Valentin Perrone led Moto3 World Championship practice Friday afternoon at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, in Spain. Perrone used his Pirelli-shod Red Bull KTM Tech3 to lap the 2.89-mile (4.66 km) track in 1:47.584, which led the field of 26 riders.
David Muñoz was second-best with a time of 1:47.680 on his Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP KTM.
David Almansa, piloting his Leopard Racing Honda, claimed the third and final spot on the front with a lap time of 1:47.779.
Perrone sets Practice pace as Piqueras misses top 14. The Argentine fronts the Moto3 pack on Friday in Barcelona as a late lap cancellation costs the rider second in the championship.
Valentin Perrone’s (Red Bull KTM Tech3) 1:47.584 saw the Argentine rookie front the Moto3 field in Practice at the Monster Energy Grand Prix of Catalonia, but it wasn’t by much. A late lap from David Muñoz (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP) propelled the Spaniard into P2, 0.096s off Perrone, while David Almansa (Leopard Racing) collected a Friday P3.
Top fives went the way of rookies Guido Pini (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP) and Maximo Quiles (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team), with the latter recovering well from a heavy FP1 crash at Turn 13 to jump straight into Q2. Australians Jacob Roulstone (Red Bull KTM Tech3) and Joel Kelso (LEVELUP-MTA) were P6 and P7 respectively, while a final lap banker from title chase leader Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) ensured the #99 kept his 100% Friday top 14 record intact.
However, it wasn’t the same story for his chief title rival Angel Piqueras (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI). After his fastest lap time was cancelled due to yellow flags after the session, the #36 ended Practice in P15 and will face the unwanted challenge of Q1 at 12:45 local time on Saturday afternoon.
Superbike Unlimited (SBU) is thrilled to announce the signing of Australian racing sensation Max Stauffer for the upcoming 2025 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship at the prestigious Circuit of the Americas (COTA). This race will mark Stauffer’s debut in the highly competitive MotoAmerica Superbike class, where he will go head-to-head with some of the best riders in the world.
Stauffer, who has made a name for himself in the Australian Superbike series, is looking forward to showcasing his talent on the American stage. His first appearance in the MotoAmerica Superbike class at COTA in September 2025 is highly anticipated, and fans can expect an exciting race weekend as Stauffer takes on the challenging 3.4-mile circuit.
“I’m super excited to make my way over to the MotoAmerica championship with the SBU team, it’s like a dream come true! This is an unreal opportunity for myself and I’m more than excited to get to the States, meet up with the team and get our big weekend of learning and developing underway,” said Stauffer. “Overall, I’m excited to make the most of this opportunity and I can’t extend my gratitude enough to the people that have put this all together.”
Freddy Carswell, owner of Superbike Unlimited, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership with Stauffer:“We’re pleased to be able to work with Max for his first appearance in the MotoAmerica Superbike class. It’s an exciting opportunity not only for Max to show American fans his level as a rider, but also for SBU to showcase the level of our program. We’re incredibly thankful for our partners for their continued support in our program. The best is yet to come.”
As part of its ongoing commitment to provide fans with an inside look at the team’s journey, Superbike Unlimited is also continuing its documentary series Finding the Limit, which takes viewers behind the scenes of the team’s efforts throughout the 2025 season. The documentary is available on YouTube and MotoAmerica Live Plus, offering exclusive content and insights into the challenges, triumphs, and day-to-day life of the team and riders.
Finding the Limit gives fans a front-row seat to the development of both the riders and the team, showcasing the passion and dedication required to compete at the highest levels of motorsport. As Stauffer prepares for his debut race at COTA, fans will be able to follow his journey in real-time, witnessing firsthand the growth and evolution of a rising star in the MotoAmerica Superbike Championship.
With the 2025 season soon coming to a close, Superbike Unlimited is poised for an exciting weekend ahead. Stauffer’s addition to the team brings new energy and potential to an already talented roster, and the team is eager to take on the challenges that lie ahead. The Circuit of the Americas race will be the perfect starting point for this thrilling new chapter.
About Superbike Unlimited (SBU):
Superbike Unlimited is a premier racing parts distributor & professional race team competing in the MotoAmerica Superbike Championship. With a focus on excellence both on and off the track, SBU is dedicated to developing elite-level motorcycles and providing riders with the resources they need to succeed. The team is known for its innovation, commitment to performance, and close-knit group of engineers, mechanics, and partners, all working toward one common goal: victory.
About Finding the Limit:
Finding the Limit is a documentary series that provides an in-depth look into the world of Superbike Unlimited, offering fans a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the struggles, triumphs, and day-to-day grind of a professional racing team. Available on YouTube and MotoAmerica Live Plus, the series follows SBU’s riders and team members throughout the season as they push the boundaries of performance and strive for success at the highest level.Superbike Unlimited Racing is proudly partnered with: Yamaha Motor Corporation USA, Bitubo SRL, Evol Technology, Vortex EK, Sprint Filter, TK Dischi, Suter Racing & Domino Racing.
TopPro Motorsports and team owner Alex Arango have announced that Stefano Mesa will return to the MotoAmerica paddock next weekend, September 12 through 14, where he will race a TopPro Motorsports BMW M 1000 RR in the final round of the 2025 Stock 1000 Championship at Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas.
Mesa, who has 34 all-time career podiums in AMA and MotoAmerica competition, including 11 podium finishes in Stock 1000, is a seasoned veteran in MotoAmerica competition. The fan favorite has unfortuinately been sidelined for the past eight months due to a shoulder injury. Now on the mend, he is eager to get back on track and to make his debut with TopPro Motorsports.
“I’m really excited to be coming back to racing and to join TopPro Motorsports for this event,” said Mesa. “It’s been a long recovery, and I haven’t been on a big bike since the injury. The goal is to get my feet wet again, take it step by step, and see where I stack up. My shoulder is still not 100%, but I’m looking forward to building with this team and enjoying the weekend.”
TopPro Motorsports owner Alex Arango shared his excitement in welcoming Mesa to the team, saying: “I’ve known Stefano since we were kids racing together and have watched him grow up in the racing community. He’s not only talented but also very respected and well-liked. We’re excited to have him on board with TopPro Motorsports, and we can’t wait to see what we can do together.”
Mesa’s return with TopPro Motorsports is also backed by TopPro Colombia and his personal sponsors. The COTA round marks an important step in his comeback as he regains strength and track time within a new team environment. Fans and supporters can look forward to an exciting weekend as Mesa takes on the Texas round in Stock 1000.
Stefano Manzi was quickest during FIM Supersport World Championship Free Practice Friday morning at Magny-Cours, in France. Riding his Pata Yamaha Ten Kate YZF R9 on Pirelli control tires, the Italian covered the 2.74-mile (4.41 km) road course in 1:40.193, topping the field of 33 riders.
Filippo Farioli was the best of the rest with a 1:40.602 on his MV Agusta Reparto Corse F3 800 RR.
His teammate, Bo Bendsneyder was third with a lap time of 1:40.758.
