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Posted: 2024-03-11 01:26:51

Among the 85 revving and jostling motorbikes at the starting line of the Jamalka Off-Road Racing event at Tumby Bay on Eyre Peninsula are seven women who are not just here for the competition.

This means more to them than a trophy.

When Murray Bridge mother-of-two daughters Natasha Sky climbs onto her bike it means empowerment and joy.

Motorbike riding has been her saviour, helping her recover from post-natal depression and managing anxiety.

"I was in a dark place, and every time I hopped on the motorbike and put my helmet on it just made me feel better. It was therapy," Sky said.

When 18-year-old top South Australian female rider Emma Haylock first began racing motorbikes as a seven-year-old some boys would knock her off her bike. Especially if she was in front of them.

Blonde woman in riding clothes on dirt road standing with motorbike 129 looking at camera, front view of bike

Emma Haylock focuses on nutrition and fitness to improve her riding.(ABC Eyre Peninsula: Jodie Hamilton)

"You had the dads yelling at their sons 'a girl's in front of you'," Haylock said.

"They would take you out and be very aggressive.

After 11 years of competitive racing, clocking up state titles and even film work as a stunt rider, the teenager is no longer scared.

Also among the pack is Naomi Findlay of Adelaide who admits she's addicted to racing after taking it up just three years ago.

"When my Dad passed away I thought 'stuff it, life's too short' and bought a 15-year-old bike and just turned up to a motocross track. I didn't even know what motocross was," Findlay said.

Two women on motorcycles.

Naomi Findlay and Natasha Sky say the female riders support each other.(ABC Eyre Peninsula: Jodie Hamilton)

The three women battled the large field and dusty conditions with Haylock finishing first in the women's section and 39th overall.

They say the more events for women and girls, the more girls will be able to take up the sport.

Sky is involved in the Murray Bridge Motocross Club and promotes women-only events.

"Last year I organised a full female event [at Murray Bridge]. We had 90 girls come, and we had girls come that had never even ridden on a motocross track," she said.

"I think the biggest thing with women is just lacking confidence and feeling that everyone's looking at them and [thinking] that they look silly."

Racing to tackle anxiety

Backview of large group of motorbike riders in dirt paddock

Natasha Sky in the neon pink and yellow lines up fo the start of the motorcycle event.(Supplied: Dale Bishop Photography)

Last year the 40-year-old Sky raced in 72 events including motocross sidecars, solo and sidecar road trials, solo motocross, flat dirt track sidecar, and solo enduro.

"I have really bad anxiety and I just don't want to be held back by anxiety, so I just make myself do stuff that's on the edge," she said.

"I always say 'helmet on, world off'."

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