AMXhistory Facebook Page
AMXhistory You Tube Channel
AMXhistory Vimeo Library, featuring all videos on this site
AMX History - October 2026
Team Belgium wins its first MXoN in 13 years in France
The 2026 Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations was held at Ernée, France, on 2–4 October, bringing together the world’s leading motocross nations for one of the sport’s biggest annual events.
Team Belgium reclaimed the Chamberlain Trophy, ending a 13-year wait for victory, ahead of Spain and The Netherlands in front of more than 100,000 spectators over the weekend.
Australia finished ninth overall, arriving in France following its historic victories in 2024 and 2025, but without the riders who had delivered those triumphs. The 2026 squad, which consisted of Jed Beaton, Aaron Tanti and Alex Larwood, represented Australia’s 39th appearance at the Motocross of Nations and was the first all-rookie Australian team since 1997.
The 2026 result was a reminder of just how difficult it is to win the Motocross of Nations. Australia’s previous championship-winning trio of Jett Lawrence, Hunter Lawrence and Kyle Webster was replaced by three riders making their Australian MXoN debuts. The Lawrence brothers decided to sit out the 2026, while Webster was recovering from shoulder surgery.
Jed Beaton demonstrated that Australia still had competitive pace at the highest level, but the team’s overall result reflected the challenge of combining three newcomers against nations fielding established international stars. Beaton was Australia’s standout performer. He qualified sixth in MXGP and recorded 11th and 10th in Sunday’s races, securing sixth in the individual MXGP classification against a strong international field.
Alex Larwood finished eighth in the MX2 class after two 21st-place results. Tanti endured the most difficult weekend, retiring from Race Two before finishing 24th in the final moto. Under the event’s scoring system, his retirement became Australia’s discarded result, but his 24th place in the final race counted toward the team total.
The final team standings were:
1. Belgium – Lucas Coenen, Sacha Coenen and Liam Everts (23 pts)
2. Spain – Jorge Prado, Guillem Farres and Francisco Garcia (26 pts)
3. Netherlands – Jeffrey Herlings, Glenn Coldenhoff and Roan van de Moosdijk
9. Australia (87 pts)
Click above to contribute content, photos or results to the Australian Motocross History website, or email: amxhistory@outlook.com
SUBSCRIBE HERE
To receive FREE Australian Motocross Championship list posters, monthly Australian MX History website eNews and new video releases.
Preserving our motocross history for future generations
See Magic Manjimup 15000 film and legend interviews
Both the Magic Manjimup 15000 MX documentary and Con Migro legend interviews from the Manjimup 15000 celebration at the Camelot Arts Club on 8 August 2026 are now available for public viewing on the AMX History You Tube Channel.
More than 170 people attended the Perth premiere of Magic Manjimup 15000 MX – 40 Years of History in One Hour documentary at the Camelot Arts Club in Mosman Park on Saturday, 8 Augsut 2026.
The event followed the format of last year’s successful Harley Scramble celebration at the same venue. The evening kicked off with a display of vintage motocross bikes, followed by host Con Migro interviewing past Manjimup 15000 legends prior to the documentary screening – Jeff Leisk, Neville Cutts, Jason Marshall and Dale Britton. plus the past and current event managers Trevor Holm and Willie Thomson.
The documentary takes viewers on a journey through four distinct eras of Australia’s most iconic outdoor motocross event — from its groundbreaking beginnings in the 1980s through to its revival and modern resurgence under Dirt High Promotions from 2009 onwards.
Packed with rare archival footage and hundreds of historic photographs — many courtesy of renowned Australian motocross photographer Peter Kitchingman — the film captures the atmosphere, personalities and defining moments that helped make the Cosy Creek MX Circuit famous across Australia and around the world.
Holm and Thomson are two pivotal figures at the heart of the story in the event’s history. Holm masterminded the inaugural Manjimup 15000 in 1980, named after its then ground-breaking $15,000 prizemoney, and played a key role in elevating the event to international status. Thomson later carried the torch into a new era from 2009 onwards, helping restore the event to prominence for a new generation of motocross fans.
A must-see for motocross enthusiasts, sporting historians and anyone passionate about Western Australian sporting history, the documentary celebrates the people, passion and perseverance behind one of Australia’s most legendary motocross events.
Latest most popular stories in AMX History
Photo: Anthony Gobert at the 1991 Manjimup 15000 at Cosy Creek, Manjimup (By Peter Kitchingman)
The anniversary of Anthony Gobert’s breakthrough win in the 1992 Australian Supercross Masters series was the most popular story in August, after the Lawrence brother’s historic win (featured above).
On 21–22 August 1992, the 17-year-old NSW sensation from Oakdale won the final round of the Peter Jackson Supercross Masters Championship at Sydney Entertainment Centre — and with it, the prestigious national series.
