Marc Marquez topped MotoGP World Championship Free Practice One (FP1) Friday morning at Balaton Park, in Hungary. Riding his Michelin-shod Lenovo Team Ducati Desmosedici GP26, the Spaniard turned a lap of 1:38.626 around the 2.53-mile (4.08 km) track and led the 22-rider field.
Raul Fernandez was second-best with a 1:38.795 on his SuperFile Trackhouse Aprilia RS-GP26.
Pedro Acosta was third with a lap of 1:38.924 on his Red Bull KTM Factory Racing RC16.
Marc Marquez fastest out the blocks in Balaton Park FP1. The World Champion tops the opening stint of the weekend in Hungary by over a tenth as Aprilia and KTM earn Friday morning top three results.
For the first time since the 2025 Grand Prix of Hungary, reigning World Champion Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) begins a weekend with a P1 result after the still-recovering Spaniard beat second fastest Raul Fernandez (SuperFile Trackhouse MotoGP Team) by 0.169s in MotoGP FP1. Third place to kickstart the weekend was Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), the #37 sitting 0.298s adrift of Marquez as Ducati lead Aprilia and KTM into Practice this afternoon at Balaton Park.
Acosta led the session by over half a second until Marquez beat his compatriot’s time by 0.002s with just under 20 minutes of FP1 remaining, and on the next lap, the #93 stretched his legs to get down to a 1:38.626 – a time that wasn’t beaten for the rest of the Friday morning stint.
Fernandez got closest; the Mugello Tissot Sprint winner nipped in ahead of Acosta, with a pair of Ducatis completing the top five in the form of Fermin Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) and Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team).
Another Ducati, this time Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), ended FP1 in P6, 0.615s away from teammate Marquez, as Ai Ogura (SuperFile Trackhouse MotoGP Team) led top Honda Luca Marini (Honda HRC Castrol) and championship pacesetter Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) in the lower ends of the top 10, with Toprak Razgatlioglu (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP) 10th fastest. A promising start to the weekend for the Turk.
Jorge Martin (Aprilia Racing) began the weekend with a P12, so the #89 will be wanting more when Practice bursts into life at 15:00 local time (UTC +2) in Hungary.
Manuel Gonzalez was quickest during Moto2 World Championship Free Practice One (FP1) Friday morning at Balaton Park, in Hungary. Riding his Pirelli-shod Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP Kalex on the 2.53-mile (4.08 km) track, the Spaniard recorded a 1:41.068 to lead the field of 28 riders.
David Alonso was the best of the rest with a 1:41.193 on his CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team Kalex.
Celestino Vietti was third-fastest with a 1:41.290 on his MB Conveyors SpeedRS Team Boscoscuro.
American Joe Roberts finished the opening session in 21st with a 1:42.250 on his OnlyFans American Racing Team Kalex.
David Almansa was quickest during Moto3 World Championship Free Practice One (FP1) Friday morning at Balaton Park, in Hungary. Riding his Liqui Moly Dynavolt IntactGP KTM on Pirelli control tires, the Spaniard covered the 2.53-mile (4.08 km) road course in 1:46.956, topping the field of 26 riders.
Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Alvaro Carpe was the best of the rest with a 1:47.063.
David Muñoz, Almansa’s teammate, was third with a lap time of 1:47.256.
After an action-packed weekend at Mugello, the MotoGP paddock heads straight back into action as teams and riders travel to Balaton Park in Hungary for the next round of the championship.
More from a press release issued by Aprilia Racing:
Aprilia Racing picks up from their success in Mugello and heads back to the track straight away at Balaton Park.
After a historic weekend in Mugello, Aprilia Racing is ready to get back on the track for the eighth round of the season at the Balaton Park Circuit in Hungary.
Marco Bezzecchi heads to Hungary as championship leader, fresh from an extremely high-level performance in Mugello where he took pole position and his first win in the long race on the Tuscan track. This was the Italian rider’s fourth victory of the season and a win with special significance, achieved in his and Aprilia Racing’s home race.
Jorge Martín will be tackling the Hungarian weekend after another positive result in Mugello where he took home two second-place finishes between the sprint race and the long race, confirming his competitiveness on the RS-GP26.
Located near Lake Balaton in Hungary, Balaton Park opened in 2023. It was added officially to the MotoGP calendar last year, marking the top class’s return to Hungary after a 33-year long absence. The track is 4.08 km long and has a total of 17 corners – ten left-handers and seven right-handers.
Marco Bezzecchi (72) in Mugello. Photo courtesy Aprilia.
Marco Bezzecchi: “I’m happy to be going back to Balaton. It is a nice and particular track, where we’re keen to start off well straight away with the right amount of desire and determination after such a special weekend in Mugello.”
Jorge Martin (89) in Mugello. Photo courtesy Aprilia.
Jorge Martin: “Confidence is certainly extremely high, but we need to keep working. I really like the Balaton track. This year we’ll be headed there with a different bike than last season and hopefully we’ll be able to express our full potential with Aprilia, taking home important points.”
More from a press release issued by Ducati Lenovo Team:
Stop at Balaton Park for the Ducati Lenovo Team.
Second race in a row of this Mugello – Balaton Park for the Ducati Lenovo Team, departing today for Hungary for the eighth Round of the 2026 season. The Hungarian track, which entered the MotoGP calendar the last year, saw the absolute dominance of the Desmosedici GP and Marc Márquez, with the victory, the Sprint win, the pole position, and the lap record.
Just hours after his second consecutive podium right in front of the Italian fans, Pecco Bagnaia gets back to work to close the gap and be a key player. The goal is to confirm himself among the most consistent riders and take another step forward.
Having returned to racing at Mugello with two excellent final places, Marc Márquez—who dominated here at Balaton Park last year, a track that well suits his characteristics—continues to regain his rhythm.
Francesco Bagnaia (63) and Marc Marquez (93). Photo courtesy Ducati.
Francesco Bagnaia #63 Ducati Lenovo Team: “The podium at Mugello gave me an extra boost: we need to restart from here. We made some steps forward, especially on Sunday for the race, and we must keep working hard to close the gap. Last year on this track I struggled a lot in both races, also in getting into the rhythm with the new track. We arrive here after two overall good races and we need to reconfirm all those feelings.”
Marc Márquez #93 Ducati Lenovo Team: “I’m happy with how it went at Mugello: on Friday I struggled, then I managed to better handle my physical condition. Both races were good, something was missing in terms of performance, but I picked up some good final places. This track, at least on paper, demands less from my body in terms of energy and effort. Here too we will move forward step by step to reach our 100% every day.”
More from a press release issued by Honda HRC Castrol:
Honda HRC Castrol hunt positives in Hungary.
A second visit to the tight and technical Balaton Park offers Honda HRC Castrol another chance to show off the constantly improving Honda RC213V and build on their strong base from 2025.
The MotoGP World Championship’s first visit to the Hungary GP at Balaton Park in 2025 produced one of the strongest weekends of the season for Honda HRC Castrol, both Luca Marini and Joan Mir entering Q2 directly from Friday and chasing the podium in the Sprint and Sunday’s Grand Prix. At just a hair over 4 kilometres long, Balaton Park is characterised by hard braking, heavy acceleration and a number of technical chicanes.
Luca Marini took fourth and fifth in Hungary last year, the Italian launching his first serious podium challenge as a factory Honda HRC rider. The Italian arrives with a quiet confidence after a consistent start to the season, now ready to turn up the intensity and take the fight to the regular podium contenders. Currently sitting on the cusp of the top ten in the World Championship standings, Marini needs to again conquer Friday afternoon to properly position himself for the Sprint and Grand Prix in Hungary.
Like his teammate, 2025 saw Joan Mir consistently threatening the podium regulars in Hungary and with his Barcelona performance still buoying him, the #36 has the potential to be at the front once again. A calmer approach to the Italian GP weekend saw Mir avoid any unnecessary risks, collecting important data from Sunday’s race which will help his team to better adjust the Honda RC213V for the demands of Hungary.
Action commences at 10:45 Local Time on Friday, June 05 with Free Practice 1.
Luca Marini (10) and Joan Mir (36). Photo courtesy Honda HRC.
Luca Marini:“Last year we had a really good weekend in Hungary, we were able to be competitive from the start of the weekend. Of course, our objective is to replicate this and improve on last year, I think it’s possible because we have improved everything since last year. We had some things which didn’t go our way in Mugello but I think myself and the team showed how we are working, how we are able to overcome challenges, and I hope that arriving to a stronger circuit like Hungary can help us to show our potential.”
Joan Mir:“We have some potential going into this weekend at Balaton, it’s a track which last year suited the Honda quite well and we were able to put together a competitive weekend as a whole. The important thing this weekend is to achieve our maximum without pushing over the limit, collect the data and stay fit and healthy. At a tight circuit like this, Qualifying will be really important because it can be hard to fight your way through otherwise. I’m looking forward to it.”
More from a press release issued by Monster Energy Yamaha:
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Head to Hungary to Resume MotoGP Action. The Monster Energy Yamaha Team have travelled straight from the Mugello circuit (in Italy) to the Balaton Park Circuit for the Grand Prix of Hungary, Round 8 on the 2026 MotoGP calendar.
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP’s Fabio Quartararo and Álex Rins now turn their focus to this weekend’s Grand Prix of Hungary at Balaton Park Circuit, keen to start Round 8 of the 2026 MotoGP season.
After a challenging outing at Mugello last weekend, Quartararo is determined to find a better feeling with his bike at the Balaton track. He currently holds 15th position in the championship standings and is aiming for solid points this weekend. Last year, the Frenchman crashed in the first corner of the Hungarian Sprint and secured P10 in the Race, results he hopes to improve on this time round.
Heading straight from Italy to Hungary, Rins is aiming to keep the good feeling he had with the bike at Mugello going. Last year he scored P16 in the Hungarian Sprint and P13 in the Race at what was back then a new circuit for the entire MotoGP paddock. With more track experience under his belt there, the Spaniard is looking to achieve better results this time and move up from 19th place in the championship standings.
Located near the beautiful Lake Balaton and just 85 km from Budapest, Balaton Park Circuit was officially opened in May 2023. Its layout consists of 4.08 km of track with 7 right and 10 left corners, and a longest straight of 665 m.
Alex Rins (42) and Fabio Quartararo (20). Photo courtesy Yamaha.
Fabio Quartararo:“I am looking forward to racing in Hungary again. We rode at Balaton Park last year, so we already have some experience there this time round, which should help us prepare better for this weekend. After a difficult race in Italy, the goal is to regain a good feeling with the bike and to enjoy the riding again.”
Alex Rins:“I’m looking forward to racing in Hungary this weekend at Balaton Park, which is still relatively new for us because we only raced there once before. The end to the Italian GP was a bit disappointing for me, but the overall feeling was not bad, and I was riding well. The priority this weekend is to keep improving our feeling with the bike, especially in turning, because our overall goal is to be consistent across all sessions at all tracks.”
Massimo Meregalli – Team Director:“The Hungarian GP is a good opportunity for us to reset after a tough Italian round. Balaton Park is quite different from Mugello, so it will be interesting to assess how our bike performs there. Our target is to improve the overall feeling with the bike and to ensure both riders feel comfortable early on in the weekend. Over the last GPs, we have seen positive moments from Fabio and Álex individually, but not simultaneously. Now it‘s about finding a way to combine those strengths and maximise our overall potential. The team and Yamaha engineers remain fully committed to taking a step forward and achieving a stronger result.”
More from a press release issued by Prima Pramac Yamaha:
Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP heads to Balaton aiming to build on recent progress.
After encouraging signs at Mugello, Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP travels to Hungary for the Grand Prix of Balaton, a circuit whose technical layout could play to the historic strengths of the Yamaha YZR-M1. With its emphasis on agility, corner speed and chassis performance, the Hungarian venue offers an opportunity to build on the progress shown in recent races. Toprak Razgatlıoğlu returns to a track where he enjoyed a dominant WorldSBK weekend last year.
Less than a week after the Italian Grand Prix at Mugello, Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP is back in action for the Grand Prix of Balaton, held at the Balaton Park Circuit in Hungary. The venue is one of the newest additions to the MotoGP calendar, having joined the championship in 2025 as MotoGP returned to Hungary for the first time in more than three decades.
Unlike Mugello, where the exceptionally long main straight placed particular emphasis on outright engine performance, Balaton Park presents a very different challenge. The 4.1-kilometre circuit features 17 corners, relatively low average speeds and a technical layout where agility, braking stability and cornering performance are expected to play a decisive role.
Those characteristics offer reasons for optimism within Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP. The recent rounds have highlighted the continued development of the YZR-M1 package, particularly in chassis performance, handling and electronics, areas that could prove especially valuable around the Hungarian venue. Both Jack Miller and Toprak Razgatlıoğlu arrive encouraged by the progress shown in recent races and eager to continue reducing the gap to the front.
For Razgatlıoğlu, the weekend also carries special significance. The Turkish rider already knows the Balaton Park Circuit well, having dominated the WorldSBK round there last season by claiming pole position and winning all three races.
With a circuit profile that appears more favourable on paper and confidence growing within the team, Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP heads to Hungary determined to continue the positive momentum built over recent weeks.
Jack Miller (on the left) and Toprak Razgatlioglu. Photo courtesy Prima Pramac Yamaha.
Toprak Razgatlioglu:“I really like this track. It‘s quite small and maybe not every MotoGP rider enjoys this kind of layout, but I do. Last year I had a very strong weekend here, so I‘m happy to come back. With a MotoGP bike it will be a different challenge because the circuit is very much a stop-and-go track, but I‘m curious to see how the bike behaves and how competitive we can be. The most positive thing is that we made good progress recently and found some solutions that helped me feel better on the bike. My hope is to start the weekend at the level we reached at the end of Mugello and then continue improving session after session. That is the target. We will see what happens, but I hope I can enjoy this circuit as much as I did last year.”
Jack Miller:“I‘m looking forward to heading back to Balaton. It‘s a tight and technical circuit, quite the opposite of the last two Grand Prix, where the long straights exposed some of the areas we‘re still working to improve. The nature of this track should suit our bike much better. It‘s a layout with plenty of changes of direction and sections where agility and handling can make a real difference. The YZR-M1 has become much more agile this season, especially in direction changes, and Balaton has a lot of those characteristics. Hopefully we can take advantage of some of the strongest aspects of the package and continue the progress we‘ve been showing over the last few races.”
Gino Borsoi – Team Director:“Balaton could be a circuit where we are able to make the most of the strengths of our package. This will be an important weekend because it gives us a good opportunity to verify whether the progress we have made in areas such as chassis performance and electronics is translating into greater competitiveness on track. It is still a relatively new circuit for everyone. There is limited data available and this is only the second year MotoGP has raced here, so the level of knowledge across the manufacturers is quite similar. That could help make the competition more balanced. For that reason, it could be a particularly interesting weekend for Yamaha. The characteristics of the track should allow us to better understand the direction we are taking and the value of the improvements introduced in recent races. Now we need to see what conditions we find during the weekend, but if the weather cooperates, this circuit could provide a very good benchmark for evaluating our recent progress.”
Road America Sets New Motorcycle Racing Attendance Record During MotoAmerica Superbikes and Vintage MotoFest Weekend.
ELKHART LAKE, Wis. – Road America marked a historic milestone this weekend as the MotoAmerica Superbikes and Vintage MotoFest delivered the highest motorcycle racing attendance since motorcycle competition first came to the legendary Wisconsin circuit in 1980.
The record-setting weekend brought together passionate fans, riders, teams, manufacturers, campers, collectors, and families for three days of high-speed racing, open paddock access, vintage motorcycles, fan activities, and the unmistakable energy that has made Road America one of the premier stops on the MotoAmerica calendar.
“This weekend was a tremendous moment for Road America and for the motorcycle racing community,” said Mike Kertscher, Road America’s President and General Manager. “Since motorcycle racing first came here in 1980, fans have shown incredible passion for this sport and this facility. To see that enthusiasm reach a new record is a credit to MotoAmerica, the riders, the teams, our staff, and every fan who made the weekend so special.”
The event featured the premier Superbike class along with a full schedule of support races, giving fans action from morning through evening on Road America’s 4.048-mile circuit. Vintage MotoFest added another layer to the weekend, showcasing the culture, history, and personality of motorcycle racing through ride-in displays, fan experiences, and community-driven activities.
“Each year MotoAmerica at Road America gets better and better,” said Chuck Aksland, COO of MotoAmerica. “This track continues to be a favorite for our teams, riders, and staff. The community Road America has built around these events is incredible. We’re excited to get back in 2027.”
Road America also announced that MotoAmerica Superbikes and Vintage MotoFest will return June 4-6, 2027. Advance full-weekend tickets are now available for $80 for a limited time, giving fans an early opportunity to lock in plans for one of the most anticipated motorcycle weekends of the year.
Camping, golf cart rentals, and hospitality upgrades for the 2027 MotoAmerica weekend will be available beginning October 5, 2026.
Fans are encouraged to purchase early, as popular options often sell out quickly.
BUTTONWILLOW, Calif. — The American Federation of Motorcyclists (AFM) returned to Buttonwillow Raceway Park for Round 2 of its 2026 championship series May 30th and 31st, and racers were greeted with what many described as near perfect conditions throughout the weekend.
Temperatures remained comfortable from morning practice sessions through the final checkered flag, providing ideal conditions for racers, crews, campers, and spectators alike. The favorable weather also created the perfect backdrop for the Saturday afternoon endurance race, where teams battled through extended track time without the extreme heat that often accompanies summer racing in California’s Central Valley.
