More from a press release issued by Aprilia Racing:
Everything is ready for Aprilia Racing in Montmeló.
Aprilia Racing returns to the track on the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, fresh from the historic Le Mans weekend that ended with a one-two-three finish by Jorge Martín, Marco Bezzecchi, and Ai Ogura. The weekend will also be followed by the second official tests of the season, scheduled for Monday on the Catalan track.
Marco Bezzecchi is headed to Spain after another highly competitive weekend where he finished on the podium in Le Mans both in the sprint race and in the long race. Jorge Martín, on the other hand, will be tackling his home GP fresh from an extremely high-level performance on the French track where he took victory in the sprint race, as well as in the long race, 588 days after his last win, confirming his increasingly competitive feeling on the RS-GP26.
The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya is a highly technical track where handling turns smoothly proves to be a decisive factor. It is 4.66 km long, with 8 right-handed turns and 6 left-handers. The first braking section is also significant – one of the most demanding in the championship – partly due to the 1,047 metres leading up to it.
Marco Bezzecchi (72) in Le Mans. Photo courtesy Aprilia.
Marco Bezzecchi: “It’s great to be back in Barcelona and, above all, to have two race weekends in a row, because I really can’t wait to get back on track. It’s a fantastic circuit and the fans are always incredibly passionate, so we’ll try to give our best.”
Jorge Martin (89) in Le Mans. Photo courtesy Aprilia.
Jorge Martin: “I’m extremely pleased about how things are going. Barcelona is a challenging track, and it was particularly difficult for us last year. The goal will therefore be to work hard to figure out which changes to make so we can be as competitive as possible.”
More from a press release issued by Ducati Lenovo Team:
Catalan Round for the Ducati Lenovo Team: Where It All Began.
The Catalan GP has always been one of the most beloved races for all Ducatisti. In Barcelona, in 2003, Loris Capirossi scored Borgo Panigale’s first MotoGP victory. This marked a milestone in Ducati Corse’s history and an equally important milestone in the celebrations for Ducati’s centenary (1926-2026).
Overall, the Desmosedici GP has won six times at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya: the historic 2003 victory was followed by Stoner in 2007, Dovizioso in 2017, Lorenzo in 2018, Bagnaia in 2024, and Alex Márquez in 2025 with Gresini Racing, in the weekend where we secured the seventh constructors’ title, the sixth in a row.
The Ducati Lenovo Team will feature an unusual lineup, competing in its sixth race of 2026, with Marc Márquez recovering in Madrid from double surgery on his right foot and shoulder of the last Sunday, the result of a the high-side he suffered during the Sprint at Le Mans. Pecco Bagnaia will be on track, ready to bounce back after his crash in the French GP, a bitter end to a weekend that, up until that point, had seen him among the protagonists, finishing second in Saturday’s race and taking pole position. Pecco’s commitment will continue on the Monday following the GP with a day of testing.
Francesco Bagnaia (#63 Ducati Lenovo Team): “Considering how the weekend ended in France, I’m happy to get back on track. Barcelona is a track that has always brought out the best of the Desmosedici GP. I’ll take all the positives from Le Mans: we were fast right from the start, always in touch with the strongest riders, even taking the pole. Then, in the race, we kept the pace of the best riders as much as possible, in the podium positions. We’ll start from here, continue working throughout the weekend, and make the most of Monday’s test”.
More from a press release issued by Monster Energy Yamaha:
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Hyped Up for the Catalan GP.
After a boost from some positive results at the French GP, Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP have travelled straight to the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya for this weekend’s Monster Energy Grand Prix of Catalunya. Fabio Quartararo, Álex Rins, and the whole team are extra motivated for Round 6 of the 2026 MotoGP World Championship as they share the title sponsor, and it’s also Rins’ home GP.
Despite a busy race weekend in Le Mans, France, the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team are full of energy ahead of Round 6 of the 2026 MotoGP World Championship. As the Monster Energy Grand Prix of Catalunya shares the title sponsor with the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team and it’s also Álex Rins’ home race weekend, the crew and riders are all the more eager to put on a show.
Fabio Quartararo ranks 16th in the championship standings after a positive French GP and hopes to continue the momentum this weekend. El Diablo has had his fair share of success at the Catalan GP, visiting the rostrum numerous times. He secured a win there in 2018 in the Moto2 class and followed it up with a second place in the premier class in 2019 and MotoGP wins in 2020 and 2022. Last year he also added a second place Sprint result to his tally.
Rins had a more challenging outing in Le Mans and is hoping to bounce back in front of his home crowd. The local hero is no stranger to the Montmeló podium. He stood on the Catalan premier class rostrum in 2020 for a third place, his best MotoGP finish at this track. He also secured two second places in Moto2 in 2015 and 2016, and a Moto3 second place in 2013. This weekend, he aims to score solid points again and move up from 19th in the overall rankings.
Work to create the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya began in 1989. Two years later, the track was opened and it soon became a crowd favourite after hosting its first MotoGP race in 1992. With an exciting 4.66km layout consisting of 14 corners (six left, eight right), the Catalan round is known to produce thrilling races.
Alex Rins (42) and Fabio Quartararo (20). Photo courtesy Yamaha
Fabio Quartararo: “I was really pleased with how I was feeling on the bike during the Le Mans Saturday and Sunday, and the results were pretty good. Montmeló is a track I like, and this weekend will be a good test to understand if the setting that we found at the Jerez Test also works well here. I’m focused and motivated, as always, so I’ll be pushing to get the best possible results again.”
Alex Rins: “I always enjoy the round in Catalonia. We have the opportunity to really work on the bike’s set-up in Montmeló as we also have the test after the race weekend, so this will allow us to dive a bit deeper into the data and try more options. The goal for the race weekend is to find the feeling again that I had on the French GP Friday and then let’s see what we can do.”
Massimo Meregalli – Team Director: “After collecting more data in Le Mans, we arrive in Catalonia. This back-to-back race is followed by a one-day IRTA Test. Both occasions give us the opportunity to continue our development programme and collect data for bike development. This circuit is not only a track that the riders and the team like, but it also has characteristics that provide a good benchmark for evaluating bike updates and confirming the direction we are taking. The Catalan GP is extra special for our team as we share a title sponsor with this event, so we can’t wait to get started!”
More from a press release issued by Honda HRC:
Catalunya calls the Honda HRC Castrol Team.
Luca Marini and Joan Mir arrive straight to Barcelona, the pair with points to prove as the 2026 season continues to progress at pace.
The Honda HRC Castrol team have travelled some 1,000 kilometres south from Le Mans, France to Barcelona, Spain for the next stop on the MotoGP World Championship tour. Home to a number of titanic battles over the years, Honda have won ten premier class races at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya since 1996. 4.66 kilometres long and featuring eight right and six left corners, the Barcelona circuit is often used for testing due to its varied and demanding layout.
A steady flow of top ten finishes and points in every Sunday race sees Luca Marini lead the four Honda riders in the World Championship standings as he arrives at round six. But now he is targeting more, the Italian keen to recapture the form he showed towards the end of 2025 where he regularly challenged the top five. The #10 took a solid eighth place at the Barcelona circuit back in 2025, a repeat result certainly on the cards if the Italian can conquer Q2. Marini is scheduled to make his 100th premier class start at the Catalan GP on Sunday.
Walking away from France with a laceration to his right hand after a heavy fall, Joan Mir is looking to dig deep and give his home fans something to cheer about. The Mallorcan has consistently shown impressive speed aboard the Honda RC213V and regularly leads the Honda charge on track in both Qualifying and the races. Converting this speed to points in Barcelona could mark a key turning point in the 2020 MotoGP World Champion’s season.
Joan Mir (36) and Luca Marini (10). Photo courtesy Honda HRC
Luca Marini: “Straight back to work in a very intense part of the season, but I am looking forward to it. We didn’t deliver on our potential in France, so it is a good opportunity to show this was just a one-off weekend and we can be there fighting further forward. The plan is similar to normal; we need to capitalise on our work early in the weekend and make it into Q2. I am confident we can have a better showing on Saturday and Sunday than in Le Mans.”
Joan Mir: “The hand is more or less OK after the crash, I just needed a few stitches. For sure there is some pain and we need to check a bit how it will be but I am not too concerned. I want to put in a big effort this weekend for the Catalan GP, not only because it’s my home race but because I know that we have the ability to put in a good result. In France we had very good speed compared to the other Honda riders and I am eager to show our pace again.”
More from a press release issued by Prima Pramac Yamaha:
Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP Heads to Catalunya Looking to Build on Recent Progress.
Following encouraging signs in Jerez and Le Mans, Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP arrives at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya aiming to continue closing the gap and confirming the positive direction shown in recent races.
Another historic European venue awaits Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP as the team heads to the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya for the next round of the MotoGP World Championship. First introduced to the calendar in 1992, the Catalan Grand Prix has become one of the most iconic and best-attended events in modern MotoGP history, with passionate record crowds creating one of the most vibrant atmospheres of the entire season.
For Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP, the Barcelona weekend represents another important opportunity to continue the development path that began to show encouraging signs during the Jerez test and was further confirmed throughout the French Grand Prix weekend at Le Mans. Both Jack Miller and Toprak Razgatlıoğlu arrive in Catalunya motivated by the progress made in recent weeks and determined to continue reducing the gap to the midfield group.
Razgatlıoğlu returns to a circuit that holds positive memories from his WorldSBK career, where he achieved important victories in the past. The Turkish rider hopes that his growing understanding of the Yamaha YZR-M1 and the riding style required in MotoGP can help him make another important step forward this weekend. Miller, meanwhile, aims to continue building on the stronger feeling he developed with the bike over the last two race weekends.
The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya is widely regarded as one of the most technical and demanding tracks on the calendar. Its long, fast corners place enormous stress on both tyres — especially the left side — while grip levels often decrease significantly throughout the weekend because of the hot temperatures and abrasive asphalt. The flowing nature of the circuit also makes front-end confidence and corner speed particularly important, making it a demanding test both for riders and machine setup.
Jack Miller (on the left) and Toprak Razgatlioglu (on the right). Photo courtesy Prima Pramac Yamaha.
Jack Miller: “I‘m looking forward to the quick turnaround and getting back on track in Barcelona. There is still a lot of work to do both on the bike and also on my side, but after the progress we showed in Jerez and Le Mans we arrive here with a more positive feeling. The goal now is to continue building on that small momentum we created over the last few weekends and try to take another step forward. Barcelona is always a demanding circuit, especially with tyre management and long corners, so it will be another good test for us and for the development of the bike.”
Toprak Razgatlioglu: “I like this track very much, but it is always difficult to ride here because grip is usually very low. This will also be my first time riding here with a MotoGP bike, and from what we have understood so far, we still need to improve the turning of the bike quite a lot. We learned many things in Le Mans and in Barcelona we want to use that experience and maybe even try some different setup directions because obviously Fabio‘s setup was working much better than ours. I have very good memories here from my victories in Superbike, so of course I hope I can start making good memories with Yamaha in MotoGP as well. But I know this is a very demanding track because you need to manage both the rear and the front tyre carefully throughout the race. As always, I will try my best again.”
Gino Borsoi: “We approach the Barcelona weekend with optimism because I believe we have started moving in a clear direction, especially with Toprak regarding his riding style and adaptation to the MotoGP bike. As we saw in Le Mans, the gap to the front is still important, but race after race we are reducing it, and this is the key point for us at the moment. Of course, changing riding habits and adapting to a completely different style is not easy for Toprak, and there will still be difficult moments ahead, but Barcelona could represent another small step forward both for him and for Jack as well. We also have some new ideas that could help us reduce the gap a little bit more. We don‘t need to dream too big right now — the important thing is to continue taking seconds away weekend after weekend and keep building steadily.”
More from a press release issued by Tech3:
Viñales returns for Catalan GP after successful recovery.
Red Bull KTM Tech3 is pleased to confirm that Maverick Viñales will return to MotoGP™ action this weekend at the Catalan Grand Prix, marking a highly anticipated comeback following a period of recovery from shoulder surgery.
The Spaniard has been sidelined since withdrawing from the Grand Prix of the United States. Due to complications relating to a previously sustained shoulder injury, Viñales had to undergo corrective surgery at the end of March.
Viñales subsequently missed the rounds in Jerez and Le Mans as he focused on regaining full fitness, with the team prioritising his long-term health and performance over an early return.
After completing an intensive rehabilitation programme and receiving clearance following final medical evaluations, Viñales is now ready to rejoin the team aboard the KTM RC16.
Viñales’ return comes at a crucial stage of the 2026 MotoGP World Championship, as Tech3 continues to build momentum through the European leg of the season. In his absence, team-mate Enea Bastianini has delivered consistent Top Ten performances, while Jonas Folger stepped in last week to support the French squad during its home Grand Prix.
With Viñales back alongside Bastianini, Tech3 heads into the Catalan Grand Prix with a full rider line-up and renewed determination to fight at the front.
Maverick Vinales (12). Photo courtesy Tech3.
Maverick Viñales: “I’m happy to be back and finally returning to racing. The last few weeks have not been easy. I’ve worked hard every day to recover, with close support from Red Bull at the APC, and I’m coming back in the best possible condition. Now I feel strong and motivated to get back on the bike. I want to thank the team for their support and patience, and I couldn’t be more excited to be starting again at my home grand prix in Catalunya.”
Nicolas Goyon, Team Manager: “We are very happy to welcome Maverick back this weekend. From the beginning, our priority has always been his health and ensuring he returns at 100%. His experience and speed will be key for the team as we continue to make progress, and Catalunya is the perfect place for him to restart. At the same time, we want to thank Jonas for stepping in at Le Mans. He did a fantastic job in a challenging situation and his contribution was truly valuable for the team.”
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (May 14, 2026) – Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, announced today that tickets are now on sale for the Drag Specialties DuQuoin Mile presented by Parts Unlimited, set for Saturday, July 4, at the Du Quoin State Fairgrounds in DuQuoin, Illinois.
The Drag Specialties DuQuoin Mile presented by Parts Unlimited will bring the world’s elite flat track motorcycle racers to one of the discipline’s most historic venues for a high-speed Independence Day showdown. The holiday date gives race fans the opportunity to make DuQuoin a centerpiece of their Fourth of July weekend, pairing premier Progressive AFT competition with a classic summer tradition in Southern Illinois.
The event is scheduled as Round 11 of the 2026 Progressive American Flat Track season and will feature both Mission AFT SuperTwins and KICKER AFT Singles competition on the famed Mile oval.
Ticket options include General Admission Grandstand seating, which offers open grandstand seating along the front stretch of the racetrack, for $35 for adults. Children 12 and under are admitted free with a paid Adult General Admission Grandstand ticket.
Fans can also purchase Reserved Grandstand seating along the front stretch of the racetrack for $45 for all ages.
Child tickets for General Admission Grandstand will be available as an add-on during the checkout process.
Progressive American Flat Track returns to action this weekend with Parts Unlimited ThrottleFest presented by Carter CAT at Budds Creek Motocross Park in Mechanicsville, Maryland. The four-day festival runs Thursday, May 14, through Sunday, May 17, with Saturday’s Progressive AFT round headlining a full weekend of motorsports, camping, fan activities and entertainment.
The series then heads to Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, May 23, for the Appalachian Harley-Davidson Williams Grove Half-Mile at Williams Grove Speedway.
For those that can’t catch the live action at the track, FloRacing is the live streaming home of Progressive American Flat Track. Motorsports fans can subscribe to FloRacing to enjoy over 1,000 live motorsports events in 2026. FloSports is available by visiting https://flosports.link/AFT2026 or by downloading the FloSports app on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire and Chromecast.
FS1
FOX Sports will provide in-depth coverage of the Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA doubleheader featuring rider features and thrilling onboard cameras. Stay tuned for an upcoming announcement regarding premiere airdates on FS1 and re-airs on FS2. The full listing of American Flat Track’s television premieres will be posted to the AFT website at https://www.americanflattrack.com/events-foxsports.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (May 14, 2026) – The Grand National Championship battle powers into the inaugural ThrottleFest, a unique moto festival with America’s Original Extreme Sport® at its core.
For four days, May 14-17, racing fans will revel at Budds Creek Motocross Park in Mechanicsville, Maryland, the festivities of which all build up to Saturday, May 16th’s Parts Unlimited ThrottleFest presented by Carter CAT, Round 6 of the 2026 Progressive American Flat Track season, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing.
Half-Mile, Not Half-Measure
Following five consecutive Short Tracks to open the ‘26 season, ThrottleFest will feature the first of four Half-Miles to be contested over the next five races, a run that is destined to play a crucial role in deciding this year’s Mission AFT SuperTwins title fight.
While TTs are very much their own discipline, Half-Miles sit squarely between the Short Tracks and Miles in more than mere length. Short Tracks are all about close-quarters combat, rewarding aggression and lightning quick reflexes. Miles, meanwhile, require prodigious acceleration and speed, wielded with high-level tactical acumen.
The Half-Mile combines all of these demands into a single discipline, making it the fullest test of rider and machine that dirt track racing has to offer.
Looking at the current crop of contenders, pinpointing who is likely to have the upper hand is not easily deciphered.
Harley-Davidson has reigned supreme at the Short Tracks, reeling in 11 of the most recent 12 ST wins dating back to last season. Yamaha, meanwhile, has held a decided advantage at the Miles, securing two of three wins and eight of nine podiums at the big tracks a year ago.
There’s a relative lack of recent HM results to go by, however. Despite Half-Miles being the traditional backbone of the series – and there have been far more Half-Miles than any other discipline throughout the history of the series – last year was something of an anomaly in that sense. There were just two Half-Miles on the ‘25 slate, both waged on Lima’s idiosyncratic pea gravel.
That weekend, the Yamaha MT-07 DT and Harely-Davidson XG750R split top honors. But more data is needed before we can begin to assess the relative merits of the machinery at that distance.
We can, however, take a closer look at the historical records of the pilots in question.
Prior to his Indian-era all-around excellence and late-career Mile mastery, 10-time Grand National Champion Jared Mees assembled a Hall of Fame-worthy career based largely on his status as a Half-Mile extraordinaire
Mees racked up multiple premier-class crowns by owning the Half-Miles and walked away from the sport with more HM wins (37) than any other rider in Progressive AFT history.
However, during their overlapping stints as factory Indian riders, Briar Bauman (No. 3 Super.com/RWR Harley-Davidson XG750R) quite clearly eclipsed Mees in outright Half-Mile success – a fact Mees himself acknowledged.
In terms of the numbers, from 2019-2022, Bauman claimed 11 Half-Mile wins to Mees’ six.
However – and somewhat unintuitively – being better than the best Half-Milers of all-time doesn’t automatically make Bauman the best Half-Milers going today.
Since reigning Dallas Daniels (No. 1 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07) stepped up to the premier class, he and Bauman sit level with four Half-Mile wins a piece.