Racing a 250cc Kawasaki, Gobert had blitzed the experienced opposition throughout the $150,000 series, breaking the stranglehold of established stars such as Glen Bell, Craig Dack and Eddie Warren.
He had led the championship from the opening round at Newcastle on January 11 and capped the series with a convincing victory in the 20-lap Sydney final, pocketing $8,000.
At the time, motocross experts believed that Anthony Gobert would be the next Jeff Leisk! But before we knew it, he started chasing down a road racing career with the supercross prizemoney he earned helping him to finance his entry into this branch of the sport, which he also exceeded at.
Penrite Australian ProMX Championships
Photo: Newly crowned 2026 Kawasaki MX1 Champion Jed Beaton (Yamaha) – Foremost Media/Motorcycling Australia
Your contributions
FORMER FIM WORLD SUPERCROSS CHAMPION KEN ROCZEN IN ACTION DOWN UNDER
Photo: German Ken Roczen on his way to winning the Queensland round of 2025 World SX Championship aboard a Suzuki – By Peter Coward
Peter Coward recently sent in some great photos from the 2025 FIM World Supercross Championships and Australian Grand Prix in Brisbane on 29 November, incuding this briliant action shot from foemr FIM World Supercross Champion Ken Roczen.
After the Australian round at the Cbus Super Stadium in Queensland on 29 November 2025, the series moved onto Sweden and South Africa.
Two new World Champions were crowned at the final round in Cape Town, South Africa on 13 December. American Jason Anderson claimed the SX1 World Championship, while Great Britain’s Max Anstie secured the SX2 title after a dominant campaign.
Roczen was a standout in the early rounds, including a clean sweep at the opening round in Buenos Aires, Argentina on 8 November, followed by a second overall victory in Queensland. But limited participation across the season restricted his final points tally despite race-winning pace.
No easy way - Motocross legend Stephen Gall’s autobiography now available
AMX History pays tribute to Australian Motocross legend Stephen Gall who unveiled his autobiography at an exclusive event in Melbourne that coincided with the AUSX Open at Marvel Stadium in November.
Titled “No Easy Way: The Stephen Gall Story”, the book is scheduled for release in coming weeks and will be priced at $69.95.
Orders are now available via the www.noeasyway.com.au web site, with a limited number of advance copies signed by Gall himself. The book is also available through www.mxstore.com.au and select physical outlets.
“I’ve been so fortunate to have enjoyed a successful and varied career, both on the bike and off, and I’m so excited to now be able to chronicle every chapter of it in ‘No Easy Way – The Stephen Gall Story’, Stephen said.
“There are a lot of stories to tell, and a lot of never-before-published images to reveal, to give my generations of fans and followers a deeper insight into my life and my racing motorcycles and speedway cars.”
From Menai in New South Wales, Stephen Gall burst onto the Australian motocross scene in the mid 1970’s. During the early eighties Gall virtually owned Australian motocross and supercross events – winning the prestigious Mr. Motocross series (Mr. MX) four times, including a hat-trick in 1980-82.
After breaking through to win his first Australian Championship in 1980 at Dargle in New South Wales, Gall went on to win five Australian Championships. This included winning the 250cc class a record four years in succession (1980 -1983).
Gall was also a pioneer in the development of supercross across Australia in the late 1970s, early 1980s, before the Australian Supercross Championships were introduced. He won the majority of national supercross events and was the main local rider to be competitive up against the visiting American and other international riders. He also won three Australian Dirt Track Championships during that era.
Gall’s duals with close friend, team mate and arch-rival Anthony Gunter in the late seventies were epic. The Gall vs Gunter battles became legendary and the two riders slugged it out in successive rounds of the Mr. MX series as well as the more traditional State and Australian Championship titles.
In addition to his national motocross titles, Gall won more than 30 State motocross titles then moved on to other sports with success, including winning the 1988 Australian Speedcar Speedway Championship at the Parramatta City Raceway and twice winning the Finke Desert Rally. Gall helped take motocross in Australian to a new professional level both on and off the track.
Along with early mentor Len Williamson, he started Australia’s effort at the Motocross of Nations World Teams event in 1984, competing in Australia’s very first entry at the Trophee Des Nations in Varberg, Sweden, then later on becoming the Australian team manager from 1985 to 1992.
In 1987 Gall established the “Stephen Gall Academy of Off Road Riding” and has been teaching riding techniques to young riders since then. For his contribution to motorcycle and motorcar racing, in 2016 Stephen Gall was inducted into the Australian Motor Sport Hall of Fame.
Keep across new AMX History updates as new pages are released
Join the new AMXHistory Facebook Group to get updates any new features and updated webpages, as they are updated.
Click below to see the full statistics on Australia’s greatest ever 125cc, 250cc, 350cc, 500cc, Unlimited, MX1, MX2, MX3 and MXW racers, as well as the Sidecars, or to view the souvenir Australian Champions posters.
