Wikipedia

Avalon Biddle

Avalon Lewis (neé Biddle; born 21 September 1992, in North Shore, Auckland) is a New Zealand motorcycle racer.[1]

Avalon Lewis
NationalityNew Zealander
Born (1992-09-21) 21 September 1992 (age 32)
North Shore, Auckland, New Zealand
Current teamSourz Foods – Benjan Racing
Bike number21
Motorcycle racing career statistics
Supersport 300 World Championship
Active years2017
ManufacturersKawasaki
Championships0
2017 championship positionNC (0 pts)
Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points
6 0 0 0 0 0

Background

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Biddle's parents are Keith and Beverley Biddle. Her father was a speedway bike racer and her uncle Bruce Biddle a Commonwealth Games and Olympic cyclist who been placed third in the 1972 Munich Games road race. She attended Pinehurst School, Albany, Auckland where she did well academically and Massey University where she studied for a Sports Science degree. In February 2017, she was awarded the AIMES Judges special award of $15,000 in recognition of her achievements in motor-cycle racing. The award's purpose is to provide financial assistance to young high achievers to further their chosen careers.[2][3]

Racing career

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Early career

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Biddle began racing a Yamaha PW50 in mini-motocross when she was six with the North Harbour Mini Motocross Club. When she was 13 she started road racing buckets (Bucket racing is defined as Formula 4 and Formula 5 Miniature Road Racing and Sidecars) with the Auckland Motorcycle Club. She was awarded the 2006 The most promising newcomer during this phase of her career, having come second in the Auckland Miniature road race series and second Miniature road race New Zealand Grand prix. In 2006 she finished fourth on points in the Formula 5 class riding a RG XL100 and third on points in 2007 together with a seventeenth in B grade in 2006 followed the next year by a second riding either the RG-XL100 or a Honda CB125T. The 2007-2008 year was not so successful with her attaining 24th place in Formula 4 with points from only two races and an 11th place in Formula 5 with points from only two races. It is unclear from the records if she raced in any of the other races as she was focusing on 150 street stock class by that time.[2][4][1][5]

Local racing

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She moved on from this after purchasing a second hand dirty Suzuki RG150 for NZ$800 to compete in the New Zealand national 150 street stock class coming first in the Taupo Road Race Spectacular. In 2007 she was first in the RD 1 NZ championships streetstock class, first Victoria Motorcycle Club winter series streetstock class, first Victoria motorcycle club winter series junior class, second Taupo Road Race spectacular on a 125GP, third Rd 2 NZ championships streetstock class, fifth Australian Road Race Development Association series. She also was awarded Most outstanding rider of the meeting award 2007 Rd 1 NZ championships, Best Newcomer South Island Sportz Fotoz Junior Cup, Auckland Motorcycle Club most promising newcomer, and Victoria motorcycle club rookie of the year.[1][6][7]</ref name="leader>

Biddle continued racing in the 125GP class in 2008 coming first Pacific Motorcycle club summer series 125gp, first Brother Taupo Road Race spectacular 125gp, second Auckland motorcycle club series 125gp, and second Rd 5 Australian motorcycle development association Phillip Island 125gp. She was nominated as the Nominated Most Promising Newcomer at Motorcycling New Zealand awards dinner. Her successes continued in 2009 coming first New Zealand Grand Prix 125gp, first Rd 3 Castrol Power 1 N.Z. Superbike Championships 125gp, second Rd 1 Castrol Power 1 N.Z. Superbike Championships 125gp, second Rd 4 Castrol Power 1 N.Z. Superbike Championships 125gp, second Victoria Motorcycle Club Actrix Winter series 125gp, second New Zealand Formula 5 Grand Prix Taupo F5 buckets, fourth overall Castrol Power 1 NZ superbike championships 125gp. She had been in second place overall but crashed, breaking her leg, at Pukekohe. She had also set a new lap record at Mansfield Raceway, Fielding for a 125GP with a 1-minute 13.6 lap.[1][8][9][10]

International racing

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In 2009 she headed to Europe to participate in the selection process based at the Adria International Raceway in Italy for the 2010 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup competition.[11] The year 2010 saw her coming first in the Australasian Formula Extreme Championships 125gp stock class, and second overall in the Castrol Power 1 NZ Superbike championships 125gp, New Zealand Tourist Trophy title 125gp and the round 5 of the Castrol Power 1 NZ Superbike Championships 125gp. She also came first in the New Zealand Formula 5 Grand Prix.[1][12]

