Table of contents for 261 in Dirt Action

DA: Toby, you’re back in Oz. How are you feeling after your first Dakar? TH: I work for myself, and it’s my first day back at work, so I feel somewhat normal again. DA: What a transition! TH: Yeah, absolutely. It was a pretty wild start to the year, but it all went well. I keep telling everyone — I walked onto the plane to get over there, and I walked off it when I got home. After racing a bike for three weeks, that’s a good outcome. I’m still in one piece. DA: There’s nothing like racing Dakar. Did you have expectations going into it, being your first attempt? TH: I had already done two international races — in Morocco and Argentina — which are both part of the…

We tested the 2025 Yamaha WR250F at Lyndon “Heffo” Heffernan’s property situated in Buckenbowra State Forest, NSW. Heffo had a variety of tracks set up: a grass track, a motocross track with an extended bush section, and direct access to the Buckenbowra State Forest. It was the perfect playground for a proper shake-down and we jumped on the bikes straight away, eager to see how the updates translated into real-world riding. ERGONOMICS AND FIRST IMPRESSIONS The first thing I noticed was how natural the ergonomics felt. Yamaha has dialled in the rider triangle for 2025. The tank and shrouds are now 50mm slimmer and the handlebars have been moved forward 10mm, giving the bike a more spacious and modern feel. Sitting on the WR250F, the seat’s flatter and more rounded…

The intense look on the face of the 2023 SX1 Aussie supercross champ, Scotland’s Dean “Deano” Wilson, paints a picture. He’s just returned to the pits after winning the second Boost Mobile Supercross Sprint moto at round four of the Australian Supercross Championship in Adelaide. This round is do-or-die for Deano as he needs to close the points gap to his teammate and moto one winner, American Joey Savatgy, to have any chance of retaining his crown heading into the final round in Melbourne. The pressure is on and with two motos to run, Deano knows he has to take advantage of Joey’s bad second moto, where he collided with Empire Kawasaki’s Luke Clout and had to fight his way back through the field, finishing off the podium. This is…

DA: Anton, I think the biggest thing for me, aside from the manufacturing side, which is impressive, is the way you’ve finished the bike, the technology and the engineering behind it. It’s fantastic. But the heart of the bike — the battery technology — stands out. Where are we now, and where do you see battery tech going in the next five to 10 years? It’s advancing so rapidly. Anton: That’s the key to setting this bike apart — how good the battery can be, how much power we can get from it, and its longevity. The battery, which can be replaced for $4900 AUD, is the component in the bike that makes the most significant difference. It’s clear where we’re heading today, at least in the next few years.…

“It’s a holiday in CambodiaIt’s tough, kid, but it’s lifeIt’s a holiday in Cambodia Don't forget to pack a wife," sang US punk outfit Dead Kennedys in 1980. Well, I'm not married, but my partner, Kat, and her daughter, Annika, packed themselves on a seven-day enduro bike tour of the land formerly ruled by communist despot Pol Pot and the scene of a horrific genocide. But we weren’t here for a history lesson, nor to admire the World Heritage-listed temple complex at Angkor Wat. We were here to tackle what many say are the best trails in South-East Asia. We knew the trip would be no walk in the park and prepped accordingly. We attended Yamaha’s Academy of Off-Road Riding to brush up on skills. Kat’s confidence ramped up further…

REST AND RECOVERY ARE NON-NEGOTIABLE Let’s start with the basics: Rest and recovery. Pushing your body to the limit without giving it time to repair is a recipe for disaster. Recovery isn’t just a luxury — it’s essential. Here’s how you can prioritise it. Plan rest days: Build in regular days off to let your body recharge. Try active recovery: Light activities like yoga, swimming or a leisurely bike ride can help ease sore muscles while keeping you moving. Sleep well: Aim for seven to nine hours of quality sleep every night. Sleep is your secret weapon for faster recovery and better performance. FUEL YOUR BODY RIGHT Your body is like a race car: It needs the right fuel to run at peak performance. Post-pre-season, it’s all about meeting the…

