MotoGP: Preview of the Monster Energy Grand Prix of Catalunya

Mathilde Gasnier

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May 13, 2026

MotoGP: Preview of the Monster Energy Grand Prix of Catalunya

Hot headlines: one point in it. France was full of firsts – now some of the key players look to back it up in Barcelona.

Catalonia calls. The most exciting sport on Earth, arrives in Barcelona with the top two riders in the World Championship split by a single point. While reigning World Champion Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) is sidelined, the scrap between Aprilia Racing teammates Marco Bezzecchi and Jorge Martin is bubbling up nicely as we enter the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya cauldron.

RULED OUT: MM93 UNDERGOES SUCCESSFUL SURGERY

Away from the title fight, the headline news coming out of Le Mans and into Barcelona is the absence of home crowd favourite Marc Marquez. The #93 underwent a successful double surgery on his foot and shoulder injuries on Sunday following his Tissot Sprint crash in France, and the seven-time MotoGP World Champion won’t be replaced in Barcelona. Speedy recovery to the champ.

apriliaracing lemansgp05 2026 saturday 02 — Jorge Martin (89) at Le Mans. Photo courtesy Aprilia.

ONE POINT IN IT: BEZ VS MARTIN ROLLS INTO BARCELONA

588 days after his Indonesian Grand Prix victory in 2024, Martin returned to the Sunday top step for the first time since becoming a MotoGP World Champion. And it was some ride – an unreal weekend. A Sprint and Grand Prix double, maximum points haul weekend, which the #89 hasn’t been able to achieve since he did the same at the 2024 French GP. And a clear message to Bezzecchi, and the millions tuning in around the globe, that he’s back. And Martin will be soaking up plenty of support from the Catalan GP crowd this weekend too, the circuit which saw him crowned World Champion in 2024.

The fact that neither he nor Bezzecchi have finished outside the top four on a Sunday this season is a clear sign that they’re in this title race for the long haul. The Italian, who secured back-to-back P2s to support his opening three Grand Prix wins, still tops the championship. But only just. Who leaves Barcelona with the points advantage?

Fabio Di Giannantonio (49) at Le Mans. Photo courtesy MotoGP

CAN THE CHASERS CLAW POINTS BACK IN CATALONIA?

The chief chaser when you glance at the standings remains Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team). The Italian, remarkably, is the only Ducati rider in the top six after five rounds, and after his penultimate corner move on fourth in the championship Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) – including a cheeky look behind, one the #37 vows revenge for – meant ‘Diggia’ moved back ahead of the KTM star by one point. Watch out for that rumbling rivalry.

Talking Points: “Nobody gets past me while looking at me”

Di Giannantonio and Acosta will be desperate for a podium return in Barcelona after being dispatched by a rapid Ai Ogura (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) in Le Mans. That podium had been coming, hadn’t it? And it arrived in style. The first Japanese rider to stand on a MotoGP rostrum since 2012, Ogura is now P5 in the championship – and if that pesky qualifying can be sorted out, the 2024 Moto2 World Champion could be a regular victory challenger.

Francesco Bagnaia (63) at Le Mans. Photo courtesy Ducati

MORE TO COME

Having seen Aprilia clinch a 1-2-3 result on Sunday, Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) lamented slipstream woes in Le Mans, which saw the Spaniard finish P8. Teammate Ogura has leapfrogged the #25 in the championship ahead of a date with Barcelona, so Fernandez will be keen for a response on home turf.

A weekend that promised much more than a Tissot watch and a silver medal? That was the overriding feeling for Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) in France. Despite the Sunday DNF though, Pecco radiated positivity having shown he was one of the fastest riders all weekend. Time to repeat it, minus the crash, in Barcelona – a track he won at twice in 2024.

Another Ducati rider who suffered a Sunday DNF was Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP). The Spanish GP winner, who admitted pre-weekend Le Mans is one of his weaker circuits, couldn’t repeat his Jerez heroics, but keep an eye on the 2025 Catalan GP winner this weekend. We should be seeing more Jerez, less Le Mans, from AM73 on home territory.

Enea Bastianini (23) at Le Mans. Photo courtesy Tech3

ON THE UP

Enea Bastianini (Red Bull KTM Tech3), last year’s P3 finisher in Barcelona, is stringing together a solid run of results after a tough opening two Grands Prix. It’s now three Sunday top eights in a row for the Italian, who is just four points behind former teammate Pecco in the championship. Is a podium attack on the cards for ‘The Beast’ this weekend? Meanwhile, on the other side of the Red Bull KTM Tech3 box, we wait to see if Maverick Viñales is back in business – returning to the fold after his injury layoff.

Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) couldn’t have squeezed much more out of his YZR-M1 for the 300,000 crowd across the weekend in Le Mans. A double top six performance was by far the Frenchman’s best weekend of the season so far, so hopefully those steps forward can be maintained in Montmelo. It’s a track he’s reigned before.