Former MotoAmerica Supersport regular Valentin Debise was 10th with a 1:41.158 on his Renzi Corse Ducati Panigale V2.
Pedro Acosta topped MotoGP World Championship Free Practice 1 Friday morning at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, in Spain. Riding his Michelin-shod Red Bull KTM Factory RC16, the Spaniard turned a lap of 1:38.979 around the 2.89-mile (4.66 km) track and led the 24-rider field.
French sensation, Johann Zarco was second-best with a 1:39.074 on his CASTROL Honda LCR RC213V.
Marc Marquez was third with a lap of 1:39.198 on his Lenovo Ducati Desmosedici GP25.
Acosta powers to P1 in Barcelona FP1. A mega start for the KTM star who headed the manufacturer’s strong start to the Catalan GP.
Recent form provided a solid foundation for Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) to build from in Barcelona as he topped the opening session. A 1’38.979 was enough for him to charge to the top late on but with all four KTMs inside the top ten, there were smiles right across both garages and not just in the #37’s corner.
There were a flurry of late laps, including back-to-back fastest laps for Acosta at the end of the session to go top. The Spaniard’s form of recent rounds has pointed towards a strong showing in Barcelona and that’s how his weekend has started. There was something of a surprise in P2 with Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR) moving up late on. There were three manufacturers inside the top three with Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) securing third having led for much of the session. A welcome return for Maverick Viñales (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) in fourth, splitting MotoGP’s fastest brothers as Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) bagged fifth.
Honda’s late charge was emphasised by Luca Marini (Honda HRC Castrol) in sixth, one place ahead of the third KTM of Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing). The best of the Aprilias was Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing), following on from form in recent rounds by taking P8 on Friday morning in Montmelo, ahead of wildcard Aleix Espargaro (Honda HRC Test Team). Rounding out the top ten, a fourth KTM with Enea Bastianini (Red Bull KTM Tech 3). The Austrian manufacturer look strong going into the remainder of Friday but the same can’t be said for Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), P23 and second-to-last on the leaderboard. Pecco’s not renowned for his Friday pace but he may be a tad more concerned than normal after FP1.
Toprak Razgatlioglu was quickest during FIM Superbike World Championship Free Practice 1 Friday morning at Magny-Cours, in France. Riding his Pirelli-shod ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team M1000R on the 2.74-mile (4.41 km) track, the Turkish rider recorded a 1:36.930 to lead the field of 23 riders.
Sam Lowes was the best of the rest with a 1:37.152 on his ELF Marc VDS Ducati Panigale V4R. Nicolo Bulega was third-fastest with a 1:37.183 on his Aruba.It Racing – Ducati Panigale V4R.
Danilo Petrucci was 5th on his Barni Spark Racing Ducati Panigale V4R with a lap time of 1:37.240.
American Garrett Gerloff finished the opening session in 7th with a 1:37.374 on his Kawasaki ZX-10RR.
Razgatlioglu tops FP1 at Magny-Cours ahead of Sam Lowes, Bulega P3 as Vierge puts Honda fourth. Less than a second separated the top 17 in FP1 with all six manufacturers inside the top eight after the opening 45-minute session.
Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) claimed top spot in Free Practice 1 for the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship field as the French Round kicked off at the iconic Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours. The reigning Champion was more than two tenths clear of his rivals with Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) claiming second and title rival Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) completing the top three.
Razgatlioglu went P1 in the standings early in the 45-minute session and retained his grip on top spot throughout. Impressively, in FP1 last year on his first lap, he set a 1’37.695s while this year, again on his first lap, it was a 1’37.694s. Times rapidly improved with ‘El Turco’ putting in a 1’36.983s before improving to a 1’36.930s to secure P1; he was the first and only rider to break into the 1’36s bracket. Sam Lowes made a late play for P1, going faster than Razgatlioglu in the first three sectors but losing time in the final one. The #14 finished second with a 1’37.152s. The top three was completed by Bulega who put in a late 1’37.183s to secure P3, although 0.253s down on title rival Razgatlioglu.
Xavi Vierge (Honda HRC) enjoyed a strong start to the French Round with fourth after setting a 1’37.208s. The #97 was often inside the top three but was demoted by Bulega in the final minutes of the session. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) was another who found himself in the top three throughout FP1 but dropped down to P5 at the end of the first WorldSBK outing of the weekend; the #9 seemingly had a small technical issue on his Panigale V4R towards the end of FP1. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) was sixth for Yamaha, ensuring four manufacturers were in the top six, as he set a 1’37.251s.
American star Garrett Gerloff (Kawasaki WorldSBK Team) was 0.444s off the pace in FP1 as he put Kawasaki in seventh, finishing 0.013s clear of Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) in eighth; ensuring all six manufacturers featured in the top eight. Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) was ninth with Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) completing the top ten, 0.567s down on the pace of what was an incredibly close FP1 session.
Daniel Holgado was quickest during Moto2 World Championship Free Practice 1 Friday morning at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, in Spain. Riding his Pirelli-shod CFMOTO Impulse Aspar Team Kalex on the 2.89-mile (4.66 km) track, the Spaniard recorded a 1:42.306 to lead the field of 29 riders.
Barry Baltus was the best of the rest with a 1:42.453 on his Fantic Racing Lino Sonego Kalex.
Manuel Gonzalez was third-fastest with a 1:42.473 on his LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP Kalex.
American Joe Roberts finished the opening session in 24th with a 1:43.826 on his American Racing Team Kalex.
The MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship is back, and with it comes the traditional Thursday debriefs. There were hot topics aplenty, discussing all the big news from the summer break, looking at the French Round and talking about the future as the grid gathered at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours.
Jonathan Rea. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Jonathan Rea (Pata Maxus Yamaha): “I’m jumping into the unknown in 2026… I was able to see those messages, it made me feel very proud”
Reflecting on his retirement announcement, Rea said: “I feel quite light; right now, it’s exciting because I’m jumping into the unknown in 2026, whatever that may be. I’m trying to focus on the last four rounds of the season. It was important to make the announcement before Magny-Cours. I want to finish this chapter strong; I want to be competitive. I probably made the decision two or three weeks before the announcement, after the last race. I think I walked out of the paddock at Balaton pretty convinced it was the correct decision. It’s the most difficult decision as a rider or athlete to make, when it’s all you’ve ever known, but for me it’s the correct decision at the correct time. I’ll miss the burning fire inside to win, the team working and many things; thousands of things that are incredible in this job. It was super nice to read all the comments. I was able to see those messages about the impact I’ve had in the sport, and it made me feel very proud.”
Danilo Petrucci (9). Photo courtesy Barni Racing Team.
Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team): “After the technical meetings, I had a clear idea of my future”
Discussing his move to BMW for 2026, ‘Petrux’ stated: “I’m really happy and proud to be a factory rider. Next season will be my fourth season, and riding with a factory team has been my goal. It was not an easy decision to leave Barni. They were the team that launched my career in MotoGP, and I stayed with them after that, now in WorldSBK, so it was very tough because we accomplished so much together. We spoke with the team on the technical side, looking at the bike and how Toprak is riding it. They said they asked Toprak who’s the rider who likes to brake hard to stop the bike, and he said I was one of the possibilities. I want to say thanks for this. It was a difficult choice, but after the technical meetings, I had a clear idea of my future. Taking Toprak’s seat is really challenging! I already feel the pressure. Rea’s the greatest rider in WorldSBK. Looking at his statistics, I think he did almost half of the WorldSBK races. He’s Mr. WorldSBK. Just the numbers can speak for him, and I’m so proud to have raced with him for the last part of his career.”