And just because Bauman comes in with consecutive victories in hand while Daniels is seeking answers following a pair of (still thoroughly decent) results below his usual standard, that doesn’t automatically make Bauman the favorite this weekend.
For Daniels, the shift to HMs represents an opportunity to regroup, reset, and prepare to lock horns at venues less likely to play to his opponents’ favor. That notion alone could work wonders for his mindset.
Of course, we haven’t even mentioned the Mission AFT SuperTwins title leader, Kody Kopp (No. 12 Latus Motors Racing Harley-Davidson XG750R).
While this weekend will mark his maiden premier-class Half-Mile, that’s the distance at which he made his name in KICKER AFT Singles competition.
Kopp stands as the winningest Half-Miler in AFT Singles history, a fact that powered his back-to-back-to-back title runs. In 2022, five of his seven wins came at Half-Miles, along with four of eight in ‘23, and two of six in ‘24, adding up to 17 Half-Mile wins in all.
He already looks remarkably at home on the XG750R. If anything, the transition to slightly more expansive battlefields is likely to only enhance his comfort level.
Reversal of Fortune
The current situation of Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing KTM 790 Duke) is pretty much the opposite of Daniels.
While the champ managed to net third- and fourth-place results despite struggling to tap into his typical speed and competitiveness in California, Fisher’s results masked his genuine strength.
The luckless Fisher suffered multiple mechanical issues during the West Coast swing, all of which combined to rob him of a pair of near-certain podium finishes, a potential win, and his only provisional start for the season.
On the bright side, the Rackley Racing runner is flying on his KTM 790 Duke when it allows him to do so, and his form suggests he could be in line to score a second career Half-Mile win with a bit of (good) luck. The fact that he’s 44 points out of first might even unshackle Fisher and allow him to go for broke.
On The Box
Also in search of a turnaround is the OTB Racing duo of Brandon Price (No. 92 Memphis Shades/Vinson Construction Yamaha MT-07) and Declan Bender (No. 70 Memphis Shades/Vinson Construction Yamaha MT-07).
Price and Bender combined for three podiums among six top fives a year ago, despite neither rider contesting the full Mission AFT SuperTwins season. This year, however, they both rank outside the championship top 15 with just a single finish better than 10th between them.
You have to think that’s going to change and change in a hurry. Without a doubt, all involved would love for it to come this weekend in Maryland – the home state of both OTB Racing and Price.
Harley’s “Other” Rookie
While Kopp has garnered the lion’s share of the headlines, fellow rookie Aidan RoosEvans (No. 26 FRA Trust Advisors Harley-Davidson XG750R) has demanded his share of attention as well.
After flashing front-running speed on multiple occasions, RoosEvans made good on that promise by rounding out Harley-Davidson’s sweep of the podium at Silver Dollar Speedway.
That third was technically the first podium of RoosEvans’ Progressive AFT career. Yes, he did come home second in last year’s KICKER AFT Singles Main Event at the Jackpine Gypsies Super TT, however, that result was later stripped due to a fuel infraction.
While he did notch up several top fives during his KICKER AFT Singles days, it’s pretty remarkable that he went six seasons without a podium on a 450cc and now has one after just five races in Mission AFT SuperTwins.
Some riders are simply better suited to the bigger bike, and RoosEvans has immediately meshed with his XG750R mount. Additionally, the two- and four-wheel racer has traditionally been at his best at so-called “car tracks” like Senoia Raceway and Silver Dollar Speedway.
How he continues to develop as a premier-class contender moving forward merits close observation. Whatever happens, you almost already have to mark this season down as a smashing success.
Harley’s “New” Veteran
With Mission Roof Systems’ star Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Harley-Davidson XG750R) still recovering from a severe concussion suffered at Ventura Raceway, the team has recruited an ideal super-sub.
A Half-Mile winner himself, Jarod VanDerKooi (No. 20 Mission Roof Systems Harley-Davidson XG750R) is set to ride the Harley-Davidson at Budds Creek, and – provided he’s able to shake off any rust – he has it in him to be an immediate frontrunner.
Like his close friend Robinson, VanDerKooi can look back on an extensive history with the XG750R before the shift to an all-production-based ruleset saw it blossom into what may just be the most fancied bike in the field.
With that in mind, this opportunity could prove equal parts redemption and revenge.
Spoilers Ahead
It’s not just Daniels who should be welcoming the arrival of the Half-Miles. The same could be said of several podium threats who have yet to stand on the box yet this season.
Any given weekend could be the next time Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods Honda CB750 Hornet) stands atop the box.
Meanwhile, Ben Lowe (No. 25 Rackley Racing/Roof Systems KTM 790 Duke) has been rounding into form as he and Fisher continue to develop the KTM 790 Duke into a serious flat track weapon.
And don’t discount the chances of Logan Mcgrane (No. 14 Schaffers MotorSports/RVR Racing KTM 790 Duke), Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 Parts Bros/D&D Cycles/Fairway Ford Aprilia Tuareg 660), Evan Renshaw (No. 95 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650), or Hunter Bauer (No. 24 G&G Racing Yamaha MT-07), all of whom have broken into the top ten and have the potential to do considerably more damage than that.
Full Throttle. Full Festival
ThrottleFest is a motorsports and music festival unlike any other. With Progressive American Flat Track at its center, Budds Creek Motocross Park will be loaded up with two-wheeled racing all day for four days, including amateur flat track, motocross, pit bike racing, endurocross, hare scrambles, and a stunt show.
And that’s only half the fun. ThrottleFest will also bring it with live music, contests, mechanical bull riding, Stacyc and RC racing, interactive games, food trucks, vendor areas, and more.
ThrottleFest is ready. Are you?
Don’t Miss This One
General Admission Standing Room Only tickets for Saturday start at $65 with Reserved Grandstand tickets available for $90 and Premium Reserved Grandstand tickets $120. Tickets for kids five and under are just $5 in any section, while children 6-12 get their tickets 60% off.
The Saturday VIP at ThrottleFest ticket can be had for $205, complete with Premium Reserved seating, complimentary food and refreshments, and paddock access to rub elbows with the best dirt trackers on the planet while getting a close-up view of their racebikes.
Fans can also purchase single day tickets for Thursday, Friday, or Sunday, as well as two-, three-, or four-day ticket packages.
Camping is available for $100 per vehicle (event passes sold separately), with free parking for all attendees.
Gates will open for fans at 3:00 p.m. ET/12:00 p.m. PT on Saturday with Opening Ceremonies scheduled to begin at 7:10 p.m. ET/4:10 p.m. PT.
Next Up
Progressive American Flat Track returns to action this weekend with Parts Unlimited ThrottleFest presented by Carter CAT at Budds Creek Motocross Park in Mechanicsville, Maryland. The four-day festival runs Thursday, May 14, through Sunday, May 17, with Saturday’s Progressive AFT round headlining a full weekend of motorsports, camping, fan activities and entertainment.
The series then heads to Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, May 23, for the Appalachian Harley-Davidson Williams Grove Half-Mile at Williams Grove Speedway.
For those that can’t catch the live action at the track, FloRacing is the live streaming home of Progressive American Flat Track. Motorsports fans can subscribe to FloRacing to enjoy over 1,000 live motorsports events in 2026. FloSports is available by visiting https://flosports.link/AFT2026 or by downloading the FloSports app on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire and Chromecast.
FS1
FOX Sports will provide in-depth coverage of the Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA doubleheader featuring rider features and thrilling onboard cameras. Stay tuned for an upcoming announcement regarding premiere airdates on FS1 and re-airs on FS2. The full listing of American Flat Track’s television premieres will be posted to the AFT website at https://www.americanflattrack.com/events-foxsports.
Aprilia Americas and Factory Motorcycle Training Partner For a Track Event Series Featuring Data-Proven Training Curriculum Aboard World-Class Motorcycles.
New York, NY, – Aprilia Racers Days returns in 2026, in partnership with Factory Motorcycle Training, with a nationwide series of premium track training experiences built for passionate riders. Learn to ride some of the world’s most advanced motorcycles the way they were engineered to be ridden, on track, with world-class instructors and a world-class curriculum. Ride your own motorcycle, test the latest Aprilia models, and experience high- performance riding in a controlled, safe, professional environment.
Event Dates
• High Plains Raceway | Deer Trail, CO | June 29–30
2-Day Event
• Laguna Seca | Monterey, CA | July 27
1-Day Event
• Autobahn | Joliet, IL | August 31 – September 1
2-Day Event
• New Jersey Motorsports Park | Millville, NJ | September 14–15
2-Day Event
• Carolina Motorsports Park | Kershaw, SC | September 28
This Isn’t a Track Day. It’s an Aprilia Experience.
Aprilia builds the most advanced motorcycles in the world, but performance without understanding is just potential. Aprilia Racers Days in partnership with Factory Motorcycle Training is designed to bridge that gap.
This is your opportunity to learn to ride your Aprilia the way it was engineered to be ridden using data-proven best practices as used by the best riders in the world. The best way to build safer riders is to build better riders. If you learn to ride your Aprilia the way it was engineered to be ridden, you will have more fun, ride safer, ride longer, and ride better.
Aprilia Racers Days are held at nationally recognized race facilities. These controlled environments are built around precision, safety, and performance. Whether you’re new to the track or a seasoned rider, you’ll leave with more confidence, more control, and a deeper connection to the Aprilia brand.
With expert coaching, professional photography, and direct support from Aprilia-trained technicians and brand representatives, every rider gets an immersive and tailored experience. Enthusiasts are also invited to demo the full Aprilia street lineup, including the RSV4, Tuono V4, RS 660, Tuono 660, and RS 457, on track. There is simply no better opportunity to test ride an Aprilia motorcycle.
What to Expect – Built for Performance. Designed for Control.
Each event is a master class in two-wheeled vehicle dynamics based on data-proven best practices and taught by world-class instructors.
These events are about more than speed; they’re about control.
The difference between struggling and thriving on a motorcycle isn’t horsepower. It’s understanding how to manage grip, braking, direction, and throttle with precision.
That’s why each Aprilia Racers Days event is structured to give riders the space to safely explore performance, without the chaos of the street or a crowded open track day.
• Michael Henao – MotoAmerica Racer, Pikes Peak Hill Climb Lap Record Holder
Who Should Attend?
Aprilia Racers Days are not just for racers! Riders of all experience levels and all riding goals are welcome. Our coaches believe that new riders should hear anything different than experienced riders. The motorcycle was engineered to be ridden a very specific way by an expert rider. The closer we can ride to that expert rider, the better the motorcycle will work and the safer we will be.
• Street riders ready to explore the track
• Track day riders looking to improve
• Aprilia owners and brand enthusiasts
• Riders considering their first high-performance motorcycle
You’ve seen Marc win, but you’ve never seen him like this.
This #FrenchGP is the story of a weekend that reminded us why we live and breathe racing. Racing is made of pulses, passion, and sometimes, heartbreak. The momentum. The SPRINT changed everything, leading into a Sunday of “what ifs”. The crash, the injury, and the GP that ended in an undeniably bitter way for our Pecco.
This episode takes you deep into the garage for an unprecedented, open-hearted look at Marc. Since the moment he stepped into our garage in 2025, he hasn’t just brought his talent; he brought a renewed sense of belief and an injection of pure confidence that transformed us as a Team.
We are a family in RED, we must give Marc every ounce of our support. In the same way as him inspired us.
Beyond the highside crash, the weekend started with pure adrenaline and we need to take the positive.
A Q1 Masterclass: A spectacular, heart-stopping track record.
Front Row Lockdown: A brilliant 1-2 in qualifying for our boys.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Tickets are now on sale for the 79th running of the World Famous Peoria TT, scheduled for Saturday, August 22, at the Peoria Motorcycle Club in Peoria, Illinois.
One of the most iconic events in motorcycle racing, the Peoria TT will once again welcome Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, for a can’t-miss day of racing at one of the sport’s most legendary venues.
The Peoria TT is famous for its unique layout, high-flying jump, natural amphitheater setting, and passionate fan base. Year after year, it stands as one of the most anticipated stops on the Progressive AFT calendar, delivering a race-day atmosphere unlike any other in the sport.
General Admission tickets are available now for $30, with children 12 and under admitted free with a paid adult General Admission ticket.
Fans looking to upgrade their race-day experience can also purchase VIP admission for $125, which includes access to the Turn 1 VIP Lounge, VIP parking, food and beverage, a swag bag, General Admission seating, full-event pit access, and a guided tour of the infield podium and start/finish line.
The H-D VIP Experience is available for $135 and includes dedicated H.O.G. parking, exclusive grandstand seating, Harley-Davidson rider meet-and-greet and photo opportunities, a private infield tour, track walk, podium photo opportunities, and exclusive Harley-Davidson gifts and fan swag.
Fans are encouraged to purchase early, as premium options are limited.
For more information on Progressive American Flat Track, visit AmericanFlatTrack.com.
Next Up
Progressive American Flat Track returns to competition on Saturday, May 16, with Parts Unlimited ThrottleFest presented by Carter CAT at Budds Creek Motocross Park in Mechanicsville, Maryland. Fans can visit ThrottleFestUSA.com for event schedules, ticket information, camping details, and the latest weekend updates.
The series then heads to Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, May 23, for the Appalachian Harley-Davidson Williams Grove Half-Mile at Williams Grove Speedway.
For those that can’t catch the live action at the track, FloRacing is the live streaming home of Progressive American Flat Track. Motorsports fans can subscribe to FloRacing to enjoy over 1,000 live motorsports events in 2026. FloSports is available by visiting https://flosports.link/AFT2026 or by downloading the FloSports app on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire and Chromecast.
FS1
FOX Sports will provide in-depth coverage of the Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA doubleheader featuring rider features and thrilling onboard cameras. Stay tuned for an upcoming announcement regarding premiere airdates on FS1 and re-airs on FS2. The full listing of American Flat Track’s television premieres will be posted to the AFT website at https://www.americanflattrack.com/events-foxsports.
PICKERINGTON, Ohio — Three-time world roadracing champion “Fast Freddie” Spencer, one of the most iconic road racers in American motorcycling history, will serve as the grand marshal of the 2026 Permco AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days presented by Turn 14 Distribution.
A 1999 AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame inductee, Spencer was a leading competitor in AMA Superbike, Formula II and Formula 1 competition in the U.S. before heading to the Grand Prix circuit in the early 1980s en route to a trio of world championships — the 500cc title in 1983 and, in ’85, the 250cc and 500cc world titles, the first person to accomplish that feat.
This summer, he will be the premier guest at the AMA’s largest event, which runs July 24-26 at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio. This year’s event will celebrate the 50th anniversary of AMA Superbike, making Spencer the perfect Grand Marshal to ring in the festivities.
“I raced at Mid-Ohio several times during my early career,” Spencer said, “and while I haven’t ever attended the AMA’s Vintage Motorcycle Days event, I have heard a lot about it, and so I’m really excited to be heading there this July to act as Grand Marshal. It’s a fantastic venue, and with all the other exciting stuff happening during VMD weekend, and all those enthusiastic fans, it’s bound to be a memorable weekend. See you there!”
Born in 1961 in Shreveport, La., Spencer displayed incredible talent from a very young age. He first learned to ride at 4 years old and started racing just a year later. By age 11, Spencer had already won a number of regional dirt track racing championships, and soon after, set his focus toward road racing.
Freddie Spencer. Photo courtesy AMA
In 1979, Spencer captured his first AMA National Win and went on to win the Formula II/250GP title over fellow AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Eddie Lawson that season. This sparked an outstanding rivalry between the pair of future Hall of Famers, with Spencer and Lawson in constant contention for the 1980 and 1981 AMA Superbike titles.
In 1981, Spencer began racing in Europe, splitting his time between the AMA Superbike and 500cc World Championship series. One year later, he dedicated his full attention to his international pursuits, securing his first world championship victory at the 1982 Belgium 500cc Grand Prix at just 20 years old.
Spencer captured his first Grand Prix world championship in 1983, edging out veteran Kenny Roberts — a 1998 inductee to the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame — for the crown by only two points. Two years later, Spencer produced one of the greatest single seasons in the sport, winning the 250cc and 500cc Grand Prix World Championships. For his efforts during the 1985 season, Spencer was named the AMA’s Pro Athlete of the Year and earned a special citation from President Ronald Reagan.
Spencer retired from full-time GP racing in 1988 but went on to win three more AMA Superbike national events before officially retiring from racing in 1996.
“It’s only right that we bring in one of the most decorated American road racers to one of the most famed road venues in the country for AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days this year,” AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman said. “We are eager to welcome Freddie as the grand marshal for this year’s Vintage Motorcycle Days, and look forward to celebrating his mark on road racing history and motorcycling as a whole.”
In his role as grand marshal, Spencer will be available to speak with enthusiasts and sign autographs, while also participating in the Lap for History on the road course at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, and much more!
Permco AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days presented by Turn 14 Distribution is fast approaching and will be jampacked with a number of exciting opportunities for motorcycle enthusiasts, including North America’s largest motorcycle swap meet, the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Bike Show, vendor displays, demo rides and near-endless racing.
The 2026 season opener for the Motorcycle Roadracing Association officially roared to life on May 10th at High Plains Raceway, launching what promises to be one of the most competitive and exciting seasons in recent memory. With ACES Motorcycles serving as the MRA’s 2026 Presenting Sponsor, racers and fans alike were greeted with an incredible weekend of competition, camaraderie, and nonstop action.
The weekend festivities began on Saturday with a racer practice day hosted by LegionMoto that drew an impressive 160 riders to High Plains Raceway. Riders of all skill levels took advantage of the valuable track time to prepare for the first round of championship competition, filling the paddock with excitement and anticipation for Sunday’s races.
Mother Nature briefly threatened to complicate the weekend’s plans late Saturday night and into Sunday morning as rain showers moved through the area, potentially creating difficult track conditions for racers. Fortunately, the weather quickly improved as the morning progressed. By 9:00 a.m., the track had fully dried, the sun had emerged, and racers were treated to near-perfect conditions for the remainder of the day with partly cloudy skies and temperatures settling comfortably into the 70s.
The enthusiasm surrounding the new season was impossible to ignore, as the MRA welcomed an explosive turnout of 110 racers on Sunday alone — including an incredible 33 newly licensed racers making their debut appearances. From seasoned veterans to first- year competitors, the paddock was filled with energy and optimism as riders took to the track for the first championship battles of 2026.
Fay Myers Race of the Rockies Open
Mathew Cunha #12 leads the charge in Race of the Rockies Open. Photo By Kelly Vernell.
The opening premier-class race of the season delivered everything fans could hope for — blistering pace, fierce battles throughout the field, and a statement victory from one of the MRA’s top championship contenders.
After narrowly missing the 2025 championship by only 19 points, Mathew Cunha #12 came into the season opener with clear intentions. Cunha wasted no time establishing himself as the rider to beat, setting the fastest qualifying time with an impressive 1:47.675 lap to earn pole position for the Fay Myers Race of the Rockies Open race. Joining him on the front row were Kreece Elliot #97 and Jayden Fernandez #23.