Chipping away after his pre-season injury is Fermin Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP). A P9 in France was the 2025 Rookie of the Year’s third top 10 of the season, and while that’s not the results Aldeguer is here for, the Spaniard is far from fully fit.

RD5 LeMans Mir 2026 03443 large — Joan Mir (36) at Le Mans. Photo courtesy Honda HRC

HRC HUNT FORTUNE TURNAROUND

There was more than one sign (again) in France that HRC aren’t far away, but it’s the points that do the talking. The results didn’t reflect the true potential after Joan Mir’s (Honda HRC Castrol) crash from the top six on Sunday, meaning that’s four DNFs in five for the 2020 World Champion. Johann Zarco’s (Castrol Honda LCR) home Grand Prix weekend faded after a table-topping Friday, with the Frenchman and Luca Marini (Honda HRC Castrol) collecting P11 and P10 on Sunday. And having pocketed his first Sprint point on the Saturday, Diogo Moreira (Pro Honda LCR) suffered his first DNF on the Sunday. More to come from the Japanese giants.

yfr editorial use pictures 201031191881 — Alex Rins (42) at Le Mans. Photo courtesy Yamaha

CRAVING IMPROVEMENTS IN CATALONIA

While it was a very promising Friday for Alex Rins (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) in Le Mans, Saturday and Sunday never really got going for the Spaniard. Still, it was points on the board for the #42, Toprak Razgatlioglu and the Turk’s Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP teammate Jack Miller, with all four Yamahas inside the top 15 for the first time this season. Small steps forward.

A step forward is what Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) will be grinding towards in Barcelona, with a P14 in France meaning the Italian is without a Sunday top 10 since Thailand. And despite a Turn 7 crash on Sunday for Brad Binder, the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider left Le Mans with added confidence after finding some performance on Sunday. The South African looks to carry that over into this weekend.

There have been some huge twists and turns already in 2026, and Barcelona could give us even more. One single point is the gap on the way in – so who’s stamping their authority on the Monster Energy Grand Prix of Catalunya? We’ll find out this weekend.

FIM Flat Track World Championship: Boughen Won at Roden

Mathilde Gasnier

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May 13, 2026

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FIM Flat Track World Championship: Boughen Won at Roden

Boughen takes FIM Flat Track World Championship lead with dynamite debut.

Series newcomer Ashton Boughen (Ducati) turned the 2026 FIM Flat Track World Championship on its head on Saturday afternoon, storming to a stunning victory at the opening round at Roden in the Netherlands and sealing an incredible debut win both for himself and for the Italian manufacturer that celebrated its entry into the series with two riders on the podium.

· FIM Flat Track World Championship gets under way with Dutch date

· Series newcomer Ashton Boughen shocks established stars

· Roden opener sets the scene for sensational season of racing

With interest in the extended ten-round championship at an all-time high and a number of new competitors and manufacturers lining up at the Speed Centre Roden for the Netherlands’ debut on the championship calendar, there was a sense of anticipation in the paddock where a truly international entry of riders from twelve countries and two continents had assembled.

Defending champion Ervin Krajčovič (KTM) sewed up his second title in three years last season, but the Czech hero could only claim a tentative fourth in the opening eight-lap Heat as Britain’s Jack Bell (Triumph) celebrated his twenty-third birthday with victory ahead of Ondřej Švédík (KTM) and Tim Neave (Ducati).

Following a restart, the second Heat saw a tapes-to-flag victory for eighteen-year-old Boughen who wasted no time in throwing the gauntlet down to his rivals, although he was forced to fight hard as Spain’s Gerard Bailo (Zaeta) – champion in 2022 – poured on the pressure with his favoured inside lines allowing him to close through the turns before the British rookie pulled clear with faster, wider lines along the straights.

Local hero Maikel Dijkstra then took a popular victory ahead of Italy’s Daniele Tonelli (TM) and William Bonnici (Suzuki) from France to complete the first block of racing.

Since finishing second in 2023, Bailo has struggled to replicate his title-contending form, but the Spaniard looked back to his best when he swept by Tonelli during the early stages of the fourth Heat to record an impressive win with the Ukraine’s Stanislav Ohorodnik taking third from the Czech Republic’s Švédík, last season’s bronze medallist.

Krajčovič then claimed his first Heat victory of the campaign ahead of Bell and Dutch racer Menno van Meer (Honda) as Boughen slipped to fourth before Britain’s Neave led home his compatriot and series newcomer Gary Birtwhistle (Royal Enfield) who was representing the famous manufacturer on its championship debut.

Sharing the lead with Bell at the halfway mark, Bailo’s second victory of the afternoon – this time at the expense of Švédík and van Meer – moved him into a clear lead as Tonelli won from Bell and Boughen and Krajčovič led home Dijkstra and Bonnici.

podium at 2026 fim flat track world championship roden jesper veldhuizen — Podium at 2026 FIM Flat Track World Championship at Roden in the Netherlands with, from left to right, Gerard Bailo Pelegrin, Ashton Boughen and Tim Neave. Photo by Jesper Veldhuizen / courtesy FIM Flat Track.

