Warhorse HSBK Ducati FLo4Law rider Cameron Beaubier posted the fastest lap in MotoAmerica Superbike practice with a time of 2:10.053 on Friday at Road America. OrangeCat Racing rider Sean Dylan Kelly, Strack Racing rider Mathew Scholtz, Wrench Motorcycles rider Cameron Petersen and Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing rider Bobby Fong rounded out the top five.
Rahal Ducati Moto with Desnuda Organic Tequila rider Josh Herrin posted the fastest lap in Friday MotoAmerica Supersport practice with a time of 2:17.379 at Road America. BPR Racing Yamaha rider Josh Hayes, Strack Racing rider Blake Davis, Celtic/Economy Lube + Tire/Warhorse rider Darryn Binder and Liberty Yamaha Racing rider Dominic Doyle rounded out the top five.
Iker Lecuona led FIM Superbike World Championship Free Practice Two (FP2) Friday afternoon at MotorLand Aragon, in Spain. Riding his Aruba.It Racing – Ducati Panigale V4R on spec Pirelli tires, the Spaniard covered the 3.15-mile (5.08 km) track in 1:49.578 to lead the field of 22 riders.
Sam Lowes was second-best with a 1:49.588 on his ELF Marc VDS Racing Team Ducati Panigale V4R.
Lecuona’s teammate, Nicolò Bulega, was third with a 1:49.659.
American Garrett Gerloff was 7th with a time of 1:49.991 on his Kawasaki ZX-10RR.
wsbk fp2
More from a press release issued by WSBK:
Bulega tops Friday running at Aragon, Lecuona fastest in FP2 despite Turn 8 crash. The two factory Ducati riders were quick throughout Friday, with Bulega topping FP1 and Lecuona topping FP2.
Sweltering temperatures greeted the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship at MotorLand Aragon as Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) topped the times on Friday, while teammate Iker Lecuona was fastest in Free Practice 2 with all but two riders quicker in Free Practice 1 than in the afternoon at MotorLand Aragon. Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) finished Day 1 of the Aragon Round in third place, also thanks to his FP1 time.
BULEGA TOPS FRIDAY RUNNING, LECUONA QUICKEST IN FP2
Bulega finished Friday’s action on top thanks to his FP1 time of a 1’48.916s, with his time in FP2 around seven tenths off that pace. He pipped teammate Lecuona by 0.022s to take top spot on the combined timesheets, with Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) finishing as the third-fastest Ducati, and fifth overall. The #14 completed just two timed laps in FP1 before a crash at Turn 12 ended his session. In FP2, Lecuona was the fastest rider on track with a 1’49.578s, but he had a crash at Turn 8 in the final moments of the session. Sam Lowes was second in the afternoon with Bulega third. Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) claimed fifth place with a 1’49.609s, directly ahead of Lorenzo Baldassarri (Team GoEleven) who was seventh fastest. Tarran Mackenzie (MGM Optical Express Racing) was eighth, despite a late crash in FP2 at Turn 13, with Tommy Bridewell (Superbike Advocates) and Alberto Surra (Motocorsa Racing) rounding out the top ten. Alvaro Bautista (Barni Spark Racing Team) finished 11th on the combined timesheets as he racked up the mileage after being declared fit, and he was sixth in FP2.
ALEX LOWES LEADS BIMOTA CHARGE
There was Little to separate the two bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team riders on Friday. Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) finished as the fastest of the pair thanks to his FP1 time of 1’49.442s, which was good enough for P3 in the morning session and overall, with Bassani one place and 0.053s behind the #22.
VIERGE ON TOP AT YAMAHA
Xavi Vierge (Pata Maxus Yamaha) was the fastest Yamaha on the combined timesheets as he claimed P13 with a 1’50.096s set in Free Practice 1, with the #97 three tenths clear of teammate Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) who finished in 15th. Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) was 16th despite a late crash at Turn 1 in FP2, while teammate Stefano Manzi posted a 1’50.664s to finish in 19th. Bahattin Sofuoglu (Motoxracing WorldSBK Team) and teammate Mattia Rato were 21st and 22nd respectively.
VAN DER MARK, SOOMER FIGHT FOR BMW HONOURS
With regular race riders Danilo Petrucci and Miguel Oliveira still recovering from their injuries, the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team have drafted in Michael van der Mark and Hannes Soomer for the Aragon Round. The Dutchman hit some technical problems at the end of FP1, and the pair finished 18th and 20th respectively on Friday’s combined timesheets.
GERLOFF HOPES FORM CONTINUES
Garrett Gerloff (Kawasaki WorldSBK Team) headed to Aragon on the back of two stand-out weekends on the ZX-10RR machine and is hoping he can be in the top ten at a track he’s had multiple podiums at. The #31 finished FP1 in 12th place with a 1’50.077s but improved in the scorching FP2 conditions to a 1’49.991s, although he remained in the same place on the combined timesheets.
CHANTRA FASTEST AT HONDA, DIXON CRASHES ON RETURN
Somkiat Chantra (Honda HRC) was the fastest of the two Honda riders on Friday as he finished in 14th place, with his FP1 time of 1’50.355s giving him that place overall. Jake Dixon (Honda HRC) didn’t get off to the start he would have wanted in his first WorldSBK session during a weekend, after he crashed at Turn 12 in FP1. Although it was a lowside fall, the #96’s bike caught the kerbs and rolled, meaning he only took part in the first 15 minutes of the morning session. Dixon had a second medical review after FP1 for his wrist injury, and he was declared fit following that check. The Brit was the first rider to improve their time in FP2 compared to FP1, setting a 1’50.482s to give him 17th overall.
The top six from WorldSBK on Friday, full results here:
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Righteous Racin’ rider Jody Barry posted the fastest lap in Friday MotoAmerica Twins Cup practice with a time of 2:25.561 at Road America. Robem Engineering rider Hank Vossberg, M4 ECSTAR Suzuki riders Bodie Paige and Matthew Chapin, and HistoricGP Custom Leather rider Mahdi Salem completed the top five.
Celestino Vietti led Moto2 World Championship practice Friday afternoon at Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello, in Italy. Riding his MB Conveyors SpeedRS Team Boscoscuro on Pirelli control tires, the Italian rider lapped the 3.26-mile (5.25 km) road course in 1:49.420, topping the field of 27 riders and breaking Diogo Moreira’s All-Time Lap Record of 1:49.745 from 2025.
Izan Guevara was second-best with a time of 1:49.431 on his BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Boscoscuro.
