Every racer dreams of being the best in their sport, but few truly achieve it. Nineteen-year-old Queenslander Charli Cannon has dominated Australian women’s motocross for six straight years. As a professional, she’s claimed three consecutive Pro Motocross Australian Championships. But rather than bask in her success, Charli, along with her SCT Logistics Honda Australia team and support from the upcoming Australian MXGP in Darwin, decided to take on the world’s fastest women in their final round in Turkey.
“It’s always daunting stepping out of your comfort zone, but I want to represent my country, my family, sponsors, and chase my dreams against the world’s best. My goal is to one day win the World Championship—that’s what drives me,” said Cannon.
Charli and Matt Hunt, one of Honda Australia’s top technicians, flew to Europe two weeks prior to the race to test, train, and prepare.
“We had my suspension, bars, and other parts that made the bike feel like home. The Honda 250 is already competitive, so I knew I had the equipment. What I lacked was the race time against these girls. Back home, the competition isn’t the same, and I realized that once the racing started,” Cannon admitted.
Racing inside the top three in both motos, Charli demonstrated her pace.
“Race 1 was tough, I won’t lie. I was out of my comfort zone. The pace is fast—much faster than back home. But I took the positives, reviewed the race footage, studied the track, and knew race 2 would be better. I was aiming for more than a distant 5th,” said Cannon.
In Race 2, she held third for 75% of the race, closing in on the leaders multiple times. With just five minutes remaining, she slipped back to 4th, being passed by last year’s World Champion. She secured 4th overall with a 5-4 finish—a remarkable achievement against the world’s best female riders.
“There’s so many positives to take from this weekend. In Race 2, I felt more comfortable at that pace. I caught the leaders a few times and learned what I need to adjust. I’m eager for more opportunities in Europe next year. I can’t thank everyone enough for making this happen,” said Cannon.
Now, Charli will return home to participate in Honda’s youth programs, encouraging young riders to get involved in dirt bike riding safely. Team Director Yarrive Konsky is beyond proud and believes she’s destined for even greater success.
“She’s truly incredible, and we couldn’t be prouder. Charli knows the risks, but she embraces the competition—that’s a champion’s mindset you can’t teach. Knowing you can lose but still going for it, that’s the mark of greatness. She’s an asset to Honda, our partners, and the sport,” said Konsky.
