With the pressure on, selected classes headed out for their second last finals races, before getting to the business end of proceedings at the 2015 KTM Australian Junior Motocross Championship this afternoon.

With Western Australian weather once again being kind to all, riders were treated to slightly overcast conditions to kick start their day.

With an air of excitement and anticipation, six classes got their fourth finals races underway this morning, with upsets, race wins, and a handful of riders setting themselves up for a successful afternoon, when this years KTM AJMX champions are crowned.

100cc – 125cc 2-stroke 15 years final four:
When the super talented 100cc – 125cc 2-stroke 15 years class saw the 15 second board, you could feel the pressure with every race providing the chance to snatch up crucial championship points.

When gates dropped, it was Western Australia’s Justin Hart who got to a flying start, before moving in to the race lead ahead of undefeated Hunter Lawrence (Yamaha) in second.

However following this years running trend, Hart’’s Husqvarna machine was only able to hold off the lightening fast Lawrence for all of two laps – providing spectators with a familiar sight as Lawrence lead the way once again.

By the halfway point Lawrence stretched out his lead once again, fellow Yamaha mounted Wyatt Chase moved in to second after Hart went missing, while Cooper Pozniak held down third place.

When racing concluded, the crowds cheered as Lawrence maintained his flawless scorecard, while Wyatt Chase took out second position, followed by Hart who recovered to take third.

65cc Solo 11 years final four:
As racing got under way for the fourth final in the 65cc Solo 11 years class, onlookers were shocked to see KTM’s Jett Lawrence way back in the pack in second last, as Cody Chittick lead the way ahead of Tyran Tomich and Benny Novak.

After only a couple of laps, Lawrence was in serious trouble – down a lap and his bike appearing to be having significant issues, Lawrence continued to circulate, while Chittick held his own in the top spot.

When the chequered flag flew, Chittick got the job done, taking a solid race win ahead of Tomich in second and Novak in third. In what was Lawrence’s toughest race so far this week, the number 49 machine continued to circulate, salvaging eighth.

128cc – 150cc 2 stroke & 200cc – 250cc 4 stroke 13-u15 years final four:
When bikes hit the track Trent Collins snatched up a hard fought holeshot, before in-form BCP Honda’s Taj Marshall took over the race lead after only two turns.

With Marshall out in front, the battle fired up for remaining top positions – the likes of Callum Norton, Huwan Medcalf, Caleb Grothues, and Mat Fabry going head to head.

It wasn’t long before Norton and Grothues made their presence known, with the pair beginning to close in on their race leader Marshall.

With only a few laps remaining, Grothues made the pass on Norton for second, while Collins also made his way past Norton who appeared to be having significant issues with his bike.

When the 128cc – 150cc 2 stroke & 200cc – 250cc 4 stroke 13-u15 years class wrapped up their fourth final, Marshall held off Grothues to take the race win, while KTM’s Grothues finished in second, and New Zealand’s Collins who finished in third.

Early front-runner Norton, concluded the ten minute moto in 12th after continuing to circulate despite nursing bike issues.

65cc Solo 9-u11 years final four:
When the roar of the 65cc bikes filled Shrubland Park, all eyes shifted to the track as the youngsters got their race underway. And it was Myles Gilmore who got to the early race lead, while Western Australia’s Liam Atkinson followed only a few bike lengths behind in second.

As riders settled in to their positions, the running order saw Gilmore out in front, followed by Atkinson, Deegan Mancinelli, Brock Flynn and Noah Smerdon.

When the last lap board came out, race leader Gilmore had gone missing in action, allowing Atkinson to inherit the race lead, with Mancinelli moving in to second, and Smerdon in to third.

When racing concluded Atkinson broke through to take the race win, while Mancinelli and Smerdon finished in second and third places respectively.

85cc 2-stroke / 150cc 4-stroke all wheel Girls 12-u16 years final four:
When the girls got their racing underway at Shurbland Park this morning, it was a familiar sight as Victorian Danielle Foot got to another flying start, while Hayley Miller slotted in to second behind her.

It wasn’t long however until Tahlia O’Hare moved up in to second position behind Foot, and Kara Cats once again moved in to third.

And for the girls, their positions would not change much from what they went out in, with Foot wrapping up another race win five seconds ahead of O’Hare who finished in second, and Cats concluding the ten minute moto in third.

128cc – 150cc 2-stroke & 200cc – 250cc 4-stroke 15 years final four:
When the big bikes came out to play before their final hit out before this afternoon, Cooper Pozniak ripped a huge holeshot ahead of Hunter Lawrence, however once again Lawrence was able to move in to the lead after only a quarter of a lap.

