At just 18 years old, Darci Whalley has already started making her mark on the adrenaline-fuelled world of motocross.

A reigning champion in Queensland, the Calliope competitor has spent years chasing the dust trails of her idols — this weekend, she raced before a crowd more than 30,000 motocross fans.

Racing among the world's best had long seemed a distant dream, until Motorcycling Australia named her one of just 25 Australian wildcard riders selected to compete on the global stage at the MXGP women's world championships.

The event, hosted in Darwin, marks the sport's return to Australia for the first time in more than two decades.

"A top five finish would be the best thing," she said.

" A win would be crazy. "

Battling scorching heat and a demanding track, the world's top motocro

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