Registration Opens for N2RA 6-Hours of VIR, With Bridgestone $

John Ulrich

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March 18, 2026

Registration Opens for N2RA 6-Hours of VIR, With Bridgestone $

Bridgestone Contingency Announced for N2RA 6-Hours of VIR; Registration Now Open

N2 Track Days and the N2 Road Racing Association (N2RA) are pleased to announce that Bridgestone Motorcycle Tires, through Performance Tire Service Company, will offer contingency awards for racers competing in the N2RA 6-Hours of VIR endurance weekend scheduled for August 7-9 at VIRginia International Raceway (VIR) in Alton. Virginia.

Bridgestone Contingency Program

Bridgestone will support competitors throughout the weekend with contingency awards available across multiple classes, including Superbike, Supersport, Lightsport, Ultralight, and Relay competition.

Awards will be issued in the form of certificates redeemable toward the purchase of Bridgestone motorcycle tires through Performance Tire Service Company.

2026 Contingency Rules

To qualify for contingency awards, riders must:

Compete on Bridgestone tires on both the front and rear of the motorcycle

Display Bridgestone decals on both sides of the motorcycle

Submit a completed contingency claim form verified by race officials

Meet minimum starter requirements for class payouts

The contingency program adds $10,000 in potential payouts across the endurance weekend, further strengthening an already substantial purse structure for competitors.

A Major Endurance Racing Weekend

The N2RA 6-Hours of VIR weekend will feature multiple race formats designed to provide competitive opportunities for riders and teams of all experience levels.

Sunday’s headline event will be the six-hour endurance race, with classes including Superbike, Supersport, Lightsport, and Relay. The weekend will also feature an Ultralight two-hour endurance race along with additional endurance sprint formats designed to give racers maximum track time.

The event continues N2RA’s commitment to building a professional, accessible endurance racing platform focused on clear procedures, competitive balance, and rider-focused organization.

Registration Now Open

Teams interested in competing are encouraged to register early, as grid capacity will be limited.

Registration is now available through MotorsportsReg.com: https://msreg.com/N2RA-VIR

Partnership Opportunities

Additional sponsorship and contingency programs are currently being finalized for the event. Companies interested in supporting the N2RA endurance platform are encouraged to inquire.

About N2: N2 – Ride, Learn, Race.

Founded in 2014, N2’s mission is to build a sustainable motorcycle community through safe, structured motorcycle track days, using advanced rider training programs based on Yamaha Champions Riding School teaching methods. In 2017, N2 successfully resurrected Motorcycle Endurance Racing in America by creating the N2 National Endurance Series. The N2/BobbleHeadMoto Professional Race Team won two national championships in the MotoAmerica Pro Racing Series with rider Blake Davis. N2 is also a major contributor to the Roadracing World Action Fund through fundraising efforts and support from its large member base.

R.I.P.: AMA Pro Racer Kurt Lentz

John Ulrich

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March 18, 2026

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Former AAMRR and AMA Pro racer Kurt Lentz died in Frenchtown, New Jersey on January 30th, 2026, after battling cancer. He was 73 years old.

Kurt Lentz (41) on a Yamaha TZ750 at Daytona circa 1980. Photo by John Owens.

As near as we can tell, he started his AMA Pro racing career on a TZ250 in the International Lightweight class (a.k.a. 250cc GP) at Daytona in 1975.

Lentz finished 6th in the first official AMA Superbike race, at Daytona in 1976, riding a Ducati, and also raced a Kawasaki H2R in the 1976 Daytona 200.

Kurt Lentz (left) and Richard Chambers circa 1983.

In 1977 he finished in the top-10 in AMA Superbike races three times on a Ducati, with two best finishes of 5th place at Loudon and Pocono.

In 1978 he finished sixth in Superbike, again on A Ducati.

In 1983 he earned two top-10 finishes in AMA Formula One on a TZ750, taking 6th in the Daytona 200 and 9th at Mid-Ohio.

He is survived by an adult child, Ariel Lentz.

Kurt Lentz on a Kawasaki H2R, circa 1976.

Kurt Lentz (41) launches off the grid with Steve McLaughlin (83) and David Emde (56) at the start of the 1978 AMA Superbike race at Daytona. Photo by John Jacobson.

More information will be posted as it becomes available.

Research courtesy of Larry Lawrence/Rider Files.

MotoAmerica: SDK Fastest Again on Day 2 at COTA Dunlop Test

Mathilde Gasnier

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March 18, 2026

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MotoAmerica: SDK Fastest Again on Day 2 at COTA Dunlop Test

Leave it to a guy by the name of Sean Dylan Kelly to be the fastest MotoAmerica rider on St. Patrick’s Day at Circuit of The Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas.

Sean’s surname is “Kelly” as in kelly green, one of the colors in the Irish flag. Also, his team is OrangeCat Racing, and orange is one of the other colors in the Irish flag. Oh, but “SDK” was born in Miami, Florida, and his parents are from Argentina (not to mention that his father’s first name is “Pat”).