Mathew Cunha collects the holeshot into turn 1 in Race of the Rockies Open. Photo by Kelly Vernell.
When the lights went out, Cunha immediately capitalized on his pole position, grabbing the holeshot into Turn 1 ahead of Fernandez, Kreece Elliot #97 and Justen Behmer #67. Behmer quickly made his presence known, slicing past Fernandez down the back straight to move into second position as the opening laps unfolded.
From there, Cunha began putting on a clinic at the front. By lap three, he had already started stretching a gap over the rest of the field, leaving the battle for the remaining podium positions to intensify behind him.
Justen Behmer #67 holding off Elliot #97 mid race for the podium in Race of the Rockies. Photo by Kelly Vernell.
Behmer held onto second for several laps with Elliot close behind, but Fernandez — riding a 600cc Yamaha R6 against a field of 1000cc superbikes — continued showing incredible pace and composure. The young rider appeared patient and calculated, carefully studying the riders ahead while remaining firmly in contention.
As the trio fought for every inch of racetrack, Gage Mollman #617 was steadily reeling them in from behind, adding even more pressure to an already heated contest.
On lap six, Fernandez made his first major attack on Elliot through the backside section of the circuit, but Elliot used the horsepower advantage of his superbike to answer back on the straightaways. The battle became one of the highlights of the afternoon, with positions constantly under threat at every braking zone and corner exit.
Meanwhile, Cunha continued his flawless ride at the front. By lap eight, the race leader encountered heavy lap traffic for the first time but expertly navigated through the slower riders without losing momentum, further extending his advantage.
Then came lap ten — the moment that completely reshaped the podium fight.
Jayden Fernandez #23 pushing incredible pace in Race of the Rockies Open. Photo by Kelly Vernell.
Fernandez launched an aggressive move through the backside of the racetrack with Elliot making a minor mistake and stunningly passed not only Elliot, but Behmer as well on the very same lap. Once clear, Fernandez immediately laid down several strong sectors and built just enough of a cushion before the start-finish straight to defend against the superior straight-line speed of the liter bikes behind him.
Kreece Elliot #97 pushing to make the pass for the final podium spot. Photo by Kelly Vernell.
With Fernandez pulling away into a secure second position, Behmer and Elliot turned their focus toward the final remaining podium spot. The battle went all the way to the final lap, where Elliot found exceptional drive exiting Turn 15 and completed a dramatic pass on Behmer just before the start-finish line, stealing third place by only a fraction of a second.
At the checkered flag, it was Mathew Cunha claiming a dominant opening victory to begin his 2026 championship campaign. Jayden Fernandez delivered one of the standout rides of the weekend with an incredible second-place finish aboard his 600cc machine, while Kreece Elliot completed the podium after his thrilling last-lap pass.
Fay Myers Race of the Rockies Open Results
Race of the Rockies podium, (from left) Jayden Fernandez, Mathew Cunha, Kreece Elliot. Photo by Kelly Vernell.
1. Mathew Cunha #12
2. Jayden Fernandez #23
3. Kreece Elliot #97
Apex Autoglass Race of the Rockies Middleweight
Juliana Fernandez #191 Leads the pack in Race of the Rockies Middleweight. Photo by Kelly Vernell.
The Apex Autoglass Race of the Rockies Middleweight race delivered another exciting contest at High Plains Raceway, showcasing impressive pace and consistency from some of the MRA’s rising stars.
When the race got underway, Juliana Fernandez #191 wasted no time asserting herself at the front of the field, launching off the line to secure the holeshot into Turn 1. Close behind was Nick Weishaar #175, followed by Josh Radcliffe #342 as the trio quickly separated themselves from the rest of the field.
Fernandez immediately established an aggressive pace, opening an early two-second advantage while consistently turning 1:55 lap times. Her smooth riding style and ability to maintain momentum around the flowing High Plains Raceway circuit made it difficult for the riders behind her to gain ground during the opening stages of the race.
Nick Weishaar #175 pushes hard to keep Fernandez #191 in his sights. Photo by Kelly Vernell.
Weishaar responded by increasing his pace and slowly began chipping away at Fernandez’s advantage, reducing the lead to under a second as the race approached the halfway point. Sensing the pressure from behind, Fernandez answered emphatically by elevating her pace even further and dropping into the 1:53 lap range, reestablishing control of the race.
Behind the leaders, Radcliffe was quietly mounting an impressive charge of his own. Consistently running low 1:54 lap times, he steadily closed the gap to Weishaar while positioning himself for a podium challenge.
Josh Radcliffe #342 turning up the heat as he takes over 2nd place in Race of the Rockies Middleweight. Photo by Kelly Vernell.
The decisive move came on lap six when Radcliffe made a clean and calculated block pass on Weishaar entering Turn 4, successfully taking over second position. Once clear, Radcliffe continued pushing hard to secure the runner-up spot while Weishaar attempted to regroup and reel him back in. Despite the effort, Weishaar ultimately settled into a strong rhythm and maintained a comfortable hold on third place through the closing laps.
Out front, Fernandez remained untouchable to the checkered flag, delivering a dominant performance and one of the most commanding rides of the weekend.
Apex Autoglass Race of the Rockies Middleweight Results
Race of the Rockies Middleweight, from left, Juliana Fernandez, Josh Radcliffe, Nick Weishaar. Photo by Kelly Vernell.
1. Juliana Fernandez #191
2. Josh Radcliffe #342
3. Nick Weishaar #175
Rider Justice Amateur Open
Tony Ewan #125 leads in Amateur Open. Photo by Kelly Vernell.
The Rider Justice Amateur Open provided yet another thrilling chapter to an already action- packed opening weekend for the Motorcycle Roadracing Association, featuring dominant speed at the front and late-race heartbreak that dramatically reshaped the podium.
Starting from pole position was Tony Ewan #125, joined on the front row next to Jay Hollman #53 and Jim Bassett #130. When the race began, Bassett launched perfectly off the line and secured the holeshot into Turn 1, briefly leading the field through the opening corners.
Ewan quickly demonstrated the power advantage of his BMW superbike, driving hard down the back straight and making the move for the lead entering Turn 4. Hollman also capitalized on the early shuffle and settled into second place behind Ewan as the field completed the opening lap.
Jay Hollman #53 takes over 2nd place in Amateur Open. Photo by Kelly Vernell.
Once out front, Ewan immediately began building a substantial gap over the rest of the field. Consistently turning fast laps and maintaining smooth, mistake-free riding, he steadily stretched his advantage while Hollman focused on securing second position with a strong and consistent pace in the 1:58 range.
Behind them, Walt Vogl #117 held firm in third place for much of the race and appeared poised to secure a podium finish without major pressure from behind.
Walt Vogl #117 pushing pace to remain on the podium of Amateur Open. Photo by Kelly Vernell.
But quietly working his way forward was Nick Stentiford #851, who had locked onto the rear of Vogl and was steadily closing the gap lap after lap. By lap six, Stentiford made his move, executing a clean pass on Vogl in Turn 12 to take over third position and place himself into podium contention.
Nick Stentiford #851 overtakes for 3rd in Amateur Open. Photo by Kelly Vernell.
Then, just as the race appeared settled, disaster struck for Hollman.
With second place seemingly secured and the white flag already waving, Hollman suffered a mechanical issue as he crossed the start-finish line to begin the final lap. The unfortunate problem forced him to retire from the race, ending what had been an impressive ride and opening the door for dramatic last-lap position changes.
The mechanical failure promoted Stentiford into second place and elevated Vogl back onto the podium in third.
At the checkered flag, it was Tony Ewan claiming a commanding victory in the Rider Justice Amateur Open after a flawless performance at the front of the field. Stentiford capitalized on both pace and persistence to finish second, while Vogl completed the podium after a consistent ride throughout the race.
Rider Justice Amateur Open Results
Amateur Open podium, from left Nick Stantiford, Tony Ewan, Walt Vogl. Photo by Chandler Dahl.
1. Tony Ewan #125
2. Nick Stentiford #851
3. Walt Vogl #117
Looking Ahead
The opening round of the 2026 season proved that the Motorcycle Roadracing Association is entering the new year with incredible momentum. From dominant performances at the front of the field to dramatic last-lap battles and breakthrough rides from emerging talent, the weekend at High Plains Raceway delivered exactly the kind of excitement that has made the MRA one of the premier motorcycle road racing organizations in the region.
The strong rider turnout, including 33 newly licensed racers, highlighted the continued growth and enthusiasm surrounding Colorado road racing. Combined with the support of 2026 Presenting Sponsor ACES Motorcycles and the passionate racing community that fills the paddock each weekend, the future of the MRA continues to look exceptionally bright.
If the season opener was any indication, fans can expect fierce championship battles, unforgettable racing moments, and nonstop action throughout the remainder of the 2026 campaign. The road to this year’s championships is officially underway — and after one incredible weekend at High Plains Raceway, the battle is already heating up. Join us for round 2, June 7th at Pueblo Motorsports Park.
Chase Sexton takes the win at season finale in Salt Lake City.
Monster Energy® Kawasaki closed out the 2026 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship with a statement performance at the final round in Salt Lake City. Chase Sexton powered to a dramatic 450SX Main Event victory, while Levi Kitchen secured a second-place podium finish in the 250SX East/West Showdown. Garrett Marchbanks earned 12th in the finale and capped off his rookie premier class campaign with AMA 450SX Rookie of the Year honors. Nick Romano added a hard-fought 15th-place finish in the main event, while Seth Hammaker and Cameron McAdoo both showed front-running pace before an early-race incident cut their nights short. Together, Monster Energy Kawasaki and Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki capped off the season with victories, podiums, and championship-defining milestones.
Garrett Marchbanks (36) at Salt Lake City. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
In 450SX Qualifying, Sexton and Marchbanks showed strong pace aboard their KX™450SR machines from the opening laps. Sexton consistently placed fourth in both sessions to qualify fourth overall, while Marchbanks showed early speed before securing 11th overall heading into the night program.
Chase Sexton (4) at Salt Lake City. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
In 450 Heat 1, Sexton rounded the first turn in second and immediately applied pressure to the leader. Showcasing his speed with multiple fastest sector times, Sexton stayed patient before making the pass for the lead and taking control of the race to secure the heat race win. In 450 Heat 2, Marchbanks got off to a commanding start and briefly led the field early. After the intense opening laps shuffled him backward, Marchbanks regrouped while setting the fastest Sector 4 time to finish sixth.
In the final 450 Main Event of the season, Sexton once again put himself in contention with a front-running start while Marchbanks battled from mid-pack. Sexton strategically managed the opening half of the race before charging forward, first making the pass for third, then moving into second. With the lead in sight, Sexton closed to within two tenths of a second from the leader before executing the race-winning pass late in the race. Backed by multiple fastest sector times, Sexton rode his KX™450SR to his fourth consecutive victory in Salt Lake City. Marchbanks continued to battle throughout the main event, pushing through the pack to secure 12th. Sexton concluded the 450SX Championship sixth overall, while Marchbanks finished 14th in points and added AMA 450SX Rookie of the Year honors to his breakout season.
Chase Sexton:“Salt Lake was a good way to end the season. I had a solid qualifying session, and we kept making good progress as the night went on. In the main event, I just tried to stay patient early, hit my marks, and put myself in a position to make a push late. Once I got close to Ken [Roczen], I knew I had to be aggressive. I wish I could have left with a championship, but it feels good to finish with a win. I’m proud of the effort from everyone on my team.”
Garrett Marchbanks:“The last round of the season was a solid one for me, and it was really nice to be able to make it here. I haven’t been able to race Salt Lake too many times, so it was really fun for me to be able to race this year on the 450. It wasn’t the exact result I wanted, but qualifying was super solid. At the end of the day, we found some really good settings that felt like we were going in the right direction. In the heat race, I felt great, got off to a good start, and put in some good laps. In the main event, I had an okay start and had to work my way through the pack. I got into 11th trying to make some more passes, but the track was difficult tonight, and the whoops were part of it. I’m super happy to come out of it healthy, heading into the outdoors.”
More from a press release issued by Yamaha:
Justin Cooper Returns to the Podium in Dramatic Salt Lake City Finale. Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing finishes the 450SX season strong with a runner-up finish from Justin Cooper and Cooper Webb coming just shy of the podium at the Supercross season finale.
The Monster Energy AMA Supercross season came to an exciting close last Saturday inside Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah. It wasn’t the night Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing had drawn up with poor starts from both riders in the final 450SX Main Event of the year, but they fought to finish. Justin Cooper and Cooper Webb charged through the field to be in position for a dramatic late-race battle for the podium, with Cooper finishing runner-up and Webb just shy of the box in fourth.
After qualifying sixth, Cooper got a good start to the heat race in third, and while he closed in on Jorge Prado in the final laps, he would finish there. In the main event, the New Yorker did not get off the gate as he had hoped and found himself back in eighth. He steadily worked his way into fourth and continued charging as the battle for the podium tightened. It turned into an intense four-rider battle for the podium, with his teammate Webb right behind. With two laps to go, Cooper made the pass on Ken Roczen and Prado in succession, claiming the runner-up spot and returning to the podium for the fourth time this season.
Justin Cooper (32) at Salt Lake City. Photo courtesy Yamaha.
“My main event was solid, I just didn’t get off the gate great,” said Cooper. “I was able to work my way through the field pretty well. People got tired, and Kenny was drifting back with no one really there. So, it got a little bit crazy. Everyone bunched up. We made a two-for-one pass before the finish, and suddenly we were in second with a couple laps to go. We almost got up there and made something happen. A better start definitely would’ve helped, but it was still an awesome way to cap off a great season.”
Cooper Webb felt good heading into the finale. The 2025 450SX Champion qualified fifth, but had to charge back from 10th to fifth in his heat race. In the main event, another bad start put him 13th on the opening lap. In true Webb fashion, he immediately went to work to make it into the top five. As the race tightened up at the end, Webb closed in on the riders ahead and made the pass on Roczen after his teammate made his way through, claiming fourth. He made a run at third but finished just shy in the end.
Cooper Webb (1) at Salt Lake City. Photo courtesy Yamaha.
“Honestly, it was just a horrible start, which was unfortunate because I was feeling really good all day,” said Webb. “I started way too far back, so it turned into a hard charge all race long. J Coop and I were coming through the pack together, and there at the end it got pretty close. It was a challenging season and not where we want to be. We were able to get third overall in the points, but we expect more. We’ll get back to work and get ready for outdoors.”
“The day went fairly well,” said Rich Simmons, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s 450 Team Manager. “We qualified fifth and sixth, then the heat races were okay. I’d say we lacked in starts tonight; that’s what really hurt us. Justin got on the podium, which was good, but a little bit of a lost opportunity for his first win there. Cooper was right there for a podium at the end, and it would have been nice to get both guys up there. Overall, I think it was a good season. It’s not what we all strive for, especially coming off a championship, but I’m really proud of the team and proud of the riders. We’re moving on to outdoors and looking forward to it with all three guys, as Haiden moves up to the 450 class with us.”
Cooper Webb (1) and Garrett Marchbanks (36) at Salt Lake City. Photo courtesy Yamaha.
Together with the efforts of the team in the 250 class, it was a standout season for Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, which earned the 2026 Manufacturers Cup by a commanding 121-point margin. Cooper Webb finished third in the 450SX Championship with a win and eight podiums, with Justin Cooper ending the year with a top-five overall finish with his four podiums.
The 2026 Pro Motocross season kicks off in two weeks’ time, which is also Round 18 of the Monster Energy SuperMotocross World Championship, at Fox Raceway in Pala, California, on May 30.
Cole Davies Wins East-West Showdown at Supercross Season Finale. Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s 250 champions deliver a thriller in Salt Lake City, with Davies coming out on top.
With both 250SX titles already secured early by Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan and Cole Davies, one thing remained – bragging rights as to who was best in the East and West. The stage was set for an epic showdown at the Monster Energy AMA Supercross season finale inside Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, and it did not disappoint.
After qualifying third in his division and finishing second in the 250SX East Heat Race, Davies got a strong start in the Dave Combs Sr. East-West Showdown, slotting into third. He passed Max Anstie five laps in and began closing in on Deegan with around 10 minutes on the clock. What followed was one of those battles fans will look back on. Two champions. One track. Zero backing down.
At the halfway mark, Davies made the pass, with the pair making contact and Deegan nearly going down, losing some time. With plenty of time still on the clock, the anticipated rematch quickly materialized as Deegan charged back to his teammate. On Lap 13, Deegan made his move, but the two came together again, and Deegan went down. From there, Davies rode on to secure his sixth win of the year, completing a standout sophomore season that included his first 250SX title.
Haiden Deegan (1w) and Cole Davies (37) at Salt Lake City. Photo courtesy Yamaha
“That was a crazy race,” said Davies. “I didn’t get off to a great start, but I made it happen. The pressure was off with the championship wrapped up, so I could come out and ride with nothing to lose. It was really fun racing like that with Haiden – back and forth, cat-and-mouse. Coming back to Salt Lake City and winning the shootout after what happened here last year feels like redemption.”
Deegan also entered the night with no pressure, putting together a dominant final season aboard the YZ250F to add to his already storied 250 career. On track for another perfect day at the season finale, the back-to-back 250SX West champ was the fastest qualifier in his division and won his heat race. In the showdown, he grabbed the holeshot, and although Anstie briefly took over the lead, Deegan reclaimed it on Lap 2. In the end, after the incident with his teammate, he crashed again in the sand and rejoined in fourth, where he would finish.
“I’ve got to give it up to Cole – that was a dogfight,” Deegan said. “We were giving the fans the best show possible. We were hitting each other… man, that was awesome! Even though I came out fourth, that was one of the funnest races I’ve had, besides battling Levi (Kitchen). That was sick. I hope you fans enjoyed that.”
“Today was solid,” said Deegan about the day as a whole. “I had a good qualifying, went undefeated in heat races, which was awesome. And then we had a pretty rowdy main event. Cole and I went at it, and I ended up going down. I made my way back up to him, then got impatient and slid out in the sand. So, I kind of threw the win away. It was a solid 250 career, and now onto the 450s.”
Max Anstie had a challenging start to the night show. He found himself 10th off the gate and worked his way forward to finish seventh in the 250SX West Heat Race. Then, in the Showdown, the British rider turned it around. Anstie got a great start and quickly claimed the lead. Although he was passed by his teammates in the first five laps, he continued to run a strong pace and moved back into second after Deegan went down. He was later passed by Levi Kitchen and rode on to secure third to return to the podium and finish third in the 250SX West Championship.
