WMX Pro Motocross: Mikayla Nielsen wins Round 1 at Fox Raceway

The 2025 Women’s Motocross Championship (WMX), an AMA National Championship, is underway and what is arguably the most talented field of women to ever assemble on a starting gate have thus far exceeded expectations with a memorable opening round from Fox Raceway at Pala in Southern California.

A hotly contested pair of motos showcased the parity that is expected over the course of the six-round season, from which SLR Honda’s Mikayla «Kay Kay» Nielsen emerged victorious with her first career win at her home race. The 18-year-old from Riverside, California, will now lead the WMX field into the second round of the summer this Friday, May 30, in possession of the red plate.

Nielsen’s path to victory at the opening round was a testament to her ability to capitalize on a pair of strong starts by making quick passes in the opening laps. In Moto 1 she started third but was able to get by Monster Energy Kawasaki Team Green’s Kyleigh Stallings to take control of second. Shen then gave chase to the leader and Altus Motorsports BLU CRU Yamaha rider Lachlan «Lala» Turner, the reigning WMX Champion. Nielsen showed a quicker pace over the second half of the moto and closed in on Turner late but ultimately ran out of time.

*Reigning WMX Champion Lala Turner finished runner-up at Fox Raceway and sits just two points out of the points lead.*

In Moto 2, Nielsen pulled another top three jump off the gate and passed both Stallings and ROTE Racing Yamaha’s Jordan Jarvis to seize control of the lead, while Turner was forced to fight her way forward from fifth. With the clear track, Nielsen logged consistent laps and fended off persistent pressure from both Jarvis and Turner, who ultimately waged a tense battle for second, to wrap up the overall victory with the moto win.

Nielsen’s 2-1 effort bested Turner’s 1-3 performance, while Jarvis, the most experienced and decorated racer in the field, rounded out the overall podium in third (4-2). Nielsen’s points lead is a mere two points over Turner heading into Hangtown, while Jarvis sits just seven points out of the lead.

While the podium finishers from Round 1 will look to continue building the momentum from their initial success, they aren’t the only ones to keep an eye on at Hangtown. Reigning back-to-back Australian WMX Champion and Quad Lock Honda rider Charli Cannon gutted out an impressive fourth-place finish (3-4) mere days removed from surgery on a dislocated finger and should be quicker with another week to heal. Stallings endured through a bit of misfortune in both motos to still grab a top five result (5-5) but is poised to return to championship-contending form.

HIGHLIGHTS & RESULTS

Top 10 WMX Overall