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Moto News Weekly Wrap
July 8, 2025

What’s New:

• Hattah Desert Race this weekend
• Healey to replace injured Jones for ISDE
• Seth Thomas third at WJMX in Romagne, France
• Injury setback for Jeffrey Herlings
• 2025 Central Coast Cup Preview
• Martin Smolinski wins Mühldorf FIM Long Track opener
• Kabakchiev wins Hiu Selatan Hard Enduro for Sherco
• Sherco impress at Belgian Enduro Championship Round Six
• Australian ProMX Canberra Round Six – Team Reports
  • Monster Energy CDR Yamaha
  • KTM Racing
  • Husqvarna Tdub Racing
  • Monster Energy WBR Yamaha
  • Monster Energy Yamalube Yamaha
• Australian ProMX Round Six – Canberra Wrap
• AMA ProMX Round Six – Red Bud Wrap
• Landen Gordon victorious at SMX Next Round 2 – RedBud
• American Flat Track – DuQuoin Mile Wrap
• Speedway GP of Sweden – Round Seven Wrap
• FIM Junior Motocross World Championship Wrap
• 2025 Racing Calendars

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Hattah Desert Race this weekend

Australia’s biggest dirt bike race gets under way this weekend when the Hattah Desert race roars to life just outside of Mildura in Victoria. The weekend long event sees things get underway on Friday with a big night in town before the 800 riders move out into the wilderness in preparation for the toughest event on the calendar. The juniors and Prologue are run on Saturday, then its four hours of non-stop racing on Sunday that even the most hardened racer says is a torture test in every sense of the word.

Yamaha will again have a huge presence at the event with a heap of teams and riders doing battle. The ShopYamaha team will spearhead the charge with Wil Ruprecht and Will Dennett behind the handlebars. Keep an eye out for Will Dennett as a dark horse for the event as he has shown real form in the lead up races and enjoys the sandy conditions. The WBR Yamaha team will be there with a host of riders and also assisting Yamaha riders contesting the race.

In the Women’s class off road Queen, Jess Gardiner returns on the WR450F this time, but will face stiff competition as Danielle McDonald didn’t want to miss this race and has flown back from the US just for this one-off appearance this year. Toss in Madi Simpson and it’s a strong line up in the Women’s division.

The Juniors will see Marcus Nowland in action. The current J4 points leader has some unfinished business at Hattah and is keen to get his hands on the big trophy in 2025.

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Healey to replace injured Jones for ISDE

There’s been a change to the Australian Women’s World Trophy team for the 2025 FIM International Six Days Enduro (ISDE) in Italy, with Madison Healey to replace injured stalwart Tayla Jones. Jones, suffered leg injuries in a recent Grand National Cross Country series round in America.

Healey will be making her debut in the FIM’s longest-running off-road event after strong performances in the AusEnduro over the last two seasons – as well as runaway victories in the 2024 and 2025 Finke Desert Races and regular top-10 finishes in the ProMX Championship.

Healey’s most recent AusEnduro outing, in Casterton (Vic) on June 28-29, saw her finish runner-up behind her now ISDE teammate Jess Gardiner on both days.

The pair will be joined at the 2025 ISDE in Bergamo from August 24-29 by the American-based Danielle McDonald as the Australian Women’s World Trophy team looks to return to the winners’ list for the first time since 2018.

Madison Healey

“I am overwhelmed and very excited with the opportunity to represent Motorcycling Australia in the 2025 ISDE. It’s disappointing for Tayla, but I’ll be trying my hardest over the next six weeks to prepare for what will be a gruelling event. I’m really happy with how my enduro form has been progressing, and I’ve already been chatting to Jess (Gardiner) about the ISDE in terms of preparation and what I can expect when I get there. Having Jess and Danielle (McDonald) helping me will be a huge asset, and I can’t wait to get to Italy and be a part of it all. My mum, dad and partner will also be joining me at the event, so there’s going to plenty of family support. There’s still plenty to do, which includes working on my tyre changing skills! There’s still some fine-tuning required on that front, but I’m just so excited about what’s ahead.”

Madi will compete in this week’s Penrite Hattah Desert Race, after which she’ll return to preparing for the ISDE.

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Seth Thomas third at WJMX in Romagne, France

See the full event report below.

Australian Seth Thomas has finished a gritty third in the 85 cc class at the 2025 FIM Junior World Motocross Championship (WJMX), held in Romagne, France on July 5-6. As one of four Australian representatives in France, Thomas (NSW, KTM) recovered from a crash in the opening rain-affected 85cc moto to fight his way back through the 40-rider field in methodical fashion.

His grit and determination was rewarded by annexing third place from American Gauge Brown (KTM) on the final lap. Thomas then followed up with a sixth place in a similarly muddy moto two to complete the 85 cc program in third overall behind Frenchman Rafael Mennillo (KTM) and Estonian Lucas Leok (KTM).

Thomas is now the first Australian to finish on a WJMX podium since Ky Woods’ second place in the 65 cc class in 2019.

Meanwhile, Thomas’ countryman Blake Bohannon (NSW, Yamaha) was 15th overall in the 85 cc class after a 27-10 scorecard.

In a cruel change in the weather for the youngest riders of the day, rain lashed the 1.58 km Romagne track almost as soon as the gate dropped, making for extremely challenging conditions.

Like the rest of the field, Aussie pair Kye Sproule (NSW, Yamaha) and Mason Ezergailis (Vic, KTM) knuckled down to task under massive adversity, with the race eventually called by race direction early after a hill section became virtually impassable due to several crashes.

The results were declared after four laps, with Sproule an excellent ninth while Ezergailis was disqualified entering pitlane along the exit.

Although the rain had moved on, race two was stopped at the end of lap one due to safety reasons and wasn’t restarted.

A day earlier, Sproule progressed to Sunday’s main races the hard way after a blocked carburettor in his qualifying race saw him forced into the last chance qualifier where he came through with flying colours.

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Injury setback for Jeffrey Herlings

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jeffrey Herlings will miss round 13 of 20 of 2025 MXGP at the KymiRing and for the Finnish Grand Prix on 12-13 July. The 30-year-old suffered a broken right collarbone while completing a team training session at Arnhem – the sandy circuit that will host the Dutch GP on 24 August.

After careful checks and diagnosis in the Netherlands, Herlings was advised to initially try a natural healing process, as opposed to surgery, which will be analysed further next week. The Dutchman entered the campaign late after recovering from a right knee reconstruction during the winter but has already gathered enough points to sit sixth in the championship standings.

Jeffrey’s convalescence means he will not travel to Finland. He and the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team will then assess the state of his recovery on a daily basis to plan a return to action.

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2025 Central Coast Cup Preview

The 2025 SplitFire Spark Plugs & Field Furnace Refractories Pty Ltd Central Coast Cup dirt track motorcycle meeting is on this weekend (July 12 and 13) and it has again attracted a classy array of talent in both the senior and junior ranks. The feature classes – the Cup for both the seniors and the 13 to Under 16s in the juniors – were first staged in 2005.

This would the 21st staging of the Central Coast Cup (except for one wash-out and one year due to Covid) and it remains one of the major non-championship events on the racing calendar.

The status of the meeting has built up over the years with the impressive list of winners including riders who have gone on to win World or Australian Championships, and others who have carved out a successful career for themselves on the world stage.

Another feature of the honours list is the three junior winners who have ‘come back’ to later claim the Senior Cup.

So, the big question again this year will be whether there will be any new names added to the honour roll of winners.

In the seniors the three most recent winners will be trying to add to their records – David Smith (2015, 2016, 2018, and 2023), Luke Bush (2022) and defending champion Cody Lewis (2024).

Among the other experienced opposition the vastly improved Brayden Gay will pose a serious threat as will last year’s third placegetter Mitchell Watson, while plenty of attention will focus on the performances of several riders who have recently graduated in to the senior ranks.

