Throttle Sauce and TMB to Host Live Town Hall Podcast Featuring World Moto Clash Leadership
Motorcycle builders, race teams, riders, and fans are invited to participate in an interactive discussion with World Moto Clash CEO Stanford Crane Jr. and COO Matt Doty
The live broadcast will provide motorcycle racers, custom builders, race teams, industry professionals, and fans with an unprecedented opportunity to gain deeper insight into the World Moto Clash organization, its vision, and the upcoming World Moto Clash event.
Hosted on the Track Daz Talkin’ Motorbikes Podcast in collaboration with Throttle Sauce, the program will begin with an in-depth interview covering the origins of World Moto Clash, organizational goals, event planning, and developments that have not previously been discussed publicly.
World Moto Clash (WMC) is the brainchild of Stanford Crane, a former motorcycle racer and team owner. Photo courtesy WMC.
Following the interview segment, the conversation will shift into a live town hall format, with questions sourced directly from live viewers comments. Attendees will have the opportunity to submit questions through the live chat, creating an open forum designed to address topics that matter most to the motorcycle community.
“This event is designed to open a direct line of communication between World Moto Clash and the people who make motorcycle road racing what it is today,” said Ryan Johnson of Throttle Sauce. “We want viewers to walk away with a clearer understanding of what World Moto Clash represents and what to expect from the upcoming event.”
Event: World Moto Clash Town Hall Live Podcast
Hosts: Throttle Sauce & Talkin’ Motorbikes
Guests: Stanford Crane Jr., CEO, World Moto Clash; Matt Doty, COO, World Moto Clash
Viewers are encouraged to join the livestream, participate in the discussion, and submit questions throughout the broadcast.
About Throttle Sauce
Throttle Sauce is a “Modern Motorbike Media,” covering racing, industry news, rider stories, product reviews, adventures, and motorcycle culture through podcasts, video content, and live events.
About Talkin’ Motorbikes
Talkin’ Motorbikes, produced by Track Daz, delivers conversations and insights from across the motorcycle community, featuring racers, industry leaders, builders, and enthusiasts from around the world.
Ah, the holeshot device. If you’ve heard Mat and Peter talk about it before, you’d fear to think what would happen if they ever met the poor devil who invented it…
…well, his name is Robin Tuluie and he’s joining us this week!
To say Tuluie is an important figure in motor sports is slightly underselling the man. Yes, he invented both the ride height device in MotoGP and introduced mass dampers to F1, but that’s really just fooling around for this modern day Renaissance Man and astrophysicist who currently runs PhysicsX, using machine learning to crack the secrets of physics and engineering.
Sounds good, right? So come join us today as we welcome the smartest person to ever come on our podcast. Take it away!
Want more? Visit our website or support us on Patreon. With big thanks as always to Brad Baloo from The Next Men and Gentleman’s Dub Club for writing our theme song. Check out The Nextmen for more great music! And additional thanks to flowerhead, who’s music you can find here.
And thanks to our sponsors, OnTrack Experiences. Check them out if you want an easy all-in-one package for your favourite race!
Oh, and a quick word in regards to sponsors:
If you’re interested in connecting with a really unique MotoGP audience — we’re working with Smash Brand Group out of Sydney to manage partnerships. Curious? Just head to smashbrandgroup.com.au and get in touch!
Brea, CA – (June 15, 2026) – Gaige Herrera capped a near-perfect race weekend for the RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki team by riding his Gen 3 Hayabusa to victory over teammate Richard Gadson at the Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway in Bristol, TN, on Sunday.
Race Highlights:
Gaige Herrera qualified number one and won his second race of the year
Richard Gadson qualified second, won the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge and advanced to his fourth final-round appearance this year with a runner-up finish
Gaige Herrera Wins All-RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki Final at NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals. Photo courtesy Suzuki.
Two-time world champion Gaige Herrera posted the team’s first number one qualifying performance of the season on Saturday with a 6.831-second/197.88 mph run, capturing the top spot in the elimination ladder for the 32nd time in his career.
Racing was briefly interrupted on Sunday morning by rain showers that came in the middle of Pro Stock Motorcycle first-round eliminations. After action resumed, Herrera ran 6.840 seconds at 198.03 mph on a bye run before defeating Joey Gladstone (6.908 seconds/196.82 mph) in round two with a 6.804-second/198.67 mph pass that was the quickest run of the event.
In the semi-finals, Herrera survived a scare against Steve Johnson (9.452 seconds/91.47 mph) when his motorcycle drifted dangerously close to the outside retaining wall, forcing him to shut off early and coast to a 6.985-second/173.43 mph run against the veteran rider, who slowed with problems of his own.
The final round hosted a repeat of last year’s matchup between Herrera and his Vance & Hines teammate Richard Gadson. Despite spotting him with a starting line advantage, Herrera chased the reigning world champion down by mid-track with a 6.838-second/198.47 mph run and denied Gadson (6.883-seconds/196.36 mph) a back-to-back win in Thunder Valley.
The victory, Herrera’s second this season and 30th of his career, elevated him one spot to third place in the championship standings, just 5 points behind Angie Smith. More crucially the win put Herrera’s quest for a third world championship firmly back on track and helped erase the disappointment of a rare first-round loss two weeks ago in Maryland.
“Starting off with the number one qualifier always gives you a boost going into Sunday and it gave me a lot of confidence today. The only thing that caught me off guard was a crosswind in the run against Steve. I probably stayed in it too long, but luckily, he didn’t make a clean run, and I was able to get the win and move on. That was a hairy ride for sure,” Herrera said. “It was cool being back in the final with Richard after he got his first win here last year. Any day we put two Vance & Hines bikes in the final is a good day. I feel like my motorcycle is back to normal after having a little bit of bad luck lately. That’s part of racing, but I got a big boost of confidence back after this weekend, in how my Hayabusa is running and how I felt as a rider. I really needed this win and I’m very happy leaving Bristol with it.”
Richard Gadson continued his consistent title defense with a runner-up finish and a 68-point lead in the Pro Stock Motorcycle standings after six rounds of competition. Photo courtesy Suzuki.
Richard Gadson qualified second with a 6.839-second/197.74 mph run on Saturday and won the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge. It was the reigning world champion’s first win this season and second overall in the specialty race-within-a-race held during Saturday’s qualifying sessions that carries a cash purse and championship bonus points.
After the rain delay, Gadson defeated Wesley Wells (foul) in round one with a 6.846-second/196.82 mph run. In round two, Gadson defeated Chase Van Sant (7.616 seconds/134.75 mph) with a 6.851-second/197.45 mph run to advance to the semi-final round for the fifth time in six races this season. Gadson defeated Chris Bostick (15.822 seconds/47.56 mph) in the semis with a 6.891-second/195.96 mph run to advance to a final round for the 13th time in his career and fourth against Herrera.
The defending Bristol race winner was hoping for a repeat of last year’s all-Vance & Hines final at the track where he secured his first career Pro Stock Motorcycle win, but Gadson had to settle for runner-up after Herrera proved too fast to overcome.
The runner-up finish extended Gadson’s championship lead over Angie Smith to 68 points with two races remaining in the regular season championship, which concludes at the U.S. Nationals over Labor Day weekend in Indianapolis. After Indy, points for the top 10 class contenders will reset for the six-race Countdown to the Championship playoffs.
“We won the 2Fast2Tasty Challenge and I had a good bike all day today. It was exactly the weekend I was looking for minus a Diamond Wally,” Gadson said. “Of course, I always want to win, but I’m not chasing peaks and valleys this season. I’m heavy on the steady-does-it train right now. If I just keep turning on win lights and going rounds, it’s all good, and with that mentality more wins will come. This is the biggest points lead I’ve had all year, so it’s playing out great.”
RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki crew chief Andrew Hines said infrastructure investments made to Bristol Dragway after last year’s race resulted in an improvement to the track surface that the team capitalized on to maximize traction early in the run.
“They poured new concrete all the way from the starting line to the eighth-mile mark. It was like a completely different racing surface compared to previous years. We had our 60-foot times dialed in compared to anybody else here. Nobody could touch what we did off the starting line today and that made all the difference,” Hines said.
“We’ve got our ducks in a row for what we need to do to run better at sea level tracks, and we’ll see if that holds true over the next couple of races,” he added. “Historically Norwalk has been good to us. There’s less elevation there compared to Bristol, so we should run a little quicker than here. It could be hot and humid, but we figured that out this weekend so we’re looking good.”
After the sixth of 14 rounds in the 2026 Pro Stock Motorcycle season, Gadson and Herrera sit first and third in the championship standings with 557 and 484 points, respectively.
The RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines team returns to action June 25-28 at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park in Norwalk, OH.
HARLEY-DAVIDSON ANNOUNCES RETURN OF REVOLUTION MAX PRODUCTION TO U.S. FACILITIES
Move supports Back to the Bricks strategy and leans into Company’s American manufacturing footprint
Harley-Davidson, Inc. (“Harley-Davidson” or the “Company”) (NYSE: HOG) has announced that it is bringing production of the Revolution® Max platform for North America back to the United States as part of the Company’s Back to the Bricks strategy. The move brings machining, powertrain assembly, painting, and final vehicle assembly work back to Harley-Davidson facilities in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, supporting skilled union jobs and strengthening the Company’s American manufacturing footprint.
Harley-Davidson is moving production of its Revolution® Max models (including the Pan America, Sportster® S, and Nightster) back to the U.S., involving its factories in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. This photo shows a Nightster.
The production transition is expected to be completed ahead of the start of Model Year 2028 production in 2027. Harley-Davidson expects to manufacture over 100,000 motorcycles out of the Company’s York, Pennsylvania facility in 2027.
The Company shared the following statement:
For more than a century, Harley-Davidson has invested in American manufacturing, skilled workers, and the communities that build our motorcycles. Today, we’re proud to announce another step forward by bringing production of the Revolution® Max platform for North America—including Pan America, Sportster® S, and Nightster models—back to the United States. This move returns machining, powertrain assembly, painting, and final vehicle assembly work to our facilities in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, supporting dozens of additional American manufacturing and union jobs.
The Trump Administration’s changes to U.S. trade policy, combined with shifts in the global trade environment, have created new opportunities for companies to invest in domestic manufacturing. For Harley-Davidson under our new CEO Artie Starrs, this means we are able to lean even further into our American manufacturing footprint and build more motorcycles here at home. This decision, which has been months in the making, reflects our commitment to strengthening Harley-Davidson’s manufacturing base for the long term.
This Harley-Davidson Nightster has a 975cc DOHC four-valves-per cylinder engine with hydraulic self-adjusting lifters and intake VVT (Variable Valve Timing).
Harley-Davidson has built motorcycles that represent freedom, independence, and American craftsmanship for 123 consecutive years. That legacy was built by generations of employees, many of them union workers, whose skill and dedication continue to define this company today. We are grateful to our employees, our network of 500+ U.S. dealers, and most importantly our riders for their continued support as we get back to basics that have made Harley-Davidson an enduring symbol of freedom and the most iconic motorcycle brand in the world.
Bill Davidson, Vice President, Special Advisor to the CEO and Global Brand Ambassador, said, “My family has spent generations working in this company, and I’ve seen firsthand the pride, craftsmanship, and hard work that go into building Harley-Davidson motorcycles in America. My father, Willie, my sister, Karen, and I are incredibly excited about what’s happening at Harley-Davidson. Bringing this work back home is another important step in getting back to the bricks, investing in American manufacturing, and building on the values that have made Harley-Davidson one of the most iconic brands in the world.”
Company Background
Since 1903, Harley-Davidson has defined motorcycle culture by delivering a motorcycle lifestyle with distinctive and customizable motorcycles, Parts & Accessories, experiences, riding gear and apparel. What We Make: The World’s Best Motorcycles. Period. Who We Serve: Motorcycle Riders Worldwide. Why We Do It: To Protect and Grow Motorcycle Culture. What We Stand For: Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. Harley-Davidson, Inc. is the parent company of Harley-Davidson Motor Company and has a controlling interest in Harley-Davidson Financial Services and LiveWire Group, Inc. Harley-Davidson Financial Services provides financing, insurance and other programs to help get riders on the road. LiveWire is committed to developing the technology of the future and investing in the capabilities needed to lead the transformation of motorsports. Learn more at harley-davidson.com.
American-Hungarian rider Rossi Moor completed a strong race day at Estoril in the FIM MotoJunior Moto 2 category, finishing ninth in Race 1 and eighth in Race 2 with the Revesz Racing Kalex. This championship is one of the strongest fields within the Road to MotoGP program.
After starting Race 1 from 10th position, Rossi was nearly caught up in an incident at Turn 1 after the start, losing three positions in the opening phase. Despite the setback, he recovered well throughout the race and brought home a solid ninth-place finish.
Race 2 followed a similar early pattern. Rossi made a strong start but was touched by another rider in Turn 2, dropping to 14th position. By the end of the opening lap, he had already recovered to 11th and then began to build a very strong race pace, eventually finishing eighth.
