When I was a kid riding a vintage Benelli through open Iowa farmland, or later, when I was navigating the steep, technical mountain single-tracks of Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona on my Honda 230, I rarely saw anyone who looked like me on the trail.
As a 5’3″ female, the dirt bike world was a space I had to carve out for myself. I vividly remember the “tests” from the guys I rode with once I got into the mountains. I’d lay my 250-pound bike down in a creek bed or get framed out on a wet tree root, and instead of a hand up, I’d watch their tail-lights disappear into the pines. The message was unspoken but clear: If you can’t pick it up, you don’t belong here.
Heaving a machine that weighs twice what you do out of wet mud takes a raw, stubborn kind of strength. But every time I hit that electric start button and caught up to the pack, I wasn’t just surviving the ride; I was claiming my independence.
For a long time, that kind of grit felt lonely. But today, if you look at the professional circuit, you’ll see that the most exciting, resilient, and revolutionary stories aren’t just happening in the men’s classes. The women of motocross are tearing down the old boundaries and showing the world exactly what it means to lead from the saddle.
The New Frontier: The Powerhouse Women of WMX
We are currently living through a golden era for female riders. The Women’s Motocross Championship (WMX) has officially stepped into the massive, high-production spotlight of the SuperMotocross League. These athletes aren’t just an opening act; they are elite competitors pushing the limits of speed and strategy on the exact same brutal tracks as the men.
If you want to understand the true spirit of modern dirt bike racing, these are the icons you need to watch:
1. Lachlan Turner: The Iceman of the Gate
The reigning, back-to-back WMX National Champion, Lachlan Turner, is a masterclass in calculated execution. Just days ago at the season opener at Hangtown, she gave fans a heart-stopping demonstration of what mountain riders call “refusing to quit.” After getting tangled up and crashing early in the first moto, she dropped back to fourth place. On a rough, deeply rutted track that was actively chewing up other riders, Turner didn’t panic. She methodically sliced her way through the field, making a brilliant, aggressive pass on the final lap to secure the win. She rides with an icy calm that commands absolute respect.
Lachlan Turner photos by Cycle X and Fullnoise
2. Jamie Astudillo: The Global Renegade
If you want to talk about raw versatility, look no further than Jamie Astudillo. Jamie captured the 2024 Canadian WMX East Championship and has carved out a name for herself on both sides of the Atlantic. Not content with dominating domestic dirt, she expanded her horizons to race the FIM Women’s Motocross World Championship alongside the European MXGP series. Riding for the Dirt Bike Depot WMR KTM squad, Jamie represents a new breed of American female racers—bold, international competitors who prove that world-class speed knows no borders.
3. Jordan Jarvis: The Boundless Pioneer
If there is a rider who embodies the “no excuses” mentality of being left in a mud hole, it’s Jordan Jarvis. Jordan has spent her entire career breaking ceilings, frequently lining up against the fastest men in the country to prove that the dirt doesn’t care about your gender. In 2026, she is a true international renegade—simultaneously fighting for the top step of the podium on the U.S. circuit while traveling across the border to dominate the Canadian National series. She is a living blueprint for a relentless work ethic.
Jordan Jarvis photos from Facebook and NBC Sports
4. Mayla Herrick: The Colorado Phenom
This name hits incredibly close to home for anyone who knows the thin air of the Rockies. At just 16 years old, Colorado’s own Mayla Herrick is the future of the sport. She recently represented the United States on the global stage, leading Team USA to a historic, emotional victory at the FIM Oceania Cup in Australia. Her riding style is completely effortless—she flows over obstacles that make veteran riders hesitate. She is proof that the next generation of female riders isn’t just arriving; they are taking over.
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Mayla Herrick photo courtesy of Instagram and The Denver Post
Changing the Stable: Tech Built for Us
This explosion of female leadership is completely changing the motorcycle industry itself. For decades, manufacturers built bikes for a specific mold: tall, heavy, and aggressive. But the rise of the female rider has forced a shift toward accessibility without sacrificing power.
Brands are realizing that a rider doesn’t need to be 6’2″ to conquer a mountain. Modern tech like highly tunable suspension, lighter chassis materials, and the absolute non-negotiable magic of reliable electric starts means the sport is opening up to people who previously felt barred by the physical intimidation of the machines.
The Saddle is Open
When I was balancing on a slippery rock garden in Cortez, wondering if I had the leverage to right my bike before the sun went down, I didn’t have Lachlan Turner or Jordan Jarvis on my TV screen to remind me of what was possible.
Today, the trail is wider. The next generation of girls getting into the sport won’t have to wonder if they belong in the dirt; they can just point to the podium. The message of these modern outlaws is simple: The mountain doesn’t care who you are. It only cares how much heart you have when the wheels start spinning.
Where to Pull Up a Saddle: How to Watch These Female Athletes
It used to be that finding women’s motocross was like tracking a phantom on open range; you had to rely on word-of-mouth or grainy forum uploads. But the landscape has completely changed. With the Women’s Motocross Championship (WMX) officially integrated into the SuperMotocross League, catching these elite riders bar-to-bar is easier than ever.
For a long time, finding women’s racing felt like a scavenger hunt. The media landscape has completely changed. With the Women’s Motocross Championship (WMX) officially joining the massive SuperMotocross League, female racing has reached a landmark level of global exposure.
Here is your front-row pass to follow the action:
1. The Domestic Stream: Peacock
If you are in the United States, Peacock is the exclusive streaming home for all things SuperMotocross, including the WMX.
- The Routine: On race days, Peacock streams Race Day Live in the morning/afternoon for qualifying, followed by the full broadcast. WMX motos are seamlessly woven right into the same event stream as the men’s 250 and 450 classes (often airing right around halftime or between the main motos).
- On-Demand: If you miss it live, Peacock hosts full-race replays on-demand all season long.
2. The Global Stream: SuperMotocross Video Pass
For readers outside the U.S. (or international fans following stars like Jordan Jarvis up into the Canadian Nationals), the SuperMotocross Video Pass is the official global platform. It streams all the regular-season rounds, qualifiers, and the playoff finals live and on-demand worldwide.
3. The World Stage: MXGP-TV
If your readers get hooked and want to see the European side of female racing, the FIM Women’s World Motocross Championship (WMX Global) streams on MXGP-TV.com. This is where you see riders conquering massive GP tracks across Europe and South America.
4. YouTube: NBC Sports & Team Vlogs
- Highlights: The Motorsports on NBC YouTube channel drops highlight reels specifically for the WMX classes almost immediately after the weekend races wrap up.
- The Lifestyle: Because female racing has a huge “lifestyle” push, riders like Jordan Jarvis have high-production personal YouTube vlogs. Watching their behind-the-scenes travel, garage prep, and race-day vlogs is actually how a lot of newer fans “fall into” the sport.
In our next article, we are going to dive into the “safety saddle,” the gear, the protection, and the high-tech body armor that allows us to take the hits, pick the bike back up, and keep the throttle pinned.
Keep your boots in the stirrups. The dust is just starting to settle
Last Updated on 08/09/2026 by Jodi Erpelding
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