hours). After successfully finishing these rides, my friends encouraged me to take part in races professionally through Apex racing academy and here I am.

3. What were the challenges you faced when you decided to pursue this career?
Coming from a conservative society, women racers or riders don't get much support or recognition. However, I have always believed that riding a bike is not rocket science and if somebody else can do it, so can I. When it comes to racing, motorsport is an emerging sport in India, which is gaining impetus thanks to the efforts taken by teams such as TVS Racing. It gives me a great sense of pride to be associated with a name like TVS Racing who are supporting young riders to pursue their passion and have been committed to racing for over 35 years.

While the conservative society is one part of the battle for a woman racer, it's not an easy decision for anyone irrespective of gender to become a full-time racer in India. I took part in my first race in February 2016 and failed miserably. That was a turning point in my life and I practiced hard under the guidance of a few experienced coaches, who helped me improve my fitness, and riding skills on the track.

4. How do you prepare mentally and physically for a race?
I clearly believe that it is not just the long hours of practice on the race track that keeps a rider in form but a consistent daily nutrition and fitness regime is equally essential. My daily routine includes a lot of physical fitness, visualization and meditation. I follow a strict diet and spend a lot of time practicing on the race track. With my coach, my family and TVS Racing standing by my side, I am prepared mentally and physically for all the races.

5. Who is your favorite professional racer?
My favorite racer is Laia Sanz, who is also referred as the Queen of Dakar owing to her exemplary performance.

6. What lies in store for you ahead?
The last year has been quite a stellar year for me as I won four championships: Women's category of Raid De Himalaya 2017, Dakshin Dare 2017, Indian National Rally Championship (INRC), Indian National Motorcycle Racing Championship 2017 and TVS Apache Ladies One Make Championship 2017. My current focus is on beating my best, improving my skills both in rallies and road racing and practicing hard to better my performance in 2018. It is my dream to be racing at Dakar in the future and I am working towards that.

7. Could you list your favorite female sports person both - both national and international?
My favorite sports people are PV Sindhu, Mary Kom, Saina Nehwal and Serena Williams.

8. Do you have any word of advice for budding female sports stars?
Growing up in this sport, I didn't have someone to look up to but having come this far thanks to my coaches and friends, I believe that nothing is impossible. I see myself growing in this sport and also hope to inspire a new generation of young girls to race.

While focus is the key to success, racing is a whole new platform, especially for women, when it comes to experimenting with speed and pushing their limits. It makes me feel alive every second, and hence for all the women racers out there I will say, just go for it. It is not going to be an easy journey but if you have the dedication to go further, nothing can stop you.

It is difficult to explain the adrenalin rush one gets through racing. I am proud to be a racer and am happy to see more women joining the clan. However, dedication needs to be backed by practice and skillsets - There are platforms such as TVS Racing who are focused on identifying new racing talent from across the country and providing them with an opportunity to live their racing dream.

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