Rounds 3 and 4 of the Yamaha Australian Enduro Championship presented by MXStore (AusEnduro) roared back to life in Dungog, delivering two punishing days of racing that tested even the most seasoned riders.
Fast, dusty conditions across sweeping hills quickly gave way to deeply rutted and treacherous terrain, with limited visibility and thick bull dust concealing rocks and tree stumps beneath the surface.
Every test became a calculated risk, where mistakes were costly and consistency proved critical.
As fatigue set in and the demanding Time Card format took its toll, only a handful of riders were able to rise above the chaos and deliver when it mattered most.
Pro Enduro
Round 3
Wil Ruprecht (Yamaha) wasted no time asserting control, delivering a flawless run in the opening WR test to go nine seconds clear of Korey McMahon (KTM). It was an early statement that would shape the day.
From there, Ruprecht built momentum, backing up his opening performance by continuing to edge McMahon across the next tests, steadily extending his advantage while the chasing pack remained tightly compressed. At times, as little as five seconds covered positions four to 10, highlighting just how competitive the field was behind the front runners.
Jye Dickson (KTM) remained in the fight despite an early crash, while Ryan Hayward (GasGas) and Cooper Sheidow (Yamaha) consistently featured inside the top five outright, keeping the pressure on throughout the day.
A standout moment came in MXStore Test 3, where Sheidow surged to third fastest outright, underlining the pace developing within the E1 class battle.
Up front, however, Ruprecht remained untouchable. A clean sweep of the day saw him complete a perfect performance, securing both the Pro Enduro victory and E2 class win.
McMahon delivered another composed ride to claim second outright and top honours in E3, while Dickson rounded out the Pro Enduro podium and second in E2.
Round 4
Hot off his dominant Round 3 performance, Ruprecht wasted no time asserting control once again. Armed with fresh knowledge of the terrain, Ruprecht immediately stamped authority on the day, setting the pace from the opening WR test and never relinquishing it.
While McMahon and Dickson mounted an early challenge — just four and six seconds adrift respectively — it quickly became clear that Ruprecht’s consistency would be difficult to match.
The closest threat came in WR Test 2, where McMahon pushed to within half a second of Ruprecht in one of the tightest finishes of the weekend. But beyond that moment, Ruprecht remained untouchable, executing a near-perfect day to secure another Pro Enduro victory.
McMahon delivered a composed and calculated ride to finish second outright, rarely putting a foot wrong but ultimately unable to bridge the gap. Dickson rounded out the podium in third, continuing his strong championship form and banking valuable points.
Three consecutive wins now place Ruprecht firmly in control of the Pro Enduro category, leaving the chasing pack searching for answers.
E1
Round 3
The E1 class delivered one of the battles of the day, with Hayward and Sheidow trading blows from start to finish.
Sheidow responded strongly mid-day after an early setback, while Hayward’s consistency kept him firmly in contention. By WR Test 4, the pair were inseparable, with Sheidow edging ahead by just 0.7secs to set up a final test showdown.
In the decisive MXStore Test 4, the pressure told. A costly mistake for Sheidow proved the difference, allowing Hayward to capitalise and secure his first E1 victory of the 2026 season.
Sheidow was forced to settle for second, while Jeremy Carpentier (Yamaha) delivered a breakthrough performance to claim his first podium of the year in third.
Round 4
E1 delivered one of the most intense battles of the day, going down to the final test in a tightly contested showdown.
Carpentier struck first, excelling in the dry and technical conditions to establish an early advantage. However, Hayward and Sheidow remained firmly in the fight, trading time across the tests and keeping the pressure on throughout the day.
Despite a mid-day setback that saw him lose valuable time, Carpentier responded when it mattered most, holding on to claim his first Australian round win.
Hayward threw everything at the final test, finishing strongly and even securing a top-three Pro Enduro result, but ultimately fell just short of the class victory. Sheidow’s consistency across the day saw him finish third, capping off a hard-fought podium.
E2
Round 3
Ruprecht’s dominance extended throughout the E2 category, controlling every phase of the day with precision and speed.
