From Cape Town via Zimbabwe to WorldWCR
Jessica Howden is a talented young rider from Cape Town who is blazing a trail in WorldWCR, having made a name for herself first on the domestic scene in her native South Africa and subsequently in the CIV300 series, the ESBK paddock and the Womenâs European Championship. Having also lived in Zimbabwe as a child, she now pursues her racing ambitions on the world scene, encouraged into competitive riding by her father, a car racer and big motorsports enthusiast himself. She was also previously coached by her compatriot and current WorldWCR rival Nicole van Aswegen, who has had a significant influence on her career.
Inspired by another role model
Howden describes her journey into racing and how it was another female South African racer who caught her eye and inspired her to go full gas on two wheels. âWhen I was 14 I used to go with my Dad to the track every weekend because he used to race cars,â she explains. âI saw a woman called Savannah Woodward racing a motorbike at the track and I told my Dad that I wanted to try that. She won the race and the next weekend we went again and I rode a bike, so thatâs when I started riding. Iâd say Savannah was the one I looked up to more when I first started racing and we still talk a lot. My first bike was a Honda CBR250. From my first ride is when I fell in love and knew I wanted to keep doing it. We didnât race with that Honda bike, I went straight onto a Yamaha R3 and raced with that here in South Africa. Nicole (van Aswegen) also used to coach me, she taught me for a year and she taught me a lot. It is amazing that we now race against each other and we do fight a lot!â
Representing South Africa in WorldWCR
Howden took part in the Womenâs European Championship in 2022 and her victory in Misano saw her become the first African woman to win a race in the series. It was a key moment for her and a significant step in helping her to get where she is today. In terms of the importance to her career of taking part in the historic 2024 FIM Womenâs Circuit Racing World Championship and how proud she is to represent her country alongside Van Aswegen in the inaugural season of the competition, Howden reveals, âIt means a lot to me to be racing against the best women in the world, it makes me very proud of how far we have all come. Iâve really noticed how the other girls in the paddock cheer you up, I mean they all really support each other, both privately and at the track. Iâm very proud to represent my country because itâs not often you see an African in this sport and it makes me very happy.â
On coming back from adversity
As a rider who, like many others, is familiar with fighting back from injuries, it is notable that Howden cites as inspirational two athletes who know very well the experience of overcoming adversity. Howdenâs 2023 campaign was impacted when she broke her thumb and dislocated her shoulder in the pre-season and then she suffered a concussion at the opening round of the WorldWCR season in Misano earlier this year. Asked about her favourite rider she says, âMarc Marquez. Iâve supported him since I was young, maybe 10 years-old. What I have seen from him is that in the moments he struggles he always comes back really strongly.â When it comes to female athletes, Howden states, âSimone Biles is the one. I saw that previously she wasnât ready mentally and she has come back so strong. I watched the documentary on her and itâs really impressive her story.â
The high seas and the football field
When it comes to professional interests away from racing, Howden reveals that working life on the open seas could be a potential future calling. âI want to study to work on yachts in the near future! One of my friends does it and was telling me how cool it is,â she comments. âYou really enjoy it when youâre there, itâs not only work. Iâve also watched it a lot on the TV, the Below Deck series. There are a lot of South Africans on that show! I think Iâd have to be on deck, I donât think I could be a hostess. But anyway youâd need to go away for two months to do it and for now racing comes first.â When it comes to her current hobbies, Howden comments on her recent love affair with âthe beautiful gameâ, saying, âFor now my biggest hobby is soccer. I love the sport and love to see how the women are doing so well. I play it but Iâm really not good! I donât even play in a position I just play for fun. Itâs only a year ago that I started watching it and Iâve really got into it! Itâs because of my Dad again. Arsenal are my favourite team.â
A fatherâs influence
Like many young riders it was her fatherâs passion for racing which pulled her towards the racetrack and itâs clear that he still plays a big role in how she approaches competitive riding. âMy Dad has always been my idol and I know he loves motorsport, so it inspired me to make him proud and finally race in a World Championship,â recognises Howden. âWhen I was younger my Dad would watch a lot of WorldSBK and MotoGP⢠races, so immediately I was drawn to it. The relationship became stronger when I started racing because he loves the sport so he wanted to help as much as he could. The relationship is really, really strong with my Dad. He even stopped racing so that he could help me more. Thatâs been really important for me because without him I wouldnât be anywhere. Itâs been more on the mental side where he has helped me most in the last two years. Although the physical side is important the mental part is the main part which I speak with my Dad about. Mentally racing is tough, but he has a strong personality. I stress way too much before a race and he is always helping me to be calm.â
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