One of the biggest stories of the weekend was the strong turnout in the American Twins Unlimited class, which featured an impressive contingent of V-twin bagger motorcycles. With a large turnout of Harley-Davidson riders, joined by competitors aboard Buell motorcycles, racers traveled from across the country to compete in one of the weekend’s most entertaining races.
The event also continued AFM’s new race weekend format introduced earlier this season, with most classes racing on both Saturday and Sunday. An additional practice group was added to spread riders out during qualifying and provide competitors more open track time to set their fast laps. The revised schedule has been well received by racers and helps maximize track time throughout the weekend.
Another popular tradition of the AFM schedule is the lunchtime podium ceremony, which gives riders and spectators an opportunity to recognize standout performances during the race weekend. At Round 2, the spotlight belonged to Dave Moss, who turned in one of the weekend’s most impressive performances.
Moss enjoyed a dominant weekend at Buttonwillow, collecting six victories across multiple classes. His performance made him one of the most successful riders of the event and earned him well deserved recognition during the lunchtime podium celebration.
Other standout performers included Brian Wammack, who took victory in the American Twins Unlimited class aboard his Buell, and Sahar Zvik, who had strong Formula Pacific form by winning both the Saturday sprint race and Sunday’s feature race. Stephen Rue also enjoyed a successful weekend, taking victories in Formula 1 Open, Open Superbike, and Formula 40 Middleweight competition.
Round 2 showcased the continued growth and evolution of the AFM, with strong grids, competitive racing, and a race format designed to maximize track time and improve the experience for riders. Combined with ideal weather conditions and a packed paddock atmosphere, the weekend delivered everything competitors hope for when arriving at one of California’s premier racing venues.
The AFM championship now moves forward with momentum as riders prepare for the next round in less than two weeks at Thunderhill Raceway Park in what is shaping up to be an exciting 2026 season.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The 2026 Progressive American Flat Track season, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, resumes this weekend with the inaugural Caterpillar Nashville Short Track presented by Memphis Shades at Sons of Speed Nashville Short Track in Hohenwald, Tennessee, this Saturday, June 6.
It’s not just the first-ever stop at the venue formerly known as Tennessee National Raceway, this weekend will mark the Grand National Championship’s first visit to the Volunteer State in 17 years. It’s a welcome return for America’s Original Extreme Sport® considering the state’s proud motorsports heritage along with its extensive collection of some of the finest motorcycle roads to be found anywhere in the nation.
Meeting the Moment
The early-season advantages that Mission AFT SuperTwins points leader Kody Kopp (No. 12 Latus Motors Racing Harley-Davidson XG750R) and reigning Grand National Champion Dallas Daniels (No. 1 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07) stacked up on Briar Bauman (No. 3 RWR/Jacob Construction/Parts Plus Harley-Davidson XG750R) have nearly vanished.
What had been point differences of 26 and 22 in favor of Kopp and Daniels, respectively, now stand at just nine and two.
Bauman has completely flipped the script with his recent run of form and must be considered the pre-race favorite heading into any given round shorter than a Mile until proven otherwise. He comes into this weekend with three consecutive wins in tow, a streak that has elevated him into a tie for sixth all-time on the career wins list alongside Kenny Coolbeth, Jr., at 37. And he’s quickly zeroing in on the top five with the legendary Ricky Graham now just two wins away.
Don’t expect Bauman to ease up now. The Caterpillar Nashville Short Track stands as the sixth of seven STs on the calendar, and the Rick Ware Racing star has dominated the discipline as of late.
With 13 Short Track wins to his name, Bauman boasts four more than any other rider in Grand National Championship history. That unprecedented tally has been assembled in large part since first throwing his leg over the Harley-Davidson XG750R at the start of 2025, having won eight of the last 11 STs dating back to early last season.
While momentum is quite obviously on Bauman’s side, the padding Kopp and Daniels earned over the opening three rounds served its purpose, as Bauman still ranks third even with three successive wins on his side.
They will have used the extended layoff granted with the rescheduling of the Appalachian Harley-Davidson Williams Grove Half-Mile to regroup and reset. And this weekend in Nashville represents an ideal opportunity to meet the challenge that’s been presented. It’s new to all involved – a stark contrast to Williams Grove where Bauman has shined in previous stops – making it as good a place as any to make a stand.
All Aboard
“Freight Train” Logan McGrane (No. 14 Schaffers MotorSports/RVR KTM 790 Duke) has been on an upward trajectory this season, boasting both his career-best Progressive AFT Main Event finish (eighth at the Ventura ST) and a top-ten Mission AFT SuperTwins championship ranking.
McGrane stepped up to the premier class in 2024 with relatively little Progressive AFT experience under his belt, having qualified for just four KICKER AFT Singles Mains with no top-ten finishes.
That doesn’t mean he was lacking professional race experience or success, however, considering that McGrane is a four-time World Championship ICE Racing Series champ.
Ironically, McGrane may have enjoyed his biggest leap yet in terms of the average fan’s estimation of his abilities despite leaving Budds Creek with a 14-place finish – his worst Main Event result of the ‘26 season.
By the time the Main Event rolled around, he’d already won – literally and figuratively. McGrane accomplished that by earning a front-row grid position and entry in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge.
Once there, he didn’t back down despite lining up next to Daniels, Bauman, and long-time multi-class ace Chad Cose (No. 49 Parker Racing/Pro Roofing Yamaha MT-07). The opposite in fact – McGrane stormed past Daniels to claim the upset win, and then turned around to let ‘em know.
Besides bolstering his own reputation, McGrane also did well to honor the memory of a fellow Pennsylvanian, the late Ryan Varnes, whose legacy he represents on the RVR KTM 790 Duke.
VDK
Jarod VanDerKooi (No. 20 Mission Roof Systems Harley-Davidson XG750R) will be back in the mix this weekend after making his season debut at Budds Creek where he rode in place of the injured Brandon Robinson on the Mission Roof Systems Harley.
Despite his absence to start the season, few have forgotten about VanDerKooi’s skills. Those few who did were reminded at Budds Creek, even if somewhat obscured by rust and mechanical misfortune.
Until getting struck down by a late-race bike issue, “VDK” was all set for a sixth-place ride despite still in the process of shaking things down.
With some more seat time and a bit more luck, a return to the podium is not beyond his reach.
The Roller Coaster
Nine points separate first from third in the Mission AFT SuperTwins points.
43 points separate third from fourth.
That difference is largely down not to outright speed but consistency.
Consider the following collection of premier-class contenders:
Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods Honda CB750 Hornet)
Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing KTM 790 Duke)
Aidan RoosEvans (No. 26 FRA Trust Advisors Harley-Davidson XG750R)
Ben Lowe (No. 25 Rackley Racing/Roof Systems KTM 790 Duke)
Hunter Bauer (No. 24 G&G Racing Yamaha MT-07)
Chad Cose (No. 49 Parker Racing/Pro Roofing Yamaha MT-07)
All six of them have finished inside the top five this year, with podiums for Fisher, RoosEvans, and Cose.
On the flipside, all six have also finished outside the top ten or failed to qualify for a Main Event.
Those swings have arguably been most pronounced in the case of Fisher – who is routinely as quick as Kopp, Daniels, and Bauman but also burdened by a pair of 15th-place finishes, multiple trips to the LCQ, and without a remaining provisional start.
And what about Cose? His best finish of the season was a 13th until he blasted his way to third last time out to pick up his first premier-class podium since achieving his first-ever premier-class podium some eight seasons back.
The depth of talent lining the Mission AFT SuperTwins grid this season has created the conditions that have led to increased volatility. Even making the Main can be a struggle, let alone breaking into the top ten.
Regardless, the top three are out of sight at this point. It would take some massive happenings indeed for anyone else to work their way into genuine Grand National Championship contention.
However, fourth is ripe for the taking should any of the above manage to start stringing together strong results with increased frequency.
Life In the Fast Lane
The Caterpillar Nashville Short Track presented by Memphis Shades is a unique collaboration between Progressive AFT and Billy Lane’s Sons of Speed racing series, a vintage flat track competition inspired by the board track racing era of the 1910s and ‘20s.
Lane – who will serve as the event’s Grand Marshal – is renowned for his innovative and evocative designs at Choppers Inc, his iconic appearances on “Biker Build Off” and “Monster Garage,” and his passion for pushing the limits of speed and style.
With four decades of custom bike building experience behind him, Lane founded Sons of Speed to pay tribute to the daring early years of American motorcycle racing when Harley-Davidson, Indian, Excelsior, and Pope went bar-to-bar on massive wooden board tracks all across the nation.
Sons of Speed has exploded in popularity since its 2017 debut, and Progressive American Flat Track fans will have a perfect opportunity to find out why for themselves.
The weekend will feature a full slate of Sons of Speed competition featuring the raw power and style of vintage 1000cc V-twins and 750cc American flatheads. The vintage heats are scheduled for Thursday with finals on Friday ahead of Saturday’s Progressive AFT action.
Ticket Options Galore
Standing Room Only tickets are available for just $37 including fees ($18 for kids 12 and under), while General Admission tickets are $49 ($22.50 for kids), with Reserved Grandstand and Premium Reserved Grandstand seating available for $59 ($26 for kids) and $70 ($31 for kids), respectively.
Military/First Responders and Students can purchase tickets for just $30 at the door with valid ID.
The Harley-Davidson VIP Experience includes GA seating, a guided tour of the infield podium and start/finish line – photo ops included – a meet-and-greet with the Harley-Davidson riders, and exclusive swag. The H-D VIP Experience is available for $150 ($64 for kids), along with the option to be purchased as a $95 add-on to upgraded seating options.
And no matter what ticket option you select, pit access is included, providing fans an opportunity to get an up-close look at the racebikes and meet the riders and their teams.
Gates will open for fans at 3:30 p.m. ET/12:30 p.m. PT on Saturday with Opening Ceremonies scheduled to begin at 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT.
How to Watch
FloRacing
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 visitinghttps://flosports.link/AFT2026 or by downloading the FloSports app on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire and Chromecast.
This weekend’s livestream will also be available for FREE on the FloRacing 24/7 channel, which you can watch on Prime Video, Roku Channel, and Fubo.
FS1
FOX Sports coverage of the Caterpillar Nashville Short Track, featuring in-depth features and thrilling onboard cameras, will premiere on FS1 on Saturday, June 13, at 1:00 p.m. ET (10:00 a.m. PT). The full listing of American Flat Track’s television premieres can be found at https://www.americanflattrack.com/events-foxsports.
Hot Headlines: Balaton beckons with a whole new challenge. Full reset? It’s plausible as MotoGP heads for Hungary and goes anti-clockwise.
As record-breaking weekends ago, Mugello, you were mighty fine. We’re sure Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) would happily agree with that too after the Italian won his home Grand Prix for the first time, which means he lands at our next destination, Balaton Park, boasting a 17-point championship lead over teammate Jorge Martin.
DREAMLAND: APRILIA MARCH ON
A short trip north west sees us roll into the Grand Prix of Hungary, where Aprilia will be hoping the conveyor belt of success continues to be in motion. A front row lockout, Sprint 1-2, and Grand Prix 1-2 signalled another glorious weekend on track in Italy, as Bezzecchi and Martin go hunting more healthy amounts of points in Hungary – and renew their early title battle. Last year the pair finished P3 and P4 at Balaton, and with an extra couple of springs in their step in 2026, the factory RS-GPs will be tough to beat. Especially as Martin was on the comeback back then.
And so might the Trackhouse MotoGP riders. If it wasn’t for a Lap 1, Turn 1 error, Raul Fernandez might well have been celebrating a double podium at Mugello after his Sprint win. Ai Ogura also nearly stood on the box, but his late race rhythm wasn’t quite enough to beat home hero Francesco Bagnaia to P3 – although he gave it a good shot at the final corner. Will all four Aprilias deliver again this weekend?
Francesco Bagnaia (63) and Marco Bezzecchi in the parc fermé in Mugello. Photo courtesy MotoGP
DON’T COUNT DUCATI OUT
Marc Marquez being back was a huge boost for the Ducati Lenovo Team, and judging by the smiles and words from the reigning World Champion, his post-surgery return was a positive one. Now, a weekend at a circuit much less demanding, and one he dominated at last season arrives. It’s also anti-clockwise aka his specialist subject. Might we see a #93 at full tilt? Even if not, his form last year says he shouldn’t be counted out.
Hopeful were Pecco’s thoughts heading into the final sector when he heard, and then saw, Ogura carve past him at Mugello. Some smart tactics and a late dose of determination saw the #63 celebrate on home soil, as he and Ducati – and plenty of fans around the globe – hope that’s the Pecco we’ll be seeing on a regular basis as he builds back up to form. The Italian finished P9 at Balaton last year and will want more this time round.
It was good to see the double MotoGP champ smiling again at his home Grand Prix, and another Italian who was smiling was Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team). A Sprint podium, backed up with a P5, means the #49 remains comfortably in P3 overall – but ground was lost to the rapid Aprilias. Can Diggia bite back this weekend? He was on the Sprint podium here last year before an issue on Sunday saw him start from pitlane. Teammate Franco Morbidelli, also on the Sprint podium last year, will also want more after his lowkey Italian GP, while Fermin Aldeguer aims to return to the podium scrap on a circuit which is much less demanding for the still recovering sophomore at BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP. Aldeguer also has a new teammate this weekend as WorldSBK star Iker Lecuona steps in as Alex Marquez’s Balaton replacement.
Pedro Acosta (37) in Mugello. Photo courtesy KTM
ACOSTA AIMS TO GO ONE BETTER
The epitome of leaving it all out there. Pedro Acosta. The #37 extracted every last ounce of performance the RC16 had in it at Mugello, with P6 being the reward after throwing down with Marc Marquez – and the rest. That’s not enough for last year’s Hungary P2 finisher, who should – if last year is anything to go by – have less work on his hands to be in the victory mix.
After a P11 in Italy, teammate Brad Binder pinpointed Balaton Park being a circuit that should suit the RC16 better than Mugello, while Red Bull KTM Tech3’s Enea Bastianini rued two crashes that cost the Italian two very probable top 10s. Can the South African and Italian, plus Maverick Viñales now the #12 has another weekend under his belt as he recovers, challenge up the sharp end with Acosta in Hungary?
Diogo Moreira (10) in Mugello. Photo courtesy Honda LCR
MOREIRA WITH THE MOMENTUM
It wasn’t a picture perfect weekend (see what we did there?) for rookie Diogo Moreira, but it was certainly the best we’ve seen from the Brazilian so far. First time in Q2, best qualifying result, overtaking MM93, a Sunday top 10, and top HRC honours. Solid progress pre Hungary. Joan Mir and Luca Marini will be craving a lot more than the results Mugello had to offer, and that should be the case – especially for the latter, whose Balaton P5 was his equal best result of the 2025 campaign. They don’t want to be beaten by anyone, let alone a rookie on the same bike. Meanwhile, for a second weekend in a row, three-time MotoGP winner Cal Crutchlow dons the Castrol Honda LCR leathers as the Briton continues to stand in for the sidelined Johann Zarco.
Jack Miller (43) and Fabio Quartararo (20) in Mugello. Photo courtesy Prima Pramac Yamaha
OPERATION BOUNCE BACK
The sweeping layout and long, long straight of Mugello was always going to be a particularly tough challenge for the new Yamaha as the factory work to move forward. Jack Miller (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP) bagged top Yamaha honours at the venue after a last lap showdown with teammate Toprak Razgatliouglu, who was demoted a place, leaving Miller with the only point for the Iwata marque. But Alex Rins’ Friday automatic Q2 entry showing was a positive, but all four, including Rins’ Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP stablemate Fabio Quartararo, will be desperate for so much more in Hungary, where needing those extra few horses in the power bank isn’t as much of a worry. A completely new layout, different in nearly every single way, could paint a very different picture for them this weekend.
From the hills of Tuscany to the lakeside views of Balaton, MotoGP is back in action straight away this weekend for more of the most exciting sport on Earth. Make sure to tune in for the Hungarian GP!
Flawless AMA Pro Motocross Opener for Hunter Lawrence.
・After topping 450 qualifying, Australian posts convincing 1-1 moto finishes
・Jett Lawrence secures podium overall result in return from injury
・Shimoda and Hymas battle through adversity to top-10 250 overall placings
Honda HRC Progressive opened the 2026 AMA Pro Motocross Championship in impressive fashion at Southern California’s Fox Raceway, with Hunter Lawrence delivering a dominant 1-1 performance to claim the overall victory in the 450MX class. The Australian’s perfect day extended the Lawrence family’s success at the Pala venue, where brother/teammate Jett had taken all the 450 moto wins for the previous three years. This weekend saw Jett return to competition with a strong third-place overall finish, following an extended absence due to injury. In the 250 division, Jo Shimoda and Chance Hymas also both returned to racing following injury setbacks and showed resilience throughout the day. Despite difficult starts in both motos, the duo consistently moved forward and demonstrated strong pace against a highly competitive field, ultimately earning overall results of sixth and eighth, respectively.
Fresh off a standout AMA Supercross campaign, Hunter carried his momentum outdoors and showcased exceptional consistency and pace, quickly seizing control of the opening moto and then pulling away to secure the win by nearly nine seconds. Moto 2 saw him grab the holeshot aboard his CRF450RWE and successfully manage pressure before winning by over six seconds and completing the perfect sweep to leave Pala with the championship points lead.