With the top ten riders following the Heats transferring directly to the Grand Final and the next ten contesting the Last Chance Heat, tensions were running high as Švédík led home van Meer and Krajčovič. Neave then picked up his second win of the afternoon, this time ahead of Bell who also booked his place in the Grand Final along with Tonelli and Bonnici, before Boughen led home Bailo for a second time with Dijkstra’s third ensuring he also progressed.

After finishing one-two in the Last Chance Heat, Ohorodnik and Dutch racer Stef Hamstra (KTM) took their places alongside the automatic qualifiers for the twelve-lap Grand Final before Boughen launched into the lead around the opening turn chased by Tonelli, Neave and Bailo.

The Italian moved to the front at the end of lap one, but there was nothing to choose between the leading trio as Boughen and Bailo forced their way to the front and Neave began to apply pressure in fourth before taking third from Tonelli at half-distance.

pWith Boughen again running wide lines and Bailo favouring the inside, lap-after-lap the Spaniard appeared to draw level through the sweeping turns before Boughen pulled clear on the straights to claim an historic debut victory as Bailo was forced to defend in the closing stages from Neave.

Bell put the seal on a famous day for British racers with an impressive fourth ahead of Krajčovič and Tonelli as Hamstra, Van Meer, Bonnici and Dijkstra completed the top ten.

The focus now shifts to Terenzano in Italy for round two on 30 May.

With its mix of established stars, fast-rising talent and series newcomers, the 2026 FIM Flat Track World Championship is taking shape to be one of the most exciting in the sport’s history and FIM-MOTO.TV will stream all rounds LIVE including behind-the-scenes footage, interviews and expert analysis.

For more details and to sign up click here.

The online reach will be extended by dedicated Facebook, Instagram and Tik Tok channels where fans can interact with riders and like-minded enthusiasts. Please follow us!

CSBK: The 2026 Season Kicks Off This Weekend at Shannonville

Mathilde Gasnier

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May 13, 2026

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CSBK: The 2026 Season Kicks Off This Weekend at Shannonville

SMP Preview: Young chases Superbike history, Tremblay eyes Supersport revenge in 2026 opener.

Hamilton, ON – The first round of the 2026 Bridgestone Canadian Superbike Championship season is finally on the horizon, with action getting underway at historic Shannonville Motorsport Park this upcoming weekend, May 15-17.

Every new season brings changes to the pro grids, but the 2026 opener will look even more different than usual when Friday practice kicks off at the venue near Kingston, Ontario.

Retirements and absentees will be replaced by a number of young talents – some new, some returning – who are hungry to fill the void this season, and Shannonville’s fast ten-turn, 2.47 km layout will offer plenty of opportunity for the chasing packs.

However, a few significant names at the top of the order remain the same, with a pair of recent champions looking to kickstart the campaign with two massive victories at the doubleheader weekend.

Young, Szoke renew rivalry in GP Bikes Pro Superbike

The feature GP Bikes Pro Superbike class will see it’s reigning #1 back on track this weekend, as Ben Young defends his fifth career Canada Cup but first as a Honda rider.

Having won four titles for BMW, Young made the bold switch to Honda in 2025 and retained his crown in dramatic fashion, winning the CTMP finale last season in a three-way championship shootout over Alex Dumas and Sam Guerin.

The Van Dolder’s Home Team Honda rider will now get some reprieve with both Dumas and Guerin gone – the former returning south to MotoAmerica, while the latter retired following his heartbreaking crash at the finale last season – but that doesn’t mean things will be easy for Young at the season opener.

His debut weekend on the Honda last season was a difficult one by his lofty standards, finishing third and second at Shannonville but battling some growing pains as he adjusted to the CBR1000RR-R.

That left him dead even entering round two with a familiar rival in Jordan Szoke, who is back for a 26th season in 2026. The most accomplished rider in CSBK history, Szoke was once the dominant champion who saw Young as the thorn in his side, but now will try to reverse that script as he enters Shannonville as the closest challenger for what would be his record-extending 15th Canada Cup.

Szoke has won seven times at Shannonville, just once more than Young, but the Canadian Kawasaki Motors rider has more experience than anybody to draw from in what could be a cool and damp weekend.

The bigger story is who will be chasing the pair, as the absence of Dumas and Guerin has opened up a massive opportunity for the rest of the feature class.

Leading the charge is 2025 breakout star David MacKay, the most consistent “best of the rest” rider last season who seems poised to take the next step in 2026.

The ODH/Snow City Cycle Honda rider finished inside the top-six in seven of his nine races last season, including a pair of fourth-place finishes at the opener in Shannonville, as he matched his fifth-overall finish in the championship from his rookie year.

