The Yamaha Australian Enduro Championship presented by MXstore (AusEnduro) was a double sprint affair on August 8-9 for rounds nine and 10, with riders starting and finishing the special tests in a spectator-friendly amphitheatre at the APO Ranch, located just outside Kempsey.

The sprints were a litmus test for all riders, with plenty of dust and challenging switchback trails as the AusEnduro Championship completed its penultimate weekend of racing ahead of the Coonalpyn (SA) curtain call on September 5-6.

We’ve already wrapped up the Pro classes from Kempsey, including Wil Ruprecht and Korey McMahon sharing the Pro Enduro spoils, so let’s review all the action in the seven other Australian championship classes – J2-J4, JG, EM, EL and EV – including early successes for Levi Rossi in J3 and John Day in EV.

• Kempsey results
• Updated championship standings

J2: 12-U15 years, 85cc 2T/150cc 4T
It’s not often that winning margins in enduro are less than one second, but Saturday’s E2 jaw-dropper produced just that as Ollie Paech (GASGAS) defeated by Riley Peacock (KTM) by a paper-thin 0.736 seconds – with Maxi Harris (Husqvarna) just four seconds behind in third after an exhilarating day of racing.

Peacock turned the tables on Paech on Sunday in another tight one, while Koby Munro (Kawasaki) secured the last spot on the podium to remain second in J2 on 163pts ahead of a charging Peacock (159pts).

Sitting on 206pts, it’s now Paech’s title to lose in Coonalpyn as he looks to go one better than last year’s second place.

J3: 13-U15 years, 200cc 2T/ 250cc 4T
Congratulations to Levi Rossi (KTM), who is now a two-time AusEnduro champion in the junior ranks after wrapping up the J3 title on Sunday after his ninth successive victory in 2026. Rossi previously won the J2 title in 2024.

Rossi is now an unassailable 51pts (225 to 174) ahead of Cooper Parkes (KTM) with two rounds remaining, followed by Chase Weston (KTM, 170pts), Kye Kinsela (Yamaha, 157pts) and Tyler Eagle (Yamaha, 113pts).

Just like J2, J3 produced its own Kempsey cliffhanger, particularly on Saturday as Rossi edged out Parkes by just over two seconds, with Kinsela on their hammer in third.

It was the same trifecta on Sunday.

Levi Rossi

J4: 15 years, 200cc 2T/ 250cc 4T
Another blistering weekend for Harley Hutton (Yamaha) with his second successive clean sweep – and his seventh victory in nine rounds – as he closes in on the J4 title.

With Hutton’s rivals continuing to swap positions behind him, his margin is now a comfortable 34pts over Nate Munro (Kawasaki), with Asher Murphy (Kawasaki) a further 12pts behind in third.

Alongside Hutton, Riley Walker (KTM, 2-3), Munro (4-2) and Murphy (3-4) and were the other top brass in Kempsey.

Harley Hutton

JG: 12-U16 years, 200cc 2T/ 250cc 4T
Lorna Lock continued her JG blitz on the flying Yamaha YZ85, waltzing to victory in both rounds with plenty to spare over eye-catching debutante Aida Harris (Husqvarna) and Olivia Johnson (Husqvarna).

Lock leads Johnson by 31pts (225 to 194) and can wrap up the championship on Saturday in Coonalpyn if her red-hot form continues.

Jessie Harris (Yamaha, 167pts) is in third, as the top three from 2025 shows all signs of repeating itself in 2026.

Lorna Lock

EV: 35 years plus, All Powers
John Day (Yamaha) has etched his name into the AusEnduro honour board after topping the EV (Veterans) points in Kempsey and wrapping up the championship in one memorable weekend.

Day topped the Kempsey points with 2-1 results ahead of Scott Dunn (Husqvarna, 3-2), 2025 champion Mark Cook (KTM, 5-3) and Luke Ablitt (Husqvarna, 4-4), while two-time E3 champion Geoff Braico (Kawasaki) trounced everyone on Saturday before sitting out Sunday with a sore back.

Day is now unbeatable on 213pts from Cook (150pts) and Ablitt (145pts).

EM: 45 years plus, All Powers
Rowan Pumpa (Husqvarna) and Anthony Hanlan (KTM) both began the drive home on Sunday afternoon on a high: Pumpa after moving one step closer to three EM (Masters) titles in a row, while Hanlan broke through for his first victory in 2026 after six previous visits to the podium.

Pumpa (1-2), Hanlan (2-1) and Raymond Groves (KTM, 3-3) dominated in Kempsey, with Pumpa holding onto his 40pts (222 to 182) lead over Hanlan.

Darren Hart (Beta) and Craig Wilkinson (KTM) are equal third on 102pts, with Coonalpyn set to break the impasse over the final two rounds.

Images: JB Photography