Australian champion Charli Cannon among riders eager to race at Motocross World Championships

The world’s best motocross riders will show off their talents in Darwin as the FIM Motocross World Championships returns to Australian soil next year. Here’s everything you need to know.

MXGP Australia Ambassador Charli Cannon in Darwin, which will host a round of the world championships for the next five years. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

The best motocross riders in the world will battle the Darwin heat for the next five years as the FIM Motocross World Championships return to Australian soil for the first time in 24 years.

Darwin will host the MXGP from September 19-21, 2025, with fans now able to snap up their tickets now to also watch the MX2, the women’s world championships and national support classes.

The new Australian round will be held on a purpose-built track at the Hidden Valley Motorsports Complex in Darwin and broadcast to more than 100 countries, with a potential audience of 700m.

The Australian round of the FIM Motocross World Championship was previously held at Broadford in Victoria in 2000 and 2001.

One rider with her sights set on Darwin is MXGP Australia Ambassador Charli Cannon who has claimed the Australian Women’s Motocross Championship the past three years.

MXGP Australia Ambassador Charli Cannon in Darwin, which will host a round of the world championships for the next five years. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

The 19-year-old from the Sunshine Coast has her sights set on a world title, and with good reason having placed fourth at the MXGP Turkey World Championships round earlier this month.

Now having tasted what it’s all about the national champ believes what it takes to win it all as the women’s grand prix comes to Australia for the first time.

“It’s so awesome we can get a round in Australia, it’s been 24 years since the last time and it’s going to be great for the sport here,” she said.

“It’s going to be massive for all the fans, particularly up here in Darwin where there’s a lot of motor enthusiastic people with a race that will be broadcast across the world.

“It will inspire all the other Australian riders that don’t get the chance to compete overseas and gives them the chance to compete at such a big event on home soil that will bring them attention.”

Cannon started riding in the backyard at the age of four, won her first Australian Championship as a 12-year-old in 2017 and is now a three-time champion in senior division.

From an early age it became clear she and her brother would become standouts of the sport, and there hasn’t been a barrier so far to her dream of being the best she can be.

MXGP Australia Ambassador Charli Cannon in Darwin, which will host a round of the world championships for the next five years. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

“We loved it and when my younger brother was old enough to race we entered our first meet and it took over our lives,” Cannon said.

“I’m very competitive, I love being the best at what I do and it’s a great feeling to say you’re number one in Australia, and now my goal is the world stage.

There’s been a lot of sacrifices from my parents’ side they put so much money into the sport and I’m happy that we’re now going to be able to give something back.”

And she hopes when the championships come to Darwin from 2025 she can turn it up on what will be home soil in front of thousands of Australian motorsports fans.

“I’ve dominated my class for the past three years since hitting senior and my next goal is set on becoming world champion having done quite a few races over in Europe for the MXGP,” she said.

“The success has motivated me massively for next year to hopefully get on to the podium step and do the whole season, particularly with the final round being on home soil.”

Other major riders include legends such as Spain’s Jorge Prado, Slovenia’s Tim Gajser, France’s Romain Febvre and New Zealand’s multi-time champion Courtney Duncan in the women’s class.

Visit MXGP of Australia website to secure your ticket to the Darwin-exclusive Grand Prix: mxgpaustralia.com.au