2022 KTM Australian Junior Motocross Championships hosted by Rockhampton and District Motocross Club huge success

The Rockhampton event has been hailed ‘one of the best in the history of AJMX’ by the major sponsor. Read how it was a triumph for the hosting club and a personal achievement for one of its hard-working officials.

The 2022 KTM Australian Junior Motocross Championships held in Rockhampton have been hailed a huge success. Photo: Pam McKay

Debbie Dark will step back from her long-running service to the Rockhampton and District Motocross Club on a high.

The nationally accredited race secretary oversaw the successful staging of the 2022 KTM Australian Junior Motocross Championships at the club’s Six Mile Raceway.

A field of 310 riders from across Australia and New Zealand competed in 12 classes at the four-day event which wrapped up on October 1.

Race secretary Debbie Dark, pictured with steward Chris Walker at the KTM Australian Junior Motocross Championships.

It was the first time the championships had been held in Rockhampton - and RADMX certainly delivered.

Dark said she could not be happier with how it all went after the event was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to Covid.

“The major sponsor KTM said this event would go down as one of the best in the history of AJMX and that is a moment our club is really proud of,” she said.

Check out the faces of the Australian Junior Motocross Championships here.

“All the feedback from riders, parents, team managers and sponsors was this was a well-organised and epic event.

“Everyone loved what our club delivered.

“Every aspect of the event was fantastic and I couldn’t have asked for anything better.

Jet Alsop was among the winners at the 2022 KTM Australian Junior Motocross Championships. Photo: Allan Reinikka

“The riders found the track challenging and technical and the way it developed over the four days of racing, we really produced some true champions. The riders who won really had to work hard to earn their places on the podium.”

Check out the action photos from the Australian Junior Motocross Championships here.

Dark said as well as it being a major coup for the club, it was a “huge personal achievement”.

A glitch in a newly introduced registration system meant it became a manual process, dramatically increasing her workload.

“It took about six weeks of every waking moment to get sorted but we got there in the end,” she said.

Casey Wilmington scored a place on the podium at the 2022 KTM Australian Junior Motocross Championships.

“I’m done now, I’m stepping back from club work, so these championships were a very special way to go out.”

Dark has been race secretary of RADMX since 2011 and its treasurer for the past six years.

Her dedication earned her a place in Rockhampton’s 50 most influential sports personalities compiled earlier this year by The Morning Bulletin.

Results

Female 85cc two stroke and 150cc four-stroke (12 to under-16 years): Madi Simpson 1, Emily Lambert 2, Stephanie Turnbull 3

50cc auto (seven to under-9 years): Kye Sproule 1, Mason Ezergailis, Ryder O’Grady 3

65cc two stroke (10 to under-12 years): Seth Thomas 1, Deegan Fort 2, Heath Davy 3

100cc-125cc two stroke (13 to under-15 years): Jake Cannon 1, Jet Alsop 2, Liam Owens 3

Jake Cannon claimed a national title at the 2022 KTM Australian Junior Motocross Championships held in Rockhampton.

Female 100cc-150cc two stroke and 200cc-250cc four stroke (13 to under-16 years): Madi Simpson 1, Danielle McDonald 2, Darci Whalley 3

85cc two stroke and 150cc four stroke (12 to under-14 years): Heath Fisher 1, Jack Deveson 2, Jackson Fuller 3

65cc two stroke (seven to under-10 years): Ethan Wolfe 1, Blake Bohannon 2, Sidney Stephenson 3

128cc-150cc two stroke and 200cc-250cc four stroke (15 years): Kayden Minear 1, Byron Dennis 2, Kobe Drew 3

85cc two stroke and 150cc four stroke (14 to under-16 years): William Wadwell 1, Patrick Butler 2, Casey Wilmington 3

85cc two stroke and 150cc four stroke (nine to under-12 years): Heath Davy 1, Seth Thomas 2, Bodie Court 3

128cc-150cc two stroke and 200cc-250cc four stroke (13 to under-15 years): Jet Alsop 1, Liam Owens 2, Jake Cannon 3

100cc-125cc two-stroke (15 years): Kayden Minear 1, Seth Burchell 2, Byron Dennis 3