Having come second overall in the 2011 Castrol Power 1 NZ superbike championships 125gp she was able to compete with a wild car entry in the 2011 Australian motorcycle Grand Prix 125 class. During qualifying her bike had engine issues which meant she did not start. She win the New Zealand Tourist Trophy Title 125gp and came ninth in the Asia Road Race cup at Sugo, Japan that year.[1][13][14]

She moved up to the NZ Formula 2 600cc competition in 2012.[15] That same year she came second overall in the Italian Women's Championship on a Honda CBR600RR and spent the following two years racing in Italy, including racing in the 2012 and 2013 Honda Trophy races. Her placing in 2013 while racing for New Zealand-owned Wil Sport Management team included two third places, one in round 1 Mastercup 600 Stock at Mugello Italy and the other at round 4 Trofeo Amatori Pro K class 600cc Misano Italy. She had also been honoured in the 2012 New Zealand Motor Cycle Awards as the Outstanding Female Contribution to the sport. She came ninth in the 2013 New Zealand Supersport 600 championships.[1][16][17][18]

In 2014 she was part of the Moto3 Development Project riding a development bike and NZ Motorcycle Awards Female rider of the year. She received the award again in 2016.[19][20] Returning to New Zealand, she came 10th in the 2014 NZ 600 supersport championships.[1][21]

In 2015, she won the New Zealand Superlite (450cc) championship, followed by the 2015 & 2016 the European Junior Cup European Women's Cup at World Superbike events riding for Sourzfoodz Benjan Motorsport. Also in 2015 she was asked to race for Moriwaki at the Suzuka Endurance event. She was partnered with Shelina Moreda (USA) and they came 19th overall in the four hour endurance race.[22][23][2][24][25] She was also one of the nominees for New Zealand sportwoman of the year at the 2015 Halberg Awards and again in 2019.[26][27][28][29]

In a 2016 interview with the Sunday News, she described her racing career as being funded by her mums world famous chocolate chip cookies. She also related a tale of a German racer whom she had been trying to beat for second place in a race at Mansfield as blurting out "f... its a girl" when she took of her helmet at the end of the race. She also talked about how expensive it was to in Europe where you had to fund your own bike, travel, and accommodation. Her bike, in 2012, cost NZ$95,000 although she had sponsorship from Phil and Cheryl London of Wil Sport.[3]

In 2017, she competed in the Supersport 300 World Championship aboard a Kawasaki Ninja 300 for Benjam Kawasaki.[23] She came fifth in the New Zealand Supersport 600cc Championship and third in the Assen IDM Supersport 300. The following year she came third in the New Zealand Supersport 600cc Championship and was the first woman to win a 600cc National Championship race in New Zealand at Round 4 NZSBK in Taupo.[1][30][28]

Latest local racing

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Biddle was invited to race on a Suzuki RGB500 in the Mike Pero Southern Classic at Timaru.[31] Following this in 2019, she competed in the New Zealand Supersport 600 series, winning the championship on a MTF Finance sponsored Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R it and becoming the first female to do so.[32] Following this, she was invited to join the Gold Coast-based Cube Racing team and race in Australia.[33][34] She competed again in the 2020 New Zealand Supersport 600 series finishing third overall.[35]

In 2021, she was invited to race a Subaru in the Otago Rally.[22]

Career statistics

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Career highlights

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Grand Prix motorcycle racing results

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By season

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Season Class Motorcycle Team Number Race Win Podium Pole FLap Pts Plcd
2011 125cc Honda Avalon Biddle Racing 49 0 0 0 0 0 0 NC
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0

Races by year

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(key)

Yr Class Bike 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Pos Pts
2011 125cc Honda QAT SPA POR FRA CAT GBR NED ITA GER CZE INP RSM ARA JPN AUS
DNQ 		MAL VAL NC 0

Supersport 300 World Championship

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Races by year

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(key)

Year Bike 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Pos Pts
2017 Kawasaki SPA
Ret 		NED
19 		ITA
29 		GBR
26 		ITA
26 		GER
Ret 		POR
 FRA
 SPA
 NC 0

Other activities

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In 2016 when she was not away racing, she worked at Hyosung Motorcycles in Barry's Point Rd, Whangaparoa.[3] Biddle is co-presenter of the Sky Sport TV show Skyspeed and writes for Bike Rider Magazine. She is involved in marketing, promotional work, and road safety.[1]