Manuel Gonzalez did a third-fastest 1:49.530 on his LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP Kalex.
American Joe Roberts finished Friday afternoon’s practice session 14th with a best time of 1:50.381 on his OnlyFans American Racing Team Kalex.
Classification 2
More from a press release issued by MotoGP:
Vietti flies at Mugello to take Friday honours. Second last time out but racing at home for the first time in 2026, the #13 carried on his solid Barcelona form.
Setting his fastest lap time on the 14th of his 16 laps, Vietti was once again mighty on Friday, whilst it was a Boscoscuro 1-2 with Izan Guevara (BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2) showing strength behind his fellow Catalan GP podium finisher, just 0.011s adrift. Championship leader and Catalan GP winner Manuel Gonzalez (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP) was strong in third place as just 0.110s covered the top three.
Putting in a late lap towards the end of Practice, Filip Salač (OnlyFans American Racing Team) was a solid fourth place, whilst Alonso Lopez (ITALJET Gresini Moto2) continued his strong form of late to complete the Friday top five. In another stellar performance, Alex Escrig (KLINT Racing Team) was sixth.
Big names to miss the automatic Q2 cut included Daniel Holgado (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team), who, despite his best efforts, only managed 15th. ELF Marc VDS Racing Team duo Deniz Öncü and Aron Canet were only 16th and 18th respectively, whilst Barry Baltus (Fantic Racing) was only 19th. A big fight for Q1 honours incoming on Saturday then…
Bryanna Everitt posted the fastest lap in Friday’s MotoAmerica Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race practice with a time of 3:03.960 at Road America. Royal Enfield Build.Train.Race. Jasmine Noelle, Emily Dickson, Tiffanie Vo and Marie Madura rounded out the top five.
Fabio Di Giannantonio was fastest during MotoGP World Championship Practice Friday afternoon at Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello, in Italy. Riding his Michelin-shod Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team Ducati Desmosedici GP26, the Italian rider covered the 3.26-mile (5.25 km) road course in 1:44.808, topping the field of 22 riders.
Francesco Bagnaia was second-best with a 1:44.899 on his Lenovo Team Ducati Desmosedici GP26.
Enea Bastianini was third with a lap of 1:44.911 on his Red Bull KTM Tech3 RC16.
Di Giannantonio’s teammate, Franco Morbidelli, got fourth on Ducati Desmosedici GP25 with a time of 1:44.959.
Fermin Aldeguer finished the first practice session fifth on his BK8 Gresini Racing Ducati Desmosedici GP26 with a lap time of 1:45.004.
Classification
More from a press release issued by MotoGP:
Di Giannantonio earns Friday P1 double as Acosta faces Q1 at Mugello. The VR46 Racing Team rider steals the show to front an Italian 1-2-3-4, Marc Marquez returns to clinch a Q2 spot, while the #37 endures a tricky day.
A double serving of Italian-flavoured P1 was on the menu for Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team’s Fabio Di Giannantonio, as the Catalan GP winner served up a Friday treat to head into the weekend’s action at Mugello as the rider to beat. The Italian’s 1:44.808 was 0.091s faster than second place Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), who in turn was 0.012s clear of third place Enea Bastianini (Red Bull KTM Tech3).
Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) returned to action with a very solid P6, while Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) missed the Q2 cut after a disappointing day at the office.
THE EARLY EXCHANGES FT A PAIR OF RED FLAGS
Following a spell of wet weather in the morning, Friday afternoon Practice at Mugello got underway in dry conditions and fronting the timesheets in the early stages was three-time Italian GP winner Bagnaia, with Alex Rins (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) inside the top two early doors.
Having come through FP1 unscathed, Marc Marquez was declared fit to participate in the rest of the weekend, and halfway through the session, the reigning World Champion was 11th fastest, 0.566s away from his teammate’s time, before some quicker laps began to fly in.
The first was for Ai Ogura (Trackhouse MotoGP Team); the second was for title race leader Bezzecchi. A 1:45.024 was Bez’s table-topper with just over 30 minutes to go, on fresh soft Michelin rubber, before the red flags came out after Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) crashed coming out of Turn 4. The Frenchman and his Yamaha slid down the road into Turn 5, kicking plenty of stones into the circuit, and with the stricken YZR-M1 parked in the middle of the apex, the short stoppage to the session was called. More importantly, Quartararo was up on his feet and swiftly made his way back to the box.
Once Practice resumed, it wasn’t long before another Yamaha star was on the deck. This time it was Jack Miller (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP) crashing at Turn 1, with the Australian – who was P19 at the time – all OK too.
Coming into the final 12 minutes, Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) encountered tech problems when coming out of the pit lane, and due to where the RC16 was ditched by the South African, leaning against the wall towards the end of the 1.1km long straight, the red flags were waved again to allow the marshals to recover the broken KTM.
TIME ATTACK MODE: ENGAGED
Then, we strapped in for 11 minutes and 45 seconds of time attack action on Friday. Marc Marquez and Acosta were lingering outside the top 10, as were the likes of World Champions Quartararo and Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol), as Miller rose to P3 with just under eight minutes remaining to shove Bastianini out of the top 10.
With just over five minutes left, a familiar name rose to P1. A certain #93. Marc Marquez’s 1:45.010 saw the current champ jump from P16 to the summit, but a flurry of fast laps landed to quickly shuffle the Spaniard down to P5. Di Giannantonio, Bagnaia, Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) and Fermin Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) clocked faster times than the returning Marquez, as we then saw Martin lose a top 10 place with two minutes to go.
At the same time, Bezzecchi and Bastianini promoted themselves into the top five, as we locked eyes on Martin. P13, the title hunter was chasing a time. And he managed one, just, to go P8 at the chequered flag – but that’s all he needed. Fellow Aprilia rider Ogura was the one to lose out after Martin’s lung-busting late charge, the Japanese rider fell to P11, and another rider unable to get a Friday top 10 was Acosta. A mistake on his final lap meant the #37 finished P13 on Day 1, with Q1 awaiting the rider P4 in the World Championship.
YOUR Q2 QUALIFIERS
No such worries for Di Giannantonio though. A double Friday P1 on home turf? Just what the doctor ordered. Literally. Bagnaia, Bastianini, and Morbidelli made it an Italian 1-2-3-4 at Mugello; the home faithful will be pleased with that, as Aldeguer closed out the top five.
