The Alpinestars Supertech R7 helmet in gloss black. Photos courtesy Alpinestars.
When Alpinestars jumped into the streetbike helmet market, even it was surprised by the success of its very first offering, the Supertech R10. After all of its careful planning and projections, when the helmet was introduced in 2024, the company sold its first-year production run in 30 days. Even now, several models of the R10 remain on back order. In total, the company sold more than 10 times what it anticipated selling in the first year the R10 was available.
Encouraged by this runaway success, Alpinestars followed up with another, more accessible, more street-oriented helmet. At a track day at the Streets of Willow, Alpinestars introduced its Supertech R7 helmet to motojournalists, then turned them loose for a day of track riding, followed by a street ride the following day.
In short, Alpinestars has followed the R10 with a sophisticated helmet that differs in construction material, design and cost, but one that incorporates the lessons learned in developing the R10, particularly the aerodynamic features. After all, air is air, and noise management, volume and stability matter when you’re shoving a helmet through it, whether you’re moving at highway speeds or at Mugello front straight speeds.
Alpinestars R7 Technical Details
The Alpinestars Supertech R7 helmet in gloss grey.
One of the biggest differences between the R7 and the R10 is the shell material. While the R10 has a full carbon-fiber shell, the R7 features a shell of an outer fiberglass layer, a unidirectional carbon composite layer, a carbon aramid fiber layer and an internal fiberglass layer. The base of the helmet is slightly wider than that of the R10 to ease putting it on and taking it off. The inner shell is a seven-piece expanded polystyrene construct with six densities. Alpinestars has certified the helmet to DOT and ECE 22.06 standards, and claims that the R7 undercuts the maximum allowed peak linear acceleration of the ECE 22.06 standard by 50 percent and the peak rotational acceleration standard by 80 percent. To help protect from rotational forces, the inner lining of the EPS layer has a slick coating, allowing the helmet to slip slightly on the rider’s head in an oblique impact and reduce the force transmitted to the brain.
Weight is close to that of the R10, at about 3.3 pounds (1500 grams) for the medium size version that meets both ECE and DOT standards – the ECE-only medium weighs in at 1400 grams, or 3.08 pounds. The R7 shares the cutouts in the lower edge with the R10 that are designed to prevent the helmet from impacting the collarbone in a crash, but on the R7, the cutout is filled with the company’s Nucleon PLASMA viscoelastic material that is soft and pliable but stiffens on impact.
The A-head system allows the rider to adjust the height and angle at which the helmet sits on their head. The cheek pads have an emergency release system, a channel for eyeglass temples (arms) and an integrated hydration tube channel. The cheek pads come in different sizes, allowing even more customization of the fit.
The ECE-certified face shield is interchangeable with the one on the R10 and comes in a multitude of colors, and the helmet itself is available in a wide variety of solids and graphic schemes. The field of view is 220 degrees of lateral vision and 57 degrees vertically. Aerodynamic features include a built-in rear spoiler, the “turbulator” elements on the face shield that reduce noise and turbulence and side winglets that reduce drag. The R7 features 10 vents, six intake and four exhausts, managed by a pair of chin inlets and a sliding forehead vent.
Suggested retail starts at $679.95.
The Alpinestars Supertech R7 helmet in gloss white.
Alpinestars says the R7 is slightly easier to pull on than the R10, but it’s still a snug fit to get the lid over the ears. I’d ridden with my R10 just a couple of days before the intro, and honestly, if there is a difference, it is slight. And the race nature of the helmet is evident, as the cheekpads were quite aggressive at first, although they broke in significantly during a few hours of riding at the Streets.
The shield is easy to use once you know what to feel for, and it snaps securely into place, again suggesting its race-oriented origins. Once the shield is down, the interior is quiet and serene, and that imparts a sense of solidity to the entire helmet. There is a plastic plug in the chin bar; removing that helps reduce fogging. Learning to operate the vents BEFORE you go out onto the track also helps reduce fogging. D’oh!
Streets is not the fastest track on the planet, and the highest indicated top speed I saw all day long was 120 miles per hour. At that speed, noise was minimal, as was buffeting, and the ventilation was more than adequate without being “windy” inside the shield. The helmet didn’t impede my ability to crank my head sideways to look up the track, and the large eyeport was welcome when tucked in. At no point did I ever notice any aerodynamic lift or sideways forces. It might get lost in the product messaging, but let me be clear – this helmet is perfectly at home on the racetrack.
Alpinestars reps helped me try some thinner cheek pads and we removed the chin skirt, but I went back to the original 25mm pads and I am glad I did, as they broke in nicely. Helmet fit, to me, is always a trade-off between comfort and security, and a helmet that feels awesome at 60 mph could definitely feel ill-fitting and loose at double that speed on a hypernaked. The R7 is definitely toward the performance end of the spectrum. But as I told the company representatives who asked what I thought about the helmet, I didn’t think about it at all once I was moving – and that is the best compliment I can give to a piece of safety equipment that I haven’t crash tested!
Brea, CA – Reigning Pro Stock Motorcycle champion Richard Gadson celebrated a milestone birthday in grand fashion by winning the opening round of the NHRA 75th Anniversary season on his RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki Gen 3 Hayabusa at the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway in Gainesville, FL, on Sunday.
Race Highlights:
Richard Gadson qualified second and earned his fifth career victory in the opening round of the 2026 NHRA season
Gaige Herrera qualified fourth and advanced to the second round of eliminations
With Sunday eliminations falling on his 40th birthday, Gadson was primed for a special day of racing. In round one, he defeated Geno Scali (6.836 seconds/198.44 mph) with a 6.769-second/200.83 mph run, then advanced past Chase Van Sant (6.808 seconds/198.82 mph) in round two with a 6.757-second/200.59 mph pass that carried him into the semi-finals.
Gadson received a welcome birthday gift in the third round after opponent Clayton Howey fouled on the starting line. Despite slowing to a 7.118-second/150.06 mph pass when his motorcycle drifted towards the centerline, what should have been an automatic win for Gadson briefly appeared to be in doubt when a timing pylon near the end of the track became dislodged.
However, TV replays showed the pylon was displaced by the high-speed slipstream from Gadson’s Hayabusa, not by contact, avoiding a disqualification and sending him to his tenth career final round appearance.
After two short late-afternoon rain delays, Gadson powered to a 6.753-second/200.05 mph run in the final round, making full use of his Suzuki Hayabusa’s superior performance and a reaction time advantage to overcome John Hall (6.799 seconds/198.38 mph) and claim a statement win in the opening salvo of his title defense.
With the victory, Gadson earned a special edition diamond-anniversary Wally trophy commissioned to celebrate the sanctioning body’s 75th anniversary season.
“It’s very sweet. One of the best days of my life. I pictured last year’s championship ending differently, and a lot of fans did too. It angered some people and they directed that anger towards me. Winning this weekend has some extra meaning behind it. It meant a lot to be able to make that statement today,” Gadson said, referring to the unusual ending of last year’s championship at the final race in Pomona, which was cancelled due to inclement weather, denying Gadson and teammate Gaige Herrera a chance to race head-to-head to settle the championship.
“I made a mistake in the semi-final, and it was almost party over. I thought the bike would come back to the right for me when it got out of the groove. I didn’t correct early enough, and I almost hit that cone. That would have been the end of it, so that’s a lesson learned. Even at this level, and having the No. 1 plate, I’m still learning,” Gadson said. “Some great advice I’ve been given is ‘Don’t race like you are the champion. Race the same way that got you the championship.’ My approach this season is to continue to ride aggressively, and my title defense starts now.”
Herrera defeated Marc Ingwersen (8.746 seconds/102.14 mph) in round one with a 6.755-second/201.46 mph run, his quickest pass of the weekend. Photo courtesy Suzuki
Searching for a fourth-straight win at the Gatornationals, Gaige Herrera, the 2023 and 2024 Pro Stock Motorcycle champion, opened the books on his fourth season with the Vance & Hines team by qualifying fourth with a 6.761-second/199.91 mph run.
In an exciting side-by-side drag race, Herrera narrowly lost in the second round to John Hall, posting a 6.758-second/200.65 mph run that came up just short of Hall’s 6.748-second/200.68 mph pass. With both riders putting up low single-digit reaction times, Hall’s margin of victory was just 0.012 second.
The early exit was a rare defeat for the three-time Gatornationals winner, who until that point had never lost a round of competition in Gainesville.
Last year, Herrera missed out on an opportunity to close the 21-point gap that separated him from Gadson heading into the finale in Pomona. After the anti-climactic end to the season, the two-time champion was hoping for a shot at redemption in Gainesville, a race he has dominated for the past three seasons.
“It felt nice to get back on the bike this weekend. I was hoping it would be me and Richard in the final because I feel like I need to redeem myself, but it didn’t work out that way,” Herrera said. “John pulled one out of the hat against me. But I’m glad Richard got the win and the cool new diamond Wally on this birthday.”
RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki crew chief Andrew Hines said the theme of the weekend was perseverance from the team and redemption for Gadson.
“The track was tough for these riders to navigate with the wind changing direction all weekend. It took every bit of effort from everyone on the team to make sure we came out of here with a new diamond Wally,” Hines said. “This win also really justifies Richard’s last season. I think it’s a big monkey off his back to be able come in here and qualify higher than Gaige, win this race, and prove that he has the No. 1 plate on his bike for a reason.”
“Everybody knows what it takes now to win a championship. It takes double-oh lights and cut-throat ETs to turn on win lights. Our guys always rise to the occasion. They ride above 100 percent of what their motorcycles are capable of, and that’s why we’re super happy to have them on our team and super excited for what’s going to happen in the 2026 season. It’s a breath of fresh air to start the season with this win and move on down the road to Charlotte.”
After the first of 14 rounds in the 2026 Pro Stock Motorcycle season, Gadson and Herrera sit first and seventh in the championship standings with 124 and 59 points, respectively.
The RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines team returns to action April 24-26 at the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals at zMax Dragway in Concord, NC.
Vance & Hines Motorsports is a powerhouse in the world of motorcycle racing, boasting a rich legacy of success. With a focus on innovation, performance, and a commitment to pushing boundaries, the team continues to redefine excellence in the NHRA and MotoAmerica. For more information, visit www.vanceandhinesmotorsports.com.