The 2023 Supersport champion has yet to step on a Superbike podium but has a golden opportunity to do so many times this season, playing a pivotal role for Honda as he and Young chase the brand’s first ever Constructors Championship.

MacKay won’t be without his own challengers, however, headlined by a pair of new Kawasaki teammates in Connor Campbell and Alex Michel.

Campbell’s horrid injury luck continued in 2025 as he missed the final five races, ending what was a promising start with a pair of top-seven finishes at Shannonville and Shubenacadie, but he still put his ZX-10R Ninja to use in the season finale as he offered Michel a wildcard appearance aboard it.

The young Quebecois rider smashed the opportunity, finishing sixth and fifth at CTMP, and he will now join Campbell full-time aboard his own Canadian Kawasaki Motors superbike.

Another former Supersport frontrunner will make the step up to Superbike in 2026, as last year’s championship runner-up in middleweight Andrew Van Winkle finds himself on a Mountainview Motorsports Honda this season.

The B.C. teenager will have a steep learning curve in the feature class but has aced every step of his CSBK career thus far, though round one in Shannonville was a difficult weekend for him last year in Supersport as he missed the podium both times.

Rounding out the midfield is Zoltan Frast, who leads BMW’s charge in 2026 aboard his Clare’s Cycle S1000RR. The former Supersport podium-finisher only raced four times in 2025, but finished inside the top-eight on each occasion including a career-best sixth in the CTMP finale, making him an underrated choice to join the podium battle this season.

Tremblay looks to capitalize on Collins’ absence

This is what the opening round of 2025 Pro Supersport looked like, with eventual champion Torin Collins (71) going on to win both races at Shannonville. However, Collins is racing in the US and missing the start of the 2026 season this weekend, leaving the battle up front to include two-time champion Sebastien Tremblay (1), Matt Simpson (91), Elliot Vieira (33), and more in the competitive middleweight class. Photo by Rob O’Brien.

As for the newly-rebranded OPP Racing Pro Supersport class, it will more than likely be a vacated crown in 2026 as reigning champion Torin Collins juggles double-duty with the MotoAmerica season – meaning he will be absent for round one at Shannonville as he heads south to Barber.

His unfortunate departure, combined with the promotion of Van Winkle to Superbike, opens the door for a major bounce-back season for Sebastien Tremblay, one of the most accomplished riders in middleweight history who largely had a 2025 to forget.

Tremblay still posed a significant challenge for Collins and Van Winkle last season, winning the last race of the year and scoring six podiums to finish third in the championship, but it never looked like the proper title defence many were expecting from the 2024 champion.

Now rejuvenated aboard his Turcotte Performance Suzuki, Tremblay enters Shannonville as the betting favourite for both a season-opening victory and the 2026 crown, but he won’t be without his own rivals when round one gets underway.

Tops amongst them is a pair of race winners in Elliot Vieira and Matt Simpson, the former still unconfirmed aboard his GP Bikes Ducati but would be an automatic threat if he is on-track after finishing top-six in every single race last season.

Simpson, meanwhile, will be present for round one aboard his Evans Racing Suzuki and is almost a guaranteed frontrunner after battling Collins for the lead at Shannonville last season, ultimately crashing out but proving to be one of his toughest tests of the entire campaign.

Another young rider swapping machinery in 2026 is runaway rookie of the year Laurent Laliberte-Girard, who joins Moto Falardeau Kawasaki after earning a pair of podiums last season for Yamaha, finishing sixth in the overall championship.

He will be looking to take the next step for Kawasaki this season as will be former amateur frontrunner Mackenzie Weil, who already carved out a career-best season for Snow City Cycle Kawasaki in 2025 with a midseason run of five top-ten finishes in a row.

Hoping to put a disastrous 2025 behind him will be Brad Macrae, a former race winner in the class and genuine threat who will be flying under the radar entering round one.

The local favourite pioneered the Yamaha YZF-R9 at CTMP last season but was fairly anonymous in 12th and tenth, battling a number of issues with the new machine. Now having had a full offseason to sort out the kinks, Macrae is talented enough to vault right back to the top of the timesheets at Shannonville if he can untap the potential of the R9.

Rounding out the group will be a trio of graduating rookies in Cole Alexander, Zaim Laflamme, and Nicolas Audet, all stepping up from the amateur ranks after strong years in 2025.

Alexander will headline the group as the double-champion in both Superbike and Supersport, having taken three out of four victories at Shannonville last season for Suzuki, but Laflamme was no slouch with a win and two runner-up results. Audet had less success at last year’s opener, but can’t be discounted after a run of five consecutive podiums to end the year in Amateur Supersport.

The wide-open Supersport ranks will also present the most unpredictable Constructors Championship fight yet, with Tremblay and Simpson leading the charge for reigning champions Suzuki but with Kawasaki, Yamaha, and Ducati all squarely in the mix.

The weekend will kick off with official practice and qualifying on Friday at Shannonville Motorsport Park, just an hour west of Kingston, Ontario, before racing gets underway May 16-17.

