The 2026 Women’s Motocross Championship heads to Budds Creek Motocross Park in Southern Maryland this weekend for the penultimate round, with just 15 points separating championship leader Lachlan Turner and her closest rival Charli Cannon. With only two rounds and four motos remaining, the title fight between the Altus Motorsports bLUcRU Yamaha rider and the Quad Lock Honda competitor is intensifying.
The weekend will feature unprecedented broadcast exposure for the WMX Championship. The first moto will air live on Friday as part of SMX Friday Live Presented by Honda, streaming free on the SuperMotocross YouTube Channel beginning at 1:30 p.m. ET. Saturday’s second moto will receive network television coverage on NBC starting at 3:30 p.m. ET, in addition to streaming on Peacock and SMX Video Pass.
Turner reclaimed championship momentum at Unadilla with a dominant 1-1 performance, her third victory in four rounds. Cannon minimised the damage with a 2-2 effort for her third runner-up finish of the season, closing to within 1.5 seconds of Turner in the final moto. However, the Australian now finds herself in must-win territory if she hopes to keep the points close heading into the final round.
The key difference between the two championship rivals has been Turner’s ability to make moves on the opening lap, regardless of starting position. This has allowed her to sprint to the front and control motos in the 12 Minutes + 1 Lap format. Cannon has often shown stronger pace once settled in, but limited time has prevented her from erasing early deficits.
SLR Honda’s Mayla Herrick has emerged as an intriguing third factor in the championship battle. The 17-year-old has quickly become the best starter in WMX and already secured a moto win. She earned her maiden overall podium at Unadilla and is poised to play a significant role in the championship’s final rounds.
The battle for third in the standings remains tight, with Dusty Rocks Yamaha’s Jordan Jarvis holding just a four-point advantage over Partzilla Blaster Power PRMX Kawasaki’s Taylah McCutcheon. Jarvis, the most decorated rider in the field, has overcome an 11.1 starting average by passing an average of six riders per moto. McCutcheon has been statistically the best starter in the championship and will look to leverage that strength in her pursuit of the championship podium.
The field will receive a boost with the return of Priority MX GASGAS’ Jamie Astudillo, who successfully defended her Canadian WMX Championship crown last weekend and will compete at both Budds Creek and the season finale at Ironman.
Budds Creek’s sharp elevation changes, off-camber corners, and challenging soil conditions will test the entire field. Turner won at the venue last season en route to the WMX Championship, but the deeper field of talent in 2026 makes this weekend’s outcome far from certain.
On-track action spans two days, with qualifying and Moto 1 scheduled for Friday, 21st August. The women return Saturday, 22nd August, for Moto 2, which will run between the first and second motos of the 450SMX and 250SMX classes.
Photo: MX Sports Pro Racing Media
