Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing has strengthened its amateur team for 2027 with three talented riders. New Zealand brothers Levi and Jaggar Townley and American Easton Graves have signed multi-year contracts with the successful US team. The trio will compete alongside Carson Wood in various American amateur championships.
For Levi Townley, the son of former MX2 World Champion Ben Townley, the move marks his debut in the United States. The 16-year-old New Zealander became the 85cc Junior World Champion in 2024 and has spent the past two seasons racing in Europe, including competing in the EMX125 Championship. In the United States, he will move up to the 250cc class and compete in the 250A, Open Pro Sport and SMX Next categories.
His younger brother, Jaggar Townley, will also make the move to America. The 14-year-old finished third in the 2025 EMX85 European Championship and took second place at this year’s YZ BLU CRU SuperFinale in Ernée. He will race a Yamaha YZ125 in the 125 B/C and Schoolboy 1 classes.
The third new addition is Easton Graves, who has already achieved several successes in the United States. The young rider from Louisiana won a national amateur title at Loretta Lynn’s in 2023 and finished as the 65cc Vice World Champion in the same year. In 2026, he claimed another national title, this time in the Supermini 2 class. Graves will now move up to the 250B class.
The revamped Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing amateur team will make its first appearance at the Mini O’s, which will take place from November 21 to 28 at Gatorback Cycle Park in Florida.