The performance improvement between Race 1 and Race 2 was significant. Over the 17-lap distance, Rossi improved his total race time by almost 10 seconds, which represents an average gain of roughly six tenths per lap. His strongest lap came near the end of the race, setting his personal best on the penultimate lap, confirming the positive direction of the setup work and race pace.
Rossi Moor (92) and Iker Garcia (11) at Estoril. Photo courtesy RM92 Racing Team
Rossi Moor said:“I am satisfied with the work we did this weekend because we showed that we can be competitive. In Race 1 I was a little unlucky, but I managed to recover well after losing time on the opening lap. In Race 2, after some small setup changes on my bike, I felt better and I was able to keep a really strong pace. I even set my fastest race lap on the penultimate lap. I have to thank my team so much: Alessandro, Roberto, Carlos, Patricio, Edgar and Franco for the great work they did. I also want to thank Révész Bálint for the trust he gives me, and all the people helping me behind the scenes: Stefano, my father, my brother and Katalin.”
Alessandro Tognelli, Rossi Moor’s Chief Engineer, added:“Overall, it was a very positive weekend, especially considering that many of our rivals arrived here after testing at Estoril last week. Across the three days of the race weekend, we made huge steps forward.
In Race 1, Rossi was unfortunately a little unlucky after being involved in the Turn 1 incident, but he recovered very well. For Race 2, we made some small setup changes that proved to be positive and allowed Rossi to be almost 10 seconds faster over the total race distance compared with Race 1. We still need to keep working hard, especially on the time attack, because Moto2 is a category where if you start a little too far back, it becomes di_icult to recover. For the next round at Jerez de la Frontera, we will continue working to help Rossi make another positive step forward.”
With today’s results, Rossi Moor is now eighth in the overall FIM MotoJunior Moto2 standings with 24 points, tied with Javier Palomera.
The next round of the FIM MotoJunior Moto2 Championship will take place at Jerez de la Frontera.
LAKEWOOD, Colo. – The Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, headed to the Rocky Mountains for its third stop of the summer and Round 20 of the 2026 Monster Energy SMX World Championship, where the mile-high altitude of Thunder Valley Motocross Park provided one of the season’s most unique challenges. The Toyota Thunder Valley National Presented by American Petroleum Institute featured another captivating afternoon of racing, which saw Honda HRC Progressive’s Jett Lawrence [#1] put forth a statement performance with a pair of wire-to-wire motos to claim back-to-back wins and seize control of the 450SMX Class points lead. In the 250SMX Class, the unpredictability continued for the third straight race as Honda HRC Progressive’s Jo Shimoda [#30] became the third different winner in as many races, albeit without winning a moto. It signified Honda’s first sweep of class victories this season.
Jett Lawrence Seizes Control of Pro Motocross Championship Points Lead with Statement Victory at Thunder Valley.
450SMX Class
Timed Qualifying
The most competitive qualifying session of the young season saw several riders put themselves in the mix for pole position. While Jett Lawrence topped the charts after the first session, it was his Honda HRC Progressive teammate and older brother Hunter [#96] who ultimately led the way at the end of the second session with a time of 2:01.727, which put him a half-second ahead of the 2:02.201 by Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Lucas Coenen [#104], the MXGP points leader who took advantage of an off weekend to make his Pro Motocross debut. Jett Lawrence’s 2:02.489 from the first session placed him third.
Moto 1 [30 Minutes + 2 Laps]
The opening moto of the afternoon got underway with Jett Lawrence out front with the holeshot over Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cooper Webb [#2] and Hunter Lawrence, the championship leader. Lawrence pushed on the opening lap to get around Webb and looked to close in on his younger brother. Meanwhile, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan [#38] was able to climb his way up to third.
The Lawrences engaged in a spirited fight for the lead, with Jett able to keep Hunter at bay. For a moment Hunter appeared to have the pass made on his brother, but Jett responded immediately to prevent Hunter from completing it. That allowed Deegan to make it a three-rider battle. Deegan then made the pass for second and pressured for the lead for the first time this season. The highly anticipated showdown between Jett Lawrence and Deegan unfolded, to the roar of the crowd. While Deegan kept Lawrence honest, the gap between them soon stabilized as the moto reached its halfway point.
Deegan overcame a couple minor miscues to close back in on the lead and brought Hunter Lawrence with him to reignite the three-rider battle. However, with a little more than 12 minutes to go Deegan slid out and dropped to third. He then went down again a short time later and dropped to fourth, which allowed Coenen to take third.
The final 10 minutes turned into a Lawrence versus Lawrence affair, with Coenen gaining ground from third. The siblings traded momentum throughout various parts of the racetrack, which ultimately prevented Hunter from getting close enough to mount a challenge. As the clock wound down, Jett seemingly ended the threat and opened up a lead of more than three seconds, while Coenen settled into third.
As time ran out on the race clock Hunter Lawrence went down and remounted in third, which moved Coenen up to second. Lawrence reentered the race just ahead of Deegan to set up a last lap battle for the final podium spot.
As Jett Lawrence took the white flag he held a mere two second advantage over Coenen, who made one final push. In the end, Lawrence held on to take his third straight moto win by 1.4 seconds over the Belgian in his first ever gate drop. Hunter Lawrence followed in third, with Deegan fourth and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jorge Prado [#26] in fifth.
At the conclusion of the moto race officials reviewed an inside line that several riders used across multiple laps that took them beyond the track limits. The racing line was deemed illegal, and three riders were subsequently penalized for cutting the track, with each lap infraction taken into account. The top-finishing rider to receive a penalty was Hunter Lawrence, who was docked one position from third to fourth. Deegan was penalized seven positions, dropping him from fourth to 11th, while Prado received a two-position penalty, dropping from fifth to seventh. The updated top five following the penalties was 1. Jett Lawrence; 2. Coenen; 3. Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Garret Marchbanks [#36]; 4. Hunter Lawrence; 5. Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s RJ Hampshire [#24].
Moto 2 [30 Minutes + 2 Laps]
Jett Lawrence completed off a sweep of the holeshots to begin the second moto with the lead ahead of his brother and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Aaron Plessinger [#7]. As he looked to apply pressure on the lead, Hunter Lawrence went down. He remounted quickly but resumed deep in the top 10.
The clear track allowed Jett Lawrence to establish a two-second lead at the conclusion of the opening lap over Coenen, who quickly fought his way up to second. Plessinger settled into third. Meanwhile, Hunter Lawrence made an impressive recovery to fight back up to fifth place in a matter of a couple laps.
Jett Lawrence was able to stabilize the lead at about 3.5 seconds through the middle of the moto as Coenen strengthened his grasp of second. The fight for third saw Deegan methodically close in on Plessinger and successfully take the position. Hunter Lawrence followed into fourth several laps later.
As the lead duo continued on in their respective positions Hunter Lawrence was determined to complete his comeback from the early tip over. He closed in on Deegan and made a quick, aggressive move with less than two minutes to go to take over third. Moments later, he fell again, which gave the position back to Deegan. Lawrence resumed in fourth, but just ahead of Prado and Marchbanks.
Jett Lawrence completed a perfect afternoon by extending his moto win streak to four, taking the checkered flag 9.6 seconds ahead of Coenen. Deegan finished more than 30 seconds back in third, with Hunter Lawrence able to salvage fourth.
Jett Lawrence (1) lead the field to the Moto 1 holeshot and fended off race-long pressure from Hunter Lawrence (96), Haiden Deegan (38), and Lucas Coenen (104). Photo courtesy MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc.
Overall
A pair of wire-to-wire performances and the 20th 1-1 result of his career gave Jett Lawrence his 26th win in 30 premier class starts. With back-to-back victories, he has also grabbed control of the 450SMX Class points lead. It’s his fourth straight win at Thunder Valley, where he remains unbeaten, and marks the sixth consecutive year Honda has claimed victory in Colorado.
Coenen’s Pro Motocross debut resulted in an impressive runner-up effort (2-2) as he’ll now return overseas to defend his lead in the MXGP championship. He’ll race once more this summer, at Southwick on July 11th.
Despite numerous bouts of adversity and the penalty in the first moto, Hunter Lawrence still secured a podium finish (4-4) to minimize the points lost in the championship.
A 14-point swing at Thunder Valley has moved Jett Lawrence atop the points standings with an eight-point lead over Hunter. Deegan remains third, 32 points out of the lead.
450SMX Class Overall Results (Moto Finishes // Points)
Jett Lawrence (1) at Thunder Valley. Photo courtesy MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc.
1st Place – Jett Lawrence | #1 Team Honda HRC Progressive (1-1): “I felt a lot better in Moto 2, with a lot better lines and better flow. It was a really tricky track. It was a good 1-1 weekend and I’m happy with that. I’m getting more used to riding with my foot, but it wasn’t easy on a track like this. But it was still good enough for a 1-1.”
Lucas Coenen (104) at Thunder Valley. Photo courtesy MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc.
2nd Place – Lucas Coenen | #104 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing (2-2): “It was an amazing experience. I was able to get a good start [in Moto 2] and went from there. I’m so grateful for the team and everything they did to make this happen. The second moto was hectic with the lappers, but I’m racing against the best rider in the world. I can’t wait to come back [at Southwicjk], but we’ll go back [to MXGP] and try to win there.”
Hunter Lawrence (96) at Thunder Valley. Photo courtesy MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc.
3rd Place – Hunter Lawrence | #96 Team Honda HRC Progressive (4-4) “It was a tough one today. I felt like my riding was really good, but I struggled with the connectivity of the track and my motorcycle. I struggled a lot more than I usually do in keeping the bike under me. All good, we’ll move on to the next one.”
Jo Shimoda Prevails in 250SMX Class After Another Unpredictable Afternoon.
250SMX Class
Timed Qualifying
The morning sessions kicked off with an impressive debut for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Sacha Coenen [#109], the MX2 points leader from Belgium who joined his twin brother for a guest appearance and Pro Motocross debut. Coenen paced the field after the opening session but was surpassed by Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cole Davies [#37], who led the way in the second session to top the overall classification with a time of 2:04.463. That was seven tenths ahead of Coenen (2:05.217), who also bettered his time in the second session.
Moto 1 [30 Minutes + 2 Laps]
The first moto began with Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Seth Hammaker [#10], the championship leader, ahead of the pack with the holeshot ahead of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Julien Beaumer [#13] and Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing rookie Caden Dudney [#82] in third.
Hammaker and Beaumer battled for the lead throughout the opening laps, while Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Nick Romano [#141] slotted into third. Up front, the KTM rider kept the pressure on his Kawasaki counterpart as Romano and Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Levi Kitchen [#47] lurked behind them. Ten minutes into the moto the top four were separated by just three seconds.
As Hammaker slowly inched away his teammates went on the attack, as both Romano and Kitchen stormed past Beaumer to put the Kawasakis 1-2-3.
Hammaker maintained his hold of the lead as the top three settled in briefly, but just past the halfway point of the moto Kitchen picked up the pace and made the pass on Romano for second. With about 13 minutes left in the moto, Kitchen faced a 2.5 second deficit to his teammate. Behind them, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Michael Mosiman [#23] made the pass on Romano for third.
Inside the final 10 minutes, the battle for the lead intensified as Kitchen closed in on Hammaker’s rear fender. Kitchen was the faster rider but found difficulty in finding the right lines on the rut-filled track to get alongside his teammate. This allowed Hammaker to keep Kitchen at bay and hold onto a slim lead. Kitchen lost touch briefly but made one final push after time ran out on the race clock. He closed in, found better lines, and made the move by Hammaker with two laps to go. As that unfolded a change for third also took place as Shimoda made the pass on Mosiman.
Once into the lead, Kitchen ran away from Hammaker and stormed to his second moto win of the season by 8.1 seconds for a Kawasaki 1-2 finish. Shimoda earned his second moto podium in third, with Romano fourth and Mosiman fifth.
Moto 2 [30 Minutes + 2 Laps]
The deciding second moto started with Coenen out front for the holeshot ahead of Romano and Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Ryder DiFrancesco [#34]. As the field entered the first turn, contact between Hammaker and Kitchen took the teammates to the ground with several other riders and dropped them deep in the field.
Out front, Romano gave a brief challenge to Coenen but almost went down, which allowed Coenen to secure the position and pull away from the field. Romano and DiFrancesco settled into second and third, respectively. As Coenen was able to open a lead of more than five seconds, DiFrancesco made the pass on Romano for second.
As the leaders settled in through the first 10 minutes of the moto the attention shifted to Kitchen and Hammaker as they looked to claw their way through the field. Kitchen gained significant ground and fought his way into the top 15, while Hammaker followed several positions behind, just inside the top 20.
Back up front, a battle for third started to take shape between Romano and Shimoda, which carried major implications in the overall standings. After several laps of patience Shimoda made his move with a little more than 10 minutes left in the moto, which was enough to put him in the winning position.
Further back, Kitchen continued his march forward and battled up to ninth place, while Hammaker made slower progress and moved up to 15th.
