Jed Beaton

Jed Richard Beaton (born 28 January 1998) is an Australian professional Motocross racer.

Beaton raced in the FIM Motocross World Championship from 2017 to 2022. In his World Championship career, he achieved eight overall podiums and one race win with a highest overall championship position of fourth in the MX2 class.

In his native Australia, Beaton was the 2016 national champion in the MX2 class and finished second in the MX1 class during the 2023 ProMX Championship season.

Jed is the younger brother of Ross Beaton, who has also competed across Australia in motocross.

Junior Career
Beaton began racing in his native Tasmania before his family moved to Victoria during his time in the junior ranks. He became part of Yamaha's official Junior Racing Team setup and as part of this was able to take the title in the 125cc class for 13-15 year olds in the 2013 Australian Junior Motocross Championship. In addition to this, he finished as runner-up in the same age category for the 250cc class.

He made his debut in the MXD class in the 2014 season, winning the opening round and taking the championship lead in the process. His championship hit problems however after firstly having to ride the fourth round days after having his appendix removed and then later fracturing his fibula in a regional event.

250 Career
Beaton moved into the MX2 class of the Australian MX Nationals for the 2015 season with the factory supported Serco Yamaha team. He started his rookie season in the best possible way, by winning the opening round ahead of teammate and defending champion Luke Clout. Despite not being able to maintain his championship lead, he obtained several other notable results on his way to fourth in the standings. He was not retained by the Serco Yamaha team for the 2016 season and eventually was picked up by DPH Motorsports for his second MX2 campaign. This move saw Beaton execute a highly successful season, winning several races including a double victory at the third round, to pick up his first senior title in Australia. In addition this, he travelled to Switzerland to compete in the final round of the EMX250 class of the European Motocross Championship, scoring ten points. Following his championship winning season, Beaton was announced to be part of Australia's team at the 2016 Motocross des Nations. He however had to withdraw from the team due to a fractured collarbone, being replaced by Mitchell Evans.

Beaton moved to the European Championship paddock full-time for the 2017 European Motocross Championship with the Carglass Honda Racing team. He eventually finished fourteenth in the EMX250 standings after missing two rounds later in the season, with a second place in race two in Switzerland being his best result. In addition, Beaton was drafted into the factory Honda team for four rounds of the MX2 class of the 2017 FIM Motocross World Championship. At the final round of the year at Villars-sous-Écot, Beaton was able to master the muddy conditions to finish third overall, recording a World Championship podium at the fourth attempt.

He made his full-time transition to the MX2 class in the 2018 FIM Motocross World Championship, signing for the F&H Racing Team. Beaton immediately established himself as a top-ten rider in the series, before picking up another podium at the Portuguese round. At the ninth round of the series in Great Britain, Beaton suffered multiple injuries including a broken right ankle as well as a left tibia and fibula. After missing the remainder of the 2018 season, Beaton signed for the factory Rockstar Energy Husqvarna team for 2019. After recovering from injuries sustained the previous season, Beaton then damaged vetebrae in his back during a pre-season race, causing him to miss the opening round. He returned at the second round and gradually improved, picking up a third in the opening race at Mantova. A fractured sternum later in the year caused him to miss the final five rounds of the championship, recording a final position of twelfth.

After his injury struggles of the previous two seasons, Beaton achieved his best World Championship results to date during the 2020 FIM Motocross World Championship. Fourth in the final MX2 standings included three visits to the overall podium and his first race win in the second moto at round nine. The 2021 FIM Motocross World Championship would be his final season in he MX2 class and although he did not win another race, he did record another three overall podiums. Beaton was a consistent threat at the front of the field, finishing ten races inside the top-three and achieving a final championship position of fifth.

450 Career
Due to the under-23 age rule, Beaton had to move into the MXGP class for the 2022 FIM Motocross World Championship, re-joining the F&H Kawasaki team. He had a strong start to the season, finishing sixth overall at the opening round, but failed to match that high through the rest of the year. A shoulder injury sustained at the second round dogged the Australian throughout the rest of the season, causing him to miss several rounds at one point. For 2023, Beaton returned to Australia full-time, being signed by the Boost Mobile Honda Racing Team. Riding in the MX1 class of the 2023 ProMX Championship, he finished second in the standings behind Dean Ferris, with an overall win at the second round being the highlight. In addition to this, Beaton rode at the eighth round of the 2023 AMA National Motocross Championship, scoring eight points in the 450 class.

For the 2024 season, Beaton signed for the CDR Yamaha team, returning to Yamaha for the first time since moving to Europe. In addition to this, he was drafted into the Altherm JCR Yamaha team to replace the injured Maximus Purvis in the MX1 class of the 2024 New Zealand Motocross Championship. Beaton won two of the four rounds of the New Zealand championship and eventually finished second in the final standings following a tight championship battle with Hamish Harwood.

Honours
ProMX New Zealand Motocross Championship Australian Junior Motocross Championship
 * MX1: 2023
 * MX2: 2016
 * MX1: 2024
 * 250cc 13-15yrs: 2013
 * 125cc 13-15yrs: 2013