Darwin’s Hidden Valley to become Australia’s base for Motocross World Championship
A major international motorsports event will return to Australia for the first time in 24 years, and Darwin has been named as the host. Find out what it means for the NT.
Northern Territory
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The Territory is set to become Australia’s home for motorsport after securing the FIM Motocross World Championship from 2025.
The event has not come to Australia in 24 years, but a landmark agreement between the NT government and MXGP rights holder Infront Moto Racing has brought it back.
The Australian exclusive deal runs from September 2025 until 2029, with the option to extend beyond the initial five year term.
Alice Springs local and Finke challenger Liam Walsh said the announcement was “absolutely massive”.
“I’ve always dreamed of going to one of these events and to have it at a local spot is awesome, and I can’t wait for it to happen,” he said.
“A big event like this, I feel it’s definitely going to get a lot of junior kids back into the sport, and hopefully they can one day be up there racing the MXGP and being watched by local people.”
Elsewhere on Wheels business owner Kate Raymond said hosting the MXGP in the Top End would help boost the profile of women in the sport, adding momentum after the first women’s class was introduced to Finke last year.
“There is a real desire for women to compete, and it’s amazing now that we have platforms to make this a reality because we’re out there,” she said.
“This is fantastic for women in motorcycling nationally, internationally, and for women of the Northern Territory, that this is a platform for us to really showcase our skills and abilities.”
The motorsports event is also expected to rev up the Territory economy through an almost $21m boost.
The Territory government will invest $1.65m into building a permanent track for the event at Hidden Valley, on top of the $3m investment into the wider Hidden Valley masterplan.
The MXGP provides an exclusive opportunity to showcase the Territory to an international audience, reaching 727 million views across 180 countries.
The event will be held over three days in 2025 and is sure to attract thousands of fans, with close to 2000 international participants and support crew each year.
The MXGP will also feature the established MXGP and MXW classes, as well as the FIM Women’s Motocross World Championship and national support class.
Chief Minister Eva Lawler said the event would draw up to 14,000 people during the Top End’s shoulder tourist season.
“This is millions of dollars extra going into our restaurants, hotels and retailers in a shoulder period,” she said.
“Territorians love their motorsport and we are the obvious choice to be the Australian home of the FIM Motocross World Championship.”
Infront Moto Racing chief executive David Luongo said they looked forward to witnessing what bringing Australia into the fold would contribute to the MXGP calendar.
“Darwin came to be the perfect location because the people here are motivated to make this event happen, so the racetrack will be fantastic,” he said.
“The anticipations among Australian fans to get their Grand Prix is unparalleled, as they have been waiting and vocal about a round in their homeland for many years now.
“Hosting the event in Australia not only solidifies its status as a major player in the global motocross scene, but also highlights our commitment to showcasing this thrilling sport to fans worldwide.”
The full 2025 MXGP calendar will be announced later this year, including when the world’s best motocross riders will be ripping it up in Darwin.
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