The only female team of the demanding Suzuka 4 Hours Endurance Race had a big challenge in front of them today when they started from 51st place in the extremely hot weather conditions of Japan.
The Synergy Force Moriwaki Club rider´s Shelina Moreda and Avalon Biddle didn´t make it any easier for themselves during the race for Moreda suffered an arm pump that forced her to finish her stints earlier than planned. Stressful moments came for Biddle when she wasn´t prepared to start her turn that soon, the additional pit-stop due to the rider changes and a stop and go penalty due to speeding in the pitlane. While the day looked extremely challenging, both of the girls managed to make their personal lap records and steadily improved their positions eventually finishing incredibly 26th position out of 70 teams.
“I am extremely happy now. Of course I am mad at myself about the arm pump but there was really nothing I could have done for that and we were able to work around it. The SynergyForce Moriwaki Team did an amazing job; the massage therapist worked really hard with my arm all day long, Avalon was such a hero to make extra laps, and all of the guys are so in tune with us, it’s awesome to be a part of this team. I also have to thank Avalon for working together with me, Takuma and Yuki, to find such great suspension settings which made it possible for us to do so well today, I really got comfortable on our bike”, Moreda said.
Biddle, who replaced Melissa Paris at last minute had no idea just this Monday that she would be racing this weekend in Japan.
“It feels so odd to be here as everything happened so fast. But I am so happy now after the race. I didn´t have big problems with the heat and also the bike felt really good so I could make a lot of laps. Just towards the end the tyres started to be quite slippery because of the hot surface and that we used only one set for the full four hours. I want to thank everyone who made this possible, especially The Synergy Force Moriwaki Club and FIM Women in Motorcycling Commission. Also special thanks to Shelina, who I enjoyed working with so much. We really had a great team”, Biddle stated.
Team leader Midori Moriwaki was relieved when Moreda crossed the finish line after tough four-hour battle. The team improved their position with two from last year when there were also less riders. Without extra paddock stops the result would have been at least 20th position. This gives the team confident for the future plans.
“I feel very, very good now. This is fantastic! Last year when I decided to make a female team to 4 hours race I didn´t expect that it will grow so big and that we could do it again and get interest all over the world. Now I realize that what I then decided, was the right thing to do!”, Moriwaki rejoiced.
The grand daughter of legendary Pops Yoshimura has an incredible background of leading teams at MotoGP, Japan´s Superbike championship and Moriwaki Junior Cup. Recently she was nominated to be an expert member of the FIM Women in Motorcycling Commission.
“I always believe that no matter what, if you decide something you can make it. For me it´s wonderful to be now part of the FIM. I know many passionate people in FIM and for me it´s really important to have passion in what you do. Then you succeed.”
Moriwaki team