All that being said, it didn’t take the luck of the Irish for Latino Sean Dylan Kelly to lap COTA with a time of 2:07.358 on the second and final day of the Dunlop Pre-Season Test. He used his prodigious skill to go faster than defending MotoAmerica Superbike Champion Cameron Beaubier’s race-lap-record-breaking 2:07.497 set in race two last September.

SDK also was fastest after day one of the Dunlop Pre-Season Test, so it’s pretty clear that the 23-year-old was the man of the meet. And he won his first MotoAmerica Superbike race at COTA two years ago on a BMW M 1000 RR, the same make and model of motorcycle that he is competing aboard this year in the 2026 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship, albeit for a different team. Suffice to say that Kelly is fast on Austin’s 20-turn, 3.427-mile road course.

“Really positive test,” Kelly said. “Today, I did my fastest lap ever at COTA. I think that’s a pretty good reference considering that I won a race here in 2024 on the Beemer. So, I definitely hit my objective of this test. I’m really happy with the work that we did. We took it step by step. The team did amazing, between my crew and just everybody else involved. The bikes, everything worked really well. We just went step by step and, obviously, the results came. We waited until the end to do a Time Attack. I’m really happy about the lap time, even though Bobby (Fong) finished close, which was nice to see that we’re in the fight and we’re close. Just, in general, I’m happy with the work but also keeping our feet on the ground because we didn’t have all the competition here. So we have to be realistic. We see that we’re in the fight, but we don’t know everything yet.”

When asked about his former Moto2 teammate and the current MotoAmerica defending Superbike Champion Cameron Beaubier, who didn’t attend the test per his Warhorse HSBK Ducati Flo4Law team’s decision, Kelly commented, “It’s hard to compare straight out of the gate with that. But, it is also a nice sign for me personally to see myself going faster than I ever did on a race tire, when I had done my previous fastest lap here on a qualifying tire. But again, hard to truly look at it. That’s why I said we’ve got to be realistic. We don’t have all our competition here. I think Beaubier is going to be the reference this year. He’s on a new bike (2026 Ducati Panigale V4 R), which is known to be a very, very competitive motorcycle. We know he’s going to be the reference, so we have to be realistic and get to racing and do what we can.

“I want to thank the whole OrangeCat Racing team and also BMW Motorrad motorsport because they’ve put an incredible package together. I have really, really strong people around me, and everyone has been doing their part, and it’s showing so far. It’s early days. We’ve got to get to racing, but I’m just very thankful for everybody, and I’m looking forward to round one next month at Road Atlanta.”

Joining Kelly at the top of the timing sheets in the other five MotoAmerica race classes that participated in the two-day Dunlop Pre-Season Test were the following:

Supersport – Xavi Forés (shown here chasing his teammate Blake Davis) – Strack Racing Yamaha YZF-R9 – 2:14.621. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.

Mission King Of The Baggers – Hayden Gillim – J&P Cycles/Motul/Vance & Hines Factory Indian Challenger – 2:13.118. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.

Superbike Cup – Andrew Lee – Real Steel Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP – 2:11.165. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.

Mission Super Hooligan National Championship – Corey Alexander – ARCH Racing 2s-R – 2:17.177. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.

Talent Cup – Kensei Matsudaira – Team Roberts Krämer APX-350 MA – 2:28.341. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.

Next up for the MotoAmerica Championship, the Talent Cup season opener will take place at COTA as an undercard for the Red Bull Grand Prix of The Americas on March 27 through 29.

The 2026 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship gets underway at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta on April 17 through 19.

For the full 2026 MotoAmerica schedule, and to purchase tickets for MotoAmerica events, CLICK HERE

For information on how to watch the MotoAmerica series, CLICK HERE

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AHRMA Vintage Cup: Varey & Terrell Split Wins at CMP

Mathilde Gasnier

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March 17, 2026

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AHRMA Vintage Cup: Varey & Terrell Split Wins at CMP

Holly Varey Dominates Saturday; Tim Terrell Steals Sunday Victory in Dramatic Finale.

March 17, Knoxville, TN – Rounds 3 and 4 of the AHRMA season took place March 14th and 15th at Carolina Motorsports Park in Kershaw, SC, as part of the 2026 AHRMA National Roadracing Series, presented by VIB-ISO.

Sponsored by Roadracingworld.com, and NYC Norton (nycnorton.com), this year AHRMA’s 2026 Vintage Cup features the 250 Grand Prix class, which includes any fully GP-kitted 250cc OHV/OHC four-stroke; 250cc air-cooled single cylinder two stroke; 175cc liquid cooled single cylinder two-stroke; or 175cc air-cooled twin-cylinder two-stroke built before December 31, 1968. It’s a showdown of classic small displacement racing that relies heavily on corner-speed, momentum, and precise engineering, and certain to leave fans on the edge of their seats.

Typical AHRMA 250GP grids include a wide variety of motorcycles such as Aermacchi, Bultaco, Greeves, Montesa, Ducati, NSU, Ossa, and more.

Saturday

Holly Varey, aboard her Replica 1968 VanTech CS3, nailed the hole shot at the start, immediately opening several bike lengths on the field. She maintained and extended her lead throughout the race, crossing the checkered flag with a commanding flag-to-flag win.

