The 2026 Yamaha Australian Enduro Championship presented by MXstore (AusEnduro) wraps up in Coonalpyn on September 5-6, as Wil Ruprecht (Yamaha) and Korey McMahon (KTM) take their high-stakes Pro Enduro battle to the wire in the South Australian bush.

Ruprecht (Shop Yamaha) currently holds the upperhand by 19pts over McMahon (DM31 Racing KTM), with the latter’s victory at the last round in Kempsey putting renewed pressure back on his rival.

Saturday’s three-hour cross-country in Coonalpyn is likely to have a huge say in who ultimately claims the Pro Enduro spoils, with riders such as Jye Dickson (DM31 Racing KTM), Cooper Sheidow (BLU CRU Yamaha) and Kogan Lock (GASGAS) also expected to be in the thick of the action.

At the last long-form outing in Casterton, the lead changed several times between Ruprecht and McMahon as momentum swings turned it into a cliff-hanger. Ruprecht eventually won after a colossal battle.

Sunday will then revert to the more traditional sprint format in Coonalpyn, with 12 Australian senior and junior champions to be crowned by the end of proceedings.

The 2026 AusEnduro finale will also mark a watershed in national enduro competition, with the final E3 and E2 champions to be crowned ahead of a revamped all-powers Pro Enduro class being launched in 2027. Among the wholesale changes, the E1 class will also be renamed Pro Lites as the 2027 AusEnduro Championship heads into a new era.

Live timing from Coonalpyn is available by clicking here.

For current standings in all classes, click here.

Pro Enduro
Ruprecht deservedly heads to Coonalpyn with the odds stacked in his favour, having won seven of the nine rounds in a dream season aboard his WR450F. After just being pipped at the post by Daniel Milner last year, there’s extra motivation for Ruprecht to take gold in 2026 – but the likes of McMahon and Dickson will do all they can to find cracks in his composure.

The hard-nosed trio has dominated the Pro Enduro podium in 2026, with only Maximus Purvis (Shop Yamaha) and Lyndon Snodgrass (DM31 Racing KTM) upsetting normal service.

Dickson also has Sheidow breathing down his neck in the battle for third, with Lock and Jeremy Carpentier (JGR Yamaha) similarly locked in a tight skirmish of their own for fifth.

Wil Ruprecht

E1
Sheidow’s on the cusp of winning his second E1 championship in four years, with only Carpentier standing in his way.

The gap between the pair is 29pts after they traded first and second places in Kempsey, and if a similar pattern ensues in South Australia Sheidow will be in celebration mode as early as Saturday.

Meanwhile, Luke Chellas (KTM) is in the box seat to claim third overall in the absence of Stefan Granquist (Triumph).

Cooper Sheidow

E2
Ruprecht may have some nervous Pro Enduro moments ahead, but in the E2 class he’s sitting pretty with a whopping 48pt lead over Lock.

Saturday’s cross-country should be all the time he needs to win his first AusEnduro title since E1 in 2017, after which time he left Australia to pursue an international career – which peaked with world title success in 2022.

After a brilliant rookie season in the senior ranks, Lock still has plenty of motivation in Coonalpyn trying to hold off Dickson. The gap is just 2pts, with Dickson still playing catch up after a costly DNF in Casterton scuppered his title chances.

Kogan Lock

E3
McMahon’s motivation is twofold in Coonalpyn: wrapping up consecutive E3 titles, while also attempting to go through the season with a perfect scorecard.

Based on the blazing form the 24-year-old has produced so far in 2026, he’s likely to get the job done easily on both fronts, with Max Midwinter (KTM) on track to finish second.

Korey McMahon

EW
Jess Gardiner (JGR Yamaha) just keeps on keeping on, and not only is she closing in on a record-extending 10th EW crown in 2026, but round 11 in Coonalpyn will also be her 150th start stretching back to 2010.

During that time, the Australian Motorsport Hall of Famer has scored 78 first places, 53 second places, 14 third places, two fourth places and only one DNF!

What does that mean? She’s more than likely to claim championship victory over fellow Yamaha rider – and upcoming ISDE teammate – Madi Simpson this weekend.

The entry list has also been strengthened by New Zealand star Rachael Archer (JGR Yamaha) after her perfect score in Casterton, while motocross gun Emma Milesevic (Yamaha) is also making a cameo.

Madison Healey (KTM) is currently third in the EW standings.

EJ
This one’s all set up for a mouth-watering finale, with just 7pts separating Kai Austin (Empire Kawasaki), Bjorn Cardenas (KTM) and Marcus Nowland (Yamaha Australia) after trading blows all season.

Austin has momentum on his side after a clean sweep in Kempsey, but they all start with a clean sheet in South Australia as the battle of nerves begins.

Mason Phillips (Kawasaki) and Oscar Harris (KTM) are also not far behind in fourth and fifth in what has been a hotly contested season between the 16-U18 brigade.

Kai Austin

Coonalpyn will also see plenty of action in the Legends, Masters, Vets, J1-J4, JG, JJ, Sportsman and Expert classes.

Also, keep an eye on the AusEnduro socials for updates across the weekend.

The location of the event is 5746A Dukes Highway, Coonalpyn, SA 5265.

Images: Troy Pears and JB Photography