AFT: Dallas Daniels Wins Magic Mile At DuQuoin

Mathilde Gasnier

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July 6, 2025

AFT: Dallas Daniels Wins Magic Mile At DuQuoin

The “Magic Mile” lived up to its nickname by delivering yet another last-lap stunner as Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) claimed a scant-yet-pivotal victory in Saturday night’s Memphis Shades DuQuoin Mile, Round 8 of the 2025 Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing.

Daniels’ win at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds in DuQuoin, Illinois, wasn’t assured until the checkered flag flew, which confirmed an official 0.037-second margin of victory following a hectic five-rider showdown to the very end. 

An early eight-rider scrap whittled down to six after a few minutes of fighting. It then took its final form of five – which included Daniels, title rival Briar Bauman (No. 3 RWR/Parts Plus/Latus Motors Harley-Davidson XG750R), James Ott (No. 19 G&G Racing Yamaha MT-07), Declan Bender (No. 70 Memphis Shades/Corbin/OTB Racing Yamaha MT-07), and Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Harley-Davidson XG750R) – after Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing KTM 790 Duke) was forced out due to mechanical issues.

Bauman kept himself relevant with some impressive cornering and line choice, but as the laps wound down, it became more and more apparent that the Yamahas of Daniels, Ott, and Bender had the steam on this night.

With less than two minutes left on the clock, Bauman dropped back from first to fifth and then struggled mightily in his attempts to claw his way back into winning contention from that point forward.

Ott, meanwhile, gave Daniels all he could handle, while Bender looked more than capable of springing a massive upset with a perfect final lap.

But Daniels did what aspiring championship winners do, countering Ott’s final lap Turn 2 pass with a counter of his own, running back up the inside entering Turn 3. He then put his head down and narrowly outraced his challengers’ draft-pass attempts as the three completed a Yamaha lockout of the podium.

Ott earned his maiden Mission AFT SuperTwins podium 0.037 seconds off the win while Bender claimed the first of his Progressive AFT career a further 0.092 seconds adrift.

Daniels said, “That was huge… Not even just the win, but how we felt on the motorcycle today. It’s no secret that at the beginning of the season we’ve been struggling a little bit, just with some stuff. It’s not for lack of effort. My team has been busting their butts so much. This track – with the way that the corners are – is one where we’ve always lacked on the Yamaha the last few years. We’ve been making headway, and last year we were close to Jared (Mees), but not that close. This morning, I didn’t really feel the greatest, but I had a quiet confidence. I knew we were going to figure it out. I can’t give a big enough of a thanks to my whole Estenson Racing Monster Energy Yamaha team…

“It was an amazing day. It’s the first time I’ve won a Grand National in my home state. It’s something special.”

Robinson, meanwhile, held Bauman off for fourth just back of the top three. 

As a result, Daniels and Bauman now boast 162 points and four wins apiece, with Bauman technically in the championship lead as a result of his three runners-up to Daniels’ two. It doesn’t get much closer than that with the Grand National Championship fight now officially at its halfway point.

Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 Racing Unlimited/Parts Bros/D&D Kawasaki Ninja 650) finished a lonely sixth, while Jarod VanDerKooi (No. 20 Fastrack Racing/Wally Brown Racing KTM 790 Duke), Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Progressive Insurance Honda Transalp), Dan Bromley (No. 62 Memphis Shades/Vinson Construction Suzuki GSX-8S), and Max Whale (No. 18 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650) rounding out the night’s top ten in that order.

AFT Singles presented by KICKER

In just over the span of a week, Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) took a protracted wins drought and vulnerable AFT Singles presented by KICKER championship position and transformed them into a three-race victory streak and a commanding 20-point advantage.

The Australian did so in an intense Main Event that saw an eight-rider lead freight train storm past the checkered flag separated by a combined 0.342 seconds.

As it went, the heated rivalry between Drane and Chase Saathoff (No. 88 RWR/Parts Plus Honda CRF450R) got that much hotter Saturday night. Saathoff came up just 0.020 seconds short of defeating Drane after spending the entire race in a struggle just to prevent the Estenson Racing ace from making an escape and instead forcing him to fight it out in a pack war.