With Lawrence out in front, the focus shifted to the battle for second, with Justin Hart edging out Pozniak to move in to second, forcing Pozniak to fight off the likes of Wade Kirkland who began to apply the pressure for third.

As racing progressed, Lawrence stretched out his lead to six seconds ahead of Hart in second, while Kirkland had made his way past Pozniak for third.

When the chequered flag flew, it was once again Queenslander Lawrence who was the man of the moment, taking the race win ahead of W.A’s Hart, while Kirkland wrapped up the race in third.

With finals races kicking off just prior to lunch this afternoon, hundreds of fans watched on, as juniors put together their final races that would contribute to their KTM Australian Junior Motocross Championship campaigns.

With every race providing the opportunity to snatch up vital championship points, junior riders got to work, knowing full well that at the conclusion of the day champions would be crowned.

And crowned they were, from the epic battles in the 100cc to 125cc 13-u15 years class, to a heartbreaking finish in the 50cc class, the final motos of this year’s KTM AJMX were action packed to say the very least.

100cc to 125cc 2-stroke 13-u15 years final five:
With the final race of the day on the line for the 100cc to 125cc 2-stroke 13-u15 years class, riders were pumped up, with only one being crowned champion at the conclusion of the moto.

When bikes launched into turn one, it was a huge upset for Rhys Budd, who went down and was forced to start from close to dead last.

However for points leader Mat Fabry (Yamaha), the holeshot meant he could get to the start required to fight off closest title threat Caleb Grothues, who followed closely behind in second.

After only a few laps though, you could tell there was a championship on the line, as Fabry and Grothues went head to head, treating onlookers to a battle for the race-lead. And in spectacular fashion Grothues made the pass, relegating Fabry to second where he began to feel the pressure from Callum Norton.

With one lap to go, the running order saw Grothues out in front, followed by Norton, Fabry and Riley Dukes who made up the remaining top positions.

However when the chequered flag flew for the final time on the 100cc to 125cc 2-stroke 13-u15 years class, it was Grothues who had reason to celebrate – taking an emphatic race win, ahead of Norton who wrapped up the race in second, while Fabry crossed the line in third, enough to win him the 2015 AJMX Championship.

85cc 2-stroke / 150cc 4-stroke std wheel 9-u12 years final five:
When the full grid or riders lined up for their final race this morning, all eyes were on KTM’s Jett Lawrence who had dominated the class throughout the entire week.

When gates dropped, it was the Lawrence show once again, as his number 49 machine launched through the first turn, and began to check out on the huge field of competitors.

After one lap, Lawrence left his competitors to battle behind him. And battle they did! With Billy Payne in second, Alex Larwood charged from fifth to third in a matter of moments, on a charge to the front of the talented pack.

However, in a huge turn of events, Lawrence dropped back to fifth place at the five-minute mark, allowing Larwood to inherit the race-lead ahead of Payne, and leaving Lawrence with a job on his hands if he was to make up lost ground.

With two minutes remaining, Lawrence made the move on Payne, charging back to second, and eyeing off the rear wheel of race leader Larwood. And determined to keep a flawless record Lawrence passed Larwood for the lead with half a lap to go.

When the race wrapped up, it was Lawrence who did more than what was required to take the race win, and the Australian Championship, ahead of Larwood who finished the race in second, and Payne in third.

50cc Division 2 7-u9 years final five:
With the Division 2 class being one of the biggest classes in this year’s championship, the little tackers buzzed down the start straight for their final moto all hoping to be this year’s Australian Champion. And tt was the number 20 of Kayd Kingsford who took the holeshot ahead of his competitors.

After only one lap, Kayden Minear moved in to the race lead, while Seth Clark held his own in second, followed by Jake Snow in third.

As the race reached it’s final stages, Clark managed to move in to the lead, while Seth Burchell made his way up in to second, and Minear in third.

However despite leading for a period of time, in a huge upset Burchell’s bike stopped with one lap to go, allowing Clarke to take the race win ahead of Australia’s newest 50cc champions Minear, followed by Deacon Paice in second and third respectively.

However the story from the race was that of Burchell’s – huge crowds cheered as Burchell pushed his bike all the way to the line, showing his outstanding fighting spirit, all the way until the end.

85cc 2-stroke / 150cc 4 stroke std / big wheel 14-u16 years final five:
With so much talent crammed in to the 85cc 2-stroke / 150cc 4 stroke std / big wheel 14-u16 years class, all bets were on when racing got underway.

When bikes launched off the start and down the straight, lightening fast Honda mounted Morgan Forgarty took the early race lead, however with a championship on the mind, Mitchel Outram was not ready to give up just yet.

