WMX Championship Highlights from Unadilla and Budds Creek
Unadilla Recap: Charli Cannon Challenges Turner
In a fiercely contested race at Unadilla, four-time Australian MXW Champion Charli Cannon made her presence felt, narrowly overcoming the dominant La La Turner. Following recent finger surgery, Cannon struggled initially but managed a remarkable comeback in moto one. She executed multiple overtakes, finally securing the lead on the last lap. Cannon’s performance, a long-anticipated clash with Turner, resulted in a moto finish of 1-2, while Turner closed with a 2-1.
Budds Creek Update: A Three-Moto Format
At Budds Creek, the WMX held a three-moto format to compensate for a previous rainout at Thunder Valley. In moto one, Turner faced her first significant error of the season, hitting a jump too short, resulting in a fall. Despite being injured in the incident, she remounted and finished second behind Cannon. This moment underscored Turner’s evolution as a rider, having won the prior year’s championship despite multiple mistakes.
Ed Torrance, manager of the Altus Motorsports BLU CRU Yamaha team, praised Turner’s growth: “La La has had an incredible year. She’s fast, knows what she wants, and just goes after it.” Torrance noted that Turner’s maturation on the bike is evident and has propelled her success in this season’s championship.
In Summary
Turner’s consistency and resilience remain key to her campaign, while Cannon’s emergence adds a competitive edge as the series progresses. As the WMX season continues, the rivalry between these two athletes promises to be a highlight.
