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Hailing from Bernay, Normandy in the north of France, Lucie Boudesseul (GMT94-YAMAHA) has announced herself onto the scene in her first season in the FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship, having earned top 10 results in every race she has finished so far this season. Born in 2007, the 18-year-old rider is among the youngest on the grid; however, she has already begun to show her pedigree and hopes to continue making steps in these final rounds of the WorldWCR’s second-ever season.

MAKING ADAPTATIONS: “My riding style is very different, but it brings a physical advantage because riding 1000cc bikes has made me stronger”

Despite her young age, the #17 brings more experience to the paddock than her years might suggest. Boudesseul came to the WorldWCR grid as a three-year veteran of the French Supersport 300 Championship, and more recently, several years in French Superbike 1000. She earned several podiums in her time there, as well as setting the fastest time ever recorded by a female rider at France’s Circuit Carole. Before that, in her time there, she twice finished in 13^th place out of at least 26 riders after finishing 15^th in her rookie season in the competition. Going bar to bar with some of the top young riders in the country, in different seasons, she competed against fellow Frenchwomen Line Vieillard (FT Racing Academy) and Justine Pedemonte (MDS), who will be throwing their hat in the ring at their upcoming home round at Magny-Cours.

In her beginnings in the sport, to her adaptation to WorldWCR machinery, Boudesseul said: “My story is a little bit different because my parents didn’t race. I started riding motorcycles when I was five, and I've loved them ever since. Before, I was in the French Superbike Championship, and I was on a 1000cc, so it was very different from the Yamaha R7. For me, it’s more of a disadvantage technically because my riding style is very different, but it brings a physical advantage because riding 1000cc bikes has made me stronger. I still need to make further adjustments, however, because I rely on it too much with the R7. I work with our data engineer at the end of every day to review the data together, which helps me understand the line and track better.

IDOLS TO RIVALS: “When I started competing, Maria Herrera was the top female rider in the World Championship, so now to be able to ride with her and this group, I feel very proud”

Now that #17 has made it to WorldWCR, she has proven that her calibre is nothing to take lightly, and that she can challenge with the grid’s top riders. Her best round of the season came at Donington Park, where she was able to build on her top 10 consistency of a P8 and a pair of P9s in prior rounds. Boudesseul caught the attention of the grid with her Race 1 P5, which improved to a Race 2 P4 to close out the UK Round. Boudesseul credited this breakout performance to more time atop the Yamaha R7, and it must be a gust of wind in her sails to be challenging some of her most respected rivals like Maria Herrera (Klint Forward Racing Team).

“When I started competing, Maria Herrera was the top female rider in the World Championship, so now to be able to ride with her and this group, I feel very proud. It is a lot of work to get to this level. Between the rounds at Cremona and Donington, there was a two-month break, so I trained a lot with my R7. I think my performance at the start of the season comes down a lot more to my lack of experience with the R7; I still need to learn the bike more. I think Magny-Cours will be very exciting because I will be riding at home in front of all the French fans. I think it will be very interesting.”

 STEP BY STEP: I think it’s better for now to finish fourth or fifth than to finish in the gravel. It’s my first time in the championship, first time on the bike, first time on these tracks

Boudesseul has accomplished something special by reaching the top flight of Women’s Motorcycle racing, but the 18-year-old is not content with just biding her time on the grid. She has her sights on podiums and fighting with the riders at the front, but she is also cognisant that not all progress comes overnight. To her, improving from first to consistently being in the top five would be a welcome step forward on her way to bigger and better results.

On her feelings towards the Championship, and her view of her progression within it, Boudesseul said: “I think it is a big opportunity for women to be able to ride in a World Championship that has a very high level. It is very exciting to be here and a part of this WorldWCR family. Every time I take to the track, I am thinking about the podium, but I also want to take my time to improve and not make stupid mistakes at the end of the race. I think it’s better for now to finish fourth or fifth than to finish in the gravel. It’s my first time in the championship, first time on the bike, first time on these tracks, so I’m taking as much experience as I can and enjoying it. If I can fight with the front group like I did in the UK Round, then I will do it again.”

Tune in this weekend to see Boudesseul in her home round at Magny Cours! Keep up with the WorldWCR Championship battle by following WorldWCR on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Facebook, and watch every race FREE on YouTube!