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

Recent Birth: April Iris Boruff

Mathilde Gasnier

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May 13, 2026

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Former racer Valentine Boruff (nee Welch) and husband Kinsey Boruff had a daughter, April Iris Boruff on April 29th in Medford, Oregon.

WhatsApp Image 2026 05 12 at 20.52.02 — Newborn April Iris Boruff.

Sportbike Track Time: Upcoming Track Days

Mathilde Gasnier

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May 12, 2026

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Sportbike Track Time: Upcoming Track Days

COMING SOON!

GRATTAN RACEWAY

Prepare for the WERA races or just enjoy some track time with friends!

Friday, May 15

The novice class not available at this event. For licensed racers, Racer Practice group is an option!

The Race Certificate Class is also available.

PUTNAM PARK

Plans this weekend? We’ll be headed to Putnam!

Saturday, May 16

Novice group sold out

Sunday, May 17

Advanced group sold out

Garages for this event are sold out.

BARBER MOTORSPORTS PARK

Stay and play after the MotoAmerica races – we ride on Monday, May 18! All skill groups are available.

MORE UPCOMING EVENTS

AUTOBAHN COUNTRY CLUB

Saturday, May 23

Novice and Advanced groups sold out

Sunday, May 24

All groups sold out

Monday, May 25

Novice group sold out

GINGERMAN RACEWAY BIKE NIGHT

Friday, May 29

GINGERMAN RACEWAY

Saturday, May 30

Race Certificate Class available

1:1 Instruction available

Sunday, May 31

Race Certificate Class available

1:1 Instruction available

ROAD AMERICA

Monday, June 1

Tuesday, June 2

The experts with Sportbike Tire Service are trackside at most STT events for sales and superior service. Contact Sportbike Tire Service at [email protected] or (734) 210-8859 with questions!

NEW! Sportbike Tire Service is proud to offer Bridgestone tires; contact them to learn more!

Got a question? Feel free to drop us a line at [email protected].
We’d be happy to hear from you!

MotoGP: American Racing Team Scores 15 Points in Le Mans

Mathilde Gasnier

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May 12, 2026

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MotoGP: American Racing Team Scores 15 Points in Le Mans

May 12, 2026 – Le Mans, France. The American Racing Team left the Circuit Bugatti this Sunday with its best result of the 2026 Moto2 World Championship season, scoring 15 points after a weekend that confirmed the team’s clear step forward.

Filip Salač produced a stunning final flying lap in qualifying to vault to third on the grid, earning a place in parc fermé and the team’s first front-row start of the year. Joe Roberts secured sixth on the grid — his best qualifying of the season so far.

In the race, Filip Salač and Joe Roberts both reached the top ten in a Grand Prix that was red-flagged on the opening laps and then decided over a nine lap quick-started race. Joe crossed the line in eighth, while Filip, after fighting for first place before the red flag, recovered from being pushed wide on the restart to finish ninth.

The team now turns its attention to the next round of the 2026 Moto2 World Championship in Catalunya, confident that the recent development steps are paying off.

CVMA Road Crew Schedule Revealed

Mathilde Gasnier

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May 12, 2026

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By Stephen Ludwig – Chuckwalla Valley Motorcycle Association Marketing Director

CVMA Racers—

Looks like the Road Crew is ON.

A bunch of CVMA racers are already headed to Buttonwillow to race with CRA… including me.

And there’s already solid interest in several of the other stops.

First Stop: Buttonwillow

June 6–7 — CRA at Buttonwillow

If you’ve been thinking about joining in, this is a great first event to jump into. Visit https://race-cra.com/ to get signed up.

Also, CRA is offering a referral incentive

https://www.instagram.com/p/DXP0dpFEWVP

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Washington Transport Update

Randy from 619Kneedraggers is currently working to lock in transport for riders heading to Washington.

He’s currently taking deposits, and final transport pricing will depend on how many riders participate.

📞 Contact Randy directly: 619-244-7677

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Road Crew Gear

Below are the initial concepts for a personalized T-Shirt and Snap-up Pit Shirt

We’ll finalize the designs this week and send out the order link shortly after.

Schedule

Here is the current Road Crew Schedule

June 6–7 — Buttonwillow Classic (CRA | Racing)

June 19–21 — The Ridge (WMRRA | Racing)

June 22–23 — The Ridge (2Fast Track Days | Riding)
June 26–28 — The Ridge (MotoAmerica | Spectating)
June 29–30 — The Ridge (2Fast Track Days | Riding)

July 10-12 — Laguna Seca (MotoAmerica | Spectating)

Aug 8–9 — Burt Brothers Motorpark/UMC (UtahSBK | Racing)

Aug 29–30 — Buttonwillow Circuit (AFM | Racing)

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Looking forward to an amazing summer with the CVMA crew.

See you at the track.