ABOUT SUZUKI:
Suzuki Motor USA, LLC. (SMO) distributes Motorcycles, ATVs, Scooters, Automotive Parts, Accessories, and ECSTAR Oils & Chemicals via an extensive dealer network throughout 49 states. Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC), based in Hamamatsu, Japan, is a diversified worldwide manufacturer of Motorcycles, ATVs, Scooters, Automobiles, Outboard Motors, and related products. Founded in 1909 and incorporated in 1920, SMC has business relations with 201 countries/regions. For more information, visit www.suzuki.com.
AMA Recognizes Richard Varner with Jim Viverito Friend of the AMA Honors
Varner honored for devotion to the growth and continued sustainability of MotoAmerica
PICKERINGTON, Ohio — The American Motorcyclist Association congratulates MotoAmerica Chief Financial Officer Richard Varner, who was presented the Jim Viverito Friend of the AMA award on Saturday, March 7.
MotoAmerica CFO Richard Varner received the Friend Of The AMA Award Sunday in Daytona. Photo by John Ulrich.
The Jim Viverito Friend of the AMA honors the life and legacy of longtime AMA Board Member Jim Viverito and acknowledges the individuals and organizations in the motorcycle community that strongly support the AMA and its mission. This award is chosen by AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman, who presented this honor to Varner in Daytona Beach, Fla., on Saturday evening.
“Richard Varner has been an influential figure in the motorcycle industry for a long time, and we have been grateful for his support as a champion for the AMA,” Dingman said. “He has presided over MotoAmerica’s sustained growth and has undoubtedly helped foster a thriving road racing community here in the United States. We are proud to honor Richard and look forward to our continued relationship with him.”
A native of Wichita, Kansas, Varner’s love affair with motorcycles began at a young age and continued throughout his life. Ultimately, Varner turned his affection for two-wheels into more than that, and in 2014, fostered the creation of MotoAmerica, providing significant financial support to get the then-fledgling racing league off the ground. The creation of MotoAmerica revitalized professional road racing in the United States, bringing rejuvenated energy and excitement back to the sport.
It’s all good times for Aprilia. Their hardware is proving top-notch at the track, and even after one race they’ve already got some spectacular results in the pocket. In fact, if the world ends tomorrow they’d technically be world champions! But what are the chances of that happening?
In completely unrelated news, are we still doing that Qatar GP or are we canceling it due to a chance of missiles?
And speaking of apocalyptic disasters, we should probably peak over at Ducati and see how they’re doing. The numbers don’t look great, but there is always more to the story – so we’re going to start digging, and we’re going to keep digging even if that means we have to engage in some small, reverent grave-robbing over in Bolognia so we might solve the secrets of the desmo…
Oh, and we’re also hitting on vortex generators (sounds a bit sci-fi!), dragon’s teeth (sounds a bit fantasy!) and potential top speeds (sounds VERY MotoGP!).
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!
PICKERINGTON, Ohio — The American Motorcyclist Association announced the schedule for the 2026 Triumph AMA National Adventure Riding Series, which will be comprised of 12 events in all corners of the United States.
The Triumph AMA National Adventure Riding Series takes daring riders on the best routes, roads and two-track trails in the country while showcasing the versatile abilities of adventure bikes.
Sponsored by Triumph Motorcycles, which is a leading brand in the adventure motorcycle industry, the Triumph AMA National Adventure Riding Series contain challenging rides for experienced riders.
“Adventure riding is deeply rooted in Triumph’s heritage, and supporting the AMA National Adventure Series continues to be one of the most meaningful ways we can engage with that passionate community,” Triumph Motorcycles America Marketing Director Adam VanderVeen said. “Every year, these events create opportunities for riders to push their limits, discover new terrain, and build connections that last far beyond the weekend. We’re proud to continue our partnership with the AMA and the many local clubs that make this series possible, ensuring riders across the country have an inspiring and well‑organized way to experience their ADV motorcycles exactly as they were meant to be ridden.”
The full list of Triumph AMA National Adventure Riding Series events can be found below:
March 14-15: Forest Hill, La.; Acadiana 400
April 17-19: Plantersville, Ala.; Perry Mountain Tower Run
May 15-16: Valdosta, Ga.; Florida Traverse
May 30-31: Lock Haven, Pa.; Durty Dabbers Great Adventure Ride
June 6-7: Wabeno, Wis.; Ride for Research
June 27-28: Big Bear Lake, Calif.; Big Bear Run
Sept. 19-20: Columbus, Ind.; Buffaloe 500
Sept. 26-27: Wabeno, Wis.; Big Woods 200
Oct. 3-4: Boyne Falls, Mich.; Wolverine Color Tour ADV National
Oct. 18-19: Little Orleans, Md.; Green Ridge Moto Adventure
The second season of INSIDE, the Behind-the-Scenes series, returns, chronicling the life of the Ducati Lenovo Team through travel, events, and the track. A unique and engaging way to follow the Borgo Panigale Team and its riders, Marc Márquez and Francesco Bagnaia, around the world for all the 2026 MotoGP races. There will be 22 episodes, with some last-minute surprises like the recap of Campioni In Pista online last February.
Taking advantage of advicea, comments, and suggestions, it will be more INSIDE. In 2025, Marc and Pecco have taken the center stage, with the responsibility and honor of sharing the behind-the-scenes story of the greatest comeback ever and the triple crown won by the Team. This year, it will be even more real and authentic. It will be about emotion, passion, family. The story begins on the track.
Ever more ambitious goals and revisited storytelling with racing as backdrop. INSIDE tells stories, the true protagonists of the Team, journeys, smiles, happy moments, victories, but also the most difficult weekends to manage. Along with the riders, everyone will be there: engineers, mechanics, coordinators, chefs, truck drivers. Between technique and calm, Luigi Dall’Igna (Ducati Corse General Manager), the poise of Mauro Grassilli (Ducati Corse Sporting Director), and the fiery spirit of Davide Tardozzi (Ducati Lenovo Team Team Manager).
INSIDE Ducati Lenovo Team awaits you every Wednesday after the race on the official Ducati YouTube channel in the dedicated playlist. On the Ducati Corse social media profiles, you’ll also find new, unfiltered, and unreleased contents to further enrich the digital experience of our fans and bring us closer to the beating heart of MotoGP fans and all Ducatisti.
Sunnyvale, Calif. — History was made today at the 84th Daytona 200 as Josh Herrin (Rahal Ducati Moto with Desnuda Organic Tequila) secured his fourth consecutive Daytona 200 win and fifth overall in his racing career, tying with Scott Russell and Miguel Duhamel as the most successful riders in the race’s history.
Herrin led home Tyler Scott with Kayla Yaakov (Rahal Ducati Moto with Droplight), making history by becoming the first female ever to stand on the Daytona 200 podium after passing MotoAmerica rookie Darryn Binder (Celtic/Economy Lube + Tire/Warhorse) on the run to the flag.
To top it off, Alessandro Di Mario (Rahal Ducati Moto with Roller Die & Forming) took fifth place to make it four Ducatis in the top five placings, the manufacturer’s greatest showing at Daytona.
Herrin’s win came in the most dramatic of circumstances. After a red flag for an incident on the first lap, the race was reduced to 56 laps and after spending much of the event battling with the Rahal Ducati Moto with XPEL machine of PJ Jacobsen, Herrin and Jacobsen both came into the pits together at the head of the field for the final pitstop.
Clean pitstops for both riders signaled this would be a race to the flag until Herrin ran into a MotoAmerica pit cameraman in pitlane, stalling the Panigale V2 and allowing Jacobsen to scamper clear to an initial 2.6-second lead.
Jacobsen then put the hammer down and increased his lead to over six seconds, but with eight laps to go, disaster struck as Jacobsen lost the front and crashed out.
That left Herrin all alone out front as he cruised to the win by a massive 38 seconds over Scott.
For MotoAmerica debutant Binder, he led much of the early running but couldn’t maintain the pace of Herrin and Jacobsen, eventually earning a very respectable fourth place with some solid championship points ahead of round two at Road America in April.
Binder’s teammate Wristin Grigg had a promising start to the weekend, qualifying his Ducati Panigale V2 in ninth, but he was caught up in a multi-bike, turn one pile-up off the start of the second green light, ending his race before it began.
2026 Daytona 200 Results
Josh Herrin (Ducati)
Tyler Scott (Suzuki) +38.162
Kayla Yaakov (Ducati) +1:07:477
Darryn Binder (Ducati) +1:07:643
Alessandro Di Mario (Ducati) +1:27.480
Josh Herrin takes a record fourth straight Daytona 200 win on the Ducati Panigale V2. Photo courtesy Ducati.
“First of all, I want to say sorry to PJ, I know that’s gut-wrenching,” Herrin said. “I had some bad luck of my own that I had to overcome with the cameraman. I couldn’t believe what was happening. I got stuck behind every possible lapped rider, but I knew I just had to keep cool and settle in, then PJ went down, which was really unfortunate.
“After breaking three ribs at a crash at Podium Club, I was feeling pretty sorry for myself until Ben Spies (team manager) told me he won his first MotoGP race with four broken ribs and I thought, “Ok, maybe I’ve got this”, then I got sick from my kids so I’ve been coughing a lot and the ribs haven’t been healing.
“It’s been a hard weekend but that’s what’s cool about my crew chief Scott Jensen. He’s an ex-rider and he kept me positive all weekend.
“We showed up with a good bike today. There’s something about Daytona. I feel like every time we have some adversity, I somehow keep getting carried back towards the front. It was just an amazing race. I couldn’t believe I had a plus 40-second lead with six laps to go. I was being so cautious, almost using half throttle on the banking until I saw the flag. Thank you to everybody, all the sponsors and the crew, who helped get this win today.”
Kayla Yaakov on the podium at Daytona 200. Photo courtesy Ducati.
Kayla Yaakov (Rahal Ducati Moto with Droplight – #19):
“It’s insane!” Yaakov enthused in the post-race interview. “I’ve said it all weekend, I really didn’t think this result was going to be possible. I felt confident in myself that I could be up there, but we were struggling so much with the bike setup all weekend.
“In the race, I just tried to stay calm, the team stayed calm, and we were able to pull it off. I’m just so happy to be here on the podium and keep showing women they can do it. I shied away from that a bit in the past, but I’m really think it’s a special thing I am able to do, and I’m so honored to be in that position now.”