As time ran out on the race clock Shimoda closed in on DiFrancesco for second. He showed patience and made the move just before the final lap.
While a wild race unfolded behind him, Coenen dominated his second-ever moto and never faced a challenge after the opening lap. He took the win by 6.1 seconds over Shimoda, with DiFrancesco in third. Kitchen fought all the way up to eighth, while Hammaker finished just outside the top 10 in 12th.
Seth Hammaker (10) grabbed the Moto 1 holeshot and led almost the entirety of the moto before a late pass by his teammate Levi Kitchen (47). MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc.
Overall
Another wild afternoon of 250SMX Class racing saw Shimoda emerge victorious following 3-2 moto finishes. It’s the seventh win of the Japanese rider’s career and gives Honda four Thunder Valley wins in the past five years.
Kitchen’s resilient second moto salvaged a runner-up finish (1-8) and gives the Kawasaki rider back-to-back podiums.
Romano enjoyed a career breakthrough with the first overall podium finish of his career (4-5) in his 22nd career start. He’s the third different Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider to finish on the podium through the first three races.
Hammaker finished seventh overall (2-12) for his first finish off the overall podium this season.
Hammaker and Kitchen now sit tied atop the 250SMX Class standings with a share of the red plate. Shimoda now sits third, six points behind the teammates.
Sacha Coenen (109) earned the Moto 2 holeshot as a multi-rider incident unfolded behind him, started by Hammaker (10) and Kitchen (47). MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc.
250SMX Class Overall Results (Moto Finishes // Points)
Jo Shimoda, Suzuka, Japan, Honda (3-2 // 42)
Levi Kitchen, Washougal, Wash., Kawasaki (1-8 // 39)
Jo Shimoda (30) at Thunder Valley. Photo courtesy MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc.
1st Place – Jo Shimoda | #30 Honda HRC Progressive (3-2): “I just needed to start up front. I wasted too much energy in the first moto, so I didn’t have as much in the second moto. We still have a lot of things to work on but still got a win. Coming back from my [offseason] neck injury, this win means a lot. Let’s keep the ball rolling.”
Levi Kitchen (47) at Thunder Valley. Photo courtesy MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc.
2nd Place – Levi Kitchen | #47 Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki (1-8): “I just can’t put a day together. It was a bummer [to start Moto 2]. I got up and saw a red plate in front of me and realized I just need to beat this guy [Hammaker]. I just put my head down and charged. I wasn’t really happy with how it was going, but I gave it my all. We’ve just got to keep going and keep fighting.”
Nick Romano (141) at Thunder Valley. Photo courtesy MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc.
3rd Place – Nick Romano | #141 Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki (4-5) “This is so unreal. I don’t even know where to start. I want to thank my family, friends, and Mitch Payton for giving me this opportunity. I’ve been working for this my whole life and hope I can do it again next weekend.”
The 2026 Pro Motocross Championship will continue next Saturday, June 20, with Round 21 of the SMX World Championship regular season and the East Coast debut from Pennsylvania’s famed High Point Raceway. The Father’s Day tradition that is the UFO Plast High Point National will shown live in its entirety on Peacock, beginning with Race Day Live at 7 a.m. PT / 10 a.m. ET, followed by coverage of the motos at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET.
Post-Race Press Briefing – Thunder Valley National:
For information about the Pro Motocross Championship, please visit ProMotocross.com and be sure to follow all of the Pro Motocross social media channels for exclusive content and additional information on the latest news:
The American rider talks about his journey: from his first experiences on a motorbike during COVID to races between the United States and Europe, as well as his ADHD, autism and safety on the track.
When Solomon Mervis, a 21-year-old from Indiana, started riding motorbikes during COVID in 2020, the racing world didn’t have a clue who he was. Within a few years, however, he went from riding a Honda XR 80 in his yard to competing in the MotoAmerica Twins Cup and Aprilia RS 660 Trophy in Europe. A journey as rapid as it is unusual from the track, university and his daily sacrifices.
Taking advantage of his European trip, we chatted with him about racing, safety, and the journey that took him from his first experiences in flat track to international track competitions in just a few years.
Solomon has also spoken openly about ADHD and autism, topics he proudly shows his support for on his motorcycle, via messages designed to raise awareness. And instead of considering them a limitation, he sees them as a fundamental part of his identity and even as an advantage in his ability to focus totally on what he loves to do: bike racing.
First of all, how did bikes come into your life? Do you remember the exact moment when something clicked?
I actually have a very different story to many others about how bikes came into my life. I didn’t grow up around motorbikes. I didn’t follow the sport, I didn’t even know about MotoGP. I knew something about MotoAmerica and similar races, but then, during COVID, my dad bought me a dirt bike because we were stuck at home and there was nothing to do.
He bought a Honda XR 80 to fix up. He got it working again, and I started riding around in the yard. At one point I said: “Hey, I want to race.”
My father looked at me and said: “Race what?”
And I replied: “Bikes!”
So we dived in without really knowing what we were getting into. We considered motocross, enduro… but then we discovered track racing and flat track and I fell in love with it. My parents weren’t big fans of the track because of the speed involved. They preferred flat track, especially my dad, because he could see me all the way around the oval. He gets very nervous when he can’t see me.
But yes, it all started when I got on a motorbike for the first time and then, a little later, when I went kart racing. Suddenly it was like: “OK, this is my life now.”
American Solly Mervis is racing an Aprilia 660 with Revo Racing in Italy. He’s seen here in May at Mugello, where he finished fifth in both races. Photo courtesy Revo Racing.
Who has influenced you the most, on and off the track?
Off the track, even before bikes, I would say my wrestling coach. He had such a big influence on the person I am today. He taught me the value of hard work. You can’t just dream about something: you have to work and take action if you really want to get it .
Then, in the world of racing, the two people who have influenced me the most are Danny Walker and Jason Pridmore. The first time I started riding seriously was at Danny Walker’s American Supercamp. There I really learned how to ride properly. Then I took another leap in quality when I met JP and started working with him and today with Felix Rodriguez. I have been very fortunate to have these people on my side.
But I also look up to my father and mother a lot. They are the ones who made me the person I am.
What is the most important lesson racing has taught you so far?
Honestly: Never give up. I already knew this partly from wrestling. I wrestled in middle school and high school, and that taught me about hard work, but racing really taught me to never give up. It has been a journey. Sometimes you experience incredible moments, other times you hit rock bottom, and it’s hard.
But the biggest lesson is this: Never give up.
American Solly Mervis (25) in action at Mugello. Photo courtesy Revo Racing.
What do you feel you still need to learn to take the next step?
Honestly, I feel like I still have a lot of experience to gain. That’s the main thing. I need to do more laps, more races, more starts, more hard-fought final laps, more battles. That’s what I need to do to get where I want to be.
I think it will come with time, but I also need to improve my overall speed a bit. But I know I can do the work necessary and I know I have the skills to do it. It’s just a matter of time and continuing to believe.
What’s next in your mind? What is your vision?
Now, in the short term, especially for this season, the main goal is to become a consistent top-5 rider in the Twins Cup at MotoAmerica. That’s my big goal. We know where I am now, we know where I can get to, and I know where I belong in the rankings. So it’s just about taking small steps and learning every time I step onto the track.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
I honestly don’t know. I’m studying for a degree in mechanical engineering and racing at the same time, so a lot will depend on where life takes me: Whether I will work, race or both. I don’t know yet.
What did you have to give up to pursue this career?
I sacrificed a lot socially. I had to give up time with friends and a normal life. I can’t be as involved in school life as I’d like—clubs, societies, things like that—because there’s simply no time. I’m busy with school, lessons, studying and then competitions.
As you said, you also study engineering. How do you manage to balance all this with racing?
Honestly, it’s very complicated. Somehow I manage to do it all, but sometimes it’s really hard. The hardest part is that I can’t ride as much as I’d like because I can’t leave school to go train in places like Florida, California, or Arizona. But somehow I’m making it all work.
You’ve spoken openly about ADHD and being on the autism spectrum. How do these characteristics influence you as a rider and as a person?
Many people associate ADHD and autism with something negative, but for me they have almost been a superpower. They allow me to be incredibly focused on racing, improving and doing well both on the track and in school.
Honestly, without being autistic I would not be anywhere near as strong as I am today. In my personal experience, this means that when my mind gets stuck on something, it’s hard to stop thinking about it. And with racing this has been a huge advantage, because I can never get them out of my mind. That’s all I think about and all I want to do.
American Solly Mervis testing on a Revo Racing Aprilia RS660 at Portimao in February. Photo courtesy Revo Racing.
You display autism awareness messages on your bike. What message do you want to convey?
I want people to understand that when we all lower the visor on the starting grid, I am no different from anyone else. And even though I am different in some ways, I am proud to be different. I am proud of who I am and the progress I have made.
Solly Mervis (25) in action in a MotoAmerica Twins Cup race at Road America in May. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
What is the thing you think people understand least about ADHD or autism, especially in a high-performance environment like racing?
One misunderstanding is the idea that autism automatically limits a person. For some people it definitely creates different challenges, but for me it is not something that limits me.
It’s something I’ve had to work on, especially from a social perspective. Sometimes people misunderstand what I say or misinterpret my intentions. My mind is racing and I’m constantly thinking about so many things at once. Sometimes I lose my train of thought or jump from one topic to another. But in my head everything is connected, even if it doesn’t seem like it from the outside. It’s something I’ve worked on a lot, but it’s also part of who I am. I wouldn’t be complete without every part of me, including my autistic part.
Let’s change the subject and talk about equipment and safety in motorcycle racing. You’ve been with Dainese for a few years now: What are your favorite Dainese-AGV products that you use on the track and why?
Honestly, the AGV Pista GP RR helmet and the D-air® suit. I’ve been using this gear pretty much since I started racing. I’ve had some pretty nasty crashes wearing Dainese gear, and the fact that I’ve always gotten back up without serious injury is something I’m incredibly grateful for. It gives me a sense of security and the confidence to push close to the limit because I know I have impeccable protection if something happens.
The equipment is simply amazing. It’s the best.
What do you think of the IN suit and boot combination? What do you think are the real positives?
Honestly, with the IN-boot configuration, the feeling is different, but in a positive way. Aesthetically, too, I think it looks really good, but most importantly the foot feels more protected.
Last September I broke my ankle, and I honestly think if I had been wearing another boot, it could have been a lot worse. The doctors told me that I could return to riding without surgery. With other boots it probably wouldn’t have gone so well. In fact, in another accident two years ago, my own motorcycle literally ran over my ankle and foot and I was completely unhurt.
Many professional motorcyclists say that once you get used to the airbag, you can’t go back. What do you think?
For me there is no going back. I will never ride on the track again without an airbag.
Solly Mervis with Revo Racing teammates Mattia Sorrenti on the left and Matteo Vannucci on the right. Photo courtesy Revo Racing.
Are you ever afraid on the bike? And if so, how do you handle it?
Tough question. I wouldn’t call it fear. I would say more nervousness or excitement. Maybe when I try something new, when I open the throttle earlier or when I push it to the edge in terms of grip. You know you’re playing with fire, but it’s also what makes this sport so exciting. More than fear, it’s the awareness of being on the edge.
What motivates you most: proving something to yourself or to others?
To myself. I’ve never been motivated by wanting to prove something to others.
Sure, part of me wants to show that I deserve to be here, but most of all, I want to prove to myself that I can do it. Ultimately, when you’re on the track, it’s all up to you.
Last question. If you could change one thing about the racing world, what would it be?
I would honestly lower the barriers to enter this sport in the United States. I wish more people could experience it, because it changed my life.
I’ve met so many people through racing. I have friends all over the United States and abroad too—friends in Italy, Spain, everywhere.
I think everyone deserves a chance to experience this world. It’s a very difficult sport to get into, and I’m very lucky to have had the support of my parents. Without them I wouldn’t be anywhere near where I am today. I feel really lucky and wish more people could experience this.
Albert Arenas won FIM Supersport World Championship Race Two Sunday afternoon at Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, in San Marino. Riding his AS BLU CRU Racing Team Yamaha YZF-R9, the Championship point leader won the 18-lap race by 1.976 second.
Tom Booth-Amos was the runner-up on his PTR Triumph Factory Racing Street Triple 765 RS, 1.184 second ahead of third-place finisher Arenas’ teammate, Aldi Mahendra.
Jaume Masia crossed the finish line fourth on his Orelac Racing Verdnatura Ducati Panigale V2 and Jeremy Alcoba got fifth on his Kawasaki ZX-6R 636.
Former MotoAmerica Supersport regular Valentin Debise finished the race 9th on his Eastroc Evan Bros ZXMOTO 820RR.
Albert Arenas leads the championship with 251 points, 56 ahead of Valentin Debise who has 195 points. Jaume Masia is third with 179 points.
Arenas fortifies his title lead with Race 2 win at Misano ahead of Booth-Amos and Indonesian teammate Mahendra. The result was just what the doctor ordered for Arenas and his team as his title lead grows yet larger.
