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
Come on, it’s time to check out the best race ever.
You might have noticed, but a lot has been changing in MotoGP recently. New owners, new rules, new tracks and the end of the 1000cc-era. It feels weird, doesn’t it? Most humans, when unsure about the future, start ruminating on the past in search of answers. After all, it’s often only when seeing where we came from that we can actually see how far we’ve come and how much things changed. But turn back the clock by, say, twenty years. What do we find? Well, it’s the 990cc’s last hurrah. There’s money galore, courtesy of the tobacco companies, but those sponsors aren’t coming back next year. In other words: it’s the end of an era, all over again.
So, Valencia 2006. In one corner, there’s the late but great Nicky Hayden, aka The Kentucky Kid. In the other corner, it’s Il Dottore himself. Whoever wins the race, wins the tournament. It’s one of the greatest underdog stories in the MotoGP’s history, ending in ‘the greatest quote of my life’.
That’s Mat’s words, by the way.
So come join us this week as we go back in time and rewatch this legendary race. Go here(right at the 4:00 minute mark!), mute the video, press start when we tell you and enjoy the live commentary!
Want more? Visit our website or support us on Patreon. With big thanks as always to Brad Baloo from The Next Men and Gentleman’s Dub Club for writing our theme song. Check out The Nextmen for more great music!
And thanks to our sponsors, OnTrack Experiences. Check them out if you want an easy all-in-one package for your favourite race!
Oh, and a quick word in regards to sponsors:
If you’re interested in connecting with a really unique MotoGP audience — we’re working with Smash Brand Group out of Sydney to manage partnerships. Curious? Just head to smashbrandgroup.com.au and get in touch!
DENVER – The penultimate race of a historic 2026 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship traveled to the Mile High City for Round 16 of the Monster Energy SMX World Championship, where a jubilant crowd gathered inside Empower Field at Mile High to watch the latest chapter in one of the closest 450SMX Class title fights of all time. On a night in which he would greatly benefit from a winning performance, Honda HRC Progressive’s Hunter Lawrence rose to the occasion to wrestle away the championship momentum from points leader and Progressive Insurance Cycle Gear Suzuki racer Ken Roczen to set up the first winner-take-all showdown between two international athletes at the season finale.
Hunter Lawrence Grabs Championship Momentum in Denver to Set Up Monster Energy Supercross Final Showdown
The tension packed 20 Minutes + 1 Lap 450SMX Class Main Event began with a holeshot by Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jorge Prado, just ahead of Lawrence and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Eli Tomac, the Colorado native making his anticipated return from injury. Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cooper Webb, the reigning Supercross champion, slotted into fourth ahead of Roczen, who was carrying the red plate for the first time this season. Lawrence went on the attack immediately and was able to take control of the race lead on the second lap, as Webb slotted into third and Roczen up to fourth after Tomac stalled his motorcycle and lost several positions.
A clear track allowed Lawrence to sprint to a multi-second gap over the field, which forced Roczen to push the pace and move forward. The German native got by Webb and then made his way around Prado to move into second. Roczen faced about a 4.5 second deficit to Lawrence with just under 17 minutes left in the race. As the lead pair pulled away, a spirited battle for third unfolded between Prado, Webb, and Tomac, who bounced back from his early misfortune. The hometown favorite got by both riders to move within podium position just past the halfway point of the race. Lawrence, meanwhile, added to his lead and moved out nearly 10 seconds clear of Roczen. The Australian continued to build on his advantage to put the race out of reach.
Lawrence wrapped up his fifth win of the season by 13.2 seconds over Roczen to swing the championship momentum into the Honda rider’s favor. Tomac rode to his ninth podium finish of the season in third after missing the previous two races. It marked the 111th podium of his Supercross career, which moved him into a tie with the “King of Supercross” Jeremy McGrath for second all-time.
Just a single point separates Lawrence and Roczen heading to the Salt Lake City finale, with Roczen holding the slim edge. The duo shares the class lead in both wins, with five apiece, and podiums, with 12 each, and are in pursuit of their maiden premier class crown in Supercross. They’ll be the lone combatants for the championship after mathematically eliminating Webb, who finished 11th following a late crash with Prado.
