Romane Brossault: Communications and PR Executive for WorldSBK

Romane Brossault’s path into motorsport began with a familiar face in an unfamiliar world. Simply excited to see her cousin appear on TV as a mechanic for MotoGP’s Tech3 team, she would tune into the races hoping to catch him in the pit lane. “When you’re a kid and you’re 10, it’s funny to see your cousin on TV.” That early behind-the-scenes exposure to the MotoGP paddock sparked a lasting fascination with the sport — one that would eventually lead her from curious fan to a crucial cog in the World Superbike Championship (WorldSBK).

Credit: PSP LUKASZ SWIDEREK

Today, Romane serves as the Communications and Public Relations Executive for Dorna Group, the organiser of WorldSBK. Based in Barcelona since 2020, she oversees media and PR strategy for both WorldSBK and the FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship (WorldWCR). In an arena historically dominated by men, she stands out not just as a woman in motorsport, but as a driving force behind the scenes — raising the profile of female racers and connecting a global network of fans, riders, and media.

From Classroom to Circuit

As a teenager in France, she knew she loved motorsport — the energy of the races and the environment around them — but wasn’t sure where she would fit in. “I love the environment and knew this is something I want to do,” she thought, “but I wasn’t exactly sure what kind of job I wanted.” To give herself options, she pursued a degree in business administration after high school, a program covering everything from finance to human resources. But it didn’t take long to realise where her talents lay: “Naturally, I could see that I was more attracted to communication and marketing subjects,” she says, admitting with a laugh that she was “not really fond of numbers.” Romane went on to complete a bachelor’s degree in communication, followed by a two-year master’s in brand communication – a solid foundation for a future in PR and media.

Credit: Jairo Diaz

Armed with her new credentials and lifelong enthusiasm for racing, she landed a job at a communications agency in Paris straight out of graduate school. It was her motorsport passion that gave her an edge. The agency’s team had noticed she had listed “motorsport enthusiast” on her CV — “The reason they hired me was because on my CV it said, ‘motorsport enthusiast.’”

Soon, she was working on Honda Moto France’s projects in the FIM World Endurance Championship. By day, she managed press and marketing campaigns for various clients; on select weekends, she got her foot in the door of racing by travelling to endurance races and managing Honda Moto France’s social media coverage trackside. It was an ideal blend of her academic training and her love of motorsport.

After a couple of years building experience, her big break arrived via the racing network she had begun to cultivate. “One day, a friend of mine that works in the MotoGP paddock told me they were looking for a new PR and communications person for Superbike,” she says. He asked if he should forward her CV — “I said yes, of course.” By early 2020, she had packed her bags for Barcelona to join Dorna’s WorldSBK communications team. “All went well, and I ended up moving to Barcelona in 2020.” She’s been there ever since, helping shape the narrative of WorldSBK and now WorldWCR for audiences around the globe.

Behind the Scenes of a Race Weekend

As the communications executive for WorldSBK and WorldWCR, Romane’s responsibilities span every facet of media operations on a race weekend. In the weeks before an event, she works closely with the local circuit’s press officer to plan out the show. Together, they review WorldSBK’s media requirements – a detailed “rule book” covering everything from the size of the media center to how accreditation will be handled – and ensure the host venue is prepared.

She handles all journalist and photographer accreditations, reviewing applications and backgrounds to confirm that those attending are legitimate professionals there to cover the event. “We plan ahead all the activities we want to arrange with the riders,” she explains, describing how she coordinates rider appearances and press events before the racing begins.

She and her team also invite content creators and arrange unique behind-the-scenes experiences for them. “If we want to invite some content creators, we get in touch with them, invite them, arrange special activities on site for them to discover WorldSBK or WorldWCR.” By the time race week arrives, the stage is set; now it’s about executing it.

Credit: William Joly

Once on site at the circuit, Romane shifts into high gear. She typically arrives early and checks in with the circuit press officer to go over final details. First order of business: ensure the media center is fully equipped and ready for the influx of journalists and photographers. She collects the accreditation passes and sets up the system for distributing them as media personnel arrive.

Her schedule then becomes a whirlwind.

If a rider is due for a post-qualifying press conference, she gathers them and keeps an eye on the clock to ensure they get there on time. If a YouTube creator has been invited to experience the paddock, she might personally give them a tour and provide them with once-in-a-lifetime experiences. At any given moment, she’s juggling multiple tasks — “It sounds like a lot of things, but now I’m used to this dynamic.” Switching between tasks seamlessly is part of the thrill.

In the span of an hour she might be “making sure everyone is on time for interviews, then bringing content creators on a tour, then writing a press release or organising a photo shoot,” all before circling back to the media center to check on her staff.

“It never gets boring because it’s always something different.” By Sunday evening of a race weekend, as the last press release is sent and the paddock begins to pack up, her work winds down – only to start again in preparation for the next round. It’s a demanding role, but one she embraces with evident enthusiasm.

A New Championship: WorldWCR

Amid the familiar bustle of WorldSBK weekends, 2024 brought a fresh addition to Romane’s portfolio: the FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship. WorldWCR, a women-only road racing series, runs alongside WorldSBK at select events. From the start, Romane has been deeply involved in promoting this championship, which she sees as much more than just another support series. “I think this championship is a great way to show the world that women can race at a high level.”