The two gestured angrily at one another following the conclusion of the race after being locked in ultra close quarters combat, including one particularly perilous moment in which Saathoff’s boot contacted Drane’s handlebar as they railed around a corner in tight proximity.

Afterward, Drane said, “I just wanted to get out there straight to the front and do everything I could to win that one, because that was dangerous coming off the last corner doing that. It is what it is, and I guess I just have to put my head down and do what I did and come out on top.”

In response, Saathoff said, “I thought I set myself up good (on the final lap), but it seems to me that Tom Drane doesn’t know how to go in a straight line sometimes. But, that’s okay. We’re going to look past it and move on to the next (race).”

Saathoff was joined in the joint attempt to overcome Drane’s day-long speed advantage for the bulk of the Main by eventual third-place finisher Trevor Brunner (No. 21 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) and Bradon Pfanders (No. 83 Hannum’s HD/Pfanders Racing KTM 450 SX-F), who was shuffled back to sixth at the flag despite finishing just 0.252 seconds back of the win.

Despite his impressive form, Pfanders was displaced in that final rush to the stripe by Hunter Bauer (No. 24 Vinson Construction/Reel Medics Yamaha YZ450F) and Evan Renshaw (No. 65 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450), who rounded out the top five.

Meanwhile, Chad Cose (No. 49 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450) and Tarren Santero (No. 75 Mission Roof Systems Honda CRF450R) were rewarded with just seventh- and eighth-place results despite being in with a shot at the win as late as the race’s final corner.

Drane’s recent surge has granted him a significant advantage over Saathoff at the title fight’s halfway point, as he now leads 153-133. Brunner sits third at 114, while Santero is well back in fourth with 87 points.

Next Up:

Progressive American Flat Track will at last make its debut at the Short Track at Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Missouri, on Friday, July 18. Visit https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack/events/2025-lucas-oil-short-track-141381 to secure your tickets today.

For those that can’t catch the live action from the circuit, FloRacing is the live streaming home of Progressive AFT. Sign up now and catch every second of on-track action starting with Practice & Qualifying and ending with the Victory Podium at the end of the night at https://flosports.link/aft

FOX Sports coverage of the Memphis Shades DuQuoin Mile, featuring in-depth features and thrilling onboard cameras, will premiere on FS1 on Sunday, July 13, at 11:30 a.m. ET (8:30 a.m. PT).

For more information on Progressive AFT visit https://www.americanflattrack.com.

World Endurance: Take Five With Johann Zarco

Mathilde Gasnier

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July 6, 2025

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World Endurance: Take Five With Johann Zarco

MotoGP star Johann Zarco will go for back-to-back victories in Japan’s round of the FIM Endurance World Championship (EWC). The 34-year-old from France took time out of his preparations for the 46th Coca-Cola Suzuka 8-Hours Endurance Race to answer five key questions.

Johann Zarco on the podium at the Suzuka 8 hours in 2024. Photo courtesy EWC.

After winning on your EWC debut in Suzuka last season, what’s brought you back and how confident are you of a repeat victory, especially with Iker Lecuona joining you and Takumi Takahashi in the Honda HRC line-up?

“I am very pleased to be back as a member of Honda HRC in this traditional and prestigious race. I will bring my good momentum from MotoGP to Suzuka and, clearly with this trio, we’re in contention to win. Whether we’ll have enough margin to win is something I don’t know, and we’ll still have to do everything right. But Iker had some very good tests after me. My tests were good. We were still able to work well and get a good feel for the rain. It was also very instructive on a drying track, especially on a track lasting over two minutes per lap. This allowed us to gather information for tyre management. Then, on the second day, we were able to do quite a few laps in the dry and test many settings.”

What’s changed on your Honda compared to 2024?

“The biggest change is the suspension. Last year we rode with Showa suspension, while this year we’re using Öhlins suspension. So that was the priority of the tests: setting up the bike with this new suspension. I really liked the stability the Öhlins provide during braking. I think there’s still work to be done, especially on the ease of riding to be faster without having to push harder.”

Last year, you said that you had a lot to learn from your teammates and that you needed to adapt. Given your experience and 2024 victory has your contribution been greater so far in terms of set-up?