Starting from the back of the grid, AHRMA stalwart Greg Glevicky—stepping in to ride Tom Pillsbury’s 1970 Yamaha DT1—charged through the pack to second position. Craig Hirko, on his 1967 Bridgestone TA1, stayed right on Glevicky’s tail and made several strong passing attempts, but Glevicky held firm each time. On the final lap, Hirko ran wide exiting the last turn, giving Glevicky the opening to secure second. Hirko finished third, with Jonas Stein taking a very close fourth on his 1972 Honda CB175.

Sunday

The race launched with riders side-by-side through Turn 1. Varey, Rob Hall (1967 BSA C15), and Tim Terrell (Rob Hall-enhanced 1966 Honda CB160) emerged three-wide from Turn 8 onto the back straight. Varey and Terrell quickly pulled ahead, building a solid gap over the rest of the field, while Hall retired early due to mechanical issues. Not to be left behind, Craig Hirko put his head way down and steadily closed on the leaders, passing Terrell before ultimately engaging Varey in a battle for the lead. Terrell remained close behind, biding his time. Hirko eventually took command at the front, with Terrell slipping past Varey to move into second. In the final laps, Terrell intensified his pursuit of Hirko. Late braking into Turn 11 allowed him to close the gap significantly. On the white-flag lap, Hirko passed a backmarker cleanly but committed a couple of small errors. Terrell capitalized, diving inside Hirko through the final turn and getting a smooth line onto the front straight to take the win at the checkered flag. Hirko held second, with Varey completing the podium in third.

“Coming from the cold Northeast I was quite happy to be in the (somewhat warmer) South Carolina CMP paddock with all our AHRMA friends and family again. Heading into the weekend the 250 Grand Prix Vintage Cup had one of the highest number of entries of all classes and I knew this meant the racing and position changing would be akin to a tight Moto3 race. On Saturday, as I called the race from the tower, it was clear Holly Varey had a great start, great corner speed, and great power. She was in charge of the lead from the green flag while many of the riders behind her put on the fireworks show. Halfway through the race it struck me… Holly could win this, and it would be a special moment to have a woman on the top step of the podium, showing the boys what’s what. And that indeed happened. Anyone listening to me on the P.A. could hear my genuine excitement in real time. I was quite happy to pass that beautiful Vintage Cup trophy her way. She earned it and has proven over these first two 2026 race weekends that she’s the one to beat.

Sunday’s race outcome was less certain – it was anyone’s race to send it in hard or make a costly mistake. Fellow New Yorker Craig Hirko started clicking off the fast laps and looked like he was going to be on the top of the box, but AHRMA trustee Tim Terrell went to school, and we had a full on drag race to the flag. Just the way it should be.

With 24 entries going into this weekend, this is proof of concept – the Vintage Cup is genuinely working to keep these classics out of living rooms and onto the track. Exactly as this class was intended,” said series sponsor Kenny Cummings of NYC Norton.

AHRMA first launched the Vintage Cup series during 2019 by spotlighting the 350 GP class. The series resumed during 2021 and highlighted the 500 Premier class. It was followed by Vintage Superbike Heavyweight in 2022, and Formula 750 in 2023. In 2024, the second rotation of featured classes was initiated with 350GP, followed by 500 Premier in 2025. 250GP was added to the series in 2026 – the first year it has been featured.

“Rounds 3 and 4 of the 2026 AHRMA National Road Race Series at CMP were a perfect reminder of what AHRMA vintage racing is all about. The Vintage Cup, featuring the 250 GP Class, made a great show all weekend, with exciting racing on both Saturday and Sunday. Big congrats to Holly and Tim for grabbing the wins, and huge respect to everyone on the grid for showcasing their machines and skills.

The 250 GP field is absolutely stacked, with a really cool mix of bikes and some seriously talented riders. The big turnout just shows how fun these machines are to race, and how competitive the class has become. The different podiums each day pretty much say it all about the depth of the field.

This is exactly the kind of racing that makes AHRMA so special. We’re fired up to keep it rolling in April when the series heads west to Willow Springs for the next rounds of the AHRMA National Road Race Series,” shared Greg “GT” Tomlinson, AHRMA Chairman of the Board of Trustees.

Rounds five and six of the AHRMA National Road Race Series Presented by VIB-ISO will be April 17-19 at Big Willow, Willow Springs Raceway in Rosamond, CA.

The annual Vintage Cup spotlights one of AHRMA’s road racing classes with extra attention on competitors in the selected class during each race event. Enhanced awards for the Vintage Cup competitors are presented separately from other class trophies during the Saturday awards ceremony at each AHRMA National Road Race event. Highlights from each Vintage Cup race will be reported in RoadRacingWorld.com’s online edition. At the conclusion of each season, the perpetual Vintage Cup trophy will be engraved with the national champion winner’s name and presented to the winner at the National Awards Banquet to keep for one year.