The FIM Supersport World Championship sent out the Pirelli Emilia-Romagna Round out with a bang as Albert Arenas (AS BLU CRU Racing Team) topped the podium in the last WorldSSP race at the Misano World Circuit “Marco Simoncelli” in 2026 The Championship leader was untouchable on Sunday, landing his third victory of his rookie season. Following him onto the podium, Tom Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) caught up to the podium battle and took P2 from the encounter landing his second podium of the season. In P3, Aldi Mahendra (AS BLU CRU Racing Team) rode a consistently pacey Race 2 to take his and his country’s second WorldSSP podium, now in his sophomore season.
Albert Arenas won the WorldSSP Race 2 at Misano. Photo courtesy WSBK.
ARENAS LEADS EACH LAP, INCREASES TITLE LEAD TO 56
Arenas and Valentin Debise (EASTROC ZXMOTO Factory Evan Bros Racing) led the race into the opening corner while Mahendra gave chase in P3 to Race 1’s top two finishers. The Indonesian made his way past Debise by the end of the opening lap, and the Frenchman began to back up the pack behind him as he didn’t have the pace to hang with the AS Racing Yamaha pair streaking ahead. Booth-Amos was the first rider to make it past ZXMOTO rider by Lap 4, chipping away at the gap to the lead pair until overtaking Mahendra for the first time on Turn 4 of Lap 8, they duelled for P2 across the next laps, the gap less than four tenths on the penultimate lap, however the Brit had an answer to everything the Indonesian threw at him, and closed the race over a second clear. Booth-Amos landed his 13th career WorldSSP podium in P2, while Mahendra earned both his and his country’s second podium in the class in P3. Ahead of them, Albert Arenas represented his country on the top step of the WorldSSP rostrum for Spain’s 26th victory, increasing his Championship lead to 56 points beyond the #53.
ALCOBA FROM P19 to P5
Jaume Masia’s (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) P4 grid start was lost in the early running, but not to be denied, he showed his racecraft and weaed a path back through the group to regain P4 with three laps to go. where he would go on to finish the race. Jeremy Alcoba (Kawasaki WorldSSP Team) saw lights out from P19, but with a knife between his teeth, he took his ZX-6R 636 all the way up to P6 after a pass on Matteo Ferrari (WRP Racing) the “Carro” Turn 14 of the penultimate lap. Unsatisfied, Alcoba further sweetened the deal for himself with a decisive final lap overtake on Mattia Casadei (D34G WorldSSP Racing Team) for P5 and his first top five since Balaton Park. Mattia Casadei (D34G WorldSSP Racing Team) closed out his best weekend of the 2026 season, with his second P6, and while he fell back early from his P5 starting position, he will be pleased with his home round haul.
Aldi Mahendra (57), Valentin Debise (53), Tom Booth-Amos (69), Jaume Masia (5), Can Oncu (61), Filippo Farioli (7) and Matteo Ferrari (11) during the WSSP Race 2 at Misano. Photo courtesy WSBK.
ZXMOTO AND DEBISE SLIDE TO THE BACK OF THE TOP 10
Matteo Ferrari (WRP Racing) wasn’t quite fast enough to fight for a home podium this time around, but his pace was good for P7 on Sunday. Filippo Farioli (VFT Racing) had ridden well all weekend, and unlike Race 1 which was spoiled with a late Lap 16 crash, the Italian Yamaha R9 rider held on to a P8 finish. While he crossed the line in P8, Valentin Debise (EASTROC ZXMOTO Factory Evan Bros Racing) was dealt a one position penalty by the FIM WorldSBK Stewards for exceeding track limits, sending him to P9; his ZXMOTO 820RR struggled in the later laps but he was able to finish ahead of ahead of Can Oncu (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing), who, despite leading the second group, saw his pace fall off in the late laps to squeeze out a P10 finale to the weekend.
Nicolo Bulega won the World Superbike Race Two Sunday afternoon at Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, in San Marino. Riding his Aruba.it Racing Ducati Panigale V4R, the Championship point leader won the 21-lap race by 5.101 seconds.
His teammate, Iker Lecuona was the runner-up, and Yari Montella was third on his Barni Spark Racing Team Ducati Panigale V4R.
Axel Lowes finished the race fourth on his bimota by Kawasaki KB998 Rimini and Tarran Mackenzie got fifth on his MGM Optical Express Racing Ducati Panigale V4R.
American Garrett Gerloff went from 22nd on the grid to 12th at the finish on his Kawasaki ZX-10RR.
Nicolo Bulega leads the championship with 434 points, 121 ahead of Iker Lecuona who has 313 points. Yari Montella is third with 170 points.
Misano Masterclass: Bulega makes history with seventh hat-trick in 2026, Lecuona and Montella on the rostrum. The #11 lost the lead at the start, re-gained it on Lap 1, and never looked back as he extended his record winning run.
Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) made it 25 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship victories in a row as he made it a clean sweep at the Misano World Circuit “Marco Simoncelli”. Despite an early challenge from teammate Iker Lecuona, the #11 was able to claim victory by more than five seconds ahead of the Spanish star, while Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) took advantage of a late crash by Axel Bassani (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) to claim a podium.
Nicolo Bulega won again at Misano. Photo courtesy WSBK.
BULEGA MAKES MORE HISTORY
Lecuona got away well and immediately took the fight to Bulega through the first half of the lap, but the #11 got ahead at Turn 11 before immediately pulling out a gap over his teammate. Bassani was a fast starter, along with teammate Alex Lowes, as they slotted into third and fourth as they went in search of a home podium for Bimota. A mistake from Lecuona, running wide, gave Bulega a buffer of more than two seconds at the head of the field as the #11 took his 21st win of the season, matching Toprak Razgatlioglu’s tally from last year for the second-highest value. It was also his seventh hat-trick of the year, becoming the first rider to achieve that number of triples in a single season. Lecuona was second for the 18th consecutive race, which is an all-time record in WorldSBK. Bassani had looked on course for a home podium, his first at Misano since 2023, but he crashed out in the final third of the race at Turn 8. That promoted Montella into third, after the #5 got ahead of Alex Lowes early on in the 21-lap race. That meant Montella, for the second round this season, finished a single round with three podiums – as he did at Most, when he finished in P3 behind the factory Ducati duo of Bulega and Lecuona.
Yari Montella (5) and Alex Lowes (22) at Misano during WSBK Race 2. Photo courtesy WSBK.
BIMOTA IN THE TOP FOUR AGAIN
Alex Lowes came home in fourth after his teammate’s late crash, with Tarran Mackenzie (MGM Optical Express Racing) 2.774s back from the #22. ‘Taz’ secured his best dry-weather result in WorldSBK by claiming P5, beating his previous best by two positions. His best overall is P4. Alberto Surra (Motocorsa Racing) extended his points-scoring run to 12 races by claiming sixth place for the second time this weekend.
CLOSE BATTLES IN THE TOP TEN
Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) finished as the lead Yamaha rider by coming home in seventh after another flying start as the race got underway. He was less than a second ahead of Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) in eighth, who took his best result of the WorldSBK campaign. Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) took ninth after a late-race fight with Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team), with the #60 just 0.037s clear of the #14.
SCORING POINTS IN RACE 2
Xavi Vierge (Pata Maxus Yamaha) missed out on a top ten by just 1.884s as he finished in 11th, but crucially he fended off Garrett Gerloff (Kawasaki WorldSBK Team) by just 0.017s at the line with the #31 forced to settle for P12. Somkiat Chantra (Honda HRC) claimed his best WorldSBK result by taking 13th, ahead of Tommy Bridewell (Superbike Advocates) and Lorenzo Baldassarri (Team GoEleven); ‘Balda’ stopped for a short period, seemingly with a technical issue, but was able to get going again.
JUST MISSING OUT
Stefano Manzi (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) lost a lot of ground at the start of the race and eventually finished in 16th place, ahead of Mattia Rato (Motoxracing WorldSBK Team) in 17th. Ryan Vickers (Honda HRC) was the last classified rider in 18th, with the #17 crashing during Race 2 but rejoining the race.
RETIRING FROM RACE 2
Alvaro Bautista (Barni Spark Racing Team) crashed out of the race at Turn 8 on Lap 1, while Bahattin Sofuoglu (Motoxracing WorldSBK Team) fell at Turn 13 on Lap 2 and retired from the race. Miguel Oliveira (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) had been running in the top ten but slowed, seemingly with a technical problem with his bike, on Lap 7.
Maria Herrera won FIM World Women’s Circuit Racing Race 2 Sunday Morning at Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, in San Marino. Riding her Terra & Vita GRT Yamaha YZF-R7 on Pirelli control tires, Herrera won the 12-lap race by just 0.075 second.
Beatriz Neila was the runner-up on her Ampito Crescent Yamaha YZF-R7, and Muklada Sarapuech got third on her EEST NJT Racing Team Yamaha YZF-R7, 13.072 seconds behind race winner Herrera.
American Mallory Dobbs finished the race 20th on her YVS Sabadell Diva Racing Yamaha YZF-R7.
Maria Herrera leads the championship with 181 points, 24 ahead of Beatriz Neila who has 157 points. Paola Ramos is third with 97 points.
Last lap fight: Herrera beats Neila by 0.075s in epic Race 2, Thai rider Sarapuech claims first WorldWCR rostrum. Herrera’s race-topping effort adds to her all-time leading tally with 27 podiums.
Maria Herrera (Terra & Vita GRT Yamaha WorldWCR), Beatriz Neila (Ampito Crescent Yamaha), and Muklada Sarapuech (EEST NJT Racing Team) were your Race 2 rostrum riders after a glittering final FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship at the Misano World Circuit “Marco Simoncelli”. The #6 saw the opportunity for her fifth race win of the season and took it, joined on the podium by Neila with her 22nd consecutive silverware-earning ride, an all-time record streak. Sarapuech was the newest face to earn a podium in the category, earning Thailand its first WorldWCR podium.
HERRERA ONE WIN SHY OF SINGLE-SEASON RECORD
Maria Herrera was beaten into the holeshot by Paola Ramos (Klint Racing Team), however the #6 was back in front by Turn 2. From there, the lead trio of Herrera, Neila and Ramos led the encounter. Roberta Ponziani (Klint Racing Team) capitalised on her teammate running wide and falling down the order. By the race’s midpoint, Neila had closed to within a quarter of a second, and as the laps trickled down, Ponziani fell back, but Neila hung behind the Championship leader. Neila made looks up the inside of the #6, but a strong defensive ride from the #6 was watertight, leaving the #36 behind her in P2 as Herrera took her 17th WorldWCR win. Farther back, Sarapuech at last landed her first podium finish in WorldWCR
PONZIANI TAKES A P4 TO CLOSE HER HOME ROUND
Ponziani closes her home round unable to make her return to the podium, finishing with a proud P4 for the fourth time. Her teammate Ramos was battling for the race win early on until her Turn 16 mistake on Lap 2 saw her run wide off of the track and haemorrhage positions to ride in P10 by the third lap. By Lap 7, Ramos had caught back up to the podium fight, and while she was unable to put the pack behind her and reclaim a spot on the podium, she recovered well to finish in P5. Yvonne Cerpa (MotosCerpa-Gradara Corse) rode solidly again, fighting with Ponziani and Sarapuech across the first half of the race. She rode as high as P3 but will have to settle for a P6 to close the action in Italy.
BRUNO AND JONES OVERCOME PENALTIES TO FINISH TOP 10
Crossing the line in P7, Sara Sanchez (Hadden Racing Team) closed her return round after injury with another top 8 in Italy. She and Karolina Danak (Yamaha AD78 FIMLA) worked together to close the gap to the podium fight, which paid dividends as the pair caught up to even ride as high as P5 briefly. The Polish rider, however, saw gravel on Turn 11 on the final lap, ending her round with no points from Race 2. Natalia Rivera (Terra & Vita GRT Yamaha WorldWCR Team) was the last of six Spaniards in the top ten, finishing in P8, half a tenth behind Sanchez. Wildcard rider Joy Bruno (Team Trasimeno) recovered from her Long Lap Penalty for Irresponsible Riding in Race 1, handed to her by FIM WorldSBK Stewards for the incident which caused Ramos’s crash, to finish in a proud P9. Lastly, Chloe Jones (Monster Energy Crescent Yamaha) was similarly resilient as she applied a double Long Lap Penalty for a jump start in Race 2. The Brit followed her Race 1 podium with a P10 to close Misano.
Stanford Crane on track at Thunderhill Raceway. Photo courtesy WMC,
Throttle Sauce and TMB to Host Live Town Hall Podcast Featuring World Moto Clash Leadership
Motorcycle builders, race teams, riders, and fans are invited to participate in an interactive discussion with World Moto Clash CEO Stanford Crane Jr. and COO Matt Doty
The live broadcast will provide motorcycle racers, custom builders, race teams, industry professionals, and fans with an unprecedented opportunity to gain deeper insight into the World Moto Clash organization, its vision, and the upcoming World Moto Clash event.
