(Editor's Note: Laura is my daughter. I make no apology for including this as we have always intended that we would provide a platform for up and coming racers and she qualifies. Over the next few months you'll get to read about her having a tryout at Donington, sorting kit and her ideas about sponsorship and fitting in racing with school, college and (God help me) boyfriends...)

When I mention motorbike racing to people they are always shocked that I know so much about it because ‘it’s a guy’s sport, right?’

Wrong.

Ever since I knew what they were I have always been interested in motorbikes. At first I wasn’t sure why, I thought it might have been the fact that my dad rode them or maybe everybody thought I was so cool because I often rode to or from school on the back with him.

As I got older I realised that it was not just the fact that it looked cool, it was the fact that whenever I even sat on a bike I felt this unbelievable sense of freedom and I knew I wouldn’t get that thrill from anywhere else. I had also started considering what I wanted to do as a career after I finished school, and I always thought I wanted to be a singer. Then, to my mother’s great dislike, my dad decided to take me to my first ever track day at Brands. Meeting all these people who were as crazy about bikes as I am was wonderful and increased my love for bikes even more. But I still wanted to be a singer so how did my determination to be a racer come about?

Well...

It all really started when I got home from school one day and dad asked me if I wanted to come with him to the World Superbikes round at Brands Hatch. So August came and I found myself standing outside the gates of the one racetrack I had ever been to before with my eyes almost popping out because I was so excited about all these people I was going to meet. As soon as I stepped through those gates something just made me feel like I was where I belonged. I’m still not sure what it was that made me realise it but I suddenly wanted to be a racer. But one thing was holding me back.

If I’m going to be honest with you, I thought all the racers would be extremely up themselves. And I wouldn’t blame them! They have all achieved so much getting to the World Championship but I thought at the time that I wouldn’t get any decent conversation which I would have liked. By the time all of this had flashed through my mind I was in the paddock. I couldn’t believe my eyes, all these people who I had admired through the television for so long were right here in this one space.

My dad’s favourite racer has always been Frankie Chili so we were both over the moon when I had nip to the loo and Frankie was standing there having been ambushed by autograph seekers before he had the chance to go to the gents himself.

So much for up themselves. Frankie is one of the nicest guys you can ever meet! I speak a little Italian myself and even now, almost five years later, Frankie still gets shocked when I greet him with “Ciao Frankie! Come stai?”
As nice as Frankie was, he still wasn’t my favourite racer. At the time it was Neil Hodgson, so when he suddenly walked up I almost screamed with how hard I pinched myself to see if it was true that I was actually talking to him.
If anybody reading this has never been to the races then I can’t begin to describe how wonderful the feeling is when you’re standing there talking to your favourite racer about the one thing you love the most.
I couldn’t believe that after all this it was still only half way through my first visit and before I knew it I was watching the practice session.

Despite Neil being my favourite racer I still couldn’t stop watching number 52 because of how good his technique was and, as much as I loved and still admire Neil, I found myself asking dad all about James Toseland. When I met James I knew that I wanted to race and all my thoughts of becoming a singer went out the window. It was all about bikes now.

I’ve been to the races a lot now and I find myself recognising bikes on the road as well as at the races. It’s great when I walk around the paddock because when I see one of the riders they usually wave or pull a face. James is my hero now and whenever I do see him it’s great because he’s a really genuine guy.

As well as James I have another two favourites. Chris Vermeulen really inspired me because of how he suddenly just got to the top and now watching him in MotoGP I find myself really happy for him; despite how much we’ll all miss him at World Superbikes! Then there’s his old and James’ new team mate, Karl Muggeridge. There have been loads of times where Karl has demonstrated how mad he is to me, and I think he’s hilarious because of it.

All of these people just make me want to race even more. When I sit down with the riders and they have fans come up to them it’s great because of how the little kids look up to them. You probably cannot imagine how much I want that. There are so many bad influences to children in this day and age and all these riders are so lovely that I want to join the group that hopefully all our younger generation will one day want to be like.

So, what am I doing about it?

Well, I do have to mention that Premier Motorcycles in West Wickham have promised to be my first sponsor. (It’s in writing now! No backing down!) And I have my determination to thank because I have become five times fitter than I was trying to get into shape so I can race. I don’t know where my dreams will lead me but hopefully my life will follow in the footsteps of the greats like Barry Sheene, John Surtees, Valentino Rossi and all the other legends.

I leave you now with my own words of wisdom. Lots of people have told me that I’ll never make it for many reasons, some because I’m a girl and others because they disapprove of a young and well educated girl choosing to ‘throw it all away.’ My reply is always the same. You have to have dreams and if I didn’t have mine then how would I know what it felt like when they came true? I’m not saying I will get to the top but I’m not going to stand there saying that I will never do it and might as well give up now. After all, if I don't give it a try then I'll never know if I could have done it or not, will I?

Thank you for reading this and I will hopefully see you all soon at the number one spot on the podium.