Saturday, March 14, 2026

1 – 50H Holly Varey, 1968 VanTech CS3, Bradford, ON

2 – 455 Greg Glevicky, 1970 Yamaha DT1, Cincinnati, OH

3 – 641 Craig Hirko, 1967 Bridgestone TA 1, Newark Valley, NY

4 – 123 Jonas Stein, 1972 Honda CB175, Nashville, TN

5 – 805 Greyson Rogers, 1972 Yamaha CT1, Claremont, NC

6 – 79A Craig Light, 1973 Bultaco, Peachtree City, GA

7 – 588 Jake Hall, 1969 Honda CB160, Asheville, NC

8 – 17X Alex McLean, 1966 Ducati 250, Jacksonville Beach, FL

9 – 87 Eric Watts, 1966 Ducati 250, Blacklick, OH

10 – 350 Doug Bowie, 1968 Ducati Mach 1, Lilburn, GA

11 – 97 Frances Ganance, 1966 Ducati Mark 3, Cincinnati, OH

12 – 500 Stuart Wray, 1965 Ducati 250, St. Petersburg, FL

13 – 231 Rik Gould, 1970 Honda CB175, Poplarsville, MS

14 – 220 Tim Terrell, 1966 Honda CB160, Burlington, NC

15 – 62X Robert Himmelman, 1970 Yamaha CS3, New Glarus, WI

Sunday, March 15, 2026

1 – 220 Tim Terrell, 1966 Honda CB160, Burlington, NC

2 – 641 Craig Hirko, 1967 Bridgestone TA 1, Newark Valley, NY

3 – 50H Holly Varey, 1968 VanTech CS3, Bradford, ON

4 – 79A Craig Light, 1973 Bultaco, Peachtree City, GA

5 – 123 Jonas Stein, 1972 Honda CB175, Nashville, TN

6 – 588 Jake Hall, 1969 Honda CB160, Asheville, NC

7 – 87 Eric Watts, 1966 Ducati 250, Blacklick, OH

8 – 17X Alex McLean, 1966 Ducati 250, Jacksonville Beach, FL

9 – 97 Frances Ganance, 1966 Ducati Mark 3, Cincinnati, OH

10 – 62X Robert Himmelman, 1970 Yamaha CS3, New Glarus, WI

11 – 231 Rik Gould, 1970 Honda CB175, Poplarsville, MS

12 – 521 Kevin Nixon, 1965 Honda CB160, Naugatuck, CT

About AHRMA:

The American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to competing on fantastic classic and true vintage along with a wide range of modern motorcycles. With over 3,000 members, AHRMA is the largest vintage racing group in North America and one of the biggest in the world. The association has grown steadily over the years, reflecting the increasing interest in classic bikes.

How Do Motorcycle Tires Create Grip?

Mathilde Gasnier

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March 17, 2026

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Tires are the most important component on the motorcycle after YOU. The rider.

How Motorcycle Tires Create Grip?

Motorcycle tires create grip in two ways: chemical grip and mechanical grip.

Those terms get thrown around a lot, but what do they actually mean? More importantly, what do they have to do with how we ride a motorcycle?

Chemical Grip

Chemical grip comes from the rubber compound itself. Riders often describe tires as “soft” or “hard”, but modern tire chemistry is far more complex than that. Tire manufacturers spend enormous amounts of time and money engineering compounds that balance traction, durability, and heat management.

As riders, we actually have very little influence over chemical grip once we’re on the motorcycle. Our biggest influence happens when we buy the tire. The compound, construction, and intended temperature range are already engineered into the tire.

Where riders do influence chemical grip is through heat management.

A tire’s ability to generate grip changes dramatically depending on temperature. Many race tires work in a very narrow operating window. If they are too cold, they have very little grip. If street tires are overheated, they can degrade quickly and lose performance. We manage heat as riders by managing the contact patch of the tire and how we load the tire.

Coefficient of Friction

A simple way to visualize chemical grip is to imagine a block of rubber on a sheet of glass.

If the block of rubber is hard, like a hockey puck, it will slide easily across the glass. But if that same block of rubber, with the same size and weight, were soft like a pencil eraser, it would be much harder to slide.

The difference is the rubber compound. The chemical makeup of the rubber determines how much force is required to make it slide. That relationship between the surfaces is called the coefficient of friction.

So, if softer rubber creates more grip, why don’t we always use the softest compound possible?

Because we probably don’t want to buy new tires every day, or every session…or every lap.

Tire manufacturers are constantly searching for the perfect compromise between traction and durability. Modern tires use extremely advanced compounds and constructions to balance those competing goals. And once again, much of that balancing act revolves around heat management, the rider’s job.

The tire will take a tremendous load, but it will not take an abrupt load. Chris Peris demonstrates with an unmounted tire. Photo courtesy ChampSchool.

Mechanical Grip

Mechanical grip is something riders influence far more directly.

In the real world, we aren’t sliding a block of rubber across a sheet of glass. We are riding a very dynamic tire across a very inconsistent road surface.

Even the smoothest race track is not actually smooth. And public roads are far from perfect.

Mechanical grip comes from the tire’s ability to interlock with the surface of the road through the contact patch. The larger the contact patch, the more mechanical grip we have.
A larger contact patch also gives the tire more surface area to manage heat, which again plays a critical role in tire performance and durability.

Mechanical grip is largely influenced by the construction of the tire, tread compound, and tire pressure. Tire construction refers to how stiff the tire carcass is, how much it resists deformation, and how quickly it returns to its original shape after being loaded.

