In this 2025 instalment of the MotoOnline AUS Awards, we highlight the standout performers and defining storylines that shaped the season across both domestic and international racing. As always, these selections are made from an editorial standpoint, drawn from what we observed throughout the year.

Image: Foremost Media.

National Rider of the Year – Kyle Webster:
Boost Mobile Honda Racing’s Kyle Webster claimed a second-successive ProMX MX1 crown in 2025, as well as another Motocross of Nations (MXoN) overall victory alongside the Lawrences, which earns him this year’s National Rider of the Year award once again. The 29-year-old’s season was impressive on multiple fronts, as he balanced an ongoing hand injury throughout the year, as well as overcoming a costly second-moto DNF at round one of the outdoors at Wonthaggi. Add in the two first corner crashes at Ironman’s MXoN – plus his subsequent comebacks – and that pretty much sums up a year where Webster never gave up, even when the odds were stacked against him. He’s establishing himself as one of Australia’s best domestic talents of all-time, although he is likely hoping that 2026 goes a little more smoothly on track.

International Rider of the Year – Jett Lawrence:
This season marked another year of Jett Lawrence success, with the rider originally from Landsborough, Queensland, capturing both the Pro Motocross 450MX title and the SMX World Championship while also contributing to another MXoN win in Indiana for the green and gold. A torn ACL in Supercross derailed his Monster Energy Supercross defence, but he well and truly returned to the top of the throne with an ultra-successful back half of the year. He also claimed victory at the AUSX Open in Melbourne, and appears set to make a serious charge to reclaim the prestigious 450SX crown in 2026. Once again, Jett and brother Hunter gave Aussie fans plenty to cheer for this year, with more on the horizon over the next 12 months.

Enduro Rider of the Year – Daniel Milner:
Australian off-road legend Daniel Milner etched his name in the history books this year by claiming a record-setting sixth Yamaha Australian Enduro Championship (AEC) ProEnduro crown, eclipsing Toby Price’s previous record of five that Milner had been tied with. The 34-year-old pieced together an exceptional season by fending off former world champion Wil Ruprecht in his high-profile homecoming. And with that, Milner’s decorated career came to a close, the Victorian announcing his retirement from professional competition as he shifts focus to running the KTM DM31 Racing Team, which will field Korey McMahon, Jye Dickson, and Jackson Versteegen in 2026. It’s been a remarkable run for him over 15 years, and his absence leaves a sizeable hole in the enduro scene after so many years at the top.

Rookie of the Year – Jake Cannon:
Teenager Jake Cannon delivered impressive performances in both the European-based EMX250 category this year, as well as the Boost Mobile AUSX Supercross Championship, where he claimed fifth overall in the SX2 division. Starting with his overseas tilt, the 18-year-old took his Venum Bud Racing Kawasaki KX250 to eighth overall in the series standings, with a season-high score of third overall at Great Britain’s ninth round. He then returned to Australia as part of Brett Metcalfe’s Penrite Racing GO24 Kawasaki team for AUSX, recording third overall at round two in Redcliffe, leading him to a top-five result in the overall standings. It’s exactly what you like seeing from a rookie making a pro class debut – mixing both flashes of podium-level speed with some consistency – and there is a lot to look forward to for Cannon next year and beyond.

Image: Foremost Media.

Personality of the Year – Lux Turner:
The ‘speed-dealer’ sunglasses worn on the AUSX podium – at night – account for 99 percent of this award for Lux Turner, who looked like the fastest rider both on and off the track with those jet-black bad boys on. The emerging young American was a welcome addition to this year’s AUSX series, and while the SX2 title might not have gone exactly to plan, he kept the racing exciting and produced a haul of round wins across the opening three rounds. Turner kept it light, though, and let his personality shine through the seriousness that can sometimes drown out emotion, and for that reason, he takes home our Personality of the Year award.

Series of the Year – AUSX Supercross Championship:
Speaking of AUSX, it was another strong year for the domestic supercross championship, which built upon the product that was seen in 2024. True to their word, organisers are slowly but surely making things better, which AME Group director Adam Bailey expressed was a vital part of growth and development – nothing that moves too fast for the industry, but enough of an incremental change year-on-year to make the championship sustainably better. The bottom line is that a lot goes into it, and we’re fortunate to have a group of people dedicated and passionate to making the sport better in Australia. As for the champions, both Dean Wilson (Honda Racing) and Ryder Kingsford (Monster Energy Yamalube Yamaha) delivered, with both being deserving victors in both the SX1 and SX2 divisions.

Most Anticipated Model – Ducati Desmo450 MX:
Ducati’s entry into the off-road scene is special, with the storied Italian marque unveiling its Desmo450 MX in 2025. Understandably so, there was a lot of hype and anticipation around the arrival of the new machine, with the initial feedback very positive in production trim following its world launch. Between Ducati’s SMX entry with Justin Barcia and Dylan Ferrandis at the newly-announced Troy Lee Designs Red Bull Ducati team for next year, or the new-look three-rider MXGP operation that will step things up in Europe come 2026 with Louis Vosters’ Dutch-based effort, the brand is turning heads. It’s a huge addition to the sport and paddock, and we’re excited to see both the project and machine mature.

