Mayla Herrick earns first overall podium in her second start
If not for a Turn 2 crash in the High Point National, Herrick's first podium may have come even sooner. She won the first moto there.
Mayla Herrick secured her maiden overall podium in her second motocross competition, after a second-place finish in her debut event. The High Point National, the final race before the WMX's summer hiatus, saw the 17-year-old racer make her impact despite being overlooked in the first two rounds due to her age. Lachlan Turner and Charli Cannon, the series' dominant riders, finished third and fifth respectively in Moto 1.
Turner claimed the win. However, Herrick's victory was overshadowed by her crash during the start of Moto 2, which resulted in a concussion and a red flag. This injury prevented her from capitalizing on her initial win.
Herrick managed to earn her second career holeshot in her second race round. This performance came as she competed against mostly amateur riders in the WMX's summer break leading up to the 2026 Loretta Lynn's Amateur National. Herrick had already demonstrated her prowess by defeating Jordan Jarvis in her WMX debut, with Jarvis being the most experienced rider in the field.
At the Unadilla National, Herrick secured the holeshot in Moto 1, but was unable to capitalize on it, as she and several seasoned racers crashed during the race. Herrick acknowledged her struggle, stating, "I was in second, Charli fell and then I fell. And then I climbed my way back and just was not close enough to actually make the pass."
Despite the setback, Herrick gained valuable experience in the subsequent Moto 2, starting on the holeshot line in fourth place, losing two positions on Lap 1, and finishing sixth. She fought her way to third place overall.
In her short career, Herrick has demonstrated her potential as a podium contender in the WMX series. She earned her third-place finish in a race with a tiebreaker win against Jarvis, who she raced head-to-head in the Loretta's. In just two rounds, Herrick has achieved two holeshots, one moto win, and an overall podium finish. With these accomplishments, Herrick has built confidence in her abilities and is now focused on maintaining this pace and positioning herself favorably in each upcoming race.
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