Round 3 of the 2026 Motorcycle Roadracing Association season returned to Pueblo Motorsports Park on July 12th, marking the halfway point of the championship campaign. Once again, riders were met with scorching summer temperatures that tested both competitors and machinery throughout the day.
Leading up to the weekend, uncertainty surrounded the event as the massive Aspen Acres Fire continued to burn just outside of Pueblo. Fortunately, favorable winds kept smoke away from the facility, providing excellent air quality and allowing racers and spectators to enjoy ideal conditions despite the nearby wildfire.
After sweeping the opening two rounds of the season, Mathew Cunha and Tony Ewan entered the weekend looking to preserve their perfect records and strengthen their championship leads. However, Round 3 would prove that in motorcycle road racing, fortunes can change in an instant.
- Fay Myers Race of the Rockies Open
Coming into Round 3, Mathew Cunha #12 had been nearly flawless, winning the opening two races of the season and earning pole position for the third consecutive weekend. Unfortunately, the championship leader’s pursuit of another victory came to an abrupt end before the opening lap had truly begun.
As the field charged toward Turn 1, Cunha suffered a critical mechanical failure, forcing his immediate retirement from the race and opening the door for the rest of the field to battle for victory.
David Lambert Sr. #28 capitalized on the opportunity, emerging from the opening corners in the lead. His advantage would be short-lived, however, as Kreece Elliot #97 wasted no time making his intentions known. Charging through the opening lap, Elliot executed a decisive pass on Lambert entering Turn 5 to take over the lead.
Behind the front-running duo, CJ Walker #50 settled into third place with Justen Behmer #67 close behind. Within only two laps, the leading four riders had begun separating themselves from the remainder of the field, creating two intense battles that would define the race.
At the front, Elliot and Lambert steadily opened a gap over the fight for third while engaging in a race-long duel of their own. Lambert remained glued to Elliot’s rear wheel for virtually every lap, applying relentless pressure and waiting for even the smallest opportunity to strike.
Behind them, Behmer began mounting his own charge. On lap three, he made a clean pass on Walker to move into third position before gradually building a small advantage.
That margin nearly disappeared midway through the race when the leaders encountered lap traffic entering Turn 7. Walker seized the opportunity and quickly closed the gap to within a single bike length, setting up another thrilling battle that would continue through the closing laps.
Despite the constant pressure from behind, both Elliot and Behmer displayed remarkable composure. Elliot never faltered under Lambert’s relentless pursuit, while Behmer successfully defended third despite repeated attacks from Walker as the laps wound down.
When the checkered flag finally flew, Elliot crossed the finish line to claim his first Fay Myers Race of the Rockies Open victory of the 2026 season. Lambert Sr. delivered one of his strongest performances of the year with a hard-fought second-place finish after pressuring the race leader from start to finish, while Behmer completed the podium following an impressive defensive ride in the closing stages.
Round 3 delivered one of the most exciting Fay Myers Race of the Rockies Open contests of the season so far. With Cunha’s unfortunate retirement ending his unbeaten streak and Elliot breaking through for his first victory, the championship battle has tightened considerably as the MRA heads into the second half of the 2026 season.
- Fay Myers Race of the Rockies Open Results
- Kreece Elliot #97
- David Lambert Sr. #28
- Justen Behmer #67
- Apex Autoglass Race of the Rockies Middleweight
The Apex Autoglass Race of the Rockies Middleweight class produced another thrilling contest as the championship battle continued to evolve. With Round 1 and Round 2 winner Juliana Fernandez absent from the grid, the door was open for a new race winner to emerge as competitors looked to capitalize on the opportunity.
When the lights went out, Phil Takahashi #807 launched his Longmont Tire Ducati off the line and secured the holeshot into Turn 1. From the opening corner, Takahashi immediately established himself as the rider to beat and would ultimately lead every lap despite managing overheating issues throughout the race.
Behind the race leader, the battle for the remaining podium positions erupted immediately. Orkun Krand #9, Nicholas Weishaar #175, Tyrel Diekmann #724, and Geovanni Cruz #21 all charged into Turn 1 nearly side by side. As the field exited the opening corners, Cruz emerged ahead entering Turn 2 while Krand settled into third position just ahead of Diekmann.
The opening laps featured constant position changes as riders searched for any advantage. Diekmann quickly responded to Krand’s early charge, reclaiming third position with a decisive pass entering Turn 4.
Meanwhile, another rider was beginning an impressive comeback.