Canberra rider Thomas Gotts signed off from the juniors in May when he was a winner at the Australian Junior Track Championship meeting on his home track, after he had narrowly failed to achieve that success at the 2024 Australian Junior Dirt Track Championship at Somersby.

There will definitely be a new name on the honour roll for the Junior Cup with last year’s runner up Gage Gower of Albury a likely favourite among a fairly well matched line-up.

The 8-lap Cup finals will conclude the racing on Sunday afternoon after a big program of racing which kicks off after practice on Saturday morning at 9am. Racing on Sunday starts at 10am.

Many of the riders contesting the Senior Cup are also riding in the MX Open and Pro 450 classes which will culminate prior to the battle for the Cup.
There is also a Pro 250 class and a class for the Over 35s which is always keenly contested.

All the age groups in the juniors will be part of the program, which will feature several riders who have state and national title wins to their credit.

The Central Coast Junior Motor Cycle club track is at Allen Park, Debenham Road North Somersby, near Gosford with the entry fee for spectators this weekend just $10 per vehicle.

For more information about the Central Coast Junior Motor Cycle Club check out the club’s website www.ccjuniormotorcycleclub.org.au or contact Club President David Smith on 0412 506503.

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Martin Smolinski wins Mühldorf FIM Long Track opener

Defending champion Martin Smolinski fired a clear warning shot when he raced to a commanding victory at round one of the 2025 FIM Long Track World Championship at Mühldorf on Sunday.

Competing less than 80 kilometres from his home city of Munich, Smolinski was very much the local hero in the Rennbahn Mühldorf and on a sunny afternoon in southern Germany he produced a near faultless performance in front of a large turnout of passionate fans with just a single dropped point in his opening Heat the only blot on an otherwise perfect scorecard.

At 1000 metres in length, Mühldorf is renowned for producing fast, exciting racing and last season’s vice-champion Lukas Fienhage from Germany – who won the title in 2020 – had the home fans on their feet as he kicked off his campaign with victory in the opening Heat of the afternoon from French racer Jordan Dubernard.

The last time Mühldorf hosted an FIM Long Track World Championship Final was in 2023 when Smolinski clinched the second of his three crowns. On that occasion he was beaten by Kenneth Kruse Hansen and the dynamite Dane put in a repeat performance in the second Heat of the day, taking a cool and collected victory ahead of the 40-year-old reigning champion before the opening block was completed with a win for Britain’s Zach Wajtknecht chased by Mathias Trésarrieu from France.

After retiring from his opening race, Dutchman Dave Meijerink bounced back with victory in his second Heat ahead of Fienhage before Trésarrieu defeated Finland’s Tero Aarnio and Smolinski took his first win of the afternoon ahead of Wajtknecht, resulting in a four-way tie at the top of the table with Smolinski, Fienhage, Wajtknecht and Trésarrieu locked together on seven points.

Victory for Daniel Spiller in his third Heat brought the German into contention before Smolinski claimed his second win of the programme and Wajtknecht defeated Fienhage as the pair moved clear of the chasing pack.

With only the top three riders following the five blocks of Heat races guaranteed a place behind the tapes in the Grand Final, the rising tension in the pits was unmistakable as the world’s leading Long Track racers fought for position.

The fourth block saw Fienhage avenge his loss to Wajtknecht in their third Heat and Britain’s Chris Harris – who had started the afternoon with a fourth, a third and a second – record a vital victory before Smolinski moved into a clear lead with his third win of the afternoon.

Win number four in his final Heat race ensured Smolinski had first gate pick for the Grand Final and Wajtknecht then booked his place with second behind Harris and the pair were joined by Fienhage who claimed his third victory to progress directly to the main race of the day.

The next five riders assembled behind the tapes for the Last Chance Heat with Spiller, Trésarrieu, Meijerink, his compatriot Mika Meijer and Harris competing for the remaining two places in the Grand Final and it was Harris – who was vice-champion in 2023 – who took the win with second-placed Spiller booking his first-ever appearance in a Grand Final.

With riders favouring the outside gates, Smolinski opted to start wide in gate four and raced into an immediate lead ahead of Wajtknecht before Harris charged down the back straight into second. However, as he piled pressure on the leader Harris suffered a technical issue on lap two and withdrew, leaving Smolinski clear to race to his thirteenth career Grand Final victory with Wajtknecht second from Fienhage.

The 2025 FIM Long Track World Championship continues this coming Sunday (13 July) at Marmande in France.

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Kabakchiev wins Hiu Selatan Hard Enduro for Sherco

Teodor Kabakchiev won the Hiu Selatan Hard Enduro main event in Indonesia, ahead of Hard Enduro World Champion Manuel Lettenbichler and legend Graham Jarvis. Mario Roman finished just off the podium in fourth place.

The seventh edition of the Hiu Selatan International Hard Enduro, held from July 4 to 6, 2025, in Kendal, Indonesia, gathered 1500 participants, including both local and international riders. Among them, 32 riders represented 20 different countries, while the rest were locals from Indonesia.

The event attracted the top contenders of the Hard Enduro World Championship. For the first time, the final took place at night, offering a unique experience for the spectators.

The race took place across varied terrain, including steep climbs, technical trails, and riverbeds, further solidifying Kendal’s reputation as a top motorsport destination in Southeast Asia. Friday featured the prologue, followed by an urban parade and qualifications on Saturday, and the main race on Sunday.

Teodor Kabakchiev – P1

“It is a crazy crowd here in Indonesia as always. People just love bikes and they show it. I got a win in the main event. I am so happy to take the victory!”

Mario Roman – P2

“Good experience once again racing in Asia. One of the biggest events of the year with 1500 riders at the Hiu Selatan race! Overall a good weekend. It was good training for Romaniacs and I felt good on the bike. I did top 10 in the prologue, then 3rd in the hillclimb challenge, which was very fun, and then 4th in the main event. I had problems with glove grip so I couldn’t ride properly, but I was happy to be in podium position for 80% of the race. Now, focus on Romaniacs.”

Next stop Romaniacs, from July 22 to 26.

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Sherco impress at Belgian Enduro Championship Round Six

Antoine Magain (SE 300 Factory) and Julien Roussaly (SE 300 Factory) took part in the 6th round of the Belgian Enduro Championship in Lierneux.Magain took another overall and E3 category win. Roussaly finished second on the podium.

Antoine Magain – P1

“Belgian Championship yesterday in Lierneux! I won in E3 and overall. It was a great day with two fantastic special tests: an enduro test and a cross test. The course consisted of three and a half laps of 60 km, which we rode in heavy rain… It was a good day for me; I like those conditions. I’m very happy Julien Roussaly came with us this weekend. It pushed us to raise the level.”

Julien Roussaly – P2

“This weekend, I took part in a Belgian Championship round to stay sharp during this quieter part of the season. A good race for me in Lierneux, two nice tests – one enduro and one cross. I kept the pace all day, never far behind Antoine, finishing 16 seconds behind. I managed to steal a few cross tests from him. He was fast in the enduro test, and it was great to be close all day. A good training for me in tricky conditions due to the rain… Next stop: Wales in early August.”

The next round of the Belgian Enduro Championship will be held on September 7.

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Australian ProMX Canberra Round Six – Team Reports

Monster Energy CDR Yamaha Team

With the series entering the final rounds, it was time for the championship contenders to make a move, and Beaton came out swinging right from the get-go at Canberra and was simply a class above his rivals with a near perfect performance that now sees him with a 29-point lead in the championship.

It was a day that he won’t forget any time soon, as not only did he lay down the fastest lap in qualifying, then the fastest lap in Superpole, he then went on to win both races to take maximum points for the day and establish a heathy lead with just two rounds remaining.

On a day that started out cold, clear and dry but turned wet and slippery by days end, it didn’t matter to Beaton, as he showed his class in all conditions to romp away from the chasing pack, despite not having great starts in either race. It mattered little, as within the opening few laps, Beaton had forged his way to the front and set off at a pace that no one else could match.

