The daily grind—the meetings, the commutes, the deadlines—it all stays at the gate. It might be Tuesday, but we’re looking forward to the weekends with STT!
If you’ve been waiting for a sign to finally take your bike to the limit, this is it. You deserve the excitement that only a closed course can provide!
Sportbike Track Time Ladies First event riders, plus two loyal dogs. Photo by US129Photos.
DEADLINE EXTENDED!
Are you a female rider looking for a supportive space for your first track day? Do you know a female rider who’s contemplated a track day but has yet to take the plunge? Are you an experienced female rider looking to have fun and encourage other female riders to join the sport you love?
Join us at one of our Ladies First events! These events are designed to create a supportive and encouraging environment for women to get on the track. The Advanced and Intermediate groups are combined to allow for more Novice availability.
T-Shirt size guarantee has now been extended until Friday, May 8! Register before the deadline to guarantee your Ladies First t-shirt.
Former MotoGP™ and WorldSBK race winner expands Niti Racing line-up and brings the grid to ten riders.
Milwaukee, WI (May 5, 2026) — The FIM Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup takes another step forward with the addition of Andrea Iannone as tenth rider in the entry list, who will join the championship from the Italian GP at Mugello with Niti Racing.
Following a highly competitive opening round in Austin, highlighted by Oscar Gutiérrez’s victory in Race 2, Niti Racing further strengthens its line-up by bringing in the experienced Italian rider, expanding to a three-bike effort alongside Gutiérrez and Dimas Ekky Pratama.
One of the most recognizable names in modern motorcycle racing, Iannone is a former race winner in both MotoGP™ and the FIM Superbike World Championship, bringing with him top-level experience, natural speed, and a bold competitive mindset. Known for his aggressive riding style and strong race instincts, he is expected to be an immediate contender at the front.
Iannone’s arrival brings the total number of riders on the Bagger World Cup grid to ten, reinforcing the depth and competitiveness of the inaugural season. He will make his debut on the race-prepared Harley- Davidson machines at the MotoGP™ Grand Prix of Italy at Mugello from May 29–31, and is set to compete in the remaining rounds of the championship through to the season finale in Austria.
At a venue already known for delivering one of the most engaging spectator experiences in motorsport, the presence of Andrea Iannone, alongside fellow Italian Filippo Rovelli (ParkinGO Team), adds a further layer of excitement to the Mugello weekend. Italian supporters will have even more reasons to connect with the championship and its protagonists. From the Harley-Davidson Village to the unique opportunity to access the Bagger World Cup garages, which are open to the public, and the dedicated grandstand at Correntaio, the experience is designed to bring people closer than ever to the action, offering a truly immersive and distinctly Harley-Davidson way to live MotoGP™.
Angela Khuu, Niti Racing Team Manager (left) with Andrea Iannone (right). Photo courtesy Bagger World Cup.
Andrea Iannone – Niti Racing rider: “I like challenges, especially when they take you out of your comfort zone. This is something completely different, and that’s exactly why I said yes. I’m truly excited to begin this new chapter, as I’ve always admired Harley-Davidson and its iconic riders’ community, which plays such an important role in the scene. It’s a category that embodies adrenaline, spectacle, and a genuine passion for riding and for life. These bikes have a strong personality, you have to respect them, but at the same time you can push them hard. In that sense, we are quite similar, and I think that’s why this project fits me well. I’m also approaching this first race without having tested the bike, and with one less test than the others. That reflects my mindset, I embrace challenges and actively look for them. Mugello is the perfect place to start, in front of the Italian fans, on a track I know very well. I’m not coming here just to participate. I want to understand the bike quickly and be competitive straight away. Let’s see what we can do. On a more personal note, I feel a strong connection with Indonesia. I truly appreciate its people, and I’m excited to begin this journey together with Niti Racing and this community.”
Angela Khuu – Team Manager, Niti Racing: “After a very positive start to the season in Austin, adding Andrea to our line-up is a natural step to keep building momentum. We already have a strong base with Oscar and Dimas, and bringing in a rider with Andrea’s experience and speed gives us an additional dimension as a team. We are excited to see how quickly he adapts to the bike and to start working together already in Mugello.”
Jeffrey Schuessler – Director of Global Racing Programs, Harley-Davidson: “Bringing a rider like Andrea into the championship is a strong statement about what we are building with the Bagger World Cup. He’s a proven race winner at the highest level, with the kind of talent and personality that adds even more energy to the grid. This is exactly the type of profile we want to attract as the championship continues to grow. Mugello will be a great place to see him start this new chapter on Niti Racing’s third bike, further strengthening an already competitive line-up alongside Oscar Gutiérrez and Dimas Ekky Pratama.”
About FIM Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup
The FIM Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup is the first global championship exclusively dedicated to high-performance Harley-Davidson bagger motorcycles, organized by Harley-Davidson in partnership with MotoGP™ and officially recognized by the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM). The series is contested at selected international circuits alongside the MotoGP™ calendar, bringing Harley-Davidson’s iconic machines into a premier global racing environment. The championship combines heritage, technical innovation, and on-track competition, extending the brand’s racing legacy onto the world stage. Learn more on the dedicated FIM Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup page at www.harley-davidson.com.
About Harley-Davidson
Harley-Davidson, Inc. is the parent company of Harley-Davidson Motor Company and Harley-Davidson Financial Services. Our vision: Building our legend and leading our industry through innovation, evolution and emotion. Our mission: More than building machines, we stand for the timeless pursuit of adventure. Freedom for the soul. Since 1903, Harley-Davidson has defined motorcycle culture with an expanding range of leading-edge, distinctive and customizable motorcycles in addition to riding experiences and exceptional motorcycle accessories, riding gear and apparel. Harley-Davidson Financial Services provides financing, insurance and other programs to help get Harley-Davidson riders on the road. Learn more at www.harley-davidson.com.
MotoGP™ Background
Welcome to the most exciting sport on earth. The fastest bikes. The most forward-thinking manufacturers. The world’s most fearless riders. Come with us to the edge of possibility and the edge of your seat. MotoGP™. Faster. Forward. Fearless.
Champion Ryde fights off Haslam and Ray to take the treble at Oulton Park.
Reigning champion Kyle Ryde got his title defence in the British Superbike Championship off to the best possible start at the Oulton Park opener by claiming a hat trick of victories after holding off the attack from Leon Haslam in the final race to make it a winning hat trick for Nitrous Coin Nitrous Competitions Racing.
In the second race of the weekend, the three champions were the trio in the battle for top three honours as Ryde made it a double, in an-all champion’s lock out on the podium with Haslam and McAMS Yamaha’s Bradley Ray.
Max Cook on the debuting AJN Steelstock bimota had the best start off the line to lead on the opening lap from Haslam and Ray with Ryde holding fourth. The defending champion was eyeing his moves, passing Ray on the opening lap and then diving down the inside of Haslam at Island.
A lap later and Ryde had grabbed the lead, whilst Haslam had Ray for company and despite his best efforts; Ray wasn’t able to move ahead as his Moto Rapido Racing rival delivered a determined ride to keep him behind over the closing laps.
Scott Redding was battling with Storm Stacey early in the race and the Hager PBM Racing Team rider had the edge to seal fourth after bridging a gap to the Bathams AJN Racing Ducati rider, after the pair both made a move on Cook.
In the third and final race of the weekend, Ray grabbed the lead at the start of the race with another rapid start off the line on the McAMS Yamaha to put himself ahead of Haslam, Redding and Ryde.
Redding put a determined move on Ryde to move third on the fifth lap as he aimed for his first podium finish of the season. At the front of the pack, Haslam was pushing for the lead, diving down the inside at Shell on lap ten to take the advantage from Ray.
Kyle Ryde (1) and Leon Haslam (91) at Oulton Park. Photo courtesy BSB.
Ryde had a strong lap 11, first passing Redding at Old Hall before then moving ahead of Ray at Brittens to put him within striking distance of Haslam, who held the lead until a lap later, when Ryde seized the advantage.
Two laps later and Haslam was able to make an attack for the lead, firing himself down the inside at Lodge to regain the position for the Moto Rapido Racing team. Ryde kept his cool, and a lap later made the exact same pass on his rival to retake the lead.
Ryde held the advantage to the chequered flag with Haslam holding off Ray again as the champions again completed the podium line-up, with Redding narrowly missing out in fourth place.
Glenn Irwin was tenth on the grid for the third race after a challenging weekend, including a retirement in race two, but the Nitrous Coin Nitrous Competitions Racing rider delivered a gritty ride to take fifth place, as he moved ahead of Rory Skinner, Cook and Ryan Vickers, who completed the top eight.
British Superbike Championship, Oulton Park, Race 2 result:
“It’s obviously been a great weekend and very unexpected – I’ve just done my best. In the last race, I could see within the first few laps that Brad was trying to stay at the front and do a good pace, which made it really hard to pass!
“I managed pass him, but that was definitely the hardest race to win, especially with Leon coming up the inside with about three laps to go.
“I had a little plan to try to pull away, but Leon managed to dig in as he always does and make a pass into the last corner and I thought that was our race done! But, I managed to get back in front and put everything into that next lap to stay in front.
“These weekends don’t come very often so I’m just going to cherish the moment and get ready for Donington Park.”
Chris Clark’s start to the 2026 season featured both highs and lows as the talented teenager began his FIM Yamaha R3 BLU CRU World Cup at the Balaton Park circuit in Hungary this past weekend.
Qualifying on the fourth row of the grid for Saturday’s opening race, the #5 was soon in contention for the podium once the lights went out. Avoiding various incidents that happened around him, the American charger crossed the line in fifth to open his season’s scorecard with eleven valuable championship points.
Due to start Sunday’s second race from eighth – after posting the eighth fastest lap in race one a day earlier – the BGR Smrz Yamaha rider was unfortunately unable to take part following an incident on the warm up lap that resulted in a trip to the hospital for precautionary checks. Released later the same day, Chris will now return to the US with his full focus on getting his title campaign back on track at Motorland Aragon in Spain at the end of the month.
Chris Clark:“Race one on Saturday was really good. I started P12 and I knew it would take a good fight from me to move through the pack. I got a decent start and battled hard. I avoided all the chaos and was able to finish fifth which is great for the championship. Sunday was unfortunate due to an incident on the warm up lap, but these things happen and I am already thinking about Aragon in a few weeks. I had good races there last year, so I am confident of a strong result.”
Cameron Dunker and Josh Waters snared the race wins during an electrifying round three of the 2026 Penrite Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) at The Bend from May 1-3.
After six previous podiums in the SW-Motech Superbike class, the gifted 18-year-old Dunker (Blue Marlin Pools Yamaha) finally reached the summit after victory in race one, while defending champion Waters (McMartin Racing Ducati) rebounded superbly from a disappointing opener to score a runaway win in the second 11-lapper.
After a sodden Saturday at The Bend, Sunday’s Superbike racing was held on a dry track – but the conditions were still far from benign with gusty cross winds keeping riders on high alert.
Existing lap records may not have been threatened, but the racing was still exceptional as Ducati pair Cru Halliday (Stop and Seal) and Glenn Allerton (Superbike Advocates Racing) flashed across the line on the bumper of Dunker in race one, while Harrison Voight (McMartin Racing Ducati) and the fast-finishing Jonathan Nahlous (Yamaha Racing Team) joined Waters on the podium in race two.
With seven of 11 races completed in the 2026 championship, it’s still a tight battle with Voight holding an 11pt (147 to 136) lead over Waters, followed by Jacob Roulstone (Motocity Honda, 124pts), Dunker (113pts), Halliday (108pts) and Allerton (103pts).
A maximum of 102pts are still available in the final two rounds at Morgan Park Raceway (May 29-31) and Queensland Raceway (June 26-28) as the championship concludes in the Sunshine State.
Josh Waters (#1) puts the hammer down in race two, ahead of Harrison Voight (#29). Photo courtesy ASBK.
SW-Motech Superbike
A long period of sublime weather in the southern states was snapped on Saturday afternoon as the heavens opened, and it was Waters who made the most of the conditions with his 21st Superbike pole position ahead of Voight, Dunker, Jones, Nahlous and Allerton.
Roulstone and Anthony West (DesmoSport Ducati) both crashed in qualifying, with the former finishing a lowly 13th while West hurt his right hand and opted to sit out Sunday. He was replaced on the Panigale V4 R by regular DesmoSport Ducati Supersport rider Olly Simpson.
Race one on Sunday morning saw Voight lead from Waters in the first half before Halliday and then Dunker took over the running from the defending champion.
Heading into the final lap, Voight could almost taste a fourth win of the season before he ran wide at turn one – an opening which Dunker, Halliday and Allerton gratefully accepted.
Dunker then held his composure on the final lap to win his first Superbike race from lap record holder Halliday, Allerton, Voight, Nahlous, Mike Jones (Yamaha Racing Team), Waters and Roulstone.
“I can’t be happier; the guys have been unreal the last few weeks with how hard they’ve worked, particularly since my crash in Sydney and then getting everything back together and working the best it can,” said Dunker.
“The team has given me a great bike which meant I could show the pace I have and what I can do aboard the R1.”
Dunker was also hunting for a double podium in race two before being passed on the final lap by Nahlous, as Waters made the outing his own after putting down the hammer from lap six – setting a pace that even Voight couldn’t match.
Roulstone was fifth from Halliday, Allerton and Simpson in an impressive deputisation role.
Tom Toparis at The Bend. Photo courtesy ASBK.
Kawasaki Supersport and Supersport Next Gen
High drama and heroics in Kawasaki Supersport/Next Gen, with Tom Toparis (Stop and Seal Ducati) and Hayden Nelson (BCperformance Kawasaki) winning the two races and polesitter Olly Simpson (DesmoSport Ducati) an early casualty in race one to bring his campaign to a premature end.
Toparis’ day also turned sour when he crashed on the sighting lap of race two after precipitation swept across the circuit, leaving a depleted 10-rider field.
After hostilities had ended, Jake Farnsworth (Yamaha) retained his 2pt lead in the Supersport class over Valentino Knezovic (Addicted to Track Yamaha), while Nelson is the new Supersport Next Gen leader ahead of teammate Tom Edwards, with Simpson dropping back to third.