Toprak Razgatlioglu (1). Photo courtesy WorldSBK.
Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team): “He helped me a lot, especially when I had my first test at Portimao. I’ll never forget this”
Looking ahead to his return at Magny-Cours and reacting to Rea’s retirement news, ‘El Turco’ said: “Last year here wasn’t good for me because I had a really big crash. This is my favourite track, and my target is to win three races. I’m just thinking that last year I didn’t win here, and this year I want to win three races. I took my first win in WorldSBK here in 2019; I’m always strong here. I’m happy for Petrucci because he’s a very experienced rider. This is good to improve the BMW again. When I saw Rea’s news, I was sad. I’ve ridden with him for many years. He did an incredible job and had an incredible career. Six times World Champion and all in a row, that’s incredible; it’s why I say he’s a WorldSBK legend. He helped me a lot, especially when I had my first test at Portimao. He came to my box and showed me corner by corner, and I rode with him on the track. I’ll never forget this.”
Alvaro Bautista (19). Photo courtesy Aruba.it Team.
Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati): “In the final weeks before making my decision, I had the chance to stay… I chose Barni because it was the more exciting proposal to me”
Reflecting on his move to Barni Ducati for 2026, Bautista said: “I’m so happy and excited for this new challenge with Barni. After the whole situation with the factory team, I appreciated them showing me that they wanted me for their bike, and that’s always a nice feeling. We spoke a lot with Ducati during the negotiations, and in the end, I think we arrived at a really good compromise. I will have full factory support from Ducati with the bike, technicians, etc. I didn’t want to keep racing just to keep racing; I want to fight for wins. This is my target, so I wanted to be sure that I would have the best on the technical side. Barni was my main option, but in the final weeks before making my decision, I had the chance to stay with Aruba.it Racing – Ducati. I chose Barni because it was the more exciting proposal to me, but it was always clear to stay on a Ducati. It’s not easy to make the decision that Jonny made, but I wish him the best for the future, and it has been a pleasure to race against the best rider in the history of WorldSBK.”
Xavi Vierge (97). Photo courtesy Honda HRC Team.
Xavi Vierge (Honda HRC): “They’re very happy with me, but for some reason, they still need time. I don’t have much more time”
Speaking about having a new teammate for France and his future, Vierge said: “Two weeks ago, we were testing at Aragon, which were two productive days. It’s very good to have Sergio and, of course, I wish a speedy recovery to Iker. Straight away at Aragon, he was very fast. I’m very happy for Iker as he’s doing a good job and he got a very good opportunity for next year. I know his speed, and he’ll be one of the title contenders. Right now, I’m the best Honda rider, and the reality right now is my future is still open. I had a clause with Honda, but this has already expired. They’re very happy with me, but for some reason, they still need time. I don’t have much more time. I’m free to speak to another factory, and I hope that in the coming weeks, I will sort out my future. The first thing is a big congratulations to Rea for an amazing career. It’s been a big pleasure to share the track with him in the last few years.”
Nicolo Bulega (11). Photo courtesy WorldSBK.
Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati): “These next races will be better for me and my bike”
Expecting a battle with Razgatlioglu in France, Bulega said: “Toprak didn’t ride here because he was injured in FP2; we know that every year he’s very strong here. For sure, I expect that to be the same, but we are strong too, so I think we will be competitive, and we will try to stay in the front. The last few races have been at tracks that are not very good for me or for my bike; slow corners are not perfect for us. Here, some corners are more open and faster, and these next races will be better for me and my bike. I’m very motivated to be fast. Jonny is incredible, even at his age. When I arrived to WorldSBK, he was still very fast. He won a lot of races; he’s the greatest of all time. I’m very happy and proud to say I was able to race against him. I wish him the best for the rest of his life.”
Sergio Garcia (03). Photo courtesy Honda HRC Team.
Sergio Garcia (Honda HRC): “I think it could be a good track for me; I rode it recently on the PlayStation on the WorldSBK game”
Previewing his first weekend in WorldSBK, Garcia said: “I’m super happy to be here in a new Championship. Everything is different for me. I’m really focused on learning everything. The test went quite well. The bike was different, but from the first moment, I was going quite well. I was happy but super tired; I came directly from Balaton Park! Understanding everything on the bike was super fun, and I was learning every lap I did. The speed was different; the bike is so fast at the end of the straight. It’s different, but I like the bike, and the team did a great job adapting the bike to me. I think it could be a good track for me; I rode it recently on the PlayStation on the WorldSBK game.”
Andrea Locatelli (55). Photo courtesy Pata Maxus Team.
Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha): “He is an all-time legend of the sport. I can only be jealous of everything he has accomplished”
Discussing his recent form and teammate Rea’s retirement, Locatelli said: “I’m arriving with full motivation after the podium at Suzuka, I have good confidence with the bike. We’re trying to keep the focus on that and push hard this weekend. It’s been a difficult season. Sometimes, we need to be realistic and shoot to achieve top fives because the competition’s level is so high. We have found a good base setup and a good feeling, and we’re working really well. I think from here until the end of the year, we have many possibilities for podiums and maybe even another race win if the possibility arises. This is our target for now. It was big news to me when I heard that Jonathan was retiring. I still see in his eyes that he wants to win. He is an all-time legend of the sport. I can only be jealous of everything he has accomplished. To have his mentality to want to win at all times at 38 years old is something I’ve learned from him.”
Jose Antonio Rueda was quickest during Moto3 World Championship practice Friday morning at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, in Spain. Riding his Red Bull KTM Ajo on Pirelli control tires, the Spaniard covered the 2.89-mile (4.66 km) road course in 1:47.483, topping the field of 26 riders.
David Muñoz was the best of the rest with a 1:47.671 on his LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt IntactGP KTM.
Adrian Fernandez was third with a lap time of 1:48.007 on his Leopard Racing Honda.
Turner Racing Honda’s Trent Lowe wins SuperTwins class at Springfield Mile
Win is Honda’s first in U.S. flat-track racing’s premier class in 27 years
Race bike is powered by 755cc parallel-twin from Honda’s Transalp and Hornet
On Sunday, August 31, at the Illinois State Fairgrounds, Trent Lowe rode the Turner Racing Honda Transalp/Hornet-powered race bike to a historic victory in the thrilling AFT SuperTwins main event. The win, which took place during American Flat Track’s traditional Labor Day Weekend Springfield Mile doubleheader, was the first by a Honda rider in AMA Pro Racing-sanctioned twins-class competition in more than a quarter century; the previous victory was posted by RS750-mounted Rich King at the 1998 Joliet Half Mile.
