The 2024 Australian Junior Motocross Championship (AJMX) at Western Australia’s Shrubland Park in Bunbury, and already some favourites are starting to emerge across the 12 classes.
The on-track action has been intense from the first gate-drop, as around 300 of the country’s top young racers do battle around the demanding, loamy race track.
The next two days will see every class come to a head and the 2024 champions crowned. For now though, here’s how things are unfolding across each class.
125-150cc 2T and 200-250cc 4T 15 Years
After two of four finals, BCP HAS Honda Junior Development Team rider Seth Shackleton has put himself in the box seat, with two wins from two starts.
The Western Australian has made the most of any home-ground advantage to claim both motos comfortably over KTM Junior Racing Team’s Jackson Fuller, while Husqvarna Junior Racing Team rider Jack Deveson holds the final podium spot after 5-3 results.
Max Compton (3-6) sits one point further back in fourth, while Ryder Matthews-Taylor is placed P5 after logging P4 and P5 results from the opening two races.
128-150cc 2T and 200-250cc 4T 13-U15 Years
Kiwi racer Hayden Draper has taken early control of the younger 250cc class with two comfortable victories so far, including a dominant 41.5s display in the second of four races.
The LMC Husqvarna Racing rider holds an eight-point buffer over Husqvarna Junior Racing Team’s Peter Wolfe (3-2) and Jack Burton (2-3) at the halfway point.
Queensland’s Lachie Allen (GYTR Yamaha Junior Racing) has put in consistent 4-4 results to edge ahead of Corey Eisel (5-5).
100-125cc 2T 15 Years
It’s been a tight affair in this class, but Husqvarna Junior Racing Team rider Deveson is currently sitting at the top of the leaderboard after taking P2 in the opening race, then backing it up with a good win in the second moto.
Behind him is Matthews-Taylor, who won the opening moto, then achieved a P5 result in the second, while KTM Junior Racing Team’s Fuller currently sits third after a 4-2 performance.
Sonny Pellicano has put in consistent 3-3 results so far to sit fourth, while Compton (6-4) rounds out the top five.
100-125cc 2T 13-U15 Years
The burgeoning 125cc class has completed the qualifying heats ahead of their three-race finals that start tomorrow, but it’s all been about Altherm JCR Yamaha’s Levi Townley. The new 85cc World Champion has dominated his three races so far to set himself as a favourite for this year’s crown.
Jack Burton also won two of his three heats to set himself a good pick of the gates for the finals, while Allen won his first heat, then put in runner-up results in his remaining races.
Ryley Fiford (3-2-3) and Wolfe (2-4-3) have also looked strong running near the front of the pack so far.
85cc 2T and 150cc 4T 14-U16 Years
Young Levi Farr finds himself in control of this field after two comfortable wins from his four finals, but there’s a logjam developing behind him.
Jacob Thompson has put himself into the runner-up spot after a third and a second, but is just two points ahead of Fiford (2-4).
KTM Junior Racing Team’s Cooper Ford (5-3) and Cooper Bowman (6-5) are positioned fourth and fifth respectively.
85cc 2T and 150cc 4T 12-U14 Years
This is a class to watch over the next two days, with some close, unpredictable racing displayed so far.
At the halfway mark, Mason Brown has a narrow two-point lead, courtesy of a 2-1 scorecard, with GASGAS Junior Racing Team’s Seth Thomas hot on his heels after winning the opening final, then backing it up with a P3 in the second race.
KTM Junior Racing Team’s Ollie Birkitt (4-2) sits third, with GYTR Yamaha Junior Racing duo Heath Davy (3-5) and Deegan Fort (5-4) currently filling the top five.
85cc 2T and 150cc 4T 9-U12 Years
This is another popular class that’s had to go through a series of heats to whittle down the contenders for three finals that start tomorrow.
Jayce Stocker has controlled all three of his heats to take plenty of confidence into the final two days of racing, but New Zealand’s Nico Verhoeven is shown plenty of speed, winning two races and finishing P2 in his third.
Bam Hill has also looked fast on his way to a 2-2-1 scorecard, setting the tone for what should be a fascinating series of finals. Liam Millard (5-4-2), Oli Chandler (4-3-4) and GYTR Yamaha Junior Racing’s Blake Bohannon (6-4-2) should also be in contention.
Girls 100-150cc and 200-250cc 13-U16 Years
In the older of the Girls divisions, Kawasaki’s Karaitiana Horne has given the rest of the field plenty to worry about after striding away to two moto wins in her finals so far.
The young Kiwi won her first moto by 17 seconds and her second by almost six seconds, chased home by BCP HAS Honda Junior Development Team rider Leah Rimbas in both outings.
It’s a tight fight between Addison Orr (5-3) and Makayla Rimbas (4-4), who are tied on 36 points so far, while Honda’s Madi Simpson (3-6) is just one point further back.
Girls 85cc 2T and 150cc 4T 12-U16 Years
There’s plenty of tight action happening in this field, with Makayla Rimbas currently leading the way after winning her opening moto, then finishing runner-up to Eliza Dennis in the second.
Orr is positioned in P2 after finishing her motos with a 2-3 result, with Dennis just behind in third (3-1).
Stephanie Turnbull (4-4) has been consistent on her way to fourth, while Harmony Francis (5-6) and Kyrah Mancinelli (6-5) have traded positions to be tied for fifth.
65cc 10-U12 Years
GYTR Yamaha Junior Racing’s Bohannon is lining himself for a national title after two comfortable wins in the older of the 65cc classes, despite the second race having to be restarted.
It’s a dogfight behind him though, with Mason Ezergailis (3-3) and Lewis-Jay Carafa (2-4) tied on points with two finals left to run. Kye Sproule (5-2) sits fourth, ahead of Oli Chandler (8-5) in fifth.
65cc 7-U10 Years
The last of the classes that’s had to undergo heats to determine who qualifies for the finals is the younger 65cc division. Hudson Francis has been unstoppable so far, clean-sweeping his three heats.
Ollie Cale (2-2-1), Chase Wilson (2-1-3) and Cooper Nilsson (1-4-2) have also featured at or near the front of their races, setting the tone for what should be a fascinating three-race showdown.
A special mention must go to young Stella Harding, who’s showing she can mix it with the best boys in the country after logging 3-3-2 results from her three heats.
50cc 7-U9 Years
Let’s not forget about the youngest riders on the gate!
It’s looking very promising for Nate Forwood, who’s destroyed the rest of the field by over a minute in both his races so far.
Well behind him is Cai Rose (3-4), Maxwell Leggieri (7-3), Malachi van Maanenberg (4-9) and Riley Roberson (8-5).
Action will continue on Friday and into the weekend on Saturday. Spectators are welcome, with the Shrubland Park track located on the South Western Highway in Davenport. The on-track action commences at 8:00am (AWST) each day.