Tire pressure plays a major role in this behavior, and pressure is directly tied to temperature. As a tire heats up, its pressure increases, which changes how the carcass flexes and interacts with the pavement.

In reality, much of this setup is determined before we ever get on the motorcycle. The motorcycle manufacturer and the tire manufacturer design the chassis, suspension, and tire construction to work together within a specific pressure and temperature range.

But there is one major way riders influence mechanical grip in real time:

Tire Load – The Physics of Grip

Let’s go back to that block of rubber on the sheet of glass. Imagine sliding the hockey puck density rubber block across the glass again. Now place a 10-pound weight on top of it. Is it easier or more difficult to slide?

Much more difficult.

Nothing about the rubber changed. The coefficient of friction stayed exactly the same. But by adding load, we increased the friction force dramatically.

Friction is described by a simple physics equation:

F = μN

Where:
F = friction force
μ = coefficient of friction (chemical and mechanical grip of the tire and road surface)
N = normal force (load on the tire)

Motorcycles have the remarkable ability to transfer load violently from one tire to the other. This is known as weight pitch.

When a motorcycle is sitting still, the weight of the rider and bike may be distributed roughly 50/50 between the front and rear tires. But with the correct use of brakes and throttle, we can shift up to 100% of that load onto one tire or the other to create more grip.

When we brake, weight transfers forward.

When we accelerate, weight transfers rearward.

When we lean the motorcycle into a corner, centripetal forces add load to both tires, but with a bias to the front or rear based on where we are in the corner and how we are combining brake pressure and lean angle, neutral throttle and lean angle, or throttle and lean angle.

Used correctly, rider inputs can create more mechanical grip than the tire would generate on its own.

Load Equals Grip.

Instructor Robertino Pietri is applying grip to his front tire with the front brake lever at NJMP. Photo courtesy ChampSchool.

Creating Front Tire Grip

Front tire grip is divided by two things:

Brake pressure and lean angle. We like to say that a tire has 100 points of grip all the time. Those 100 points are on a sliding scale based on conditions, but they always exist.

Brake pressure increases the normal force on the tire. Lean angle creates centripetal load as the bike turns.

The key is that if we add one, we must reduce the other. Trading braking load “points” for cornering load “points”.

If we are at 100 points of braking force and we add 20 points of lean angle force, we need to give up 20 points of braking force to maintain optimum grip.

When riders release the brakes too early, the fork rebounds, the tire unloads, and the contact patch becomes very small right at the moment we are trying to countersteer to turn the motorcycle.

If the pace is high or the grip is low, this can lead to an unloaded front-end crash.

Done correctly, riders gradually trade braking force for lean angle, keeping the front tire loaded the entire time.

This technique is known as trail braking, and it allows the rider to accurately manage speed, chassis geometry, and front tire contact patch at any pace. The front brake is infinitely adjustable, giving the rider maximum control of more or less speed, load, or lean angle if required. If we are off the brakes before turn in, we are out of options, and the tire has less than ideal grip.

Bridgestone Battlax Racing front slick tire under track conditions. Photo courtesy ChampSchool.

Creating Rear Tire Grip

Rear tire grip is made up of two main forces at corner entry: Braking and lean angle, like the front. We are trailing off rear brake pressure as we add lean angle.

But our largest concern with rear-tire grip is under acceleration, where grip is divided by throttle and lean angle. The same 100 points of grip concept applies.

When we apply the throttle, the weight transfers rearward. The rear suspension compresses, the tire spreads out, and the contact patch grows.

This allows the tire to maintain better traction during the forward drive.

But if we are still adding lean angle while aggressively adding throttle, we are asking the tire to handle increasing throttle and lean angle points that will quickly exceed available grip.

If we are at 50 points of lean angle and we want to add 80 points of throttle, we must give up 30 points of lean angle during this acceleration.

We can get away with this if we are only using 30 points of lean angle and 30 points of throttle, but this grip is always changing and on a sliding scale. If the pace is high or the grip is low, the tire runs out of traction if we are constantly adding points rather than trading points.

The Problem With Lean Angle

A motorcycle must lean in order to turn. Lean angle counters force trying to push the bike outward in a corner. This causes centripetal load on the tires, suspension, and chassis.
As the motorcycle leans, the tire flexes and the contact patch grows larger. That sounds like a good thing.But there is a limit.

Near the center of the tire, the rubber can flex and deform easily. Near the edge of the tire, we are pressing into the very stiff sidewall of the tire. The tire can’t deform as much, and the contact patch becomes smaller.

The smaller the contact patch and the higher the cornering load, the more heat is concentrated into a smaller area. This causes the tire to lose grip and durability. Tire grip and durability always comes back to heat management.

There’s Another Problem: Suspension.

As lean angle increases beyond roughly 45 degrees, the suspension becomes less effective. At extreme lean angles, the suspension doesn’t really work at all. Much of the bike’s capacity for handling surface irregularities comes down to tire and chassis flex, not the suspension.

That’s why, in our world, lean angle equals risk.

We must lean the motorcycle to turn, but we want to use the least amount of lean angle for the least amount of time for a given speed and corner radius. Riders who don’t get the bike pointed, or “get direction” mid-corner (see YCRS’s Radius = MPH), must spend a lot of time at maximum lean angle, or maximum risk.