Hunter Lawrence (96) at Fox Raceway in Pala, California. Photo courtesy Honda.
Making his first race appearance of the year after badly injuring his ankle five months ago, Jett delivered a strong performance, with 4-3 moto finishes for third overall, despite having to work his way forward in both motos. The result secured a double podium for Honda HRC Progressive and reaffirmed Jett’s place among the frontrunners.
Shimoda recorded 4-7 250-class finishes to secure sixth overall, highlighted by an impressive charge through the field in the opening moto. Hymas built momentum throughout the day, posting 10-5 scores for eighth overall. In the second moto, the teammates worked through the pack in tandem, gaining positions throughout the race and ending the day with valuable championship points.
With Hunter carrying the red plate into round 2 and all four Honda HRC Progressive riders motivated for success, the team leaves Fox Raceway with strong momentum heading into next weekend’s Hangtown Motocross Classic in Rancho Cordova, California.
Jett Lawrence (1) at Fox Raceway in Pala, California. Photo courtesy Honda.
NOTES
・For the opening round of the 2026 AMA Pro Motocross Championship, a formal press conference was hosted on Friday at Pala Casino Spa and Resort. All four Honda HRC Progressive riders—Jett and Hunter Lawrence, Jo Shimoda and Chance Hymas—were invited to speak on stage and participate in TV broadcast interviews, after which they took part in a riding session on the Fox Raceway track.
・This weekend marked the return of three of the four Honda HRC Progressive riders following injuries sustained before and during the 2026 AMA Supercross campaign. Only Hunter Lawrence rode the entire stadium series, and he enjoyed having his teammates back in the pits at Pala.
・Perris, California, dealership Langston Motorsports enhanced the Fox Raceway fan experience, with a pop-up activation booth in the Honda HRC Progressive pit area. Staff engaged directly with fans and customers at the display, which featured a CRF110F and newly announced 2027 CRF250R HRC WORKS EDITION.
・All four Honda HRC Progressive race bikes sported new SKDA tricolor graphics, mimicking the look of Honda’s 2027 CRF Performance lineup, which was announced two days before the race. The liveries are meant to unify the appearance of HRC teams in various forms of motorcycle racing, including MotoGP, World Superbike, Rally and MXGP. Even Honda’s satellite teams ran similar looks.
・A 2027 CRF450R was also displayed in the Honda HRC Progressive pits, as was Ricky Brabec’s factory Monster Energy Honda HRC CRF450 RALLY, SLR’s race-winning CRF450X and a Team Raceco Honda Talon 1000R side-by-side.
・During the opening ceremony, Honda HRC Progressive test rider Trey Canard took a parade lap on the 2027 CRF450R, while Honda Two-Wheel PR Coordinator Ryan Dudek was interviewed about the significantly improved new model.
・All four Honda HRC Progressive riders participated in a paddock autograph session on Saturday morning, giving fans an opportunity to meet their heroes.
・During Race Day Live, SLR Honda rider Mikayla Nielsen (SLR Honda) was interviewed by Jason Thomas ahead of the 2026 WMX Championship, which will kick off at Hangtown June 6.
・During the Peacock broadcast, a segment highlighted Jett Lawrence’s comeback from his serious ankle injury. Interviewed for the piece were the Lawrences’ trainer, Johnny O’Mara, and physiotherapist, H. Rey Gubernick (“Doc G”), who both spoke about Jett’s injury, recovery and return.
Jo Shimoda (30) at Fox Raceway in Pala, California. Photo courtesy Honda.
・Hymas was sixth in 250 combined qualifying, with Shimoda 14th. Other Red Riders included Phoenix Racing Honda riders Gavin Towers and Aden Keefer (making his pro debut) in 24th and 38th, respectively. Tim Jaunin of Honda Switzerland AGMX Racing was 60th and The McGinley Privateer Program’s Kyle Czworkowski was 65th. Towers finished 26th overall in the race, with 31-21 moto scores.
・Hunter Lawrence topped both 450 qualifying sessions, with Jett third. Quad Lock Honda riders Christian Craig and Kyle Webster were 15th and 16th, respectively. SLR Honda’s Justin Rodbell was 22nd, Sage Powers (Limited Decal) was 41st, Blake Hoag (Hoag Racing) was 44th, Ryan Surratt (JCR Honda) was 46th, KC Clinton (Clinton Racing) was 52nd, Ty Freehill (Western Honda) was 54th, Gavin Tiflord (Feine Tune Racing) was 56th, and Rocco Morse (Morse Racing) was 66th. Surratt advanced to the motos by finishing third in the LCQ. Craig posted a respectable top-10 overall finish in the race.
・With Hunter’s win this weekend, Honda now has six premier-class overall victories at Fox Raceway (four more than the next-closest manufacturer), with the Australian joining Jett (three wins) and Chase Sexton (two wins) on the winners’ list. Hunter also earned an overall win in the 250 class at the venue, with a 1-1 performance in 2023.
・Amazingly, in his 24 450-class moto starts thus far in his career, Hunter has never finished a moto outside the top five. This was the second time he has earned an overall victory in the division, and his first moto sweep.
・Honda HRC Progressive heads to Rancho Cordova, California, for the Hangtown Motocross Classic this Saturday, with Hunter carrying the red plate on his CRF450RWE. The event will also mark the opening round of the WMX Championship, in which SLR Honda’s Mikayla Nielsen and Quad Lock Honda’s Charli Cannon will compete.
Chance Hymas (29) at Fox Raceway in Pala, California. Photo courtesy Honda.
Hunter Lawrence (96): “It was good—I’m really happy with where the bike’s at. Keeping the Lawrence streak of winning at Pala alive was special; I’ve seen Jett do plenty of those, so it was cool to finally get my first one, especially at round 1. We don’t usually love this track, but we always seem to do well here, which is pretty ironic. Having Jett on the podium too, after everything he had to come back from, was awesome. It was just a really happy day, and I’m stoked for the team. Results like this make all the hard work worth it for everyone involved. Every team in the paddock puts in so much effort and dedication, so it’s cool as racers to be able to share days like this with the people behind us.”
Jett lawrence (1):“I’m always going to be hard on myself because the goal is to win, but considering where my foot’s at and how long I’ve been away from riding and racing, it was a solid day. We had a lot of cobwebs to shake off and just needed to get back into race mode, work through a few little hiccups, and build from there. We definitely need to improve the starts because mine weren’t very good today. We’ll go back, regroup, and come into Hangtown hoping to make life a little easier with better starts. Physically, it’s still tough—every jump, I’m landing with most of my weight on my left side. Some of those rough, edgy bumps out of the turns were hard on my foot, but riding the bike is actually easier than walking right now. Today I learned what Pala roost really feels like; most of my previous races here, I’ve grabbed the holeshot, so I never really had to deal with it before—that was something I had to learn today too. But it felt really good to be back: feeling that adrenaline again, lining up on the gate, getting those butterflies before the drop—it was good.”
Jo Shimoda (30):“The track is just extreme. The way they prepped it today, one side was really muddy and one side was perfect, then they funneled down to one line. If you look at the lap sheet, the top 15 were basically the same lap time, so track position was important. Unfortunately, I didn’t have good track position today, so we need to be better there. Physically, I had enough time to prepare and train, so I feel really fit and ready to go for more. In the first moto, I kind of flinched and messed up the start. The second moto was actually okay, but I got pushed wide in the second turn and got stuck in a mud area. Later I hit a rock or a sharp edge and almost did a 180 and was stuck on the uphill, so that didn’t help. If I would’ve made one more pass, I would’ve been third overall, so I’m happy with my effort overall; I just need to find a little bit more.”
Chance Hymas (29): “Round 1 at Pala, I was really happy to be back at the races—it’s been a long time. A couple of bad starts held me back a bit, but overall, the riding was good. We made good improvements on the bike throughout the day. I’m happy to be healthy coming out of this weekend, and we’re looking forward to Hangtown.”
More from a press release issued by KTM:
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jorge Prado finishes P2 overall at Fox Raceway National.
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jorge Prado opened the 2026 AMA Pro Motocross Championship in convincing fashion at Fox Raceway, securing second overall on Saturday afternoon with a 2-2 moto scorecard in the 450MX category, while Julien Beaumer impressed in his return to competition with P5 overall in 250MX.
Equipped with the KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION, Prado posted the second-fastest qualifying time of the day with a 2:17.461 lap-time, immediately finding comfort on the hard-packed Southern Californian circuit.
The Spaniard then launched to a strong start in Moto 1, crossing the holeshot line inside the top-three and maintaining P2 throughout the race to claim an impressive runner-up finish. Another strong start in Moto 2 saw Prado again battling for the lead, eventually claiming another hard-fought second for the moto.
In his first Pro Motocross appearance with the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team, the four-time world champion claimed an impressive second overall at the first of 11 rounds.
Jorge Prado (26) at Fox Raceway in Pala, California. Photo courtesy KTM.
Jorge Prado:“This is a great start to the season with second overall! It was a good day of racing – we were battling up front, and even got into the lead during the opening stages of Moto 2, so I am happy. I think we can build from here – we will learn from it and just be a little sharper once the gate drops next time.”
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450MX teammate Aaron Plessinger made his racing return at the Pro Motocross opener aboard his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION, with an eighth-place finish in the opening race. ‘The Cowboy’ featured inside the top-three early in Moto 2, before eventually claiming ninth in the moto and eighth overall at Fox Raceway.
Aaron Plessinger:“I’m happy with today – I was a little stagnant in the first moto, which irritated me a little bit. But in Moto 2, we made some positive changes to the setup, we got a good jump out of the gate, and I was up there in the mix for a little bit. Overall, it was a good day – I just need more motos under my belt. I think I have around seven 35-minute motos under my belt coming into this race, so I knew it was going to be tough. We’ll work into it, though. I’m feeling better, so we’ll keep trusting the work that we are doing.”
Four-time 450MX Champion Eli Tomac qualified 10th on his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION this morning, however, an unfortunate crash on the opening lap of Moto 1 brought an early end to his day. Initial on-site scans revealed no broken bones after straining his neck in the incident, and he will undergo further evaluation during the week.
Fox Raceway also marked a welcome return to competition for Beaumer in the 250MX category, with the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider having been sidelined since last September’s SMX playoffs. He qualified third this morning, before recording an 11th-place finish in Moto 1 aboard his KTM 250 SX-F FACTORY EDITION after recovering from a Lap 1 crash.
Beaumer then powered to the holeshot in Moto 2, building a lead of more than three seconds during the opening stages of the race before surrendering the position around the midway point of the moto to claim second position in the race and a solid fifth overall.
Julien Beaumer:“Today was a really good day overall – I rode well in qualifying, and then in Moto 1 I got off to a solid start, and then just tipped over on Lap 1. I came back to 11th in that one, so my riding was good, and then I got off to another really good start in the second moto and rode my laps. I rode to what I know I’m capable of, and that was good enough for a second in that race, so I am happy with where we are at, and the team did an amazing job with the bike. I think that overall we are in a good spot.”
Next Race: June 6 – Hangtown, California
More from a press release issued by Yamaha:
Justin Cooper Earns Fourth Overall, Deegan Impresses with Top-Five in 450MX Debut.Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Justin Cooper and Haiden Deegan launch Pro Motocross season with top-five overall results at Fox Raceway.
Anticipation was high for the Pro Motocross season opener, with a stacked premier-class field and plenty of storylines, including six-time 250 class champion Haiden Deegan making his highly anticipated 450MX debut at his home outdoor national in Southern California.
Amid all the hype surrounding the opening round, Justin Cooper quietly went to work, kicking off his title campaign with a podium in Moto 1 and finishing fourth overall, while his rookie teammate joined him in the top five at Fox Raceway in Pala, California.
Cooper continued his upward trend outdoors with a strong outing at the opener. He qualified fourth and got to work early in Moto 1, charging from seventh to third in the opening four laps. From there, he maintained a strong pace to secure a podium finish in the opening moto. In the second moto, Cooper had his work cut out for him after starting in 17th. Undeterred, he put his head down and steadily made his way through to sixth to secure fourth overall.
“Round 1 of the Pro Motocross series was good,” said Cooper. “Qualifying went well. I felt comfortable on the bike all day, so overall it was a solid day. I didn’t get the best of starts in the second moto, so that hurt me, but the first moto was good. I got third. Then the second one, I worked my way up to sixth and got fourth overall, which is a good start to the season. I’ve got to dial in those starts a little bit better and be up there in the beginning. But we’ll take it. It’s not my favorite track, so we’ll move on to next week.”
Cooper Webb (2) at Fox Raceway in Pala, California. Photo courtesy Yamaha.
It was an impressive debut for Deegan in front of the home crowd. He had a solid qualifying effort in sixth. Then Moto 1 got off to a chaotic start, with Deegan nearly going down in the first turn and finding himself deep in the field. The 20-year-old put in a determined ride, fighting all the way to the finish to cross the line fifth. In the second moto, he was 15th after the start and once again launched an impressive charge, advancing to fourth by the halfway mark and holding the position to secure fifth overall on the day.
“Today was good,” said Deegan. “I qualified sixth and then Moto 1 had a good start until I tucked it in the first turn. I saved it, but man, it was sketchy. I came from 25th to fifth, so that was a good ride. I had good battles with all these guys in the top 10, who are champions. So it was a fun time learning and battling those guys. Then Moto 2, I got a little better start, but obviously we’ve got to work on that, because if we can start up front, I think we’ll have a better chance of getting on the podium. I made my way back up to fourth from 15th on the start. So a 5-4 on the day, for fifth overall. I’d definitely say it was a good first-round rookie debut. We’ll go back to work this week, get the bike dialed in, do great starts, and come out swinging in Hangtown.”
Fox Raceway wasn’t on Webb’s list of favorite venues, but despite having the 14th gate pick, he had a decent start and quickly made his way to the top 10, but ultimately finished 13th in the first moto. The three-time 450SX champion had a much better start to Moto 2, slotting into fourth, but as the race wore on, he dropped back to 13th, ending the day 12th overall with the pair of 13th-place finishes.
Haiden Deegan (38) at Fox Raceway in Pala, California. Photo courtesy Yamaha.
“It was a pretty uneventful day for me at Pala,” said Webb. “I was around 12th and 15th all day. The second moto was a little better, though. I got a better start and rode pretty well in the first half, and then just shuffled back. So we definitely have some work to do. This isn’t my favorite track, but I’m looking forward to enjoying the rest of them.”
“Overall, it was a pretty good day,” said Rich Simmons, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s 450 Team Manager. “It was a good first round for Justin and Haiden, coming away with fourth and fifth overall. Justin got on the podium in that first moto. Then both he and Haiden had bad starts in Moto 2, which didn’t help, but Haiden did a really good job coming through the pack. Webb had a good start in the second one, but just didn’t have the results I’m sure he wanted. I think there were a lot of positives to take away from here. The guys are happy with their bikes. We’ll just keep building off this.”
Next weekend, the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing squad heads to Rancho Cordova, California, for the Hangtown Motocross Classic – Round 2 of the Pro Motocross Championship and Round 19 of the Monster Energy SuperMotocross World Championship on June 6.
More from a press release issued by Kawasaki:
Seth Hammaker takes career-first Pro Motocross victory at season opener.
Monster Energy® Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider Seth Hammaker stole the show at Round 1 of Pro Motocross with a historic moto victory to take the 250 class overall win. Teammate Levi Kitchen put on an impressive race win in Moto 1 to add to his score for fourth overall (1-13), while Nick Romano put on an outstanding Top 5 performance in Moto 1 for ninth overall (5-11). Monster Energy Kawasaki rider Chase Sexton put in a solid day of racing to claim sixth overall (7-5), and teammate Garrett Marchbanks rebounded for a strong finish in Moto 2 for 14th overall (28-8).
Seth Hammaker (10) at Fox Raceway in Pala, California. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
In the 250 Class, the Monster Energy® Pro Circuit Kawasaki riders showcased their consistent speed early in qualifying, with Kitchen topping the charts in both sessions to take the overall fastest qualifier and set the tone for the day. Hammaker was slotted right behind his teammate in second overall, while Romano put in solid laps to sit 19th overall after both sessions.
In 250 Moto 1, Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki riders got off to a picture-perfect start as Hammaker grabbed a commanding holeshot aboard his KX™250, while Romano followed closely behind his teammate in second and Kitchen charged into third by Lap 2. A few laps later, Kitchen made the pass for second on Romano, as the Kawasaki trio continued to control the pace, setting the Top 3 fastest lap times of the moto.
Hammaker maintained control and looked poised to lead wire-to-wire until a small mistake sent him off the track, opening the door for Kitchen to take over the lead. Kitchen went on to claim the Moto 1 victory, while Romano held fourth for much of the race before a pass on the final lap would leave him in fifth to end the moto. Making both his outdoor debut with the team and his first motocross start in two years, Romano capped off an impressive ride with a fifth-place finish.
Nicholas Romano (141) at Fox Raceway in Pala, California. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
In 250 Moto 2, Hammaker backed up his strong day with another excellent start, rounding the first turn in third before quickly moving into second. Romano railed the outside line through Turn 1 to emerge in sixth. Kitchen, however, endured a challenging opening lap after a rider to his left cut across his line off the start, forcing him to check up and enter the first turn deep in the pack. Misfortune struck again moments later when he became tangled up with a downed rider at the top of the hill, dropping him even farther back. Undeterred, Kitchen remounted and immediately began charging through the field.