In race one, Toparis checked out after Simpson’s demise to win by over one second, while it was an epic battle for second with Knezovic scoring a breakout rookie result in second from Nelson, Edwards, Farnsworth and Jordy Simpson (Yamaha).
The second nine-lapper boiled down to a BCperformance Kawasaki benefit, with Nelson just edging out Edwards by 0.196secs, followed by Farnsworth, Knezovic, Simpson and Josh Soderland (Yamaha), who retains third in the Supersport standings.
Riley Nauta (#42) launched himself back into title calculations with two wins at The Bend. Photo courtesy ASBK.
Race and Road Supersport 300
Riley Nauta (Champions Ride Days Kawasaki) was the big Race and Road Supersport 300 mover at The Bend, with his 10-1-1 results seeing him surge to second in the standings behind New Zealander Tyler King (Kawasaki).
King leads by 27pts, and then it’s a logjam: Nauta is on 122pts ahead of teammate Orlando Peovitis (121pts), Tara Morrison (Kawasaki, 121pts), Jordy Simpson (Yamaha, 112pts), Seth Dellow (TeamBWR Yamaha, 112pts), Rossi McAdam (Yamaha, 105pts) and Phoenix O’Brien (Blue Marlin Pools Racing Yamaha, 102pts).
Matthew Ritter (Kawasaki) is next, and it was the Victorian who won his first Supersport 300 race on a wet Saturday afternoon where attrition was huge: including King, who was able to remount and resume, while a bone-jarring tangle between Jake Senior (Blue Marlin Pools Racing Yamaha) and Alvin Wu (Addicted to Track Yamaha) took them both out of calculations.
At the front, Ritter just edged out local star Morrison, while Dellow was third.
On Sunday, it was the same trifecta in both races: Nauta with just too much late speed and guile ahead of King and Peovitis. Morrison was fourth in both outings from Ritter and Simpson.
The penultimate round of the 2026 ASBK Championship will be held at Morgan Park Raceway from May 29-31. Click on the graphic below to purchase tickets.
Reigning Pro Stock Motorcycle world champion Richard Gadson advanced to his third-straight final-round appearance of the season and extended his championship lead with a runner-up finish aboard his RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki Gen 3 Hayabusa at the NHRA Southern Nationals at South Georgia Motorsports Park in Adel, GA, on Sunday.
Race Highlights:
Richard Gadson qualified third, finished runner-up and extended his points lead
Gaige Herrera qualified second and advanced to the semi-final round
Expectations were high for the new venue on the NHRA circuit, which hosted its first ever NHRA national event this weekend, after record-setting top speeds were posted in several classes on Friday.
Following a long delay brought on by Saturday morning rain showers, Richard Gadson qualified third with a 6.730-second/201.37 mph run when qualification rounds resumed later in the afternoon. But Saturday’s rain ushered in significant changes to track conditions that made Sunday’s elimination rounds challenging for tuners and racers in all classes.
In round one, Gadson defeated Geno Scali (6.940 seconds/194.77 mph) with a 6.759-second/201.40 mph run, then advanced to the semi-finals with a 6.770-second/201.40 mph second-round victory over Clayton Howey (foul).
The semi-final round set up the first head-to-head matchup of this season between Gadson and his RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki teammate, Gaige Herrera, who came out on top of a four-way battle in the final round of the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals last week.
Looking to avenge his loss in Charlotte, Gadson ran 6.756 seconds at 201.46 mph, turning the tables on Herrera (6.783 seconds/199.14 mph) and advancing to his 12th career final round appearance.
In the final round, Gadson got a starting line advantage over Matt Smith but had to roll off the throttle after his motorcycle drifted near the centerline and slowed to 6.834 seconds at 193.24 mph, coming up short against his opponent’s 6.724-second/202.06 mph run.
With his third-straight final round appearance this season and second runner-up finish in as many weeks, Gadson extended his championship advantage to 51 points.
“Matt’s in the groove right now. He’s got a good package and he’s doing a good job with it. I wish I could have given him a better race in the finals, but lane choice really dictated a lot this weekend. I didn’t have it in the finals and, as soon as I popped the clutch, I knew we had a problem. My motorcycle spun the rear tire a little and when the front wheel set back down it started to wash out the front end and I couldn’t correct it. I need flawless runs to put up the numbers the top guys are running right now, and that wasn’t a flawless run,” Gadson said.
“Overall, I’m happy with the weekend. While some others are having momentum swings up and down, smooth and steady is doing it for me. Three events this year, three final rounds and one win,” he said. “It’s a long season. At the beginning of the year, I said I was going to have to withstand the assaults that would come from Gaige and Matt, who are both really motivated to take the championship back from me. We’re a fighting team and we’ll figure it out, keep trying to find ways to get better, be better and we’ll see them again in two weeks.
Gaige Herrera raced his RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki Gen 3 Hayabusa to the semi-finals on Sunday. Photo courtesy Suzuki.
On Saturday, Gaige Herrera posted his best qualifying effort of the season so far, locking down the second spot in the starting order with 6.705-second/202.30 mph run that was just three-thousands of a second off the pace of polesitter Matt Smith.
Herrera won his first-round matchup against Charles Poskey (6.935 seconds/195.33 mph) with a 6.707-second/199.52 mph pass that was low-ET of the round. In round two, Herrera posted a 6.775-second/199.40 mph run to advance past Jianna Evaristo (6.847 seconds/200.44 mph) into the semi-finals, where he came up short against Gadson.
“I’ve raced here quite a bit in other classes and like it a lot. It’s a beautiful facility and the surface is usually nice and smooth. This weekend the track started out good but got a little greasy after the rain on Saturday and the heat today. It was tricky and felt a one-lane racetrack. We couldn’t leave the starting line with the 60-foot times we needed to run the big numbers,” Herrera said. “But we did the best we could with what was given, and with Richard being runner-up and me making the semi-final, we probably couldn’t ask for much more under the circumstances.”
Despite the facility having a reputation for a glass-smooth surface that makes it a popular venue for off-season testing, RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki crew chief Andrew Hines said the changes in weather and track preparation made racing difficult on Sunday.
“It’s one of the biggest swings in track conditions we’ve seen in a long time, especially from yesterday to today. When the sun did come out, it got greasy and having lane choice became a huge advantage, which we didn’t have in the final,” Hines said.
“We’re also carrying a 30-pound weight disadvantage to the Buells per the NHRA regulations, which makes it harder to accelerate our motorcycles off the starting line. We really need to crush the 60-foot times to run the numbers they can put up, and when the traction goes away, we just can’t get there,” he said.
“We snuck through the first two races and came home with Wallys when we felt like we could have easily been beaten at those races, but our team and riders outperformed,” Hines said. “The class is getting tougher. There are strong Suzukis and V-Twins all around us. The NHRA is looking for a change of outcome, not necessarily parity before they will make any competition adjustments. We’ll have to see where cards fall over the next few races.”
After the third of 14 rounds in the 2026 Pro Stock Motorcycle season, Gadson and Herrera sit first and second in the championship standings with 316 and 265 points, respectively.
The RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines team returns to action May 14-17 at the Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, IL.
The German rider gets the call up for the Red Bull KTM Tech3 team as the #12 continues his recovery.
Red Bull KTM Tech3 will count on former rider Jonas Folger to fill their two-rider line-up at Le Mans this week for the Michelin® Grand Prix of France. KTM say Viñales is recovering well from recent left shoulder surgery but the fifth round of the season has come just a few days too early for #12.
Viñales made a visit to the Red Bull Athlete Performance Centre (APC) last week and made the decision to extend his absence to ensure he returns to his KTM machinery at full fitness. Therefore, the KTM RC16 next to Enea Bastianini in the Red Bull KTM Tech3 pitbox will be steered by Jonas Folger.
The 32-year-old German has made all 19 of his premier class starts with the team, impressing with a podium finish at his home race at the Sachsenring in 2017, and most recently stepping in as replacement rider for Pol Espargaró in April 2023. Folger is a winner in Moto3™ and Moto2™ and last competed in the 2023 Dutch Grand Prix, scoring points at TT Circuit Assen.
Jonas Folger: “First of all, I want to wish Maverick a strong and quick recovery. On a personal level, I am really excited to be coming back together with all the guys at Tech3 — I have some history with this team and it will be great to see everyone again. Le Mans will be a big challenge, going back after so many years away from racing, and getting back on the bike will mean adapting quickly and learning a lot across the weekend. It is going to be tough, for sure, but I believe the positives outweigh the difficulties and I am very much looking forward to it. I cannot wait.”
Maverick Viñales: “I’ve been working hard since the surgery to fully recover and have always had Le Mans in my head as my target race to return. However, after attending the APC this week, I have been advised that I am not yet strong enough to jump back on the bike. Whilst I am disappointed, I understand being back to full strength is the most important thing and I will keep my head down and prioritise that.”
Pit Beirer, KTM Motorsports Director: “This was not an easy decision for Maverick to make but we fully understand the desire to return to the paddock when he is ready to race. He just needs a bit more time and we know his potential. For Le Mans we’re thankful that the Tech3 team could call on Jonas and we’re pleased he accepted the challenge with Pol [Espargaro] also recovering from his training issue. MotoGP is so tight and competitive, as well as complex for the racers, so big respect to Jonas and I hope he enjoys the Grand Prix.”
Nicolas Goyon, Red Bull KTM Tech3 Team Manager: “We have said from the very beginning that Maverick’s health and his recovery is the most important thing, so whilst it is disappointing he will not be with us at our home race, he knows his own body and when he will be ready to return. It is an important weekend for us as we are racing in front of our friends, family and fans, so it will be great to have two bikes back on track and Jonas back with us at Tech3. Following the test in Jerez, Enea has made great progress on the bike and is feeling confident heading into the Grand Prix, so we are positive we can have a strong weekend at home.”
Tune in this weekend for the French GP to see how the team does on home turf ahead of Viñales’ return.
More from a press release issued by Aruba.it Ducati:
Bulega dominates again at Balaton to take his twelfth win of the 2026 WorldSBK season. Lecuona completes a ninth consecutive 1-2 result for Aruba.it Racing – Ducati with second place.
The Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team has wrapped up another triumphant weekend. Nicolò Bulega and Iker Lecuona were unrivalled, finishing first and second once again at the Balaton circuit (Hungary).
The Italian rider has extended his all-time WorldSBK record to 16 consecutive victories. Lecuona, who put in a solid performance in the Superpole Race to secure second on the grid for Race 2, tried to challenge his team-mate in the first seven laps, eventually finishing second.
For the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team, this marks the ninth consecutive one-two finish in the 2026 WorldSBK season.
The Aruba.it Racing Team Ducati crew erupts in celebration at Balaton Park, honoring Nicolò Bulega for his stunning first-place finish and Iker Lecuona for securing second. Photo courtesy Ducati.
Nicolò Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #11): “Another fantastic weekend that makes me very happy. It’s no secret that this is the track least suited to my riding style. Achieving these results, therefore, gives me great satisfaction. I’d like to thank the team, who are doing an extraordinary job. See you at Most.”
Iker Lecuona (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #7): “I’m pleased with these results, which have contributed to another extraordinary weekend for the team. Could we have done more? Yes, of course. Physically, I wasn’t 100% due to the stomach problem I had on Thursday, but the feeling improved session by session and that gives me great confidence.”
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More from a press release issued by Barni Racing Team:
Third place and Best Independent for Montella, while Bautista ends a challenging Sunday in Race 2 after a comeback ride in the Superpole Race.
An intense and action-packed Sunday for the Barni Spark Racing Team. The Superpole Race, originally scheduled over 10 laps, was interrupted by a red flag after only a few laps following an incident involving Oliveira and Locatelli. At the restart, shortened to 8 laps, the race immediately came alive. Montella, starting from the front row, lost ground in the opening stages due to a battle with Baldassarri, but fought back with determination, climbing up to fifth position. Bautista, meanwhile, made the most of the second start, gaining positions and finishing fourth after a solid and progressive race.
In Race 2, run over 21 laps, Montella delivered a strong and fast performance. After a hard-fought start, the Italian rider quickly found his rhythm, consolidating third place and confidently managing the gap over the chasing pack. Lap after lap, he maintained a consistent pace, never leaving the podium positions, crossing the finish line in P3 and also securing the Best Independent Rider award.
A more difficult race for Bautista. After an excellent start that had brought him into the leading positions, the Spaniard became involved in several battles within the midfield group, losing ground as the laps went by. In the closing stages, a long lap penalty for exceeding track limits at Turn 9 definitively compromised his race, forcing him to finish in eleventh position.
The Barni Spark Racing Team leaves Balaton holding second place in the teams’ championship standings. The next WorldSBK round will take place at Most from May 15th to 17th.
Alvaro Bautista (19) at Balaton Park. Photo courtesy WSBK.
Álvaro Bautista, #19: “Today was a bit of a bittersweet Sunday. We kept working to improve the feeling with the bike, and during warm-up we tried a change that seemed promising. In the Superpole Race the pace was quite good, but unfortunately in Race 2 it didn’t deliver the results we expected. I never really felt comfortable on the bike and I struggled a lot. I made a good start, but afterwards I couldn’t ride the way I wanted. At that point, the only thing I could do was bring the bike to the finish line. I’m sorry because we are working well, but not everything we try works as expected. Still, we can take away some positives and we’ll try to put everything together for the next round, with the goal of continuing to improve.”
Yari Montella (5) at Balaton Park. Photo courtesy WSBK.
Yari Montella, #5: “I’m extremely happy! We did a fantastic job. Getting a podium here in Balaton, on a circuit that isn’t among my favourites, is something special. We built the weekend step by step from FP1, improving session after session. Between the Superpole Race and Race 2 we made some changes that proved decisive. We managed to bring home a very important podium. The race was enjoyable in some aspects and more difficult in others. At the beginning, I used the chaos of the opening laps to create a gap and try to break away. Fortunately, I managed to build an advantage of around two seconds, which then allowed me to manage the race. Towards the end I struggled a bit with rear grip and Baldassarri got closer, but I was able to control the situation. It’s an important and solid podium. I’m really happy for myself, for the team, for all the people working for me back home and for my sponsors.”