The MotoAmerica paddock will reconvene for the first round of the 2026 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship at Road Atlanta on April 17-19, 2026.
INDIANAPOLIS – Just seven days after racing in one of the world’s most storied motorsports venues, the Monster Energy SMX World Championship traveled to the most famous racing city on the planet as a huge crowd gathered inside Lucas Oil Stadium for the ninth race of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship. The second Triple Crown event of the 2026 season produced another captivating night of racing as 450SMX Class points leader and Honda HRC Progressive rider Hunter Lawrence emerged with his second win of the year via tiebreaker over championship rival Eli Tomac, which allowed Lawrence to add to his slim lead in the championship.
Hunter Lawrence Prevails with Indianapolis Triple Crown Victory to Extend Championship Lead Inside Lucas Oil Stadium
The first 12 Minute + 1 Lap premier class race of the evening featured an impressive performance by Progressive Insurance Cycle Gear Suzuki’s Ken Roczen, who charged his way to the front early and cemented control to take a pressure-free win by 5.4 seconds. The battle behind him was anything but calm, as several of the championship’s key players duked it out for a spot on the podium. In the end, Lawrence came away with second, followed by Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Tomac, who overcame a start outside the top 10. Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cooper Webb finished fourth after running most of the race in second, while teammate Justin Cooper rounded out the top five.
The intensity picked up in Race 2 and it ultimately ended Roczen’s chances at victory when he mistimed a rhythm section on the opening lap and landed on Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Aaron Plessinger, which took Plessinger out of the race and dropped Roczen to the tail end of the field. Out front, it looked to be Tomac’s win for the taking after an early pass for first around early leader Cooper, but the Yamaha rider recollected himself, found a rhythm, and closed back in. Cooper pulled the trigger on a pass to reclaim the lead from Tomac and carried on to win by 3.5 seconds over his KTM counterpart. Webb followed with an uneventful third place, while Lawrence suffered a costly incident with lapped riders that dropped him from third to fourth.
The third and final race of the night saw Lawrence and Tomac seize the moment to put themselves out front early. The deteriorating racetrack made track position a priority and Lawrence’s holeshot allowed him to settle into the lead by about a second over Tomac. As the race wore on, Lawrence slowly added to his advantage over Tomac, and it continued to grow as lapped riders factored into the race. Behind them, Roczen settled into third, while the Yamaha teammates of Webb and Cooper battled it out for fourth. Lawrence was never challenged when it mattered most and put together a wire-to-wire effort to end the night on top by a margin of 5.5 seconds over Tomac. Roczen bounced back from his difficult second race in third, while Webb kept Cooper at bay for fourth.
Lawrence picked an opportune time to have his best race of the night as it carried him to the overall victory. The Australian and Tomac ended the night tied in points, with seven apiece, but Lawrence’s 2-4-1 effort bettered Tomac’s 3-2-2 performance by virtue of Lawrence’s better result in the Race 3 tiebreaker. It was Lawrence’s second win of the second and the second of his career. Webb and Cooper ended the night tied for third overall at 11 points each, with the edge going to Webb’s 4-3-4 effort over Cooper’s 5-1-5 finishes.
The biggest win of the season thus far for Lawrence allowed him to extend his lead in the title fight to four points over Tomac heading into the lone off weekend of the 17-race championship. Webb sits third, 25 points out of the lead.
The Race 3 triumph by Honda HRC Progressive’s Hunter Lawrence vaulted him to the Triple Crown victory for the points leader’s second win of the season. Photo courtesy SMX
Hunter Lawrence – 1st Place – 450SMX Class:
“This win means a lot. This is my fifth day riding in-a-row this week testing with the team. Those guys will never give up, nor will I. This is the ultimate thank you for going through the wringer this week, riding five days in-a-row, and coming out and performing [tonight]. This is cool. It’s a Triple Crown, so it’s a tough one.”
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Eli Tomac narrowly missed out on the overall win but remains well within striking distance in the title fight. Photo courtesy SMX.
Eli Tomac – 2nd Place – 450SMX Class:
“I made one mistake [in the final race] and Hunter [Lawrence] pulled out a second or two. I just wasn’t able to bring that back. I had a sketchy moment in the whoops and feel like I lost the race there. I started jumping but got a little squirrely and then started skimming again at the end and it was better. I don’t know, I’m glad to get out of here [with a good finish]. It’s just a tough night of racing here with the Triple Crown and this soil.”
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cooper Webb finished third overall after a quiet and consistent night. Photo courtesy SMX.
Cooper Webb – 3rd Place – 450SMX Class:
“Overall, it was kind of a plateau night for me across the board. I’m bummed because I felt great yesterday and today, so I’m pretty bummed with those results, if I’m being honest. I felt like I could come in and compete tonight, but those two ahead of me were on another level. We’ve got work to do and will try to get better. We’ll keep our head down. There’s a lot of racing left and anything can happen.”
450SMX Class Overall Podium (left to right): Eli Tomac, Hunter Lawrence, and Cooper Webb. Photo courtesy SMX.
Cole Davies Breaks Through for Dominant First 250SMX Class Win of Season.
The annual visit to Indy not only served as the third race of the Eastern Divisional 250SMX Class Championship, but it also signified the division’s first Triple Crown action of the season. The first of three 10 Minute + 1 Lap races proved to be the beginning of an overdue breakthrough for Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cole Davies, who came into the season as the title favorite. The young New Zealander was in complete control during Race 1 and took the win by two seconds over Honda HRC Progressive’s Jo Shimoda, with Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Seth Hammaker in third. However, the most notable outcome of the race was a 10th-place finish by Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Pierce Brown, as the entering points leader faced adversity off the start and was forced to fight back from a last-place start.
Davies had his work cut out for him in Race 2, when he and Shimoda duked it out as both riders looked for a way past Triumph Factory Racing’s Jalek Swoll, the early leader. Davies and Shimoda traded positions several times, but Davies got the upper hand, made his way past Swoll, and carried on to victory. Shimoda followed into second and gave chase late but crossed the finish line 2.2 seconds behind Davies. Brown rebounded from his challenging first race in third. Hammaker was the rider who faced the most adversity in the second race, as an early crash put him deep in the field and resulted in a ninth-place finish.
The third and deciding race once again saw Davies lock in as he secured another good start and methodically worked his way to the front where he closed in on Swoll for the race lead for the second time. Davies made the pass and then sprinted away from the field. As Swoll settled into second, Shimoda was in an extended battle with ClubMX Yamaha’s Devin Simonson for third. Shimoda made the pass and then tracked down Swoll to take second just before time ran out on the race clock and brought Hammaker along with him into third. Hammaker then went on the attack on the final lap, as both he and Shimoda closed in on Davies and reduced the deficit to just over a second. Hammaker made the pass on Shimoda, who briefly went off track, while Davies completed the Triple Crown sweep by a margin of just eight tenths over Hammaker. Shimoda settled for third, while Brown followed in fourth ahead of Swoll.
Davies’ first-ever 1-1-1 effort in a Triple Crown put him atop the podium for the first time this season and the third time in his young career. Shimoda earned his second runner-up finish of the season with seven points following 2-2-3 scores, while Hammaker overcame his troubles in the second race to grab a podium result in third with 14 points on 3-9-2 finishes. Brown missed the podium for the first time this season in fifth with 17 points following 10-3-4 finishes.
The early title fight has tightened up dramatically as four riders now sit within two points of one another. Davies has grabbed hold of the points lead by a single point over Hammaker, while Brown and Shimoda sit tied for third, two points out of the lead. What lies ahead is the first East/West Showdown of the 2026 season, which is poised to dramatically alter what has been a close battle in the Eastern Division thus far.
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cole Davies dominated the first Eastern Divisional Triple Crown with a 1-1-1 sweep. Photo courtesy SMX.
Cole Davies – 1st Place – Eastern Divisional 250SMX Class:
“I guess I was just too excited to go [to start the season] and was a bit too antsy [on the track], but we settled down a bit. I just let the race come to me [tonight] and made some passes in every race. I’m just stoked. It’s a bit of a relief now. I’ve been pissed off at all the rounds, getting beat, and I don’t do well with that. It’s good to come back and have a good Triple Crown.”
Honda HRC Progressive’s Jo Shimoda was consistent in all three races to secure a runner-up finish. Photo courtesy SMX.
Jo Shimoda – 2nd Place – Eastern Divisional 250SMX Class:
“I think I got decent starts today. Not the best ones, but I was able to sneak around the inside and get up in the front. I pulled it off as much as I could, but I just need to ride faster. I need to update myself and the bike and we should be good. There’s a lot more to go.”
Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Seth Hammaker overcame some adversity to earn an overall podium result. Photo courtesy SMX.
Seth Hammaker – 3rd Place – Eastern Divisional 250SMX Class:
“It was a pretty hectic night. I couldn’t get off the gate too well, which kind of cost me. I just didn’t put myself in great positions off the start. Thankfully we salvaged a podium. I was just riding in the middle of the pack tonight and need to figure the starts out. But, like I said, we salvaged a podium and are second in points, so all good.”
Eastern Divisional 250SMX Class Overall Podium (left to right): Jo Shimoda, Cole Davies, and Seth Hammaker. Photo courtesy SMX.
The Monster Energy SMX World Championship and Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship will observe its lone break in action next weekend before returning on Saturday, March 21, for the 10th race of the season from Birmingham, Alabama’s Protective Stadium. Live broadcast coverage on Peacock will begin at 1 p.m. ET with Race Day Live, followed by the Gate Drop at 7 p.m. ET. Additionally, a domestic Spanish language broadcast is available on Peacock while international viewers can choose from dedicated English, French, and Spanish broadcasts via SMX Video Pass (www.SMXVideoPass.com).
The Birmingham round will also include a special encore network presentation on NBC, which will air on Sunday, March 22, at 1 p.m. ET.
All 17 rounds of the 2026 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship and 11 rounds of the Pro Motocross Championship are on sale. Tickets for the SMX World Championship Playoff Rounds and Final are now on sale at Supermotocross.com. Saturday FanFest will take place at all postseason races, Friday FanFest and camping will be available in Columbus and Ridgedale, additional details to follow.