Latest motocross champions inducted as legends
Popular new content
TRIBUTES TO LOST AUSTRALIAN MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONS
INTERNATIONAL MOTOCROSS, PLUS AUSSIES OVERSEAS
Australia's Motocross des Nations journey
Australian Championships and other motocross / supercross stories
mister motocross series (1974 to 1990)
"It’s important to preserve the heritage of the sport and where it came from – so people can enjoy their era again and the young people can see what it was like."
Jeff Leisk quote – Motor Sport Retro interview, March 21, 2012
Photo: Australian Jeff Leisk, 1989 Runner-up World 500cc Motocross Champion
HOLDEN ON TIGHT
This website is supported by Rosco Holden.
Follow and contribute stories to Rosco’s Mr Motocross Legends and Stars Facebook group, to help preserve Australia’s Motocross History.
Australian motocross champions
West Australian Jeff Leisk was the first Australian to place in the World Motocross Championships, finishing second in the 500cc class in 1989. He competed during the 1970’s to 1990’s and won a Junior World Championship in 1978 at age 13. He twice won the prestigious National Mr Motocross series before he headed over to the US and Europe, opening the door for other Australians. He also won eight Australian Championships, including all classes at Mackay, Queensland in 1988.
Top International Australian competitors Jeff Leisk, Chad Reed and Andrew McFarlane picked up many Australian Motocross Championships between the 1980s and 2010.
They would have won more championships had they remained in Australia. The same applies to ‘all-time great’ Gary Flood who won eight Australian Titles while also racing scrambles and pursuing an International solo speedway career in England.
The 1970s through to the early ’90s were possibly the ‘Golden era’ of Motorcycling in Australia peaking with the World Motocross des Nations, World 125cc Grand Prix being held in Manjimup, Western Australia in ’92 and ’93, respectively. The West held three big International events each year during the eighties, with the prestigious Mr Motocross series in the Eastern States the pinnacle for national riders.
During this era New South Wales riders Glen Bell, Stephen Gall, Craig Dack and Kim Ashkenazi racked up a handful of National titles each.
In earlier times, Ken Rumble (Vic), Ray Fisher (Vic) and Charlie West (WA) won the most Australian Championships in the 1950s to 1960s, with seven, seven, and six titles each, respectively. Fisher and West too spent time racing in Europe.
The South Australians dominated the sidecar class for many years with Murray Williams winning nine titles in the 60s-70s and Barry Buckley eight in the 70s-80s.
australian motocross champions
AMX championships PHOTO and video gaLLERY
Order motocross photos from this site
The majority of photos on this website are kindly provided by Australian professional track photographer Peter Kitchingman.
Get in touch with Peter to buy any of these photos, or past photos of yourself.
Email: Peter Kitchingman Ph: 61 (03) 0419 044 906.
Create your own motocross achievements video
Are your favourite motocross photos and videos still buried in your computer, phone or garage – unsorted, unseen and unshared?
Let Life and Times Video review your footage and edit together an entertaining cinematic style film for you or montage video of your still photos, like this sample.
Put simply, you provide your home videos and photos, then we create for you a short video capturing your favourite moments.
Call John on 61 (08) 0423 789 009.
World Motocross Champions
Gaston Rahier from Belgium won three World 125cc Motocross Championships between 1975 and 1977. In 1975 and 1976 he toured Australia competing in various events across Australia to promote the new lightweight Suzuki motocross bikes, winning three Australian Championships in Sanford, Tasmania.
World Motocross des Nations
The Australian Team in the 1992 World Motocross des Nations team at Manjimup, Western Australia – Jason Marshall (500cc), Dale Britton (250cc) and Kim Ashkenazi (125cc). Team USA took out this event winning 13 consecutive times between 1981 to 1993.
World Sidecarcross Champions
Reigning Swiss World Sidecarcross Champion Emil Bollhalder toured Australia in 1984.
He competed at and won both the King of the Cross (Southern Cross) and Western Classic (Noble Falls) events in Western Australia after competing in a host of other events across Australia.
World Supercross Champions
Australia’s own Chad Reed is the record holder for most main event starts in AMA Supercross history. He had 228 starts as of 2018, with his career spanning almost 20 years. He won the World Championships in 2004 and 2008.
Most popular videos on this website
1 - KING OF THE CROSS DOCUMENTARY
2 - 1978 mISTER mOTOCROSS REVIEW
3 - WESTERN MX CLASSIC DOCUMENTARY
4 - TIM GIBBES MOTOCROSS STORY
5 - HARLEY SCRAMBLE DOCUMENTARY
AMXH Author, John Steyntjes
About the author and acknowledgments
Stay connected through Social media
To contribute content to this site, send photos or documents, click above or email: amxhistory@outlook.com