Marc Marquez’s return was impressive; the champion sails into Q2 in P6, with Bezzecchi acting as the lead Aprilia in P7. Martin was P8, 0.3s off Diggia, as Rins held onto a top 10 in P9 to signal a job well done for the Yamaha rider on Friday. And speaking of top jobs, congratulations to rookie Diogo Moreira (Pro Honda LCR), as the Brazilian earns his first automatic Q2 entry in P10.
COMING UP: TISSOT SPRINT SATURDAY
That wasn’t a bad opening day of action at Mugello, was it? Some shocks, some standouts, some very close times. See you tomorrow for Tissot Sprint Saturday.
Albert Arenas topped FIM Supersport World Championship Superpole qualifying Friday at MotorLand Aragon, in Spain. Riding his AS BLU CRU Racing Team Yamaha YZF-R9 on Pirelli control tires, the Spaniard lapped the 3.15-mile (5.08 km) course in 1:53.142 to top the field of 34 riders and earn pole position.
Former MotoAmerica Supersport regular Valentin Debise was the best of the rest with a 1:53.157 on his Eastroc Evan Bros ZXMOTO 820RR, and Roberto Garcia earned the third and final spot on the front row with a lap time of 1:53.483 on his GMT94 Yamaha YZF-R9.
wssp superpole
More from a press release issued by WSBK:
SNATCHED AT THE END: Arenas pips Debise to WorldSSP pole by just 0.015s. The Spaniard struck gold at home on Friday for his second pole of his rookie WorldSSP campaign.
The FIM Supersport World Championship popped the cork on the action in Alcaniz with their Tissot Superpole session at the vaunted MotorLand Aragon. Albert Arenas (AS BLU CRU Racing Team) took pole position for himself on Friday afternoon, landing atop the timesheet to aid him in his hopeful title lead defence. He finished just ahead of Valentin Debise (EASTROC ZXMOTO Factory Evan Bros Racing), who pulled out a late lap of his own, and Roberto Garcia (GMT94 Yamaha) to form Race 1’s front row.
ARENAS IN THE FINAL SECONDS
Albert Arenas (AS BLU CRU Racing Team) managed the scorching 52º C track temperatures better than the rest and set a buzzer-beating 1’53.483s time to take pole as time expired on the session to start from P1 for the second time in this rookie season. Valentin Debise (EASTROC ZXMOTO Factory Evan Bros Racing) looked to struggle at the Spanish circuit where he won his maiden WorldSSP race last season, until he took P2 with a 1’53.157s, earned with mere seconds left in the session. Roberto Garcia (GMT94 Yamaha) looks determined to make his speed felt on the Championship standings after riding well but suffering five DNFs in six races. He set a 1’53.483s lap with 17 minutes left to sit provisional pole but slid down two places in the final moments to earn P3.
FROM THE GRAVEL TO THE SECOND ROW
Can Oncu (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) and Tom Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) kept their composure and recovered from Turn 1 crashes to finish fourth and fifth fastest on the back of their 1’53.537s and 1’53.616s times respectively. Alessandro Zaccone (Ecosantagata Althea Racing Team) converted his Free Practice P3 earlier in the day to a P6-earning 1’53.642s time in the Superpole session Friday afternoon, tying his best WorldSSP qualification earned at Assen earlier this season.
MASIA TO LEAD THE THIRD ROW
Jaume Masia (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) sent himself to P7 with a 1’53.698s effort, from which he will hope to propel himself to his first podium in five races. Behind him, Aldi Mahendra (AS BLU CRU Racing Team) sent himself up into P2 on his second lap, yet he slid down the order as the session progressed, finishing in P8. Matteo Ferrari (WRP Racing) fought for a top-three spot in the session; however, a Turn 1 crash cut his momentum, and he finished in P9, just over half a hundredth slower than the Indonesian. Rounding off the top ten, Oli Bayliss (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) kept his recent run of improved form rolling as his 1’53.873s time placed him P10; however, he was handed a six-place grid penalty by FIM WorldSBK Stewards for his second offence this season of slow riding during the session. As a result, Mattia Casadei (D34G WorldSSP Racing Team) was promoted from P11 to start in P10 in Race 1.
TURN 1 TAKES ITS TOLL
Turn 1 proved to be a tricky problem for the riders in the session, seeing crashes from: Can Oncu, wild card rider Kadir Erbay (I+Dent Racing Team), Murcian rider Borja Jimenez (WRP Racing), his teammate Matteo Ferrari, Tom Booth-Amos, Filippo Farioli (VFT Racing), and Lucas Mahias (GMT94 Yamaha).
The top six from the WorldSSP Tissot Superpole session, full results here!
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Supersport racing at Road America is a high-stakes, 150-miles-per-hour chess match played out over the massive 4.038-mile Wisconsin road course. Without the raw power of the premier-class Superbikes, Supersport success at “America’s National Park of Speed” requires razor-sharp precision in corners to maintain exit speeds, especially for the long run uphill to the finish line. It is a class defined by bikes packed three-wide into turn five, with the riders’ elbows rubbing and positions changing multiple times in a single lap.
Succeeding in this environment requires expertise in slipstreaming. Celtic/Economy Lube + Tire/Warhorse rider Darryn Binder and Rahal Ducati Moto with Desnuda Organic Tequila rider Josh Herrin will find both of their Ducati Panigale V2’s under intense pressure from the close championship pack.
Riders who can master the art of the draft and time their final slingshot perfectly will come out on top.
Expect Rahal Ducati Moto with Droplight’s Kayla Yaakov to continue to be in the mix as one of the established frontrunners. Yaakov’s undeniable lap speeds have paid dividends with two pole positions in a row and a new lap record at Barber Motorsports Park. The 18-year-old continues to show maturity beyond her years, along with a burning desire to grab her first-ever Supersport win.
M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Tyler Scott rounds out the lead pack coming into Wisconsin. At 20 years old, the Pennsylvanian has the experience in the Supersport class to challenge for wins, and his Suzuki GSX-R750 is well-suited for the high-speed Road America circuit. Look for Scott to use his drafting experience to challenge the leaders down the long Wisconsin straightaways.
Strack Racing Yamaha’s Blake Davis is the top-ranked Yamaha. He is currently fifth in points, and he continues to gain ground towards the lead group by consistently running in the top five. The Virginian is hungry to get the Yamaha back on the podium and net some valuable points against the leaders.
Mission King Of The Baggers
The ground-shaking monsters of the paddock roll onto sacred ground for a high-speed block party. Road America is the home track for Harley-Davidson, where the legendary brand was first forged in Milwaukee back in 1903. To conquer Elkhart Lake, the Harley riders must balance brute torque with stability down the endless straights.
