New Zealand motorcyclist Avalon Biddle has won the inaugural Women’s European Championship.
The Orewa rider claimed the title at the penultimate meeting of the eight-race series at Jerez in Spain.
The series is run in conjunction with the European Junior Cup and the World Superbike Championship.
Biddle celebrated winning the title on the eve of her 23rd birthday.
The 10-lap race at the 4.423-kilometre Jerez circuit was stopped on lap six after a serious crash. Biddle gained enough points in the five-lap restart to win her crown.
She has dominated the women’s series raced on identical Honda CBR650F bikes.
She lies 23rd in the Junior Cup but claimed her title as the top women’s rider.
It’s her fourth campaign in Europe and reward for her persistency and growing talent.
“It’s quite a relief to get it done really – it’s awesome and I’m really happy, not just for myself but for everyone who has supported me to get here. My sponsors, my mum, my boyfriend Jake have helped me out a lot,” Biddle said.
“It’s great for females as young as 14 to have an opportunity to come and race in a European championship at a world championship event. It’s just what the sport needed to get more girls interested and the beauty of this championship is that we are all on identical machinery. There are no advantages or disadvantages for anyone and you get to race with the boys so you can really push yourself.
“You get to know where you stand overall, while getting recognised for being a female in a male-dominated sport. I’m so thankful to everyone who put this championship together.”
Javier Orellana, the 18-year-old Spanish rider, won the European Junior Cup after finishing third in Jerez.
