When Charli Cannon was ripping around her 2-acre Maroochy River property as a child on a little 50cc dirt bike, the top ranks of motocross for women were yet to be established.
Now she has moved to the US with a goal of becoming the best female rider in the world.
The 20-year-old is widely considered a rising star in women’s world motocross as the sport enters a new era.
“My goal is to put another Aussie on the top step,” Cannon said.
She follows in the footsteps of Sunshine Coast brothers Jett and Hunter Lawrence, who dominated last year’s US motocross championship, finishing first and second overall.
Cannon made her WMX Championship debut in the US last year but suffered a serious crash — fracturing and dislocating her index finger, which required surgery a week before round one.
Charli Cannon with WMX rival Lachlan Turner at the Australian Supercross Championship last year. (Supplied: Charli Cannon)
Six days after the procedure she took her place at the starting gate, finished fourth and went on to be the runner-up in the championship standings at the end of the season.
“My goal is to come into this season healthy and fight for more wins.” Cannon said.
“I’ve had four years in Australia since I turned senior and I’ve won all four Australian championships.
“The next goal is to win an American championship.”
A new era
This year the American women’s motocross championship will be integrated into the SuperMotocross League, which governs the men’s championships.
Previously, the WMX ran as a separate entity alongside amateur events.
Charli Cannon has set her sights on taking out the US championship. (Supplied: RbMotoLens)
For the first time in the sport’s history, all six rounds will be televised and are scheduled alongside the men’s motocross championship.
“I’m really enjoying the publicity, and I think it’s awesome that people globally are recognising that we are pushing the WMX,” she said.
“It’s getting a lot more recognition and it’s something we all deserve.”
Family business
Cannon was born in Nambour and grew up near the Maroochy River.
Her younger brother Jake, 18, is racing professionally in Europe, and nearly lost his life in a serious crash in 2023.
Charli Cannon as a child, with her younger brothers Jake (middle) and Luis (front). (Supplied: Wade Cannon)
Despite his children’s success, Wade Cannon still questions whether he made the right call purchasing his kids their first dirt bike.
“I couldn’t get Jake into soccer at the age of four and Charli will hate me for saying this, but she used to be really good at Irish dancing,” he chuckled.
“About six months into it, she said, ‘Nah, this is not for me — I want my dirt bike.'”
He used to take his kids on organised trail bike rides but says he struggled to keep up.
“It became a nightmare looking for them,” he said
“[So] I thought I’ll take them to a motocross track where I can keep an eye on them at the same time.”
Charli Cannon credits her sibling rivalry with little brother Jake with stoking her competitive spirit. (Supplied: Charli Cannon)
The pair competed against each other as juniors and Charli Cannon said the sibling rivalry pushed the duo to new heights.
“That was the best thing we could have ever had, us two growing up racing together, because we always pushed each other,” she said.
“My brother didn’t want me beating him and I didn’t want him beating me because he’s my little brother.”
Wade Cannon says his daughter regularly beat boys her age on race day. (Supplied: Wade Cannon)
While Charli Cannon was dominating the boys on the track, her father said the future appeared bleak for women in the sport.
“We just thought how far can we go with the sport as a female? Wade Cannon said.
“By the time she got on an 85cc (motorbike) there was still nothing for women in the sport other than maybe a couple of races in the WMX in the senior women’s class.
“They were privateers doing it off their own backs — there was no real factory rides for the girls.”
Charli Cannon’s father, Wade (left), says the future looked bleak for women in the sport when his daughter was a junior. (Supplied: Charli Cannon)
Charli Cannon’s persistence paid off and she signed her first factory motorcycle sponsorship deal at the age of 15.
“That really woke us up and we thought, well, if these guys are willing to do that, there is some future if she keeps going with it,” Wade Cannon said.
“What Charli and a few of the American girls are doing, being on TV this year, that would have been a dream for us to have something to aspire to.”
The American WMX Championship is entering a new era with all six rounds to be televised. (Supplied: RbMotoLens)
The four-time Australian champion hopes to see more girls take up the sport.
“There’s always going to be people who might doubt you or think that you can’t make it or make a living out of the sport,” Charli Cannon said.
“If you love it, just keep training hard because there’s a very promising future and the more girls we have racing, the bigger it gets.”
Charli Cannon will captain team Australia at this month’s Oceania Women’s Motocross Cup. (Supplied: RbMotoLens)
Captaining Team Australia
Motorcycling Australia has announced Charli Cannon will captain Team Australia in the Oceania Women’s Motocross Cup in their quest for a three-peat.
They will take on teams from New Zealand, US and Asia at Wonthaggi this month.
Each competing team will have four riders representing their country across three races.
Team Australia are looking to make in three victories in a row at this year’s Oceania Women’s Motocross Cup. (Supplied: RbMotoLens)
The team’s individual results are combined and the country with the best score wins.
“I’m very honoured to be chosen. It means a lot that they see me as a role model and leader for the women’s class in Australia,” Charli Cannon said.
“We’ve got a strong line-up this year. It’s a track that we all know and if we just stick to the game plan, execute three good motos, we should have a good chance at taking home the trophy.”