Yamaha Thailand Racing Team Sets Ambitious Objectives And Announces 2024 Rider Lineup
As the Yamaha Thailand Racing Team (YTRT) gears up for the 2024 season, we are proud to announce our ambitious objectives for the year ahead and build on our 2023 experience.
Bangkok, Thailand – 20 March, 2024: With extensive experience working in international motorsports, YTRT aims to leverage our rich history and experience to excel in the competitive world-championship environment while competing in the 2024 WorldSSP championship series.
Since the inception of motorsports in Thailand, Yamaha Thailand Racing has been at the forefront of the racing scene. With countless victories and championships to our name, we have been trailblazers for Thailand on the world stage. From the dominance of the Siam Yamaha Racing Team in the 1970s and 1980s to our current status as championship winners in both national and international race series, YTRT has established a winning reputation within the motorsports industry.
In 2023, Yamaha Thailand Racing Team made history by becoming the first Thai team to compete in the World Supersport class of the FIM Superbike World Championship. This prestigious series attracts a global audience and is a testament to our commitment to excellence on the international stage. As the only Thai team in the WorldSBK paddock, YTRT is committed to raising our professional standards and profile while competing at the highest level of motorsports and establishing ourselves as a world-class racing team.
Yamaha Thailand Racing Team will focus on a year of growth and progress as we develop our riders and continue to build a leading Thai motorsports team.
2024 Rider Lineup
Yamaha Thailand Racing Team rider Anupab Sarmoon will race in WorldSSP for his second year with the team. Photo courtesy Yamaha Thailand Racing Team.
Name: Anupab Sarmoon #51
Team: Yamaha Thailand Racing Team
Motorcycle: Yamaha YZF-R6
Date of Birth: 09 December, 1993
Birthplace: Chiang Mai
Anupab Sarmoon will be entering his second season with Yamaha Thailand Racing Team in the 2024 WorldSSP championship. With notable achievements including finishing fourth overall in the 2022 Asia Road Racing Championship and solid performances in the 2023 WorldSSP season, Sarmoon is poised to take a positive step forward in his international racing career.
Krittapat Keankum (39) at Phillip Island, Round One of 2024 WorldSSP. Photo courtesy Yamaha Thailand Racing Team.
Name: Krittapat Keankum #39
Team: Yamaha Thailand Racing Team
Motorcycle: Yamaha YZF-R6
Date of Birth: 22 February, 2005
Birthplace: Nonthabuuri
Krittapat Keankum, a rising talent, joins Yamaha Thailand Racing Team for the 2024 WorldSSP season. After a successful campaign in the R3 bLU cRU championship, finishing sixth in the standings, Keankum is ready to step up to the challenge of racing the supersport Yamaha R6 and aims to showcase his skills on the international stage and the opportunity to progress among Yamaha alumni.
As we embark on the 2024 season, Yamaha Thailand Racing Team is committed to pushing the boundaries of excellence and representing Thailand with pride on the world stage.
Dunlop is pleased to introduce the successor to the highly popular Sportmax Q3+. The Dunlop Sportmax Q5S sets the new benchmark for the ultimate street and track-day tire. Following in the development footsteps of the Q5, the Q5S, when compare to the Q3+, has achieved even higher performance by utilizing aspects from Dunlop’s cutting-edge road race tires developed in Buffalo, NY and used in the MotoAmerica Road Race Series.
Having enhanced constructions, profiles, compounds and tread patterns, the Q5S provides lighter and nimbler handling and improved dry and wet grip to make it even more user-friendly all while maintaining class-leading durability.
To differentiate the Q5S from the Q3+, Dunlop wanted to make the Q5S have a lighter feel to make it more responsive for street riding. With this goal set, Dunlop went to work on making the necessary changes to achieve the performance characteristics they were looking for.
Key features of the all new Sportmax Q5S:
Optimized tread pattern design to improve wear characteristics and enhance warm-up times
Front tire profile has a shorter and narrower profile to improve responsiveness and give the tire a lighter feel.
Front tire has reduced dynamic stiffness and increased damping to improve compliance all to improve braking and handling performance.
Added 200/55ZR17 rear size to allow for additional bike fitments.
Rear tread contains Dunlop’s MT Multi-Tread™ technology, giving riders outstanding mileage without sacrificing handling.
Improved compound to enhance both the wet and dry grip by adjusting the compound formula.
Both front and rear tires utilize Dunlop’s proprietary Racing Type Fine Carbon Technology in the tread compound.
Dunlop’s proprietary Intuitive Response Profile (IRP) for ultra-linear and responsive steering.
Proudly made in Dunlop’s Buffalo, NY factory.
Availability:
The Sportmax Q5S will be sold through all Dunlop retailers, as well as race tire distributors, to be easily accessible to all street or track riders. Tires will be available in all channels beginning mid-December.
Dunlop is pleased to introduce the fifth generation of the Dunlop Sportmax family. The Dunlop Sportmax Q5 is a purpose-built, track-day tire that has been in the making for over 4 years. Evolving from a blend of the highly popular Sportmax Q4 and Dunlop’s cutting-edge MotoAmerica spec road race tires, the Q5 utilizes the very best technologies Dunlop has to offer for a track tire that is still street legal.
Having enhanced constructions, profiles, compounds and tread patterns, the Q5 is the new benchmark for track-day tires. The Q5 is even more user-friendly, as dry and wet grip, tire compliance, and warm-up times have all been improved.
Dunlop has also expanded the size range of the Q5 to include five additional sizes for increased bike fitments: 110/70ZR17, 140/70ZR17, 150/60ZR17, 160/60ZR17, and 200/60ZR17.
Key features of the all new Sportmax Q5:
Sharply defined new tread pattern with lower groove density puts more rubber on the ground at all lean angles
Optimized tread pattern design and position to aid in quicker warm-up times and improved wet-weather performance.
Street-friendly performance— Tire warmers are not necessary for track use.
Designed in five additional sizes for increased bike fitments: 110/70ZR17, 140/70ZR17, 150/60ZR17, 160/60ZR17, and 200/60ZR17.
The front and rear tire profiles have a taller and narrower profile to improve turn-in and compliance while increasing the footprint and grip at camber.
Front tire has reduced vertical stiffness to improve compliance and damping and increased lateral and longitudinal stiffness to improve braking and handling performance.
The 140/70ZR17, 180/60ZR17, 200/55ZR17, and 200/60ZR17 utilize the exact same profiles as the race spec tires developed for the MotoAmerica series.
The rear tires tread features Dunlop’s Jointless Tread (JLT) technology, the same process used in Dunlop’s racing slicks. JLT applies a continuously wound tread strip over the carcass to achieve the ideal stability, flex, and grip where it’s needed most across the tire’s tread profile.
Improved compound to enhance the dry grip by adjusting the compound formula. The culmination of these changes puts the rear tire compound much closer to a true race tire compound.
Dunlop’s proprietary Intuitive Response Profile (IRP) for ultra-linear and responsive steering.
Proudly made in Dunlop’s Buffalo, NY factory on the same proprietary equipment as their road race tires.
Availability:
The Sportmax Q5 will be sold through all Dunlop retailers, as well as race tire distributors, to be easily accessible to all street or track riders. Tires will be available in all channels beginning in November and December.
The FIM Oceania General Assembly re-elected Peter Doyle as FIM Oceania President during its March 23 meeting in Melbourne, Australia.
This important decision now places Peter in the President’s role for the next four years, and he also continues his position as FIM Oceania’s representative on the FIM Board of Directors.
Peter has led FIM Oceania over the past four years through a sustained period of growth and development, which has seen the creation of FIM Oceania Commissions and outstanding events such as the FIM Oceania Women’s Motocross Cup, FIM Oceania Speedway Championship and FIM Oceania Junior Cup.
Under the leadership and plans of the FIM Oceania Board, over the next four years there will be a key focus on junior development, the ‘Beyond Sports’ areas of touring and women’s development, FIM Oceania Championships and unearthing future FIM World Champions from the Oceania region.
Peter Doyle said: ‘’I am very proud to continue as FIM Oceania President for the next four years and to continue with the important duties in the FIM Board.
“I appreciate the trust placed in me by the national federations of FIM Oceania and further thank the FIM Oceania Board and Commission members for their hard work. FIM Oceania has an exciting period ahead and I am very pleased to lead the organisation.”
The National Federation Members of FIM Oceania, Motorcycling Australia and Motorcycling New Zealand, make up the FIM Board of Directors and nominate the FIM Oceania delegates to the FIM Oceania Commission and Senior Officials positions at FIM Oceania races. This contribution is the backbone to FIM Oceania success.
Editorial Note: Peter Doyle spent about a decade working as a crew chief in AMA Pro Superbike, primarily working with 7-time AMA Superbike Champion Mat Mladin.
Participants in an FIM Oceania meeting on 23 March in Melbourne, Australia. Photo courtesy FIM Oceania. Peter Doyle is 5th from right.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 31, 2026) — Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, today announced Memphis Shades as the entitlement sponsor of the Ventura Short Track on April 25 and the presenting sponsor of Nashville Short Track on June 6.
The Memphis Shades Ventura Short Track brings flat track to Ventura Raceway on April 25, delivering the world’s best motorcycle riders to the ocean front property. The Nashville Short Track presented by Memphis Shades will take the series to Sons of Speed Nashville Short Track on June 6, bringing bar-to-bar racing to one of the series’ most vibrant markets.
“Memphis Shades is excited to be part of American Flat Track. From supporting riders to being trackside, we believe in the impact racing has on the motorcycle community,” said Hillary Combest, Director of Sales and Marketing. “We’re proud to return as a sponsor of the Ventura Short Track and to be part of the Nashville Short Track in our home state of Tennessee this summer. We’re looking forward to both events and continuing to support the sport and its riders.”
Memphis Shades is known for its American-made motorcycle windshields and fairings, with a reputation built on quality craftsmanship and rider-focused design. Its continued investment in Progressive American Flat Track reflects a shared commitment to performance and the motorcycling community.
For those that can’t catch the live action at the track, FloRacing is the live streaming home of Progressive American Flat Track. Motorsports fans can subscribe to FloRacing to enjoy over 1,000 live motorsports events in 2026. FloSports is available by visiting https://flosports.link/AFT2026 or by downloading the FloSports app on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire and Chromecast.
FS1
FOX Sports will provide in-depth coverage of select Progressive American Flat Track events, featuring rider features and onboard cameras. Stay tuned for upcoming announcements regarding premiere airdates on FS1 and re-airs on FS2. The full listing of American Flat Track’s television premieres will be posted to https://www.americanflattrack.com/events-foxsports.
The new era of the Penrite Australian Superbike Championship presented by Pirelli (ASBK) is taking shape, with six rounds to be held between October 2026 and March 2027 to launch the groundbreaking ASBK summer calendar.
The 2026-2027 ASBK Championship will commence with a landmark appearance at the 2026 Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix from October 23-25, before the paddock moves onto The Bend (November 13-15, 2026), One Raceway (December 4-6, 2026), Queensland Raceway (January 15-17, 2027), Phillip Island (TBA but late February 2027) and the ASBK Grand Finale under lights at Sydney Motorsport Park (March 19-20, 2027).
The ASBK summer calendar is transformative for Australia’s premier circuit racing championship, not only in presenting world-class action during more weather-friendly warmer months but genuine opportunities will now also exist for internationals and Aussie expatriates to contest the entire championship and enhance the spectacle even more.
Three young stars of the Penrite ASBK Championship: (L to R) Jacob Roulstone, Harrison Voight and Cameron Dunker. Photo courtesy RbMotoLens
“This is a tremendously exciting time for the ASBK Championship as it continues to evolve and push new boundaries,” said Motorcycling Australia CEO, Peter Doyle.
“It’s a seismic shift, and one that will elevate ASBK to a new level and amplify the amazing level of talent competing in the championship – from the stars of tomorrow in the FIM Oceania Junior Cup to the extraordinarily competitive Superbike class.
“There’s already a real buzz about the ASBK summer calendar, and we look forward to seeing it come to life in October at the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix.”
While the build-up to the 2026-2027 summer calendar continues, round two of the 2026 ASBK Championship will be held under lights at Sydney Motorsport Park on March 27-28 (Friday-Saturday). To purchase tickets, click here.
More from a press release issued by Suzuki Motor USA:
Suzuki’s Ken Roczen charges to victory at Detroit Supercross.Roczen Creates New Momentum and a Huge Points Swing in the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship.
Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan hosted Round 11 of the 17-round Monster Energy AMA Supercross season. The dirt provided great traction on a track notable for its widely-spaced whoops. The challenging obstacle impacted nearly every race as riders balanced aggression and precision through the unforgiving section.
Race Highlights:
Progressive Insurance Cycle Gear ECSTAR Suzuki
450 Class
Ken Roczen grabbed his second main event victory of the season and cut a swath of points out of his pathway to the title.
Twisted Tea Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance
450 Class
Colt Nichols flew through the pack in a brilliant heat race charge.
Justin Bogle battled into another main event position in his second race back to AMA Supercross competition.
Ken Roczen (94) earned his 25th career 450SX Class win at the Detroit Supercross and dramatically closed the points gap in his bid for the 2026 title. Photo courtesy Suzuki.
Ken Roczen (94) was impressive from the moment the riders hit the track inside Ford Field. Roczen emerged from the first qualifying session with the fastest lap time and followed that by matching his season-best results in the second and overall qualifying spots. In his heat race, Roczen crossed the holeshot stripe outside of the top five then quickly advanced through the pack. While setting the fastest times in track Sectors 2, 4, 6, and 9, Roczen delivered a second-place heat race result. In the main event, Roczen launched off the gate, then used his Suzuki RM-Z450’s strong torque to earn a second-place start. With less than two minutes off the race clock, Roczen took over the lead and secured the position with a clean blitz through the whoops. Roczen quickly pulled a three second gap over the rest of the field then managed the race from the front. On his way to his second win of the season, Roczen again topped several track sections with the race’s fastest times through track Sectors 4, 5, and 9. Roczen was nearly flawless on a track that bit several of his competitors. When the dust settled, Roczen had gained 17 points toward the title chase lead with six rounds remaining.
“We knew what we had to do; it was obvious that being 31 points down we had to start to execute a little bit,” said Roczen after the win. “So, it was kind of fun to be in this little bit of a pressure position. And we made it happen tonight. We just had a really good day all day; I do have to say that [the track] was overall the trickiest in the main event. But we executed it; we got a good start and I just hung in there… I don’t feel like I was the fastest in the beginning necessarily, but it was tricky. The whoops got really beat up, it was rutty, it was kind of grabby, and certain sections were a bit technical. But we hung in there, 20 + 1, so it was an amazing win for us. And it’s just fun to keep these dreams alive and it’s fun to be in that position. I’m just trying to let it set in, sit down a little bit and, after the race/before the race, we’ll be excited to go again next weekend and have fun with it.”
Colt Nichols (45) had flashes of speed in Detroit but was unable to match his top-ten result from the previous round. Photo courtesy Suzuki
Colt Nichols (45) was pinched off entering the first corner of his heat race and emerged in 15th place at the holeshot stripe. Nichols wasted no time and had his Suzuki in a qualifying position by the time the riders had reached the green flag. Nichols continued his march forward, gaining two more spots through the six-minute plus one lap race. In the main, Nichols delivered a steady ride and moved inside the top-fifteen just before the race’s midpoint. A crash late in the race, and an unintentional infraction, delivered results that don’t reflect Nichol’s impressive speed in the second half of the season.
“Detroit was a struggle. I felt a little off all day, to be honest,” admitted Nichols. “I don’t have any excuses. I just was kind of on the struggle bus. I crashed on the last lap of the main. I think I got docked as well for jumping on a red cross [flag], so [it was] just a really, really rough day. [I’ll just] wipe it from the memory and try again next week.”
Justin Bogle (891) showed gains in outright speed and topped the field in his first qualifying session at Ford Field. Photo courtesy Suzuki
Justin Bogle (891) re-joined the Suzuki team just one race prior to the Detroit Supercross, and his qualifying speed demonstrated that he’s getting back up to full race pace. In the heat race, Bogle leapt off the starting gate and nabbed a top-five start. On the opening lap two riders crashed directly ahead of him; Bogle landed on a downed motorcycle but kept his bike on two wheels. After missing a direct transfer by one position, Bogle earned his spot in the main event through the LCQ. In the main, Bogle set the second-fasted time through Sector 6, the track’s long rhythm section, and finished in the points to move up one spot in the season standings.
“I had a rough day myself [but I’m] still just enjoying my days here,” said Bogle. “I had a really long week this week so I’m going to recover a lot more this [next] week and come in, hopefully, with a little more energy for St. Louis.”
“It was great night for the team,” stated Dustin Pipes, Twisted Tea/H.E.P. Motorsports/Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance Team Principal. “Ken rode a complete race: great start, he got into the lead [early], and it was smooth sailing from there. I know [two other riders] closed up on him a bit, but he changed his line about midway through the race and everything kind of settled down and he extended the gap to just under seven seconds. It was a great win by Ken. Colt and Justin had a little bit of an off night, so they’re going to have to re-regroup and get back to it in St. Louis. But I don’t want those results to hinder a great team win. We’re all going in the right direction Justin is two weeks into a four-year retirement [return], and Colt’s coming off of an eighth place. So, it was a down night for those guys, but Ken really rode a great race. It was a very good win for the team, the bike is in a great window, and we’re very excited to move on to St. Louis.”
The series lines the races up again on Saturday, April 4th inside The Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis, Missouri. The Suzuki riders and team members are invigorated by Roczen’s Detroit win and the stride in points toward another Supercross championship for Suzuki.
More from a press release issued by Monster Energy Kawasaki:
Chase Sexton and Seth Hammaker match podium finishes in Detroit.
Monster Energy® Kawasaki rider Chase Sexton returned to racing in strong form at Round 11 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship in Detroit, finishing second in the 450SX Main Event. Teammate Garrett Marchbanks overcame early setbacks to charge through the field in the main event, securing a 10th-place finish. In the 250SX Class, Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider Seth Hammaker delivered a standout performance, matching Sexton to finish second in the main event. Teammate Nick Romano capitalized on the previous round’s results with a hard-fought seventh-place finish in the main event.
Detroit’s Ford Field hosted Round 11 with a technical and slick layout that demanded precision and consistency, challenging riders throughout the day. Kawasaki riders established themselves early in qualifying and carried that momentum into the night show.
Chase Sexton (4) at Detroit. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
In 450SX Qualifying, Sexton showed front-running speed aboard his KX™450SR, finishing second in the opening session before placing fourth overall after losing a fast lap due to failing post qualifying sound control. Marchbanks continued to build throughout the day, qualifying 16th overall.
Garrett Marchbanks (36) at Detroit. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
In 450 Heat 1, Sexton launched to the front and controlled the race from start to finish to capture the win and show the competition that he has returned to form. Marchbanks faced adversity early after being pushed wide on the opening lap, resulting in a crash. He was forced to recover from the back of the field and came across the line in 11th, sending him to the last chance qualifier.
In the 450 LCQ, Marchbanks delivered a determined ride, charging through the field and making a decisive pass for the lead just before the white flag to secure the win and transfer to the main event.
In the 450 Main Event, Sexton powered into the lead off the start and remained in contention throughout the race. After briefly dropping back, he capitalized on late-race incidents ahead to move back into second, securing a podium finish in his return to racing. Marchbanks worked his way forward from a mid-pack start, steadily climbing through the field to finish 10th, showcasing his ability to overcome adversity through a tough day. Sexton and Marchbanks leave Detroit sixth and 17th in the points standings, respectively.
Garrett Marchbanks (36) at Detroit. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
Chase Sexton:“Detroit was my first round back from being injured. I got first in the heat race and second in the main event. It was a better night for me, and I’m glad to be back on the podium. It’s been a bit of a struggle, so we’ll take what we can get and turn this season around. I feel good; my riding feels good, and I think this is just the start. I’m excited for the future, and we’ll look ahead to St. Louis now.”
Garrett Marchbanks: “Overall, it was a solid day. We made some changes in qualifying that didn’t quite go in the right direction, so we went back to our base setup for the night show. I got a great start in the heat race, but got pushed wide and had a pretty big crash early on, which made things tough. In the LCQ, I felt a lot better with the bike, rode my way through the field, and was able to take the first transfer spot. In the main event, I came from way back and worked up to the Top 10, so I’m happy with the progress, and we’ll keep building from here.”
In 250SX Qualifying, Hammaker set the pace aboard his KX™250, topping the overall timesheets after finishing second in the opening session and first in the second. Hammaker was originally second overall, but was granted fastest qualifier when the original leader failed the post qualifying sound test. Romano remained consistent across both sessions to qualify 16th overall. MX6 Racing Kawasaki riders Derek Kelly and Henry Miller also put their KX™250 machines in the Top 10 with a sixth and eighth-place, respectively.
Seth Hammaker (10) at Detroit. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
In 250 Heat 1, Romano delivered an impressive ride, battling neck and neck for the lead and maintaining a strong pace to finish second and transfer directly to the main event. In Heat 2, Hammaker ran up front off the start before a mistake in the rhythm section dropped him back to fifth. Quickly regrouping, he worked his way forward to secure third at the checkered flag.
Nicholas Romano (141) at Detroit. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
In the 250 Main Event, Hammaker positioned himself near the front from the start, rounding the first turn in second place. He capitalized when the leader went down, taking over the lead through the opening laps. A late charge from the competition behind him moved him back to second, where he held on to secure the podium finish. Teammate Romano started inside the Top 10 and advanced to sixth before a late-race shuffle placed him seventh at the finish. Half of the Top 10 was composed of Kawasaki riders with a career-best finish for Miller finishing in fifth-place, Kyle Peters eighth, and Kelley in ninth. Hammaker currently sits second in the points standings, with Romano in 18th, going into Round 12 at St. Louis.
Seth Hammaker: “Detroit was a good weekend; I qualified fastest and felt solid. In the heat race, I got off to a bad start and went into second. Immediately after I passed for second, I over-jumped a triple in the rhythm and banged up my hip and knee a little bit. Other than that, I salvaged third in the heat race and got a good start in the main event, running second for the first couple of laps. [Nate] Thrasher went down in front of me, then I was leading until about halfway when [Cole] Davies put on his charge and got around me, so I finished second. I’m happy with being consistent, but definitely want to get some wins here soon.”
Nick Romano: “Today was a good day. Qualifying wasn’t great, and then I showed up for the night show, ended up second in the heat race, and then seventh in the main event. I’m happy with the night, a lot of positives, and back to work this week for the next round.”
More from a press release issued by Rockstar Energy Husqvarna:
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Malcolm Stewart lands Detroit 450SX podium. Another season-best in Round 11 of the 2026 AMA Supercross Championship series.
Malcolm Stewart and Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing earned an impressive third-place result at Round 11 of the AMA Supercross Championship in Detroit tonight, marking his first 450SX podium finish of the 2026 season.