After a difficult start dropped him deeper into the field, Joshua Radcliffe #342 began carving his way through traffic with remarkable pace. Lap after lap, Radcliffe methodically worked his way toward the lead group, posting some of his fastest laps of the race.
His charge continued on lap three when he completed a clean pass on Krand entering Turn 9, moving himself into fourth position and immediately turning his attention toward Diekmann ahead.
At the start of lap four, Radcliffe carried exceptional drive onto the front straight and used the draft to pull alongside Diekmann before completing the pass entering Turn 1. The move elevated him into the final podium position and completed one of the most impressive recovery drives of the afternoon.
Ahead of the battle for third, Cruz continued riding a composed and consistent race. Despite Radcliffe’s rapid advance through the field, Cruz managed the gap perfectly and maintained a secure hold on second place through the closing laps.
Out front, however, Takahashi remained untouchable. Even while managing overheating concerns on his Ducati, he never relinquished the lead, delivering a dominant flag-to-flag victory to claim his first Apex Autoglass Race of the Rockies Middleweight win of the 2026 season.
With Takahashi becoming the third different winner in the class this season, the Middleweight championship battle remains wide open as the MRA heads into the second half of the 2026 campaign.
- Apex Autoglass Race of the Rockies Middleweight Results
Geovanni Cruz #21 2nd. Photo by Chandler Dahl
- Phil Takahashi #807
- Geovanni Cruz #21
- Joshua Radcliffe #342
- Rider Justice Amateur Open
The Rider Justice Amateur Open capped off another outstanding weekend of racing with a familiar face at the front of the field. Entering Round 3, Tony Ewan #125 had been perfect through the opening two rounds of the championship, and he showed no signs of slowing down as the season reached its halfway point.
When the lights went out, Ewan launched cleanly from the starting grid and secured the holeshot into Turn 1. From there, he immediately settled into a consistent rhythm and began building a comfortable advantage over the field.
Behind the race leader, Jay Hollman #53 slotted into second position with Dan Parker #314 close behind in third. While Ewan controlled the race from the front, the battle for the remaining podium positions steadily intensified.
Parker continued applying pressure to Hollman throughout the opening laps, looking for the right opportunity to make his move. Demonstrating smooth, consistent pace, Parker eventually completed a clean pass to move into second position and immediately set about securing the runner-up finish.
As the race entered its closing stages, another rider was beginning to make his presence known. Chris Driscol #96 continued working his way forward and eventually caught Hollman in the fight for the final podium position. Maintaining strong momentum through the final laps, Driscol completed the pass to move into third, rounding out the podium after an impressive late-race charge.
Out front, however, the story belonged to Ewan once again. Unchallenged from the opening corner to the checkered flag, he completed another flawless performance to earn his third consecutive Rider Justice Amateur Open victory of the 2026 season.
Through the opening half of the championship, Ewan has established himself as the rider to beat in the Rider Justice Amateur Open class. While new winners emerged in both the Fay Myers Race of the Rockies Open and Apex Autoglass Race of the Rockies Middleweight classes during Round 3, Ewan remained the only rider to preserve a perfect winning record through the first three rounds of competition.
- Rider Justice Amateur Open Results
- Tony Ewan #125
- Dan Parker #314
- Chris Driscol #96
Here’s a closing section that matches the tone of the previous articles while building excitement for the next round.
- Looking Ahead
With the halfway point of the 2026 championship now in the books, the battle for class titles is beginning to intensify. Round 3 proved just how quickly fortunes can change in motorcycle road racing, as new winners emerged, championship momentum shifted, and valuable points were gained and lost. As the season enters its second half, every race and every lap will become increasingly important in the chase for an MRA championship.
The Motorcycle Roadracing Association now turns its attention to Round 4 at High Plains Raceway on August 9, 2026. Fans and competitors can look forward to an action-packed weekend both on and off the track as the series returns to one of the region’s premier racing facilities.
The excitement begins on Saturday, August 8, when LegionSBK hosts its highly anticipated 2-hour and 4-hour endurance races. The endurance competition promises close racing, strategic pit stops, and outstanding teamwork before the MRA takes center stage on Sunday for another full day of championship road racing.
With championship battles tightening across multiple classes and momentum shifting as the season progresses, Round 4 is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated weekends of the year. Whether you’re a longtime fan or experiencing motorcycle road racing for the first time, High Plains Raceway will offer an unforgettable weekend filled with exciting competition, endurance racing, and family-friendly entertainment.
For race schedules, championship standings, live timing, racer information, and more details about the Motorcycle Roadracing Association, visit www.mra-racing.org.
