Image: Simon Makker (Makkreative.com).

Australia’s Ryan Brown has taken top FMX category honours from the 2016 Farm Jam event held in the deep south of New Zealand.

The freestyle motocross competition was a true ANZAC battle as one of Australia’s fastest-emerging talents toppled reigning champion and 2012 Red Bull X-Fighters champion Levi Sherwood for win.

Sherwood entered the contest carrying an ankle injury after a crash just two days prior, but Brown refused to give him any quarter and had the crowd cheering with his wide variety of conventional and upside-down tricks.

Hard work paid off for Brown after elevating his riding to new heights in order to take the win over Sherwood in an event he feels is one of the world’s best.

“I’m really happy with this result and it’s good to know the hard work is starting to pay off for me,” Brown said. “I flipped one of the biggest jumps of my life and landed my first dirt-to-dirt flair, so I’m pumped right now. The Farm Jam is one of the best events in the world in my opinion and as long as it’s running I’ll be coming back for it.”

Event organisers have announced the next Farm Jam event will be held in early 2018 at the same venue in Winton, New Zealand.