“Since I managed to set a very good pace from the first test, I was able to try different settings on the bike. The goal was to give feedback and information to Honda and thus compare it with what Takumi Takashi, my team-mate, might like. Despite everything, I think Suzuka is a very technical track, and it’s by knowing the track that you can save the most time, rather than trying to set the bike up perfectly for different riding styles.”

Johann Zarco on his Honda HRC at Suzuka in 2024. Photo courtesy EWC. — Johann Zarco on his HRC Honda at Suzuka in 2024. Photo courtesy EWC.

Jack Miller will also be racing in Japan’s EWC round this year, do you think your participation 12 months ago and your victory has sparked even greater interest in the Suzuka 8 Hours?

“I honestly think so. I dared to take on the challenge last year and I enjoyed it, and the victory was great. I think Jack’s presence is a good thing for Yamaha; it’ll give them a bike in addition to the YART one. He’ll also have some good riders with him. Besides, for Jack, this may not be the best time for him right now, and if it works out well, it will certainly allow him to score points with Yamaha.”

How do you manage all this traveling during your MotoGP season, especially with all the time differences?

“It was planned, it was worth doing, because it’s an additional experience to learn how to best manage these MotoGP seasons from year to year. Next year, I’ll probably only do one test. This year, two tests were perhaps a bit too much, even if it allowed me to familiarise myself with Suzuka in the rain. Now that I’ve gained this additional experience, I’ll be more careful to prioritise my MotoGP season because that’s where the level is most demanding. The slightest drop in energy or form is immediately felt.”

The 46th Coca-Cola Suzuka 8-Hours Endurance Race takes place from 1-3 August. Click HERE for more information.

JuniorGP: Poles Decided On Saturday At Magny-Cours

Mathilde Gasnier

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July 6, 2025

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JuniorGP: Poles Decided On Saturday At Magny-Cours

Brian Uriarte’s good form continued as he made it two consecutive pole positions, while a new face will lead away the ETC grid.

The all-important pole positions were set during the FIM JuniorGP™ World Championship’s first visit to the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours. In the JuniorGP™ class, Brian Uriarte (UAX SeventyTwo Artbox) made it two poles in a row while Xabi Zurutuza (Andifer American Racing) will lead away the Moto2™ European Championship grid on Sunday. In the European Talent Cup, Matteo Gabarrini (Team Echovit Pasini Racing) claimed a maiden pole while Iker Garcia (Yamaha GV Racing) topped the times in the Stock™ European Championship.

JUNIORGP:

Brian Uriarte continued his excellent form as he claimed a second consecutive JuniorGP™ pole after posting a 1:43.640s, finishing seven tenths clear of Marco Morelli (GRYD – MLav Racing) as he backed up his Jerez success at Magny-Cours. As for Morelli, he secured P2 on the grid for his first front row start in JuniorGP, while Jesus Rios (Finetwork XTI Mir Racing Team) was denied a first pole in over a year; after initially going into P1 in the closing stages of Q2, the Spaniard was demoted by Uriarte and Morelli.

Rico Salmela (Estrella Galicia 0,0) will lead away the second row after securing fourth place with a 1:44.474s, with Hakim Danish (SIC Racing MSI) lining up alongside him. Row 2 will be completed by Leonardo Zanni (Finetwork XTI Mir Racing Team) after the Italian posted a 1:44.599s to claim sixth place; just two tenths separated Morelli in second and Zanni in sixth.

Sunday’s sole JuniorGP action kicks off at 13:00 Local Time (UTC+2) on Sunday.

Poleman Moto2™ Xabi Zurutuza. Photo courtesy FIM JuniorGP.

MOTO2 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP:

Xabi Zurutuza secured pole position in the Moto2™ ECh after he set a blistering 1:37.933s to beat Championship leader Unai Orradre (Team Ciatti – Boscoscuro). The two Spanish stars were separated by less than a tenth at the end of the 15-minute Q2 session, with Jerez polesitter Milan Pawelec (AGR Team) completing the front row as he set a 1:38.153s. Francesco Mongiardo (Fau55 Tey Racing), second in the Championship, will start from the second row after finishing sixth in Q2.

There are two races in the Moto2™ ECh in France, with racing from 11:00 Local Time (UTC+2).