Stewart recorded the third-fastest time in 450SX qualifying with a 51.894s lap, quickly finding comfort aboard his Husqvarna FC 450 Factory Edition and converting that pace into a P4 finish in 450SX Heat 2.
Malcolm Stewart (27) at Detroit. Photo courtesy Husqvarna
Completing the opening lap of the Main Event in fifth position, the 33-year-old maintained a consistent pace throughout the race, successfully negotiating the technical, deteriorating race-track to secure his first podium of the year. Stewart retains eighth in the 450SX Championship standings with six rounds remaining.
“It’s been tough after we had that unfortunate situation in Anaheim to start the season,”reflected Stewart.“After that, I was like, ‘I don’t know if I am going to get on the podium,’ and that’s just part of not believing in yourself. But I had to pull myself out of that and I want to give it up to Nathan Ramsey and the team – they’ve been in my ear all year long saying, ‘Hey, you can do this!’ So, a huge shoutout to the whole Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing team, and just everyone who is behind me… I’m stoked with this result! The track was really tough tonight and it could bite you if you weren’t paying attention. I had a lot of trust in my motorcycle, which made a huge difference, and having now popped some champagne again, we want more.”
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing 250SX East teammates Daxton Bennick and Casey Cochran were both in action at Detroit, with Cochran making his first start of the 2026 SMX World Championship following a pre-season collarbone injury.
Equipped with the Husqvarna FC 250 Factory Edition, the pair each recorded P5 finishes in their respective Heat Races, securing direct transfer positions to the Main Event inside Ford Field.
Daxton Bennick (58) at Detroit. Photo courtesy Husqvarna
Bennick went on to claim sixth in the Main Event, rebounding from a slow start and mid-race incident, which sees him maintain fourth position in the 250SX Eastern Division standings entering next weekend’s 250SX East/West Showdown in St. Louis.
“It was a rough day, all day, honestly,”Bennick reflected.“I didn’t really ride like myself and didn’t do anything great, so was never really able to turn it around. I was just off all day, but we’ll go back to work this week. It was frustrating, although we’ve had really good rides so far this year because my speed is good and so is my training, so we’ll get back to how I know I can ride and we should be fine.”
Casey Cochran (59) at Detroit. Photo courtesy Husqvarna
For Cochran, he started the Main Event outside the top 10, making early progress through the field before a crash ultimately forced him to retire at the halfway mark – he will undergo further evaluations this week. Still, he was excited to be back at the races with his Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing team.
“The Heat Race and qualifying were decent in Detroit, for not having had too much time on the bike,” commented Cochran.“Then, unfortunately, I slid out in the Main Event and landed on my injured collarbone. We weren’t able to finish the race, but we’ll get it checked out – hopefully everything is all good – and we’ll be back.”
Next Race: April 4 – St. Louis, Missouri
More from a press release issued by Yamaha:
No Quit in Detroit: Justin Cooper and Cooper Webb Fight to the Finish. Late-season pressure builds in the 450SX title race as both Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing riders push through adversity at Round 11.
It was another night of intense racing in the Monster Energy AMA Supercross premier class at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan, with a shake-up in the 450SX title fight as the championship continues to take shape. Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Justin Cooper delivered another impressive charge through the field to finish fourth, while Cooper Webb fought back to sixth after an early-race crash.
Qualifying fifth, Cooper got a strong start in his heat race, battling up front and finishing third. In the main event, he didn’t get off the gate as he had hoped and found himself back in 14th on the opening lap. The New Yorker quickly went to work, breaking into the top five before the halfway mark. Cooper kept pushing and closed the gap to Eli Tomac, making the pass with around six laps to go. With too much time lost to advance further, Cooper rode on to secure his third consecutive fourth-place finish and his sixth top-five of the season, which has him maintaining a strong fifth in the championship standings.
Justin Cooper (32) at Detroit. Photo courtesy Yamaha.
“The race day went well,” said Cooper. “The only thing I can really think back on is the start in the Main. I wasn’t ready for the gate drop, so I was a little off-balance and way back. I rode really well, and I came from 14th to 4th, but I needed the start tonight. I had really good speed in the beginning. I felt like, until halfway, I had a really good pace, and then it just caught up to me a little bit. I started slowing down and getting a little bit winded. I was able to catch Eli and pass him there, but yeah, fourth is what we had tonight. We needed to start up in at least the top five to finish better, but overall, the bike felt awesome all day, and I was just riding really well. We’ll take it to next weekend. I’ve got to get that start in the Main and get on the podium.”
For Webb, it was also a strong start to the day, with the reigning champion setting his sights on the win. He got a great start in his heat race, made the pass on his teammate on the opening lap, and held the runner-up spot to the checkered flag. In the main event, Webb quickly worked his way into third and looked poised to challenge for the lead. However, while attempting a pass on Jorge Prado, the pair made contact and went down. Webb remounted in 11th and charged forward, climbing back to sixth by the halfway mark, where he would finish.
Cooper Webb (1) at Detroit. Photo courtesy Yamaha.
“It was an okay day,” said Webb. “I qualified seventh overall, and then had a decent heat race. In the main event, that was just a really dumb move on my end. I thought I saw an opening and obviously didn’t, and took myself and Prado both down, which was a bummer. I went and apologized to him. So, I’m really bummed about it because I rode so well in that main event. I felt like I had the speed to win tonight. We’ll keep plugging away. It’s been a tough year, but it is what it is, and you’ve got to move on.”
Although it was not the result he was looking for, his efforts scored valuable points to make some championship gains – an eight-point swing to move within 26 points of the leader with six rounds remaining.
“I think it was a pretty decent day overall,” said Rich Simmons, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s 450 Team Manager. “Both guys had good qualifying sessions and strong heat races. In the main, Justin got a bad start, and Webb got a good start and put himself in a good position, but unfortunately went down trying to pass (Jorge) Prado early. It was a good recovery by him to come back to sixth, and Justin came from 14th to get Eli (Tomac) for fourth. We want to be on the podium and missed that opportunity tonight, but you can’t be upset when the guy’s going for a win. We’ll take the positives, move on to St. Louis, and look to get back on the podium.”
The Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing team now heads to St. Louis, Missouri, for Round 12 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship and the Monster Energy SMX World Championship at The Dome at America’s Center on April 4.
Cole Davies Storms to Third-Consecutive Victory
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cole Davies extends his win streak and championship lead with an impressive ride at Detroit Supercross.
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cole Davies continued to lead the way in the 250SX East Championship, delivering a thrilling come-from-behind victory at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. It was a statement ride from the young New Zealander, who continues to build momentum in his Monster Energy AMA Supercross title campaign.
It was a near-perfect day for Davies in Detroit. He showed speed from the start, ultimately qualifying second after a sound penalty. Then in his heat race, he got a good start and quickly made his way to third on the opening lap. Davies rode a calculated race in the slick conditions, keeping the leaders in sight and making his move in the closing laps to take the win.
Cole Davies (37) at Detroit. Photo courtesy Yamaha
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cole Davies continued to lead the way in the 250SX East Championship, delivering a thrilling come-from-behind victory at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. It was a statement ride from the young New Zealander, who continues to build momentum in his Monster Energy AMA Supercross title campaign.
It was a near-perfect day for Davies in Detroit. He showed speed from the start, ultimately qualifying second after a sound penalty. Then in his heat race, he got a good start and quickly made his way to third on the opening lap. Davies rode a calculated race in the slick conditions, keeping the leaders in sight and making his move in the closing laps to take the win.
In the main event, Davies found himself back around 14th off the start but quickly charged to third within four laps. He made the pass on Jo Shimoda the following lap and, after a brief battle, set his sights on the leader. Davies put his head down and closed the four-second gap, setting the fastest lap of the race on Lap 8. Just past the halfway mark, he made a decisive move on Seth Hammaker after the whoops to take control and never looked back, stretching his lead to 12 seconds for a dominant victory. The win marked Davies’ third consecutive victory and extended his championship lead to nine points.
“When I don’t perform the way I know I’m capable of, I’m pretty hard on myself,” said Davies. “Myself, my family, and the team put in so much work – that main event was how I know I can ride, and I’m proud of that. I put everything together, except for the start, and still made it happen. The bike was incredible through the whoops, which is where I made most of my passes. Going from 14th to first and extending our championship lead to nine points feels amazing.”
Cole Davies (37) at Detroit. Photo courtesy Yamaha
It was a rollercoaster day for Caden Dudney. The rookie had another strong qualifying effort in fourth, and when the gate dropped for the heat race, he grabbed the holeshot and led for most of the race. Unfortunately, with two laps remaining, Dudney crashed in the whoops but quickly rejoined to finish fourth. In the main event, he found himself back in 21st on the opening laps and ultimately crossed the line 18th.
“It was a rough day today,” said Dudney. “Just mistake after mistake, but there were a lot of positives to take away from it as well, with the heat race and leading laps. Qualifying was pretty decent, too. I just need to learn from my mistakes and be better for next weekend.”
Caden Dudney (82) at Detroit. Photo courtesy Yamaha.
Nate Thrasher also looked back to form after dealing with shoulder issues early in the season. He qualified fifth and delivered a commanding heat race win, grabbing the holeshot and leading every lap to take his first heat race victory of the season by over five seconds. In the main event, he secured another holeshot and led before an unfortunate crash in the whoops ended his night early.
“It was a better weekend for me,” said Thrasher. “It didn’t end how we wanted it to, but I finally felt like myself. I’ve been dealing with some nerve problems in my left shoulder, so it was good to feel healthy again. I just can’t make that mistake in the whoops in the main. I need to be better. We’ll keep working and move on to St. Louis.”
Nate Thrasher (25) at Detroit. Photo courtesy Yamaha.
It was another strong night overall for the team, highlighted by two heat race wins, three holeshots, and Davies’ main event victory—giving the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing 250 team 10 overall/main event wins in 11 rounds.
“Honestly, it was a great night for all of us,” said Wil Hahn, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing 250 Team General Manager. “A win in both heats was cool with Nate and Cole. It was a shame in the main for Nate and Caden after showing the speed they had all day, but for Cole to come through the pack like that, it was definitely a statement ride.”
Next up, the team heads to St. Louis, Missouri, for the second East-West Showdown of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross season at The Dome at America’s Center on April 4.
More from a press release issued by Red Bull KTM:
Eli Tomac and Red Bull KTM reclaim 450SX red plate after Detroit top-five.
A measured top-five finish at Round 11 of the 2026 AMA Supercross Championship saw Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Eli Tomac reclaim the 450SX red plate tonight in Detroit, opening a four-point advantage exiting Ford Field.
Tomac qualified ninth on the 450SX combined timesheets as he familiarized himself with the technical track layout, before racing his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION to a third-place result in the opening premier class Heat Race.
The 33-year-old then completed the first lap of the Main Event in eighth position, before steadily climbing into the top-five. Maintaining consistency on the deteriorating surface, Tomac secured fifth place and a valuable haul of championship points.
Former two-time champion Tomac now leads the 450SX standings on 229 points, as the SMX World Championship series heads to The Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis, Missouri, next weekend.
Eli Tomac (3) at Detroit. Photo courtesy KTM
Eli Tomac:“I knew I was going to take advantage of [Hunter Lawrence’s crash] once I saw that he was a lap down, but overall it was a bit of a frustrating day here. I have actually struggled here with my last couple of rides, so I don’t know what it is – I just haven’t had the best success at Detroit lately and maybe I’ve been in a bit of a mid-season slump. So, we’ll do what we can to get better and improve, and try to get back to winning some races and getting closer to the front.”
Spanish four-time world champion Jorge Prado recorded the 11th-fastest qualifying time in Detroit aboard his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION, before earning a direct transfer to the Main Event with a P5 score in his Heat Race.
In holeshotting the Main Event, the 25-year-old ran strongly at the front of the field during the opening laps, before unfortunately going down in an incident with another rider. Prado recovered to 13th position by race’s end, again demonstrating front-running potential in the Motor City.
Jorge Prado (26) at Detroit. Photo courtesy KTM
Prado currently sits ninth in the 450SX championship standings as he continues to build experience and added confidence in Supercross during the 2026 season with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing.
Jorge Prado:“Detroit Supercross was a bit of a rough day! The Heat Race was actually not too bad. At the end of it, I found a good rhythm and was feeling good. In the Main Event, I had a super-good start – I got the holeshot, which was my main goal – and then I wanted to stay up front for as long as possible. Kenny [Roczen] passed me on, I think Lap 3, and then once he passed me, I really tried to stick with him, but another rider ended up taking me out and we both crashed. That impacted my rhythm from there, so we have some work to do – as always – but I am putting in maximum effort with my training and racing, so hopefully it’ll pay off soon. We’re taking a lot of this year’s Supercross championship as experience for next year, so it’s good that these things happen now so when we’re fighting up front in the coming years, we can be prepared and ready. It’s part of the process – we’ll learn and continue to get faster.”
Next Race: April 4 – St. Louis, Missouri
More from a press release issued by Red Bull Ducati:
Troy Lee Designs Red Bull Ducati Factory Racing Team Celebrates Strong Return and Best Finish of the Season for Dylan Ferrandis in Detroit.
Sunnyvale, Calif., March 28, 2026 — The Troy Lee Designs Red Bull Ducati Factory Racing Team welcomed a highly anticipated return to racing this weekend in Detroit, Michigan, as Dylan Ferrandis made his comeback at Round 11 of the 2026 AMA Supercross Championship.
After sustaining an injury in Daytona that sidelined him for two rounds in Indianapolis and Birmingham, Ferrandis returned to racing with determination and focus. Despite limited seat time leading into the event, Ferrandis delivered his strongest performance of the season to date, an encouraging result that reflects both his resilience and the relentless efforts of the entire team.
Ferrandis approached the first qualifying session with a measured mindset, easing back into the intensity of race conditions and securing 11th place. He showed immediate improvement in the second session, posting a 52.405 lap time to finish 9th, placing him 10th overall in combined qualifying.
Competing in Heat Race 2, Ferrandis got off the line to an 8th place start before quickly advancing through the field. By lap two, he had moved into 6th position while also recording his fastest lap of the race. He maintained that pace to finish 6th, earning a direct transfer to the Main Event.
Dylan Ferrandis (14) at Detroit. Photo courtesy Ducati
In the Main Event, Ferrandis continued to build momentum, finishing 7th overall, his best result of the season. After starting strong in 6th place on the opening lap, he engaged in a competitive battle between 6th and 7th positions throughout the early stages of the race. By lap five, he settled into 7th and maintained consistency to hold that position through to the checkered flag.
“I am happy for the team and all the sponsors, TLD, Red Bull Ducati, and everybody on the team, so that feels good,” said Ferrandis. “I got a good start, but I was lacking a little bit of pace for sure. I can do better than what I did tonight, but I need to get back into that racing mode a little more. Overall, I think it’s the best I could have done today with a 7th. I showed that during my time off, I didn’t just chill, I was pushing and training. So I’m happy about that and happy for the team.”
This performance represents a significant step forward for both Ferrandis and the Troy Lee Designs Red Bull Ducati Factory Racing Team. With limited preparation time following injury, the result highlights the rider’s determination and the team’s dedication behind the scenes.
The team now looks ahead with confidence, aiming to build on this momentum as the championship progresses.
More from a press release issued by Honda HRC:
Shimoda takes podium finish during challenging Detroit SX for Honda HRC Progressive.
Japanese rider earns third-place result in 250SX East main event
Crash in 450SX main belies Hunter Lawrence’s impressive speed
Australian still firmly in the premier-class title fight
Round 11 of AMA Supercross in Detroit presented several trials for Honda HRC Progressive, although there were positives for the team and riders to take away. Despite adversity, Jo Shimoda secured a podium finish as the 250SX East class reached its season’s midway point. Meanwhile, Hunter Lawrence was the fastest 450SX qualifier, won his heat race and set the fastest lap time of the main event, before a crash and subsequent visit to the mechanics’ area resulted in an 18th-place result. Although the misfortune resulted in the Australian slipping out of the points lead, he sits just four points behind the leader.
Hunter Lawrence (96) at Detroit. Photo courtesy Honda
Lawrence did not get his usual stellar start in the 450SX main, but he quickly advanced from fifth place out of turn 1 to third place by lap 3. Unfortunately, while challenging Chase Sexton for second just before the halfway mark, he suffered a hard crash at the end of the whoop section. Although Lawrence remounted quickly, the fall had resulted in a bent handlebar and a jammed front brake. A stop by the mechanics’ area to remove dirt from the brake lever cost him even more time, and he finished in 18th place. Quad Lock Honda riders Joey Savatgy, Christian Craig and Shane McElrath turned in ninth-, 12th– and 14th-place results, respectively.
Jo Shimoda (30) at Detroit. Photo courtesy Honda
Shimoda launched to a strong second-place start in the 250SX East main event and ran third early on. He moved back up to second on lap 3 and then lost the position a couple of laps later, running at a good pace while managing arm pump. The Japanese rider slipped to fourth just past the halfway point, but a late-race crash by Coty Schock opened the door for Shimoda to secure a podium finish. He remains third in the standings, 14 points behind the leading Cole Davies. Additional Red Rider highlights included a strong ride from Luke Neese, who finished inside the top 10, while Phoenix Racing Honda’s Evan Ferry delivered a career-best performance with an 11th-place result.
NOTES
Phoenix Racing Honda riders Evan Ferry and Gavin Towers took part in Friday’s Media Day activities.
Phoenix Racing Honda’s Cullin Park suffered a dislocated shoulder injury during last week’s 250SX East/West Showdown main event in Birmingham. Further examination revealed a fracture, and Park underwent successful surgery on March 25. The Floridian will miss the remainder of the series.
While Honda HRC Progressive riders Jett Lawrence and Chance Hymas continue to progress well in their recoveries from injury, both attended the U.S. MotoGP round in Austin, Texas.
Quad Lock Honda’s Joey Savatgy made his return to racing in Detroit, having recovered from a March 7 foot injury sustained in Indianapolis.
Honda HRC Progressive’s Jo Shimoda placed 12th in 250SX combined qualifying. Phoenix Racing Honda riders Evan Ferry and Gavin Towers qualified seventh and 11th, respectively. Jeremy Hand (Valley Motorsports) qualified in 20th, John Short IV (Short Racing) was 21st and Ryder Floyd (Ti Lube Honda) was 27th, while Storm Lake Honda riders Luke Neese and Izaih Clark were 23rd and 24th, respectively.
Honda HRC Progressive rider Hunter Lawrence placed first in 450SX combined qualifying, followed by Quad Lock Honda riders Christian Craig, Joey Savatgy and Shane McElrath, who were 12th, 13th and 15th, respectively. Red Rider Zack Williams (McGinley Clinic) qualified in 27th.
Shimoda got a rough start in the first 250SX East heat race, getting to the first corner in 10th. He steadily worked his way forward, moving to fourth toward the end of the race, before a crash by Caden Dudney allowed him to take third. Ferry, Towers and Neese advanced directly through the second heat race, while Hand secured his spot in the main event with a second-place finish in the LCQ.
Lawrence dominated the second 450SX heat race with a holeshot and wire-to-wire victory, while Savatgy (seventh) and McElrath (eighth) also transferred directly to the main event. Earlier, Craig had grabbed the holeshot in his heat race before finishing fifth.
Lawrence now sits second in the 450SX championship standings, four points behind Eli Tomac, with six rounds remaining.
Honda HRC Progressive will look to rebound at round 12 of AMA Supercross this Saturday in St. Louis. The 250SX class will feature an East-West Showdown.
Hunter Lawrence (96) at Detroit. Photo courtesy Honda
Hunter Lawrence: “My day was a bit of a bittersweet one. The qualifying race went really well, and I was happy with everything—the bike, the team, myself, everything felt great. I was feeling really good in the main event and was honestly feeling so comfortable. I was really happy with where I was, and I made a push to the front and was catching Kenny and Chase. I just got caught by surprise with the crash at the end of the whoops. I was okay, but the bike took some unfortunate damage. It’s just racing, sometimes that happens, and I had to pull into the mechanics’ area. I crashed two more times just due to the front brake locking on, so that was difficult to bring home but I think we managed two points. It was a difficult situation, but we’re still in it and can’t wait to bounce back next weekend.”
Jo Shimoda (30) at Detroit. Photo courtesy Honda
Jo Shimoda: “The track was pretty jumpy and had massive whoops, and I was just uncomfortable. It was a bit of chaos in the first lap. I had arm pump right away, so it got sketchy. Honestly, there’s nothing good about today. I was slow, and I just couldn’t figure it out; I didn’t make the smart decisions. We’re five rounds in now, so I need to step it up and for the wins. I think [next week’s] Showdown is the best opportunity for the situation I’m in right now, so next week we have to deliver.”
Lars Lindstrom:“We’ve had a great 450 season so far, with not a lot of difficulties, which is represented by our run of finishes inside the top four at every event so far this year up until now. It wouldn’t be very normal to have a season without some adversity, so although we gave up a lot of points tonight, we’re still in a great position for the championship. The way that Hunter has been riding gives me a lot of confidence that we’re still in the driver’s seat. Most important, he wasn’t injured and is more motivated than ever to win more races. Jo wasn’t himself tonight, which I think was a combination of the track, and him not feeling 100% physically. Hopefully he can get a good week of training in and come out swinging in St. Louis. Both Hunter and Jo won there in September for the SMX race, so we have good vibes going into this coming weekend.”
During the week, he’s an unassuming MotoGP-rider. But when the weekend comes around and Sunday’s knocking, he changes into…Super Sunday Boy! This week, will our superhero have a mighty collision before parking his bike all the way at the front?
Yes, he can!
And speaking of the front, something we didn’t find there was Ducati. Forget about that beautiful uninterrupted streak of victories last year–this season, they’re being passed left and right in the same corner. So what is going on here?
We’ve watched and understood it all, in a way we very much can’t say about the Baggers!
Oh, and on another note, remember we talked about sponsors during the Q&A-episode? Well, we got a lot of responses from you all…and something might be brewing!
Want more? Visit our website or support us on Patreon. With big thanks as always to Brad Baloo from The Next Men and Gentleman’s Dub Club for writing our theme song. Check out The Nextmen for more great music!
McMartin Racing Ducati teammates Josh Waters and Harrison Voight dominated round two of the 2026 Penrite Australian Superbike Championship presented by Pirelli (ASBK) under lights at Sydney Motorsport Park (SMSP) on Saturday, March 28.
Polesitter Waters won the opening SW-Motech Superbike race – his fourth in a row at SMSP dating back to 2024 – before Voight executed brilliantly in the second to maintain his healthy lead in the 2026 championship after two of five rounds.
The two-day event at SMSP saw precipitation on Friday make way for sublime weather on Saturday and the bulk of the race program, with other winners including a blistering clean sweep by Jake Farnsworth (Yamaha) in Kawasaki Supersport and more teammate heroics – this time from BCperformance Kawasaki duo Tom Edwards and Hayden Nelson in Supersport Next Gen.
