Gurgaon’s Superbike racer Neharika Yadav is acing the ride and turning the tide

Having smashed stereotypes with her performances on the race tracks across the world, dentist and superbike racer Neharika Yadav will speak at the Gurgaonwaali event in the Milennium City on January 18.

“Under the helmet, nobody knows that it’s a woman racing among men. It’s only when the helmet comes off, that people realise it,” says Superbike racer Neharika Yadav. Indeed, when the race track doesn’t discriminate on the basis of sex, why should anyone else? “It’s a male-dominated sport, and there aren’t too many women in bike racing in India, but there are a few women who have come up and are really doing well for themselves,” she says.

Dr Neharika Yadav will speak about her passion for riding as part of an event in Gurgaon on January 18.

Doesn’t it being a high-risk sport deter her? “I have never seen it as a dangerous sport, since if you start seeing the negatives of what you are pursuing in life, you will never be able to give your best. There are times when I also have fear limits. Even at 275km/h, we can push it further, but we ride within our fear limits,” says Neharika, who has ridden at the Sepang International Circuit (Malayasia) and the Mugello Circuit (Italy).

Blessed with a never-say-die attitude, Neharika has delivered two TED talks to inspire people to live life to the fullest and overcome their fears. She also boasts of being the only female alongside 33 male racers in the 1000cc category at the JK Tyre Superbike Championship, over three consecutive years (2015, 2016, and 2017, clocking a best time of 2.18 seconds.

Neharika Yadav at one of her rallies.

The Gurgaon-based superbike racer shares that she comes from an adventure-loving background, which reflects in her passions. “My mum and dad have both participated in car rallies. I have learned riding and racing from my fellow male racers, who taught me where I was going wrong, and supported me through it. People keep coming for pictures, saying they are inspired by me,” says Neharika, who will be speaking at the event #Gurgaonwaali — organised by SheThePeople and Gurgaon Community Circle — along with author Kanchana Banerjee, and Motorbiking trainer Mandeep Merwah, on January 18.

Neharika, who juggles superbike racing with dentistry, which is her profession, says, “Once a month I’m at the Buddh International circuit with my group of riders and racers, practising for upcoming races. I also run my dental clinic for six days a week. I started riding five years ago, after a brief visit to the Noida circuit. My biking journey began there, as I was really inspired by the all-male riders there. And I made up my mind to come back and ride.”

The racer also wants to do her bit for women’s empowerment. And how does she intend to do it? “By going to rural areas and giving them a glimpse of the fact that there is a women riding among the men. It is one of the best ways to give them confidence and motivate them,” she signs off.

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