This months feature includes the forward thinking legendary female motorcycle maverick Marjorie Cottell. And chat with Lissy Whitmore, a talented young rider already making her mark on future motorcycle racing.
Marjorie Cottell (images 1 and 2) Lissy Whitmore (images 3 and 4)
When we talk of the BSB, WSBK, MotoGP, MotoX, Sidecars, we think of being "a man's world", but history shows women have been making a mark in motorcycle racing for many years, almost since bikes began. Female motorcycle racers have been participating for almost a hundred years.
In a world of equality it is hard to remember a time back when most forms of motorcycling was classed negatively as being too dangerous for females to compete.
Looking as far back as the early 1920s, there has always been women racing. These maverick, strong-willed females, were breaking the stigma as being butch, unattractive and unfeminine.
Throughout decades, these female racers have been making their mark on racing, becoming legends in their own right, and succeeding in breaking world records as they go.
Today, a female racing a motorcycle or bike at high-speed in what is known as a periodically a man's sport is changing, influenced largely by a steady increase of females venturing into the sport.
This was having a huge impact on the amount of females riding bikes today.
In the US, a survey carried out by the Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC) of about 48,000 households, when asked to share their top three reasons for riding, the women responded with “fun and recreation,” followed by “sense of freedom” and “enjoy outdoors/nature.” Their most important factors for choosing and purchasing their motorcycles were “fuel economy” and “test rides”. Female motorcycle owners in 2015 were at an all time high with 14% of all bike owners. This has been a steady increase since 1998, when the number was now a staggering 8%. The number of female owners actually more than doubled between 2003 and 2014. Among the more than 30 million who have “ever swung a leg over a motorcycle”, 25% are women when passengers are figured in. When surveyed, 34% of the women owned cruisers, followed by scooters at 33% and sport bikes at 10%.
Here we take a look at some of these racers, past and present, their stories, and interviews from across the field of motorcycle racing achieving and fulfilling dreams, including what it takes to be a successful female motorcycle racer.
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Marjorie Cottle, one of the earliest female racers on record, an all time favourite maverick, was one of Britain’s best-known trail blazers motorcyclist in the 1920s, and considered to be one of the greatest trial riders in the country – male or female.
Marjorie was born in 1900, in Wallasey, Merseyside, and in her teenage years she began to share a keen interest in her father’s enthusiasm for motorcycling. When her interest advanced to racing, her father provided her first road bike – a scrap single speed Premier, which she had to set about rebuilding from scratch.
It wasn't long before she advanced to an ex-WD Model H Triumph with which she entered her first off-road event, a grass hill climb organised by her local Liverpool club. The event was going to prove difficult for the bike, but with a modification of her own doing, she knotted her mother’s washing-line around the rear tyre, improving grip sufficiently for her to become a joint winner of the event.
When sponsorship from a local manufacturer did not work out, it was motorcycle dealer, Vic Horsman came to her rescue with the loan of a Raleigh with which she gained a gold medal in a tough reliability trial. Raleigh was so impressed that Marjorie was offered a full works machine for the 1923 Scottish Six Days Trial.
Despite the appalling weather, it proved to make this a particularly gruelling event for even the most accomplished riders, but Marjorie came through, securing a gold medal in the results. Raleigh was so delighted the company even gave her a commemorative carriage clock in appreciation.
In 1924, Raleigh provided a side valve 348cc Model 5 for her to ride around the coast of Britain. Factory competition manager Hugh Gibson took a sidecar outfit around the same route in the opposite direction. It was a hugely successful publicity stunt, drawing huge crowds to see the riders call in at the Raleigh agents, boosting interest in bikes and sales on the way. In the process she became a walking advertisement for women in motorcycling. Women were now not only seeing bikes as an independent form of transport, they were cost effective to run.
It was in the following year, during those pre-PC days of 1925, the ACU banned women from road racing, fearful of the publicity that might result from an accident. However, this did not apply to off-road competition and this is where Marjorie excelled.
In 1926, Marjorie married Jack Watson-Bourne, formerly a successful TT rider and, like Marjorie, now supported by Raleigh to ride in trials.
The list of her successes would be the envy of any rider as her endeavours were not confined to local club trials, she competed at the highest level. She rode in the ISDT several times as well as the Scott Trial, arguably the toughest of any one-day event.