Meanwhile, New Zealander Tyler King (Kawasaki) extended his lead in the Race and Road Supersport 300 class despite a stunning double from Orlando Peovitis (Champions Ride Days Kawasaki), and Oscar Lewis edged out his younger brother Connor in the BLU CRU R3 Cup opener.
All the pre-round talk about the SW-Motech ‘changing of the guard’ was just a minor distraction for the veteran Waters, who powered to a 20th pole position and then victory in race one – his ninth at SMSP and the 45th in a storied career at the top level in Australia.
Voight led early before Waters took over the running, while hard-charging pair Cru Halliday (Stop and Seal Ducati, second) and SMSP lap record holder Jonathan Nahlous (Yamaha Racing Team, third) also slid their way into podium positions during the 13-lapper.
Voight was fourth from Jacob Roulstone (Motocity Honda), Glenn Allerton (Superbike Advocates Racing Ducati), Jack Favelle (Addicted to Track Yamaha) and Marcus Hamod (Motocity Honda), while Mike Jones (Yamaha Racing Team) recovered to finish ninth after an off-track excursion on lap one. Cameron Dunker (Blue Marlin Pools Racing Yamaha) also ran off before crashing moments later.
There was an air of inevitability who would be the fastest on track for race two, and that’s what transpired as Voight was a clear winner from Waters and Halliday – while Nahlous was also in the mix before he crashed out of second place on lap four while trying to break Voight’s resolve.
The battle for fourth was a cracker, with Roulstone coming up trumps from Anthony West (DesmoSport Ducati), Dunker, Allerton and Jones. Hamod and Favelle completed the top 10.
Voight’s race two rebound saw him extend his championship lead to 14pts (110 to 96) over new second place man, Waters, with Roulstone (95pts) in third from Halliday (73pts), West (72pts), Dunker (71pts) and Allerton (71pts).
Harrison Voight (29) scored the holeshot in Superbike race two. Photo courtesy ASBK.
Kawasaki Supersport and Supersport Next Gen:
Two championships under one umbrella, and with similar levels of performance to produce scintillating racing.
That was the playbook in the second half of 2025 and the 2026 season opener at Phillip Island for Supersport and Supersport Next Gen, but at SMSP no-one told Farnsworth who produced two clinical victories.
And in one memorable evening, the Sydneysider doubled his previous win tally in Kawasaki Supersport from two to four.
Farnsworth (1-1) was the overall Supersport winner at SMSP, taking over the championship lead from Valentino Knezovic (Addicted to Track Yamaha, 2-2). Thai visitor Anupab Sarmoon (MotoGo Racing Yamaha, 3-3) was third, while in Supersport Next Gen it was Nelson (1-2) from Edwards (3-1) and Olly Simpson (DesmoSport Ducati, 2-3). Simpson remains the Next Gen leader, but it’s been trimmed by Edwards to just 4pts.
In the over-arching battle, Farnsworth was first home in the opening 11-lapper from Nelson, Simpson, Edwards, Knezovic and Sarmoon, and in the second Farnsworth completed his whitewash from Edwards, Nelson, Knezovic, Simpson and Sarmoon.
Meanwhile, it was misfortune for two other Next Gen riders in Sydney, with Tom Toparis (Stop and Seal Ducati) eliminated with a blown engine and debutante Jacob Hatch (Triumph) not even getting through qualifying after being caught out as collateral damage in a Scott Nicholson (TeamBWR Yamaha) crash.
Hayden Nelson (279), Olly Simpson (45) and Valentino Knezovic (48). Photo courtesy ASBK.
Race and Road Supersport 300 and BLU CRU R3 Cup
Peovitis marched through the two Race and Road Supersport 300 races with a level of authority rarely seen in the class, with his winning margins five and six seconds respectively.
While Peovitis’ domination was atypical, behind the West Aussie it was more of the same close-quarters intensity we’ve come to expect, with King second in both races and the third places shared by Phoenix O’Brien (Blue Marlin Pools Racing Yamaha) and Lincoln Knight (Yamaha).
That was where the program ended, with race three abandoned after Knight crashed at turn two and required medical intervention.
King leads the championship on 95pts from the charging Peovitis (85pts) and Jordy Simpson (Yamaha, 82pts).
In the BLU CRU R3 Cup, Oscar Lewis (1-2-4), Connor Lewis (2-1-6) and defending champion Simpson (6-3-2) were the top brass in Sydney, while Matthew Ritter scored two third places.
The 2026 ASBK Championship will now head to The Bend for round three on May 1-3.
The R3 Cup race two podium: (L to R) Oscar Lewis, Connor Lewis and Jordy Simpson. Photo courtesy ASBK.
For more information on the Penrite Australian Superbike Championship presented by Pirelli:
Aprilia Racing makes history in the USA with another one-two.
The weekend on the Circuit of the Americas comes to a close with a historic result for Aprilia Racing, taking their second consecutive one-two.
Marco Bezzecchi, starting from the fourth spot on the grid due to a penalty from Q2, was the protagonist of an extraordinary race. After contact during the first lap which damaged the rear wing of his RS-GP26, the Italian rider moved into the lead at the end of the first lap, maintaining the position all the way to the chequered flag. With this result, he takes his fifth win in a row, becoming the third rider of the modern era to manage the feat after Valentino Rossi and Marc Márquez.
For Bezzecchi this is also his sixth victory in the top class with Aprilia Racing, in addition to being the first rider to win the first three Grand Prix races of a season – an achievement that had not been accomplished since 2014. The Italian rider is now the first in the modern MotoGP era to win five consecutive GP races, remaining in the lead from the first to the last lap. In fact, Bezzecchi rode the last five GP races entirely in the lead and, with today’s result, now has a total of 121 laps in the lead, surpassing the previous record held by Jorge Lorenzo (103).
Completing the one-two was Jorge Martín, who rode a solid race to finish second. This is the Spanish rider’s second consecutive podium in a long race with Aprilia Racing and his second podium finish of the weekend, after winning the sprint race on Saturday.
This is Aprilia Racing’s eleventh victory in the top class – their second in Austin after Maverick Viñales’ win in 2024 – and their fifth consecutive. The manufacturer from Noale has now also taken their third one-two in the top class and, for the first time in their history, two one-two finishes in a row. With today’s victory, Aprilia Racing now has 305 wins in World Grand Prix Motorcycle Racing.
Marco Bezzecchi (72). Photo by Michael Gougis.
Marco Bezzecchi: “Saturday I made a mistake that I should have avoided, but the team was very close to me. Today it was important to ride a good race. I’m extremely happy and thrilled. I have been dreaming about doing well on this track that I’ve always liked for a long time, but I had never managed to finish the way I wanted to until now. Riding such a great race was incredible.”
Jorge Martin (89). Photo by Michael Gougis.
Jorge Martin: “I am truly happy and extremely grateful to Aprilia. I gave my all and that makes me very proud. Saturday, I achieved the goal of winning the sprint race and I gave it my all on Sunday as well. Marco was incredible: I tried to make up ground behind him, but I was pushing too hard physically and I had to slow down in the last three laps. I have always struggled on this track, so to be on the podium here after my absence last year is fantastic.”
Massimo Rivola – CEO Aprilia Racing: “It was a memorable Sunday for Aprilia Racing, with two truly outstanding riders and an extremely competitive bike. I am very pleased with the demonstration of the synergy between the work carried out in Noale and on track. Clearly, all of this does not reduce our drive — on the contrary, it gives us even more motivation to continue developing the bike. What happened today is something historic, destined to go down in the record books. However, we still need to keep improving, because what happened to Ai Ogura is difficult to accept. I’m very sorry for him, for Justin Marks and Davide Brivio of the Trackhouse MotoGP Team. Today there was the chance to see three Aprilias on the podium and, when these opportunities arise, you have to take them.”
More from a press release issued by VR46 Team:
Di Giannantonio ends the United States GP in fourth place.The Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team, on track with a special livery, was very close to the podium on Sunday in Austin with Di Giannantonio, who finished the race in fourth place. Morbidelli ended in fourteenth position.
The United States GP concluded with a fourth-place finish for the Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team, which went on track on Sunday in Austin with a special livery designed by Aldo Drudi. Fabio Di Giannantonio fought for the podium, finishing fourth and as the top Ducati rider. Franco Morbidelli placed fourteenth after a comeback race.
Di Giannantonio made the most of his pole position start (secured by breaking the lap time record), immediately joining the battle for the podium. Fabio showed an excellent pace, managing to stay with the leading group and defend his position with great determination. The rider frome Rome crossed the finish line in fourth place, confirming himself once again in Austin as the best Ducati rider at the finish. Di Giannantonio is fourth in the World Standing with 50 points.
A challenging race for Morbidelli, who started from twentieth position. After a difficult start, Franco showed great determination on a very demanding track, gaining positions. Consistently improving lap after lap, the Italian-Brazilian rider crossed the finish line in fourteenth place. With today’s result, he is thirteenth in the World Standing with 14 points.
The Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team will return to the track in three weeks following the extended break caused by the postponement of the Qatar GP. MotoGP returns to Europe for the Spanish GP, which will take place from 24th to 26th April at the Circuito de Jerez.
Fabio Di Giannantonio (49). Photo by Michael Gougis.
Fabio Di Giannantonio:“Overall, it was a positive weekend, I’m very happy. We arrived here in Austin and I wasn’t at 100% of my physical condition, so I have to thank Christian, the physiotherapist, and the whole team for the work they did to help me recover with my shoulder. We’ll need to undergo some tests to understand what’s going on, because I struggled a bit physically. Aside from that, we’re in great shape, we’re putting pressure on the front riders even though there’s still a gap at the moment. We need to work both with the team and Ducati to close that gap. We know where we need to improve and we’re already doing it. We’re still missing something in the race. It’s not the result we wanted, because when you’re competing at a high level you always aim for the podium, but today I gave my best and fourth was the maximum we could achieve. There are still many positives to take home: I got pole position and set many fast laps. I’m really happy.”
Franco Morbidelli (21) and Diogo Moreira (11) at COTA. Photo courtesy VR46 Team.
Franco Morbidelli: “It was a tough weekend. We struggled every day, although less and less each day. Today in the race we managed to score two points: it’s not what we want, but it was important to finish the race to gather information and data. The feeling with the bike wasn’t great this weekend, we didn’t have rear grip. But, we started from further back and improved more and more as the days went on. That’s a positive aspect. Now we have a few weeks off, we’ll keep training and working with the team to do better and return to our best.”
Pablo Nieto – Team Manager:“Overall, Austin was a good weekend for Diggia and we should be happy. We were missing something, because we were fighting for the win with him, and it’s a pity we didn’t make it on the podium. But he took pole position and achieving this kind of result is really great, I believe we’re working very well. Right now, our rivals have made a significant step forward, but we’re very close. Franco struggled a lot during this weekend in the United States, but he improved greatly during the race. If he continues like this, we’ll see him back in the top positions.”
More from a press release issued by Ducati Lenovo Team:
Marc Márquez and the Ducati Lenovo Team bounce back to fifth in the Grand Prix of the United States. Francesco Bagnaia tenth.
The Ducati Lenovo Team tackled the final day of the Grand Prix of the United States at Austin’s Circuit of The Americas. Marc Márquez finished the race in fifth position, while Francesco Bagnaia was tenth at the flag.
Márquez got a great start from sixth place on the grid, moving up two positions. After dropping down to seventh, he then served his long-lap penalty and rejoined in eleventh. Marc then made his way back to fifth place, which he defended up to the finish line. Bagnaia stayed in touch with the group battling for the podium while maintaining a good pace, before starting to lose ground in the second half of the encounter. In the final stages, Pecco struggled with grip and eventually finished tenth.
As the third Grand Prix of the season draws to a close, Marc Márquez is fifth in the standings with 45 points. Francesco Bagnaia is ninth, 20 points behind his teammate. The Ducati Lenovo Team is fourth in the teams’ classification (70 points), while Ducati is second in the constructors’ championship (69 points).
The Ducati Lenovo Team will make its European debut of the season on April 24th, for the opening day of practice for the Estrella Galicia 0,0 Grand Prix of Spain at the Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto.
Marc Marquez (93) at COTA. Photo by Michael Gougis.
Marc Márquez (#93 Ducati Lenovo Team) – 5th: “Unfortunately we paid the price for yesterday’s mistake. A long-lap penalty in MotoGP, especially early on in the race, drops you down into the middle of the field. I wasn’t feeling comfortable in the first laps and I was close to making the same mistake again, but then as the grip faded I started to ride well and have fun, battling with several riders. We must keep in mind that this was only the third Grand Prix of a very long season, but we also have to admit that Bezzecchi, right now, is really fast. We have to keep inching closer to the front and focus on the small details, as we’re not missing much and I know I can do better than this.”
Francesco Bagnaia (63) at COTA. Photo by Michael Gougis.
Francesco Bagnaia (#63 Ducati Lenovo Team) – 10th: “Already from the warm up, I didn’t have the same feeling, as I was struggling to carry the same speed into the corners as in previous days. I wasn’t fully comfortable at the start of the race: there was less rear grip, but I tried to manage it. I saw that Diggia was trying to bridge the gap to the leaders and I tried to stay with him, but then the grip got clearly worse. With four laps to go, I tried to push a bit harder in order to defend myself from Marc (Márquez) and Enea (Bastianini), but the final two laps were a nightmare: I had a near crash every time I leaned into the right-hand corners. Unfortunately, we can’t make the bike stop and turn the way we’d like, so we need to continue working in these areas.”
More from a press release issued by Red Bull KTM Tech3:
Bastianini charges through the pack to finish sixth at COTA.
The third round of the 2026 MotoGP™ World Championship has concluded in the United States, with the Circuit of the Americas delivering another action-packed weekend.
Under the hot Texan conditions, Enea Bastianini lined up 12th on the grid, determined to build on the positives from Saturday’s Sprint, where he claimed P3, and convert them into a strong Sunday result.
A solid launch allowed ‘La Bestia’ to gain positions in the opening laps, and the Italian soon found his way into 10th. Showing patience and control, Bastianini kept the riders ahead close while managing his tyres around the demanding COTA layout.
The race continued to unfold in Bastianini’s favour as a crash for Joan Mir promoted him to P8. Maintaining his strong pace, the Red Bull KTM Tech3 rider continued his attack and soon advanced into 7th after passing Álex Márquez.
In the closing stages, the #23 rider entered a nail-biting three-way battle for P5. Continuing to push until the chequered flag, Bastianini ultimately crossed the line in 6th, just behind Marc Márquez after a determined late-race charge.
The result marks a significant step forward for Bastianini and his second best weekend with the Tech3 team to date, highlighting improved race pace and growing confidence with the KTM RC16.
Enea Bastianini (23) at COTA. Photo courtesy Red Bull KTM Tech3.
Enea Bastianini: “I am very happy with this result because it was not an easy race. At the start, I lost the rear in Turn 3 and then, after some contact, the airbag deployed, which made things difficult for a while. After that, I tried to find my pace lap by lap and close the gap to the riders in front.
“At the end, I caught Marc, and it was a hard fight because he was pushing a lot in the final laps. I tried to get closer out of Turn 11 to have a chance into Turn 12, but we were missing a bit of acceleration. Still, we were competitive under braking and that is a positive.
“We can be satisfied with this weekend. I made a mistake in Qualifying, which made the race more difficult, but it is good to be back fighting close to the front again. Now we must keep working and continue like this in Europe.”
Nicolas Goyon, Team Manager: “We are very happy with our weekend in Austin. The team leaves with smiles on our faces, which is a real relief after two complicated races.
“I would like to congratulate Enea on the job he has done all weekend. It was great to see him enjoying the bike, building confidence, and delivering a strong race. He improved his pace and worked his way into the fight with Pecco [Bagnaia] and Marc Márquez, which was great to watch.
“P3 in the Sprint and P6 in the main race are positive results for us as we leave Austin. We now have a break, which will give Maverick time to recover from his shoulder surgery, and we hope to be back in great shape in Jerez.”
More from a press release issued by BK8 Gresini Team:
BK8 Gresini Racing Team scores points at the Americas GP.
RACEDAY
ALEX MARQUEZ 7th
FERMIN ALDEGUER 11th
Alex Marquez (73) and Enea Bastianini (23) at COTA. Photo courtesy BK8 Gresini Team.
Alex Marquez: “Today I made a few overtakes, so I’m a bit more satisfied compared to yesterday. It was the result I expected today; we didn’t have the pace to be among the best, and starting from the third row I couldn’t ask for more. We still scored points and brought home the best result possible. Right now we need to keep working and continue improving to reach the level of the front runners. With the factory bike it always takes a bit more time to get everything perfectly set up.”
Fermin Aldeguer (54) at COTA. Photo courtesy BK8 Gresini Team.
Fermin Aldeguer: “It was a complicated weekend and physically tough. In the sprint I already felt the lack of pace on a MotoGP bike, but we scored points and managed to race and finish all the races without crashing. Today was tough, a very long race, but we have to be satisfied. Last year, after three races, we didn’t have this many points.”
More from a press release issued by Honda HRC:
Points keep coming for Marini in America.
Luca Marini produced a metronomic performance, attacking until the end for a last-minute ninth place at the Circuit of the Americas. Meanwhile teammate Joan Mir fell while chasing the top five at Round Three.
Another unpredictable Sunday was waiting for the MotoGP World Championship as the riders rolled onto the grid, the sun shinning but a wind whipping up around them. All eyes were on the critical first corner as lights went out.
Starting in 11th place, Luca Marini had extra work to do and found himself sandwiched between a KTM and a Gresini machine into the tight first corner of COTA after struggling off the line compared to Saturday. From here the race was a series of intense battles and passes until the #10 arrived on the edge of the top ten, settling in behind Raul Fernandez as the pace of the grid leveled out.
Seeing a fast-fading Bagnaia just ahead of him, Marini kept his rhythm until the very end to steal ninth place from the double MotoGP World Champion. A pair of point scoring finishes at the US GP moves Marini to tenth in the World Championship standings, five points behind 2025 MotoGP runner-up Alex Marquez. He leads Johann Zarco by ten points in the fight for top Honda.
Joan Mir’s Sunday followed a similar script to Saturday, the #36 starting well and locking horns with almost every Ducati on the grid. A well-saved moment early in the race sent him wide through the opening sector and earned him a Long Lap Penalty as a result. He would crash from the top ten before serving the penalty, fortunately avoiding any injury. With three points, Mir holds 19th in the World Championship standings.
After three races away from home, the Honda HRC Castrol team will now return to Europe and prepare for the Spanish GP, April 24 – 26 in Jerez. Three weeks of rest, recovery and development to arrive in the best position possible to continue the fight.
Luca Marini (10) at COTA. Photo courtesy Honda HRC.
Luca Marini:“Today was pretty straight forward, everything came from the start. I was already minus two positions, and I made a really bad start, which is very strange because the starts have been one of our strongest points on the Honda. It’s something we need to check because I lost some positions. The positive is I had some really nice battles further back as it was quite a chaotic race in the opening laps – it was fun, but when I arrived to Fernandez, the pace of everyone was very close. Today the wind changed direction, so it changed our braking points, I focused on hitting my marks and in the last lap I saw Bagnaia was not having an easy time. This race shows that the level of everyone has improved a lot and we still have work to do to break into that top eight.”
Joan Mir (36) at COTA. Photo courtesy Honda HRC.
Joan Mir:“A disappointing way to finish a weekend that had a lot of promise. I was in a position yesterday and today to attack, recover a lot on entry and see what was possible. When I am alone I can ride well and fast, in the slipstream with these bikes you have to risk twice as much to make up time. Finally the front went, we need to improve the rear to gain something more on corner exit because this can happen when you are riding the front so hard. I like knowing I have a chance, this is good and we have improved a lot compared to when I first started with Honda and I know that we can keep working together to improve more and more.”
More from a press release issued by Pro Honda LCR:
Pro Honda LCR rider Diogo Moreira delivered a solid performance on Sunday at COTA, finishing 13th.
Starting from 14th on the grid, Moreira made an excellent start and quickly moved into contention for the top 10.
Tyre management and the track’s unique layout played a significant role, making the 20-lap race especially demanding.
In the closing stages, continuing to push while gaining experience, Moreira crossed the line in 13th position, securing points for the third consecutive time in just his third MotoGP race.
Diogo Moreira (11) at COTA. Photo courtesy Honda LCR.
Diogo Moreira 13th:“After not being able to understand my feeling in the Sprint due to the early retirement, today’s race was demanding, but I managed to finish, fight, and score points again. The past two weeks have been both enjoyable and challenging at times, but we are doing a good job and continuously improving. Thanks to everyone!”
More from a press release issued by Prima Pramac Yamaha:
Another Challenging Race in Austin for Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP with a Silver Lining. Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP endured another demanding race at COTA, but both riders showed resilience, with Toprak Razgatlıoğlu scoring his first MotoGP point.
It was another tough race for Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP at the Circuit of the Americas, as Toprak Razgatlıoğlu and Jack Miller — starting from 17th and 19th positions respectively — spent the race battling within a close group that included the other Yamaha riders.
Despite running toward the back of the field, both riders remained competitive within their group and, importantly, were able to complete the full race distance. This represents a small but meaningful step forward for both the riders and the development of the Yamaha YZR-M1.
The main positive of the day came from Toprak Razgatlıoğlu, who scored the first point of his MotoGP career. While the Turkish rider is clearly aiming for much stronger results, the achievement offers a degree of encouragement after a challenging start to the season and reflects an improving feeling with the bike.
Jack Miller also battled throughout the race and, in the closing laps, was able to make a move to gain another position, eventually crossing the finish line just behind his teammate.
Although the overall result does not yet match the team‘s ambitions, the race provided further valuable data and confirmed incremental progress as the development work continues.
Toprak Razgatlıoğlu (07) at COTA. Photo courtesy Prima Pramac Yamaha.
Toprak Razgatlıoğlu:“Today was a very tough race for everyone, but I was pushing more than 100% because I really wanted to score my first point. In the end, I achieved it, and I‘m very happy.Another positive is that I‘m starting to enjoy riding the bike more during the race, and I‘m learning a lot. I followed Fabio for several laps and was able to understand more about his riding style and the track, which is very important for me at this stage. Race by race, weekend by weekend, we are improving, and that makes me happy. Of course, this is just the beginning — now the goal is to keep learning and start fighting for better results.We now have a few weeks before the next race, so I will continue training and come back ready to keep working, starting from Spain.”
Jack Miller (43) at COTA. Photo courtesy Prima Pramac Yamaha.
Jack Miller:“Overall, we made some steps forward over the weekend, and I‘m quite happy with the general set-up of the bike. There are still some areas, especially in the DNA of the bike, that we need to keep working on and refining, but for now we‘re doing the best we can with what we have. The important thing is that we‘re starting to understand the bike better and build a clearer direction for the future. We know there‘s still work to do, but we‘re staying focused and continuing to push the project forward. Now I‘m looking forward to getting back to Europe — having races closer together should help us keep the momentum, bring some updates, and continue developing in the right direction.”
