Sara Andersen is one of the many experienced, yet very young riders in the Women’s Motocross World championships in 2024. A rider who is without question at the contender end of the spectrum, and while not fighting for championships just yet, she isn’t that far off.

In a championship that has grown in interest and also speed, being a top five rider isn’t easy and it is getting harder and harder. Financially, as many of us know, not all motocross riders make a living from it and for Andersen, balancing getting a university degree and being a motocross racer is a balancing act that must be respected.

We caught up with this quietly spoken, polite and very friendly Danish rider and you can read it below. Ambition to climb the rankings and also get her future in order, always a pleasure speaking to somebody so motivated to succeed in her sport, but also in life.

MXLarge: It is funny, because when I look at a lot of the women in the World championships, you are all so young, but you have been around for a long time. How old were you when you started?

Andersen: I started riding World championships when I was 15 years old.

MXLarge: And you are a regular top 10, top five rider. Are you pretty satisfied with your results until now?

Andersen: Well, I have finished top five three times and I want to do better, so, I am not very satisfied. I mean, top five isn’t too bad.

MXLarge: I can imagine, because the women’s series has improved so much in the last four or five years, similar to other women’s sport, where there is more opportunities and more support, you see it in women’s football or other sports. Because of that, you must find it more and more difficult to compete, just like all the women involved, because the speed is a lot faster now than maybe five or 10 years ago?

Andersen: Yes, definitely. When I just started, in my second or third year, I was doing top five positions and now, I know I am much faster and now it is harder to get inside the top five. There are more faster women and the women at the very top are a lot faster. It has improved a lot.

MXlarge: Because the speed is better and the interest is rising, is it possible to make money from it?

Andersen: I never made money from it, I just get enough sponsors, so I don’t have to pay anything. I have always worked and studied alongside the racing. I can’t make a living out of it.

MXlarge: What are you studying?

Andersen: I go to university now, studying business economics.

MXLarge: It must be hard to mix the two, racing and study. How is that going, along with your racing?

Andersen: It is going fine. I am not there so much, because I travel a lot, but I manage to do okay in school and at the track at the same time.

MXLarge: Some of the girls are full time, so that must make it tough to compete with them, as you have to fit your training and things like that between your study. That makes it even more difficult to compete with the girls at the very top.

Andersen: Yes, and I am very busy, right now, I have exams coming up and I need to spend more time with school at the moment, because of the exams. It also takes a lot of time to ride, and train and prep the bike. It is really full-time, both combined.

MXLarge: When you started riding, did you have hero’s you followed either in the women’s series or the MXGP series?

Andersen: Yes, I liked Ken Roczen, I never watched women races before I started racing in the women’s championship. Ken Roczen was my favourite rider since I was a little girl.

MXlarge: Once you started getting more into it, when did you start watching the women race?

Andersen: I went and watched the women in 2016, when I was two days before my 15th birthday. It was in Valkenswaard.

MXlarge: Your first Grand Prix was Germany, back in 2016 and it will be your next Grand Prix in two weeks. Is that a track you like, and do you have good memories from that place?

Andersen: Yes, I like that track. My first GP there, I was riding really good, but I crashed a lot, because I had never seen deep ruts like that before. I have been a couple of times after and last time was 2018 and it went really well, and I like hard pack and I like that track. I look forward to the next round and it is the closest Grand Prix to my home in Denmark.

MXLarge: Also, good its close around the time of your studies and you don’t need to fly to Turkey or something. The travel is a tough part of it isn’t it?

Andersen: Yes, this round in Spain we left on Monday, because I wanted to train on the way, and I drive to all the races. I came home on Tuesday, so more than a week on the road for one race. We trained at a track in France.

MXLarge: Who are your big supporters?

Andersen: Yes, both my parents, mum comes to all the race and my dad used to but hasn’t been coming the last few years. For the GPs I also have a mechanic goes with me, but then apart from that is it also some sponsors.

MXlarge: So, now the women will go to Australia in 2024 for the Australian Grand Prix. That sounds fantastic, but I can imagine you also need to find the funds to do that.

Andersen: I thought about it, I think it is nice, because I know a lot of Australian girls are fast and come and ride with us, but for the travel expenses will make it difficult for us to go. We will see what happens.

MXlarge: You have been with Leatt for a long time, and can you give me some details about that and what it means to you?

Andersen: Well, Leatt have been supporting me for three or four years now. I really appreciate it, because riding gear for motocross is rather expensive and they give me whatever I need. For me it is great support and its great to be part of the Leatt family. I have experience with photo shoots, and they make custom gear for me, and the protection is really great, and I used it before they supported me. They make so many products and it all matches, and it is just nice they have everything.

MXLarge: I know Jamie Buckingham (Leatt rep) is running around helping all the Leatt riders. How much does that help, having somebody like that at the races. Sort of like having an extra team member, isn’t it?

Andersen: Yes, its great having Jamie at the races. He sometimes helps with goggles or whatever, or talking about the track, or how I am feeling. A bit of extra support and that is really nice.

Fullspectrum images