EXCELLENT results came the way of three local teenage motorcycle riders last weekend.
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Illish Ross, Teala Petz and Brodee Windham returned home from respective race meetings at Phillip Island and Shepparton with trophies to add to already burgeoning trophy cabinets.
Five-time Australian long track-dirt track champion Ross, who competed at Phillip Island in the final round of the Australian Superbike series, has taken a step back this year from dirt racing to concentrate on her road racing and it paid off with a second in the women’s class.
At 14, Ross is the youngest to stand on the podium in the event.
At the end of last year she was offered a position in the Chas Hern Racing team to ride a Kawasaki Ninja 250cc bike in the ASBK 250cc production class series for 2014, as well as several other events.
Ross was excited with the offer as it was another step closer to achieving her dream of being the first female to race in Moto GP.
In race one on Saturday Ross finished fifth in a field that included New Zealand’s top riders.
On Sunday Ross finished sixth and fourth in her respective races.
‘Snoop’, as Ross is known, came third in the Australian 250cc production class title and took second place in the women’s class, which has given her two more Australian title podiums, this time in road racing.
It is also a great build-up to October when she travels to Malaysia with Chas Hern Racing, where she will be riding in the 250cc production class at the Malaysian round of Moto GP.
Meanwhile, Albury-Wodonga Motorcycle Club member Petz and Alpine Motorcycle Club member Windham, also returned home full of confidence following excellent results in their respective races at the 2014 Victorian Senior Motocross Championships held in Shepparton.
Windham won eight races, which included five victories in a row, to claim the Under 19s clubman title at the last round of the championships.
He won his first senior title by 60 points over Jamie Young, and 62 points over third-placed Daniel Webber.
“I’m pretty happy with that, considering it was my first year in senior competition,” Windham said.
Windham named Rosebud in May as his favourite round.
“It wrecked the bike a bit but it was fun. The sand makes it really enjoyable.
“I got a second at Rosebud after starting from the back of the pack. It was the worst start ever but I was pretty happy with the result.”
Windham also finished fourth overall in the C lites, class amassing 291 points.
Petz took out the women’s clubman title at the same meeting.
Petz won the title by a single point over Melbourne’s Kaitlyn Wakartschuk and 39 points over Colac’s Karli Wetermans.
The title went down to the wire in the last race where Petz finished second.
“It was an amazing win. I didn’t mind coming second to Kaitlyn,” Petz said.