Gino Borsoi – Team Manager:“Overall, it was a positive day. Of course, our ambitions are higher than this, but we all needed a bit of a morale boost and we‘re very happy for Toprak to have scored the first of what we hope will be many MotoGP points in his career. Jack also delivered a solid performance, and from the halfway point of the race both riders showed they had the pace to stay close to the top ten. That‘s an important indication for us.This is our starting point, and it‘s from here that we need to continue building. We know it won‘t be easy, but we‘ve already reduced the gap significantly compared to the first races. Now we have to keep our heads down, continue working, and bring the team and our riders closer to where they belong.”
More from a press release issued by Monster Energy Yamaha:
Tough Day At The Office for Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP on Texas Race Day.
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP’s Fabio Quartararo and Álex Rins struggled to make progress in the 20-lap Grand Prix of the United States Race. They finished in P17 and P18 respectively.
The Grand Prix of the United States Race didn’t play out as the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team had hoped. Fabio Quartararo and Álex Rins took the chequered flag in 17th and 18th place respectively.
Quartararo launched from P16 and held this position for the majority of the 20-lap contest, though he briefly climbed up to P15 after Ai Ogura had a technical issue on lap 15. El Diablo was in the company of Toprak Razgatlíoğlu and focused on defending his position from him. El Diablo did so successfully until lap 18. Losing one more position to Jack Miller on the final lap, he finished in P17, 27.136s from first.
Starting from P21, Rins was not able to make up positions in the tight Turn 1 and settled at the back of the pack. He climbed up a position on lap 5 but had to relinquish it on lap 8, and afterwards it became a lonely ride for him. With three rivals unable to reach the finish line, Rins took the chequered flag in P18, 38.701s from the winner.
Today’s results put Quartaro in 17th place in the championship standings with 6 points. Rins is in 18th with 3 points. Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP are in 10th position in the team classifications, with 9 points, and Yamaha is fifth in the contructor rankings with 9 points.
The team will enjoy three weeks off before travelling to Jerez for the Grand Prix of Spain, held from 24–26 April.
Fabio Quartararo (20) and Brad Binder (33) at COTA. Photo courtesy Yamaha.
Fabio Quartararo:“I didn’t expect the tyres to drop like that at the end. I was managing the tyres, but they still dropped in the last five laps. Yamaha knows what we need and what we need to do. Toprak impressed me all weekend, though. The way he rides is really smooth and very much his style, like we’ve seen in WorldSBK – it’s good.”
Alex Rins (42) at COTA. Photo courtesy Yamaha.
Alex Rins:“We had an electronic issue in today’s race that was affecting the bike. In the beginning I was feeling good. I was in front of Miller, and I was going to catch Toprak. But on lap 8, I started to encounter an issue, and that’s it. It was quite tough to manage.”
Massimo Meregalli:“All in all, it’s been a tough race weekend. I don’t want to say that ‘it’s a GP to forget’ because we need to learn from the difficulties we faced. We knew before coming here that COTA is one of the tracks that highlight our areas of improvement. Following the Sprint and the Race, we now have data with the new bike that we can analyse. While these are not ‘fun’ races for the riders or our team, they are crucial for future bike development. We will use the three weeks leading up to the Spanish GP to regroup and prepare, so we can give it our all again in Jerez.”
More from a press release issued by CASTROL Honda LCR:
Castrol Honda LCR rider Johann Zarco endured a difficult Sunday at COTA, crashing at the early stages of the race.
Starting from 15th on the grid and determined to fight for points, Zarco made a strong launch.
However, on lap two, he suffered a crash at Turn 9 due to another rider’s mistake.
Despite the incident, the Frenchman was able to rejoin the race, gathering valuable data and riding on strong laptimes, ultimately retiring at the end of the race.
Johann Zarco (5) at COTA. Photo courtesy Honda LCR.
Johann Zarco DNF:“Another rider went to the inside of a rival in Turn 8, and this one had to go wide. I was feeling well and doing a good job, but due to that situation, I had to go in knowing we needed to change direction. He tried to come back, and at the moment of contact my bike fell in Turn 9. It was a racing incident, I don’t complain, these things happen. It was a consequence of what happened at that moment. In any case, I was feeling good and we could have taken a solid result. I decided to continue to gather information, and I was able to be fast even though we were far behind, so it was useful to understand many things.”
More from a press release issued by ELF Marc VDS:
Aron Canet takes solid points for 13th place in a shortened Moto2 race, while Deniz Öncü was 20th.
After an overcast Saturday, the sun returned to Austin on Sunday with the third Moto2 race of 2026 taking place in perfect conditions and ambient temperatures of 25 degrees.
The Moto2 race was red flagged two laps in after a 7-rider collision at Turn. The restart was held over the shortened distance of 10 laps, rather than 16.
A strong crowd was in attendance at the spectacular Circuit of the Americas on Sunday with the main grandstand close to being full.
Aron Canet (44) and Deniz Öncü (53) at COTA. Photo courtesy Marc VDS Team.
Having made excellent improvements on Saturday, Aron was confident starting Sunday. He made a solid getaway in the restart. After losing two places on lap 2, he climbed as high as 11th on lap 6.
The Spaniard was pushed back to 13th on the closing lap, but this was the best feeling he had found so far this year. This should be a solid platform to achieve good results back in Europe.
This result puts Aron 16th in the championship standings with 5.5 points.
Aron Canet:“I’m super happy. This was the best race of the year so far. It’s not the result that I want. It’s not the result that the team wants. But for me I know we need to make improvements step by step and everything won’t come immediately. We have to keep working at it as this weekend I could feel we were getting closer. I’m really happy because we understood many things this weekend and we’ve found a good direction to work in. Let’s try and continue on this line at Jerez.”
Deniz Öncü (53) on the grid at COTA. Photo courtesy Marc VDS Team.
Deniz’s task for the day was made difficult when he crashed on the exit of Turn 11 on the sighting lap of the restart. Thankfully, he was able to remount and make the second start.
After that the Turkish rider struggled to find his best rhythm over the ten laps. But he collected important experience in Austin that will serve him well from the next round in Spain.
This result leaves Deniz 17th in the championship standings with 3.5 points.
Deniz Öncü:“We’ve finished this American GP. It wasn’t an easy weekend for me. But we’ve tried a lot of things to improve my feeling. Today, before the race start, I had a highside on the sighting lap. I still managed to come to the grid and I just made the race start. I can’t say it was a positive weekend. But we tried many things. Also, it looks like we have some ideas to follow at the next round at Jerez. We’ve never been too down, even if this weekend didn’t go as planned. We’ll stay strong and I’ll keep pushing, keep working and make sure I’m fully ready for Jerez.”
More from a press release issued by MT Helmets:
Danish fights back to gain 12 positions and score points in Austin.
The World Championship headed to the Circuit of the Americas in Austin for the United States Grand Prix, the third round of the calendar after Thailand and Brazil.
The AEON Credit MT Helmets–MSi riders were unable to shine in Saturday’s sessions and had to start the race from the back of the grid.
Ryusei Yamanaka started from the seventh row, while Hakim Danish lined up last after a crash in Q1 prevented him from fighting for a place in Q2.
The race was held in dry conditions, with strong winds playing a role in the moments leading up to the start. In this context, Hakim Danish made a strong start, gaining five positions on the opening lap. The Malaysian rider maintained a consistent pace, allowing him to steadily move forward and cross the finish line in 13th place, scoring further points in his rookie Moto3 season.
Meanwhile, Ryusei Yamanaka finished 18th in a race where starting positions proved decisive and limited the Japanese rider’s chances of progressing through the field.
The World Championship now heads into a three-week break before the start of the European leg. The next round will be the Spanish Grand Prix in Jerez, from April 24 to 26.
Hakim Danish (13) at COTA. Photo courtesy MT Helmets.
Hakim Danish:“I had a heavy crash in qualifying and had to start from the back of the grid, which affected the entire race. Even so, I didn’t give up and managed to gain several positions, especially in the opening laps. It was a demanding race, particularly in terms of tyre management on such a technical circuit. Overall, I’ve learned a lot this weekend.”
Ryusei Yamanaka (6) at COTA. Photo courtesy MT Helmets.
Ryusei Yamanaka: “It was a difficult weekend overall. We couldn’t find the feeling we were looking for, and that affected both our qualifying and race performance. Now it’s time to reset and prepare for the Spanish Grand Prix, at a track I really like and where I hope to take a step forward.”
Factory Aprilia rider Marco Bezzecchi made up for his mistake in the Saturday Sprint race in the best possible way on Sunday, leading from lights to flag and setting records along the way. Bezzecchi has now won five straight Grand Prix races, joining an elite club of five-in-a-row Grand Prix winners. Aprilia has gone 1-2 in the last two Grand Prix races, a new mark for the company. And Bezzecchi re-took the Championship points lead. Teammate Jorge Martin, who finished second, has been on the last four podiums (counting Sprint and Grand Prix races) and is in second, four points behind Bezzecchi in the Championship points.
Jorge Martin (89). Photo by Michael Gougis.
KTM’s Pedro Acosta was again the best of the non-Aprilia rest, taking his second podium of the year. Acosta sits third in the points, with 60, behind Bezzecchi with 81 and Martin with 77.
Pedro Acosta. Photo by Michael Gougis.
Fabio Di Giannantonio was the top-finishing Ducati rider, but the Pertamina Enduro VR46 star could do no better than fourth and was fortunate to finish that high, as Trackhouse Racing’s Ai Ogura had passed him and was pulling away when Ogura’s Aprilia broke.
Fabio Di Giannantonio (49). Photo by Michael Gougis.
Ducati’s Marc Marquez started his day sitting outside of the medical office next to COTA’s media center, alone and in the dark. He served a long-lap penalty and finished fifth after a battle with Enea Bastianini.
Marc Marquez (93). Photo by Michael Gougis.
Fermin Aldeguer finished the weekend with a 10th place in the Sprint race and 11th in the Grand Prix race. It was remarkable considering that the Gresini Ducati rider is still walking with a cane as he recovers from a broken leg suffered in pre-season testing.
Fermin Aldeguer. Photo by Michael Gougis.
A seven-rider pileup forced officials to red-flag the Moto2 race. Senna Agius took the win in the restarted 10-lap sprint. American Joe Roberts, one of the riders involved in the multi-bike crash, took the restart and finished ninth.
Senna Agius (81). Photo by Michael Gougis.
Joe Roberts (16) was caught up in the first-lap crash that caused the Moto2 race to be red flagged. He finished ninth. Photo by Michael Gougis.
Guido Pini came out on top of a four-rider last-corner scramble and took the Moto3 race win. He became the first Italian rider to win a Moto3 race since Dennis Foggia in 2022.
Guido Pini (94). Photo by Michael Gougis.
Oscar Gutierrez won the second Harley-Davidson World Bagger Cup race of the weekend, rebounding from his last-place finish in Saturday’s race.
Oscar Gutierrez (99). Photo by Michael Gougis.
The main grandstands as seen on Sunday at COTA. Photo by Michael Gougis.
Ducati had no answer for the pace of the factory Aprilia machines and riders. So far this season, Ducati has had only four podiums in six Sprint and Grand Prix races and the highest ranking Ducati rider is Fabio Di Giannantonio in fourth, 31 points out of the lead. After the Sprint race, Alex Marquez, who is riding a current-spec Ducati for the first time in his career, estimated that he was only getting 80% out of the 2026 Ducati, and that it still needed development.
Luigi “Gigi” Dall’Igna. Photo by Michael Gougis.
Ducati CEO Claudio Domenicali, left, chats with KTM CEO Gottfried Neumeister on the grid for the Sprint race, on Saturday at Circuit of The Americas.
Yamaha’s struggles continued at COTA, with the four YZR-M1s mired at the back of the field in a pack. Here Fabio Quartararo (20) leads Toprak Razgatlioglu (07), Alex Rins (42) and Jack Miller (43). Photo by Michael Gougis.
Marco Bezzecchi won the MotoGP World Championship race Sunday at Circuit of The Americas, in Texas. Riding his Aprilia Racing RS-GP26 on Michelin control tires, the Italian rider won the 20-lap race by 2.036 seconds.
Bezzecchi is the first rider to win five consecutive Grands Prix when leading every lap in the modern area.
His teammate and Sprint race winner, Jorge Martin, was the runner-up.
Pedro Acosta placed third on his Red Bull KTM Factory RC16.
Pole-sitter Fabio Di Giannantonio crossed the finish line fourth on his Pertamina Enduro VR46 Ducati Desmosedici GP26.
Seven-time MotoGP World Champion, Marc Marquez, took fifth on his Lenovo Team Ducati Desmosedici GP26.
Marco Bezzecchi leads the championship with 81 points, 4 ahead of Jorge Martin who has 77 points. Pedro Acosta is third with 60 points.
Record-breaker Bezzecchi claims COTA crown with Sunday stunner. Martin makes it an Aprilia 1-2 in Austin, Acosta joins the Noale duo on the podium as Marc Marquez claims P5 following his Long Lap penalty.
Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) just can’t stop breaking records. The #72 has won an incredible fifth Grand Prix in a row, only the third Italian rider ever to do it, and has won the first three GPs of a season for the first time since Marc Marquez did it in 2014. It was also an Aprilia 1-2 for the second time in succession as Jorge Martin followed up Tissot Sprint Gold with a Sunday podium, with Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) taking third.
Acosta got an almighty launch off the front row for the holeshot, with Bezzecchi also steaming forwards to take over in second. Even more so Martin as he shot up into third. Early drama then saw Acosta deep into Turn 11, with Bezzecchi cutting up the inside on the tighter line. On the exit the two were side-by-side and the two bashed fairings – with a piece of Aprilia breaking off and flying off behind them. Bez retained the lead following that, with Acosta recovering quickly despite the bash and Martin hovering third too.
Marc Marquez (93), Francesco Bagnaia (63) and Enea Bastianini (23) during the MotoGP race at COTA. Photo courtesy MotoGP.
Behind, it was all heating up in the group. Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) vs Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) first, with the yellow machine ahead, before Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) was then also able to pick his way past the #93 – followed swiftly by Honda HRC Castrol’s Joan Mir.
By then, it was new record time: crossing the line ahead for each lap until the start of Lap 4, Bezzecchi has officially led more consecutive Grand Prix laps than anyone else in the modern era. The previous record was 103 held by Jorge Lorenzo in 2015, Lap 4 in COTA made it 104 for Bezzecchi.
Meanwhile, Marc Marquez was out of the heat of battle and into the Long Lap area. The #93 had the penalty for his incidentB with Di Giannantonio in the Sprint, and he completed that with no drama. Then Mir was given a Long Lap for a shortcut taken when in the heat of that battle for fourth, but the #36 crashed out not long after.
Meanwhile at the front, Martin had made one luge on Acosta for second and been denied, and a couple of laps later had a huge moment at Turn 1. He saved it but dropped back into the clutches of Diggia, with Bagnaia also homing in on the back of the #49.
At half race distance, it was Bez leading Acosta by around a second, with Martin, Diggia and Bagnaia close behind. Ai Ogura (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) had attacked Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) for sixth, with Sprint podium finisher Enea Bastianini (Red Bull KTM Tech3) on their tail. Marc Marquez was down in P9 after his Long Lap, not making many inroads into the #23 ahead.
Ogura and Bastianini were the riders on the move. Ogura was homing in on Bagnaia and Bastianini on Alex Marquez. By Lap 12, the American Flag-liveried Trackhouse machine of Ogura was past Bagnaia in brutal but clean style. Next target: Diggia. The Japanese rider sliced up the inside at Turn 12, another brutal but clean move.
Just after that, Acosta had a moment at Turn 1 – wide or looking for a bike to follow for tyre pressure? Martin was able to just sweep past the KTM, making it an Aprilia 1-2, with Ogura on the march too.
MotoGP Race at COTA. Photo courtesy MotoGP.
Meanwhile in the fight for sixth, the Bagnaia – Bastianini – Alex Marquez – Marc Marquez quartet was heating up, and drama hit for Ogura. As Marc Marquez elbowed past Alex Marquez and then past Bastianini to tag onto the back of Bagnaia, Ogura was slowing and pulling over out of the group’s way – a technical issue putting paid to his incredible charge.
Bagnaia vs Marc Marquez was then game on for fifth – but not according to Bastianiani. The #23 attacked Marquez first instead of took sixth. The #93 responded. Bastianini wasn’t done, sending it at the end of the back straight. Marquez got him on the cutback. It settled briefly before Marquez attacked Bagnaia, and Bastianini barreled straight through to follow the #93.
Meanwhile at the front, Bezzecchi was just about keeping enough in hand over Martin, and onto the last lap he eked it out to cross the line 1.7 seconds clear. He extended that lap-leading run to an even bigger record of 121 and becomes only the third Italian rider ever to win five in a row after Hall of Famers Valentino Rossi and Giacomo Agostini. He’s also the first rider to win the first three GPs of the season since Marc Marquez did it in 2014.
Jorge Martin (left) and Marco Bezzecchi (right) in the parc fermé after the MotoGP race at COTA. Photo courtesy MotoGP.
Martin makes it an Aprilia 1-2, the first time the factory has achieved that twice in a row, and only just loses that Championship lead gained with his Sprint Gold medal. Acosta held on to third place for a podium on Sunday to add a trophy to replace the medal lost on Saturday.
Diggia takes fourth, in an ultimately lonely ride to the flag but comes home as top Ducati. Marc Marquez did hold on to fifth ahead of Bastianini – just – with Alex Marquez taking P7. Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse MotoGP team) slots into eighth, with he and Luca Marini (Honda HRC Castrol) getting past Bagnaia late on.
After a dramatic weekend in Texas, the grid now has time to recharge and reload for Jerez. The Spanish GP is in a few weeks, so come back for more as MotoGP heads over to Europe for another classic race weekend – with Aprilia very much in control in the title fight.
Senna Agius won the FIM Moto2 World Championship race Sunday at Circuit Of The Americas, in Texas. Riding his Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP Kalex on Pirelli control tires, Agius won the 10-lap race by 0.497 second.
The race was red-flagged following a crash involving multiple riders and was subsequently reduced from 16 laps to 10.
Celestino Vietti was the runner-up on his HDR SpeedRS Boscoscuro.
Izan Guevara was a close third on his Blu Cru Pramac Yamaha Boscoscuro.
David Alonso finished fourth on his CFMOTO Power Electronics Aspar Kalex.
Agius’ teammate and championship point leader, Manuel Gonzalez took fifth.
American Joe Roberts finished Sunday’s race in 9th on his OnlyFans American Racing Team Kalex.
Manuel Gonzalez leads the championship with 39.5 points, 3.5 ahead of Izan Guevara who has 36 points. Daniel Holgado is third with 33 points.
Agius fends off Vietti for Moto2 honours at COTA. The Australian got the job done during a red-flagged Grand Prix in the USA.
Having had a difficult opening couple of rounds, Senna Agius (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP) put in a determined ride to take a third career victory in Moto2. The #81 resisted a late charge from Celestino Vietti (HDR SpeedRS Team) with the #13 taking a first podium of the season whilst the rostrum was completed by Izan Guevara (BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2).
The holeshot honours went to Alonso Lopez (ITALJET Gresini Moto2) but all eyes were behind as a collision at Turn 1 ended Championship leader Daniel Holgado’s (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team) and Joe Roberts (OnlyFans American Racing Team) Grand Prix. However, there was then a big incident at Turn 11 on the opening lap involving Filip Salac (OnlyFans American Racing Team), Angel Piqueras (QJMOTOR – GALFER – MSI), David Alonso (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team), Collin Veijer (Red Bull KTM Ajo), Sergio Garcia (ITALJET Gresini Moto2), Daniel Muñoz (Italtrans Racing Team) and Alberto Ferrandez (BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2), bringing out the red flag. All riders were reported conscious and the Grand Prix restarted for 10 laps – all riders who crashed were eligible to restart but Piqueras and Ferrandez were taken to the medical centre.
Ahead of the restart, a raft of contenders were handed Long Lap Penalties – Holgado for causing a crash at Turn 1 whilst Muñoz and Barry Baltus (REDS Fantic Racing) for unsafe changes of direction from the original start. Elsewhere, Deniz Öncü (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) crashed on the sighting lap but did start. On the restart itself, Lopez grabbed the holeshot before Baltus came through on him at Turn 13 but still had to serve his Long Lap Penalty. Behind, Agius made his move to get into P2 ahead of Lopez before pouncing on leader Baltus on Lap 3 into Turn 12.
Onto Lap 4, Vietti was on the charge and having dispatched of Izan Guevara (BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2), he got ahead of Lopez at Turn 1, the Spaniard now dropping back. On Lap 5, Baltus briefly took the lead back at Turn 12 on Agius but then came into serve his LLP, slotting back into P7 and just ahead of Alonso, with the Colombian soon getting ahead of the Belgian before he also got ahead of Lopez and was now sitting in fifth with four to go. A lap later at Turn 1, the #80 got into fourth, a stunning comeback from 17th on the grid.
Back at the front and Vietti took over at the front on the run down the 1.2km backstraight, only for Agius to attempt to respond at Turn 19 but he was unable to make it stick. Two laps to go, the gloves had come off as Agius pulled a bold move to hit the front going into Turn 3 and then the Australian pulled the pin to start the final lap of the Grand Prix. Despite a mega final lap from Vietti, it was Agius who took an emotional third career victory ahead of the Italian, whilst Guevara put in a cracking performance to bag a second podium of 2026 in P3.
17th to fourth, a fine Sunday for Alonso whilst Gonzalez was a solid fifth, enough to assume the Championship lead. After his Long Lap Penalty, Baltus was sixth ahead of Lopez whilst Alex Escrig (KLINT Racing Team) fended off home-hero Roberts for eighth, with the #16 restarting to get his best result of the season whilst it was Tony Arbolino (REDS Fantic Racing) rounded out the top ten.
Next stop, the European tour begins! Moto2 returns to Jerez!
Yamaha Thailand Racing Team rider Krittapat Keankum prepares for round one of WorldSSP at Phillip Island. Photo courtesy Yamaha Thailand Racing Team.
Yamaha Thailand Racing Team Sets Ambitious Objectives And Announces 2024 Rider Lineup
As the Yamaha Thailand Racing Team (YTRT) gears up for the 2024 season, we are proud to announce our ambitious objectives for the year ahead and build on our 2023 experience.
Bangkok, Thailand – 20 March, 2024: With extensive experience working in international motorsports, YTRT aims to leverage our rich history and experience to excel in the competitive world-championship environment while competing in the 2024 WorldSSP championship series.
