Ask Abby Chichester what she's fears the most and you'll get a surprising answer.

"Spiders!"

Not crashing or tackling testy jumps for the first time with a dirt bike on natural-terrain course.

The 5-foot-5, 15-year old sophomore at Flathead High School is hooked on the dangerous sport of motocross.

"You can't be afraid of crashing," she said.

"I've crashed a lot; have never gotten hurt."

By hurt, were talking broken bones.

"Really banged up, bruised up," she admitted.

"I like the speed. I like jumping a lot. I always get really nervous before a big jump. You can't gas it up and quit and stop right before (you do) it."

The excitement associated with flying 75 feet while doing a triple jump compares to nothing else she has ever experienced in athletics. It's those thrills, not the spills, that feed her passion for motocross.

"It takes up most of my time," she said.

"I work out three times a week and ride on the weekends."

And that's every weekend.

Weather permitting, year-round.

If snow covers the ground in Kalispell, she's off to places such as Polson or Helena to ride.

And when weather permits, all Chichester has to do is step out her back door. The family has a motocross course on five acres of their 15-acre property.

"We had the track built before the house," she said.

Who built the track?

"Me and my dad."

Chichester won't have to travel far this weekend to rev up her motorcycle as she's scheduled to compete in the Glacier Classic Arenacross at Majestic Valley Arena.

She'll be in action Friday and Saturday night on her $6,300 Honda CR 250 motorcycle. She's easy to spot as her favorite color is pink.

Competition begins 7 p.m. both days. Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for children.

Tickets can be purchased at Majestic Valley Arena or online at www.majesticvalleyarena.com (click on events on the Web site). Advance purchase is recommended because the event annually sells out.

In addition to hours of riding and perfecting jumps, Chichester is just as dedicated with her conditioning program. That consists of running the stairs at the high school and lifting weights.

"Work on my upper body," she said of her weight room regimen.

Abby's older brother Bo, 17, also competes in motocross. He rides in the Intermediate Class on the state circuit.

"I got into it because I wanted to be like my brother," she said.

He, along with his friends, have been very supportive.

She began racing with a RM85 and has owned three bikes along the way.

"We blew up the 85 and the 125," she said.

"We had to rebuild the engines on both of them."

Yes, she also changes the oil and filters.

"I do all the maintenance," she said.

"My dad taught me. My brother helps me."

Age wise, Chichester is just a year away from turning pro. She currently competes in the Women's A Class on the state circuit and has trophied three out of four years.

"That's my goal," she said of being a professional rider.

"If I could I would graduate high school a year early."

Then she could devote herself fulltime to motocross. She also has aspirations of doing some modeling with the sport.

"I'll never quit," she said. "It keeps me out of trouble."

Last year she finished in the top 10 in the Intermediate Class at the Women's Motocross Association Races in Washougal, Wash. She plans to do that event again.

In April, Chichester will compete in the World Mini Motorcycle Championships in Las Vegas. The High Country Motocross Association season also begins that month and runs all summer long. The family travels to those events in a motorhome.

"It's the place to be seen to get sponsors," she said of the Las Vegas trip.

Leland Honda and Suzuki of Kalispell is her main sponsor right now. And there's also mom and dad.

"She's pretty dedicated to everything she puts her mind to," said Terri, her mother.

Does she worry about accidents?

"Not really," she said.

"I think they can get hurt doing anything."