DA: Wil, how’s it feeling to be back in Australia? Wil: It’s good. You know, normally, I get back and have two months to turn around and get my stuff sorted to go back, so it’s kind of nice actually having a base and just returning to an everyday life that, you know, I haven’t had for half a dozen years now. DA: You got pretty well settled in Europe, but did it ever feel like home? Wil: No. I tried to make a life there that felt homely, but really, there are just too many things working against you to feel like it’s truly home. DA: What was the most challenging aspect of living in Europe? Wil: Just trying to be happy outside of training and racing. You know,…

AJP Motorcycles might not be the biggest name in the off-road world, but this Portuguese brand has been carving out its niche since 1987. Established by Antonio J. Pinto — a seven-time Portuguese National Enduro Champion with a deep understanding of what works on the trail — AJP began with a clear vision: to create lightweight, rugged bikes capable of conquering any terrain. Initially, AJP focused on small-capacity motorcycles designed with simplicity and reliability in mind, prioritising function over flashy aesthetics. By the time the PR4 debuted in the 1990s, the brand had gained a following. With its innovative aluminium frame and superior suspension, the PR4 quickly became a favourite for riders seeking an agile, dependable machine. AJP pushed its design and engineering boundaries in the 2000s. The PR5 turned…

ENGINE PERFORMANCE One of the most immediate impressions Lachy had of the FC 450 was its engine’s power delivery. Unlike many traditional 450s, which are known for their arm-yanking torque, the FC 450’s engine felt smoother and more refined. “It didn’t pull my arms out of their sockets,” Lachy said. “It felt more like a 350 on steroids.” While not as aggressive off the bottom, this smoother power delivery lends itself to a more controllable and predictable ride, especially for riders who prefer revving the engine and carrying momentum. Lachy explained that while the bottom-end power wasn’t as punchy as he expected, it wasn’t a detriment to the bike’s performance. “It’s not that it lacks power; it’s just delivered differently. The bike feels like it wants to be ridden hard…

DA: JB, you rode for Yarrive and won five championships. Last night at dinner, we were talking about how you took a leap of faith with him back in the day. What made you take that leap of faith? JB: Yeah, it’s interesting timing. I feel like a lot of things in life are all about timing. In 2016, I was struggling during the summer. I didn’t really enjoy being at the races and I knew I needed to make a change. I had a two-year-old daughter at home and I felt like I wanted to race how I wanted to — and that was supercross. I loved supercross. I’d put my time in motocross, been on the podium several times and ticked all the boxes I needed to tick.…

Metty officially hung up his boots on his epic career at age 40 after his final pro race at the AUSX Open in Melbourne on November 30. His night wasn’t the fairytale ending he would have liked, suffering a concussion and two broken ribs in the final race, but when you look back at Metty’s career, the highs and lows of the sport are something he adapted to well. He had to in order to survive as long as he did. There are very few riders who could endure the setbacks that he faced throughout his years of racing. From nearly losing his leg to a golden staph infection to being knocked down from injury, to at times having to battle the best on inferior machinery, it took a lot…

When I first met Brad Burch in the mid-2000s, he was a shy 15-year-old country boy who didn’t say much but could ride the hell out of his YZ250. Since then I’ve watched Brad overcome injuries that would stop most people in their tracks to become one of the leading FMX riders in Australia. I’ve watched him go from small country town shows to riding with Travis Pastrana and the Nitro Circus. He’s now the owner of the Yamahasupported Airtime FMX team and is still sending his Yamaha harder than most. Brad’s story starts on a dairy farm in the little town of Strathmerton, Victoria. It was there Brad got his first bike and his passion for FMX was born. “I started riding bikes when I was probably nine or…

Hey there, Kye Anderson here from Endeavour Motorcycle Tours, and today we’re going to dive into a hotly contested debate about the dark arts of tyre setups. No, I’m not going to tell you about the magic unicorn tyre that will give you unlimited grip on gravel, mud, tar or even the moon. I will shed some light on my experience with the application of what’s inside tyres — i.e., tubeless vs tubes vs mousse tubes — all in relation to the adventure bike world. I’ve had a fair bit of experience with all three options, and I hope this article provides some guidance for those a little unsure about which setup best suits their riding style. TUBELESS DESCRIPTION: Think of your car tyre; it’s virtually the same concept, reduced…