Hosted on the Track Daz Talkin’ Motorbikes Podcast in collaboration with Throttle Sauce, the program will begin with an in-depth interview covering the origins of World Moto Clash, organizational goals, event planning, and developments that have not previously been discussed publicly.
World Moto Clash (WMC) is the brainchild of Stanford Crane, a former motorcycle racer and team owner. Photo courtesy WMC.
Following the interview segment, the conversation will shift into a live town hall format, with questions sourced directly from live viewers comments. Attendees will have the opportunity to submit questions through the live chat, creating an open forum designed to address topics that matter most to the motorcycle community.
“This event is designed to open a direct line of communication between World Moto Clash and the people who make motorcycle road racing what it is today,” said Ryan Johnson of Throttle Sauce. “We want viewers to walk away with a clearer understanding of what World Moto Clash represents and what to expect from the upcoming event.”
Event: World Moto Clash Town Hall Live Podcast
Hosts: Throttle Sauce & Talkin’ Motorbikes
Guests: Stanford Crane Jr., CEO, World Moto Clash; Matt Doty, COO, World Moto Clash
Viewers are encouraged to join the livestream, participate in the discussion, and submit questions throughout the broadcast.
About Throttle Sauce
Throttle Sauce is a “Modern Motorbike Media,” covering racing, industry news, rider stories, product reviews, adventures, and motorcycle culture through podcasts, video content, and live events.
About Talkin’ Motorbikes
Talkin’ Motorbikes, produced by Track Daz, delivers conversations and insights from across the motorcycle community, featuring racers, industry leaders, builders, and enthusiasts from around the world.
Former racer and mad scientist Rob Tuluie pioneered AI in MotoGP and invented the mass dampers and ride height devices that transformed MotoGP. He may be the smartest man Mat Oxley and Peter Bom have interviewed on their podcast...Photo by Chippy Wood/courtesy Oxley-Bom podcast.
By Mat Oxley:
Ah, the holeshot device. If you’ve heard Mat and Peter talk about it before, you’d fear to think what would happen if they ever met the poor devil who invented it…
…well, his name is Robin Tuluie and he’s joining us this week!
To say Tuluie is an important figure in motor sports is slightly underselling the man. Yes, he invented both the ride height device in MotoGP and introduced mass dampers to F1, but that’s really just fooling around for this modern day Renaissance Man and astrophysicist who currently runs PhysicsX, using machine learning to crack the secrets of physics and engineering.
Sounds good, right? So come join us today as we welcome the smartest person to ever come on our podcast. Take it away!
Want more? Visit our website or support us on Patreon. With big thanks as always to Brad Baloo from The Next Men and Gentleman’s Dub Club for writing our theme song. Check out The Nextmen for more great music! And additional thanks to flowerhead, who’s music you can find here.
And thanks to our sponsors, OnTrack Experiences. Check them out if you want an easy all-in-one package for your favourite race!
Oh, and a quick word in regards to sponsors:
If you’re interested in connecting with a really unique MotoGP audience — we’re working with Smash Brand Group out of Sydney to manage partnerships. Curious? Just head to smashbrandgroup.com.au and get in touch!
Gaige Herrera raced his RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki Gen 3 Hayabusa to victory at the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals, earning the 30th win of his Pro Stock Motorcycle career. Photo courtesy Suzuki.
Brea, CA – (June 15, 2026) – Gaige Herrera capped a near-perfect race weekend for the RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki team by riding his Gen 3 Hayabusa to victory over teammate Richard Gadson at the Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway in Bristol, TN, on Sunday.
Race Highlights:
Gaige Herrera qualified number one and won his second race of the year
Richard Gadson qualified second, won the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge and advanced to his fourth final-round appearance this year with a runner-up finish
Gaige Herrera Wins All-RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki Final at NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals. Photo courtesy Suzuki.
Two-time world champion Gaige Herrera posted the team’s first number one qualifying performance of the season on Saturday with a 6.831-second/197.88 mph run, capturing the top spot in the elimination ladder for the 32nd time in his career.
Racing was briefly interrupted on Sunday morning by rain showers that came in the middle of Pro Stock Motorcycle first-round eliminations. After action resumed, Herrera ran 6.840 seconds at 198.03 mph on a bye run before defeating Joey Gladstone (6.908 seconds/196.82 mph) in round two with a 6.804-second/198.67 mph pass that was the quickest run of the event.
In the semi-finals, Herrera survived a scare against Steve Johnson (9.452 seconds/91.47 mph) when his motorcycle drifted dangerously close to the outside retaining wall, forcing him to shut off early and coast to a 6.985-second/173.43 mph run against the veteran rider, who slowed with problems of his own.
The final round hosted a repeat of last year’s matchup between Herrera and his Vance & Hines teammate Richard Gadson. Despite spotting him with a starting line advantage, Herrera chased the reigning world champion down by mid-track with a 6.838-second/198.47 mph run and denied Gadson (6.883-seconds/196.36 mph) a back-to-back win in Thunder Valley.
The victory, Herrera’s second this season and 30th of his career, elevated him one spot to third place in the championship standings, just 5 points behind Angie Smith. More crucially the win put Herrera’s quest for a third world championship firmly back on track and helped erase the disappointment of a rare first-round loss two weeks ago in Maryland.
“Starting off with the number one qualifier always gives you a boost going into Sunday and it gave me a lot of confidence today. The only thing that caught me off guard was a crosswind in the run against Steve. I probably stayed in it too long, but luckily, he didn’t make a clean run, and I was able to get the win and move on. That was a hairy ride for sure,” Herrera said. “It was cool being back in the final with Richard after he got his first win here last year. Any day we put two Vance & Hines bikes in the final is a good day. I feel like my motorcycle is back to normal after having a little bit of bad luck lately. That’s part of racing, but I got a big boost of confidence back after this weekend, in how my Hayabusa is running and how I felt as a rider. I really needed this win and I’m very happy leaving Bristol with it.”
Richard Gadson continued his consistent title defense with a runner-up finish and a 68-point lead in the Pro Stock Motorcycle standings after six rounds of competition. Photo courtesy Suzuki.
Richard Gadson qualified second with a 6.839-second/197.74 mph run on Saturday and won the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge. It was the reigning world champion’s first win this season and second overall in the specialty race-within-a-race held during Saturday’s qualifying sessions that carries a cash purse and championship bonus points.
After the rain delay, Gadson defeated Wesley Wells (foul) in round one with a 6.846-second/196.82 mph run. In round two, Gadson defeated Chase Van Sant (7.616 seconds/134.75 mph) with a 6.851-second/197.45 mph run to advance to the semi-final round for the fifth time in six races this season. Gadson defeated Chris Bostick (15.822 seconds/47.56 mph) in the semis with a 6.891-second/195.96 mph run to advance to a final round for the 13th time in his career and fourth against Herrera.
The defending Bristol race winner was hoping for a repeat of last year’s all-Vance & Hines final at the track where he secured his first career Pro Stock Motorcycle win, but Gadson had to settle for runner-up after Herrera proved too fast to overcome.
The runner-up finish extended Gadson’s championship lead over Angie Smith to 68 points with two races remaining in the regular season championship, which concludes at the U.S. Nationals over Labor Day weekend in Indianapolis. After Indy, points for the top 10 class contenders will reset for the six-race Countdown to the Championship playoffs.
“We won the 2Fast2Tasty Challenge and I had a good bike all day today. It was exactly the weekend I was looking for minus a Diamond Wally,” Gadson said. “Of course, I always want to win, but I’m not chasing peaks and valleys this season. I’m heavy on the steady-does-it train right now. If I just keep turning on win lights and going rounds, it’s all good, and with that mentality more wins will come. This is the biggest points lead I’ve had all year, so it’s playing out great.”
RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki crew chief Andrew Hines said infrastructure investments made to Bristol Dragway after last year’s race resulted in an improvement to the track surface that the team capitalized on to maximize traction early in the run.
“They poured new concrete all the way from the starting line to the eighth-mile mark. It was like a completely different racing surface compared to previous years. We had our 60-foot times dialed in compared to anybody else here. Nobody could touch what we did off the starting line today and that made all the difference,” Hines said.
“We’ve got our ducks in a row for what we need to do to run better at sea level tracks, and we’ll see if that holds true over the next couple of races,” he added. “Historically Norwalk has been good to us. There’s less elevation there compared to Bristol, so we should run a little quicker than here. It could be hot and humid, but we figured that out this weekend so we’re looking good.”
After the sixth of 14 rounds in the 2026 Pro Stock Motorcycle season, Gadson and Herrera sit first and third in the championship standings with 557 and 484 points, respectively.
The RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines team returns to action June 25-28 at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park in Norwalk, OH.
Production of the Harley-Davidson Revolution Max platform is moving back to the U.S.A.
HARLEY-DAVIDSON ANNOUNCES RETURN OF REVOLUTION MAX PRODUCTION TO U.S. FACILITIES
Move supports Back to the Bricks strategy and leans into Company’s American manufacturing footprint
Harley-Davidson, Inc. (“Harley-Davidson” or the “Company”) (NYSE: HOG) has announced that it is bringing production of the Revolution® Max platform for North America back to the United States as part of the Company’s Back to the Bricks strategy. The move brings machining, powertrain assembly, painting, and final vehicle assembly work back to Harley-Davidson facilities in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, supporting skilled union jobs and strengthening the Company’s American manufacturing footprint.
Harley-Davidson is moving production of its Revolution® Max models (including the Pan America, Sportster® S, and Nightster) back to the U.S., involving its factories in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. This photo shows a Nightster.
The production transition is expected to be completed ahead of the start of Model Year 2028 production in 2027. Harley-Davidson expects to manufacture over 100,000 motorcycles out of the Company’s York, Pennsylvania facility in 2027.
The Company shared the following statement:
For more than a century, Harley-Davidson has invested in American manufacturing, skilled workers, and the communities that build our motorcycles. Today, we’re proud to announce another step forward by bringing production of the Revolution® Max platform for North America—including Pan America, Sportster® S, and Nightster models—back to the United States. This move returns machining, powertrain assembly, painting, and final vehicle assembly work to our facilities in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, supporting dozens of additional American manufacturing and union jobs.
The Trump Administration’s changes to U.S. trade policy, combined with shifts in the global trade environment, have created new opportunities for companies to invest in domestic manufacturing. For Harley-Davidson under our new CEO Artie Starrs, this means we are able to lean even further into our American manufacturing footprint and build more motorcycles here at home. This decision, which has been months in the making, reflects our commitment to strengthening Harley-Davidson’s manufacturing base for the long term.
This Harley-Davidson Nightster has a 975cc DOHC four-valves-per cylinder engine with hydraulic self-adjusting lifters and intake VVT (Variable Valve Timing).
Harley-Davidson has built motorcycles that represent freedom, independence, and American craftsmanship for 123 consecutive years. That legacy was built by generations of employees, many of them union workers, whose skill and dedication continue to define this company today. We are grateful to our employees, our network of 500+ U.S. dealers, and most importantly our riders for their continued support as we get back to basics that have made Harley-Davidson an enduring symbol of freedom and the most iconic motorcycle brand in the world.
Bill Davidson, Vice President, Special Advisor to the CEO and Global Brand Ambassador, said, “My family has spent generations working in this company, and I’ve seen firsthand the pride, craftsmanship, and hard work that go into building Harley-Davidson motorcycles in America. My father, Willie, my sister, Karen, and I are incredibly excited about what’s happening at Harley-Davidson. Bringing this work back home is another important step in getting back to the bricks, investing in American manufacturing, and building on the values that have made Harley-Davidson one of the most iconic brands in the world.”
Company Background
Since 1903, Harley-Davidson has defined motorcycle culture by delivering a motorcycle lifestyle with distinctive and customizable motorcycles, Parts & Accessories, experiences, riding gear and apparel. What We Make: The World’s Best Motorcycles. Period. Who We Serve: Motorcycle Riders Worldwide. Why We Do It: To Protect and Grow Motorcycle Culture. What We Stand For: Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. Harley-Davidson, Inc. is the parent company of Harley-Davidson Motor Company and has a controlling interest in Harley-Davidson Financial Services and LiveWire Group, Inc. Harley-Davidson Financial Services provides financing, insurance and other programs to help get riders on the road. LiveWire is committed to developing the technology of the future and investing in the capabilities needed to lead the transformation of motorsports. Learn more at harley-davidson.com.
Rossi Moor (92) at Estoril. Photo courtesy RM92 Racing Team
American-Hungarian rider Rossi Moor completed a strong race day at Estoril in the FIM MotoJunior Moto 2 category, finishing ninth in Race 1 and eighth in Race 2 with the Revesz Racing Kalex. This championship is one of the strongest fields within the Road to MotoGP program.
After starting Race 1 from 10th position, Rossi was nearly caught up in an incident at Turn 1 after the start, losing three positions in the opening phase. Despite the setback, he recovered well throughout the race and brought home a solid ninth-place finish.
