The 2026 season opener for the Motorcycle Roadracing Association officially roared to life on May 10th at High Plains Raceway, launching what promises to be one of the most competitive and exciting seasons in recent memory. With ACES Motorcycles serving as the MRA’s 2026 Presenting Sponsor, racers and fans alike were greeted with an incredible weekend of competition, camaraderie, and nonstop action.
The weekend festivities began on Saturday with a racer practice day hosted by LegionMoto that drew an impressive 160 riders to High Plains Raceway. Riders of all skill levels took advantage of the valuable track time to prepare for the first round of championship competition, filling the paddock with excitement and anticipation for Sunday’s races.
Mother Nature briefly threatened to complicate the weekend’s plans late Saturday night and into Sunday morning as rain showers moved through the area, potentially creating difficult track conditions for racers. Fortunately, the weather quickly improved as the morning progressed. By 9:00 a.m., the track had fully dried, the sun had emerged, and racers were treated to near-perfect conditions for the remainder of the day with partly cloudy skies and temperatures settling comfortably into the 70s.
The enthusiasm surrounding the new season was impossible to ignore, as the MRA welcomed an explosive turnout of 110 racers on Sunday alone — including an incredible 33 newly licensed racers making their debut appearances. From seasoned veterans to first- year competitors, the paddock was filled with energy and optimism as riders took to the track for the first championship battles of 2026.
Fay Myers Race of the Rockies Open
The opening premier-class race of the season delivered everything fans could hope for — blistering pace, fierce battles throughout the field, and a statement victory from one of the MRA’s top championship contenders.
After narrowly missing the 2025 championship by only 19 points, Mathew Cunha #12 came into the season opener with clear intentions. Cunha wasted no time establishing himself as the rider to beat, setting the fastest qualifying time with an impressive 1:47.675 lap to earn pole position for the Fay Myers Race of the Rockies Open race. Joining him on the front row were Kreece Elliot #97 and Jayden Fernandez #23.
When the lights went out, Cunha immediately capitalized on his pole position, grabbing the holeshot into Turn 1 ahead of Fernandez, Kreece Elliot #97 and Justen Behmer #67. Behmer quickly made his presence known, slicing past Fernandez down the back straight to move into second position as the opening laps unfolded.
From there, Cunha began putting on a clinic at the front. By lap three, he had already started stretching a gap over the rest of the field, leaving the battle for the remaining podium positions to intensify behind him.
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Behmer held onto second for several laps with Elliot close behind, but Fernandez — riding a 600cc Yamaha R6 against a field of 1000cc superbikes — continued showing incredible pace and composure. The young rider appeared patient and calculated, carefully studying the riders ahead while remaining firmly in contention.
As the trio fought for every inch of racetrack, Gage Mollman #617 was steadily reeling them in from behind, adding even more pressure to an already heated contest.
On lap six, Fernandez made his first major attack on Elliot through the backside section of the circuit, but Elliot used the horsepower advantage of his superbike to answer back on the straightaways. The battle became one of the highlights of the afternoon, with positions constantly under threat at every braking zone and corner exit.
Meanwhile, Cunha continued his flawless ride at the front. By lap eight, the race leader encountered heavy lap traffic for the first time but expertly navigated through the slower riders without losing momentum, further extending his advantage.
Then came lap ten — the moment that completely reshaped the podium fight.
Fernandez launched an aggressive move through the backside of the racetrack with Elliot making a minor mistake and stunningly passed not only Elliot, but Behmer as well on the very same lap. Once clear, Fernandez immediately laid down several strong sectors and built just enough of a cushion before the start-finish straight to defend against the superior straight-line speed of the liter bikes behind him.
With Fernandez pulling away into a secure second position, Behmer and Elliot turned their focus toward the final remaining podium spot. The battle went all the way to the final lap, where Elliot found exceptional drive exiting Turn 15 and completed a dramatic pass on Behmer just before the start-finish line, stealing third place by only a fraction of a second.
At the checkered flag, it was Mathew Cunha claiming a dominant opening victory to begin his 2026 championship campaign. Jayden Fernandez delivered one of the standout rides of the weekend with an incredible second-place finish aboard his 600cc machine, while Kreece Elliot completed the podium after his thrilling last-lap pass.
Fay Myers Race of the Rockies Open Results
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1. Mathew Cunha #12
2. Jayden Fernandez #23
3. Kreece Elliot #97
Apex Autoglass Race of the Rockies Middleweight
The Apex Autoglass Race of the Rockies Middleweight race delivered another exciting contest at High Plains Raceway, showcasing impressive pace and consistency from some of the MRA’s rising stars.