For information about the Monster Energy SMX World Championship, please visit www.SuperMotocross.com and be sure to follow all of the new SMX social media channels for exclusive content and additional information on the latest news:
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, is proud to announce the return of Harley-Davidson as an official partner for the 2026 season. This renewed collaboration brings one of the most iconic names in motorcycling history back to the forefront of the world’s premier dirt track racing series.
The partnership reinforces the historic legacy between the Milwaukee-based manufacturer and the sport of flat track. As Progressive AFT prepares to launch its 2026 campaign, the involvement of Harley-Davidson ensures that fans will experience a deep connection to the brand’s racing heritage at events across the country. Throughout the season, the partnership will focus on enhancing the fan experience and celebrating the performance-driven culture that has defined Harley-Davidson for over a century.
The return of Harley-Davidson follows a powerhouse 2025 performance that reestablished the brand as a dominant force in professional flat track. Throughout the 2025 Progressive AFT season, Harley-Davidson riders Briar Bauman and Brandon Robinson kept the XG750R at the front of the pack, combining for a series-leading nine victories. Their relentless performance and consistent podium finishes ultimately secured the 2025 Mission AFT SuperTwins Manufacturer Championship for Harley-Davidson, a title that underscores the brand’s deep-rooted engineering excellence and enduring commitment to America’s Original Extreme Sport.
The 2026 Progressive American Flat Track season debuts at Daytona International Speedway Flat Track on Thursday, March 5 and Friday, March 6. To purchase Daytona Short Track I & II tickets, visit: https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack.
FloRacing
For those that can’t catch the live action at the track, FloRacing is the live streaming home of Progressive American Flat Track. Motorsports fans can subscribe to FloRacing to enjoy over 1,000 live motorsports events in 2026. FloSports is available by visiting https://flosports.link/AFT2026 or by downloading the FloSports app on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire and Chromecast.
FS1
FOX Sports will provide in-depth coverage of the Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA doubleheader featuring rider features and thrilling onboard cameras. Stay tuned for an upcoming announcement regarding premiere airdates on FS1 and re-airs on FS2. The full listing of American Flat Track’s television premieres will be posted to the AFT website at https://www.americanflattrack.com/events-foxsports.
Josh Herrin (2) looks over his shoulder early in the Daytona 200. Photo by Michael Gougis.
Josh Herrin came into the weekend struggling. He broke three ribs at a testing crash three weeks before the event, caught a cough from a sick kid and didn’t feel at all comfortable on his new Rahal Ducati Moto with Desnuda Organic Tequila Ducati Panigale V2. A collision with a camera operator while leaving from his last pit stop left him several seconds behind PJ Jacobsen and fuming. But Herrin settled into his pace and picked up the win when Jacobsen crashed out, averting a potential dustup with the camera operator after the checkered flag. “If I hadn’t won that race, I might have been in jail tonight. That was insane,” Herrin said. “I was so angry. I can’t be angry now. Now it’s just funny.”
Tyler Scott (70). Photo by Michael Gougis.
Tyler Scott earned for 3DO M4 ECSTAR Suzuki and himself a cool $30,000 for second place, his third podium finish in the last three Daytona 200 races. Scott said his grip levels started to diminish just a bit early on, then catching lappers at exactly the wrong time kept him from fighting back to the front.
Kayla Yaakov (19). Photo by Michael Gougis.
Kayla Yaakov said she knew that the race for the final podium position was going to come down to a last-lap drafting move. But she said that Darryn Binder seemed content to push, and she was content to let him lead until the dash to the finish line, when she made the final pass and just kept her head down. Even during the post-race interviews in the media center, she still didn’t know her margin over Binder. “When PJ crashed out, I knew we were racing for the podium. I was just afraid that he (Binder) might have a chance to draft back by after I passed him, but – how close was it?” she asked.
Sam Drane (59). Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Sam Drane finished second in Friday’s Twins Cup race and went one better in Saturday’s race, winning an insane drafting battle by 0.010 seconds on his Yamaha BLU CRU Estenson Racing YZF-R7. Matthew Chapin, Hank Vossberg – Friday’s runaway winner – and Bodie Paige crossed the line separated by 0.376 seconds. Drane’s win left him in the Twins Cup points lead.
Jake Lewis (85). Photo by Michael Gougis.
Jake Lewis was leading the Mission Super Hooligan points comfortably last season when an injury sidelined him for two races, leaving him second at the end of the season by just four points. Lewis started his 2026 campaign with a third on Friday and a win on Saturday, leaving him tied on points with last year’s title rival James Rispoli.
Troy Herfoss (17). Photo by Michael Gougis.
Troy Herfoss’ win in Saturday’s Mission King of The Baggers race was his second podium of the weekend and it marked the second 1-2 finish of the event for the Indian factory team. Herfoss says the new Challenger racebike, developed by the Vance & Hines team in conjunction with the factory, is an entirely different motorcycle than the Challenger he raced last year. “It’s not just that there’s plenty of horsepower, but the horsepower is being pushed into the ground. The old bike felt like a lounge chair. This feels like a Superbike,” Herfoss said.
Warhorse HSBK/Celtic Racing won the Pit Stop Challenge by fewer than two-tenths of a second over the M4 ECSTAR Suzuki team. However, the Pit Stop Challenge curse remains intact. No one who has won the Pit Stop Challenge on Friday has gone on to win the Daytona 200 on Saturday. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
The author at the Streets of Willow on a Yamaha YZF-R9, testing the new Alpinestars Supertech R7 street helmet. Note the large forehead vent and the side wing vents. Photo courtesy Alpinestars.
The Alpinestars Supertech R7 helmet in gloss black. Photos courtesy Alpinestars.
When Alpinestars jumped into the streetbike helmet market, even it was surprised by the success of its very first offering, the Supertech R10. After all of its careful planning and projections, when the helmet was introduced in 2024, the company sold its first-year production run in 30 days. Even now, several models of the R10 remain on back order. In total, the company sold more than 10 times what it anticipated selling in the first year the R10 was available.
Encouraged by this runaway success, Alpinestars followed up with another, more accessible, more street-oriented helmet. At a track day at the Streets of Willow, Alpinestars introduced its Supertech R7 helmet to motojournalists, then turned them loose for a day of track riding, followed by a street ride the following day.
In short, Alpinestars has followed the R10 with a sophisticated helmet that differs in construction material, design and cost, but one that incorporates the lessons learned in developing the R10, particularly the aerodynamic features. After all, air is air, and noise management, volume and stability matter when you’re shoving a helmet through it, whether you’re moving at highway speeds or at Mugello front straight speeds.
Alpinestars R7 Technical Details
The Alpinestars Supertech R7 helmet in gloss grey.
One of the biggest differences between the R7 and the R10 is the shell material. While the R10 has a full carbon-fiber shell, the R7 features a shell of an outer fiberglass layer, a unidirectional carbon composite layer, a carbon aramid fiber layer and an internal fiberglass layer. The base of the helmet is slightly wider than that of the R10 to ease putting it on and taking it off. The inner shell is a seven-piece expanded polystyrene construct with six densities. Alpinestars has certified the helmet to DOT and ECE 22.06 standards, and claims that the R7 undercuts the maximum allowed peak linear acceleration of the ECE 22.06 standard by 50 percent and the peak rotational acceleration standard by 80 percent. To help protect from rotational forces, the inner lining of the EPS layer has a slick coating, allowing the helmet to slip slightly on the rider’s head in an oblique impact and reduce the force transmitted to the brain.
Weight is close to that of the R10, at about 3.3 pounds (1500 grams) for the medium size version that meets both ECE and DOT standards – the ECE-only medium weighs in at 1400 grams, or 3.08 pounds. The R7 shares the cutouts in the lower edge with the R10 that are designed to prevent the helmet from impacting the collarbone in a crash, but on the R7, the cutout is filled with the company’s Nucleon PLASMA viscoelastic material that is soft and pliable but stiffens on impact.
The A-head system allows the rider to adjust the height and angle at which the helmet sits on their head. The cheek pads have an emergency release system, a channel for eyeglass temples (arms) and an integrated hydration tube channel. The cheek pads come in different sizes, allowing even more customization of the fit.
The ECE-certified face shield is interchangeable with the one on the R10 and comes in a multitude of colors, and the helmet itself is available in a wide variety of solids and graphic schemes. The field of view is 220 degrees of lateral vision and 57 degrees vertically. Aerodynamic features include a built-in rear spoiler, the “turbulator” elements on the face shield that reduce noise and turbulence and side winglets that reduce drag. The R7 features 10 vents, six intake and four exhausts, managed by a pair of chin inlets and a sliding forehead vent.
Suggested retail starts at $679.95.
The Alpinestars Supertech R7 helmet in gloss white.
Alpinestars says the R7 is slightly easier to pull on than the R10, but it’s still a snug fit to get the lid over the ears. I’d ridden with my R10 just a couple of days before the intro, and honestly, if there is a difference, it is slight. And the race nature of the helmet is evident, as the cheekpads were quite aggressive at first, although they broke in significantly during a few hours of riding at the Streets.
The shield is easy to use once you know what to feel for, and it snaps securely into place, again suggesting its race-oriented origins. Once the shield is down, the interior is quiet and serene, and that imparts a sense of solidity to the entire helmet. There is a plastic plug in the chin bar; removing that helps reduce fogging. Learning to operate the vents BEFORE you go out onto the track also helps reduce fogging. D’oh!
Streets is not the fastest track on the planet, and the highest indicated top speed I saw all day long was 120 miles per hour. At that speed, noise was minimal, as was buffeting, and the ventilation was more than adequate without being “windy” inside the shield. The helmet didn’t impede my ability to crank my head sideways to look up the track, and the large eyeport was welcome when tucked in. At no point did I ever notice any aerodynamic lift or sideways forces. It might get lost in the product messaging, but let me be clear – this helmet is perfectly at home on the racetrack.
Alpinestars reps helped me try some thinner cheek pads and we removed the chin skirt, but I went back to the original 25mm pads and I am glad I did, as they broke in nicely. Helmet fit, to me, is always a trade-off between comfort and security, and a helmet that feels awesome at 60 mph could definitely feel ill-fitting and loose at double that speed on a hypernaked. The R7 is definitely toward the performance end of the spectrum. But as I told the company representatives who asked what I thought about the helmet, I didn’t think about it at all once I was moving – and that is the best compliment I can give to a piece of safety equipment that I haven’t crash tested!
