Carl Cox Motorsport Cup 2025/26 Season Wrap: A Championship Decided at Taupō
Fifteen seasons in, and the Carl Cox Motorsport Cup continues to prove why it’s one of the most respected grassroots racing platforms in New Zealand.
What started back in 2011 has grown into something much bigger than just a race class. It’s a proving ground, a community, and for many riders, the first real step into competitive motorsport. From Hyosung 250s to today’s Kawasaki Ninja 400 machinery, the evolution of the Cup has always been about keeping racing accessible, competitive and fun.
Photo Credit: ASP - Aaron Staples Photography
Despite the usual challenges, rising costs, smaller grids at times, and the ongoing pressure on discretionary spending, the spirit of the Cup hasn’t changed. It’s still built on close racing, strong camaraderie, and a shared passion for two wheels.
The 2025/26 season wrapped up at Taupō, and it delivered exactly what the Cup is known for, tight battles, standout performances and a few history-making moments.
Photo Credit: ASP - Aaron Staples Photography
In the Ninja Cup, the championship fight went right down to the final race. Lucas Hyslop rode a smart and calculated weekend to secure the title, becoming the youngest champion in Cup history. Up front, the racing between Joe Stroud and Megan Kemp was next level. The final race of the season saw Megan take the win by just 0.016 seconds, setting the fastest lap in the process, a fitting way to close out the year.
Photo Credit: ASP - Aaron Staples Photography
Over in the Hyosung Cup, Scotty Findlay had already locked in the championship, but the fight for second kept things interesting. Alyssa Boyd delivered one of the most dominant weekends seen in the class, taking pole, three race wins and the fastest lap to secure P2 in the championship by just a single point. It was a standout performance and a milestone moment for the Cup.
Photo Credit: ASP - Aaron Staples Photography
Taupō also marked a unique piece of Cup history, with female riders winning both the final Ninja Cup and Hyosung Cup races, a strong sign of how the field continues to evolve.
Photo Credit: ASP - Aaron Staples Photography
Across the season, the numbers tell their own story. Multiple race winners in the Ninja class, dominant runs in Hyosung, over $11,000 in prizemoney awarded, and a full paddock of riders all contributing to another competitive year of racing.
Photo Credit: ASP - Aaron Staples Photography
More importantly, the Cup continues to do what it set out to do, create a pathway. Riders like Avalon Lewis, the Strouds, and others have come through this system and gone on to bigger stages, reinforcing the role the Cup plays in developing talent.
Photo Credit: ASP - Aaron Staples Photography
None of it happens without support. Long-standing partners, sponsors and the Auckland Motorcycle Club continue to back the vision, while Carl Cox Motorsport’s ongoing involvement remains a defining part of the Cup’s identity. It’s grassroots racing with world-class backing, and that’s what makes it different.
As the season closes and the paddock heads into the off-season, the focus shifts to what’s next. Season 16 is on the horizon, and if this year proved anything, it’s that the Carl Cox Motorsport Cup still has plenty left in it.