Marco Barnabò, Team Principal: “I’m very satisfied with Yari’s podium, but also with the Superpole Race, where we finished fourth and fifth. With Yari, I’m pleased with the work we did. Since Friday we improved in every session and eventually secured the podium in Race 2. With Álvaro we understood that we are reaching a limit. We are carrying out many tests and working hard on the setup to give him confidence and put him in the best condition to express his potential, but probably one of the changes we made didn’t work as expected in Race 2. In the short race things had gone very well, but we wanted to do even better. Over the next few days we will carefully analyse the data to understand how to intervene ahead of the next round. I would like to thank all our sponsors for their support.”
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More from a press release issued by Team Goeleven:
Baldassarri’s response, second podium of the season on Sunday at Balaton.
After a crash like yesterday’s, it would have been easy to lose confidence; but Balda responded with two incredible races on Sunday in Hungary. A podium finish in the morning, fourth place, just close to third place in Race 2, keeping everyone on the edge of their seats for a great comeback!
Here at Balaton, the Warm Up was perhaps the most important session of the whole weekend for both Lorenzo and Team Go Eleven; it was crucial to check the second bike was working well, and the rider also needed to find the confidence for the races. After a few laps, he managed to get an excellent low 39; mental reset after yesterday was complete!
In the Superpole Race, number 34 got off to a good start, closing the line in Turn 1, and thanks to the collisions around him, he found himself in first place! He barely had time to realize it before the red flag came out for yet another collision and subsequent crash. The race restarted, and Balda took third place at Turn 2, overtaking Montella. He set his pace, he is faster than the guys behind him, and no one could keep up. He remained focused until the finish line, got his second podium of the season, and his first in a Superpole Race! He had a fantastic race, incredibly fast, with only the two factory Ducatis ahead of him.
Superpole Race:
P 1 N. Bulega 13’10.468
P 2 I. Lecuona + 0.894
P 3 L. Baldassarri + 5.103
Lorenzo Baldassarri and his team in the parc fermé after his third place during the Superpole race at Balaton Park. Photo courtesy Team Goeleven.
In Race Two, the first lap was an open battle; Balda lost a few positions, but by the final Balaton chicane, he was already hot on Bautista’s heels for third place. He tried, getting the inside, but he couldn’t stop correctly and was forced to cut the chicane. Montella passed them both and opened up a gap. To avoid a penalty for cutting the chicane, the Go Eleven rider slowed and let an opponent pass. He then overtake McKenzie and began his comeback on the number 5 Barni rider. The two rode similar, the gap was almost three seconds, but Balda didn’t give up; lap after lap, he snipped off tenths of a second, and in the final seven laps, he was clearly the second-fastest rider on the track, working his way up to Montella’s exhausts. At the end of the race, he crossed the finish line in fourth, half a second off the podium. Another amazing race, another result to remember! It’s a bittersweet feeling because the podium was right there, so close, and if he had lost less time at the start of the race, it would have been possible.
Race 2:
P 1 N. Bulega 34’39.980
P 2 I. Lecuona + 2.557
P 3 Y. Montella + 11.970
P 4 L. Baldassarri + 12.478
22 points earned this Sunday, a significant result for the Championship that almost erases yesterday’s zero. Four points from fifth place, 20 from third, prove an incredible start to the season for Balda and the whole Go Eleven Team. Today, an answer was needed, and the answer is stronger than any doubt: keep going, because with every race we’re getting closer to the red duo!
Lorenzo Baldassarri (34) at Balaton Park. Photo courtesy Team Goeleven.
Lorenzo Baldassarri (Rider): “After what happened yesterday, it wasn’t given that I’d have a Sunday like this: a podium this morning, fourth place this afternoon. On the eve of the weekend, I would have signed up for two results like that, and today I almost didn’t race due to the consequences of the crash! Today, however, I woke up well, I wasn’t in too much pain, and I immediately regained the right confidence with the bike. I’m a little disappointed about the end of race 2. My pace was incredible and I knew I was faster, but I started from far away after the chaos of the first laps. This morning, however, the podium in the Superpole Race was incredible and perhaps even more valuable than the one in Australia, because it’s a race where I struggle. This weekend, I have to thank the whole team and the mechanics. They rebuilt a bike, they stayed up late last night to give me a perfect bike today. I’m happy to have repaid them with a nice third place!”
Denis Sacchetti (Team Manager): “I’m really happy with the team today, and especially with Lorenzo, who gave a great response. After yesterday’s crash, it wasn’t easy to get going again, but instead he came back even stronger and more determined, demonstrating his maturity and professionalism with incredible grit. This morning’s podium is confirmation of his strength, and in Race 2, fourth place left us bittersweet taste. Maybe one more lap and we could have come home with another podium. The championship is still long, and we’re there in every race. We’re growing together, we’re having fun together, and we can achieve even greater results if we keep working focused and calmly on our path!”
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More from a press release issued by Kawasaki:
Garrett Gerloff (Kawasaki WorldSBK Team) secured his best race result since joining Kawasaki in 2025 after finishing fifth in the second 21-lap race at Balaton Park in Hungary.
On Sunday, 3 May, Gerloff found good pace in the Superpole Race, but his top five finish in Race Two topped any single result he has had on the Ninja ZX-10RR in WorldSBK.
The Superpole Race in the morning was scheduled to be run over the traditional ten laps, but was contested over eight, due to a lap one collision involving three riders.
Garrett had a strong ride into a final eighth place in the shortened race, and as a result, started Race Two in eighth place on the grid. He was the second non-Ducati rider inside the top eight places in the ‘sprint’ race.
In Race Two, Garrett went three places better in one regard and one place better in another, as he was the first non-Ducati rider home this time, after a top-class performance to make it up to fifth place. After some surprisingly disappointing results at the previous round in Assen, Gerloff was particularly pleased to put in the kind of top five ride he and his team know they are capable of.
Garrett Gerloff (31) at Balaton Park. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
In the championship, Garrett is 14th overall, with 40 points, having posted ever-improving race results of 13th, eighth, and fifth at Balaton.
Autodrom Most in Czechia will be the venue for the fifth round of the championship, to be held between 15-17 May.
Garrett Gerloff stated:“I felt a lot better today than I did at Assen last time out. That was one of the worst weekends I have had, and it felt difficult to explain – because I felt I was doing pretty well with my riding and I felt the bike was working not too badly – but we seemed to have no speed all weekend. I was just scratching my head. It is so difficult as a rider not to think that ‘you are just slow now’. So it was nice to come here to Balaton, make changes, and every change we made was helping me feel better and better. To finish with a top five in Race Two was one of the best things I could do for the team and myself. It has given us a lot of motivation to stay strong for the rest of the season.”
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More from a press release issued by Marc VDS Team:
A brilliant ride into the top six in Race 2 at Hungary’s Balaton Park Circuit ensured Elf Marc VDS Racing Team rider Sam Lowes ended round four in this year’s WorldSBK Championship on a high note.
Ninth after serving a double Long Lap penalty for a jump start in Race 1 yesterday and denied the chance to fight for a top result in the Superpole clash by a technical issue this morning, Lowes bounced back in style to claim a hard fought sixth over 21 laps in Race 2.
Lowes remains third in the World Championship standings on 99 points moving to the fifth round of the series at the Most track in the Czech Republic on the weekend of May 15-17.
Sam Lowes at Balaton Park. Photo courtesy Marc VDS Team.
Sunday’s race action got off to a dramatic start in the 10-lap Superpole Race battle that was red flagged on the opening lap after an incident at turn six involving Andrea Locatelli and Miguel Oliviera, which Lowes unfortunately found himself caught up in.
Upon further investigation by the FIM WorldSBK Stewards, Lowes was cleared of having any involvement in the cause of the incident, while Locatelli was given a double Long Lap penalty for irresponsible riding to serve when the race restarted over a shortened distance of eight laps.
Immediately after the restart, Lowes began to encounter gear selection issues which became progressively worse and he was unable to properly change gear as a result of damage to his quickshifter sustained in the first part of the race, he quickly dropped out of top six contention to finish in P20.
Determined to bounce back in style in Race 2, Lowes duly obliged and in the early stages he was pitched into an all-Brit battle with Tarran Mackenzie and twin brother Alex before the latter fell out of contention on lap eight.
The 35-year-old moved up the order into seventh on lap 11 and next in his sights was Alberto Surra, who at one stage was over three seconds clear of Lowes.
Lowes pounced to seize sixth position on lap 15 and it was a place he secured quite brilliantly with some impressive late race pace that saw him set his best time of 1:39.488 with three laps remaining.
Sam Lowes at Balaton Park. Photo courtesy Marc VDS Team.
Sam Lowes:
Superpole Race: 20th
Race 2: 6th
Sam Lowes:“Overall, I have to say it was a difficult weekend and certainly not the results that we wanted to leave with. In Race 2, I didn’t get a great start and then didn’t get going for a couple of laps and in WorldSBK these days it is difficult to come forward and make things happen. I dug in though until the last lap and picked up a top six and those points could prove to be very important for the Championship later in the season. It’s fair to say at times this weekend I’ve been a bit unlucky in critical moments, and I think that definitely had an impact on our Sunday. In Race 1 I jumped the start but fought my way back into the top 10 after the penalty and Race 2 was decent. In the longer races I performed pretty well considering where I came from. I didn’t make any big mistakes, and we managed to show our battling qualities. I’m still third in the Championship, so we will focus on the positives and look to get back in that podium fight in Most.”
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More from a press release issued by GYTR GRT Yamaha:
Gardner and Manzi Secure Top-10 Finishes at Balaton on Sunday.
The GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team concluded the weekend on a positive note, with Remy Gardner finishing ninth and Stefano Manzi tenth in the final feature race, collecting valuable points at the end of Round 4 of the 2026 FIM World Superbike Championship.
Gardner began the day with the final Warm Up session before heading into the Tissot Superpole Race confident of delivering a strong result. In a shortened eight-lap race due to a red flag, he fought hard and recovered to finish 11th, narrowly missing out on a top-nine position that would have secured a third-row start.
Starting 12th on the grid for Race 2, the Australian rider delivered a strong performance from the outset. After a solid opening lap, the 28-year-old showed consistent race pace throughout the 21-lap contest, moving into the top ten. Maintaining a strong rhythm until the chequered flag, Gardner crossed the line in ninth place, demonstrating clear progress.
On the other side of the garage, Stefano Manzi also enjoyed a productive Sunday. Starting 19th in the Superpole Race, he made up several positions to finish 14th, showcasing strong speed. Carrying that momentum into Race 2, Manzi started 17th and fought his way through the field, gaining seven positions with an impressive pace to finish tenth, just behind his teammate.
Both riders will return to action in a few weeks for Round 5, as the GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team heads to Autodrom Most in the Czech Republic.
Remy Gardner – Superpole Race: P11 / Race 2: P9: “Overall, it was a positive end to the weekend. We made some solid improvements from yesterday, and we need to focus on the positives. In the Superpole Race, we were close to the top nine, which would have helped for Race 2, but it wasn’t a bad result. In Race 2, I was able to maintain a good pace until the end, which is encouraging, and finishing ninth shows good progress considering where we started. We’ll aim to carry this momentum into Most with confidence, as it’s a track where we’ve performed well in the past.”
Stefano Manzi – Superpole Race: P14 / Race 2: P10: “It was another solid Sunday, and it’s becoming a consistent trend. Once again, we made strong progress from Friday, and I’m happy with the improvements. At the same time, it motivates us even more, as we know there is still untapped potential if we can start the weekend stronger. Today our pace was good, especially in the latter stages, and I was able to catch Remy and battle with him until the end. I’m looking forward to getting back on track in a few weeks and making further progress. Finally, I’d like to congratulate my crew chief Tommaso and his wife on the birth of their third son—huge congratulations to them!”
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More from a press release issued by GYTR GRT Yamaha:
Sunday Potential Not Fulfilled for Pata Maxus Yamaha at Balaton Park’s Hungarian WorldSBK. Xavi Vierge, Andrea Locatelli and Pata Maxus Yamaha were disappointed to not be able to maximise their full potential on Sunday at Round 4 of the 2026 FIM Superbike World Championship at Balaton Park in Hungary, today.
Vierge did everything possible to overcome a difficult qualifying position throughout the weekend, once again coming through from P17 on the grid in the Superpole Race to the top 10 this morning, just one place shy of an improved slot for Race 2. The Spanish rider started from P15 in Race 2, but struggled under braking and with rear grip in the second half of the race, finishing 12th at the line.
This morning’s Superpole Race was also red-flagged following an unfortunate accident where Locatelli and Miguel Oliveira crashed at Turn 6, in a Lap 1 racing incident. In the revised 8 Lap restart, the team’s #55 rider served a Double Long Lap Penalty for what Race Direction deemed to be irresponsible riding – crossing the line in 13th place and putting Locatelli on the fourth row of the grid for Race 2.
An as yet unexplained high-side in Turn 17 at the end of the opening lap of the final race of the weekend ended Locatelli’s hopes of a strong Race 2 and opportunity to capitalise on his earlier form.
Beatriz Neila finished second once again for Ampito Crescent Yamaha in the FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship, in an explosive Race 2 that saw four riders fight for the victory until the final corner – while teammate Chloe Jones took ninth place for Monster Energy Crescent Yamaha. Neila lies just 14 points from the championship lead at the halfway point, as the WorldWCR series takes a break from the calendar until Misano next month.
WorldSBK however will be back in action at Most in the Czech Republic in just under two weeks’ time, where Pata Maxus Yamaha has enjoyed podium performances in the past, from 15-17 May.
Xavi Vierge – SPRC: P10 / Race 2: P12: “It has been a very, very difficult Hungarian Round – we have been working like crazy since Friday and it looked like in some parts of the weekend we had some positives, but today in Race 2 I was struggling a lot again especially in the second half of the race. It has been the first really tough weekend together, and there is now a lot to analyse to understand the way to follow. All I can say is thank you to Yamaha and the team for the hard work, and we have a week to look at everything and come back to Most with recharged batteries.”
