Lucie Boudesseul (WorldWCR) opens up to Palmen in Motorradsport

Articolo in italiano qui.

The third season of the FIM Women's Circuit Racing World Championship, known as WorldWCR, started in Portimão with interesting races and stories to tell. Several riders showed great racing and were able to fight for top positions, and one of them is Lucie Boudesseul.

Born in 2003, Boudesseul is facing her second season in the series with GMT94 Yamaha and is aiming to make further steps forward after a promising 2025 campaign, which saw her score two podiums including one on home soil in Magny-Cours and finish the season in 6th place. The start of the new season was difficult, but the French rider still managed to turn it around and finish 4th in Race 1. Unfortunately, a crash ruled her out of Race 2 while still fighting for the first five positions, but the speed shown in Portugal makes her one of the races to watch for the 2026 season.

Palmen in Motorradsport had the chane to interview Lucie Boudesseul to discuss her expectations for this season and to know more about her story and career.

Lucie, what can you tell us about the start of the season?

The round in Portimão was very difficult. We had engine issues during the first session of the WorldWCR Test and this not only made me miss important track time, but it also forced us to change some pieces and I was not feeling good on the bike as I should.

Missing a huge part of the test and changing the bike meant that, when the first round came, we were starting from scratch and, in the Free Practice and Superpole sessions, I had a big gap from the front (she qualified in seventh position, 1.7 seconds off the pole position, ed). However, I managed to make a good comeback and good races. In Race 1, I fought for 4th place with a good strategy, and in the final stages I managed to overtake the riders I was fighting with and finish in P4. Race 2 was good as well, but unfortunately I crashed because of a few factors: there was strong lateral wind and when I caught a little bump in Turn 1, I just lost thcontrol and fell. 

Anyway, I feel happy with my races in Portimão and confident for the season.

What's your goal for this season?

I want to gather experience, because it's only my second year in the world championship. Before I was riding a 1000cc bike in the French Championship, so it was something much different from the R7. Moreover, I still need to learn a lot from riders like María Herrera or Beatriz Neila. They are very fast and experienced, while me, I started racing only at 14, so I still have a long way to go.

At the same time, however, we saw in 2025 that in Magny-Cours and Jerez I was able to fight with them and score some podiums. For sure, the main goal is to finish more races in the top 3, get some good points and finish the season in a better position than the year before. Even if I don't have an exact position on my mind, since everything can happen in this sport, I would love to make a step forward compared to 2025. 

Do you see yourself fighting to win races in 2026?

Yes, I want to win at least one race and if possible more. It will be difficult, because we saw in Portimao that María and Paola (Ramos, ed) have a great pace during races, but I'm sure that if I can start the weekend in a better position than in Portugal, I can fight with them. At the end of the day, in Magny-Cours and Jerez I was in the podium in front of María, so it's possible to finish the race in front of her. It's a big goal, but it's possible.

Going back to your first season in the WorldWCR, in 2025. Are you satisfied with how it went?

Yes. I came from the FSBK to the world championship, which is the dream of a lot of riders, and to not only be here, but also be so fast and score podiums...It felt like a childhood dream!

You scored two podiums, including one at your home round in Magny-Cours. How did it feel?

It was completely crazy. It's already fantastic to achieve a podium in the world championship, but doing it there, seeing all the crowd cheering and even crying and bringing the French flag with me after the chequered flag made it unforgettable. When I was a child, I was a part of that crowd with my father, and in 2025 it felt like a dream to be one of the riders on track and finish on the podium in France. It's the best memory of my career so far, and one to keep forever. 

How is this experience in the World Championship changing you as a rider and as a person?

Here the level is so high that you need to improve at every race and push a little bit more every time. One thing I am progressing with in particular is my riding style in general: I used to ride 1000cc bikes in the French Championship, and such category requires a more aggressive riding style, especially when it comes to braking. Such a way to ride doesn't really suit the Yamaha R7, so I am adapting and improving at every weekend. And, fortunately, the results have already come.

Let's now go back to when everything started. Where does your passion for motorcycle racing come from?

It's very different than the other riders, because like I said, I started only at 14. I come from a little, not rich family and nobody was racing in my family. My dad had a bike in the garage, but he didn't really use it. I have few memories about how it all started, but I remember that one day I watching Moto3 races on YouTube and said: "OK, I want to do that!".

My father didn't want me to race, but things then changed when we were at the 24 Heures Motos race in Le Mans, back in 2018. There I met David Veillon, who became and still is today my coach. He was there with his racing simulator and when I saw it, I wanted to try it just for fun. Then, David saw that I had something more than many other people and he asked me if I wanted to start working with him and become a motorcycle racer. That's how my career started...

And how were your seasons before jumping to the WorldWCR?

I first spent two seasons in the Normandy championship, then two more seasons in the Supersport 300 of the French FSBK Championship. Back in the days, I even got some offers to race in the Moto2 European Championship, but it was way too expensive for our budget, so I continued racing in France and moved to the European Bikes (series for 1000cc machines made by European manufacturers, part of the FSBK paddock, ed). Going from 300cc to 1000cc was a big step, but I gradually adapted to it and I even managed to score three podiums. I also became the woman with the fastest lap at Circuit Carole, and this thing is exactly what changed everything in my career.

How?

The circuit of Carole is one of the sponsors of the GMT94 Yamaha team. Team owner Christophe Guyot was there for FSBK and after seeing me race in the European Bikes category, he came to me and said: "It's the first time I see a woman going so fast!". Then, he told me about the WorldWCR and asked if I wanted to try the R7. That's how I moved to the world championship.

How was it for you to be approached by someone so experienced and by a team with such long history in racing?

I was really impressed, because when you ride at this level, in the French championship, everyone knows the GMT94 team and it was incredible to be approached by Christophe. I think all riders wish that people like him to come see them and give them such opportunities. As a rider, it's very important to feel that you have potential and such people notice it.

Apart from motorcycle racing, do you practice other sports as well?

Before moving to motorcycle racing, I was swimming for long time and I also did a lot of races. Once I started racing, I had to quit swimming, but I still do it whenever I can and I also practice other sports like cycling, tennis and boxe. This not only helps me preparing for the races, but it also helps me keep a competitive mindset, always wanting more.

What do you think about how the presence of women in motorcycle racing is developing?

It took a lot of time, but now we have many women working in the world championship and not only as riders, but also as mechanics or in Dorna.

When it comes to the WorldWCR, it's really good opportunity for women to race on the world stage. However, there is still room for improvement: we are riding a full standard Yamaha R7, and I think it would be great to have more powerful bikes, closer to those used in mixed championships. 

In conclusion, what's your goal for the future?

Firstly, my goal is to become a professional rider, because currently I am not. To afford racing, I am currently developing MotoGP simulators and we also work to foster safety on streets. It's very difficult to become a professional rider in France, also because it's hard to find sponsors. It would be important to have better communication and attract more people to this sport, so more companies are interested in sponsoring.

Secondly, I want to help other women to achieve their dream to ride, no matter if it's in the French championship or in the world championship.

You mentioned you are working with road safety. Do you have a license yourself?

No, and I am not planning to get it. I am not sure that, on the road, I can stay calm and ride safely, and not ride as if I were racing (laughs, ed).

Palmen in Motorradsport thanks Lucie Boudesseul for her time and Yann Marian (GMT94 Yamaha Press Officer) for making the interview possible. Best wishes to both the rider and the team for the next races and seasons.