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Australian Motocross Champion Hayden Mellross
Photos: [Clockwise] Between 2015 and 2018 Hayden Mellross raced in the United States in the AMA motocross and supercross championships; Mellross in 2017 racing for the 51Fifty Yamaha Racing Team; and Melross in action in the Glendale rouind of the AMA SX West Championship on 6 February 2016 (Photos by Olivier de Vaulx)
Hayden Mellross - Aussie International motocross and supercross racer
Hayden Mellross’s name has long graced the start gates of international motocross and supercross tracks, yet the Australian has often flown under the radar in the world of professional racing.
Similar to the way that Michael Byrne’s successful international career was overshadowed by Australian international superstar Chad Reed at the turn of the century, Mellross faces the same situation with the sensational Lawrence brothers, Hunter and Jett, stealing all the headlines.
At age 19, Hayden made his professional debut in the United States starting at Hangtown in May 2015, then signed with the 51Fifty Energy Drink Yamaha Team, which is a supercross-only outfit based in Southern California, racing with this team through to 2018.
During that period, he has been a consistent and regular Top 10 finisher in the AMA 250 SX Championships and three times finished in the Top 20 in the 450cc class.
Compared to other Australian riders, Hayden’s career has been unconventional as he first travelled to the United States in 2010 when he was 14 to train at the Millsaps Training Facility, where he returned full-time the following year.
That year he only returned to Australia to compete in the National Junior Motocross Championships, where he was crowned Australian Junior Champion for his age and class, and National Junior Supercross series, where he finished second.
The following year in 2012 he returned to the USA and won a World Championship title – taking out the 450B Stock class at the 41st World Mini GP in Mesquite NV, USA then returned to Australia to debut in senior ranks at Dubbo (NSW) – winning the Under 19s National Supercross final and all races.
But it was in Supercross where he excelled and was unlucky not win two Australian Supercross Championships.
Returning to Australia in 2016 for the series, Mellross led the Australian SX2 Championship up to the final round. A mechanical failure on the final lap dashed his championship hopes and he slipped to third placing overall, a bitter disappointment after an otherwise stellar season.
Then in 2018, a similar incident occurred and he was the runner-up Australian SX2 Champion, finishing just 6 points behind Jay Wilson who won the championship. Hayden still races today and in 2025, is racing in Germany with the KTM Sarholz Racing Team.
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Hayden's early days and MTF experience in the US
Hayden Mellross was born on 18 August 1995 in Young, New South Wales.
He began his journey in motocross at a young age. His passion for the sport saw him travel to the United States as early as 14 to train at the prestigious Millsaps Training Facility (MTF). Initially accompanied by his father, Mellross quickly embraced independence, spending eight months at MTF full-time by the age of 15.
Living on his own in a modest $8,000 caravan parked at MTF, Mellross learned the art of self-sufficiency. From grocery shopping to doing his laundry at a local laundromat, he navigated adult responsibilities while focusing on his training. Despite the challenges, Mellross thrived in this unique environment, balancing his home-school education with rigorous motocross training.
Rising through junior ranks to be crowned an Australian and World Motocross Champion
Mellross’s early career was marked by a dual focus on American and Australian racing. He would train and compete in the U.S. for much of the year before returning home to contest the Australian Junior Motocross Championships and later the Supercross Under-19 series.
In 2011, he only returned to Australia to compete in the National Junior Motocross Championships at Murray Bridge in South Australia, where he was crowned Australian Junior Champion for his age and class and National Junior Supercross series, where he finished second.
The following year in 2012 he returned to the USA and won a World Championship title – taking out the 450B Stock class at the 41st World Mini GP in Mesquite NV, USA, then returned to Australia to make his debut in senior motocross.
Riding for Honda MX Thor Racings, he launched his senior racing career in Dubbo on 13 October 2012 with a wire to wire win at the opening round of the Terex Australian Supercross Championship – in the under 19s class. He won the 12 lap under 19s main event ahead of his more fancied rivals Kale Makeham and Jay Wilson.
Photo: 2012 Hayden Mellross launched his senior racing career to win opening round of the 2012 Terex Australian Supercross Championship Under 19s at Dubbo – Full Noise Aaryn Minerds
Becoming a professional rider in the United States
Photo: [L] Hayden Melross in action in the Glendale rouind of the AMA SX West Championship on 6 February 2016; then a photo shoot for the 51Fifty Yamaha Motocross Team in December 2017 (Photos by Olivier de Vaulx)
At age 19, Hayden made his first professional in the United States starting at Hangtown on 16 May 2015, where he finished 27th on debut.
His time in the U.S. included a stint with the 51Fifty Energy Drink Yamaha Team, where he competed in the AMA Supercross West series from 2016 to 2018.