Up front, Hammaker was on the move as well, making an aggressive pass for second before reeling in the leader and taking over the top spot midway through the moto. Kitchen put together an impressive recovery ride, passing more than 25 riders on his way to a 13th-place finish, which was enough to tie for second overall, but he was credited fourth overall on the day. Romano delivered a steady and consistent performance, finishing 11th in the moto and ninth overall. Hammaker went on to claim his first career moto win in commanding fashion, along with his first overall victory, leaving the weekend with the championship red plate and a 13-point lead in the standings. Kitchen now sits tied for second in the championship, while Romano holds ninth in the points standings.
Seth Hammaker:“Being the first outdoor national of the year and my first Pro Motocross overall win, it feels amazing for it all to happen on the same day. Practice went pretty well, and we made a few bike adjustments to get more comfortable with the track conditions. In Moto 1, I grabbed the holeshot and led for a while, but made a mistake and lost the lead. In Moto 2, I got another good start, made a couple quick passes, and got into the lead. From there, I just focused on hitting my marks and being consistent. It feels great to get the first overall win, and hopefully we can keep this momentum rolling.”
Levi Kitchen:“The team has been working really hard, and we feel really good about the progress we’ve made. Honestly, I’m frustrated because I know what we’re capable of. This sport has its highs and lows, and today was one of those days. I put myself in a tough position in Moto 2 and had to fight back from way behind, which made things difficult. At the same time, there are a lot of positives to take away. My Moto 1 victory showed that the speed is there, and the bike is great. We’ll keep building, keep working, and come back ready for Hangtown.”
Nick Romano:“Round 1 was a fun day for me. Going 5-11 for ninth overall isn’t too bad, especially considering I haven’t raced outdoors in two years. I accomplished my goal for the weekend and learned a lot. I feel like Top 5 consistency is right there in front of me, and we’re going to keep working until we get there. I’m excited for the rest of the season.”
Chase Sexton (4) at Fox Raceway in Pala, California. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
In the 450 Class, Marchbanks showed impressive speed during qualifying. Utilizing Fox Raceway as a regular practice track during the outdoor season, the No. 36 Kawasaki used his familiarity with the technical layout to take fifth overall in qualifying. Sexton started qualifying third in the first session and continued to better his lap times as the day went on to secure seventh overall.
In 450 Moto 1, Sexton got off to a strong start, launching out of the gate in fourth, while Marchbanks followed closely behind in an impressive sixth-place position. Unfortunately, Marchbanks’ promising start came to an abrupt halt on the opening lap when he was involved in a racing incident exiting a turn and collided with another rider, resulting in a hard crash. The force of the impact knocked the wind out of him, forcing him to take a moment before remounting and rejoining the race. Despite his bike being a bit mangled and dealing with the effects of the crash, Marchbanks dug deep and worked his way through the field, salvaging as many positions as possible to finish 28th in the moto. Up front, Sexton rode a steady and consistent race while running fourth for much of the moto. However, a small tipover in the closing laps cost him several positions, ultimately dropping him to seventh at the checkered flag.
Garrett Marchbanks (36) at Fox Raceway in Pala, California. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
In 450 Moto 2, Sexton put himself in a favorable Top 10 position off the start, while Marchbanks was forced to work from midpack after his Moto 1 finish resulted in a less-than-ideal gate pick. Despite the setback, Marchbanks mounted an impressive charge to move inside the Top 10 by Lap 5. As the race unfolded, Sexton was battling inside the Top 5 when he tipped over at the top of the hill shortly after the track had been watered, leaving the surface slick. The mistake cost him valuable time, but he regrouped and fought his way back to fifth by the checkered flag, securing sixth overall on the day. Meanwhile, Marchbanks continued to showcase his speed throughout the moto, steadily climbing through the field and closing in on his teammate before ultimately finishing eighth. His strong recovery ride earned him 14th overall for the weekend.
Chase Sexton:“Today wasn’t where I was hoping to be, but I put myself in a tough position being on the ground twice. I felt good in Moto 1 and was running in a good spot before a small mistake cost me a few spots late in the race. In Moto 2, I got a decent start and was battling up front, but another small tipover set me back. I was able to salvage sixth overall, but I expect myself on the podium. We’ll regroup this week to get ready for Hangtown, as I’ll be staying out in California to do some testing with the team.”
Garrett Marchbanks:“I thought today went really well with starting out fifth overall in qualifying. Went into Moto 1, felt like we had some things really going with the bike, and practice starts were going really well this week. I was super pumped to rip a Top 10 start. Three-quarters of the way through the first lap Eli [Tomac] and I were sprinting. He made a pass on me, and I went to make a pass back, and we got together in a racing incident. Neither of us let off the gas and just ended up coming together. I feel bad for what happened and hope he’s doing alright. My bike was a bit bent up after that, so it needed some work after the race. I went from 28th in Moto 1 to eighth in Moto 2, so to be able to move through the field against this level of competition was a solid effort.”
More from a press release issued by Husqvarna:
RJ Hampshire leads Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing at Pro Motocross opener. Seventh overall in 450MX at Fox Raceway for RJ, as Ryder D takes 250MX Moto 2 podium.
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s RJ Hampshire made a successful return to racing at Round 1 of the 2026 AMA Pro Motocross Championship, charging to seventh overall in the 450MX division at Fox Raceway, where 250MX contender Ryder DiFrancesco showcased his potential with a podium finish in Moto 2.
Hampshire and his Husqvarna FC 450 Factory Edition posted the 13th-fastest qualifying time during the morning sessions, before charging to a hard-fought sixth-place finish in Moto 1 after spending much of the race in a closely-contested battle.
In Moto 2, the 30-year-old ran inside the top-five from the outset and climbed as high as fourth during the race’s middle stages, before ultimately crossing the finish line in seventh position. His 6-7 moto scorecard was enough to secure seventh overall at the season-opener.
RJ Hampshire (24) at Fox Raceway in Pala, California. Photo courtesy Husqvarna.
“Fox Raceway was positive for me,” commented Hampshire. “I was in the fight around that top-five area for most of the day – I wish I could’ve finished the motos off a little better, but this was one of my better Pala results. I’m leaving here pretty happy knowing that we have a lot more to give next weekend and in the upcoming races. We learned a lot this weekend under race conditions, which is something you can’t replicate at home, and we made positive changes with both the bike and my riding.”
Alongside Hampshire in the 450MX Class was teammate Malcolm Stewart, who entered Round 1 eyeing a strong result equipped with the Husqvarna FC 450 Factory Edition. Stewart went on to claim a hard-fought 12th in Moto 1, before withdrawing from Moto 2 after dabbing his leg early in the race.
Malcolm Stewart (27) at Fox Raceway in Pala, California. Photo courtesy Husqvarna.
“Pala is always an interesting track,” said Stewart. “Practice, I struggled a little bit, but I felt I had some good momentum going into Moto 1, and actually rode a pretty solid race. And then in Moto 2, the first lap, I dabbed my knee in a corner a little bit, which was frustrating. It’s nothing to be too concerned about – I pulled off for the rest of the race just to make sure that nothing was too crazy, and now we’ll re-evaluate and hopefully line up in Sacramento.”
DiFrancesco, meanwhile, qualified seventh in the 250MX category, with a strong start in Moto 1 unfortunately impacted by a costly first-lap crash. He recovered to 19th by race’s end, before responding with a standout third-place finish aboard the Husqvarna FC 250 Factory Edition in Moto 2 to salvage 10th overall for the round.
Ryder DiFrancesco (34) at Fox Raceway in Pala, California. Photo courtesy Husqvarna.
“It was a good weekend for me overall!” recalled DiFrancesco. “Qualifying was okay, but I improved as the day developed, which was encouraging. My first moto crash meant that I had to salvage as much as I could, so then in Moto 2, I was up there in the fight to finish third, which makes me excited heading into next weekend.”
250MX teammates Daxton Bennick and Casey Cochran were also in action for Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing at Fox Raceway onboard their Husqvarna FC 250 Factory Editions, qualifying 16th and 10th, respectively.
Bennick delivered an encouraging seventh-place score in Moto 1 before unfortunately withdrawing from the second moto after an incident while running inside the top-five early on. Cochran was credited with a 40-17 scorecard across the day’s two motos – suffering a DNF in the opening race – to claim 21st overall.
“Overall, there are positives to take away,”mentioned Cochran. “It was decent to start with 10th in qualifying, and then unfortunately we weren’t able to finish Moto 1, which was a bummer. Moto 2, I didn’t feel super-comfortable out there, so I struggled a little bit all moto. It was good to get some gate drops, though, and we’ll come back firing next weekend.”
Next Race: June 6 – Hangtown, California
More from a press release issued by Ducati:
Ferrandis Secures Top-10 Overall Finish as Barcia Celebrates Milestone 300th Career AMA Pro Motocross Start.
With anticipation running high, the Troy Lee Designs Red Bull Ducati Factory Racing Team officially made its AMA Pro Motocross debut Saturday at Fox Raceway in Pala, California, opening the 2026 AMA Pro Motocross Championship with riders Dylan Ferrandis and Justin Barcia aboard the Ducati Desmo450 MX race machines.
While the Ducati platform has previously appeared in AMA Pro Motocross competition, Fox Raceway marked the first official outdoor national for the Troy Lee Designs Red Bull Ducati Factory Racing Team and its rider lineup of Ferrandis and Barcia.
The day also carried special significance for veteran Justin “BAM BAM” Barcia, whose gate drop at Fox Raceway marked the 300th AMA Pro Motocross start of his distinguished career. The milestone represents a remarkable achievement for one of the sport’s most recognizable competitors and a proud moment for the Troy Lee Designs Red Bull Ducati Factory Racing Team.
Dylan Ferrandis (14) at Fox Raceway in Pala, California. Photo courtesy Ducati.
Moto 1 saw Ferrandis line up 12th on the gate, while Barcia selected the 18th gate position. Ferrandis endured a difficult start and crossed the holeshot line deep in the field in 18th position. The former champion steadily worked his way forward throughout the moto, posting his fastest lap on Lap 8 before making a late-race pass with two laps remaining to secure ninth place at the checkered flag.
Barcia launched inside the top 10 and advanced to seventh during the opening lap. A small tip-over midway through the race cost valuable track position, dropping him back to 14th by Lap 7 before ultimately finishing 17th.
In Moto 2, Ferrandis improved dramatically off the gate, crossing the holeshot line in seventh before quickly moving into fifth on the opening lap. Running comfortably among the lead group and matching the pace of riders ahead, Ferrandis looked poised for a strong finish before a major crash in the middle stages of the race was followed by a second minor fall. Despite the setbacks, he regrouped to finish 10th and secure a top-10 overall result to begin the season.
“It was a good day. I don’t know what happened on the start in Moto 1. I made a big mistake off the start and I was dead last, so it was pretty bad. I dug deep and had a big comeback. In Moto 2, I had a much better start. I was out front with the top guys and I felt comfortable there in that fifth or sixth spot. I was really comfortable, but I went down and made a big mistake and had a big crash. I tried to regroup but had a small crash a little later in the moto. I was rushing and trying to make the best of the rest of the moto. But a top 10 is good. We learned a lot, and I feel like we’re close, we just need to fix small things to make me feel a bit more comfortable, so let’s go back to work this week and get ready for next weekend at Hangtown.”
Justin Barcia (51) at Fox Raceway in Pala, California. Photo courtesy Ducati.
Barcia faced another challenging start in Moto 2, crossing the holeshot line in 18th position. Struggling to find comfort and rhythm on the demanding Fox Raceway circuit, the New York native battled through the moto and finished 16th.
“Pala was an extremely challenging day,” said Barcia. “Just couldn’t find the flow and the comfort I needed to perform. It was definitely frustrating, to say the least. We definitely are back to the drawing boards next week. Try to find some comfort and feel and get going forward faster. We have to go faster, to be better. So, yes, that’s a sum of a call, pretty much, not a whole lot good to say about it. I wasn’t here last year, so I’m taking the positive in that because I wasn’t here last year. We have some work to do which we will take the week going into Hangtown to try and find a better set up.”
The Troy Lee Designs Red Bull Ducati Factory Racing Team will now turn its attention to Round 2 of the 2026 AMA Pro Motocross Championship at Hangtown Motocross Classic in Rancho Cordova, California, where both riders will look to build on the lessons learned during the team’s historic debut outing.
More from a press release issued by Suzuki:
Colt Nichols Puts His Suzuki in the Points at Round One of the AMA Pro Motocross Championship.
With the Supercross season wrapped and Suzuki’s Ken Roczen crowned the 2026 Supercross Champion on May 9th, the SMX World Championship commenced the AMA Pro Motocross season as part of the SMX series. The Fox Raceway National paid points toward both the Motocross season and toward the SMX World Championship. Pala, California delivered beautiful weather and a high-speed track that varied from wet loam in the morning to brutal, hardpack ruts by the end of the day.
Race Highlights:
Twisted Tea Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance
450 Class
Colt Nichols earned points toward his bid for the SMX World Championship.
Colt Nichols (45) showed great speed early; he posted top-ten lap times in Sectors 3 and 5 in the season’s opening qualifying session. Photo courtesy Suzuki.
Colt Nichols (45) used the three-week break between the Supercross Final and the outdoor opener to prepare for the high speeds of the motocross nationals. Nichols looked strong from the start, posting great times in the first qualifying session. In the first moto, Nichols emerged from the first corner in 23rd place. Nichols battled through the 30-minute plus two lap race to move his Twisted Tea Suzuki into the points before the checkered flag waved. In the second moto, a stronger start put Nichols inside the top 15. Nichols capitalized on the improved track position and bettered his result by three positions over the opening moto.
“It was a humbling day for me,” said Nichols. “We struggled to find some comfort, and I just didn’t ride as good as I needed to. I’ve got some work to do this week and will try again at Hangtown.”
“Round One of the Pro Motocross Nationals is done and dusted,” stated Dustin Pipes, Team Principal for Twisted Tea/H.E.P. Motorsports/Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance. “We got 19th overall for Colt. We need to work on starts and get the bike in a [set-up] window for him to achieve better results. We will go to work. On to round two!”
The Suzuki crew, which recently won the 2026 Supercross Championship with its Suzuki RM-Z450, now travels north for the second California motocross race at the Hangtown Motocross Classic on June 6th in Rancho Cordova. The team will be competing in select rounds of the motocross series and looks to participate in the SMX playoffs and defending the WSX Championship.
American rider Nathan Bettencourt continued his impressive rookie campaign scoring points in three out of the four races in the 2026 FIM Yamaha R3 bLU cRU World Cup, with his best performance at the iconic MotorLand Aragón circuit in Spain this past weekend.
Competing against some of the world’s best young motorcycle racers, Bettencourt showed steady progress throughout the weekend, demonstrating both speed and racecraft on the demanding 5.1-kilometer circuit. The Aragón round marked the second event of the championship and featured the close, slipstream-heavy racing that has become a trademark of the Yamaha R3 World Cup.
In Race 1, Bettencourt battled within a tightly packed group and crossed the finish line in 11th place, just over one second behind the race winner. The result highlighted the competitiveness of the field, with mere fractions of a second separating multiple riders at the finish. His race pace was 3rd fastest, and earned him a front row start (P3) for race 2.
Bettencourt returned on Sunday with another determined performance, getting the holeshot and holding off the other 22 riders for a few corners before getting shuffled back into the pack. He secured 13th place in Race 2, finishing 1.8 seconds behind the race winner in another dramatic draft-fest that saw numerous lead changes throughout the field.
For Bettencourt and the Bettencourt Racing team, the Aragón weekend represented another important step in the young American’s development on the international stage. Racing in a championship that features identical Yamaha R3 motorcycles, success comes down to rider skill, race strategy, and consistency—areas where Bettencourt continues to gain valuable experience.
Nathan Bettencourt:“Aragon was another new track for me, but quickly became one of my favorites, it’s super fast and flows well. This ended up being one of my best race weekends I’ve had in a while and I’m happy to be making steady improvements. It’s a really good confidence boost knowing I can be up front with the leaders”.
Marc Marquez (93) at Balaton Park. Photo courtesy MotoGP.
Marc Marquez topped MotoGP World Championship Free Practice One (FP1) Friday morning at Balaton Park, in Hungary. Riding his Michelin-shod Lenovo Team Ducati Desmosedici GP26, the Spaniard turned a lap of 1:38.626 around the 2.53-mile (4.08 km) track and led the 22-rider field.
Raul Fernandez was second-best with a 1:38.795 on his SuperFile Trackhouse Aprilia RS-GP26.
Pedro Acosta was third with a lap of 1:38.924 on his Red Bull KTM Factory Racing RC16.
Marc Marquez fastest out the blocks in Balaton Park FP1. The World Champion tops the opening stint of the weekend in Hungary by over a tenth as Aprilia and KTM earn Friday morning top three results.
For the first time since the 2025 Grand Prix of Hungary, reigning World Champion Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) begins a weekend with a P1 result after the still-recovering Spaniard beat second fastest Raul Fernandez (SuperFile Trackhouse MotoGP Team) by 0.169s in MotoGP FP1. Third place to kickstart the weekend was Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), the #37 sitting 0.298s adrift of Marquez as Ducati lead Aprilia and KTM into Practice this afternoon at Balaton Park.
Acosta led the session by over half a second until Marquez beat his compatriot’s time by 0.002s with just under 20 minutes of FP1 remaining, and on the next lap, the #93 stretched his legs to get down to a 1:38.626 – a time that wasn’t beaten for the rest of the Friday morning stint.
