USA bursts out of the blocks in FIM Oceania Women’s Motocross Cup
The United States of America has delivered a new flawless performance in the opening moto of the 2026 FIM Oceania Women’s Motocross Cup in Wonthaggi (Vic), and will take a decisive lead into day two ahead of New Zealand and defending champion Australia.
With Lachlan Turner (Yamaha) delivering a virtuoso front-running performance, the USA filled four of the top five positions in the 15-minute plus a lap moto, with only Australia’s Taylah McCutcheon (Kawasaki) breaking up the American stranglehold in third position.
Aussie captain Charli Cannon (Honda) was sitting comfortably in second position – with Turner still in her sights – until a mechanical issue on the final lap saw her suffer a cruel DNF.
After one of three motos, the USA sits on 7pts, well ahead of New Zealand (25pts) and Australia (42pts), which now has a huge – but certainly not insurmountable – mountain to climb to make it three consecutive victories in the FIM Oceania Women’s Motocross Cup.
Moto one – held in conjunction with the season opener for the MXW ProMX championship – saw Cannon lead early before polesitter Turner seized the lead on lap three. Revelling in the mint Wonthaggi conditions and glorious autumn weather, the 18-year-old American champion then controlled the tempo from the front in a thumping performance, winning by nearly 28 seconds ahead of 16-year-old teammate Mayla Herrick (Honda) who showed maturity beyond her years in her FIM Oceania debut.
McCutcheon kept the Aussie flag flying third from Americans Jordan Jarvis (Yamaha) and Jamie Astudillo (GASGAS).
“I couldn’t have asked anymore from day one,” said Turner, who is still recovering from a pre-season hand injury. “In qualifying I banged out two solid fast laps and cruised the rest, and then in the moto I got a decent start, pushed through riders to get to the front, and then put in a couple of solid laps to seal the deal.
“It was a great day for our team, and I’m looking forward to another big day of racing in Wonthaggi tomorrow to complete some unfinished business in the FIM Oceania Women’s Motocross Cup.”
Karaitiana Horne (Kawasaki) was the first New Zealand rider home in seventh position, ahead of her teammates Aimie Roberts (Yamaha, 15th), Mikayla Griffiths (Yamaha, 16th) and Milla Dahlenburg (KTM, 21st), who was a late replacement for four-time world champion Courtney Duncan.
Australia’s two other riders, Taylor Thompson (KTM) and Darci Whalley (Honda), were eighth and ninth respectively.
Sunday action will kick off with a standalone FIM Oceania Women’s Motocross Cup moto at 10:18am followed by the third and final moto – this time back alongside the MXW field – at midday.
Images: RbMotoLens
