Teenage duo Kayden Minear and Jet Alsop captured a combined three titles at the 2022 KTM Australian Junior Motocross Championship (AJMX) in Rockhampton with the KTM Junior Racing Team.
After earning the national MX3 crown earlier this season, Minear put the perfect end-note on his outdoor campaign by winning two more championships in Queensland this week.
Despite a crash early in the four-day event, Minear piloted the 2023 KTM 250 SX-F to the 250cc (15yrs) class title and backed up his performance with a second winner’s trophy in the 125cc class riding his KTM 125 SX.
In both divisions, the 15-year-old found added form as the circuit dried out from heavy rain in the event's middle stages and he proved unstoppable over the final two days.
Fellow emerging talent Alsop also carried the 2023 KTM 250 SX-F to an Australian championship by charging to the 250cc (13-U15yrs) title, then finished second overall in his 125cc division overall.
The 15-year-old won two of the three 250cc finals on his way to lifting the trophy, then finished 3-2-2 on the KTM 125 SX to cap off a productive weekend.
In the 85cc (9-U12yrs) category, Kyle Harvey finished the week in fourth overall after a solid showing that came down to the wire, while Cooper Ford worked his way through the pack from rough starts in the 85cc (12-U14yrs) class to finish the week in 10th overall.
Further KTM success came at the hands of Seth Thomas, riding his KTM 65 SX to a deserved championship in the 65cc (10-U12yrs) category after picking up two of five final victories during the event.
Kayden Minear: "It was a really good week for me, although it got off to a rough start with a crash in the early stages. Once I got on a winning streak though, there was no turning back! It means a lot to finish off my junior career with two titles before I step up to the seniors in 2023 - I wanted to make a statement and that’s what I did this week. The 2023 KTM 250 SX-F was awesome and I felt comfortable on it all week."
Jet Alsop: "My week progressively got better. It was awesome to get the job done in the 250 class and I left everything out there on the 125, but just came up a bit short. I had a lot of fun on the 2023 KTM 250 SX-F and am stoked to have been able to win an Australian title on it! It was such a good week and there was a great atmosphere around the pits."
Kyle Harvey: "I felt really good early on, with good starts and the fastest lap times in our heats, but in the finals it just wasn’t our day. I really wish I could’ve got on the podium, but I had to settle for fourth overall. The track got rougher and rougher as the week went on, but I still enjoyed it. I’ll return next year determined to keep improving and aim for the podium!"
Cooper Ford: "I had a pretty good week and there were plenty of positives with the way I was able to charge through the pack and my fast lap times. It’s just a shame my starts weren’t there, which made things really hard all week. It’s the first time I’ve raced at this track and it was rougher than what we get back home, but I loved it and gelled well with it. I’m happy with my form, but I need to work on my starts and already look forward to next year."