Fernandez got closest; the Mugello Tissot Sprint winner nipped in ahead of Acosta, with a pair of Ducatis completing the top five in the form of Fermin Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) and Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team).
Another Ducati, this time Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), ended FP1 in P6, 0.615s away from teammate Marquez, as Ai Ogura (SuperFile Trackhouse MotoGP Team) led top Honda Luca Marini (Honda HRC Castrol) and championship pacesetter Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) in the lower ends of the top 10, with Toprak Razgatlioglu (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP) 10th fastest. A promising start to the weekend for the Turk.
Jorge Martin (Aprilia Racing) began the weekend with a P12, so the #89 will be wanting more when Practice bursts into life at 15:00 local time (UTC +2) in Hungary.
Manuel Gonzalez (18) at Balaton Park. Photo courtesy MotoGP.
Manuel Gonzalez was quickest during Moto2 World Championship Free Practice One (FP1) Friday morning at Balaton Park, in Hungary. Riding his Pirelli-shod Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP Kalex on the 2.53-mile (4.08 km) track, the Spaniard recorded a 1:41.068 to lead the field of 28 riders.
David Alonso was the best of the rest with a 1:41.193 on his CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team Kalex.
Celestino Vietti was third-fastest with a 1:41.290 on his MB Conveyors SpeedRS Team Boscoscuro.
American Joe Roberts finished the opening session in 21st with a 1:42.250 on his OnlyFans American Racing Team Kalex.
David Almansa (22) in Hungary. Photo courtesy MotoGP
David Almansa was quickest during Moto3 World Championship Free Practice One (FP1) Friday morning at Balaton Park, in Hungary. Riding his Liqui Moly Dynavolt IntactGP KTM on Pirelli control tires, the Spaniard covered the 2.53-mile (4.08 km) road course in 1:46.956, topping the field of 26 riders.
Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Alvaro Carpe was the best of the rest with a 1:47.063.
David Muñoz, Almansa’s teammate, was third with a lap time of 1:47.256.
MotoGP Sprint Race in Mugello. Photo courtesy MotoGP.
After an action-packed weekend at Mugello, the MotoGP paddock heads straight back into action as teams and riders travel to Balaton Park in Hungary for the next round of the championship.
More from a press release issued by Aprilia Racing:
Aprilia Racing picks up from their success in Mugello and heads back to the track straight away at Balaton Park.
After a historic weekend in Mugello, Aprilia Racing is ready to get back on the track for the eighth round of the season at the Balaton Park Circuit in Hungary.
Marco Bezzecchi heads to Hungary as championship leader, fresh from an extremely high-level performance in Mugello where he took pole position and his first win in the long race on the Tuscan track. This was the Italian rider’s fourth victory of the season and a win with special significance, achieved in his and Aprilia Racing’s home race.
Jorge Martín will be tackling the Hungarian weekend after another positive result in Mugello where he took home two second-place finishes between the sprint race and the long race, confirming his competitiveness on the RS-GP26.
Located near Lake Balaton in Hungary, Balaton Park opened in 2023. It was added officially to the MotoGP calendar last year, marking the top class’s return to Hungary after a 33-year long absence. The track is 4.08 km long and has a total of 17 corners – ten left-handers and seven right-handers.
Marco Bezzecchi (72) in Mugello. Photo courtesy Aprilia.
Marco Bezzecchi: “I’m happy to be going back to Balaton. It is a nice and particular track, where we’re keen to start off well straight away with the right amount of desire and determination after such a special weekend in Mugello.”
Jorge Martin (89) in Mugello. Photo courtesy Aprilia.
Jorge Martin: “Confidence is certainly extremely high, but we need to keep working. I really like the Balaton track. This year we’ll be headed there with a different bike than last season and hopefully we’ll be able to express our full potential with Aprilia, taking home important points.”
More from a press release issued by Ducati Lenovo Team:
Stop at Balaton Park for the Ducati Lenovo Team.
Second race in a row of this Mugello – Balaton Park for the Ducati Lenovo Team, departing today for Hungary for the eighth Round of the 2026 season. The Hungarian track, which entered the MotoGP calendar the last year, saw the absolute dominance of the Desmosedici GP and Marc Márquez, with the victory, the Sprint win, the pole position, and the lap record.
Just hours after his second consecutive podium right in front of the Italian fans, Pecco Bagnaia gets back to work to close the gap and be a key player. The goal is to confirm himself among the most consistent riders and take another step forward.
Having returned to racing at Mugello with two excellent final places, Marc Márquez—who dominated here at Balaton Park last year, a track that well suits his characteristics—continues to regain his rhythm.
Francesco Bagnaia (63) and Marc Marquez (93). Photo courtesy Ducati.
Francesco Bagnaia #63 Ducati Lenovo Team: “The podium at Mugello gave me an extra boost: we need to restart from here. We made some steps forward, especially on Sunday for the race, and we must keep working hard to close the gap. Last year on this track I struggled a lot in both races, also in getting into the rhythm with the new track. We arrive here after two overall good races and we need to reconfirm all those feelings.”
Marc Márquez #93 Ducati Lenovo Team: “I’m happy with how it went at Mugello: on Friday I struggled, then I managed to better handle my physical condition. Both races were good, something was missing in terms of performance, but I picked up some good final places. This track, at least on paper, demands less from my body in terms of energy and effort. Here too we will move forward step by step to reach our 100% every day.”
More from a press release issued by Honda HRC Castrol:
Honda HRC Castrol hunt positives in Hungary.
A second visit to the tight and technical Balaton Park offers Honda HRC Castrol another chance to show off the constantly improving Honda RC213V and build on their strong base from 2025.
The MotoGP World Championship’s first visit to the Hungary GP at Balaton Park in 2025 produced one of the strongest weekends of the season for Honda HRC Castrol, both Luca Marini and Joan Mir entering Q2 directly from Friday and chasing the podium in the Sprint and Sunday’s Grand Prix. At just a hair over 4 kilometres long, Balaton Park is characterised by hard braking, heavy acceleration and a number of technical chicanes.
Luca Marini took fourth and fifth in Hungary last year, the Italian launching his first serious podium challenge as a factory Honda HRC rider. The Italian arrives with a quiet confidence after a consistent start to the season, now ready to turn up the intensity and take the fight to the regular podium contenders. Currently sitting on the cusp of the top ten in the World Championship standings, Marini needs to again conquer Friday afternoon to properly position himself for the Sprint and Grand Prix in Hungary.
Like his teammate, 2025 saw Joan Mir consistently threatening the podium regulars in Hungary and with his Barcelona performance still buoying him, the #36 has the potential to be at the front once again. A calmer approach to the Italian GP weekend saw Mir avoid any unnecessary risks, collecting important data from Sunday’s race which will help his team to better adjust the Honda RC213V for the demands of Hungary.
Action commences at 10:45 Local Time on Friday, June 05 with Free Practice 1.
Luca Marini (10) and Joan Mir (36). Photo courtesy Honda HRC.
Luca Marini:“Last year we had a really good weekend in Hungary, we were able to be competitive from the start of the weekend. Of course, our objective is to replicate this and improve on last year, I think it’s possible because we have improved everything since last year. We had some things which didn’t go our way in Mugello but I think myself and the team showed how we are working, how we are able to overcome challenges, and I hope that arriving to a stronger circuit like Hungary can help us to show our potential.”
Joan Mir:“We have some potential going into this weekend at Balaton, it’s a track which last year suited the Honda quite well and we were able to put together a competitive weekend as a whole. The important thing this weekend is to achieve our maximum without pushing over the limit, collect the data and stay fit and healthy. At a tight circuit like this, Qualifying will be really important because it can be hard to fight your way through otherwise. I’m looking forward to it.”
More from a press release issued by Monster Energy Yamaha:
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Head to Hungary to Resume MotoGP Action. The Monster Energy Yamaha Team have travelled straight from the Mugello circuit (in Italy) to the Balaton Park Circuit for the Grand Prix of Hungary, Round 8 on the 2026 MotoGP calendar.
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP’s Fabio Quartararo and Álex Rins now turn their focus to this weekend’s Grand Prix of Hungary at Balaton Park Circuit, keen to start Round 8 of the 2026 MotoGP season.
After a challenging outing at Mugello last weekend, Quartararo is determined to find a better feeling with his bike at the Balaton track. He currently holds 15th position in the championship standings and is aiming for solid points this weekend. Last year, the Frenchman crashed in the first corner of the Hungarian Sprint and secured P10 in the Race, results he hopes to improve on this time round.
Heading straight from Italy to Hungary, Rins is aiming to keep the good feeling he had with the bike at Mugello going. Last year he scored P16 in the Hungarian Sprint and P13 in the Race at what was back then a new circuit for the entire MotoGP paddock. With more track experience under his belt there, the Spaniard is looking to achieve better results this time and move up from 19th place in the championship standings.
Located near the beautiful Lake Balaton and just 85 km from Budapest, Balaton Park Circuit was officially opened in May 2023. Its layout consists of 4.08 km of track with 7 right and 10 left corners, and a longest straight of 665 m.
Alex Rins (42) and Fabio Quartararo (20). Photo courtesy Yamaha.
Fabio Quartararo:“I am looking forward to racing in Hungary again. We rode at Balaton Park last year, so we already have some experience there this time round, which should help us prepare better for this weekend. After a difficult race in Italy, the goal is to regain a good feeling with the bike and to enjoy the riding again.”
Alex Rins:“I’m looking forward to racing in Hungary this weekend at Balaton Park, which is still relatively new for us because we only raced there once before. The end to the Italian GP was a bit disappointing for me, but the overall feeling was not bad, and I was riding well. The priority this weekend is to keep improving our feeling with the bike, especially in turning, because our overall goal is to be consistent across all sessions at all tracks.”
Massimo Meregalli – Team Director:“The Hungarian GP is a good opportunity for us to reset after a tough Italian round. Balaton Park is quite different from Mugello, so it will be interesting to assess how our bike performs there. Our target is to improve the overall feeling with the bike and to ensure both riders feel comfortable early on in the weekend. Over the last GPs, we have seen positive moments from Fabio and Álex individually, but not simultaneously. Now it‘s about finding a way to combine those strengths and maximise our overall potential. The team and Yamaha engineers remain fully committed to taking a step forward and achieving a stronger result.”
More from a press release issued by Prima Pramac Yamaha:
Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP heads to Balaton aiming to build on recent progress.
After encouraging signs at Mugello, Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP travels to Hungary for the Grand Prix of Balaton, a circuit whose technical layout could play to the historic strengths of the Yamaha YZR-M1. With its emphasis on agility, corner speed and chassis performance, the Hungarian venue offers an opportunity to build on the progress shown in recent races. Toprak Razgatlıoğlu returns to a track where he enjoyed a dominant WorldSBK weekend last year.
Less than a week after the Italian Grand Prix at Mugello, Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP is back in action for the Grand Prix of Balaton, held at the Balaton Park Circuit in Hungary. The venue is one of the newest additions to the MotoGP calendar, having joined the championship in 2025 as MotoGP returned to Hungary for the first time in more than three decades.
Unlike Mugello, where the exceptionally long main straight placed particular emphasis on outright engine performance, Balaton Park presents a very different challenge. The 4.1-kilometre circuit features 17 corners, relatively low average speeds and a technical layout where agility, braking stability and cornering performance are expected to play a decisive role.
Those characteristics offer reasons for optimism within Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP. The recent rounds have highlighted the continued development of the YZR-M1 package, particularly in chassis performance, handling and electronics, areas that could prove especially valuable around the Hungarian venue. Both Jack Miller and Toprak Razgatlıoğlu arrive encouraged by the progress shown in recent races and eager to continue reducing the gap to the front.
For Razgatlıoğlu, the weekend also carries special significance. The Turkish rider already knows the Balaton Park Circuit well, having dominated the WorldSBK round there last season by claiming pole position and winning all three races.
With a circuit profile that appears more favourable on paper and confidence growing within the team, Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP heads to Hungary determined to continue the positive momentum built over recent weeks.
Jack Miller (on the left) and Toprak Razgatlioglu. Photo courtesy Prima Pramac Yamaha.
Toprak Razgatlioglu:“I really like this track. It‘s quite small and maybe not every MotoGP rider enjoys this kind of layout, but I do. Last year I had a very strong weekend here, so I‘m happy to come back. With a MotoGP bike it will be a different challenge because the circuit is very much a stop-and-go track, but I‘m curious to see how the bike behaves and how competitive we can be. The most positive thing is that we made good progress recently and found some solutions that helped me feel better on the bike. My hope is to start the weekend at the level we reached at the end of Mugello and then continue improving session after session. That is the target. We will see what happens, but I hope I can enjoy this circuit as much as I did last year.”
Jack Miller:“I‘m looking forward to heading back to Balaton. It‘s a tight and technical circuit, quite the opposite of the last two Grand Prix, where the long straights exposed some of the areas we‘re still working to improve. The nature of this track should suit our bike much better. It‘s a layout with plenty of changes of direction and sections where agility and handling can make a real difference. The YZR-M1 has become much more agile this season, especially in direction changes, and Balaton has a lot of those characteristics. Hopefully we can take advantage of some of the strongest aspects of the package and continue the progress we‘ve been showing over the last few races.”
Gino Borsoi – Team Director:“Balaton could be a circuit where we are able to make the most of the strengths of our package. This will be an important weekend because it gives us a good opportunity to verify whether the progress we have made in areas such as chassis performance and electronics is translating into greater competitiveness on track. It is still a relatively new circuit for everyone. There is limited data available and this is only the second year MotoGP has raced here, so the level of knowledge across the manufacturers is quite similar. That could help make the competition more balanced. For that reason, it could be a particularly interesting weekend for Yamaha. The characteristics of the track should allow us to better understand the direction we are taking and the value of the improvements introduced in recent races. Now we need to see what conditions we find during the weekend, but if the weather cooperates, this circuit could provide a very good benchmark for evaluating our recent progress.”
MotoAmerica fans attending the event at Road America. Photo courtesy Road America.
Road America Sets New Motorcycle Racing Attendance Record During MotoAmerica Superbikes and Vintage MotoFest Weekend.
ELKHART LAKE, Wis. – Road America marked a historic milestone this weekend as the MotoAmerica Superbikes and Vintage MotoFest delivered the highest motorcycle racing attendance since motorcycle competition first came to the legendary Wisconsin circuit in 1980.
The record-setting weekend brought together passionate fans, riders, teams, manufacturers, campers, collectors, and families for three days of high-speed racing, open paddock access, vintage motorcycles, fan activities, and the unmistakable energy that has made Road America one of the premier stops on the MotoAmerica calendar.
“This weekend was a tremendous moment for Road America and for the motorcycle racing community,” said Mike Kertscher, Road America’s President and General Manager. “Since motorcycle racing first came here in 1980, fans have shown incredible passion for this sport and this facility. To see that enthusiasm reach a new record is a credit to MotoAmerica, the riders, the teams, our staff, and every fan who made the weekend so special.”
The event featured the premier Superbike class along with a full schedule of support races, giving fans action from morning through evening on Road America’s 4.048-mile circuit. Vintage MotoFest added another layer to the weekend, showcasing the culture, history, and personality of motorcycle racing through ride-in displays, fan experiences, and community-driven activities.
“Each year MotoAmerica at Road America gets better and better,” said Chuck Aksland, COO of MotoAmerica. “This track continues to be a favorite for our teams, riders, and staff. The community Road America has built around these events is incredible. We’re excited to get back in 2027.”
Road America also announced that MotoAmerica Superbikes and Vintage MotoFest will return June 4-6, 2027. Advance full-weekend tickets are now available for $80 for a limited time, giving fans an early opportunity to lock in plans for one of the most anticipated motorcycle weekends of the year.
Camping, golf cart rentals, and hospitality upgrades for the 2027 MotoAmerica weekend will be available beginning October 5, 2026.
Fans are encouraged to purchase early, as popular options often sell out quickly.
The 700 Twins Superbike class podium, from left to right: Izaiah Thigpen, Dave Moss, and Christian Cepeda. Photo courtesy of Clive Savacool.
BUTTONWILLOW, Calif. — The American Federation of Motorcyclists (AFM) returned to Buttonwillow Raceway Park for Round 2 of its 2026 championship series May 30th and 31st, and racers were greeted with what many described as near perfect conditions throughout the weekend.
Temperatures remained comfortable from morning practice sessions through the final checkered flag, providing ideal conditions for racers, crews, campers, and spectators alike. The favorable weather also created the perfect backdrop for the Saturday afternoon endurance race, where teams battled through extended track time without the extreme heat that often accompanies summer racing in California’s Central Valley.
One of the biggest stories of the weekend was the strong turnout in the American Twins Unlimited class, which featured an impressive contingent of V-twin bagger motorcycles. With a large turnout of Harley-Davidson riders, joined by competitors aboard Buell motorcycles, racers traveled from across the country to compete in one of the weekend’s most entertaining races.
The event also continued AFM’s new race weekend format introduced earlier this season, with most classes racing on both Saturday and Sunday. An additional practice group was added to spread riders out during qualifying and provide competitors more open track time to set their fast laps. The revised schedule has been well received by racers and helps maximize track time throughout the weekend.
Another popular tradition of the AFM schedule is the lunchtime podium ceremony, which gives riders and spectators an opportunity to recognize standout performances during the race weekend. At Round 2, the spotlight belonged to Dave Moss, who turned in one of the weekend’s most impressive performances.
Moss enjoyed a dominant weekend at Buttonwillow, collecting six victories across multiple classes. His performance made him one of the most successful riders of the event and earned him well deserved recognition during the lunchtime podium celebration.
