Shane Watts (born November 7, 1972) is an Australian former professional motorcycle enduro racer. He won the 1997 125cc World Enduro Championship as well as several Australian and American national off-road championships during his career.
Known for his unpredictability and disregard to injury, many call Watts the "Travis Pastrana" of off-road racing. He was the first non-American to claim the GNCC title in 2000 and has successfully transitioned from champion racer to world-class instructor with DirtWise Academy.
1997
World Champion
1997
World Enduro Champion
2000
GNCC Champion
7x
Australian Enduro Champion
1972
Born in Maffra, Australia
Born in Maffra, Victoria, Australia, Shane began riding motorcycles at the age of five. He spent many years progressing through the club and amateur levels, earning many titles along the way.
Money was always tight in the early stages. To fund his racing career, Shane started a four-year apprenticeship as an instrument technician at an on-shore gas refinery at age 18, and later worked on oil rigs. His dedication and sacrifice paid off when he received his KTM sponsorship in 1993, a partnership that lasted until 2004.
Shane's focus with DirtWise Academy is "making everyone a safer, more confident and more comfortable rider through a higher skill level." He has developed multiple instructional DVDs and traveling schools that simplify the championship techniques that led to his success.
Won the Australian Enduro Championship overall from 1993-1999, and 1996 Australian 500cc Motocross Championship
Became 1997 125cc World Enduro Champion and 1998 International Six Days Enduro Overall Champion on a 125cc motorcycle
First came to the U.S. in 1999 with KTM. Became the first non-American to win the GNCC title in 2000
Established DirtWise Academy to make riders safer, more confident, and more comfortable through higher skill levels
Shane has three children: Eden, Rionn, and Brock. The family has been based in Newton, North Carolina since December 2006, where Shane operates the DirtWise Academy.
Throughout his career, Shane has overcome numerous serious injuries including multiple ACL reconstructions and a back-breaking crash in 2009 that fractured five vertebrae. Doctors initially believed he would never ride again, but less than six months later, he returned to competition—a testament to his legendary determination and passion for the sport.
Read what the media has to say about Shane Watts and DirtWise Academy.
Twenty years after becoming Australia's first World Enduro Champion, Shane Watts climbs back aboard a new-gen KTM 125 XC-W to race the 2016 A4DE. A nostalgic reunion of man and machine at the event his father won in 1978.
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"It is a proven fact that Shane Watts is capable of winning on just about any bike." An exclusive look at Shane's KTM 200 XC-W setup, including his unique grip modifications and the surprising revelation about his suspension—it was stock out of the box!
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An insider's perspective on the DirtWise Academy experience. Discover what makes Shane Watts' teaching methodology unique and how his championship expertise translates into rider improvement.
Read Full ArticleLearn championship techniques from the 1997 World Enduro Champion at DirtWise Academy.