Highs, lows and Island goals

Born and bred in Ballarat in country Victoria, Tracey Davies has included wood chopping in her fitness routine in the lead-up to the 2017 Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix, where she will be competing in the superbike support races.

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With a love of speed that started with speedway racing in the under 10s, Davies was destined to break the stereotype mould.

“Some people believe we should be in the kitchen making sandwiches,” laughs Davies, who grew up driving paddock bombs rounding up cows.

A reluctant rider initially, Davies got the bug after volunteering as a flaggy at Victoria’s iconic Philip Island circuit. A stint on turn 12 was all it took.

“[After that] I was at the track all the time. I was always going somewhere to wave flags!” recalls Davies.

It was no time before she wanted to give it a go herself and at age 20, Davies started competing.

Her first bike was a Kawasaki Ninja 650.

“First race meeting [at Broadford] I crashed out on the fist lap, as you do. I had a cry! As you do. I fixed up the bike and finished the weekend. That was my introduction to being on track, not beside it. I thought, I’ve got this. Yeah, no, I don’t, not yet.” she laughs.

As time passed, two things remained a limited budget and passion for days. Moving through the ranks, Davies was forced to think outside the box.

“My ZX-6R went from road to race. On Friday I’d convert it into race trim – take the fairings off, race – then Sunday night put it back into road trim and ride to work on Monday. I got that swap over down to 45 minutes!” boasts Davies.

“The worst thing was, because of a lot of club racing, I only had one set of rims – I’d go to work with slicks on them!”

Inevitably, with riding, comes crashing. And Davies has had her fair share. More often than not, at Broadford – broken wrists, collarbones.

The biggest blow came in 2010, as a result of a low-side at Broadford.

“[There was] no warning or anything. I slid past pit exit. Next thing I knew I was a week Royal Melbourne [Hospital],” recalls Davies.

Told her injury could take up to three years to heal, intense rehab (four days a week) followed. But it seemed, in time, getting back on the bike was the best medicine.

“I took a risk and got the superbike. It was the best decision I ever made. I was racing with A-graders and feeling safe out there.

“In 2015 I was the C-grade superbike champion in the TT and sprint series. That was the turnaround.”

Competing aside, Davies is also a key player in the Victorian-based initiative ‘Girls On Track Days’, where she serves as a mentor to many.

“It doesn’t matter what you ride, from a scooter to Harleys. It’s a really fun day. We teach skills and things like [checking] tyre pressures… they’re not taught to look out for things like that,” she says.

Well aware that it’s still very much a man’s world, the track days remove any elements of intimidation.

“[On] the girls’ days, you can not worry about the fully sick boys and their fully sickness!” Davies teases. But it’s a serious day – leave your insta hashtags at home.

Davies says there are quite a few girls who have actually started club racing as a result.

With the Australian MotoGP looming, Davies admits that Philip Island is magical… but challenging.

“Your mind has to be 100 per cent focused. If your mind slips, you’re off,” says Davies, noting Lukey Heights (turn nine) as her ‘Island’ favourite.

“You’re on the world stage, to help put on the show… and I’m part of that!”

With a personal best in the 1:45 bracket at Phillip Island, Davies is striving for a 1:41 when she hits the track on her Ducati Panigale at the Australian MotoGP from October 20-22.

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