Intense rivalries to reignite at 2026 Aus ProMX opening round

The Australian ProMX Championship returns this weekend, with the country’s best riders set to battle it out in Wonthaggi for opening-round honours.

Running from March 21–23 at Wonthaggi Motocross Track, the event will feature six classes: MX1, MX2, MX3 and MXW, as well as the Fox MX85 Cup and the FIM Oceania Women’s Motocross Cup.

But who are the favourites? And who can we expect to gain an early advantage as the eight-round championship kicks off? Here’s our quickfire form guide.

The MX1 class will be fiercely contested, with two-time reigning champion Kyle Webster (Honda) looking to fend off a competitive field including Jed Beaton (Yamaha), Nathan Crawford (KTM), Wilson Todd (Honda) and Aaron Tanti (Yamaha).

Veterans Dean Ferris (Kawasaki) and Todd Waters (Husqvarna) will also be chasing podiums, while Zachary Watson (KTM), Cody O’Loan (Beta), Bryce Ognenis (Yamaha), Regan Duffy (Yamaha), Brad West (Kawasaki) and Liam Jackson (Honda) are all hoping to climb the ranks.

bikesales tip: Webster and Beaton are expected to resume their 2025 rivalry, with Beaton determined to redeem himself after a practice crash at round six derailed his title run. Crawford and Todd should battle for third, but Crawford’s 2025 form gives him the edge.

Reigning champion Brodie Connolly is racing in the US and will not defend his title. Meanwhile, SX2 Supercross champion Ryder Kingsford has switched from Yamaha to Honda and is expected to be a major contender. Others to watch include Noah Ferguson (Yamaha), Byron Dennis (KTM), Jayce Cosford (KTM) and Seth Burchell (Yamaha).

Koby Hantis (Yamaha) steps up from MX3, and Japan’s Souya Nakajima (Yamaha) and Haruki Yokoyama (Kawasaki) could also shake up the order. Other riders in the mix include Kayd Kingsford (Honda), Jet Alsop (Honda), Ky Woods (Yamaha) and Kayden Strode (Honda).

bikesales tip: Rising star Ryder Kingsford should carry his supercross momentum into the outdoors and establish himself among the country’s best. Behind him, it’s wide open — but we’re tipping Ferguson for second and Nakajima as a dark-horse third place.

The development class loses its entire 2025 top three to the MX2 ranks, leaving Seth Shackleton (KTM), Jack Deveson (Yamaha), Jackson Fuller (KTM) and Riley Burgess among the early favourites. Cooper Bowman (Husqvarna), Hayden Draper (Yamaha), Ollie Birkitt (KTM), Joshua McCloskey (Yamaha) and Kyle Harvey (KTM) will also be in the mix.

bikesales tip: A tricky class to predict, but based on 2025 form, Shackleton, Deveson and Fuller look like the frontrunners.

Four-time reigning champion Charli Cannon (Honda) rightly enters as favourite again, but American rider Lachlan “Lala” Turner (Yamaha) shapes as her biggest threat yet. Taylah McCutcheon (KTM), Karaitiana Horne (Kawasaki), Madi Simpson (Yamaha), Darci Whalley (Honda), Mia Tongue (Honda), Leah Rimbas (KTM) and Emily Lambert (GASGAS) could all contend for podium places.

A wildcard factor this year is the inclusion of riders from the US and New Zealand in the FIM Oceania Women’s Motocross Cup. The international event includes one standalone moto and two held within the MXW class.

bikesales tip: It’s tough to predict how the Oceania Cup field will influence the results, but it’s hard to imagine Cannon or Turner finishing outside the top two. Third place is trickier, but McCutcheon gets our nod.

Head to auspromx.com.au for full details on Round 1 at Wonthaggi.