Poleman ETC Matteo Gabarrini. Photo courtesy FIM JuniorGP.

EUROPEAN TALENT CUP:

Matteo Gabarrini took his first European Talent Cup pole position after setting a 1:47.971s to claim P1 in Q2. The Italian was the only rider to lap in the 1:47s bracket when he topped Group B’s Q2 session. Kiandra Ramadhipa (Honda Asia – Dream Racing Team Junior) was fastest in Group A, but slower than Gabarrini, so will go from second place while Fernando Bujosa (AC Racing Team) will complete the front row.

ETC has two races at Magny-Cours, tune in to the action from 12:00 Local Time (UTC+2).

Poleman Stock Iker García. FIM JuniorGP.

STOCK EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP:

Iker Garcia claimed a second pole of the 2025 season after setting a 1:41.586s to secure P1 ahead of Hungary’s Tibor Varga (IUM Motorsports S.L). The #47 was almost threes tenths slower than Garcia’s pole-setting time, while Garcia’s teammate, Blai Trias, will complete the front row of Sunday’s Stock ECh race after taking third in Q2 with a 1:42.170s.

Stock ECh’s sole race takes place at 16:00 Local Time (UTC+2) on Sunday.

Saturday’s action is in the books and now attention is turning to Sunday with two Moto2 ECh races, two ETC races, one JuniorGP race and one Stock ECh race from Magny-Cours – with the action kicking off at 11:00 Local Time (UTC+2).

BSB: Ray Beats Ryde And Skinner In Race 1 At Knockhill

Mathilde Gasnier

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July 6, 2025

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BSB: Ray Beats Ryde And Skinner In Race 1 At Knockhill

Bradley Ray was relentless in his pursuit for victory in the opening Bennetts British Superbike Championship race at Knockhill as he came under fire from both Rory Skinner and Kyle Ryde to maintain his winning momentum for Raceways Yamaha.

At the start of the race, Ryde launched off the line to lead the pack from Ray and Skinner, with the championship leader making a dive down the inside of lap three to snatch the position from his OMG Nitrous Competitions Racing Yamaha rival.

It was short lived though as Ryde instantly attacked to regain the lead, but Skinner was pushing to put a show on for his home crowd and on lap six he made his first move. The Cheshire Mouldings Ducati rider made a decisive move down the inside at the Hairpin to move into second, before snatching the lead on lap 11.

Ray then moved into second ahead of Ryde when the defending champion ran wide at the Hairpin after a moment on the brakes and then he had Skinner on his sights for the lead.

Two laps later and Ray made his move on Skinner, which eased the Cheshire Mouldings Ducati rider wide, allowing Ryde back through too into second place.

The trio were then inseparable for several laps, until Ray edged ahead in the closing stages with Ryde and Skinner completing the podium line-up.

Scott Redding had a strong return to the Bennetts British Superbike Championship with a fourth place; the 2019 champion gaining experience with every lap and despite coming under pressure from Storm Stacey early on, he maintained the position.

Tommy Bridewell and Josh Brookes meanwhile duelled for fifth place in the closing stages as they both pushed Stacey back to seventh position with Charlie Nesbitt also in close contention for MasterMac Honda. Lee Jackson and Andrew Irwin completed the top ten.

Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Knockhill Race 1 result:

Bradley Ray (Raceways Yamaha)
Kyle Ryde (OMG Nitrous Competitions Racing Yamaha) +1.841s
Rory Skinner (Cheshire Mouldings Ducati) +3.871s
Scott Redding (Hager PBM Ducati) +6.430s
Tommy Bridewell (Honda Racing UK) +8.352s
Josh Brookes (DAO Racing Honda) +8.471s
Storm Stacey (Bathams AJN Racing BMW) +8.796s
Charlie Nesbitt (MasterMac Honda) +9.543s
Lee Jackson (DAO Racing Honda) +15.421s
Andrew Irwin (Honda Racing UK) +18.675s

Bennetts British Superbike Championship standings:

Bradley Ray (Raceways Yamaha) 158
Kyle Ryde (OMG Nitrous Competitions Racing Yamaha) 126
Leon Haslam (Moto Rapido Ducati Racing) 105
Rory Skinner (Cheshire Mouldings Ducati) 88
Tommy Bridewell (Honda Racing UK) 84
Josh Brookes (DAO Racing Honda) 80
Glenn Irwin (Hager PBM Ducati) 74
Danny Kent (McAMS Racing Yamaha) 61
Storm Stacey (Bathams AJN Racing BMW) 51
Charlie Nesbitt (MasterMac Honda) 51

For more information on the Bennetts British Superbike Championship visit www.britishsuperbike.com

Bradley Ray (28) leading the group during race 1 at Knockhill. Photo courtesy BSB.