Jed Beaton

“After the previous round at Warwick, I knew I had to get some ascendancy in the championship and not let this come down to a final round shootout. So today was about getting on the front foot and really pushing hard to make a break in the points and the way the day turned out was great because I’m now 29 points up which is far better than I could have ever expected. The team worked well, and the bike was perfect. It didn’t matter what the conditions were, the team were onto it and all I had to do was get them the result they deserved. The last couple of rounds have been on a softer dirt than what we had here today, so for the team to get the set up right and then again in the wet conditions later on, they made my life easy. Racing is a strange game, and it can bring you back to earth quickly and your luck can go out the window in a heartbeat, so the work continues all the way to the final corner of the final moto and the MX1 championship needs to be earned yet, and we still have four races to go.”

KTM Racing Team

KTM Racing Team’s Nathan Crawford equalled his best MX1 result of the season in second overall in Canberra, as teammate Noah Ferguson earned third overall in the MX2 class. In addition, Byron Dennis completed his day with fourth in MX2 and Kirk Gibbs was P6 in MX1.

Crawford’s day got off to a promising start when he set the second-fastest time in the Pole Shootout aboard his KTM 450 SX-F. The 27-year-old then launched to the lead in the opening moto as the race developed, before settling into a strong pace and finishing P2. Stormy weather closed in for the final encounter of the day, however, the Queenslander again powered to a strong track position early. As the circuit deteriorated, Crawford negotiated his way past several riders into third place, where he would go on to finish the race. Crawford’s runner-up round result matches his best of the season, and has seen him close the gap on second place in the championship points to 15.

Nathan Crawford

“Today was good – I had my best Pole Shootout of the season in P2 and I had two good starts. I was really happy with the first moto. I was second around the first turn behind my teammate, and I just dropped the hammer and got into the lead. I spent a couple of laps there before the leader came by. My jump out of the gate in the second moto wasn’t as good as the first, but I came around the first turn in sixth or seventh, made some good passes, and rode it home to third. I’ve been occupying the third step of the podium most of this year, so I was stoked to get second, and continue achieving top-three results with the team.”

MX1 teammate Gibbs enjoyed one of his strongest days of the 2025 season with a solid sixth overall. After registering the sixth-fastest qualifying time, Gibbs and his KTM 450 SX-F timed the start perfectly to capture the holeshot of the opening moto. The veteran then battled up front for the duration of the race, posting a solid fifth place. In a rain-soaked second moto, Gibbs found himself just outside of the top 10 early but was able to improve to P7 before time expired and the chequered flag flew. As well as taking P6 on the day, Gibbs also climbed to sixth in the MX1 standings.

Kirk Gibbs

“Today went well for me. I ripped the holeshot in the first moto and was able to hang with the guys to finish P5. That was pretty good considering I had to deal with some arm-pump in that race. Mother Nature turned the second moto into a bit of a show. I had some issues early and found myself a fair way back at the start, and I clawed my way back to seventh. That was a disappointing end to the day, but I felt I rode a lot better this weekend and we’ll take those positives to Toowoomba.”

It was another strong day of racing for Ferguson in the MX2 category, with the Queenslander claiming third overall. A good start to the opening moto aboard his KTM 250 SX-F saw him make quick passes into second place and mount a challenge for the lead, before settling for the second-place points on offer. A greasy Canberra circuit made for technical racing conditions in the second moto, but Ferguson was able to complete the race in P5, despite a couple of falls. With two rounds remaining, he remains third in the MX2 points.

Noah Ferguson

“I showed in that first moto that I meant it when I said people would be seeing a lot more of me at the front of the field. All in all, it was a good day and I feel I rode well. I panicked a little in Moto 2 as I wanted to get my first overall, and I could see it right in front of me. Unfortunately, I couldn’t put it all together. To take third overall, gain good points, and keep holding down third in the championship is nothing to complain about. We’re having fun during the week and that’s carrying across to race day.”

MX2 teammate Dennis continued to show his ability to run at the front of the pack with a solid fourth-place round result. Equipped with the KTM 250 SX-F, Dennis set the third-quickest qualifying time, then laid a great foundation for the day’s final moto by finishing a hard-fought P5 in the opening race. The wet, slippery conditions didn’t disrupt the 18-year-old in the second moto. Dennis ran towards the front of the pack for the duration of the race and finished a hard-earned P3. His fourth overall has seen him move to fifth overall in the points standings with two rounds remaining.

Byron Dennis

“There were definitely a lot of positives to take away from this weekend. The track was pretty wild and formed some good lines. I’m really looking forward to the next one at Toowoomba to continue improving with the team.”

Husqvarna Tdub Racing Team

Todd Waters continued his impressive run of mid-season form by racing to a top-five MX1 result in Canberra, with the Raceline Husqvarna Tdub Racing Team rider continuing to build momentum as the season develops.

Waters got off to a tough start in the opening race and completed the first turn buried in the field. However, equipped with his Husqvarna FC 450, he was able to continuously work his way up the order, finishing with a well-earned sixth. A rain-soaked second moto played right into the hands of the experienced Queenslander, with a fast start seeing him feature as high as P2 early on, before consolidating and crossing the line with a P4 result. As a result of his scorecard at Canberra, Waters earned fifth overall and sits seventh in the MX1 standings with two rounds remaining.

Todd Waters

“It was an interesting day out there, but I felt motivated after getting a strong result last time out at Warwick,” commented Waters. “I made some good passes to get myself back up to sixth in Moto 1, and I was happy with my early pace. The second moto was tricky, with the rain making the clay base very greasy. It was easy to make mistakes, but I love riding in those conditions, and I was able to put in consistent laps and take my best result so far this year. I feel we’re improving every round, and I’m really excited for the final two Queensland rounds.”

MX2 entry Jack Kukas experienced a challenging day on track at Round 6. Equipped with the Husqvarna FC 250, Kukas was able to make some vital passes early to move as high as 13th, before dropping two positions to P15 late in the moto. The second moto was short-lived, with the Queensland-based rider retiring from the race before the midway mark.

Jack Kukas

“There’s not much to say, really,” reflected Kukas. “It was a tough round for me and it was disappointing to retire from the second moto. I’m looking forward to these next two home rounds at Toowoomba and QMP, where I can hopefully show everyone what I’m capable of.”

Monster Energy WBR Yamaha

Ky Woods has spent plenty of time riding the Canberra track over the years but just couldn’t bring what was needed on the weekend to secure the round win and rein in some valuable championship points. He finished the day with 2-3 results for third overall and ultimately left disappointed with his performance.

Ky Woods

“I honestly expected and wanted more this weekend,” Woods offered after the final moto. “I know I can ride this track much better than I did today and I felt I let the team down because we came into the weekend with high goals. But instead of deflating me, I’m going to use it as motivation for the final two rounds to finish the championship strongly and get the results I was getting at the start of the year. I need to be better to secure second in the championship, but I know if I win races, the championship result will take care of itself, so it’s back to work even harder over the next few weeks so I can win the last two rounds.”

With Koby Hantis still on the sidelines with a shoulder issue, Sonny Pellicano continued with his guest ride with the Monster Energy WBR Yamaha team. After a career best place at Warwick, Pellicano was wanting more of the same but unfortunately, he wasn’t able to replicate the previous round.

Pellicano took a respectable eighth place in the opening race on a surface that is far different to what he regularly races on in WA. Then things literally went sideways in race two when he went down in the first turn and completed lap one in 37th place.

To his credit, he didn’t give up and charged as hard as he could all the way to the end to cross the line in 18th place and his combined 8-18 scores gave him 13th for the round and has slipped to eighth in the MX3 championship.

