I’ve become no stranger to bikes over the years and it seemed inevitable that I would end up working in the sport in some shape or form. Dad (Malcolm Rathmell) competed back in the day, when men were men and all that, and notched up a number of Championships, one World title and six British ones. His forte was trials (think modern day Dougie Lampkin), the off road discipline which combines throttle and clutch control mastering obstacles along the way.

Now the importer for many off road products including off road bike specialists, Sherco. I have been lucky enough to travel most of Europe with current British Trials Champion, Graham Jarvis, dad s employee, and my folks. During my years at school we often travelled abroad during the holidays to a number of events. From an early age I have traipsed around in mud, rocks and obstacles.

I soon found an interest for the tarmac version of motorcycle sport after discovering the MCN Fantasy Road Racing Competition. Knowing the chances of winning the main prize were very slim, Dad and I decided on a bet. Numerous early mornings to watch Phillip Island and Laguna Seca on the TV, I came out richer, much to Dad s horror! (Had to make the most of taking £20 off a Yorkshireman, year-in, year-out)!

After a small amount of pestering, I persuaded him that it would be a great idea to go to one of the races. Thanks to a few words with Chris Herring (Kipper) who at the time was working for Castrol Honda, I attended my first Road Race meeting at Donington Park in 2000. VIP Guests of Colin Edwards and Aaron Slight, jobs a dream.

The rest as they say is history. I realised then that this sport was like a drug, the more I went to the races the more addicted I became. My sister s God Father happens to be the exceptionally talented former racer Mick Grant, who back in 1991 ran James Whitham as his rider for whom my brother was a trainee mechanic, all very complicated.

Having a long association with Whit proved very beneficial to where I am today, an invite to his wedding lead to open doors. An introduction to Chris Walker saw me travel to a whole new World. Chris invited me to be a guest of his at the Cadwell Park British Superbike meeting in 2000, the famous year of Walker/Hodgson battles. By this point I was hooked and was keen to attend more races. Sadly Chris was unable to lift the title in 2000 as a valve went in his Suzuki at the final round (Donington Park), soul destroying for him and all his loyal supporters.

2001 saw me make a few more trips around the British Isles, where long term family friend, the late David Jefferies ( www.davidjefferiesracing.com ) took me under his wing and looked after me. Telling me off and keeping me on my toes, lots of laughs and fun were shared with DJ and I miss him everyday, a true true friend. Sadly the great DJ lost his life in a racing accident at his beloved Isle of Man TT on Thursday 29^th May 2003. Not a day goes past where I don t think about Dave.

Ironically, in 2001 DJ introduced me to Gus Scott who I became “Brolly Girl for in the rounds, which I attended that year. A renowned journalist in the motorcycle industry it was Gus that told me to “Follow my Dream adding to that “but make sure you get bloody paid!! . 2005 saw Gus also lose his life in a freak accident at the TT involving a Marshall. Please see the Memorial Page for more stories!

2002 set a new challenge. Already writing the Trials section for Dirt Bike Rider Magazine, Gary Mason, who was riding for Mick Grant, needed someone to write his column in Fast Bikes Magazine. Kindly volunteered by Steve Plater, who shares the same Manager as Gary, I was given my first press job in the road racing industry. From there things have been going from strength to strength, in such a small paddock, it s usually a case of not what you know but who you know. I ve worked hard to meet people and make associates in the racing industry, which has helped further my PR career.

2003 is a little bit of a blur, losing two best mates, DJ (29^th May) and Hizzy (30^th July) in the space of two months was extremely tough and hit me harder than I could have possible imagined. DJ like a brother and I was also very close to Steve Hislop, the genuine, friendly, funny and kind Hizzy.

Bar these disasters I had a good year press wise, working for Dean Ellison and D&B Ducati and also some press work for Leon Haslam whilst he was riding for Renegade Ducati in Supersport and eventually in the Superbike Class. I was drafted in at Mondello Park to help Renegade in their Hospitality Unit. I ve never known a group of people drink so much beer in one day - Irish, say no more!

I was still keeping my hand in the off road scene, with British Supermoto Champion Warren Steele, after a successful Winter Supermoto series Warren continued to dominate in the Summer Series before a horrendous accident cut short his Supermoto career. The 2002/2003 Winter Supermoto series was hilarious with DJ and John McGuinness showing their face in the sport and generally kicking the ass of the regular riders, much to their horror!

I have to say, talking of McGuinness “Bulb . The guy is an absolute star. When DJ was alive I was convinced they had a tracker on each other, if I was talking to DJ, McGuinness would appear and vice versa. Since we lost DJ, “Bulb seems to have taken on his roll and keeps me in line. He is one of the nicest and most genuine people you could ever meet. I have ultimate respect for what he has achieved on the Island but also for the way he coped with losing his two closest friends, DJ and Gus, it s a credit to the person he is. I would like to thank him for always been there, for making me laugh or picking me up, top friend, thanks “Bulb .

Things really began to kick off for me in 04, after meeting Dean Thomas in 03 he asked me if I would write the content for his website, which also led to me working for Sendo Ducati that season too. Not only was it fun working for Dean but I also found an extremely good friend in him. Someone I look up to, respect and know I can go and see if I have a problem or someone to have a laugh with. He also provides me with an endless supply of coke (drink variety!) which keeps me sane for most of the racing weekend.