Lowe, who one day earlier had provided a hint of what was to come by threatening for the overall win during Saturday’s unique Triple Challenge format event, faced a stacked field of riders in day 2’s traditional-format event, besting not only the series regulars but also several retired racers making cameos at the legendary dirt track venue. To score the victory, the 22-year-old from Guilford, Indiana, rode in the top group for the entire main event, leading briefly at times but sitting in second place as the pack began the final lap. Going into turn 3 for the last time, Lowe pulled to the inside of series points-leader Dallas Daniels and made the pass, crossing the line with a winning margin of.026 seconds; in the end, only .548 seconds separated the top seven riders.
In addition to being a milestone victory for Honda, this was the first premier-class win ever for Lowe, who turned pro in 2019 and signed with Turner Racing Honda to campaign the 2023 season aboard a CRF450R in American Flat Track’s AFT Singles class. This year saw him promoted to the AFT SuperTwins class, as the rider in Turner’s still-young Transalp/Hornet project.
“All season, we’ve just been learning stuff,” Lowe said. “I knew going in that it was going to be tough; I had to do two things at once—learn how to ride a twin, and develop a new bike. We’ve been testing a lot of stuff all year, and this weekend we finally had a good package that was capable of winning. It’s a huge achievement. I hadn’t looked into the history behind it, but people have been messaging me; at first I just looked at it as being a win, but there’s all kinds of cherries on top.”
Trent Lowe (48) at Springfield 2. Photo courtesy American Honda Motor Co
This is the second year for the Honda SuperTwins project, which was launched in 2024 by Al Lamb’s Dallas Honda. This year saw the Texas dealership join forces with Turner Racing Honda (which was already fielding the Honda AFT Singles program), and American Honda pitched in additional funding. The engine was competitive from the beginning, thanks to its broad spread of smooth, useable power, but the custom chassis was a major undertaking. The squad introduced a revamped chassis four months ago—with the season already underway—and immediately knew the package had potential.
“Twins is obviously the big class for flat track, so we always knew we wanted to go that way—bringing Honda back to the premier class in flat track,” said Mike Turner, owner of the Mission Foods/Castrol/United Rentals/Helmet House-backed team. “We had some good outings, but some unfortunate things happened. Finally, all the hard work paid off this weekend. We kind of thought we had something for them, and after the first three laps on the first day, we were like, ‘We’re coming.’ This is just a confirmation of where we’re going. We knew this bike had it, and we just had to prove it. It’s a big deal for us, but we’re not done; we still think the bike can be better.”
Lowe sits in fourth place in the series standings with only one round remaining—a September 13 short-track race in Eldon, Missouri. After that, the team will turn its efforts to 2026, buoyed by its historic success this past weekend.
“On behalf of everyone at American Honda, congratulations to Trent, Mike, Al and the entire Turning Racing operation,” said Brandon Wilson, Manager of Racing & Advertising at American Honda. “The team has put in countless hours on this project, and we’re grateful that they’ve shown the racing potential of an engine that is also enjoying sales success in Honda’s production adventure-bike and naked-bike lineups. Honda has a proud heritage in flat-track racing, but this one has obviously been a long time coming. We’re excited to see what the Turner team can do in the both the SuperTwins and Singles classes in 2026.”
Valentin Perrone (73) in Montmelo. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Valentin Perrone led Moto3 World Championship practice Friday afternoon at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, in Spain. Perrone used his Pirelli-shod Red Bull KTM Tech3 to lap the 2.89-mile (4.66 km) track in 1:47.584, which led the field of 26 riders.
David Muñoz was second-best with a time of 1:47.680 on his Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP KTM.
David Almansa, piloting his Leopard Racing Honda, claimed the third and final spot on the front with a lap time of 1:47.779.
Perrone sets Practice pace as Piqueras misses top 14. The Argentine fronts the Moto3 pack on Friday in Barcelona as a late lap cancellation costs the rider second in the championship.
Valentin Perrone’s (Red Bull KTM Tech3) 1:47.584 saw the Argentine rookie front the Moto3 field in Practice at the Monster Energy Grand Prix of Catalonia, but it wasn’t by much. A late lap from David Muñoz (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP) propelled the Spaniard into P2, 0.096s off Perrone, while David Almansa (Leopard Racing) collected a Friday P3.
Top fives went the way of rookies Guido Pini (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP) and Maximo Quiles (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team), with the latter recovering well from a heavy FP1 crash at Turn 13 to jump straight into Q2. Australians Jacob Roulstone (Red Bull KTM Tech3) and Joel Kelso (LEVELUP-MTA) were P6 and P7 respectively, while a final lap banker from title chase leader Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) ensured the #99 kept his 100% Friday top 14 record intact.
However, it wasn’t the same story for his chief title rival Angel Piqueras (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI). After his fastest lap time was cancelled due to yellow flags after the session, the #36 ended Practice in P15 and will face the unwanted challenge of Q1 at 12:45 local time on Saturday afternoon.
Max Stauffer will race for Superbike Unlimited at COTA. Photo courtesy courtesy Max Stauffer.
Superbike Unlimited (SBU) is thrilled to announce the signing of Australian racing sensation Max Stauffer for the upcoming 2025 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship at the prestigious Circuit of the Americas (COTA). This race will mark Stauffer’s debut in the highly competitive MotoAmerica Superbike class, where he will go head-to-head with some of the best riders in the world.
Stauffer, who has made a name for himself in the Australian Superbike series, is looking forward to showcasing his talent on the American stage. His first appearance in the MotoAmerica Superbike class at COTA in September 2025 is highly anticipated, and fans can expect an exciting race weekend as Stauffer takes on the challenging 3.4-mile circuit.
“I’m super excited to make my way over to the MotoAmerica championship with the SBU team, it’s like a dream come true! This is an unreal opportunity for myself and I’m more than excited to get to the States, meet up with the team and get our big weekend of learning and developing underway,” said Stauffer. “Overall, I’m excited to make the most of this opportunity and I can’t extend my gratitude enough to the people that have put this all together.”
Freddy Carswell, owner of Superbike Unlimited, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership with Stauffer:“We’re pleased to be able to work with Max for his first appearance in the MotoAmerica Superbike class. It’s an exciting opportunity not only for Max to show American fans his level as a rider, but also for SBU to showcase the level of our program. We’re incredibly thankful for our partners for their continued support in our program. The best is yet to come.”
As part of its ongoing commitment to provide fans with an inside look at the team’s journey, Superbike Unlimited is also continuing its documentary series Finding the Limit, which takes viewers behind the scenes of the team’s efforts throughout the 2025 season. The documentary is available on YouTube and MotoAmerica Live Plus, offering exclusive content and insights into the challenges, triumphs, and day-to-day life of the team and riders.
Finding the Limit gives fans a front-row seat to the development of both the riders and the team, showcasing the passion and dedication required to compete at the highest levels of motorsport. As Stauffer prepares for his debut race at COTA, fans will be able to follow his journey in real-time, witnessing firsthand the growth and evolution of a rising star in the MotoAmerica Superbike Championship.
