Blake Bohannon and Levi Townley spearheaded an impressive Yamaha campaign at the 2024 Australian Junior Motocross Championships, held last week at the Bunbury Circuit in WA. Faced with a gruelling week of racing, deep sandy conditions, and some tricky weather, Bohannon and Townley stood tall, securing victories in the 9-11 years 85cc and 13-14 years 125cc classes, respectively.
Bohannon was in form from the moment he hit the track, battling through a series of qualifying races to reach the top 40 riders in his age group. From there, he stepped it up, dominating the first two of the three finals before taking a calculated second place in the last race, clinching the championship and earning the number one plate for his YZ85.
He also secured second place on his YZ65 in the 10-12 years 65cc class. Bohannon claimed the opening two motos in the five-race championship but couldn’t maintain the pace all week, ultimately falling just a few points short of another title.
“It’s been an awesome week, and I’ve had some great races,” Bohannon said. “The track was rough and tough to ride, but I just focused on getting through it without making too many mistakes. I would have loved to win both classes, but Mason was just a bit better than me.
“Thanks to my parents for all their support and to the GYTR Yamaha Junior Racing Team for everything they do.”
Having recently transitioned to the 85cc after winning the World Junior Motocross Championship, Townley showed his prowess on the bigger bike in the 13-14 years 125cc class, racing like a seasoned rider.
Despite his smaller stature, which made it tougher on the challenging track, Townley delivered some impressive laps throughout the week, rarely facing a challenge on his way to securing the number one plate. The young Kiwi dominated each of the three finals with comfortable margins, marking another milestone in what’s already been an outstanding year for him.
“I wanted to do well here, but I haven’t raced my 125 much, so I wasn’t expecting too much on a track like this,” Townley humbly admitted. “I knew I’d be okay on the smooth sections, but as the track got rougher, it became harder to ride, and I didn’t have the strength to handle it properly. Still, I’m stoked to get the win.
“It’s been such a busy year for me, and my Mum and Dad have done so much for Jaggar and me. Now we’re off to the Motocross of Nations with Yamaha, and it’s amazing to have the chance to race there. Thanks to JCR Yamaha, Yamaha Australia, the YJR riders for the fun this week, and Cully’s for helping out Dad so much.”
Queenslander Lachlan Allen put in a solid performance over the week, showing both speed and consistency on the tough, sandy track. He finished second behind Townley in the 13-14 years 125cc class, giving Yamaha a 1-2 finish, and narrowly missed out on a podium in the 13-14 years 250cc class, where he came fourth. Allen’s consistency paid off, as he didn’t finish a race outside the top six all week, and his podium in the 125cc was a testament to his hard work leading into the event.
“I had a good week on the 125 and did my best to keep up with Levi, but he was just a bit quicker. He’d open a gap early in each race, and it would stay about the same, so I need to work on improving my speed in the first laps.
“The 250 was okay, but it’s something I want to improve. I came fourth, but the gap to the front guys was bigger than I’d like. I’ll work hard to close that gap in 2025,” Allen concluded.
Heath Davy had a busy schedule, racing both his YZ85 and YZ125 in the 13-14 years divisions. He finished sixth on the 85 and seventh on the 125. Despite a strong start that saw him inside the top three in both classes, his starts let him down later in the week, leaving him with too much ground to make up.
Jobe Dunne also took on a double challenge, competing in the 13-14 years 125cc and 250cc classes. Dunne finished sixth on the 250 and 10th on the 125, with starts being his main hurdle. As one of the younger riders in the class, Dunne will be back in 2025 aiming for the podium and continuing his progress.
Local standout Deegan Fort fought his way to a fourth-place finish in the 12-13 years 85cc class. Fort overcame some crashes during the week to claw his way back, leading a Yamaha charge with Jagger Townley finishing fifth and Heath Davy taking sixth.
“It was a huge effort from all the riders and families this week,” said Yamaha Junior Racing’s Darren Thompson. “Travelling across the country to race on a surface that’s unfamiliar for most of us on the east coast is tough, but everyone gave it their best and should be proud of their results.
“Thanks to everyone supporting YJR. We’ve still got plenty of racing to go, with a few of the boys now focusing on the Australian Supercross Championship, starting in Brisbane on October 12.”
