Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing announced the signing of Levi and Jaggar Townley to its amateur program for 2027, bringing a legendary name to the states.

Before Cole Davies, Ben was the biggest name in dirt bike racing to emerge from New Zealand as he won the 2004 MX2 Championship on a KTM, winning nine GPs that season. In 2007, he won the Supercross Lites championship, which has since evolved into SMX Next.

Ben gained attention in 2026 for giving advice to Davies during his Pro Motocross run to the championship and now he will shepherd another pair of New Zealanders in their quest for the top divisions of SuperMotocross.

Levi Townley, 16, will make his US debut in 2027 after winning the 2024 FIM 85cc Junior Motocross World Championship, four New Zealand motocross titles, and a runner-up finish in the YZ125 class at the 2024 YZ BLU CRU SuperFinale at Matterley Basin in the UK. Levi has competed in the EMX125 division, similar to SMX Next, for the past two seasons. He will move into the 250 class for a full season, racing 250A and Open Pro Sport at the amateur nationals and competing in SMX Next aboard the YZ250F.

“I’m really excited; I can’t wait, really,” Levi said in a news release. “It’s been a dream of mine since I was little to come to America and race, and obviously to do it with Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing is super exciting. It’s one of the best teams, if not the best team, right now in America. So it’s super exciting to be able to come over here and race on this team.”

Jaggar Townley, 14, finished third in the 2025 EMX85 Championship and, despite little seat time aboard the YZ125, earned a runner-up finish at the 2026 YZ BLU CRU SuperFinale in Ernée, France. He will compete in the 125cc category aboard the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing YZ125, racing the 125 B/C and Schoolboy 1 classes at the amateur nationals.

“I’m really excited to come over to the US, Jagger said. “It’s a dream come true, and to ride for Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing is a really awesome opportunity. We’ve had a couple of days already, and the bike’s amazing and the team has been really supportive.”

Star Racing will also add Easton Graves to the amateur program.

Graves earned his first Monster Energy AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship at Loretta Lynn’s in 2023. He added another national title in 2026, earning the number-one plate in Supermini 2 at Loretta Lynn’s as well as sweeping all three of his classes at the Spring-A-Ding. He will move into the 250B class and aims to continue his progression through the amateur ranks and SMX Next aboard the team’s YZ250F.