With the 2025 season soon coming to a close, Superbike Unlimited is poised for an exciting weekend ahead. Stauffer’s addition to the team brings new energy and potential to an already talented roster, and the team is eager to take on the challenges that lie ahead. The Circuit of the Americas race will be the perfect starting point for this thrilling new chapter.
About Superbike Unlimited (SBU):
Superbike Unlimited is a premier racing parts distributor & professional race team competing in the MotoAmerica Superbike Championship. With a focus on excellence both on and off the track, SBU is dedicated to developing elite-level motorcycles and providing riders with the resources they need to succeed. The team is known for its innovation, commitment to performance, and close-knit group of engineers, mechanics, and partners, all working toward one common goal: victory.
About Finding the Limit:
Finding the Limit is a documentary series that provides an in-depth look into the world of Superbike Unlimited, offering fans a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the struggles, triumphs, and day-to-day grind of a professional racing team. Available on YouTube and MotoAmerica Live Plus, the series follows SBU’s riders and team members throughout the season as they push the boundaries of performance and strive for success at the highest level.Superbike Unlimited Racing is proudly partnered with: Yamaha Motor Corporation USA, Bitubo SRL, Evol Technology, Vortex EK, Sprint Filter, TK Dischi, Suter Racing & Domino Racing.
TopPro Motorsports owner Alex Arango (left) welcomes veteran rider and good friend Stefano Mesa (right) to the team as Mesa makes his comeback in Stock 1000 next weekend aboard a BMW M 1000 RR. Photo courtesy of Stefano Mesa.
TopPro Motorsports and team owner Alex Arango have announced that Stefano Mesa will return to the MotoAmerica paddock next weekend, September 12 through 14, where he will race a TopPro Motorsports BMW M 1000 RR in the final round of the 2025 Stock 1000 Championship at Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas.
Mesa, who has 34 all-time career podiums in AMA and MotoAmerica competition, including 11 podium finishes in Stock 1000, is a seasoned veteran in MotoAmerica competition. The fan favorite has unfortuinately been sidelined for the past eight months due to a shoulder injury. Now on the mend, he is eager to get back on track and to make his debut with TopPro Motorsports.
“I’m really excited to be coming back to racing and to join TopPro Motorsports for this event,” said Mesa. “It’s been a long recovery, and I haven’t been on a big bike since the injury. The goal is to get my feet wet again, take it step by step, and see where I stack up. My shoulder is still not 100%, but I’m looking forward to building with this team and enjoying the weekend.”
TopPro Motorsports owner Alex Arango shared his excitement in welcoming Mesa to the team, saying: “I’ve known Stefano since we were kids racing together and have watched him grow up in the racing community. He’s not only talented but also very respected and well-liked. We’re excited to have him on board with TopPro Motorsports, and we can’t wait to see what we can do together.”
Mesa’s return with TopPro Motorsports is also backed by TopPro Colombia and his personal sponsors. The COTA round marks an important step in his comeback as he regains strength and track time within a new team environment. Fans and supporters can look forward to an exciting weekend as Mesa takes on the Texas round in Stock 1000.
Stefano Manzi at Balaton Park. Photo courtesy Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Team.
Stefano Manzi was quickest during FIM Supersport World Championship Free Practice Friday morning at Magny-Cours, in France. Riding his Pata Yamaha Ten Kate YZF R9 on Pirelli control tires, the Italian covered the 2.74-mile (4.41 km) road course in 1:40.193, topping the field of 33 riders.
Filippo Farioli was the best of the rest with a 1:40.602 on his MV Agusta Reparto Corse F3 800 RR.
His teammate, Bo Bendsneyder was third with a lap time of 1:40.758.
Former MotoAmerica Supersport regular Valentin Debise was 10th with a 1:41.158 on his Renzi Corse Ducati Panigale V2.
Pedro Acosta (37) at Balaton Park. Photo courtesy Red Bull KTM Factory Team.
Pedro Acosta topped MotoGP World Championship Free Practice 1 Friday morning at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, in Spain. Riding his Michelin-shod Red Bull KTM Factory RC16, the Spaniard turned a lap of 1:38.979 around the 2.89-mile (4.66 km) track and led the 24-rider field.
French sensation, Johann Zarco was second-best with a 1:39.074 on his CASTROL Honda LCR RC213V.
Marc Marquez was third with a lap of 1:39.198 on his Lenovo Ducati Desmosedici GP25.
Acosta powers to P1 in Barcelona FP1. A mega start for the KTM star who headed the manufacturer’s strong start to the Catalan GP.
Recent form provided a solid foundation for Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) to build from in Barcelona as he topped the opening session. A 1’38.979 was enough for him to charge to the top late on but with all four KTMs inside the top ten, there were smiles right across both garages and not just in the #37’s corner.
There were a flurry of late laps, including back-to-back fastest laps for Acosta at the end of the session to go top. The Spaniard’s form of recent rounds has pointed towards a strong showing in Barcelona and that’s how his weekend has started. There was something of a surprise in P2 with Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR) moving up late on. There were three manufacturers inside the top three with Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) securing third having led for much of the session. A welcome return for Maverick Viñales (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) in fourth, splitting MotoGP’s fastest brothers as Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) bagged fifth.
Honda’s late charge was emphasised by Luca Marini (Honda HRC Castrol) in sixth, one place ahead of the third KTM of Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing). The best of the Aprilias was Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing), following on from form in recent rounds by taking P8 on Friday morning in Montmelo, ahead of wildcard Aleix Espargaro (Honda HRC Test Team). Rounding out the top ten, a fourth KTM with Enea Bastianini (Red Bull KTM Tech 3). The Austrian manufacturer look strong going into the remainder of Friday but the same can’t be said for Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), P23 and second-to-last on the leaderboard. Pecco’s not renowned for his Friday pace but he may be a tad more concerned than normal after FP1.
Toprak Razgatlioglu (1) at Magny-Cours during FP1. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Toprak Razgatlioglu was quickest during FIM Superbike World Championship Free Practice 1 Friday morning at Magny-Cours, in France. Riding his Pirelli-shod ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team M1000R on the 2.74-mile (4.41 km) track, the Turkish rider recorded a 1:36.930 to lead the field of 23 riders.
Sam Lowes was the best of the rest with a 1:37.152 on his ELF Marc VDS Ducati Panigale V4R. Nicolo Bulega was third-fastest with a 1:37.183 on his Aruba.It Racing – Ducati Panigale V4R.
Danilo Petrucci was 5th on his Barni Spark Racing Ducati Panigale V4R with a lap time of 1:37.240.
American Garrett Gerloff finished the opening session in 7th with a 1:37.374 on his Kawasaki ZX-10RR.
Razgatlioglu tops FP1 at Magny-Cours ahead of Sam Lowes, Bulega P3 as Vierge puts Honda fourth. Less than a second separated the top 17 in FP1 with all six manufacturers inside the top eight after the opening 45-minute session.
Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) claimed top spot in Free Practice 1 for the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship field as the French Round kicked off at the iconic Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours. The reigning Champion was more than two tenths clear of his rivals with Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) claiming second and title rival Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) completing the top three.
