Over the years, we’ve helped develop bikes that have won four Australian MX2 Championships, but every successful professional rider starts somewhere.
Jobe Dunn is one of those riders we’ve believed in from early on. Around 12 months ago, he reached a crossroads. To keep progressing, he needed another step—not only to step up just as a rider, but from the motorcycle underneath him. We sat down with his dad Chris and discussed that if he wanted to transition from the junior ranks into MX3 and ultimately professional motocross, we had to build a package that would unlock the next level of his riding.
Fast forward to today, and Jobe has just claimed his first MX3 podium at the Australian ProMX Championship at Traralgon Mx Nationals, finishing second overall while still young enough to compete in junior classes.
This article isn’t just about Jobe’s race bike. It’s about the development philosophy behind it—and why many of the same concepts are available in our YZ250F suspension packages for riders of all levels.
Thinking Ahead, Not Catching Up
One of the biggest decisions we made with Jobe’s bike wasn’t a valving change—it was deciding when to make it.
Around 12 months ago, we deliberately moved Jobe onto a much firmer front-end package. The fork setting was closer to what we’d expect from an MX2 rider than a 14-year-old junior. At the time, it represented a massive jump—around three levels firmer than the setup he had been racing.
Initially, the rear shock was simply too much. We felt without the experience of a senior and now removing the forgiving nature of his current shock we backed it off slightly. Rather than softening the forks back down, we committed to the direction and allowed Jobe’s riding to evolve into the package. Over the following months, as his speed increased, we progressively developed the rear shock to bring the bike back into better balance.
What impressed us most was Jobe’s willingness to trust the process.
Many riders jump on a firmer setup, decide it’s “too hard” after a few laps and immediately go searching for something softer. Jobe did the opposite. He embraced the challenge, adapted his riding style and learnt to use the additional support available from the front of the motorcycle.
The payoff was enormous.
The stronger front end gave him the confidence to attack braking bumps harder, carry more corner entry speed and focus on becoming a faster rider instead of riding around the limitations of a softer suspension package.
Looking back, introducing an MX2-style front-end feel while he was still racing juniors was one of the best decisions we made. Instead of constantly chasing his development, we built a motorcycle that encouraged him to grow into the next level.
Jobe’s 2026 Yamaha YZ250F Setup
Jobe’s race bike is based on the current 2026 Yamaha YZ250F and the proven KYB suspension platform.
One of the biggest misconceptions in motocross is that achieving a factory-level feel requires completely different suspension units. In this case with KYB , It doesn’t.
Jobe still runs the OEM KYB fork cartridge and the OEM high-speed adjuster in the rear shock. Matched with coated tubes ( kashima and DLC lowers ) . The performance comes from Krooztune’s engineering—not replacing every component internally.
Our valving, spring selection, oil volumes and overall setup have been developed through countless hours of dyno work, testing and racing. The result is a package that delivers factory-level performance while retaining the reliability and feel of the standard KYB platform.
Even better, these same concepts can be applied to any rider’s YZ250F. From C level, Local A thru to Vets looking for a stable bike. Its simply not a one case fits all scenario, but easily setup accross all these speeds with valving and desicions tailored to each individual outcome.
Front Fork
The forks feature a heavily developed Krooztune compression setting built around supporting the higher speeds Jobe now carries into corners.
The compression , pressure springs, fork spring rate and oil volume all work together to provide excellent front-end hold-up without excessive dive or pitching under brakes.
We’ve increased the fork spring rate one step over standard to suit Jobe’s speed, strength and riding style.
Once the base setup is established, trackside tuning becomes incredibly straightforward. Small adjustments to fork height through the triple clamps or one or two clicks on the compression adjuster are generally all that’s required to suit different circuits.
Compared to a standard YZ250F, the fork is noticeably firmer, but that’s intentional. One of the biggest strengths of the KYB platform is how effective the compression clicker is. Even a single click produces a noticeable change, making it an extremely powerful tuning tool throughout a race weekend.
Rebound damping remains close to the OEM KYB philosophy, with only minor changes required to suit the increased spring rate.
Rear Shock
The rear shock follows a different philosophy.
Rather than chasing maximum chassis hold-up, we’ve developed a compression setting that allows the rear wheel to settle into the ground and generate exceptional traction across braking bumps, acceleration chop and corner exits.
This creates stronger drive where it matters most.
To support this, we’ve refined the rebound damping through extensive dyno and track testing while matching it to a stiffer rear spring. Every adjustment is designed to keep the motorcycle balanced while maximising rear tyre contact with the ground.
Because Jobe is physically larger for his age, we can build the bike around a more senior-style setup than a typical junior machine. That allows him to develop the riding habits he’ll need at MX2 level rather than having to relearn them later.
The Bigger Picture
Jobe’s podium at Traralgon wasn’t the result of one magic suspension setting. It was the result of planning ahead, trusting the process and building a motorcycle for the rider he was becoming—not just the rider he was at the time.
That’s the same philosophy we apply to every Yamaha YZ250F that leaves the Krooztune workshop. Each rider setup is best set to the tracks and speeds , weight and terrain of each rider. The new KYB suspenion is by far the most adaptive to tune accross all these range of riders and we have a large Data bank in house here at krooztune . From Offroad Enduro , Hattah , desert thru to All grade / levels of MX to choose from.
Whether you’re chasing your first podium, racing MX2, or simply looking for more confidence on your local track, the right setup isn’t about expensive parts—it’s about proven engineering, testing and understanding what the rider needs next. Give us a call anytime to discuss a setup KYB or otherwise.
Marty R