BRADLEY RAY – RACEWAYS YAMAHA : “It was a solid race; I didn’t get a very good start, so at that point I just needed to settle into it. Kyle was strong at the start and then Rory passed me quite early on as well and I was happy to sit in third, as it’s a long race here.

“Kyle made a mistake and I was able to go underneath him and at that point I knew I needed to attack Rory quite quickly. I felt I had a bit better pace, but I just couldn’t pass him where I wanted to, so I made a strong pass into turn three and then just got into the rhythm I knew I was able to do.

“The bike was working well and we made a little step from qualifying, so I felt a little more comfortable.

“I think if it’s dry tomorrow I would expect more of the same and I think Rory and Kyle will stick with me and be close, but I enjoyed the battle and I enjoyed making the passes and being passed. That’s what racing is all about!

“But in the end we was able to bring it across the line first for Raceways and for Yamaha.”

CSBK: Collins Wins Big In Supersport Race One At RAD Torque

Mathilde Gasnier

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July 6, 2025

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CSBK: Collins Wins Big In Supersport Race One At RAD Torque

The landscape in the Pro Supersport championship changed dramatically on Saturday, as Torin Collins won the first part of a weekend tripleheader in record breaking fashion at RAD Torque Raceway.

Collins found himself in a tricky position early on at his home venue, getting a lackluster start from pole position and slipping behind championship rival Andrew Van Winkle and ahead of reigning champion Sebastien Tremblay in a close lead trio.

The three-pack would quickly shrink to two when Tremblay bowed out of the race on only lap four, suffering from a suspected pit limiter malfunction on his S.T. Motosport Suzuki – a massive blow to his hopes of a title defence.

There was still plenty of entertainment between Collins and Van Winkle, however, as the two teenagers ran together for the entire first half of the race, even trading blows in turns three and four as Van Winkle was reluctant to let the championship leader past.

Collins would eventually take the lead for good on lap eight, breaking the lap record on his very next go-around as he began to stretch a slight advantage over Van Winkle.

The gap would hover around one second for the next handful of laps, keeping a slight bit of pressure on Collins as Van Winkle eyed a potential comeback attempt late in the race.

Instead, the 18-year-old would crash out of second place moments later, handing a massive lead to Collins as he remounted his Mountainview Motorsports Suzuki in sixth.

Collins would cruise the rest of the way to an incredible 30-second win aboard his Octagon Energy Services Suzuki, the largest margin of victory in Pro Supersport history, surpassing Jordan Szoke’s record of 27 seconds over Jean-Francois Cyr at CTMP in 2010.

“What a race! I actually had a bad start, thankfully I was able to keep Seb behind me but Andrew was keeping me honest, as he has all season really,” Collins said. “He was stressing me out a bit, I wasn’t sure how much harder I could push, but then I saw the gap jump up on my pit board and knew something happened.”

Perhaps more crucially, the win sees Collins’ championship lead grow from just nine points to now 24 over Van Winkle, who was able to salvage sixth in the end.

The devastating blows for Van Winkle and Tremblay proved to be great fortune for Alex Michel and John Laing, who were promoted to the podium places amidst an epic race-long battle of their own with Elliot Vieira.

It was initially Laing who charged through the pack after a terrible start, carving his way past Vieira and Michel and briefly matching the pace of the leaders aboard his Vass Performance Suzuki.

The home favourite would struggle to maintain that pace in the late stages, however, with Michel moving into second with six laps remaining and extending a slight cushion to match his best career result for the SpeedFactory67 Kawasaki squad.