Other standout performers included Brian Wammack, who took victory in the American Twins Unlimited class aboard his Buell, and Sahar Zvik, who had strong Formula Pacific form by winning both the Saturday sprint race and Sunday’s feature race. Stephen Rue also enjoyed a successful weekend, taking victories in Formula 1 Open, Open Superbike, and Formula 40 Middleweight competition.
Round 2 showcased the continued growth and evolution of the AFM, with strong grids, competitive racing, and a race format designed to maximize track time and improve the experience for riders. Combined with ideal weather conditions and a packed paddock atmosphere, the weekend delivered everything competitors hope for when arriving at one of California’s premier racing venues.
The AFM championship now moves forward with momentum as riders prepare for the next round in less than two weeks at Thunderhill Raceway Park in what is shaping up to be an exciting 2026 season.
Chad Cose (No. 49) chases Briar Bauman (No. 3) during the 2026 ThrottleFest heat race. Photo by Scott Hunter for AMA Pro Racing.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The 2026 Progressive American Flat Track season, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, resumes this weekend with the inaugural Caterpillar Nashville Short Track presented by Memphis Shades at Sons of Speed Nashville Short Track in Hohenwald, Tennessee, this Saturday, June 6.
It’s not just the first-ever stop at the venue formerly known as Tennessee National Raceway, this weekend will mark the Grand National Championship’s first visit to the Volunteer State in 17 years. It’s a welcome return for America’s Original Extreme Sport® considering the state’s proud motorsports heritage along with its extensive collection of some of the finest motorcycle roads to be found anywhere in the nation.
Meeting the Moment
The early-season advantages that Mission AFT SuperTwins points leader Kody Kopp (No. 12 Latus Motors Racing Harley-Davidson XG750R) and reigning Grand National Champion Dallas Daniels (No. 1 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07) stacked up on Briar Bauman (No. 3 RWR/Jacob Construction/Parts Plus Harley-Davidson XG750R) have nearly vanished.
What had been point differences of 26 and 22 in favor of Kopp and Daniels, respectively, now stand at just nine and two.
Bauman has completely flipped the script with his recent run of form and must be considered the pre-race favorite heading into any given round shorter than a Mile until proven otherwise. He comes into this weekend with three consecutive wins in tow, a streak that has elevated him into a tie for sixth all-time on the career wins list alongside Kenny Coolbeth, Jr., at 37. And he’s quickly zeroing in on the top five with the legendary Ricky Graham now just two wins away.
Don’t expect Bauman to ease up now. The Caterpillar Nashville Short Track stands as the sixth of seven STs on the calendar, and the Rick Ware Racing star has dominated the discipline as of late.
With 13 Short Track wins to his name, Bauman boasts four more than any other rider in Grand National Championship history. That unprecedented tally has been assembled in large part since first throwing his leg over the Harley-Davidson XG750R at the start of 2025, having won eight of the last 11 STs dating back to early last season.
While momentum is quite obviously on Bauman’s side, the padding Kopp and Daniels earned over the opening three rounds served its purpose, as Bauman still ranks third even with three successive wins on his side.
They will have used the extended layoff granted with the rescheduling of the Appalachian Harley-Davidson Williams Grove Half-Mile to regroup and reset. And this weekend in Nashville represents an ideal opportunity to meet the challenge that’s been presented. It’s new to all involved – a stark contrast to Williams Grove where Bauman has shined in previous stops – making it as good a place as any to make a stand.
All Aboard
“Freight Train” Logan McGrane (No. 14 Schaffers MotorSports/RVR KTM 790 Duke) has been on an upward trajectory this season, boasting both his career-best Progressive AFT Main Event finish (eighth at the Ventura ST) and a top-ten Mission AFT SuperTwins championship ranking.
McGrane stepped up to the premier class in 2024 with relatively little Progressive AFT experience under his belt, having qualified for just four KICKER AFT Singles Mains with no top-ten finishes.
That doesn’t mean he was lacking professional race experience or success, however, considering that McGrane is a four-time World Championship ICE Racing Series champ.
Ironically, McGrane may have enjoyed his biggest leap yet in terms of the average fan’s estimation of his abilities despite leaving Budds Creek with a 14-place finish – his worst Main Event result of the ‘26 season.
By the time the Main Event rolled around, he’d already won – literally and figuratively. McGrane accomplished that by earning a front-row grid position and entry in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge.
Once there, he didn’t back down despite lining up next to Daniels, Bauman, and long-time multi-class ace Chad Cose (No. 49 Parker Racing/Pro Roofing Yamaha MT-07). The opposite in fact – McGrane stormed past Daniels to claim the upset win, and then turned around to let ‘em know.
Besides bolstering his own reputation, McGrane also did well to honor the memory of a fellow Pennsylvanian, the late Ryan Varnes, whose legacy he represents on the RVR KTM 790 Duke.
VDK
Jarod VanDerKooi (No. 20 Mission Roof Systems Harley-Davidson XG750R) will be back in the mix this weekend after making his season debut at Budds Creek where he rode in place of the injured Brandon Robinson on the Mission Roof Systems Harley.
Despite his absence to start the season, few have forgotten about VanDerKooi’s skills. Those few who did were reminded at Budds Creek, even if somewhat obscured by rust and mechanical misfortune.
Until getting struck down by a late-race bike issue, “VDK” was all set for a sixth-place ride despite still in the process of shaking things down.
With some more seat time and a bit more luck, a return to the podium is not beyond his reach.
The Roller Coaster
Nine points separate first from third in the Mission AFT SuperTwins points.
43 points separate third from fourth.
That difference is largely down not to outright speed but consistency.
Consider the following collection of premier-class contenders:
Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods Honda CB750 Hornet)
Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing KTM 790 Duke)
Aidan RoosEvans (No. 26 FRA Trust Advisors Harley-Davidson XG750R)
Ben Lowe (No. 25 Rackley Racing/Roof Systems KTM 790 Duke)
Hunter Bauer (No. 24 G&G Racing Yamaha MT-07)
Chad Cose (No. 49 Parker Racing/Pro Roofing Yamaha MT-07)
All six of them have finished inside the top five this year, with podiums for Fisher, RoosEvans, and Cose.
On the flipside, all six have also finished outside the top ten or failed to qualify for a Main Event.
Those swings have arguably been most pronounced in the case of Fisher – who is routinely as quick as Kopp, Daniels, and Bauman but also burdened by a pair of 15th-place finishes, multiple trips to the LCQ, and without a remaining provisional start.
And what about Cose? His best finish of the season was a 13th until he blasted his way to third last time out to pick up his first premier-class podium since achieving his first-ever premier-class podium some eight seasons back.
The depth of talent lining the Mission AFT SuperTwins grid this season has created the conditions that have led to increased volatility. Even making the Main can be a struggle, let alone breaking into the top ten.
Regardless, the top three are out of sight at this point. It would take some massive happenings indeed for anyone else to work their way into genuine Grand National Championship contention.
However, fourth is ripe for the taking should any of the above manage to start stringing together strong results with increased frequency.
Life In the Fast Lane
The Caterpillar Nashville Short Track presented by Memphis Shades is a unique collaboration between Progressive AFT and Billy Lane’s Sons of Speed racing series, a vintage flat track competition inspired by the board track racing era of the 1910s and ‘20s.
Lane – who will serve as the event’s Grand Marshal – is renowned for his innovative and evocative designs at Choppers Inc, his iconic appearances on “Biker Build Off” and “Monster Garage,” and his passion for pushing the limits of speed and style.
With four decades of custom bike building experience behind him, Lane founded Sons of Speed to pay tribute to the daring early years of American motorcycle racing when Harley-Davidson, Indian, Excelsior, and Pope went bar-to-bar on massive wooden board tracks all across the nation.
Sons of Speed has exploded in popularity since its 2017 debut, and Progressive American Flat Track fans will have a perfect opportunity to find out why for themselves.
The weekend will feature a full slate of Sons of Speed competition featuring the raw power and style of vintage 1000cc V-twins and 750cc American flatheads. The vintage heats are scheduled for Thursday with finals on Friday ahead of Saturday’s Progressive AFT action.
Ticket Options Galore
Standing Room Only tickets are available for just $37 including fees ($18 for kids 12 and under), while General Admission tickets are $49 ($22.50 for kids), with Reserved Grandstand and Premium Reserved Grandstand seating available for $59 ($26 for kids) and $70 ($31 for kids), respectively.
Military/First Responders and Students can purchase tickets for just $30 at the door with valid ID.
The Harley-Davidson VIP Experience includes GA seating, a guided tour of the infield podium and start/finish line – photo ops included – a meet-and-greet with the Harley-Davidson riders, and exclusive swag. The H-D VIP Experience is available for $150 ($64 for kids), along with the option to be purchased as a $95 add-on to upgraded seating options.
And no matter what ticket option you select, pit access is included, providing fans an opportunity to get an up-close look at the racebikes and meet the riders and their teams.
Gates will open for fans at 3:30 p.m. ET/12:30 p.m. PT on Saturday with Opening Ceremonies scheduled to begin at 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT.
How to Watch
FloRacing
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 visitinghttps://flosports.link/AFT2026 or by downloading the FloSports app on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire and Chromecast.
This weekend’s livestream will also be available for FREE on the FloRacing 24/7 channel, which you can watch on Prime Video, Roku Channel, and Fubo.
FS1
FOX Sports coverage of the Caterpillar Nashville Short Track, featuring in-depth features and thrilling onboard cameras, will premiere on FS1 on Saturday, June 13, at 1:00 p.m. ET (10:00 a.m. PT). The full listing of American Flat Track’s television premieres can be found at https://www.americanflattrack.com/events-foxsports.
Marco Bezzecchi (72) and Jorge Martin (89) in Mugello. Photo courtesy MotoGP.
Hot Headlines: Balaton beckons with a whole new challenge. Full reset? It’s plausible as MotoGP heads for Hungary and goes anti-clockwise.
As record-breaking weekends ago, Mugello, you were mighty fine. We’re sure Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) would happily agree with that too after the Italian won his home Grand Prix for the first time, which means he lands at our next destination, Balaton Park, boasting a 17-point championship lead over teammate Jorge Martin.
DREAMLAND: APRILIA MARCH ON
A short trip north west sees us roll into the Grand Prix of Hungary, where Aprilia will be hoping the conveyor belt of success continues to be in motion. A front row lockout, Sprint 1-2, and Grand Prix 1-2 signalled another glorious weekend on track in Italy, as Bezzecchi and Martin go hunting more healthy amounts of points in Hungary – and renew their early title battle. Last year the pair finished P3 and P4 at Balaton, and with an extra couple of springs in their step in 2026, the factory RS-GPs will be tough to beat. Especially as Martin was on the comeback back then.
And so might the Trackhouse MotoGP riders. If it wasn’t for a Lap 1, Turn 1 error, Raul Fernandez might well have been celebrating a double podium at Mugello after his Sprint win. Ai Ogura also nearly stood on the box, but his late race rhythm wasn’t quite enough to beat home hero Francesco Bagnaia to P3 – although he gave it a good shot at the final corner. Will all four Aprilias deliver again this weekend?
Francesco Bagnaia (63) and Marco Bezzecchi in the parc fermé in Mugello. Photo courtesy MotoGP
DON’T COUNT DUCATI OUT
Marc Marquez being back was a huge boost for the Ducati Lenovo Team, and judging by the smiles and words from the reigning World Champion, his post-surgery return was a positive one. Now, a weekend at a circuit much less demanding, and one he dominated at last season arrives. It’s also anti-clockwise aka his specialist subject. Might we see a #93 at full tilt? Even if not, his form last year says he shouldn’t be counted out.
Hopeful were Pecco’s thoughts heading into the final sector when he heard, and then saw, Ogura carve past him at Mugello. Some smart tactics and a late dose of determination saw the #63 celebrate on home soil, as he and Ducati – and plenty of fans around the globe – hope that’s the Pecco we’ll be seeing on a regular basis as he builds back up to form. The Italian finished P9 at Balaton last year and will want more this time round.
It was good to see the double MotoGP champ smiling again at his home Grand Prix, and another Italian who was smiling was Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team). A Sprint podium, backed up with a P5, means the #49 remains comfortably in P3 overall – but ground was lost to the rapid Aprilias. Can Diggia bite back this weekend? He was on the Sprint podium here last year before an issue on Sunday saw him start from pitlane. Teammate Franco Morbidelli, also on the Sprint podium last year, will also want more after his lowkey Italian GP, while Fermin Aldeguer aims to return to the podium scrap on a circuit which is much less demanding for the still recovering sophomore at BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP. Aldeguer also has a new teammate this weekend as WorldSBK star Iker Lecuona steps in as Alex Marquez’s Balaton replacement.
Pedro Acosta (37) in Mugello. Photo courtesy KTM
ACOSTA AIMS TO GO ONE BETTER
The epitome of leaving it all out there. Pedro Acosta. The #37 extracted every last ounce of performance the RC16 had in it at Mugello, with P6 being the reward after throwing down with Marc Marquez – and the rest. That’s not enough for last year’s Hungary P2 finisher, who should – if last year is anything to go by – have less work on his hands to be in the victory mix.
After a P11 in Italy, teammate Brad Binder pinpointed Balaton Park being a circuit that should suit the RC16 better than Mugello, while Red Bull KTM Tech3’s Enea Bastianini rued two crashes that cost the Italian two very probable top 10s. Can the South African and Italian, plus Maverick Viñales now the #12 has another weekend under his belt as he recovers, challenge up the sharp end with Acosta in Hungary?
Diogo Moreira (10) in Mugello. Photo courtesy Honda LCR
MOREIRA WITH THE MOMENTUM
It wasn’t a picture perfect weekend (see what we did there?) for rookie Diogo Moreira, but it was certainly the best we’ve seen from the Brazilian so far. First time in Q2, best qualifying result, overtaking MM93, a Sunday top 10, and top HRC honours. Solid progress pre Hungary. Joan Mir and Luca Marini will be craving a lot more than the results Mugello had to offer, and that should be the case – especially for the latter, whose Balaton P5 was his equal best result of the 2025 campaign. They don’t want to be beaten by anyone, let alone a rookie on the same bike. Meanwhile, for a second weekend in a row, three-time MotoGP winner Cal Crutchlow dons the Castrol Honda LCR leathers as the Briton continues to stand in for the sidelined Johann Zarco.
Jack Miller (43) and Fabio Quartararo (20) in Mugello. Photo courtesy Prima Pramac Yamaha
OPERATION BOUNCE BACK
The sweeping layout and long, long straight of Mugello was always going to be a particularly tough challenge for the new Yamaha as the factory work to move forward. Jack Miller (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP) bagged top Yamaha honours at the venue after a last lap showdown with teammate Toprak Razgatliouglu, who was demoted a place, leaving Miller with the only point for the Iwata marque. But Alex Rins’ Friday automatic Q2 entry showing was a positive, but all four, including Rins’ Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP stablemate Fabio Quartararo, will be desperate for so much more in Hungary, where needing those extra few horses in the power bank isn’t as much of a worry. A completely new layout, different in nearly every single way, could paint a very different picture for them this weekend.
From the hills of Tuscany to the lakeside views of Balaton, MotoGP is back in action straight away this weekend for more of the most exciting sport on Earth. Make sure to tune in for the Hungarian GP!
Hunter Lawrence (96) at Fox Raceway in Pala, California. Photo courtesy Honda.
More from a press release issued by Honda:
Flawless AMA Pro Motocross Opener for Hunter Lawrence.
・After topping 450 qualifying, Australian posts convincing 1-1 moto finishes
・Jett Lawrence secures podium overall result in return from injury
・Shimoda and Hymas battle through adversity to top-10 250 overall placings
Honda HRC Progressive opened the 2026 AMA Pro Motocross Championship in impressive fashion at Southern California’s Fox Raceway, with Hunter Lawrence delivering a dominant 1-1 performance to claim the overall victory in the 450MX class. The Australian’s perfect day extended the Lawrence family’s success at the Pala venue, where brother/teammate Jett had taken all the 450 moto wins for the previous three years. This weekend saw Jett return to competition with a strong third-place overall finish, following an extended absence due to injury. In the 250 division, Jo Shimoda and Chance Hymas also both returned to racing following injury setbacks and showed resilience throughout the day. Despite difficult starts in both motos, the duo consistently moved forward and demonstrated strong pace against a highly competitive field, ultimately earning overall results of sixth and eighth, respectively.
Fresh off a standout AMA Supercross campaign, Hunter carried his momentum outdoors and showcased exceptional consistency and pace, quickly seizing control of the opening moto and then pulling away to secure the win by nearly nine seconds. Moto 2 saw him grab the holeshot aboard his CRF450RWE and successfully manage pressure before winning by over six seconds and completing the perfect sweep to leave Pala with the championship points lead.
Hunter Lawrence (96) at Fox Raceway in Pala, California. Photo courtesy Honda.
Making his first race appearance of the year after badly injuring his ankle five months ago, Jett delivered a strong performance, with 4-3 moto finishes for third overall, despite having to work his way forward in both motos. The result secured a double podium for Honda HRC Progressive and reaffirmed Jett’s place among the frontrunners.
Shimoda recorded 4-7 250-class finishes to secure sixth overall, highlighted by an impressive charge through the field in the opening moto. Hymas built momentum throughout the day, posting 10-5 scores for eighth overall. In the second moto, the teammates worked through the pack in tandem, gaining positions throughout the race and ending the day with valuable championship points.