Sonny Pellicano

“I’m just really disappointed with my result today as I really wanted to keep the momentum going from Warwick and get another top six finish,” he laments. “I knew this weekend would be a little harder for me as I don’t have the experience of racing tracks like this back in WA and it’s something I need to improve on because so many tracks on the east coast are like this. Thanks again to the team for giving me this opportunity and even though my results weren’t great time, I have had an awesome time with them and gained so much experience and knowledge in working with them.”

Hantis is due back for the final two rounds barring any further setbacks with his shoulder.

Monster Energy Yamalube Yamaha

It was an eventful day for the Monster Energy Yamalube Yamaha team at round six of the ProMX Championship in Canberra with the team finishing fifth and sixth for the round. It was a day of extremes and ever changing track conditions that saw riders start the day in cold, clear conditions, then followed by overcast skies and a near perfect track to finish in pouring rain and storm like conditions.

Jayce Cosford had a consistent round finishing the day with 6-4 results to take fifth overall in the MX2 class. In the dry conditions in the morning, Cosford couldn’t quite match the pace of the front runners and was left in no mans land as he lost touch with the top five but was clear of the riders behind him.

Then in race two and the MX2 field was behind the gate, rain began to fall and the hard pack, clay-based Canberra circuit suddenly got a lot more technical. Cosford gated well and ran as high as second for parts of the moto before late race mistake pushed him back to fourth. He remains in sixth place in the championship with two rounds remaining.

It was an up and down day for Ryder Kingsford who came into the round looking to rebound from an off performance at Warwick, two weeks ago. Kingsford started the day well and qualified in second place and was confident of a good day ahead.

That transferred into race one and after a poor start, he moved his way through the field to third and then closed to within a few seconds of the lead with a handful of laps to run. His charged ended in third as he couldn’t maintain the early race intensity, but it was enough to confirm he had the pace required.

Race two was when the flood gates opened, literally. The track began slick and difficult to navigate and another poor start had him outside the top ten on the first lap. But again, he sliced his way through the field and moved into the top five in the first couple of laps.

It then came unstuck. He lost control on the up face of a jump and went down awkwardly. He took some time to regather his composure and rejoin the race. He was well outside the top twenty and looking to just finish the race and salvage any points on offer. He scrambled his way back to eleventh and his 3-12 scores landed him in sixth for the day and holding a 30-point gap over third place in the championship.

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2025 Australian ProMX Round Six – Canberra Wrap

See the full results here:
Beaton dominates Canberra AusProMX in mixed conditions

Canberra’s Fairbairn Park hosted a dramatic sixth round of the 2025 Penrite ProMX Championship and served up a full spectrum of conditions. From a crisp, clear morning to overcast skies and intense afternoon downpours, it had a bit of everything. But while the weather turned unpredictable, the championship leaders remained steady.

In Kawasaki MX1, Jed Beaton extended his advantage with another strong showing, while Brodie Connolly tightened his grip on the Pirelli MX2 red plate with consistent speed and composure.

Kayd Kingsford again set the pace in MAXXIS MX3, despite surrendering a moto win to Jet Alsop, and in the KTM Group MX65 Futures Class, Archie Black was unstoppable, dominating the day’s racing.

As the series heads into its final stages, the championship picture is beginning to sharpen — but with changeable conditions and fierce competition, anything can still happen.

Kawasaki MX1 Championship

Monster Energy CDR Yamaha’s Jed Beaton delivered a commanding performance in the Kawasaki MX1 class to go unbeaten across the day and extend his championship lead with only two rounds still to run.

Beaton was untouchable from the outset, setting the pace in every session and storming to a dominant AMX Pole Shootout win over two seconds clear of Nathan Crawford (KTM Racing Team).

In the opening moto, dark skies loomed but Beaton overcame a mid-pack start and carved his way to the front with aggressive precision.

Kirk Gibbs (KTM Racing Team) claimed the holeshot, while both Beaton and Webster were buried outside the top 10 in the early laps. Beaton quickly dispatched early leader Crawford and laid down a series of relentless laps to take victory by 10.9 seconds. Crawford held on for second, while Webster fought back to salvage third. Todd and Gibbs rounded out the top five.

Moto 2 brought heavy rain and treacherous conditions, but Beaton remained composed and calculated. After Todd grabbed the holeshot, Beaton surged into the lead within two laps and checked out, eventually crossing the line 20.7 seconds ahead of Todd to complete a flawless 1-1 sweep.

Crawford claimed third, with Todd Waters (Raceline Husqvarna TDUB Racing) in fourth, and Webster salvaging fifth after multiple crashes.

On the overall podium, Beaton stood tall in P1, joined by Crawford in second and Todd in third.  With his double-moto win, the Victorian extended his championship lead to 29 points over Webster, with Crawford now 44 points back in third.

MX1 Round Points

MX1 Championship Points – Top 10

Pirelli MX2 Championship

Brodie Connolly was in a league of his own at Fairbairn Park, delivering a flawless performance in the Pirelli MX2 class to extend his championship lead with another dominant 1-1 sweep for Polyflor Honda Racing.

The defending champion made his intentions clear early, topping qualifying with a best lap of 1:30.788 — more than half a second faster than Ryder Kingsford (Monster Energy Yamalube Yamaha Racing), with Byron Dennis (KTM Racing Team) just behind in third.

In Moto 1, Connolly grabbed the holeshot and controlled the race from the front, briefly coming under pressure from Noah Ferguson (KTM Racing Team) mid-moto, before pulling clear to win by 6.4 seconds.

Kingsford recovered from a P9 start to claim third, while Alex Larwood (NFAL Honda Racing) rebounded from an early crash to take fourth, with Dennis rounding out the top five.

Rain soaked the circuit ahead of the final bout of the day, but the treacherous conditions didn’t upset Connolly. He once again grabbed the holeshot and rode smart and measured laps to finish 9.4 seconds ahead of the field.

Larwood overcame goggle issues to secure second place, with Dennis showing consistency in third.

Jayce Cosford (Monster Energy Yamalube Yamaha Racing) rode solidly for fourth, while Ferguson crossed the line fifth.

Connolly’s perfect day saw him claim the overall round win, joined on the podium by Larwood in second and Ferguson in third.

In the championship standings, Connolly now enjoys a 37-point lead over Kingsford, with Ferguson sitting 69 points off the top spot in third.

MX2 Round Points

MX2 Championship Points – Top 10

MAXXIS MX3 Championship

Kayd Kingsford continued his charge toward the 2025 MAXXIS MX3 title with another overall victory at Canberra’s Fairbairn Park, despite conceding a moto win to Jet Alsop in the second race of the day. The Honda Racing rider now holds a commanding championship lead with just two rounds to go.

Kingsford set the tone early by topping qualifying, solidifying his pace with a faster final lap to stop the clock at 1:35.974, seven-tenths ahead of Ky Woods (Monster Energy WBR Yamaha), with Jack Deveson (Husqvarna) third.

Kingsford was clinical in the opening moto. After starting in P5, he carved through the field to take the lead on the opening lap, then pulled away to an emphatic 18.7-second victory.

Woods finished second, while Alsop mounted an impressive charge from outside the top 10 to finish third. Deveson and Riley Burgess (KTM) completed the top five.

Moto 2 delivered a rare misstep for Kingsford. He grabbed the holeshot with Alsop locked onto his rear wheel, and the pair quickly distanced themselves from the rest of the field. But in the closing laps, Kingsford was caught out by a downed lapped rider and went down, allowing Alsop to seize the lead and storm to his first moto win of the season by 9.4 seconds. Woods claimed another solid third, ahead of Seth Shackleton and Deveson.

Despite the mistake, Kingsford’s 1-2 score was enough for his fifth overall round win of the season. Alsop finished second overall (3-1), with Woods rounding out the podium in third (2-3).

In the championship standings, Kingsford now holds a 43-point lead over Woods, with Alsop just five points further adrift in third as the series heads toward its conclusion.

