Natalie Kane's red plate road

She’s won races, she’s won rounds but she’s never led the FIM Women’s Motocross World Championship until now. After years of being the bridesmaid but never the bride, it is finally HM Plant KTM UK’s Natalie Kane’s turn to bolt the WMX red plate onto her number forty-four KTM250SXF. We caught up with the humorous Irish lady today at round three of the FIM Women’s Motocross World Championship in Valkenswaard, The Netherlands to chat about her latest great accomplishment…

Nat, it has been a long time coming but now you have the red plate, how long have you been waiting for this moment?

“Well the first time I did a GP, I was 15 but I didn’t do the full season. So from when I was 16 years old, now I am 22, so that’s like 6 years. 6 years I have been waiting.”

It must be a good buzz, tell me what it means to you?

“It means a lot ya know, I didn’t win a race to get the red plate, but you know that’s just how this season is going. When I first started the GP’s at 16 it was like that, you could be first or you could be sixth and then for a few years you could have a bad race, and your bad race was third. Now I’ve got the red plate, and I know it’s unlucky for Meghan (Rutledge), but I am the one who has been the most consistent. I remember a few years ago Steve Ramon won the title like that, so I am really happy although I am not so happy with the way that round (in Arco di Trento) went, like with my riding and stuff, but when I got the red plate I was just so surprised and shocked. It was really good.”

Do you think the talent in WMX racing is deeper this year than the last couple of years?

“Definitely! A lot deeper than the last two-years I would say. Everyone is back, Larissa (Papenmeier-Picoto) is back, Meghan (Rutledge) is here from Australia although she was here last year but this year everybody has stepped it up. Livia (Lancelot) is back, Steffi (Laier) is back… (Laughs) yeah Steffi, she’s getting old but you can never rule her out, you never ever know when she’s gonna come out of nowhere. But the talent is good, you can see it’s all in the start, Livia’s had a sixth, Chiara (Fontanesi) has had a fifth and I’ve been fourth it’s just all up and down. Right now you can’t not ride good, everybody has to be on their game.”

Do you think it’s because the girls are back with MXGP that the bar has been raised?

“Yeah it’s definitely because we are back with MXGP and MX2. You know I am so glad we are back here with MXGP and MX2, not just for the publicity but for the tracks. On the tracks from MXGP you have to use so much more technique because it’s really rough and you have to pick your lines and there are more lines to choose from. It is just better in all ways, I like it a lot.”

What is your favourite track on the calendar?

“I quite like the sand, so here in Valkenswaard, although I have been struggling a bit here in the past but I still like it and I am always better in a race. Otherwise I guess I like Germany.”

Do you watch MXGP & MX2 races live or on TV?

“I do. I do watch MXGP, and even when I look at our calendar, especially if I see a track I haven’t been to before, I will go back and watch it online so I can see the lines. Sometimes it’s learning to ride with your head rather than your speed.”

What do you learn from watching those guys?

“I definitely learn a lot. Cairoli is just something special, he always looks like he’s going nowhere but he’s not, he’s riding faster than everyone else and when he gets a bad start he just continues to ride the same speed, so you can watch him for lines. He takes lines that most people would never think of taking and it’s good because then I can think about it, and then I know some more lines if I have to pass someone.”

What are your goals for this weekend in Valkenswaard?

“I will see how it goes and how I am feeling. Of coarse I want to stay on the podium, actually I want to win, but mostly I just wanna stay consistent.”

Do you think you can win the championship?

“Yeah I think I can, but I know it definitely won’t be easy. Right now I have the red plate, but actually I would much rather have it at the final round and be able to exchange it for a gold plate. But you never know what’s gonna happen. The way I look at it is; Can I win it? Yeah. But can five other people win it also? Yeah.”