Instructor Cody Wyman is approaching the limit of lean angle and suspension effectiveness. Photo courtesy ChampSchool.

The Most Dangerous Motorcycle

The most unstable motorcycle is an unloaded motorcycle.
An unloaded motorcycle is a motorcycle with no meaningful forces being applied through the suspension into the tires. The suspension is not compressed, and the tire contact patch is very small.

This happens when riders coast into corners.

When we coast, we are not managing grip. We are not loading the tires. We are essentially passengers on the motorcycle and passengers don’t control motorcycles. If we are off the controls, we are out of control.

The riders who are faster and safer are simply doing one thing better than everyone else:

They are using the controls—brake pressure, throttle, and lean angle—to put more load into the tires to generate more mechanical grip.

They aren’t just managing grip; they are creating grip. They are not passengers.

– Chip Spalding

Special thanks to Keith, Andrew, and Rory at Bridgestone Motorcycle Tires, who took time out of their busy schedule to help make this article as accurate as possible.

All of this is 100% applicable equally at track days, commuting, touring, or racing. The physics are exactly the same. Photo courtesy ChampSchool.

ChampSchool x Dainese

Dainese is, without question, one of the most respected names in motorcycle safety and performance.

We are very excited to offer students and riders in the ChampSchool community 20% off their first purchase at Dainese.com.

Simply scan the QR code or sign up using the link below. Once registered, you’ll receive a personalized welcome letter from ChampSchool along with your exclusive discount code.

This offer is valid for most items on Dainese.com (excluding AGV and TCX).

Dainese has been protecting the best riders in the world for decades. You are invested in your riding. Invest in safety.

Ride safe. Ride smart. Ride protected.

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Talladega Opens Limited Testing Ahead of MotoAmerica Rounds

Mathilde Gasnier

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March 17, 2026

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Talladega Opens Limited Testing Ahead of MotoAmerica Rounds

Talladega Gran Prix Raceway is open to MotoAmerica competitors on the Monday and Tuesday before MotoAmerica at Road Atlanta and before MotoAmerica at Barber Motorsports Park. All track time is filled on a first-come basis and space is limited!

For more information go to:

AHRMA: Race Results from Carolina Motorsports Park

Mathilde Gasnier

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March 17, 2026

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AHRMA: Race Results from Carolina Motorsports Park

Complete race results from the 2026 AHRMA Roadracing Series presented by VIB-ISO event held March 14-15 at Carolina Motorsports Park, Kershaw, SC.

AHRMA-2026-CMP_RRW

Oxley Bom MotoGP Podcast: The Revenge of Questions & Answers

Mathilde Gasnier

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March 17, 2026

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Oxley Bom MotoGP Podcast: The Revenge of Questions & Answers

Last week, we asked our dear Patrons if they had any questions for us. And, well, you know the drill: lots of you responded, we picked our favourites and finally Mat and Peter do their best to answer them in an hour or so. Right?

I mean, how many questions in need of resolution could there possibly be?

Well, let’s just say that if you normally pour yourself a glass for these episodes, then this time you might want to bring the bottle. Or just bring the whole damn cask, because we’ll be here for awhile. If your question was: “What’s the longest episode you’ve ever done?”, then you’ve already found your answer here…

…Two hours, baby!

So come hang out with us as we answer all your questions, and I do mean all your questions. Oh, and we’ve got mail from Graham Norton and other celebs! Or someone with the same name – but that NEVER happens on the internet, right?

Cheers!

Want more? Visit our website or support us on Patreon. With big thanks as always to Brad Baloo from The Next Men and Gentleman’s Dub Club for writing our theme song. Check out The Nextmen for more great music!

LISTEN THE PODCAST HERE!

Bagger World Cup: Global Grid Builds Ahead of Opening GP

Mathilde Gasnier

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March 17, 2026

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Bagger World Cup: Global Grid Builds Ahead of Opening GP

As the inaugural season of the FIM Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup approaches its opening event in Austin, Texas, Harley-Davidson and MotoGP Sports Entertainment Group have announced a further update to the championship entry list. The addition of a new team and two riders continues to shape an increasingly international and competitive grid ahead of the series’ on-track debut, with the first official pre-season test scheduled for March 21–22 at Circuit of the Americas.

The latest entry in the list of participating teams is ParkinGO Team, one of Italy’s most established international racing organizations, which will compete with a one-bike entry. Founded by Giuliano Rovelli and managed by his son Edoardo, ParkinGO Team is a former FIM Supersport World Championship–winning team with extensive experience in Moto2, World Supersport, and international endurance racing. The team will field Filippo Rovelli (#27), marking a new chapter for the Rovelli family within the global Harley-Davidson racing project.

In addition, Saddlemen Racing has expanded its program to a three-bike effort, further strengthening the competitiveness and depth of the championship.

CURRENT 2026 TEAM ENTRY LIST:

• Joe Rascal Racing (Australia) – 3 bikes

• Niti Racing (Indonesia) – 2 bikes

• ParkinGO Team (Italy) – 1 bike

• Saddlemen Racing (USA) – 3 bikes

As preparations continue for the inaugural season, discussions remain ongoing with current and prospective teams regarding possible future developments. Cecchini Racing’s provisional entry is currently on standby after the team was unable to finalize the required guarantees for Round 1.