When the race got underway, Juliana Fernandez #191 wasted no time asserting herself at the front of the field, launching off the line to secure the holeshot into Turn 1. Close behind was Nick Weishaar #175, followed by Josh Radcliffe #342 as the trio quickly separated themselves from the rest of the field.
Fernandez immediately established an aggressive pace, opening an early two-second advantage while consistently turning 1:55 lap times. Her smooth riding style and ability to maintain momentum around the flowing High Plains Raceway circuit made it difficult for the riders behind her to gain ground during the opening stages of the race.
Weishaar responded by increasing his pace and slowly began chipping away at Fernandez’s advantage, reducing the lead to under a second as the race approached the halfway point. Sensing the pressure from behind, Fernandez answered emphatically by elevating her pace even further and dropping into the 1:53 lap range, reestablishing control of the race.
Behind the leaders, Radcliffe was quietly mounting an impressive charge of his own. Consistently running low 1:54 lap times, he steadily closed the gap to Weishaar while positioning himself for a podium challenge.
The decisive move came on lap six when Radcliffe made a clean and calculated block pass on Weishaar entering Turn 4, successfully taking over second position. Once clear, Radcliffe continued pushing hard to secure the runner-up spot while Weishaar attempted to regroup and reel him back in. Despite the effort, Weishaar ultimately settled into a strong rhythm and maintained a comfortable hold on third place through the closing laps.
Out front, Fernandez remained untouchable to the checkered flag, delivering a dominant performance and one of the most commanding rides of the weekend.
Apex Autoglass Race of the Rockies Middleweight Results
1. Juliana Fernandez #191
2. Josh Radcliffe #342
3. Nick Weishaar #175
Rider Justice Amateur Open
The Rider Justice Amateur Open provided yet another thrilling chapter to an already action- packed opening weekend for the Motorcycle Roadracing Association, featuring dominant speed at the front and late-race heartbreak that dramatically reshaped the podium.
Starting from pole position was Tony Ewan #125, joined on the front row next to Jay Hollman #53 and Jim Bassett #130. When the race began, Bassett launched perfectly off the line and secured the holeshot into Turn 1, briefly leading the field through the opening corners.
Ewan quickly demonstrated the power advantage of his BMW superbike, driving hard down the back straight and making the move for the lead entering Turn 4. Hollman also capitalized on the early shuffle and settled into second place behind Ewan as the field completed the opening lap.
Once out front, Ewan immediately began building a substantial gap over the rest of the field. Consistently turning fast laps and maintaining smooth, mistake-free riding, he steadily stretched his advantage while Hollman focused on securing second position with a strong and consistent pace in the 1:58 range.
Behind them, Walt Vogl #117 held firm in third place for much of the race and appeared poised to secure a podium finish without major pressure from behind.
But quietly working his way forward was Nick Stentiford #851, who had locked onto the rear of Vogl and was steadily closing the gap lap after lap. By lap six, Stentiford made his move, executing a clean pass on Vogl in Turn 12 to take over third position and place himself into podium contention.
Then, just as the race appeared settled, disaster struck for Hollman.
With second place seemingly secured and the white flag already waving, Hollman suffered a mechanical issue as he crossed the start-finish line to begin the final lap. The unfortunate problem forced him to retire from the race, ending what had been an impressive ride and opening the door for dramatic last-lap position changes.
The mechanical failure promoted Stentiford into second place and elevated Vogl back onto the podium in third.
At the checkered flag, it was Tony Ewan claiming a commanding victory in the Rider Justice Amateur Open after a flawless performance at the front of the field. Stentiford capitalized on both pace and persistence to finish second, while Vogl completed the podium after a consistent ride throughout the race.
Rider Justice Amateur Open Results
1. Tony Ewan #125
2. Nick Stentiford #851
3. Walt Vogl #117
Looking Ahead
The opening round of the 2026 season proved that the Motorcycle Roadracing Association is entering the new year with incredible momentum. From dominant performances at the front of the field to dramatic last-lap battles and breakthrough rides from emerging talent, the weekend at High Plains Raceway delivered exactly the kind of excitement that has made the MRA one of the premier motorcycle road racing organizations in the region.
The strong rider turnout, including 33 newly licensed racers, highlighted the continued growth and enthusiasm surrounding Colorado road racing. Combined with the support of 2026 Presenting Sponsor ACES Motorcycles and the passionate racing community that fills the paddock each weekend, the future of the MRA continues to look exceptionally bright.
If the season opener was any indication, fans can expect fierce championship battles, unforgettable racing moments, and nonstop action throughout the remainder of the 2026 campaign. The road to this year’s championships is officially underway — and after one incredible weekend at High Plains Raceway, the battle is already heating up. Join us for round 2, June 7th at Pueblo Motorsports Park.