The battle lines are drawn exceptionally sharp at the top of the standings, where J&P Cycles/Motul/Vance & Hines Factory Indian pilot Hayden Gillim holds a razor-thin, one-point lead over his teammate Troy Herfoss.
Chasing down the Indian duo is Bradley Smith, who leads the charge for the Harley-Davidson x Dynojet Factory Racing team on his Screamin’ Eagle Road Glide. Sitting 27 points back, Smith aims to close the gap for H-D on home turf.
Lurking just behind the lead trio is Rocco Landers on the third J&P Cycles/Motul/Vance & Hines Factory Indian Challenger. Landers intends to use his late-braking agility to put pressure on the veterans ahead of him.
SDI Racing’s Tyler O’Hara has shown top-five speed at the first two rounds, along with Big Diehl x Harley-Davidson Factory Racing’s James Rispoli. Both riders come into America’s Dairyland hoping to rise to the top of the standings.
Finally, Harley-Davidson x Dynojet Factory Racing’s Kyle Wyman looks to rebound from a tough second round and get himself back in the championship hunt in Harley’s home state.
Twins Cup
In MotoAmerica’s highly competitive “two-banger” class, Elkhart Lake’s elevation changes present a unique challenge to the lightweight, twin-cylinder machines, and maintaining momentum is critical to success. All local eyes will be locked on 15-year-old phenom Hank Vossberg, a blisteringly fast rising talent hailing from nearby De Pere, Wisconsin. Racing on home soil adds an extra amount of pressure for the young Robem Engineering Aprilia RS 660 rider, who must perfectly maximize his aerodynamic profile to stay out of reach of a ruthless chasing pack.
M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Matthew Chapin hopes to hamper Hank’s Homecoming with a pair of wins. Chapin has landed on the podium at least once each round, and he is eager to turn in his first double podium, or double win of the season.
Yamaha BLU CRU Estenson Racing’s Sam Drane has not made it on the podium since the opening round, but he continues to put in top-10 finishes, keeping himself third in championship points. The young Aussie will be shooting to get back on the podium aboard his Yamaha YZF-R7 and keep himself in the championship chase.
Royal Enfield Build.Train.Race.
The inspiring and highly competitive Royal Enfield Build.Train.Race. (BTR) program is part of the highly anticipated action at Road America. The unique initiative highlights the mechanical and racing talents of women from all walks of life, who race-prepped their own Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 motorcycles before lining up on the grid.
Heading into this round, the eyes of the paddock are firmly fixed on the frontline contenders as they prepare to battle for supremacy. Brianna Cutler arrives as the primary target for the field, carrying maximum momentum and leading the charge into the weekend. Close on her heels is Jasmine Noelle, who looks to deploy her sharp tactical racecraft, while Bryanna Everitt remains poised to disrupt the frontrunners and capture glory of her own.
Success in Elkhart Lake will require smooth, precise riding inputs to carry maximum speed through Road America’s sweeping corners and maintain peak momentum onto the long straightaways.
MotoAmerica makes its annual stop in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, this weekend for the highly anticipated Road America round.
Last year’s MotoAmerica Superbikes at Road America event was the most-attended motorcycle road racing weekend in the track’s 71-year history, and “America’s National Park of Speed” is ready to break attendance records once again. The iconic 4.048-mile circuit will showcase the world-class talent and breathtaking performance of the Quad Lock Superbike riders and their machines as they reach top speeds of nearly 200 miles an hour.
Road America is a proving ground for pure horsepower, heavy braking, and speeds approaching 200 miles per hour. Success requires riders and machines with the courage and conviction to hold the throttle open until the last-possible millisecond before braking for the rapidly approaching turns
The track layout throws a massive challenge directly at Strack Racing Yamaha’s Mathew Scholtz, who is the current Quad Lock Superbike championship leader. While the Yamaha YZF-R1 is known for superb handling, it lacks the raw top-end power of its rivals. To succeed, Scholtz and the other Yamaha riders must perfectly nail their corner exits and use precise drafting tactics to stay within striking distance.
Sean Dylan Kelly sits second in the Quad Lock Superbike Championship and has been a familiar face on the podium early in the season. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Much like Scholtz, Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing teammates JD Beach and Bobby Fong will also need to lean on their impeccable braking skills to maximize corner entry and use the Yamaha’s razor-sharp agility to nail every apex in order to be in the hunt on the long Wisconsin straights.
For others, the power-hungry layout heavily favors bikes with top-end speed like that of OrangeCat Racing BMW’s Sean Dylan Kelly. The Floridian and his BMW M 1000 RR possess the outright skill and machine speed necessary to slice through the draft and challenge for the win, and has hit the podium at least once in each of the first two Superbike rounds, showing a solid connection to his new “Beemer Screamer”.
Meanwhile, the Warhorse HSBK Ducati Flo4Law Ducati Panigale V4 R sitting underneath six-time champion Cameron Beaubier will be eager to stretch its legs at Road America. The 33-year-old Californian has the added confidence of 11 career wins at Road America, the most of any Superbike rider in history, and he is still hunting for his first double-podium of the season.
M4 ECSTAR Suzuki riders Richie Escalante and Brandon Paasch bring their high-revving Suzuki GSX-R1000Rs into the Badger State. Both riders look to use the shrieking inline-four cylinder to their advantage on the long straights and claw closer to the leading pack.
Early season top-five contenders are looking to improve their consistency in Wisconsin and finish in the points for both races. This group includes Wrench Motorcycles’ Cameron Petersen aboard the Ducati Panigale V4 R, OrangeCat Racing’s Jayson Uribe on his BMW M 1000 RR, and Real Steel Honda’s Hayden Gillim on his Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP.
Andrew Lee and his Real Steel Honda team face a high-speed test of their own. Lee is heavily focused on using the strong engine platform of the Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP to extend his championship lead.
Hayes Named Grand Marshal
As the season-long celebration of “50 Years Of Superbike Racing” continues, MotoAmerica is honoring four-time AMA Superbike Champion Josh Hayes as Grand Marshal during the Road America race weekend. A true icon of American road racing, the “Mississippi Madman” remains a fierce force in the paddock. Hayes continues to actively rewrite the record books, with the most recent of his 89 career AMA victories coming just last year at Barber Motorsports Park, and he shows no signs of slowing down as he remains a perennial fan favorite while campaigning a BPR Racing Yamaha YZF-R9 in the Supersport class this season.