MX3 Round Points

MX3 Championship Points – Top 10

KTM Group MX65 Futures Championship

New South Wales rider Archie Black delivered a dominant performance in the KTM Group MX65 Futures Class in Canberra, going undefeated across qualifying and both motos to claim the overall win and take control of the championship standings.

Black laid down a clear marker in qualifying, clocking a fastest lap of 1:53.743 — a staggering 2.94 seconds quicker than his nearest rival, Miles Ardern.

Black grabbed the holeshot in the opening bout and never looked back, leading from start to finish to take a commanding 13.8-second win. Behind him, Husqvarna duo Maxi Harris and Ryder Madafiglio engaged in a close battle for second, with Harris ultimately prevailing. KTM’s Jack Holliday and Rowdy Rabjones completed the top five.

Moto 2 started with promise for Madafiglio, who claimed the holeshot, but an early crash handed the lead back to Black. The KTM rider capitalised and repeated his earlier performance with another 13-second victory, capping off a perfect day. Harris finished second once again, with Rabjones stepping onto the podium in third. Hudson Francis (Yamaha) and Flynn Burgess (KTM) completed the top five.

With his dominant 1-1 showing, Black stood on the top step of the podium, joined by Harris in second and Rabjones in third. In the championship standings, Black now leads on 79 points, with Poole (66) and Nate Forwood (61) trailing heading into the final stages of the series.

KTM Group MX65 Round Points

KTM Group MX65  Championship Points – Top 10

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2025 AMA ProMX Round Six – Red Bud Wrap

See the full results here:
Recapping the action from Red Bud – AMA Pro MX Round Six

The 2025 AMA Pro Motocross Championship hit the halfway mark over the Independence Day weekend with its most iconic stop of the season, the RedBud National. The event marked Round Six of the summer and Round 23 of the SMX World Championship regular season.

In the 450 Class, championship leader Jett Lawrence (Honda HRC Progressive) delivered one of his most commanding performances to date, going 1-1 on the day to secure his sixth consecutive overall win of the season. Jett’s almost flawless effort further solidified his grip on the red plate.

The 250 Class was also painted red as teammate Jo Shimoda delivered a perfect 1-1 moto sweep, capping off a dominant afternoon for the Honda camp.

450 Moto One

The first 450 Class moto of the afternoon at RedBud got underway with Hunter Lawrence (Honda HRC Progressive) and RJ Hampshire (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing) bar-to-bar through the first turn. Hunter narrowly grabbed the Pro Motocross Holeshot. Hampshire immediately applied pressure, nearly making a pass for the lead, but the elder Lawrence held firm.

While the two battled up front, Jett Lawrence quickly closed in from third. The trio briefly settled into a rhythm until Jett made his move on Hampshire to take second and set his sights on his brother.

Not far behind, Aaron Plessinger (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) worked his way into third and began reeling in the Lawrence duo, only to be challenged by a charging Eli Tomac (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing).

Around the 10-minute mark, the battle for the lead intensified. Jett slipped past Hunter briefly, only for Hunter to retaliate and reclaim the position. But Jett wasn’t done — after a tense side-by-side exchange, he finally secured the lead for good. His pace then allowed him to break away at the front, gradually stretching the gap.

Meanwhile, Tomac caught and passed Plessinger for third, but his run was cut short when his Yamaha began smoking heavily in the final 10 minutes. The mechanical issue forced him out of the race, promoting Plessinger and Hampshire back into podium contention.

In the closing laps, Hampshire surged past Plessinger to take over third, earning his first-ever moto podium in the 450 Class.

Jett Lawrence crossed the line with a commanding 16.1-second margin over Hunter to claim his ninth moto win of the season.

Hampshire rounded out the podium in third, followed by Justin Cooper (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing) in fourth.

Chase Sexton (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), returning to action after missing several rounds due to injury, claimed fifth in his RedBud comeback.

450 Round

Jett Lawrence’s flawless 1-1 sweep at RedBud marked the 16th perfect outing of his career and his 21st overall 450 Class victory, tying two-time champion Ken Roczen for sixth on the all-time wins list. With 21 wins in just 22 career starts, Lawrence’s staggering 95 per cent winning rate continues to redefine dominance in modern Pro Motocross.

Hunter Lawrence backed up his brother with a consistent 2-3 performance to finish second overall, completing a third consecutive 1-2 finish for the Australian siblings.

Justin Cooper’s strong second moto (4-2) secured him third overall — his second podium of the season.

In the championship standings, Jett now leads by 51 points over Hunter, who moves into second place overall. Cooper climbs from fifth to third, 69 points adrift of the lead.

Cooper also made significant gains in the SMX World Championship standings. His podium allowed him to close to within 14 points of teammate and top seed Cooper Webb (15-8 for ninth overall), continuing a steady charge in the second half of the regular season.

Jett Lawrence (1-1)

“I put my heart into that race [Moto 2]. I didn’t get an ideal start and made a silly mistake that made it really hard on myself. We lost a young star in the racing community this past week [Aidan Zingg] and I rode with him and his family on my mind, so this one is for the Zingg family.”

Hunter Lawrence (2-3)

“Good weekend—1-2 in the premier class, and obviously Jo had an amazing day in the 250s, so that was cool. The big bosses made a trip over, and we also had Toni Bou and Gabriel Marcelli, two of the best trials riders in the world, fly in for a demo. It was definitely a special day for Honda.”

Justin Cooper (4-2)

“I had a good start [in Moto 2] and was second behind Jorge [Prado]. I wanted to get by him as quick as I could and made a sprint for three or four laps. Then hit a wall [physically]. I ended up losing my front brake for a bit, but thankfully it came back. It was a great ride and I’m really happy to be on the podium.”

RJ Hampshire (3-6)

“Awesome day at RedBud! I felt good on the bike and I actually had a bit of that send it kind of vibe on the 450. First moto, I almost got the holeshot and ran up front for a while, which was a good feeling, and I felt pretty strong for the whole moto. Bad start in Moto 2, but I came through the pack fast, and overall it was a big learning day for me. Fourth overall – I’m a man of my word – and I said this is kind of where I would be at this point, and we’re getting there. The next goal is to hit an overall podium, which we’ll work towards next weekend at Millville.”

Chase Sexton (5-4)

“First race back at RedBud wasn’t great results-wise, but I didn’t really expect a whole lot coming into the round. Second moto, I was pleasantly surprised that even if I wasn’t riding great, that my speed was still pretty good. I’m happy with the day – onward and upward from here to build into SMX and try to win some races.”

Jorge Prado (7-5)

“This was a step in the right direction for me. This week we did a lot of work on the bike, and we will keep building on that. I’ve been out riding on the East Coast and testing different things, and the team has been very supportive with making all the changes back in California. Being up front today was a very comfortable feeling for me. It helped me understand the bike more and the areas we can work on. I just need to keep training and testing, and I know we can be on the podium soon.”

Justin Barcia (8-9)

“All around, today was a good day! I qualified a little better than last week, and the motos went better than last week as well. First moto, had a tip-over that cost me some time, so that was a bummer. The second moto was challenging on a brutal track, but overall we finished P7, and I think if we keep trending in this direction, then we will be closer toward the front soon. Happy with the day – I always want more – but I’m satisfied with our improvement, and the bike was working really good. I’m looking forward to Spring Creek now!”

Malcolm Stewart (11-10)

“RedBud was a blast! I always love the energy here – the fans were unreal, as always. I gave it everything I had and came away with eighth overall. We’ll keep digging and head to Millville next… It’s time to face the Whoop Monster!”

Benoit Paturel (14-12)

“Today was an average day for me,” said Paturel. “The track was really nice, but it was tough. We need to keep working hard and keep improving to get to that next level. Eleventh overall is not bad, but we want more.”

