AFTN 2026 SEASON OPENER: WHALE RETURNS

There’s a certain rider whose name has been doing the rounds of Aussie flat track circles for the best part of a decade, mostly attached to results from the other side of the Pacific. But that changes this weekend, as Queenslander Max Whale is making his full-time AFTN homecoming after eight years at the pointy end of American Flat Track, and he’s landing right back on home soil for Round 1. He won’t have it easy though, with two-time champion Michael Kirkness out of retirement and gunning for a third Pro-450 ring, while a wave of ASBK stars are using the road racing off-season to try their hand at the dirt. It’s shaping up as one of the most stacked AFTN fields in years – and it all kicks off this weekend at Maryborough’s Action Park for the series’ double-header opener…

The 2026 Yamaha Aussie Flat Track Nationals season will launch this weekend (July 25-26) at Maryborough’s Action Park for the series double header opener. Located 260km north of Brisbane on the idyllic Fraser Coast, there will be plenty of familiar faces as well as emerging stars set to shake up the field in the quest for the $5000 gold and diamond Bunda Fine Jewels Championship Ring. Yamaha return as a major series backer along with the crowd pleasing format of the traditional flat track circuit on Saturday and the challenging TT layout on Sunday.

Big rider news this season is that Queenslander Max Whale will make his full-time AFTN homecoming after spending eight years at the highest level of American Flat Track. Two-time champion Michael Kirkness is officially out of retirement to make a serious tilt at a third Pro-450 ring and Akubra Classic champion Hayden Nelson will campaign his Kawasaki KX-450 in the series. Nelson is part of a strong lineup of ASBK stars switching to flat track in the road racing off season, with Cam Dunker and John Lytras returning as serious title contenders. Other young talent such as Billy Ryan and Cooper Archibald are poised to consolidate their strong 2025 campaigns, with Archibald courting considerable fan interest as he makes the AFTN debut of the highly anticipated Ducati Desmo450 MX. Junior Lites will see the resumption of the Jed Fyffe and Neiko Donovan battle from 2025 while in Pro Women Latiya Allen returns fresh from overseas competition ready to shake up that class, where locals are expected to perform well. Both ends of the age spectrum are better catered for this year with the inception of the Over 35s class for the older generation and 65 Trackers for six to nine year-olds.

Series Organiser, Dave Maddock:
“We’re thrilled to bring the Yamaha Aussie Flat Track Nationals back to Maryborough this year to launch the new season. Last year the committee worked overtime to prepare the track, and I feel it’s going to be even better this year. Rider wise, this year will be hard fought. Max Whale returning to Australia after such a decorated American Flat Track career is fantastic for our series. He is still amongst the finest riders in the world and it will be a treat to see him go head-to-head against Mick Kirkness. Hayden Nelson will be one to watch on the Kawasaki, he’s been making a name for himself in road racing but we all know what he is capable of on the dirt. So many riders took the opportunity to sharpen themselves in the USA between seasons, I’m really looking forward to seeing the level rise again this year. I’d like to say a big thanks to Yamaha and all our other supporters for continuing their involvement, we can’t wait to see how things unfold this weekend.”

With no live-stream scheduled, the only way to catch it is on social media or in person at Action Park, Maryborough this Saturday and Sunday.

2026 AUSSIE FLAT TRACK NATIONALS – FULL SEASON CALENDAR

Round 1: Flat Track Layout – Maryborough, QLD, Saturday July 25
Round 2: TT Layout – Maryborough, QLD, Sunday July 26
Round 3: Flat Track Layout – Wodonga, VIC, Saturday August 29
Round 4: TT Layout – Wodonga, VIC, Sunday August 30
Round 5: Flat Track Layout & TT Layout – Griffith, NSW, Saturday October 10
Round 6: TT Layout – Gunnedah, NSW, Sunday November 8