In this 2025 edition of the CycleOnline AUS Awards, we recognise the standout performers and defining storylines of the past season, reflecting on both domestic and international competition. These awards are presented purely for editorial purposes, compiled from an Australian perspective based on what we witnessed throughout the year at home and abroad.

Image: Foremost Media.

National Rider of the Year – Josh Waters:
He made history last year as the first rider to secure four ASBK premier class crowns, and in 2025 Josh Waters elevated that record again. A composed and commanding season with McMartin Racing on the Ducati Panigale V4 R delivered him a fifth championship, and if the partnership endures into next season, a run at number six is well within reach.

International Rider of the Year – Marc Marquez:

The comeback of all comebacks! In 2026, Marc Marquez clinched his seventh-career MotoGP crown – his first since 2019 – after a series of injuries that many believed could have ended his career. But it wasn’t just that he won, it was how he did it. Pure domination. Marquez wrapped up the title at the Japanese Grand Prix with five rounds still remaining, collecting 11 Grand Prix victories and 14 Sprint wins along the way. Remarkably, he missed the final four races of the season following his collision with Marco Bezzecchi in Mandalika, yet still secured the championship by 78 points over his brother Alex.

Rookie of the Year – Jonathan Nahlous:

Nahlous was strong from the outset, racing to fourth overall in just his second appearance at Sydney Motorsport Park, and repeating that result again in round six at Phillip Island. And it was the season finale that delivered the milestone moment via a first-career overall podium. He logged 2-2 results on the day, only bettered by Josh Waters and Mike Jones, who each produced a first and a third to keep Nahlous third overall.

Personality of the Year – Josh Brookes:

There are riders who make headlines only for results, and then there are those who can maintain the attention simply for who they are – and Josh Brookes stands firmly in the latter category. The Australian road racer and two-time British Superbike champion has long been a fan favourite for his fearless style on track, but it’s his personality that truly elevates his profile. Whether he’s sharing glimpses of life behind the scenes on his YouTube channels – from BSB battles to Isle of Man TT adventures and even blasts at the Summer Night Series at Sydney Motorsport Park, Brookes takes fans along for the ride with energy and genuine authenticity.

Image: Foremost Media.

Series of the Year – MotoGP World Championship:

Few seasons will be remembered quite like 2025. Marc Marquez’s stunning switch to the Ducati Lenovo Team set the tone, plus you add in Pecco Bagnaia’s unexpected struggles, Jorge Martin’s injury-riddled title defence in his first season with Aprilia Racing, or the rise of both Marco Bezecchi and Alex Marquez, and the championship became a drama-filled spectacle from start to finish.

Most Anticipated Model – 2026 Yamaha YZF-R7:

Yamaha’s next-generation YZF-R7 emerges as one of the most anticipated models of 2026, representing the most significant evolution of the model since its debut, with Yamaha introducing IMU-enabled rider aids, a completely redesigned frame and swingarm, updated suspension, and next-generation aerodynamic bodywork. It retains the unmistakable R-Series DNA while pushing the platform’s performance and capability into an entirely new territory. It is also set to play a major role on the world stage next season, forming the backbone of the new World SportBike category – the very class Australia’s Carter Thompson will step into as the 300 class is phased out. It also features prominently in the Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship (WorldWCR), where Australia’s Tayla Relph flies the flag. With meaningful performance refinements, enhanced electronics and race-focused geometry, the 2026 iteration signals Yamaha’s intent to reshape its middleweight presence globally. Adding to the anticipation is the release of Yamaha’s 70th Anniversary editions across its line-up, giving the new R7 – and its stablemates – a heritage-inspired look that ties modern engineering to the brand’s iconic racing past.

Top Team – Stop and Seal:

The team that keeps on giving in ASBK, because Stop and Seal has become one of the backbone operations of Australia’s domestic championship, fielding a powerhouse Supersport roster featuring new champion Jack Mahaffy, Archie McDonald and Next Gen entry, Tom Toparis. Their presence extended even further in 2025, bringing two-time British Superbike champion Kyle Ryde out for the season finale at The Bend, while also fielding Cru Halliday across the full Superbike season following a mid-year switch to Ducati and Athur Sissis in selected premier class appearances (among supporting many others along the way). The team’s commitment to the paddock is immense, and its contribution to the sport cannot go unnoticed.

Best Event – Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix:

Call us biased, but few venues produce the kind of racing Phillip Island does, and the 2025 Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix was no exception for an Aussie standpoint. The highlight came when Senna Agius made history as the first Australian to win at Phillip Island in the Moto2 category, sending the home crowd into celebration, as did Joel Kelso with his runner-up in Moto3 at home.

Hottest Topic – Senna Agius takes two wins in 2025:

After taking a single podium in his rookie season – a memorable one at that, claiming P3 at the Island – Australian export Senna Agius truly delivered in 2025. He opened the Moto2 World Championship with immediate intent, scoring a third-place podium in Thailand, then backing it up a few rounds later by repeating that result at Jerez. His breakthrough victory came in spectacular fashion at Silverstone, where he charged from third in the final sector and stunned Aron Canet and David Alonso with a perfectly executed move in the closing moments. And, of course, who could forget his famous runaway win on home soil at Phillip Island? This year certainly was a solid one for the 20-year-old out of Sydney, he’s definitely one to watch moving through the ranks in the world championship.

Image: Supplied.

Greatest Disappointment – Carter Thompson falls short in WorldSSP300 title bid:

Australian Carter Thompson rode brilliantly all year and came within a single corner of clinching the 2025 WorldSSP300 title, only losing out in a wild last-lap shootout at Jerez. The disappointment was real, simply because he had put himself in the perfect position to win it after starting the final lap as far back as seventh position. Yet the season remains a major step forward. Thompson now moves into the new World SportBike category as Yamaha’s leading hope onboard the R7, carrying the confidence and experience of a near-championship campaign into 2026.

Most Surprising Moment – Toprak Razgatlioglu to MotoGP:

Just when it looked like Toprak Razgatlioglu was carving out an era of WorldSBK dominance with BMW, he delivered the bombshell announcement of 2025. The newly-crowned three-time world champion will make the leap to MotoGP in 2026 with Prima Pramac Yamaha alongside teammate Jack Miller, becoming the first Turkish rider ever to compete in the premier class. It’s a move that few predicted, but one that promises fireworks as one of the most exciting talents in two-wheeled racing finally gets his shot at MotoGP.

Social Standout – Archie McDonald:
Australian Supersport runner-up Archie McDonald is one of those riders you simply can’t take your eyes off. Whether it’s his pole position or race-win celebrations, or even just the way he carries himself in interviews, he’s an intriguing figure to watch from afar – and his social platforms are no different. McDonald keeps his Australian fanbase exceptionally well-informed on everything he’s doing around the world. From campaigning at home in ASBK to taking on the Stock 600 class in JuniorGP overseas, he manages to maintain that same charismatic ‘Maddog’ persona we’ve all come to enjoy, all while keeping everyone up to date with his results across the board.

Special mention – Jason O’Halloran and YART win EWC title:

Longtime international Jason O’Halloran capped a remarkable debut season in the Endurance World Championship (EWC) by helping Yamalube YART Yamaha secure the 2025 world title. Teaming up with Marvin Fritz and Karel Hanika, the Australian played a crucial role in one of the closest EWC battles in recent memory, with the title ultimately decided by a single point at the Bol d’Or finale. Victories and podiums earlier in the year set up the tight run to the finish, and O’Halloran’s composure under pressure – in what was his first season of endurance racing – proved invaluable. The triumph delivered YART another world crown and marked O’Halloran’s first.