Features 19 Jun 2018

Unplugged: Tayla Relph

Supersport 300 contender on a variety of topics.

Words: Russell Colvin

Image: Russell Colvin.

My Way

Greatest moment of your career?

Being the first female rider to ever win a race in the ASBK series in the Australian Moto3 Championship in 2016 at Sydney Motorsport Park. Later that year I managed to win another race at Barbagallo Raceway.

Toughest race ever?

It’s hard to say. Pretty much every single Supersport 300 race – it just feels like it’s the hardest that you have ever worked. I would say almost all of the Supersport 300 races to date are the toughest ever.

Long-term goal?

To be able to at least race one round in the World Supersport 300 Championship would be my long-term goal for now.

Favourite track?

Favourite track I would have to say The Bend Motorsport Park. Just because it’s similar to Phillip Island, but for the R3 it’s a bit more challenging. The Bend is a really fast paced track, but then it also throws in a bit of hard braking corners and I feel that it really suited the Yamaha R3.

Arch-rival?

Olly Simpson! Olly and I are really good friends and it’s always been a really good competition between him and I. Now that Olly is back racing in the Australian Supersport 300 Championship, the rivalry is back.

If you weren’t a racer, you would be?

Rich, with lots of money [laughs] – I pay for racing myself. I would be a childcare teacher and work full-time. There would be so many things I would do, if I weren’t racing motorcycles.

Greatest inspiration?

Maria Herrera and Ana Carrasco.

Superstitions?

No, I don’t have any superstitions.

Training methods?

I train when I can, but I have a pretty busy schedule most of the time, so I don’t really have anything set in stone. When I do train, I normally do a bit of running. I don’t go to the gym as I find it boring.

Off the Wall

Non bike-related hobbies?

I really enjoy water skiing and gymnastics.

What car do you drive?

Currently driving a Mazda 3.

What’s your preferred music?

I listen to anything that is on the radio or whatever comes up on Spotify.

Best thing about racing in Australia?

The Australian Supersport 300 class is the best thing about racing in Australia, without a doubt! Just how competitive the championship is – nearly every race there are about 10 of us battling for the top three positions. The Supersport 300 Championship is by far the best category in the ASBK series. I know I will get absolutely drilled for saying that [Laughs].

Who will win WorldSBK this year?

I’m going to say Jonathan Rea.

How about MotoGP?

Without a doubt, Marc Marquez.

First and Last

First bike?

Yamaha PW50, which I got when I was three years old.

First proper injury?

My worst injury was at this year’s opening round at Phillip Island when another rider’s brake disc went through my left femur. I know have a cracking scar from it as well now.

First time you got in a fight?

Never! I’m the least violent person ever.

Last holiday?

My last holiday was to Warrnambool [laughs].

Last big crash you had?

Final round of the ASBK at Phillip Island last year in race two – I pretty much wrote my bike off in that crash as well.

One or the Other

Faster circuits or more technical circuits?

I would say more technical circuits. The reason why is because the R3 doesn’t have that much horsepower, so the more technical the circuit is you can see the riders capability more than if the rider has a quick bike. It’s a bit more of an even playing field.

Monster or Red Bull?

Red Bull.

PC or Mac?

Mac.

McDonalds or KFC?

Neither. I have really bad allergies, so I can’t eat either of them.

MotoGP or WorldSBK?

MotoGP, simply because that is where Marquez races. On top of that, there are more attractive riders to look at in that championship [laughs].

Print or digital magazines?

I’m a journalist, so I should be saying print, but I’m going to say digital magazines.

Blonde or brunette?

Brunette – it’s just a coincidence that Marquez has brunette hair.

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