Its impact is visible not only on track but also in the grandstands and paddock. Many WorldSBK rounds now include a dedicated WorldWCR fan zone – a tented village open to the public where the women riders meet fans, sign autographs, and showcase their bikes. “When you go there, you see how people are enthusiastic and interested in this championship.” The sight of young girls gazing wide-eyed at the riders particularly moves her — “It’s inspiring because when you have younger children visiting – younger girls – I think it’s showing them role models.”

Credit: David Clares

By seeing women racers up close, those girls can more easily imagine themselves in the same boots and leathers someday. This ripple effect of representation is exactly what WorldWCR aims to achieve. “Giving visibility to the female riders was just something that was lacking in motorcycle racing.” Now that gap is being filled — and not just for the riders. “It’s showcasing the riders, but it’s more than that.” Some of the racers have female mechanics and engineers on their crews; many teams have women in key management or technical roles. “I think it’s just a great message to spread.”

For Romane personally, helping steer WorldWCR has been one of the most rewarding aspects of her job. The championship is still in its infancy – 2025 marks only its second season – which means there is plenty of room to shape its direction. “We’re only at the beginning of the project… there are so many things to do from a strategic point of view.”

Whether it’s refining the race format, expanding to more countries, or finding ways to draw in more talent, the to-do list is long. “I must say that something I’m proud of is being able to work on the WorldWCR championship, because I think it’s a championship that’s meant to have a big impact in motorsport.” It’s not often that an established world championship like WorldSBK launches a whole new series – and Romane is determined to help make it a success. In doing so, she’s also helping redefine the image of who belongs in the racing world, on two wheels and behind the scenes.

Bridging Cultures in the Paddock

Working across two international championships, Romane has developed a keen sense for cross-cultural communication. WorldSBK and WorldWCR travel to circuits all around Europe — and occasionally beyond, with events in places like Phillip Island in Australia — which means she collaborates with local organisers and media in many different countries. Each stop on the calendar brings its own language and way of doing things. Fortunately, English serves as the de facto common tongue of the racing paddock, and most people she works with speak it fluently.

Romane herself is French, but years in Spain and on the road have made her truly multilingual.

Credit: WorldSBK

“You get used to just switching from one language to another, and it becomes natural.” Rather than seeing cultural differences as a challenge, she embraces them as one of the job’s greatest perks. Dorna’s own operations team is a mini United Nations — with colleagues from Great Britain, Italy, Spain, the United States, and beyond. “We work with people from different cultures,” she says, and that diversity creates a vibrant, enriching work environment.

It’s also taught her the value of flexibility and adaptation. “It makes you maybe change your approach sometimes, and I think that’s a good thing.” Whether she’s dealing with a team from Italy or a circuit organiser in Australia, Romane finds common ground through collaboration. At the end of the day, no matter where they’re from, everyone in the paddock shares the same goal: put on a great show and go racing.

Women in the WorldSBK Paddock

Motorcycle racing, especially at the world championship level, has long been viewed as a male stronghold. But Romane’s experience on the ground tells a more optimistic story. From the moment she joined WorldSBK’s staff, she noticed the abundant presence of women in the paddock — and in positions of influence. “I was actually quite surprised, because there are a lot of women working in the WorldSBK paddock.”

In the media and administrative teams alone, women fill many key roles, and several hold management positions across the organisation. “I never felt that my gender had an impact,” she reflects, adding that the number of women in the paddock continues to grow. “We see more and more women working in the paddock” — a trend that extends not just through WorldSBK, but through racing series around the world.

Credit: WorldSBK

Whether it’s female engineers tuning bikes, female press officers running team communications, or women like herself working in the organising body, the paddock is gradually shedding its “boys’ club” image. Romane is living proof that talent and dedication — not gender — are what truly matter. “I never felt I was treated differently,” she reiterates, and in that statement lies a quiet but powerful shift. The WorldSBK paddock of today is a far more inclusive place than many outsiders realise — and it’s only becoming more so as passionate women continue to make their mark.

Advice for Aspiring Motorsports Professionals

Having navigated her own path into the racing world, Romane is generous with advice for those who hope to follow in similar footsteps. First and foremost, she stresses the importance of competence and professionalism. “Whichever job you choose to work in, the most important is that at the end of the day, you need to be good at your job.” Being a fan of racing can help fuel your journey — but it can’t replace doing the job well. “Being a fan is great – it is a bonus… it’s amazing to work in motorsports, but it’s very demanding.” The excitement of the racetrack can make the long hours and travel worthwhile, but only if you’re skilled and prepared to work hard.

Her second piece of advice is more pragmatic: build a network and put yourself out there. “I think it’s good to start a little network,” she says, encouraging young aspirants to reach out to professionals in roles they admire — whether through events, mutual contacts, or platforms like LinkedIn. In an industry as tight-knit as motorsport, even a single connection can open doors or provide valuable insight into how the sport works behind the scenes. In Romane’s eyes, a combination of competence, passion, and networking is the formula for success.

I had the opportunity to meet Romane at the opening round of WorldSBK at Phillip Island — and watching her in action brought everything into focus. The energy, organisation, and professionalism she brings to a race weekend is unmatched, and yet she carries it all with such calm and warmth. It became clear how integral her presence is behind the scenes, keeping things running seamlessly.  Beyond how impressive she is at her job, Romane is simply a wonderful person. She welcomed me into her world with kindness, sincerity, and that radiant smile that seems to light up every part of the paddock. I’m incredibly grateful to have crossed paths with her.