Since the inception of motorsports in Thailand, Yamaha Thailand Racing has been at the forefront of the racing scene. With countless victories and championships to our name, we have been trailblazers for Thailand on the world stage. From the dominance of the Siam Yamaha Racing Team in the 1970s and 1980s to our current status as championship winners in both national and international race series, YTRT has established a winning reputation within the motorsports industry.
In 2023, Yamaha Thailand Racing Team made history by becoming the first Thai team to compete in the World Supersport class of the FIM Superbike World Championship. This prestigious series attracts a global audience and is a testament to our commitment to excellence on the international stage. As the only Thai team in the WorldSBK paddock, YTRT is committed to raising our professional standards and profile while competing at the highest level of motorsports and establishing ourselves as a world-class racing team.
Yamaha Thailand Racing Team will focus on a year of growth and progress as we develop our riders and continue to build a leading Thai motorsports team.
2024 Rider Lineup
Yamaha Thailand Racing Team rider Anupab Sarmoon will race in WorldSSP for his second year with the team. Photo courtesy Yamaha Thailand Racing Team.
Name: Anupab Sarmoon #51
Team: Yamaha Thailand Racing Team
Motorcycle: Yamaha YZF-R6
Date of Birth: 09 December, 1993
Birthplace: Chiang Mai
Anupab Sarmoon will be entering his second season with Yamaha Thailand Racing Team in the 2024 WorldSSP championship. With notable achievements including finishing fourth overall in the 2022 Asia Road Racing Championship and solid performances in the 2023 WorldSSP season, Sarmoon is poised to take a positive step forward in his international racing career.
Krittapat Keankum (39) at Phillip Island, Round One of 2024 WorldSSP. Photo courtesy Yamaha Thailand Racing Team.
Name: Krittapat Keankum #39
Team: Yamaha Thailand Racing Team
Motorcycle: Yamaha YZF-R6
Date of Birth: 22 February, 2005
Birthplace: Nonthabuuri
Krittapat Keankum, a rising talent, joins Yamaha Thailand Racing Team for the 2024 WorldSSP season. After a successful campaign in the R3 bLU cRU championship, finishing sixth in the standings, Keankum is ready to step up to the challenge of racing the supersport Yamaha R6 and aims to showcase his skills on the international stage and the opportunity to progress among Yamaha alumni.
As we embark on the 2024 season, Yamaha Thailand Racing Team is committed to pushing the boundaries of excellence and representing Thailand with pride on the world stage.
Dunlop is pleased to introduce the successor to the highly popular Sportmax Q3+. The Dunlop Sportmax Q5S sets the new benchmark for the ultimate street and track-day tire. Following in the development footsteps of the Q5, the Q5S, when compare to the Q3+, has achieved even higher performance by utilizing aspects from Dunlop’s cutting-edge road race tires developed in Buffalo, NY and used in the MotoAmerica Road Race Series.
Having enhanced constructions, profiles, compounds and tread patterns, the Q5S provides lighter and nimbler handling and improved dry and wet grip to make it even more user-friendly all while maintaining class-leading durability.
To differentiate the Q5S from the Q3+, Dunlop wanted to make the Q5S have a lighter feel to make it more responsive for street riding. With this goal set, Dunlop went to work on making the necessary changes to achieve the performance characteristics they were looking for.
Key features of the all new Sportmax Q5S:
Optimized tread pattern design to improve wear characteristics and enhance warm-up times
Front tire profile has a shorter and narrower profile to improve responsiveness and give the tire a lighter feel.
Front tire has reduced dynamic stiffness and increased damping to improve compliance all to improve braking and handling performance.
Added 200/55ZR17 rear size to allow for additional bike fitments.
Rear tread contains Dunlop’s MT Multi-Tread™ technology, giving riders outstanding mileage without sacrificing handling.
Improved compound to enhance both the wet and dry grip by adjusting the compound formula.
Both front and rear tires utilize Dunlop’s proprietary Racing Type Fine Carbon Technology in the tread compound.
Dunlop’s proprietary Intuitive Response Profile (IRP) for ultra-linear and responsive steering.
Proudly made in Dunlop’s Buffalo, NY factory.
Availability:
The Sportmax Q5S will be sold through all Dunlop retailers, as well as race tire distributors, to be easily accessible to all street or track riders. Tires will be available in all channels beginning mid-December.
Dunlop is pleased to introduce the fifth generation of the Dunlop Sportmax family. The Dunlop Sportmax Q5 is a purpose-built, track-day tire that has been in the making for over 4 years. Evolving from a blend of the highly popular Sportmax Q4 and Dunlop’s cutting-edge MotoAmerica spec road race tires, the Q5 utilizes the very best technologies Dunlop has to offer for a track tire that is still street legal.
Having enhanced constructions, profiles, compounds and tread patterns, the Q5 is the new benchmark for track-day tires. The Q5 is even more user-friendly, as dry and wet grip, tire compliance, and warm-up times have all been improved.
Dunlop has also expanded the size range of the Q5 to include five additional sizes for increased bike fitments: 110/70ZR17, 140/70ZR17, 150/60ZR17, 160/60ZR17, and 200/60ZR17.
Key features of the all new Sportmax Q5:
Sharply defined new tread pattern with lower groove density puts more rubber on the ground at all lean angles
Optimized tread pattern design and position to aid in quicker warm-up times and improved wet-weather performance.
Street-friendly performance— Tire warmers are not necessary for track use.
Designed in five additional sizes for increased bike fitments: 110/70ZR17, 140/70ZR17, 150/60ZR17, 160/60ZR17, and 200/60ZR17.
The front and rear tire profiles have a taller and narrower profile to improve turn-in and compliance while increasing the footprint and grip at camber.
Front tire has reduced vertical stiffness to improve compliance and damping and increased lateral and longitudinal stiffness to improve braking and handling performance.
The 140/70ZR17, 180/60ZR17, 200/55ZR17, and 200/60ZR17 utilize the exact same profiles as the race spec tires developed for the MotoAmerica series.
The rear tires tread features Dunlop’s Jointless Tread (JLT) technology, the same process used in Dunlop’s racing slicks. JLT applies a continuously wound tread strip over the carcass to achieve the ideal stability, flex, and grip where it’s needed most across the tire’s tread profile.
Improved compound to enhance the dry grip by adjusting the compound formula. The culmination of these changes puts the rear tire compound much closer to a true race tire compound.
Dunlop’s proprietary Intuitive Response Profile (IRP) for ultra-linear and responsive steering.
Proudly made in Dunlop’s Buffalo, NY factory on the same proprietary equipment as their road race tires.
Availability:
The Sportmax Q5 will be sold through all Dunlop retailers, as well as race tire distributors, to be easily accessible to all street or track riders. Tires will be available in all channels beginning in November and December.
Peter Doyle, FIM Oceania President. Photo courtesy FIM
The FIM Oceania General Assembly re-elected Peter Doyle as FIM Oceania President during its March 23 meeting in Melbourne, Australia.
This important decision now places Peter in the President’s role for the next four years, and he also continues his position as FIM Oceania’s representative on the FIM Board of Directors.
Peter has led FIM Oceania over the past four years through a sustained period of growth and development, which has seen the creation of FIM Oceania Commissions and outstanding events such as the FIM Oceania Women’s Motocross Cup, FIM Oceania Speedway Championship and FIM Oceania Junior Cup.
Under the leadership and plans of the FIM Oceania Board, over the next four years there will be a key focus on junior development, the ‘Beyond Sports’ areas of touring and women’s development, FIM Oceania Championships and unearthing future FIM World Champions from the Oceania region.
Peter Doyle said: ‘’I am very proud to continue as FIM Oceania President for the next four years and to continue with the important duties in the FIM Board.
“I appreciate the trust placed in me by the national federations of FIM Oceania and further thank the FIM Oceania Board and Commission members for their hard work. FIM Oceania has an exciting period ahead and I am very pleased to lead the organisation.”
The National Federation Members of FIM Oceania, Motorcycling Australia and Motorcycling New Zealand, make up the FIM Board of Directors and nominate the FIM Oceania delegates to the FIM Oceania Commission and Senior Officials positions at FIM Oceania races. This contribution is the backbone to FIM Oceania success.
Editorial Note: Peter Doyle spent about a decade working as a crew chief in AMA Pro Superbike, primarily working with 7-time AMA Superbike Champion Mat Mladin.
Participants in an FIM Oceania meeting on 23 March in Melbourne, Australia. Photo courtesy FIM Oceania. Peter Doyle is 5th from right.
Dan Bromley (No. 62) interviewed after winning the Mission Challenge during the Memphis Shades Ventura Short Track in 2025. Photo by Tim Lester / courtesy AMA Pro Racing.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 31, 2026) — Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, today announced Memphis Shades as the entitlement sponsor of the Ventura Short Track on April 25 and the presenting sponsor of Nashville Short Track on June 6.
The Memphis Shades Ventura Short Track brings flat track to Ventura Raceway on April 25, delivering the world’s best motorcycle riders to the ocean front property. The Nashville Short Track presented by Memphis Shades will take the series to Sons of Speed Nashville Short Track on June 6, bringing bar-to-bar racing to one of the series’ most vibrant markets.
“Memphis Shades is excited to be part of American Flat Track. From supporting riders to being trackside, we believe in the impact racing has on the motorcycle community,” said Hillary Combest, Director of Sales and Marketing. “We’re proud to return as a sponsor of the Ventura Short Track and to be part of the Nashville Short Track in our home state of Tennessee this summer. We’re looking forward to both events and continuing to support the sport and its riders.”
Memphis Shades is known for its American-made motorcycle windshields and fairings, with a reputation built on quality craftsmanship and rider-focused design. Its continued investment in Progressive American Flat Track reflects a shared commitment to performance and the motorcycling community.
For those that can’t catch the live action at the track, FloRacing is the live streaming home of Progressive American Flat Track. Motorsports fans can subscribe to FloRacing to enjoy over 1,000 live motorsports events in 2026. FloSports is available by visiting https://flosports.link/AFT2026 or by downloading the FloSports app on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire and Chromecast.
FS1
FOX Sports will provide in-depth coverage of select Progressive American Flat Track events, featuring rider features and onboard cameras. Stay tuned for upcoming announcements regarding premiere airdates on FS1 and re-airs on FS2. The full listing of American Flat Track’s television premieres will be posted to https://www.americanflattrack.com/events-foxsports.
Superbike race two at Sydney Motorsport Park. Photo courtesy ASBK.
The new era of the Penrite Australian Superbike Championship presented by Pirelli (ASBK) is taking shape, with six rounds to be held between October 2026 and March 2027 to launch the groundbreaking ASBK summer calendar.
The 2026-2027 ASBK Championship will commence with a landmark appearance at the 2026 Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix from October 23-25, before the paddock moves onto The Bend (November 13-15, 2026), One Raceway (December 4-6, 2026), Queensland Raceway (January 15-17, 2027), Phillip Island (TBA but late February 2027) and the ASBK Grand Finale under lights at Sydney Motorsport Park (March 19-20, 2027).
The ASBK summer calendar is transformative for Australia’s premier circuit racing championship, not only in presenting world-class action during more weather-friendly warmer months but genuine opportunities will now also exist for internationals and Aussie expatriates to contest the entire championship and enhance the spectacle even more.
Three young stars of the Penrite ASBK Championship: (L to R) Jacob Roulstone, Harrison Voight and Cameron Dunker. Photo courtesy RbMotoLens
“This is a tremendously exciting time for the ASBK Championship as it continues to evolve and push new boundaries,” said Motorcycling Australia CEO, Peter Doyle.
“It’s a seismic shift, and one that will elevate ASBK to a new level and amplify the amazing level of talent competing in the championship – from the stars of tomorrow in the FIM Oceania Junior Cup to the extraordinarily competitive Superbike class.
“There’s already a real buzz about the ASBK summer calendar, and we look forward to seeing it come to life in October at the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix.”
While the build-up to the 2026-2027 summer calendar continues, round two of the 2026 ASBK Championship will be held under lights at Sydney Motorsport Park on March 27-28 (Friday-Saturday). To purchase tickets, click here.
Progressive Insurance Cycle Gear Suzuki's Ken Roczen captured a milestone 25th victory in his 173rd career start amidst a shakeup in the title fight. Photo courtesy SMX
More from a press release issued by Suzuki Motor USA:
Suzuki’s Ken Roczen charges to victory at Detroit Supercross.Roczen Creates New Momentum and a Huge Points Swing in the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship.
Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan hosted Round 11 of the 17-round Monster Energy AMA Supercross season. The dirt provided great traction on a track notable for its widely-spaced whoops. The challenging obstacle impacted nearly every race as riders balanced aggression and precision through the unforgiving section.
Race Highlights:
Progressive Insurance Cycle Gear ECSTAR Suzuki
450 Class
Ken Roczen grabbed his second main event victory of the season and cut a swath of points out of his pathway to the title.
Twisted Tea Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance
450 Class
Colt Nichols flew through the pack in a brilliant heat race charge.
Justin Bogle battled into another main event position in his second race back to AMA Supercross competition.
Ken Roczen (94) earned his 25th career 450SX Class win at the Detroit Supercross and dramatically closed the points gap in his bid for the 2026 title. Photo courtesy Suzuki.
Ken Roczen (94) was impressive from the moment the riders hit the track inside Ford Field. Roczen emerged from the first qualifying session with the fastest lap time and followed that by matching his season-best results in the second and overall qualifying spots. In his heat race, Roczen crossed the holeshot stripe outside of the top five then quickly advanced through the pack. While setting the fastest times in track Sectors 2, 4, 6, and 9, Roczen delivered a second-place heat race result. In the main event, Roczen launched off the gate, then used his Suzuki RM-Z450’s strong torque to earn a second-place start. With less than two minutes off the race clock, Roczen took over the lead and secured the position with a clean blitz through the whoops. Roczen quickly pulled a three second gap over the rest of the field then managed the race from the front. On his way to his second win of the season, Roczen again topped several track sections with the race’s fastest times through track Sectors 4, 5, and 9. Roczen was nearly flawless on a track that bit several of his competitors. When the dust settled, Roczen had gained 17 points toward the title chase lead with six rounds remaining.
“We knew what we had to do; it was obvious that being 31 points down we had to start to execute a little bit,” said Roczen after the win. “So, it was kind of fun to be in this little bit of a pressure position. And we made it happen tonight. We just had a really good day all day; I do have to say that [the track] was overall the trickiest in the main event. But we executed it; we got a good start and I just hung in there… I don’t feel like I was the fastest in the beginning necessarily, but it was tricky. The whoops got really beat up, it was rutty, it was kind of grabby, and certain sections were a bit technical. But we hung in there, 20 + 1, so it was an amazing win for us. And it’s just fun to keep these dreams alive and it’s fun to be in that position. I’m just trying to let it set in, sit down a little bit and, after the race/before the race, we’ll be excited to go again next weekend and have fun with it.”
Colt Nichols (45) had flashes of speed in Detroit but was unable to match his top-ten result from the previous round. Photo courtesy Suzuki
Colt Nichols (45) was pinched off entering the first corner of his heat race and emerged in 15th place at the holeshot stripe. Nichols wasted no time and had his Suzuki in a qualifying position by the time the riders had reached the green flag. Nichols continued his march forward, gaining two more spots through the six-minute plus one lap race. In the main, Nichols delivered a steady ride and moved inside the top-fifteen just before the race’s midpoint. A crash late in the race, and an unintentional infraction, delivered results that don’t reflect Nichol’s impressive speed in the second half of the season.
“Detroit was a struggle. I felt a little off all day, to be honest,” admitted Nichols. “I don’t have any excuses. I just was kind of on the struggle bus. I crashed on the last lap of the main. I think I got docked as well for jumping on a red cross [flag], so [it was] just a really, really rough day. [I’ll just] wipe it from the memory and try again next week.”
Justin Bogle (891) showed gains in outright speed and topped the field in his first qualifying session at Ford Field. Photo courtesy Suzuki
Justin Bogle (891) re-joined the Suzuki team just one race prior to the Detroit Supercross, and his qualifying speed demonstrated that he’s getting back up to full race pace. In the heat race, Bogle leapt off the starting gate and nabbed a top-five start. On the opening lap two riders crashed directly ahead of him; Bogle landed on a downed motorcycle but kept his bike on two wheels. After missing a direct transfer by one position, Bogle earned his spot in the main event through the LCQ. In the main, Bogle set the second-fasted time through Sector 6, the track’s long rhythm section, and finished in the points to move up one spot in the season standings.
“I had a rough day myself [but I’m] still just enjoying my days here,” said Bogle. “I had a really long week this week so I’m going to recover a lot more this [next] week and come in, hopefully, with a little more energy for St. Louis.”
“It was great night for the team,” stated Dustin Pipes, Twisted Tea/H.E.P. Motorsports/Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance Team Principal. “Ken rode a complete race: great start, he got into the lead [early], and it was smooth sailing from there. I know [two other riders] closed up on him a bit, but he changed his line about midway through the race and everything kind of settled down and he extended the gap to just under seven seconds. It was a great win by Ken. Colt and Justin had a little bit of an off night, so they’re going to have to re-regroup and get back to it in St. Louis. But I don’t want those results to hinder a great team win. We’re all going in the right direction Justin is two weeks into a four-year retirement [return], and Colt’s coming off of an eighth place. So, it was a down night for those guys, but Ken really rode a great race. It was a very good win for the team, the bike is in a great window, and we’re very excited to move on to St. Louis.”
The series lines the races up again on Saturday, April 4th inside The Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis, Missouri. The Suzuki riders and team members are invigorated by Roczen’s Detroit win and the stride in points toward another Supercross championship for Suzuki.
More from a press release issued by Monster Energy Kawasaki:
Chase Sexton and Seth Hammaker match podium finishes in Detroit.
Monster Energy® Kawasaki rider Chase Sexton returned to racing in strong form at Round 11 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship in Detroit, finishing second in the 450SX Main Event. Teammate Garrett Marchbanks overcame early setbacks to charge through the field in the main event, securing a 10th-place finish. In the 250SX Class, Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider Seth Hammaker delivered a standout performance, matching Sexton to finish second in the main event. Teammate Nick Romano capitalized on the previous round’s results with a hard-fought seventh-place finish in the main event.
Detroit’s Ford Field hosted Round 11 with a technical and slick layout that demanded precision and consistency, challenging riders throughout the day. Kawasaki riders established themselves early in qualifying and carried that momentum into the night show.
Chase Sexton (4) at Detroit. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
In 450SX Qualifying, Sexton showed front-running speed aboard his KX™450SR, finishing second in the opening session before placing fourth overall after losing a fast lap due to failing post qualifying sound control. Marchbanks continued to build throughout the day, qualifying 16th overall.
Garrett Marchbanks (36) at Detroit. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
In 450 Heat 1, Sexton launched to the front and controlled the race from start to finish to capture the win and show the competition that he has returned to form. Marchbanks faced adversity early after being pushed wide on the opening lap, resulting in a crash. He was forced to recover from the back of the field and came across the line in 11th, sending him to the last chance qualifier.
In the 450 LCQ, Marchbanks delivered a determined ride, charging through the field and making a decisive pass for the lead just before the white flag to secure the win and transfer to the main event.
In the 450 Main Event, Sexton powered into the lead off the start and remained in contention throughout the race. After briefly dropping back, he capitalized on late-race incidents ahead to move back into second, securing a podium finish in his return to racing. Marchbanks worked his way forward from a mid-pack start, steadily climbing through the field to finish 10th, showcasing his ability to overcome adversity through a tough day. Sexton and Marchbanks leave Detroit sixth and 17th in the points standings, respectively.
Garrett Marchbanks (36) at Detroit. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
Chase Sexton:“Detroit was my first round back from being injured. I got first in the heat race and second in the main event. It was a better night for me, and I’m glad to be back on the podium. It’s been a bit of a struggle, so we’ll take what we can get and turn this season around. I feel good; my riding feels good, and I think this is just the start. I’m excited for the future, and we’ll look ahead to St. Louis now.”
Garrett Marchbanks: “Overall, it was a solid day. We made some changes in qualifying that didn’t quite go in the right direction, so we went back to our base setup for the night show. I got a great start in the heat race, but got pushed wide and had a pretty big crash early on, which made things tough. In the LCQ, I felt a lot better with the bike, rode my way through the field, and was able to take the first transfer spot. In the main event, I came from way back and worked up to the Top 10, so I’m happy with the progress, and we’ll keep building from here.”
In 250SX Qualifying, Hammaker set the pace aboard his KX™250, topping the overall timesheets after finishing second in the opening session and first in the second. Hammaker was originally second overall, but was granted fastest qualifier when the original leader failed the post qualifying sound test. Romano remained consistent across both sessions to qualify 16th overall. MX6 Racing Kawasaki riders Derek Kelly and Henry Miller also put their KX™250 machines in the Top 10 with a sixth and eighth-place, respectively.
Seth Hammaker (10) at Detroit. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
In 250 Heat 1, Romano delivered an impressive ride, battling neck and neck for the lead and maintaining a strong pace to finish second and transfer directly to the main event. In Heat 2, Hammaker ran up front off the start before a mistake in the rhythm section dropped him back to fifth. Quickly regrouping, he worked his way forward to secure third at the checkered flag.
Nicholas Romano (141) at Detroit. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
In the 250 Main Event, Hammaker positioned himself near the front from the start, rounding the first turn in second place. He capitalized when the leader went down, taking over the lead through the opening laps. A late charge from the competition behind him moved him back to second, where he held on to secure the podium finish. Teammate Romano started inside the Top 10 and advanced to sixth before a late-race shuffle placed him seventh at the finish. Half of the Top 10 was composed of Kawasaki riders with a career-best finish for Miller finishing in fifth-place, Kyle Peters eighth, and Kelley in ninth. Hammaker currently sits second in the points standings, with Romano in 18th, going into Round 12 at St. Louis.
Seth Hammaker: “Detroit was a good weekend; I qualified fastest and felt solid. In the heat race, I got off to a bad start and went into second. Immediately after I passed for second, I over-jumped a triple in the rhythm and banged up my hip and knee a little bit. Other than that, I salvaged third in the heat race and got a good start in the main event, running second for the first couple of laps. [Nate] Thrasher went down in front of me, then I was leading until about halfway when [Cole] Davies put on his charge and got around me, so I finished second. I’m happy with being consistent, but definitely want to get some wins here soon.”
Nick Romano: “Today was a good day. Qualifying wasn’t great, and then I showed up for the night show, ended up second in the heat race, and then seventh in the main event. I’m happy with the night, a lot of positives, and back to work this week for the next round.”
More from a press release issued by Rockstar Energy Husqvarna:
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Malcolm Stewart lands Detroit 450SX podium. Another season-best in Round 11 of the 2026 AMA Supercross Championship series.
Malcolm Stewart and Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing earned an impressive third-place result at Round 11 of the AMA Supercross Championship in Detroit tonight, marking his first 450SX podium finish of the 2026 season.