Andrea Locatelli (55) at Balaton Park. Photo courtesy Pata Maxus Yamaha.
Andrea Locatelli – SPRC: P13 / Race 2: DNF: “The first thing to say is about the Superpole Race – I never want another rider involved in a crash to have an injury and I am so sorry about Miguel. I do not want to speak about the decision of Race Direction to penalise me, it’s better to say nothing. With the penalties and the bad grid position, we had a lot of work to do in Race 2 but I really think we could have done well because my feeling on the bike was good – unfortunately, we do not understand yet what happened with the crash. Some really bad luck for us, but in some ways it was a positive weekend because I had a good feeling on my R1 since Friday and I was quite happy, and I always try to do my best. We need to keep moving forward and looking at the next one, for sure we need to work hard and try to improve to close the gap – this is the reality.”
Paul Denning – Team Principal, Pata Maxus Yamaha: “After a positive Assen and a positive start to the Balaton weekend, it has turned into a difficult Hungarian Round for the Pata Maxus Yamaha team – especially today on Sunday. Yesterday’s Race 1 result gave us encouragement for today with a very solid ride for Loka and a brilliant recovery to the top 10 for Xavi, but today didn’t go to plan. On Andrea’s side, things unravelled not so much with the Lap 1 accident in the Superpole Race but more with the extremely questionable decision to award him a double long lap penalty on the restart, for Irresponsible Riding. Being hit by another rider from behind in a racing incident is one thing, but then to be penalised for it is quite another and we do not understand the decision. This compromised the Superpole Race result and also this afternoon’s Race 2, where instead of being able to start from the second row and find his flow with the fastest riders, Loka was stuck in a group when he fell from contention – we are extremely lucky that Loka has “cosmetic” injuries only after a massive last-corner high-side. From P17 on the grid, Xavi again made a great recovery in the Superpole Race to the top 10, but missed out by just one position to improve his Race 2 grid slot. We’ve been chasing the right set-up for him all weekend and of course, the team and the engineers did everything they could to improve the package for Race 2. However, Xavi suffered under braking and also with grip for the whole race and could only bring it home P12. We missed out on a big haul of points today that could have dramatically improved Loka’s championship position in particular, but we can’t look backwards and we’re now fully focused on Most and performing to our full potential in the Czech Republic.”
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More from a press release issued by Honda HRC:
Chantra improves pace in Race 2 as Kunii gains valuable WorldSBK experience at Balaton. Honda HRC riders Chantra and Kunii round out WorldSBK round four at Balaton Park with a P15 and P16 finish in Sunday’s Race 2.
The Honda HRC team has now completed the fourth Superbike World Championship round, placing fifteenth and sixteenth in Sunday’s final race at Hungary’s Balaton Park with Somkiat Chantra and substitute rider Yuki Kunii.
The warm weather continued today, making for an uninterrupted race day. On track this morning for the Superpole race, Chantra and Kunii lined up on row seven and eight of the grid respectively. The race began on time but an incident on lap one involving Oliviera brought the race to an immediate halt with a red flag. Restarted a short time later, the race was reduced to a distance of just 8 laps.
Chantra and Kunii maintained their starting positions through the initial stages, lapping with half a second of each other for the first few laps. The gaps opened up a little from mid-race on, but both the Thai and Japanese rider maintained their pace, each focused on their own performance. While Chantra gained one position to finish nineteenth, teammate Kunii held twenty-first all the way to the line.
The weekend’s second and final 21-lap race ran mid-afternoon in dry, sunny conditions. Chantra and Kunii both gained two positions in the early stages following mistakes for riders up ahead. Establishing a consistent rhythm, the pair continued to work hard and stay out of trouble, in light of further incidents involving other riders. Somkiat consistently improved his pace, setting his best lap of the weekend on the penultimate lap after moving into the points zone on lap seven. Holding fifteenth for the remainder of the race, Chantra completed the race to score one championship point. Replacement rider Yuki did his best to keep his teammate within sight, eventually crossing the line in P16.
Somkiat Chantra (35) and Yuki Kunii (92) at Balaton Park. Photo courtesy Honda HRC.
Somkiat Chantra:“Today we had both the Superpole Race and Race 2. In the Superpole Race, we made some changes to the bike and electronics, and the feeling was a bit better. My pace was more consistent, so that was a positive step. The race itself was not bad, but I was a bit unlucky at the start, stuck behind other riders, and it was difficult to overtake, especially through the opening corners. In Race 2, we struggled more in the early laps because I had some rear spinning but during the race I was able to improve my pace. I focused on being more consistent and was able to set my best lap of the weekend. Overall, there are some small positives, like finishing in the points today. I want to thank the team for their hard work. We know we are still not where we want to be, so we will keep working hard and pushing step by step to move closer to the front.”
Yuki Kunii (92) at Balaton Park. Photo courtesy Honda HRC.
Yuki Kunii: “Today was another new experience for me, especially with the Superpole Race, which was very short and intense. With the red flag and the restarted race run over just eight laps, it was quite crazy. I did my best, but I wasn’t feeling completely comfortable on the bike and made a few mistakes. We had tried a small setup change, but for Race 2 we decided to go back with the setting, and the feeling improved. From start to finish, I was able to push a bit more compared to yesterday and, overall, I’m happy with the weekend. Being part of a full factory team like Honda HRC has been an amazing experience. At the same time, it reminded me how high the level of this championship is, and how much I still need to improve, especially in managing the bike over race distance. I want to thank Honda HRC and team for the opportunity.”
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More from a press release issued by Bimota by Kawasaki:
BbKRT rider Alex Lowes secured a seventh-place finish in the WorldSBK Superpole Race at Balaton Park, and that proved to be the best single bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team result on the final day of the fourth round.
The race weekend in Hungary was blessed with warm and dry weather from the first practice session to the final two races on Sunday, 3 May.
bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team pairing of Lowes and Axel Bassani found little in the way of good fortune on the final day, however, at the unique 4.075km-long Balaton Park Circuit.
The planned ten-lap Superpole Race was shortened to only eight after an opening-lap multiple-rider collision into the T6/7 area. In the restart, Alex would take a positive seventh place in the intense short race, and Axel would end up 15th.
Soon after Race Two had started, Lowes was in a battle within the group chasing the leading riders. While riding in fourth place, he was pushed wide and lost several positions. He was moving forward from then on, but while chasing another competitor in the T9/10 chicane, he touched his rival on the exit of the second apex, crashed out, and was unable to restart.
Bassani experienced an early technical issue with some aspect of his braking system in Race Two and had to retire.
After four rounds and 12 races, Lowes is fifth overall in the championship points table, and Bassani is now ninth. Alex has 82 points and Bassani 67. bimota remains second in the Manufacturers’ Standings and BbKRT is now third in the Teams’ Standings.
The fifth round of the 2026 WorldSBK Championship will take place at the Autodrom Most, in Czechia, between 15-17 May.
Alex Lowes (22) and Sam Lowes (14) at Balaton Park. Photo courtesy Bimota by Kawasaki.
Alex Lowes stated: “Not the Race Two that we wanted. This track is a bit special. It is not easy to pass and you need a good track position. I was really happy with the Superpole Race. We did a good job and even set our best lap of the weekend. In the final race I made a good start and had a really good T1 and T2, in fourth place. This was the main job done as it helps you with track position. Then, Baldassarri hit me and that put me out, so I lost five or six positions. We had made a change on the front of the bike and I could see a few other riders going out of the track, while I was stopping the bike quite well. I was just following Taz Mackenzie through the chicane at T9 and T10 and I think I misjudged his speed in the second apex. I was thinking to pass him in T10 but it completely caught me off guard. I hit the back of him with my hand and lost the front. That is hard to accept because I think we had a really positive weekend, I was maximising the pace we had, made good starts and I was getting myself in good positions. I think with the progress we made from Friday to Saturday to Sunday, it’s a shame to end this weekend with this race. Overall, I think how we did as a team was really good.”
Axel Bassani (47) and Danilo Petrucci (9) at Balaton Park. Photo courtesy bimota by Kawasaki.
Axel Bassani stated: “It was quite a difficult Sunday for us. It started well in FP3, when I had a good pace. Also in the Superpole Race, my pace was really good, but it was quite near to impossible for me to overtake the riders in front of me. When I had the possibility to be free, I was immediately in the 1’39.6 lap times. We know it is difficult for us to overtake, and we finished P15. In Race Two, from the warm-up lap, I had some issues with the front brake, a lot of vibration. I tried to do the first lap of the race, but it was also locking on the straight. It was dangerous for me and the other riders, so I decided to stop. This was really impossible to ride. We will try to recover this week and try to be more ready for the next round in Most.”
Kyle Ryde celebrated the opening race win of the 2026 British Superbike Championship at Oulton Park to get his title defence off to the best possible start for the Nitrous Coin Nitrous Competitions Racing team, with the podium locked out by previous champions Leon Haslam and Bradley Ray.
At the start of the race, Ray got off at lightning start on the McAMS Yamaha ahead of Haslam and Storm Stacey with Ryde holding fourth. Haslam grabbed the lead at Old Hall a lap later, but on lap four, the reigning champion was pushing to hit the front.
Ryde made a determined move at Old Hall to take the lead from Haslam, with Ray moving back into third as he duelled with Storm Stacey over the opening laps.
Whilst Ryde held the advantage, Ray was pushing Haslam for second and made a move at Knickerbrook on lap eight. The Moto Rapido Racing rider wasn’t settling for third and Haslam then repaid the pass with an overtake at Lodge a few laps later and despite the pressure, was able to hold second until the chequered flag.
Haslam and Ray had Stacey for company too in the closing stages, but the Bathams AJN Racing Ducati rider had to settle for fourth after just missing a podium position after trying to strike over the final three laps.
Scott Redding finished fifth as the Hager PBM Racing Team rider made his move at Hislops on the final lap after shadowing Max Cook, who had a strong debut on the AJN Steelstock bimota.
Cheshire Mouldings Yamaha’s Rory Skinner held off Ryan Vickers for seventh place with Christian Iddon in ninth. Joe Talbot was the leading rookie with an impressive debut on the AJN Steelstock bimota in tenth place.
British Superbike Race 1 start at Outlon Park. Photo courtesy BSB.
British Superbike Championship, Oulton Park, Race 1 result:
“I am really happy! Honestly I’ve only done about two practice starts, so that was the biggest thing, just to get off the line! The best thing I did today was to qualify on pole, as I knew I was going to lose some time at the start.
“Once I did that and I was fourth or fifth into turn one I knew it wasn’t the end of the world. After three laps, I just tried to force myself through to the front so that I could then get into the 33s and then only the people that could do that would come with me.
“I wasn’t expecting that race to go how it did, but the pit board showed my gap slowly going up – I could almost hear everybody in the garage yelling at me to slow down! So I did and then started making more errors than I had all weekend! It’s a great start to the season and we’ll try again tomorrow.”
Buckeye Bonus: Valuable National Final Points Coming To Midwest In 2026.
MotoAmerica, North America’s premier motorcycle road racing series, is proud to announce that Ohio Mini Roadracing League has joined the growing list of organizations hosting qualifiers for the 2026 Mission Mini Cup National Final.
The addition of Ohio Mini Roadracing League further strengthens MotoAmerica’s nationwide grassroots development program by giving riders in Southwest Ohio and the surrounding region an opportunity to earn bonus points and prepare for the biggest Mission Mini Cup event of the season.
“We appreciate the support of the Ohio Mini Roadracing League and their continued commitment to the MotoAmerica Mission Mini Cup Championship,” said Chuck Aksland, COO of MotoAmerica. “Travis Evans and his team are helping grow the Mission Mini Cup system by hosting two races where riders can earn the 10 available bonus points toward the National Final, and we look forward to seeing everyone compete at Road America in August.”
The Mission Mini Cup program features riders aged six to 16 in the following classes:
Stock 50 (ages 6-8)
Stock 110 (ages 8-12)
GP 110 (ages 10-14)
GP 160 (ages 10-14)
GP 190 (ages 12-16)
The Mission Mini Cup Championship serves as the official youth development ladder of MotoAmerica and is a proving ground for the sport’s next generation of professional talent.
“Ohio Mini Roadracing League is thrilled to join the MotoAmerica Mission Mini Cup Championship and bring this nationally recognized format to our riders,” said Travis Evans, President of Ohio Mini Roadracing League. “Our purpose is to advance the sport of motorcycle racing for our young racers, and there is no better way than to partner with MotoAmerica. We can’t wait to watch all the action this summer!”
Michigan native Owen Smith (#40) leading Gira Macanga (#88) through a right-hand sweeper at Road America’s Briggs & Stratton Motorplex. Photo by Larry Lawrence.
The Ohio Mini Roadracing League-hosted Mission Mini Cup qualifiers will take place at G&J Kartway in Camden, Ohio, on May 24, and Adkins Speed Center in Port Washington, Ohio, on June 28.
A one-time, 10-point bonus is awarded to participants in any of the 2026 Mission Mini Cup qualifiers, regardless of the number of events entered and will be used to calculate the final finishing order for the Mission Mini Cup National Final, to be held at Road America’s Briggs & Stratton Motorplex on August 7-9.
Honda, Kawasaki, and Yamaha again are providing manufacturer contingency to support the Stock 50 and Stock 110 classes, further enhancing the offering for riders throughout the 2026 season.
For more details on the Ohio Mini Roadracing League-hosted Mission Mini Cup qualifiers, CLICK HERE
For more details on all available Mission Mini Cup qualifiers, CLICK HERE
To watch all the Mission Mini Cup National Final action this August, CLICK HERE
A rider having fun at a Sportbike Track Time event. Photo by SPImages.
You work hard. You deserve to have fun.
The daily grind—the meetings, the commutes, the deadlines—it all stays at the gate. It might be Tuesday, but we’re looking forward to the weekends with STT!
If you’ve been waiting for a sign to finally take your bike to the limit, this is it. You deserve the excitement that only a closed course can provide!
Sportbike Track Time Ladies First event riders, plus two loyal dogs. Photo by US129Photos.
DEADLINE EXTENDED!
