It’s been a wild 12 months for New Zealander Hamish MacDonald. Despite working his way through a broken hand, dominating the FIM World Enduro3 (E3) Championship and clinching the title with a round up his sleeve, his achievements went practically unnoticed in this corner of the world.

Search “Hamish MacDonald world champion” and you’ll find a smattering of news stories from moto-related publications and the odd news outlet in his hometown of Christchurch, but the trail soon grows cold.

Never mind that he’s the first-ever Kiwi to hold a World Enduro Championship trophy aloft (aside from NZ-born Australian Stefan Merriman). On top of that, his latest achievement was actually his third world title after claiming the Youth and Junior Enduro World Championships in 2019 and 2020.

Sure, the EnduroGP doesn’t have the prestige of MXGP, but it still beggars belief that the Sherco Racing Factory #1 rider isn’t more well known.

With a 2026 title defence looming large, we thought it was high time we had a chat with the lad from the small country town of West Melton and find out more about his career, last year’s campaign, and how the prep is going for the year ahead.

ADB: Cheers for the chat, Hamish, and a belated congrats on claiming the E3 Championship. How’s the prep going for the year ahead?

HM: Thanks, it’s going pretty well! The weather in Italy has been good and pre-season has gone OK. We’re doing a fair bit of testing at the moment because, while there haven’t been any big changes to the Sherco SE 300, I’m still keen to get more out of the motor. To be honest, there’s still a lot of work to do, but we’re getting there.

ADB: I saw you spent a fair bit of time back home over the summer break. How was it catching up with family, mates and making the most of the Kiwi summer?

HM: It was epic — there’s no place like home, and you don’t really appreciate that until you go overseas. I think everybody who goes overseas loves the new adventure, but I’ve been doing the same thing for a long time now, and coming home is like a big refresh.

Even just mountain biking the same trails I grew up riding, I’ve got a whole new appreciation for it now. Every time I come home, I just appreciate everything so much more — family, friends, the lifestyle, the food, everything.

ADB: I’ve got to say though, for a three-time world champion, you’re probably the least-recognised, highest-achieving sportsman from this corner of the world. Have you noticed a lack of interest in what you’ve achieved?

HM: Yeah, definitely! No one reached out, no one called me wanting interviews, nothing. I did one small interview, like two months after I’d won, for the newspaper in Christchurch, and honestly, that’s been it. I had friends calling the national news, but they didn’t think it was important enough to cover. I’ve got to the point where I’ve given up on that stuff.

At the same time, I’ll roll up to a track here in Italy and people will recognise me and come up wanting autographs and goggles and stuff. The other day I looked at apartments here to rent and one guy knew who I was and was really keen for me to check out his unit.

It’s kind of crazy that I’m more celebrated and recognised here in Italy than I am back home.

ADB: Before we get to 2025, let’s go back to when you first moved to Europe as a teenager. What drove you to chase this career?

HM: It’s a funny story. In 2016, Matthew Phillips was racing over there and Sky Sport used to air a half-hour recap of every round.

One time they had an inside story on Jack Edmondson, who was the Youth World Champion that year. His dad was showing him a line over some rocks and he fell off. His dad threw his hands up and was pissed off, and as a classic couch potato I thought, “fuck, this guy’s the world champion and he can’t even ride over rocks — I could do that.”

I sent a few emails but didn’t hear back from anyone. I was riding for Sherco in New Zealand, but they didn’t have a 125, so I bought an old YZ125 for $1800 from a guy on the West Coast and started riding that.

I eventually got an email from the Sherco team in Europe agreeing to let me be a customer for the season. On top of the money I’d saved working as a landscaper, Mum and Dad loaned me $25,000, so I went over there and gave it a crack.

As it turned out, Jack Edmondson was my teammate that year, but he’d stepped up to Juniors. I finished P4 both days at my first Youth GP, then Jack offered for me to live with him in England as he didn’t have anyone to ride with.

It worked out well, but it’s funny that the guy who inspired me to give it a shot took me under his wing.

ADB: That’s awesome. You finished second that year — I’m assuming Sherco were pretty happy to keep you on board?

HM: Yeah, they offered me a better bike and some podium bonuses, but I still had to pay to be on the team. I agreed, but after I went and won the first race of the next season, I said, “I’m not paying any more if you want me to stay.” They agreed, and it went from there.

Sherco was one of the only teams paying juniors at the time, and I felt pretty lucky to get a wage, especially with Covid happening that year.