Jason Anderson (10-35)

“I didn’t have my best performance today. I qualified 14th overall, which is a bit slower than usual for me. I was more focused on the day ahead. Moto 1, I started around eighth and tried to battle with the guys around me, but ended up getting 10th. Moto 2, I had to pull off early because I wasn’t feeling 100%. I’m still having some issues with my health. I need to check on that and see how everything is, and we’ll go from there.”

Antonio Cairoli (9-39)

“It was an amazing experience to ride here in RedBud. In the first moto, I had some trouble during the first laps. I had a good start in P5, but my starting hook got stuck, and I lost a few positions. Then I was able to find a nice flow, and I came back to P9. I was happy with my pace. In the second moto, my plan was to get another fast start and manage the opening laps better, but after a strong launch into fourth and while pushing for third, we had a small issue with the bike, and I was forced to pull out. Overall, it was still a positive day. We’re here to test and develop the bike, and these things can happen. Now we’re looking forward to a solid week of training and coming back ready to battle for another top 10 in Millville.”

450 Round Points – Top 20

450 AMA MX Championship Points – Top 20

450 SMX Championship Points – Top 20

250 Moto One

Jo Shimoda (Honda HRC Progressive) kicked off the 250 Class action at RedBud with a statement ride, grabbing the Pro Motocross Holeshot, his first since 2023, before engaging in a thrilling battle at the front to secure his first moto win of the season.

Though Shimoda led into the first corner, it was Tom Vialle (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) who quickly moved into the lead, with Jalek Swoll (Triumph Factory Racing) holding third.

Meanwhile, championship leader Haiden Deegan found himself buried deep in the field, starting outside the top 15 aboard his Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing machine.

With a clear track, Vialle capitalised early, building a lead of more than two seconds over Shimoda, while Seth Hammaker (Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki) displaced Swoll for third.

As the leaders settled into a rhythm, all eyes turned to Deegan, who was charging hard through the pack. Within five minutes, he had clawed into the top 10 — only to suffer a tip-over that cost him several positions.

As the moto approached its halfway point, Vialle’s lead grew to more than five seconds. But Shimoda began to respond, upping his pace and gradually reeling in the Frenchman. Behind them, Levi Kitchen (Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki) began to make moves, working his way past Hammaker and into podium contention.

With just under 10 minutes to go, Shimoda caught Vialle and patiently set up his move. He made a decisive pass to take the lead and never looked back.

Deegan, meanwhile, had worked his way back to fifth before smoke began to emerge from his Yamaha. Moments later, he suffered a crash on one of the downhill sections and remounted outside the top 10, eventually finishing 14th — his worst moto result since late 2023.

Shimoda crossed the line 7.2 seconds ahead of Kitchen, who mounted a late-race charge to steal second from Vialle in the closing lap.

Vialle held on for third, with Michael Mosiman (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing) finishing a solid fourth and Hammaker rounding out the top five.

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2025 American Flat Track – DuQuoin Mile Wrap

Images by Tim Lester, Kristen Lassen

AFT Singles – DuQuoin Mile

Tom Drane is really hitting his stride in the AFT Singles class. The Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F rider swept both races at the Lima Half-Mile last weekend and backed it up with a third consecutive win at the DuQuoin Mile overnight.

The Australian triumphed in one of the tightest AFT Singles Main Events in recent memory — an eight-rider freight train thundered across the finish line separated by just 0.342 seconds.

Drane narrowly held off fierce rival Chase Saathoff by a mere 0.020 seconds, after spending the entire race trying to break free from the pack. Saathoff refused to let him escape, forcing a tense, high-speed group battle all the way to the checkers.

The rivalry between the two intensified even further after the race, with visible frustration and heated gestures exchanged on the cool-down lap. At one point during the main event, Saathoff’s boot made contact with Drane’s handlebar as they barreled through a corner side by side, highlighting just how razor-close and aggressive the battle had become.

Drane now carries a 20-point lead in the standings, but with tensions flaring and the title fight heating up, all eyes will be on the next showdown.

Tom Drane

“I just wanted to get out there straight to the front and do everything I could to win that one, because that was dangerous coming off the last corner doing that. It is what it is, and I guess I just have to put my head down and do what I did and come out on top.”

Chase Saathoff

“I thought I set myself up good (on the final lap), but it seems to me that Tom Drane doesn’t know how to go in a straight line sometimes. But, that’s okay. We’re going to look past it and move on to the next (race).”

Saathoff was joined in the joint attempt to overcome Drane’s day-long speed advantage for the bulk of the Main by eventual third-place finisher Trevor Brunner and Bradon Pfanders, who was shuffled back to sixth at the flag despite finishing just 0.252 seconds back of the win.

Despite his impressive form, Pfanders was displaced in that final rush to the stripe by Hunter Bauer and Evan Renshaw, who rounded out the top five.

Meanwhile, Chad Cose and Tarren Santero were rewarded with just seventh- and eighth-place results despite being in with a shot at the win as late as the race’s final corner.

Drane’s recent surge has granted him a significant advantage over Saathoff at the title fight’s halfway point, as he now leads 153-133. Brunner sits third at 114, while Santero is well back in fourth with 87 points.

Singles Main Event Results

AFT Singles Standings – Top 20

AFT SuperTwins – DuQuoin Mile

The “Magic Mile” lived up to its nickname by delivering yet another last-lap stunner as Dallas Daniels claimed a scant-yet-pivotal victory in Saturday night’s Memphis Shades DuQuoin Mile, Round 8 of the 2025 Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing.

Daniels’ win at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds in DuQuoin, Illinois, wasn’t assured until the checkered flag flew, which confirmed an official 0.037-second margin of victory following a hectic five-rider showdown to the very end.

An early eight-rider scrap whittled down to six after a few minutes of fighting. It then took its final form of five – which included Daniels, title rival Briar Bauman, James Ott, Declan Bender, and Brandon Robinson – after Davis Fisher was forced out due to mechanical issues.

Bauman kept himself relevant with some impressive cornering and line choice, but as the laps wound down, it became more and more apparent that the Yamahas of Daniels, Ott, and Bender had the steam on this night.

With less than two minutes left on the clock, Bauman dropped back from first to fifth and then struggled mightily in his attempts to claw his way back into winning contention from that point forward.

Ott, meanwhile, gave Daniels all he could handle, while Bender looked more than capable of springing a massive upset with a perfect final lap.

But Daniels did what aspiring championship winners do, countering Ott’s final lap Turn 2 pass with a counter of his own, running back up the inside entering Turn 3. He then put his head down and narrowly outraced his challengers’ draft-pass attempts as the three completed a Yamaha lockout of the podium.

Ott earned his maiden Mission AFT SuperTwins podium 0.037 seconds off the win while Bender claimed the first of his Progressive AFT career a further 0.092 seconds adrift.

Dallas Daniels

“That was huge… Not even just the win, but how we felt on the motorcycle today. It’s no secret that at the beginning of the season we’ve been struggling a little bit, just with some stuff. It’s not for lack of effort. My team has been busting their butts so much. This track – with the way that the corners are – is one where we’ve always lacked on the Yamaha the last few years. We’ve been making headway, and last year we were close to Jared (Mees), but not that close. This morning, I didn’t really feel the greatest, but I had a quiet confidence. I knew we were going to figure it out. I can’t give a big enough of a thanks to my whole Estenson Racing Monster Energy Yamaha team… It was an amazing day. It’s the first time I’ve won a Grand National in my home state. It’s something special.”

Robinson, meanwhile, held Bauman off for fourth just back of the top three.

As a result, Daniels and Bauman now boast 162 points and four wins apiece, with Bauman technically in the championship lead as a result of his three runners-up to Daniels’ two. It doesn’t get much closer than that with the Grand National Championship fight now officially at its halfway point.

Dalton Gauthier finished a lonely sixth, while Jarod VanDerKooi, Trent Lowe, Dan Bromley, and Max Whale rounding out the night’s top ten in that order.

