2026 AUSENDURO READY TO RACE IN ROMA

The Yamaha Australian Enduro Championship presented by MXstore returns for 2026 with Round 1 and 2 set for Roma, Queensland this weekend – and it’s arriving with a rare opportunity. After the fierce battles of 2025, reigning Pro Enduro champion Daniel Milner has stepped away from full-time competition which now leaves the sport’s most prestigious crown vacant. This year will see a new outright champion crowned, and the fight begins immediately in south-west Queensland.

The 12-round championship will span four states and blend five returning venues with one new location to deliver a calendar that reflects the depth and diversity of Australian enduro. From tight forest single trail and technical rock sections to fast, flowing grass tests, the series will again demand adaptability, consistency and resilience across every round.

At the heart of the championship sits the Pro Enduro category – the sport’s premier division and ultimate proving ground. This is where Australia’s elite of both factory-backed and privateer riders contest outright honours. As seen throughout last year’s AusEnduro season, success in Pro Enduro is defined not by a single performance, but by sustained excellence across varied terrain and multi-day formats.

Yamaha heads into 2026 with enormous depth across the paddock, with former world champion Wil Ruprecht returning hyper-focused after an exceptionally strong finish to 2025. He leads the ShopYamaha Offroad Team and has redemption squarely in his sights – spearheading the charge in both E2 and the outright Pro Enduro standings. Joining him is New Zealander Maximus Purvis, who makes the switch from ProMX to contest E1. Purvis stunned many with a podium result at Kyogle last year and with raw speed and growing enduro craft, he looms as a genuine dark horse.

In the women’s ranks, 2025 EW champion Jess Gardiner returns determined to defend her crown. Alongside her is the hard-charging, round-winning Madi Simpson which will ensure the battle will be anything but straight forward. The BLU CRU Support Off-Road squad adds even more firepower in E1, with proven contenders Cooper Sheidow, Jett Yarnold and Fraser Higlett all capable of influencing both class and Pro Enduro results.

Over at the KTM DM31 Racing Team a significant shift has taken place, with Milner now focusing on managerial duties. Korey McMahon enters 2026 aiming to defend his E3 title, while stacking up Pro Enduro victories. Moving to KTM from Beta, Jye Dickson steps into E2 following a stellar 2025 campaign. Proven across varying terrain, Dickson’s adaptability could prove decisive in the hunt for E2 supremacy. One of the most intriguing storylines surrounds emerging talent Jackson Versteegen. Dominant in his sole EJ appearance at Casterton last year, Versteegen now tackles the stacked E1 class under Milner’s guidance.

A new season also signals some major class transitions. After a fierce EJ rivalry in 2025, Kogan Lock and Will McInnes step up to E2, while Olivia Paterno makes her move into E3. Meanwhile, J4 standouts Marcus Nowland and Kai Austin graduate into the ultra-competitive EJ category. The EJ class looms as a must-watch throughout 2026. Last season saw podiums and victories shared across multiple riders, underlining the depth of emerging talent.

Unfortunately, three riders tipped as major 2026 contenders will be sidelined for the Roma opener. Beta Australia Offroad Racing’s Andy Wilksch, reigning E1 champion Jonte Reynders and Husqvarna’s Riley McGillivray – who claimed E3 honours at Roma in 2024 – have all sustained training injuries in the lead-up to Round 1. Their absence reshapes the early championship picture and opens the door for rivals to capitalise.