The Future is Female: Ana Carrasco Wins World SSP300, Makes History
20-year-old Spaniard, Ana Carrasco, became the first woman to win an individual World Championship motorcycle race, the WorldSupersport 300 series at the Portimão Circuit in Portugal, aboard sport bike Kawasaki Ninja 300.
The tension arose at an all-time high approaching the 11th lap of the final section. Mere seconds before leader Marc García crossed the finish line, Carrasco emerged from behind and overtook him, followed by Coppolo who gunned it at the same time as Carrasco and also overtook García, whom then led Daniel Valle and finally, Mike Pérez.
It was a very tight race with Carrasco sitting at seventh place overall, 57 points; Coppola with 102 points is the World Champion of the 2017 series, followed closely by García with 101 points.
Carrasco, who began riding when she was only three years of age, told World SBK, “I am very happy about this result. I want to share it with all my team. We have worked very hard and we have been making progress in each race.”
She made her debut at 16 on the 2013 Moto3 circuit when she became first woman to score points in a motorcycling race at a world championship level ever since Katja Poensgen in 2001. In 2016, she competed in the European Moto2 series before joining the World SSP300.
Hailed as ‘The Lightweight Champion’, the 296cc beauty was powerful enough for Carrasco to defeat her male competitors. It also has an F.C.C. clutch with assist and slipper functions to achieve a lighter lever feel and smoother downshifts. Its Digital Fuel Injection (DFI) provides exceptional throttle response and fuel efficiency. The Ninja supersport-inspired aerodynamic design, available in the colours Pearl Blizzard White and Candy Plasma Blue, consists of 17-inch 10-spoke wheels as well as a large tachometer and multi-function display.
Images: Ana Carrasco