Mark Leisk was a successful junior motocross competitor in Australia in the late 1970s – winning state and National series events.

Born on 30 September 1962 to parents Bob and Helen Leisk, Mark was the elder brother of Australian motocross legend Jeff Leisk and sisters Sharon and Naomi.  

The Leisk brothers were a dominant force in Western Australian junior motocross during the late 1970s, with Mark proving himself every bit as talented as his younger sibling. Both followed in the footsteps of their father Bob, who raced solo motorcycles at Claremont Speedway.  Growing up racing together, Mark and Jeff claimed numerous State and National junior motocross titles.

Two of Mark’s standout achievements came in 1978 when he won the Victorian round of Kid Mister Motocross, part of the well-known Mr Motocross series of the era, at Wallan on 9 June 1978.  Then in August, Mark won the prestigious Kid of the Cross event at Southern Cross, WA — a highlight on the national motocross calendar.

That same year, he finished runner-up in the WA State Championship in the 14–16 years Restricted Licence Holder class, behind Collie’s Brad Thompson.
Mark, who was nicknamed “red dog” for his hair colour, transitioned seamlessly into senior motocross competition in 1979, enjoying immediate success.
In his first attempt at State-level senior competition, Mark claimed the 1979 WA State 125cc Motocross Championship, defeating more experienced riders across multiple rounds.

Motocross in Western Australia was booming at the time, with hundreds of licensed riders competing — and Mark emerged as the standout in his class. To put his achievement into perspective, Mark won the WA 125cc State title ahead of Shane Kirkpatrick, who later that same year went on to win the Australian 125cc Motocross Championship over motocross legend Stephen Gall at Wanneroo Park.

While Mark’s passion for motorcycles never faded, he chose not to pursue the same relentless competitive path as his younger brother Jeff. In later years Mark stepped away from State and National competition, instead riding for enjoyment with friends on motocross and enduro tracks.

With the introduction of three-wheel trikes in the mid-1980s, Mark took up racing in this new class, which he completely dominated, competing at major supercross events – including the Fremantle Supercross. This iconic event was jointly run by his late father Bob Leisk and the late Kim Parsons before it was relocated to the Burswood Superdome in 1987.

Mark sadly died on 10 December 2025 and is survived by his wife Caro. He will be remembered as a naturally gifted racer, a key figure in Western Australian motocross history, and a cherished member of the Leisk racing family.