Kyogle wasted no time in showing the nation’s best enduro riders that nothing about this weekend would be easy. A sprawling mix of terrain and rapidly shifting conditions kept every competitor on edge, where the ability to adapt on the fly was the only path to survival and victory.
Pro Enduro
Round 9
The day began with fireworks as William Dennett (Shop Yamaha Off-Road Racing Team) came out swinging, topping the opening two tests and carving a 15-second buffer on the field. But by the third test, Kyogle’s brutal course bit back. A small slip cost him seconds, and a crash into a muddy section in Test 4 proved disastrous, his bike bogged down long enough to surrender fifty-two seconds—and the podium.
His teammate, Wil Ruprecht, arrived razor-sharp, his race-specific preparation clearly paying off. Sitting second through the early tests, Ruprecht surged with back-to-back wins in the middle of the day, then protected his advantage with a measured fourth in the final sprint. That blend of aggression and consistency earned him a commanding Pro Enduro victory and injected fresh life into his championship campaign.
Jonte Reynders (DM31 KTM Racing Team) was relentless, snatching a test win and never falling outside the top five to claim a strong second overall. Daniel Milner (DM31 KTM) endured his own drama — an altercation with a tree in Test 2 left him battered and forced him into damage control mode. Even so, the veteran’s grit kept him on the podium in third, vital points for his title hopes.
Round 10
Fresh from victory, Ruprecht carried confidence into Sunday and led the field out. His pace was sharp, though Reynders made his intentions clear, snatching the opening test by just 0.6 seconds. Milner, still bruised from Saturday’s misfortunes, eased himself in with a conservative fifth on the first run behind his teammate Korey McMahon, and Jye Dickson (Beta).
Ruprecht regrouped, winning the second test and then hammering home his advantage with back-to-back victories in the third and fourth. By the time the final test rolled around, his lead had swelled to 14 seconds — a cushion he expertly managed to seal another commanding Pro Enduro win and complete a perfect Kyogle weekend. Reynders stayed relentless, applying pressure all day to secure second, while McMahon and Dickson reignited their podium fight, McMahon finishing third.
E1
Round 9
Reynders was untouchable in E1, sweeping every test to finish a massive two minutes and 15 seconds clear. Behind him, Jett Yarnold (Blu Cru Yamaha) looked comfortable early with two runner-up test finishes, only to tumble down a steep edge in Test 3. The setback cost precious time, but he rebounded under pressure from Maximus Purvis to secure second.
Purvis — the New Zealand motocross ace making waves in his first AusEnduro event — was blisteringly quick, logging three second-place test times. But a costly error in Test 2 left him a minute adrift, resigning him to third. Stefan Granquist (Triumph), returning from injury, showed flashes of form inside the top five all morning before late mistakes dropped him just 40 seconds off the podium — a promising sign heading into round 10.
Round 10
Reynders continued his masterclass in E1, sweeping the class all weekend to claim a comfortable round 10 win and move closer to locking down the championship. Purvis impressed again, his raw speed and composure in only his second AusEnduro outing delivering another assured second-place finish.
The battle for third became one of the day’s fiercest duels. Yarnold was poised for the podium after three consecutive third-place test results, but a costly mistake in the fourth test erased his buffer. Cooper Sheidow (Blu Cru Yamaha), Ryan Hayward (KTM) and Granquist all sniffed opportunity, trading positions by the slimmest of margins. It came down to the final test where mere seconds would determine who would stand beside Purvis, with Yarnold taking that final step.
E2
Round 9
Ruprecht’s winning vibe carried through E2, where he paced himself early, then piled on the speed once comfortable. His triumph here marked a welcome return to form and tightened the championship chase.
Milner, nursing the aftermath of his collision, rode defensively but effectively, taking second and preserving his slim series lead. Dennett’s furious late charge clawed back much of his lost time but left him heartbreakingly short — just half a second behind Milner for third.