Stewart recorded the third-fastest time in 450SX qualifying with a 51.894s lap, quickly finding comfort aboard his Husqvarna FC 450 Factory Edition and converting that pace into a P4 finish in 450SX Heat 2.
Malcolm Stewart (27) at Detroit. Photo courtesy Husqvarna
Completing the opening lap of the Main Event in fifth position, the 33-year-old maintained a consistent pace throughout the race, successfully negotiating the technical, deteriorating race-track to secure his first podium of the year. Stewart retains eighth in the 450SX Championship standings with six rounds remaining.
“It’s been tough after we had that unfortunate situation in Anaheim to start the season,”reflected Stewart.“After that, I was like, ‘I don’t know if I am going to get on the podium,’ and that’s just part of not believing in yourself. But I had to pull myself out of that and I want to give it up to Nathan Ramsey and the team – they’ve been in my ear all year long saying, ‘Hey, you can do this!’ So, a huge shoutout to the whole Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing team, and just everyone who is behind me… I’m stoked with this result! The track was really tough tonight and it could bite you if you weren’t paying attention. I had a lot of trust in my motorcycle, which made a huge difference, and having now popped some champagne again, we want more.”
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing 250SX East teammates Daxton Bennick and Casey Cochran were both in action at Detroit, with Cochran making his first start of the 2026 SMX World Championship following a pre-season collarbone injury.
Equipped with the Husqvarna FC 250 Factory Edition, the pair each recorded P5 finishes in their respective Heat Races, securing direct transfer positions to the Main Event inside Ford Field.
Daxton Bennick (58) at Detroit. Photo courtesy Husqvarna
Bennick went on to claim sixth in the Main Event, rebounding from a slow start and mid-race incident, which sees him maintain fourth position in the 250SX Eastern Division standings entering next weekend’s 250SX East/West Showdown in St. Louis.
“It was a rough day, all day, honestly,”Bennick reflected.“I didn’t really ride like myself and didn’t do anything great, so was never really able to turn it around. I was just off all day, but we’ll go back to work this week. It was frustrating, although we’ve had really good rides so far this year because my speed is good and so is my training, so we’ll get back to how I know I can ride and we should be fine.”
Casey Cochran (59) at Detroit. Photo courtesy Husqvarna
For Cochran, he started the Main Event outside the top 10, making early progress through the field before a crash ultimately forced him to retire at the halfway mark – he will undergo further evaluations this week. Still, he was excited to be back at the races with his Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing team.
“The Heat Race and qualifying were decent in Detroit, for not having had too much time on the bike,” commented Cochran.“Then, unfortunately, I slid out in the Main Event and landed on my injured collarbone. We weren’t able to finish the race, but we’ll get it checked out – hopefully everything is all good – and we’ll be back.”
Next Race: April 4 – St. Louis, Missouri
More from a press release issued by Yamaha:
No Quit in Detroit: Justin Cooper and Cooper Webb Fight to the Finish. Late-season pressure builds in the 450SX title race as both Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing riders push through adversity at Round 11.
It was another night of intense racing in the Monster Energy AMA Supercross premier class at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan, with a shake-up in the 450SX title fight as the championship continues to take shape. Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Justin Cooper delivered another impressive charge through the field to finish fourth, while Cooper Webb fought back to sixth after an early-race crash.
Qualifying fifth, Cooper got a strong start in his heat race, battling up front and finishing third. In the main event, he didn’t get off the gate as he had hoped and found himself back in 14th on the opening lap. The New Yorker quickly went to work, breaking into the top five before the halfway mark. Cooper kept pushing and closed the gap to Eli Tomac, making the pass with around six laps to go. With too much time lost to advance further, Cooper rode on to secure his third consecutive fourth-place finish and his sixth top-five of the season, which has him maintaining a strong fifth in the championship standings.
Justin Cooper (32) at Detroit. Photo courtesy Yamaha.
“The race day went well,” said Cooper. “The only thing I can really think back on is the start in the Main. I wasn’t ready for the gate drop, so I was a little off-balance and way back. I rode really well, and I came from 14th to 4th, but I needed the start tonight. I had really good speed in the beginning. I felt like, until halfway, I had a really good pace, and then it just caught up to me a little bit. I started slowing down and getting a little bit winded. I was able to catch Eli and pass him there, but yeah, fourth is what we had tonight. We needed to start up in at least the top five to finish better, but overall, the bike felt awesome all day, and I was just riding really well. We’ll take it to next weekend. I’ve got to get that start in the Main and get on the podium.”
For Webb, it was also a strong start to the day, with the reigning champion setting his sights on the win. He got a great start in his heat race, made the pass on his teammate on the opening lap, and held the runner-up spot to the checkered flag. In the main event, Webb quickly worked his way into third and looked poised to challenge for the lead. However, while attempting a pass on Jorge Prado, the pair made contact and went down. Webb remounted in 11th and charged forward, climbing back to sixth by the halfway mark, where he would finish.
Cooper Webb (1) at Detroit. Photo courtesy Yamaha.
“It was an okay day,” said Webb. “I qualified seventh overall, and then had a decent heat race. In the main event, that was just a really dumb move on my end. I thought I saw an opening and obviously didn’t, and took myself and Prado both down, which was a bummer. I went and apologized to him. So, I’m really bummed about it because I rode so well in that main event. I felt like I had the speed to win tonight. We’ll keep plugging away. It’s been a tough year, but it is what it is, and you’ve got to move on.”
Although it was not the result he was looking for, his efforts scored valuable points to make some championship gains – an eight-point swing to move within 26 points of the leader with six rounds remaining.
“I think it was a pretty decent day overall,” said Rich Simmons, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s 450 Team Manager. “Both guys had good qualifying sessions and strong heat races. In the main, Justin got a bad start, and Webb got a good start and put himself in a good position, but unfortunately went down trying to pass (Jorge) Prado early. It was a good recovery by him to come back to sixth, and Justin came from 14th to get Eli (Tomac) for fourth. We want to be on the podium and missed that opportunity tonight, but you can’t be upset when the guy’s going for a win. We’ll take the positives, move on to St. Louis, and look to get back on the podium.”
The Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing team now heads to St. Louis, Missouri, for Round 12 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship and the Monster Energy SMX World Championship at The Dome at America’s Center on April 4.
Cole Davies Storms to Third-Consecutive Victory
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cole Davies extends his win streak and championship lead with an impressive ride at Detroit Supercross.
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cole Davies continued to lead the way in the 250SX East Championship, delivering a thrilling come-from-behind victory at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. It was a statement ride from the young New Zealander, who continues to build momentum in his Monster Energy AMA Supercross title campaign.
It was a near-perfect day for Davies in Detroit. He showed speed from the start, ultimately qualifying second after a sound penalty. Then in his heat race, he got a good start and quickly made his way to third on the opening lap. Davies rode a calculated race in the slick conditions, keeping the leaders in sight and making his move in the closing laps to take the win.
Cole Davies (37) at Detroit. Photo courtesy Yamaha
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cole Davies continued to lead the way in the 250SX East Championship, delivering a thrilling come-from-behind victory at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. It was a statement ride from the young New Zealander, who continues to build momentum in his Monster Energy AMA Supercross title campaign.
It was a near-perfect day for Davies in Detroit. He showed speed from the start, ultimately qualifying second after a sound penalty. Then in his heat race, he got a good start and quickly made his way to third on the opening lap. Davies rode a calculated race in the slick conditions, keeping the leaders in sight and making his move in the closing laps to take the win.
In the main event, Davies found himself back around 14th off the start but quickly charged to third within four laps. He made the pass on Jo Shimoda the following lap and, after a brief battle, set his sights on the leader. Davies put his head down and closed the four-second gap, setting the fastest lap of the race on Lap 8. Just past the halfway mark, he made a decisive move on Seth Hammaker after the whoops to take control and never looked back, stretching his lead to 12 seconds for a dominant victory. The win marked Davies’ third consecutive victory and extended his championship lead to nine points.
“When I don’t perform the way I know I’m capable of, I’m pretty hard on myself,” said Davies. “Myself, my family, and the team put in so much work – that main event was how I know I can ride, and I’m proud of that. I put everything together, except for the start, and still made it happen. The bike was incredible through the whoops, which is where I made most of my passes. Going from 14th to first and extending our championship lead to nine points feels amazing.”
Cole Davies (37) at Detroit. Photo courtesy Yamaha
It was a rollercoaster day for Caden Dudney. The rookie had another strong qualifying effort in fourth, and when the gate dropped for the heat race, he grabbed the holeshot and led for most of the race. Unfortunately, with two laps remaining, Dudney crashed in the whoops but quickly rejoined to finish fourth. In the main event, he found himself back in 21st on the opening laps and ultimately crossed the line 18th.
“It was a rough day today,” said Dudney. “Just mistake after mistake, but there were a lot of positives to take away from it as well, with the heat race and leading laps. Qualifying was pretty decent, too. I just need to learn from my mistakes and be better for next weekend.”
Caden Dudney (82) at Detroit. Photo courtesy Yamaha.
Nate Thrasher also looked back to form after dealing with shoulder issues early in the season. He qualified fifth and delivered a commanding heat race win, grabbing the holeshot and leading every lap to take his first heat race victory of the season by over five seconds. In the main event, he secured another holeshot and led before an unfortunate crash in the whoops ended his night early.
“It was a better weekend for me,” said Thrasher. “It didn’t end how we wanted it to, but I finally felt like myself. I’ve been dealing with some nerve problems in my left shoulder, so it was good to feel healthy again. I just can’t make that mistake in the whoops in the main. I need to be better. We’ll keep working and move on to St. Louis.”
Nate Thrasher (25) at Detroit. Photo courtesy Yamaha.
It was another strong night overall for the team, highlighted by two heat race wins, three holeshots, and Davies’ main event victory—giving the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing 250 team 10 overall/main event wins in 11 rounds.
“Honestly, it was a great night for all of us,” said Wil Hahn, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing 250 Team General Manager. “A win in both heats was cool with Nate and Cole. It was a shame in the main for Nate and Caden after showing the speed they had all day, but for Cole to come through the pack like that, it was definitely a statement ride.”
Next up, the team heads to St. Louis, Missouri, for the second East-West Showdown of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross season at The Dome at America’s Center on April 4.
More from a press release issued by Red Bull KTM:
Eli Tomac and Red Bull KTM reclaim 450SX red plate after Detroit top-five.
A measured top-five finish at Round 11 of the 2026 AMA Supercross Championship saw Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Eli Tomac reclaim the 450SX red plate tonight in Detroit, opening a four-point advantage exiting Ford Field.
Tomac qualified ninth on the 450SX combined timesheets as he familiarized himself with the technical track layout, before racing his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION to a third-place result in the opening premier class Heat Race.
The 33-year-old then completed the first lap of the Main Event in eighth position, before steadily climbing into the top-five. Maintaining consistency on the deteriorating surface, Tomac secured fifth place and a valuable haul of championship points.
Former two-time champion Tomac now leads the 450SX standings on 229 points, as the SMX World Championship series heads to The Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis, Missouri, next weekend.
Eli Tomac (3) at Detroit. Photo courtesy KTM
Eli Tomac:“I knew I was going to take advantage of [Hunter Lawrence’s crash] once I saw that he was a lap down, but overall it was a bit of a frustrating day here. I have actually struggled here with my last couple of rides, so I don’t know what it is – I just haven’t had the best success at Detroit lately and maybe I’ve been in a bit of a mid-season slump. So, we’ll do what we can to get better and improve, and try to get back to winning some races and getting closer to the front.”
Spanish four-time world champion Jorge Prado recorded the 11th-fastest qualifying time in Detroit aboard his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION, before earning a direct transfer to the Main Event with a P5 score in his Heat Race.
In holeshotting the Main Event, the 25-year-old ran strongly at the front of the field during the opening laps, before unfortunately going down in an incident with another rider. Prado recovered to 13th position by race’s end, again demonstrating front-running potential in the Motor City.
Jorge Prado (26) at Detroit. Photo courtesy KTM
Prado currently sits ninth in the 450SX championship standings as he continues to build experience and added confidence in Supercross during the 2026 season with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing.
Jorge Prado:“Detroit Supercross was a bit of a rough day! The Heat Race was actually not too bad. At the end of it, I found a good rhythm and was feeling good. In the Main Event, I had a super-good start – I got the holeshot, which was my main goal – and then I wanted to stay up front for as long as possible. Kenny [Roczen] passed me on, I think Lap 3, and then once he passed me, I really tried to stick with him, but another rider ended up taking me out and we both crashed. That impacted my rhythm from there, so we have some work to do – as always – but I am putting in maximum effort with my training and racing, so hopefully it’ll pay off soon. We’re taking a lot of this year’s Supercross championship as experience for next year, so it’s good that these things happen now so when we’re fighting up front in the coming years, we can be prepared and ready. It’s part of the process – we’ll learn and continue to get faster.”
Next Race: April 4 – St. Louis, Missouri
More from a press release issued by Red Bull Ducati:
Troy Lee Designs Red Bull Ducati Factory Racing Team Celebrates Strong Return and Best Finish of the Season for Dylan Ferrandis in Detroit.
Sunnyvale, Calif., March 28, 2026 — The Troy Lee Designs Red Bull Ducati Factory Racing Team welcomed a highly anticipated return to racing this weekend in Detroit, Michigan, as Dylan Ferrandis made his comeback at Round 11 of the 2026 AMA Supercross Championship.
After sustaining an injury in Daytona that sidelined him for two rounds in Indianapolis and Birmingham, Ferrandis returned to racing with determination and focus. Despite limited seat time leading into the event, Ferrandis delivered his strongest performance of the season to date, an encouraging result that reflects both his resilience and the relentless efforts of the entire team.
Ferrandis approached the first qualifying session with a measured mindset, easing back into the intensity of race conditions and securing 11th place. He showed immediate improvement in the second session, posting a 52.405 lap time to finish 9th, placing him 10th overall in combined qualifying.
Competing in Heat Race 2, Ferrandis got off the line to an 8th place start before quickly advancing through the field. By lap two, he had moved into 6th position while also recording his fastest lap of the race. He maintained that pace to finish 6th, earning a direct transfer to the Main Event.
Dylan Ferrandis (14) at Detroit. Photo courtesy Ducati
In the Main Event, Ferrandis continued to build momentum, finishing 7th overall, his best result of the season. After starting strong in 6th place on the opening lap, he engaged in a competitive battle between 6th and 7th positions throughout the early stages of the race. By lap five, he settled into 7th and maintained consistency to hold that position through to the checkered flag.
“I am happy for the team and all the sponsors, TLD, Red Bull Ducati, and everybody on the team, so that feels good,” said Ferrandis. “I got a good start, but I was lacking a little bit of pace for sure. I can do better than what I did tonight, but I need to get back into that racing mode a little more. Overall, I think it’s the best I could have done today with a 7th. I showed that during my time off, I didn’t just chill, I was pushing and training. So I’m happy about that and happy for the team.”
This performance represents a significant step forward for both Ferrandis and the Troy Lee Designs Red Bull Ducati Factory Racing Team. With limited preparation time following injury, the result highlights the rider’s determination and the team’s dedication behind the scenes.
The team now looks ahead with confidence, aiming to build on this momentum as the championship progresses.
More from a press release issued by Honda HRC:
Shimoda takes podium finish during challenging Detroit SX for Honda HRC Progressive.
Japanese rider earns third-place result in 250SX East main event
Crash in 450SX main belies Hunter Lawrence’s impressive speed
Australian still firmly in the premier-class title fight
Round 11 of AMA Supercross in Detroit presented several trials for Honda HRC Progressive, although there were positives for the team and riders to take away. Despite adversity, Jo Shimoda secured a podium finish as the 250SX East class reached its season’s midway point. Meanwhile, Hunter Lawrence was the fastest 450SX qualifier, won his heat race and set the fastest lap time of the main event, before a crash and subsequent visit to the mechanics’ area resulted in an 18th-place result. Although the misfortune resulted in the Australian slipping out of the points lead, he sits just four points behind the leader.
Hunter Lawrence (96) at Detroit. Photo courtesy Honda
Lawrence did not get his usual stellar start in the 450SX main, but he quickly advanced from fifth place out of turn 1 to third place by lap 3. Unfortunately, while challenging Chase Sexton for second just before the halfway mark, he suffered a hard crash at the end of the whoop section. Although Lawrence remounted quickly, the fall had resulted in a bent handlebar and a jammed front brake. A stop by the mechanics’ area to remove dirt from the brake lever cost him even more time, and he finished in 18th place. Quad Lock Honda riders Joey Savatgy, Christian Craig and Shane McElrath turned in ninth-, 12th– and 14th-place results, respectively.
Jo Shimoda (30) at Detroit. Photo courtesy Honda
Shimoda launched to a strong second-place start in the 250SX East main event and ran third early on. He moved back up to second on lap 3 and then lost the position a couple of laps later, running at a good pace while managing arm pump. The Japanese rider slipped to fourth just past the halfway point, but a late-race crash by Coty Schock opened the door for Shimoda to secure a podium finish. He remains third in the standings, 14 points behind the leading Cole Davies. Additional Red Rider highlights included a strong ride from Luke Neese, who finished inside the top 10, while Phoenix Racing Honda’s Evan Ferry delivered a career-best performance with an 11th-place result.
NOTES
Phoenix Racing Honda riders Evan Ferry and Gavin Towers took part in Friday’s Media Day activities.
Phoenix Racing Honda’s Cullin Park suffered a dislocated shoulder injury during last week’s 250SX East/West Showdown main event in Birmingham. Further examination revealed a fracture, and Park underwent successful surgery on March 25. The Floridian will miss the remainder of the series.
While Honda HRC Progressive riders Jett Lawrence and Chance Hymas continue to progress well in their recoveries from injury, both attended the U.S. MotoGP round in Austin, Texas.
Quad Lock Honda’s Joey Savatgy made his return to racing in Detroit, having recovered from a March 7 foot injury sustained in Indianapolis.
Honda HRC Progressive’s Jo Shimoda placed 12th in 250SX combined qualifying. Phoenix Racing Honda riders Evan Ferry and Gavin Towers qualified seventh and 11th, respectively. Jeremy Hand (Valley Motorsports) qualified in 20th, John Short IV (Short Racing) was 21st and Ryder Floyd (Ti Lube Honda) was 27th, while Storm Lake Honda riders Luke Neese and Izaih Clark were 23rd and 24th, respectively.
Honda HRC Progressive rider Hunter Lawrence placed first in 450SX combined qualifying, followed by Quad Lock Honda riders Christian Craig, Joey Savatgy and Shane McElrath, who were 12th, 13th and 15th, respectively. Red Rider Zack Williams (McGinley Clinic) qualified in 27th.
Shimoda got a rough start in the first 250SX East heat race, getting to the first corner in 10th. He steadily worked his way forward, moving to fourth toward the end of the race, before a crash by Caden Dudney allowed him to take third. Ferry, Towers and Neese advanced directly through the second heat race, while Hand secured his spot in the main event with a second-place finish in the LCQ.
Lawrence dominated the second 450SX heat race with a holeshot and wire-to-wire victory, while Savatgy (seventh) and McElrath (eighth) also transferred directly to the main event. Earlier, Craig had grabbed the holeshot in his heat race before finishing fifth.
Lawrence now sits second in the 450SX championship standings, four points behind Eli Tomac, with six rounds remaining.
Honda HRC Progressive will look to rebound at round 12 of AMA Supercross this Saturday in St. Louis. The 250SX class will feature an East-West Showdown.
Hunter Lawrence (96) at Detroit. Photo courtesy Honda
Hunter Lawrence: “My day was a bit of a bittersweet one. The qualifying race went really well, and I was happy with everything—the bike, the team, myself, everything felt great. I was feeling really good in the main event and was honestly feeling so comfortable. I was really happy with where I was, and I made a push to the front and was catching Kenny and Chase. I just got caught by surprise with the crash at the end of the whoops. I was okay, but the bike took some unfortunate damage. It’s just racing, sometimes that happens, and I had to pull into the mechanics’ area. I crashed two more times just due to the front brake locking on, so that was difficult to bring home but I think we managed two points. It was a difficult situation, but we’re still in it and can’t wait to bounce back next weekend.”
Jo Shimoda (30) at Detroit. Photo courtesy Honda
Jo Shimoda: “The track was pretty jumpy and had massive whoops, and I was just uncomfortable. It was a bit of chaos in the first lap. I had arm pump right away, so it got sketchy. Honestly, there’s nothing good about today. I was slow, and I just couldn’t figure it out; I didn’t make the smart decisions. We’re five rounds in now, so I need to step it up and for the wins. I think [next week’s] Showdown is the best opportunity for the situation I’m in right now, so next week we have to deliver.”
Lars Lindstrom:“We’ve had a great 450 season so far, with not a lot of difficulties, which is represented by our run of finishes inside the top four at every event so far this year up until now. It wouldn’t be very normal to have a season without some adversity, so although we gave up a lot of points tonight, we’re still in a great position for the championship. The way that Hunter has been riding gives me a lot of confidence that we’re still in the driver’s seat. Most important, he wasn’t injured and is more motivated than ever to win more races. Jo wasn’t himself tonight, which I think was a combination of the track, and him not feeling 100% physically. Hopefully he can get a good week of training in and come out swinging in St. Louis. Both Hunter and Jo won there in September for the SMX race, so we have good vibes going into this coming weekend.”
Marco Bezzecchi (left) and Jorge Martín (right) celebrate their 1–2 finish at COTA. Photo courtesy of MotoGP.
During the week, he’s an unassuming MotoGP-rider. But when the weekend comes around and Sunday’s knocking, he changes into…Super Sunday Boy! This week, will our superhero have a mighty collision before parking his bike all the way at the front?
Yes, he can!
And speaking of the front, something we didn’t find there was Ducati. Forget about that beautiful uninterrupted streak of victories last year–this season, they’re being passed left and right in the same corner. So what is going on here?
We’ve watched and understood it all, in a way we very much can’t say about the Baggers!
Oh, and on another note, remember we talked about sponsors during the Q&A-episode? Well, we got a lot of responses from you all…and something might be brewing!
Want more? Visit our website or support us on Patreon. With big thanks as always to Brad Baloo from The Next Men and Gentleman’s Dub Club for writing our theme song. Check out The Nextmen for more great music!
Josh Waters (1), Harrison Voight (29), Cru Halliday (65), Jonathan Nahlous (20) and Glenn Allerton (14) in Superbike race one. Photo courtesy ASBK.
McMartin Racing Ducati teammates Josh Waters and Harrison Voight dominated round two of the 2026 Penrite Australian Superbike Championship presented by Pirelli (ASBK) under lights at Sydney Motorsport Park (SMSP) on Saturday, March 28.
Polesitter Waters won the opening SW-Motech Superbike race – his fourth in a row at SMSP dating back to 2024 – before Voight executed brilliantly in the second to maintain his healthy lead in the 2026 championship after two of five rounds.
