At the Ulster Grand Prix in Northern Ireland, last August, we had the pleasure to catch up with the fastest road racer girl on the 7.4 miles Dundrod circuit who set the new Ulster GP female record in 2016 and improved it during this year’s edition.
Patricia at the Ulster GP 2017 (ph: Maverick Pics)
Thirty-two years old from Tulsa, Oklahoma, Patricia Fernandez took part in the World’s Fastest Road Race for the first time in 2014 with the Magic Bullet Team (the same the veteran Davy Morgan rides for). In 2016 Patricia set the new female record in Dundrod at the average speed of 118.264 mph on the 600cc Yamaha of Stanley Watson’s squad. She was even awarded a special medal by the fastest road racer in the world at the time, Bruce Anstey.
This year the Northern Irish team supplied Patricia with a ZX10R and the American set the new Dundrod “pink record” straight away at 119.671 mph average speed.
A regular Superstock 600 MotoAmerica rider, Patricia Fernandez also attended the Armoy “Race of Legends” for the first time this year as a newcomer and her target is nonetheless the infamous Macau Grand Prix, in which she would be the first female racer ever.
Patricia, how did you meet the Magic Bullet Team?
Patricia in the UGP paddock this year (ph: RoadRacingCore)
I was actually racing for AMA at the time, which is now MotoAmerica, and they sent me a message on Facebook asking me to do some short circuit races; I looked them up and they were really a gentlemen team. Then when I came here they took me in the car around some of the tracks, so I said “I might try this, the Ulster GP”; but at first they didn’t want me to because it’s dangerous. But I’m a woman so I’m very stubborn and I said “Either you’re going to help me riding here or you will have to find someone else”. They helped me and the relationship has been really good, I continued to come back here and race for them. Obviously MotoAmerica was always the priority so I only came here when I could but I’m trying to race here more now. I like it, I like the team, they support me back home and here and I support them too.
Why did you choose road racing, was it anything you dreamed of?
Well, in America there is no road racing and you only hear about TT, Ulster GP, North West, the big ones. I just came here and decided I wanted to try it, just try it, and I promised if I didn’t feel safe and didn’t like it I would just pull in, I promised not ride above my head. For me it’s almost like learning to ride again because road racing is completely different than a circuit, you can go faster all the way, and it’s literally apex, trees, hedges. It’s crazy but it’s almost like when you ride on a rollercoaster and you get on the top and you are scared and then the scariness turns so fun. The ability to go round successfully and go faster and faster it’s like a challenge and you learn to ride again. I think I’m addicted to that because back home on the circuits on the “Pro Level” I’ve ridden in before I go fast there too but it’s just different. I’m kind of addicted, I like coming here because I can’t get it back home.
Are you aiming to anything else, other road races?
2017 Ulster GP (ph: Diego Mola)
Definitely I wanted to do the North West 200 and Isle of Man this year, but things changed a little bit with the budget the team can have. I am thankful to race for the team here. We are already talking about it for next year, definitely the North West and maybe another one. I think they’re really nervous about letting me riding on the Isle of Man.
Which is your favourite section at the Ulster GP?
Honestly on the 600cc versus the 1000cc the spots change. On the 600cc I definitely like the back section of the track because it’s clear, it’s really fast and flowing and I think I can get it really well. On the 1000cc I have to say honestly it scared me at first but I like Deer’s Leap because I can do all the wheelies and you can get really cool pictures out of it!
Is there anything like that in the USA?
No, nothing. A lot of the short circuits are smooth and fast and flowing. For example at Barber Park in Alabama you are breaking downhill, accelerating uphill, it goes ups and downs, it’s very smooth transition. It’s pretty cool starting at the bottom of the hill and go round the corner and then goes up, but it’s a different type of challenge.
What does your family think about what you do?
Patricia newcomer at Armoy in July (ph: Chris Usal)
Well, when I told them back home I was going to do road races they asked me “what is it like?”. And obviously they saw the aspect of danger coming here compared to what I’m doing on short circuits. But I know I’m still learning it and building up gradually, I don’t go in there and run off like I would do on a short circuit, you don’t have that luxury. I definitely have to say that the following in America has increased since I came here; and also if you know someone in any sport you want to watch it more, you know who you can cheer for. They know I broke the record, I have a lot of support back home. Before coming here I was in Laguna Seca and I met my friend PJ Jacobsen and he was like “You’re crazy doing the roads” and I was like “You go so fast you can’t tell me I’m crazy!”. But when I talk about it, people want to know what it’s like, they think it’s really cool and just want me to stay safe.
What is your daily job at home?
I don’t work very often, I only have part-time jobs because obviously with racing you travel a lot. I want to work as much as I can but I can’t have a job for long time because I travel. So I have part-time jobs and another reason I do that is that I get payed every night and not every two weeks. I want to race more because as long as I keep on racing I don’t want to work haha!
Are you aiming to 120 mph in Dundrod?
Yes and that’s going to happen soon!
Thanks a lot Patricia!
Ciao!
