AUSENDURO ROUND 7 & 8 REVIEW

Round 7 and 8 of the 2026 Yamaha Australian Enduro Championship at Casterton produced some of the season’s most dramatic racing with KTM DM31 Racing Team’s Korey McMahon claimed his first Pro Enduro win, Rachael Archer announced her return with a stunning double, and ShopYamaha’s Wil Ruprecht’s E2 dominance was ended in the most dramatic circumstances possible.

PRO ENDURO

Wil Ruprecht and Korey McMahon produced the standout battle of the weekend across both days at Casterton. Saturday’s Round 7 Cross Country was a three-hour fight between the pair, with the lead changing hands multiple times before Ruprecht survived a late scare – contact with a lapped rider damaging his rear sprocket and brake disc – to hold on for the win. McMahon finished second after one of his strongest performances of the season, with Lyndon Snodgrass completing the podium in third.

Sunday’s Round 8 Sprint flipped the result. McMahon dominated from the opening test, rebounding from an early crash in test two to build a 24-second lead by the halfway point. Behind him, Snodgrass, Ruprecht and Maximus Purvis were locked within seconds of each other entering the final test. Ruprecht crashed late trying to attack, effectively handing second to Snodgrass, while Purvis completed the podium in third. McMahon’s clean final test sealed his first Pro Enduro victory of the season.

E1

Cooper Sheidow claimed Saturday’s Cross Country despite starting from near the back of the class after an issue off the line. He carved his way to the class lead by the end of lap one and was ultimately too strong, with Maximus Purvis – who also recovered from a kangaroo strike on lap one – claiming second and Jeremy Carpentier third.

Sunday’s Sprint was Purvis’ day. He found his rhythm early and pulled clear of the E1 field, ultimately finishing third outright in Pro Enduro. Sheidow was consistent in second, while a mechanical failure for Carpentier in test five opened the door for Stefan Granquist of Triumph Australia to claim third.

E2

Ruprecht’s E2 dominance continued on Saturday with another comfortable class win, the only drama being Jye Dickson’s retirement after battling on for two additional laps following his lap two knee injury. Snodgrass secured second in class with Kogan Lock third, while Mason, McInnes and Sweet were separated by under a minute in the next group.

Sunday produced the most dramatic E2 result of the season. Ruprecht and Snodgrass were inseparable all day – just 0.4 seconds apart after five tests – before Ruprecht suffered a violent high-side crash after clearing the bog hole in the final test with under 500 metres to run. Snodgrass inherited the class win and second outright in Pro Enduro, Ruprecht salvaged second in class, and Chandler Burns completed the podium on his AusEnduro debut.

E3

McMahon’s E3 campaign remained perfect across both days at Casterton. Saturday’s Cross Country saw him extend his unbeaten class run despite the pressure of fighting Ruprecht for the overall, with Max Midwinter second and Tom Devries third after holding off Jack Mentha in the closing laps.

Sunday was more of the same. McMahon was fastest in every test except the one interrupted by his early crash, and his ability to rebound and continue building an advantage underlined his class dominance. Midwinter was a comfortable second, with Max Rikys consistent throughout to claim third.

EW

The Women’s class produced one of the stories of the weekend with Rachael Archer making an immediate impact on her return to racing after two years away. Archer led the opening lap of Saturday’s Cross Country before Gardiner took over, but Archer reclaimed the lead in the closing stages to win ahead of Gardiner and Madison Healey. Madi Simpson recovered from an early bog hole crash – completing much of the lap gloveless and developing painful blisters – to salvage fifth.

Sunday’s Sprint saw Archer again at the front, although a bog hole crash in test three handed Gardiner a 20-second swing. Archer regrouped and responded with the fastest times in tests five and six to maintain her lead, eventually completing a perfect Casterton weekend with back-to-back wins. Gardiner finished second and Simpson, despite her blistered hands, pushed through to claim third.

EJ

Saturday’s Cross Country saw Bjorn Cardenas claim his first EJ win of the season, capitalising on retirements for Marcus Nowland, Kai Austin and Beau Tripcony. Oscar Harris was second with Mason Phillips third, edging out Jackson Rossi by just 30 seconds at the flag. Cardenas backed it up on Sunday to complete a dominant Casterton double. Kai Austin finished second after a strong late charge, while Liam Egan secured third after a consistent and impressive day in the sand.

The Yamaha Australian Enduro Championship presented by MXstore continues at Kempsey, NSW for the penultimate round of the season on August 8-9.