Warhorse HSBK Ducati FLo4Law rider Cameron Beaubier posted the fastest lap in MotoAmerica Superbike practice with a time of 2:10.053 on Friday at Road America. OrangeCat Racing rider Sean Dylan Kelly, Strack Racing rider Mathew Scholtz, Wrench Motorcycles rider Cameron Petersen and Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing rider Bobby Fong rounded out the top five.
Rahal Ducati Moto with Desnuda Organic Tequila rider Josh Herrin posted the fastest lap in Friday MotoAmerica Supersport practice with a time of 2:17.379 at Road America. BPR Racing Yamaha rider Josh Hayes, Strack Racing rider Blake Davis, Celtic/Economy Lube + Tire/Warhorse rider Darryn Binder and Liberty Yamaha Racing rider Dominic Doyle rounded out the top five.
Iker Lecuona led FIM Superbike World Championship Free Practice Two (FP2) Friday afternoon at MotorLand Aragon, in Spain. Riding his Aruba.It Racing – Ducati Panigale V4R on spec Pirelli tires, the Spaniard covered the 3.15-mile (5.08 km) track in 1:49.578 to lead the field of 22 riders.
Sam Lowes was second-best with a 1:49.588 on his ELF Marc VDS Racing Team Ducati Panigale V4R.
Lecuona’s teammate, Nicolò Bulega, was third with a 1:49.659.
American Garrett Gerloff was 7th with a time of 1:49.991 on his Kawasaki ZX-10RR.
wsbk fp2
More from a press release issued by WSBK:
Bulega tops Friday running at Aragon, Lecuona fastest in FP2 despite Turn 8 crash. The two factory Ducati riders were quick throughout Friday, with Bulega topping FP1 and Lecuona topping FP2.
Sweltering temperatures greeted the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship at MotorLand Aragon as Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) topped the times on Friday, while teammate Iker Lecuona was fastest in Free Practice 2 with all but two riders quicker in Free Practice 1 than in the afternoon at MotorLand Aragon. Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) finished Day 1 of the Aragon Round in third place, also thanks to his FP1 time.
BULEGA TOPS FRIDAY RUNNING, LECUONA QUICKEST IN FP2
Bulega finished Friday’s action on top thanks to his FP1 time of a 1’48.916s, with his time in FP2 around seven tenths off that pace. He pipped teammate Lecuona by 0.022s to take top spot on the combined timesheets, with Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) finishing as the third-fastest Ducati, and fifth overall. The #14 completed just two timed laps in FP1 before a crash at Turn 12 ended his session. In FP2, Lecuona was the fastest rider on track with a 1’49.578s, but he had a crash at Turn 8 in the final moments of the session. Sam Lowes was second in the afternoon with Bulega third. Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) claimed fifth place with a 1’49.609s, directly ahead of Lorenzo Baldassarri (Team GoEleven) who was seventh fastest. Tarran Mackenzie (MGM Optical Express Racing) was eighth, despite a late crash in FP2 at Turn 13, with Tommy Bridewell (Superbike Advocates) and Alberto Surra (Motocorsa Racing) rounding out the top ten. Alvaro Bautista (Barni Spark Racing Team) finished 11th on the combined timesheets as he racked up the mileage after being declared fit, and he was sixth in FP2.
ALEX LOWES LEADS BIMOTA CHARGE
There was Little to separate the two bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team riders on Friday. Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) finished as the fastest of the pair thanks to his FP1 time of 1’49.442s, which was good enough for P3 in the morning session and overall, with Bassani one place and 0.053s behind the #22.
VIERGE ON TOP AT YAMAHA
Xavi Vierge (Pata Maxus Yamaha) was the fastest Yamaha on the combined timesheets as he claimed P13 with a 1’50.096s set in Free Practice 1, with the #97 three tenths clear of teammate Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) who finished in 15th. Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) was 16th despite a late crash at Turn 1 in FP2, while teammate Stefano Manzi posted a 1’50.664s to finish in 19th. Bahattin Sofuoglu (Motoxracing WorldSBK Team) and teammate Mattia Rato were 21st and 22nd respectively.
VAN DER MARK, SOOMER FIGHT FOR BMW HONOURS
With regular race riders Danilo Petrucci and Miguel Oliveira still recovering from their injuries, the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team have drafted in Michael van der Mark and Hannes Soomer for the Aragon Round. The Dutchman hit some technical problems at the end of FP1, and the pair finished 18th and 20th respectively on Friday’s combined timesheets.
GERLOFF HOPES FORM CONTINUES
Garrett Gerloff (Kawasaki WorldSBK Team) headed to Aragon on the back of two stand-out weekends on the ZX-10RR machine and is hoping he can be in the top ten at a track he’s had multiple podiums at. The #31 finished FP1 in 12th place with a 1’50.077s but improved in the scorching FP2 conditions to a 1’49.991s, although he remained in the same place on the combined timesheets.
CHANTRA FASTEST AT HONDA, DIXON CRASHES ON RETURN
Somkiat Chantra (Honda HRC) was the fastest of the two Honda riders on Friday as he finished in 14th place, with his FP1 time of 1’50.355s giving him that place overall. Jake Dixon (Honda HRC) didn’t get off to the start he would have wanted in his first WorldSBK session during a weekend, after he crashed at Turn 12 in FP1. Although it was a lowside fall, the #96’s bike caught the kerbs and rolled, meaning he only took part in the first 15 minutes of the morning session. Dixon had a second medical review after FP1 for his wrist injury, and he was declared fit following that check. The Brit was the first rider to improve their time in FP2 compared to FP1, setting a 1’50.482s to give him 17th overall.
The top six from WorldSBK on Friday, full results here:
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Righteous Racin’ rider Jody Barry posted the fastest lap in Friday MotoAmerica Twins Cup practice with a time of 2:25.561 at Road America. Robem Engineering rider Hank Vossberg, M4 ECSTAR Suzuki riders Bodie Paige and Matthew Chapin, and HistoricGP Custom Leather rider Mahdi Salem completed the top five.
Celestino Vietti led Moto2 World Championship practice Friday afternoon at Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello, in Italy. Riding his MB Conveyors SpeedRS Team Boscoscuro on Pirelli control tires, the Italian rider lapped the 3.26-mile (5.25 km) road course in 1:49.420, topping the field of 27 riders and breaking Diogo Moreira’s All-Time Lap Record of 1:49.745 from 2025.
Izan Guevara was second-best with a time of 1:49.431 on his BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Boscoscuro.
Manuel Gonzalez did a third-fastest 1:49.530 on his LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP Kalex.