With Hunter carrying the red plate into round 2 and all four Honda HRC Progressive riders motivated for success, the team leaves Fox Raceway with strong momentum heading into next weekend’s Hangtown Motocross Classic in Rancho Cordova, California.
Jett Lawrence (1) at Fox Raceway in Pala, California. Photo courtesy Honda.
NOTES
・For the opening round of the 2026 AMA Pro Motocross Championship, a formal press conference was hosted on Friday at Pala Casino Spa and Resort. All four Honda HRC Progressive riders—Jett and Hunter Lawrence, Jo Shimoda and Chance Hymas—were invited to speak on stage and participate in TV broadcast interviews, after which they took part in a riding session on the Fox Raceway track.
・This weekend marked the return of three of the four Honda HRC Progressive riders following injuries sustained before and during the 2026 AMA Supercross campaign. Only Hunter Lawrence rode the entire stadium series, and he enjoyed having his teammates back in the pits at Pala.
・Perris, California, dealership Langston Motorsports enhanced the Fox Raceway fan experience, with a pop-up activation booth in the Honda HRC Progressive pit area. Staff engaged directly with fans and customers at the display, which featured a CRF110F and newly announced 2027 CRF250R HRC WORKS EDITION.
・All four Honda HRC Progressive race bikes sported new SKDA tricolor graphics, mimicking the look of Honda’s 2027 CRF Performance lineup, which was announced two days before the race. The liveries are meant to unify the appearance of HRC teams in various forms of motorcycle racing, including MotoGP, World Superbike, Rally and MXGP. Even Honda’s satellite teams ran similar looks.
・A 2027 CRF450R was also displayed in the Honda HRC Progressive pits, as was Ricky Brabec’s factory Monster Energy Honda HRC CRF450 RALLY, SLR’s race-winning CRF450X and a Team Raceco Honda Talon 1000R side-by-side.
・During the opening ceremony, Honda HRC Progressive test rider Trey Canard took a parade lap on the 2027 CRF450R, while Honda Two-Wheel PR Coordinator Ryan Dudek was interviewed about the significantly improved new model.
・All four Honda HRC Progressive riders participated in a paddock autograph session on Saturday morning, giving fans an opportunity to meet their heroes.
・During Race Day Live, SLR Honda rider Mikayla Nielsen (SLR Honda) was interviewed by Jason Thomas ahead of the 2026 WMX Championship, which will kick off at Hangtown June 6.
・During the Peacock broadcast, a segment highlighted Jett Lawrence’s comeback from his serious ankle injury. Interviewed for the piece were the Lawrences’ trainer, Johnny O’Mara, and physiotherapist, H. Rey Gubernick (“Doc G”), who both spoke about Jett’s injury, recovery and return.
Jo Shimoda (30) at Fox Raceway in Pala, California. Photo courtesy Honda.
・Hymas was sixth in 250 combined qualifying, with Shimoda 14th. Other Red Riders included Phoenix Racing Honda riders Gavin Towers and Aden Keefer (making his pro debut) in 24th and 38th, respectively. Tim Jaunin of Honda Switzerland AGMX Racing was 60th and The McGinley Privateer Program’s Kyle Czworkowski was 65th. Towers finished 26th overall in the race, with 31-21 moto scores.
・Hunter Lawrence topped both 450 qualifying sessions, with Jett third. Quad Lock Honda riders Christian Craig and Kyle Webster were 15th and 16th, respectively. SLR Honda’s Justin Rodbell was 22nd, Sage Powers (Limited Decal) was 41st, Blake Hoag (Hoag Racing) was 44th, Ryan Surratt (JCR Honda) was 46th, KC Clinton (Clinton Racing) was 52nd, Ty Freehill (Western Honda) was 54th, Gavin Tiflord (Feine Tune Racing) was 56th, and Rocco Morse (Morse Racing) was 66th. Surratt advanced to the motos by finishing third in the LCQ. Craig posted a respectable top-10 overall finish in the race.
・With Hunter’s win this weekend, Honda now has six premier-class overall victories at Fox Raceway (four more than the next-closest manufacturer), with the Australian joining Jett (three wins) and Chase Sexton (two wins) on the winners’ list. Hunter also earned an overall win in the 250 class at the venue, with a 1-1 performance in 2023.
・Amazingly, in his 24 450-class moto starts thus far in his career, Hunter has never finished a moto outside the top five. This was the second time he has earned an overall victory in the division, and his first moto sweep.
・Honda HRC Progressive heads to Rancho Cordova, California, for the Hangtown Motocross Classic this Saturday, with Hunter carrying the red plate on his CRF450RWE. The event will also mark the opening round of the WMX Championship, in which SLR Honda’s Mikayla Nielsen and Quad Lock Honda’s Charli Cannon will compete.
Chance Hymas (29) at Fox Raceway in Pala, California. Photo courtesy Honda.
Hunter Lawrence (96): “It was good—I’m really happy with where the bike’s at. Keeping the Lawrence streak of winning at Pala alive was special; I’ve seen Jett do plenty of those, so it was cool to finally get my first one, especially at round 1. We don’t usually love this track, but we always seem to do well here, which is pretty ironic. Having Jett on the podium too, after everything he had to come back from, was awesome. It was just a really happy day, and I’m stoked for the team. Results like this make all the hard work worth it for everyone involved. Every team in the paddock puts in so much effort and dedication, so it’s cool as racers to be able to share days like this with the people behind us.”
Jett lawrence (1):“I’m always going to be hard on myself because the goal is to win, but considering where my foot’s at and how long I’ve been away from riding and racing, it was a solid day. We had a lot of cobwebs to shake off and just needed to get back into race mode, work through a few little hiccups, and build from there. We definitely need to improve the starts because mine weren’t very good today. We’ll go back, regroup, and come into Hangtown hoping to make life a little easier with better starts. Physically, it’s still tough—every jump, I’m landing with most of my weight on my left side. Some of those rough, edgy bumps out of the turns were hard on my foot, but riding the bike is actually easier than walking right now. Today I learned what Pala roost really feels like; most of my previous races here, I’ve grabbed the holeshot, so I never really had to deal with it before—that was something I had to learn today too. But it felt really good to be back: feeling that adrenaline again, lining up on the gate, getting those butterflies before the drop—it was good.”
Jo Shimoda (30):“The track is just extreme. The way they prepped it today, one side was really muddy and one side was perfect, then they funneled down to one line. If you look at the lap sheet, the top 15 were basically the same lap time, so track position was important. Unfortunately, I didn’t have good track position today, so we need to be better there. Physically, I had enough time to prepare and train, so I feel really fit and ready to go for more. In the first moto, I kind of flinched and messed up the start. The second moto was actually okay, but I got pushed wide in the second turn and got stuck in a mud area. Later I hit a rock or a sharp edge and almost did a 180 and was stuck on the uphill, so that didn’t help. If I would’ve made one more pass, I would’ve been third overall, so I’m happy with my effort overall; I just need to find a little bit more.”
Chance Hymas (29): “Round 1 at Pala, I was really happy to be back at the races—it’s been a long time. A couple of bad starts held me back a bit, but overall, the riding was good. We made good improvements on the bike throughout the day. I’m happy to be healthy coming out of this weekend, and we’re looking forward to Hangtown.”
More from a press release issued by KTM:
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jorge Prado finishes P2 overall at Fox Raceway National.
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jorge Prado opened the 2026 AMA Pro Motocross Championship in convincing fashion at Fox Raceway, securing second overall on Saturday afternoon with a 2-2 moto scorecard in the 450MX category, while Julien Beaumer impressed in his return to competition with P5 overall in 250MX.
Equipped with the KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION, Prado posted the second-fastest qualifying time of the day with a 2:17.461 lap-time, immediately finding comfort on the hard-packed Southern Californian circuit.
The Spaniard then launched to a strong start in Moto 1, crossing the holeshot line inside the top-three and maintaining P2 throughout the race to claim an impressive runner-up finish. Another strong start in Moto 2 saw Prado again battling for the lead, eventually claiming another hard-fought second for the moto.
In his first Pro Motocross appearance with the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team, the four-time world champion claimed an impressive second overall at the first of 11 rounds.
Jorge Prado (26) at Fox Raceway in Pala, California. Photo courtesy KTM.
Jorge Prado:“This is a great start to the season with second overall! It was a good day of racing – we were battling up front, and even got into the lead during the opening stages of Moto 2, so I am happy. I think we can build from here – we will learn from it and just be a little sharper once the gate drops next time.”
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450MX teammate Aaron Plessinger made his racing return at the Pro Motocross opener aboard his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION, with an eighth-place finish in the opening race. ‘The Cowboy’ featured inside the top-three early in Moto 2, before eventually claiming ninth in the moto and eighth overall at Fox Raceway.
Aaron Plessinger:“I’m happy with today – I was a little stagnant in the first moto, which irritated me a little bit. But in Moto 2, we made some positive changes to the setup, we got a good jump out of the gate, and I was up there in the mix for a little bit. Overall, it was a good day – I just need more motos under my belt. I think I have around seven 35-minute motos under my belt coming into this race, so I knew it was going to be tough. We’ll work into it, though. I’m feeling better, so we’ll keep trusting the work that we are doing.”
Four-time 450MX Champion Eli Tomac qualified 10th on his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION this morning, however, an unfortunate crash on the opening lap of Moto 1 brought an early end to his day. Initial on-site scans revealed no broken bones after straining his neck in the incident, and he will undergo further evaluation during the week.
Fox Raceway also marked a welcome return to competition for Beaumer in the 250MX category, with the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider having been sidelined since last September’s SMX playoffs. He qualified third this morning, before recording an 11th-place finish in Moto 1 aboard his KTM 250 SX-F FACTORY EDITION after recovering from a Lap 1 crash.
Beaumer then powered to the holeshot in Moto 2, building a lead of more than three seconds during the opening stages of the race before surrendering the position around the midway point of the moto to claim second position in the race and a solid fifth overall.
Julien Beaumer:“Today was a really good day overall – I rode well in qualifying, and then in Moto 1 I got off to a solid start, and then just tipped over on Lap 1. I came back to 11th in that one, so my riding was good, and then I got off to another really good start in the second moto and rode my laps. I rode to what I know I’m capable of, and that was good enough for a second in that race, so I am happy with where we are at, and the team did an amazing job with the bike. I think that overall we are in a good spot.”
Next Race: June 6 – Hangtown, California
More from a press release issued by Yamaha:
Justin Cooper Earns Fourth Overall, Deegan Impresses with Top-Five in 450MX Debut.Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Justin Cooper and Haiden Deegan launch Pro Motocross season with top-five overall results at Fox Raceway.
Anticipation was high for the Pro Motocross season opener, with a stacked premier-class field and plenty of storylines, including six-time 250 class champion Haiden Deegan making his highly anticipated 450MX debut at his home outdoor national in Southern California.
Amid all the hype surrounding the opening round, Justin Cooper quietly went to work, kicking off his title campaign with a podium in Moto 1 and finishing fourth overall, while his rookie teammate joined him in the top five at Fox Raceway in Pala, California.
Cooper continued his upward trend outdoors with a strong outing at the opener. He qualified fourth and got to work early in Moto 1, charging from seventh to third in the opening four laps. From there, he maintained a strong pace to secure a podium finish in the opening moto. In the second moto, Cooper had his work cut out for him after starting in 17th. Undeterred, he put his head down and steadily made his way through to sixth to secure fourth overall.
“Round 1 of the Pro Motocross series was good,” said Cooper. “Qualifying went well. I felt comfortable on the bike all day, so overall it was a solid day. I didn’t get the best of starts in the second moto, so that hurt me, but the first moto was good. I got third. Then the second one, I worked my way up to sixth and got fourth overall, which is a good start to the season. I’ve got to dial in those starts a little bit better and be up there in the beginning. But we’ll take it. It’s not my favorite track, so we’ll move on to next week.”
Cooper Webb (2) at Fox Raceway in Pala, California. Photo courtesy Yamaha.
It was an impressive debut for Deegan in front of the home crowd. He had a solid qualifying effort in sixth. Then Moto 1 got off to a chaotic start, with Deegan nearly going down in the first turn and finding himself deep in the field. The 20-year-old put in a determined ride, fighting all the way to the finish to cross the line fifth. In the second moto, he was 15th after the start and once again launched an impressive charge, advancing to fourth by the halfway mark and holding the position to secure fifth overall on the day.
“Today was good,” said Deegan. “I qualified sixth and then Moto 1 had a good start until I tucked it in the first turn. I saved it, but man, it was sketchy. I came from 25th to fifth, so that was a good ride. I had good battles with all these guys in the top 10, who are champions. So it was a fun time learning and battling those guys. Then Moto 2, I got a little better start, but obviously we’ve got to work on that, because if we can start up front, I think we’ll have a better chance of getting on the podium. I made my way back up to fourth from 15th on the start. So a 5-4 on the day, for fifth overall. I’d definitely say it was a good first-round rookie debut. We’ll go back to work this week, get the bike dialed in, do great starts, and come out swinging in Hangtown.”
Fox Raceway wasn’t on Webb’s list of favorite venues, but despite having the 14th gate pick, he had a decent start and quickly made his way to the top 10, but ultimately finished 13th in the first moto. The three-time 450SX champion had a much better start to Moto 2, slotting into fourth, but as the race wore on, he dropped back to 13th, ending the day 12th overall with the pair of 13th-place finishes.
Haiden Deegan (38) at Fox Raceway in Pala, California. Photo courtesy Yamaha.
“It was a pretty uneventful day for me at Pala,” said Webb. “I was around 12th and 15th all day. The second moto was a little better, though. I got a better start and rode pretty well in the first half, and then just shuffled back. So we definitely have some work to do. This isn’t my favorite track, but I’m looking forward to enjoying the rest of them.”
“Overall, it was a pretty good day,” said Rich Simmons, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s 450 Team Manager. “It was a good first round for Justin and Haiden, coming away with fourth and fifth overall. Justin got on the podium in that first moto. Then both he and Haiden had bad starts in Moto 2, which didn’t help, but Haiden did a really good job coming through the pack. Webb had a good start in the second one, but just didn’t have the results I’m sure he wanted. I think there were a lot of positives to take away from here. The guys are happy with their bikes. We’ll just keep building off this.”
Next weekend, the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing squad heads to Rancho Cordova, California, for the Hangtown Motocross Classic – Round 2 of the Pro Motocross Championship and Round 19 of the Monster Energy SuperMotocross World Championship on June 6.
More from a press release issued by Kawasaki:
Seth Hammaker takes career-first Pro Motocross victory at season opener.
Monster Energy® Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider Seth Hammaker stole the show at Round 1 of Pro Motocross with a historic moto victory to take the 250 class overall win. Teammate Levi Kitchen put on an impressive race win in Moto 1 to add to his score for fourth overall (1-13), while Nick Romano put on an outstanding Top 5 performance in Moto 1 for ninth overall (5-11). Monster Energy Kawasaki rider Chase Sexton put in a solid day of racing to claim sixth overall (7-5), and teammate Garrett Marchbanks rebounded for a strong finish in Moto 2 for 14th overall (28-8).
Seth Hammaker (10) at Fox Raceway in Pala, California. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
In the 250 Class, the Monster Energy® Pro Circuit Kawasaki riders showcased their consistent speed early in qualifying, with Kitchen topping the charts in both sessions to take the overall fastest qualifier and set the tone for the day. Hammaker was slotted right behind his teammate in second overall, while Romano put in solid laps to sit 19th overall after both sessions.
In 250 Moto 1, Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki riders got off to a picture-perfect start as Hammaker grabbed a commanding holeshot aboard his KX™250, while Romano followed closely behind his teammate in second and Kitchen charged into third by Lap 2. A few laps later, Kitchen made the pass for second on Romano, as the Kawasaki trio continued to control the pace, setting the Top 3 fastest lap times of the moto.
Hammaker maintained control and looked poised to lead wire-to-wire until a small mistake sent him off the track, opening the door for Kitchen to take over the lead. Kitchen went on to claim the Moto 1 victory, while Romano held fourth for much of the race before a pass on the final lap would leave him in fifth to end the moto. Making both his outdoor debut with the team and his first motocross start in two years, Romano capped off an impressive ride with a fifth-place finish.
Nicholas Romano (141) at Fox Raceway in Pala, California. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
In 250 Moto 2, Hammaker backed up his strong day with another excellent start, rounding the first turn in third before quickly moving into second. Romano railed the outside line through Turn 1 to emerge in sixth. Kitchen, however, endured a challenging opening lap after a rider to his left cut across his line off the start, forcing him to check up and enter the first turn deep in the pack. Misfortune struck again moments later when he became tangled up with a downed rider at the top of the hill, dropping him even farther back. Undeterred, Kitchen remounted and immediately began charging through the field.
Up front, Hammaker was on the move as well, making an aggressive pass for second before reeling in the leader and taking over the top spot midway through the moto. Kitchen put together an impressive recovery ride, passing more than 25 riders on his way to a 13th-place finish, which was enough to tie for second overall, but he was credited fourth overall on the day. Romano delivered a steady and consistent performance, finishing 11th in the moto and ninth overall. Hammaker went on to claim his first career moto win in commanding fashion, along with his first overall victory, leaving the weekend with the championship red plate and a 13-point lead in the standings. Kitchen now sits tied for second in the championship, while Romano holds ninth in the points standings.