By the halfway point Fogarty managed to maintain his impressive race lead, while Outram looked comfortable in second knowing it would be all that was needed to wrap up an Australian Championship.

In a huge upset, just two laps before the finish, Fogarty had issues with his bike forcing him to DNF in a devastating turn of events – however Outram was able to capitalize on Fogarty’s misfortune, crossing the line with the race win and the l Australian championship, followed by Liam Walsh and Thomas Bell who finished in second and third places respectively.

85cc 2-stroke / 150cc 4-stroke std / big wheel 12-u14 years final five:
With water added to the track for the last race for the 85cc 2-stroke / 150cc 4-stroke std / big wheel 12-u14 years class, riders were treated to fresh conditions when racing got underway.

When gates dropped it was a hotly contested battle for the holeshot with Corben Weinert taking exiting turn one first, with Regan Duffy and Bailey Malkiewcz only a bike length behind.

After two laps, KTM mounted Duffy was the new race leader, ahead of Malkiewcz in second and Rhys Budd who had managed to move in to third.

And there was little change in standings from the halfway point to the conclusion of the moto, with only Malkiewcz dropping off from the pointy end of the standings.

When the chequered flag flew, it was Duffy who added another race win to his growing resume, looking to be more than enough to unofficially hand him the 2015 Australian Championship. Crossing the line in second was Budd, while James Scott concluded the ten-minute moto in third.

65cc Solo 7-u9 years final five:
With only one point separating Seth Burchell from closest threat Kayden Minear, the stakes were extra high, as the 65cc Solo 7-u9 class headed out to battle for an Australian Championship.

However when racing got underway it was Braden Plath who got to the early race lead, before the 27 machine of Burchell settled in to second behind him.

After only one lap however, a four-way battle for the race lead quickly emerged, with Minear moving in to the race lead ahead of Plath, followed by Burchell and Tyler Collins in third and fourth.

However with both vying for a championship the pressure was on, and after a tough outing earlier Burchell dropped back to fifth, allowing Minear to capitalize on his position.

When the seven-minute race concluded, Minear crossed the line victorious and appeared to have done more than enough to be crowned Australian Champion. Following closely behind in second was Plath, while Collins wrapped up his final 65cc 7-u9 race in third.

100cc – 150cc 2-stroke / 200cc – 250cc 4-stroke Girls 13-u16 years final five:
With racing for the girls not long off being wrapped up, all eyes were on Danielle Foot who had dominated results for the entire week.

Despite not being in contention for the title due to a costly DNF, Chelsea Carter got to a ripping start, and moved in to the early race lead ahead of Foot in second.

After only one lap, Carter did not look to be slowing up, maintaining her lead on Foot, followed by a hard charging Tahlia O’Hare who continued to impress in third.

And when racing was all over Foot made a late charge to take the race win ahead of Carter – Foot doing more than required to see her crowned the 100cc – 150cc 2-stroke / 200cc – 250cc 4-stroke Girls 13-u16 years class Australian Champion, while O’Hare concluded the ten lap moto in third.

The stakes were high at Shrubland Park today, and with so much on the line, our junior athletes got to work for the last finals races for the 2015 KTM Australian Motocross Championship.

With the morning’s races done and dusted, the afternoon crammed plenty of action into just a handful of races, once again seeing Australia’s up and coming stars impress in challenging conditions.

And when the chequered flag flew for the final time at Shrubland Park today, Australia’s newest champions were finally known – a welcome end to what has been one long had week of racing in Western Australia.

65cc Solo 11 years final five:
As racing began to reach boiling point, the dwindling 65cc Solo 11 years class headed out for their final moto, with only four points separating championship leader Cody Chittick from Tyran Tomich.

However neither Chittick or Tomich would lead the way, the pair unable to hold back the lightening fast Lawrence who moved into the number one position after only one lap, while Chittick and Tomich battled for second.

And when racing was all but wrapped up KTM’s Lawrence once again crossed the line celebrating another race win, followed by Tomich in second, while Chittick raced to third, handing him the 65cc Solo 11 years Australian title.

100cc to 125cc 2-stroke 15 years final five:
When the big boys lined up for their last 100cc to 125cc 2-stroke 15 years class race, spectators eagerly watched on, to see whether Yamaha Junior Racing Team’s Hunter Lawrence could take out the Aussie title undefeated.

When bikes screamed off the start it was KTM’s Cooper Pozniak who’s starting capabilities once again saw him take the holeshot. However Pozniak’s lead was short-lived – after only one lap Lawrence moved in to the lead, leaving Wyatt Chase and Pozniak to cop his roost.

With Lawrence once again getting to a commanding 10 second lead by the halfway point, the focus shifted to the battle for third, with Pozniak and Justin Hart banging bars for the final podium position.

