Swedish WMX rider Nellie Fransson has enjoyed a breakthrough season in 2026, taking a big step forward in her second full campaign in the Women’s WMX Motocross World Championship. After finishing 17th in the championship last year, Fransson climbed to ninth this season, showing impressive speed and consistency against an increasingly competitive field.
A strong winter of training, including motocross in Italy, skiing in Sweden and even the gruelling 90-kilometre Vasaloppet cross-country ski race, helped prepare the JK Yamaha rider for the season ahead. Fransson has had a strong season getting used to running with the leading WMX riders, highlighted by a sixth-place finish in the second race of the final round in Australia.
Still just 18 years old, Fransson believes there is much more to come. She speaks openly about the areas she needs to improve, her natural ability to get great starts, the experience of racing in Italy, her strong relationship with the JK Yamaha team and her ultimate goal — becoming WMX World Champion.
We caught up with Fransson to discuss her breakthrough season, racing in Australia, the growing level of the WMX championship, life with JK Yamaha and her ambitions for the future.
GateDrop: Nellie, a big improvement this year for you. I know you missed a few GP’s last year but you went from 17th to 9th in the championship. I am guessing you had a strong winter coming into the season?
Fransson: Yes, I had a really good winter. I mixed motocross training in Italy, both hard pack and of course the deep sand at Riola Sardo as well as skiing with the Ramudden Ski team in Sweden. As a final part of the winter training I competed in the Vasaloppet event in Sweden, it’s 90 km on skis and I made it!
GateDrop: Coming into the season, what where your expectations for this year? Did you surprise yourself a little bit?
Fransson: A sixth place in the second race in Australia was a positive surprise and nothing I had expected, I was really hoping for a top ten this season, but I didn’t really believe I could do it. However, along the way I realized that I have the speed, and I did some good races. But if someone would have told me before the season that I would finish ninth in the world I would not really have believed it.
GateDrop: You raced in Darwin again, did you enjoy your time there? It looks very different from European round? Getting to see crocodiles etc (laughs)…
Fransson: (laughs) Yes and I survived all the animals. I did have time to do some trips outside the track. I went jet skiing, went to a national park with amazing waterfalls and also managed to squeeze in a boat ride at Adelaide River to watch jumping crocodiles. I really enjoy Australia and I think this track at Hidden valley is my absolute favourite one.
GateDrop: You are a very good starter, which makes life easier. Has this been natural for you since you started racing even before the world championship?
Fransson: Yes, I have always been a fast starter since I was a kid. I was very fascinated of the starts when I was little and always watched all the starts at all competitions I went to. And now, the starts are good, but I never practice starts, that just makes me think too much about what to do and I make worse starts then (laughs). The best is just to be behind the gate and just do it, not to overthink it.
GateDrop: The good starts help, but you also have good pace for ten minutes you can stay up right at the front. I think you just need more experience and get used to the high pace a bit more and then it should be good, right?
Fransson: Yes, I know I have the speed to be in the top but as you say, more experience of course, I’m learning from every race I do. But most of all I need to get stronger and more enduring to be able to keep the same speed for the whole race. I have some intense cardio training to look forward to now!
GateDrop: The WMX class is really strong at the moment, possibly the highest it’s ever been. How would you describe the level at the front?
Fransson: I would describe the level up front as very high. I’m very impressed about their speed, and how they can keep the same lap times through the race. It’s just so much training behind their results and that’s really impressive. At the same time my own lap times are getting closer to the front and I’m really happy about that, it’s starting to feel achievable to be one of the top riders.
GateDrop: You are with the Italian based, JK Yamaha team. They signed you before you even raced the World Championship – you must be grateful for the opportunity they give you?
Fransson: Yes, I’m very grateful. I was only 16 when I signed with JK. I was in the BluCru program and won the girls Super finale two years in a row. That’s how I first got in contact with the JK team. They have been great, they were clear from the beginning that we will do this World Championship journey together step by step, and that’s what we have been doing.
GateDrop: What’s the vibes like within the team and do you spend much time in Italy?
Fransson: The best thing with the team is the family feeling. The vibes in the team are really good and we’re having a lot of fun together. I just feel at home with the whole team. I spend a lot of time in Italy, both for training and practice and I really enjoy being there.
GateDrop: You are still young, what goals have you set yourself for the future?
Fransson: When I was 4 years old and on my Hello Kitty styled 50cc I said that I was going to win the World Championship in Motocross and that’s what I’m gonna do. I’m going to win the Championship one day.
GateDrop: WMX have six rounds for next year which is an improvement, what would you like the calendar to look like in the future – more races?
Fransson: It’s an improvement but not enough, I think that WMX should have at least 10 rounds.
GateDrop: The Swedish WMX series is quite competitive – we even have an Irish rider (Natalie Kane) race it, I don’t think you race that, what’s the reason for that?
Fransson: Yes, the Swedish championship keeps a good competitive level with foreign riders too. I spend a lot of time in Italy and the tracks in Italy are more similar to the MXGP tracks. It’s really good training for me to do races on those kind of tracks.
The Swedish tracks are a little too kind compared to a GP track. I also really enjoy racing the Italian championship, it’s really fun. they have enough girls for a separate 125 and 250 class which is really positive. This year I still couldn’t have done the full Swedish championship since they were doing their final race the same time as the Australian GP so then I decided to do the full Italian instead.
GateDrop: Do you follow the WMX series in America? You were ahead of Turner for a bit in Australia, that must have felt good (laughs)…
Fransson: Yes I do, and yes, it was a good feeling, to be in the lead for almost three laps in the first race. It was a crazy feeling that I can get used to (laughs).
