Fullnoise Logo
Fullnoise Logo

Supercross

Catching Up With Australia’s Junior Supercross Stars

Posted:

While most of the attention was on the SX1 and SX2 racers at the opening round of the 2016 Australian Supercross Championships held at Jimboomba, there were two other classes of racing that caught the attention of the huge specator turn out that was on hand, espeicially the younger SX Fans.

Knowing the importance of growing the sport from the ground up, promoters of the round Scott Bannan and Paul Pdcoli Demicoli where more than keen to showcase the future of Australian Supercross talent and opened up the event to junior races with a 85 / 150cc Junior class along with the Junior LItes class for riders aboard 125cc two stroke and 250F machines.

Despite many junior riders focusing on the the Australian Junior Motocross Championships that were starting the week after the opening round, some of the best junior riders in the country took the opportunity to test their skills in front of 8,000 fans and race the same track as the hero's in the pro classes.

With both classes racing a three moto format, it meant plenty of track time for the junior races, who also had the added bonus of knowing they would also be part of the Fox Sports Telecast of the event that aired earlier this week.

On the eve of round two we caught up with the winners of both classes for a quick interview to get Junior Lites winner Riley Dukes and 85cc winner Tyler Darby's thoughts about the opening round and more.
Riley Dukes aboard his Husqvarna FC250 on the way to the Junior LItes win.
Fullnoise: How did it feel to win in such of a big crowd at Jimboomba?

Riley Dukes: It was awesome just racing in front of such a big crowd but winning topped it off especially with Scott Bannan getting fox sports to record and broadcast, it was awesome

Tyler Darby: Winning in front of that crowd was amazing it felt so cool and a massive adrenaline rush

Fullnoise: How important is it to have the opportunity to race supercross as a junior for yourself?

Riley Dukes: It's my first year of supercross this year so it's more of a learning curve racing under lights and getting experience for next year in under 19's but it's still good that Scott is thinking about the juniors and started our series of in such a good way

Tyler Darby: Having this opportunity to race supercross as a junior is great I feel like it is getting me prepared for when I turn senior to what it will be like
Tyler Darby on his way to winning the 85cc event in front of a packed Jimboomba crowd.
Fullnoise: Were you able to learn much and pick up things from watching the senior riders during the day, what type of things did you learn.

Riley Dukes: It was really good having the pros there and just gauging what they where doing and comparing it to what you were doing but I did struggle a lot in the whoops maybe 1-2 seconds a lap quicker if I could of skimmed them but that's part of the experience and since then I've practiced as much as I could and we'll see how it goes this Friday

Tyler Darby: Yeah I was able to learn a lot from watching all the seniors out there with how they rode the track and there stance through the rhythms and whoops

Fullnoise: How excited are you to race underlights at Toowoomba on an even bigger track this Friday night.

Riley Dukes: It will be sick racing on an even bigger track, I thought Jimboomba was a big track so I can't wait to see what Toowoomba has for us but yea like I said it would be good to win but you can only do your best and if the win comes so be it

Tyler Darby: Yeah I'm really excited to race under lights again at supercross the first round was awesome and I have seen some photos of the track and it looks amazing so far can't wait to get out there.
Non Alcoholic Cider gave the junior riders the full Pro version of celebrating on the podium.
Fullnoise: How helpful has the promoter for the series been both for yourself and in general getting junior racing back at Supercross

Riley Dukes: Scott has been awesome in promotion of his series and even the coverage was the best I've seen for a long long time Scott was very appreciative of the juniors who did supercross so close to our Australian titles but being able to watch yourself on Tv was so cool but all in all he's done a damn good job for the Pros and juniors as a whole in my opinion

Tyler Darby: I first met Scott bannan about 2 years ago through the moss boys ever since I have done all his races because he wants supercross in Australia to grow and he has done an amazing job with making sure the juniors get a good go at the same track as the pros and making it so fun

Fullnoise: Did you have a chance to watch the racing on TV, what were your thoughts and how cool was it to see yourself racing on the big screen

Riley Dukes: I watched the race on Tv and thought it was pretty cool to see myself it's cool every time you watch yourself on Tv until dad wanted to pause it and analyse what i was doing wrong but yea it was awesome to see

Tyler Darby: Yeah watching my self on tv was so cool I watched it at my mates house and it was just so cool to see myself on tv doing what I love and my friends and family watching it to
It was not only the junior round winners who walked away happy, Caleb GOULLET picks up some cash from Promoter Scott Bannan during the junior Dash for Cash.
Fullnoise: And just finally who is helping you to go racing in 2016?