ADB: How did the pandemic affect your race calendar?

HM: I actually went crazy with racing, travelling around trying to escape all the lockdowns. I raced four championships, won all four, and finished on the podium every weekend.

I was only meant to race the Junior World and German championships, but after a while I thought, “bugger this, I’m going home and I’ll race the New Zealand Championship.”

I bought a blown-up 300 two-stroke off a mate and raced two rounds on that, then got my four-stroke up and running and won that title. I then flew back to England and won the sprint championship there, then won the Junior World and German championships too.

ADB: After claiming the Junior World Championship, you stepped up to seniors in E2. How big was that jump?

HM: It was a big jump. In Juniors you can win by 30 or 40 seconds, but in Elite, that gap is the difference between first and 10th. There’s no room for mistakes — if you’re not riding at 100% all the time, you lose time quickly and it’s hard to get it back.

ADB: From memory you blew your knee up in 2022?

HM: Yeah, that sucked. I was riding really well and felt confident. I was leading both the Italian and World Championships, but I crashed in Portugal and destroyed my knee. Everything was taken away from me in an instant, and ever since then I’ve been focused on clawing my way back.

I’ve always believed I had the speed — it was just a matter of when it would come together. Last year, it finally did.

ADB: That leads nicely into 2025. You didn’t finish outside second all year — what changed?

HM: Brad Freeman was out injured, but it was also my second year on the 300 two-stroke in E3, and I felt much more comfortable. We had a better base setup and were more prepared.

But it wasn’t easy — I crashed a few times and broke small bones in my hands. Then at the final Italian round, I tore my MCL again.

ADB: What happened?

HM: Two log doubles — I hesitated on the second one and hit it too hard. I went over the bars and the bike landed on my knee. I thought, “is this happening again?”

Luckily it was just painful and still stable, but it showed how quickly everything can disappear.

ADB: Heading into the final round in Germany, did you feel pressure?

HM: Not really. After winning both days in Portugal, I knew I was faster than my main rival, Antoine McGain. My goal was to wrap it up early if I could, or just finish safely on Sunday.

I got it done on Saturday and honestly, Sunday was the best riding I’ve ever done. No pressure, just enjoying it.

ADB: What did it feel like to become world champion?

HM: It felt amazing, but also hard to process. I’d been so focused on it that it didn’t feel like a surprise. I didn’t feel as satisfied as I thought I would.

People say, “you’re a world champion,” and I’m like, “yeah, but tomorrow I’m not.” It goes by quickly.

ADB: Has your mindset changed now?

HM: That’s been the hardest part. I’d chased that goal for so long, and now it’s like — what next? Winning again won’t change what I’ve already achieved.

ADB: What about EnduroGP outright?

HM: That’s the overall across all classes, but there’s no bonus for winning it — only class results count. So there’s not much incentive to risk everything for outright wins.

But now I’ve got a title, I’d like to chase some overall wins. That’s what motivates guys like Verona, Garcia and Freeman.

ADB: And beyond 2026?

HM: I’m contracted until 2027. After that, I’ll see how I feel. There was a point this off-season where I didn’t know what I wanted anymore.

Eventually I’ll go back to New Zealand and enjoy a different pace of life. But for now, I’m still all in and giving it 100%.

HI, I’M: Hamish MacDonald

I’M: 26

AND I’M FROM: West Melton, Canterbury, NZ

I LIVE IN: Milan, Italy… and it’s a shithole!

AND DRIVE: A Volkswagen Crafter van

MY FAVOURITE FOOD IS: Lamb chops

AND I DRINK: Ice-cold Cokes or a choccy milk when I’m back home

I LISTEN TO: Rock, drum and bass, rap, pop — a bit of everything

THE LAST MOVIE I WATCHED WAS: No idea, I don’t really do screens

WHEN I’M NOT RIDING: Cycling, day trading and a bit of golf

IF YOU SEE ME AT THE BAR, BUY ME: A beer. I’m not fussy, but at home it’s a Speight’s Summit Ultra

HAMISH’S GP RACING RESUME

2018 – Youth World Enduro Championship – 2nd

2019 – Youth World Enduro Championship – 1st

2020 – Junior World Enduro Championship – 1st

2021 – EnduroGP (E2) – 4th

2022 – EnduroGP (E2) – 11th (injured)

2023 – EnduroGP (E2) – 3rd

2024 – EnduroGP (E3) – 2nd

2025 – EnduroGP (E3) – 1st