“Man, what great way to finish off the season,” said Anstie. “It was a tricky day, the track was tough, but the bike worked well. The whole Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing team has done an awesome job this season. We had started off great, with a win at Anaheim 1, but it’s been up and down. It’s been tough. I’ve had a lot of random things off the bike, like having my appendix taken out, and then little things from all of that that have kind of slowed things down. So to be able to bring it all together and get back on the podium in the last race and have a great start was a good way to finish it off. I’m definitely looking forward to the outdoors. I’m looking forward to regrouping, pulling it all together, and being a step better next year, and hopefully fighting for this title.”
Rookie Landen Gordon continued to impress with great starts and a strong heat race. He grabbed the holeshot and led the first five laps of the 250SX East Heat Race. The rookie found himself under pressure from Seth Hammaker, but put in a good fight, holding him off until Lap 6. He was passed by his teammate on the following lap, finishing third. In the main event, he got another great start, slotting into fourth behind his teammates, but was shuffled back to eighth in the opening laps. He kept fighting but ultimately finished ninth.
Landen Gordon (180) at Salt Lake City. Photo courtesy Yamaha
“Overall, it was a good day in Salt Lake City to finish out the Supercross season,” said Gordon. “I was feeling pretty beat up from a crash on Friday for press day. All things considered, I was very happy with my heat race and got to lead a few laps, and then finished ninth in the main event. I’m excited for the outdoors!”
Kayden Minear had a solid outing in just his second pro Supercross round. He got a great start to the 250SX West Heat Race and quickly claimed the runner-up spot, where he rode the first half of the race before being passed by McAdoo on Lap 6, and then on the following lap by Kitchen, finishing fourth. In the main event, a bad start had him towards the back of the field on the opening lap, but he put his head down and fought his way through to finish 12th.
Kayden Minear (99) at Salt Lake City. Photo courtesy Yamaha.
“Last round of the season is done and dusted,” said Minear. “I had a good heat race, which I was happy about. In the main event, I didn’t execute my start and had to make my way back from 20th. I felt good. I can’t wait for outdoors.”
Nate Thrasher had a good start to the day, qualifying second in the east, but didn’t get the start he was looking for and fought his way back from eighth to finish fourth in the 250SX East Heat Race. In the showdown, he was 10th on the opening lap, but kept pushing and made his way into the top five after the halfway mark. Unfortunately, a technical issue late in the race would have him scoring 18th. It was a roller coaster season for the Tennessee rider, but he continued to push on, bringing his career win total to seven and finishing fifth in the 250SX East standings.
Nate Thrasher (25) at Salt Lake City. Photo courtesy Yamaha.
“I was riding well all day,” said Thrasher. “So I’m super bummed with how the Supercross season ended, but that’s part of it. I’m ready to turn the page to the outdoors.”
When you look back at the season, it was a remarkable campaign for Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing – both 250SX titles and 16 race wins, which surpassed the single-season win record for a team and manufacturer by two. Five riders contributed to that tally, with Max Anstie and Pierce Brown winning their respective divisional openers, Nate Thrasher leading a Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing podium sweep in Cleveland, and Haiden Deegan and Cole Davies delivering the bulk of the victories.
Davies heads into the outdoor season with a 51-point lead in the combined 250SMX points, with Deegan set to make his 450MX debut. The 20-year-old heads into the premier class with six 250 titles, 32 wins (14 wins in both 250SX and 250MX and four in 250SMX), and an impressive number of stats. In addition to his seven wins and eight podiums this season, Deegan had six perfect rounds and won all of his heat races and the Triple Crown in Houston.
Haiden Deegan (1w) at Salt Lake City. Photo courtesy Yamaha
The team also saw three amateur riders make strong debuts, with Caden Dudney named 250SX Rookie of the Year, Landen Gordon scoring a runner-up finish in Cleveland, and Kayden Minear securing a top-five in his debut. Yamaha also earned the 2026 Manufacturers Cup by a commanding 121-point margin.
“A lot went into it,” said Wil Hahn, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s 250 Team General Manager. “It’s just really cool. It’s a massive team effort to go through all this. All the wins this season, all the podiums, the records, and a lot of firsts for guys – it’s just a really special year for us. So yeah, we’re stoked. It’s really a credit to all these guys behind the scenes who don’t always get enough recognition.”
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing now shifts its focus outdoors, preparing for the 2026 Pro Motocross season, which kicks off May 30 at Fox Raceway in Pala, California.
More from a press release issued by KTM:
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jorge Prado lands 450SX podium in Salt Lake City.
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jorge Prado ended the 2026 AMA Supercross Championship with a hard-fought P3 podium result in Salt Lake City on Saturday night, completing a standout season of 450SX competition.
The four-time world champion set the eighth-fastest qualifying time onboard his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION at Rice-Eccles Stadium, before capturing the holeshot and racing to a second-place finish in his Heat Race.
Prado then completed the opening lap of the Main Event in third position, running at the front of the field as the 450SX title contenders battled directly ahead. Remaining patient throughout the race’s duration, the 25-year-old climbed as high as P2 before securing a third-place finish.
The Spaniard pieced together a standout first season teamed with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing in Supercross, collecting two podium finishes alongside seven additional top-10 results, and ninth in the point-standings. Attention now turns to the Pro Motocross component of the SMX World Championship, which will commence in Pala, California, on May 30.
Jorge Prado (26) at Salt Lake City. Photo courtesy KTM.
Jorge Prado:“It has been a pretty cool Supercross season for me! I’m very happy to have made it to the end, and then obviously starting A1 with a podium, my expectations were high all year long, but I knew it was a learning curve. We had some good and bad moments, but at the end of the day, we got here to the last round and put ourselves back on the box with a great ride. So, I am very proud of myself and the work I put in every day, but also the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team. They have been putting a lot of work in as well at the test track, improving the bike with me. We learned so much this year – to be honest, I thought the change coming from MXGP to Supercross was going to be a little bit easier, but Supercross is a whole different world.”
Two-time premier class champion Eli Tomac entered Salt Lake City with momentum after a return to the podium last time out in Denver, powering his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION to P1 in qualifying with a 49.065s lap-time.
An untimely crash just moments into 450SX Heat 2, however, saw the 33-year-old unfortunately withdraw from the event, with the team confirming the decision as a precaution following a heavy impact to his stomach/hip in the incident.
Tomac’s maiden AMA Supercross campaign with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing began in spectacular fashion, claiming victory on debut at Anaheim 1 before backing it up with another win the following weekend in San Diego. He added further victories in Seattle and Daytona – alongside five additional podium finishes – to claim fourth overall in the final 450SX standings.
Next Race: May 30 – Pala, California
More from a press release issued by Suzuki:
Suzuki’s Ken Roczen is the 2026 Supercross Champion.
The final round of the 2026 Monster Energy AMA Supercross season will go down in history as one of the most emotional and memorable title fights the sport has ever seen. Ken Roczen entered Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City holding the championship points lead, with the red plate mounted to his Suzuki RM-Z450 heading into the final race of the 17-round series.
After 13 seasons in the premier class, Roczen had accumulated 28 career 450SX victories, but the championship had always remained just out of reach. The 2026 season marked Roczen’s sixth year aboard the RM-Z450 and his fourth season with Progressive Insurance Cycle Gear ECSTAR Suzuki. Against the odds, against the industry narrative, and against one of the deepest fields in modern Supercross history, Roczen delivered one of the most memorable championship victories the sport has seen.
Roczen Grabs Monster Energy AMA Supercross Title in Salt Lake City Thriller. Photo courtesy Suzuki.
Inside a sold-out Rice-Eccles Stadium, Roczen launched off the gate and immediately put the power of his Suzuki RM-Z450 to the Utah dirt. He crossed the holeshot stripe in second position before taking over the lead in the very next corner. With the championship pressure at its absolute peak and his title rival close behind, Roczen responded with flawless laps, setting the fastest lap time of the Main Event and keeping control of the championship firmly in his hands.
As Roczen circled the stadium floor lap after lap, the roar from the crowd built into a rolling wave of emotion. Just before the halfway point of the race, the other championship contender went down and dropped outside the top positions. Roczen capitalized, stretching the lead to four seconds and controlling the pace out front for 22 laps on his way to securing the championship.
Ken Roczen was the fastest rider in the main event and captured the 2026 Supercross Championship. Photo courtesy Suzuki
“Alright boys and girls, Salt Lake is done and dusted and what a fairy tale ending it was for me and the team,” said Roczen back at the rig beside his championship-winning RM-Z450. “It took so much work to get here. Today wasn’t easy, [there were] just a lot of nerves going on. When it counted the most in the main event we got a great start, made a pass happen, had an insane main event, and then just had a little bit of peace and quiet toward the end to bring it home. What a dreamy ending. We won the championship tonight. This is so huge. I can’t wait to really process everything. I’ve already had an incredible time celebrating with the team — 2026 Supercross Champ!”
“Never had a doubt,” stated Dustin Pipes, Team Principal for Twisted Tea/H.E.P. Motorsports/Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance. “Thank you to all the team members and partners that make nights like these possible. Ken earned this championship.”
“Emotionally, I think we’re all just on a high right now,” said Team Manager Larry Brooks during a post-race interview. “I am so proud of the team. When I was unplugged after the second round while going through (my) cancer treatments, they picked up the ball and ran with it. Everyone stepped up under an incredible amount of pressure and never stopped believing. I couldn’t be more proud.”
Ken Roczen put together an incredible late-season rally aboard his Suzuki RM-Z450. He won four of five at one stretch and took over the points lead with his victory at round 14. Photo courtesy Suzuki
At a time when much of the industry had written off the RM-Z450 platform, Suzuki and Pipes Motorsports Group doubled down on what they believed mattered most: a motorcycle with proven race-winning DNA, predictable handling, exceptional balance, and the ability to win at the highest level when placed in the right hands.
For Suzuki, the moment represented far more than a championship. It was validation that consistency, balance, rider confidence, and purposeful engineering still matter. In an era of constant change and escalating complexity, Suzuki remained committed to building a machine designed to excel at its intended purpose: winning races.
Suzuki’s racing heritage has always been built on challenging convention and doing things differently. From motocross to road racing, Suzuki motorcycles have earned championships by focusing on performance where it matters most — on the racetrack.
Now, the RM-Z450 adds another defining chapter to that legacy.
The 2026 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship will forever be remembered as the season the yellow bike shocked the sport and reminded the entire industry what Suzuki is capable of.
With this title, Roczen adds the 2026 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship to an already legendary résumé that includes two World Supercross Championships (2022, 2023), two AMA Pro Motocross Championships (2014, 2016), the 2013 250SX West Championship, and the 2011 MX2 World Championship. Three of Roczen’s seven professional championships have now been earned aboard Suzuki RM-Z machinery.
Hunter Lawrence Ends Hard-Fought ’26 AMA Supercross Championship Second in the Series Standings.
With a seventh-place finish at the finale, the Australian finishes three points short
Honda congratulates Roczen and Suzuki following an exciting season-long battle
The 2026 AMA Supercross season came down to a thrilling showdown in Salt Lake City, where Honda HRC Progressive’s Hunter Lawrence entered the final round just one point behind championship leader Ken Roczen in one of the closest title fights ever. The best efforts of the Australian and his Honda HRC Progressive team weren’t quite enough this time and, although he was battling for the win early, a seventh-place result meant they had to settle for a runner-up showing in the final tally.
The highly anticipated main event delivered immediate excitement, as Lawrence grabbed the holeshot aboard his CRF450RWE, with Roczen quickly moving into the lead. A tense, mano-a-mano battle unfolded during the first part of the race, with Lawrence maintaining touch and occasionally applying pressure while also holding off Jorge Prado in third. Unfortunately, a pair of miscues—the first sending him briefly off the track, the second resulting in a fall—meant Lawrence found himself in seventh place with just over half the race remaining. That’s where he would eventually finish, and with Roczen posting a fifth-place result, Lawrence concluded the series second in the final standings, just three points shy of the title.
Throughout the 2026 series, Lawrence demonstrated impressive speed, consistency and progress. Everyone at Honda HRC Progressive and American Honda is proud of Hunter for the effort, professionalism and growth he displayed while battling for the championship until the final checkered flag.
Quad Lock Honda riders Joey Savatgy, Christian Craig, Shane McElrath, and Dean Wilson concluded the season in eighth, 12th, 13th and 21st, respectively, a solid effort by the satellite team.
Hunter Lawrence (96) at Salt Lake City. Photo courtesy Honda
NOTES
On Friday, Hunter Lawrence participated in a formal press conference organized by Feld ahead of the 2026 Supercross finale. He later took part in riding sessions, in which invited riders were able to ride the full track.
A pair of local dealerships—Honda World and Young Honda Powerhouse—enhanced the fan experience in the Honda HRC Progressive pit area through an interactive pop-up booth. Staff engaged directly with fans and customers at the display, which featured a CRF450RX, two CRF125F models, and a CRF110F.
Jett Lawrence attended the event in support of his brother, and they both participated in an autograph session during FanFest.
Race Day Live aired a feature on Hunter Lawrence’s life and career progression.
Motocross Hall of Famer Johnny O’Mara was interviewed about his career and transition into training Hunter and Jett Lawrence.
In 250SX combined qualifying—featuring both East and West Divisions—participating Red Riders included Phoenix Racing Honda’s Gavin Towers in 21st, SLR Honda’s Justin Rodbell in 25th, Storm Lake’s Luke Neese in 26th, Next Level’s Hunter Schlosser in 38th, Lasting Impressions’ Ronnie Orres in 44th, and TiLube Honda’s Ryder Floyd in 50th.
Rodbell and Towers qualified by finishing third and fourth in the LCQ, and they finished 16th and 17th in the 250 East-West Showdown.
Lawrence had the third-fastest time in 450SX qualifying. Quad Lock Honda riders Christian Craig, Shane McElrath and Dean Wilson qualified in 12th, 13th and 14th, respectively. Jeremy Hand (Valley Motorsports) was 26th, John Short IV (Short Racing) was 28th, privateer Red Rider Zack Williams (McGinley Clinic) qualified 33rd, and Western Honda Racing’s Ty Freehill was 41st.
Lawrence won the first heat race from holeshot to checkered flag, while Wilson (sixth), Craig (seventh), and McElrath (eighth) also advanced directly to the main event.
Honda HRC Progressive now heads into a two-week break before opening the AMA Pro Motocross season in Pala, California, on May 30. The team is expected to field a full roster: Hunter and Jett Lawrence in the 450 class, and Jo Shimoda and Chance Hymas in the 250 division.
Hunter Lawrence (96) at Salt Lake City. Photo courtesy Honda
Hunter Lawrence: “I was just asking a little too much of the front end coming into the corners, but congrats to Kenny—well earned, he was the better man tonight in the main. Congrats to him and the team, it was fun battling with him. We’ll get ready for outdoors.”
Lars Lindstrom – Team Manager:“Looking back on the season, it has been a pretty incredible rollercoaster for us. There have been so many positives that make it easier to swallow the bitter pill of not winning the championship after being so close. I think we worked really well as a team the whole year, with definitely some difficult times, and I’m proud of everyone involved. Absolutely the MVP is of course, Hunter, who took himself to a new level in the elite class, and showed that he will be a threat for championships every year that he lines up. The professionalism, mental strength, speed, and how much of a genuine, good person he is make us all want to work harder and do anything and everything possible to help him achieve his goals.
I also want to say congratulations to the Progressive Suzuki team and to Ken Roczen on their championship. With how well we know Kenny, and being there through his injuries and struggles, it was hard not to be emotional and happy for him; if we were going to lose the championship, I’m glad it was to him. I think this really completes his career, and he performed when he needed to make it happen.”
More from a press release issued by Husqvarna:
Ryder DiFrancesco earns top-five finish in Salt Lake City 250SX Showdown. Teammate Daxton Bennick places P3 in final Eastern Division standings.
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Ryder DiFrancesco recorded a fifth-place finish at the final round of the 2026 AMA Supercross Championship in Salt Lake City, where 450SX teammate Malcolm Stewart claimed a top 10 result and seventh in the final standings.
Both 250SX riders DiFrancesco and Daxton Bennick were in action for the third East/West Showdown of the year, with Bennick qualifying sixth overall on combined times, as DiFrancesco set the ninth-fastest time.
Equipped with the Husqvarna FC 250 Factory Edition, DiFrancesco endured a difficult Heat Race to finish 11th, forcing him into the Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ), which he would go on to win and transfer to the Main Event.
Starting outside the top 10, the 21-year-old pieced together a strong ride throughout the 15-minute plus one-lap Main Event, charging to fifth position in an impressive performance at the 2026 season finale.
Following 10 rounds of competition, Ryder D completed the 250SX West Championship in fourth overall, recording three podium finishes alongside four additional top-five results in his first season with Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing.
Ryder DiFrancesco at Salt Lake City. Photo courtesy Husqvarna.
“Salt Lake was a bit of a struggle all day,”commented DiFrancesco. “I just didn’t have the raw speed that I really wanted – it came a little tougher for me this weekend. The Heat Race didn’t go well, and then of course, we were off to the LCQ, which wasn’t ideal. The Main Event was a bit of a turnaround, after I rode well in that one and now we’ll get ready for outdoors.”
Bennick also had a tough Heat Race in 250SX East, finishing 12th and transferring to the LCQ. He would go on to claim eighth position, unfortunately missing out on the night’s 250SX East/West Showdown Main Event.
Daxton Bennick at Salt Lake City. Photo courtesy Husqvarna.
Still, the 20-year-old completed the Supercross season with Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing third overall in the 250SX East standings, achieving two podium finishes – including a season-best P2 result in Philadelphia – alongside four additional top-five scores.
Stewart qualified seventh on the combined 450SX timesheets aboard his Husqvarna FC 450 Factory Edition at Salt Lake City, achieving a 49.511s lap-time on the dry, technical track layout.
The 33-year-old carried that momentum into his Heat Race, riding to a convincing P3 finish and strong gate selection for the Main Event. Stewart then posted a measured P8 result in the Main Event, concluding the series seventh in the standings. He took a podium finish in Detroit, as well as two additional top-fives during the season.
Malcolm Stewart at Salt Lake City. Photo courtesy Husqvarna.
“The fans are always awesome in Salt Lake!” said Stewart. “Usually, I ride pretty well at this track, but this year I kind of struggled a little bit. But at the end of the day, every time I come through for opening ceremonies and hear those fans, it brings back some awesome memories. Tonight may not have gone exactly as we’d planned, but that’s racing, and I’m happy to be leaving Supercross healthy with attention now shifting to Pro Motocross.”
MotoGP race start at Le Mans. Photo courtesy MotoGP.
More from a press release issued by Aprilia Racing:
Everything is ready for Aprilia Racing in Montmeló.
Aprilia Racing returns to the track on the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, fresh from the historic Le Mans weekend that ended with a one-two-three finish by Jorge Martín, Marco Bezzecchi, and Ai Ogura. The weekend will also be followed by the second official tests of the season, scheduled for Monday on the Catalan track.
