Image: Supplied.

The success of Australia’s Jay Wilson in the All-Japan Motocross Championship continued at Kyushu, where a perfect scorecard saw him secure the IA1 (450cc) championship in the seventh round of the series, marking the second straight year he has won a title in Japan.

Wilson won the IA-2 (250cc) championship last year and stepped up to the premier class for 2023 with the Yamaha Factory Innovation Team, where he coaches and mentors up-and-coming Japanese riders plus develops future products for the brand as part of his role.

The YZ450F rider has been nothing short of dominant in the IA1 category, with his latest success at the seventh round of the season seeing him extend his winning streak to 18 races, in addition to claiming the premier class title.

“It has been a long haul to secure my first 450cc championship, but it has been worth it,” Wilson explained. “I first went to the 450 class in 2016 but it didn’t go well and I had to rebuild my career on the 250.

“There were times when you think success is a long way away or even attainable at all, but with the support of my wife, my family, my friends and Yamaha, I can finally say I’m a 450cc motocross champion and I’m pretty pumped about it. Thank you to everyone who has supported through this and to my team here at Yamaha for so much hard work goes on behind the scenes. This is for them as much as me.”

In addition to his commitments in Japan, Wilson – while in the US testing – had to opportunity to fill-in for the injured Eli Tomac earlier this year with the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing team at the Unadilla, Budds Creek and Ironman Pro Motocross events.