Defending Champions Team Australia Announces MXoN Roster of Beaton, Tanti, and Larwood
The following press release is from Motorcycling Australia:
Jed Beaton, Aaron Tanti and Alex Larwood have been rewarded for outstanding domestic campaigns in 2026, with the trio to represent Motorcycling Australia at the Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations (MXoN) in Ernée, France from October 2-4.
All three will be making their MXoN debuts for Australia in Ernee, which last hosted the event in 2023 with a boisterous crowd and heaving grandstands making for an electrifying atmosphere.
Australia finished second in the 2023 MXoN before scoring a landmark victory in 2024 and then going back-to-back in 2025 to retain the coveted Chamberlain Trophy.
Now, in 2026, there’s an all-new roster to mark Australia’s 39th appearance in the MXoN – the first time since 1997 that three rookies will be on the starting gates for Australia.
Beaton (Yamaha) will be Australia’s MXGP class rider in France, with Tanti (Yamaha) and Larwood (Honda) on Open and MX2 duties respectively. The team will again be managed by former MXoN rider Michael Byrne, supported by Mark Luksich and Gary Benn.
After a late-season injury scuppered his MX1 chances in last year’s ProMX Australian Championship, 28-year-old Beaton produced a clinical campaign in 2026, piling on the pressure from the get-go and eventually wrapping up the title with a round to spare.
Amazingly after such a distinguished local and international career, which included top five finishes in the 2019 and 2020 MX2 FIM Motocross World Championships, this will be the Tasmanian-raised Beaton’s first appearance in Team Australia MXoN colours – although he was selected in 2016 but was a late withdrawal due to a broken collarbone.
“I’m super honoured to be selected to represent Australia in France this year,” said Beaton. “Ernee is a really nice track and it’s going to be good racing at a track I have competed at in the past – and really enjoyed.
“It’s going to be awesome to go out in the green and gold to give our very best for this great country we call home.”
Tanti made it a 1-2 for CDR Yamaha in MX1 Australian Championship after a blistering finish to the championship, and the teammates will now be joining forces on motocross’ biggest stage. Tanti, 30, previously won the MX1 title in 2022.
“I am super excited and honoured to be chosen to represent Australia in this year’s MXoN – it’s always been a dream of mine,” said Tanti.
“It’s going to be tough to fill the Lawrences’ shoes, but I’m going to enjoy every minute of it and simply do the best I can.”
Meanwhile, after a golden junior career 22-year-old Larwood has been building his MX2 stocks over the last two years, and in 2026 the South Aussie found another gear to produce a similar unflappable playbook to Beaton – double-digit victories that saw him taste championship success for the first time.
“I’m over the moon with being selected to represent Team Australia at this year’s MXoN,” said Larwood. “It has always been a dream of mine to wear the green and gold, and I can’t wait to experience the whole atmosphere and event and hopefully we can do Australia proud.”
Byrne cannot wait to get started on another MXoN campaign with the new Team Australia line-up.
“Although I live in America these days, I am an avid ProMX supporter and always tune into the FIM livestream to keep up with all the action,” he said.
“The quality of the racing has been spectacular in 2026, and I’ve been mightily impressed by the campaigns of all three MXoN riders.
“Their workrate has not only been first-class, but they’ve absorbed pressure, produced regular bouts of brilliance and shown plenty of grit and determination. It’s those traits that will be required when they step into the MXoN cauldron – which is like no other.
“We’ll leave no stone unturned to make our Aussie fans proud, and I look forward to coming together as a team to fine-tune our preparation before the big event.”