Razgatlioglu went P1 in the standings early in the 45-minute session and retained his grip on top spot throughout. Impressively, in FP1 last year on his first lap, he set a 1’37.695s while this year, again on his first lap, it was a 1’37.694s. Times rapidly improved with ‘El Turco’ putting in a 1’36.983s before improving to a 1’36.930s to secure P1; he was the first and only rider to break into the 1’36s bracket. Sam Lowes made a late play for P1, going faster than Razgatlioglu in the first three sectors but losing time in the final one. The #14 finished second with a 1’37.152s. The top three was completed by Bulega who put in a late 1’37.183s to secure P3, although 0.253s down on title rival Razgatlioglu.
Xavi Vierge (Honda HRC) enjoyed a strong start to the French Round with fourth after setting a 1’37.208s. The #97 was often inside the top three but was demoted by Bulega in the final minutes of the session. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) was another who found himself in the top three throughout FP1 but dropped down to P5 at the end of the first WorldSBK outing of the weekend; the #9 seemingly had a small technical issue on his Panigale V4R towards the end of FP1. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) was sixth for Yamaha, ensuring four manufacturers were in the top six, as he set a 1’37.251s.
American star Garrett Gerloff (Kawasaki WorldSBK Team) was 0.444s off the pace in FP1 as he put Kawasaki in seventh, finishing 0.013s clear of Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) in eighth; ensuring all six manufacturers featured in the top eight. Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) was ninth with Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) completing the top ten, 0.567s down on the pace of what was an incredibly close FP1 session.
Daniel Holgado (27) at Balaton Park. Photo courtesy Aspar Team.
Daniel Holgado was quickest during Moto2 World Championship Free Practice 1 Friday morning at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, in Spain. Riding his Pirelli-shod CFMOTO Impulse Aspar Team Kalex on the 2.89-mile (4.66 km) track, the Spaniard recorded a 1:42.306 to lead the field of 29 riders.
Barry Baltus was the best of the rest with a 1:42.453 on his Fantic Racing Lino Sonego Kalex.
Manuel Gonzalez was third-fastest with a 1:42.473 on his LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP Kalex.
American Joe Roberts finished the opening session in 24th with a 1:43.826 on his American Racing Team Kalex.
Jonathan Rea (Pata Maxus Yamaha). Photo courtesy WorldSBK.
Talking Points: What to expect at Magny-Cours
The MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship is back, and with it comes the traditional Thursday debriefs. There were hot topics aplenty, discussing all the big news from the summer break, looking at the French Round and talking about the future as the grid gathered at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours.
Jonathan Rea. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Jonathan Rea (Pata Maxus Yamaha): “I’m jumping into the unknown in 2026… I was able to see those messages, it made me feel very proud”
Reflecting on his retirement announcement, Rea said: “I feel quite light; right now, it’s exciting because I’m jumping into the unknown in 2026, whatever that may be. I’m trying to focus on the last four rounds of the season. It was important to make the announcement before Magny-Cours. I want to finish this chapter strong; I want to be competitive. I probably made the decision two or three weeks before the announcement, after the last race. I think I walked out of the paddock at Balaton pretty convinced it was the correct decision. It’s the most difficult decision as a rider or athlete to make, when it’s all you’ve ever known, but for me it’s the correct decision at the correct time. I’ll miss the burning fire inside to win, the team working and many things; thousands of things that are incredible in this job. It was super nice to read all the comments. I was able to see those messages about the impact I’ve had in the sport, and it made me feel very proud.”
Danilo Petrucci (9). Photo courtesy Barni Racing Team.
Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team): “After the technical meetings, I had a clear idea of my future”
Discussing his move to BMW for 2026, ‘Petrux’ stated: “I’m really happy and proud to be a factory rider. Next season will be my fourth season, and riding with a factory team has been my goal. It was not an easy decision to leave Barni. They were the team that launched my career in MotoGP, and I stayed with them after that, now in WorldSBK, so it was very tough because we accomplished so much together. We spoke with the team on the technical side, looking at the bike and how Toprak is riding it. They said they asked Toprak who’s the rider who likes to brake hard to stop the bike, and he said I was one of the possibilities. I want to say thanks for this. It was a difficult choice, but after the technical meetings, I had a clear idea of my future. Taking Toprak’s seat is really challenging! I already feel the pressure. Rea’s the greatest rider in WorldSBK. Looking at his statistics, I think he did almost half of the WorldSBK races. He’s Mr. WorldSBK. Just the numbers can speak for him, and I’m so proud to have raced with him for the last part of his career.”
Toprak Razgatlioglu (1). Photo courtesy WorldSBK.
Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team): “He helped me a lot, especially when I had my first test at Portimao. I’ll never forget this”
Looking ahead to his return at Magny-Cours and reacting to Rea’s retirement news, ‘El Turco’ said: “Last year here wasn’t good for me because I had a really big crash. This is my favourite track, and my target is to win three races. I’m just thinking that last year I didn’t win here, and this year I want to win three races. I took my first win in WorldSBK here in 2019; I’m always strong here. I’m happy for Petrucci because he’s a very experienced rider. This is good to improve the BMW again. When I saw Rea’s news, I was sad. I’ve ridden with him for many years. He did an incredible job and had an incredible career. Six times World Champion and all in a row, that’s incredible; it’s why I say he’s a WorldSBK legend. He helped me a lot, especially when I had my first test at Portimao. He came to my box and showed me corner by corner, and I rode with him on the track. I’ll never forget this.”
Alvaro Bautista (19). Photo courtesy Aruba.it Team.
Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati): “In the final weeks before making my decision, I had the chance to stay… I chose Barni because it was the more exciting proposal to me”
Reflecting on his move to Barni Ducati for 2026, Bautista said: “I’m so happy and excited for this new challenge with Barni. After the whole situation with the factory team, I appreciated them showing me that they wanted me for their bike, and that’s always a nice feeling. We spoke a lot with Ducati during the negotiations, and in the end, I think we arrived at a really good compromise. I will have full factory support from Ducati with the bike, technicians, etc. I didn’t want to keep racing just to keep racing; I want to fight for wins. This is my target, so I wanted to be sure that I would have the best on the technical side. Barni was my main option, but in the final weeks before making my decision, I had the chance to stay with Aruba.it Racing – Ducati. I chose Barni because it was the more exciting proposal to me, but it was always clear to stay on a Ducati. It’s not easy to make the decision that Jonny made, but I wish him the best for the future, and it has been a pleasure to race against the best rider in the history of WorldSBK.”
Xavi Vierge (97). Photo courtesy Honda HRC Team.