Round 10
Ruprecht’s domination in Pro Enduro extended to E2, where he set the tone early and controlled the pace to take another win and maximum points. Milner’s strategy was all about the long game — protecting his championship lead — and his measured second-place ride kept him right where he needed to be heading into the final rounds.
Dennett was relentless in pursuit, pushing Milner to the wire and even winning the final stage, but he fell just short, ending the day third. Tom Buxton’s (GasGas) solid fourth and Deegan Graham’s (Yamaha) breakthrough top-five showing rounded out a stacked E2 field.
E3
Round 9
The E3 class delivered the day’s most dramatic finish. McMahon and Dickson traded blows in every test, entering the final stage separated by three seconds in Dickson’s favour. McMahon dug deep, unleashing a flawless last run to snatch victory by just two seconds. Dickson settled for second, while Riley McGillivray (Husqvarna) again proved steady and intelligent, collecting third after a string of podium-level test times. Jack Conlan (Sherco) pushed hard for fourth, edging Max Rikys by half a minute.
Round 10
Sunday brought the same McMahon–Dickson thriller we’ve come to expect. The former struck first with wins in the opening tests, only to have the latter claw back precious seconds and narrow the gap to three. McMahon, determined not to let another slip away, delivered under pressure in the final two tests to claim victory by a razor-thin 2.5 seconds.
McGillivray once again showcased his consistency with another third-place finish, while Rikys and Conlan completed the top five.
EJ
Round 9
Kogan Lock (GasGas) was simply in another league. Relishing the hard-pack technical layout, he dominated EJ and even posted times competitive with the outright Pro Enduro contenders.
Behind him, Will McInnes (KTM) and Fletcher Tucker (KTM) resumed their familiar duel, swapping positions throughout the day before the former grabbed second. Beau Tripcony (Husqvarna) and Oliver Paterno (Yamaha) staged their own scrap for fourth and fifth, finishing just nine seconds apart.
Round 10
Lock stamped his authority on EJ, completing a flawless weekend by winning every test across both days. His performance not only secured maximum points but also confirmed his status as one of the championship’s rising stars.
Behind him, McInnes and Tucker resumed their gripping rivalry, trading positions across the day before McInnes edged ahead for second, while Tucker was third. Paterno, Tripcony and Mason Phillips (Yamaha) all played their part in a thrilling class that continues to deliver some of the championship’s closest racing.
EW
Round 9
Jessica Gardiner (JGR Yamaha Off-Road Racing) arrived under the weather but fought like a champion. Two early test wins kept her in the hunt, but a crash in Test 3 cost her 30 seconds. Emelie Karlsson (Triumph) sensed opportunity, staying close and matching Gardiner blow-for-blow. Karlsson’s strong finishes — including two late test wins — narrowed the gap, yet Gardiner’s early advantage proved decisive, handing her the victory. Karlsson claimed a well-earned second, her best ride of the season, while Madi Simpson (Yamaha) capitalised on rivals’ mistakes to momentarily lead a test before late crashes relegated her to third.
Round 10
Determined to atone for round nine, Simpson burst out of the gate, winning the first three tests and building a 20-second buffer over championship leader Gardiner. But in Test 4, disaster struck for Simpson as she became hung up on a log obstacle, eventuating into a thirty-second penalty for outside assistance. Gardiner pounced, taking the test win and reclaiming control.
Simpson rallied to win the final stage but couldn’t erase the deficit, handing Gardiner a 20-second overall victory. Simpson held on for second, while Karlsson continued her upward trend, riding with confidence and pace to secure another well-earned third.
Kyogle’s dual-round weekend reminded every competitor that in Australian enduro racing, the terrain is never to be underestimated. A few short steps separated Saturday’s dust-ups from Sunday’s loam, yet the demands were entirely different. Riders who combined caution with speed thrived, while the unprepared were punished.
With Kyogle in the books, the championship narrative tightens even further. All eyes now turn to Gympie, Queensland, on October 11–12, the season finale and one final chance for glory.
Images: Troy Pears