After winning his first NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle championship in 2025, Richard Gadson opened his third campaign with the Vance & Hines team by qualifying second on Saturday with a 6.746-second/200.00 mph run. Photo courtesy Suzuki
Brea, CA – Reigning Pro Stock Motorcycle champion Richard Gadson celebrated a milestone birthday in grand fashion by winning the opening round of the NHRA 75th Anniversary season on his RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki Gen 3 Hayabusa at the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway in Gainesville, FL, on Sunday.
Race Highlights:
Richard Gadson qualified second and earned his fifth career victory in the opening round of the 2026 NHRA season
Gaige Herrera qualified fourth and advanced to the second round of eliminations
With Sunday eliminations falling on his 40th birthday, Gadson was primed for a special day of racing. In round one, he defeated Geno Scali (6.836 seconds/198.44 mph) with a 6.769-second/200.83 mph run, then advanced past Chase Van Sant (6.808 seconds/198.82 mph) in round two with a 6.757-second/200.59 mph pass that carried him into the semi-finals.
Gadson received a welcome birthday gift in the third round after opponent Clayton Howey fouled on the starting line. Despite slowing to a 7.118-second/150.06 mph pass when his motorcycle drifted towards the centerline, what should have been an automatic win for Gadson briefly appeared to be in doubt when a timing pylon near the end of the track became dislodged.
However, TV replays showed the pylon was displaced by the high-speed slipstream from Gadson’s Hayabusa, not by contact, avoiding a disqualification and sending him to his tenth career final round appearance.
After two short late-afternoon rain delays, Gadson powered to a 6.753-second/200.05 mph run in the final round, making full use of his Suzuki Hayabusa’s superior performance and a reaction time advantage to overcome John Hall (6.799 seconds/198.38 mph) and claim a statement win in the opening salvo of his title defense.
With the victory, Gadson earned a special edition diamond-anniversary Wally trophy commissioned to celebrate the sanctioning body’s 75th anniversary season.
“It’s very sweet. One of the best days of my life. I pictured last year’s championship ending differently, and a lot of fans did too. It angered some people and they directed that anger towards me. Winning this weekend has some extra meaning behind it. It meant a lot to be able to make that statement today,” Gadson said, referring to the unusual ending of last year’s championship at the final race in Pomona, which was cancelled due to inclement weather, denying Gadson and teammate Gaige Herrera a chance to race head-to-head to settle the championship.
“I made a mistake in the semi-final, and it was almost party over. I thought the bike would come back to the right for me when it got out of the groove. I didn’t correct early enough, and I almost hit that cone. That would have been the end of it, so that’s a lesson learned. Even at this level, and having the No. 1 plate, I’m still learning,” Gadson said. “Some great advice I’ve been given is ‘Don’t race like you are the champion. Race the same way that got you the championship.’ My approach this season is to continue to ride aggressively, and my title defense starts now.”
Herrera defeated Marc Ingwersen (8.746 seconds/102.14 mph) in round one with a 6.755-second/201.46 mph run, his quickest pass of the weekend. Photo courtesy Suzuki
Searching for a fourth-straight win at the Gatornationals, Gaige Herrera, the 2023 and 2024 Pro Stock Motorcycle champion, opened the books on his fourth season with the Vance & Hines team by qualifying fourth with a 6.761-second/199.91 mph run.
In an exciting side-by-side drag race, Herrera narrowly lost in the second round to John Hall, posting a 6.758-second/200.65 mph run that came up just short of Hall’s 6.748-second/200.68 mph pass. With both riders putting up low single-digit reaction times, Hall’s margin of victory was just 0.012 second.
The early exit was a rare defeat for the three-time Gatornationals winner, who until that point had never lost a round of competition in Gainesville.
Last year, Herrera missed out on an opportunity to close the 21-point gap that separated him from Gadson heading into the finale in Pomona. After the anti-climactic end to the season, the two-time champion was hoping for a shot at redemption in Gainesville, a race he has dominated for the past three seasons.
“It felt nice to get back on the bike this weekend. I was hoping it would be me and Richard in the final because I feel like I need to redeem myself, but it didn’t work out that way,” Herrera said. “John pulled one out of the hat against me. But I’m glad Richard got the win and the cool new diamond Wally on this birthday.”
RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki crew chief Andrew Hines said the theme of the weekend was perseverance from the team and redemption for Gadson.
“The track was tough for these riders to navigate with the wind changing direction all weekend. It took every bit of effort from everyone on the team to make sure we came out of here with a new diamond Wally,” Hines said. “This win also really justifies Richard’s last season. I think it’s a big monkey off his back to be able come in here and qualify higher than Gaige, win this race, and prove that he has the No. 1 plate on his bike for a reason.”
“Everybody knows what it takes now to win a championship. It takes double-oh lights and cut-throat ETs to turn on win lights. Our guys always rise to the occasion. They ride above 100 percent of what their motorcycles are capable of, and that’s why we’re super happy to have them on our team and super excited for what’s going to happen in the 2026 season. It’s a breath of fresh air to start the season with this win and move on down the road to Charlotte.”
After the first of 14 rounds in the 2026 Pro Stock Motorcycle season, Gadson and Herrera sit first and seventh in the championship standings with 124 and 59 points, respectively.
The RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines team returns to action April 24-26 at the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals at zMax Dragway in Concord, NC.
Vance & Hines Motorsports is a powerhouse in the world of motorcycle racing, boasting a rich legacy of success. With a focus on innovation, performance, and a commitment to pushing boundaries, the team continues to redefine excellence in the NHRA and MotoAmerica. For more information, visit www.vanceandhinesmotorsports.com.
ABOUT SUZUKI:
Suzuki Motor USA, LLC. (SMO) distributes Motorcycles, ATVs, Scooters, Automotive Parts, Accessories, and ECSTAR Oils & Chemicals via an extensive dealer network throughout 49 states. Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC), based in Hamamatsu, Japan, is a diversified worldwide manufacturer of Motorcycles, ATVs, Scooters, Automobiles, Outboard Motors, and related products. Founded in 1909 and incorporated in 1920, SMC has business relations with 201 countries/regions. For more information, visit www.suzuki.com.
Richard Varner (center) with two of his three MotoAmerica partners, Terry Karges (left) and Chuck Askland (right). Fourth Partner Wayne Rainey was not present when the photo was taken. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
AMA Recognizes Richard Varner with Jim Viverito Friend of the AMA Honors
Varner honored for devotion to the growth and continued sustainability of MotoAmerica
PICKERINGTON, Ohio — The American Motorcyclist Association congratulates MotoAmerica Chief Financial Officer Richard Varner, who was presented the Jim Viverito Friend of the AMA award on Saturday, March 7.
MotoAmerica CFO Richard Varner received the Friend Of The AMA Award Sunday in Daytona. Photo by John Ulrich.
The Jim Viverito Friend of the AMA honors the life and legacy of longtime AMA Board Member Jim Viverito and acknowledges the individuals and organizations in the motorcycle community that strongly support the AMA and its mission. This award is chosen by AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman, who presented this honor to Varner in Daytona Beach, Fla., on Saturday evening.
“Richard Varner has been an influential figure in the motorcycle industry for a long time, and we have been grateful for his support as a champion for the AMA,” Dingman said. “He has presided over MotoAmerica’s sustained growth and has undoubtedly helped foster a thriving road racing community here in the United States. We are proud to honor Richard and look forward to our continued relationship with him.”
A native of Wichita, Kansas, Varner’s love affair with motorcycles began at a young age and continued throughout his life. Ultimately, Varner turned his affection for two-wheels into more than that, and in 2014, fostered the creation of MotoAmerica, providing significant financial support to get the then-fledgling racing league off the ground. The creation of MotoAmerica revitalized professional road racing in the United States, bringing rejuvenated energy and excitement back to the sport.
Marc Marquez (93) at Buriram. Photo courtesy Ducati.
It’s all good times for Aprilia. Their hardware is proving top-notch at the track, and even after one race they’ve already got some spectacular results in the pocket. In fact, if the world ends tomorrow they’d technically be world champions! But what are the chances of that happening?
In completely unrelated news, are we still doing that Qatar GP or are we canceling it due to a chance of missiles?
And speaking of apocalyptic disasters, we should probably peak over at Ducati and see how they’re doing. The numbers don’t look great, but there is always more to the story – so we’re going to start digging, and we’re going to keep digging even if that means we have to engage in some small, reverent grave-robbing over in Bolognia so we might solve the secrets of the desmo…
Oh, and we’re also hitting on vortex generators (sounds a bit sci-fi!), dragon’s teeth (sounds a bit fantasy!) and potential top speeds (sounds VERY MotoGP!).
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!
Series to feature 12 events that span from coast to coast. Photo courtesy AMA.
PICKERINGTON, Ohio — The American Motorcyclist Association announced the schedule for the 2026 Triumph AMA National Adventure Riding Series, which will be comprised of 12 events in all corners of the United States.
The Triumph AMA National Adventure Riding Series takes daring riders on the best routes, roads and two-track trails in the country while showcasing the versatile abilities of adventure bikes.
Sponsored by Triumph Motorcycles, which is a leading brand in the adventure motorcycle industry, the Triumph AMA National Adventure Riding Series contain challenging rides for experienced riders.
“Adventure riding is deeply rooted in Triumph’s heritage, and supporting the AMA National Adventure Series continues to be one of the most meaningful ways we can engage with that passionate community,” Triumph Motorcycles America Marketing Director Adam VanderVeen said. “Every year, these events create opportunities for riders to push their limits, discover new terrain, and build connections that last far beyond the weekend. We’re proud to continue our partnership with the AMA and the many local clubs that make this series possible, ensuring riders across the country have an inspiring and well‑organized way to experience their ADV motorcycles exactly as they were meant to be ridden.”
