The Yamaha Australian Enduro Championship presented by MXstore support classes faced a demanding return to Dungog, NSW, for rounds three and four, with the Time Card format testing both skill and endurance across a challenging weekend. Dry, dusty conditions on Saturday gave way to even more punishing terrain on Sunday, as deep bull dust and hidden obstacles pushed riders to their limits. Across all classes, consistency and composure proved just as important as outright speed.

EV
Championship leader John Day was made to work for it in Dungog, with Geoffrey Braico quickly finding form from the opening test and setting the tone for a standout weekend. The pair controlled proceedings at the front across both rounds, establishing a consistent gap to the field. Behind them, Mick Lyon opened strongly before an early mistake allowed Mitchell Sutcliffe and Daniel Welsh to enter the podium fight as the day unfolded. While Day showed his usual consistency, a late slip in the final test of round four briefly saw him drop back, but it proved inconsequential to the overall standings. Across rounds three and four, it was Braico who claimed top honours, ahead of Day in second, with Lyon rounding out the podium.

EM

The EM class delivered a similarly competitive storyline, with championship leader Rowan Pumpa striking early with a test win to take control. Although a small mistake opened the door for Anthony Hanlan to capitalise on a test victory, Pumpa quickly returned to form and dominated the remainder of the weekend to secure the overall across both rounds. Nathan Brochtrup once again demonstrated his versatility, consistently finishing just seconds off the lead across every test to secure second overall through sheer consistency. Hanlan, despite showing strong pace early, settled into third across both rounds, holding off challenges despite a late shake-up in the final test.

J2

Riley Peacock proved the benchmark in J2, charging to an early lead and maintaining control across the entire weekend. Rarely putting a foot wrong, Peacock was only beaten twice across the 12 tests, delivering a commanding performance to secure both round wins. Koby Munro was the only rider able to consistently challenge for test victories, but found himself locked in close battles with Ollie Peach and at times Ryder Lambing. Peach remained a constant threat, always within striking distance and capitalising on opportunities to secure second in round three and third in round four. Munro reversed those results, finishing third on Saturday and improving to second on Sunday.

J3

The J3 category was defined by a clear leading trio, with Levi Rossi, Cooper Parkes and Chase Weston setting the pace across the weekend. Despite an early mistake on Sunday, Rossi quickly regrouped and returned to dominant form, claiming victory in both rounds. Behind him, Parkes and Weston traded positions throughout the tests, with Parkes ultimately securing second across both days through consistency. Weston, under pressure from the likes of Kye Kinsela and Cooper Clarke who each featured in strong individual tests, held firm to complete the podium in third across the weekend.

J4

The highly competitive J4 class produced some of the standout performances of the weekend, with Harley Hutton asserting control early and rarely relinquishing it. Topping all but one test, Hutton’s measured and consistent approach delivered him victory across both rounds. Nate Munro remained within striking distance throughout, applying constant pressure while fending off challenges from Riley Walker and later Jett Avard, earning second overall across both days. The battle for third was intense, with Asher Murphy and Walker trading positions regularly. Murphy secured third in round three through consistent top-three finishes, but Walker responded on Sunday, pushing through the deteriorating conditions to claim third in round four ahead of a fast-finishing Avard. Notably, both Hutton and Munro recorded outright fastest test times across the entire junior field—including the EJ ranks—highlighting the exceptional level of performance in J4.

JG

The JG class continued to showcase the next generation of Australian enduro talent, with Lorna Lock once again leading from the front. Rarely challenged, Lock delivered a dominant performance to secure victory across both rounds. Behind her, a competitive group including Olivia Johnson, Jessie Harris, Kaitlyn Aquilina, Tia Bowers, Holly Hutton and Luca Mathew all featured inside the top three at various stages of the weekend. Aquilina showed early strength on Saturday, while Bowers, Hutton and Mathew all capitalised on opportunities as conditions worsened into Sunday. Ultimately, it was Johnson’s consistency that secured her second overall across both rounds, with Harris holding firm under pressure to complete the podium in third on both days.

Looking Ahead

A demanding weekend in Dungog has further shaped the championship picture, with consistency across both days proving the ultimate separator in the support ranks. As the series builds momentum, these emerging talents continue to rise to the challenge, setting the stage for another highly competitive chapter when the Yamaha Australian Enduro Championship presented by MXstore returns for rounds 5 and 6 at QMP, Qld May 16-17

Image – Troy Pears.