2004 once again saw me wearing a skirt, all be it briefly, with a bonus this time though ” I was getting paid for it! My friend Olivia runs a Modelling/Promo agency and having a few girls short I worked for her at the Moto GP at Donington Park and at Brands Hatch World Superbikes. It was certainly something different but I did feel very much underdressed, much to the amusement of everyone else, including John Reynolds who even managed to make the comment of “I never realised you had legs! ” shows how often I wear a skirt! It was a good experience and allowed me to meet a number of different people. I was working for Dorna at the Moto GP doing Paddock Tours for the VIP Village and Superbike Magazine at Brands Hatch ” it was different but enjoyable.

The end of that year saw an interesting event take place, Moto1, where-by 24 riders competed against each other in Trials, Motocross, Supermoto and Road Racing. Now coming from an off road background it was highly amusing for me watching some of the Road Racers fight with a Trials and Motocross bike. I would have loved for DJ to have been there as I think he would have given eventual winner David Knight (Knighter) a run for his money. Knighter, the current World Enduro Champion is pretty handy when it comes to riding a machine with two wheels and in many ways reminds me of DJ. He did the off road world proud by showing them who was boss!

05 was a very busy year for me. Dean moved to Hawk Kawasaki and became the only rider to score points in every single round and finished a fantastic 6^th place in the Championship. I also did some Paddock Tours for Hawk Kawasaki for their sponsors and guests. After meeting Leon Camier in 2004 and becoming friends we started building his website last year, the year in which he went on to win the British Supersport Championship. It was good working so close with him and watching him go on to take the title, he did really deserve it. I had to remain fairly non-biased in that Championship as I was also working for Northpoint Honda with Craig Jones (Jonesy) and Cal Crutchlow. The pair finished the year in 2^nd and 3^rd place behind Leon.

I had a good relationship with the Northpoint Team and the results they achieved were fantastic, I have known Jonesy since he rode for Mick Grant in 2001, when he was 16, in the Junior Superstocks and known of Cal since he was team-mates with DJ at Tech2 in 2002. This made it less stressful for me as I always find it easier writing about a rider when I know them. Seeing Cal take his first win at Cadwell last year was great, adding to that Tommy Hill s first win in Superbikes was a great credit to Rob Mac s R6 Cup campaign.

2006 has been non-stop for me. I did begin to panic at the start of the year when I had not secured any work for the season, then it seemed to appear all at once! Stuart Hicken from Hawk Kawasaki gave me a call asking me my plans for the year. I told him that I was struggling and he asked me to send him some samples of my work and my CV, I guess they were good enough to impress him as I got the job doing the Press and PR for them. I have to say they are a fantastic team to work with and great personalities amongst them. I d never worked with or even met Craig (Coxhell) or Peter (Hickman ” Hicky) so I had to try and break the ice early in the season. Things are fine now and I have a good laugh with the pair of them. Craig is amusing, he s as quiet as a mouse, but every so often he chirps up with a sarcastic or cheeky comment!

I m also still working for Leon Camier. He s not been having the best of years but when you compare it to the season he had last year he s not doing such a bad job. He s a top lad with huge talent and massive potential but in my opinion he’s far too big (6′3″) for a Supersport bike ” roll on a Superbike ride! Another one of Rob Mac s R6 riders caught my attention last season, Brendan Roberts. I watched him carefully throughout the 05 R6 Cup season in which he finished 2^nd. He entered the Superstock Championship this year and is running his own team. He has now won the Championship with three rounds remaining, I started working on his website after Mallory Park this year. Some people won t support the Aussies but a talent is a talent, I m working for six riders this season and three of them are from Australia!

I started helping Steve Brookes out with the Chris Jones Memorial Fund and from that I met Paul Rees at Centurion Racing. They are running Pete Spalding in the Supersport Cup, another rider who has already wrapped up his Championship. Winning nine of nine races so far (22.08.06) he has certainly got the potential to go on and achieve big things. I’ve been lucky this season with the people I am working for, as they are all great people and a pleasure to work with. I’m hoping 2007 will be as positive.

The last six years in the paddock have been fun filled and also a massive learning experience for me. I have met some fantastic people who I would class as true friends. I could probably only count those friends on two hands, they are few and far between and you know who you are. It’s an interesting place and sometimes a difficult industry to be accepted in, when you are a female in a male dominated environment. It is a hard place to earn respect, trust and credibility, I think over the years I have managed that and proved the doubters wrong. There are certainly not many females in the racing industry who have accomplished their goals and can say that they have earnt a living doing something they love - I can.

I have learnt some harsh and tough lessons over the years, which has built my character and made me a stronger person. Like in Eastenders, people will always talk and gossip about other people, I am now strong enough to rise above it and hold my head high. Like my Mum says ‘It’s when they stop talking about you that I need to worry’ - and as we all know Mum’s are ALWAYS right! The Racing Paddock is like a soap opera and something different happens every week, they are always talking about someone new or something different.
I hope things continue to improve in my career in the future, I would love to do a year or two on the World scene but I just have to see what happens.