Underlined by MX1 moto podium results and constantly finishing among the factory contingent, Zac Watson and Levi Rogers have firmly placed themselves in the conversation when it comes to the 2026 rider market. This is why their efforts in ProMX over the course of this season signal a changing of the guard, but it’s still only the beginning.

As something that occurs often in sports, the up-and-coming generation eventually overtake the veterans, as they also once did to the generation before them. Case in point, cast your mind back to when the retiring Kirk Gibbs (KTM Racing Team) emerged on the scene two decades ago as a teenager, and eventually took the reins from the leading riders of the 2000s to become national champion by 2015.

It happens eventually, whether you’re on the giving or receiving end. Which resembles the situation that we find ourselves in this year, since Watson finished a head-turning fifth in the premier class standings, with Rogers P7. Between them was Gibbs, while the riders in the rearview included the likes of Luke Clout (Penrite Racing Empire Kawasaki) and Todd Waters (Raceline Husqvarna Tdub Racing Team) – both former champions of the category.

Image: Foremost Media.

There is added significance here, though, because both Watson and Rogers are classified as privateers while sitting P5 and seventh in the MX1 standings, respectively. It would also be remiss not to acknowledge those who contribute a great deal to each rider’s efforts, with Rising Motorsports for Watson and Caloundra Motorcycle Centre for Rogers, providing support towards these young racers’ careers.

Nonetheless, back to the topic around the perceived changing of the guard… For the now 21-year-old Watson, he finished in front of as many as six manufacturer-backed team riders in 2025, delivering a consistent campaign that saw him assert his Triumph TF 450-RC up-front regularly. He knocked on the door of the overall podium on several occasions and, when it was all said and done, proved he was a force to be reckoned with on any given weekend.

Rogers was largely the same, and funnily enough, the pair scored equal points at the season-opener at Wonthaggi on 28 apiece to finish tied in sixth overall. For Yamaha-equipped Rogers – also still only in his early 20s – a slight mid-season dip shifted the attention in Watson’s direction, but a convincing third-place final moto finish at Queensland Moto Park (QMP) put his name back on the map.

This year was a marked step up for the two in regards to previous seasons, and for the more established stars of the sport who fill the seats of the major teams, both Watson and Rogers were probably pretty annoying to deal with, you could say, considering the positions that they found themselves in on multiple occasions. And Watson winning the Top 10 Pole Shootout at Toowoomba was further proof of his potential.

Image: Foremost Media.

We’re not expecting either to fight the likes of two-time champion Kyle Webster (Boost Mobile Honda Racing) or arch-rival Jed Beaton (Monster Energy CDR Yamaha) anytime soon, it’s that slightly elder generation – the 30-plus riders, if you will – that should be looking over their shoulders for this pair of premier class prospects. And right now, they’re more attractive options for MX1 than all but the very best of our current MX2 standouts.

There are two other components to consider, however. One is their supercross capabilities, with Watson listed as 11th overall in SX1 last year while Rogers was absent from the standings altogether. A side note brings me to point number two, and that is, upon heading to social media to see why Rogers was absent last year generates no additional information – and he hasn’t directly posted on his feed since February of 2024, back when he was initially leading the short-lived Beta entry into ProMX.

The reason this is emphasized is that beyond performance is marketability, and that exists whether one embraces it or not. Keeping fans up to date and informed, as well as building your personal brand, is massively important to pretty much any associated brand out there in the current era, so if you go beyond the track, Watson excels in comparison.

While these two posted exceptional performances in terms of results in ProMX this year, we are yet to see whether that same momentum will translate into the stadiums. In the case of the aforementioned Clout, you can almost guarantee that his worth will come into its own in AUSX, which is why he becomes a priority at contract time each year, and he is still a plenty handy motocross rider.

Image: Foremost Media.

In 2025, it’s more important than ever to have a multi-faceted approach to how one goes about being a professional racer, as teams are looking at the whole picture before taking any plunges. For Watson and Rogers, praises from the hilltops can be sung about their ProMX campaigns this year – and they’re totally deserving – but the fact is that we’re halfway through the domestic schedule with the Australian Supercross Championship (AUSX) still left to run.

Of course, it’s possible that these young guns could opt for ‘motocross-only’ type opportunities, as Gibbs and Waters have done during the latter stages of their careers, but this certainly has an impact on versatility/value, and these days represents a more part-time structure now that AUSX is firing on all cylinders. Proving yourself as an authentic all-rounder could be the deciding factor if you’re to row your way off ‘Privateer Island’ and into the factories.

Following what has been a phenomenal outdoor season for both Watson and Rogers, it will be up to them to take the next step. For Watson in particular, it’s time. A convincing supercross showing could be the decisive point that will ultimately land him a place in an officially-supported team from 2026 – and there are obvious seats open – while Rogers too will be aiming to rejoin an official team for the first time since he was at Yamalube Yamaha in MX2 three seasons ago.