The final round of the 2026 WMX World Championship came to a dramatic conclusion this morning in Darwin, Australia, with Daniela Guillen securing her first world title.
Shana van der Vlist did not take part in the second race after a heavy crash during the sighting lap. Lachlan Turner got the holeshot, with Kiara Fontanesi and Nellie Fransson close behind. Daniela Guillen quickly moved through the field and into second place behind Turner. The Spaniard then made her move on the American to take the lead and secure her second victory of the weekend.
Behind them, Kiara Fontanesi, Courtney Duncan and Lucy Barker all crashed at different stages of the race, shaking up the order. Lotte van Drunen took advantage to move into third, finishing ahead of Duncan, while Barker recovered to complete the top five.
After her excellent start, Nellie Fransson dropped back to sixth, still recording her best WMX result to date. Despite being hampered by injury, Kiara Fontanesi fought through to seventh. Amandine Verstappen finished eighth, ahead of Alexandra Massury and Emma Mlesevic.
Overall, Guillen finishes on a high note
With two victories in Darwin, Daniela Guillen won the final round of the season and, more importantly, secured the 2026 WMX World Championship title.
Lotte van Drunen finished second overall, claiming her second podium of the season and ending the championship in third place. Courtney Duncan completed the GP podium. The New Zealander could have hoped for more, but a crash in the second race ended her chances of challenging for the overall victory. Nevertheless, her return to the championship has been a strong one, and she will now have the winter to prepare for another title challenge next season.
Lachlan Turner came to Darwin to race against the best riders in the world, and the three-time US champion showed that she belongs among them. Her fourth-place overall finish gave her valuable experience on the world stage, and hopefully we will see more of her in WMX competition in the future.
Kiara Fontanesi finished fifth overall in the final round. The six-time WMX World Champion was unable to challenge for the title this weekend after falling ill and undergoing medical tests at hospital on Saturday night. She ultimately finished runner-up in the championship, confirming that she remains one of the leading riders in the class.
Lucy Barker took sixth overall in the Australian Grand Prix. The British rider has made significant progress throughout the season and once again showed that she can challenge for podium positions.
Nellie Fransson finished seventh overall. The Swedish rider from JK Yamaha Racing recorded her best WMX result to date, with her strong starts continuing to play an important role in her performances.
Alexandra Massury finished eighth overall, ahead of Amandine Verstappen. The German rider ended the season on a positive note, while the Belgian struggled to find her usual pace in Darwin. After a strong previous season, it was a more difficult year for Verstappen.
Emma Mlesevic completed the top 10 and was the highest-placed Australian rider on home soil, making her return to the WMX World Championship after a long absence.
The 2026 WMX World Championship season ends with Daniela Guillen crowned World Champion. We will take a closer look at the season and its biggest stories soon.