Top Team – Honda Racing:
It’s becoming increasingly apparent that the Honda Racing organisation is streaking ahead of the competition in Australia, at least in terms of its overflowing trophy cabinet. It’s been the benchmark team for several years now, claiming an eighth-consecutive SX1 crown with Dean Wilson, the SX3 title with Kayd Kingsford, and then – for the second year in a row – clean-sweeping the entire ProMX series by earning all four titles. It’s now up to the rest of the paddock to come back with a response, as Monster Energy Yamalube Yamaha impressively managed with Ryder Kingsford’s SX2 championship this year. For now, though, Yarrive Konsky and the red team are the benchmark, with no signs of slowing down.

Best Event – MXGP of Australia:
MXGP’s return to Australia in 2025 was immensely popular, which marked the first time the world championship has been down under in over two decades. There was skepticism around the fact that it would take place at Darwin’s Hidden Valley venue, but by all accounts, it was a success. The purpose-built track was legit, racing was tight, and attendance looked promising, all things considered. Australia was spoiled for choice this year with how much world-class racing we had access to, with not a lot to complain about when you really think about it. And the more, the better, at the end of the day!

Image: Supplied.

Hottest Topic – WSX and AUSX clashes:
Having World Supercross on the Gold Coast and the AUSX finale in South Australia clash on the same night was a situation that had a lot of people jumping up and down, with the key takeaway being that it ought to be avoided in the future. It’s better for all parties if that is the case, allowing everyone the opportunity to experience these events rather than having attention divided and one robbing from the other in a sense. By the sounds of it, this won’t happen again, with all parties – while not considered allies in any sense – at least aware that it is detrimental. As for each respective event, both were still positive. AUSX crowned this year’s champions at the Adelaide Grand Final on what was a bigger, better race track than the year prior, while WSX had a full-fledged SX1 field that closely resembled a Monster Energy Supercross product without actually being the real deal. This adds to the above point that for 2025, we were spoiled for choice, although to enhance the success of the racing, clashes aren’t necessary.

Greatest Disappointment – Jed Beaton crashes out of ProMX:
This was a gut-punch to pretty much everyone in the sport, with the reason being Monster Energy CDR Yamaha’s Jed Beaton had done everything right up until the point of his practice incident to earn a maiden MX1 title in 2025. It was one of those moments that leave you scratching your head, and yet, over and over, we are reminded of the fine line motocross racers balance between ultimate success and crushing lows. Beaton had a 29-point advantage over Webster entering the penultimate round in Toowoomba, and if we weren’t talking motocross, you could say that the title was pretty much decided. Adding to the significance was his dominant 1-1 performance at Canberra’s sixth round just beforehand, with the outcome seemingly like it was finally the number 14’s year in ProMX. Anyway, it wasn’t to be, with Webster completely earning his second championship with the adversity he faced throughout the season. It sets up an intriguing 2026 outdoor campaign, though, with these two set to go toe-to-toe yet again.

Most Surprising Moment – Another comeback for Dean Ferris:
Four-time ProMX MX1 champion Dean Ferris is back. Again! What started as the 35-year-old expressing a desire to make a cameo appearance at select rounds developed into the Victorian team landing the 111 for the entire championship, with Ferris obviously feeling there is still plenty left in the tank. Credit to team owner Tyson Cherry and team manager Brad McAlpine – Emprie has been a team now for eight seasons of racing – which is a much smaller timeframe than either CDR or Honda Racing, for example. Yet, they are growing, and if Ferris can genuinely be in the mix next year, then it only further legitimises the team as well as Kawasaki’s renewed Australian motocross commitment. The last two seasons of ProMX have largely been the Webster and Beaton show in the premier division, but if you add in a firing-on-all-cylinders Dean Ferris, then we may just have a new [old] contender added into the mix for 2026.

Social Standout – Daniel ‘Chucky’ Sanders:
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Daniel ‘Chucky’ Sanders pieced together an incredible rally-raid campaign in 2025, headlined by his breakthrough Dakar Rally victory and the FIM world championship crown. The 31-year-old’s season was defined by resilience as much as raw speed, bouncing back from the lingering effects of his past elbow and arm issues to deliver consistently across every major round of the series. It was a remarkable feat and one that has catapulted the Victorian rider into the highest echelons of two-wheeled racing. He is a man of the people, giving everyone the same time of day despite being a world-class talent, and for that, he earns the Social Standout award.

Special Mention – Kirk Gibbs retires:
This was a defining moment of 2025, with Kirk Gibbs calling time on his highly decorated racing career. The 36-year-old made his professional debut in 2006, with a career at the forefront of Australian motocross for the best part of two decades. He captured the 2015 national motocross MX1 crown as part of the KTM Racing Team, and also retired while part of the same team, which marked the perfect bookend on what has been a remarkable career, and one that will go down in the history books.