Are you a female rider looking for a supportive space for your first track day? Do you know a female rider who’s contemplated a track day but has yet to take the plunge? Are you an experienced female rider looking to have fun and encourage other female riders to join the sport you love?
Join us at one of our Ladies First events! These events are designed to create a supportive and encouraging environment for women to get on the track. The Advanced and Intermediate groups are combined to allow for more Novice availability.
T-Shirt size guarantee has now been extended until Friday, May 8! Register before the deadline to guarantee your Ladies First t-shirt.
Andrea Iannone on the left with Angela Khuu, Niti Racing Team Manager. Photo courtesy Bagger World Cup.
Former MotoGP™ and WorldSBK race winner expands Niti Racing line-up and brings the grid to ten riders.
Milwaukee, WI (May 5, 2026) — The FIM Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup takes another step forward with the addition of Andrea Iannone as tenth rider in the entry list, who will join the championship from the Italian GP at Mugello with Niti Racing.
Following a highly competitive opening round in Austin, highlighted by Oscar Gutiérrez’s victory in Race 2, Niti Racing further strengthens its line-up by bringing in the experienced Italian rider, expanding to a three-bike effort alongside Gutiérrez and Dimas Ekky Pratama.
One of the most recognizable names in modern motorcycle racing, Iannone is a former race winner in both MotoGP™ and the FIM Superbike World Championship, bringing with him top-level experience, natural speed, and a bold competitive mindset. Known for his aggressive riding style and strong race instincts, he is expected to be an immediate contender at the front.
Iannone’s arrival brings the total number of riders on the Bagger World Cup grid to ten, reinforcing the depth and competitiveness of the inaugural season. He will make his debut on the race-prepared Harley- Davidson machines at the MotoGP™ Grand Prix of Italy at Mugello from May 29–31, and is set to compete in the remaining rounds of the championship through to the season finale in Austria.
At a venue already known for delivering one of the most engaging spectator experiences in motorsport, the presence of Andrea Iannone, alongside fellow Italian Filippo Rovelli (ParkinGO Team), adds a further layer of excitement to the Mugello weekend. Italian supporters will have even more reasons to connect with the championship and its protagonists. From the Harley-Davidson Village to the unique opportunity to access the Bagger World Cup garages, which are open to the public, and the dedicated grandstand at Correntaio, the experience is designed to bring people closer than ever to the action, offering a truly immersive and distinctly Harley-Davidson way to live MotoGP™.
Angela Khuu, Niti Racing Team Manager (left) with Andrea Iannone (right). Photo courtesy Bagger World Cup.
Andrea Iannone – Niti Racing rider: “I like challenges, especially when they take you out of your comfort zone. This is something completely different, and that’s exactly why I said yes. I’m truly excited to begin this new chapter, as I’ve always admired Harley-Davidson and its iconic riders’ community, which plays such an important role in the scene. It’s a category that embodies adrenaline, spectacle, and a genuine passion for riding and for life. These bikes have a strong personality, you have to respect them, but at the same time you can push them hard. In that sense, we are quite similar, and I think that’s why this project fits me well. I’m also approaching this first race without having tested the bike, and with one less test than the others. That reflects my mindset, I embrace challenges and actively look for them. Mugello is the perfect place to start, in front of the Italian fans, on a track I know very well. I’m not coming here just to participate. I want to understand the bike quickly and be competitive straight away. Let’s see what we can do. On a more personal note, I feel a strong connection with Indonesia. I truly appreciate its people, and I’m excited to begin this journey together with Niti Racing and this community.”
Angela Khuu – Team Manager, Niti Racing: “After a very positive start to the season in Austin, adding Andrea to our line-up is a natural step to keep building momentum. We already have a strong base with Oscar and Dimas, and bringing in a rider with Andrea’s experience and speed gives us an additional dimension as a team. We are excited to see how quickly he adapts to the bike and to start working together already in Mugello.”
Jeffrey Schuessler – Director of Global Racing Programs, Harley-Davidson: “Bringing a rider like Andrea into the championship is a strong statement about what we are building with the Bagger World Cup. He’s a proven race winner at the highest level, with the kind of talent and personality that adds even more energy to the grid. This is exactly the type of profile we want to attract as the championship continues to grow. Mugello will be a great place to see him start this new chapter on Niti Racing’s third bike, further strengthening an already competitive line-up alongside Oscar Gutiérrez and Dimas Ekky Pratama.”
About FIM Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup
The FIM Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup is the first global championship exclusively dedicated to high-performance Harley-Davidson bagger motorcycles, organized by Harley-Davidson in partnership with MotoGP™ and officially recognized by the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM). The series is contested at selected international circuits alongside the MotoGP™ calendar, bringing Harley-Davidson’s iconic machines into a premier global racing environment. The championship combines heritage, technical innovation, and on-track competition, extending the brand’s racing legacy onto the world stage. Learn more on the dedicated FIM Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup page at www.harley-davidson.com.
About Harley-Davidson
Harley-Davidson, Inc. is the parent company of Harley-Davidson Motor Company and Harley-Davidson Financial Services. Our vision: Building our legend and leading our industry through innovation, evolution and emotion. Our mission: More than building machines, we stand for the timeless pursuit of adventure. Freedom for the soul. Since 1903, Harley-Davidson has defined motorcycle culture with an expanding range of leading-edge, distinctive and customizable motorcycles in addition to riding experiences and exceptional motorcycle accessories, riding gear and apparel. Harley-Davidson Financial Services provides financing, insurance and other programs to help get Harley-Davidson riders on the road. Learn more at www.harley-davidson.com.
MotoGP™ Background
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Kyle Ryde (1) and Leon Haslam (91) at Oulton Park. Photo courtesy BSB.
Champion Ryde fights off Haslam and Ray to take the treble at Oulton Park.
Reigning champion Kyle Ryde got his title defence in the British Superbike Championship off to the best possible start at the Oulton Park opener by claiming a hat trick of victories after holding off the attack from Leon Haslam in the final race to make it a winning hat trick for Nitrous Coin Nitrous Competitions Racing.
In the second race of the weekend, the three champions were the trio in the battle for top three honours as Ryde made it a double, in an-all champion’s lock out on the podium with Haslam and McAMS Yamaha’s Bradley Ray.
Max Cook on the debuting AJN Steelstock bimota had the best start off the line to lead on the opening lap from Haslam and Ray with Ryde holding fourth. The defending champion was eyeing his moves, passing Ray on the opening lap and then diving down the inside of Haslam at Island.
A lap later and Ryde had grabbed the lead, whilst Haslam had Ray for company and despite his best efforts; Ray wasn’t able to move ahead as his Moto Rapido Racing rival delivered a determined ride to keep him behind over the closing laps.
Scott Redding was battling with Storm Stacey early in the race and the Hager PBM Racing Team rider had the edge to seal fourth after bridging a gap to the Bathams AJN Racing Ducati rider, after the pair both made a move on Cook.
In the third and final race of the weekend, Ray grabbed the lead at the start of the race with another rapid start off the line on the McAMS Yamaha to put himself ahead of Haslam, Redding and Ryde.
Redding put a determined move on Ryde to move third on the fifth lap as he aimed for his first podium finish of the season. At the front of the pack, Haslam was pushing for the lead, diving down the inside at Shell on lap ten to take the advantage from Ray.
Kyle Ryde (1) and Leon Haslam (91) at Oulton Park. Photo courtesy BSB.
Ryde had a strong lap 11, first passing Redding at Old Hall before then moving ahead of Ray at Brittens to put him within striking distance of Haslam, who held the lead until a lap later, when Ryde seized the advantage.
Two laps later and Haslam was able to make an attack for the lead, firing himself down the inside at Lodge to regain the position for the Moto Rapido Racing team. Ryde kept his cool, and a lap later made the exact same pass on his rival to retake the lead.
Ryde held the advantage to the chequered flag with Haslam holding off Ray again as the champions again completed the podium line-up, with Redding narrowly missing out in fourth place.
Glenn Irwin was tenth on the grid for the third race after a challenging weekend, including a retirement in race two, but the Nitrous Coin Nitrous Competitions Racing rider delivered a gritty ride to take fifth place, as he moved ahead of Rory Skinner, Cook and Ryan Vickers, who completed the top eight.
British Superbike Championship, Oulton Park, Race 2 result:
“It’s obviously been a great weekend and very unexpected – I’ve just done my best. In the last race, I could see within the first few laps that Brad was trying to stay at the front and do a good pace, which made it really hard to pass!
“I managed pass him, but that was definitely the hardest race to win, especially with Leon coming up the inside with about three laps to go.
“I had a little plan to try to pull away, but Leon managed to dig in as he always does and make a pass into the last corner and I thought that was our race done! But, I managed to get back in front and put everything into that next lap to stay in front.
“These weekends don’t come very often so I’m just going to cherish the moment and get ready for Donington Park.”
Chris Clark (5) in Balaton Park. Photo courtesy Chris Clark Racing.
Chris Clark’s start to the 2026 season featured both highs and lows as the talented teenager began his FIM Yamaha R3 BLU CRU World Cup at the Balaton Park circuit in Hungary this past weekend.
Qualifying on the fourth row of the grid for Saturday’s opening race, the #5 was soon in contention for the podium once the lights went out. Avoiding various incidents that happened around him, the American charger crossed the line in fifth to open his season’s scorecard with eleven valuable championship points.
Due to start Sunday’s second race from eighth – after posting the eighth fastest lap in race one a day earlier – the BGR Smrz Yamaha rider was unfortunately unable to take part following an incident on the warm up lap that resulted in a trip to the hospital for precautionary checks. Released later the same day, Chris will now return to the US with his full focus on getting his title campaign back on track at Motorland Aragon in Spain at the end of the month.
Chris Clark:“Race one on Saturday was really good. I started P12 and I knew it would take a good fight from me to move through the pack. I got a decent start and battled hard. I avoided all the chaos and was able to finish fifth which is great for the championship. Sunday was unfortunate due to an incident on the warm up lap, but these things happen and I am already thinking about Aragon in a few weeks. I had good races there last year, so I am confident of a strong result.”
Cameron Dunker scored his first Superbike win at The Bend. Photo courtesy ASBK.
Cameron Dunker and Josh Waters snared the race wins during an electrifying round three of the 2026 Penrite Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) at The Bend from May 1-3.
After six previous podiums in the SW-Motech Superbike class, the gifted 18-year-old Dunker (Blue Marlin Pools Yamaha) finally reached the summit after victory in race one, while defending champion Waters (McMartin Racing Ducati) rebounded superbly from a disappointing opener to score a runaway win in the second 11-lapper.
After a sodden Saturday at The Bend, Sunday’s Superbike racing was held on a dry track – but the conditions were still far from benign with gusty cross winds keeping riders on high alert.
Existing lap records may not have been threatened, but the racing was still exceptional as Ducati pair Cru Halliday (Stop and Seal) and Glenn Allerton (Superbike Advocates Racing) flashed across the line on the bumper of Dunker in race one, while Harrison Voight (McMartin Racing Ducati) and the fast-finishing Jonathan Nahlous (Yamaha Racing Team) joined Waters on the podium in race two.
With seven of 11 races completed in the 2026 championship, it’s still a tight battle with Voight holding an 11pt (147 to 136) lead over Waters, followed by Jacob Roulstone (Motocity Honda, 124pts), Dunker (113pts), Halliday (108pts) and Allerton (103pts).
A maximum of 102pts are still available in the final two rounds at Morgan Park Raceway (May 29-31) and Queensland Raceway (June 26-28) as the championship concludes in the Sunshine State.
Josh Waters (#1) puts the hammer down in race two, ahead of Harrison Voight (#29). Photo courtesy ASBK.
SW-Motech Superbike
A long period of sublime weather in the southern states was snapped on Saturday afternoon as the heavens opened, and it was Waters who made the most of the conditions with his 21st Superbike pole position ahead of Voight, Dunker, Jones, Nahlous and Allerton.
Roulstone and Anthony West (DesmoSport Ducati) both crashed in qualifying, with the former finishing a lowly 13th while West hurt his right hand and opted to sit out Sunday. He was replaced on the Panigale V4 R by regular DesmoSport Ducati Supersport rider Olly Simpson.
Race one on Sunday morning saw Voight lead from Waters in the first half before Halliday and then Dunker took over the running from the defending champion.
Heading into the final lap, Voight could almost taste a fourth win of the season before he ran wide at turn one – an opening which Dunker, Halliday and Allerton gratefully accepted.
Dunker then held his composure on the final lap to win his first Superbike race from lap record holder Halliday, Allerton, Voight, Nahlous, Mike Jones (Yamaha Racing Team), Waters and Roulstone.
“I can’t be happier; the guys have been unreal the last few weeks with how hard they’ve worked, particularly since my crash in Sydney and then getting everything back together and working the best it can,” said Dunker.
“The team has given me a great bike which meant I could show the pace I have and what I can do aboard the R1.”
Dunker was also hunting for a double podium in race two before being passed on the final lap by Nahlous, as Waters made the outing his own after putting down the hammer from lap six – setting a pace that even Voight couldn’t match.
Roulstone was fifth from Halliday, Allerton and Simpson in an impressive deputisation role.
Tom Toparis at The Bend. Photo courtesy ASBK.
Kawasaki Supersport and Supersport Next Gen
High drama and heroics in Kawasaki Supersport/Next Gen, with Tom Toparis (Stop and Seal Ducati) and Hayden Nelson (BCperformance Kawasaki) winning the two races and polesitter Olly Simpson (DesmoSport Ducati) an early casualty in race one to bring his campaign to a premature end.
Toparis’ day also turned sour when he crashed on the sighting lap of race two after precipitation swept across the circuit, leaving a depleted 10-rider field.
After hostilities had ended, Jake Farnsworth (Yamaha) retained his 2pt lead in the Supersport class over Valentino Knezovic (Addicted to Track Yamaha), while Nelson is the new Supersport Next Gen leader ahead of teammate Tom Edwards, with Simpson dropping back to third.
In race one, Toparis checked out after Simpson’s demise to win by over one second, while it was an epic battle for second with Knezovic scoring a breakout rookie result in second from Nelson, Edwards, Farnsworth and Jordy Simpson (Yamaha).
