Charli Cannon made a welcome return to the GP paddock at Matterley Basin – albeit in a spectator role – and we caught up with her to discuss her whirlwind of a year so far. The Aussie talent has been competing in the U.S. despite carrying a painful finger injury that required surgery just before the season began. Cannon discussed the challenges of racing hurt, her steady progress in the AMA series, the pride of seeing her brother Jake land a podium in Britain, and her hopes of making a full return to the WMX paddock in the near future.
GateDrop: Charli, before we even touch on your racing, you are here at Matterley Basin. What’s it like being back in the GP paddock? Have you been back since your last WMX race?
Cannon: I haven’t been back since Turkey GP last year so it’s awesome to be back and see all my friends and all the familiar faces. I’ve missed it over here so hopefully next time when I’m back here I’m actually racing. It’s awesome to come over and we came out with a good one. Brother (Jake) got on podium which we’re stoked about and I’m just here supporting. I’ve got a broken finger so just watching and it’s been a great weekend.
GateDrop: What was it like seeing him up there on the podium? It must have felt amazing and also to have your dad here as well, a nice family moment that you’ll probably never forget…
Cannon: Oh for sure, we’ve always dreamt of this, and I guess he’s now got the bragging rights being up there first. But yeah it’s awesome to see the Australian flag and just super proud of him.
GateDrop: On your season I was a little bit surprised to see you were going to go race in America but I think you had surgery like three days before the first round or something crazy. I think it was fourth overall, not bad at all considering you probably shouldn’t have even been racing…
Cannon: Not bad, I broke my finger the day before flying over there so I had surgery. It was a pretty major break as well. Most people or most surgeons would not have let me ride but I wanted to. I was like I’m doing this whole championship, so I came fourth at the first round, third at the second round and second at the third round I was over there. I have been improving every round but I’m looking forward to going back over for the fourth round to being 100% healthy and go for that win.
GateDrop: Just on the first round, how much pain were you in? Was it really sore?
Cannon: It was very sore, I couldn’t move it, I couldn’t have any strength in it, the pain going over the bumps, in and out of corners just with grip strength was really sore. It was hard for me but I think the adrenaline helped a little bit once I got started. But it wasn’t ideal and I wasn’t on any painkillers so that was tough, but I got through that.
GateDrop: How is it now? I think you’ve done three rounds, how was it at the third round? Was it better or was it the same?
Cannon: I had a little bit more movement in it but it was still very painful, it’s still quite painful to this day. I have limited movement, it still likes to swell up if I don’t have my bandages on it, it’s slowly improving but it’s going to take a lot of therapy.
GateDrop: So, I’m guessing you haven’t been riding in between the races?
Cannon: I have not no, when I was in America I only rode on the weekends and then during the week I tried to just rest it and do as much therapy on it as possible. Now that I’m taking a few weeks off the bike to let it fully heal and that’s why we came over here.
GateDrop: So, you think you’ll be back on the bike in two or three weeks then to prepare for the next round? Will you ride a couple of times before that, is that the plan?
Cannon: Yeah, so the fourth round isn’t until August so I have got like six weeks to train and I’m going to take probably two more weeks off and then when I head back home, I’ll go do a month of training camp and get ready for the next races I have in August.
GateDrop: What’s the level like in America? I’m guessing it’s probably better than what it is in Australia but it’s probably not as good as the world championship. Would it be somewhere in between, would that be fair?
Cannon: I’d say it’s in between Australia and Europe. It’s probably the four girls over there that have good speed, but the world championship level is definitely higher.
GateDrop: What are the tracks like in America? Probably more similar to Australia and not like GP tracks?
Cannon: I think Europe is more similar to Australia. American tracks are very wide open, fluffy dirt, it’s a different… it’s a different type of circuit but it’s so much fun.
GateDrop: I think you will be racing WMX in Australia, a home GP that’s a first, especially for Australians. Are you looking forward to that one?
Cannon: Of course, because it’s always good going to a home GP. I can’t even remember the last time Australia had a GP so that’s really cool that it’s on the calendar. It is a bit tricky because it’s so far away from everything else but we’ll make the most of it.
GateDrop: We would love to see you in the world championship again, how likely do you think that is? Maybe if not next year do you think within the next two or three years… is it likely that we’ll see you in this paddock again racing?
Cannon: Look, if I can get the support, I’d 100% be in the paddock straight away so we’re working on it. I’m definitely trying to get back over here to race, I’d love to do another full season. It’s hard but we just need to work on getting as much support so I can come over here.
GateDrop: Obviously you’ve been busy racing yourself and stuff like that, but have you been watching any of the world championship this year? It’s been different to what many people expected I would say especially after Lotte won her first title last year. She maybe isn’t 100% with her ankle injury but Kiara has been stepping it up. Have you been watching it and what’s your thoughts on it?
Cannon: I definitely watch every round, every round could be anyone so it’s really exciting. All the girls have stepped it up, I just wish I could get in the mix as well.