“This smile’s going to disappear right around lap ten later,” Michel joked, with the tripleheader meaning another race later on Saturday afternoon. “I tried to put my head down and stay with John, but eventually I was faster in some corners. Once I got through I felt good, so I’m happy I could hold him off and get back on the podium.”

Laing would then have to deal with all sorts of pressure from Vieira, but it was too little too late for the GP Bikes Ducati rider as Laing held on for a popular podium – his first of the season.

“Yesterday went okay until the crash in qualifying, but we were able to get the bike fixed. I had a bad start and was down in ninth or something on lap one, but was able to climb back up to fourth in a couple laps,” Laing said. “I knew I didn’t have the pace to match them up front so I just tried to manage my time, but I think I managed a bit too hard!”

Vieira would continue his consistent run in fourth, the only rider to take a top five finish in every race this season following Van Winkle’s crash.

Rounding out the top five was rookie Laurent Laliberte-Girard, who endured a massive early battle aboard his Nadon Sport Yamaha before stretching away from the pack behind him, which included Van Winkle fending off Nathan Playford, Justin Knapik, and Mackenzie Weil across the final four laps.

The Pro Supersport class won’t have long to rest before returning to the circuit later this afternoon at RAD Torque Raceway, with race two of the weekend currently scheduled for roughly 4:30 pm MT.

Full results can be found on the series’ official website.

For more information on the Bridgestone Canadian Superbike Championship, visit www.csbk.ca or email info@csbk.ca.

Pro Supersport - Race 1

European Talent Cup: Sanchez P12 in Q2 and Matsudaira P12 in Q1

Mathilde Gasnier

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July 5, 2025

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European Talent Cup: Sanchez P12 in Q2 and Matsudaira P12 in Q1

American Mikey Lou Sanchez was 12th during European Talent Cup Qualifying 2 Friday afternoon at Magny-Cours, in France. Riding his AC RACING TEAM A.S.D. Honda on the 2.74-mile (4.41 km) track, the Texan recorded a 1:50.149.

Q2_ETC_GR-B

Kensei Matsudaira (74) at Magny-Cours Circuit. Photo credit David Silgo Terol / Courtesy IGAX Team.

American Kensei Matsudaira finished Qualifying 1 in 12th on his Snipers Igaxteam Honda with a lap time of 1:51.243. Matsudaira will start P15 for the Last Chance race tomorrow. He had not been on the Magny Cours track before the start of practice.

Q1_ETC_GR-B

Grid_Last_Chance_Race_ETC

Moto2 European Championship Qualifying: Americans Moor P14, Toth P17

Mathilde Gasnier

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July 5, 2025

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Moto2 European Championship Qualifying: Americans Moor P14, Toth P17

American Rossi Attila Moor was 14th during Moto2 European Championship Qualifying 2 Saturday afternoon at Magny-Cours, in France. Riding his MMR Kalex on the 2.74-mile (4.41 km) track, Oregon-born Rossi recorded a 1:39.340, and will start from P12 on Saturday.

Max Toth during the last round at Jerez. Photo courtesy Cardoso Team. — Max Toth during the last round, at Jerez. Photo courtesy Cardoso Team.

Meanwhile, American Max Toth finished the session 17th on his Cardoso Racing Kalex with a lap time of 1:39.593. Toth will start from P15 for tomorrow’s races.

Q2_Moto2
Grid_Race1_Moto2

CSBK: Guerin Decimates Lap Record, Takes Pole At RAD Torque

Mathilde Gasnier

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July 5, 2025

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CSBK: Guerin Decimates Lap Record, Takes Pole At RAD Torque

The unpredictable season in the GP Bikes Pro Superbike class continued on Friday, as Sam Guerin claimed his second career BS Battery Pole Position in the third round of the Bridgestone Canadian Superbike Championship at RAD Torque Raceway.

Ben Young appeared to be the man with all the momentum after setting a new lap record in the P1 session on Friday morning, bettering that time again in qualifying as he paced Q2 for majority of the 20-minute period.

Young blitzed the timesheets with the first ever sub-1:17 lap time around RAD Torque, posting a benchmark of 1:16.926 to put himself over a second clear of the field aboard his Van Dolder’s Home Team Honda.