The current lineup highlights the truly international character of the championship, with riders and teams representing four different continents. This global diversity reflects the broad appeal of the series and reinforces the ambition of the FIM Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup to establish a new competitive platform capable of uniting racing cultures and audiences from around the world.

2026 RIDER LINEUP:

#10 TRAVIS WYMAN (USA) – SADDLEMEN RACING

Travis Wyman has built a strong reputation in American V-twin road racing, known for his consistency, race-winning pace, and technical feedback. Competing at the highest level of heavyweight bagger competition in the United States, Wyman has secured multiple victories and podium finishes aboard Harley-Davidson machinery. His experience with large-displacement V-twin platforms makes him a valuable asset for Saddlemen Racing.

#13 CORY WEST (USA) – SADDLEMEN RACING

Cory West is a highly experienced American road racer with more than two decades of professional competition, including the MotoAmerica Super Hooligan championship title in 2024. Known for his versatility and technical insight, he has built a strong reputation racing large-displacement V-twin machinery at the highest level of American bagger competition. His race-winning experience and development feedback make him a key contributor to the Saddlemen Racing program.

#20 DIMAS EKKY PRATAMA (INA) – NITI RACING

Dimas Ekky Pratama is one of Indonesia’s most internationally experienced riders, having competed in Moto2 World Championship events and the FIM CEV Moto2 European Championship. A leading presence in Asia Road Racing, Pratama combines adaptability, resilience, and race intelligence, reflecting Indonesia’s growing presence in global circuit competition.

#27 FILIPPO ROVELLI (ITA) – PARKINGO TEAM

Filippo Rovelli enters the championship backed by the experienced ParkinGO Team structure. With European racing experience and a strong development focus, Rovelli represents the next generation of Italian talent within the Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup.

#34 CODY WYMAN (USA) – JOE RASCAL RACING

Cody Wyman has established himself as a leading competitor in American racing, earning multiple victories and podium finishes in MotoAmerica Super Hooligan. His familiarity with Harley-Davidson race machinery and assertive riding style position him as a strong contender on the world stage.

#51 ERIC GRANADO (BRA) – JOE RASCAL RACING

Eric Granado is one of Brazil’s most accomplished international riders, with a distinguished record in MotoE World Cup competition and experience in Moto2 and World Superbike. Known for precision and adaptability, Granado brings world championship experience and technical depth to the Bagger World Cup.

#69 ARCHIE MCDONALD (AUS) – JOE RASCAL RACING

Archie McDonald represents Australia’s emerging generation of road racers. With experience in national superbike competition, he combines determination with disciplined race management and adds fresh energy to the Joe Rascal Racing lineup.

#85 JAKE LEWIS (USA) – SADDLEMEN RACING

Jake Lewis is a proven American road racer with extensive experience across multiple national racing categories. Known for his natural speed and disciplined riding style, Lewis has been a consistent contender in top-level V-twin bagger competition in the United States. In 2012, he won the AMA Pro SuperSport East Championship, earning Rookie of the Year honors. In 2021, he won the MotoAmerica Stock 1000 title. His aggressive approach and race craft add depth and competitiveness to the Saddlemen Racing lineup.

#99 OSCAR GUTIÉRREZ (ESP) – NITI RACING

Oscar Gutiérrez is a former World Supersport 300 Champion with experience across Supersport and Superbike categories. His balanced riding style and championship background bring maturity and consistency to Niti Racing.

The grid will be in action this weekend March 21 & 22 at COTA for the official pre-season test before racing gets underway alongside MotoGP at the Red Bull Grand Prix of the United States! Make sure to tune in.

MotoAmerica: Galfer USA Joins as Multi-Year Partner

Mathilde Gasnier

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March 17, 2026

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MotoAmerica: Galfer USA Joins as Multi-Year Partner

Galfer USA, a benchmark in the U.S. high-performance braking market, and MotoAmerica, North America’s premier motorcycle road racing series, announce a multi-year partnership aligned with the MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North American Road Racing Championship.

With over 70 years of experience, Galfer is globally recognized for its technological innovation, precision-engineered rotors, and racing brake pads used at the highest levels of motorcycle competition. With headquarters in Orlando, Florida, Galfer USA has been operating in the American market for over 30 years, providing high-performance braking solutions to professional teams, OEMs, dealers, and enthusiasts across the United States.

In recent years, Galfer has strengthened its presence in the most prestigious motorcycle racing competitions, bringing its technology to the highest levels of the MotoGP™ World Championship. In 2024, rider Ai Ogura of the MT Helmets – MSI team won the Moto2™ World Championship using Galfer.

Through this multi-year partnership, Galfer USA reinforces its commitment to motorsports and the U.S. market, bringing to America the same experience, innovation, and racing leadership that Galfer has established in Europe, while consolidating its presence in the MotoAmerica paddock and its connection to American road racing.

