The opening round of the WMX US Championship took place this weekend at Hangtown, where Lachlan Turner completed a perfect weekend to leave California with the championship lead.
Piper Bell grabbed the holeshot in the second moto ahead of the championship contenders. However, Charli Cannon quickly moved into the lead and began to pull away during the opening lap. Behind her, Mikayla Nielsen and Lachlan Turner battled for position as the race settled into its rhythm.
The turning point came on lap two. Turner first passed Nielsen before taking advantage of a mistake from Cannon to move into the lead. From there, the Altus Blu Cru Yamaha rider controlled the race despite late pressure from her Australian rival. Turner crossed the finish line first to secure her second race win of the weekend and complete a perfect 1-1 scorecard. She will carry the red plate into next weekend’s second round.
After losing the lead, Cannon (Quad Lock Honda) regrouped and quickly passed Nielsen to begin her pursuit of Turner. She pushed hard but was unable to find a way through. A small mistake later in the race ended her hopes of challenging for the win, forcing her to settle for second place. After receiving a one-position penalty following Friday’s race for accelerating off the track, Cannon leaves Hangtown knowing the battle for the championship is only just beginning.
Mikayla Nielsen completed the podium with another strong ride. The Honda SLR rider delivered two consistent performances across the weekend and finished level on points with Cannon.
The fight for fourth place proved equally entertaining. Jordan Jarvis, after another strong start, found herself battling Taylah McCutcheon and Lilly-Ann Pettus throughout the moto. McCutcheon appeared set to secure fourth position, but Jarvis found a way past with just two minutes remaining on the clock. That move secured fourth overall for Jarvis, with McCutcheon fifth and Pettus sixth after an impressive showing.
Emma Milesevic fought her way back through the field after a difficult start to claim seventh place, matching her result from the opening moto. Destiny Slingerland followed in eighth after a solid performance.
Piper Bell’s race took a dramatic turn when she clipped Nielsen’s rear wheel and crashed after her excellent start. Rejoining outside the top ten, the Built Hard Racing rider mounted an impressive comeback to finish ninth.
Adrianne Spiker rounded out the top ten.
With Turner leaving Hangtown undefeated and carrying the red plate, all eyes now turn to round two as the WMX US Championship begins to take shape.
Race 2
Overall
