Rounds five and six of the 2026 Yamaha Australian Enduro Championship at Queensland Moto Park delivered one of the toughest weekends of the season so far, with dry, dusty and rock-strewn conditions punishing riders across both days of competition.
With visibility fading late in each day and the terrain breaking down rapidly, consistency became the key factor, and once again it was Wil Ruprecht who rose above the chaos to extend his perfect start to the season with another commanding Pro Enduro double.
The Shop Yamaha Off-Road Racing Team rider continued his unbeaten 2026 run, controlling both rounds in Pro Enduro and E2, while Jye Dickson and Korey McMahon ensured he was never far from pressure in what became a high-quality test of endurance and precision.
Behind them, standout rides across E1, E3, EW and EJ ensured QMP delivered a full spectrum of storylines, with multiple riders breaking through for key wins and podiums as the championship reaches its halfway mark.
Pro Enduro
Ruprecht wasted no time stamping his authority on the weekend, immediately setting the pace across the opening tests and establishing himself as the benchmark across both days.
On Saturday, he was pushed hard early by Dickson, who actually opened the day with a test win despite a small crash, signalling his intent. McMahon also stayed firmly in the mix early, sitting just seconds off the lead group as the pace at the front remained relentless.
The battle between Ruprecht and Dickson tightened through the middle stages, with little separating the pair across successive tests. Dickson’s pace kept him within striking distance, but a costly issue in test five proved decisive, allowing Ruprecht to edge clear and control the closing stages to secure yet another Pro Enduro victory.
Sunday followed a similar script, but with Ruprecht again striking first. He opened the day with a five-second buffer and never relinquished control, while McMahon and Dickson continued to apply pressure behind him.
McMahon showed strong progression through the second day, finishing just two seconds off the pace in test four and later topping the final test, but again it was Ruprecht who had the answers when it mattered most, extending his winning streak to six-from-six in 2026.
Ruprecht said the conditions were demanding but familiar.
“The conditions were good, but there were a lot of similarities to Dungog in that the hard pack makes traction tricky and the rocks here make it even more technical,” he said. “The bike and team were working well and it’s good to keep the momentum rolling, but we can’t get comfortable because the others are improving.”
Dickson finished second overall again across both rounds, with McMahon completing the Pro Enduro podium in third.
E1
The E1 class again produced a tight early battle, with Cooper Sheidow, Deegan Graham, Maximus Purvis and Jeremy Carpentier locked together across the opening tests on Saturday, separated by only seconds.
Sheidow and Graham traded control early before Sheidow struck back in test four to regain command of the class. That stage also proved costly for Purvis, who suffered a heavy crash after hitting a rock and was forced to withdraw later in the day due to rib and mid-section pain.
From there, Sheidow controlled proceedings to take the opening win of the weekend, with Graham holding on for second and Carpentier completing the podium by the narrowest of margins.
Sunday again belonged to Sheidow, who quickly established control from the opening test and never looked back. Carpentier again proved his consistency with another strong second place, while Graham recovered from an early crash to salvage third.
Sheidow said finally being pain-free has been key to his resurgence.
“Over the last couple of seasons I’ve had injuries, but I’m finally riding pain-free again and it’s showing,” he said. “It’s nice to be back at full speed and enjoying racing again.”
E2
As expected, the E2 category mirrored the Pro Enduro battle, with Ruprecht and Dickson locked in a direct fight across both days.
On Saturday, Dickson struck first before Ruprecht responded immediately, and from there the pair traded blows across nearly every test. Dickson remained within seconds throughout most of the day, but a significant mistake in test five handed Ruprecht the breathing room he needed to control the finish.
Sunday brought more of the same, with both riders matching each other test-for-test while also fighting for outright honours. Dickson again pushed hard but could not find a way through, while Kogan Lock maintained a strong and consistent run to secure third.
Ruprecht again came out on top in E2, extending his perfect season record and reinforcing his championship lead.
E3
E3 saw Korey McMahon once again dominate from the outset, controlling both days with trademark consistency and pace.
Saturday featured strong early resistance from Max Midwinter, who recovered from a mechanical issue to fight back into second, while Broc Grabham and others traded podium positions through the middle stages.
McMahon remained in control throughout, taking another comfortable win.
Sunday followed a similar pattern, with McMahon untouchable at the front. Grabham recovered strongly after a timing issue in the opening stages to claim second overall, while Midwinter again delivered a steady performance to round out the podium.
McMahon’s fifth consecutive class win further extended his championship advantage.
EW
The EW class produced one of the most dramatic shifts of the weekend.
On Saturday, Jessica Gardiner looked in control early before Madi Simpson began to apply pressure, capitalising on small mistakes across the middle tests. The battle went right down to the final stage, where Simpson delivered under pressure to take her first win of 2026 by just 3.5 seconds.
Sunday saw Gardiner respond immediately. She hit the front early and controlled the day from that point, while Simpson held second throughout. Emelie Granquist and Madison Healey fought hard for the final podium spot, with Healey ultimately coming out on top in the closing stages.
Gardiner bounced back strongly, while Simpson’s consistency across both days kept her firmly in the title picture.
EJ
The EJ class delivered another tight championship battle, with Marcus Nowland, Kai Austin and Beau Tripcony all in the mix across the weekend.
Saturday belonged to Nowland, who responded strongly in the closing stages to take his first EJ win of the season after a back-and-forth fight across the day.
Sunday saw Austin strike early with a strong opening test and build a buffer at the front, while Tripcony and Nowland fought back through the middle stages. Tripcony then surged late with a strong run of test wins, but Austin held on to secure victory ahead of Tripcony, with Nowland completing the podium.
QMP delivered one of the most demanding rounds of the season, with hard pack, rock and dust combining to punish mistakes across both days.
With the championship now heading to Casterton for rounds seven and eight, conditions will swing dramatically to sand — setting up a very different challenge and potentially tightening the battles across all classes as the series heads deeper into 2026.
