Lissy Whitmore, a teenager to watch out for
Without question, Lissy is a teenager with talent, crafting her skills to compete with the up and coming professionals of MotoSport. Here at Motorbike Mad we were keen to get an insight into her and the passion she holds for two wheels.
We felt it best to leave this blog in her own words.
In late January 2017 my dad took me to a kart track to watch a British mini bike championship (BMB) winter series round. While I was there I met Abbz Thomas who was racing there. She was amazing and so fast, that is when all the trouble started for my dad.
By Easter 2017 my dad had sold his road bike and got me a new IMR 140 pit bike supermoto and we turned up to Stretton kart track near Leicester for my first ride, I loved it!
I went on to take part in 5 British mini bike championship rounds that year finishing in the points at every round and getting my first top 10 results in the wet at Llandow in South Wales.
The 2017/18 winter series i got my first podium at 3 sisters circuit and finished the championship in 4th place.
2018 BMB championship was a tough year, lots of fast talented riders some of whom are going on to great things. Ash Barnes,Zak Shelton, Joe Duggan,Lucca Allen & Chace Collymore being the main front runners i had to battle with.
I finished the year joint 5th with Ash Barnes with Zak Shelton taking the championship.
I had changed bikes before the end of the season to a Italian bike called a Bucci, I love that bike!
2018/19 Winter season I stepped into the adults class for the first time taking a 5th & 6th at my first meeting then at the final round I took my first pole position and double podiums in the race.
2019 Mum and dad got me a KTM RC390 and after getting my ACU licence at Darley Moor I entered my first race meeting at Mallory Park in April.
Racing in the supermono gb championship jnr class I took 2 3rds and 2 2nd places and a 3rd in the newcomers race.
From there on I raced at NGRRC in the F400 class. Racing against the 4 cylinder 400 bikes like ZXR/FZR/NC30/35 is hard as they have 20hp more, but I managed to finish 10th in the championship. Sharing the grid with the desmodue ducati championship I've made lots of friends that have helped me on and off track especially Andy Taylor from RealRoads.co.uk.
Before the 2019 season ended we made another bike swap to a Yamaha YZF-R3. With 100% Suspension sorting the Ktech suspension for me I fell in love with this bike.
The R3 are down on power compared to the kawasaki ninja400 so to help this yamaha make a engine kit but its expensive so we managed without for a while. We took it to Spain for 3 days on track with sponsors Andy Taylor and Geoff Fitchett (GoForward) and had a day with Peter Hickman coaching me too.
2020 and I've had some amazing opportunities considering the year its been. I have a column in UK clubsport magazine and I've been racing in the freetech endurance championship on a cbr125 with Dominic Herbotson.
I also got the chance to be on the 'Chasin the Racin' podcast with Chrissy Rouse and Dom Herbertson which was great fun.
I've made the most of the 39hp I had and battled with the more powerful kawasaki and other R3s with the kits fitted. Sometimes I can be as far as 11hp down.
I have some amazing people that have joined my #club34 and they raised the money to get me the engine kit. Peter Hickman then stepped in to fit it all at his PHR Performance workshop's in Louth and the difference is amazing. Castle Combe was first time out with my new 44hp bike.
Open 500cc I got a 7th and 2x 5th places then the junior supersport class a 4th and 2x 3rd places.
The bike has since been to BSD Performance in Peterborough for some dyno set up and its gained another 3hp so I now have 47hp and I cant wait to get out and try it.
I've been doing some flatracking at Peter Boasts champions flat track school near Lincoln and its great training as well as huge fun.
2021 will see me racing back at NGRRC in the jss300 class and open 500cc class as well as Thundersport GB in the Superteens and now with a great support from existing sponsors and new
Hopefully I can take my WGA construction Yamaha closer to the front.
Lissy#34
Wishing you every success Lissy, we will follow your career with interest.