Race 2 followed a similar early pattern. Rossi made a strong start but was touched by another rider in Turn 2, dropping to 14th position. By the end of the opening lap, he had already recovered to 11th and then began to build a very strong race pace, eventually finishing eighth.
The performance improvement between Race 1 and Race 2 was significant. Over the 17-lap distance, Rossi improved his total race time by almost 10 seconds, which represents an average gain of roughly six tenths per lap. His strongest lap came near the end of the race, setting his personal best on the penultimate lap, confirming the positive direction of the setup work and race pace.
Rossi Moor (92) and Iker Garcia (11) at Estoril. Photo courtesy RM92 Racing Team
Rossi Moor said:“I am satisfied with the work we did this weekend because we showed that we can be competitive. In Race 1 I was a little unlucky, but I managed to recover well after losing time on the opening lap. In Race 2, after some small setup changes on my bike, I felt better and I was able to keep a really strong pace. I even set my fastest race lap on the penultimate lap. I have to thank my team so much: Alessandro, Roberto, Carlos, Patricio, Edgar and Franco for the great work they did. I also want to thank Révész Bálint for the trust he gives me, and all the people helping me behind the scenes: Stefano, my father, my brother and Katalin.”
Alessandro Tognelli, Rossi Moor’s Chief Engineer, added:“Overall, it was a very positive weekend, especially considering that many of our rivals arrived here after testing at Estoril last week. Across the three days of the race weekend, we made huge steps forward.
In Race 1, Rossi was unfortunately a little unlucky after being involved in the Turn 1 incident, but he recovered very well. For Race 2, we made some small setup changes that proved to be positive and allowed Rossi to be almost 10 seconds faster over the total race distance compared with Race 1. We still need to keep working hard, especially on the time attack, because Moto2 is a category where if you start a little too far back, it becomes di_icult to recover. For the next round at Jerez de la Frontera, we will continue working to help Rossi make another positive step forward.”
With today’s results, Rossi Moor is now eighth in the overall FIM MotoJunior Moto2 standings with 24 points, tied with Javier Palomera.
The next round of the FIM MotoJunior Moto2 Championship will take place at Jerez de la Frontera.
Jett Lawrence (1) completed the sweep of the holeshots in Moto 2 and charged to a dominant victory to wrap up a 1-1 afternoon. MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc.
LAKEWOOD, Colo. – The Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, headed to the Rocky Mountains for its third stop of the summer and Round 20 of the 2026 Monster Energy SMX World Championship, where the mile-high altitude of Thunder Valley Motocross Park provided one of the season’s most unique challenges. The Toyota Thunder Valley National Presented by American Petroleum Institute featured another captivating afternoon of racing, which saw Honda HRC Progressive’s Jett Lawrence [#1] put forth a statement performance with a pair of wire-to-wire motos to claim back-to-back wins and seize control of the 450SMX Class points lead. In the 250SMX Class, the unpredictability continued for the third straight race as Honda HRC Progressive’s Jo Shimoda [#30] became the third different winner in as many races, albeit without winning a moto. It signified Honda’s first sweep of class victories this season.
Jett Lawrence Seizes Control of Pro Motocross Championship Points Lead with Statement Victory at Thunder Valley.
450SMX Class
Timed Qualifying
The most competitive qualifying session of the young season saw several riders put themselves in the mix for pole position. While Jett Lawrence topped the charts after the first session, it was his Honda HRC Progressive teammate and older brother Hunter [#96] who ultimately led the way at the end of the second session with a time of 2:01.727, which put him a half-second ahead of the 2:02.201 by Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Lucas Coenen [#104], the MXGP points leader who took advantage of an off weekend to make his Pro Motocross debut. Jett Lawrence’s 2:02.489 from the first session placed him third.
Moto 1 [30 Minutes + 2 Laps]
The opening moto of the afternoon got underway with Jett Lawrence out front with the holeshot over Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cooper Webb [#2] and Hunter Lawrence, the championship leader. Lawrence pushed on the opening lap to get around Webb and looked to close in on his younger brother. Meanwhile, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan [#38] was able to climb his way up to third.
The Lawrences engaged in a spirited fight for the lead, with Jett able to keep Hunter at bay. For a moment Hunter appeared to have the pass made on his brother, but Jett responded immediately to prevent Hunter from completing it. That allowed Deegan to make it a three-rider battle. Deegan then made the pass for second and pressured for the lead for the first time this season. The highly anticipated showdown between Jett Lawrence and Deegan unfolded, to the roar of the crowd. While Deegan kept Lawrence honest, the gap between them soon stabilized as the moto reached its halfway point.
Deegan overcame a couple minor miscues to close back in on the lead and brought Hunter Lawrence with him to reignite the three-rider battle. However, with a little more than 12 minutes to go Deegan slid out and dropped to third. He then went down again a short time later and dropped to fourth, which allowed Coenen to take third.
The final 10 minutes turned into a Lawrence versus Lawrence affair, with Coenen gaining ground from third. The siblings traded momentum throughout various parts of the racetrack, which ultimately prevented Hunter from getting close enough to mount a challenge. As the clock wound down, Jett seemingly ended the threat and opened up a lead of more than three seconds, while Coenen settled into third.
As time ran out on the race clock Hunter Lawrence went down and remounted in third, which moved Coenen up to second. Lawrence reentered the race just ahead of Deegan to set up a last lap battle for the final podium spot.
As Jett Lawrence took the white flag he held a mere two second advantage over Coenen, who made one final push. In the end, Lawrence held on to take his third straight moto win by 1.4 seconds over the Belgian in his first ever gate drop. Hunter Lawrence followed in third, with Deegan fourth and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jorge Prado [#26] in fifth.
At the conclusion of the moto race officials reviewed an inside line that several riders used across multiple laps that took them beyond the track limits. The racing line was deemed illegal, and three riders were subsequently penalized for cutting the track, with each lap infraction taken into account. The top-finishing rider to receive a penalty was Hunter Lawrence, who was docked one position from third to fourth. Deegan was penalized seven positions, dropping him from fourth to 11th, while Prado received a two-position penalty, dropping from fifth to seventh. The updated top five following the penalties was 1. Jett Lawrence; 2. Coenen; 3. Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Garret Marchbanks [#36]; 4. Hunter Lawrence; 5. Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s RJ Hampshire [#24].
Moto 2 [30 Minutes + 2 Laps]
Jett Lawrence completed off a sweep of the holeshots to begin the second moto with the lead ahead of his brother and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Aaron Plessinger [#7]. As he looked to apply pressure on the lead, Hunter Lawrence went down. He remounted quickly but resumed deep in the top 10.
The clear track allowed Jett Lawrence to establish a two-second lead at the conclusion of the opening lap over Coenen, who quickly fought his way up to second. Plessinger settled into third. Meanwhile, Hunter Lawrence made an impressive recovery to fight back up to fifth place in a matter of a couple laps.
Jett Lawrence was able to stabilize the lead at about 3.5 seconds through the middle of the moto as Coenen strengthened his grasp of second. The fight for third saw Deegan methodically close in on Plessinger and successfully take the position. Hunter Lawrence followed into fourth several laps later.
As the lead duo continued on in their respective positions Hunter Lawrence was determined to complete his comeback from the early tip over. He closed in on Deegan and made a quick, aggressive move with less than two minutes to go to take over third. Moments later, he fell again, which gave the position back to Deegan. Lawrence resumed in fourth, but just ahead of Prado and Marchbanks.
Jett Lawrence completed a perfect afternoon by extending his moto win streak to four, taking the checkered flag 9.6 seconds ahead of Coenen. Deegan finished more than 30 seconds back in third, with Hunter Lawrence able to salvage fourth.
Jett Lawrence (1) lead the field to the Moto 1 holeshot and fended off race-long pressure from Hunter Lawrence (96), Haiden Deegan (38), and Lucas Coenen (104). Photo courtesy MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc.
Overall
A pair of wire-to-wire performances and the 20th 1-1 result of his career gave Jett Lawrence his 26th win in 30 premier class starts. With back-to-back victories, he has also grabbed control of the 450SMX Class points lead. It’s his fourth straight win at Thunder Valley, where he remains unbeaten, and marks the sixth consecutive year Honda has claimed victory in Colorado.
Coenen’s Pro Motocross debut resulted in an impressive runner-up effort (2-2) as he’ll now return overseas to defend his lead in the MXGP championship. He’ll race once more this summer, at Southwick on July 11th.
Despite numerous bouts of adversity and the penalty in the first moto, Hunter Lawrence still secured a podium finish (4-4) to minimize the points lost in the championship.
A 14-point swing at Thunder Valley has moved Jett Lawrence atop the points standings with an eight-point lead over Hunter. Deegan remains third, 32 points out of the lead.
450SMX Class Overall Results (Moto Finishes // Points)
Jett Lawrence (1) at Thunder Valley. Photo courtesy MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc.
1st Place – Jett Lawrence | #1 Team Honda HRC Progressive (1-1): “I felt a lot better in Moto 2, with a lot better lines and better flow. It was a really tricky track. It was a good 1-1 weekend and I’m happy with that. I’m getting more used to riding with my foot, but it wasn’t easy on a track like this. But it was still good enough for a 1-1.”
Lucas Coenen (104) at Thunder Valley. Photo courtesy MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc.
2nd Place – Lucas Coenen | #104 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing (2-2): “It was an amazing experience. I was able to get a good start [in Moto 2] and went from there. I’m so grateful for the team and everything they did to make this happen. The second moto was hectic with the lappers, but I’m racing against the best rider in the world. I can’t wait to come back [at Southwicjk], but we’ll go back [to MXGP] and try to win there.”
Hunter Lawrence (96) at Thunder Valley. Photo courtesy MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc.
3rd Place – Hunter Lawrence | #96 Team Honda HRC Progressive (4-4) “It was a tough one today. I felt like my riding was really good, but I struggled with the connectivity of the track and my motorcycle. I struggled a lot more than I usually do in keeping the bike under me. All good, we’ll move on to the next one.”
Jo Shimoda Prevails in 250SMX Class After Another Unpredictable Afternoon.
250SMX Class
Timed Qualifying
The morning sessions kicked off with an impressive debut for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Sacha Coenen [#109], the MX2 points leader from Belgium who joined his twin brother for a guest appearance and Pro Motocross debut. Coenen paced the field after the opening session but was surpassed by Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cole Davies [#37], who led the way in the second session to top the overall classification with a time of 2:04.463. That was seven tenths ahead of Coenen (2:05.217), who also bettered his time in the second session.
Moto 1 [30 Minutes + 2 Laps]
The first moto began with Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Seth Hammaker [#10], the championship leader, ahead of the pack with the holeshot ahead of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Julien Beaumer [#13] and Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing rookie Caden Dudney [#82] in third.
Hammaker and Beaumer battled for the lead throughout the opening laps, while Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Nick Romano [#141] slotted into third. Up front, the KTM rider kept the pressure on his Kawasaki counterpart as Romano and Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Levi Kitchen [#47] lurked behind them. Ten minutes into the moto the top four were separated by just three seconds.
As Hammaker slowly inched away his teammates went on the attack, as both Romano and Kitchen stormed past Beaumer to put the Kawasakis 1-2-3.
Hammaker maintained his hold of the lead as the top three settled in briefly, but just past the halfway point of the moto Kitchen picked up the pace and made the pass on Romano for second. With about 13 minutes left in the moto, Kitchen faced a 2.5 second deficit to his teammate. Behind them, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Michael Mosiman [#23] made the pass on Romano for third.
Inside the final 10 minutes, the battle for the lead intensified as Kitchen closed in on Hammaker’s rear fender. Kitchen was the faster rider but found difficulty in finding the right lines on the rut-filled track to get alongside his teammate. This allowed Hammaker to keep Kitchen at bay and hold onto a slim lead. Kitchen lost touch briefly but made one final push after time ran out on the race clock. He closed in, found better lines, and made the move by Hammaker with two laps to go. As that unfolded a change for third also took place as Shimoda made the pass on Mosiman.
Once into the lead, Kitchen ran away from Hammaker and stormed to his second moto win of the season by 8.1 seconds for a Kawasaki 1-2 finish. Shimoda earned his second moto podium in third, with Romano fourth and Mosiman fifth.
Moto 2 [30 Minutes + 2 Laps]
The deciding second moto started with Coenen out front for the holeshot ahead of Romano and Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Ryder DiFrancesco [#34]. As the field entered the first turn, contact between Hammaker and Kitchen took the teammates to the ground with several other riders and dropped them deep in the field.
Out front, Romano gave a brief challenge to Coenen but almost went down, which allowed Coenen to secure the position and pull away from the field. Romano and DiFrancesco settled into second and third, respectively. As Coenen was able to open a lead of more than five seconds, DiFrancesco made the pass on Romano for second.
As the leaders settled in through the first 10 minutes of the moto the attention shifted to Kitchen and Hammaker as they looked to claw their way through the field. Kitchen gained significant ground and fought his way into the top 15, while Hammaker followed several positions behind, just inside the top 20.
