Mayla Herrick entered the Women's Pro Motocross series with a lot of anticipation. Kept out of the field in the first two rounds because of her age, she debuted in the High Point National and won on her 17th birthday while the two riders who have dominated the ladies' series, Lachlan Turner and Charli Cannon, finished further down the running order than usual. Turner was third in Moto 1; Cannon was fifth. But Herrick did not have the opportunity to capitalize on her debut victory. She crashed in heavy traffic on the start of Moto 2, necessitating a red flag, and was carted off the track by the medical crew with a concussion.
Mayla Herrick earned her second career holeshot in her second round of competition. / Align Media
Mayla Herrick earned her second career holeshot in her second round of competition. / Align Media
MORE WMX: Mayla Herrick wins in her WMX debut The High Point National was the final race before the WMX's summer break, so fans would have to wait and see how she would bounce back and the full extent of her potential. Herrick provided a glimpse at the 2026 Loretta Lynn's Amateur National. Racing against mostly amateurs, she nevertheless turned heads by beating Jordan Jarvis for the championship. Jarvis, 25, is considered the most experienced veteran in the field. The Unadilla National confirmed Herrick's potential. MORE WMX:Mikayla Nielsen overcomes adversity, proves doubters wrong Herrick earned the holeshot in Moto 1 in Unadilla, but drew the fourth finishing position as she, and several more experienced riders, crashed during the race. "I was in second," Herrick said. "Charli fell and then I fell. And then I climbed my way back and just wasn't close enough to actually make the pass." Herrick gained more experience in Saturday's Moto 2. She hit the holeshot line in fourth, lost two positions on Lap 1 and was sixth early in a short moto. Herrick fought her way to third at the checkers.
In a very short time, Mayla Herrick has proven to be a podium contender in the WMX Series. / Align Media
In a very short time, Mayla Herrick has proven to be a podium contender in the WMX Series / Align Media
MORE WMX:Rookie Taylah McCutcheon comes out the gates fast "It's a lot different," Herrick said following her ride through the field. "Some of them I've never really gotten to race before. So seeing how everyone rides, it definitely helps. And you're not going to get any better just riding out front. You have to learn how to pass, so it definitely helps." Herrick's third-place finish awarded her the podium on a tiebreaker with Jarvis, the woman she raced head-to-head in the Loretta's. In two rounds, Herrick has earned two holeshots, scored one moto win, and scored an overall podium finish. "This is all just confidence building and really getting experience because I've never raced anything like this," Herrick said. "Coming out and winning my first race, it boosted my confidence pretty high. Now I just need to learn how to really keep that same pace and be in the same position every race."