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Nicole Van Aswegen is South Africa’s fastest female superbike racer and a trailblazer who became the first woman to podium in the country’s national Supersport championship—racing against the men and refusing to settle for anything less than a spot at the front.

EARLY YEARS

Speed was in Nicole’s blood from the moment she could walk. Her parents had been competing in drag racing since she was two or three years old, so the smell of burnt rubber and the roar of engines became her childhood soundtrack.[1] Growing up in South Africa surrounded by motorsport, you’d think she’d be obsessed with racing from day one. Plot twist: she thought car racing was boring.[1]

What she did love? The adrenaline. The rush. The raw, unfiltered speed.[1] But before she ever threw a leg over a motorcycle, Van Aswegen was flipping through the air as an international gymnast, competing on the world stage in a sport that demands precision, guts, and zero room for error.[8] That discipline would serve her well when she finally decided to trade the balance beam for a balance of throttle and brake—though that decision came later in life than most racers start.

OTHER INTERESTS

Beyond the track, details about Van Aswegen’s hobbies and personal interests remain largely private. What is clear is that she’s committed to making space for the next generation of female riders—co-founding the Basadi program (Sesotho for “women”) alongside Morongoa “Mo” Mahope to help girls get into motorcycle riding and racing.[1] The program hit pause when Mo had shoulder surgery, but the plan is to restart with a full training school.[1] It’s not just about racing for Van Aswegen—it’s about opening doors that were slammed shut for too long.

EARLY SUCCESS

Van Aswegen began her racing career in the South African national Supersport series, competing in the 600cc class.[1][2] Right from the start, she wasn’t interested in being the best woman on the grid—she wanted to beat everyone. And she did. In Cape Town, racing against an all-male field in the national championship, she finished third on the podium—the first woman to ever do so in the South African national Supersport series.[1][2] That podium wasn’t a fluke. She followed it up by dominating the 2010 South African Female 600cc Championship, winning the one-year series by a staggering 150 points.[1][2]

But success in South Africa didn’t automatically translate to international opportunities. Sponsorship was—and remains—a brutal battle, especially for a female racer trying to fund campaigns overseas.[1][2] In 2012, when the exchange rate briefly worked in her favor, she scraped together enough to race in the UK.[1] Moving to Europe full-time wasn’t an option; she had a job in South Africa, and relocating without a salary was financially impossible.[1] So she kept racing at home, kept winning, and kept proving that she belonged among the fastest riders in the country.

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

• 2010: Won the South African Female 600cc Championship by 150 points[1][2]
• First woman to podium in a South African National Supersport race (3rd place, Cape Town)[1][2]
• First female to compete in the 600cc South African national series[2][3][4]
• 2024: Selected to represent South Africa in the inaugural FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship (WorldWCR), departing for Europe on May 13, 2024[2][5][7]

INSPIRATIONS

Van Aswegen’s love for speed started at home, thanks to parents who lived and breathed drag racing.[1] Beyond that, she’s kept her influences close to the chest—no public declarations of racing heroes or role models. What drives her is simpler and more personal: the adrenaline, the challenge, and the desire to show her daughter—and every young girl watching—that women belong on the podium.[2]

REPUTATION

In South African motorsport, Nicole Van Aswegen is a legend. She’s not just the country’s fastest female superbike racer—she’s the only woman who has consistently succeeded in a male-dominated sport that doesn’t hand out participation trophies.[2][5] Adrian Scholtz, CEO of Motorsport South Africa, didn’t mince words: “We are so proud of how well she has done and also how much she has done to encourage more women in the sport… she is making history once again in 2024.”[2]

Her selection for the 2024 FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship wasn’t charity—it was recognition of over a decade of racing at the highest national level and breaking barriers every step of the way.[1][2] She’s earned respect not by being the best female racer, but by being one of the best racers, period. And she’s done it while battling sponsorship droughts, financial obstacles, and a sport that still struggles to see women as serious competitors.[1][2]

Van Aswegen’s approach to competition is refreshingly honest. She wants to win—of course she does—but she also understands that her presence on the world stage matters beyond lap times. “Being competitive, I want to win, but I think this journey is more than just performing well on track,” she said ahead of the 2024 WorldWCR season.[2] It’s a journey she’s sharing with the next generation, proving that the road to the podium is open to anyone willing to fight for it.

FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

As of 2024, Van Aswegen’s immediate focus was the FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship—a dream she described as “the pinnacle of my career and a dream come true – the culmination of years of hard work and dedication.”[2] Beyond that season, her plans remain unannounced. What’s certain is her commitment to the Basadi program, which she hopes to expand into a full training school to bring more girls into motorcycle racing.[1] Sponsorship remains a challenge, though she’s cautiously optimistic that increased media coverage and shifting attitudes toward women in motorsport may finally start opening corporate wallets.[2]

Van Aswegen has always raced with a chip on her shoulder and fire in her belly. Whether she’s chasing podiums or mentoring the next generation, one thing is clear: she’s not done making history.

References:

Paddock Sorority Interview, March 25, 2024
FIM-Africa Article, May 7, 2024
South African Motorsport Coverage, 2024
South African Motorsport Coverage, 2024
South African Motorsport Coverage, 2024
International Motorsport Coverage, 2024
WorldWCR Coverage, 2024
International Profile, 2024