MotoAmerica: Superbike Heading To Barber Motorsports Park

Mathilde Gasnier

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May 12, 2026

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MotoAmerica: Superbike Heading To Barber Motorsports Park

Ben Spies Named Grand Marshal As Quad Lock Superbike Championship Heats Up At Round Two.

The momentum of the Quad Lock Superbike Championship shifts to Birmingham, Alabama’s Barber Motorsports Park following a high-intensity season opener in Atlanta. This year’s talented Superbike field has already dismantled expert predictions, leaving fans no clear title favorite.

As the celebration of “50 Years Of Superbike Racing,” continues, MotoAmerica welcomes AMA Hall of Famer Ben Spies as Grand Marshal at Barber Motorsports Park—the site of his iconic 2006 victory over Mat Mladin that launched his global career in motorcycle racing.

Three-time AMA Superbike Champion and AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame inductee Ben Spies will be Grand Marshal for this weekend’s Superbikes at Barber event. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.

The three-time AMA Superbike champion, World Superbike title winner, and last American to stand atop a MotoGP podium now serves as team principal for Rahal Ducati Moto. “Elbowz” continues to impact the paddock by mentoring riders PJ Jacobsen, Kayla Yaakov, Alessandro Di Mario, and Josh Herrin.

For those seeking a deeper connection to the sport’s heritage, the on-site Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum offers an unparalleled experience. Officially recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s largest motorcycle museum, the facility houses more than 1,800 vintage and contemporary motorcycles, representing over 100 years of production. A centerpiece of the museum is the World Champions Exhibit, which showcases championship-winning motorcycles personally donated by both Kenny Roberts and Kenny Roberts Jr.

“We’re excited to continue ‘50 Years of Superbike Racing’ with round two at Barber Motorsports Park,” said MotoAmerica President Wayne Rainey. “The opening round is always exciting, with riders on new teams wanting a strong start to the season. But as we saw, there were many surprises in Atlanta, and we don’t have a clear favorite yet as we head into round two.

“Barber is a demanding track that tests a rider’s physical limits and a team’s technical ability to find the ultimate setup. It will be fun to see which teams can step up and take control, and I expect the intense competition in Alabama to deliver even more unpredictable results.”

One rider well-suited for these technical and physical demands is Mathew Scholtz, who enters Barber carrying confidence and the Quad Lock Superbike Championship points lead aboard his Strack Racing Yamaha YZF-R1. The South African has shown strong pace at the Alabama circuit throughout his career, and Barber’s flowing nature has historically fit his smooth riding style.

Sean Dylan Kelly (#40) is second in the Quad Lock Superbike standings and just nine points out of the lead. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.

OrangeCat Racing’s Sean Dylan Kelly also returns to a meaningful venue in his Superbike career. Barber was the site of the Floridian’s first Superbike podium, and the BMW M 1000 RR rider is targeting a breakthrough weekend that could firmly establish him among the early championship contenders. The technical demands of the 17-turn, 2.38-mile road course may play directly into Kelly’s strengths as one of the paddock’s most precise riders as he continues to gel with his new machine.

Few riders carry a stronger résumé at Barber than six-time premier-class title winner Cameron Beaubier, boasting eight career wins at the Birmingham circuit. As the Warhorse HSBK Ducati Flo4Law rider is chasing a record-tying seventh season title, Alabama presents him with an opportunity to break AMA Hall of Famer Mat Mladins record of nine total wins at Barber Motorsports Park.

Cameron Beaubier (#1) is third in the championship and has won more Superbike races at Barber than any other current rider. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.

Another rider looking to claw back some missing points after round one is Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing’s Bobby Fong. Barber’s fast and flowing layout rewards confidence on corner entry, an area where Fong has consistently excelled throughout his Superbike career. If the Yamaha rider finds early rhythm during the weekend, he will be a threat at the front of the pack.

Bobby Fong and his “Fast 50” are fourth in the championship heading into Barber. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.

Cameron Petersen enters the Alabama round building solid momentum aboard his Wrench Motorcycles Ducati Panigale V4 R. As Petersen’s familiarity with the Ducati platform continues to grow, Barber could offer the South African an opportunity to push closer to the front of the premier-class battle.

Cam Petersen loves his #45 Ducati Panigale V4 R and is excited to race it this weekend at one of his favorite tracks. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.

M4 ECSTAR Suzuki riders Brandon Paasch and Richie Escalante are primed to lead the charge at Barber Motorsports Park. Headquartered in nearby Athens, the legendary squad aims to propel their GSX-R1000Rs to the front of the pack for a podium finish in Sweet Home Alabama.

MA Paasch and Richie Superbike BJNB4281 P — Teammates Brandon Paasch and Richie Escalante are locked in and look to use the Suzuki GSX-R1000R’s sharp handling to slice through the field at Barber. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.

Real Steel Honda’s Hayden Gillim enters Barber Motorsports Park aboard his Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP looking to regain ground after an early-season DNF at the opening round.

Kentucky native Hayden Gillim (69) brings his relentless grit to Barber. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.

