Cunha Returns to AFM with Three-Win Weekend at Buttonwillow’s The Circuit

BUTTONWILLOW, Calif. — The American Federation of Motorcyclists (AFM) brought a full weekend of motorcycle road racing to Buttonwillow Raceway Park’s new “The Circuit” configuration August 29-30, highlighted by the return of former AFM racer Mathew Cunha, close racing throughout the field, and a paddock that showcased the community at the heart of West Coast club racing.

Cunha, who began with the AFM in 2008 before moving away from the area, returned to his former club and immediately found himself back at the front, earning three victories during the weekend: Saturday’s Formula Pacific Sprint, Sunday’s Formula Pacific feature and Open Superbike.

The weekend also welcomed the CVMA Road Crew to the AFM paddock as part of its summer circuit supporting motorcycle road racing throughout the West. The Road Crew has spent the summer visiting events hosted by clubs from California through the Pacific Northwest and Utah, reflecting a growing effort among western racing organizations to support one another and strengthen club-level motorcycle racing across the region.

That sense of community extended beyond the racetrack. Saturday evening, racers, families, crews and volunteers gathered for AFM’s traditional paddock “Family Meal,” supported by club sponsors TBT Apparel, Remix Racing and CVSB. Medals from the weekend’s Relay Race were presented during the gathering, while K9 Counterbalance sponsored the American Twins Unlimited Novice podium with a $300/$200/$100 cash purse for the top three novice finishers.

On track, Cunha made his return to AFM competition a memorable one. In Sunday’s premier Formula Pacific feature, Eugene McMahel launched from the grid to take the holeshot and held the lead through the opening laps, much as he had in Saturday’s Formula Pacific Sprint.

Cunha soon worked his way past McMahel and, once in front, opened a gap that he managed for the remainder of the race.

Behind them, the fight for the final podium position produced some of the weekend’s best racing. Ryan Shu initially held third before a mistake in Turn 1 allowed Haydn Meng through. Shu settled in behind Meng as Jason Nelson began closing from behind.

On the final lap, Shu and Nelson both attacked Meng between Turns 4 and 5, with Shu emerging in third. Nelson remained close and tried to set up one final attack out of Turn 10, but Shu held him off to secure the final podium position.

Cunha also showed his pace in Open Superbike. Shu grabbed the holeshot, but Cunha swept around the outside in Turn 2 to take the lead and never looked back. Behind him, Sahar Zvik secured second after missing all of Saturday’s racing with mechanical problems before getting his motorcycle repaired in time for Sunday.

In Middleweight Superbike, Haydn Meng got a great reaction to the starting lights but struggled to get the motorcycle into second gear, costing him the holeshot. Meng quickly recovered, reclaimed the lead and pulled clear of the field for the victory.

The Formula 40 races provided plenty of action as well. In Formula 40 Heavyweight, Gian Luca Storti took the holeshot before Dmytro Izvoznikov made a two-rider pass entering Turn 5 to take the lead and pull away for a commanding victory.

Formula 40 Middleweight developed into a battle between Greg Olson and Stephen Rue. Olson passed Rue entering Turn 5 on the opening lap and held the lead as the pair worked through lapped traffic. Rue stayed close and made his move entering Turn 1 on the white-flag lap. Olson couldn’t mount another attack before the finish, giving Rue the victory, with Olson second and Jansher Ashraf third.

In Formula 40 Lightweight, Luke Hiesterman grabbed the holeshot and initially held off Dave Moss before beginning to build a gap. Heisterman’s race ended with a crash in Turn 7 on Lap 2, leaving Moss to take the victory.

The Buttonwillow weekend demonstrated both sides of AFM racing: fierce competition once the lights went out and a close-knit paddock once the helmets came off. The CVMA Road Crew’s visit, AFM’s traditional Family Meal, sponsor support and increasing cooperation among western racing organizations all reflected the community that continues to sustain grassroots motorcycle road racing.

The AFM will conclude its 2026 racing season at the freshly repaved Thunderhill Raceway Park on September 26th and 27th.