South Africa's Damon Garrell has won the 2026 FIM Hard Enduro Youth World Cup for Trademore Sherco Racing. Riding a 125, he scored the maximum Youth points at every round where they were awarded, and completed his season at the 24MX Hixpania Hard Enduro in Aguilar de Campoo, Spain, on Sunday 25 October.
Garrell had the title in hand after Sea to Sky, with a round to spare. His 198 points come from six maximum scores of 33, one at each round where Youth World Cup points were on offer.
Six rounds, six maximums
Garrell's season began at the 24MX Alestrem Hard Enduro in France, lining up “with the people I looked up to as a child”. He won the Youth class that weekend. “Being able to win that weekend was the best feeling I've ever felt,” he said.
The rest of the year tested him. A big crash at Silver Kings in the United States all but ended his race, and he was injured at Forza Orza in Sweden. He still came away from both with maximum Youth points. At the Roof of Africa, where no Youth World Cup was held, he raced in the Junior class instead.
Abestone in Italy gave him the chance to race against the Junior riders. Sea to Sky in Türkiye gave him the moment of his season. “Sea to Sky was a race I'll never forget, where I wrote the history books by being the first ever 125 to finish the race,” Garrell said.
Four riders, one team
Garrell's title is the headline for a South African team that brought four young riders to the world championship in 2026. Alongside him, Trademore Sherco Racing ran Luke John Walker and Dylan Wesley Jones in the Junior World Championship, and Branden Swanepoel, who is new to hard enduro.
Walker went into the final round fourth in the Junior standings, after a year spent learning to race at international pace. “I have managed to adapt to the high pace and intensity of the international riders and have definitely been pushed out of my comfort zone,” he said. Injuries kept him out of the final round, but he expects to “come back stronger in the 2027 season with all the experience gained”.
For Jones, simply being there was the goal. “To race the FIM World Championship has been my dream from a very young age,” he said. “Racing throughout the year, the nerves got less, my knowledge got a lot more and my ability got more advanced.”
Swanepoel found his best moment high above the Turkish coast. “My biggest highlight was reaching the top of the mountain at Sea to Sky, an achievement I'll always be proud of,” he said. “Travelling the world with my teammates has been a privilege, and we've grown into our own little racing family.”
Why it matters
For the championship, the four riders show what its development classes are for.
“The inclusion of these four riders in the championship is exactly why we are trying to develop these various classes. They are not perfect, and we will ensure we keep improving, but these four boys and Trademore Sherco Racing Team have inspired so many youngsters to ‘give it a go’. Damon taking a 125cc on these intense terrains was so impressive, and shows it can be done. Luke, Dylan and Branden, who is new to hard enduro, also showed the world that consistency and hard work will help you be able to compete with the world's best. We hope Trademore can inspire a few more teams to come and give youngsters an opportunity on the big stage.”
— Ross Whitehead, FIM Hard Enduro World Championship
The partners behind the team
The team's season relied on a small group of partners. Plews Tyres was the biggest, supplying and sponsoring Garrell's tyres. Rutherford Racing made the logistics work, with Brad driving the team's bikes from the UK around Europe and up to Sweden. Motul supplied oil across the European rounds, and Club Marine Insurance (CMI) covered the riders' travel insurance.
“This whole season I'll never forget, from the people I've created great bonds with and the team behind me that I'll forever be grateful for,” said Garrell.
Looking ahead
Garrell is set to move up to the Junior class in 2027. His season shows what the Youth World Cup offers young riders: a place on the world stage, racing the same events as the sport's best.
Young riders and teams who want to follow Trademore Sherco Racing onto the world stage can find out how to enter the championship.
The FIM Hard Enduro World Championship is supported by official partners Plews Tyres, S3 and Factory Links.