Saddlemen Race Development Harley-Davidson rider Jake Lewis brakes into Turn 1 at Daytona International Speedway. Galfer braking components helped Lewis secure podium finishes in both Mission Super Hooligan National Championship races over the weekend, including a victory in Race 2. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.

“MotoAmerica represents the highest level of road racing in the U.S., and that’s exactly where Galfer belongs,” said Armando Riva, Country Manager of Galfer USA. “We’re excited to engage in a partnership that puts our products side-by-side with the best riders, showcasing how closely our brand is connected to elite-level performance.”

“Galfer has built its reputation in the most competitive racing environments in the world, and that level of technical commitment aligns perfectly with what we expect in the MotoAmerica paddock,” said Chuck Aksland, COO of MotoAmerica. “Having partners who understand performance at this level, while actively supporting racing development, strengthens our championship and the teams who compete in it.”

Registration Opens for N2RA 6-Hours of VIR, With Bridgestone $

March 18, 2026

0526 N2 Endrance Chris Paris DSC_1930 — Chris Peris on an AOD Yamaha YZF-R1. Photos by Apex Pro Photo.

Bridgestone Contingency Announced for N2RA 6-Hours of VIR; Registration Now Open

N2 Track Days and the N2 Road Racing Association (N2RA) are pleased to announce that Bridgestone Motorcycle Tires, through Performance Tire Service Company, will offer contingency awards for racers competing in the N2RA 6-Hours of VIR endurance weekend scheduled for August 7-9 at VIRginia International Raceway (VIR) in Alton. Virginia.

Bridgestone Contingency Program

Bridgestone will support competitors throughout the weekend with contingency awards available across multiple classes, including Superbike, Supersport, Lightsport, Ultralight, and Relay competition.

Awards will be issued in the form of certificates redeemable toward the purchase of Bridgestone motorcycle tires through Performance Tire Service Company.

2026 Contingency Rules

To qualify for contingency awards, riders must:

Compete on Bridgestone tires on both the front and rear of the motorcycle

Display Bridgestone decals on both sides of the motorcycle

Submit a completed contingency claim form verified by race officials

Meet minimum starter requirements for class payouts

The contingency program adds $10,000 in potential payouts across the endurance weekend, further strengthening an already substantial purse structure for competitors.

A Major Endurance Racing Weekend

The N2RA 6-Hours of VIR weekend will feature multiple race formats designed to provide competitive opportunities for riders and teams of all experience levels.

Sunday’s headline event will be the six-hour endurance race, with classes including Superbike, Supersport, Lightsport, and Relay. The weekend will also feature an Ultralight two-hour endurance race along with additional endurance sprint formats designed to give racers maximum track time.

The event continues N2RA’s commitment to building a professional, accessible endurance racing platform focused on clear procedures, competitive balance, and rider-focused organization.

Registration Now Open

Teams interested in competing are encouraged to register early, as grid capacity will be limited.

Registration is now available through MotorsportsReg.com: https://msreg.com/N2RA-VIR

Partnership Opportunities

Additional sponsorship and contingency programs are currently being finalized for the event. Companies interested in supporting the N2RA endurance platform are encouraged to inquire.

About N2: N2 – Ride, Learn, Race.

Founded in 2014, N2’s mission is to build a sustainable motorcycle community through safe, structured motorcycle track days, using advanced rider training programs based on Yamaha Champions Riding School teaching methods. In 2017, N2 successfully resurrected Motorcycle Endurance Racing in America by creating the N2 National Endurance Series. The N2/BobbleHeadMoto Professional Race Team won two national championships in the MotoAmerica Pro Racing Series with rider Blake Davis. N2 is also a major contributor to the Roadracing World Action Fund through fundraising efforts and support from its large member base.

R.I.P.: AMA Pro Racer Kurt Lentz

March 18, 2026

Kurt Lentz circa 1976 Mary Grothe photo IMG_9778 — Racer Kurt Lentz (75) on a Ducati in the first AMA Superbike race, in 1976, Photo by Mary Grothe.

Former AAMRR and AMA Pro racer Kurt Lentz died in Frenchtown, New Jersey on January 30th, 2026, after battling cancer. He was 73 years old.

As near as we can tell, he started his AMA Pro racing career on a TZ250 in the International Lightweight class (a.k.a. 250cc GP) at Daytona in 1975.

Lentz finished 6th in the first official AMA Superbike race, at Daytona in 1976, riding a Ducati, and also raced a Kawasaki H2R in the 1976 Daytona 200.

In 1977 he finished in the top-10 in AMA Superbike races three times on a Ducati, with two best finishes of 5th place at Loudon and Pocono.

In 1978 he finished sixth in Superbike, again on A Ducati.

In 1983 he earned two top-10 finishes in AMA Formula One on a TZ750, taking 6th in the Daytona 200 and 9th at Mid-Ohio.

He is survived by an adult child, Ariel Lentz.

More information will be posted as it becomes available.

Research courtesy of Larry Lawrence/Rider Files.

MotoAmerica: SDK Fastest Again on Day 2 at COTA Dunlop Test

March 18, 2026

Sean Dylan Kelly led the two-day Dunlop Pre-Season Test at Circuit of The Americas aboard his OrangeCat Racing BMW Superbike. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.