The 2026 KTM Australian Junior Motocross Championship (AJMX) has wrapped up at Shepparton, Victoria, with 12 Australian champions crowned after a demanding week of competition at the Goulburn Valley Junior Motorcycle Club. Press: MA

Held from September 28 to October 2, the championship attracted the biggest AJMX field in a decade, with Australia’s leading junior riders battling around the 1.61km circuit. Four days of excellent weather gave way to heavy rain on Friday, turning the final day into a mud-splattered test of patience, fitness and racecraft.

Jobe Dunne (Yamaha), Kyle Harvey (KTM), Rafael Rossiter (Yamaha) and Seth Thomas (GASGAS) claimed the major upper-age championships. Thomas was the only defending champion from the upper-age classes to successfully retain his title, while Aida Harris, Cole Weir and Archie Blanchette all produced impressive come-from-behind victories.

Upper-Age Champions

Kyle Harvey and Yamaha rider Tyson Williams fought the 125cc 2T 15-U17 championship to the end, with Harvey eventually prevailing by just two points, 113-111. Peter Wolfe (Husqvarna) finished third on 94 points after winning the final moto.Jobe Dunne (Yamaha) carried strong form into the 125cc 2T/250cc 4T 15yrs class after finishing seventh in the 2026 ProMX MX3 championship. His strong early results provided enough breathing room to withstand a late charge from West Australian Mason Brown (Honda), who finished just three points behind on 67. Harvey was third on 56.

Rafael Rossiter (Yamaha) dominated the 125cc 2T/250cc 4T 13-U15 class with an impressive 2-2-2-1-1 scorecard across the five finals. He finished on 116 points, 13 clear of Seth Thomas (GASGAS), while Ollie Birkitt (KTM) took third on 90 after a costly DNF in the final moto. Thomas successfully defended his 125cc 2T 13-U15 crown, producing a superb final-moto charge to take victory. He finished on 70 points from Zander Kruik (Yamaha) on 60 and Rossiter on 57, while Nate Perrett (KTM) saw his challenge disappear after a DNF on Friday.

Girls’ Classes

Aida Harris (Husqvarna) delivered one of the championship’s biggest comebacks in the 150cc 2T/250cc 4T Girls class. Six points behind Claire Pollard (Honda) heading into the final, Harris won the moto from start to finish to overturn the deficit and claim the title by seven points, 116-109. Milla Crole (GASGAS) finished third on 88 points. Harris had finished second in last year’s 85cc 2T/150cc 4T Girls class, but finally reached the top step at Shepparton, while Pollard’s championship hopes disappeared after a crash while running second in the final.

Indie Allison (KTM) controlled the 85cc 2T/150cc 4T Girls class after winning four consecutive motos earlier in the week. She only needed to ride smart on Friday and finished third behind Scarlett Gilroy (Yamaha) and Layla White (Husqvarna) to secure the championship on 120 points. Gilroy finished second on 113 points, with White third on 102, completing a closely contested class that produced strong performances in both the dry and wet conditions.

85cc Classes

Connor Feather added a third AJMX championship to his record in the 85cc 2T/150cc 4T 14-U16 class. The 14-year-old Queenslander finished on the podium in all five finals, including two victories, to claim the title with 114 points.

Ethan Wolfe (Husqvarna) finished second on 98, while Riley Mullen (Husqvarna) was third on 94. Oliver Rex (Husqvarna) dominated the final moto, winning by a remarkable 42 seconds after seven laps in the sodden conditions.

Liam Millard (GASGAS) also made sure of his championship in the 85cc 2T/150cc 4T 12-U14 class, following his 2-2-1 results with a go-to-whoa victory in Friday’s mud. He finished 13 points clear of Nico Verhoeven (KTM) and Archie Black (GASGAS), who both scored 56, with Verhoeven awarded second on countback.

Nate Forwood (KTM) secured his third AJMX title in the 85cc 2T/150cc 4T 9-U12 class. He finished on 63 points, holding off Ryder Madafiglio (Husqvarna) on 60, while Lucas Poole (Yamaha) moved into third after winning the final moto in the quagmire.

65cc and 50cc Champions

Ryder Madafiglio added another title to an outstanding 2026 season by winning the 65cc 2T 10-U12 class. Already a ProMX winner and 10th at the FIM Junior Motocross World Championship, Madafiglio finished with a 2-1-1 scorecard and 72 points. Jake Knighton (KTM) was second on 60, while Levii Bitic (KTM) finished third on 45 after winning the opening moto before suffering a DNF in the final.

Archie Blanchette (Yamaha) produced one of Friday’s biggest breakthroughs in the 65cc 2T 7-U10 class. Previous leaders Malachi van Maanenberg (GASGAS) and Oliver Thredgold (Yamaha) both struck trouble in the mud, with van Maanenberg finishing 14th and Thredgold recording a DNF.

Blanchette capitalised to move up two positions and claim the championship on 60 points, ahead of Ash McPherson (KTM) on 58 and Sam Arcidiacono (KTM) on 51.

Cole Weir completed the championship winners by taking the 50cc Auto title for the second consecutive year. Weir finished on 68 points after checking out in the final moto, with Jaxon Riley second on 48 and Lucas Nilsson third on 47 after dropping from the lead when he failed to score in the decider.

NSW Takes Interstate Challenge

The Interstate Challenge was also contested at Shepparton, with teams of eight riders representing their states. New South Wales continued its strong form after winning the MA Motocross State Challenge at the MXGP of Australia, claiming another Interstate Challenge victory ahead of Queensland and Victoria.

With 12 champions crowned and the biggest AJMX turnout in a decade, the 2026 championship delivered a fitting finale to the junior motocross season. The rain ensured the final day would be remembered as much for resilience and determination as the racing itself, with Australia’s next generation of motocross talent now turning its attention towards 2027.

Full results here...

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