Xavi Vierge (Honda HRC): “They’re very happy with me, but for some reason, they still need time. I don’t have much more time”
Speaking about having a new teammate for France and his future, Vierge said: “Two weeks ago, we were testing at Aragon, which were two productive days. It’s very good to have Sergio and, of course, I wish a speedy recovery to Iker. Straight away at Aragon, he was very fast. I’m very happy for Iker as he’s doing a good job and he got a very good opportunity for next year. I know his speed, and he’ll be one of the title contenders. Right now, I’m the best Honda rider, and the reality right now is my future is still open. I had a clause with Honda, but this has already expired. They’re very happy with me, but for some reason, they still need time. I don’t have much more time. I’m free to speak to another factory, and I hope that in the coming weeks, I will sort out my future. The first thing is a big congratulations to Rea for an amazing career. It’s been a big pleasure to share the track with him in the last few years.”
Nicolo Bulega (11). Photo courtesy WorldSBK.
Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati): “These next races will be better for me and my bike”
Expecting a battle with Razgatlioglu in France, Bulega said: “Toprak didn’t ride here because he was injured in FP2; we know that every year he’s very strong here. For sure, I expect that to be the same, but we are strong too, so I think we will be competitive, and we will try to stay in the front. The last few races have been at tracks that are not very good for me or for my bike; slow corners are not perfect for us. Here, some corners are more open and faster, and these next races will be better for me and my bike. I’m very motivated to be fast. Jonny is incredible, even at his age. When I arrived to WorldSBK, he was still very fast. He won a lot of races; he’s the greatest of all time. I’m very happy and proud to say I was able to race against him. I wish him the best for the rest of his life.”
Sergio Garcia (03). Photo courtesy Honda HRC Team.
Sergio Garcia (Honda HRC): “I think it could be a good track for me; I rode it recently on the PlayStation on the WorldSBK game”
Previewing his first weekend in WorldSBK, Garcia said: “I’m super happy to be here in a new Championship. Everything is different for me. I’m really focused on learning everything. The test went quite well. The bike was different, but from the first moment, I was going quite well. I was happy but super tired; I came directly from Balaton Park! Understanding everything on the bike was super fun, and I was learning every lap I did. The speed was different; the bike is so fast at the end of the straight. It’s different, but I like the bike, and the team did a great job adapting the bike to me. I think it could be a good track for me; I rode it recently on the PlayStation on the WorldSBK game.”
Andrea Locatelli (55). Photo courtesy Pata Maxus Team.
Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha): “He is an all-time legend of the sport. I can only be jealous of everything he has accomplished”
Discussing his recent form and teammate Rea’s retirement, Locatelli said: “I’m arriving with full motivation after the podium at Suzuka, I have good confidence with the bike. We’re trying to keep the focus on that and push hard this weekend. It’s been a difficult season. Sometimes, we need to be realistic and shoot to achieve top fives because the competition’s level is so high. We have found a good base setup and a good feeling, and we’re working really well. I think from here until the end of the year, we have many possibilities for podiums and maybe even another race win if the possibility arises. This is our target for now. It was big news to me when I heard that Jonathan was retiring. I still see in his eyes that he wants to win. He is an all-time legend of the sport. I can only be jealous of everything he has accomplished. To have his mentality to want to win at all times at 38 years old is something I’ve learned from him.”
Jose Antonio Rueda (99) at Balaton Park. Photo courtesy Red Bull KTM Ajo.
Jose Antonio Rueda was quickest during Moto3 World Championship practice Friday morning at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, in Spain. Riding his Red Bull KTM Ajo on Pirelli control tires, the Spaniard covered the 2.89-mile (4.66 km) road course in 1:47.483, topping the field of 26 riders.
David Muñoz was the best of the rest with a 1:47.671 on his LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt IntactGP KTM.
Adrian Fernandez was third with a lap time of 1:48.007 on his Leopard Racing Honda.
Trent Lowe (48) at Springfield 2. Photo courtesy American Honda Motor Co
Turner Racing Honda’s Trent Lowe wins SuperTwins class at Springfield Mile
Win is Honda’s first in U.S. flat-track racing’s premier class in 27 years
Race bike is powered by 755cc parallel-twin from Honda’s Transalp and Hornet
On Sunday, August 31, at the Illinois State Fairgrounds, Trent Lowe rode the Turner Racing Honda Transalp/Hornet-powered race bike to a historic victory in the thrilling AFT SuperTwins main event. The win, which took place during American Flat Track’s traditional Labor Day Weekend Springfield Mile doubleheader, was the first by a Honda rider in AMA Pro Racing-sanctioned twins-class competition in more than a quarter century; the previous victory was posted by RS750-mounted Rich King at the 1998 Joliet Half Mile.
Lowe, who one day earlier had provided a hint of what was to come by threatening for the overall win during Saturday’s unique Triple Challenge format event, faced a stacked field of riders in day 2’s traditional-format event, besting not only the series regulars but also several retired racers making cameos at the legendary dirt track venue. To score the victory, the 22-year-old from Guilford, Indiana, rode in the top group for the entire main event, leading briefly at times but sitting in second place as the pack began the final lap. Going into turn 3 for the last time, Lowe pulled to the inside of series points-leader Dallas Daniels and made the pass, crossing the line with a winning margin of.026 seconds; in the end, only .548 seconds separated the top seven riders.
In addition to being a milestone victory for Honda, this was the first premier-class win ever for Lowe, who turned pro in 2019 and signed with Turner Racing Honda to campaign the 2023 season aboard a CRF450R in American Flat Track’s AFT Singles class. This year saw him promoted to the AFT SuperTwins class, as the rider in Turner’s still-young Transalp/Hornet project.
“All season, we’ve just been learning stuff,” Lowe said. “I knew going in that it was going to be tough; I had to do two things at once—learn how to ride a twin, and develop a new bike. We’ve been testing a lot of stuff all year, and this weekend we finally had a good package that was capable of winning. It’s a huge achievement. I hadn’t looked into the history behind it, but people have been messaging me; at first I just looked at it as being a win, but there’s all kinds of cherries on top.”
Trent Lowe (48) at Springfield 2. Photo courtesy American Honda Motor Co
This is the second year for the Honda SuperTwins project, which was launched in 2024 by Al Lamb’s Dallas Honda. This year saw the Texas dealership join forces with Turner Racing Honda (which was already fielding the Honda AFT Singles program), and American Honda pitched in additional funding. The engine was competitive from the beginning, thanks to its broad spread of smooth, useable power, but the custom chassis was a major undertaking. The squad introduced a revamped chassis four months ago—with the season already underway—and immediately knew the package had potential.
“Twins is obviously the big class for flat track, so we always knew we wanted to go that way—bringing Honda back to the premier class in flat track,” said Mike Turner, owner of the Mission Foods/Castrol/United Rentals/Helmet House-backed team. “We had some good outings, but some unfortunate things happened. Finally, all the hard work paid off this weekend. We kind of thought we had something for them, and after the first three laps on the first day, we were like, ‘We’re coming.’ This is just a confirmation of where we’re going. We knew this bike had it, and we just had to prove it. It’s a big deal for us, but we’re not done; we still think the bike can be better.”
Lowe sits in fourth place in the series standings with only one round remaining—a September 13 short-track race in Eldon, Missouri. After that, the team will turn its efforts to 2026, buoyed by its historic success this past weekend.
