The Motorcycle Roadracing Association closed out its 2026 season at High Plains Raceway on September 6, returning to the West Course for the first time since 2024. The two-mile configuration provided a unique challenge for the final round, but with championships on the line across the MRA’s premier classes, the focus remained firmly on the riders fighting for one last opportunity to finish the season on top. 

The Fay Myers Race of the Rockies Open championship was one of the season’s most closely watched battles. Mat Cunha came out of the gate strong, winning the opening two rounds and establishing himself as the early championship favorite. Kreece Elliott answered with victories in Rounds 3 and 4, steadily closing the gap before taking over the championship lead heading into the final round. 

Justen Behmer remained a consistent presence near the front of the field throughout the season, while David Lambert Sr. stayed within championship contention. Jayden Fernandez was also an important part of the early-season ROTR Open fight before turning his attention to his MotoAmerica commitments for the remainder of the year. 

That left Elliott entering the season finale with the championship lead and Cunha looking to close the season with one final victory. With the West Course back on the schedule and the championship still to be decided, the stage was set for one last battle in the MRA’s premier class. 

• Fay Myers Race of the Rockies Open 

Cunha started the final showdown exactly as he intended, putting his Alpha Racing BMW on pole position by just 0.339 seconds over Elliott. Behmer, aboard his #67 machine, completed the front row of the grid. 

When the lights went out, it was Elliott who squeezed past Cunha into Turn 1, taking the lead off the start. 

Cunha immediately went to work. On the opening lap, down the back straight, the Alpha Racing BMW powered past Elliott before Turn 4, putting Cunha back at the front. Behmer and David Lambert Sr. #28 remained close behind. 

By Lap 5, Elliott and Behmer had closed the 1.3-second gap to Cunha down to just half a second. From that point forward, the three riders were stuck together like glue, producing one of the most entertaining battles of the season. 

Elliott applied constant pressure to Cunha, while Behmer remained close enough to capitalize on any mistake. The trio circulated together for the remainder of the race, but Cunha managed the gap perfectly. Despite Elliott’s relentless pressure, Cunha never gave the championship leader the opening he needed. 

Cunha held on to take the checkered flag and the final Race of the Rockies Open victory of the 2026 season. Elliott crossed the line second, with Behmer completing the podium in third. 

• Fay Myers Race of the Rockies Open — Round 5 Results 

While Cunha had the final-round victory, Elliott had already done enough to secure the championship. 

• 2026 Fay Myers Race of the Rockies Open — Final Championship Standings 

Elliott’s championship capped a season in which momentum repeatedly shifted between the two riders. Cunha opened the year with consecutive victories, while Elliott responded with back-to-back wins of his own in the middle of the season. Elliott’s consistency and strong second half ultimately allowed him to carry the championship lead into the finale and leave High Plains Raceway as the 2026 Fay Myers Race of the Rockies Open Champion. 

Cunha’s victory in the finale provided a fitting ending to his championship campaign, while Lambert’s consistency throughout the season earned him third in the final standings. Behmer’s third-place finish in the finale was a strong way to close a season that saw him remain a regular threat at the front of the field, ultimately finishing fourth in the final championship standings. 

The final race belonged to Cunha, but the championship belonged to Elliott. 

• Apex Autoglass Race of the Rockies Middleweight 

The final round of the 2026 Apex Autoglass Race of the Rockies Middleweight championship produced a chaotic opening, an incredibly close finish, and a championship battle that went all the way to the final round. 

When the lights went out on the West Course, Phil Takahashi #807, Tyrel Diekmann #724 and Geovanni Cruz #21 launched into Turn 1 nearly three-wide, setting the tone for what would become one of the most action-packed races of the season. 

Chaos unfolded almost immediately. An Open-class rider farther ahead made contact with another competitor and crashed, creating a scramble for the riders behind. Diekmann and Cruz were able to slip through the incident cleanly and emerge at the front, while Takahashi was forced to check up and slotted into third. 

Diekmann came through the opening sequence with the lead, but his time at the front would be short-lived. 

On the opening lap, Cruz made his move at the exit of Turn 8, taking the lead away from Diekmann. Takahashi followed closely behind, putting himself right back into the fight for the top spot. 

Further back, Orkun Krand #9 found himself locked in a battle with Tim Ellis #915 for fourth. Krand got a slightly better drive approaching Turn 3 and used it to outbrake Ellis into Turn 4, taking over fourth position. 

At the front, Cruz and Takahashi immediately began trading blows, running virtually wheel-to-wheel as they fought for control of the race. 

Krand continued his charge forward, executing a clean outside pass on the entry to Turn 7 to get around Diekmann and move into third. 

The battle for the lead continued to intensify. Takahashi eventually made his move in Turn 8, taking control of the race and putting Cruz into second. The two riders remained locked together as the laps clicked away. 

