An outright podium at the 2023 ISDE confirmed this rookie’s trajectory to a future world title
A few special test wins in EnduroGP events at the end of 2023 consolidated Danielle McDonald’s status as a star on the ascent. Then, after winning the 2024 Australian Women’s Off-Road Championship in her rookie year as a senior, no doubt Danielle began contemplating what it might be like living in Perugia, Italy, rather than her hometown of Parkes, NSW.
A call from the other side of the Atlantic changed everything. “I was still recovering from a torn ACL that I carried all through the 2024 ISDE,” recalls Danielle. “The Yamaha team understood my situation but still extended the opportunity to compete in a few rounds of the AMA Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) Championship, just to see how we clicked.”
Despite the difficult transition to the unfamiliar GNCC format, Danielle scored a couple of podiums followed by a generous offer to join the AmPro Team for 2025 – where she finished third in the championship; flitting back to Australia mid-year to win the Hattah Desert Race.
With four rounds to run after the summer break in the 2026 GNCC, Danielle is tied on championship points with arch rival and KTM team rider Brandy Richards. During the break, Danielle returned Down Under to re-unite with longtime mentor and ISDE teammate Jess Gardiner and race a couple of rounds of the Aussie Pro Enduro championship at Kempsey – where she was happy to chat with AMCN.
How did you feel, only a year out of high school, heading off to race full-time in America?
Thanks to the AmPro team I knew what to expect, although racing against hundreds of riders and passing lappers on a 20km loop through the bush was pretty extreme. I really hated riding in such muddy conditions.
Yet your maiden GNCC win was in the mud at Big Buck South Carolina and now you’ve been competing in the US for two years, recently extending your contract with AmPro Yamaha. So it appears you’ve settled in and are enjoying the lifestyle.
It’s a never-ending road trip, living out of a Transit van and constantly travelling. But the scenery is truly spectacular, the people are friendly and everyone speaks English. The only thing I don’t like is the food. Good restaurants are difficult to find and the best default choice for road food is Subway. It’s good to get home for a healthy cook-up.
Where is home for you between events?
My younger brother Dylan – also a Junior GNCC champion – and I are based in Travelers Rest, a great little town in South Carolina; more or less central to all the venues on the GNCC calendar. Lots of great trails nearby, so if we’re not in the van we’re on our bikes.
Other than the GNCC, what else are you competing in?
We race a few rounds of the AMA Sprint Series, which is similar to Aussie Pro Enduro; racing through the bush – or woods as they’re known there. And there are a few one-off events. There’s also a six-week summer break in the GNCC series and I’ll always head home for Hattah if there’s enough time, as it’s still my favourite event. It’s also a great opportunity to catch up with family and friends.
What plans for the future?
Next year we’ll definitely do more motocross. And before I leave the USA I must do at least one Loretta Lynn’s National Motocross series. I’d like to compete in World EnduroGP but, for now, I’m happy to be here riding for such a friendly, professional bunch of people. Life couldn’t be better.
You’ve not yet turned 21, on the cusp of winning the Women’s GNCC, representing Australia for the third time at the ISDE, and endless opportunities ahead (Danielle won the following day’s round of the Women’s AORC Division at Kempsey). So you may not have given much thought to your life after racing…
Not a lot really, but I do feel that motorcycling has been, and will continue to be, my career. For me, eventually I’d like to put something back into the sport. Coaching like Jess (Gardiner) here in Australia; or in America. Or getting into the management side of the sport.
Opportunities for the girls are opening up all round the world. In GNCC, Honda, KTM, Kawasaki and Yamaha are all supportive and there’s no reason this won’t extend to motocross. One day we’ll see a ‘Motocross des Nations’ for the girls. It’s long overdue.