The chasing pack would gradually close that advantage, though Guerin was not amongst them as he was mired down in tenth after having his early time attack deleted for cutting the track in turn three.

That all changed drastically in the final moments, as Guerin stunned the field to jump straight to the top of the leaderboard behind a time of 1:16.889, just 0.037 seconds quicker than Young but almost a half-second faster than Young’s 2024 lap record aboard his EFC Group BMW.

That blistering time would be unmatched the rest of the way as Guerin – who celebrated his 33rd birthday on Friday – secured a pivotal BS Battery Pole Award, continuing his stellar mid-season comeback after sweeping round two in AMP.

“It was a difficult session. All our early laps got discarded because I guess I cut the chicane, so I had to change my line a bit – and when you don’t cut the track it’s faster,” Guerin joked. “It feels good to be back on pole. Hopefully we get good weather this weekend and we can keep it rolling in the races.”

Guerin’s effort makes the Quebec City native the third different pole-sitter through the first three rounds in 2025, the first time that’s happened in exactly 20 years (Jordan Szoke, Clint McBain, Steve Crevier to begin the 2005 campaign).

Young, meanwhile, was content with his qualifying performance despite falling just short of a second consecutive BS Battery Pole, securing a spot on the middle of the front row ahead of three pivotal races aboard his Van Dolder’s Home Team Honda.

The championship leader will line up alongside his longtime title rival Alex Dumas, who put in a last-lap improvement of his own to climb onto the front row in third.

Dumas had briefly jumped to second aboard his Economy Lube/Fast Company BMW before getting shunted back down the order by Guerin and Jordan Szoke, though Dumas would head back out in the final three minutes to leapfrog Szoke again in a top-four covered by just 0.449 seconds.

The BS Battery Pole Award podium from Friday at RAD Torque Raceway (L-R): Alex Dumas, Sam Guérin, and Ben Young. Photo credit Rob O'Brien / courtesy CSBK. — The BS Battery Pole Award podium from Friday at RAD Torque Raceway (L-R): Alex Dumas, Sam Guérin, and Ben Young. Photo credit Rob O’Brien / courtesy CSBK.

That late push would come at Szoke’s expense after he looked like Young’s closest challenger in the late stages, though the 14-time champion remains in a good spot for the weekend tripleheader as he starts from fourth for Canadian Kawasaki Motors.

Rounding out the top five was home star Torin Collins, a terrific effort aboard his Supersport-spec Octagon Energy Services Suzuki.

Collins’ participation in the Superbike tripleheader is to be determined as he focuses on his Supersport title charge, but the 19-year-old will have a spot on the middle of the front row should he decide to race in the feature class at any point this weekend.

His time would wind up only 0.004 seconds quicker than fellow Calgary teenager Phil DeGama-Blanchet, who at one point ran as high as second as the 17-year-old continues to impress for the Mots Machining Honda team.

David MacKay would wind up seventh on the grid after crushing the Q1 session, going marginally slower in Q2 but still firmly in contention for a top-five finish as he wound up 0.277 seconds off Collins aboard his ODH Snow City Cycle Honda.

Local star Brian Worsdall managed an excellent eighth for his season debut on Friday, earning a spot through Q1 and then finding a massive 0.6 second gain in Q2 to put his BMW only marginally behind the group of Collins, DeGama-Blanchet, and MacKay.

Reigning Supersport champion Sebastien Tremblay would claim the last spot on row three after a late push into Q2, putting his S.T. Motosport Suzuki in ninth as he chases Collins into the middleweight class on Saturday.

Eric Russnak completed the Q2 times and will lead off row four in his pro CSBK debut, continuing an excellent day for the Alberta representatives as he looks to climb the midfield at his home track this weekend for Motorheads Kawasaki.

The feature GP Bikes Pro Superbike class will now turn their focus to race one on Saturday, currently scheduled for roughly 3 pm MT, before a pivotal doubleheader on Sunday to wrap up round three.

Full results can be found on the series’ official website.

For more information on the Bridgestone Canadian Superbike Championship, visit www.csbk.ca or email info@csbk.ca.

More from a press release issued by Alex Dumas:

QUALIFYING RECAP – P3 for Alex Dumas at RAD Torque Raceway!

