- Four New Zealand riders will contest the 2026 FIM Junior Motocross World Championships in the Czech Republic.
- Levi Townley returns as a former JMX85 world champion and leads the JMX125 charge.
- The Kiwi team includes riders with strong European experience and support from Josh Coppins and Ben Townley.
Four of New Zealand’s brightest young motocross talents will take on the world this weekend, with Levi Townley, Jaggar Townley, Nixon Coppins and Nico Verhoeven chasing junior world titles in the Czech Republic.
Four of New Zealand’s brightest young motocross talents will line up against the world’s best this weekend as they chase FIM Junior Motocross World Championship glory in the Czech Republic.
The 2026 Junior Motocross World Championships take place at Jinin on July 4-5, with Tauranga’s Levi Townley leading the Kiwi charge in the JMX125 class.
The 16-year-old will be joined by his younger brother Jaggar Townley, 14, along with Nixon Coppins and Nico Verhoeven, both 13, who will contest the JMX85 class.
Levi arrives with proven world championship pedigree after making history in 2024 by becoming the first New Zealander to win the JMX85 Junior Motocross World Championship. That same year, Cambridge rider Verhoeven finished runner-up in the JMX65 world championship.
Now racing the JMX125 class, Levi has been building momentum in Europe, finishing fifth overall in the EMX125 class at the MXGP of France before backing it up with second place at the MXGP of Latvia.
“This is my second World Juniors,” Townley said. “I have a bit more experience to lean on, so I’m happy about that. I’m just going to ride like I normally do and ride to my potential.”
Having more Kiwis around him is also a bonus for the young star.
“It is cool to have some Kiwis over here and to have my brother on the team. It’s always good to have some friends and family supporting.”
Coppins has also spent the season based in the Northern Hemisphere, training and racing at the highest level of junior motocross.
“I am ready to go and I’m excited,” he said. “I love New Zealand and love being able to represent the country. I know it won’t be an easy race, but I am ready to fight.”
Verhoeven enters the event fresh from winning the 2026 New Zealand Junior Motocross Championships in the 11-12 Years 85cc division and has also been preparing in Europe.
“You train your whole life for the biggest event you can do, and now we’re over here prepping for that,” Verhoeven said.
“I don’t have any goals other than qualifying. I’ll set a goal after that – top 10 would be good. As long as I get a good start and don’t crash, I should be sweet.”
For Jaggar Townley, racing alongside his older brother provides a valuable opportunity to learn.
“It’s awesome to have my brother alongside me at the races for advice,” he said. “I’m really excited for the race – I just want to do as well as I can.”
The Jinin circuit will see the young Kiwis face a huge international field, with 94 riders entered in the JMX85 class and 100 in the JMX125 class. Qualification will be the first challenge before the world title races on Sunday.
The New Zealand team also has plenty of experience in its corner, with motocross legends Josh Coppins and Ben Townley supporting the riders throughout their European campaigns.
Townley, who is helping guide the young riders, says the Junior World Championship is one of the biggest events on the calendar.
“There are a lot of events throughout the season, but this one has the biggest accolades,” he said. “Being a one-weekend event, there’s a little bit more pressure connected to that. But overall, it’s just another race for the boys to progress.”
Racing begins with practice and qualifying on Saturday, July 4, before the championship races on Sunday, July 5.
