Western Australian MX2 rookie Deacon Paice might be new to the professional ranks of national ProMX, but the teenage talent made a serious statement at round three in Gillman, racing to a breakout fifth position overall in just his third appearance in the category. Learn more about Paice and his JR Triumph Racing team in this Profiled feature.

Image: Foremost Media.

After multiple podiums across recent seasons in MX3, Paice capped off 2024 with a fifth-place finish in the championship before making the step up to MX2 for this year. In doing so, the 18-year-old also made the switch from KTM to the all-new Triumph TF 250-X, joining a privateer program run by established race mechanic Josh Robinson.

“In the off season, Josh gave me a call and said he was putting a little team together with support from Triumph and I was definitely keen,” Paice told MotoOnline. “I’ve worked with Josh for years – he’s a great mechanic and a good person. He got a sick wrap on the truck, sorted everything in the background, and brought in a couple of teammates. It’s a small team, but everyone’s super-helpful. It feels like a little community and everyone just loves motocross.”

Teamed with MX3 pair Fred Taylor and Axel Widdon, the transition presented its fair share of challenges early on, with Paice logging P17 and P21 results at Wonthaggi and Appin, respectively. But come and in only his third start with the Triumph in South Australia, everything clicked.

Paice impressed in the opening moto with a strong seventh-place result, but it was in moto two where he truly turned heads. A clutch issue off the line saw him hit the ground just metres out of the gate, but the number 13 stormed his way through the field from last to sixth by race-end. That 7-6 scorecard was enough to secure fifth overall for the round – a major milestone in the early stages of his MX2 career.

Image: Foremost Media.

“Coming into the season, I knew the pace was going to be intense in MX2, but I felt ready,” he continued. “I came into Gillman feeling confident, especially because I like that track, and I had a good qualifying, which I was stoked with.

“In the first moto, I finished seventh and I was pumped – dad, Josh and I were all super-happy with that. I just needed to back it up in race two. I actually looped out off the start because of a clutch issue – I thought I’d ruined my chance at a solid result – but I fought through the pack surprisingly good… I saw P7 on the pit board and thought ‘this is sick’! Then I made another pass for sixth, and when I came in, Josh told me I got fifth overall. I was stoked.

“Jumping from MX3 to MX2, the intensity is on another level. Like, we go from MX3 motos being 20 minutes plus one lap, to 25 minutes plus one lap in MX2, which doesn’t sound like a lot, but the pace at the start is crazy. If you don’t have that intensity in the opening laps, you just get dropped, then that extra five minutes becomes painful. At Gillman, I knew I had to go all-in from the start just to stay in touch with the front group. Every round I’m learning and improving, and I really feel like I’m getting better every time I line up.”

After a tough opening round at Wonthaggi, Paice made the decision to link up with former MX2 champion Ford Dale and the FD Elite training program, a move that has already proven to be a turning point early in his transition to the pro ranks.

“I’ve trained with a few other groups over the years, but after Wonthaggi I realised I needed more intensity,” Paice said. “I reached out to Ford Dale and he was keen to help. Since then, I’ve been training with his group and the intensity is next level – it’s almost like an actual MX2 race every session. We’re doing 30-minute motos as a group, so when race day comes around, it doesn’t feel like as much of an effort.

“I’ve been riding with guys like Kirk Gibbs and Luke Clout too, and you learn so much just by being around them. They’ve been in the sport for so long, and they pass on stuff I never even thought about before. I’m really stoked I made the move and I love the training program – it’s made a massive difference.”

Image: Foremost Media.

Before Gillman, Paice sat P18 in the MX2 standings, but his breakout result saw him jump to P13, now just 12 markers outside of the top 10. It’s a major step forward for the emerging young racer out of Wanneroo in WA, and one that has shifted his perspective on what’s possible in 2025.

“Getting a top-five this early in only my third MX2 race is massive – some riders have been in this class for years and haven’t done that,” he added. “My goal coming into the season was just to crack the top 10, but now that I’ve finished fifth overall, I know I can do it again.

“I’m training hard, putting in the work, and trying to show that I belong there. The ultimate goal is to get on a factory team next year, and if I keep learning and pushing like I have been, I feel like I’ve got a shot.”