Australian Seth Thomas has finished a brilliant third in the 85cc class at the 2025 FIM Junior World Motocross Championship (WJMX), held in Romagne, France on July 5-6.

One of four Motorcycling Australia representatives in France, Thomas (NSW, KTM) recovered from a crash in the opening rain-affected 85cc moto to fight his way back through the 40-rider field in methodical fashion.

His grit and determination was rewarded by annexing third place from American Gauge Brown (KTM) on the final lap.

Thomas then followed up with a sixth place in a similarly muddy moto two to complete the 85cc program in third overall behind Frenchman Rafael Mennillo (KTM) and Estonian Lucas Leok (KTM).

Thomas is now the first Australian to finish on a WJMX podium since Ky Woods’ second place in the 65cc class in 2019.

Meanwhile, Thomas’ countryman Blake Bohannon (NSW, Yamaha) was 15th overall in the 85cc class after a 27-10 scorecard.

In a cruel change in the weather for the youngest riders of the day, rain lashed the 1.58km Romagne track almost as soon as the gate dropped, making for extremely challenging conditions.

Like the rest of the field, Aussie pair Kye Sproule (NSW, Yamaha) and Mason Ezergailis (Vic, KTM) knuckled down to task under massive adversity, with the race eventually called by race direction early after a hill section became virtually impassable due to several crashes.

The results were declared after four laps, with Sproule an excellent ninth while Ezergailis was disqualified entering pitlane along the exit.

Although the rain had moved on, race two was stopped at the end of lap one due to safety reasons and wasn’t restarted.

American Kannon Zabojnik (Cobra Moto) was the overall winner, with Mattys Agullo (KTM) and Levi Geis (Cobra Moto) completing the podium.

A day earlier, Sproule progressed to Sunday’s main races the hard way after a blocked carburettor in his qualifying race saw him forced into the last chance qualifier where he came through with flying colours.

RESULTS: 2025 FIM JUNIOR WORLD MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
85c
1. Rafael Mennillo (FRA, KTM), 44 points; 2. Lucas Leok (EST, KTM), 38; 3. Seth Thomas (AUS, KTM), 35; 4. Pau Caudet (ESP, GAS), 34; 5. Enzo Herzogenrath (FRA, KTM), 33; 6. Gauge Brown (USA, KTM), 30; 7. Francesco Assini (ITA, GAS), 29; 8. Maxim Zimmerman (SVK, HUS), 27; 9. Tim Lopes (FRA, GAS), 25; 10. Harley Marczak (GBR, KTM), 21.

65cc
1. Kannon Zabojnik (USA, COB), 25 points; 2. Mathys Agullo (FRA, KTM), 22; 3. Levi Geis (USA, COB), 20; 4. Cohen Jagielski (GBR, GAS), 18; 5. John Slade (GBR, GAS), 16; 6. Daniel Corda (ITA, KTM), 15; 7. Liam Morette (FRA, HUS), 14; 8. Tobe Vandeneynde (BEL, KTM), 13; 9. Kye Sproule (AUS, YAM), 12; 10. Alfie Cotter (GBR, KTM), 11.

For full results, click here.