The full list of Triumph AMA National Adventure Riding Series events can be found below:
March 14-15: Forest Hill, La.; Acadiana 400
April 17-19: Plantersville, Ala.; Perry Mountain Tower Run
May 15-16: Valdosta, Ga.; Florida Traverse
May 30-31: Lock Haven, Pa.; Durty Dabbers Great Adventure Ride
June 6-7: Wabeno, Wis.; Ride for Research
June 27-28: Big Bear Lake, Calif.; Big Bear Run
Sept. 19-20: Columbus, Ind.; Buffaloe 500
Sept. 26-27: Wabeno, Wis.; Big Woods 200
Oct. 3-4: Boyne Falls, Mich.; Wolverine Color Tour ADV National
Oct. 18-19: Little Orleans, Md.; Green Ridge Moto Adventure
Marc Marquez (93) at Buriram. Photo courtesy MotoGP.
The second season of INSIDE, the Behind-the-Scenes series, returns, chronicling the life of the Ducati Lenovo Team through travel, events, and the track. A unique and engaging way to follow the Borgo Panigale Team and its riders, Marc Márquez and Francesco Bagnaia, around the world for all the 2026 MotoGP races. There will be 22 episodes, with some last-minute surprises like the recap of Campioni In Pista online last February.
Taking advantage of advicea, comments, and suggestions, it will be more INSIDE. In 2025, Marc and Pecco have taken the center stage, with the responsibility and honor of sharing the behind-the-scenes story of the greatest comeback ever and the triple crown won by the Team. This year, it will be even more real and authentic. It will be about emotion, passion, family. The story begins on the track.
Ever more ambitious goals and revisited storytelling with racing as backdrop. INSIDE tells stories, the true protagonists of the Team, journeys, smiles, happy moments, victories, but also the most difficult weekends to manage. Along with the riders, everyone will be there: engineers, mechanics, coordinators, chefs, truck drivers. Between technique and calm, Luigi Dall’Igna (Ducati Corse General Manager), the poise of Mauro Grassilli (Ducati Corse Sporting Director), and the fiery spirit of Davide Tardozzi (Ducati Lenovo Team Team Manager).
INSIDE Ducati Lenovo Team awaits you every Wednesday after the race on the official Ducati YouTube channel in the dedicated playlist. On the Ducati Corse social media profiles, you’ll also find new, unfiltered, and unreleased contents to further enrich the digital experience of our fans and bring us closer to the beating heart of MotoGP fans and all Ducatisti.
Josh Herrin during the 2026 Daytona 200 race. Photo courtesy Ducati.
Sunnyvale, Calif. — History was made today at the 84th Daytona 200 as Josh Herrin (Rahal Ducati Moto with Desnuda Organic Tequila) secured his fourth consecutive Daytona 200 win and fifth overall in his racing career, tying with Scott Russell and Miguel Duhamel as the most successful riders in the race’s history.
Herrin led home Tyler Scott with Kayla Yaakov (Rahal Ducati Moto with Droplight), making history by becoming the first female ever to stand on the Daytona 200 podium after passing MotoAmerica rookie Darryn Binder (Celtic/Economy Lube + Tire/Warhorse) on the run to the flag.
To top it off, Alessandro Di Mario (Rahal Ducati Moto with Roller Die & Forming) took fifth place to make it four Ducatis in the top five placings, the manufacturer’s greatest showing at Daytona.
Herrin’s win came in the most dramatic of circumstances. After a red flag for an incident on the first lap, the race was reduced to 56 laps and after spending much of the event battling with the Rahal Ducati Moto with XPEL machine of PJ Jacobsen, Herrin and Jacobsen both came into the pits together at the head of the field for the final pitstop.
Clean pitstops for both riders signaled this would be a race to the flag until Herrin ran into a MotoAmerica pit cameraman in pitlane, stalling the Panigale V2 and allowing Jacobsen to scamper clear to an initial 2.6-second lead.
Jacobsen then put the hammer down and increased his lead to over six seconds, but with eight laps to go, disaster struck as Jacobsen lost the front and crashed out.
That left Herrin all alone out front as he cruised to the win by a massive 38 seconds over Scott.
For MotoAmerica debutant Binder, he led much of the early running but couldn’t maintain the pace of Herrin and Jacobsen, eventually earning a very respectable fourth place with some solid championship points ahead of round two at Road America in April.
Binder’s teammate Wristin Grigg had a promising start to the weekend, qualifying his Ducati Panigale V2 in ninth, but he was caught up in a multi-bike, turn one pile-up off the start of the second green light, ending his race before it began.
2026 Daytona 200 Results
Josh Herrin (Ducati)
Tyler Scott (Suzuki) +38.162
Kayla Yaakov (Ducati) +1:07:477
Darryn Binder (Ducati) +1:07:643
Alessandro Di Mario (Ducati) +1:27.480
Josh Herrin takes a record fourth straight Daytona 200 win on the Ducati Panigale V2. Photo courtesy Ducati.
“First of all, I want to say sorry to PJ, I know that’s gut-wrenching,” Herrin said. “I had some bad luck of my own that I had to overcome with the cameraman. I couldn’t believe what was happening. I got stuck behind every possible lapped rider, but I knew I just had to keep cool and settle in, then PJ went down, which was really unfortunate.
“After breaking three ribs at a crash at Podium Club, I was feeling pretty sorry for myself until Ben Spies (team manager) told me he won his first MotoGP race with four broken ribs and I thought, “Ok, maybe I’ve got this”, then I got sick from my kids so I’ve been coughing a lot and the ribs haven’t been healing.
“It’s been a hard weekend but that’s what’s cool about my crew chief Scott Jensen. He’s an ex-rider and he kept me positive all weekend.
“We showed up with a good bike today. There’s something about Daytona. I feel like every time we have some adversity, I somehow keep getting carried back towards the front. It was just an amazing race. I couldn’t believe I had a plus 40-second lead with six laps to go. I was being so cautious, almost using half throttle on the banking until I saw the flag. Thank you to everybody, all the sponsors and the crew, who helped get this win today.”
Kayla Yaakov on the podium at Daytona 200. Photo courtesy Ducati.
Kayla Yaakov (Rahal Ducati Moto with Droplight – #19):
“It’s insane!” Yaakov enthused in the post-race interview. “I’ve said it all weekend, I really didn’t think this result was going to be possible. I felt confident in myself that I could be up there, but we were struggling so much with the bike setup all weekend.
“In the race, I just tried to stay calm, the team stayed calm, and we were able to pull it off. I’m just so happy to be here on the podium and keep showing women they can do it. I shied away from that a bit in the past, but I’m really think it’s a special thing I am able to do, and I’m so honored to be in that position now.”
The MotoAmerica paddock will reconvene for the first round of the 2026 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship at Road Atlanta on April 17-19, 2026.
A massive crowd gathered inside Lucas Oil Stadium as Monster Energy Supercross made its annual visit to the motorsports epicenter of Indianapolis for the second Triple Crown race of the season. Photo courtesy SMX.
INDIANAPOLIS – Just seven days after racing in one of the world’s most storied motorsports venues, the Monster Energy SMX World Championship traveled to the most famous racing city on the planet as a huge crowd gathered inside Lucas Oil Stadium for the ninth race of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship. The second Triple Crown event of the 2026 season produced another captivating night of racing as 450SMX Class points leader and Honda HRC Progressive rider Hunter Lawrence emerged with his second win of the year via tiebreaker over championship rival Eli Tomac, which allowed Lawrence to add to his slim lead in the championship.
Hunter Lawrence Prevails with Indianapolis Triple Crown Victory to Extend Championship Lead Inside Lucas Oil Stadium
The first 12 Minute + 1 Lap premier class race of the evening featured an impressive performance by Progressive Insurance Cycle Gear Suzuki’s Ken Roczen, who charged his way to the front early and cemented control to take a pressure-free win by 5.4 seconds. The battle behind him was anything but calm, as several of the championship’s key players duked it out for a spot on the podium. In the end, Lawrence came away with second, followed by Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Tomac, who overcame a start outside the top 10. Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cooper Webb finished fourth after running most of the race in second, while teammate Justin Cooper rounded out the top five.
The intensity picked up in Race 2 and it ultimately ended Roczen’s chances at victory when he mistimed a rhythm section on the opening lap and landed on Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Aaron Plessinger, which took Plessinger out of the race and dropped Roczen to the tail end of the field. Out front, it looked to be Tomac’s win for the taking after an early pass for first around early leader Cooper, but the Yamaha rider recollected himself, found a rhythm, and closed back in. Cooper pulled the trigger on a pass to reclaim the lead from Tomac and carried on to win by 3.5 seconds over his KTM counterpart. Webb followed with an uneventful third place, while Lawrence suffered a costly incident with lapped riders that dropped him from third to fourth.
The third and final race of the night saw Lawrence and Tomac seize the moment to put themselves out front early. The deteriorating racetrack made track position a priority and Lawrence’s holeshot allowed him to settle into the lead by about a second over Tomac. As the race wore on, Lawrence slowly added to his advantage over Tomac, and it continued to grow as lapped riders factored into the race. Behind them, Roczen settled into third, while the Yamaha teammates of Webb and Cooper battled it out for fourth. Lawrence was never challenged when it mattered most and put together a wire-to-wire effort to end the night on top by a margin of 5.5 seconds over Tomac. Roczen bounced back from his difficult second race in third, while Webb kept Cooper at bay for fourth.
Lawrence picked an opportune time to have his best race of the night as it carried him to the overall victory. The Australian and Tomac ended the night tied in points, with seven apiece, but Lawrence’s 2-4-1 effort bettered Tomac’s 3-2-2 performance by virtue of Lawrence’s better result in the Race 3 tiebreaker. It was Lawrence’s second win of the second and the second of his career. Webb and Cooper ended the night tied for third overall at 11 points each, with the edge going to Webb’s 4-3-4 effort over Cooper’s 5-1-5 finishes.
The biggest win of the season thus far for Lawrence allowed him to extend his lead in the title fight to four points over Tomac heading into the lone off weekend of the 17-race championship. Webb sits third, 25 points out of the lead.
The Race 3 triumph by Honda HRC Progressive’s Hunter Lawrence vaulted him to the Triple Crown victory for the points leader’s second win of the season. Photo courtesy SMX
Hunter Lawrence – 1st Place – 450SMX Class:
“This win means a lot. This is my fifth day riding in-a-row this week testing with the team. Those guys will never give up, nor will I. This is the ultimate thank you for going through the wringer this week, riding five days in-a-row, and coming out and performing [tonight]. This is cool. It’s a Triple Crown, so it’s a tough one.”
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Eli Tomac narrowly missed out on the overall win but remains well within striking distance in the title fight. Photo courtesy SMX.