That same year, Marjorie became part of an all-female team, along with Edyth Foley (Triumph) and Louie McLean (Douglas) to contest the ISDT as a three-woman Vase team. Their inclusion in the Derbyshire-based event raised little interest, but the following year’s trial was held in the Lake District. The team were invited to take a trip around Europe of several thousand miles. They visited several countries and they stayed as guests of various continental motorcycle clubs.
'By 1939, she was riding for Triumph and was entered on a 250cc Tiger 70 for the ill-fated ISDT of 1939. Before completing full distance the British Army team was ordered home and they took Marjorie with them, making a break for neutral Switzerland before returning to their home country'.
When Raleigh revised business plans in 1930, it withdrew its support for trials. Marjorie went t BSA and continued her successful career. By 1939, she was riding for Triumph and was entered on a 250cc Tiger 70 for the ill-fated ISDT of 1939. Before completing full distance the British Army team was ordered home and they took Marjorie with them, making a break for neutral Switzerland before returning to their home country.
She was a dispatch rider for the Home Guard in the war. Unfortunately, her husband did not survive the conflict. When peace returned, Marjorie became a sales representative for BSA. According to some accounts, Marjorie far preferred being out on a bike than being in a showroom talking about them. Apparently, she also took an interest in car trials, but maintained her enthusiasm for bikes, with appearances at various events. She was reunited with her 1939 ISDT Triumph in 1972, when she took it for a spin in the Isle of Man. Her last ride was in 1980, when she rode a Gilera in the Isle of Man on private property as she had no crash helmet. In 1987, at 87 years old, Marjorie passed away peacefully.
Her legacy ~ Marjorie’s successful career in racing would have future direct impact and influence on the rise of other female rider’s careers, such as Jessie Ennis became a New Imperial works rider in 1927.
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Lissy Whitmore, is one of the most impressive and forward thinking young racers today is no exception. Born 2004, from Bourne in Lincolnshire, and just 16 years old, sharing her love of motorcycle racing with her father, she has been racing since 2017. Lissy, as a teenager she is already making her mark on female racing and states her enthusiasm for the sport.
How did you get interested in motorcycle racing?
"In late January 2017, my dad took me to Fulbeck kart track near Grantham, to watch (BSB) British Mini Bike Championship winter series round. While I was there I met Abbz Thomas who was racing there. She was amazing and so fast, that is when all the trouble started for my dad.
By Easter 2017, my dad had sold his road bike and got me a new IMR 140 pit bike Supermoto and we turned up at Stretton kart track near Leicester for my first ride. I love it!
I went on to take part in 5 (BMB) British Mini Bike Championship rounds that year, finishing in the points at every round and getting my first top 10 results in the wet at Llandow, South Wales.
In 2017/18 winter series, I got my first podium at 3 Sisters Circuit, Wigan, and finished the championship in 4th place."
Who would you say has influenced you the most, are your racing heroes so far?
"There's so many people, but I think the biggest two influences are my dad and my friend Ben Godfrey, as well as all of my racing mates. Also, Kevin Schwantz.
Jenny Tinmouth has been a big influence seeing her riding a full on superbike, proving us girls can do it too. Then it would be Anna Carasco becoming world champion has really helped too.
I've made lots of friends that have helped me on and off the track, especially Andy Taylor (from RealRoads.co.uk)".
Is there any significance to your race number?
"Yes, when I first started I couldn't decide what number. I asked my dad what he would run, he said 34, because his hero ran that number. He then showed me lots of video of Kevin Schwantz racing, and I soon became a hug fan too. So that was that, 34 became my number too".
Favourite Circuit?
"Very difficult to answer. Cadwell Park is right up there. Very technical circuit and narrow so to be fast you have to get your lines right. Pembrey, because its fast and grippy, but probably my most favourite would be Castle Combe, its such a fast track and quite bumpy which I find fun".
How did 2018 go for you?
"2018 BMB championship was a tough year, there were lots of fast talented riders, some of whom are going on to great things I'm sure. Ash Barnes, Zak Shelton, Joe Duggan, Lucca Allen and Chace Collymore were the main front runners I had to battle with. I finished the year in joint 5th with Ash Barnes, with Zak Shelton taking the championship.
I changed bikes before the end of the season to an Italian bike called a Bucci. I love that bike!
