Race Reports

Beaton Storms Back: CDR Yamaha Star Sweeps Wonthaggi ProMX Opener

March 22, 2026 · Race Reports
Honda rider number 49 attacks the dark Wonthaggi sand at ProMX Round 1, 2026

Jed Beaton answered every question about his injury comeback in emphatic style, sweeping both MX1 motos at the 2026 Penrite ProMX Championship opener at Wonthaggi on March 21-22. The Monster Energy CDR Yamaha rider, who missed the final two rounds of 2025, looked untouchable in the deep Bass Coast sand under brilliant autumn sunshine.

MX1: Beaton perfect, Webster digs deep

Defending champion Kyle Webster (Honda Racing Australia) topped Superpole with a 1:42.182 but his weekend turned on a qualifying crash that left him nursing a sore right foot. In moto one Webster went down early and charged back to third, picking off Aaron Tanti on the second-last lap, while Beaton cleared out from returning four-time champion Dean Ferris (Penrite Racing Empire Kawasaki). Beaton controlled moto two from Webster and Ferris to seal the round with a maximum 50 points.

MX1 OverallRiderBikeMotosPts
1Jed BeatonYamaha1-150
2Kyle WebsterHonda3-242
3Dean FerrisKawasaki2-342
4Todd WatersHusqvarna5-434
5Aaron TantiYamaha4-732

Webster edged Ferris for second overall on countback. Reigning MX1 runner-up Nathan Crawford endured a tough day in 13th, and Hugh McInnes turned heads on a Ducati before a moto-one DNF.

MX1 overall podium at Wonthaggi — Jed Beaton tops Kyle Webster and Dean Ferris, ProMX Round 1 2026
Beaton, Webster and Ferris on the Wonthaggi MX1 podium. © Archer Works

MX2: Larwood in a league of his own

Alex Larwood (Honda Racing Australia) won both MX2 motos by more than 20 seconds. Behind him the minor placings churned: MX2 debutant and reigning MX3 champion Kayd Kingsford ran second in moto one, while Byron Dennis and fastest qualifier Dylan Walsh gave KTM a double podium. Noah Ferguson (Yamaha) came from the back of the field in both motos for fifth overall.

MX2 OverallRiderBikeMotosPts
1Alex LarwoodHonda1-150
2Byron DennisKTM4-240
3Dylan WalshKTM3-340
4Kayd KingsfordHonda2-736
5Noah FergusonYamaha34

MX3: WBR Yamaha teammates split the spoils

Monster Energy WBR Yamaha pair Jack Deveson and Kiwi debutant Hayden Draper traded moto wins, with Deveson’s 2-1 scorecard (47 points) taking the overall from Draper (1-3, 45) after Draper fell mid-race while leading moto two. Jackson Fuller (KTM) rounded out the podium on 38.

Husqvarna number 47 carves the Wonthaggi sand in front of the crowd, ProMX Round 1 2026
Deep sand and big crowds at the Bass Coast opener. © Archer Works

MXW and the Oceania Cup

American Lachlan Turner (Yamaha) swept the Ezilift MXW motos despite stalling twice in race two, ahead of 16-year-old compatriot Mayla Herrick. Defending champion Charli Cannon’s title defence began with heartbreak — a mechanical failure on the final lap of moto one — before she fought back to second in moto two. In the third FIM Oceania Women’s Motocross Cup, the USA took the trophy ahead of Australia and New Zealand, with Cannon winning the Cup race itself.

MX85 Cup

Defending champion Blake Bohannon (Yamaha) qualified fastest and won both Fox Racing MX85 Cup motos from Jayce Stocker (KTM).

Next up: Round 2 at Fairbairn Park, Canberra, April 19.

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