SuperTwins Main Event Results

AFT SuperTwins Standings

Next Up:

Progressive American Flat Track will at last make its debut at the Short Track at Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Missouri, on Friday, July 18.

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2025 Speedway GP of Sweden – Round Seven Wrap

Fresh off his maiden FIM Speedway Grand Prix victory in Gorzow, Brady Kurtz doubled down with another standout performance, claiming back-to-back wins at the Virkvarn FIM Speedway GP of Sweden – Malilla overnight. The Australian topped the podium at Sweden’s biggest speedway event, edging out five-time world champion Bartosz Zmarzlik and Great Britain’s Dan Bewley — replicating the exact podium from Gorzow two weeks prior.

With the win, Kurtz now sits second in the Speedway GP World Championship standings with 122 points, cutting Zmarzlik’s lead to just nine points (131) with three rounds remaining in the 2025 season.

Returning to familiar ground at the Skrotfrag Arena, where he previously raced for Swedish powerhouse Dackarna (2022–2023), Kurtz was dominant. He won five of his six outings and was only denied a perfect score when Heat 11 was stopped while he was leading. That incident resulted in a third-place finish — his only blemish on the night.

The final brought a tense moment as fellow Australian Jason Doyle crashed on turn four, causing a red flag. In the restart, Kurtz executed a perfect launch and held strong at the front. Zmarzlik was left to battle past Bewley for second, but couldn’t reel in the flying Kurtz.

While his breakthrough win in Gorzow holds special meaning, Kurtz was thrilled to prove it was no one-off.

Kurtz knows Zmarzlik’s nine-point advantage in the Speedway GP world title race could be closed or extended rapidly if either rider fails to reach a final at the remaining rounds in Latvian capital Riga on August 2, Polish city Wroclaw on August 30 and Danish venue Vojens on September 13.

Brady Kurtz

“Winning in Gorzow was pretty special. I think that’s the one I will definitely remember. But winning twice is great – more so because I know the first one wasn’t a fluke. That’s the coolest part in my mind – that I could win again. It was nice to do it here in Sweden on kind of my home track. I raced here for a few years, and it was nice to be back. I love it! (the wet track), I have ridden at Belle Vue for quite a few years in a row. We race in the rain a lot in Britain. I just kind of like to get on with it. I went for the track walk, went back to my pits, told the boys what setup we were going to use and away we went.”

Both men have reached six finals in the first seven rounds and Kurtz is keen to keep up the pressure in his quest to become the first rider in the series’ 30-year history to win the world title in their Speedway GP debut season.

Runner-up Zmarzlik battled his way through the last-chance qualifiers to take his place in the final, winning LCQ1 with an astonishing first lap to hit the front and guarantee he left with top spot in Speedway GP tonight.

Like Kurtz, third-placed Bewley is also a former Dackarna rider and adapted superbly to the wet conditions to deliver his third Speedway GP podium in four rounds, which leaves him fourth on 97 points – just two behind Swedish star Fredrik Lindgren, who is third on 99.

Jason Doyle continued his return to form with a fourth place, while countrymen Jack Holder and Max Fricke were eighth and fourteenth, respectively.  Holder is fifth in the championship standings, and Fricke seventh.

With momentum on his side and the championship race tightening, all eyes will be on Kurtz as the 2025 Speedway GP season enters its final stretch.

2025 FIM Speedway GP of Sweden – Malilla Results

FIM Speedway GP Standings

Images Taylor Lanning and Jarek Pabijan

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2025 FIM Junior Motocross World Championship Wrap

See the full results here:
2025 FIM Junior Motocross World Championship Recap from France

Team France delivered a masterclass on home soil despite the unpredictable conditions, clinching two Golds and a Silver to lock down the top step of the team standings with just four points. Italy took the runner-up spot overall, while Great Britain matched last year’s effort with another strong third-place team finish.

The EMX125 class belonged to local favourite Mano Faure, who overcame a handful of small crashes in Race 2 to post a 1-3 scorecard and secure overall honours for Yamaha Europe EMX125 MJC. Italy’s Filippo Mantovani was the model of consistency on his KTM, earning the Silver Medal with solid results across both races, while Jekabs Kubulins stormed to a win in Race 2 to grab Bronze for JK Racing Yamaha.

In the 85cc category, it was all about Rafael Mennillo, who rode to a pair of second-place finishes to claim a popular win for France. Estonia’s Lucas Leok once again proved his class with a win in Race 2 – just like he did in 2024 – which helped him to Silver. Australian Seth Thomas rounded out the podium with a standout ride that made the long trip worthwhile, as KTM swept the class podium.

The 65cc World Cup riders faced the toughest of the weather, with conditions forcing the cancellation of Race 2 and results decided from a single outing. American Kannon Zabojnik rose to the challenge aboard his Cobra MOTO, taking Gold ahead of France’s Mathys Agullo on KTM, while another American, Levi Geis, grabbed the final podium spot – also on a Cobra MOTO.

JMX125 Race One

The 13–17-year-old category enjoyed the best of the weather at Romagné, with the EMX125 Presented by FMF Racing stars delivering a standout display on a track that remained deceptively tricky with patches of grip and moisture throughout.

Local hero Mano Faure rose to the occasion in style. The Yamaha Europe EMX125 MJC rider, racing just a stone’s throw from his team base, blasted to the Fox Holeshot after topping Qualifying Group A on Saturday. From there, he never looked back.

Britain’s Charlie Richmond initially slotted into second for S Briggs Commercials Yamaha, but soon came under fire from Nicolò Alvisi of Racestore KTM Factory Juniors. Just as the Italian looked set to mount a serious challenge for the lead, disaster struck—Alvisi misjudged the run into a big downhill table-top and flew off track in dramatic fashion.

Richmond gratefully retook second, while a fierce fight broke out behind him between Ryan Oppliger (Switzerland), Vitezslav Marek (Czechia), and Niccolo Mannini for third. Oppliger faded to ninth by lap two, while Mannini surged past Marek on lap four to claim third.

Alvisi regrouped quickly and was soon back inside the top five, bringing countryman Filippo Mantovani with him. Both Italians moved past Marek, and on lap seven, Mantovani pounced to take fourth from Alvisi with a clean move.

Up front, Faure was untouchable, crossing the line 36 seconds clear to the delight of the home crowd. Richmond held strong for a career-best second, while Mantovani’s late-race pace earned him the final podium spot as top Italian. Mannini had to settle for fourth, and Dutch talent Dani Heitink edged out Alvisi late in the race for fifth.

JMX125 Race One Result – Top 10

JMX125 Race Two

Race Two in the 13–17-year-old EMX125 category delivered another dramatic twist at Romagné, but in the end, it was France’s Mano Faure who etched his name into the history books—becoming just the fourth French rider to claim the 125cc Junior World Championship, joining an elite list alongside Jordi Tixier, Maxime Renaux, and Mathis Valin.

Faure stormed to another Fox Holeshot Award, immediately chased by Jekabs Kubulins (JK Racing Yamaha), as the home favourite looked set to replicate his dominant Race One performance. However, an early fall in the downhill left-hander after pit lane saw Faure lose the front end and drop to fourth, handing the lead to a poised Kubulins.

Further drama struck as Nicolò Alvisi again crashed on the opening lap while running fourth behind Filippo Mantovani, echoing his first race misfortune. Dani Heitink and Niccolo Mannini rounded out the top five at the end of the opening lap, but Mannini soon crashed himself, tumbling to 13th.

Heitink moved up to third after an intense scrap with Faure, but his efforts were undone by a post-race disqualification for gaining advantage by running the entire length of the start straight off-track—on smoother terrain—after an early excursion.

Out front, Kubulins rode flawlessly to take a convincing win for Latvia, and with his 12th place in Race One, it was enough to secure the Bronze Medal overall. Mantovani, smooth and consistent as ever, brought home second once again to clinch Silver, making him Italy’s top finisher of the event.