American Joe Roberts finished Friday afternoon’s practice session 14th with a best time of 1:50.381 on his OnlyFans American Racing Team Kalex.
Classification 2
More from a press release issued by MotoGP:
Vietti flies at Mugello to take Friday honours. Second last time out but racing at home for the first time in 2026, the #13 carried on his solid Barcelona form.
Setting his fastest lap time on the 14th of his 16 laps, Vietti was once again mighty on Friday, whilst it was a Boscoscuro 1-2 with Izan Guevara (BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2) showing strength behind his fellow Catalan GP podium finisher, just 0.011s adrift. Championship leader and Catalan GP winner Manuel Gonzalez (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP) was strong in third place as just 0.110s covered the top three.
Putting in a late lap towards the end of Practice, Filip Salač (OnlyFans American Racing Team) was a solid fourth place, whilst Alonso Lopez (ITALJET Gresini Moto2) continued his strong form of late to complete the Friday top five. In another stellar performance, Alex Escrig (KLINT Racing Team) was sixth.
Big names to miss the automatic Q2 cut included Daniel Holgado (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team), who, despite his best efforts, only managed 15th. ELF Marc VDS Racing Team duo Deniz Öncü and Aron Canet were only 16th and 18th respectively, whilst Barry Baltus (Fantic Racing) was only 19th. A big fight for Q1 honours incoming on Saturday then…
Bryanna Everitt posted the fastest lap in Friday’s MotoAmerica Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race practice with a time of 3:03.960 at Road America. Royal Enfield Build.Train.Race. Jasmine Noelle, Emily Dickson, Tiffanie Vo and Marie Madura rounded out the top five.
Fabio Di Giannantonio was fastest during MotoGP World Championship Practice Friday afternoon at Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello, in Italy. Riding his Michelin-shod Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team Ducati Desmosedici GP26, the Italian rider covered the 3.26-mile (5.25 km) road course in 1:44.808, topping the field of 22 riders.
Francesco Bagnaia was second-best with a 1:44.899 on his Lenovo Team Ducati Desmosedici GP26.
Enea Bastianini was third with a lap of 1:44.911 on his Red Bull KTM Tech3 RC16.
Di Giannantonio’s teammate, Franco Morbidelli, got fourth on Ducati Desmosedici GP25 with a time of 1:44.959.
Fermin Aldeguer finished the first practice session fifth on his BK8 Gresini Racing Ducati Desmosedici GP26 with a lap time of 1:45.004.
Classification
More from a press release issued by MotoGP:
Di Giannantonio earns Friday P1 double as Acosta faces Q1 at Mugello. The VR46 Racing Team rider steals the show to front an Italian 1-2-3-4, Marc Marquez returns to clinch a Q2 spot, while the #37 endures a tricky day.
A double serving of Italian-flavoured P1 was on the menu for Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team’s Fabio Di Giannantonio, as the Catalan GP winner served up a Friday treat to head into the weekend’s action at Mugello as the rider to beat. The Italian’s 1:44.808 was 0.091s faster than second place Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), who in turn was 0.012s clear of third place Enea Bastianini (Red Bull KTM Tech3).
Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) returned to action with a very solid P6, while Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) missed the Q2 cut after a disappointing day at the office.
THE EARLY EXCHANGES FT A PAIR OF RED FLAGS
Following a spell of wet weather in the morning, Friday afternoon Practice at Mugello got underway in dry conditions and fronting the timesheets in the early stages was three-time Italian GP winner Bagnaia, with Alex Rins (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) inside the top two early doors.
Having come through FP1 unscathed, Marc Marquez was declared fit to participate in the rest of the weekend, and halfway through the session, the reigning World Champion was 11th fastest, 0.566s away from his teammate’s time, before some quicker laps began to fly in.
The first was for Ai Ogura (Trackhouse MotoGP Team); the second was for title race leader Bezzecchi. A 1:45.024 was Bez’s table-topper with just over 30 minutes to go, on fresh soft Michelin rubber, before the red flags came out after Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) crashed coming out of Turn 4. The Frenchman and his Yamaha slid down the road into Turn 5, kicking plenty of stones into the circuit, and with the stricken YZR-M1 parked in the middle of the apex, the short stoppage to the session was called. More importantly, Quartararo was up on his feet and swiftly made his way back to the box.
Once Practice resumed, it wasn’t long before another Yamaha star was on the deck. This time it was Jack Miller (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP) crashing at Turn 1, with the Australian – who was P19 at the time – all OK too.
Coming into the final 12 minutes, Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) encountered tech problems when coming out of the pit lane, and due to where the RC16 was ditched by the South African, leaning against the wall towards the end of the 1.1km long straight, the red flags were waved again to allow the marshals to recover the broken KTM.
TIME ATTACK MODE: ENGAGED
Then, we strapped in for 11 minutes and 45 seconds of time attack action on Friday. Marc Marquez and Acosta were lingering outside the top 10, as were the likes of World Champions Quartararo and Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol), as Miller rose to P3 with just under eight minutes remaining to shove Bastianini out of the top 10.
With just over five minutes left, a familiar name rose to P1. A certain #93. Marc Marquez’s 1:45.010 saw the current champ jump from P16 to the summit, but a flurry of fast laps landed to quickly shuffle the Spaniard down to P5. Di Giannantonio, Bagnaia, Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) and Fermin Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) clocked faster times than the returning Marquez, as we then saw Martin lose a top 10 place with two minutes to go.
At the same time, Bezzecchi and Bastianini promoted themselves into the top five, as we locked eyes on Martin. P13, the title hunter was chasing a time. And he managed one, just, to go P8 at the chequered flag – but that’s all he needed. Fellow Aprilia rider Ogura was the one to lose out after Martin’s lung-busting late charge, the Japanese rider fell to P11, and another rider unable to get a Friday top 10 was Acosta. A mistake on his final lap meant the #37 finished P13 on Day 1, with Q1 awaiting the rider P4 in the World Championship.
YOUR Q2 QUALIFIERS
No such worries for Di Giannantonio though. A double Friday P1 on home turf? Just what the doctor ordered. Literally. Bagnaia, Bastianini, and Morbidelli made it an Italian 1-2-3-4 at Mugello; the home faithful will be pleased with that, as Aldeguer closed out the top five.
Marc Marquez’s return was impressive; the champion sails into Q2 in P6, with Bezzecchi acting as the lead Aprilia in P7. Martin was P8, 0.3s off Diggia, as Rins held onto a top 10 in P9 to signal a job well done for the Yamaha rider on Friday. And speaking of top jobs, congratulations to rookie Diogo Moreira (Pro Honda LCR), as the Brazilian earns his first automatic Q2 entry in P10.
