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“My Willpower and Mental Strength Brought Me Back to Racing" – Woman National Bike Champion Nivetha Jessica
Nivetha Jessica is a women's bike racer from Tamil Nadu who has made a mark in Indian motorsports. Since the beginning of her career, she has competed in numerous racing events across the country, securing multiple titles and podium finishes. Nivetha stands as a proud representative of Tamil Nadu in the racing world. Our DriveSpark team recently had the opportunity to sit down with her for an exclusive interview. Here's what she had to say.
What first drew you to motorcycles - was there a specific moment or experience that made you fall in love with riding?
Nivetha Jessica: "Like many others, my passion for motorcycles began in my early teens, around 14 or 15. While most girls learned to ride scooters, I wanted to break the norm and try something different. I thought, 'Why not ride a motorcycle as a woman?' That spark lit the fire that started my journey."
Do you remember your very first bike and the feeling of that first proper ride?
Nivetha Jessica: "My first bike was a Royal Enfield 350, and my first real ride was to Yercaud. That was the first time I went riding in the hills with proper gear and riding jackets. Firstly, I was the only woman rider in the team, and I didn't have a clue about riding in the hills. That was my teens, so I had no fear, and I was filled with confidence, fire, and determination not to fall or embarrass myself. I taught myself how to balance and completed the ride."
You began riding at sixteen and moved quickly from street to circuit racing. What drew you to competitive racing in the first place?
Nivetha Jessica: "I was very interested in sports since my childhood. When I joined college, I became more influenced by social media, grew my contacts, and began my riding career. It then slowly went to competitive racing."
You've competed in everything from dirt races to national circuit racing championships. How different is your mindset when switching between disciplines?
Nivetha Jessica: "The main thing is to have discipline and focus. All come under racing; only the terrain and the bike differ. Even circuit racers do off-road training to learn balancing skills. When we apply those in the tarmacs (Circuit racing), we will be much quicker, and our balancing skills will be much developed than before.
Drag is similar to circuit racing, as we don't need to ride the full track, limited to just a small stretch. It may sound simple, but a minute-second delay in gear shifting and timing will push you out of the race. If we are focused and disciplined, we can continue all three races."
The 2019 INMC season saw you finish among the top riders in the country. What stood out to you about that campaign?
Nivetha Jessica: "2019 was my biggest comeback because I won two championships that year in both drag and circuit racing. Until 2019, I was struggling financially, as it is an elite sport. It was also the first women's racing competition, and winning two titles was an outstanding achievement. It's been 6 years since I won, but still it feels unbelievable for me."
You returned to win the National Drag Championship after a serious crash. What changed in your approach to racing after that crash?
Nivetha Jessica: "That was one of the toughest parts in racing, apart from funding races. We will face struggles both physically and mentally after a serious crash. I faced a similar situation in 2018 with multiple fractures. But it was my willpower and mental strength that helped me recover and return to racing."
Dirt racing, drag racing, circuit racing - each demands its own set of changes to riding style. Which discipline do you find most technically demanding, and why?
Nivetha Jessica: "Circuit racing happens on tarmac, so braking and leaning differ. For off-roading, the riding style is different, and we have to balance the vehicle more from the front. Off-roading and Circuit racing are both demanding at times. I like both, but if you compare both and ask me, 'Which is your favourite?' I'll go with circuit racing."
At Rider Mania 2017, you became the first South Indian woman to finish on the podium in the 500cc class. Looking back, how significant was that moment for you as a racer?
Nivetha Jessica: "That was a proud feeling. I was weighing just 41-42 kgs, and riding a 500cc off-road bike at that time was quite unbelievable. I was supported by my Technical Tuner, Usman, from Dharmpuri. He was the one who pushed me to take up the challenge. I went to Dharmpuri from Chennai for off-road training. After just one day of training, we went to Goa by bike and won the podium."
How hands-on are you with your bike setup before a race?
Nivetha Jessica: "The bike setup differs by categories. For off-roading, we use bikes like Xpulse and Royal Enfield with different tyres, sprockets, etc. For circuit racing, we use R15 with some technical changes."
What does your preparation routine look like? Does it differ from practice sessions to race day?
Nivetha Jessica: "For competition, we should compare ourselves. Everyone comes from a different background with different levels of financial support, and we shouldn't compare ourselves with others or downgrade ourselves. We should learn about our own potential, encourage ourselves, come out of our comfort zone, and have self-motivation."
What changes have you seen in terms of competition in Indian motorsport during your riding career? What changes have you noticed on track in terms of skill level, infrastructure, and attitude(especially towards women riders)?
Nivetha Jessica: "Earning sponsorship and finance is important for racers. When I started racing, the track was already developed, but there was no help for women in motorsports. But nowadays, it has changed, and many brands like TVS are stepping up to support racers. Each year, they conduct races, provide bikes, and fuel at a minimal entry fee. But that was not the case 10 years back. I also appreciate the support from the Tamil Nadu government, especially by Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin, who is more approachable and helps racers financially."
You've seen the sport evolve first-hand. What do you think Indian racing needs next to move forward at the national level?
Nivetha Jessica: "To move to the next level, we have to focus on a single racing category and train hard. In India, it's slowly changing now as many young kids take up motorsports, and even many parents support their children to become racers. Down the line in 10 or 15 years, we may see Indian racers as champions in motorsports."
What advice would you give to women who are just starting in biking or want to get more involved in the community?
Nivetha Jessica: "Step out from your comfort zone, be focused, disciplined, and have the willpower to learn racing."
You are the President of the Women's Motorsports Club. What would you say is the Club's biggest achievement? And how can one join?
Nivetha Jessica: "Our biggest achievement was running a women's motorsport club for five years. Sustaining this long is not easy for women, especially in racing, as we have more responsibilities. Also, we did more than 150 awareness rides all over India about women in motorsports. Anyone can join our club. We have a joining form on our social media pages and websites."
Finally, what's next on your radar? Any specific championship, machine, or riding goal you're chasing?
Nivetha Jessica: "I don't want to reveal anything as I'm more superstitious. But I have some big plans for everything, including riding, racing, and politics. And once I'm done achieving those goals, I'll reveal."
Women's empowerment in India is no longer confined to education and business-it's making waves in motorsports too. Nivetha Jessica is one talent who has defied the odds in a male-dominated sport, earning titles and inspiring countless women to pursue racing as their career. She stands as a symbol of determination and excellence. We extend our best wishes to Nivetha for her future endeavours and thank her for sharing her journey with us in this special interview.
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