Wonder women on wheels: India Bike Week 2019 raises a salute to women bikers 

India Bike Week will keep up the biker mania in Goa this season, as a festival that's being billed as the largest of its kind, and 'The one and only destination in India for world biking for 2 days'.

The festival promises a lineup of some of the greatest names in bike design and manufacturers, and some rare bikes, along with a fair dose of accessory shopping, music, barbecues, beer gardens, training academies, track racing and much more. IBW is going to be '10 acres of Biker Paradise', assure the hosts.

As brotherhood is what India Bike Week has been celebrating for the last 5 years, this year, sisterhood is something they are paying special attention to. Here's a look at a few women bikers who are going to be a part of India Bike Week, leading the way for women bikers in the country. 

Candida Louis

Hailing from Hubli, Candida used to go on motorcycle journeys with her father, who has been her inspiration. She has also covered the Khardung La Pass - one of the highest motorable roads in the world, and Gurez on the India-Pakistan border.

Her overseas motorcycle expeditions include countries such as South Africa, Swaziland, Indonesia, Cambodia, USA and Australia. Over the years, she has led more than 34 customised biking group tours, within India and internationally, having ridden in 14 countries and five continents.

With more than 11 years of biking experience, Candida is looking to help Indian bikers widen their horizon and invite them to life-changing journeys around the globe.

Dr Maral Maya

She's an Irani-born motor-biking world record holder, fashion designer, artist, marketing professional, motivational speaker and campaigner of women’s rights. As of 2018, Dr Maral Yazarloo-Pattrick holds the record for the highest mileage on a superbike for ladies, with over 250,000 km. Her achievements in the biking world have earned her the title of the ‘Queen of Superbikes of India’.

She is the first lady owner of Ducati & BMW GS motorcycles in India, was the HOG (Harley Owners Group) Officer (2015) and the Vice President of the Ducati Club (2016). She also started the riding group ‘Ladies of Harley’ and is the Founder of the first-ever Ladies Super Bike Club ‘Lady Riders of India.

In March 2017, Dr Maral Yazarloo-Pattrick commenced a solo world biking tour across seven continents - Asia, Australia, North America, South America, Antarctica, Africa and Europe, with no backup or team. Maral is currently campaigning for Iranian women to get permission and licences to ride motorbikes. She is also an advocate for awareness about rape and domestic violence on women.

Dr Neharika Yadav

Known to many as a dentist in Gurgaon, few know that Dr Neharika Yadav is one of the premier women biker in India. Since her foray into riding more than six years ago, Neharika has clocked more than 5,000 km at the Buddh International Circuit.

She is also one of the only two professional female racers in India. Yadav is pretty quick for somebody who rode for their first time in 2013. Her favourite motorcycle is the Ducati 899 Panigale, which she owns. Her fastest lap time on the BIC track (5.1 km) with her 899 Panigale is 2:23 minutes, and she has her eyes set on 2:01 minutes, the fastest by any person on the track.

Aishwarya Pissay

Aishwarya Pissay is an Indian circuit and off-road motorcycle racer. She has become the first-ever Indian athlete to win a world title in motorsport on motorcycles. The TVS talent participated at the FIM Bajas World Cup and secured 1st place in the women's category and 2nd in the junior's category.

She is the first Indian woman to win 6 National titles in Circuit Racing and Rally Championship combined. She found her passion in racing as she turned 18, while taking small road trips around her home town of Bengaluru, consequently learning how to master the art of riding a bike.

This hobby grew into a profession as she won 4 National titles in Road Racing and Rally Championship in 2016 and 2017 and competed in the National Rally Championship in 2018, winning it as well. She also became the first Indian woman to compete in the Baja AragonWorld Rally in Spain held in 2018.

Anam Hashim

Anam is India’s youngest female stunt rider, and she's the only female who has scaled the heights of the Khardungla pass on a TVS Scooty.

Sonia Jain

She's a competitive motorcyclist and a long-distance rider. Her journey started right after her education when, just to be able to win a bike, she participated and won The India Bike Rally (2009) organised by Yamaha and BIGADDA. Since then, there has been no looking back for this trailblazer.

Jain has been a part of various rallies and professional motorcycle rides covering the length and breadth of the country aboard the meanest machines on two wheels. Some of her notable feats include riding the 1811 cc Indian Vintage from Delhi to Pune; covering 1,900 km across 6 cities in Rajasthan riding the 800 cc Triumph Tiger.

Sonia Jain has registered her name in the Limca Book of Records along with India Book Of Records (IBR) for the year 2017 for riding 100 different models of motorcycles, the highest number by a woman in the country, as of August 16, 2016.