COMING UP: TISSOT SPRINT SATURDAY
That wasn’t a bad opening day of action at Mugello, was it? Some shocks, some standouts, some very close times. See you tomorrow for Tissot Sprint Saturday.
Albert Arenas topped FIM Supersport World Championship Superpole qualifying Friday at MotorLand Aragon, in Spain. Riding his AS BLU CRU Racing Team Yamaha YZF-R9 on Pirelli control tires, the Spaniard lapped the 3.15-mile (5.08 km) course in 1:53.142 to top the field of 34 riders and earn pole position.
Former MotoAmerica Supersport regular Valentin Debise was the best of the rest with a 1:53.157 on his Eastroc Evan Bros ZXMOTO 820RR, and Roberto Garcia earned the third and final spot on the front row with a lap time of 1:53.483 on his GMT94 Yamaha YZF-R9.
wssp superpole
More from a press release issued by WSBK:
SNATCHED AT THE END: Arenas pips Debise to WorldSSP pole by just 0.015s. The Spaniard struck gold at home on Friday for his second pole of his rookie WorldSSP campaign.
The FIM Supersport World Championship popped the cork on the action in Alcaniz with their Tissot Superpole session at the vaunted MotorLand Aragon. Albert Arenas (AS BLU CRU Racing Team) took pole position for himself on Friday afternoon, landing atop the timesheet to aid him in his hopeful title lead defence. He finished just ahead of Valentin Debise (EASTROC ZXMOTO Factory Evan Bros Racing), who pulled out a late lap of his own, and Roberto Garcia (GMT94 Yamaha) to form Race 1’s front row.
ARENAS IN THE FINAL SECONDS
Albert Arenas (AS BLU CRU Racing Team) managed the scorching 52º C track temperatures better than the rest and set a buzzer-beating 1’53.483s time to take pole as time expired on the session to start from P1 for the second time in this rookie season. Valentin Debise (EASTROC ZXMOTO Factory Evan Bros Racing) looked to struggle at the Spanish circuit where he won his maiden WorldSSP race last season, until he took P2 with a 1’53.157s, earned with mere seconds left in the session. Roberto Garcia (GMT94 Yamaha) looks determined to make his speed felt on the Championship standings after riding well but suffering five DNFs in six races. He set a 1’53.483s lap with 17 minutes left to sit provisional pole but slid down two places in the final moments to earn P3.
FROM THE GRAVEL TO THE SECOND ROW
Can Oncu (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) and Tom Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) kept their composure and recovered from Turn 1 crashes to finish fourth and fifth fastest on the back of their 1’53.537s and 1’53.616s times respectively. Alessandro Zaccone (Ecosantagata Althea Racing Team) converted his Free Practice P3 earlier in the day to a P6-earning 1’53.642s time in the Superpole session Friday afternoon, tying his best WorldSSP qualification earned at Assen earlier this season.
MASIA TO LEAD THE THIRD ROW
Jaume Masia (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) sent himself to P7 with a 1’53.698s effort, from which he will hope to propel himself to his first podium in five races. Behind him, Aldi Mahendra (AS BLU CRU Racing Team) sent himself up into P2 on his second lap, yet he slid down the order as the session progressed, finishing in P8. Matteo Ferrari (WRP Racing) fought for a top-three spot in the session; however, a Turn 1 crash cut his momentum, and he finished in P9, just over half a hundredth slower than the Indonesian. Rounding off the top ten, Oli Bayliss (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) kept his recent run of improved form rolling as his 1’53.873s time placed him P10; however, he was handed a six-place grid penalty by FIM WorldSBK Stewards for his second offence this season of slow riding during the session. As a result, Mattia Casadei (D34G WorldSSP Racing Team) was promoted from P11 to start in P10 in Race 1.
TURN 1 TAKES ITS TOLL
Turn 1 proved to be a tricky problem for the riders in the session, seeing crashes from: Can Oncu, wild card rider Kadir Erbay (I+Dent Racing Team), Murcian rider Borja Jimenez (WRP Racing), his teammate Matteo Ferrari, Tom Booth-Amos, Filippo Farioli (VFT Racing), and Lucas Mahias (GMT94 Yamaha).
The top six from the WorldSSP Tissot Superpole session, full results here!
Tune in tomorrow for a tripleheader of Race 1 action WorldSBK VideoPass! Now 30% off!
Supersport racing at Road America is a high-stakes, 150-miles-per-hour chess match played out over the massive 4.038-mile Wisconsin road course. Without the raw power of the premier-class Superbikes, Supersport success at “America’s National Park of Speed” requires razor-sharp precision in corners to maintain exit speeds, especially for the long run uphill to the finish line. It is a class defined by bikes packed three-wide into turn five, with the riders’ elbows rubbing and positions changing multiple times in a single lap.
Succeeding in this environment requires expertise in slipstreaming. Celtic/Economy Lube + Tire/Warhorse rider Darryn Binder and Rahal Ducati Moto with Desnuda Organic Tequila rider Josh Herrin will find both of their Ducati Panigale V2’s under intense pressure from the close championship pack.
Riders who can master the art of the draft and time their final slingshot perfectly will come out on top.
Expect Rahal Ducati Moto with Droplight’s Kayla Yaakov to continue to be in the mix as one of the established frontrunners. Yaakov’s undeniable lap speeds have paid dividends with two pole positions in a row and a new lap record at Barber Motorsports Park. The 18-year-old continues to show maturity beyond her years, along with a burning desire to grab her first-ever Supersport win.
M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Tyler Scott rounds out the lead pack coming into Wisconsin. At 20 years old, the Pennsylvanian has the experience in the Supersport class to challenge for wins, and his Suzuki GSX-R750 is well-suited for the high-speed Road America circuit. Look for Scott to use his drafting experience to challenge the leaders down the long Wisconsin straightaways.
Strack Racing Yamaha’s Blake Davis is the top-ranked Yamaha. He is currently fifth in points, and he continues to gain ground towards the lead group by consistently running in the top five. The Virginian is hungry to get the Yamaha back on the podium and net some valuable points against the leaders.
Mission King Of The Baggers
The ground-shaking monsters of the paddock roll onto sacred ground for a high-speed block party. Road America is the home track for Harley-Davidson, where the legendary brand was first forged in Milwaukee back in 1903. To conquer Elkhart Lake, the Harley riders must balance brute torque with stability down the endless straights.
