Iilish Ross

When Iilish “Snoop” Ross lists off the injuries she’s picked up through motorcycle racing, she starts to sound more like Evel Knievel than a 16-year-old student from Murray High School.

“I’ve broken a few ribs, I’ve broken arms, shoulders, done ligaments in my knees … had a few head injuries but that’s alright, a few concussions,” Snoop said.

“I guess that’s a part of the sport and you learn not to do it again, hopefully.”

The turbocharged rider from Table Top has moved right up the motorbike classes since first saddling a PW50 at the age of four.

In 2013 she became the first female in motorcycling to win in a male class when she competed at the Australian Junior Long Track Championships.

She said she won the 13-under 16 boys standard wheel 85/150cc class as well as two other girls national titles.

“From there I’ve won another three Australian titles, numerous state titles, both in boys classes and girls classes,” Snoop said.

“My highlight was the 2013 Victorian titles at Broadford, I got third in the 125 boys class, first in the girls 85 and 250 classes.”

Snoop’s winning ways were spotted by Chas Hern Racing who helped her transition to road racing in the Australian Superbike Championship up to 300 class in both men and women’s fields in 2014.

Last year the teenager came equal first overall in the womens’ class and fourth in the mens at the end of the season.

She said she would race again in the 300s in 2016 and start training on 600s ahead of next year.

“Motorcycling Victoria is trying to help me get overseas to do the under-21s European Women’s Cup, later in the year,” Snoop said.

“I want to be a paid rider one day.

“My all time dream would be to race in World Superbikes … or Moto GP and be the first female to do that.

“If neither of those came off I’d love to start my own race team in Australia and support young riders the way I’ve been supported and get them overseas.”

The young rider hasn’t made this far without sacrifice. Snoop told The Border Mail she had missed out on many family events and weddings for races.

“I’m in the gym three nights a week, on the bike the other two nights and every weekend I’m either training in the paddock or at the track,” Snoop said.

“You put a lot into it and sometimes you think am I really going to make this, but you know that those times are tough and you just keep pushing on, so it is tough but I love it.”

Snoop’s mum Danielle Ross said it was satisfying to see her daughter doing so well.

“We’re very proud of her and she’s done excellent for the age she is,” she said.