Manjimup 15000 Event Manager Willie Thomson

Photos: Willie Thomson on the startline of the Manjimup 15000 at Cosy Creek; Thomson behind the scenes of the event which he has run since 2009.

Thomson brings the glory days back to Manjimup

Since 2009, Willie Thomson and Dirt High Promotions have written an exciting new chapter in the history of the Manjimup 15000.

When the Manjimup Motor Cycle Club faced mounting challenges staging its internationally renowned motocross spectacular in the late 2000s, Dirt High Promotions stepped in to form a partnership that would breathe new life into one of Australia’s most iconic motorcycle events.

Much like legendary event organiser Trevor Holm did during the 1980s, Thomson has overseen every aspect of the event’s operation, guiding the Manjimup 15000 into a new era while preserving the traditions that made it famous.

Under his leadership, the event has once again grown into Australia’s biggest one-day motocross meeting, attracting the nation’s best riders and thousands of passionate spectators each June long weekend.

Today, Dirt High Promotions is recognised as one of Western Australia’s leading motorcycle event management companies, delivering some of the state’s most respected competitions, including the Manjimup 15000, the Brookton Pony Express Enduro and the Tumbulgum Natural Terrains.

For his contribution to the sport of motorcycling in WA, Willie has been made an honorary life member of the Trail and Enduro and Manjimup Motor Cycle clubs.

Photos: In addition to the Manjimup 15000, Dirt High Promotions also run the Brookton Pony Express Enduro and Tumbulgum Natural Terrains.

Where it all began for Willie

Born in Edinburgh, Scotland, on 11 July 1960, Willie Thomson discovered motocross in 1977 while serving as a teenage apprentice mechanic. What began as a weekend pastime quickly became a lifelong passion.

In 1982, aged just 22, Thomson emigrated to Western Australia. Within days of arriving, he purchased a motorcycle from WA motocross champion Michael Ruttico and lined up behind the starting gates at Byford that same weekend.

After establishing himself in motocross, Thomson turned his attention to enduro competition, where he enjoyed remarkable success. Between 1991 and 2010 he won multiple Western Australian Enduro Championships and added an Australian Enduro Championship to his impressive racing résumé.

Yet his greatest contribution to motorcycle sport would come away from the handlebars.

Determined to raise the standard of motocross and enduro events in Western Australia, Thomson made the transition from competitor to promoter. As a Life Member of the Trail and Enduro Club, he established the annual Tumbulgum Natural Terrains at Mardella near Byford, earning a reputation for professionally run, rider-focused events.

Building on that success, he founded Dirt High Promotions, creating a company that has become synonymous with delivering some of Western Australia’s premier motorcycle events.

In 1987, Willie Thomson competed in the Manjimup 15000 and is pictured here with Craig Dack, who won the event for the first of three times that year – By Peter Kitchingman; and Thomson as promoter, setting up bikes for the civic event in Manjimup on the Saturday prior to raceday.

Forty years of Manjimup 15000 history

The Manjimup 15000 celebrated its 40th running in 2025, a milestone that highlighted the remarkable revival of the event under the partnership between Dirt High Promotions and the Manjimup Motor Cycle Club.

Every running since 2009 has been delivered by Thomson and his team, firmly re-establishing the Manjimup 15000 as Australia’s premier annual motocross spectacular.

Like every major sporting event, however, the Manjimup 15000 has faced its share of challenges. The COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of the 2020 event as public health restrictions prevented large gatherings. In 2023, Thomson suffered a serious off-road motorcycle accident that required months of rehabilitation, making it impossible for the event to proceed.

He returned to oversee the successful 2024 running, but another setback followed in 2025 when the conflict in Iran triggered a global fuel supply crisis. With interstate teams unable to guarantee travel to Western Australia, organisers made the difficult decision to cancel the event.

Despite those interruptions, the partnership between the Manjimup Motor Cycle Club and Dirt High Promotions remains as strong as ever, ensuring the Manjimup 15000 continues to honour its rich history while looking confidently toward the future.