Birdsboro, PA — August 12, 2026 — At just 15 years old, Pennsylvania road racer Cole Varnes is set to take the next step in his racing career as he prepares to compete in the MotoAmerica Twins Cup series at Virginia International Raceway (VIR).

The VIR event will mark a major milestone for Varnes: his first race in the Twins Cup series and his first MotoAmerica race as a professional rider.

“This is something I’ve been dreaming about for the last few years,” said Varnes. “I’ve worked really hard to get to this point, and now it’s time to see what we can do at the professional level. I’m excited, but I’m also ready to go out there and compete.”

Over the past two seasons, the ASRA Roadracing Series has provided Varnes with the opportunity to compete against some of the strongest club-level road racers on the East Coast. At just 15 years old, Varnes currently leads the Atlantic Region championship standings in Lightweight GP Expert, GTL, Thunderbike, Lightweight Superbike, and the Overall Championship.

Varnes has also continued to compete and train in the District 6 Flat Track Series, using the discipline and racecraft developed on the dirt to complement his road racing program.

• A Family-Run Race Team

Cole’s father, Mike, handles much of the bike building, preparation, transportation, and logistics. Together, the family has built the program from the ground up, investing countless hours, resources, and sacrifices to give Cole the opportunity to pursue his dream of racing at the professional level.

“We’re a family race team,” said Mike. “We build the bikes, we haul the bikes, and we make it happen together as a family. Cole puts in the work on the track, and the rest of us do everything we can to give him the opportunity to succeed.”

That family effort has been a major part of Cole’s development, helping him progress from Mini Cup racing to flat track, ASRA road racing, and now the MotoAmerica Twins Cup.

A successful weekend at the ASRA Mid-Ohio VMD weekend, including Varnes’ first opportunity to compete in the AMA Grand Championship races, provided another important benchmark for the young rider and his team.

“Mid-Ohio really showed us that we’re ready to take the next step,” Varnes said. “We went there to compete against some of the best riders in the Twins Cup series, and the results gave us a lot of confidence. We know MotoAmerica is going to be a big step up, but we believe we’re ready for the challenge.”

For his MotoAmerica Twins Cup debut, Varnes will campaign a Suzuki GSX-8R.

“I’ve been working toward this moment for a long time,” Varnes said. “Getting the opportunity to race in MotoAmerica as a professional at 15 years old is something I’m extremely proud of. I know there is still a lot to learn, but I’m going to VIR ready to learn, ready to work, and ready to race.”

• Sponsors & Partners

Varnes will be supported by an outstanding group of sponsors and partners who have helped make his 2026 racing program possible: Schaeffers Motorsports, Karns Performance, Bob’s Pools, Arai, Dunlop, Dietrich Trucking, Jim & Dolly Varnes, Vortex, NECO, Woodcraft, Motion Pro, Chicken Hawk Tire Warmers, Reading Standard Motorsports, Classic HD, REV’IT Leathers, Trackside Parts Club, Motorex. 

Varnes and his team will head to Virginia International Raceway focused on making the most of his first professional MotoAmerica weekend and gaining valuable experience at the highest level of competition he has faced to date.

“This is just the beginning,” said Varnes. “I want to thank everyone who has supported me and helped me get here. My family, my team, my sponsors, and everyone who has believed in me have all played a huge part in this. Now we get to go racing.”