Back up front, a battle for third started to take shape between Romano and Shimoda, which carried major implications in the overall standings. After several laps of patience Shimoda made his move with a little more than 10 minutes left in the moto, which was enough to put him in the winning position.
Further back, Kitchen continued his march forward and battled up to ninth place, while Hammaker made slower progress and moved up to 15th.
As time ran out on the race clock Shimoda closed in on DiFrancesco for second. He showed patience and made the move just before the final lap.
While a wild race unfolded behind him, Coenen dominated his second-ever moto and never faced a challenge after the opening lap. He took the win by 6.1 seconds over Shimoda, with DiFrancesco in third. Kitchen fought all the way up to eighth, while Hammaker finished just outside the top 10 in 12th.
Seth Hammaker (10) grabbed the Moto 1 holeshot and led almost the entirety of the moto before a late pass by his teammate Levi Kitchen (47). MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc.
Overall
Another wild afternoon of 250SMX Class racing saw Shimoda emerge victorious following 3-2 moto finishes. It’s the seventh win of the Japanese rider’s career and gives Honda four Thunder Valley wins in the past five years.
Kitchen’s resilient second moto salvaged a runner-up finish (1-8) and gives the Kawasaki rider back-to-back podiums.
Romano enjoyed a career breakthrough with the first overall podium finish of his career (4-5) in his 22nd career start. He’s the third different Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider to finish on the podium through the first three races.
Hammaker finished seventh overall (2-12) for his first finish off the overall podium this season.
Hammaker and Kitchen now sit tied atop the 250SMX Class standings with a share of the red plate. Shimoda now sits third, six points behind the teammates.
Sacha Coenen (109) earned the Moto 2 holeshot as a multi-rider incident unfolded behind him, started by Hammaker (10) and Kitchen (47). MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc.
250SMX Class Overall Results (Moto Finishes // Points)
Jo Shimoda, Suzuka, Japan, Honda (3-2 // 42)
Levi Kitchen, Washougal, Wash., Kawasaki (1-8 // 39)
Jo Shimoda (30) at Thunder Valley. Photo courtesy MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc.
1st Place – Jo Shimoda | #30 Honda HRC Progressive (3-2): “I just needed to start up front. I wasted too much energy in the first moto, so I didn’t have as much in the second moto. We still have a lot of things to work on but still got a win. Coming back from my [offseason] neck injury, this win means a lot. Let’s keep the ball rolling.”
Levi Kitchen (47) at Thunder Valley. Photo courtesy MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc.
2nd Place – Levi Kitchen | #47 Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki (1-8): “I just can’t put a day together. It was a bummer [to start Moto 2]. I got up and saw a red plate in front of me and realized I just need to beat this guy [Hammaker]. I just put my head down and charged. I wasn’t really happy with how it was going, but I gave it my all. We’ve just got to keep going and keep fighting.”
Nick Romano (141) at Thunder Valley. Photo courtesy MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc.
3rd Place – Nick Romano | #141 Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki (4-5) “This is so unreal. I don’t even know where to start. I want to thank my family, friends, and Mitch Payton for giving me this opportunity. I’ve been working for this my whole life and hope I can do it again next weekend.”
The 2026 Pro Motocross Championship will continue next Saturday, June 20, with Round 21 of the SMX World Championship regular season and the East Coast debut from Pennsylvania’s famed High Point Raceway. The Father’s Day tradition that is the UFO Plast High Point National will shown live in its entirety on Peacock, beginning with Race Day Live at 7 a.m. PT / 10 a.m. ET, followed by coverage of the motos at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET.
Post-Race Press Briefing – Thunder Valley National:
For information about the Pro Motocross Championship, please visit ProMotocross.com and be sure to follow all of the Pro Motocross social media channels for exclusive content and additional information on the latest news:
Solly Mervis (25) at Daytona last March. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
The American rider talks about his journey: from his first experiences on a motorbike during COVID to races between the United States and Europe, as well as his ADHD, autism and safety on the track.
When Solomon Mervis, a 21-year-old from Indiana, started riding motorbikes during COVID in 2020, the racing world didn’t have a clue who he was. Within a few years, however, he went from riding a Honda XR 80 in his yard to competing in the MotoAmerica Twins Cup and Aprilia RS 660 Trophy in Europe. A journey as rapid as it is unusual from the track, university and his daily sacrifices.
Taking advantage of his European trip, we chatted with him about racing, safety, and the journey that took him from his first experiences in flat track to international track competitions in just a few years.
Solomon has also spoken openly about ADHD and autism, topics he proudly shows his support for on his motorcycle, via messages designed to raise awareness. And instead of considering them a limitation, he sees them as a fundamental part of his identity and even as an advantage in his ability to focus totally on what he loves to do: bike racing.
First of all, how did bikes come into your life? Do you remember the exact moment when something clicked?
I actually have a very different story to many others about how bikes came into my life. I didn’t grow up around motorbikes. I didn’t follow the sport, I didn’t even know about MotoGP. I knew something about MotoAmerica and similar races, but then, during COVID, my dad bought me a dirt bike because we were stuck at home and there was nothing to do.
He bought a Honda XR 80 to fix up. He got it working again, and I started riding around in the yard. At one point I said: “Hey, I want to race.”
My father looked at me and said: “Race what?”
And I replied: “Bikes!”
So we dived in without really knowing what we were getting into. We considered motocross, enduro… but then we discovered track racing and flat track and I fell in love with it. My parents weren’t big fans of the track because of the speed involved. They preferred flat track, especially my dad, because he could see me all the way around the oval. He gets very nervous when he can’t see me.
But yes, it all started when I got on a motorbike for the first time and then, a little later, when I went kart racing. Suddenly it was like: “OK, this is my life now.”
American Solly Mervis is racing an Aprilia 660 with Revo Racing in Italy. He’s seen here in May at Mugello, where he finished fifth in both races. Photo courtesy Revo Racing.
Who has influenced you the most, on and off the track?
Off the track, even before bikes, I would say my wrestling coach. He had such a big influence on the person I am today. He taught me the value of hard work. You can’t just dream about something: you have to work and take action if you really want to get it .
Then, in the world of racing, the two people who have influenced me the most are Danny Walker and Jason Pridmore. The first time I started riding seriously was at Danny Walker’s American Supercamp. There I really learned how to ride properly. Then I took another leap in quality when I met JP and started working with him and today with Felix Rodriguez. I have been very fortunate to have these people on my side.
But I also look up to my father and mother a lot. They are the ones who made me the person I am.
What is the most important lesson racing has taught you so far?
Honestly: Never give up. I already knew this partly from wrestling. I wrestled in middle school and high school, and that taught me about hard work, but racing really taught me to never give up. It has been a journey. Sometimes you experience incredible moments, other times you hit rock bottom, and it’s hard.
But the biggest lesson is this: Never give up.
American Solly Mervis (25) in action at Mugello. Photo courtesy Revo Racing.
What do you feel you still need to learn to take the next step?
Honestly, I feel like I still have a lot of experience to gain. That’s the main thing. I need to do more laps, more races, more starts, more hard-fought final laps, more battles. That’s what I need to do to get where I want to be.
I think it will come with time, but I also need to improve my overall speed a bit. But I know I can do the work necessary and I know I have the skills to do it. It’s just a matter of time and continuing to believe.
What’s next in your mind? What is your vision?
Now, in the short term, especially for this season, the main goal is to become a consistent top-5 rider in the Twins Cup at MotoAmerica. That’s my big goal. We know where I am now, we know where I can get to, and I know where I belong in the rankings. So it’s just about taking small steps and learning every time I step onto the track.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
I honestly don’t know. I’m studying for a degree in mechanical engineering and racing at the same time, so a lot will depend on where life takes me: Whether I will work, race or both. I don’t know yet.
What did you have to give up to pursue this career?
I sacrificed a lot socially. I had to give up time with friends and a normal life. I can’t be as involved in school life as I’d like—clubs, societies, things like that—because there’s simply no time. I’m busy with school, lessons, studying and then competitions.
As you said, you also study engineering. How do you manage to balance all this with racing?
Honestly, it’s very complicated. Somehow I manage to do it all, but sometimes it’s really hard. The hardest part is that I can’t ride as much as I’d like because I can’t leave school to go train in places like Florida, California, or Arizona. But somehow I’m making it all work.
You’ve spoken openly about ADHD and being on the autism spectrum. How do these characteristics influence you as a rider and as a person?
Many people associate ADHD and autism with something negative, but for me they have almost been a superpower. They allow me to be incredibly focused on racing, improving and doing well both on the track and in school.
Honestly, without being autistic I would not be anywhere near as strong as I am today. In my personal experience, this means that when my mind gets stuck on something, it’s hard to stop thinking about it. And with racing this has been a huge advantage, because I can never get them out of my mind. That’s all I think about and all I want to do.
American Solly Mervis testing on a Revo Racing Aprilia RS660 at Portimao in February. Photo courtesy Revo Racing.
You display autism awareness messages on your bike. What message do you want to convey?
I want people to understand that when we all lower the visor on the starting grid, I am no different from anyone else. And even though I am different in some ways, I am proud to be different. I am proud of who I am and the progress I have made.
Solly Mervis (25) in action in a MotoAmerica Twins Cup race at Road America in May. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
What is the thing you think people understand least about ADHD or autism, especially in a high-performance environment like racing?
One misunderstanding is the idea that autism automatically limits a person. For some people it definitely creates different challenges, but for me it is not something that limits me.
It’s something I’ve had to work on, especially from a social perspective. Sometimes people misunderstand what I say or misinterpret my intentions. My mind is racing and I’m constantly thinking about so many things at once. Sometimes I lose my train of thought or jump from one topic to another. But in my head everything is connected, even if it doesn’t seem like it from the outside. It’s something I’ve worked on a lot, but it’s also part of who I am. I wouldn’t be complete without every part of me, including my autistic part.
Let’s change the subject and talk about equipment and safety in motorcycle racing. You’ve been with Dainese for a few years now: What are your favorite Dainese-AGV products that you use on the track and why?
Honestly, the AGV Pista GP RR helmet and the D-air® suit. I’ve been using this gear pretty much since I started racing. I’ve had some pretty nasty crashes wearing Dainese gear, and the fact that I’ve always gotten back up without serious injury is something I’m incredibly grateful for. It gives me a sense of security and the confidence to push close to the limit because I know I have impeccable protection if something happens.
The equipment is simply amazing. It’s the best.
What do you think of the IN suit and boot combination? What do you think are the real positives?
Honestly, with the IN-boot configuration, the feeling is different, but in a positive way. Aesthetically, too, I think it looks really good, but most importantly the foot feels more protected.
Last September I broke my ankle, and I honestly think if I had been wearing another boot, it could have been a lot worse. The doctors told me that I could return to riding without surgery. With other boots it probably wouldn’t have gone so well. In fact, in another accident two years ago, my own motorcycle literally ran over my ankle and foot and I was completely unhurt.
Many professional motorcyclists say that once you get used to the airbag, you can’t go back. What do you think?
For me there is no going back. I will never ride on the track again without an airbag.
Solly Mervis with Revo Racing teammates Mattia Sorrenti on the left and Matteo Vannucci on the right. Photo courtesy Revo Racing.
Are you ever afraid on the bike? And if so, how do you handle it?
Tough question. I wouldn’t call it fear. I would say more nervousness or excitement. Maybe when I try something new, when I open the throttle earlier or when I push it to the edge in terms of grip. You know you’re playing with fire, but it’s also what makes this sport so exciting. More than fear, it’s the awareness of being on the edge.
What motivates you most: proving something to yourself or to others?
To myself. I’ve never been motivated by wanting to prove something to others.
Sure, part of me wants to show that I deserve to be here, but most of all, I want to prove to myself that I can do it. Ultimately, when you’re on the track, it’s all up to you.
Last question. If you could change one thing about the racing world, what would it be?
I would honestly lower the barriers to enter this sport in the United States. I wish more people could experience it, because it changed my life.
I’ve met so many people through racing. I have friends all over the United States and abroad too—friends in Italy, Spain, everywhere.
I think everyone deserves a chance to experience this world. It’s a very difficult sport to get into, and I’m very lucky to have had the support of my parents. Without them I wouldn’t be anywhere near where I am today. I feel really lucky and wish more people could experience this.
Valentin Debise (53), Tom Booth-Amos (69), Can Oncu (61) and Jaume Masia (5) during the WSSP Race 2 at Misano. Photo courtesy WSBK.
Albert Arenas won FIM Supersport World Championship Race Two Sunday afternoon at Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, in San Marino. Riding his AS BLU CRU Racing Team Yamaha YZF-R9, the Championship point leader won the 18-lap race by 1.976 second.
Tom Booth-Amos was the runner-up on his PTR Triumph Factory Racing Street Triple 765 RS, 1.184 second ahead of third-place finisher Arenas’ teammate, Aldi Mahendra.
Jaume Masia crossed the finish line fourth on his Orelac Racing Verdnatura Ducati Panigale V2 and Jeremy Alcoba got fifth on his Kawasaki ZX-6R 636.
