The Victorian alpine town of Rawson hosted a drama-filled doubleheader for rounds three and four of the 2025 Yamaha Australian Enduro Championships presented by MXstore. Riders faced a wild mix of slippery conditions, tight tests, and hard-fought class battles.
With the rain setting the tone on Saturday and sunshine delivering fast sprints on Sunday, the weekend had a bit of everything—and no shortage of action. Let’s break it down.
ROUND 3: WET, WILD AND RELENTLESS
Saturday’s cross-country format was a slippery affair after overnight rain turned the Rawson terrain into a traction lottery. It made for an epic day of racing that kept both riders and spectators on edge.
Pro Enduro
The heavyweight clash between Wil Ruprecht (Shop Yamaha Off-Road Racing) and Daniel Milner (DM31 KTM Racing Team) picked up where it left off, with Ruprecht edging ahead in the points after a masterclass in pace and patience. Teammate Korey McMahon fired out of the gates to mix it with the front-runners, ultimately finishing strong in the top three.
Behind them, Jonte Reynders overcame a rough start to climb back to fourth, with Jye Dickson (Beta Australia) rounding out the top five.
E1 – Reynders Carves Through
Despite sitting 20+ positions back early on, Reynders made a statement in E1. He stormed through the field, clocking times on par with the outright leaders and snatched a gritty win. Stefan Granquist (Triumph) took second after a solid, consistent ride, with Cooper Sheidow banking third and valuable points. Fraser Higlett and Ryan Hayward rounded out the top five.
E2 – Ruprecht vs Milner
Milner launched hard with the holeshot, but a mid-race mistake opened the door for Ruprecht, who surged ahead after the pits and never looked back—stretching his lead to 38 seconds by the chequered flag. Andrew Wilksch (Beta Australia) bounced back from an early crash to claim third, with Will Dennet and Tom Buxton also inside the top five.
E3 – McMahon All Class
McMahon was electric from the start, setting a pace that none of the E3 field could match. A small late-race hiccup didn’t stop him from claiming the win. Dickson backed up his Pro Enduro form with second in class, while Riley McGillivray(Husqvarna) logged a quiet but effective ride into third. Joshua Whitehead and Max Rikys completed the top five.
EW – Gardiner Gets It Done
The women’s race saw multiple lead changes in a tight battle across the board. Ebony Nielson (Beta) struck first, but by race end it was Jessica Gardiner (JGR Yamaha) who took control and the win. Returning rider Madi Healey made her presence felt in second, with Nielson third. Madi Simpson pushed hard for fourth, while Monique Simioni slotted into fifth.
EJ – Lock Locks It In
Kogan Lock showed maturity and raw speed as he took control of the EJ class and never let go, finishing a massive 15 minutes ahead. Despite a banged-up helmet, Bjorn Cardenas hung on for second, just ahead of Fletcher Tucker. Will McInnes and Jackson Rossi closed out the day’s top five.
ROUND 4: MILNER BOUNCES BACK IN THE SPRINTS
After Saturday’s mud-fest, Sunday delivered blue skies and prime conditions for a Sprint format that brought the heat. The course dried nicely, setting up a fast-paced shootout—and Daniel Milner was on a mission.
Pro Enduro – Milner Turns Up the Heat
Milner came out swinging, winning six of the seven tests and only giving up one to Reynders, who edged him by a razor-thin 0.097 seconds. Jye Dickson showed top-end pace, clocking runner-up times in multiple tests to snare a spot on the podium.
Ruprecht couldn’t quite find the spark he had on Saturday and was relegated to the lower end of the top five, alongside McMahon. Reynders claimed second overall for the day, with Dickson right behind in third.
E1 – Reynders Does the Double
Reynders was all business in E1, dominating early and holding firm as Fraser Higlett and Eli Tripcony tried to keep pace. Ryan Hayward and Cooper Sheidow had standout moments, but Reynders was never seriously challenged, taking the win ahead of Higlett and Sheidow.
E2 – Milner In Control
After Ruprecht led them out, Milner turned up the pace to top the first test by 12 seconds—and never let off. Wilksch rode with confidence to secure third, finishing on the podium behind Ruprecht who salvaged second. McMahon and Buxton kept the pressure on throughout the day but couldn’t crack the top three.
E3 – Dickson Answers Back
Dickson and McMahon went blow-for-blow in the sprints, trading test wins in a tight E3 battle. Dickson’s mid-race streak proved the difference, as he edged out McMahon for the win. McGillivray was again consistent and collected third.
EW – Simpson’s Sunday Charge
After a tough Saturday, Madi Simpson came alive on Sunday, taking six test wins on her way to a commanding overall victory. Gardiner fought back from a deficit to snatch second from Healey, who rounded out the podium after a strong return to racing.
EJ – Lock Stays Locked In
Lock continued his winning ways, claiming five of seven test wins and extending his championship lead. Will McInneskept things close to finish second overall, just ahead of Ryan Jordan, who capped the day with a final test win to secure third.
Photos supplied by: Troy Peers, Yamaha, KTM, BETA
Next Stop: Tintinara
With Rawson’s double-header in the books, the championship picture is taking shape. Milner and Ruprecht continue their duel, Reynders is riding high, and new challengers are stepping up across the classes.
The series now heads west to Tintinara, SA for rounds five and six on May 31–June 1. Keep it locked on Dirt Action and AusEnduro’s socials for all the updates.
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