The two-day event at SMSP saw precipitation on Friday make way for sublime weather on Saturday and the bulk of the race program, with other winners including a blistering clean sweep by Jake Farnsworth (Yamaha) in Kawasaki Supersport and more teammate heroics – this time from BCperformance Kawasaki duo Tom Edwards and Hayden Nelson in Supersport Next Gen.
Meanwhile, New Zealander Tyler King (Kawasaki) extended his lead in the Race and Road Supersport 300 class despite a stunning double from Orlando Peovitis (Champions Ride Days Kawasaki), and Oscar Lewis edged out his younger brother Connor in the BLU CRU R3 Cup opener.
All the pre-round talk about the SW-Motech ‘changing of the guard’ was just a minor distraction for the veteran Waters, who powered to a 20th pole position and then victory in race one – his ninth at SMSP and the 45th in a storied career at the top level in Australia.
Voight led early before Waters took over the running, while hard-charging pair Cru Halliday (Stop and Seal Ducati, second) and SMSP lap record holder Jonathan Nahlous (Yamaha Racing Team, third) also slid their way into podium positions during the 13-lapper.
Voight was fourth from Jacob Roulstone (Motocity Honda), Glenn Allerton (Superbike Advocates Racing Ducati), Jack Favelle (Addicted to Track Yamaha) and Marcus Hamod (Motocity Honda), while Mike Jones (Yamaha Racing Team) recovered to finish ninth after an off-track excursion on lap one. Cameron Dunker (Blue Marlin Pools Racing Yamaha) also ran off before crashing moments later.
There was an air of inevitability who would be the fastest on track for race two, and that’s what transpired as Voight was a clear winner from Waters and Halliday – while Nahlous was also in the mix before he crashed out of second place on lap four while trying to break Voight’s resolve.
The battle for fourth was a cracker, with Roulstone coming up trumps from Anthony West (DesmoSport Ducati), Dunker, Allerton and Jones. Hamod and Favelle completed the top 10.
Voight’s race two rebound saw him extend his championship lead to 14pts (110 to 96) over new second place man, Waters, with Roulstone (95pts) in third from Halliday (73pts), West (72pts), Dunker (71pts) and Allerton (71pts).
Harrison Voight (29) scored the holeshot in Superbike race two. Photo courtesy ASBK.
Kawasaki Supersport and Supersport Next Gen:
Two championships under one umbrella, and with similar levels of performance to produce scintillating racing.
That was the playbook in the second half of 2025 and the 2026 season opener at Phillip Island for Supersport and Supersport Next Gen, but at SMSP no-one told Farnsworth who produced two clinical victories.
And in one memorable evening, the Sydneysider doubled his previous win tally in Kawasaki Supersport from two to four.
Farnsworth (1-1) was the overall Supersport winner at SMSP, taking over the championship lead from Valentino Knezovic (Addicted to Track Yamaha, 2-2). Thai visitor Anupab Sarmoon (MotoGo Racing Yamaha, 3-3) was third, while in Supersport Next Gen it was Nelson (1-2) from Edwards (3-1) and Olly Simpson (DesmoSport Ducati, 2-3). Simpson remains the Next Gen leader, but it’s been trimmed by Edwards to just 4pts.
In the over-arching battle, Farnsworth was first home in the opening 11-lapper from Nelson, Simpson, Edwards, Knezovic and Sarmoon, and in the second Farnsworth completed his whitewash from Edwards, Nelson, Knezovic, Simpson and Sarmoon.
Meanwhile, it was misfortune for two other Next Gen riders in Sydney, with Tom Toparis (Stop and Seal Ducati) eliminated with a blown engine and debutante Jacob Hatch (Triumph) not even getting through qualifying after being caught out as collateral damage in a Scott Nicholson (TeamBWR Yamaha) crash.
Hayden Nelson (279), Olly Simpson (45) and Valentino Knezovic (48). Photo courtesy ASBK.
Race and Road Supersport 300 and BLU CRU R3 Cup
Peovitis marched through the two Race and Road Supersport 300 races with a level of authority rarely seen in the class, with his winning margins five and six seconds respectively.
While Peovitis’ domination was atypical, behind the West Aussie it was more of the same close-quarters intensity we’ve come to expect, with King second in both races and the third places shared by Phoenix O’Brien (Blue Marlin Pools Racing Yamaha) and Lincoln Knight (Yamaha).
That was where the program ended, with race three abandoned after Knight crashed at turn two and required medical intervention.
King leads the championship on 95pts from the charging Peovitis (85pts) and Jordy Simpson (Yamaha, 82pts).
In the BLU CRU R3 Cup, Oscar Lewis (1-2-4), Connor Lewis (2-1-6) and defending champion Simpson (6-3-2) were the top brass in Sydney, while Matthew Ritter scored two third places.
The 2026 ASBK Championship will now head to The Bend for round three on May 1-3.
The R3 Cup race two podium: (L to R) Oscar Lewis, Connor Lewis and Jordy Simpson. Photo courtesy ASBK.
For more information on the Penrite Australian Superbike Championship presented by Pirelli:
Marco Bezzecchi after claiming victory at COTA. Photo courtesy MotoGP.
More from a press release issued by Aprilia:
Aprilia Racing makes history in the USA with another one-two.
The weekend on the Circuit of the Americas comes to a close with a historic result for Aprilia Racing, taking their second consecutive one-two.
Marco Bezzecchi, starting from the fourth spot on the grid due to a penalty from Q2, was the protagonist of an extraordinary race. After contact during the first lap which damaged the rear wing of his RS-GP26, the Italian rider moved into the lead at the end of the first lap, maintaining the position all the way to the chequered flag. With this result, he takes his fifth win in a row, becoming the third rider of the modern era to manage the feat after Valentino Rossi and Marc Márquez.
For Bezzecchi this is also his sixth victory in the top class with Aprilia Racing, in addition to being the first rider to win the first three Grand Prix races of a season – an achievement that had not been accomplished since 2014. The Italian rider is now the first in the modern MotoGP era to win five consecutive GP races, remaining in the lead from the first to the last lap. In fact, Bezzecchi rode the last five GP races entirely in the lead and, with today’s result, now has a total of 121 laps in the lead, surpassing the previous record held by Jorge Lorenzo (103).
Completing the one-two was Jorge Martín, who rode a solid race to finish second. This is the Spanish rider’s second consecutive podium in a long race with Aprilia Racing and his second podium finish of the weekend, after winning the sprint race on Saturday.
This is Aprilia Racing’s eleventh victory in the top class – their second in Austin after Maverick Viñales’ win in 2024 – and their fifth consecutive. The manufacturer from Noale has now also taken their third one-two in the top class and, for the first time in their history, two one-two finishes in a row. With today’s victory, Aprilia Racing now has 305 wins in World Grand Prix Motorcycle Racing.
Marco Bezzecchi (72). Photo by Michael Gougis.
Marco Bezzecchi: “Saturday I made a mistake that I should have avoided, but the team was very close to me. Today it was important to ride a good race. I’m extremely happy and thrilled. I have been dreaming about doing well on this track that I’ve always liked for a long time, but I had never managed to finish the way I wanted to until now. Riding such a great race was incredible.”
Jorge Martin (89). Photo by Michael Gougis.
Jorge Martin: “I am truly happy and extremely grateful to Aprilia. I gave my all and that makes me very proud. Saturday, I achieved the goal of winning the sprint race and I gave it my all on Sunday as well. Marco was incredible: I tried to make up ground behind him, but I was pushing too hard physically and I had to slow down in the last three laps. I have always struggled on this track, so to be on the podium here after my absence last year is fantastic.”
Massimo Rivola – CEO Aprilia Racing: “It was a memorable Sunday for Aprilia Racing, with two truly outstanding riders and an extremely competitive bike. I am very pleased with the demonstration of the synergy between the work carried out in Noale and on track. Clearly, all of this does not reduce our drive — on the contrary, it gives us even more motivation to continue developing the bike. What happened today is something historic, destined to go down in the record books. However, we still need to keep improving, because what happened to Ai Ogura is difficult to accept. I’m very sorry for him, for Justin Marks and Davide Brivio of the Trackhouse MotoGP Team. Today there was the chance to see three Aprilias on the podium and, when these opportunities arise, you have to take them.”
More from a press release issued by VR46 Team:
Di Giannantonio ends the United States GP in fourth place.The Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team, on track with a special livery, was very close to the podium on Sunday in Austin with Di Giannantonio, who finished the race in fourth place. Morbidelli ended in fourteenth position.
The United States GP concluded with a fourth-place finish for the Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team, which went on track on Sunday in Austin with a special livery designed by Aldo Drudi. Fabio Di Giannantonio fought for the podium, finishing fourth and as the top Ducati rider. Franco Morbidelli placed fourteenth after a comeback race.
Di Giannantonio made the most of his pole position start (secured by breaking the lap time record), immediately joining the battle for the podium. Fabio showed an excellent pace, managing to stay with the leading group and defend his position with great determination. The rider frome Rome crossed the finish line in fourth place, confirming himself once again in Austin as the best Ducati rider at the finish. Di Giannantonio is fourth in the World Standing with 50 points.
A challenging race for Morbidelli, who started from twentieth position. After a difficult start, Franco showed great determination on a very demanding track, gaining positions. Consistently improving lap after lap, the Italian-Brazilian rider crossed the finish line in fourteenth place. With today’s result, he is thirteenth in the World Standing with 14 points.
The Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team will return to the track in three weeks following the extended break caused by the postponement of the Qatar GP. MotoGP returns to Europe for the Spanish GP, which will take place from 24th to 26th April at the Circuito de Jerez.
Fabio Di Giannantonio (49). Photo by Michael Gougis.
Fabio Di Giannantonio:“Overall, it was a positive weekend, I’m very happy. We arrived here in Austin and I wasn’t at 100% of my physical condition, so I have to thank Christian, the physiotherapist, and the whole team for the work they did to help me recover with my shoulder. We’ll need to undergo some tests to understand what’s going on, because I struggled a bit physically. Aside from that, we’re in great shape, we’re putting pressure on the front riders even though there’s still a gap at the moment. We need to work both with the team and Ducati to close that gap. We know where we need to improve and we’re already doing it. We’re still missing something in the race. It’s not the result we wanted, because when you’re competing at a high level you always aim for the podium, but today I gave my best and fourth was the maximum we could achieve. There are still many positives to take home: I got pole position and set many fast laps. I’m really happy.”
Franco Morbidelli (21) and Diogo Moreira (11) at COTA. Photo courtesy VR46 Team.
Franco Morbidelli: “It was a tough weekend. We struggled every day, although less and less each day. Today in the race we managed to score two points: it’s not what we want, but it was important to finish the race to gather information and data. The feeling with the bike wasn’t great this weekend, we didn’t have rear grip. But, we started from further back and improved more and more as the days went on. That’s a positive aspect. Now we have a few weeks off, we’ll keep training and working with the team to do better and return to our best.”
Pablo Nieto – Team Manager:“Overall, Austin was a good weekend for Diggia and we should be happy. We were missing something, because we were fighting for the win with him, and it’s a pity we didn’t make it on the podium. But he took pole position and achieving this kind of result is really great, I believe we’re working very well. Right now, our rivals have made a significant step forward, but we’re very close. Franco struggled a lot during this weekend in the United States, but he improved greatly during the race. If he continues like this, we’ll see him back in the top positions.”
More from a press release issued by Ducati Lenovo Team:
Marc Márquez and the Ducati Lenovo Team bounce back to fifth in the Grand Prix of the United States. Francesco Bagnaia tenth.
The Ducati Lenovo Team tackled the final day of the Grand Prix of the United States at Austin’s Circuit of The Americas. Marc Márquez finished the race in fifth position, while Francesco Bagnaia was tenth at the flag.
Márquez got a great start from sixth place on the grid, moving up two positions. After dropping down to seventh, he then served his long-lap penalty and rejoined in eleventh. Marc then made his way back to fifth place, which he defended up to the finish line. Bagnaia stayed in touch with the group battling for the podium while maintaining a good pace, before starting to lose ground in the second half of the encounter. In the final stages, Pecco struggled with grip and eventually finished tenth.
As the third Grand Prix of the season draws to a close, Marc Márquez is fifth in the standings with 45 points. Francesco Bagnaia is ninth, 20 points behind his teammate. The Ducati Lenovo Team is fourth in the teams’ classification (70 points), while Ducati is second in the constructors’ championship (69 points).
The Ducati Lenovo Team will make its European debut of the season on April 24th, for the opening day of practice for the Estrella Galicia 0,0 Grand Prix of Spain at the Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto.
Marc Marquez (93) at COTA. Photo by Michael Gougis.
Marc Márquez (#93 Ducati Lenovo Team) – 5th: “Unfortunately we paid the price for yesterday’s mistake. A long-lap penalty in MotoGP, especially early on in the race, drops you down into the middle of the field. I wasn’t feeling comfortable in the first laps and I was close to making the same mistake again, but then as the grip faded I started to ride well and have fun, battling with several riders. We must keep in mind that this was only the third Grand Prix of a very long season, but we also have to admit that Bezzecchi, right now, is really fast. We have to keep inching closer to the front and focus on the small details, as we’re not missing much and I know I can do better than this.”
Francesco Bagnaia (63) at COTA. Photo by Michael Gougis.
Francesco Bagnaia (#63 Ducati Lenovo Team) – 10th: “Already from the warm up, I didn’t have the same feeling, as I was struggling to carry the same speed into the corners as in previous days. I wasn’t fully comfortable at the start of the race: there was less rear grip, but I tried to manage it. I saw that Diggia was trying to bridge the gap to the leaders and I tried to stay with him, but then the grip got clearly worse. With four laps to go, I tried to push a bit harder in order to defend myself from Marc (Márquez) and Enea (Bastianini), but the final two laps were a nightmare: I had a near crash every time I leaned into the right-hand corners. Unfortunately, we can’t make the bike stop and turn the way we’d like, so we need to continue working in these areas.”
More from a press release issued by Red Bull KTM Tech3:
Bastianini charges through the pack to finish sixth at COTA.
The third round of the 2026 MotoGP™ World Championship has concluded in the United States, with the Circuit of the Americas delivering another action-packed weekend.
Under the hot Texan conditions, Enea Bastianini lined up 12th on the grid, determined to build on the positives from Saturday’s Sprint, where he claimed P3, and convert them into a strong Sunday result.
A solid launch allowed ‘La Bestia’ to gain positions in the opening laps, and the Italian soon found his way into 10th. Showing patience and control, Bastianini kept the riders ahead close while managing his tyres around the demanding COTA layout.
The race continued to unfold in Bastianini’s favour as a crash for Joan Mir promoted him to P8. Maintaining his strong pace, the Red Bull KTM Tech3 rider continued his attack and soon advanced into 7th after passing Álex Márquez.
In the closing stages, the #23 rider entered a nail-biting three-way battle for P5. Continuing to push until the chequered flag, Bastianini ultimately crossed the line in 6th, just behind Marc Márquez after a determined late-race charge.
The result marks a significant step forward for Bastianini and his second best weekend with the Tech3 team to date, highlighting improved race pace and growing confidence with the KTM RC16.
Enea Bastianini (23) at COTA. Photo courtesy Red Bull KTM Tech3.
Enea Bastianini: “I am very happy with this result because it was not an easy race. At the start, I lost the rear in Turn 3 and then, after some contact, the airbag deployed, which made things difficult for a while. After that, I tried to find my pace lap by lap and close the gap to the riders in front.
“At the end, I caught Marc, and it was a hard fight because he was pushing a lot in the final laps. I tried to get closer out of Turn 11 to have a chance into Turn 12, but we were missing a bit of acceleration. Still, we were competitive under braking and that is a positive.
“We can be satisfied with this weekend. I made a mistake in Qualifying, which made the race more difficult, but it is good to be back fighting close to the front again. Now we must keep working and continue like this in Europe.”
Nicolas Goyon, Team Manager: “We are very happy with our weekend in Austin. The team leaves with smiles on our faces, which is a real relief after two complicated races.
“I would like to congratulate Enea on the job he has done all weekend. It was great to see him enjoying the bike, building confidence, and delivering a strong race. He improved his pace and worked his way into the fight with Pecco [Bagnaia] and Marc Márquez, which was great to watch.
“P3 in the Sprint and P6 in the main race are positive results for us as we leave Austin. We now have a break, which will give Maverick time to recover from his shoulder surgery, and we hope to be back in great shape in Jerez.”
More from a press release issued by BK8 Gresini Team:
BK8 Gresini Racing Team scores points at the Americas GP.
RACEDAY
ALEX MARQUEZ 7th
FERMIN ALDEGUER 11th
Alex Marquez (73) and Enea Bastianini (23) at COTA. Photo courtesy BK8 Gresini Team.
Alex Marquez: “Today I made a few overtakes, so I’m a bit more satisfied compared to yesterday. It was the result I expected today; we didn’t have the pace to be among the best, and starting from the third row I couldn’t ask for more. We still scored points and brought home the best result possible. Right now we need to keep working and continue improving to reach the level of the front runners. With the factory bike it always takes a bit more time to get everything perfectly set up.”
Fermin Aldeguer (54) at COTA. Photo courtesy BK8 Gresini Team.
Fermin Aldeguer: “It was a complicated weekend and physically tough. In the sprint I already felt the lack of pace on a MotoGP bike, but we scored points and managed to race and finish all the races without crashing. Today was tough, a very long race, but we have to be satisfied. Last year, after three races, we didn’t have this many points.”
More from a press release issued by Honda HRC:
Points keep coming for Marini in America.
Luca Marini produced a metronomic performance, attacking until the end for a last-minute ninth place at the Circuit of the Americas. Meanwhile teammate Joan Mir fell while chasing the top five at Round Three.
Another unpredictable Sunday was waiting for the MotoGP World Championship as the riders rolled onto the grid, the sun shinning but a wind whipping up around them. All eyes were on the critical first corner as lights went out.
Starting in 11th place, Luca Marini had extra work to do and found himself sandwiched between a KTM and a Gresini machine into the tight first corner of COTA after struggling off the line compared to Saturday. From here the race was a series of intense battles and passes until the #10 arrived on the edge of the top ten, settling in behind Raul Fernandez as the pace of the grid leveled out.
Seeing a fast-fading Bagnaia just ahead of him, Marini kept his rhythm until the very end to steal ninth place from the double MotoGP World Champion. A pair of point scoring finishes at the US GP moves Marini to tenth in the World Championship standings, five points behind 2025 MotoGP runner-up Alex Marquez. He leads Johann Zarco by ten points in the fight for top Honda.
Joan Mir’s Sunday followed a similar script to Saturday, the #36 starting well and locking horns with almost every Ducati on the grid. A well-saved moment early in the race sent him wide through the opening sector and earned him a Long Lap Penalty as a result. He would crash from the top ten before serving the penalty, fortunately avoiding any injury. With three points, Mir holds 19th in the World Championship standings.
After three races away from home, the Honda HRC Castrol team will now return to Europe and prepare for the Spanish GP, April 24 – 26 in Jerez. Three weeks of rest, recovery and development to arrive in the best position possible to continue the fight.
Luca Marini (10) at COTA. Photo courtesy Honda HRC.
Luca Marini:“Today was pretty straight forward, everything came from the start. I was already minus two positions, and I made a really bad start, which is very strange because the starts have been one of our strongest points on the Honda. It’s something we need to check because I lost some positions. The positive is I had some really nice battles further back as it was quite a chaotic race in the opening laps – it was fun, but when I arrived to Fernandez, the pace of everyone was very close. Today the wind changed direction, so it changed our braking points, I focused on hitting my marks and in the last lap I saw Bagnaia was not having an easy time. This race shows that the level of everyone has improved a lot and we still have work to do to break into that top eight.”
Joan Mir (36) at COTA. Photo courtesy Honda HRC.
Joan Mir:“A disappointing way to finish a weekend that had a lot of promise. I was in a position yesterday and today to attack, recover a lot on entry and see what was possible. When I am alone I can ride well and fast, in the slipstream with these bikes you have to risk twice as much to make up time. Finally the front went, we need to improve the rear to gain something more on corner exit because this can happen when you are riding the front so hard. I like knowing I have a chance, this is good and we have improved a lot compared to when I first started with Honda and I know that we can keep working together to improve more and more.”
More from a press release issued by Pro Honda LCR:
Pro Honda LCR rider Diogo Moreira delivered a solid performance on Sunday at COTA, finishing 13th.
Starting from 14th on the grid, Moreira made an excellent start and quickly moved into contention for the top 10.
Tyre management and the track’s unique layout played a significant role, making the 20-lap race especially demanding.
In the closing stages, continuing to push while gaining experience, Moreira crossed the line in 13th position, securing points for the third consecutive time in just his third MotoGP race.
Diogo Moreira (11) at COTA. Photo courtesy Honda LCR.
Diogo Moreira 13th:“After not being able to understand my feeling in the Sprint due to the early retirement, today’s race was demanding, but I managed to finish, fight, and score points again. The past two weeks have been both enjoyable and challenging at times, but we are doing a good job and continuously improving. Thanks to everyone!”
More from a press release issued by Prima Pramac Yamaha:
Another Challenging Race in Austin for Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP with a Silver Lining. Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP endured another demanding race at COTA, but both riders showed resilience, with Toprak Razgatlıoğlu scoring his first MotoGP point.
It was another tough race for Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP at the Circuit of the Americas, as Toprak Razgatlıoğlu and Jack Miller — starting from 17th and 19th positions respectively — spent the race battling within a close group that included the other Yamaha riders.
Despite running toward the back of the field, both riders remained competitive within their group and, importantly, were able to complete the full race distance. This represents a small but meaningful step forward for both the riders and the development of the Yamaha YZR-M1.
The main positive of the day came from Toprak Razgatlıoğlu, who scored the first point of his MotoGP career. While the Turkish rider is clearly aiming for much stronger results, the achievement offers a degree of encouragement after a challenging start to the season and reflects an improving feeling with the bike.
Jack Miller also battled throughout the race and, in the closing laps, was able to make a move to gain another position, eventually crossing the finish line just behind his teammate.
Although the overall result does not yet match the team‘s ambitions, the race provided further valuable data and confirmed incremental progress as the development work continues.
Toprak Razgatlıoğlu (07) at COTA. Photo courtesy Prima Pramac Yamaha.
Toprak Razgatlıoğlu:“Today was a very tough race for everyone, but I was pushing more than 100% because I really wanted to score my first point. In the end, I achieved it, and I‘m very happy.Another positive is that I‘m starting to enjoy riding the bike more during the race, and I‘m learning a lot. I followed Fabio for several laps and was able to understand more about his riding style and the track, which is very important for me at this stage. Race by race, weekend by weekend, we are improving, and that makes me happy. Of course, this is just the beginning — now the goal is to keep learning and start fighting for better results.We now have a few weeks before the next race, so I will continue training and come back ready to keep working, starting from Spain.”
Jack Miller (43) at COTA. Photo courtesy Prima Pramac Yamaha.