“On behalf of everyone at American Honda, congratulations to Trent, Mike, Al and the entire Turning Racing operation,” said Brandon Wilson, Manager of Racing & Advertising at American Honda. “The team has put in countless hours on this project, and we’re grateful that they’ve shown the racing potential of an engine that is also enjoying sales success in Honda’s production adventure-bike and naked-bike lineups. Honda has a proud heritage in flat-track racing, but this one has obviously been a long time coming. We’re excited to see what the Turner team can do in the both the SuperTwins and Singles classes in 2026.”
A “press release” is promotional text issued by a rider, team, company or organization to inform
the public about an event, product, or service from the issuer’s own point of view, and if deemed
to have news value, may be placed on roadracingworld.com as a service to our readers.
A press release is not an article written by Roadracingworld.com staffers. When a post is labeled with the words “press release”, it means that Roadracingworld.com is not responsible for its content and that Roadracingworld.com makes no guarantee that it is accurate. Not all press releases are posted and Roadracingworld.com may reject press releases if the content is too heavy on commercial promotion with little or no news value or if the press release contains obvious errors.
Accessibility
Accessibility modes
Epilepsy Safe Mode
Dampens color and removes blinks
This mode enables people with epilepsy to use the website safely by eliminating the risk of seizures that result from flashing or blinking animations and risky color combinations.
Visually Impaired Mode
Improves website's visuals
This mode adjusts the website for the convenience of users with visual impairments such as Degrading Eyesight, Tunnel Vision, Cataract, Glaucoma, and others.
Cognitive Disability Mode
Helps to focus on specific content
This mode provides different assistive options to help users with cognitive impairments such as Dyslexia, Autism, CVA, and others, to focus on the essential elements of the website more easily.
ADHD Friendly Mode
Reduces distractions and improve focus
This mode helps users with ADHD and Neurodevelopmental disorders to read, browse, and focus on the main website elements more easily while significantly reducing distractions.
Blindness Mode
Allows using the site with your screen-reader
This mode configures the website to be compatible with screen-readers such as JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, and TalkBack. A screen-reader is software for blind users that is installed on a computer and smartphone, and websites must be compatible with it.
Online Dictionary
Readable Experience
Content Scaling
Default
Text Magnifier
Readable Font
Dyslexia Friendly
Highlight Titles
Highlight Links
Font Sizing
Default
Line Height
Default
Letter Spacing
Default
Left Aligned
Center Aligned
Right Aligned
Visually Pleasing Experience
Dark Contrast
Light Contrast
Monochrome
High Contrast
High Saturation
Low Saturation
Adjust Text Colors
Adjust Title Colors
Adjust Background Colors
Easy Orientation
Mute Sounds
Hide Images
Hide Emoji
Reading Guide
Stop Animations
Reading Mask
Highlight Hover
Highlight Focus
Big Dark Cursor
Big Light Cursor
Cognitive Reading
Virtual Keyboard
Navigation Keys
Voice Navigation
Accessibility Statement
www.roadracingworld.com
April 7, 2026
Compliance status
We firmly believe that the internet should be available and accessible to anyone, and are committed to providing a website that is accessible to the widest possible audience,
regardless of circumstance and ability.
To fulfill this, we aim to adhere as strictly as possible to the World Wide Web Consortium’s (W3C) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 (WCAG 2.1) at the AA level.
These guidelines explain how to make web content accessible to people with a wide array of disabilities. Complying with those guidelines helps us ensure that the website is accessible
to all people: blind people, people with motor impairments, visual impairment, cognitive disabilities, and more.
This website utilizes various technologies that are meant to make it as accessible as possible at all times. We utilize an accessibility interface that allows persons with specific
disabilities to adjust the website’s UI (user interface) and design it to their personal needs.
Additionally, the website utilizes an AI-based application that runs in the background and optimizes its accessibility level constantly. This application remediates the website’s HTML,
adapts Its functionality and behavior for screen-readers used by the blind users, and for keyboard functions used by individuals with motor impairments.
If you’ve found a malfunction or have ideas for improvement, we’ll be happy to hear from you. You can reach out to the website’s operators by using the following email
Screen-reader and keyboard navigation
Our website implements the ARIA attributes (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) technique, alongside various different behavioral changes, to ensure blind users visiting with
screen-readers are able to read, comprehend, and enjoy the website’s functions. As soon as a user with a screen-reader enters your site, they immediately receive
a prompt to enter the Screen-Reader Profile so they can browse and operate your site effectively. Here’s how our website covers some of the most important screen-reader requirements,
alongside console screenshots of code examples:
Screen-reader optimization: we run a background process that learns the website’s components from top to bottom, to ensure ongoing compliance even when updating the website.
In this process, we provide screen-readers with meaningful data using the ARIA set of attributes. For example, we provide accurate form labels;
descriptions for actionable icons (social media icons, search icons, cart icons, etc.); validation guidance for form inputs; element roles such as buttons, menus, modal dialogues (popups),
and others. Additionally, the background process scans all the website’s images and provides an accurate and meaningful image-object-recognition-based description as an ALT (alternate text) tag
for images that are not described. It will also extract texts that are embedded within the image, using an OCR (optical character recognition) technology.
To turn on screen-reader adjustments at any time, users need only to press the Alt+1 keyboard combination. Screen-reader users also get automatic announcements to turn the Screen-reader mode on
as soon as they enter the website.
These adjustments are compatible with all popular screen readers, including JAWS and NVDA.
Keyboard navigation optimization: The background process also adjusts the website’s HTML, and adds various behaviors using JavaScript code to make the website operable by the keyboard. This includes the ability to navigate the website using the Tab and Shift+Tab keys, operate dropdowns with the arrow keys, close them with Esc, trigger buttons and links using the Enter key, navigate between radio and checkbox elements using the arrow keys, and fill them in with the Spacebar or Enter key.Additionally, keyboard users will find quick-navigation and content-skip menus, available at any time by clicking Alt+1, or as the first elements of the site while navigating with the keyboard. The background process also handles triggered popups by moving the keyboard focus towards them as soon as they appear, and not allow the focus drift outside it.
Users can also use shortcuts such as “M” (menus), “H” (headings), “F” (forms), “B” (buttons), and “G” (graphics) to jump to specific elements.
Disability profiles supported in our website
Epilepsy Safe Mode: this profile enables people with epilepsy to use the website safely by eliminating the risk of seizures that result from flashing or blinking animations and risky color combinations.
Visually Impaired Mode: this mode adjusts the website for the convenience of users with visual impairments such as Degrading Eyesight, Tunnel Vision, Cataract, Glaucoma, and others.
Cognitive Disability Mode: this mode provides different assistive options to help users with cognitive impairments such as Dyslexia, Autism, CVA, and others, to focus on the essential elements of the website more easily.
ADHD Friendly Mode: this mode helps users with ADHD and Neurodevelopmental disorders to read, browse, and focus on the main website elements more easily while significantly reducing distractions.
Blindness Mode: this mode configures the website to be compatible with screen-readers such as JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, and TalkBack. A screen-reader is software for blind users that is installed on a computer and smartphone, and websites must be compatible with it.
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