During his tenure with 51Fifty, Mellross faced significant challenges, including a severe crash in 2016 that resulted in a broken lower back. Despite the setback, he returned to racing later that year and continued to build his reputation as a determined and capable competitor.
2017 was not much better as he suffered two notable injuries – firstly a hand injury at the Anaheim 2 Supercross, which caused him to miss the subsequent rounds in Phoenix and Oakland. Then later in the year when he returned to Australia, after winning the first Supercross Championship round, he landed on a haybale that had found its way onto the track, resulting in a broken sacrum (a bone at the base of the spinal cord). This injury was the biggest of his career and continued to cause him problems long after the incident.
One highlight that year was the opportunity to contest a Round 17 of the World MX2 Championship – the Monster Energy MXGP of USA on 3 September 2017. He joined fellow Aussies in this event – Hunter Lawrence and Jed Beaton, with Lawrence coming second overall and winning Moto 2 and Mellross finshing in 15th overall on debut.
His best AMA Supercross season came in 2018 when he finished 10th in the SX West series.
In addition to supercross, Mellross also ventured into the AMA Pro Motocross Championship as a privateer and later with the Cycle Trader Rock River Yamaha Team. Although injuries, including a broken shoulder blade, hampered his progress, he consistently demonstrated his grit and determination to compete at the highest level.
Returning to Australia and the MX Nationals
Photo: Hayden Mellross in action at the Australian Motocross CHampionship round at MX Farm in Queensland in 2019 QLD – Moto Snaps Media
By 2019, Mellross made a full-time return to Australia, signing with the Raceline KTM Thor Team to contest the Pirelli MX Nationals and Australian Supercross Championship. The move marked a new chapter in his career, as he transitioned to the premier (MX1) 450 class.
Melross had an excellent season in 2019 on debut in the MX1 class. He won the opening round at Wonthaggi. Unfortunately after this promising start, he was then sidelined with injury but recovered to go on and finish third in the National Championship, behind Todd Waters and Luke Clout.
The year 2020 was a wipeout for all competitors due to the world covid-19 pandemic, which saw the cancellation of the Australian Championships. When racing resumed in 2021 and 2022, Hayden finished 5th and 6th, respectively, narrowly missing out on podium placings in the Australian Pro MX1 Championships.
In 2022, riding for GasGas, he finished 11th overall in the Australian Supercross SX1 Championship, after finished fourth in season opener in Melbourne on 25 October. That year, he also contested the FIM World Supercross (WSX) Championship and finished 18th overall.
Mellross returned to the United States in 2023 to participate in the 2023 AMA Supercross Championship. During the Glendale round of the series on 9 April, he sustained damage to his right ankle and was unable to complete the Supercross season.
Back in Australia for the 2024 supercross season, Mellross was 6th in the Australian SX1 Supercross Championship. For the Australian ProMX Championships, he switched back the MX2 class and won round 4 at Gillman in South Australia.
For the 2025 season, Hayden Mellross has earned a contract to race supercross in Germany with the KTM Sarholz Racing Team.
Mellross's key career highlights
Photo: Hayden Mellross in the United States in December 2017 racing for Yamaha 51Fifty Team – (By Olivier de Vaulx)
International
2012
World Champion – 450B Stock class at the 41st World Mini GP in Mesquite NV, USA.
2022
18th FIM World Supercross Championship (WSX)
United States
Between 2016 and 2018, Hayden scored 7 250SX West Top 10s, 2 250sx Showdown Top 10s and 3 450 Top 20s.
Supercross Championships
2016
Supercross 250SX West 16th (Yamaha YZ250F)
2017
Supercross 250SX West 11th (Yamaha YZ250F)
2018
Supercross 250SX West 10th (Yamaha YZ250F)
Motocross
2015
20th Motocross 250cc class (Honda CRF 250)
2016
30th Motocross 250cc class (Yamaha YZ250F)
2017
Contested MXGP MX2 (USA round) (Yamaha YZ250F)
2018
23rd Motocross 250cc class
Australia
Supercross
2011
Runner-up Australian Junior Champion
2012
Runner-up Australian Supercross U/19 Champion
2016
3rd Australian SX2 Supercross Championship – led the series up to the final round.
2017
18th overall Australian SX2 Supercross Championship, winning the Port Adelaide round, but finished 18th overall due to injury.
2018
Runner-up Australin SX2 Champion
Motocross
2011
Australian Junior Motocross Champion
2019
3rd Australian MX1 Championship, winning opening round at Wonthaggi
2021
5th Australian MX1 Championship
2022
6th Australian MX1 Championship
2024
6th Australian MX2 Championship, winning Gillman SA round
Australian international motocross and supercross racers
Click on the links below to view more stories on other top Australian motocross and supercross racers.
Australian MX1 Champions
Australian Motocross Legends
Australia’s top international supercross racers