Marco Bezzecchi is headed to Spain after another highly competitive weekend where he finished on the podium in Le Mans both in the sprint race and in the long race. Jorge Martín, on the other hand, will be tackling his home GP fresh from an extremely high-level performance on the French track where he took victory in the sprint race, as well as in the long race, 588 days after his last win, confirming his increasingly competitive feeling on the RS-GP26.
The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya is a highly technical track where handling turns smoothly proves to be a decisive factor. It is 4.66 km long, with 8 right-handed turns and 6 left-handers. The first braking section is also significant – one of the most demanding in the championship – partly due to the 1,047 metres leading up to it.
Marco Bezzecchi (72) in Le Mans. Photo courtesy Aprilia.
Marco Bezzecchi: “It’s great to be back in Barcelona and, above all, to have two race weekends in a row, because I really can’t wait to get back on track. It’s a fantastic circuit and the fans are always incredibly passionate, so we’ll try to give our best.”
Jorge Martin (89) in Le Mans. Photo courtesy Aprilia.
Jorge Martin: “I’m extremely pleased about how things are going. Barcelona is a challenging track, and it was particularly difficult for us last year. The goal will therefore be to work hard to figure out which changes to make so we can be as competitive as possible.”
More from a press release issued by Ducati Lenovo Team:
Catalan Round for the Ducati Lenovo Team: Where It All Began.
The Catalan GP has always been one of the most beloved races for all Ducatisti. In Barcelona, in 2003, Loris Capirossi scored Borgo Panigale’s first MotoGP victory. This marked a milestone in Ducati Corse’s history and an equally important milestone in the celebrations for Ducati’s centenary (1926-2026).
Overall, the Desmosedici GP has won six times at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya: the historic 2003 victory was followed by Stoner in 2007, Dovizioso in 2017, Lorenzo in 2018, Bagnaia in 2024, and Alex Márquez in 2025 with Gresini Racing, in the weekend where we secured the seventh constructors’ title, the sixth in a row.
The Ducati Lenovo Team will feature an unusual lineup, competing in its sixth race of 2026, with Marc Márquez recovering in Madrid from double surgery on his right foot and shoulder of the last Sunday, the result of a the high-side he suffered during the Sprint at Le Mans. Pecco Bagnaia will be on track, ready to bounce back after his crash in the French GP, a bitter end to a weekend that, up until that point, had seen him among the protagonists, finishing second in Saturday’s race and taking pole position. Pecco’s commitment will continue on the Monday following the GP with a day of testing.
Francesco Bagnaia (#63 Ducati Lenovo Team): “Considering how the weekend ended in France, I’m happy to get back on track. Barcelona is a track that has always brought out the best of the Desmosedici GP. I’ll take all the positives from Le Mans: we were fast right from the start, always in touch with the strongest riders, even taking the pole. Then, in the race, we kept the pace of the best riders as much as possible, in the podium positions. We’ll start from here, continue working throughout the weekend, and make the most of Monday’s test”.
More from a press release issued by Monster Energy Yamaha:
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Hyped Up for the Catalan GP.
After a boost from some positive results at the French GP, Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP have travelled straight to the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya for this weekend’s Monster Energy Grand Prix of Catalunya. Fabio Quartararo, Álex Rins, and the whole team are extra motivated for Round 6 of the 2026 MotoGP World Championship as they share the title sponsor, and it’s also Rins’ home GP.
Despite a busy race weekend in Le Mans, France, the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team are full of energy ahead of Round 6 of the 2026 MotoGP World Championship. As the Monster Energy Grand Prix of Catalunya shares the title sponsor with the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team and it’s also Álex Rins’ home race weekend, the crew and riders are all the more eager to put on a show.
Fabio Quartararo ranks 16th in the championship standings after a positive French GP and hopes to continue the momentum this weekend. El Diablo has had his fair share of success at the Catalan GP, visiting the rostrum numerous times. He secured a win there in 2018 in the Moto2 class and followed it up with a second place in the premier class in 2019 and MotoGP wins in 2020 and 2022. Last year he also added a second place Sprint result to his tally.
Rins had a more challenging outing in Le Mans and is hoping to bounce back in front of his home crowd. The local hero is no stranger to the Montmeló podium. He stood on the Catalan premier class rostrum in 2020 for a third place, his best MotoGP finish at this track. He also secured two second places in Moto2 in 2015 and 2016, and a Moto3 second place in 2013. This weekend, he aims to score solid points again and move up from 19th in the overall rankings.
Work to create the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya began in 1989. Two years later, the track was opened and it soon became a crowd favourite after hosting its first MotoGP race in 1992. With an exciting 4.66km layout consisting of 14 corners (six left, eight right), the Catalan round is known to produce thrilling races.
Alex Rins (42) and Fabio Quartararo (20). Photo courtesy Yamaha
Fabio Quartararo: “I was really pleased with how I was feeling on the bike during the Le Mans Saturday and Sunday, and the results were pretty good. Montmeló is a track I like, and this weekend will be a good test to understand if the setting that we found at the Jerez Test also works well here. I’m focused and motivated, as always, so I’ll be pushing to get the best possible results again.”
Alex Rins: “I always enjoy the round in Catalonia. We have the opportunity to really work on the bike’s set-up in Montmeló as we also have the test after the race weekend, so this will allow us to dive a bit deeper into the data and try more options. The goal for the race weekend is to find the feeling again that I had on the French GP Friday and then let’s see what we can do.”
Massimo Meregalli – Team Director: “After collecting more data in Le Mans, we arrive in Catalonia. This back-to-back race is followed by a one-day IRTA Test. Both occasions give us the opportunity to continue our development programme and collect data for bike development. This circuit is not only a track that the riders and the team like, but it also has characteristics that provide a good benchmark for evaluating bike updates and confirming the direction we are taking. The Catalan GP is extra special for our team as we share a title sponsor with this event, so we can’t wait to get started!”
More from a press release issued by Honda HRC:
Catalunya calls the Honda HRC Castrol Team.
Luca Marini and Joan Mir arrive straight to Barcelona, the pair with points to prove as the 2026 season continues to progress at pace.
The Honda HRC Castrol team have travelled some 1,000 kilometres south from Le Mans, France to Barcelona, Spain for the next stop on the MotoGP World Championship tour. Home to a number of titanic battles over the years, Honda have won ten premier class races at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya since 1996. 4.66 kilometres long and featuring eight right and six left corners, the Barcelona circuit is often used for testing due to its varied and demanding layout.
A steady flow of top ten finishes and points in every Sunday race sees Luca Marini lead the four Honda riders in the World Championship standings as he arrives at round six. But now he is targeting more, the Italian keen to recapture the form he showed towards the end of 2025 where he regularly challenged the top five. The #10 took a solid eighth place at the Barcelona circuit back in 2025, a repeat result certainly on the cards if the Italian can conquer Q2. Marini is scheduled to make his 100th premier class start at the Catalan GP on Sunday.
Walking away from France with a laceration to his right hand after a heavy fall, Joan Mir is looking to dig deep and give his home fans something to cheer about. The Mallorcan has consistently shown impressive speed aboard the Honda RC213V and regularly leads the Honda charge on track in both Qualifying and the races. Converting this speed to points in Barcelona could mark a key turning point in the 2020 MotoGP World Champion’s season.
Joan Mir (36) and Luca Marini (10). Photo courtesy Honda HRC
Luca Marini: “Straight back to work in a very intense part of the season, but I am looking forward to it. We didn’t deliver on our potential in France, so it is a good opportunity to show this was just a one-off weekend and we can be there fighting further forward. The plan is similar to normal; we need to capitalise on our work early in the weekend and make it into Q2. I am confident we can have a better showing on Saturday and Sunday than in Le Mans.”
Joan Mir: “The hand is more or less OK after the crash, I just needed a few stitches. For sure there is some pain and we need to check a bit how it will be but I am not too concerned. I want to put in a big effort this weekend for the Catalan GP, not only because it’s my home race but because I know that we have the ability to put in a good result. In France we had very good speed compared to the other Honda riders and I am eager to show our pace again.”
More from a press release issued by Prima Pramac Yamaha:
Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP Heads to Catalunya Looking to Build on Recent Progress.
Following encouraging signs in Jerez and Le Mans, Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP arrives at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya aiming to continue closing the gap and confirming the positive direction shown in recent races.
Another historic European venue awaits Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP as the team heads to the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya for the next round of the MotoGP World Championship. First introduced to the calendar in 1992, the Catalan Grand Prix has become one of the most iconic and best-attended events in modern MotoGP history, with passionate record crowds creating one of the most vibrant atmospheres of the entire season.
For Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP, the Barcelona weekend represents another important opportunity to continue the development path that began to show encouraging signs during the Jerez test and was further confirmed throughout the French Grand Prix weekend at Le Mans. Both Jack Miller and Toprak Razgatlıoğlu arrive in Catalunya motivated by the progress made in recent weeks and determined to continue reducing the gap to the midfield group.
Razgatlıoğlu returns to a circuit that holds positive memories from his WorldSBK career, where he achieved important victories in the past. The Turkish rider hopes that his growing understanding of the Yamaha YZR-M1 and the riding style required in MotoGP can help him make another important step forward this weekend. Miller, meanwhile, aims to continue building on the stronger feeling he developed with the bike over the last two race weekends.
The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya is widely regarded as one of the most technical and demanding tracks on the calendar. Its long, fast corners place enormous stress on both tyres — especially the left side — while grip levels often decrease significantly throughout the weekend because of the hot temperatures and abrasive asphalt. The flowing nature of the circuit also makes front-end confidence and corner speed particularly important, making it a demanding test both for riders and machine setup.
Jack Miller (on the left) and Toprak Razgatlioglu (on the right). Photo courtesy Prima Pramac Yamaha.
Jack Miller: “I‘m looking forward to the quick turnaround and getting back on track in Barcelona. There is still a lot of work to do both on the bike and also on my side, but after the progress we showed in Jerez and Le Mans we arrive here with a more positive feeling. The goal now is to continue building on that small momentum we created over the last few weekends and try to take another step forward. Barcelona is always a demanding circuit, especially with tyre management and long corners, so it will be another good test for us and for the development of the bike.”
Toprak Razgatlioglu: “I like this track very much, but it is always difficult to ride here because grip is usually very low. This will also be my first time riding here with a MotoGP bike, and from what we have understood so far, we still need to improve the turning of the bike quite a lot. We learned many things in Le Mans and in Barcelona we want to use that experience and maybe even try some different setup directions because obviously Fabio‘s setup was working much better than ours. I have very good memories here from my victories in Superbike, so of course I hope I can start making good memories with Yamaha in MotoGP as well. But I know this is a very demanding track because you need to manage both the rear and the front tyre carefully throughout the race. As always, I will try my best again.”
Gino Borsoi: “We approach the Barcelona weekend with optimism because I believe we have started moving in a clear direction, especially with Toprak regarding his riding style and adaptation to the MotoGP bike. As we saw in Le Mans, the gap to the front is still important, but race after race we are reducing it, and this is the key point for us at the moment. Of course, changing riding habits and adapting to a completely different style is not easy for Toprak, and there will still be difficult moments ahead, but Barcelona could represent another small step forward both for him and for Jack as well. We also have some new ideas that could help us reduce the gap a little bit more. We don‘t need to dream too big right now — the important thing is to continue taking seconds away weekend after weekend and keep building steadily.”
More from a press release issued by Tech3:
Viñales returns for Catalan GP after successful recovery.
Red Bull KTM Tech3 is pleased to confirm that Maverick Viñales will return to MotoGP™ action this weekend at the Catalan Grand Prix, marking a highly anticipated comeback following a period of recovery from shoulder surgery.
The Spaniard has been sidelined since withdrawing from the Grand Prix of the United States. Due to complications relating to a previously sustained shoulder injury, Viñales had to undergo corrective surgery at the end of March.
Viñales subsequently missed the rounds in Jerez and Le Mans as he focused on regaining full fitness, with the team prioritising his long-term health and performance over an early return.
After completing an intensive rehabilitation programme and receiving clearance following final medical evaluations, Viñales is now ready to rejoin the team aboard the KTM RC16.
Viñales’ return comes at a crucial stage of the 2026 MotoGP World Championship, as Tech3 continues to build momentum through the European leg of the season. In his absence, team-mate Enea Bastianini has delivered consistent Top Ten performances, while Jonas Folger stepped in last week to support the French squad during its home Grand Prix.
With Viñales back alongside Bastianini, Tech3 heads into the Catalan Grand Prix with a full rider line-up and renewed determination to fight at the front.
Maverick Vinales (12). Photo courtesy Tech3.
Maverick Viñales: “I’m happy to be back and finally returning to racing. The last few weeks have not been easy. I’ve worked hard every day to recover, with close support from Red Bull at the APC, and I’m coming back in the best possible condition. Now I feel strong and motivated to get back on the bike. I want to thank the team for their support and patience, and I couldn’t be more excited to be starting again at my home grand prix in Catalunya.”
Nicolas Goyon, Team Manager: “We are very happy to welcome Maverick back this weekend. From the beginning, our priority has always been his health and ensuring he returns at 100%. His experience and speed will be key for the team as we continue to make progress, and Catalunya is the perfect place for him to restart. At the same time, we want to thank Jonas for stepping in at Le Mans. He did a fantastic job in a challenging situation and his contribution was truly valuable for the team.”
Dallas Daniels (No. 32) racing in the pack during the 2025 DuQuoin Mile. Photo by Tim Lester for AMA Pro Racing.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (May 14, 2026) – Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, announced today that tickets are now on sale for the Drag Specialties DuQuoin Mile presented by Parts Unlimited, set for Saturday, July 4, at the Du Quoin State Fairgrounds in DuQuoin, Illinois.
The Drag Specialties DuQuoin Mile presented by Parts Unlimited will bring the world’s elite flat track motorcycle racers to one of the discipline’s most historic venues for a high-speed Independence Day showdown. The holiday date gives race fans the opportunity to make DuQuoin a centerpiece of their Fourth of July weekend, pairing premier Progressive AFT competition with a classic summer tradition in Southern Illinois.
The event is scheduled as Round 11 of the 2026 Progressive American Flat Track season and will feature both Mission AFT SuperTwins and KICKER AFT Singles competition on the famed Mile oval.
Ticket options include General Admission Grandstand seating, which offers open grandstand seating along the front stretch of the racetrack, for $35 for adults. Children 12 and under are admitted free with a paid Adult General Admission Grandstand ticket.
Fans can also purchase Reserved Grandstand seating along the front stretch of the racetrack for $45 for all ages.
Child tickets for General Admission Grandstand will be available as an add-on during the checkout process.
Progressive American Flat Track returns to action this weekend with Parts Unlimited ThrottleFest presented by Carter CAT at Budds Creek Motocross Park in Mechanicsville, Maryland. The four-day festival runs Thursday, May 14, through Sunday, May 17, with Saturday’s Progressive AFT round headlining a full weekend of motorsports, camping, fan activities and entertainment.
The series then heads to Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, May 23, for the Appalachian Harley-Davidson Williams Grove Half-Mile at Williams Grove Speedway.
For those that can’t catch the live action at the track, FloRacing is the live streaming home of Progressive American Flat Track. Motorsports fans can subscribe to FloRacing to enjoy over 1,000 live motorsports events in 2026. FloSports is available by visiting https://flosports.link/AFT2026 or by downloading the FloSports app on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire and Chromecast.
FS1
FOX Sports will provide in-depth coverage of the Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA doubleheader featuring rider features and thrilling onboard cameras. Stay tuned for an upcoming announcement regarding premiere airdates on FS1 and re-airs on FS2. The full listing of American Flat Track’s television premieres will be posted to the AFT website at https://www.americanflattrack.com/events-foxsports.
Morgen Mischler (No. 13) at the 2026 Silver Dollar Short Track. Photo by Scott Hunter for AMA Pro Racing.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (May 14, 2026) – The Grand National Championship battle powers into the inaugural ThrottleFest, a unique moto festival with America’s Original Extreme Sport® at its core.
For four days, May 14-17, racing fans will revel at Budds Creek Motocross Park in Mechanicsville, Maryland, the festivities of which all build up to Saturday, May 16th’s Parts Unlimited ThrottleFest presented by Carter CAT, Round 6 of the 2026 Progressive American Flat Track season, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing.
Half-Mile, Not Half-Measure
Following five consecutive Short Tracks to open the ‘26 season, ThrottleFest will feature the first of four Half-Miles to be contested over the next five races, a run that is destined to play a crucial role in deciding this year’s Mission AFT SuperTwins title fight.
While TTs are very much their own discipline, Half-Miles sit squarely between the Short Tracks and Miles in more than mere length. Short Tracks are all about close-quarters combat, rewarding aggression and lightning quick reflexes. Miles, meanwhile, require prodigious acceleration and speed, wielded with high-level tactical acumen.
The Half-Mile combines all of these demands into a single discipline, making it the fullest test of rider and machine that dirt track racing has to offer.
Looking at the current crop of contenders, pinpointing who is likely to have the upper hand is not easily deciphered.
Harley-Davidson has reigned supreme at the Short Tracks, reeling in 11 of the most recent 12 ST wins dating back to last season. Yamaha, meanwhile, has held a decided advantage at the Miles, securing two of three wins and eight of nine podiums at the big tracks a year ago.
There’s a relative lack of recent HM results to go by, however. Despite Half-Miles being the traditional backbone of the series – and there have been far more Half-Miles than any other discipline throughout the history of the series – last year was something of an anomaly in that sense. There were just two Half-Miles on the ‘25 slate, both waged on Lima’s idiosyncratic pea gravel.
That weekend, the Yamaha MT-07 DT and Harely-Davidson XG750R split top honors. But more data is needed before we can begin to assess the relative merits of the machinery at that distance.
We can, however, take a closer look at the historical records of the pilots in question.
Prior to his Indian-era all-around excellence and late-career Mile mastery, 10-time Grand National Champion Jared Mees assembled a Hall of Fame-worthy career based largely on his status as a Half-Mile extraordinaire
Mees racked up multiple premier-class crowns by owning the Half-Miles and walked away from the sport with more HM wins (37) than any other rider in Progressive AFT history.
However, during their overlapping stints as factory Indian riders, Briar Bauman (No. 3 Super.com/RWR Harley-Davidson XG750R) quite clearly eclipsed Mees in outright Half-Mile success – a fact Mees himself acknowledged.
In terms of the numbers, from 2019-2022, Bauman claimed 11 Half-Mile wins to Mees’ six.
However – and somewhat unintuitively – being better than the best Half-Milers of all-time doesn’t automatically make Bauman the best Half-Milers going today.
Since reigning Dallas Daniels (No. 1 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07) stepped up to the premier class, he and Bauman sit level with four Half-Mile wins a piece.
And just because Bauman comes in with consecutive victories in hand while Daniels is seeking answers following a pair of (still thoroughly decent) results below his usual standard, that doesn’t automatically make Bauman the favorite this weekend.
