2026 AJMX: 12 CHAMPIONS CROWNED

The KTM Australian Junior Motocross Championship returned to Victoria for a big week at Shepparton, with all 12 classes decided on Friday as the rain rolled in.

Four days of sublime weather, then the heavens opened right when the titles were on the line. That’s how the 2026 KTM AJMX finished in Shepparton – and it made for a few big swings on the final day. Read Motorcycling Australia’s wrap-up below to find out how the titles were decided, class by class…

The KTM Australian Junior Motocross Championship (AJMX) has made a spectacular return to Victoria, with 12 champions crowned during a searching week of competition in Shepparton from September 28 until October 2.

All 12 classes were decided on Friday at the Goulburn Valley Junior Motorcycle Club track – just as a band of rain swept across Victoria after four days of sublime weather, placing an even sharper focus on workrate and patience at the business of proceedings.

Despite the extremely heavy conditions, the riders dug deep for one last tilt at Australian championship success around the 1.61km layout – with some even relishing the abrupt change of scenery!

For the most part, the Friday form guide continued the playbook from previous days, which included championship victories for Jobe Dunne (Yamaha) in 125cc 2T/250cc 4T 15yrs, Kyle Harvey (KTM) in 125cc 2T 15-U17, Rafael Rossiter (Yamaha) in 125cc 2T/250c 4T 13-U15, and Seth Thomas (GASGAS) in 125cc 2T 13-U15 – the only defending champion to go back-to-back – in the upper-age classes.

Meanwhile, Aida Harris (Husqvarna, 150cc 2T/250-cc 4T Girls), Cole Weir (50cc Auto) and Archie Blanchette (Yamaha, 65cc 2T 7-U10) all celebrated AJMX success after stirring come from behind efforts.

The Interstate Challenge was also contested at the AJMX between teams of eight riders, with New South Wales continuing its barnstorming form from the MA Motocross State Challenge at the MXGP of Australia with yet more success ahead of Queensland and Victoria.

125CC 2T 15-U17

Kyle Harvey (KTM) and Tyson Williams (Yamaha) fought this one out to the very end, with the former outlasting his opponent by just 2pts (113 to 111) after five hard-fought finals – the first held on Tuesday.

Peter Wolfe (Husqvarna, 94pts) was the other star turn, winning the final moto to finish the battle of the upper-age AJMX guns on a high.

125CC 2T/250CC 4T 15YRS

After a brilliant seventh place finish in the MX3 class of the 2026 ProMX Championship, Jobe Dunne (Yamaha) headed to Shepparton with high hopes – and he delivered, firing the blowtorch from the get-go, which then allowed him breathing space when conditions deteriorated on Friday.

And just as well, as West Aussie Mason Brown (Honda) came home with a wet sail – quite literally… – to finish just 3pts (70 to 67) in arrears.

Harvey (56pts) was third overall.

125CC 2T/250CC 4T 13-U15

In a class that was building towards a last-gasp affair, Rafael Rossiter (Yamaha) eventually prevailed by a comfortable margin of 13pts (116 to 103) over Seth Thomas (GASGAS) after producing a brilliant 2-2-2-1-1 scorecard across the five finals.

A DNF for Ollie Birkitt (KTM), who had been fighting tooth and nail with Rossiter all week, in the final moto ultimately shaped the outcome.

Birkitt (90pts) still finished third overall.

125CC 2T 13-U15

A superb performance by Seth Thomas (GASGAS) in defending his crown, and he did it with flair by slicing his way through the pack to win the final moto.

Thomas (1-3-1) banked 70pts across the three finals from Zander Kruik (Yamaha, 60pts) and Rafael Rossiter (Yamaha, 57pts).

Nate Perrett (KTM) was the other moto winner, but a DNF on Friday saw him tumble down the standings.

150CC 2T/250CC 4T GIRLS

Aida Harris delivered the goods with a clinical start-to-finish victory in the final moto, turning around a 6pt deficit to win by 7pts (116 to 109) over Claire Pollard (Honda). Milla Crole (GASGAS, 88pts) was third.