Former MotoAmerica Supersport regular Valentin Debise finished the race 9th on his Eastroc Evan Bros ZXMOTO 820RR.
Albert Arenas leads the championship with 251 points, 56 ahead of Valentin Debise who has 195 points. Jaume Masia is third with 179 points.
Arenas fortifies his title lead with Race 2 win at Misano ahead of Booth-Amos and Indonesian teammate Mahendra. The result was just what the doctor ordered for Arenas and his team as his title lead grows yet larger.
The FIM Supersport World Championship sent out the Pirelli Emilia-Romagna Round out with a bang as Albert Arenas (AS BLU CRU Racing Team) topped the podium in the last WorldSSP race at the Misano World Circuit “Marco Simoncelli” in 2026 The Championship leader was untouchable on Sunday, landing his third victory of his rookie season. Following him onto the podium, Tom Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) caught up to the podium battle and took P2 from the encounter landing his second podium of the season. In P3, Aldi Mahendra (AS BLU CRU Racing Team) rode a consistently pacey Race 2 to take his and his country’s second WorldSSP podium, now in his sophomore season.
Albert Arenas won the WorldSSP Race 2 at Misano. Photo courtesy WSBK.
ARENAS LEADS EACH LAP, INCREASES TITLE LEAD TO 56
Arenas and Valentin Debise (EASTROC ZXMOTO Factory Evan Bros Racing) led the race into the opening corner while Mahendra gave chase in P3 to Race 1’s top two finishers. The Indonesian made his way past Debise by the end of the opening lap, and the Frenchman began to back up the pack behind him as he didn’t have the pace to hang with the AS Racing Yamaha pair streaking ahead. Booth-Amos was the first rider to make it past ZXMOTO rider by Lap 4, chipping away at the gap to the lead pair until overtaking Mahendra for the first time on Turn 4 of Lap 8, they duelled for P2 across the next laps, the gap less than four tenths on the penultimate lap, however the Brit had an answer to everything the Indonesian threw at him, and closed the race over a second clear. Booth-Amos landed his 13th career WorldSSP podium in P2, while Mahendra earned both his and his country’s second podium in the class in P3. Ahead of them, Albert Arenas represented his country on the top step of the WorldSSP rostrum for Spain’s 26th victory, increasing his Championship lead to 56 points beyond the #53.
ALCOBA FROM P19 to P5
Jaume Masia’s (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) P4 grid start was lost in the early running, but not to be denied, he showed his racecraft and weaed a path back through the group to regain P4 with three laps to go. where he would go on to finish the race. Jeremy Alcoba (Kawasaki WorldSSP Team) saw lights out from P19, but with a knife between his teeth, he took his ZX-6R 636 all the way up to P6 after a pass on Matteo Ferrari (WRP Racing) the “Carro” Turn 14 of the penultimate lap. Unsatisfied, Alcoba further sweetened the deal for himself with a decisive final lap overtake on Mattia Casadei (D34G WorldSSP Racing Team) for P5 and his first top five since Balaton Park. Mattia Casadei (D34G WorldSSP Racing Team) closed out his best weekend of the 2026 season, with his second P6, and while he fell back early from his P5 starting position, he will be pleased with his home round haul.
Aldi Mahendra (57), Valentin Debise (53), Tom Booth-Amos (69), Jaume Masia (5), Can Oncu (61), Filippo Farioli (7) and Matteo Ferrari (11) during the WSSP Race 2 at Misano. Photo courtesy WSBK.
ZXMOTO AND DEBISE SLIDE TO THE BACK OF THE TOP 10
Matteo Ferrari (WRP Racing) wasn’t quite fast enough to fight for a home podium this time around, but his pace was good for P7 on Sunday. Filippo Farioli (VFT Racing) had ridden well all weekend, and unlike Race 1 which was spoiled with a late Lap 16 crash, the Italian Yamaha R9 rider held on to a P8 finish. While he crossed the line in P8, Valentin Debise (EASTROC ZXMOTO Factory Evan Bros Racing) was dealt a one position penalty by the FIM WorldSBK Stewards for exceeding track limits, sending him to P9; his ZXMOTO 820RR struggled in the later laps but he was able to finish ahead of ahead of Can Oncu (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing), who, despite leading the second group, saw his pace fall off in the late laps to squeeze out a P10 finale to the weekend.
WorldSBK Race 2 start at Misano. Photo courtesy WSBK.
Nicolo Bulega won the World Superbike Race Two Sunday afternoon at Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, in San Marino. Riding his Aruba.it Racing Ducati Panigale V4R, the Championship point leader won the 21-lap race by 5.101 seconds.
His teammate, Iker Lecuona was the runner-up, and Yari Montella was third on his Barni Spark Racing Team Ducati Panigale V4R.
Axel Lowes finished the race fourth on his bimota by Kawasaki KB998 Rimini and Tarran Mackenzie got fifth on his MGM Optical Express Racing Ducati Panigale V4R.
American Garrett Gerloff went from 22nd on the grid to 12th at the finish on his Kawasaki ZX-10RR.
Nicolo Bulega leads the championship with 434 points, 121 ahead of Iker Lecuona who has 313 points. Yari Montella is third with 170 points.
Misano Masterclass: Bulega makes history with seventh hat-trick in 2026, Lecuona and Montella on the rostrum. The #11 lost the lead at the start, re-gained it on Lap 1, and never looked back as he extended his record winning run.
Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) made it 25 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship victories in a row as he made it a clean sweep at the Misano World Circuit “Marco Simoncelli”. Despite an early challenge from teammate Iker Lecuona, the #11 was able to claim victory by more than five seconds ahead of the Spanish star, while Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) took advantage of a late crash by Axel Bassani (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) to claim a podium.
Nicolo Bulega won again at Misano. Photo courtesy WSBK.
BULEGA MAKES MORE HISTORY
Lecuona got away well and immediately took the fight to Bulega through the first half of the lap, but the #11 got ahead at Turn 11 before immediately pulling out a gap over his teammate. Bassani was a fast starter, along with teammate Alex Lowes, as they slotted into third and fourth as they went in search of a home podium for Bimota. A mistake from Lecuona, running wide, gave Bulega a buffer of more than two seconds at the head of the field as the #11 took his 21st win of the season, matching Toprak Razgatlioglu’s tally from last year for the second-highest value. It was also his seventh hat-trick of the year, becoming the first rider to achieve that number of triples in a single season. Lecuona was second for the 18th consecutive race, which is an all-time record in WorldSBK. Bassani had looked on course for a home podium, his first at Misano since 2023, but he crashed out in the final third of the race at Turn 8. That promoted Montella into third, after the #5 got ahead of Alex Lowes early on in the 21-lap race. That meant Montella, for the second round this season, finished a single round with three podiums – as he did at Most, when he finished in P3 behind the factory Ducati duo of Bulega and Lecuona.
Yari Montella (5) and Alex Lowes (22) at Misano during WSBK Race 2. Photo courtesy WSBK.
BIMOTA IN THE TOP FOUR AGAIN
Alex Lowes came home in fourth after his teammate’s late crash, with Tarran Mackenzie (MGM Optical Express Racing) 2.774s back from the #22. ‘Taz’ secured his best dry-weather result in WorldSBK by claiming P5, beating his previous best by two positions. His best overall is P4. Alberto Surra (Motocorsa Racing) extended his points-scoring run to 12 races by claiming sixth place for the second time this weekend.
CLOSE BATTLES IN THE TOP TEN
Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) finished as the lead Yamaha rider by coming home in seventh after another flying start as the race got underway. He was less than a second ahead of Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) in eighth, who took his best result of the WorldSBK campaign. Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) took ninth after a late-race fight with Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team), with the #60 just 0.037s clear of the #14.
SCORING POINTS IN RACE 2
Xavi Vierge (Pata Maxus Yamaha) missed out on a top ten by just 1.884s as he finished in 11th, but crucially he fended off Garrett Gerloff (Kawasaki WorldSBK Team) by just 0.017s at the line with the #31 forced to settle for P12. Somkiat Chantra (Honda HRC) claimed his best WorldSBK result by taking 13th, ahead of Tommy Bridewell (Superbike Advocates) and Lorenzo Baldassarri (Team GoEleven); ‘Balda’ stopped for a short period, seemingly with a technical issue, but was able to get going again.
JUST MISSING OUT
Stefano Manzi (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) lost a lot of ground at the start of the race and eventually finished in 16th place, ahead of Mattia Rato (Motoxracing WorldSBK Team) in 17th. Ryan Vickers (Honda HRC) was the last classified rider in 18th, with the #17 crashing during Race 2 but rejoining the race.
RETIRING FROM RACE 2
Alvaro Bautista (Barni Spark Racing Team) crashed out of the race at Turn 8 on Lap 1, while Bahattin Sofuoglu (Motoxracing WorldSBK Team) fell at Turn 13 on Lap 2 and retired from the race. Miguel Oliveira (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) had been running in the top ten but slowed, seemingly with a technical problem with his bike, on Lap 7.
Maria Herrera won FIM World Women’s Circuit Racing Race 2 Sunday Morning at Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, in San Marino. Riding her Terra & Vita GRT Yamaha YZF-R7 on Pirelli control tires, Herrera won the 12-lap race by just 0.075 second.
Beatriz Neila was the runner-up on her Ampito Crescent Yamaha YZF-R7, and Muklada Sarapuech got third on her EEST NJT Racing Team Yamaha YZF-R7, 13.072 seconds behind race winner Herrera.
American Mallory Dobbs finished the race 20th on her YVS Sabadell Diva Racing Yamaha YZF-R7.
Maria Herrera leads the championship with 181 points, 24 ahead of Beatriz Neila who has 157 points. Paola Ramos is third with 97 points.
Last lap fight: Herrera beats Neila by 0.075s in epic Race 2, Thai rider Sarapuech claims first WorldWCR rostrum. Herrera’s race-topping effort adds to her all-time leading tally with 27 podiums.
Maria Herrera (Terra & Vita GRT Yamaha WorldWCR), Beatriz Neila (Ampito Crescent Yamaha), and Muklada Sarapuech (EEST NJT Racing Team) were your Race 2 rostrum riders after a glittering final FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship at the Misano World Circuit “Marco Simoncelli”. The #6 saw the opportunity for her fifth race win of the season and took it, joined on the podium by Neila with her 22nd consecutive silverware-earning ride, an all-time record streak. Sarapuech was the newest face to earn a podium in the category, earning Thailand its first WorldWCR podium.
HERRERA ONE WIN SHY OF SINGLE-SEASON RECORD
Maria Herrera was beaten into the holeshot by Paola Ramos (Klint Racing Team), however the #6 was back in front by Turn 2. From there, the lead trio of Herrera, Neila and Ramos led the encounter. Roberta Ponziani (Klint Racing Team) capitalised on her teammate running wide and falling down the order. By the race’s midpoint, Neila had closed to within a quarter of a second, and as the laps trickled down, Ponziani fell back, but Neila hung behind the Championship leader. Neila made looks up the inside of the #6, but a strong defensive ride from the #6 was watertight, leaving the #36 behind her in P2 as Herrera took her 17th WorldWCR win. Farther back, Sarapuech at last landed her first podium finish in WorldWCR
PONZIANI TAKES A P4 TO CLOSE HER HOME ROUND
Ponziani closes her home round unable to make her return to the podium, finishing with a proud P4 for the fourth time. Her teammate Ramos was battling for the race win early on until her Turn 16 mistake on Lap 2 saw her run wide off of the track and haemorrhage positions to ride in P10 by the third lap. By Lap 7, Ramos had caught back up to the podium fight, and while she was unable to put the pack behind her and reclaim a spot on the podium, she recovered well to finish in P5. Yvonne Cerpa (MotosCerpa-Gradara Corse) rode solidly again, fighting with Ponziani and Sarapuech across the first half of the race. She rode as high as P3 but will have to settle for a P6 to close the action in Italy.
BRUNO AND JONES OVERCOME PENALTIES TO FINISH TOP 10
Crossing the line in P7, Sara Sanchez (Hadden Racing Team) closed her return round after injury with another top 8 in Italy. She and Karolina Danak (Yamaha AD78 FIMLA) worked together to close the gap to the podium fight, which paid dividends as the pair caught up to even ride as high as P5 briefly. The Polish rider, however, saw gravel on Turn 11 on the final lap, ending her round with no points from Race 2. Natalia Rivera (Terra & Vita GRT Yamaha WorldWCR Team) was the last of six Spaniards in the top ten, finishing in P8, half a tenth behind Sanchez. Wildcard rider Joy Bruno (Team Trasimeno) recovered from her Long Lap Penalty for Irresponsible Riding in Race 1, handed to her by FIM WorldSBK Stewards for the incident which caused Ramos’s crash, to finish in a proud P9. Lastly, Chloe Jones (Monster Energy Crescent Yamaha) was similarly resilient as she applied a double Long Lap Penalty for a jump start in Race 2. The Brit followed her Race 1 podium with a P10 to close Misano.
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