The second nine-lapper boiled down to a BCperformance Kawasaki benefit, with Nelson just edging out Edwards by 0.196secs, followed by Farnsworth, Knezovic, Simpson and Josh Soderland (Yamaha), who retains third in the Supersport standings.
Riley Nauta (#42) launched himself back into title calculations with two wins at The Bend. Photo courtesy ASBK.
Race and Road Supersport 300
Riley Nauta (Champions Ride Days Kawasaki) was the big Race and Road Supersport 300 mover at The Bend, with his 10-1-1 results seeing him surge to second in the standings behind New Zealander Tyler King (Kawasaki).
King leads by 27pts, and then it’s a logjam: Nauta is on 122pts ahead of teammate Orlando Peovitis (121pts), Tara Morrison (Kawasaki, 121pts), Jordy Simpson (Yamaha, 112pts), Seth Dellow (TeamBWR Yamaha, 112pts), Rossi McAdam (Yamaha, 105pts) and Phoenix O’Brien (Blue Marlin Pools Racing Yamaha, 102pts).
Matthew Ritter (Kawasaki) is next, and it was the Victorian who won his first Supersport 300 race on a wet Saturday afternoon where attrition was huge: including King, who was able to remount and resume, while a bone-jarring tangle between Jake Senior (Blue Marlin Pools Racing Yamaha) and Alvin Wu (Addicted to Track Yamaha) took them both out of calculations.
At the front, Ritter just edged out local star Morrison, while Dellow was third.
On Sunday, it was the same trifecta in both races: Nauta with just too much late speed and guile ahead of King and Peovitis. Morrison was fourth in both outings from Ritter and Simpson.
The penultimate round of the 2026 ASBK Championship will be held at Morgan Park Raceway from May 29-31. Click on the graphic below to purchase tickets.
Richard Gadson powered his RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki Gen 3 Hayabusa to a runner-up finish, extending his points lead with a third consecutive final-round appearance. Photo courtesy Suzuki.
Reigning Pro Stock Motorcycle world champion Richard Gadson advanced to his third-straight final-round appearance of the season and extended his championship lead with a runner-up finish aboard his RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki Gen 3 Hayabusa at the NHRA Southern Nationals at South Georgia Motorsports Park in Adel, GA, on Sunday.
Race Highlights:
Richard Gadson qualified third, finished runner-up and extended his points lead
Gaige Herrera qualified second and advanced to the semi-final round
Expectations were high for the new venue on the NHRA circuit, which hosted its first ever NHRA national event this weekend, after record-setting top speeds were posted in several classes on Friday.
Following a long delay brought on by Saturday morning rain showers, Richard Gadson qualified third with a 6.730-second/201.37 mph run when qualification rounds resumed later in the afternoon. But Saturday’s rain ushered in significant changes to track conditions that made Sunday’s elimination rounds challenging for tuners and racers in all classes.
In round one, Gadson defeated Geno Scali (6.940 seconds/194.77 mph) with a 6.759-second/201.40 mph run, then advanced to the semi-finals with a 6.770-second/201.40 mph second-round victory over Clayton Howey (foul).
The semi-final round set up the first head-to-head matchup of this season between Gadson and his RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki teammate, Gaige Herrera, who came out on top of a four-way battle in the final round of the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals last week.
Looking to avenge his loss in Charlotte, Gadson ran 6.756 seconds at 201.46 mph, turning the tables on Herrera (6.783 seconds/199.14 mph) and advancing to his 12th career final round appearance.
In the final round, Gadson got a starting line advantage over Matt Smith but had to roll off the throttle after his motorcycle drifted near the centerline and slowed to 6.834 seconds at 193.24 mph, coming up short against his opponent’s 6.724-second/202.06 mph run.
With his third-straight final round appearance this season and second runner-up finish in as many weeks, Gadson extended his championship advantage to 51 points.
“Matt’s in the groove right now. He’s got a good package and he’s doing a good job with it. I wish I could have given him a better race in the finals, but lane choice really dictated a lot this weekend. I didn’t have it in the finals and, as soon as I popped the clutch, I knew we had a problem. My motorcycle spun the rear tire a little and when the front wheel set back down it started to wash out the front end and I couldn’t correct it. I need flawless runs to put up the numbers the top guys are running right now, and that wasn’t a flawless run,” Gadson said.
“Overall, I’m happy with the weekend. While some others are having momentum swings up and down, smooth and steady is doing it for me. Three events this year, three final rounds and one win,” he said. “It’s a long season. At the beginning of the year, I said I was going to have to withstand the assaults that would come from Gaige and Matt, who are both really motivated to take the championship back from me. We’re a fighting team and we’ll figure it out, keep trying to find ways to get better, be better and we’ll see them again in two weeks.
Gaige Herrera raced his RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki Gen 3 Hayabusa to the semi-finals on Sunday. Photo courtesy Suzuki.
On Saturday, Gaige Herrera posted his best qualifying effort of the season so far, locking down the second spot in the starting order with 6.705-second/202.30 mph run that was just three-thousands of a second off the pace of polesitter Matt Smith.
Herrera won his first-round matchup against Charles Poskey (6.935 seconds/195.33 mph) with a 6.707-second/199.52 mph pass that was low-ET of the round. In round two, Herrera posted a 6.775-second/199.40 mph run to advance past Jianna Evaristo (6.847 seconds/200.44 mph) into the semi-finals, where he came up short against Gadson.
“I’ve raced here quite a bit in other classes and like it a lot. It’s a beautiful facility and the surface is usually nice and smooth. This weekend the track started out good but got a little greasy after the rain on Saturday and the heat today. It was tricky and felt a one-lane racetrack. We couldn’t leave the starting line with the 60-foot times we needed to run the big numbers,” Herrera said. “But we did the best we could with what was given, and with Richard being runner-up and me making the semi-final, we probably couldn’t ask for much more under the circumstances.”
Despite the facility having a reputation for a glass-smooth surface that makes it a popular venue for off-season testing, RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki crew chief Andrew Hines said the changes in weather and track preparation made racing difficult on Sunday.
“It’s one of the biggest swings in track conditions we’ve seen in a long time, especially from yesterday to today. When the sun did come out, it got greasy and having lane choice became a huge advantage, which we didn’t have in the final,” Hines said.
“We’re also carrying a 30-pound weight disadvantage to the Buells per the NHRA regulations, which makes it harder to accelerate our motorcycles off the starting line. We really need to crush the 60-foot times to run the numbers they can put up, and when the traction goes away, we just can’t get there,” he said.
“We snuck through the first two races and came home with Wallys when we felt like we could have easily been beaten at those races, but our team and riders outperformed,” Hines said. “The class is getting tougher. There are strong Suzukis and V-Twins all around us. The NHRA is looking for a change of outcome, not necessarily parity before they will make any competition adjustments. We’ll have to see where cards fall over the next few races.”
After the third of 14 rounds in the 2026 Pro Stock Motorcycle season, Gadson and Herrera sit first and second in the championship standings with 316 and 265 points, respectively.
The RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines team returns to action May 14-17 at the Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, IL.
Jonas Folger will replace Maverick Viñales for Le Mans. Photo courtesy MotoGP.
The German rider gets the call up for the Red Bull KTM Tech3 team as the #12 continues his recovery.
Red Bull KTM Tech3 will count on former rider Jonas Folger to fill their two-rider line-up at Le Mans this week for the Michelin® Grand Prix of France. KTM say Viñales is recovering well from recent left shoulder surgery but the fifth round of the season has come just a few days too early for #12.
Viñales made a visit to the Red Bull Athlete Performance Centre (APC) last week and made the decision to extend his absence to ensure he returns to his KTM machinery at full fitness. Therefore, the KTM RC16 next to Enea Bastianini in the Red Bull KTM Tech3 pitbox will be steered by Jonas Folger.
The 32-year-old German has made all 19 of his premier class starts with the team, impressing with a podium finish at his home race at the Sachsenring in 2017, and most recently stepping in as replacement rider for Pol Espargaró in April 2023. Folger is a winner in Moto3™ and Moto2™ and last competed in the 2023 Dutch Grand Prix, scoring points at TT Circuit Assen.
Jonas Folger: “First of all, I want to wish Maverick a strong and quick recovery. On a personal level, I am really excited to be coming back together with all the guys at Tech3 — I have some history with this team and it will be great to see everyone again. Le Mans will be a big challenge, going back after so many years away from racing, and getting back on the bike will mean adapting quickly and learning a lot across the weekend. It is going to be tough, for sure, but I believe the positives outweigh the difficulties and I am very much looking forward to it. I cannot wait.”
Maverick Viñales: “I’ve been working hard since the surgery to fully recover and have always had Le Mans in my head as my target race to return. However, after attending the APC this week, I have been advised that I am not yet strong enough to jump back on the bike. Whilst I am disappointed, I understand being back to full strength is the most important thing and I will keep my head down and prioritise that.”
Pit Beirer, KTM Motorsports Director: “This was not an easy decision for Maverick to make but we fully understand the desire to return to the paddock when he is ready to race. He just needs a bit more time and we know his potential. For Le Mans we’re thankful that the Tech3 team could call on Jonas and we’re pleased he accepted the challenge with Pol [Espargaro] also recovering from his training issue. MotoGP is so tight and competitive, as well as complex for the racers, so big respect to Jonas and I hope he enjoys the Grand Prix.”
Nicolas Goyon, Red Bull KTM Tech3 Team Manager: “We have said from the very beginning that Maverick’s health and his recovery is the most important thing, so whilst it is disappointing he will not be with us at our home race, he knows his own body and when he will be ready to return. It is an important weekend for us as we are racing in front of our friends, family and fans, so it will be great to have two bikes back on track and Jonas back with us at Tech3. Following the test in Jerez, Enea has made great progress on the bike and is feeling confident heading into the Grand Prix, so we are positive we can have a strong weekend at home.”
Tune in this weekend for the French GP to see how the team does on home turf ahead of Viñales’ return.
Nicolo Bulega (11) and Iker Lecuona (7) at Balaton Park. Photo courtesy Ducati.
More from a press release issued by Aruba.it Ducati:
Bulega dominates again at Balaton to take his twelfth win of the 2026 WorldSBK season. Lecuona completes a ninth consecutive 1-2 result for Aruba.it Racing – Ducati with second place.
The Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team has wrapped up another triumphant weekend. Nicolò Bulega and Iker Lecuona were unrivalled, finishing first and second once again at the Balaton circuit (Hungary).
The Italian rider has extended his all-time WorldSBK record to 16 consecutive victories. Lecuona, who put in a solid performance in the Superpole Race to secure second on the grid for Race 2, tried to challenge his team-mate in the first seven laps, eventually finishing second.
For the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team, this marks the ninth consecutive one-two finish in the 2026 WorldSBK season.
The Aruba.it Racing Team Ducati crew erupts in celebration at Balaton Park, honoring Nicolò Bulega for his stunning first-place finish and Iker Lecuona for securing second. Photo courtesy Ducati.
Nicolò Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #11): “Another fantastic weekend that makes me very happy. It’s no secret that this is the track least suited to my riding style. Achieving these results, therefore, gives me great satisfaction. I’d like to thank the team, who are doing an extraordinary job. See you at Most.”
Iker Lecuona (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #7): “I’m pleased with these results, which have contributed to another extraordinary weekend for the team. Could we have done more? Yes, of course. Physically, I wasn’t 100% due to the stomach problem I had on Thursday, but the feeling improved session by session and that gives me great confidence.”
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More from a press release issued by Barni Racing Team:
Third place and Best Independent for Montella, while Bautista ends a challenging Sunday in Race 2 after a comeback ride in the Superpole Race.
An intense and action-packed Sunday for the Barni Spark Racing Team. The Superpole Race, originally scheduled over 10 laps, was interrupted by a red flag after only a few laps following an incident involving Oliveira and Locatelli. At the restart, shortened to 8 laps, the race immediately came alive. Montella, starting from the front row, lost ground in the opening stages due to a battle with Baldassarri, but fought back with determination, climbing up to fifth position. Bautista, meanwhile, made the most of the second start, gaining positions and finishing fourth after a solid and progressive race.
In Race 2, run over 21 laps, Montella delivered a strong and fast performance. After a hard-fought start, the Italian rider quickly found his rhythm, consolidating third place and confidently managing the gap over the chasing pack. Lap after lap, he maintained a consistent pace, never leaving the podium positions, crossing the finish line in P3 and also securing the Best Independent Rider award.
A more difficult race for Bautista. After an excellent start that had brought him into the leading positions, the Spaniard became involved in several battles within the midfield group, losing ground as the laps went by. In the closing stages, a long lap penalty for exceeding track limits at Turn 9 definitively compromised his race, forcing him to finish in eleventh position.
The Barni Spark Racing Team leaves Balaton holding second place in the teams’ championship standings. The next WorldSBK round will take place at Most from May 15th to 17th.
Alvaro Bautista (19) at Balaton Park. Photo courtesy WSBK.
Álvaro Bautista, #19: “Today was a bit of a bittersweet Sunday. We kept working to improve the feeling with the bike, and during warm-up we tried a change that seemed promising. In the Superpole Race the pace was quite good, but unfortunately in Race 2 it didn’t deliver the results we expected. I never really felt comfortable on the bike and I struggled a lot. I made a good start, but afterwards I couldn’t ride the way I wanted. At that point, the only thing I could do was bring the bike to the finish line. I’m sorry because we are working well, but not everything we try works as expected. Still, we can take away some positives and we’ll try to put everything together for the next round, with the goal of continuing to improve.”
Yari Montella (5) at Balaton Park. Photo courtesy WSBK.
Yari Montella, #5: “I’m extremely happy! We did a fantastic job. Getting a podium here in Balaton, on a circuit that isn’t among my favourites, is something special. We built the weekend step by step from FP1, improving session after session. Between the Superpole Race and Race 2 we made some changes that proved decisive. We managed to bring home a very important podium. The race was enjoyable in some aspects and more difficult in others. At the beginning, I used the chaos of the opening laps to create a gap and try to break away. Fortunately, I managed to build an advantage of around two seconds, which then allowed me to manage the race. Towards the end I struggled a bit with rear grip and Baldassarri got closer, but I was able to control the situation. It’s an important and solid podium. I’m really happy for myself, for the team, for all the people working for me back home and for my sponsors.”