Eli Tomac – 2nd Place – 450SMX Class:
“I made one mistake [in the final race] and Hunter [Lawrence] pulled out a second or two. I just wasn’t able to bring that back. I had a sketchy moment in the whoops and feel like I lost the race there. I started jumping but got a little squirrely and then started skimming again at the end and it was better. I don’t know, I’m glad to get out of here [with a good finish]. It’s just a tough night of racing here with the Triple Crown and this soil.”
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cooper Webb finished third overall after a quiet and consistent night. Photo courtesy SMX.
Cooper Webb – 3rd Place – 450SMX Class:
“Overall, it was kind of a plateau night for me across the board. I’m bummed because I felt great yesterday and today, so I’m pretty bummed with those results, if I’m being honest. I felt like I could come in and compete tonight, but those two ahead of me were on another level. We’ve got work to do and will try to get better. We’ll keep our head down. There’s a lot of racing left and anything can happen.”
450SMX Class Overall Podium (left to right): Eli Tomac, Hunter Lawrence, and Cooper Webb. Photo courtesy SMX.
Cole Davies Breaks Through for Dominant First 250SMX Class Win of Season.
The annual visit to Indy not only served as the third race of the Eastern Divisional 250SMX Class Championship, but it also signified the division’s first Triple Crown action of the season. The first of three 10 Minute + 1 Lap races proved to be the beginning of an overdue breakthrough for Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cole Davies, who came into the season as the title favorite. The young New Zealander was in complete control during Race 1 and took the win by two seconds over Honda HRC Progressive’s Jo Shimoda, with Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Seth Hammaker in third. However, the most notable outcome of the race was a 10th-place finish by Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Pierce Brown, as the entering points leader faced adversity off the start and was forced to fight back from a last-place start.
Davies had his work cut out for him in Race 2, when he and Shimoda duked it out as both riders looked for a way past Triumph Factory Racing’s Jalek Swoll, the early leader. Davies and Shimoda traded positions several times, but Davies got the upper hand, made his way past Swoll, and carried on to victory. Shimoda followed into second and gave chase late but crossed the finish line 2.2 seconds behind Davies. Brown rebounded from his challenging first race in third. Hammaker was the rider who faced the most adversity in the second race, as an early crash put him deep in the field and resulted in a ninth-place finish.
The third and deciding race once again saw Davies lock in as he secured another good start and methodically worked his way to the front where he closed in on Swoll for the race lead for the second time. Davies made the pass and then sprinted away from the field. As Swoll settled into second, Shimoda was in an extended battle with ClubMX Yamaha’s Devin Simonson for third. Shimoda made the pass and then tracked down Swoll to take second just before time ran out on the race clock and brought Hammaker along with him into third. Hammaker then went on the attack on the final lap, as both he and Shimoda closed in on Davies and reduced the deficit to just over a second. Hammaker made the pass on Shimoda, who briefly went off track, while Davies completed the Triple Crown sweep by a margin of just eight tenths over Hammaker. Shimoda settled for third, while Brown followed in fourth ahead of Swoll.
Davies’ first-ever 1-1-1 effort in a Triple Crown put him atop the podium for the first time this season and the third time in his young career. Shimoda earned his second runner-up finish of the season with seven points following 2-2-3 scores, while Hammaker overcame his troubles in the second race to grab a podium result in third with 14 points on 3-9-2 finishes. Brown missed the podium for the first time this season in fifth with 17 points following 10-3-4 finishes.
The early title fight has tightened up dramatically as four riders now sit within two points of one another. Davies has grabbed hold of the points lead by a single point over Hammaker, while Brown and Shimoda sit tied for third, two points out of the lead. What lies ahead is the first East/West Showdown of the 2026 season, which is poised to dramatically alter what has been a close battle in the Eastern Division thus far.
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cole Davies dominated the first Eastern Divisional Triple Crown with a 1-1-1 sweep. Photo courtesy SMX.
Cole Davies – 1st Place – Eastern Divisional 250SMX Class:
“I guess I was just too excited to go [to start the season] and was a bit too antsy [on the track], but we settled down a bit. I just let the race come to me [tonight] and made some passes in every race. I’m just stoked. It’s a bit of a relief now. I’ve been pissed off at all the rounds, getting beat, and I don’t do well with that. It’s good to come back and have a good Triple Crown.”
Honda HRC Progressive’s Jo Shimoda was consistent in all three races to secure a runner-up finish. Photo courtesy SMX.
Jo Shimoda – 2nd Place – Eastern Divisional 250SMX Class:
“I think I got decent starts today. Not the best ones, but I was able to sneak around the inside and get up in the front. I pulled it off as much as I could, but I just need to ride faster. I need to update myself and the bike and we should be good. There’s a lot more to go.”
Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Seth Hammaker overcame some adversity to earn an overall podium result. Photo courtesy SMX.
Seth Hammaker – 3rd Place – Eastern Divisional 250SMX Class:
“It was a pretty hectic night. I couldn’t get off the gate too well, which kind of cost me. I just didn’t put myself in great positions off the start. Thankfully we salvaged a podium. I was just riding in the middle of the pack tonight and need to figure the starts out. But, like I said, we salvaged a podium and are second in points, so all good.”
Eastern Divisional 250SMX Class Overall Podium (left to right): Jo Shimoda, Cole Davies, and Seth Hammaker. Photo courtesy SMX.
The Monster Energy SMX World Championship and Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship will observe its lone break in action next weekend before returning on Saturday, March 21, for the 10th race of the season from Birmingham, Alabama’s Protective Stadium. Live broadcast coverage on Peacock will begin at 1 p.m. ET with Race Day Live, followed by the Gate Drop at 7 p.m. ET. Additionally, a domestic Spanish language broadcast is available on Peacock while international viewers can choose from dedicated English, French, and Spanish broadcasts via SMX Video Pass (www.SMXVideoPass.com).
The Birmingham round will also include a special encore network presentation on NBC, which will air on Sunday, March 22, at 1 p.m. ET.
All 17 rounds of the 2026 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship and 11 rounds of the Pro Motocross Championship are on sale. Tickets for the SMX World Championship Playoff Rounds and Final are now on sale at Supermotocross.com. Saturday FanFest will take place at all postseason races, Friday FanFest and camping will be available in Columbus and Ridgedale, additional details to follow.
For information about the Monster Energy SMX World Championship, please visit www.SuperMotocross.com and be sure to follow all of the new SMX social media channels for exclusive content and additional information on the latest news:
Briar Bauman (No. 3) and Brandon Robinson (No. 44) battle at Lucas Oil Speedway in 2025. Photo by Tim Lester / courtesy AMA Pro Racing.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, is proud to announce the return of Harley-Davidson as an official partner for the 2026 season. This renewed collaboration brings one of the most iconic names in motorcycling history back to the forefront of the world’s premier dirt track racing series.
The partnership reinforces the historic legacy between the Milwaukee-based manufacturer and the sport of flat track. As Progressive AFT prepares to launch its 2026 campaign, the involvement of Harley-Davidson ensures that fans will experience a deep connection to the brand’s racing heritage at events across the country. Throughout the season, the partnership will focus on enhancing the fan experience and celebrating the performance-driven culture that has defined Harley-Davidson for over a century.
The return of Harley-Davidson follows a powerhouse 2025 performance that reestablished the brand as a dominant force in professional flat track. Throughout the 2025 Progressive AFT season, Harley-Davidson riders Briar Bauman and Brandon Robinson kept the XG750R at the front of the pack, combining for a series-leading nine victories. Their relentless performance and consistent podium finishes ultimately secured the 2025 Mission AFT SuperTwins Manufacturer Championship for Harley-Davidson, a title that underscores the brand’s deep-rooted engineering excellence and enduring commitment to America’s Original Extreme Sport.
The 2026 Progressive American Flat Track season debuts at Daytona International Speedway Flat Track on Thursday, March 5 and Friday, March 6. To purchase Daytona Short Track I & II tickets, visit: https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack.
FloRacing
For those that can’t catch the live action at the track, FloRacing is the live streaming home of Progressive American Flat Track. Motorsports fans can subscribe to FloRacing to enjoy over 1,000 live motorsports events in 2026. FloSports is available by visiting https://flosports.link/AFT2026 or by downloading the FloSports app on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire and Chromecast.
FS1
FOX Sports will provide in-depth coverage of the Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA doubleheader featuring rider features and thrilling onboard cameras. Stay tuned for an upcoming announcement regarding premiere airdates on FS1 and re-airs on FS2. The full listing of American Flat Track’s television premieres will be posted to the AFT website at https://www.americanflattrack.com/events-foxsports.
Start of the Daytona 200, with Josh Herrin (2) leading PJ Jacobsen (15), Tyler Scott (70), Darryn Binder (53) and the rest of the field. Photo by Michael Gougis.
Josh Herrin (2) looks over his shoulder early in the Daytona 200. Photo by Michael Gougis.
Josh Herrin came into the weekend struggling. He broke three ribs at a testing crash three weeks before the event, caught a cough from a sick kid and didn’t feel at all comfortable on his new Rahal Ducati Moto with Desnuda Organic Tequila Ducati Panigale V2. A collision with a camera operator while leaving from his last pit stop left him several seconds behind PJ Jacobsen and fuming. But Herrin settled into his pace and picked up the win when Jacobsen crashed out, averting a potential dustup with the camera operator after the checkered flag. “If I hadn’t won that race, I might have been in jail tonight. That was insane,” Herrin said. “I was so angry. I can’t be angry now. Now it’s just funny.”
Tyler Scott (70). Photo by Michael Gougis.
Tyler Scott earned for 3DO M4 ECSTAR Suzuki and himself a cool $30,000 for second place, his third podium finish in the last three Daytona 200 races. Scott said his grip levels started to diminish just a bit early on, then catching lappers at exactly the wrong time kept him from fighting back to the front.
Kayla Yaakov (19). Photo by Michael Gougis.
Kayla Yaakov said she knew that the race for the final podium position was going to come down to a last-lap drafting move. But she said that Darryn Binder seemed content to push, and she was content to let him lead until the dash to the finish line, when she made the final pass and just kept her head down. Even during the post-race interviews in the media center, she still didn’t know her margin over Binder. “When PJ crashed out, I knew we were racing for the podium. I was just afraid that he (Binder) might have a chance to draft back by after I passed him, but – how close was it?” she asked.
