People

in the fast lane

Women’s motocross champion Tori Dare is riding high

 

  

Women’s motocross champion Tori Dare is riding high

The Illawarra is home to motocross talent, Tori Dare, 25, from Albion Park Rail. She joined MX Team City Coast Motorcycles in 2014 and is one of Australia’s top female competitors. This year Tori was crowned East Coast MX Women’s Champion for the third time. After her recent shoulder surgery Tori is looking forward to the 2019 season.

How old were you when you first jumped on a dirt bike?
I started out on a little four-wheeler at the age of four. It didn’t take me long after my first ride to get a peewee with training wheels. It was definitely instant love. I was lucky enough to grow up with a large backyard, so I would come home from school and the first thing I would do (if Mum let me) was some laps around the backyard.

What made you decide to get into racing?
I started out riding at a local club on weekends with my family, which was more of a social riding group. I used to get into trouble for going too fast [laughs] so my parents looked into getting my race licence… and we never looked back. 

What bike are you riding at the moment?
I currently have a Yamaha YZ250F.

What’s been your greatest motocross achievement to date?
Definitely winning the 2009 Women’s Australian Championship. It was my first year back after a period of time away from racing and it had always been a goal of mine. I was also the first female to win a NSW State Title against the boys in 2004 in the 65cc class. That was pretty cool!

What struggles have you faced during your riding career?
I think my biggest challenge has been battling a shoulder injury for the past three years, which I’ve recently had to have surgery on. 

How do you squeeze in time on the track?
For the past two years I have been working as a full-time nurse while also completing my Bachelor of Nursing degree. So, unfortunately, I have very little time to spend at the track doing motos like most other riders. I have to rely a lot on my physical fitness, which I try to maintain at the gym. 

Sometimes you compete against the guys – tell us about that!
Competing against the guys is always good fun. They generally have a much more aggressive riding style, which pushes me to ride to my full potential and sometimes out of my comfort zone – this is great practise for when I race the women. I used to hate racing against the boys and was bullied by a few of them when I first started out. They used to tell me “girls shouldn’t ride motorbikes,” but they quickly stopped the bullying when they were finishing behind me…

More girls are getting into MX these days. Do you have any advice for new riders?
The most important advice I could give is to just get out there and have fun.

What’s next for you?
At the moment, my goals are to get through my rehab with my awesome physiotherapist and get my shoulder back to 100 per cent. I can’t ride until the end of January, but my main focus for next year will be the East Coast Motocross Series, State Titles and the Women’s Nationals… and to have fun! 

Words: Jane Sim
Images: Darkeye Photography; MX Photo; Rosalynne Dare

 

data-animation-override>
I was the first female to win a NSW State Title against the boys

More People related articles:

For David and Henry, age is just a number. But for these two centenarians, discovering a new friendship has been the key to enjoying a new chapter of life.
This unique business idea has recognised that the coming-of-age story for many people with a disability needs to be re-written, which is leading to stellar experiences for so many here in the Illawarra and beyond.
A woman with short dark hair wearing an orange coat smiles at the camera, standing against a rustic dark background with her hands in her pockets.
An award-winning author, writing mentor and teacher, Helena uses kindness as the compass for her work and life and believes in the power of storytelling to process hard things and find the volume of your voice.
Meet Ruby D’Rozario from Thirroul, childhood cancer survivor and ambassador for Shine Like Charli
As lettering artist The Marker, Wollongong born and raised Gill Dinh has brought her creative vision to outdoor spaces for close to a decade. But now Gill is fulfilling a lifelong dream, stepping into the arena as a MasterChef contestant this season.

Jessica Clark of Earth Worthy Bags has founded a visionary enterprise and is on a mission to redefine the way we approach consumption, championing ethical practices and sustainability.

The first all-women's surf comp on the south coast is riding the huge wave of young women now joining the sport, marking the Sunday 5 May event at Woonona Beach as a milestone, decades in the making.

World-renowned stencil artist Luke Cornish, a.k.a. ELK, has found his home – and his peace – in the Illawarra. And now he’s bringing global acclaim to a local canvas.

To celebrate this year’s International Women’s Day, we meet six inspiring women of the Illawarra, who all bring something special to our region

Professional basketball coach and former player, Justin Tatum

Taking the helm mid-season may have been a leap for some, but Illawarra Hawks coach, Justin Tatum – and father of USA NBA superstar, Jayson Tatum – is taking it all in his stride.

Paul Smith’s lifelong passion for rugby league led him to create the annual Shellharbour Stingrays Masters Carnival bringing together ‘old blokes’ - aged over 35 - for a game of modified footy, fostering a sense of comradery and nostalgia

Now more than ever, local businesses need our support! Check out some great local traders to get behind

Former high school woodwork teacher and master craftsman Brett Davis has held a lifelong passion for all things timber. But it is his connection to community and faith through woodwork that tells an even greater story.

Mother and Son screenwriter Tristram Baumber teams up with Matt Okine and Denise Scott to reboot the iconic series

Meet Simone Erdedi from Thirroul

Faye Hollands is a passionate activist and advocate for childhood cancer research. Her family’s experience has touched many in the Illawarra, and each year the Shine Like Charli ball breaks its own fundraising records. But life and work wasn’t always like this for Faye.

Meet Suzie McKinnon, a proud Unanderra resident with deep roots in the Illawarra.

Age is no barrier for Towradgi-based Instagram influencer, Marion Maclean, who, at 59, is inspiring thousands of women with her message that 50 isn’t old.

Let’s Be Friends

We’d love to send you occassional news and updates of happenings along the Coal Coast to your inbox!

Let’s be friends

We’d love to send updates of happenings along our Coal Coast to your inbox!

Name(Required)
Email(Required)
Privacy(Required)