Behind them, Krand appeared poised to complete the podium, but the race would take another dramatic turn. Later in the race, Krand asked too much of the front tire heading into Turn 2 and lost the front, ending his podium charge. 

Ellis was in the perfect position to capitalize. After battling his way forward early in the race, he was ready to pick up the pieces and inherited third place. 

At the front, Takahashi and Cruz continued their fight all the way to the checkered flag. When the timing tower finally settled, Takahashi had held on for the victory — but by the slimmest of margins. 

Cruz crossed the line just 0.009 seconds behind Takahashi, producing an incredible finish to the final Apex Autoglass Race of the Rockies Middleweight race of the season. 

Ellis completed the podium in third, earning his first Race of the Rockies Middleweight podium of the 2026 season. 

• Apex Autoglass Race of the Rockies Middleweight — Round 5 Results 

• 2026 Apex Autoglass Race of the Rockies Middleweight — Final Championship Standings 

Takahashi’s victory provided the perfect ending to his 2026 campaign, as he finished the season atop the Apex Autoglass Race of the Rockies Middleweight championship. Josh Radcliffe secured second in the final standings, while Orkun Krand completed the championship podium in third, just one single point behind Radcliffe. 

The final race itself was a fitting conclusion to the season: aggressive from the opening corner, unpredictable throughout, and decided by just nine thousandths of a second at the finish. 

• Rider Justice Amateur Open 

The 2026 Rider Justice Amateur Open championship came to its conclusion on the West Course at High Plains Raceway, and while the final race would ultimately belong to the rider who had dominated the class all season, it didn’t start quite as smoothly as Tony Ewan #125 had hoped. 

When the lights went out, Ewan struggled to get his motorcycle into first gear, costing him valuable positions off the line and dropping him to third as the field charged toward Turn 1. Walt Vogl #117 was able to capitalize, while Lee Denney #272 got the holeshot and led the field into the opening corner. 

Ewan’s setback wouldn’t last long. 

On the opening lap, Ewan immediately went to work. Driving down the back straight, he made an aggressive but decisive move, passing both Vogl and Denney to go from third to first in one stretch of racetrack. 

Once back at the front, Ewan settled into the dominant form he had displayed throughout the 2026 season. With the championship already firmly within his grasp, the pressure was off, but Ewan showed no signs of slowing down. He quickly established control of the race and went on to take the checkered flag. 

Behind him, the battle for second continued to unfold. Denney was able to manage the gap to Vogl and maintain his position, securing second place at the finish. Vogl completed the podium in third. 

• Rider Justice Amateur Open — Round 5 Results 

Ewan’s victory provided another exclamation point on what had been a dominant 2026 campaign. Even a poor start couldn’t keep the championship leader from reaching the front, and once he got there, the result looked much like it had throughout the season. 

With the final checkered flag of the year now in the books, Ewan was crowned the 2026 Rider Justice Amateur Open Champion. 

• 2026 Rider Justice Amateur Open — Final Championship Standings 

Nicholas Stentiford finished second in the final championship standings, while Denney’s runner-up finish in the finale helped propel him to third overall. 

The fight for the final championship positions also had implications beyond the podium. Dan Parker #314, who had been in contention for a top-three championship finish, saw his hopes take a major hit following his crash in the Race of the Rockies. The incident allowed Denney to edge Parker out and secure third in the final championship standings. 

For Ewan, the championship was the culmination of a season defined by consistency and speed. Even when the final race threw an unexpected problem at him before Turn 1, he responded immediately, charging back through the field and finishing the season exactly where he had spent so much of it — at the front. 

The 2026 Rider Justice Amateur Open championship belonged to Tony Ewan #125, and his final-round victory was a fitting way to close out a dominant season. 

• Looking Ahead to 2027 

With the final checkered flags flying at High Plains Raceway, the 2026 Motorcycle Roadracing Association season officially came to a close. From the opening round at High Plains Raceway to the return of the West Course for the season finale, the year delivered close championship battles, dramatic finishes, new faces on the podium, and plenty of memorable racing action. 

Five rounds of competition produced champions across the MRA’s premier classes, but perhaps more importantly, the 2026 season once again showcased the depth of talent and competitive spirit that makes MRA racing special. Whether battling for a championship, chasing a first podium, or simply fighting for every position on the track, the riders continued to provide the kind of racing that keeps fans and competitors coming back. 

As the 2026 season comes to an end, the MRA would like to thank all of the riders, teams, sponsors, officials, corner workers, volunteers, and fans who made another season of motorcycle road racing possible. Their dedication and support are what keep the organization moving forward. 

The trophies may be handed out and the race bikes may be heading into the garage for the winter, but the work for next season has already begun. 

The Motorcycle Roadracing Association looks forward to welcoming everyone back in 2027 for another season of competition, camaraderie, and, most importantly, more great racing action.