Behind him, Dickson held strong despite early adversity to secure second, while Kogan Lock (GasGas) recovered impressively from mid-day trouble — particularly in MXStore Test 3 — to claw back valuable time and secure the final step on the podium.
Round 4
E2 once again reflected the strength of the Pro Enduro field, Ruprecht with another perfect day winning all tests and Dickson completing the day in second.
Lock delivered another standout performance, securing third in class after a determined ride through the demanding conditions.
Further back, Oliver Paterno (Yamaha) continued his steady progression, finishing fourth and edging ever closer to a maiden podium result as the season unfolds.
E3
Round 3
McMahon was once again the benchmark in E3, combining outright speed with consistency to claim the class win and second overall in Pro Enduro.
Max Midwinter (KTM) continued his strong form by delivering a measured performance to secure second, while Brock Grabham impressed aboard the Stark Varg, running inside the top 10 outright and finishing third in class.
Round 4
McMahon converted his Pro Enduro form into a class victory, underlining his consistency across both outright and class standings.
Grabham impressed once again aboard the Stark Varg, claiming second in class. His performance continues to raise eyebrows, proving the electric machine’s capability across the demanding Time Card format.
Rounding out the podium, Midwinter rebounded strongly after an early setback, finding pace as the day progressed to secure third and reaffirm his place among the class front-runners.
EW
Round 3
The EW class delivered its own share of drama across the day.
Early mistakes proved costly for several contenders, including a small tip-over for Madi Simpson (Yamaha) that briefly set her back, while tight margins saw just two seconds covering second to fourth early in the day.
Simpson responded strongly to claim a key stage win mid-day, while Courtney Rubie (GasGas) remained firmly in contention before encountering trouble later in the event.
At the front, Jess Gardiner (Yamaha) returned to dominant form, securing another round victory. Simpson finished second while Emelie Granquist (Triumph) rounded out the podium in third.
Round 4
Gardiner continued her dominant run in the EW class, controlling the day from the outset and steadily extending her advantage across each test.
Simpson showed resilience after early challenges, re-gathering composure to secure second place and keep herself firmly in the championship fight.
Rubie completed the podium in third, marking a significant milestone with her first podium finish in the category.
EJ
Round 3
The EJ class delivered one of the most tightly contested battles of the day, with margins often measured in tenths of a second.
Beau Tripcony (Husqvarna) struck first in Michelin Test 1, edging Marcus Nowland (Yamaha) by just 0.064 secs, immediately setting the tone for a fierce contest.
Nowland responded in Homestead Test 1, reclaiming time as the leading trio — including Kai Austin (Kawasaki) — remained separated by less than a second.
Momentum swung again in Michelin Test 2, where mistakes proved costly for both Tripcony and Austin, opening the door for others to capitalise and reshuffle the standings.
The battle continued to ebb and flow through the remaining tests, with Nowland showcasing exceptional consistency despite a late setback, while Tripcony and Austin continued to trade stage wins.
In a dramatic finish, Tripcony delivered in the final stage, taking the test win by just half a second to secure the overall EJ victory.
Nowland claimed second after one of the most consistent rides of the day and Austin rounded out the podium in third.
Round 4
A shortened day faced the EJ class — completing just two tests — but the intensity remained high throughout.
Austin carried his momentum from Round 3 straight into Sunday, delivering another commanding performance to secure back-to-back wins.
The battle behind was tight, with Nowland capitalising on consistency across both tests to claim second overall. Archie Salopayevs (KTM) rounded out the podium in third after a strong and measured ride.
Despite a late charge that saw him narrowly miss a test win by just 0.6secs, Tripcony was left to rue a costly opening test that ultimately kept him off the podium.
Looking ahead
Dungog proved to be one of the toughest tests of the 2026 season so far. It was physically demanding, mentally draining and unforgiving for even the smallest mistake.
With Ruprecht’s dominance continuing to grow and new challengers emerging across the classes, the championship momentum continues to build.
The AusEnduro season now heads to Queensland Moto Park on May 16–17 for the next chapter in what is shaping up to be a fiercely contested season.
Images: Troy Pears