It’s been an impressive rise up the MX1 rankings for privateer standout Levi Rogers over the past two seasons, with the Queenslander having featured inside the top 10 – and at times the top five – in the nation’s premier motocross category. The journey hasn’t always been smooth, however, with Profiled unpacking what’s led to his latest success.

As a successful junior, Rogers graduated directly to the MX2 ranks in 2021, with a breakthrough moment arriving at the 2022 Coolum season finale, where he claimed his first career moto victory with WBR Yamaha. Despite that late result, he was left without a ride for the following season.

With the cost of building a competitive privately-run 250 out of reach, Rogers – backed by Caloundra Motorcycle Centre – instead made the move to the MX1 class for 2023. The transition was far from easy, and across the next two seasons – including a short stint with Beta – he was unable to break into the championship’s top 10.

A serious finger injury at the end of 2024 then forced an extended spell on the sidelines. That unplanned time away from racing allowed the 23-year-old to reflect, ultimately convincing him that a greater level of commitment would be required if he wanted to turn motocross into a career.

“I’d been going at it in the 450 class for a couple years in 2023 and 2024, but I wasn’t really making any progress – I felt like I was doing all the training and everything, and nothing was working out,” Rogers told MotoOnline. “I had a couple good motos, but I could never consistently get closer to that top group.

Image: Foremost Media.

“But then at the end of 2024, I had a pretty big injury and, you know, the doctors told me I probably shouldn’t ride again. The whole process took about four-to-five months to figure out if I was going to be able to ride again.

“During that time, I was thinking, if I do get to come back and if everything’s going to work out, I want to do it properly. I didn’t want to take any shortcuts, and I wanted to be one of the guys that’s always up the front, and that’s just what I’ve slowly been working towards.”

A mindset change was ultimately what was required to elevate his performance, which led him to an impressive seventh overall in last year’s MX1 standings, highlighted by a moto podium at the final round at Queensland Moto Park (QMP).

And while a shoulder injury disrupted the opening phase of his 2026 outdoor campaign, Rogers’ progress was again highlighted at Conondale this past weekend, where he topped the MX1 Superpole session by 0.144s over newly-crowned champion Jed Beaton (Monster Energy CDR Yamaha).

What will it take to bridge the gap to the front-runners consistently and earn a place on one of the factory teams? More time on the bike would certainly help, although that’s easier said than done, with Rogers balancing his racing ambitions against a Monday-to-Wednesday work schedule.

Image: Foremost Media.

“Bike time, for sure, would be good,” he explained. “At the moment, three days of the week, I’m working from seven until four. And there’s some time to go to the gym or get a cycle in after work, but Monday through Wednesday, I have got to make sure I can work and be able to afford to ride the rest of the week and get to the races.”

And as for the progress, moments such as his QMP moto podium and Conondale’s fast qualifier reinforce his capabilities, while keeping the fire burning in pursuit of a place at the front of the field.

“Some weekends I could get the start and be up with those factory guys, and you can just see them pull away from you really quickly and then you sort of wonder if you’re ever going to be able to get to that level,” Rogers continued. “Then, like on the weekend, everything just clicked on that lap.

“And, you know, Jed, Kyle [Webster] and Aaron [Tanti], they’re all going really fast, so to be able to beat them and see my name on top was a pretty good feeling to just prove everything I’ve been doing lately, and this year is starting to show and get me to where I want to be.”

Finally, enlisting the services of longtime national-level front-runner Daniel McCoy and his SFC Coaching program on the Sunshine Coast has proven invaluable, with Rogers now following a more structured approach to training and racing.

Image: Foremost Media.

McCoy’s experience has already made a noticeable impact, while the opportunity to regularly ride and train alongside other riders – something Rogers previously lacked – has also played a key role in his improved performances.

“For the last couple of years, I’ve just been doing it on my own,” Rogers added. “But this year, I’ve partnered up with Dan McCoy and SFC Coaching, and he’s been a big help. Like the last couple of years, I’ve just been doing 30-minute motos and maybe some sprints here and there.

“[I was] thinking that as long as I’m doing 30s, I’ll keep on getting fitter and improving, but this year there’s been a change with Dan – there’s been a lot more quality instead of quantity. We’re focusing on one-lappers and sprint speed as well.

“Then the whole training group thing up here, there’s a lot of guys who do it, but it’s been pretty unaffordable for me [in the past], to be honest. I always thought I wasn’t a big fan of riding with other pros, but it sort of opened my eyes this year doing it, how much you can improve by riding with other people.”

Progress toward the front is clearly being made, with Rogers aspiring to earn a place within an official factory program and continue his upward trajectory. His development has been steady, and he is beginning to establish himself as a genuine MX1 contender – a significant step forward from where he found himself only a few seasons ago.