High hopes for the return of one of Australia’s largest motocross events in Manjimup in 2024

The organiser of one of Australia’s largest motocross events has high hopes for the event’s return in 2024, after a motorcycle accident leaving him with serious injuries forced him to cancel the event earlier this year. Willie Thompson has been the organiser of the Manjimup 15,000 since 2009 under his capacity as director of High Dirt Promotions, taking over from the Manjimup Motorcycle Club which no longer had the capacity to manage an event of its size. The unique three-day event — first held at the Cosy Creek track known for its unique terrain in 1980 — is usually run over the June WA-Day long weekend and its absence was sorely missed this year by locals and the larger motocross community. Mr Thompson said while it was a tough decision to cancel the highly anticipated event, it had to be done. “When I went to cancel it, it was a hard decision,” he said. “In my head I knew it was the right thing to do because my body was destroyed but I didn’t want to let people down. “People love it — it’s an adrenaline-buzzing atmosphere all weekend long.” Mr Thompson was in a serious motorbike crash in September last year which left him with an array of injuries, including 18 broken bones, a torn aorta, crushed throat, deafness in one ear and paralysed vocal cords, but said he was now in the recovery process. “I think it’ll be alright next year but I can’t guarantee that yet,” he said. Mr Thompson said he approached the Manjimup Motocross Club to run the event, however, was told it did not have the resources required. “There’s no one else in the State capable,” he said. “Everyone will say ‘Oh, I’ll do it’ but they’d get halfway through it and just say ‘This is too much’.” Mr Thompson said an event such as the 15,000 requires rules and regulations, permits, track inspections, organisation of riders including those from overseas, east and local, advertising, social media, camping, security, food, bars, PA systems, and more. “It’s the biggest event on the calendar,“ he said. “I put so many hours into it. “I put about 1000 hours into the event across the year. “With Manjimup, I know what it takes, I know how much effort has to go in to get it right and I’ve never run an unsuccessful one and success is measured by enjoyment of the people, not financially.” Mr Thompson said he was hopeful he would be able to return to run the event in 2024, however, would not make the decision until January next year. “I’m improving dramatically in the last few months and I have said to everyone, come January 1 I will decide if my body is capable,” he said. “My mind will be capable, it’s just my body but I think it’ll be a walk in a park by the time I get to January.”