Jed Beaton is finally an Australian motocross champion again.
The Monster Energy CDR Yamaha rider wrapped up the 2026 Penrite ProMX MX1 Championship with a round to spare at Conondale’s Green Park, ending a decade-long wait for another national crown while teammate Aaron Tanti celebrated an emotional return to the top step of the podium with his first overall round victory since 2023.
A huge crowd packed the famous Queensland circuit for round seven of the championship, with Yamaha enjoying a near-perfect day as Beaton sealed the title, Tanti claimed the MX1 overall and Lachlan Turner continued her dominant run in the Women’s class.
Beaton completes the comeback
Holding a commanding 64-point lead entering the weekend, Beaton only needed a solid day to secure the championship. While he narrowly missed the podium for the first time this season with consistent 3-4 moto finishes, fourth overall was more than enough to clinch the 2026 MX1 title.
The championship is a fitting reward after a difficult few seasons. Beaton narrowly lost the 2024 title on countback before a broken femur during training ended his 2025 championship campaign just as he appeared destined for success. He returned in 2026 determined to finish the job and did exactly that.
“The last few years have been tough and we have taken a few hits, but I think that it just makes the win this year so much more rewarding,” Beaton said after securing the championship.
Tanti back where he belongs
While Beaton celebrated the championship, Aaron Tanti reminded everyone why he’s one of Australia’s premier MX1 riders.
After returning from a broken neck last season, Tanti has steadily rebuilt his form throughout 2026 and was rewarded at Conondale with an emotional overall victory courtesy of two runner-up finishes. His 2-2 scorecard edged him to the round win by a single point despite narrowly missing victory in the final moto after a late-race mistake allowed Kyle Webster through.
The result marks Tanti’s first ProMX overall victory since 2023 and puts him firmly in contention to secure second in the championship at next weekend’s finale.
Turner dominates WMX
Monster Energy Yamalube Yamaha’s Lachlan Turner continued her outstanding season by sweeping both Women’s motos at Conondale.
After charging from second to victory in race one, Turner produced one of the rides of the day in race two. A crash while leading dropped her back to fifth, but she fought through the field before making the winning pass on Charli Cannon with just two laps remaining to extend her championship advantage beyond 30 points.
Strong performances across Yamaha teams
Japanese MX2 rider Souya Nakajima recorded a career-best eighth overall after consistent 8-10 finishes, continuing his steady improvement in the championship.
It was a tougher outing for Noah Ferguson. After charging from outside the top 20 to finish sixth in race one following an early fall, the MX2 rider was caught in a first-turn incident in race two and could only manage 22nd, leaving him 12th overall for the round.
In MX3, Hayden Draper showed plenty of determination despite battling illness throughout race day. The New Zealander finished fourth overall and limited the damage in the championship, taking a 20-point lead into the final round.
Unfortunately, teammate Jack Deveson suffered one of the biggest crashes of the day. Following a heavy fall in race one, he was airlifted to hospital with early reports indicating a ruptured spleen and kidney damage. Dirt Action wishes Jack a full and speedy recovery.
The eighth and final round of the 2026 Penrite ProMX Championship heads to Queensland Moto Park this weekend, where the remaining championship battles will be decided over two days of racing.
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