South African James Moore has successfully defended his title, winning the 2026 FIM Junior Hard Enduro World Championship for the second consecutive year following a closely contested season finale at Hixpania in Spain.
The 20-year-old from Harrismith in the Free State has now secured back-to-back Junior World Championship titles, continuing to build his reputation on the international Hard Enduro stage. Competing for the AG Beta Factory racing team, Moore took on some of the world’s toughest Hard Enduro races across eight championship rounds in Europe, the United States and Africa.
The championship went down to the wire at the final round, the 24MX Hixpania in Aguilar de Campoo, Spain, where Moore arrived with just three points separating him from closest rival Ashton Brightmore in the Junior standings.
Despite losing time early in the final race, The Lost Road, Moore fought his way back through the field to finish fifth overall, one position ahead of Brightmore. The result secured Moore the Junior World Championship title by four points, finishing the season on 188 points compared to Brightmore’s 184.
“It means a huge amount to me because it’s something I’ve worked towards for years, and to come down to the final round with just one point separating me and Ashton made it even more special. Winning it at Hixpania after fighting back from a crash on the final day was an incredible feeling, and all the hard work, sacrifices and dedication finally paid off,” said Moore.
The 2026 season was a significant step forward in Moore’s international career. Alongside successfully defending his Junior World Championship title, he finished fifth overall in the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship standings, claimed third place in the Gold class at the Red Bull Romaniacs and finished sixth at the Erzbergrodeo.
The eight-round FIM Junior Hard Enduro World Championship tested competitors across a variety of demanding terrain and conditions, with events taking place in France, Portugal, the United States, Sweden, Italy, Lesotho, Turkey and Spain.
For Moore, maintaining consistency while managing the physical and mental demands of international competition was one of the biggest challenges of the season. An injury to his foot and mechanical problems added to the obstacles he had to overcome.
Competing at this level also requires considerable preparation away from the racecourse. Moore trains on his motorcycle four to five days a week, supported by gym sessions and additional fitness work. Travel, equipment, preparation and time away from home all form part of the commitment required to compete on the international stage.
He credits his family, team, sponsors and supporters for playing an important role in making his international campaign possible, with particular recognition for his team manager, Alfredo Gomez.
“Motorsport is definitely not something you can do alone. My family has sacrificed a lot to help me get to where I am, and my sponsors play a huge role in allowing me to compete at this level,” he added.
Representing South Africa on the international stage makes the achievement even more meaningful for Moore, who hopes his success will encourage other young South African riders to pursue opportunities overseas.
“We have some incredibly talented riders in South Africa, and being able to compete against the best in the world and show what we can do is something I’m really proud of. I hope I can inspire other young riders back home to chase their goals and show them that it’s possible to compete and succeed at the highest level.”
Looking ahead, Moore plans to move beyond the Junior category and continue developing in the Open class, with winning an Open World Championship among his biggest ambitions.
Successfully defending his world title for a second consecutive year, while also finishing fifth overall in the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship standings, marks another important milestone in the young South African’s international career.
Motorsport South Africa congratulates James Moore on securing back-to-back FIM Junior Hard Enduro World Championship titles and looks forward to following his continued progress on the international stage.