For Daniels, the shift to HMs represents an opportunity to regroup, reset, and prepare to lock horns at venues less likely to play to his opponents’ favor. That notion alone could work wonders for his mindset.
Of course, we haven’t even mentioned the Mission AFT SuperTwins title leader, Kody Kopp (No. 12 Latus Motors Racing Harley-Davidson XG750R).
While this weekend will mark his maiden premier-class Half-Mile, that’s the distance at which he made his name in KICKER AFT Singles competition.
Kopp stands as the winningest Half-Miler in AFT Singles history, a fact that powered his back-to-back-to-back title runs. In 2022, five of his seven wins came at Half-Miles, along with four of eight in ‘23, and two of six in ‘24, adding up to 17 Half-Mile wins in all.
He already looks remarkably at home on the XG750R. If anything, the transition to slightly more expansive battlefields is likely to only enhance his comfort level.
Reversal of Fortune
The current situation of Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing KTM 790 Duke) is pretty much the opposite of Daniels.
While the champ managed to net third- and fourth-place results despite struggling to tap into his typical speed and competitiveness in California, Fisher’s results masked his genuine strength.
The luckless Fisher suffered multiple mechanical issues during the West Coast swing, all of which combined to rob him of a pair of near-certain podium finishes, a potential win, and his only provisional start for the season.
On the bright side, the Rackley Racing runner is flying on his KTM 790 Duke when it allows him to do so, and his form suggests he could be in line to score a second career Half-Mile win with a bit of (good) luck. The fact that he’s 44 points out of first might even unshackle Fisher and allow him to go for broke.
On The Box
Also in search of a turnaround is the OTB Racing duo of Brandon Price (No. 92 Memphis Shades/Vinson Construction Yamaha MT-07) and Declan Bender (No. 70 Memphis Shades/Vinson Construction Yamaha MT-07).
Price and Bender combined for three podiums among six top fives a year ago, despite neither rider contesting the full Mission AFT SuperTwins season. This year, however, they both rank outside the championship top 15 with just a single finish better than 10th between them.
You have to think that’s going to change and change in a hurry. Without a doubt, all involved would love for it to come this weekend in Maryland – the home state of both OTB Racing and Price.
Harley’s “Other” Rookie
While Kopp has garnered the lion’s share of the headlines, fellow rookie Aidan RoosEvans (No. 26 FRA Trust Advisors Harley-Davidson XG750R) has demanded his share of attention as well.
After flashing front-running speed on multiple occasions, RoosEvans made good on that promise by rounding out Harley-Davidson’s sweep of the podium at Silver Dollar Speedway.
That third was technically the first podium of RoosEvans’ Progressive AFT career. Yes, he did come home second in last year’s KICKER AFT Singles Main Event at the Jackpine Gypsies Super TT, however, that result was later stripped due to a fuel infraction.
While he did notch up several top fives during his KICKER AFT Singles days, it’s pretty remarkable that he went six seasons without a podium on a 450cc and now has one after just five races in Mission AFT SuperTwins.
Some riders are simply better suited to the bigger bike, and RoosEvans has immediately meshed with his XG750R mount. Additionally, the two- and four-wheel racer has traditionally been at his best at so-called “car tracks” like Senoia Raceway and Silver Dollar Speedway.
How he continues to develop as a premier-class contender moving forward merits close observation. Whatever happens, you almost already have to mark this season down as a smashing success.
Harley’s “New” Veteran
With Mission Roof Systems’ star Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Harley-Davidson XG750R) still recovering from a severe concussion suffered at Ventura Raceway, the team has recruited an ideal super-sub.
A Half-Mile winner himself, Jarod VanDerKooi (No. 20 Mission Roof Systems Harley-Davidson XG750R) is set to ride the Harley-Davidson at Budds Creek, and – provided he’s able to shake off any rust – he has it in him to be an immediate frontrunner.
Like his close friend Robinson, VanDerKooi can look back on an extensive history with the XG750R before the shift to an all-production-based ruleset saw it blossom into what may just be the most fancied bike in the field.
With that in mind, this opportunity could prove equal parts redemption and revenge.
Spoilers Ahead
It’s not just Daniels who should be welcoming the arrival of the Half-Miles. The same could be said of several podium threats who have yet to stand on the box yet this season.
Any given weekend could be the next time Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods Honda CB750 Hornet) stands atop the box.
Meanwhile, Ben Lowe (No. 25 Rackley Racing/Roof Systems KTM 790 Duke) has been rounding into form as he and Fisher continue to develop the KTM 790 Duke into a serious flat track weapon.
And don’t discount the chances of Logan Mcgrane (No. 14 Schaffers MotorSports/RVR Racing KTM 790 Duke), Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 Parts Bros/D&D Cycles/Fairway Ford Aprilia Tuareg 660), Evan Renshaw (No. 95 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650), or Hunter Bauer (No. 24 G&G Racing Yamaha MT-07), all of whom have broken into the top ten and have the potential to do considerably more damage than that.
Full Throttle. Full Festival
ThrottleFest is a motorsports and music festival unlike any other. With Progressive American Flat Track at its center, Budds Creek Motocross Park will be loaded up with two-wheeled racing all day for four days, including amateur flat track, motocross, pit bike racing, endurocross, hare scrambles, and a stunt show.
And that’s only half the fun. ThrottleFest will also bring it with live music, contests, mechanical bull riding, Stacyc and RC racing, interactive games, food trucks, vendor areas, and more.
ThrottleFest is ready. Are you?
Don’t Miss This One
General Admission Standing Room Only tickets for Saturday start at $65 with Reserved Grandstand tickets available for $90 and Premium Reserved Grandstand tickets $120. Tickets for kids five and under are just $5 in any section, while children 6-12 get their tickets 60% off.
The Saturday VIP at ThrottleFest ticket can be had for $205, complete with Premium Reserved seating, complimentary food and refreshments, and paddock access to rub elbows with the best dirt trackers on the planet while getting a close-up view of their racebikes.
Fans can also purchase single day tickets for Thursday, Friday, or Sunday, as well as two-, three-, or four-day ticket packages.
Camping is available for $100 per vehicle (event passes sold separately), with free parking for all attendees.
Gates will open for fans at 3:00 p.m. ET/12:00 p.m. PT on Saturday with Opening Ceremonies scheduled to begin at 7:10 p.m. ET/4:10 p.m. PT.
Next Up
Progressive American Flat Track returns to action this weekend with Parts Unlimited ThrottleFest presented by Carter CAT at Budds Creek Motocross Park in Mechanicsville, Maryland. The four-day festival runs Thursday, May 14, through Sunday, May 17, with Saturday’s Progressive AFT round headlining a full weekend of motorsports, camping, fan activities and entertainment.
The series then heads to Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, May 23, for the Appalachian Harley-Davidson Williams Grove Half-Mile at Williams Grove Speedway.
For those that can’t catch the live action at the track, FloRacing is the live streaming home of Progressive American Flat Track. Motorsports fans can subscribe to FloRacing to enjoy over 1,000 live motorsports events in 2026. FloSports is available by visiting https://flosports.link/AFT2026 or by downloading the FloSports app on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire and Chromecast.
FS1
FOX Sports will provide in-depth coverage of the Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA doubleheader featuring rider features and thrilling onboard cameras. Stay tuned for an upcoming announcement regarding premiere airdates on FS1 and re-airs on FS2. The full listing of American Flat Track’s television premieres will be posted to the AFT website at https://www.americanflattrack.com/events-foxsports.
Aprilia Racers Days Event at COTA. Photo courtesy Aprilia
Aprilia Americas and Factory Motorcycle Training Partner For a Track Event Series Featuring Data-Proven Training Curriculum Aboard World-Class Motorcycles.
New York, NY, – Aprilia Racers Days returns in 2026, in partnership with Factory Motorcycle Training, with a nationwide series of premium track training experiences built for passionate riders. Learn to ride some of the world’s most advanced motorcycles the way they were engineered to be ridden, on track, with world-class instructors and a world-class curriculum. Ride your own motorcycle, test the latest Aprilia models, and experience high- performance riding in a controlled, safe, professional environment.
Event Dates
• High Plains Raceway | Deer Trail, CO | June 29–30
2-Day Event
• Laguna Seca | Monterey, CA | July 27
1-Day Event
• Autobahn | Joliet, IL | August 31 – September 1
2-Day Event
• New Jersey Motorsports Park | Millville, NJ | September 14–15
2-Day Event
• Carolina Motorsports Park | Kershaw, SC | September 28
This Isn’t a Track Day. It’s an Aprilia Experience.
Aprilia builds the most advanced motorcycles in the world, but performance without understanding is just potential. Aprilia Racers Days in partnership with Factory Motorcycle Training is designed to bridge that gap.
This is your opportunity to learn to ride your Aprilia the way it was engineered to be ridden using data-proven best practices as used by the best riders in the world. The best way to build safer riders is to build better riders. If you learn to ride your Aprilia the way it was engineered to be ridden, you will have more fun, ride safer, ride longer, and ride better.
Aprilia Racers Days are held at nationally recognized race facilities. These controlled environments are built around precision, safety, and performance. Whether you’re new to the track or a seasoned rider, you’ll leave with more confidence, more control, and a deeper connection to the Aprilia brand.
With expert coaching, professional photography, and direct support from Aprilia-trained technicians and brand representatives, every rider gets an immersive and tailored experience. Enthusiasts are also invited to demo the full Aprilia street lineup, including the RSV4, Tuono V4, RS 660, Tuono 660, and RS 457, on track. There is simply no better opportunity to test ride an Aprilia motorcycle.
What to Expect – Built for Performance. Designed for Control.
Each event is a master class in two-wheeled vehicle dynamics based on data-proven best practices and taught by world-class instructors.
These events are about more than speed; they’re about control.
The difference between struggling and thriving on a motorcycle isn’t horsepower. It’s understanding how to manage grip, braking, direction, and throttle with precision.
That’s why each Aprilia Racers Days event is structured to give riders the space to safely explore performance, without the chaos of the street or a crowded open track day.
• Michael Henao – MotoAmerica Racer, Pikes Peak Hill Climb Lap Record Holder
Who Should Attend?
Aprilia Racers Days are not just for racers! Riders of all experience levels and all riding goals are welcome. Our coaches believe that new riders should hear anything different than experienced riders. The motorcycle was engineered to be ridden a very specific way by an expert rider. The closer we can ride to that expert rider, the better the motorcycle will work and the safer we will be.
• Street riders ready to explore the track
• Track day riders looking to improve
• Aprilia owners and brand enthusiasts
• Riders considering their first high-performance motorcycle
Marc Marquez (93) at Le Mans. Photo courtesy Ducati.
This isn’t just another episode.
You’ve seen Marc win, but you’ve never seen him like this.
This #FrenchGP is the story of a weekend that reminded us why we live and breathe racing. Racing is made of pulses, passion, and sometimes, heartbreak. The momentum. The SPRINT changed everything, leading into a Sunday of “what ifs”. The crash, the injury, and the GP that ended in an undeniably bitter way for our Pecco.
This episode takes you deep into the garage for an unprecedented, open-hearted look at Marc. Since the moment he stepped into our garage in 2025, he hasn’t just brought his talent; he brought a renewed sense of belief and an injection of pure confidence that transformed us as a Team.
We are a family in RED, we must give Marc every ounce of our support. In the same way as him inspired us.
Beyond the highside crash, the weekend started with pure adrenaline and we need to take the positive.
A Q1 Masterclass: A spectacular, heart-stopping track record.
Front Row Lockdown: A brilliant 1-2 in qualifying for our boys.
Dallas Daniels (No. 32) during the 2025 Peoria TT. Photo by Tim Lester for AMA Pro Racing
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Tickets are now on sale for the 79th running of the World Famous Peoria TT, scheduled for Saturday, August 22, at the Peoria Motorcycle Club in Peoria, Illinois.
One of the most iconic events in motorcycle racing, the Peoria TT will once again welcome Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, for a can’t-miss day of racing at one of the sport’s most legendary venues.
The Peoria TT is famous for its unique layout, high-flying jump, natural amphitheater setting, and passionate fan base. Year after year, it stands as one of the most anticipated stops on the Progressive AFT calendar, delivering a race-day atmosphere unlike any other in the sport.
General Admission tickets are available now for $30, with children 12 and under admitted free with a paid adult General Admission ticket.
Fans looking to upgrade their race-day experience can also purchase VIP admission for $125, which includes access to the Turn 1 VIP Lounge, VIP parking, food and beverage, a swag bag, General Admission seating, full-event pit access, and a guided tour of the infield podium and start/finish line.
The H-D VIP Experience is available for $135 and includes dedicated H.O.G. parking, exclusive grandstand seating, Harley-Davidson rider meet-and-greet and photo opportunities, a private infield tour, track walk, podium photo opportunities, and exclusive Harley-Davidson gifts and fan swag.
Fans are encouraged to purchase early, as premium options are limited.
For more information on Progressive American Flat Track, visit AmericanFlatTrack.com.
Next Up
Progressive American Flat Track returns to competition on Saturday, May 16, with Parts Unlimited ThrottleFest presented by Carter CAT at Budds Creek Motocross Park in Mechanicsville, Maryland. Fans can visit ThrottleFestUSA.com for event schedules, ticket information, camping details, and the latest weekend updates.
The series then heads to Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, May 23, for the Appalachian Harley-Davidson Williams Grove Half-Mile at Williams Grove Speedway.
For those that can’t catch the live action at the track, FloRacing is the live streaming home of Progressive American Flat Track. Motorsports fans can subscribe to FloRacing to enjoy over 1,000 live motorsports events in 2026. FloSports is available by visiting https://flosports.link/AFT2026 or by downloading the FloSports app on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire and Chromecast.
FS1
FOX Sports will provide in-depth coverage of the Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA doubleheader featuring rider features and thrilling onboard cameras. Stay tuned for an upcoming announcement regarding premiere airdates on FS1 and re-airs on FS2. The full listing of American Flat Track’s television premieres will be posted to the AFT website at https://www.americanflattrack.com/events-foxsports.
Three-Time World Champion Freddie Spencer Named Grand Marshal of 2026 Permco AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days. Photo courtesy AMA.
PICKERINGTON, Ohio — Three-time world roadracing champion “Fast Freddie” Spencer, one of the most iconic road racers in American motorcycling history, will serve as the grand marshal of the 2026 Permco AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days presented by Turn 14 Distribution.
A 1999 AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame inductee, Spencer was a leading competitor in AMA Superbike, Formula II and Formula 1 competition in the U.S. before heading to the Grand Prix circuit in the early 1980s en route to a trio of world championships — the 500cc title in 1983 and, in ’85, the 250cc and 500cc world titles, the first person to accomplish that feat.
This summer, he will be the premier guest at the AMA’s largest event, which runs July 24-26 at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio. This year’s event will celebrate the 50th anniversary of AMA Superbike, making Spencer the perfect Grand Marshal to ring in the festivities.
“I raced at Mid-Ohio several times during my early career,” Spencer said, “and while I haven’t ever attended the AMA’s Vintage Motorcycle Days event, I have heard a lot about it, and so I’m really excited to be heading there this July to act as Grand Marshal. It’s a fantastic venue, and with all the other exciting stuff happening during VMD weekend, and all those enthusiastic fans, it’s bound to be a memorable weekend. See you there!”
Born in 1961 in Shreveport, La., Spencer displayed incredible talent from a very young age. He first learned to ride at 4 years old and started racing just a year later. By age 11, Spencer had already won a number of regional dirt track racing championships, and soon after, set his focus toward road racing.
Freddie Spencer. Photo courtesy AMA
In 1979, Spencer captured his first AMA National Win and went on to win the Formula II/250GP title over fellow AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Eddie Lawson that season. This sparked an outstanding rivalry between the pair of future Hall of Famers, with Spencer and Lawson in constant contention for the 1980 and 1981 AMA Superbike titles.
In 1981, Spencer began racing in Europe, splitting his time between the AMA Superbike and 500cc World Championship series. One year later, he dedicated his full attention to his international pursuits, securing his first world championship victory at the 1982 Belgium 500cc Grand Prix at just 20 years old.
Spencer captured his first Grand Prix world championship in 1983, edging out veteran Kenny Roberts — a 1998 inductee to the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame — for the crown by only two points. Two years later, Spencer produced one of the greatest single seasons in the sport, winning the 250cc and 500cc Grand Prix World Championships. For his efforts during the 1985 season, Spencer was named the AMA’s Pro Athlete of the Year and earned a special citation from President Ronald Reagan.
Spencer retired from full-time GP racing in 1988 but went on to win three more AMA Superbike national events before officially retiring from racing in 1996.
“It’s only right that we bring in one of the most decorated American road racers to one of the most famed road venues in the country for AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days this year,” AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman said. “We are eager to welcome Freddie as the grand marshal for this year’s Vintage Motorcycle Days, and look forward to celebrating his mark on road racing history and motorcycling as a whole.”
In his role as grand marshal, Spencer will be available to speak with enthusiasts and sign autographs, while also participating in the Lap for History on the road course at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, and much more!
Permco AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days presented by Turn 14 Distribution is fast approaching and will be jampacked with a number of exciting opportunities for motorcycle enthusiasts, including North America’s largest motorcycle swap meet, the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Bike Show, vendor displays, demo rides and near-endless racing.
Race start for Race of the Rockies, Colorado’s premiere race class. Photo By Kelly Vernell.
The 2026 season opener for the Motorcycle Roadracing Association officially roared to life on May 10th at High Plains Raceway, launching what promises to be one of the most competitive and exciting seasons in recent memory. With ACES Motorcycles serving as the MRA’s 2026 Presenting Sponsor, racers and fans alike were greeted with an incredible weekend of competition, camaraderie, and nonstop action.
The weekend festivities began on Saturday with a racer practice day hosted by LegionMoto that drew an impressive 160 riders to High Plains Raceway. Riders of all skill levels took advantage of the valuable track time to prepare for the first round of championship competition, filling the paddock with excitement and anticipation for Sunday’s races.
Mother Nature briefly threatened to complicate the weekend’s plans late Saturday night and into Sunday morning as rain showers moved through the area, potentially creating difficult track conditions for racers. Fortunately, the weather quickly improved as the morning progressed. By 9:00 a.m., the track had fully dried, the sun had emerged, and racers were treated to near-perfect conditions for the remainder of the day with partly cloudy skies and temperatures settling comfortably into the 70s.
The enthusiasm surrounding the new season was impossible to ignore, as the MRA welcomed an explosive turnout of 110 racers on Sunday alone — including an incredible 33 newly licensed racers making their debut appearances. From seasoned veterans to first- year competitors, the paddock was filled with energy and optimism as riders took to the track for the first championship battles of 2026.
Fay Myers Race of the Rockies Open
Mathew Cunha #12 leads the charge in Race of the Rockies Open. Photo By Kelly Vernell.
