We have Aussies scattered globally, making us proud fans from OZ. Ed has us covered with his monthly Aussies Racing Abroad International road and off road race news for Aussies...
Aussies Racing Abroad January 2026 | With many Australians showcasing their skills abroad in a range of disciplines, both on-track and off-road, our latest column focuses on how they’re faring battling it out with the best in their chosen classes…
On-Track
Jack Miller – MotoGP
Stating he wants to secure a ride for 2027 and be the best Yamaha in the 2026 MotoGP season, this year looms large for Jack Miller. Having finished 17th in the MotoGP standings last time around, achieving those goals will certainly be easier said than done.
“My goal? It’s difficult to predict right now, because we don’t know exactly where we’ll end up with the bike,” he told GPOne. “Once we get to Thailand, we’ll have a better understanding of where we are and what the situation is. In any case, I think the realistic goal right now, or the easiest one to achieve, is to try and be the best Yamaha. To achieve that, with the calibre of riders we have, I’ll have to be in good shape compared to the others.”
Set to face stiff competition from the likes of Fabio Quartararo and new teammate Toprak Razgatlioglu to be Yamaha’s premier pilot, it’ll be fascinating to see how he fares. Already with some crucial testing time under his belt on the V4 and putting in some excellent training off the bike, according to Pramac boss Gino Borsoi, the early signs are very positive indeed. Motivated and ready to rumble, the upcoming test will reveal more about what 2026 has in store for the popular Aussie.
Remy Gardner – World Superbike
With the 2026 term fast-approaching, Remy Gardner’s GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team has just had their official launch event. Eager to enjoy a terrific campaign in what will be his fourth with the squad, he’ll be looking to find that vital consistency and continuity following an injury-interrupted 2025. Chomping at the bit to get cracking, Gardner cut an excited figure when speaking at the grand occasion.
“I can’t wait to be back and start a new season. This will be my fourth year with the team, and we have great chemistry, so I know we can achieve strong results together. 2025 was a demanding year: we started well and took a strong podium in Assen, but the second half of the season was more difficult, with some unfortunate accidents. I feel good now, and I’m confident we can enjoy a strong season together, fighting at the front and improving round by round,” he explained.
Remy Gardner.
In full swing with his preparations, Gardner and the team extracted some quality information and insights from their recent private test at Jerez despite the wet conditions, meaning it wasn’t as productive as it could’ve been.
“It was great to be back on the Yamaha R1 and to see everyone again. Unfortunately, the weather limited our track time, so we had to manage our test days carefully. On the second day we finally rode in dry conditions, which helped me regain my feeling on the bike. The rain returned in the afternoon and forced us to stop early, but overall it was a good way to restart, and we’ll keep working next week in Portugal,” stated the #87.
All eyes now switch to the upcoming two-day private test in Portugal, where Gardner and his crew will be keen to make additional strides.
Off-Road
Hunter Lawrence – AMA Supercross
Hunter Lawrence has made a brilliant start to the 2026 AMA Supercross season by claiming two seconds and a fourth from the first three rounds. Riding tremendously well and comfortable duking it out at the front, it’s been a joy to watch him flexing his muscles to begin the new crusade.
Sitting just eight points off Eli Tomac in the title fight and illustrating he’s a legitimate contender, the challenge will be maintaining his high level as the series rolls on.
“It was a good day – the battle with Eli [Tomac] was cool! I was behind Chase [Sexton] and Jason [Anderson], and I know that the first 10 minutes of these races are always such a super-intense, high pace, so I was just trying to stay in the hunt. I know I have the legs to go the distance, so I was just trying to give myself the best shot, stay in it in the beginning and move forward. I believed that I could get there, I knew I had some good lines and was feeling good. I was trying to up the intensity towards the closing stage, and I looked up and there was like six minutes left; I was like, ‘Alright, let’s empty the tank’. I would’ve liked to see how the last two laps unfolded had there not been traffic with the two lapped riders. It’s been my best start of the season for Supercross, which is what I wanted to do. We’ve still got so many races to go. It’s been some really good racing,” Hunter commented.
Team manager Lars Lindstrom was full of praise for the Aussie speedster, insisting: “Hunter has been absolutely lights-out, surpassing everyone’s expectations, and we couldn’t be prouder and happier for him. Our main goal is to make sure that we’re able to help him get the most out of the bike and himself to get that first supercross win and to get the best result possible every single weekend.”
Read our previous Aussies Racing Abroad columns here…
Kayden Minear – SMX Next
The SMX Next Championship kicked off last Saturday at Anaheim 2, and it was all Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Kayden Minear. The Australian hotshot was outstanding, leading from start to finish to clinch the opening-round victory against a talented field of riders. The 18-year-old dominated throughout and never faced a serious threat, helping his team complete a clean sweep of the podium.
Minear crossed the line 1.7 seconds ahead of his nearest rival to further cement his status as an extremely exciting prospect with a bright future ahead.
“It was an unreal night. I got a really good start and just really enjoyed myself out there. This is a special one. My grandparents are over here from Australia, and it’s their first time in the States watching me race, and I put on a show. I can’t thank the whole team enough. It was a podium sweep, and that shows the level of our team,” reflected Minear.
