The fifth and sixth rounds of the 2026 Yamaha Australian Enduro Championship took riders to Queensland Moto Park for one of the toughest weekends of the season so far.
Dusty conditions, deep ruts and rocky terrain made the circuit increasingly demanding across both days, with visibility becoming a major challenge as the tests wore on.
Round 5
Saturday’s EW class delivered a thrilling battle between Jessica Gardiner and Madi Simpson.
Gardiner made the stronger start and quickly established herself at the front during the opening stages, while Simpson settled into second ahead of Emi Ruprecht.
The momentum shifted midway through the race when a series of small errors from Gardiner allowed Simpson to close the gap and move back into contention for victory. The young Yamaha rider continued to apply pressure during the final tests, setting up a dramatic finish.
Further behind, Emelie Granquist and Ruprecht were locked in a close fight for a place on the podium.
Everything came down to the final test, where Simpson produced a decisive performance to secure her first EW victory of the season. She crossed the line just 3.5 seconds ahead of Gardiner, while Ruprecht edged Granquist to complete the podium.
In the Junior Girls category, Lorna Lafont once again triumphed over Olivia Johnson and Jessie Harris.
Round 6
Sunday saw Gardiner respond immediately after missing out on victory the previous day.
The Yamaha rider attacked from the opening stages and quickly gained control of the overall classification, catching Simpson early in the event and steadily increasing her advantage throughout the day.
Behind the leading duo, the battle for third place remained incredibly tight. Granquist once again showed strong pace, while Ruprecht recovered after a difficult opening test.
Madison Healey also remained firmly in the fight thanks to consistent results across the day’s tests.
As conditions became rougher during the afternoon, the fight for the final podium position intensified, with only a handful of seconds separating several riders heading into the final stages.
Gardiner eventually wrapped up a convincing victory to end the weekend on top, with Simpson securing second overall. Healey completed the podium after a close battle that remained undecided until the final test.
No change in the championship standings; Jessica Gardiner maintains her 9-point lead over Madi Simpson. In the battle for third place, Emelie Granquist still leads Emi Ruprecht and Madison Healey.
Lorna Lock dominates the Junior Girl category and extends her lead over Olivia Johnson and Jessie Harris.
Saturday
Sunday