Jack Miller:“Overall, we made some steps forward over the weekend, and I‘m quite happy with the general set-up of the bike. There are still some areas, especially in the DNA of the bike, that we need to keep working on and refining, but for now we‘re doing the best we can with what we have. The important thing is that we‘re starting to understand the bike better and build a clearer direction for the future. We know there‘s still work to do, but we‘re staying focused and continuing to push the project forward. Now I‘m looking forward to getting back to Europe — having races closer together should help us keep the momentum, bring some updates, and continue developing in the right direction.”
Gino Borsoi – Team Manager:“Overall, it was a positive day. Of course, our ambitions are higher than this, but we all needed a bit of a morale boost and we‘re very happy for Toprak to have scored the first of what we hope will be many MotoGP points in his career. Jack also delivered a solid performance, and from the halfway point of the race both riders showed they had the pace to stay close to the top ten. That‘s an important indication for us.This is our starting point, and it‘s from here that we need to continue building. We know it won‘t be easy, but we‘ve already reduced the gap significantly compared to the first races. Now we have to keep our heads down, continue working, and bring the team and our riders closer to where they belong.”
More from a press release issued by Monster Energy Yamaha:
Tough Day At The Office for Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP on Texas Race Day.
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP’s Fabio Quartararo and Álex Rins struggled to make progress in the 20-lap Grand Prix of the United States Race. They finished in P17 and P18 respectively.
The Grand Prix of the United States Race didn’t play out as the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team had hoped. Fabio Quartararo and Álex Rins took the chequered flag in 17th and 18th place respectively.
Quartararo launched from P16 and held this position for the majority of the 20-lap contest, though he briefly climbed up to P15 after Ai Ogura had a technical issue on lap 15. El Diablo was in the company of Toprak Razgatlíoğlu and focused on defending his position from him. El Diablo did so successfully until lap 18. Losing one more position to Jack Miller on the final lap, he finished in P17, 27.136s from first.
Starting from P21, Rins was not able to make up positions in the tight Turn 1 and settled at the back of the pack. He climbed up a position on lap 5 but had to relinquish it on lap 8, and afterwards it became a lonely ride for him. With three rivals unable to reach the finish line, Rins took the chequered flag in P18, 38.701s from the winner.
Today’s results put Quartaro in 17th place in the championship standings with 6 points. Rins is in 18th with 3 points. Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP are in 10th position in the team classifications, with 9 points, and Yamaha is fifth in the contructor rankings with 9 points.
The team will enjoy three weeks off before travelling to Jerez for the Grand Prix of Spain, held from 24–26 April.
Fabio Quartararo (20) and Brad Binder (33) at COTA. Photo courtesy Yamaha.
Fabio Quartararo:“I didn’t expect the tyres to drop like that at the end. I was managing the tyres, but they still dropped in the last five laps. Yamaha knows what we need and what we need to do. Toprak impressed me all weekend, though. The way he rides is really smooth and very much his style, like we’ve seen in WorldSBK – it’s good.”
Alex Rins (42) at COTA. Photo courtesy Yamaha.
Alex Rins:“We had an electronic issue in today’s race that was affecting the bike. In the beginning I was feeling good. I was in front of Miller, and I was going to catch Toprak. But on lap 8, I started to encounter an issue, and that’s it. It was quite tough to manage.”
Massimo Meregalli:“All in all, it’s been a tough race weekend. I don’t want to say that ‘it’s a GP to forget’ because we need to learn from the difficulties we faced. We knew before coming here that COTA is one of the tracks that highlight our areas of improvement. Following the Sprint and the Race, we now have data with the new bike that we can analyse. While these are not ‘fun’ races for the riders or our team, they are crucial for future bike development. We will use the three weeks leading up to the Spanish GP to regroup and prepare, so we can give it our all again in Jerez.”
More from a press release issued by CASTROL Honda LCR:
Castrol Honda LCR rider Johann Zarco endured a difficult Sunday at COTA, crashing at the early stages of the race.
Starting from 15th on the grid and determined to fight for points, Zarco made a strong launch.
However, on lap two, he suffered a crash at Turn 9 due to another rider’s mistake.
Despite the incident, the Frenchman was able to rejoin the race, gathering valuable data and riding on strong laptimes, ultimately retiring at the end of the race.
Johann Zarco (5) at COTA. Photo courtesy Honda LCR.
Johann Zarco DNF:“Another rider went to the inside of a rival in Turn 8, and this one had to go wide. I was feeling well and doing a good job, but due to that situation, I had to go in knowing we needed to change direction. He tried to come back, and at the moment of contact my bike fell in Turn 9. It was a racing incident, I don’t complain, these things happen. It was a consequence of what happened at that moment. In any case, I was feeling good and we could have taken a solid result. I decided to continue to gather information, and I was able to be fast even though we were far behind, so it was useful to understand many things.”
More from a press release issued by ELF Marc VDS:
Aron Canet takes solid points for 13th place in a shortened Moto2 race, while Deniz Öncü was 20th.
After an overcast Saturday, the sun returned to Austin on Sunday with the third Moto2 race of 2026 taking place in perfect conditions and ambient temperatures of 25 degrees.
The Moto2 race was red flagged two laps in after a 7-rider collision at Turn. The restart was held over the shortened distance of 10 laps, rather than 16.
A strong crowd was in attendance at the spectacular Circuit of the Americas on Sunday with the main grandstand close to being full.
Aron Canet (44) and Deniz Öncü (53) at COTA. Photo courtesy Marc VDS Team.
Having made excellent improvements on Saturday, Aron was confident starting Sunday. He made a solid getaway in the restart. After losing two places on lap 2, he climbed as high as 11th on lap 6.
The Spaniard was pushed back to 13th on the closing lap, but this was the best feeling he had found so far this year. This should be a solid platform to achieve good results back in Europe.
This result puts Aron 16th in the championship standings with 5.5 points.
Aron Canet:“I’m super happy. This was the best race of the year so far. It’s not the result that I want. It’s not the result that the team wants. But for me I know we need to make improvements step by step and everything won’t come immediately. We have to keep working at it as this weekend I could feel we were getting closer. I’m really happy because we understood many things this weekend and we’ve found a good direction to work in. Let’s try and continue on this line at Jerez.”
Deniz Öncü (53) on the grid at COTA. Photo courtesy Marc VDS Team.
Deniz’s task for the day was made difficult when he crashed on the exit of Turn 11 on the sighting lap of the restart. Thankfully, he was able to remount and make the second start.
After that the Turkish rider struggled to find his best rhythm over the ten laps. But he collected important experience in Austin that will serve him well from the next round in Spain.
This result leaves Deniz 17th in the championship standings with 3.5 points.
Deniz Öncü:“We’ve finished this American GP. It wasn’t an easy weekend for me. But we’ve tried a lot of things to improve my feeling. Today, before the race start, I had a highside on the sighting lap. I still managed to come to the grid and I just made the race start. I can’t say it was a positive weekend. But we tried many things. Also, it looks like we have some ideas to follow at the next round at Jerez. We’ve never been too down, even if this weekend didn’t go as planned. We’ll stay strong and I’ll keep pushing, keep working and make sure I’m fully ready for Jerez.”
More from a press release issued by MT Helmets:
Danish fights back to gain 12 positions and score points in Austin.
The World Championship headed to the Circuit of the Americas in Austin for the United States Grand Prix, the third round of the calendar after Thailand and Brazil.
The AEON Credit MT Helmets–MSi riders were unable to shine in Saturday’s sessions and had to start the race from the back of the grid.
Ryusei Yamanaka started from the seventh row, while Hakim Danish lined up last after a crash in Q1 prevented him from fighting for a place in Q2.
The race was held in dry conditions, with strong winds playing a role in the moments leading up to the start. In this context, Hakim Danish made a strong start, gaining five positions on the opening lap. The Malaysian rider maintained a consistent pace, allowing him to steadily move forward and cross the finish line in 13th place, scoring further points in his rookie Moto3 season.
Meanwhile, Ryusei Yamanaka finished 18th in a race where starting positions proved decisive and limited the Japanese rider’s chances of progressing through the field.
The World Championship now heads into a three-week break before the start of the European leg. The next round will be the Spanish Grand Prix in Jerez, from April 24 to 26.
Hakim Danish (13) at COTA. Photo courtesy MT Helmets.
Hakim Danish:“I had a heavy crash in qualifying and had to start from the back of the grid, which affected the entire race. Even so, I didn’t give up and managed to gain several positions, especially in the opening laps. It was a demanding race, particularly in terms of tyre management on such a technical circuit. Overall, I’ve learned a lot this weekend.”
Ryusei Yamanaka (6) at COTA. Photo courtesy MT Helmets.
Ryusei Yamanaka: “It was a difficult weekend overall. We couldn’t find the feeling we were looking for, and that affected both our qualifying and race performance. Now it’s time to reset and prepare for the Spanish Grand Prix, at a track I really like and where I hope to take a step forward.”
Factory Aprilia rider Marco Bezzecchi made up for his mistake in the Saturday Sprint race in the best possible way on Sunday, leading from lights to flag and setting records along the way. Bezzecchi has now won five straight Grand Prix races, joining an elite club of five-in-a-row Grand Prix winners. Aprilia has gone 1-2 in the last two Grand Prix races, a new mark for the company. And Bezzecchi re-took the Championship points lead. Teammate Jorge Martin, who finished second, has been on the last four podiums (counting Sprint and Grand Prix races) and is in second, four points behind Bezzecchi in the Championship points.
Jorge Martin (89). Photo by Michael Gougis.
KTM’s Pedro Acosta was again the best of the non-Aprilia rest, taking his second podium of the year. Acosta sits third in the points, with 60, behind Bezzecchi with 81 and Martin with 77.
Pedro Acosta. Photo by Michael Gougis.
Fabio Di Giannantonio was the top-finishing Ducati rider, but the Pertamina Enduro VR46 star could do no better than fourth and was fortunate to finish that high, as Trackhouse Racing’s Ai Ogura had passed him and was pulling away when Ogura’s Aprilia broke.
Fabio Di Giannantonio (49). Photo by Michael Gougis.
Ducati’s Marc Marquez started his day sitting outside of the medical office next to COTA’s media center, alone and in the dark. He served a long-lap penalty and finished fifth after a battle with Enea Bastianini.
Marc Marquez (93). Photo by Michael Gougis.
Fermin Aldeguer finished the weekend with a 10th place in the Sprint race and 11th in the Grand Prix race. It was remarkable considering that the Gresini Ducati rider is still walking with a cane as he recovers from a broken leg suffered in pre-season testing.
Fermin Aldeguer. Photo by Michael Gougis.
A seven-rider pileup forced officials to red-flag the Moto2 race. Senna Agius took the win in the restarted 10-lap sprint. American Joe Roberts, one of the riders involved in the multi-bike crash, took the restart and finished ninth.
Senna Agius (81). Photo by Michael Gougis.
Joe Roberts (16) was caught up in the first-lap crash that caused the Moto2 race to be red flagged. He finished ninth. Photo by Michael Gougis.
Guido Pini came out on top of a four-rider last-corner scramble and took the Moto3 race win. He became the first Italian rider to win a Moto3 race since Dennis Foggia in 2022.
Guido Pini (94). Photo by Michael Gougis.
Oscar Gutierrez won the second Harley-Davidson World Bagger Cup race of the weekend, rebounding from his last-place finish in Saturday’s race.
Oscar Gutierrez (99). Photo by Michael Gougis.
The main grandstands as seen on Sunday at COTA. Photo by Michael Gougis.
Ducati had no answer for the pace of the factory Aprilia machines and riders. So far this season, Ducati has had only four podiums in six Sprint and Grand Prix races and the highest ranking Ducati rider is Fabio Di Giannantonio in fourth, 31 points out of the lead. After the Sprint race, Alex Marquez, who is riding a current-spec Ducati for the first time in his career, estimated that he was only getting 80% out of the 2026 Ducati, and that it still needed development.
Luigi “Gigi” Dall’Igna. Photo by Michael Gougis.
Ducati CEO Claudio Domenicali, left, chats with KTM CEO Gottfried Neumeister on the grid for the Sprint race, on Saturday at Circuit of The Americas.
Yamaha’s struggles continued at COTA, with the four YZR-M1s mired at the back of the field in a pack. Here Fabio Quartararo (20) leads Toprak Razgatlioglu (07), Alex Rins (42) and Jack Miller (43). Photo by Michael Gougis.
Marco Bezzecchi (72), Pedro Acosta (37), Marc Marquez (93), Fabio Di Giannantonio (49) and Francesco Bagnaia (63) during the MotoGP Race at COTA. Photo by Michael Gougis.
Marco Bezzecchi won the MotoGP World Championship race Sunday at Circuit of The Americas, in Texas. Riding his Aprilia Racing RS-GP26 on Michelin control tires, the Italian rider won the 20-lap race by 2.036 seconds.
Bezzecchi is the first rider to win five consecutive Grands Prix when leading every lap in the modern area.
His teammate and Sprint race winner, Jorge Martin, was the runner-up.
Pedro Acosta placed third on his Red Bull KTM Factory RC16.
Pole-sitter Fabio Di Giannantonio crossed the finish line fourth on his Pertamina Enduro VR46 Ducati Desmosedici GP26.
Seven-time MotoGP World Champion, Marc Marquez, took fifth on his Lenovo Team Ducati Desmosedici GP26.
Marco Bezzecchi leads the championship with 81 points, 4 ahead of Jorge Martin who has 77 points. Pedro Acosta is third with 60 points.
Record-breaker Bezzecchi claims COTA crown with Sunday stunner. Martin makes it an Aprilia 1-2 in Austin, Acosta joins the Noale duo on the podium as Marc Marquez claims P5 following his Long Lap penalty.
Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) just can’t stop breaking records. The #72 has won an incredible fifth Grand Prix in a row, only the third Italian rider ever to do it, and has won the first three GPs of a season for the first time since Marc Marquez did it in 2014. It was also an Aprilia 1-2 for the second time in succession as Jorge Martin followed up Tissot Sprint Gold with a Sunday podium, with Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) taking third.
Acosta got an almighty launch off the front row for the holeshot, with Bezzecchi also steaming forwards to take over in second. Even more so Martin as he shot up into third. Early drama then saw Acosta deep into Turn 11, with Bezzecchi cutting up the inside on the tighter line. On the exit the two were side-by-side and the two bashed fairings – with a piece of Aprilia breaking off and flying off behind them. Bez retained the lead following that, with Acosta recovering quickly despite the bash and Martin hovering third too.
Marc Marquez (93), Francesco Bagnaia (63) and Enea Bastianini (23) during the MotoGP race at COTA. Photo courtesy MotoGP.
Behind, it was all heating up in the group. Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) vs Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) first, with the yellow machine ahead, before Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) was then also able to pick his way past the #93 – followed swiftly by Honda HRC Castrol’s Joan Mir.
By then, it was new record time: crossing the line ahead for each lap until the start of Lap 4, Bezzecchi has officially led more consecutive Grand Prix laps than anyone else in the modern era. The previous record was 103 held by Jorge Lorenzo in 2015, Lap 4 in COTA made it 104 for Bezzecchi.
Meanwhile, Marc Marquez was out of the heat of battle and into the Long Lap area. The #93 had the penalty for his incidentB with Di Giannantonio in the Sprint, and he completed that with no drama. Then Mir was given a Long Lap for a shortcut taken when in the heat of that battle for fourth, but the #36 crashed out not long after.
Meanwhile at the front, Martin had made one luge on Acosta for second and been denied, and a couple of laps later had a huge moment at Turn 1. He saved it but dropped back into the clutches of Diggia, with Bagnaia also homing in on the back of the #49.
At half race distance, it was Bez leading Acosta by around a second, with Martin, Diggia and Bagnaia close behind. Ai Ogura (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) had attacked Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) for sixth, with Sprint podium finisher Enea Bastianini (Red Bull KTM Tech3) on their tail. Marc Marquez was down in P9 after his Long Lap, not making many inroads into the #23 ahead.
Ogura and Bastianini were the riders on the move. Ogura was homing in on Bagnaia and Bastianini on Alex Marquez. By Lap 12, the American Flag-liveried Trackhouse machine of Ogura was past Bagnaia in brutal but clean style. Next target: Diggia. The Japanese rider sliced up the inside at Turn 12, another brutal but clean move.
Just after that, Acosta had a moment at Turn 1 – wide or looking for a bike to follow for tyre pressure? Martin was able to just sweep past the KTM, making it an Aprilia 1-2, with Ogura on the march too.
MotoGP Race at COTA. Photo courtesy MotoGP.
Meanwhile in the fight for sixth, the Bagnaia – Bastianini – Alex Marquez – Marc Marquez quartet was heating up, and drama hit for Ogura. As Marc Marquez elbowed past Alex Marquez and then past Bastianini to tag onto the back of Bagnaia, Ogura was slowing and pulling over out of the group’s way – a technical issue putting paid to his incredible charge.
Bagnaia vs Marc Marquez was then game on for fifth – but not according to Bastianiani. The #23 attacked Marquez first instead of took sixth. The #93 responded. Bastianini wasn’t done, sending it at the end of the back straight. Marquez got him on the cutback. It settled briefly before Marquez attacked Bagnaia, and Bastianini barreled straight through to follow the #93.
Meanwhile at the front, Bezzecchi was just about keeping enough in hand over Martin, and onto the last lap he eked it out to cross the line 1.7 seconds clear. He extended that lap-leading run to an even bigger record of 121 and becomes only the third Italian rider ever to win five in a row after Hall of Famers Valentino Rossi and Giacomo Agostini. He’s also the first rider to win the first three GPs of the season since Marc Marquez did it in 2014.
Jorge Martin (left) and Marco Bezzecchi (right) in the parc fermé after the MotoGP race at COTA. Photo courtesy MotoGP.
Martin makes it an Aprilia 1-2, the first time the factory has achieved that twice in a row, and only just loses that Championship lead gained with his Sprint Gold medal. Acosta held on to third place for a podium on Sunday to add a trophy to replace the medal lost on Saturday.
Diggia takes fourth, in an ultimately lonely ride to the flag but comes home as top Ducati. Marc Marquez did hold on to fifth ahead of Bastianini – just – with Alex Marquez taking P7. Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse MotoGP team) slots into eighth, with he and Luca Marini (Honda HRC Castrol) getting past Bagnaia late on.
After a dramatic weekend in Texas, the grid now has time to recharge and reload for Jerez. The Spanish GP is in a few weeks, so come back for more as MotoGP heads over to Europe for another classic race weekend – with Aprilia very much in control in the title fight.
Barry Baltus (7), Alonso Lopez (21), Senna Agius (81), Izan Guevara (28),Celestino Vietti (13), Manuel Gonzalez (18) and Alex Escrig (11) during the Moto2 race at COTA. Photo by Michael Gougis.
Senna Agius won the FIM Moto2 World Championship race Sunday at Circuit Of The Americas, in Texas. Riding his Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP Kalex on Pirelli control tires, Agius won the 10-lap race by 0.497 second.
The race was red-flagged following a crash involving multiple riders and was subsequently reduced from 16 laps to 10.
Celestino Vietti was the runner-up on his HDR SpeedRS Boscoscuro.
Izan Guevara was a close third on his Blu Cru Pramac Yamaha Boscoscuro.
David Alonso finished fourth on his CFMOTO Power Electronics Aspar Kalex.
Agius’ teammate and championship point leader, Manuel Gonzalez took fifth.
American Joe Roberts finished Sunday’s race in 9th on his OnlyFans American Racing Team Kalex.
Manuel Gonzalez leads the championship with 39.5 points, 3.5 ahead of Izan Guevara who has 36 points. Daniel Holgado is third with 33 points.
Agius fends off Vietti for Moto2 honours at COTA. The Australian got the job done during a red-flagged Grand Prix in the USA.
Having had a difficult opening couple of rounds, Senna Agius (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP) put in a determined ride to take a third career victory in Moto2. The #81 resisted a late charge from Celestino Vietti (HDR SpeedRS Team) with the #13 taking a first podium of the season whilst the rostrum was completed by Izan Guevara (BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2).
The holeshot honours went to Alonso Lopez (ITALJET Gresini Moto2) but all eyes were behind as a collision at Turn 1 ended Championship leader Daniel Holgado’s (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team) and Joe Roberts (OnlyFans American Racing Team) Grand Prix. However, there was then a big incident at Turn 11 on the opening lap involving Filip Salac (OnlyFans American Racing Team), Angel Piqueras (QJMOTOR – GALFER – MSI), David Alonso (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team), Collin Veijer (Red Bull KTM Ajo), Sergio Garcia (ITALJET Gresini Moto2), Daniel Muñoz (Italtrans Racing Team) and Alberto Ferrandez (BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2), bringing out the red flag. All riders were reported conscious and the Grand Prix restarted for 10 laps – all riders who crashed were eligible to restart but Piqueras and Ferrandez were taken to the medical centre.
Ahead of the restart, a raft of contenders were handed Long Lap Penalties – Holgado for causing a crash at Turn 1 whilst Muñoz and Barry Baltus (REDS Fantic Racing) for unsafe changes of direction from the original start. Elsewhere, Deniz Öncü (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) crashed on the sighting lap but did start. On the restart itself, Lopez grabbed the holeshot before Baltus came through on him at Turn 13 but still had to serve his Long Lap Penalty. Behind, Agius made his move to get into P2 ahead of Lopez before pouncing on leader Baltus on Lap 3 into Turn 12.
Onto Lap 4, Vietti was on the charge and having dispatched of Izan Guevara (BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2), he got ahead of Lopez at Turn 1, the Spaniard now dropping back. On Lap 5, Baltus briefly took the lead back at Turn 12 on Agius but then came into serve his LLP, slotting back into P7 and just ahead of Alonso, with the Colombian soon getting ahead of the Belgian before he also got ahead of Lopez and was now sitting in fifth with four to go. A lap later at Turn 1, the #80 got into fourth, a stunning comeback from 17th on the grid.
Back at the front and Vietti took over at the front on the run down the 1.2km backstraight, only for Agius to attempt to respond at Turn 19 but he was unable to make it stick. Two laps to go, the gloves had come off as Agius pulled a bold move to hit the front going into Turn 3 and then the Australian pulled the pin to start the final lap of the Grand Prix. Despite a mega final lap from Vietti, it was Agius who took an emotional third career victory ahead of the Italian, whilst Guevara put in a cracking performance to bag a second podium of 2026 in P3.
17th to fourth, a fine Sunday for Alonso whilst Gonzalez was a solid fifth, enough to assume the Championship lead. After his Long Lap Penalty, Baltus was sixth ahead of Lopez whilst Alex Escrig (KLINT Racing Team) fended off home-hero Roberts for eighth, with the #16 restarting to get his best result of the season whilst it was Tony Arbolino (REDS Fantic Racing) rounded out the top ten.
Next stop, the European tour begins! Moto2 returns to Jerez!
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