Despite tipping over multiple times, Faure managed to fight back to third ahead of teammate Jarne Bervoets, with Liam Bruneau rounding out the top five in front of the cheering home crowd.

Overall standings saw Vitezslav Marek claim sixth as the top Czech performer, followed by Alvisi and a frustrated Richmond, who couldn’t recover from a poor start and ended Race Two in 16th. Bervoets’ 10-4 results earned him fifth overall, narrowly edged by Mannini (4-8) in fourth.

But the weekend belonged to Faure, whose 1-3 finishes crowned him Junior World Champion on home soil. With the EMX125 red plate still in hand, all eyes will now turn to Finland next weekend, where the Yamaha youngster will look to extend his form on the European stage.

JMX125 Race Two Results – Top 10

JMX125 Overall – Top 10

JMX85 Race One

The opening 85cc race at Romagné delivered a captivating showdown in tricky conditions, as the 12–14-year-old riders battled intermittent rain and a slick, unforgiving surface. Ultimately, it was France’s Enzo Herzogenrath who emerged victorious after a thrilling duel with countryman Rafael Mennillo, securing a celebrated 1-2 result for the host nation.

Latvia’s Martins Cirulis took the early spotlight by grabbing a surprise Fox Holeshot Award, edging out top Group B qualifier Mennillo. Britain’s Brian Gyles slotted into third briefly before a crash dropped him down the field. Meanwhile, Tim Lopes held steady in second for France early on, coming under pressure from Lucas Leok of Estonia, who was pushing hard before a crash on Lap 1 saw him fall to 15th.

Up front, Mennillo soon found his rhythm, surging into the lead and opening the door for Herzogenrath, whose size and strength helped him carve through the pack into second. The two French riders then engaged in a fierce, race-long contest—swapping the lead on multiple occasions and even suffering minor tumbles, yet never relinquishing their grip on the top two positions.

Team USA’s Gauge Brown, another tall and aggressive rider, had climbed to third before Cirulis’ race ended prematurely due to a crash. But Australia’s Seth Thomas, recovering from an early fall, staged a strong late-race charge. He clawed his way from ninth to snatch third from Brown on the final lap.

Despite two separate incidents, Lucas Leok used his blistering qualifying pace to claw back into contention, briefly reaching fourth by the fifth lap before fading again. He eventually finished eighth, still the highest-placed lapped rider behind the leading duo.

New Zealand’s Tripp Glasgow was in the mix early on, but Spain’s Pau Caudet emerged to claim fifth, just ahead of Louis Morette, the third Frenchman in the top six.

Although the official lap charts don’t show a position change between Herzogenrath and Mennillo, the battle between them raged relentlessly, with Herzogenrath countering every attempt Mennillo made to reclaim the lead. At the flag, just 1.733 seconds separated the pair, their intense rivalry drawing cheers from the home crowd and marking a perfect start to the weekend for the French contingent.

JMX85 Race One Results – Top 10

JMX85 Race Two

Estonian ace Lucas Leok made a decisive statement in the second 85cc race at Romagné, storming to a flawless Fox Holeshot Award and leading every lap to take an emphatic victory. His opening lap was an astonishing 12 seconds faster than any other rider, and from there, he was never challenged, crossing the finish line nearly a minute ahead of the field.

While Leok charged off into the distance, France’s Enzo Herzogenrath, winner of Race 1, initially slotted into second but suffered a dramatic off-track moment on a tricky uphill jump, dropping him outside the top 30. He mounted an impressive comeback to finish 13th, which still secured fifth overall for the day.

New Zealand’s Jaggar Townley also slipped down the order after an early fall, eventually finishing 15th. Behind Leok, the race for second heated up between Gauge Brown (USA) and Rafael Mennillo (France). Brown would ultimately get stuck in a rut, falling back to ninth, while Italian Francesco Assini and Spain’s Pau Caudet fought hard for the final podium place.

Assini made a late-race move on Caudet to claim third in the moto and emerge as Italy’s top finisher in the class, taking seventh overall. Britain’s Harley Marczak, disappointed with 16th in Race 1, rebounded with a solid ride to fifth in Race 2, capitalising on a late mistake from Australia’s Seth Thomas. Marczak’s effort secured 10th overall—the best of Team GB and pivotal in clinching third in the Nations standings.

Gauge Brown ended the weekend as the top American in sixth overall, while Caudet narrowly missed the overall podium by just a single point.

Despite Leok’s dominant moto win, his second runner-up finish in as many years, the day belonged to Rafael Mennillo, who calmly rode to another second-place finish to clinch the 2024 FIM Junior 85cc World Championship, becoming the first French rider in history to do so.

The result capped a memorable home event for Team France, who also took top honours in the Nations classification. Many of these rising stars now look toward the EMX85 Finale in Loket in three weeks, while others prepare to make the jump to the 125cc category in 2025.

JMX85 Race Two Results – Top 10

JMX85 Overall – Top 10

JMX65 Race One

In a cruel twist of fate, the youngest competitors of the weekend were met with the worst weather, as torrential rain struck just as the gate dropped for the 65cc Junior World Championship race at Romagné. The downpour quickly turned the scenic valley circuit into a treacherous battleground for the 10–12-year-old riders, challenging even the most experienced in the field over their scheduled 12-minute plus two-lap race.

American standout Kannon Zabojnik fired his Cobra MOTO machine to the Fox Holeshot Award, but it was local favourite Mathys Agullo who surged to the lead a few corners later, drawing loud support from the French crowd after showing strong pace in Free Practice on Saturday.

The lead pair were initially shadowed by Levi Geis (USA), Izan Rodriguez (ESP), and Daniel Corda (ITA), with Brits Cohen Jagielski and John Slade carving their way through the pack from deep starting positions. Rodriguez’s fall from fourth allowed both British riders to move into fourth and fifth, while Geis held third despite falling on a slippery uphill section.

The lead changed again on lap two as Agullo suffered a fall at the end of the wave section, handing the advantage back to Zabojnik, who held it until the end of lap four. But lap five brought high drama: Zabojnik collided with a lapped rider and crashed, moments before Agullo also went down at the same spot.

In the chaos, Slade produced a sensational charge—overtaking Jagielski, Geis, and closing down on Agullo—before slicing through traffic and taking the lead as the race looked set to enter its final lap. However, with the main uphill completely blocked by multiple fallen riders and machines, officials red-flagged the race for safety reasons.

With few riders making it past lap five, the result was rolled back to the end of lap four, handing victory to Zabojnik, with Agullo second and Geis third. Jagielski was classified fourth, with a frustrated Slade in fifth despite leading when the race was stopped.

Conditions slightly improved for the scheduled second moto, and Agullo grabbed the early lead from Jagielski and Slade. But as a different section of the track became blocked with stranded riders, the race was red-flagged before the end of the opening lap, and with deteriorating track conditions, the decision was made to cancel Race 2 entirely.

As a result, Kannon Zabojnik was crowned 65cc Junior World Champion, becoming the first American to win the class since 2013, and securing Team USA’s first Junior World title since Caden Braswell’s 85cc triumph in 2018.

The focus for these rising stars now shifts to the EMX65 Finale at Loket in the Czech Republic, where many of them will continue their 2024 campaigns on the MXGP weekend of July 26–27.

JMX65 Race One Results – Top 10

JMX65 Overall – Top 10

1. Kannon Zabojnik (USA, COB), 25 points
2. Mathys Agullo (FRA, KTM), 22 p.
3. Levi Geis (USA, COB), 20 p.
4. Cohen Jagielski (GBR, GAS), 18 p.
5. John Slade (GBR, GAS), 16 p.
6. Daniel Corda (ITA, KTM), 15 p.
7. Liam Morette (FRA, HUS), 14 p.
8. Tobe Vandeneynde (BEL, KTM), 13 p.
9. Kye Sproule (AUS, YAM), 12 p.
10. Alfie Cotter (GBR, KTM), 11 p.

 

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