YAMAHA GO ALL-IN FOR 2026 PROMX

On the back of another year of retail sales success with Yamaha’s motocross line-up, Yamaha Motor Australia will have an increased presence at motocross tracks around Australia with multiple teams and riders contesting this year’s Australian ProMX Championship kicking off in a months time at Wonthaggi.

In 2025, Yamaha revamped their motocross effort by uniting the teams with a range of partners and sponsors that raised the level of all involved, including Monster Energy, FOX, Dunlop, Yamalube and GYTR. This year will see the continuation of Yamaha’s four major motocross teams, an introduction of another Yamaha-mounted team, more rider support and a few international riders including two-time AMA WMX Champion Lachlan Turner who will join the Monster Energy Yamalube Yamaha team in MXW, alongside Noah Ferguson and two-time IA2 Japanese champ Soya Nakajima who both will contest MX2.

Monster Energy CDR Yamaha Team (MX1)

Riders: Jed Beaton #14 & Aaron Tanti #9

The 2026 team of Jed Beaton and Aaron Tanti has already been announced – a line up which has provided the stability to allow the team to solely focus on bike development and infrastructure. The team had a head start by using the significantly upgraded 2026 YZ450F in last year’s Supercross championship, so they have already gained a valuable insight into the latest generation 450.

Beaton has been able to take on-board those lessons learnt at SX, having also spent a few days testing prior to the Christmas break. Beaton feels he is in a strong position as he work towards Round 1 in March.

Jed Beaton:
“I basically had three months off the bike with my leg injury, but I was surprised at how I felt when I got back on the bike and how well the bike was working. It didn’t take long at all to get back up to a good speed and there were a lot of positives to take from the bike even though they had only raced Supercross on it. After a few days with the team to get things personalised for me, I felt great and now we are just in the process of the pre-season grind and getting my fitness base back to where it needs to be. The results of the last two seasons have only driven my motivation to be better, and I will be ready to go when the gates drop at round one.”

The 2022 ProMX champ of Tanti is positive entering 2026, after having had a wretched run with injury in recent times. Following a good block of racing through Supercross, that saw him improve at every round, he is positive about the season ahead.

Aaron Tanti:
“The last few seasons, it seems like I have taken a step forward, only to take two steps back with injury and the lack of continuity in my riding and training has had an effect. So, this year the focus has shifted slightly with the goal to be not just faster, but make better decisions on the track, put blocks of riding together so I can improve and be there at the end of every championship. I’m a bit older and hopefully wiser now, so that experience needs to benefit me in the way I approach my riding and training. It’s also good to have the same team again behind me. No more swapping bikes in the off season or getting used to a different group of people, now I can just get down to business and prepare myself for the ProMX championship ahead.”

Monster Energy WBR Yamaha Team (MX2 & MX3)

Riders: Jack Deveson (MX3), Hayden Draper (MX3), Seth Burchell (MX2)

The Monster Energy WBR Yamaha team will boast an all-new rider line for 2026 with three riders across both MX2 and MX3. The team welcomes Jack Deveson and Hayden Draper as part of their MX3 line up. New Zealand based Draper made an immediate impression at final two rounds of ProMX in 2025, and going on to show further improvement at Australia Junior Motocross Championship a few months later. Draper is currently contesting the MX2 championship in New Zealand, and the 16-year-old has already proven to be a race and round winner.

Deveson is stepping up having earned his first professional ride with a manufacturer team. Deveson showed promise in last year’s MX3 championship, often in the hunt for race and round podiums, but it was the Supercross championship where he came alive as he hammered his way to second place finish in the overall standings.

Jack Deveson:
“I’m just glad I can finally tell people about it! The team gave me a bike at the final round of Supercross last year, so I have had to keep it on the down low for a while now, but I’m glad it’s out and I’m excited to go racing. The team has been great to work with and having so many good people around me now makes my life so much easier and there is so much to learn.”

Burchell will join the team in an MX2 role after putting together a solid debut year in 2025, as he now gets a chance to be part of the Monster Energy WBR Yamaha Team for the 2026 season. Burchell knows the time is now to make his mark in racing and has made several changes to ensure he is prepared as possible to take it to the established names in the MX2 class.

Seth Burchell:
“This year I have decided to make racing my focus and go all-in. I will move down to Victoria with a view to ride and train full time and give it my all. Thank you to Yamaha and WBR for making this happen and my goal now is to work my way up to the Yamalube team and become a professional racer.”