The 2025 Penrite ProMX Championship presented by AMX Superstores is locked and ready. It will feature eight rounds over six months. The schedule offers a mix of well-established venues and three exciting new locations, setting the stage for another competitive season of Australian motocross. The series opens in Wonthaggi, Victoria, on March 22-23, and wraps up at Queensland Moto Park (QMP) on August 2-3. In between, the championship will visit Appin (NSW), Gillman (SA), and Toowoomba (Qld), with debut appearances at Traralgon (Vic), Warwick (Qld) and Nowra (NSW). Appin also returns to the calendar after a one-year absence. Motorcycling Australia CEO Peter Doyle is confident the series will continue moving in the right direction. “ProMX has grown significantly in recent years. The 2025 season builds on that success with a…

Winning the 2025 Dakar was everything I’d dreamed of. Coming into this race fully prepared, injuryfree, and confident in my bike and my fitness was a game changer. The past few years were tough — dealing with injuries and limited preparation time meant I was always playing catch-up. This year, though, I was ready and felt it in every stage. It wasn’t just about physical fitness; it was about experience, mindset, and trusting the team and the bike. Reflecting on the past few Dakars, I realise how much I’ve learned. Back then, I entered races with just a month or two of bike time, not to mention the missed opportunities to test and develop the bike properly. That lack of preparation showed. But this year was different. Coming off a…

At the 2025 Beta Off-Road launch in late 2024, the RR 200 X-Pro 2T was the bike every journo wanted to ride, which meant it was hard to get quality time on it to get a good feel. So we hit Beta up afterwards and they sent one to us to hold onto for a while. After running several tanks of fuel through the two-smoker, we reckon we’ve got a solid handle on what this bike can do and the kind of rider it’s made for. As we explained in the previous issue, the X-Pro range replaces the standard RR range from 2024. As Beta’s Tom Mendey pointed out, “Beta has positioned the X-Pro as a versatile range that can handle a bit of everything — a solid all-rounder. It’s…

The invite from the crew at Stark Future to visit their headquarters in Barcelona, Spain, spend a few days riding the Varg MX and their factory rider Eddie Karlson’s super enduro-tuned Varg, and take an exclusive look at their new production facility was too good to refuse. Besides enjoying some riding time on the Vargs, my focus was on uncovering more about the new enduro model we’d heard was close to release. I hoped to catch a sneak peek of it in production and had questions about whether the EX was genuinely developed for enduro conditions or just a tweaked MX model. Online, I’d seen comments speculating it would be “just an MX model with a headlight slapped on and an 18-inch rear wheel added”. That didn’t sit right with…

With Birdsville in our sights, we rolled out of Bangalow in northern NSW at 4am, excitement bubbling beneath the early-morning grogginess. The van was heavy with bikes, gear and anticipation for what lay ahead. By Friday evening, Trent Paola, Chris Hollis and I made it to the Quilpie Hotel, where we met up with Brad “Wonka” Williscroft and Jim Bateman, who made the trek from Sydney. With the footy playing on the big screen, the first beers were cracked open and the footy banter set the tone for the trip — lighthearted, loud and full of laughs. BIRDSVILLE ARRIVAL AND THE FIRST CHALLENGE We reached Birdsville just after lunch on Saturday. Unpacking was swift, but as we unloaded the panniers I spotted trouble — Wonka’s nav tower had a snapped…

DA: Jack, in 2024 you raced the MX3 class in ProMX. What was your biggest highlight from that series and what did you learn from racing on the big stage? JD: I thought that my 2024 ProMX Season went really well. It was my first year racing the MX3 class and I got 11th overall, which was good, but I did want to be a little bit further up than that. The highlight of my season would be the top five I got at Round Four in Maitland. I rode really well at that round and I felt comfortable in the top five. Unfortunately, I broke my wrist at the next round at Murray Bridge, which held me back for the rest of the season and made things a bit…