Pics of Karla  - also Loris and James in Cartegena - where i was lapping about half an hour slower!

Gosport-based Karla Saunders was so delighted to be named a Motorpoint Yamaha British Superbike grid girl – she gave herself a headache for two days.

The 25 year-old, who works for a travel agent on the South Coast, found herself overcome with emotion after being chosen to be a grid girl at the world-famous Brands Hatch circuit later this month for the first round of the British Superbike 2011 season.

Karla has wanted to be a grid girl ever since she started following her motorbike-mad father up and down the country competing in club races. And, now she is getting the opportunity to appear in front of thousands of fans at Brands Hatch (and hundreds of thousands more live on TV on British Eurosport) after beating over 100 other women for the chance to be a grid girl with the high-flying team on April 25.

The Motorpoint Yamaha team was unveiled in 2009 by car supermarket Motorpoint and former rider and team owner Rob Mac. This year the team line-up features former Junior World Supersport champion Loris Baz and two-time British Supersport runner-up James Westmoreland.

Earlier this year Motorpoint Yamaha launched a nationwide search to become a grid girl through its website – motorpointbsbteam.com – receiving entries not just from the UK but also Europe. As part of her role for the day Karla will not only appear on the starting grid with the riders but also feature in the team’s race day video and photographs.

Says Karla: “I couldn’t believe it when I got the call to say I won. I was so excited I gave myself a headache for a couple of days. I never thought for a moment it would be me. I never win anything normally. I’ve calmed down a bit since then but I can’t wait for the end of the month. I still remember vividly running around the paddock in my jeans and wellies as a kid. I imagine, from the pictures I’ve seen of the outfits, that I am going to look quite a bit different at Brands Hatch!”