New Zealand Junior Motocross Championships: Jack Ellingham shines in 250cc class

Taupo’s Connor Feather leads the 13-16 Years’ 85cc class at the 2026 New Zealand Junior Motocross Championships at the Brookhaven Motocross Training Facility in Leeston, Canterbury. Photo / Derek Morrison, MNZ

The future superstars of motocross showcased their skills at the New Zealand Junior Motocross Championships at Leeston, near Christchurch, over the weekend.

The annual three-day junior event has often proven to be a crucial starting point for many young New Zealand racers to go on and win national titles or world championship crowns.

Among them are Kiwi riders including Shayne King, Darryll King, Josh Coppins, Ben Townley and Courtney Duncan.

Perhaps this might also end up being the case for Auckland’s Jack Ellingham.

The 16-year-old from Herne Bay locked away the premier 14-16 years’ 250cc class title at the 2026 championships, finishing ahead of New Plymouth’s Travis Taylor and Onewhero’s Ryan Foster.

Cambridge’s Jack Hazelden and Murchison’s Ryder Solly rounded out the top five in the 250cc class.

“It was pretty muddy on the track on day three, but I had built a 15-point lead over the next best rider at the start of the last race, so I just rode carefully and safely in the end to bring it home,” Ellingham said.

Taupo’s Maz Parkes also impressed early on in the competition, winning the first 250cc race of the weekend, but then mechanical issues twice sidelined him and ruined any chances he had of achieving a top finish this season.

Each racing category featured five races over the three days.

The other title winners at the weekend were Tauranga’s Ethan Carleton (15-16 years’ 125cc class); Waipukurau’s Carson Carroll (12-14 years’ 125cc class); Taupo’s Connor Feather (13-16 years’ 85cc class); Cambridge’s Nico Verhoeven (11-12 years 85cc class); Piopio’s Case Wilson (8-10 years’ 85cc class); Waipukurau’s Kobe Carroll (8-11 years’ 65cc class) and Halcombe’s Indie Allison (junior women 12-16 years’ 125/250cc class).

Brothers Carson and Kobe Carroll, Feather, Verhoeven and Allison were all repeat title winners this season, having also won their respective classes at the corresponding championships in Pukekohe last year.

Sadly, there were not enough riders entered in the junior women’s 12-16 years’ 85cc or the junior women’s 8-11 years’ 85cc classes to constitute a championship.