Marco Barnabò, Team Principal: “I’m very satisfied with Yari’s podium, but also with the Superpole Race, where we finished fourth and fifth. With Yari, I’m pleased with the work we did. Since Friday we improved in every session and eventually secured the podium in Race 2. With Álvaro we understood that we are reaching a limit. We are carrying out many tests and working hard on the setup to give him confidence and put him in the best condition to express his potential, but probably one of the changes we made didn’t work as expected in Race 2. In the short race things had gone very well, but we wanted to do even better. Over the next few days we will carefully analyse the data to understand how to intervene ahead of the next round. I would like to thank all our sponsors for their support.”
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More from a press release issued by Team Goeleven:
Baldassarri’s response, second podium of the season on Sunday at Balaton.
After a crash like yesterday’s, it would have been easy to lose confidence; but Balda responded with two incredible races on Sunday in Hungary. A podium finish in the morning, fourth place, just close to third place in Race 2, keeping everyone on the edge of their seats for a great comeback!
Here at Balaton, the Warm Up was perhaps the most important session of the whole weekend for both Lorenzo and Team Go Eleven; it was crucial to check the second bike was working well, and the rider also needed to find the confidence for the races. After a few laps, he managed to get an excellent low 39; mental reset after yesterday was complete!
In the Superpole Race, number 34 got off to a good start, closing the line in Turn 1, and thanks to the collisions around him, he found himself in first place! He barely had time to realize it before the red flag came out for yet another collision and subsequent crash. The race restarted, and Balda took third place at Turn 2, overtaking Montella. He set his pace, he is faster than the guys behind him, and no one could keep up. He remained focused until the finish line, got his second podium of the season, and his first in a Superpole Race! He had a fantastic race, incredibly fast, with only the two factory Ducatis ahead of him.
Superpole Race:
P 1 N. Bulega 13’10.468
P 2 I. Lecuona + 0.894
P 3 L. Baldassarri + 5.103
Lorenzo Baldassarri and his team in the parc fermé after his third place during the Superpole race at Balaton Park. Photo courtesy Team Goeleven.
In Race Two, the first lap was an open battle; Balda lost a few positions, but by the final Balaton chicane, he was already hot on Bautista’s heels for third place. He tried, getting the inside, but he couldn’t stop correctly and was forced to cut the chicane. Montella passed them both and opened up a gap. To avoid a penalty for cutting the chicane, the Go Eleven rider slowed and let an opponent pass. He then overtake McKenzie and began his comeback on the number 5 Barni rider. The two rode similar, the gap was almost three seconds, but Balda didn’t give up; lap after lap, he snipped off tenths of a second, and in the final seven laps, he was clearly the second-fastest rider on the track, working his way up to Montella’s exhausts. At the end of the race, he crossed the finish line in fourth, half a second off the podium. Another amazing race, another result to remember! It’s a bittersweet feeling because the podium was right there, so close, and if he had lost less time at the start of the race, it would have been possible.
Race 2:
P 1 N. Bulega 34’39.980
P 2 I. Lecuona + 2.557
P 3 Y. Montella + 11.970
P 4 L. Baldassarri + 12.478
22 points earned this Sunday, a significant result for the Championship that almost erases yesterday’s zero. Four points from fifth place, 20 from third, prove an incredible start to the season for Balda and the whole Go Eleven Team. Today, an answer was needed, and the answer is stronger than any doubt: keep going, because with every race we’re getting closer to the red duo!
Lorenzo Baldassarri (34) at Balaton Park. Photo courtesy Team Goeleven.
Lorenzo Baldassarri (Rider): “After what happened yesterday, it wasn’t given that I’d have a Sunday like this: a podium this morning, fourth place this afternoon. On the eve of the weekend, I would have signed up for two results like that, and today I almost didn’t race due to the consequences of the crash! Today, however, I woke up well, I wasn’t in too much pain, and I immediately regained the right confidence with the bike. I’m a little disappointed about the end of race 2. My pace was incredible and I knew I was faster, but I started from far away after the chaos of the first laps. This morning, however, the podium in the Superpole Race was incredible and perhaps even more valuable than the one in Australia, because it’s a race where I struggle. This weekend, I have to thank the whole team and the mechanics. They rebuilt a bike, they stayed up late last night to give me a perfect bike today. I’m happy to have repaid them with a nice third place!”
Denis Sacchetti (Team Manager): “I’m really happy with the team today, and especially with Lorenzo, who gave a great response. After yesterday’s crash, it wasn’t easy to get going again, but instead he came back even stronger and more determined, demonstrating his maturity and professionalism with incredible grit. This morning’s podium is confirmation of his strength, and in Race 2, fourth place left us bittersweet taste. Maybe one more lap and we could have come home with another podium. The championship is still long, and we’re there in every race. We’re growing together, we’re having fun together, and we can achieve even greater results if we keep working focused and calmly on our path!”
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More from a press release issued by Kawasaki:
Garrett Gerloff (Kawasaki WorldSBK Team) secured his best race result since joining Kawasaki in 2025 after finishing fifth in the second 21-lap race at Balaton Park in Hungary.
On Sunday, 3 May, Gerloff found good pace in the Superpole Race, but his top five finish in Race Two topped any single result he has had on the Ninja ZX-10RR in WorldSBK.
The Superpole Race in the morning was scheduled to be run over the traditional ten laps, but was contested over eight, due to a lap one collision involving three riders.
Garrett had a strong ride into a final eighth place in the shortened race, and as a result, started Race Two in eighth place on the grid. He was the second non-Ducati rider inside the top eight places in the ‘sprint’ race.
In Race Two, Garrett went three places better in one regard and one place better in another, as he was the first non-Ducati rider home this time, after a top-class performance to make it up to fifth place. After some surprisingly disappointing results at the previous round in Assen, Gerloff was particularly pleased to put in the kind of top five ride he and his team know they are capable of.
Garrett Gerloff (31) at Balaton Park. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
In the championship, Garrett is 14th overall, with 40 points, having posted ever-improving race results of 13th, eighth, and fifth at Balaton.
Autodrom Most in Czechia will be the venue for the fifth round of the championship, to be held between 15-17 May.
Garrett Gerloff stated:“I felt a lot better today than I did at Assen last time out. That was one of the worst weekends I have had, and it felt difficult to explain – because I felt I was doing pretty well with my riding and I felt the bike was working not too badly – but we seemed to have no speed all weekend. I was just scratching my head. It is so difficult as a rider not to think that ‘you are just slow now’. So it was nice to come here to Balaton, make changes, and every change we made was helping me feel better and better. To finish with a top five in Race Two was one of the best things I could do for the team and myself. It has given us a lot of motivation to stay strong for the rest of the season.”
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More from a press release issued by Marc VDS Team:
A brilliant ride into the top six in Race 2 at Hungary’s Balaton Park Circuit ensured Elf Marc VDS Racing Team rider Sam Lowes ended round four in this year’s WorldSBK Championship on a high note.
Ninth after serving a double Long Lap penalty for a jump start in Race 1 yesterday and denied the chance to fight for a top result in the Superpole clash by a technical issue this morning, Lowes bounced back in style to claim a hard fought sixth over 21 laps in Race 2.
Lowes remains third in the World Championship standings on 99 points moving to the fifth round of the series at the Most track in the Czech Republic on the weekend of May 15-17.
Sam Lowes at Balaton Park. Photo courtesy Marc VDS Team.
Sunday’s race action got off to a dramatic start in the 10-lap Superpole Race battle that was red flagged on the opening lap after an incident at turn six involving Andrea Locatelli and Miguel Oliviera, which Lowes unfortunately found himself caught up in.
Upon further investigation by the FIM WorldSBK Stewards, Lowes was cleared of having any involvement in the cause of the incident, while Locatelli was given a double Long Lap penalty for irresponsible riding to serve when the race restarted over a shortened distance of eight laps.
Immediately after the restart, Lowes began to encounter gear selection issues which became progressively worse and he was unable to properly change gear as a result of damage to his quickshifter sustained in the first part of the race, he quickly dropped out of top six contention to finish in P20.
Determined to bounce back in style in Race 2, Lowes duly obliged and in the early stages he was pitched into an all-Brit battle with Tarran Mackenzie and twin brother Alex before the latter fell out of contention on lap eight.
The 35-year-old moved up the order into seventh on lap 11 and next in his sights was Alberto Surra, who at one stage was over three seconds clear of Lowes.
Lowes pounced to seize sixth position on lap 15 and it was a place he secured quite brilliantly with some impressive late race pace that saw him set his best time of 1:39.488 with three laps remaining.
Sam Lowes at Balaton Park. Photo courtesy Marc VDS Team.
Sam Lowes:
Superpole Race: 20th
Race 2: 6th
Sam Lowes:“Overall, I have to say it was a difficult weekend and certainly not the results that we wanted to leave with. In Race 2, I didn’t get a great start and then didn’t get going for a couple of laps and in WorldSBK these days it is difficult to come forward and make things happen. I dug in though until the last lap and picked up a top six and those points could prove to be very important for the Championship later in the season. It’s fair to say at times this weekend I’ve been a bit unlucky in critical moments, and I think that definitely had an impact on our Sunday. In Race 1 I jumped the start but fought my way back into the top 10 after the penalty and Race 2 was decent. In the longer races I performed pretty well considering where I came from. I didn’t make any big mistakes, and we managed to show our battling qualities. I’m still third in the Championship, so we will focus on the positives and look to get back in that podium fight in Most.”
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More from a press release issued by GYTR GRT Yamaha:
Gardner and Manzi Secure Top-10 Finishes at Balaton on Sunday.
The GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team concluded the weekend on a positive note, with Remy Gardner finishing ninth and Stefano Manzi tenth in the final feature race, collecting valuable points at the end of Round 4 of the 2026 FIM World Superbike Championship.
Gardner began the day with the final Warm Up session before heading into the Tissot Superpole Race confident of delivering a strong result. In a shortened eight-lap race due to a red flag, he fought hard and recovered to finish 11th, narrowly missing out on a top-nine position that would have secured a third-row start.
Starting 12th on the grid for Race 2, the Australian rider delivered a strong performance from the outset. After a solid opening lap, the 28-year-old showed consistent race pace throughout the 21-lap contest, moving into the top ten. Maintaining a strong rhythm until the chequered flag, Gardner crossed the line in ninth place, demonstrating clear progress.
On the other side of the garage, Stefano Manzi also enjoyed a productive Sunday. Starting 19th in the Superpole Race, he made up several positions to finish 14th, showcasing strong speed. Carrying that momentum into Race 2, Manzi started 17th and fought his way through the field, gaining seven positions with an impressive pace to finish tenth, just behind his teammate.
Both riders will return to action in a few weeks for Round 5, as the GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team heads to Autodrom Most in the Czech Republic.
Remy Gardner – Superpole Race: P11 / Race 2: P9: “Overall, it was a positive end to the weekend. We made some solid improvements from yesterday, and we need to focus on the positives. In the Superpole Race, we were close to the top nine, which would have helped for Race 2, but it wasn’t a bad result. In Race 2, I was able to maintain a good pace until the end, which is encouraging, and finishing ninth shows good progress considering where we started. We’ll aim to carry this momentum into Most with confidence, as it’s a track where we’ve performed well in the past.”
Stefano Manzi – Superpole Race: P14 / Race 2: P10: “It was another solid Sunday, and it’s becoming a consistent trend. Once again, we made strong progress from Friday, and I’m happy with the improvements. At the same time, it motivates us even more, as we know there is still untapped potential if we can start the weekend stronger. Today our pace was good, especially in the latter stages, and I was able to catch Remy and battle with him until the end. I’m looking forward to getting back on track in a few weeks and making further progress. Finally, I’d like to congratulate my crew chief Tommaso and his wife on the birth of their third son—huge congratulations to them!”
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More from a press release issued by GYTR GRT Yamaha:
Sunday Potential Not Fulfilled for Pata Maxus Yamaha at Balaton Park’s Hungarian WorldSBK. Xavi Vierge, Andrea Locatelli and Pata Maxus Yamaha were disappointed to not be able to maximise their full potential on Sunday at Round 4 of the 2026 FIM Superbike World Championship at Balaton Park in Hungary, today.
Vierge did everything possible to overcome a difficult qualifying position throughout the weekend, once again coming through from P17 on the grid in the Superpole Race to the top 10 this morning, just one place shy of an improved slot for Race 2. The Spanish rider started from P15 in Race 2, but struggled under braking and with rear grip in the second half of the race, finishing 12th at the line.
This morning’s Superpole Race was also red-flagged following an unfortunate accident where Locatelli and Miguel Oliveira crashed at Turn 6, in a Lap 1 racing incident. In the revised 8 Lap restart, the team’s #55 rider served a Double Long Lap Penalty for what Race Direction deemed to be irresponsible riding – crossing the line in 13th place and putting Locatelli on the fourth row of the grid for Race 2.
An as yet unexplained high-side in Turn 17 at the end of the opening lap of the final race of the weekend ended Locatelli’s hopes of a strong Race 2 and opportunity to capitalise on his earlier form.
Beatriz Neila finished second once again for Ampito Crescent Yamaha in the FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship, in an explosive Race 2 that saw four riders fight for the victory until the final corner – while teammate Chloe Jones took ninth place for Monster Energy Crescent Yamaha. Neila lies just 14 points from the championship lead at the halfway point, as the WorldWCR series takes a break from the calendar until Misano next month.
WorldSBK however will be back in action at Most in the Czech Republic in just under two weeks’ time, where Pata Maxus Yamaha has enjoyed podium performances in the past, from 15-17 May.
Xavi Vierge – SPRC: P10 / Race 2: P12: “It has been a very, very difficult Hungarian Round – we have been working like crazy since Friday and it looked like in some parts of the weekend we had some positives, but today in Race 2 I was struggling a lot again especially in the second half of the race. It has been the first really tough weekend together, and there is now a lot to analyse to understand the way to follow. All I can say is thank you to Yamaha and the team for the hard work, and we have a week to look at everything and come back to Most with recharged batteries.”
