NEW ORLEANS — In a blur of pink, white and blue, riding as fast as 180 miles per hour, Elena Myers aims to prove a woman can race with the best on two wheels.

The 5-foot-3 18-year-old has put herself in position to become the most successful female in the history of motorcycle road racing. She is the only woman ever to win an AMA Pro Racing event, having done so twice, most recently at Daytona earlier this year.

"Young girls come up to me all the time at the racetrack and say, 'Oh, you're my hero,' and they're just so excited about it," Myers said. "Danica Patrick's a household name and that's kind of what I want to become. Indy Car and NASCAR have been helped by her being in the series, and I want to do the same thing in AMA."