Q: Hi Paola, so, how does it feel to be one of the fastest women in the world? Do you feel any pressure about that?

Well…let’s say I always look at the guys in front of me (and they are many!), who are riders just like me…only…with the capital P!! The only capital P that I have is the one of my name!

I don’t think much about being one of  the fastest women in the world actually, I don’t’ have much time to do that! I feel quite a big pressure on me, because to me it’s not enough just to be there: that is not a chequered flag to me, it’s rather the starting  grid! I am the first woman ever to participate in the whole Supersport World Championship and I hope to gain some good results, to show that also women (maybe…) can do that!

Q: You have debuted at the Phillip Island circuit, which you didn’t know at all and you could score two points, which is really not bad at all. How did you feel when the lights went down on your first World Championship competition?

Well, the debut at Phillip Island has been tough, as that track is one of the fastest and most tricky in the whole series. So let’s say we’ll see how it will go from now on, but one thing I can tell you: those guys out there are not joking at all! To be honest I was not so nervous at the starting grid, I was just trying  to concentrate on my start…I didn’t have much space to pass through, but the goal was to gain one row right at the start…so it turned out I had to squeeze in between Charpentier and the wall…pure adrenaline!!

Q: The next race will be in Portimao, are you ready for that? Do you think you have enough confidence with the bike at the moment? Do you know the track and do you think you can perform well there?

I am more than ready for Portimao! I had the chance to ride on that track in January, when we had the official tests and I can say I liked it very much. I actually expect a lot from this race, I would like to reduce the gap form the guys at the front and learn some new things more! To be honest I do not have so much confidence with the bike yet, as I have been riding it just a few times…and a Supersport bike has many different things compared to a Stock bike!

Q: Which are your favorite tracks, or the tracks you think you can perform well?

I normally go fast on the wet, no matter the track so…I would do kind a rain dance! For what concern my favorite tracks, I don’t know most of them, so let’s say I like Portimao…and playing with the X-Box I can also tell you that I would like South Africa, even if I think it would be a difficult track.

Q: How is it going with the Team? Where does number 33 come from?

With the Team everything is going well, we are learning much from each other. I was given number 33 from the very beginning, when I used to ride motocross and it’s been the only number with which I didn’t got injured so…I decided to keep it, hoping it will help me!

Q: The WSS has always been a thrilling class, with a lot of exciting duels and talented rider. Now that you are a part of that, who do you think is favorite to clinch the title?

I think Laverty, Sofuoglu and Lascorz will be always at the top, but also guys like Pirro, Foret and Fujiwara could be at the front…if I could put someone behind me, you will see from the charts!

Q: What are you aiming to in this season and how would you encourage a young girl willing to follow your steps?

My aim here is to get anyhow better, gain experience, close the gap with the fastest riders and…have fun, because I am doing what I like to do! To be honest I do not see many girls at the moment who can reach this level, but Alessia Polita is very fast for sure!

Q: Let’s talk about your family: did they help you or did they hamper you when you made the decision to be a professional rider?

Let’s say they had no influence in my decisions. I have always done everything by myself!

Q: I have visited your web-site (paolacazzola.it)  to steal some more infos about you. Do you keep in touch with your fans through it? Do you spend much time in it?

I would like to have much more time to dedicate to my web site, but I am always so busy…and I do not have money to pay someone to do that for me! My web site and the social networks are for sure important to keep in touch with my fans, but I am a bit old style, so I would prefer to look people into their eyes and have a spriz with my friends rather than spending too much time in front of my laptop!

Q: Talking about technologies, are you on Facebook? What about Twitter? Or you are not interested at all?

I am on Facebook, this way I can keep in touch with my fans and friends when I am abroad, when phone calls become too expensive…

Q: Do you practice any other sport? What do you do in your spare time and above all, do you have spare time??

I like any sport which has to do with two-wheels and I practice snowboard in the winter. Like you say, I am always very busy with my training, but if I am interested in something, I want to find enough time to do it!

Q: What would you do if you weren’t a rider? What would you like to do, once you quit with racing?

If I wasn’t a rider, I would work in the sales dept of a factory, which is exactly what I was doing before dedicating my life to the bikes! When I will stop racing I would like to stay  around, to become a trainer…or to work for AXO, would you get me on board?

Q: To be a champion means to have a lot of people willing to look like you…what would you like to say them? Feel free to express your thoughts!

I am not a superwoman, I make mistakes like everybody else, let’s say I would define myself as follows:

Dreamer

Determined

Pig-headed

Good

Very angry (in a positive way!)

And yes, I am definitively a fighter

Special thanks to everyone who helps me making  my dream come true:  Kuja Racing, Axo, Airoh, Pirelli, Tottene, Ruggeri Campers and Seven Gold!