Chris Clark’s start to the 2026 season featured both highs and lows as the talented teenager began his FIM Yamaha R3 BLU CRU World Cup at the Balaton Park circuit in Hungary this past weekend.

Qualifying on the fourth row of the grid for Saturday’s opening race, the #5 was soon in contention for the podium once the lights went out. Avoiding various incidents that happened around him, the American charger crossed the line in fifth to open his season’s scorecard with eleven valuable championship points.

Due to start Sunday’s second race from eighth – after posting the eighth fastest lap in race one a day earlier – the BGR Smrz Yamaha rider was unfortunately unable to take part following an incident on the warm up lap that resulted in a trip to the hospital for precautionary checks. Released later the same day, Chris will now return to the US with his full focus on getting his title campaign back on track at Motorland Aragon in Spain at the end of the month.

Chris Clark: “Race one on Saturday was really good. I started P12 and I knew it would take a good fight from me to move through the pack. I got a decent start and battled hard. I avoided all the chaos and was able to finish fifth which is great for the championship. Sunday was unfortunate due to an incident on the warm up lap, but these things happen and I am already thinking about Aragon in a few weeks. I had good races there last year, so I am confident of a strong result.”