Riley Dukes: I'm so lucky to have the awesome support and commitment from Husqvarna Australia, R&D Husqvarna, Belray oils, Thor MX Aus, Gas imports Aus, SRD Suspension tuning, LKI Clothing Brand, MXR&D, Alpinestars Aus, Atlas brace technologies but also My Mum and Dad they've done so much for me over the years like taking me all across Australia and even when I've been lucky enough to Represent Australia 3 times they were more than Happy to go overseas and spin spanners and look after me so yea a lot of respect and gratitude for Mum and Dad

Tyler Darby: With out my dad I would not be racing and also with my mum he does everything for me and all my sponsors as well they make a massive part of my racing massive thanks to crankt protein mcd racing for my engines and suspension moss instutuite for the training athlete performance training for keeping me fit backflips clothing for keeping me looking fresh link international Moto kit for keeping my bikes looking good southern highlands motorcycle centre CFX seats yeah just everyone else that helps thanks

Top IMage: Junior racing hits the track at Jimboomba

Share Article:

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Tumblr
Pinterest
Reddit
Email
Print
Action Sports Decals

More Features:

More Features

Bike Review

Blue is Best, But is Better Again in 2027: Yamaha YZ250F First Ride

Bike Review

More Power for the Yamaha WR250F: Two Simple Upgrades That Wake Up the Bike

Bike Review

WR250F Setup Guide Part 3: Why Protection Parts Matter More Than Performance

Bike Review

WR250F Setup Guide Part 2: The Comfort Changes That Make a Bike Feel Like Home

Bike Review

WR250F Setup Guide Part 1: The Free Changes Every Rider Should Make

Bike Review

2026 Yamaha WR250F First Look: We've Gone Blue!

Bike Review

Stark Varg EX Range Test: How Far Can It Really Go?

Product Review

Quad Lock Motorcycle Mount, MAG Case and Vibration Dampener

Bike Review

What Actually Needs Changing on the Stark Varg EX?

Bike Review

Why Crawl & Reverse Crawl Mode Might Be the Best Feature on the Stark Varg EX

Bike Review

Stark Varg EX | First Impressions
Dura Mousse

Product Review

Dura Mousse - No More Flats

Lastest Products

MUC OFF Cleaning Products

Product Review

Muc-Off Motorcycle Cleaning Kits

Bike Review

Stark Varg EX Range Test: How Far Can It Really Go?

Product Release

2026 Sherco Factory Enduro Range Arrives in Australia

Product Release

Airoh Aviator Ace 2 Carbon Gloss
Photo of the CFMOTO MY25 700MT

New Model

CFMOTO Unveils Updated 2025 700MT
Photo of the 2025 CFMOTO 800MT-X

Product Release

CFMOTO Launches 800MT-X Low Seat Variant in Australia

News Headines:

Photo of Brodie Connolly at round 11 of the 2026 AMA Pro Motocross Championsip at Unadilla, New York.

Brodie Connolly and Alex Larwood Shine as Quad Lock Honda Delivers at Unadilla

Photo of Jed Beaton at round 11 of the 2026 AMA Pro Motocross Championsip at Unadilla, New York.

Jed Beaton Cracks AMA Top 10 on US Debut

Dunker, Whale and Wicks Set for AFTN Showdown at Diamond Park Double-Header

Photo of Malcolm Stewart at round 11 of the 2026 AMA Pro Motocross Championsip at Unadilla, New York.

Malcolm Stewart Returns to Pro Motocross With Positive Unadilla Comeback

Photo of Lachlan Turner at round 4 of the AMA WMX Motocros Championship at Unadilla.

Lachlan Turner Extends WMX Championship Lead With Unadilla Sweep

Photo of motocross rider Jeffrey Herlings at the 2026 MXGP Of Sweden at Uddevalla at the Glimminge Motorstadion circuit

Jeffrey Herlings Extends Winning Streak as Sacha Coenen Returns to the Top at MXGP of Sweden

More News

What's On This Week

AMA National Hard Enduro Championship - R9
Sequatchie, TN
Sunday, August 23rd, 2026
AMA Pro Motocross Championship - R10
Mechanicsville, MD - Budds Creek
Saturday, August 22nd, 2026
MXGP Motocross World Championship - R17
MXGP of Netherlands - Arnhem
Sunday, August 23rd, 2026
Progressive American Flat Track - R14
Peoria, IL
Saturday, August 22nd, 2026
AMA WMX Championship - Round 5
Budds Creek Raceway - Mechanicsville, MD
Monday, August 24th, 2026

Photo Galleries:

Photo of Australian ProMX rider Wilson Todd

Photo Gallery: 2022 ProMX Championship Round 4 Gillman SA

2019 Australian Supercross Championship - Round 3 - Wollongong NSW

2019 Australian Supercross Championship – Round 3 – Wollongong NSW

2019 Australian Supercross Championship - Round 2 - Port Adelaide SA

2019 Australian Supercross Championship – Round 2 – Port Adelaide SA

2019 Australian Supercross Championship - Round 1 - Brisbane QLD

2019 Australian Supercross Championship – Round 1 – Brisbane QLD

2018 Australian Supercross Championship - Round 3 - Geelong VIC

2018 Australian Supercross Championship – Round 3 – Geelong VIC

2018 Mr VMX Aussie VMX Des Nations - Broadford - Vic

2018 Mr VMX Aussie VMX Des Nations – Broadford – Vic

More Galleries