Notes

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New Zealand motor cycle racing is governed by Motorcycling New Zealand. Some of the classes Biddle raced in are solely based in New Zealand. These may be found on their website - https://mnz.co.nz/

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Profile | avalonbiddle.com". Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  2. ^ a b c Avalon Biddle – Our AIMES winner in the fast lane!, Aiden Bennett, Channel Magazine, North Shore, Issue 73, February 2017, retrieved 1 August 2024
  3. ^ a b c Avalon's the leader; the leader of the pack, Sunday News, Auckland, 10 April 2016, page 10
  4. ^ About buckett racing, retrieved 2 August 2024
  5. ^ AMCC archive, 2005-2006 to 2007-2008, retrieved 2 August 2024
  6. ^ Kiwi Juniors Impress in OZ, Southland Times, Invercargill, 12 May 2007, page 6
  7. ^ Youlden ready to strike in Cobra, Bernard Carpinter, Dominion Post, Wellington, 19 October, page 10
  8. ^ Bugden lead cut in a day of drama, Andy McGechen, The Press, Christchurch, 26 January 2009, page 14
  9. ^ Female riders push the boundaries, The Southland Times, Invercargill, 7 February 2009, page 4
  10. ^ Biddles bad break, Anon, Sunday Star Times, Wellington, 8 March 2009, page 10
  11. ^ Auckland teen's need for speed, anon, NZ Herald, 23 September 2009, page 7
  12. ^ [Superbike shoo-in keeps up final-round pressure in NZ champs, Eric Thompson, NZ Herald, 27 March 2010, page 19
  13. ^ Stroud takes title with meet to spare; MOTORCYCLING, Andy McGechen, Taranaki Daily News, 1 April 2011, page 15
  14. ^ Creditable showing for Kiwi, anon, NZ Herald, Auckland, 31 August 2011, page 9
  15. ^ Hampton hosts opener, anon, Bay of Plenty Times, 9 December 2011, page 4
  16. ^ 2012 NZ Motorcycle Awards, retrieved August 2024
  17. ^ Challenge to male domination, NZ Herald, Auckland, 3 April 2013
  18. ^ Pitstop, NZ Herald, Auckland, 13 July 2013, page 21
  19. ^ BikeSport: Avalon Biddle sets her sights on trophy hat-trick, Andy McGrechen, New Zealand Herald, 17 December 1914, retrieved 1 August 2024
  20. ^ Motorsport: Kiwi girl to take on the big boys, Andy McGretchen, NZ Herald, 12 October 2011, retrieved 1 August 2024
  21. ^ 2014 NZ Motorcycle Awards, retrieved 2 August 2024
  22. ^ a b Avalon Biddle to tackle Otago Rally, Motorsport New Zealand, 20 March 2021, retrieved 1 August 2024.
  23. ^ a b Avalon Biddle ready to race the world's best, Sports Desk, Stuff, 8 February 2017, retrieved 1 August 2024
  24. ^ Avalon Biddle returns to defend Women’s European Cup title, FIM Europe news, 9 February 2016, retrieved 1 August 2024
  25. ^ Kiwi bike racer seizes Europe women's title, Eric Thompson, NZ Herald, 26 September 2015, page 8
  26. ^ Halberg Award sports nominees announced, NZ Wire, Wellington, 15 December 2015
  27. ^ Avalon Biddle one of a kind, anon, NZ Herald, Auckland, 16 November 2016, page 15
  28. ^ a b World champ Biddle at Levels, Stu Piddington, Timaru Herald, 1 December 2017, page 16
  29. ^ Halberg nominees revealed, anon, Dominion Post, 13 December, page 37
  30. ^ Pitstop under the hood, anon, NZ Herald, 4 February 2017, page 7
  31. ^ Biddle achieves bucket list wish, Otago Daily Times, 29 November 2018, retrieved 1 August 2024
  32. ^ Avalon Biddle Creates NZ History with Title Win, Bikesport NZ press release, 8 April 2019, retrieved 1 August 2019
  33. ^ Kiwi Champ Biddle to Join ASBK Supersport, Motorcycling Australia, 18 April 2019, retrieved 1 August 2019
  34. ^ More girls getting reved up over MotoFest, Hamish Cooper, The Advertiser, Adelaide, 27 April 2018, page 66
  35. ^ Taupo finale after series cut short, The Daily Post, Rotorua, 11 March 2021, page 18
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