When the last lapboard came out, Lawrence had stretched his lead out to an unprecedented 24 seconds, with Hart holding down second position, followed by Wade Kirkland who had made his way in to third.

And when the chequered flag flew Queenslander Lawrence crossed the line with a perfect scorecard, making him Australia’s 2015 100cc to 125cc 2-stroke 15 years class Champion, while Hart concluded the ten-minute moto in second, and Kirkland in third.

128cc – 150cc 2-stroke & 200cc – 150cc 4-stroke 13-u15 years final five:
When the roar of 128cc – 150cc 2-stroke & 200cc – 150cc 4-stroke 13-u15 years class engines echoed through Shrubland Park, spectators rushed to the fence line in what promised to be one epic final moto.

When gates dropped all eyes were on the 32 machine of Taj Marshall who entered the final race with a 19-point championship lead. However it was New Zealander Trent Collins who once again got a ripping start, and moved in to the lead ahead of Callum Norton and Jake Williams.

And after only one lap, onlookers were dealt a treat, as a three-way battle for the race lead saw Collins, Norton and Marshall all going head to head on one seriously roughed up Shrubland Park circuit.

The focus then shifted to the fight for second, as Collins separated himself from the pack, leaving Norton and Marshall to battle behind him. It was Marshall however who had the strength to keep Norton at bay, moving in to second position, while Michael Driscoll moved in to third.

When the ten-minute moto was done and dusted Collins broke through to take an outstanding race win, while Honda mounted Marshall crossed the line in second and clinched the Australian title, followed by Caleb Grothues who fought hard to come back and finish the race in third.

65cc Solo 9-u11 years final five:
When the littlies in the 65cc Solo 9-u11 years class lined up for their final time, the youngsters had a tough task ahead of them, as they headed out on one seriously rough and sandy circuit.

When gates dropped the holeshot went to Deegan Mancinelli, but Noah Smerdon however, not letting him out of his sights and following closely behind in second.

With one lap down the running order saw Mancinelli out in front, followed by Myles Gilmore, and Smerdon who had dropped back to third. But it wasn’t long before Gilmore picked off Mancinelli too, moving in to the lead with plenty of racing to spare.

With only two laps to the finish, the battle for third position fired up, with Liam Atkinson coming back to snatch away the final podium position from Smerdon.

When the chequers came out, Gilmore wrapped up the 65cc Solo 9-u11 years final victorious, while Mancinelli held on for second, followed by Atkinson who wrapped up the final in third.

85cc 2 –stroke / 150cc 4 stroke all wheel Girls 12-u16 years final five:
With a ladies championship to be decided in this race, the pressure was on, and Tahlia O’Hare proved she could handle the pressure and more, taking the holeshot on home soil ahead of Victoria’s Danielle Foot.

And after one lap, O’Hare showed no signs of slowing down, keeping Foot at bay and holding down the race lead, while Tanesha-Rose Harnet settled in to third.

As the 85cc 2 –stroke / 150cc 4 stroke all wheel Girls 12-u16 years class final reached it’s final stages, O’Hare managed to stretch out her gap to 11 seconds on Foot in second, while Harnet continued to maintain third.

When racing wrapped up, the order of positions remained the same, the main change being the 17-second gap between O’Hare crossing the line with the win, and Foot crossing the line in second, but doing more than enough to wrap up the Australian title. In an outstanding performance Harnet held on to take the chequered flag in third.

128cc – 150cc 2-stroke & 200cc – 250cc 4-stroke 15 years final five:
With the big boys being the last class out on track at this year’s KTM Australian Junior Motocross Championship, spectators waited around to see the final champion crowned for 2015.

With many of the youngsters moving up in to seniors in 2016, the final moto for the 128cc – 150cc 2-stroke & 200cc – 250cc 4-stroke 15 years class would be the last hoorah for their junior racing careers.

With that said, when gates dropped, the talented pack of riders launched down the start straight with KTM’s Cooper Pozniak once again taking the holeshot, before Yamaha’s Hunter Lawrence moved in to the early race lead ahead of Justin Hart.

After a handful of laps, Lawrence was once again untouchable, stretching out his race lead on Hart, while Tasmania’s Wade Kirkland maintained third position.

When the last lap board came out, Lawrence had a clear track in front of him, knowing that with a 19 second lead, that after one more lap he would be Australia’s 128cc – 150cc 2-stroke & 200cc – 250cc 4-stroke 15 years class champion.

And when the chequered flag flew, Lawrence celebrated as he crossed the line, taking the final race win for the 2015 KTM AJMX, ahead of Hart in second place, while Kirkland wrapped up the ten minute moto in third.

Click here for detailed results