BATTLING WITH THE BOYS: “I knew from that moment on, I can do something really cool with this”

First jumping on the back of a motorbike at around 2-3 years old, Relph quickly fell in love with the sport on as she rode around on her 50cc minibike. Later, at 10 years old she raced her KTM 65cc for the first time on track at a go-kart circuit, sparking a love of racing, which has proven quite fruitful for the #8. She progressed steadily through the Queensland state championship, then onto the Australian Superbike championship. The breakthrough was no small feat in a country as steeped in the history of motorcycle racing as Australia, taking her maiden trip to the top step of the podium at 19 in their Moto3 category competing against men. The win came at Sydney Motorsport Park before taking another win that same year at Perth. Later, she changed categories where she took high of P2 in ASBK’s WorldSSP300 category.

On her introduction to the sport, she said: “I threw a tantrum and said I wanted a motorbike for Christmas that year, luckily Santa delivered, and I got a PeeWee 50cc bike that year. At around 10, somebody took me to a go-kart track, and I knew from my first few laps that this was what I wanted to do. I started with the state championship, then the national championship, and progressed to Moto3 before later racing in their Supersport 300 championship. I was the first Australian female to win a race in the Australian championship outright against men in Moto3. I knew from that moment on, I can do something really cool with this.”

SETBACKS: “For a long time, doctors didn’t actually know what was wrong with me”

Just months after soaring to new heights in her new category, fate had other plans. The 22-year-old Australian was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease, and worsening symptoms with the conditions saw her have to leave the leathers aside for the time being as her doctors tried to better understand her condition. The process forced her into medical retirement from competition for three years, and while she knew she wanted to return to racing, the ongoing nature of the illness casted shadows over that opportunity. After fighting with the condition for more than three years, she battled through remission by the start of 2022. Her experience struggling with her health in the prime of her racing career has left a deep imprint on Relph, leaving her with an exuberant smile anytime she’s around the paddock no matter the results as not so long ago she was unable to ride entirely.

On her diagnosis and recovery, Relph said: “For a long time, doctors didn’t actually know what was wrong with me. I was forced into medical retirement for roughly 3 years. It was a really tough thing to swallow at only 22 years old. I knew I always wanted to get back to racing, but it’s something I still have and can come back at any time. Now that I’m back in the sport, I’ve come into it with a completely different outlook on life. That’s why I always have a massive smile on my face. That’s why Ted and I are literally having the time of our lives in the paddock. It’s because I appreciate everything I have now, being well, finishing 10^th in a race; all because years ago I was laying in a hospital bed.”

WorldWCR DEBUT: “There’s so much development happening in this Championship which I think is exciting”

Her return to fitness provided her plenty of time to get back in the swing of racing, and when WorldWCR was starting up in early 2024, Australia’s top female rider snatched up the opportunity and joined the paddock. She put the watching eyes on notice early as she topped the Championship’s test held at Cremona, where she later that season landed her first podium. She and her now husband, Ted Collins, have been making the adaptation to living in Europe. She began in 2024, learning with her husband how to live in their new continent, then on to 2025, the focus was how to race here, and now more up to speed than ever, she is excited about 2026 and grateful looking back as a whole.

On her adaptation to the paddock, Relph said: “In 2024, Ted, and I started from absolute scratch, we didn’t get to focus too much on the racing side of things as we were truly focused on how to live over here. In 2025, we knew how to live here, so we could focus on how to race, that’s what really excites me about 2026, as we’ve learned so much. The Championship now is going so much faster than it was before, going into your third year, you’d think that things get easier, but the truth is, it doesn’t. Everyone is getting faster and faster. I’m a second and a half faster than last year, but I’m five spaces back, it’s because there’s so much development happening in this Championship which I think is exciting.”

INSPIRING AUSTRALIA’S NEXT GENERATION: “I hope one day I’m not the only Australian racing here in WorldWCR”

Riding in her third season now, Relph looks back on the decision to join the World Championship as one of the best she’s ever made. Far beyond the scope of just a season’s accomplishments or accolades across her career; one of Relph’s biggest motivators is inspiring kids, especially little girls back home in Australia to jump on a bike and aspire to compete in WorldWCR as well.

On what WorldWCR means to her, Relph said: “Being a part of WorldWCR is one of the most important things I’ve ever been a part of. I stillstand by my words from the Cremona test back in 2024, that if I can get one more girl into racing in Australian just from watching me here, that’s a World Championship to me. I hope one day I’m not the only Australian racing here in WorldWCR, but I’m glad I can show everyone back home that even though we’re on the other side of the world, we can get onto the podium.”

Catch Relph this round at Balaton Park! Follow the action by subscribing to the WorldWCR YouTube channel and following the Championship on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Facebook!