Then by 2018/19 winter season, I stepped into the adults class for the first time taking a 5th & 6th at my first meeting. Then at the final round I took a pole position and double podiums in the race".
How did 2019 season go?
"Mum and dad got me a KTM RC390, and after getting my ACU licence at Darley Moor, I entered my first race meeting at Mallory Park, in April.
Racing in the Supermoto GB Championship Junior Class, I took 2 3rd places, and a 3rd place in the newcomers race.
From there on I raced at NGRRC (North Gloucestershire Road Racing Circuit) in the F400 class. I was racing against the 4cyclinder 400 bikes like the ZXR/FZR/NC30/35. It was pretty tough going as they all had an advantage of 20hp more over me. Despite this I managed to finish 10th in the championship. Sharing the grid with the Desmodue Ducati Championship.
Before the 2019 season ended we made another bike swap to a Yamaha YZF-R3, with 100% Suspension sorting the Ktech suspension for me, I fell in love with this bike. The R3 are down on power compared to the Kawasaki Ninja400, so to help this Yamaha, we would need to make an engine kit, but it was expensive so we managed without for a while. We took it to Spain for 3 days on a track with my sponsors Andy Taylor and Geoff Fitchett (GoForward) and had a day with Peter Hickman coaching me".
Due to the current situation we are now relying more on social media, but how important have you found it in being able to connect with fans and sponsors alike?
"I've had some amazing opportunities considering the year 2020 has been. I have a column in UK Clubsport Magazine. I also have some amazing people that have joined my #club34 who have raised the money to get me the engine kit. I also got the chance to be on the Chasin the Racin podcast with Chrissy Rouse and Dom Herbertson, which was great fun".
What has been the highlight of your racing so far?
"I've been racing in the UK Freetech Endurance Championship on a CBR125 with Dominic Herbertson.
Bike wise, I've made the most of the 39hp I had and battled with more powerful Kawasaki and other R3s with the kits fitted, sometimes I can be as far as 11hp down.
Peter Hickman then stepped in to fit it all at his PHR Performance workshop in Louth, and the difference is amazing.
Castle Combe was the first time out with the new 44ph bike. At the Open 500cc I got a 7th and 2x5th places, then a 4th place in the Junior Supersport Class, and then 2x3rd places.
The bike has since been to BSD Performance in Peterborough for some dyno-set up, and its gained another 3hp, so now I have 47hp, and I can't wait to get out and try it.
I've been doing some flatracking at Peter Boasts Champion Flat Track School, near Lincoln, and it's been great training as well as huge fun".
How do you raise financial support for your racing?
"Hmmm, it's hard to put a figure on it exactly, I can give you a rough idea of cost of one weekend broken down.
Entry = £400. Fuel = bike/generator/van £150. Tyres = £200.
Then there's food and drinks on top of that. Plus, anything that goes wrong; so crashes or a mechanical breakdown. With crashes, it's not just the bike that might be damaged; helmet, gloves, boots and leathers. I've been very lucky on that side of things so far, but it's part of the sport so has to be added in.
One full weekend cost around £750, if nothing goes wrong - but could be £1500+ if it goes really wrong.
My parents work really hard to get me on track, and I have some awesome people helping, along with some amazing sponsors. But we are always looking for more support. The more support means more track time, along with more race entries, which all means more time to develop my riding.
It's not just financial support though, technical support is just as important. Companies that supply us with parts play a huge part, but it's never ending. Racing is very expensive in many different ways".
Would you like to see more females in racing in the future?
"Yes, we have a good group of girls at the moment, and we all seem to have come through together. We are all a similar age and all get on well. There will be at least 9 of us at Thundersport Superteens this year. There's a good group of younger girls on minibikes coming through too, so hopefully we are helping to inspire other young girls".
Are you looking forward to racing in 2021?
"2021 will see me racing back at NGRRC in the JSS300 Class and Open 500cc Class, as well as Thundersport GB Superteens, and now with great support from existing sponsors and new, hopefully, I can take my WGA construction Yamaha closer to the front."
Anyone wishing to find out more or think they can offer support, you can contact Lissy #34 on one of the following below.
Twitter: @LissyRacing34.
Facebook: Lissy Whitmore Racing #34
Instagram: lissy_whitmore_34