The battle lines are drawn exceptionally sharp at the top of the standings, where J&P Cycles/Motul/Vance & Hines Factory Indian pilot Hayden Gillim holds a razor-thin, one-point lead over his teammate Troy Herfoss.
Chasing down the Indian duo is Bradley Smith, who leads the charge for the Harley-Davidson x Dynojet Factory Racing team on his Screamin’ Eagle Road Glide. Sitting 27 points back, Smith aims to close the gap for H-D on home turf.
Lurking just behind the lead trio is Rocco Landers on the third J&P Cycles/Motul/Vance & Hines Factory Indian Challenger. Landers intends to use his late-braking agility to put pressure on the veterans ahead of him.
SDI Racing’s Tyler O’Hara has shown top-five speed at the first two rounds, along with Big Diehl x Harley-Davidson Factory Racing’s James Rispoli. Both riders come into America’s Dairyland hoping to rise to the top of the standings.
Finally, Harley-Davidson x Dynojet Factory Racing’s Kyle Wyman looks to rebound from a tough second round and get himself back in the championship hunt in Harley’s home state.
Twins Cup
In MotoAmerica’s highly competitive “two-banger” class, Elkhart Lake’s elevation changes present a unique challenge to the lightweight, twin-cylinder machines, and maintaining momentum is critical to success. All local eyes will be locked on 15-year-old phenom Hank Vossberg, a blisteringly fast rising talent hailing from nearby De Pere, Wisconsin. Racing on home soil adds an extra amount of pressure for the young Robem Engineering Aprilia RS 660 rider, who must perfectly maximize his aerodynamic profile to stay out of reach of a ruthless chasing pack.
M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Matthew Chapin hopes to hamper Hank’s Homecoming with a pair of wins. Chapin has landed on the podium at least once each round, and he is eager to turn in his first double podium, or double win of the season.
Yamaha BLU CRU Estenson Racing’s Sam Drane has not made it on the podium since the opening round, but he continues to put in top-10 finishes, keeping himself third in championship points. The young Aussie will be shooting to get back on the podium aboard his Yamaha YZF-R7 and keep himself in the championship chase.
Royal Enfield Build.Train.Race.
The inspiring and highly competitive Royal Enfield Build.Train.Race. (BTR) program is part of the highly anticipated action at Road America. The unique initiative highlights the mechanical and racing talents of women from all walks of life, who race-prepped their own Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 motorcycles before lining up on the grid.
Heading into this round, the eyes of the paddock are firmly fixed on the frontline contenders as they prepare to battle for supremacy. Brianna Cutler arrives as the primary target for the field, carrying maximum momentum and leading the charge into the weekend. Close on her heels is Jasmine Noelle, who looks to deploy her sharp tactical racecraft, while Bryanna Everitt remains poised to disrupt the frontrunners and capture glory of her own.
Success in Elkhart Lake will require smooth, precise riding inputs to carry maximum speed through Road America’s sweeping corners and maintain peak momentum onto the long straightaways.
MotoAmerica makes its annual stop in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, this weekend for the highly anticipated Road America round.
Last year’s MotoAmerica Superbikes at Road America event was the most-attended motorcycle road racing weekend in the track’s 71-year history, and “America’s National Park of Speed” is ready to break attendance records once again. The iconic 4.048-mile circuit will showcase the world-class talent and breathtaking performance of the Quad Lock Superbike riders and their machines as they reach top speeds of nearly 200 miles an hour.
Road America is a proving ground for pure horsepower, heavy braking, and speeds approaching 200 miles per hour. Success requires riders and machines with the courage and conviction to hold the throttle open until the last-possible millisecond before braking for the rapidly approaching turns
The track layout throws a massive challenge directly at Strack Racing Yamaha’s Mathew Scholtz, who is the current Quad Lock Superbike championship leader. While the Yamaha YZF-R1 is known for superb handling, it lacks the raw top-end power of its rivals. To succeed, Scholtz and the other Yamaha riders must perfectly nail their corner exits and use precise drafting tactics to stay within striking distance.
Sean Dylan Kelly sits second in the Quad Lock Superbike Championship and has been a familiar face on the podium early in the season. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Much like Scholtz, Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing teammates JD Beach and Bobby Fong will also need to lean on their impeccable braking skills to maximize corner entry and use the Yamaha’s razor-sharp agility to nail every apex in order to be in the hunt on the long Wisconsin straights.
For others, the power-hungry layout heavily favors bikes with top-end speed like that of OrangeCat Racing BMW’s Sean Dylan Kelly. The Floridian and his BMW M 1000 RR possess the outright skill and machine speed necessary to slice through the draft and challenge for the win, and has hit the podium at least once in each of the first two Superbike rounds, showing a solid connection to his new “Beemer Screamer”.
Meanwhile, the Warhorse HSBK Ducati Flo4Law Ducati Panigale V4 R sitting underneath six-time champion Cameron Beaubier will be eager to stretch its legs at Road America. The 33-year-old Californian has the added confidence of 11 career wins at Road America, the most of any Superbike rider in history, and he is still hunting for his first double-podium of the season.
M4 ECSTAR Suzuki riders Richie Escalante and Brandon Paasch bring their high-revving Suzuki GSX-R1000Rs into the Badger State. Both riders look to use the shrieking inline-four cylinder to their advantage on the long straights and claw closer to the leading pack.
Early season top-five contenders are looking to improve their consistency in Wisconsin and finish in the points for both races. This group includes Wrench Motorcycles’ Cameron Petersen aboard the Ducati Panigale V4 R, OrangeCat Racing’s Jayson Uribe on his BMW M 1000 RR, and Real Steel Honda’s Hayden Gillim on his Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP.
Andrew Lee and his Real Steel Honda team face a high-speed test of their own. Lee is heavily focused on using the strong engine platform of the Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP to extend his championship lead.
Hayes Named Grand Marshal
As the season-long celebration of “50 Years Of Superbike Racing” continues, MotoAmerica is honoring four-time AMA Superbike Champion Josh Hayes as Grand Marshal during the Road America race weekend. A true icon of American road racing, the “Mississippi Madman” remains a fierce force in the paddock. Hayes continues to actively rewrite the record books, with the most recent of his 89 career AMA victories coming just last year at Barber Motorsports Park, and he shows no signs of slowing down as he remains a perennial fan favorite while campaigning a BPR Racing Yamaha YZF-R9 in the Supersport class this season.
