Official: Team GB announce 15 riders for 2026 Junior World Championship

TeamGB has officially announced a squad of fifteen riders to compete at the 2026 FIM Junior Motocross World Championship, taking place from 4-5 July at MX-Enduro Park Jinín in the Czech Republic. The team will contest the 125cc, 85cc, and 65cc classes, with five riders selected for each category. The selection process was overseen by TeamGB management duo Mark Chamberlain and Stephen Sword, who are responsible for both the Junior and Senior national squads following the ACU’s decision to unify the national Motocross programme to better support young talent. Mark Chamberlain acknowledged the challenges involved in choosing the final team, emphasising the competitive nature of the selection and the difficult decisions that had to be made. He expressed confidence in the chosen riders, highlighting their potential to deliver strong results and the pride they should feel in representing their country and the ACU. The team will be aiming to build on recent success, having secured third place overall in the Junior World Championship in both 2024 and 2025, though the outright title remains elusive. Among the selected riders is 14-year-old Joel Winstanley-Dawson, a returning competitor who represented TeamGB in France last year. Joel, the reigning British 85cc Big Wheel Champion and currently third in the British 125cc standings, spoke positively about his experience and preparation, expressing optimism about the team’s prospects in the Czech Republic. He described last year’s event as challenging due to muddy conditions but believes the squad has the talent to perform well this time around. The MX-Enduro Park Jinín circuit, located approximately 75 miles south of Prague, is noted for its demanding, hard-packed natural terrain and technical layout. It has not hosted the Junior World Championship since 2013, making this a significant return for the venue. Chamberlain and Sword plan to hold a team meet-up in the UK ahead of the event to finalise preparations and allow riders to familiarise themselves with their machines before travelling to the Czech Republic. This approach reflects the ACU’s commitment to nurturing young riders through its High Performance Academy and the unified national programme.