The opening premier-class race of the season delivered everything fans could hope for — blistering pace, fierce battles throughout the field, and a statement victory from one of the MRA’s top championship contenders.
After narrowly missing the 2025 championship by only 19 points, Mathew Cunha #12 came into the season opener with clear intentions. Cunha wasted no time establishing himself as the rider to beat, setting the fastest qualifying time with an impressive 1:47.675 lap to earn pole position for the Fay Myers Race of the Rockies Open race. Joining him on the front row were Kreece Elliot #97 and Jayden Fernandez #23.
Mathew Cunha collects the holeshot into turn 1 in Race of the Rockies Open. Photo by Kelly Vernell.
When the lights went out, Cunha immediately capitalized on his pole position, grabbing the holeshot into Turn 1 ahead of Fernandez, Kreece Elliot #97 and Justen Behmer #67. Behmer quickly made his presence known, slicing past Fernandez down the back straight to move into second position as the opening laps unfolded.
From there, Cunha began putting on a clinic at the front. By lap three, he had already started stretching a gap over the rest of the field, leaving the battle for the remaining podium positions to intensify behind him.
Justen Behmer #67 holding off Elliot #97 mid race for the podium in Race of the Rockies. Photo by Kelly Vernell.
Behmer held onto second for several laps with Elliot close behind, but Fernandez — riding a 600cc Yamaha R6 against a field of 1000cc superbikes — continued showing incredible pace and composure. The young rider appeared patient and calculated, carefully studying the riders ahead while remaining firmly in contention.
As the trio fought for every inch of racetrack, Gage Mollman #617 was steadily reeling them in from behind, adding even more pressure to an already heated contest.
On lap six, Fernandez made his first major attack on Elliot through the backside section of the circuit, but Elliot used the horsepower advantage of his superbike to answer back on the straightaways. The battle became one of the highlights of the afternoon, with positions constantly under threat at every braking zone and corner exit.
Meanwhile, Cunha continued his flawless ride at the front. By lap eight, the race leader encountered heavy lap traffic for the first time but expertly navigated through the slower riders without losing momentum, further extending his advantage.
Then came lap ten — the moment that completely reshaped the podium fight.
Jayden Fernandez #23 pushing incredible pace in Race of the Rockies Open. Photo by Kelly Vernell.
Fernandez launched an aggressive move through the backside of the racetrack with Elliot making a minor mistake and stunningly passed not only Elliot, but Behmer as well on the very same lap. Once clear, Fernandez immediately laid down several strong sectors and built just enough of a cushion before the start-finish straight to defend against the superior straight-line speed of the liter bikes behind him.
Kreece Elliot #97 pushing to make the pass for the final podium spot. Photo by Kelly Vernell.
With Fernandez pulling away into a secure second position, Behmer and Elliot turned their focus toward the final remaining podium spot. The battle went all the way to the final lap, where Elliot found exceptional drive exiting Turn 15 and completed a dramatic pass on Behmer just before the start-finish line, stealing third place by only a fraction of a second.
At the checkered flag, it was Mathew Cunha claiming a dominant opening victory to begin his 2026 championship campaign. Jayden Fernandez delivered one of the standout rides of the weekend with an incredible second-place finish aboard his 600cc machine, while Kreece Elliot completed the podium after his thrilling last-lap pass.
Fay Myers Race of the Rockies Open Results
Race of the Rockies podium, (from left) Jayden Fernandez, Mathew Cunha, Kreece Elliot. Photo by Kelly Vernell.
1. Mathew Cunha #12
2. Jayden Fernandez #23
3. Kreece Elliot #97
Apex Autoglass Race of the Rockies Middleweight
Juliana Fernandez #191 Leads the pack in Race of the Rockies Middleweight. Photo by Kelly Vernell.
The Apex Autoglass Race of the Rockies Middleweight race delivered another exciting contest at High Plains Raceway, showcasing impressive pace and consistency from some of the MRA’s rising stars.
When the race got underway, Juliana Fernandez #191 wasted no time asserting herself at the front of the field, launching off the line to secure the holeshot into Turn 1. Close behind was Nick Weishaar #175, followed by Josh Radcliffe #342 as the trio quickly separated themselves from the rest of the field.
Fernandez immediately established an aggressive pace, opening an early two-second advantage while consistently turning 1:55 lap times. Her smooth riding style and ability to maintain momentum around the flowing High Plains Raceway circuit made it difficult for the riders behind her to gain ground during the opening stages of the race.
Nick Weishaar #175 pushes hard to keep Fernandez #191 in his sights. Photo by Kelly Vernell.
Weishaar responded by increasing his pace and slowly began chipping away at Fernandez’s advantage, reducing the lead to under a second as the race approached the halfway point. Sensing the pressure from behind, Fernandez answered emphatically by elevating her pace even further and dropping into the 1:53 lap range, reestablishing control of the race.
Behind the leaders, Radcliffe was quietly mounting an impressive charge of his own. Consistently running low 1:54 lap times, he steadily closed the gap to Weishaar while positioning himself for a podium challenge.
Josh Radcliffe #342 turning up the heat as he takes over 2nd place in Race of the Rockies Middleweight. Photo by Kelly Vernell.
The decisive move came on lap six when Radcliffe made a clean and calculated block pass on Weishaar entering Turn 4, successfully taking over second position. Once clear, Radcliffe continued pushing hard to secure the runner-up spot while Weishaar attempted to regroup and reel him back in. Despite the effort, Weishaar ultimately settled into a strong rhythm and maintained a comfortable hold on third place through the closing laps.
Out front, Fernandez remained untouchable to the checkered flag, delivering a dominant performance and one of the most commanding rides of the weekend.
Apex Autoglass Race of the Rockies Middleweight Results
Race of the Rockies Middleweight, from left, Juliana Fernandez, Josh Radcliffe, Nick Weishaar. Photo by Kelly Vernell.
1. Juliana Fernandez #191
2. Josh Radcliffe #342
3. Nick Weishaar #175
Rider Justice Amateur Open
Tony Ewan #125 leads in Amateur Open. Photo by Kelly Vernell.
The Rider Justice Amateur Open provided yet another thrilling chapter to an already action- packed opening weekend for the Motorcycle Roadracing Association, featuring dominant speed at the front and late-race heartbreak that dramatically reshaped the podium.
Starting from pole position was Tony Ewan #125, joined on the front row next to Jay Hollman #53 and Jim Bassett #130. When the race began, Bassett launched perfectly off the line and secured the holeshot into Turn 1, briefly leading the field through the opening corners.
Ewan quickly demonstrated the power advantage of his BMW superbike, driving hard down the back straight and making the move for the lead entering Turn 4. Hollman also capitalized on the early shuffle and settled into second place behind Ewan as the field completed the opening lap.
Jay Hollman #53 takes over 2nd place in Amateur Open. Photo by Kelly Vernell.
Once out front, Ewan immediately began building a substantial gap over the rest of the field. Consistently turning fast laps and maintaining smooth, mistake-free riding, he steadily stretched his advantage while Hollman focused on securing second position with a strong and consistent pace in the 1:58 range.
Behind them, Walt Vogl #117 held firm in third place for much of the race and appeared poised to secure a podium finish without major pressure from behind.
Walt Vogl #117 pushing pace to remain on the podium of Amateur Open. Photo by Kelly Vernell.
But quietly working his way forward was Nick Stentiford #851, who had locked onto the rear of Vogl and was steadily closing the gap lap after lap. By lap six, Stentiford made his move, executing a clean pass on Vogl in Turn 12 to take over third position and place himself into podium contention.
Nick Stentiford #851 overtakes for 3rd in Amateur Open. Photo by Kelly Vernell.
Then, just as the race appeared settled, disaster struck for Hollman.
With second place seemingly secured and the white flag already waving, Hollman suffered a mechanical issue as he crossed the start-finish line to begin the final lap. The unfortunate problem forced him to retire from the race, ending what had been an impressive ride and opening the door for dramatic last-lap position changes.
The mechanical failure promoted Stentiford into second place and elevated Vogl back onto the podium in third.
At the checkered flag, it was Tony Ewan claiming a commanding victory in the Rider Justice Amateur Open after a flawless performance at the front of the field. Stentiford capitalized on both pace and persistence to finish second, while Vogl completed the podium after a consistent ride throughout the race.
Rider Justice Amateur Open Results
Amateur Open podium, from left Nick Stantiford, Tony Ewan, Walt Vogl. Photo by Chandler Dahl.
1. Tony Ewan #125
2. Nick Stentiford #851
3. Walt Vogl #117
Looking Ahead
The opening round of the 2026 season proved that the Motorcycle Roadracing Association is entering the new year with incredible momentum. From dominant performances at the front of the field to dramatic last-lap battles and breakthrough rides from emerging talent, the weekend at High Plains Raceway delivered exactly the kind of excitement that has made the MRA one of the premier motorcycle road racing organizations in the region.
The strong rider turnout, including 33 newly licensed racers, highlighted the continued growth and enthusiasm surrounding Colorado road racing. Combined with the support of 2026 Presenting Sponsor ACES Motorcycles and the passionate racing community that fills the paddock each weekend, the future of the MRA continues to look exceptionally bright.
If the season opener was any indication, fans can expect fierce championship battles, unforgettable racing moments, and nonstop action throughout the remainder of the 2026 campaign. The road to this year’s championships is officially underway — and after one incredible weekend at High Plains Raceway, the battle is already heating up. Join us for round 2, June 7th at Pueblo Motorsports Park.
Chase Sexton (4) at Salt Lake City. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
More from a press release issued by Kawasaki:
Chase Sexton takes the win at season finale in Salt Lake City.
Monster Energy® Kawasaki closed out the 2026 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship with a statement performance at the final round in Salt Lake City. Chase Sexton powered to a dramatic 450SX Main Event victory, while Levi Kitchen secured a second-place podium finish in the 250SX East/West Showdown. Garrett Marchbanks earned 12th in the finale and capped off his rookie premier class campaign with AMA 450SX Rookie of the Year honors. Nick Romano added a hard-fought 15th-place finish in the main event, while Seth Hammaker and Cameron McAdoo both showed front-running pace before an early-race incident cut their nights short. Together, Monster Energy Kawasaki and Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki capped off the season with victories, podiums, and championship-defining milestones.
Garrett Marchbanks (36) at Salt Lake City. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
In 450SX Qualifying, Sexton and Marchbanks showed strong pace aboard their KX™450SR machines from the opening laps. Sexton consistently placed fourth in both sessions to qualify fourth overall, while Marchbanks showed early speed before securing 11th overall heading into the night program.
Chase Sexton (4) at Salt Lake City. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
In 450 Heat 1, Sexton rounded the first turn in second and immediately applied pressure to the leader. Showcasing his speed with multiple fastest sector times, Sexton stayed patient before making the pass for the lead and taking control of the race to secure the heat race win. In 450 Heat 2, Marchbanks got off to a commanding start and briefly led the field early. After the intense opening laps shuffled him backward, Marchbanks regrouped while setting the fastest Sector 4 time to finish sixth.
In the final 450 Main Event of the season, Sexton once again put himself in contention with a front-running start while Marchbanks battled from mid-pack. Sexton strategically managed the opening half of the race before charging forward, first making the pass for third, then moving into second. With the lead in sight, Sexton closed to within two tenths of a second from the leader before executing the race-winning pass late in the race. Backed by multiple fastest sector times, Sexton rode his KX™450SR to his fourth consecutive victory in Salt Lake City. Marchbanks continued to battle throughout the main event, pushing through the pack to secure 12th. Sexton concluded the 450SX Championship sixth overall, while Marchbanks finished 14th in points and added AMA 450SX Rookie of the Year honors to his breakout season.
Chase Sexton:“Salt Lake was a good way to end the season. I had a solid qualifying session, and we kept making good progress as the night went on. In the main event, I just tried to stay patient early, hit my marks, and put myself in a position to make a push late. Once I got close to Ken [Roczen], I knew I had to be aggressive. I wish I could have left with a championship, but it feels good to finish with a win. I’m proud of the effort from everyone on my team.”
Garrett Marchbanks:“The last round of the season was a solid one for me, and it was really nice to be able to make it here. I haven’t been able to race Salt Lake too many times, so it was really fun for me to be able to race this year on the 450. It wasn’t the exact result I wanted, but qualifying was super solid. At the end of the day, we found some really good settings that felt like we were going in the right direction. In the heat race, I felt great, got off to a good start, and put in some good laps. In the main event, I had an okay start and had to work my way through the pack. I got into 11th trying to make some more passes, but the track was difficult tonight, and the whoops were part of it. I’m super happy to come out of it healthy, heading into the outdoors.”
More from a press release issued by Yamaha:
Justin Cooper Returns to the Podium in Dramatic Salt Lake City Finale. Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing finishes the 450SX season strong with a runner-up finish from Justin Cooper and Cooper Webb coming just shy of the podium at the Supercross season finale.
The Monster Energy AMA Supercross season came to an exciting close last Saturday inside Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah. It wasn’t the night Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing had drawn up with poor starts from both riders in the final 450SX Main Event of the year, but they fought to finish. Justin Cooper and Cooper Webb charged through the field to be in position for a dramatic late-race battle for the podium, with Cooper finishing runner-up and Webb just shy of the box in fourth.
After qualifying sixth, Cooper got a good start to the heat race in third, and while he closed in on Jorge Prado in the final laps, he would finish there. In the main event, the New Yorker did not get off the gate as he had hoped and found himself back in eighth. He steadily worked his way into fourth and continued charging as the battle for the podium tightened. It turned into an intense four-rider battle for the podium, with his teammate Webb right behind. With two laps to go, Cooper made the pass on Ken Roczen and Prado in succession, claiming the runner-up spot and returning to the podium for the fourth time this season.
Justin Cooper (32) at Salt Lake City. Photo courtesy Yamaha.
“My main event was solid, I just didn’t get off the gate great,” said Cooper. “I was able to work my way through the field pretty well. People got tired, and Kenny was drifting back with no one really there. So, it got a little bit crazy. Everyone bunched up. We made a two-for-one pass before the finish, and suddenly we were in second with a couple laps to go. We almost got up there and made something happen. A better start definitely would’ve helped, but it was still an awesome way to cap off a great season.”
Cooper Webb felt good heading into the finale. The 2025 450SX Champion qualified fifth, but had to charge back from 10th to fifth in his heat race. In the main event, another bad start put him 13th on the opening lap. In true Webb fashion, he immediately went to work to make it into the top five. As the race tightened up at the end, Webb closed in on the riders ahead and made the pass on Roczen after his teammate made his way through, claiming fourth. He made a run at third but finished just shy in the end.
Cooper Webb (1) at Salt Lake City. Photo courtesy Yamaha.
“Honestly, it was just a horrible start, which was unfortunate because I was feeling really good all day,” said Webb. “I started way too far back, so it turned into a hard charge all race long. J Coop and I were coming through the pack together, and there at the end it got pretty close. It was a challenging season and not where we want to be. We were able to get third overall in the points, but we expect more. We’ll get back to work and get ready for outdoors.”
“The day went fairly well,” said Rich Simmons, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s 450 Team Manager. “We qualified fifth and sixth, then the heat races were okay. I’d say we lacked in starts tonight; that’s what really hurt us. Justin got on the podium, which was good, but a little bit of a lost opportunity for his first win there. Cooper was right there for a podium at the end, and it would have been nice to get both guys up there. Overall, I think it was a good season. It’s not what we all strive for, especially coming off a championship, but I’m really proud of the team and proud of the riders. We’re moving on to outdoors and looking forward to it with all three guys, as Haiden moves up to the 450 class with us.”
Cooper Webb (1) and Garrett Marchbanks (36) at Salt Lake City. Photo courtesy Yamaha.
Together with the efforts of the team in the 250 class, it was a standout season for Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, which earned the 2026 Manufacturers Cup by a commanding 121-point margin. Cooper Webb finished third in the 450SX Championship with a win and eight podiums, with Justin Cooper ending the year with a top-five overall finish with his four podiums.
The 2026 Pro Motocross season kicks off in two weeks’ time, which is also Round 18 of the Monster Energy SuperMotocross World Championship, at Fox Raceway in Pala, California, on May 30.
Cole Davies Wins East-West Showdown at Supercross Season Finale. Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s 250 champions deliver a thriller in Salt Lake City, with Davies coming out on top.
With both 250SX titles already secured early by Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan and Cole Davies, one thing remained – bragging rights as to who was best in the East and West. The stage was set for an epic showdown at the Monster Energy AMA Supercross season finale inside Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, and it did not disappoint.
After qualifying third in his division and finishing second in the 250SX East Heat Race, Davies got a strong start in the Dave Combs Sr. East-West Showdown, slotting into third. He passed Max Anstie five laps in and began closing in on Deegan with around 10 minutes on the clock. What followed was one of those battles fans will look back on. Two champions. One track. Zero backing down.
At the halfway mark, Davies made the pass, with the pair making contact and Deegan nearly going down, losing some time. With plenty of time still on the clock, the anticipated rematch quickly materialized as Deegan charged back to his teammate. On Lap 13, Deegan made his move, but the two came together again, and Deegan went down. From there, Davies rode on to secure his sixth win of the year, completing a standout sophomore season that included his first 250SX title.
Haiden Deegan (1w) and Cole Davies (37) at Salt Lake City. Photo courtesy Yamaha
“That was a crazy race,” said Davies. “I didn’t get off to a great start, but I made it happen. The pressure was off with the championship wrapped up, so I could come out and ride with nothing to lose. It was really fun racing like that with Haiden – back and forth, cat-and-mouse. Coming back to Salt Lake City and winning the shootout after what happened here last year feels like redemption.”
Deegan also entered the night with no pressure, putting together a dominant final season aboard the YZ250F to add to his already storied 250 career. On track for another perfect day at the season finale, the back-to-back 250SX West champ was the fastest qualifier in his division and won his heat race. In the showdown, he grabbed the holeshot, and although Anstie briefly took over the lead, Deegan reclaimed it on Lap 2. In the end, after the incident with his teammate, he crashed again in the sand and rejoined in fourth, where he would finish.
“I’ve got to give it up to Cole – that was a dogfight,” Deegan said. “We were giving the fans the best show possible. We were hitting each other… man, that was awesome! Even though I came out fourth, that was one of the funnest races I’ve had, besides battling Levi (Kitchen). That was sick. I hope you fans enjoyed that.”
“Today was solid,” said Deegan about the day as a whole. “I had a good qualifying, went undefeated in heat races, which was awesome. And then we had a pretty rowdy main event. Cole and I went at it, and I ended up going down. I made my way back up to him, then got impatient and slid out in the sand. So, I kind of threw the win away. It was a solid 250 career, and now onto the 450s.”