Seth Hammaker:“Being the first outdoor national of the year and my first Pro Motocross overall win, it feels amazing for it all to happen on the same day. Practice went pretty well, and we made a few bike adjustments to get more comfortable with the track conditions. In Moto 1, I grabbed the holeshot and led for a while, but made a mistake and lost the lead. In Moto 2, I got another good start, made a couple quick passes, and got into the lead. From there, I just focused on hitting my marks and being consistent. It feels great to get the first overall win, and hopefully we can keep this momentum rolling.”
Levi Kitchen:“The team has been working really hard, and we feel really good about the progress we’ve made. Honestly, I’m frustrated because I know what we’re capable of. This sport has its highs and lows, and today was one of those days. I put myself in a tough position in Moto 2 and had to fight back from way behind, which made things difficult. At the same time, there are a lot of positives to take away. My Moto 1 victory showed that the speed is there, and the bike is great. We’ll keep building, keep working, and come back ready for Hangtown.”
Nick Romano:“Round 1 was a fun day for me. Going 5-11 for ninth overall isn’t too bad, especially considering I haven’t raced outdoors in two years. I accomplished my goal for the weekend and learned a lot. I feel like Top 5 consistency is right there in front of me, and we’re going to keep working until we get there. I’m excited for the rest of the season.”
Chase Sexton (4) at Fox Raceway in Pala, California. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
In the 450 Class, Marchbanks showed impressive speed during qualifying. Utilizing Fox Raceway as a regular practice track during the outdoor season, the No. 36 Kawasaki used his familiarity with the technical layout to take fifth overall in qualifying. Sexton started qualifying third in the first session and continued to better his lap times as the day went on to secure seventh overall.
In 450 Moto 1, Sexton got off to a strong start, launching out of the gate in fourth, while Marchbanks followed closely behind in an impressive sixth-place position. Unfortunately, Marchbanks’ promising start came to an abrupt halt on the opening lap when he was involved in a racing incident exiting a turn and collided with another rider, resulting in a hard crash. The force of the impact knocked the wind out of him, forcing him to take a moment before remounting and rejoining the race. Despite his bike being a bit mangled and dealing with the effects of the crash, Marchbanks dug deep and worked his way through the field, salvaging as many positions as possible to finish 28th in the moto. Up front, Sexton rode a steady and consistent race while running fourth for much of the moto. However, a small tipover in the closing laps cost him several positions, ultimately dropping him to seventh at the checkered flag.
Garrett Marchbanks (36) at Fox Raceway in Pala, California. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
In 450 Moto 2, Sexton put himself in a favorable Top 10 position off the start, while Marchbanks was forced to work from midpack after his Moto 1 finish resulted in a less-than-ideal gate pick. Despite the setback, Marchbanks mounted an impressive charge to move inside the Top 10 by Lap 5. As the race unfolded, Sexton was battling inside the Top 5 when he tipped over at the top of the hill shortly after the track had been watered, leaving the surface slick. The mistake cost him valuable time, but he regrouped and fought his way back to fifth by the checkered flag, securing sixth overall on the day. Meanwhile, Marchbanks continued to showcase his speed throughout the moto, steadily climbing through the field and closing in on his teammate before ultimately finishing eighth. His strong recovery ride earned him 14th overall for the weekend.
Chase Sexton:“Today wasn’t where I was hoping to be, but I put myself in a tough position being on the ground twice. I felt good in Moto 1 and was running in a good spot before a small mistake cost me a few spots late in the race. In Moto 2, I got a decent start and was battling up front, but another small tipover set me back. I was able to salvage sixth overall, but I expect myself on the podium. We’ll regroup this week to get ready for Hangtown, as I’ll be staying out in California to do some testing with the team.”
Garrett Marchbanks:“I thought today went really well with starting out fifth overall in qualifying. Went into Moto 1, felt like we had some things really going with the bike, and practice starts were going really well this week. I was super pumped to rip a Top 10 start. Three-quarters of the way through the first lap Eli [Tomac] and I were sprinting. He made a pass on me, and I went to make a pass back, and we got together in a racing incident. Neither of us let off the gas and just ended up coming together. I feel bad for what happened and hope he’s doing alright. My bike was a bit bent up after that, so it needed some work after the race. I went from 28th in Moto 1 to eighth in Moto 2, so to be able to move through the field against this level of competition was a solid effort.”
More from a press release issued by Husqvarna:
RJ Hampshire leads Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing at Pro Motocross opener. Seventh overall in 450MX at Fox Raceway for RJ, as Ryder D takes 250MX Moto 2 podium.
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s RJ Hampshire made a successful return to racing at Round 1 of the 2026 AMA Pro Motocross Championship, charging to seventh overall in the 450MX division at Fox Raceway, where 250MX contender Ryder DiFrancesco showcased his potential with a podium finish in Moto 2.
Hampshire and his Husqvarna FC 450 Factory Edition posted the 13th-fastest qualifying time during the morning sessions, before charging to a hard-fought sixth-place finish in Moto 1 after spending much of the race in a closely-contested battle.
In Moto 2, the 30-year-old ran inside the top-five from the outset and climbed as high as fourth during the race’s middle stages, before ultimately crossing the finish line in seventh position. His 6-7 moto scorecard was enough to secure seventh overall at the season-opener.
RJ Hampshire (24) at Fox Raceway in Pala, California. Photo courtesy Husqvarna.
“Fox Raceway was positive for me,” commented Hampshire. “I was in the fight around that top-five area for most of the day – I wish I could’ve finished the motos off a little better, but this was one of my better Pala results. I’m leaving here pretty happy knowing that we have a lot more to give next weekend and in the upcoming races. We learned a lot this weekend under race conditions, which is something you can’t replicate at home, and we made positive changes with both the bike and my riding.”
Alongside Hampshire in the 450MX Class was teammate Malcolm Stewart, who entered Round 1 eyeing a strong result equipped with the Husqvarna FC 450 Factory Edition. Stewart went on to claim a hard-fought 12th in Moto 1, before withdrawing from Moto 2 after dabbing his leg early in the race.
Malcolm Stewart (27) at Fox Raceway in Pala, California. Photo courtesy Husqvarna.
“Pala is always an interesting track,” said Stewart. “Practice, I struggled a little bit, but I felt I had some good momentum going into Moto 1, and actually rode a pretty solid race. And then in Moto 2, the first lap, I dabbed my knee in a corner a little bit, which was frustrating. It’s nothing to be too concerned about – I pulled off for the rest of the race just to make sure that nothing was too crazy, and now we’ll re-evaluate and hopefully line up in Sacramento.”
DiFrancesco, meanwhile, qualified seventh in the 250MX category, with a strong start in Moto 1 unfortunately impacted by a costly first-lap crash. He recovered to 19th by race’s end, before responding with a standout third-place finish aboard the Husqvarna FC 250 Factory Edition in Moto 2 to salvage 10th overall for the round.
Ryder DiFrancesco (34) at Fox Raceway in Pala, California. Photo courtesy Husqvarna.
“It was a good weekend for me overall!” recalled DiFrancesco. “Qualifying was okay, but I improved as the day developed, which was encouraging. My first moto crash meant that I had to salvage as much as I could, so then in Moto 2, I was up there in the fight to finish third, which makes me excited heading into next weekend.”
250MX teammates Daxton Bennick and Casey Cochran were also in action for Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing at Fox Raceway onboard their Husqvarna FC 250 Factory Editions, qualifying 16th and 10th, respectively.
Bennick delivered an encouraging seventh-place score in Moto 1 before unfortunately withdrawing from the second moto after an incident while running inside the top-five early on. Cochran was credited with a 40-17 scorecard across the day’s two motos – suffering a DNF in the opening race – to claim 21st overall.
“Overall, there are positives to take away,”mentioned Cochran. “It was decent to start with 10th in qualifying, and then unfortunately we weren’t able to finish Moto 1, which was a bummer. Moto 2, I didn’t feel super-comfortable out there, so I struggled a little bit all moto. It was good to get some gate drops, though, and we’ll come back firing next weekend.”
Next Race: June 6 – Hangtown, California
More from a press release issued by Ducati:
Ferrandis Secures Top-10 Overall Finish as Barcia Celebrates Milestone 300th Career AMA Pro Motocross Start.
With anticipation running high, the Troy Lee Designs Red Bull Ducati Factory Racing Team officially made its AMA Pro Motocross debut Saturday at Fox Raceway in Pala, California, opening the 2026 AMA Pro Motocross Championship with riders Dylan Ferrandis and Justin Barcia aboard the Ducati Desmo450 MX race machines.
While the Ducati platform has previously appeared in AMA Pro Motocross competition, Fox Raceway marked the first official outdoor national for the Troy Lee Designs Red Bull Ducati Factory Racing Team and its rider lineup of Ferrandis and Barcia.
The day also carried special significance for veteran Justin “BAM BAM” Barcia, whose gate drop at Fox Raceway marked the 300th AMA Pro Motocross start of his distinguished career. The milestone represents a remarkable achievement for one of the sport’s most recognizable competitors and a proud moment for the Troy Lee Designs Red Bull Ducati Factory Racing Team.
Dylan Ferrandis (14) at Fox Raceway in Pala, California. Photo courtesy Ducati.
Moto 1 saw Ferrandis line up 12th on the gate, while Barcia selected the 18th gate position. Ferrandis endured a difficult start and crossed the holeshot line deep in the field in 18th position. The former champion steadily worked his way forward throughout the moto, posting his fastest lap on Lap 8 before making a late-race pass with two laps remaining to secure ninth place at the checkered flag.
Barcia launched inside the top 10 and advanced to seventh during the opening lap. A small tip-over midway through the race cost valuable track position, dropping him back to 14th by Lap 7 before ultimately finishing 17th.
In Moto 2, Ferrandis improved dramatically off the gate, crossing the holeshot line in seventh before quickly moving into fifth on the opening lap. Running comfortably among the lead group and matching the pace of riders ahead, Ferrandis looked poised for a strong finish before a major crash in the middle stages of the race was followed by a second minor fall. Despite the setbacks, he regrouped to finish 10th and secure a top-10 overall result to begin the season.
“It was a good day. I don’t know what happened on the start in Moto 1. I made a big mistake off the start and I was dead last, so it was pretty bad. I dug deep and had a big comeback. In Moto 2, I had a much better start. I was out front with the top guys and I felt comfortable there in that fifth or sixth spot. I was really comfortable, but I went down and made a big mistake and had a big crash. I tried to regroup but had a small crash a little later in the moto. I was rushing and trying to make the best of the rest of the moto. But a top 10 is good. We learned a lot, and I feel like we’re close, we just need to fix small things to make me feel a bit more comfortable, so let’s go back to work this week and get ready for next weekend at Hangtown.”
Justin Barcia (51) at Fox Raceway in Pala, California. Photo courtesy Ducati.
Barcia faced another challenging start in Moto 2, crossing the holeshot line in 18th position. Struggling to find comfort and rhythm on the demanding Fox Raceway circuit, the New York native battled through the moto and finished 16th.
“Pala was an extremely challenging day,” said Barcia. “Just couldn’t find the flow and the comfort I needed to perform. It was definitely frustrating, to say the least. We definitely are back to the drawing boards next week. Try to find some comfort and feel and get going forward faster. We have to go faster, to be better. So, yes, that’s a sum of a call, pretty much, not a whole lot good to say about it. I wasn’t here last year, so I’m taking the positive in that because I wasn’t here last year. We have some work to do which we will take the week going into Hangtown to try and find a better set up.”
The Troy Lee Designs Red Bull Ducati Factory Racing Team will now turn its attention to Round 2 of the 2026 AMA Pro Motocross Championship at Hangtown Motocross Classic in Rancho Cordova, California, where both riders will look to build on the lessons learned during the team’s historic debut outing.
More from a press release issued by Suzuki:
Colt Nichols Puts His Suzuki in the Points at Round One of the AMA Pro Motocross Championship.
With the Supercross season wrapped and Suzuki’s Ken Roczen crowned the 2026 Supercross Champion on May 9th, the SMX World Championship commenced the AMA Pro Motocross season as part of the SMX series. The Fox Raceway National paid points toward both the Motocross season and toward the SMX World Championship. Pala, California delivered beautiful weather and a high-speed track that varied from wet loam in the morning to brutal, hardpack ruts by the end of the day.
Race Highlights:
Twisted Tea Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance
450 Class
Colt Nichols earned points toward his bid for the SMX World Championship.
Colt Nichols (45) showed great speed early; he posted top-ten lap times in Sectors 3 and 5 in the season’s opening qualifying session. Photo courtesy Suzuki.
Colt Nichols (45) used the three-week break between the Supercross Final and the outdoor opener to prepare for the high speeds of the motocross nationals. Nichols looked strong from the start, posting great times in the first qualifying session. In the first moto, Nichols emerged from the first corner in 23rd place. Nichols battled through the 30-minute plus two lap race to move his Twisted Tea Suzuki into the points before the checkered flag waved. In the second moto, a stronger start put Nichols inside the top 15. Nichols capitalized on the improved track position and bettered his result by three positions over the opening moto.
“It was a humbling day for me,” said Nichols. “We struggled to find some comfort, and I just didn’t ride as good as I needed to. I’ve got some work to do this week and will try again at Hangtown.”
“Round One of the Pro Motocross Nationals is done and dusted,” stated Dustin Pipes, Team Principal for Twisted Tea/H.E.P. Motorsports/Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance. “We got 19th overall for Colt. We need to work on starts and get the bike in a [set-up] window for him to achieve better results. We will go to work. On to round two!”
The Suzuki crew, which recently won the 2026 Supercross Championship with its Suzuki RM-Z450, now travels north for the second California motocross race at the Hangtown Motocross Classic on June 6th in Rancho Cordova. The team will be competing in select rounds of the motocross series and looks to participate in the SMX playoffs and defending the WSX Championship.
Nathan Bettencourt (99) at Aragon. Photo courtesy Bettencourt Racing.
American rider Nathan Bettencourt continued his impressive rookie campaign scoring points in three out of the four races in the 2026 FIM Yamaha R3 bLU cRU World Cup, with his best performance at the iconic MotorLand Aragón circuit in Spain this past weekend.
Competing against some of the world’s best young motorcycle racers, Bettencourt showed steady progress throughout the weekend, demonstrating both speed and racecraft on the demanding 5.1-kilometer circuit. The Aragón round marked the second event of the championship and featured the close, slipstream-heavy racing that has become a trademark of the Yamaha R3 World Cup.
In Race 1, Bettencourt battled within a tightly packed group and crossed the finish line in 11th place, just over one second behind the race winner. The result highlighted the competitiveness of the field, with mere fractions of a second separating multiple riders at the finish. His race pace was 3rd fastest, and earned him a front row start (P3) for race 2.
Bettencourt returned on Sunday with another determined performance, getting the holeshot and holding off the other 22 riders for a few corners before getting shuffled back into the pack. He secured 13th place in Race 2, finishing 1.8 seconds behind the race winner in another dramatic draft-fest that saw numerous lead changes throughout the field.
For Bettencourt and the Bettencourt Racing team, the Aragón weekend represented another important step in the young American’s development on the international stage. Racing in a championship that features identical Yamaha R3 motorcycles, success comes down to rider skill, race strategy, and consistency—areas where Bettencourt continues to gain valuable experience.
Nathan Bettencourt:“Aragon was another new track for me, but quickly became one of my favorites, it’s super fast and flows well. This ended up being one of my best race weekends I’ve had in a while and I’m happy to be making steady improvements. It’s a really good confidence boost knowing I can be up front with the leaders”.
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Keyboard Navigation Profile (Motor-Impaired): this profile enables motor-impaired persons to operate the website using the keyboard Tab, Shift+Tab, and the Enter keys. Users can also use shortcuts such as “M” (menus), “H” (headings), “F” (forms), “B” (buttons), and “G” (graphics) to jump to specific elements.
Additional UI, design, and readability adjustments
Font adjustments – users, can increase and decrease its size, change its family (type), adjust the spacing, alignment, line height, and more.
Color adjustments – users can select various color contrast profiles such as light, dark, inverted, and monochrome. Additionally, users can swap color schemes of titles, texts, and backgrounds, with over seven different coloring options.
Animations – person with epilepsy can stop all running animations with the click of a button. Animations controlled by the interface include videos, GIFs, and CSS flashing transitions.
Content highlighting – users can choose to emphasize important elements such as links and titles. They can also choose to highlight focused or hovered elements only.
Audio muting – users with hearing devices may experience headaches or other issues due to automatic audio playing. This option lets users mute the entire website instantly.
Cognitive disorders – we utilize a search engine that is linked to Wikipedia and Wiktionary, allowing people with cognitive disorders to decipher meanings of phrases, initials, slang, and others.
Additional functions – we provide users the option to change cursor color and size, use a printing mode, enable a virtual keyboard, and many other functions.
Browser and assistive technology compatibility
We aim to support the widest array of browsers and assistive technologies as possible, so our users can choose the best fitting tools for them, with as few limitations as possible. Therefore, we have worked very hard to be able to support all major systems that comprise over 95% of the user market share including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, Opera and Microsoft Edge, JAWS and NVDA (screen readers).
Notes, comments, and feedback
Despite our very best efforts to allow anybody to adjust the website to their needs. There may still be pages or sections that are not fully accessible, are in the process of becoming accessible, or are lacking an adequate technological solution to make them accessible. Still, we are continually improving our accessibility, adding, updating and improving its options and features, and developing and adopting new technologies. All this is meant to reach the optimal level of accessibility, following technological advancements. For any assistance, please reach out to