Round 3 of the Bridgestone Canadian Superbike Championship kicked off today under clear skies in Edmonton, AB, and Alex Dumas wasted no time getting up to speed on the technical RAD Torque layout! With a strong lap in the final minutes of the Q2 session, Alex locked in 3rd place on the grid, earning a coveted front-row start for this weekend’s triple-header showdown.

The top three riders were separated by just tenths of a second, setting the stage for a fierce weekend of racing. With momentum building and the team dialed in, expectations are high heading into Saturday’s first feature race.

Alex Dumas qualified third at RAD Torque Raceway. Photo courtesy Rob O'Brien / courtesy CSBK. — Alex Dumas qualified third at RAD Torque Raceway. Photo courtesy Rob O’Brien / courtesy CSBK.

Alex Dumas (23): “Really happy to start on the front row. The team worked tirelessly on our setup, and we made some solid progress through each session. Big thanks to the crew— with a few more small tweaks, we’re ready to fight for it tomorrow!”

Let’s bring the heat for the rest of the weekend—see you at the track!

MotoGP: LCR Honda’s Chantra Injured, Out For Sachsenring And Brno

Michael Gougis

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July 4, 2025

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MotoGP: LCR Honda’s Chantra Injured, Out For Sachsenring And Brno

Thai rider Somkiat Chantra suffered a crash on Tuesday, July 1, while training on an off-road bike. After medical evaluation by a specialist, it has been confirmed that he has sustained an injury to the lateral collateral ligament in his right knee and will require surgery, scheduled for next Tuesday at Hospital Universitari Dexeus.

As a result, Chantra will miss the upcoming Grands Prix in Germany and Czech Republic.

The IDEMITSU Honda LCR team will continue to provide updates on his condition and recovery.

World Superbike: Sam Lowes Racing With Marc VDS Through 2027

Michael Gougis

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July 4, 2025

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World Superbike: Sam Lowes Racing With Marc VDS Through 2027

The Elf Marc VDS Racing Team is delighted to announce it has reached an agreement with Sam Lowes to race together in the 2026 and 2027 WorldSBK Championship seasons.

The 34-year-old has been an integral part of the Marc VDS Racing family since joining its Moto2 team back in 2020, and both parties are thrilled to continue their long and successful partnership

Lowes and the Elf Marc VDS Racing Team will compete for success on board a Ducati Panigale V4R machine for the third season in a row in WorldSBK next year, with the clear target of building on what has been a hugely successful 2025 campaign so far.

The British star has excelled in his second WorldSBK season, and halfway through the 12-round campaign, Lowes sits sixth in the standings with 11 top six finishes, which includes a stunning maiden podium in the Superpole race at Assen.

The 34-year-old has been an integral part of the Marc VDS Racing family since joining its Moto2 team back in 2020, and both parties are thrilled to continue their long and successful partnership for a seventh successive season in 2026.

“I’m extremely happy and excited to announce this new two-year deal with the Marc VDS Racing Team. I want to say a big thank you to Marc van der Straten for the continued belief and support that he has given me over such a long period of time. I’d also like to thank the team management of Marina and Patrick for their hard work adapting to WorldSBK and giving me everything I need to be successful. I’m very grateful to have their full support and trust, and it’s a privilege to ride for this great team. I want to use the remainder of this year to make a big step and hit the ground running next year. I’m really excited by the project, excited for the new bike next season, and I’m sure we will be ready to fight for victories. I’m motivated and determined to succeed, so a big thank you to the whole team, all the sponsors and everyone for having my back and supporting me,” Lowes said.

“I’m so pleased that our long-standing relationship with Sam will continue in 2026 and 2027. Over the years together we have built a strong foundation and great trust, and I believe in Sam’s ability to bring our WorldSBK team to the top. After a difficult debut season in 2024, he has worked very hard to improve and adapt and I am very proud that he will remain in our colours,” said Marc Van Der Straten.

AFT: Dallas Daniels Wins Magic Mile At DuQuoin

July 6, 2025

Dallas Daniels (32) races down the straightaway ahead of other Mission AFT SuperTwins riders at the DuQuoin Mile. Photo credit: Tim Lester / courtesy American Flat Track.