After finishing second in last year’s 85cc 2T/150cc 4T Girls class, Harris has now reached the AJMX summit for the first time – while Pollard was left to rue a crash in the final moto when she was running second behind Harris.

85CC 2T/150CC 4T GIRLS

After a brilliant four wins on the trot earlier in the week, Indie Allison (KTM) only had to play it smart on Friday to guarantee success – and that’s exactly what she did with a solid third place behind Scarlett Gilroy (Yamaha) and Layla White (Husqvarna).

The trio dominated all week – in the dry and wet – with Allison finishing on 120pts from Gilroy (113pts) and White (102pts).

85CC 2T/150CC 4T 14-U16

Connor Feather jumped up an 85cc 2T/150cc 4T age division in 2026, but it was more of the same magic.

The 14-year-old Queenslander was a podium finisher in all five finals, which included two victories, as he collected a third AJMX title on 114pts.

Ethan Wolfe (98pts) was second from Riley Mullen (94pts) to make it a Husqvarna podium lockout.

Oliver Rex (Husqvarna) put the field to the sword in the final moto, winning by a staggering 42 seconds after seven sodden laps.

85CC 2T/150CC 4T 12-U14

The best policy when the going gets tough: lead from the front! That’s what Liam Millard (GASGAS) did on Friday as he put the championship issue beyond doubt with a masterful go-to-whoa victory.

After his 2-2-1 results, Millard triumphed by 13pts over Nico Verhoeven (KTM, 56pts) and Archie Black (GASGAS, 56pts) – Verhoeven awarded second on a countback.

Mason Ezergailis (KTM) started the campaign in winning style before falling back.

85CC 2T/150CC 4T 9-U12

A third AJMX title in the CV for Nate Forwood (KTM, 63pts), although it didn’t come without a few nerves as Ryder Madafiglio (Husqvarna, 60pts) clawed back precious points in the final moto.

But it wasn’t enough, as Forwood held on as he continues to produce the goods when the whips are cracking.

Lucas Poole (Yamaha, 59pts) was untouchable in the Friday quagmire, as he moved into third overall and just fell short of overhauling Madafiglio.

65CC 2T 10-U12

Ryder Madafiglio (Husqvarna) wouldn’t be denied in his bread-and-butter 65cc class, adding the AJMX title to his ProMX success earlier in this year as well as a 10th place in 2026 FIM Junior Motocross World Championship.

That said, Levii Bitic (KTM) did win the opener in flying fashion before Madafiglio began to assert his authority.

Madafiglio (2-1-1) finished on 72pts from Jake Knighton (KTM, 5-2-2, 60pts) and Bitic (1-3-DNF, 45pts).

65CC 2T 7-U10

Archie Blanchette (Yamaha) made the biggest impact on the final day of #AJMX action, moving up two spots to capture the 65cc 2T 7-U10 honours in a thriller.

In fact, the whole class was turned on its head over four eventful championship-concluding laps on Friday as Malachi van Maanenberg (GASGAS) and Oliver Thredgold (Yamaha) both fluffed their lines in the mud – van Maanenberg finishing 14th and Thredgold a DNF.

With the previous pacesetters out of the mix, the likes of Blanchette, Ash McPherson (KTM) and Sam Arcidiacono (KTM) took full advantage, with Blanchette the victor on 60pts from McPherson (58pts) and Arcidiacono (51pts).

50CC AUTO

It was hard yakka for the 50cc Auto field after the heavens opened, but Cole Weir checked out in the final moto to make it two wins on the trot and a championship total of 68pts.

Jaxon Riley (48pts) was second ahead of Lucas Nilsson (47pts), who didn’t score points in the decider and dropped from first to third.

Congrats to not only the riders who finished at the sharp end, but to every competitor who turned a wheel at the event – from AJMX rookies to more seasoned riders in the upper-age classes.

It was the biggest AJMX turnout in a decade, and the complex was abuzz all week. And the great news is that we get to do it all again in 2027!