Shaina interviews… Ana Carrasco!

12-year-old Indonesian fan Shaina Salvia returns to interview World Supersport 300 championship leader Ana Carrasco.

Carrasco has secured back-to-back race wins at Imola and Donington Park to lead the World Supersport 300 championship by 22 points after the opening four rounds.

The Spanish 21-year-old made history by becoming the first female rider to score world championship points in Moto3 back in 2013. After leaving Moto3 she made the switch to the newly-formed World Supersport 300 championship in 2017 to secure further history by becoming the first female to win a world championship race with victory at Portimao as she went on to finish eighth in the maiden season.

Carrasco currently leads the 2018 World Supersport 300 series at the halfway stage after wins at Imola and Donington Park and is the first female rider to lead a world championship.

Shaina Salvia A. S.:

Congratulations on your recent wins and leading the championship, I wondered as a woman is there any differences in exercise you do between woman and men?

Ana Carrasco:

I try to forget about this because I think it is positive to think that I am a rider only, sometimes it is difficult because it is hard to find people who believe a woman can win. But my vicotry last year in Portimao gave us the step to find a good team and a good bike which is important for this season. I feel more comfortable this year and the team is a lot better. The bike is also working really good so I think we now have the package to always be fighting for victories.

Shaina Salvia A. S.:

Before you were the first woman to score a point in Moto3 and now you are the first woman to lead a world championship, how do you feel about that and what is your target?

Ana Carrasco:

The target this season is to try to win the championship. I feel really good and really happy because now we are leading after the first victories. Now it is important to have the same line and same target as we have a lot of confidence and the team is feeling strong. The team is working perfectly so we have to try to continue like this at the next few races and try to be always be on top to finish the season on top.

Shaina Salvia A. S.:

Who inspired you as a racer and what did your mother say when you said you wanted to race?

Ana Carrasco:

My family has always been in the sport as my father is a mechanic and my mother understands about the sport. They always tell me and help me to be better every day and they give all that they can to come here with me. It’s perfect to have my family pushing with me.

Shaina Salvia A. S.:

What age did you start to ride, where and with which bike?

Ana Carrasco:

I started when I was three years old with the minibikes.

Shaina Salvia A. S.:

What bike do you like the most: Moto3 or World Supersport 300?

Ana Carrasco:

For the moment I prefer Supersport because I feel a lot better and I have a better bike. In Moto3 I rode for three years but the bike was not as competitive as I wanted so here I am quite happy. We are always improving and I feel really good with my bike so I prefer to stay in Supersport.

Shaina Salvia A. S.:

Okay, thank you very much.

Ana Carrasco:

Thank you, you are very welcome.