We are officially half-way through the Women’s Motocross Championship (WMX), and racing resumes this weekend at Ironman Raceway after an eight-week break. The WMX is a six-race series that races alongside the first three and the last three rounds of the AMA Pro Motocross Championship.
At round one at Fox Raceway, California local Mikayla Nielsen came away with the win with 2-1 moto scores. While most of the riders were affected by the heat, Nielsen, who spends half of her time racing in the desert, was unfazed.
Onto round two at Hangtown, it was the 2024 defending WMX champion, Lachlan Turner who dominated both motos. Even after poor starts, she was easily able to make her way into the lead on the first lap. Meanwhile it was the veteran Jordan Jarvis who stole the show by getting landed on in the first moto and still lining up for the second moto with a broken finger, gash on her chin, and bruised back. She was able to get sixth in that moto, proving WMX riders are all heart and grit.
At the third round at Thunder Valley, the weather played a major factor, as the WMX always runs on Friday the day before the pro’s race on Saturday. Well with rain coming down and not wanting to ruin the track for the next day, the decision was made to let the women run one moto on Saturday, on TV, and in front of the fans. The kicker was (emphasis on the word kicker) WMX would run at the end of the day when the track was at its absolute roughest.
![Turner/Cannon battle at Thunder Valley.]()
Turner/Cannon battle at Thunder Valley. Align Media ![]()
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Not wanting to spoil the opportunity to run on Saturday, the racers nailed it. Multi time Australian Champion Charli Cannon, who had surgery on a broken finger just one week before the first round, was finally riding with a little more strength. She was fastest in practice and pulled the holeshot in the race. Cannon and Turner battled back and forth until about halfway when lack of strength in her finger became a factor. Meanwhile Mikayla Nielsen and Kyleigh Stallings were having an intense, moto long battle for third which ended when their lines came together on the last lap and they both went down. Stuck on an off camber both riders struggled to remount, and Jordan Jarvis was able to sneak by for third.
The racing was great, and the fan response was huge. In fact, it was so well received that the series is going to give the WMX racer’s another chance by running their second moto on Saturday at Ironman! This is great news for these racers and the sponsors who support them. Not to mention the fans that get to watch them in person. Check back tomorrow for the full weekend schedule for when the WMX races will take place at Ironman Raceway.
![Stallings/Nielsen battle at Thunder Valley.]()
Stallings/Nielsen battle at Thunder Valley. Align Media ![]()
![Jordan Jarvis]()
Jordan Jarvis
So, what should we expect come race day(s)? Well one thing is for sure, even though the series took a break, the racers haven’t been. Stallings, Jarvis, and Turner all raced the Monster Energy AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship at Loretta Lynn’s Ranch last week. Where Turner not only swept all three Women’s motos, but also raced 250 B Limited, where she finished as high as ninth in the final moto. Turner is setting herself apart as the fastest female in the States at the moment, though she told our Mitch Kendra at Loretta’s that she too is dealing with an injury. A dislocated shoulder suffered back in March that she will most likely have surgery on when the season is over.
Meanwhile Charli Cannon, who beat Turner in all three motos at the FIM Oceania Women’s Cup this spring, has had eight weeks to let her finger finally heal. After winning all four motos these past two weeks, in the last two rounds to win the MXW title in Australia, it seems she is back on form. So, the question is, with Cannon on the mend will we finally see the Turner/Cannon battle we have been hoping for all season?
With the series heading East, the field will also host new riders who couldn’t make the long trek out west to the first few rounds. And as the series picks up steam, especially with more TV time, it is bound to draw the attention of more international riders. Could a new face show up on the podium this weekend? Or will it be the top five, Turner, Nielsen, Cannon, Stallings, and Jarvis all fighting for the top three spots once again?
