DAREDEVIL motocross starlet Stacey Fisher is riding high as the nation's number two.

The nine-year-old Leigh schoolgirl finished second overall in the British Schoolgirl's Championships in only her second season in the rough and tumble world of off-road bike sport.

Stacey, a pupil at Bedford Methodist School, took up the sport last year racing a Husqvarna and lapping allcomers in the Auto class but this year she's hit the high spots aboard a Kawasaki KX65 and travelled the length and breadth of the British Isles to finish fourth overall in the support classes for the British Youth Moto Cross Championship.

And her quick progress earned her a prestigious place in the Newton-le-Willows club team which came fifth against the region's top representative line-ups.

"She's a bit of a tomboy -- actually a lot! Now one on her friends, another girl, has a bike and plans to start too," admitted dad Bob who used to compete but after breaking his wrists twice he decided to stick to the sidelines, although he still enjoys road riding on a 610 Husqvarna Super Motard.

Stacey has had her fair share of bumps and bruises in this physically demanding sport but at the moment dirt-blasting is all she wants to do -- even when the rain is pouring down!

Her big fans are her 14 year-old brother Scott who rides a quad, their mum, Sharon, who also has her own bike and of course Bob who got his interest in bikes from his dad, Ron, who used to be a trials rider.

Competing in the championship rounds is an expensive business for the Fishers with an average weekend costing around £100 including travel costs but Ingersoll Rand employee Bob is hopeful of finding a backer so talented Stacey can keep hitting the high spots.