Charli Cannon Delivers Strongest World Motocross Performance to Date!
Quad Lock Honda’s Charli Cannon capped off her most extensive and demanding season yet with a career-best performance at the final round of the World Motocross Championship, staged for the very first time in Darwin, Australia.
Despite a season marked by injuries and surgeries, the Queensland rider showcased her growth and determination, delivering results that underlined her continued rise among the world’s best.
“After the physical and mental challenges I’ve faced this year, I honestly didn’t know what to expect,” said Cannon. “But after walking the track in Darwin, I was excited to get out there.”
Cannon showed her pace early, running at the top of the timesheets in both free practice and timed practice before being narrowly edged out by reigning champions Daniela Guillén in free practice 1 and Kiara Fontanesi in timed practice.
“This was the closest I’ve been to these champions, 2nd in both free practice 1 and in timed practice, honestly, I didn’t know what to expect, I felt the nerves and the pressure in front of a home crowd,” she admitted.
In Moto 1, Cannon got off to a strong start and was quickly on the leader’s rear wheel before a costly mistake dropped her outside the top 15. After pitting to straighten her bike, she courageously remounted, fought through the field, and charged back to seventh, setting the second-fastest lap of the race in the process.
“The team and I sat down after Moto 1. I was upset, knowing my mistakes would cost me, but we focused on the positives, I’ve never been this fast against the world’s best. No matter what, I was determined to give everything in Moto 2. I spoke to Colleen Millsaps overnight, and together with the team we had a plan,” Cannon explained.
In Moto 2, she delivered. Battling nerves and the weight of expectation, Cannon fought her way from a poor start into fourth. She passed the world champion to climb into third and closed the gap to the leaders, again setting the second-fastest lap of the race and proving her improved pace.
Her efforts secured fourth overall, just shy of her personal goals, but enough to prove she has closed the gap on the world’s elite.
“It’s not the result I wanted overall, but I’ll take the positives and build on them for next year,” Cannon reflected. “I don’t know if I’ll be back in Darwin, but I hope I will. The event was incredible, the crowd was amazing, and Australians should be proud, it’s one of the best I’ve been to anywhere in the world.”
Charli Cannon’s next challenge comes in Alice Springs, where she will compete in the prestigious Splash and Dash — an event combining a 1.5 km swim and a 68 km motocross race.
Images – Clare Mac Photos
