More than 220 of New Zealand’s most promising young motocross racers will descend on Leeston, Canterbury, starting this Friday for the 2026 NZ Junior Motocross Championships — the first major national event to be held on the brand-new track at the purpose-built motocross facility.
Carson Carroll #911 leads out the 12-14 Years 125cc class at the 2026 New Zealand Junior Motocross Championships held at the Brookhaven Motocross Training Facility in Leeston, Canterbury, New Zealand, April 10-12, 2026. Photo: MNZ/Derek Morrison
Running from Friday 10 to Sunday 12 April, the three-day event is hosted by the Christchurch Off Road Motorcycle Club. The New Zealand Junior Motocross Championships has a storied history of producing world-class talent and a reputation as the ultimate proving ground for the country’s next generation of motocross stars.
The roll call of alumni of the New Zealand Junior Motocross Championships reads like a who’s who of New Zealand motocross greats: 1996 Motocross World Champion Shayne King and his brother Darryll King, fellow international stars Darryl Atkins, Josh Coppins, Cody Cooper, 2004 MX2 World Champion Ben Townley, multi-World Champion Courtney Duncan (2019, 2020, 2021 and 2023) and the recently minted AMA Supercross star Cole Davies (currently leading the East Coast Supercross series in the USA) have all come through the ranks of this event before going on to compete and win at the highest levels of the sport worldwide.
The new track at the Brookhaven Training Facility on Boundary Creek Road, Leeston, has been made possible through landowner Dean Baird, of Baird’s Collision Centre, who set out to establish a dedicated motocross training venue 10 years ago. The track has developed ever since, and about four months ago, it went through another large transformation in preparation for this event. Dean’s two sons, Jesse, 13, and Ryder, will both be competing at the event.
“We’re incredibly proud to be hosting the Junior Nats here on this new track,” Baird said. “The track has been completely rebuilt; very little of the old track remains. It’s a whole new level and would be worthy of a senior event. The amount of work that has gone into it is incredible, and I am grateful to my friends and contractors who have poured so much time, energy and passion into completing the track and the new facilities like the spectator viewing platform. I overheard some visitors calling it a world-class motocross track. That was pretty cool.”
Start gates at the 2026 New Zealand Junior Motocross Championships held at the Brookhaven Motocross Training Facility in Leeston, Canterbury, New Zealand, April 10-12, 2026. Photo: MNZ/Derek Morrison
Spanning eight age group classes from eight-year-olds to 16-year-olds, the three days of competition will see riders racing on 65cc through to 250cc machines. Riders to watch include Waipukurau’s Carson Carroll in the 12-14 years 125cc class and Tauranga’s Arama Te Whetu in the 15-16 years 125cc class, with both riders fresh off the podium (second and third, respectively) in the MX125 class at the 2026 Yamaha New Zealand Motocross Championships. Local Rakaia rider Ben Costello finished fourth at the senior nationals behind the two North Islanders and will be looking for redemption in the 15-16 years 125cc class in front of his home crowd. Auckland’s Jack Ellingham, who finished sixth overall in MX2 at the senior nationals, will be the favourite in the 14-16 years 250cc class.
In the women’s classes, Mikayla Griffiths, of Taupo, who represented New Zealand at the FIM Oceania Women’s Motocross Championships last month, will be the one to beat.
With more than 220 riders registered for this year’s event, competition will be fierce across all classes.
“With such a strong turnout, it is clear the future of the sport is in good hands,” offers Motorcycling New Zealand General Manager, Vicky Hicks. “This event has long been a stepping stone for riders progressing into senior competition as well as international competition, and reflects how New Zealand continues to produce world-class talent.”
“Events like this do not happen without the commitment of the club and its volunteers, whose contribution is invaluable.”
Families, supporters and motorsport fans are encouraged to come and witness the next generation of Kiwi champions in action. Racing starts approximately 9am each day.
