Another season of Penrite ProMX is upon us, and there’s a great deal of excitement surrounding this year’s championship. Storylines are plenty across all categories in Wonthaggi, with this Top 10 feature outlining the key narratives to watch at round one.

1.The MX1 class:

This is a broad topic, however there are likely a handful of contenders in the MX1 class tired of hearing the words Webster/Beaton and domination in the same sentence. It’s true, this has been the discussion for much of the lead-up to the championship, which therefore means that the other riders – think of Luke Clout (Penrite Racing Empire Kawasaki) as well as KTM Racing Team riders Nathan Crawford and Kirk Gibbs – at the forefront of this list. They have the confidence and self-belief to be at the top, and would be thrilled to flip the narrative on its head and prove anyone who doubted them wrong leaving Wonthaggi.

Image: Foremost Media.

2. Webster/Beaton express:

Mentioned to death, but we’ll mention it once more is the Kyle Webster (Honda Racing) and Jed Beaton (Monster Energy CDR Yamaha) express, on track to freight train 2025 if left unchallenged. However, in this combination are two separate riders, who finished on equal points last year. At this point, though always exhibiting a relaxed demeanour on the outside, another MX1 P2 overall finish would be a bit of a kick in the guts to Beaton, with another title for Webster adding to his legacy in ProMX competition. Both riders have plenty of motivation, are in the prime of their careers, and are adding coal to the engine of the locomotive that’s ready for take-off in Wonthaggi.

3. FIM Oceania Women’s Motocross Cup:

This will be one of, if not the category to watch, across the weekend at Wonthaggi. It’s a big call with all the other action on track, although the Oceania Cup has attracted the top women racers from the United States, Africa, and New Zealand to the Wonthaggi venue, which means that three-time defending MXW class champion Charli Cannon (Honda Racing) will need to be on her absolute A-game. A 38-strong rider startline means that when these fast female racers from around the globe are on track, it’d be wise to make sure you’re on the fences watching. With the likes of nine-time AMA national champion Jordan Jarvis taking the challenge to Cannon, the MXW class is going to be a barnburner across the entirety of the weekend.

4. Season-opener format change:

We’ve got a revised season-opener format for 2025, with the Wonthaggi round set to take place over the course of two days. For most involved, this is a welcomed addition to the series, as it creates a more memorable race weekend to kick things off for the year. Practice and qualifying will be on Saturday for the main categories, with Sunday jumping straight into the top ten Pole Shootout following a warm-up. This will create quite contrasting vibes across both days – Saturday will likely be a relaxed, calm atmosphere that works well alongside the seaside backdrop of the racetrack, whilst Sunday will be game day from the get-go. Both days will have their own unique character, which is a pretty sweet way to kick off the 2025 season.

Caption: Foremost Media.

5. The Wonthaggi circuit:

Speaking of Wonthaggi, the picturesque southern Victorian venue plays host to round one of the championship once more, as riders, teams, and fans alike are greeted by the towering windmills and rolling green hills. So far, the weather forecast is looking like a nice, blue-skied weekend, with 19 degrees the top across both days of action. This will lend itself nicely to the track conditions, with the sandy, loamy surface typically a favourite for multiple riders in the championship. There are a handful of riders who call the Inverlock region home – namely the Ross Beaton-led Beaton’s Pro Formula crew, so as always, there’s going to be a home turf advantage for some of the local Victorian stars.

6. Who will reign supreme in MX3:

Whenever a champion vacates a class, an open door presents itself for the next wave of talent to take that leap from a rider with speed to a rider who seals a title. There is a big difference between the two, and with last year’s winner Jake Cannon having moved to Europe, now is the time for the next star to emerge in MX3. This moment proves as a critical juncture in a young rider’s career, with a win in this class assisting greatly in taking your career to the next level and into the professional MX2 ranks. There are a range of names who are hungry and on the list, and throughout this season we’ll see who has put in the most work and wants it badly enough. It all kicks off in Wonthaggi, however, and an important thing to note for these riders is this – you can’t win the title at round one, but overzealousness can certainly see you throw it away at the opener.

7. MX2 contenders:

Similar to the MX1 class, there’s probably a handful of talented MX2 riders who are sick of hearing the name Brodie Connolly (Honda Racing) this early in the year. We’ve covered why Connolly deserves this level of discussion elsewhere, but for the contenders, they’ll also be out to prove why the doubters were wrong and take it to the defending champ. This is the right attitude to have, as if you are a true challenger, being discarded would be mildly annoying. Nevertheless, look for KTM Racing Team’s Noah Ferguson and Rhys Budd (Raceline Husqvarna TDub Racing Team) to be at the top of this list. Why? They’re contenders – they’ve won before, they’ve beaten Connolly before, and so they’ll enter with a point to prove as to why they can do it again. No one denies their blistering speed, but can they maintain it across all eight rounds? Only time will tell.

Image: Foremost Media.

8. The Purvis effect:

One of the more interesting, intriguing storylines is Monster Energy CDR Yamaha’s Maximus Purvis. Speaking with a range of people, Purvis is akin to some type of mysterious dark matter, with folklore emerging out of the woodwork of how he raced the brutal Hattah Desert Race in 2023 with no camelback, electing to run without hydration. The lore is there that he has all the elements to be a contender, having shown speed superior to that of both Webster and Beaton by claiming last season’s final pole shootout award at Queensland Moto Park. Can he back this up regularly, and will the Craig Dack-led organisation be the missing ingredient for Purvis to become a true podium and championship threat? That’s the question entering Wonthaggi, but either way, grab a box of popcorn and buy tickets to the Purvis show as it promises to be exciting.

9. Returning riders:

It’s always good to see top talent make their way back to the Penrite ProMX field, adding depth and narratives at both the opener and throughout the season. To begin, it’s unanimous that the sport is better when Regan Duffy is around, who makes his return to racing following a year on the sidelines with the Todd Waters-run Raceline Husqvarna TDub Racing Team. For Duffy, finding his passion for racing again is a major win, and if he can return anywhere close to his 2021 form, that’s also a win for the fans. The same can be said for Honda Racing’s Wilson Todd, who is set for a comeback after the best part of 11 months on the sidelines recovering from injury. Lastly, spearheading the maiden Winner Triumph Racing MX1 voyage is Jack Simpson, who is back in Australia after a handful of successful desert-racing years in the United States. Seeing these three riders back in the paddock is great for the sport, and with three unique personalities, we’re destined to see unique storylines unfold over the season.

10. It’s only round one:

Last, but not least, it’s only round one. Sure, excitement is high, nerves are peaking, and everyone wants to prove that they are the top dog for 2025, raising their hand over the finish line tabletop at Wonthaggi and leaving with the red plate. However, it’s important to note that there is much more to lose than there is to be gained at the opener, with seven rounds to follow throughout the course of the year. Leaving with some solid points on the board and both a body and motorcycle that is still intact should be the goal, with time for further damage to be done during the latter stages of the series. This year is no doubt shaping up to be a great one, and as always, we’re stoked to tune in and watch the action.