Another rider to watch closely is Rahal Ducati Moto with XPEL’s PJ Jacobsen. The ultra-tough New Yorker is expected to return to competition this weekend aboard the Ducati Panigale V4 R, bringing yet another experienced frontrunner back into an already stacked Superbike field.

As the paddock arrives at “the Augusta National of Motorsports,” the margin for error is razor-thin. However, the true wildcard may be the unpredictable spring weather. The forecast calls for high heat on Saturday and Sunday, but a surprising spring shower could act as the ultimate equalizer, upending expert predictions again. Riders and teams will need to be ready for anything from high heat to high water.

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MotoGP: Ducati Says No Sub for M.Marquez This Weekend

Mathilde Gasnier

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May 12, 2026

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MotoGP: Ducati Says No Sub for M.Marquez This Weekend

The reigning World Champions confirm the #93 won’t have a stand-in rider at the Catalan GP following his successful double surgery.

Ducati Lenovo Team have confirmed that Marc Marquez, who underwent successful surgery on Sunday following his Tissot Sprint crash at the French Grand Prix, won’t be replaced this weekend at the Monster Energy Grand Prix of Catalunya.

The reigning World Champion has begun his recovery after a double surgical procedure on his right foot and shoulder in Madrid, and, given the short turnaround from Le Mans to Barcelona, Francesco Bagnaia will be the only rider in factory Ducati colours at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

We continue to wish the seven-time MotoGP World Champion a speedy recovery and await further news on when we’ll see the 2025 title winner back in action.

MotoGP: Aprilia Previews The Monster Energy Grand Prix Of Catalunya

Michael Gougis

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May 12, 2026

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MotoGP: Aprilia Previews The Monster Energy Grand Prix Of Catalunya

Aprilia Racing returns to the track on the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, fresh from the historic Le Mans weekend that ended with a one-two-three finish by Jorge Martín, Marco Bezzecchi, and Ai Ogura. The weekend will also be followed by the second official tests of the season, scheduled for Monday on the Catalan track.

Marco Bezzecchi is headed to Spain after another highly competitive weekend where he finished on the podium in Le Mans both in the sprint race and in the long race. Jorge Martín, on the other hand, will be tackling his home GP fresh from an extremely high-level performance on the French track where he took victory in the sprint race, as well as in the long race, 588 days after his last win, confirming his increasingly competitive feeling on the RS-GP26.

The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya is a highly technical track where handling turns smoothly proves to be a decisive factor. It is 4.66 km long, with 8 right-handed turns and 6 left-handers. The first braking section is also significant – one of the most demanding in the championship – partly due to the 1,047 metres leading up to it.

Marco Bezzecchi:

“It’s great to be back in Barcelona and, above all, to have two race weekends in a row, because I really can’t wait to get back on track. It’s a fantastic circuit and the fans are always incredibly passionate, so we’ll try to give our best.”

Jorge Martin:

“I’m extremely pleased about how things are going. Barcelona is a challenging track, and it was particularly difficult for us last year. The goal will therefore be to work hard to figure out which changes to make so we can be as competitive as possible.”

MotoGP: Preview of the Monster Energy Grand Prix of Catalunya

May 13, 2026

marco bezzecchi ita aprilia racing motogp — Marco Bezzecchi (72), Pedro Acosta (37) and Fabio Quartararo (20) at Le Mans. Photo courtesy Michelin

Hot headlines: one point in it. France was full of firsts – now some of the key players look to back it up in Barcelona.

Catalonia calls. The most exciting sport on Earth, arrives in Barcelona with the top two riders in the World Championship split by a single point. While reigning World Champion Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) is sidelined, the scrap between Aprilia Racing teammates Marco Bezzecchi and Jorge Martin is bubbling up nicely as we enter the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya cauldron.

RULED OUT: MM93 UNDERGOES SUCCESSFUL SURGERY

Away from the title fight, the headline news coming out of Le Mans and into Barcelona is the absence of home crowd favourite Marc Marquez. The #93 underwent a successful double surgery on his foot and shoulder injuries on Sunday following his Tissot Sprint crash in France, and the seven-time MotoGP World Champion won’t be replaced in Barcelona. Speedy recovery to the champ.

ONE POINT IN IT: BEZ VS MARTIN ROLLS INTO BARCELONA

588 days after his Indonesian Grand Prix victory in 2024, Martin returned to the Sunday top step for the first time since becoming a MotoGP World Champion. And it was some ride – an unreal weekend. A Sprint and Grand Prix double, maximum points haul weekend, which the #89 hasn’t been able to achieve since he did the same at the 2024 French GP. And a clear message to Bezzecchi, and the millions tuning in around the globe, that he’s back. And Martin will be soaking up plenty of support from the Catalan GP crowd this weekend too, the circuit which saw him crowned World Champion in 2024.

