The Women’s Motocross Championship Powered by Synchrony returns to action this weekend at Unadilla MX in Central New York, marking the resumption of a captivating title fight between Lachlan Turner and Charli Cannon with three rounds remaining in the 2026 campaign.
Altus Motorsports bLUcRU Yamaha’s Lachlan Turner holds a nine-point advantage over Quad Lock Honda’s Charli Cannon heading into the second half of the six-round championship. Turner claimed victories at Hangtown and Thunder Valley to open the season, but Cannon seized momentum heading into the midsummer break with a breakthrough first stateside victory at High Point in June.
The rivalry between the championship protagonists intensified during the break, as both riders contested the Australian ProMX Championship. Turner ultimately claimed the title down under, though not without tension as she and Cannon battled hard throughout the series and even made contact whilst fighting for the win. Now Cannon returns to American soil determined to unseat Turner from her WMX reign.
Beyond the title fight, SLR Honda’s Mayla Herrick has emerged as a threat for victory. The Colorado native turned heads in her professional debut at High Point by grabbing the holeshot and delivering a wire-to-wire victory in her first ever WMX moto. Fresh off a championship-winning performance at the Monster Energy AMA Amateur National Championship at Loretta Lynn’s, Herrick arrives at Unadilla brimming with confidence.
Dusty Rocks Yamaha’s Jordan Jarvis sits third in the championship standings at the season’s midpoint. The most experienced rider in the WMX field has remained sharp during the break with gate drops in the Canadian Triple Crown Series, where she currently leads the championship, plus a runner-up effort at Loretta Lynn’s.
SLR Honda’s Mikayla Nielsen and Partzilla Blaster Power PRMX Kawasaki’s Taylah McCutcheon round out the podium contenders. Both riders have secured podium finishes this summer and rank amongst the best starters in the field. McCutcheon boasts the best starting average in the championship and was competitive in Australia alongside Turner and Cannon, whilst Nielsen has consistently challenged for top-three results.
The legendary Unadilla circuit, the oldest track in American motocross with 54 years of history, provides a unique challenge with its sprawling natural terrain layout utilising the rolling hills of the Unadilla Valley. The venue’s wide racing surface, elevation changes, and iconic obstacles should produce the best racing of the season thus far.
On-track action spans two days, with qualifying and the first 12 Minutes + 1 Lap moto scheduled for Friday, 14 August. The second moto takes place on Saturday, 15 August, following a midday warm-up session.
Photo: MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc.