Andrea Locatelli (55) at Balaton Park. Photo courtesy Pata Maxus Yamaha.
Andrea Locatelli – SPRC: P13 / Race 2: DNF: “The first thing to say is about the Superpole Race – I never want another rider involved in a crash to have an injury and I am so sorry about Miguel. I do not want to speak about the decision of Race Direction to penalise me, it’s better to say nothing. With the penalties and the bad grid position, we had a lot of work to do in Race 2 but I really think we could have done well because my feeling on the bike was good – unfortunately, we do not understand yet what happened with the crash. Some really bad luck for us, but in some ways it was a positive weekend because I had a good feeling on my R1 since Friday and I was quite happy, and I always try to do my best. We need to keep moving forward and looking at the next one, for sure we need to work hard and try to improve to close the gap – this is the reality.”
Paul Denning – Team Principal, Pata Maxus Yamaha: “After a positive Assen and a positive start to the Balaton weekend, it has turned into a difficult Hungarian Round for the Pata Maxus Yamaha team – especially today on Sunday. Yesterday’s Race 1 result gave us encouragement for today with a very solid ride for Loka and a brilliant recovery to the top 10 for Xavi, but today didn’t go to plan. On Andrea’s side, things unravelled not so much with the Lap 1 accident in the Superpole Race but more with the extremely questionable decision to award him a double long lap penalty on the restart, for Irresponsible Riding. Being hit by another rider from behind in a racing incident is one thing, but then to be penalised for it is quite another and we do not understand the decision. This compromised the Superpole Race result and also this afternoon’s Race 2, where instead of being able to start from the second row and find his flow with the fastest riders, Loka was stuck in a group when he fell from contention – we are extremely lucky that Loka has “cosmetic” injuries only after a massive last-corner high-side. From P17 on the grid, Xavi again made a great recovery in the Superpole Race to the top 10, but missed out by just one position to improve his Race 2 grid slot. We’ve been chasing the right set-up for him all weekend and of course, the team and the engineers did everything they could to improve the package for Race 2. However, Xavi suffered under braking and also with grip for the whole race and could only bring it home P12. We missed out on a big haul of points today that could have dramatically improved Loka’s championship position in particular, but we can’t look backwards and we’re now fully focused on Most and performing to our full potential in the Czech Republic.”
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More from a press release issued by Honda HRC:
Chantra improves pace in Race 2 as Kunii gains valuable WorldSBK experience at Balaton. Honda HRC riders Chantra and Kunii round out WorldSBK round four at Balaton Park with a P15 and P16 finish in Sunday’s Race 2.
The Honda HRC team has now completed the fourth Superbike World Championship round, placing fifteenth and sixteenth in Sunday’s final race at Hungary’s Balaton Park with Somkiat Chantra and substitute rider Yuki Kunii.
The warm weather continued today, making for an uninterrupted race day. On track this morning for the Superpole race, Chantra and Kunii lined up on row seven and eight of the grid respectively. The race began on time but an incident on lap one involving Oliviera brought the race to an immediate halt with a red flag. Restarted a short time later, the race was reduced to a distance of just 8 laps.
Chantra and Kunii maintained their starting positions through the initial stages, lapping with half a second of each other for the first few laps. The gaps opened up a little from mid-race on, but both the Thai and Japanese rider maintained their pace, each focused on their own performance. While Chantra gained one position to finish nineteenth, teammate Kunii held twenty-first all the way to the line.
The weekend’s second and final 21-lap race ran mid-afternoon in dry, sunny conditions. Chantra and Kunii both gained two positions in the early stages following mistakes for riders up ahead. Establishing a consistent rhythm, the pair continued to work hard and stay out of trouble, in light of further incidents involving other riders. Somkiat consistently improved his pace, setting his best lap of the weekend on the penultimate lap after moving into the points zone on lap seven. Holding fifteenth for the remainder of the race, Chantra completed the race to score one championship point. Replacement rider Yuki did his best to keep his teammate within sight, eventually crossing the line in P16.
Somkiat Chantra (35) and Yuki Kunii (92) at Balaton Park. Photo courtesy Honda HRC.
Somkiat Chantra:“Today we had both the Superpole Race and Race 2. In the Superpole Race, we made some changes to the bike and electronics, and the feeling was a bit better. My pace was more consistent, so that was a positive step. The race itself was not bad, but I was a bit unlucky at the start, stuck behind other riders, and it was difficult to overtake, especially through the opening corners. In Race 2, we struggled more in the early laps because I had some rear spinning but during the race I was able to improve my pace. I focused on being more consistent and was able to set my best lap of the weekend. Overall, there are some small positives, like finishing in the points today. I want to thank the team for their hard work. We know we are still not where we want to be, so we will keep working hard and pushing step by step to move closer to the front.”
Yuki Kunii (92) at Balaton Park. Photo courtesy Honda HRC.
Yuki Kunii: “Today was another new experience for me, especially with the Superpole Race, which was very short and intense. With the red flag and the restarted race run over just eight laps, it was quite crazy. I did my best, but I wasn’t feeling completely comfortable on the bike and made a few mistakes. We had tried a small setup change, but for Race 2 we decided to go back with the setting, and the feeling improved. From start to finish, I was able to push a bit more compared to yesterday and, overall, I’m happy with the weekend. Being part of a full factory team like Honda HRC has been an amazing experience. At the same time, it reminded me how high the level of this championship is, and how much I still need to improve, especially in managing the bike over race distance. I want to thank Honda HRC and team for the opportunity.”
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More from a press release issued by Bimota by Kawasaki:
BbKRT rider Alex Lowes secured a seventh-place finish in the WorldSBK Superpole Race at Balaton Park, and that proved to be the best single bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team result on the final day of the fourth round.
The race weekend in Hungary was blessed with warm and dry weather from the first practice session to the final two races on Sunday, 3 May.
bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team pairing of Lowes and Axel Bassani found little in the way of good fortune on the final day, however, at the unique 4.075km-long Balaton Park Circuit.
The planned ten-lap Superpole Race was shortened to only eight after an opening-lap multiple-rider collision into the T6/7 area. In the restart, Alex would take a positive seventh place in the intense short race, and Axel would end up 15th.
Soon after Race Two had started, Lowes was in a battle within the group chasing the leading riders. While riding in fourth place, he was pushed wide and lost several positions. He was moving forward from then on, but while chasing another competitor in the T9/10 chicane, he touched his rival on the exit of the second apex, crashed out, and was unable to restart.
Bassani experienced an early technical issue with some aspect of his braking system in Race Two and had to retire.
After four rounds and 12 races, Lowes is fifth overall in the championship points table, and Bassani is now ninth. Alex has 82 points and Bassani 67. bimota remains second in the Manufacturers’ Standings and BbKRT is now third in the Teams’ Standings.
The fifth round of the 2026 WorldSBK Championship will take place at the Autodrom Most, in Czechia, between 15-17 May.
Alex Lowes (22) and Sam Lowes (14) at Balaton Park. Photo courtesy Bimota by Kawasaki.
Alex Lowes stated: “Not the Race Two that we wanted. This track is a bit special. It is not easy to pass and you need a good track position. I was really happy with the Superpole Race. We did a good job and even set our best lap of the weekend. In the final race I made a good start and had a really good T1 and T2, in fourth place. This was the main job done as it helps you with track position. Then, Baldassarri hit me and that put me out, so I lost five or six positions. We had made a change on the front of the bike and I could see a few other riders going out of the track, while I was stopping the bike quite well. I was just following Taz Mackenzie through the chicane at T9 and T10 and I think I misjudged his speed in the second apex. I was thinking to pass him in T10 but it completely caught me off guard. I hit the back of him with my hand and lost the front. That is hard to accept because I think we had a really positive weekend, I was maximising the pace we had, made good starts and I was getting myself in good positions. I think with the progress we made from Friday to Saturday to Sunday, it’s a shame to end this weekend with this race. Overall, I think how we did as a team was really good.”
Axel Bassani (47) and Danilo Petrucci (9) at Balaton Park. Photo courtesy bimota by Kawasaki.
Axel Bassani stated: “It was quite a difficult Sunday for us. It started well in FP3, when I had a good pace. Also in the Superpole Race, my pace was really good, but it was quite near to impossible for me to overtake the riders in front of me. When I had the possibility to be free, I was immediately in the 1’39.6 lap times. We know it is difficult for us to overtake, and we finished P15. In Race Two, from the warm-up lap, I had some issues with the front brake, a lot of vibration. I tried to do the first lap of the race, but it was also locking on the straight. It was dangerous for me and the other riders, so I decided to stop. This was really impossible to ride. We will try to recover this week and try to be more ready for the next round in Most.”
Kyle Ryde (1) won at Outlon Park. Photo courtesy BSB.
Kyle Ryde celebrated the opening race win of the 2026 British Superbike Championship at Oulton Park to get his title defence off to the best possible start for the Nitrous Coin Nitrous Competitions Racing team, with the podium locked out by previous champions Leon Haslam and Bradley Ray.
At the start of the race, Ray got off at lightning start on the McAMS Yamaha ahead of Haslam and Storm Stacey with Ryde holding fourth. Haslam grabbed the lead at Old Hall a lap later, but on lap four, the reigning champion was pushing to hit the front.
Ryde made a determined move at Old Hall to take the lead from Haslam, with Ray moving back into third as he duelled with Storm Stacey over the opening laps.
Whilst Ryde held the advantage, Ray was pushing Haslam for second and made a move at Knickerbrook on lap eight. The Moto Rapido Racing rider wasn’t settling for third and Haslam then repaid the pass with an overtake at Lodge a few laps later and despite the pressure, was able to hold second until the chequered flag.
Haslam and Ray had Stacey for company too in the closing stages, but the Bathams AJN Racing Ducati rider had to settle for fourth after just missing a podium position after trying to strike over the final three laps.
Scott Redding finished fifth as the Hager PBM Racing Team rider made his move at Hislops on the final lap after shadowing Max Cook, who had a strong debut on the AJN Steelstock bimota.
Cheshire Mouldings Yamaha’s Rory Skinner held off Ryan Vickers for seventh place with Christian Iddon in ninth. Joe Talbot was the leading rookie with an impressive debut on the AJN Steelstock bimota in tenth place.
British Superbike Race 1 start at Outlon Park. Photo courtesy BSB.
British Superbike Championship, Oulton Park, Race 1 result:
“I am really happy! Honestly I’ve only done about two practice starts, so that was the biggest thing, just to get off the line! The best thing I did today was to qualify on pole, as I knew I was going to lose some time at the start.
“Once I did that and I was fourth or fifth into turn one I knew it wasn’t the end of the world. After three laps, I just tried to force myself through to the front so that I could then get into the 33s and then only the people that could do that would come with me.
“I wasn’t expecting that race to go how it did, but the pit board showed my gap slowly going up – I could almost hear everybody in the garage yelling at me to slow down! So I did and then started making more errors than I had all weekend! It’s a great start to the season and we’ll try again tomorrow.”
Indiana’s Cole Schannen leans into a lefthander at last year’s Mission Mini Cup National Final. Photo by Larry Lawrence.
Buckeye Bonus: Valuable National Final Points Coming To Midwest In 2026.
MotoAmerica, North America’s premier motorcycle road racing series, is proud to announce that Ohio Mini Roadracing League has joined the growing list of organizations hosting qualifiers for the 2026 Mission Mini Cup National Final.
The addition of Ohio Mini Roadracing League further strengthens MotoAmerica’s nationwide grassroots development program by giving riders in Southwest Ohio and the surrounding region an opportunity to earn bonus points and prepare for the biggest Mission Mini Cup event of the season.
“We appreciate the support of the Ohio Mini Roadracing League and their continued commitment to the MotoAmerica Mission Mini Cup Championship,” said Chuck Aksland, COO of MotoAmerica. “Travis Evans and his team are helping grow the Mission Mini Cup system by hosting two races where riders can earn the 10 available bonus points toward the National Final, and we look forward to seeing everyone compete at Road America in August.”
The Mission Mini Cup program features riders aged six to 16 in the following classes:
Stock 50 (ages 6-8)
Stock 110 (ages 8-12)
GP 110 (ages 10-14)
GP 160 (ages 10-14)
GP 190 (ages 12-16)
The Mission Mini Cup Championship serves as the official youth development ladder of MotoAmerica and is a proving ground for the sport’s next generation of professional talent.
“Ohio Mini Roadracing League is thrilled to join the MotoAmerica Mission Mini Cup Championship and bring this nationally recognized format to our riders,” said Travis Evans, President of Ohio Mini Roadracing League. “Our purpose is to advance the sport of motorcycle racing for our young racers, and there is no better way than to partner with MotoAmerica. We can’t wait to watch all the action this summer!”
Michigan native Owen Smith (#40) leading Gira Macanga (#88) through a right-hand sweeper at Road America’s Briggs & Stratton Motorplex. Photo by Larry Lawrence.
The Ohio Mini Roadracing League-hosted Mission Mini Cup qualifiers will take place at G&J Kartway in Camden, Ohio, on May 24, and Adkins Speed Center in Port Washington, Ohio, on June 28.
A one-time, 10-point bonus is awarded to participants in any of the 2026 Mission Mini Cup qualifiers, regardless of the number of events entered and will be used to calculate the final finishing order for the Mission Mini Cup National Final, to be held at Road America’s Briggs & Stratton Motorplex on August 7-9.
Honda, Kawasaki, and Yamaha again are providing manufacturer contingency to support the Stock 50 and Stock 110 classes, further enhancing the offering for riders throughout the 2026 season.
For more details on the Ohio Mini Roadracing League-hosted Mission Mini Cup qualifiers, CLICK HERE
For more details on all available Mission Mini Cup qualifiers, CLICK HERE
To watch all the Mission Mini Cup National Final action this August, CLICK HERE
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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
May 26, 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
Kyle Ryde – Nitrous Coin Nitrous Competitions Racing: 
Kyle Ryde – Nitrous Coin Nitrous Competitions Racing:
