Exciting news for the Australian GP, the final round of the 2026 MXGP, MX2 and Womens world championships, with Japanese and American champions lining up in the mens and womens events. A mix of Aussie and international stars are preparing to take on the world’s best at the MXGP of Australia presented by Sitzler in Darwin from September 18-20.

Four Australians, Japan’s Souya Nakajima and British-born New Zealander Dylan Walsh will compete as wildcards in the top-flight MXGP class at the final round of the 2026 FIM Motocross World Championship in the Top End, all eager to make their mark on the demanding Hidden Valley track.

Exciting news for the womens class, is that Lachlan "LaLa" Turner will line up against the best womens motocross riders in the world championship. Turner is a dominant American professional motocross racer. She is the back-to-back Women's Motocross Championship (WMX) title holder, winning consecutive titles in 2024 and 2025.

On the mens side, Souya Nakajima will add some interest as he won the D.I.D All Japan Motocross Championship in the IA2 (250cc) class back-to-back in 2024 and 2025. IN 2024 Championship:

Nakajima secured his very first national title riding for the bLU cRU Racing Team TAKA on a Yamaha YZ250F. He mathematically clinched the title during Moto 1 of the final round at the 62nd MFJ-GP.

He successfully defended his crown, taking the IA2 class title for the second consecutive year on November 2, 2025, at the final round of the All Japan Motocross Championship series.

Following his consecutive championships in Japan, he moved to the international circuit to compete full-time in the 2026 ProMX Championship in Australia under the Monster Energy Yamalube Yamaha Team.

New Zealander, Dylan Walsh, whose extensive international experience also includes appearances in the FIM Motocross World Championship and FIM Motocross of Nations, is equal third in the MX2 class ahead of the ProMX grand finale in Queensland on August 1-2.

Meanwhile, recent injuries have put dents in the MX1 campaigns of Sweet and Holroyd – who were both MXGP wildcards in Darwin last year – but Budd and Fitzpatrick have been piling on the pressure to the distributor-backed riders.

Budd, in particular, has turned heads with a successful mid-season switch from MX2 to MX1, and is an impressive 10th in the standings after a brace of solid performances.

Six rounds remain in the 2026 MXGP world title, with Jeffrey Herlings (Honda) the current leader after recent injury woes for Belgian firebrand Lucas Coenen (KTM) has seen him come back to the pack. Defending champion Romain Febvre (Kawasaki) also remains in contention, with Darwin again set to host an epic championship-deciding finale.

For more information on the MXGP of Australia, including the three-day program and ticketing options, visit mxgpaustralia.com.au.

2026 MXGP OF AUSTRALIA WILDCARDS

MXGP
• Jacob Sweet, Vic, KTM
• Cooper Holroyd, NSW, Honda
• Ryley Fitzpatrick, Qld, KTM
• Souya Nakajima, Japan, Yamaha
• Rhys Budd, Qld, Honda
• Dylan Walsh, Vic, KTM

MX2
• Deacon Paice, WA, KTM
• Byron Dennis, NSW, KTM
• Riley Burgess, NSW, KTM
• Thomas O’Neill, Qld, Yamaha
• Jet Alsop, Qld, Honda

MXW
• Madi Simpson, Qld, Yamaha
• Lachlan Turner, USA, Yamaha
• Sienna Giudice, NSW, KTM
• Felicity Shrimpton, Qld, Yamaha
• Darci Whalley, Qld, Honda
• Leah Rimbas, WA, KTM
• Makayla Rimbas, WA, Honda
• Samantha Macarthur, NSW, Husqvarna
• Emma Milesevic, Vic, Yamaha
• Stephanie Turnbull, Qld, GASGAS