The fact that neither he nor Bezzecchi have finished outside the top four on a Sunday this season is a clear sign that they’re in this title race for the long haul. The Italian, who secured back-to-back P2s to support his opening three Grand Prix wins, still tops the championship. But only just. Who leaves Barcelona with the points advantage?

CAN THE CHASERS CLAW POINTS BACK IN CATALONIA?

The chief chaser when you glance at the standings remains Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team). The Italian, remarkably, is the only Ducati rider in the top six after five rounds, and after his penultimate corner move on fourth in the championship Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) – including a cheeky look behind, one the #37 vows revenge for – meant ‘Diggia’ moved back ahead of the KTM star by one point. Watch out for that rumbling rivalry.

Talking Points: “Nobody gets past me while looking at me”

Di Giannantonio and Acosta will be desperate for a podium return in Barcelona after being dispatched by a rapid Ai Ogura (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) in Le Mans. That podium had been coming, hadn’t it? And it arrived in style. The first Japanese rider to stand on a MotoGP rostrum since 2012, Ogura is now P5 in the championship – and if that pesky qualifying can be sorted out, the 2024 Moto2 World Champion could be a regular victory challenger.

MORE TO COME

Having seen Aprilia clinch a 1-2-3 result on Sunday, Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) lamented slipstream woes in Le Mans, which saw the Spaniard finish P8. Teammate Ogura has leapfrogged the #25 in the championship ahead of a date with Barcelona, so Fernandez will be keen for a response on home turf.

A weekend that promised much more than a Tissot watch and a silver medal? That was the overriding feeling for Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) in France. Despite the Sunday DNF though, Pecco radiated positivity having shown he was one of the fastest riders all weekend. Time to repeat it, minus the crash, in Barcelona – a track he won at twice in 2024.

Another Ducati rider who suffered a Sunday DNF was Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP). The Spanish GP winner, who admitted pre-weekend Le Mans is one of his weaker circuits, couldn’t repeat his Jerez heroics, but keep an eye on the 2025 Catalan GP winner this weekend. We should be seeing more Jerez, less Le Mans, from AM73 on home territory.

ON THE UP

Enea Bastianini (Red Bull KTM Tech3), last year’s P3 finisher in Barcelona, is stringing together a solid run of results after a tough opening two Grands Prix. It’s now three Sunday top eights in a row for the Italian, who is just four points behind former teammate Pecco in the championship. Is a podium attack on the cards for ‘The Beast’ this weekend? Meanwhile, on the other side of the Red Bull KTM Tech3 box, we wait to see if Maverick Viñales is back in business – returning to the fold after his injury layoff.

Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) couldn’t have squeezed much more out of his YZR-M1 for the 300,000 crowd across the weekend in Le Mans. A double top six performance was by far the Frenchman’s best weekend of the season so far, so hopefully those steps forward can be maintained in Montmelo. It’s a track he’s reigned before.

Chipping away after his pre-season injury is Fermin Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP). A P9 in France was the 2025 Rookie of the Year’s third top 10 of the season, and while that’s not the results Aldeguer is here for, the Spaniard is far from fully fit.

HRC HUNT FORTUNE TURNAROUND

There was more than one sign (again) in France that HRC aren’t far away, but it’s the points that do the talking. The results didn’t reflect the true potential after Joan Mir’s (Honda HRC Castrol) crash from the top six on Sunday, meaning that’s four DNFs in five for the 2020 World Champion. Johann Zarco’s (Castrol Honda LCR) home Grand Prix weekend faded after a table-topping Friday, with the Frenchman and Luca Marini (Honda HRC Castrol) collecting P11 and P10 on Sunday. And having pocketed his first Sprint point on the Saturday, Diogo Moreira (Pro Honda LCR) suffered his first DNF on the Sunday. More to come from the Japanese giants.

CRAVING IMPROVEMENTS IN CATALONIA

While it was a very promising Friday for Alex Rins (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) in Le Mans, Saturday and Sunday never really got going for the Spaniard. Still, it was points on the board for the #42, Toprak Razgatlioglu and the Turk’s Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP teammate Jack Miller, with all four Yamahas inside the top 15 for the first time this season. Small steps forward.

A step forward is what Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) will be grinding towards in Barcelona, with a P14 in France meaning the Italian is without a Sunday top 10 since Thailand. And despite a Turn 7 crash on Sunday for Brad Binder, the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider left Le Mans with added confidence after finding some performance on Sunday. The South African looks to carry that over into this weekend.

There have been some huge twists and turns already in 2026, and Barcelona could give us even more. One single point is the gap on the way in – so who’s stamping their authority on the Monster Energy Grand Prix of Catalunya? We’ll find out this weekend.

FIM Flat Track World Championship: Boughen Won at Roden

May 13, 2026

ervin kraj ovi at 2025 fim flat track world championship pardubice jesper veldhuizen — Ervin Krajčovič at 2025 FIM Flat Track World Championship, Pardubice. Photo by Jesper Veldhuizen / courtesy FIM Flat Track.