GYTR Yamaha Junior Racing

MX: Lachlan Allen / Jobe Dunne / Heath Davy / Deegan Fort / Blake Bohannon / Eliza Dennis / Kye Sproule / Stella Harding / Hudson Francis / Archie Blanchette / Ollie Thredgold
Off-Road: Marcus Nowland / Harley Hutton

Last year YJR was overflowing with 11 riders, and now they’ve added two more to total the support to 13 riders in racing development for 2026. The same eleven riders from 2025 return to the team, which has nine riders contesting motocross and supercross events as well as two off-road riders. Four national championships, countless podiums plus international success saw the team tick off plenty of goals last season and 2026 is shaping up to be even bigger.

YJR’s two young guns include Archie Blanchette and Ollie Thredgold who will join the team focusing on the 65cc class. All 13 of these team riders will contest state-based events, as well as national ProMX, AUSX and MXGP rounds and more international events.

Yamaha Support (MX1)

Riders: Regan Duffy & Sonny Pellicano

A new Yamaha team in the ProMX paddock will be Berry Sweet Yamaha based in Western Australia, and will feature Regan Duffy and Sonny Pellicano racing the YZ450F in the MX1 division. Racing both national and state-based events, Pellicano has been a long time Yamaha rider and will step up from the MX3 class. Duffy is looking to re-establish himself at the front of the pack, and feels the YZ450F is the best bike to make that a reality. The team will be mounted on the glowing white 70th anniversary edition bikes, with the team yet to unveil their compete look.

Keeping it in WA, Yamaha Motor Australia will continue to support Strickland Racing Developments (SRD) with a state-based racing program to bring riders to the brand on the other side of the paddock. SRD will have a multi-rider team with Nate Tomerini headlining the juniors and Charli Weightman and Gary Hannson flying the flag in seniors.

Yamaha has also thrown some support behind Koby Hantis and Ky Woods as they make their progression from MX3 to MX2. Both showed flashes of brilliance in 2025 and will make the big step into the MX2 class on board the YZ250F. Madi Simpson will also contest the WMX championship with support from Yamaha. Yamaha also remain a sponsor of the ProMX championship as a whole, continuing their remarkable succession backing of Australian racing.

Yamaha BLU CRU Bonus Bucks

Just like the recently announced Yamaha Aus Enduro race contingency program, racing on a Yamaha at either a national ProMX and Supercross round and putting that blue bike on the podium for a round or championship will get you rewarded with some pretty decent bonus bucks.

MX1:
Race: 1st – $500
Round: 1st – $15,000 / 2nd – $7,500 / 3rd – $3,000
Championship: 1st – $50,000 / 2nd – $25,000 / 3rd – $10,000

MX2:
Race: 1st – $500
Round: 1st – $10,000 / 2nd – $4,000 / 3rd – $2,000
Championship: 1st – $40,000 / 2nd – $20,000 / 3rd – $10,000

MX3
Race: $500
Round: 1st – $6,000 / 2nd – $3,000/ 3rd – $1,000
Championship: 1st – $30,000 / 2nd – $15,000 / 3rd – $5,000

WMX
Race: 1st – $500
Round: 1st – $2,000 / 2nd – $1,000 / 3rd – $500
Championship: 1st – $15,000 / 2nd – $5,000 / 3rd – $2,500.  

# Money paid on invoice to Yamaha Motor Australia
# Riders must be entered on a Yamaha and complete all track sessions on a Yamaha.
# Yamaha logos to be visible on the bike.
# All amounts EX GST. 

Motorsport Manager, Scott Bishop:
“2026 is shaping up to be a massive year in motocross for Yamaha in Australia. The sales success of the YZ range in the last couple of years has allowed us to pour that money back into racing and reward our customers. We are supporting more riders, continued our investment in our long-standing teams, as well as the sport and added in the bonus program to be available to all Yamaha riders. It’s also pleasing to welcome our international guests for 2026. We didn’t sacrifice any Australian rides, just added to our programs and I thank the teams for their hard work and dedication on making this happen. But maybe the most important things are that in the last few years, world class riders have been coming to Australia as Yamaha Motor Europe, Yamaha Motor Japan and Yamaha Motor USA have trusted our teams to take care of them and see our championships as a benefit to their programs.”