Sam Drane (59). Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Sam Drane finished second in Friday’s Twins Cup race and went one better in Saturday’s race, winning an insane drafting battle by 0.010 seconds on his Yamaha BLU CRU Estenson Racing YZF-R7. Matthew Chapin, Hank Vossberg – Friday’s runaway winner – and Bodie Paige crossed the line separated by 0.376 seconds. Drane’s win left him in the Twins Cup points lead.
Jake Lewis (85). Photo by Michael Gougis.
Jake Lewis was leading the Mission Super Hooligan points comfortably last season when an injury sidelined him for two races, leaving him second at the end of the season by just four points. Lewis started his 2026 campaign with a third on Friday and a win on Saturday, leaving him tied on points with last year’s title rival James Rispoli.
Troy Herfoss (17). Photo by Michael Gougis.
Troy Herfoss’ win in Saturday’s Mission King of The Baggers race was his second podium of the weekend and it marked the second 1-2 finish of the event for the Indian factory team. Herfoss says the new Challenger racebike, developed by the Vance & Hines team in conjunction with the factory, is an entirely different motorcycle than the Challenger he raced last year. “It’s not just that there’s plenty of horsepower, but the horsepower is being pushed into the ground. The old bike felt like a lounge chair. This feels like a Superbike,” Herfoss said.
Warhorse HSBK/Celtic Racing won the Pit Stop Challenge by fewer than two-tenths of a second over the M4 ECSTAR Suzuki team. However, the Pit Stop Challenge curse remains intact. No one who has won the Pit Stop Challenge on Friday has gone on to win the Daytona 200 on Saturday. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
A “press release” is promotional text issued by a rider, team, company or organization to inform
the public about an event, product, or service from the issuer’s own point of view, and if deemed
to have news value, may be placed on roadracingworld.com as a service to our readers.
A press release is not an article written by Roadracingworld.com staffers. When a post is labeled with the words “press release”, it means that Roadracingworld.com is not responsible for its content and that Roadracingworld.com makes no guarantee that it is accurate. Not all press releases are posted and Roadracingworld.com may reject press releases if the content is too heavy on commercial promotion with little or no news value or if the press release contains obvious errors.
Accessibility
Accessibility modes
Epilepsy Safe Mode
Dampens color and removes blinks
This mode enables people with epilepsy to use the website safely by eliminating the risk of seizures that result from flashing or blinking animations and risky color combinations.
Visually Impaired Mode
Improves website's visuals
This mode adjusts the website for the convenience of users with visual impairments such as Degrading Eyesight, Tunnel Vision, Cataract, Glaucoma, and others.
Cognitive Disability Mode
Helps to focus on specific content
This mode provides different assistive options to help users with cognitive impairments such as Dyslexia, Autism, CVA, and others, to focus on the essential elements of the website more easily.
ADHD Friendly Mode
Reduces distractions and improve focus
This mode helps users with ADHD and Neurodevelopmental disorders to read, browse, and focus on the main website elements more easily while significantly reducing distractions.
Blindness Mode
Allows using the site with your screen-reader
This mode configures the website to be compatible with screen-readers such as JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, and TalkBack. A screen-reader is software for blind users that is installed on a computer and smartphone, and websites must be compatible with it.
Online Dictionary
Readable Experience
Content Scaling
Default
Text Magnifier
Readable Font
Dyslexia Friendly
Highlight Titles
Highlight Links
Font Sizing
Default
Line Height
Default
Letter Spacing
Default
Left Aligned
Center Aligned
Right Aligned
Visually Pleasing Experience
Dark Contrast
Light Contrast
Monochrome
High Contrast
High Saturation
Low Saturation
Adjust Text Colors
Adjust Title Colors
Adjust Background Colors
Easy Orientation
Mute Sounds
Hide Images
Hide Emoji
Reading Guide
Stop Animations
Reading Mask
Highlight Hover
Highlight Focus
Big Dark Cursor
Big Light Cursor
Cognitive Reading
Virtual Keyboard
Navigation Keys
Voice Navigation
Accessibility Statement
www.roadracingworld.com
April 3, 2026
Compliance status
We firmly believe that the internet should be available and accessible to anyone, and are committed to providing a website that is accessible to the widest possible audience,
regardless of circumstance and ability.
To fulfill this, we aim to adhere as strictly as possible to the World Wide Web Consortium’s (W3C) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 (WCAG 2.1) at the AA level.
These guidelines explain how to make web content accessible to people with a wide array of disabilities. Complying with those guidelines helps us ensure that the website is accessible
to all people: blind people, people with motor impairments, visual impairment, cognitive disabilities, and more.
This website utilizes various technologies that are meant to make it as accessible as possible at all times. We utilize an accessibility interface that allows persons with specific
disabilities to adjust the website’s UI (user interface) and design it to their personal needs.
Additionally, the website utilizes an AI-based application that runs in the background and optimizes its accessibility level constantly. This application remediates the website’s HTML,
adapts Its functionality and behavior for screen-readers used by the blind users, and for keyboard functions used by individuals with motor impairments.
If you’ve found a malfunction or have ideas for improvement, we’ll be happy to hear from you. You can reach out to the website’s operators by using the following email
Screen-reader and keyboard navigation
Our website implements the ARIA attributes (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) technique, alongside various different behavioral changes, to ensure blind users visiting with
screen-readers are able to read, comprehend, and enjoy the website’s functions. As soon as a user with a screen-reader enters your site, they immediately receive
a prompt to enter the Screen-Reader Profile so they can browse and operate your site effectively. Here’s how our website covers some of the most important screen-reader requirements,
alongside console screenshots of code examples:
Screen-reader optimization: we run a background process that learns the website’s components from top to bottom, to ensure ongoing compliance even when updating the website.
In this process, we provide screen-readers with meaningful data using the ARIA set of attributes. For example, we provide accurate form labels;
descriptions for actionable icons (social media icons, search icons, cart icons, etc.); validation guidance for form inputs; element roles such as buttons, menus, modal dialogues (popups),
and others. Additionally, the background process scans all the website’s images and provides an accurate and meaningful image-object-recognition-based description as an ALT (alternate text) tag
for images that are not described. It will also extract texts that are embedded within the image, using an OCR (optical character recognition) technology.
To turn on screen-reader adjustments at any time, users need only to press the Alt+1 keyboard combination. Screen-reader users also get automatic announcements to turn the Screen-reader mode on
as soon as they enter the website.
These adjustments are compatible with all popular screen readers, including JAWS and NVDA.
Keyboard navigation optimization: The background process also adjusts the website’s HTML, and adds various behaviors using JavaScript code to make the website operable by the keyboard. This includes the ability to navigate the website using the Tab and Shift+Tab keys, operate dropdowns with the arrow keys, close them with Esc, trigger buttons and links using the Enter key, navigate between radio and checkbox elements using the arrow keys, and fill them in with the Spacebar or Enter key.Additionally, keyboard users will find quick-navigation and content-skip menus, available at any time by clicking Alt+1, or as the first elements of the site while navigating with the keyboard. The background process also handles triggered popups by moving the keyboard focus towards them as soon as they appear, and not allow the focus drift outside it.
Users can also use shortcuts such as “M” (menus), “H” (headings), “F” (forms), “B” (buttons), and “G” (graphics) to jump to specific elements.
Disability profiles supported in our website
Epilepsy Safe Mode: this profile enables people with epilepsy to use the website safely by eliminating the risk of seizures that result from flashing or blinking animations and risky color combinations.
Visually Impaired Mode: this mode adjusts the website for the convenience of users with visual impairments such as Degrading Eyesight, Tunnel Vision, Cataract, Glaucoma, and others.
Cognitive Disability Mode: this mode provides different assistive options to help users with cognitive impairments such as Dyslexia, Autism, CVA, and others, to focus on the essential elements of the website more easily.
ADHD Friendly Mode: this mode helps users with ADHD and Neurodevelopmental disorders to read, browse, and focus on the main website elements more easily while significantly reducing distractions.
Blindness Mode: this mode configures the website to be compatible with screen-readers such as JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, and TalkBack. A screen-reader is software for blind users that is installed on a computer and smartphone, and websites must be compatible with it.
Keyboard Navigation Profile (Motor-Impaired): this profile enables motor-impaired persons to operate the website using the keyboard Tab, Shift+Tab, and the Enter keys. Users can also use shortcuts such as “M” (menus), “H” (headings), “F” (forms), “B” (buttons), and “G” (graphics) to jump to specific elements.
Additional UI, design, and readability adjustments
Font adjustments – users, can increase and decrease its size, change its family (type), adjust the spacing, alignment, line height, and more.
Color adjustments – users can select various color contrast profiles such as light, dark, inverted, and monochrome. Additionally, users can swap color schemes of titles, texts, and backgrounds, with over seven different coloring options.
Animations – person with epilepsy can stop all running animations with the click of a button. Animations controlled by the interface include videos, GIFs, and CSS flashing transitions.
Content highlighting – users can choose to emphasize important elements such as links and titles. They can also choose to highlight focused or hovered elements only.
Audio muting – users with hearing devices may experience headaches or other issues due to automatic audio playing. This option lets users mute the entire website instantly.
Cognitive disorders – we utilize a search engine that is linked to Wikipedia and Wiktionary, allowing people with cognitive disorders to decipher meanings of phrases, initials, slang, and others.
Additional functions – we provide users the option to change cursor color and size, use a printing mode, enable a virtual keyboard, and many other functions.
Browser and assistive technology compatibility
We aim to support the widest array of browsers and assistive technologies as possible, so our users can choose the best fitting tools for them, with as few limitations as possible. Therefore, we have worked very hard to be able to support all major systems that comprise over 95% of the user market share including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, Opera and Microsoft Edge, JAWS and NVDA (screen readers).
Notes, comments, and feedback
Despite our very best efforts to allow anybody to adjust the website to their needs. There may still be pages or sections that are not fully accessible, are in the process of becoming accessible, or are lacking an adequate technological solution to make them accessible. Still, we are continually improving our accessibility, adding, updating and improving its options and features, and developing and adopting new technologies. All this is meant to reach the optimal level of accessibility, following technological advancements. For any assistance, please reach out to