Max Anstie had a challenging start to the night show. He found himself 10th off the gate and worked his way forward to finish seventh in the 250SX West Heat Race. Then, in the Showdown, the British rider turned it around. Anstie got a great start and quickly claimed the lead. Although he was passed by his teammates in the first five laps, he continued to run a strong pace and moved back into second after Deegan went down. He was later passed by Levi Kitchen and rode on to secure third to return to the podium and finish third in the 250SX West Championship.
“Man, what great way to finish off the season,” said Anstie. “It was a tricky day, the track was tough, but the bike worked well. The whole Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing team has done an awesome job this season. We had started off great, with a win at Anaheim 1, but it’s been up and down. It’s been tough. I’ve had a lot of random things off the bike, like having my appendix taken out, and then little things from all of that that have kind of slowed things down. So to be able to bring it all together and get back on the podium in the last race and have a great start was a good way to finish it off. I’m definitely looking forward to the outdoors. I’m looking forward to regrouping, pulling it all together, and being a step better next year, and hopefully fighting for this title.”
Rookie Landen Gordon continued to impress with great starts and a strong heat race. He grabbed the holeshot and led the first five laps of the 250SX East Heat Race. The rookie found himself under pressure from Seth Hammaker, but put in a good fight, holding him off until Lap 6. He was passed by his teammate on the following lap, finishing third. In the main event, he got another great start, slotting into fourth behind his teammates, but was shuffled back to eighth in the opening laps. He kept fighting but ultimately finished ninth.
Landen Gordon (180) at Salt Lake City. Photo courtesy Yamaha
“Overall, it was a good day in Salt Lake City to finish out the Supercross season,” said Gordon. “I was feeling pretty beat up from a crash on Friday for press day. All things considered, I was very happy with my heat race and got to lead a few laps, and then finished ninth in the main event. I’m excited for the outdoors!”
Kayden Minear had a solid outing in just his second pro Supercross round. He got a great start to the 250SX West Heat Race and quickly claimed the runner-up spot, where he rode the first half of the race before being passed by McAdoo on Lap 6, and then on the following lap by Kitchen, finishing fourth. In the main event, a bad start had him towards the back of the field on the opening lap, but he put his head down and fought his way through to finish 12th.
Kayden Minear (99) at Salt Lake City. Photo courtesy Yamaha.
“Last round of the season is done and dusted,” said Minear. “I had a good heat race, which I was happy about. In the main event, I didn’t execute my start and had to make my way back from 20th. I felt good. I can’t wait for outdoors.”
Nate Thrasher had a good start to the day, qualifying second in the east, but didn’t get the start he was looking for and fought his way back from eighth to finish fourth in the 250SX East Heat Race. In the showdown, he was 10th on the opening lap, but kept pushing and made his way into the top five after the halfway mark. Unfortunately, a technical issue late in the race would have him scoring 18th. It was a roller coaster season for the Tennessee rider, but he continued to push on, bringing his career win total to seven and finishing fifth in the 250SX East standings.
Nate Thrasher (25) at Salt Lake City. Photo courtesy Yamaha.
“I was riding well all day,” said Thrasher. “So I’m super bummed with how the Supercross season ended, but that’s part of it. I’m ready to turn the page to the outdoors.”
When you look back at the season, it was a remarkable campaign for Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing – both 250SX titles and 16 race wins, which surpassed the single-season win record for a team and manufacturer by two. Five riders contributed to that tally, with Max Anstie and Pierce Brown winning their respective divisional openers, Nate Thrasher leading a Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing podium sweep in Cleveland, and Haiden Deegan and Cole Davies delivering the bulk of the victories.
Davies heads into the outdoor season with a 51-point lead in the combined 250SMX points, with Deegan set to make his 450MX debut. The 20-year-old heads into the premier class with six 250 titles, 32 wins (14 wins in both 250SX and 250MX and four in 250SMX), and an impressive number of stats. In addition to his seven wins and eight podiums this season, Deegan had six perfect rounds and won all of his heat races and the Triple Crown in Houston.
Haiden Deegan (1w) at Salt Lake City. Photo courtesy Yamaha
The team also saw three amateur riders make strong debuts, with Caden Dudney named 250SX Rookie of the Year, Landen Gordon scoring a runner-up finish in Cleveland, and Kayden Minear securing a top-five in his debut. Yamaha also earned the 2026 Manufacturers Cup by a commanding 121-point margin.
“A lot went into it,” said Wil Hahn, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s 250 Team General Manager. “It’s just really cool. It’s a massive team effort to go through all this. All the wins this season, all the podiums, the records, and a lot of firsts for guys – it’s just a really special year for us. So yeah, we’re stoked. It’s really a credit to all these guys behind the scenes who don’t always get enough recognition.”
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing now shifts its focus outdoors, preparing for the 2026 Pro Motocross season, which kicks off May 30 at Fox Raceway in Pala, California.
More from a press release issued by KTM:
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jorge Prado lands 450SX podium in Salt Lake City.
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jorge Prado ended the 2026 AMA Supercross Championship with a hard-fought P3 podium result in Salt Lake City on Saturday night, completing a standout season of 450SX competition.
The four-time world champion set the eighth-fastest qualifying time onboard his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION at Rice-Eccles Stadium, before capturing the holeshot and racing to a second-place finish in his Heat Race.
Prado then completed the opening lap of the Main Event in third position, running at the front of the field as the 450SX title contenders battled directly ahead. Remaining patient throughout the race’s duration, the 25-year-old climbed as high as P2 before securing a third-place finish.
The Spaniard pieced together a standout first season teamed with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing in Supercross, collecting two podium finishes alongside seven additional top-10 results, and ninth in the point-standings. Attention now turns to the Pro Motocross component of the SMX World Championship, which will commence in Pala, California, on May 30.
Jorge Prado (26) at Salt Lake City. Photo courtesy KTM.
Jorge Prado:“It has been a pretty cool Supercross season for me! I’m very happy to have made it to the end, and then obviously starting A1 with a podium, my expectations were high all year long, but I knew it was a learning curve. We had some good and bad moments, but at the end of the day, we got here to the last round and put ourselves back on the box with a great ride. So, I am very proud of myself and the work I put in every day, but also the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team. They have been putting a lot of work in as well at the test track, improving the bike with me. We learned so much this year – to be honest, I thought the change coming from MXGP to Supercross was going to be a little bit easier, but Supercross is a whole different world.”
Two-time premier class champion Eli Tomac entered Salt Lake City with momentum after a return to the podium last time out in Denver, powering his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION to P1 in qualifying with a 49.065s lap-time.
An untimely crash just moments into 450SX Heat 2, however, saw the 33-year-old unfortunately withdraw from the event, with the team confirming the decision as a precaution following a heavy impact to his stomach/hip in the incident.
Tomac’s maiden AMA Supercross campaign with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing began in spectacular fashion, claiming victory on debut at Anaheim 1 before backing it up with another win the following weekend in San Diego. He added further victories in Seattle and Daytona – alongside five additional podium finishes – to claim fourth overall in the final 450SX standings.
Next Race: May 30 – Pala, California
More from a press release issued by Suzuki:
Suzuki’s Ken Roczen is the 2026 Supercross Champion.
The final round of the 2026 Monster Energy AMA Supercross season will go down in history as one of the most emotional and memorable title fights the sport has ever seen. Ken Roczen entered Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City holding the championship points lead, with the red plate mounted to his Suzuki RM-Z450 heading into the final race of the 17-round series.
After 13 seasons in the premier class, Roczen had accumulated 28 career 450SX victories, but the championship had always remained just out of reach. The 2026 season marked Roczen’s sixth year aboard the RM-Z450 and his fourth season with Progressive Insurance Cycle Gear ECSTAR Suzuki. Against the odds, against the industry narrative, and against one of the deepest fields in modern Supercross history, Roczen delivered one of the most memorable championship victories the sport has seen.
Roczen Grabs Monster Energy AMA Supercross Title in Salt Lake City Thriller. Photo courtesy Suzuki.
Inside a sold-out Rice-Eccles Stadium, Roczen launched off the gate and immediately put the power of his Suzuki RM-Z450 to the Utah dirt. He crossed the holeshot stripe in second position before taking over the lead in the very next corner. With the championship pressure at its absolute peak and his title rival close behind, Roczen responded with flawless laps, setting the fastest lap time of the Main Event and keeping control of the championship firmly in his hands.
As Roczen circled the stadium floor lap after lap, the roar from the crowd built into a rolling wave of emotion. Just before the halfway point of the race, the other championship contender went down and dropped outside the top positions. Roczen capitalized, stretching the lead to four seconds and controlling the pace out front for 22 laps on his way to securing the championship.
Ken Roczen was the fastest rider in the main event and captured the 2026 Supercross Championship. Photo courtesy Suzuki
“Alright boys and girls, Salt Lake is done and dusted and what a fairy tale ending it was for me and the team,” said Roczen back at the rig beside his championship-winning RM-Z450. “It took so much work to get here. Today wasn’t easy, [there were] just a lot of nerves going on. When it counted the most in the main event we got a great start, made a pass happen, had an insane main event, and then just had a little bit of peace and quiet toward the end to bring it home. What a dreamy ending. We won the championship tonight. This is so huge. I can’t wait to really process everything. I’ve already had an incredible time celebrating with the team — 2026 Supercross Champ!”
“Never had a doubt,” stated Dustin Pipes, Team Principal for Twisted Tea/H.E.P. Motorsports/Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance. “Thank you to all the team members and partners that make nights like these possible. Ken earned this championship.”
“Emotionally, I think we’re all just on a high right now,” said Team Manager Larry Brooks during a post-race interview. “I am so proud of the team. When I was unplugged after the second round while going through (my) cancer treatments, they picked up the ball and ran with it. Everyone stepped up under an incredible amount of pressure and never stopped believing. I couldn’t be more proud.”
Ken Roczen put together an incredible late-season rally aboard his Suzuki RM-Z450. He won four of five at one stretch and took over the points lead with his victory at round 14. Photo courtesy Suzuki
At a time when much of the industry had written off the RM-Z450 platform, Suzuki and Pipes Motorsports Group doubled down on what they believed mattered most: a motorcycle with proven race-winning DNA, predictable handling, exceptional balance, and the ability to win at the highest level when placed in the right hands.
For Suzuki, the moment represented far more than a championship. It was validation that consistency, balance, rider confidence, and purposeful engineering still matter. In an era of constant change and escalating complexity, Suzuki remained committed to building a machine designed to excel at its intended purpose: winning races.
Suzuki’s racing heritage has always been built on challenging convention and doing things differently. From motocross to road racing, Suzuki motorcycles have earned championships by focusing on performance where it matters most — on the racetrack.
Now, the RM-Z450 adds another defining chapter to that legacy.
The 2026 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship will forever be remembered as the season the yellow bike shocked the sport and reminded the entire industry what Suzuki is capable of.
With this title, Roczen adds the 2026 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship to an already legendary résumé that includes two World Supercross Championships (2022, 2023), two AMA Pro Motocross Championships (2014, 2016), the 2013 250SX West Championship, and the 2011 MX2 World Championship. Three of Roczen’s seven professional championships have now been earned aboard Suzuki RM-Z machinery.
Hunter Lawrence Ends Hard-Fought ’26 AMA Supercross Championship Second in the Series Standings.
With a seventh-place finish at the finale, the Australian finishes three points short
Honda congratulates Roczen and Suzuki following an exciting season-long battle
The 2026 AMA Supercross season came down to a thrilling showdown in Salt Lake City, where Honda HRC Progressive’s Hunter Lawrence entered the final round just one point behind championship leader Ken Roczen in one of the closest title fights ever. The best efforts of the Australian and his Honda HRC Progressive team weren’t quite enough this time and, although he was battling for the win early, a seventh-place result meant they had to settle for a runner-up showing in the final tally.
The highly anticipated main event delivered immediate excitement, as Lawrence grabbed the holeshot aboard his CRF450RWE, with Roczen quickly moving into the lead. A tense, mano-a-mano battle unfolded during the first part of the race, with Lawrence maintaining touch and occasionally applying pressure while also holding off Jorge Prado in third. Unfortunately, a pair of miscues—the first sending him briefly off the track, the second resulting in a fall—meant Lawrence found himself in seventh place with just over half the race remaining. That’s where he would eventually finish, and with Roczen posting a fifth-place result, Lawrence concluded the series second in the final standings, just three points shy of the title.
Throughout the 2026 series, Lawrence demonstrated impressive speed, consistency and progress. Everyone at Honda HRC Progressive and American Honda is proud of Hunter for the effort, professionalism and growth he displayed while battling for the championship until the final checkered flag.
Quad Lock Honda riders Joey Savatgy, Christian Craig, Shane McElrath, and Dean Wilson concluded the season in eighth, 12th, 13th and 21st, respectively, a solid effort by the satellite team.
Hunter Lawrence (96) at Salt Lake City. Photo courtesy Honda
NOTES
On Friday, Hunter Lawrence participated in a formal press conference organized by Feld ahead of the 2026 Supercross finale. He later took part in riding sessions, in which invited riders were able to ride the full track.
A pair of local dealerships—Honda World and Young Honda Powerhouse—enhanced the fan experience in the Honda HRC Progressive pit area through an interactive pop-up booth. Staff engaged directly with fans and customers at the display, which featured a CRF450RX, two CRF125F models, and a CRF110F.
Jett Lawrence attended the event in support of his brother, and they both participated in an autograph session during FanFest.
Race Day Live aired a feature on Hunter Lawrence’s life and career progression.
Motocross Hall of Famer Johnny O’Mara was interviewed about his career and transition into training Hunter and Jett Lawrence.
In 250SX combined qualifying—featuring both East and West Divisions—participating Red Riders included Phoenix Racing Honda’s Gavin Towers in 21st, SLR Honda’s Justin Rodbell in 25th, Storm Lake’s Luke Neese in 26th, Next Level’s Hunter Schlosser in 38th, Lasting Impressions’ Ronnie Orres in 44th, and TiLube Honda’s Ryder Floyd in 50th.
Rodbell and Towers qualified by finishing third and fourth in the LCQ, and they finished 16th and 17th in the 250 East-West Showdown.
Lawrence had the third-fastest time in 450SX qualifying. Quad Lock Honda riders Christian Craig, Shane McElrath and Dean Wilson qualified in 12th, 13th and 14th, respectively. Jeremy Hand (Valley Motorsports) was 26th, John Short IV (Short Racing) was 28th, privateer Red Rider Zack Williams (McGinley Clinic) qualified 33rd, and Western Honda Racing’s Ty Freehill was 41st.
Lawrence won the first heat race from holeshot to checkered flag, while Wilson (sixth), Craig (seventh), and McElrath (eighth) also advanced directly to the main event.
Honda HRC Progressive now heads into a two-week break before opening the AMA Pro Motocross season in Pala, California, on May 30. The team is expected to field a full roster: Hunter and Jett Lawrence in the 450 class, and Jo Shimoda and Chance Hymas in the 250 division.
Hunter Lawrence (96) at Salt Lake City. Photo courtesy Honda
Hunter Lawrence: “I was just asking a little too much of the front end coming into the corners, but congrats to Kenny—well earned, he was the better man tonight in the main. Congrats to him and the team, it was fun battling with him. We’ll get ready for outdoors.”
Lars Lindstrom – Team Manager:“Looking back on the season, it has been a pretty incredible rollercoaster for us. There have been so many positives that make it easier to swallow the bitter pill of not winning the championship after being so close. I think we worked really well as a team the whole year, with definitely some difficult times, and I’m proud of everyone involved. Absolutely the MVP is of course, Hunter, who took himself to a new level in the elite class, and showed that he will be a threat for championships every year that he lines up. The professionalism, mental strength, speed, and how much of a genuine, good person he is make us all want to work harder and do anything and everything possible to help him achieve his goals.
I also want to say congratulations to the Progressive Suzuki team and to Ken Roczen on their championship. With how well we know Kenny, and being there through his injuries and struggles, it was hard not to be emotional and happy for him; if we were going to lose the championship, I’m glad it was to him. I think this really completes his career, and he performed when he needed to make it happen.”
More from a press release issued by Husqvarna:
Ryder DiFrancesco earns top-five finish in Salt Lake City 250SX Showdown. Teammate Daxton Bennick places P3 in final Eastern Division standings.
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Ryder DiFrancesco recorded a fifth-place finish at the final round of the 2026 AMA Supercross Championship in Salt Lake City, where 450SX teammate Malcolm Stewart claimed a top 10 result and seventh in the final standings.
Both 250SX riders DiFrancesco and Daxton Bennick were in action for the third East/West Showdown of the year, with Bennick qualifying sixth overall on combined times, as DiFrancesco set the ninth-fastest time.
Equipped with the Husqvarna FC 250 Factory Edition, DiFrancesco endured a difficult Heat Race to finish 11th, forcing him into the Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ), which he would go on to win and transfer to the Main Event.
Starting outside the top 10, the 21-year-old pieced together a strong ride throughout the 15-minute plus one-lap Main Event, charging to fifth position in an impressive performance at the 2026 season finale.
Following 10 rounds of competition, Ryder D completed the 250SX West Championship in fourth overall, recording three podium finishes alongside four additional top-five results in his first season with Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing.
Ryder DiFrancesco at Salt Lake City. Photo courtesy Husqvarna.
“Salt Lake was a bit of a struggle all day,”commented DiFrancesco. “I just didn’t have the raw speed that I really wanted – it came a little tougher for me this weekend. The Heat Race didn’t go well, and then of course, we were off to the LCQ, which wasn’t ideal. The Main Event was a bit of a turnaround, after I rode well in that one and now we’ll get ready for outdoors.”
Bennick also had a tough Heat Race in 250SX East, finishing 12th and transferring to the LCQ. He would go on to claim eighth position, unfortunately missing out on the night’s 250SX East/West Showdown Main Event.
Daxton Bennick at Salt Lake City. Photo courtesy Husqvarna.
Still, the 20-year-old completed the Supercross season with Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing third overall in the 250SX East standings, achieving two podium finishes – including a season-best P2 result in Philadelphia – alongside four additional top-five scores.
Stewart qualified seventh on the combined 450SX timesheets aboard his Husqvarna FC 450 Factory Edition at Salt Lake City, achieving a 49.511s lap-time on the dry, technical track layout.
The 33-year-old carried that momentum into his Heat Race, riding to a convincing P3 finish and strong gate selection for the Main Event. Stewart then posted a measured P8 result in the Main Event, concluding the series seventh in the standings. He took a podium finish in Detroit, as well as two additional top-fives during the season.
Malcolm Stewart at Salt Lake City. Photo courtesy Husqvarna.
“The fans are always awesome in Salt Lake!” said Stewart. “Usually, I ride pretty well at this track, but this year I kind of struggled a little bit. But at the end of the day, every time I come through for opening ceremonies and hear those fans, it brings back some awesome memories. Tonight may not have gone exactly as we’d planned, but that’s racing, and I’m happy to be leaving Supercross healthy with attention now shifting to Pro Motocross.”
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May 25, 2026
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