"Of course, being the only woman in a male domain is a bit unusual, but I firmly believe that competing against guys makes you all the stronger. I like to see how the rookies react to being overtaken by a girl during the initial heats. There´s always the risk that I will be taken out on the track, and there are many young riders in the ADAC MX Youngster Cup who don´t give it a second thought. When I´m competing against other girls, though, they are more inclined to ease off the throttle, brake and let me through.

I rely on technique a lot rather than sheer strength. My ace in the pack: I always get away well at the start. However, there are other areas where technique is of little help, and then the guys are faster. Also, I´m not all that tall at 153.5 centimetres. My bike has been adjusted to suit me, the frame shortened, the seat made flatter and lower. Unfortunately, there is nothing you can do about the bike´s length.

I´ve been a professional motocross rider for three years now. But as regards the Women´s World Cup, it´s a little bit in the doldrums at the moment. Even if you trained rigorously for it and won, it would not really be of that much value to me, because as a woman, you definitely cannot make your living from motocross here in Germany. Well anyway, I said to myself, you have to think about the future. I am 23 years old now and recently began training as a wholesale and foreign trade clerk in Melle. By the time I´m finished, the Women´s World Cup may perhaps be back on its feet and I´ll compete in it again. Motocross is just such a great sport. Brilliant for spectators. You get an adrenaline buzz just from watching the riders.

My next race weekend is from 22nd to 23th June in Aichwald near Stuttgart. Aichwald has a lot of positive associations for me. It´s where I won my first ADAC MX Youngster Cup race in 2010. I just made it through by the skin of my teeth via the Last Chance race. I got the drop at the start and finally finished fourth. Since then, I´ve always felt good about the Aichwald track."