In conversation with us today is one of the most active personalities you will ever come across. Kalyani Potekar is an adrenaline junkie who is constantly on her toes. When she’s not astride a motorcycle, she dons different hats as a national-level horse rider, an avid cyclist, a skater and a trekker. The youngest participant at the 2013 Raid De Himalaya, for that edition of the Raid, she was also the sole woman participant among 200 men. Her motorcycling resume has notable mentions which include riding from Jaisalmer to Kathmandu in 24 days and winning the ‘Best Rider Girls - India’ title in 2011. Let’s get to know more about what her motorcycling journey has been like so far!
Tell us about how you started your career in motorsports?
My father used to participate in motorsport events and I used to accompany him during his casual rides. I was 14 when my father took me in as a crew member as he was participating in the Raid de Himalaya that year. That was my first encounter with motorsport. I learnt riding a motorcycle at the age of 10, but it was not until my college days that I had developed a liking towards riding a motorcycle for long hours. It was when I started riding down to Lavasa, which is on the outskirts of Pune, it dawned upon me that I enjoyed spending time in the saddle of a motorcycle.
Fast forward to the day when I decided to participate in the Raid De Himalaya rally without informing my father until the eleventh hour. But as always, he supported my decision and even accompanied me to the event. Post the Raid, I started touring with my bike, yet to be introduced to the technical side of riding. Having tasted blood at the Raid, motorsport had pulled me with its gravity, however, it was not until three years later that I learnt about a track school and decided to hone my skills on the track.
Having found my path, I continued polishing my skills at the school and began participating in national championships and races. With time, my performance improved and with my rank going up, I was selected by the FMSCI to participate at the Asia Cup of Road Racing, where I finished third overall in terms of position.
How has motorsport shaped your life over the past few years?
Motorsport has made me approach life differently. Besides my involvement in motorsport, I am an athlete, but I also spend ample time to indulge in my hobbies which are skating, horse riding, cycling, swimming etc. But motorsport moulds you into a different personality altogether and after winning championships and representing the country at an international level, my confidence was at an astronomical height, which is when I decided to up my game and race in the litre class category. I began climbing the ladder and post 2017, motorsport brought a wide & focused perspective in my life, where I now wish to grow as an international racer.
What are your thoughts about the number of women participating in motorsport?Over the past decade, the number of women participating in motorsports has been growing with every passing year. When I first participated at the Raid De Himalaya, I was the only woman participant at the event. Now, compared to those times, the number of women participants has only gone up. The overall awareness is also on the rise and with manufacturers like TVS supporting the sport with their endeavours like the One-Make Championship, talented men and women from across the country have access to a platform where they can come forward and make the most of their potential.
Where do you see the women’s motorcycle community in the coming years?
The women’s motorcycling community will only grow in the coming years. Even now, there are various women’s riding clubs and events which allow women riders to make a great start in their motorsport journey.
Who has supported you or has been the best motivation for you throughout your motorsport career?
My father has always been my biggest pillar of support through most aspects of life. Be it be riding or pursuing what I wished to, he has always been my motivational force. Over the years, apart from my father, my coach and my mentor have also been immensely supportive. Even when they aren’t physically around, they make sure they monitor my every step and are ready to guide me with their advice, whenever necessary. I think that the right guidance and support helps a lot in avoiding unnecessary mistakes and ensuring that you’re headed in the right direction towards achieving your goal.
Where would you like to see the women’s motorcycling community in the coming years?
I wish to see boys and girls on the same grid for a race or a track day. There should be an equal number of girls on the grid against boys and that is what I would love to see in the years to come. What I would also like to see is a women’s motorcycling community so strong that there is no segregation based on gender and the community as a whole is referred to as motorcycling enthusiasts.
What is your advice to the younger generation and for girls/women who wish to be a part of the motorsport community?
My advice to the young generation will be for them to be wise in choosing their idols and heroes. Social media has shifted the focus from the real achievers and doers in most fields, to those who are mainstream influencers. For people who are unaware about who to look up to and whom to follow, social media has become a place where beyond a point, you cannot differentiate between the actual people working in the industry vs the side of the industry which is showcased by the influencer community.
There’s a vast difference between talented riders and those who do it for the optics alone, which is why it is important that you are careful about whose advice you take and who guides you on the right path. If you wish to earn a reputation in motorsport, you have to be patient and you have to keep trying, while giving your best. If you have the will to work for it, you will definitely be able to achieve it one day. It’s true for any field you operate in, where if you set an aim and are dedicated towards achieving it, eventually, you will hit the bull’s eye!