In support of the championship coming down to the wire, fans of Monster Energy Supercross still have time to enter the Kickstart for a Cause: Love Moto Stop Cancer campaign for a chance to win Ken Roczen’s Supercross Race Bike, a race set up Suzuki RM-Z450, by giving to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. A minimum donation of $1 provides 10 entries, while larger donations go further to provide crucial help for St. Jude patients in a variety of ways. The deadline to enter is 11:59 p.m. PT on Monday, May 4, with a winner announced via random draw at the Salt Lake City Supercross Final.
Honda HRC Progressive’s Hunter Lawrence captured a dominant and crucial victory in the historically close 450SMX Class title fight. Photo courtesy SMX
Hunter Lawrence – 1st Place – 450SMX Class:
“It’s good. When I see the [30] second board go sideways I get so excited. Let’s go out, have fun, and do what I love to do. It couldn’t have been much better than that. I’m really happy. Let’s go to Salt Lake, baby.”
Progressive Insurance Cycle Gear Suzuki’s Ken Roczen maintained his slim hold of the red place with a runner-up finish. Photo courtesy SMX
Ken Roczen – 2nd Place – 450SMX Class:
“It was a great race, I’m honestly happy with it. I just wasn’t fast enough, all day really. I know I had a great lap in Qualifying, but Hunter [Lawrence] was on it all day. Once I got into second, I tried a little bit [to catch Lawrence] but I didn’t want to override because it was going to be a long Main Event. I just settled into second. We had a four-point lead, it’s one point now. It is what it is going into the last race. That’s most exciting for the fans, us, and everyone.”
In his anticipated return to action Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Eli Tomac gave the home crowd something to cheer about with a podium effort. Photo courtesy SMX
Eli Tomac – 3rd Place – 450SMX Class:
“I’m just glad to land on the podium for the Colorado fans. I was so bummed when I stalled in the sand. I was able to claw back and have some fun on this track. It was a good bounce back [from the miscue]. I’m just happy to be back for these last two rounds. I love being on the West Coast and we’ll try to go get another podium next week.”
A single point separates Lawrence and Roczen entering the Salt Lake City finale. Photo courtesy SMX
450SMX Class Podium (left to right): Ken Roczen, Hunter Lawrence, and Eli Tomac. Photo courtesy SMX
Haiden Deegan Continues Reign of Dominance in 250SMX West Division
Even though the championship had already been decided, anticipation was high for the return of the Western Divisional 250SMX Class, which last competed for a standalone race in February. All eyes were on newly crowned back-to-back champion Haiden Deegan and his Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing squad, as both have been in the midst of dominant seasons rewriting the record books. The 15 Minutes + 1 Lap Main Event kicked off with the Star Yamaha duo of Deegan and Max Anstie side-by-side, as Anstie narrowly grabbed the holeshot but quickly gave way to Deegan, who sprinted out to a multi-second advantage. Anstie proceeded to drop to fifth as Toyota Redlands BarX Yamaha’s Lux Turner moved up to second, Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Levi Kitchen up to third, and Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Ryder DiFrancesco into fourth.
As Deegan’s lead grew to nearly five seconds, Kitchen was able to take control of second from Turner, as the Yamaha rider soon dropped out of podium position following passes by DiFrancesco and Anstie. The lead group went unchanged through the remainder of the race as Deegan managed a gap between five and six seconds over Kitchen, who strengthened his hold of second as the race wore on while DiFrancesco did the same from third.
Deegan lapped his way up into the top 10 and cruised to his seventh victory of the season, the most in all of Monster Energy Supercross, by a margin of 3.5 seconds over Kitchen, with DiFrancesco in third. Deegan’s triumph signified the 14th win of his career, which moved him into sole possession of third on the all-time 250SMX Class wins list in Supercross. It also set a new single season record for 250SMX Class wins by a manufacturer with 15, which have come from five different Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing athletes.
With the title in hand, Deegan heads to the East/West Showdown in Salt Lake City with an eye on cementing his status as one of the all-time greats in the smaller displacement in his final 250SMX Class start. The battle for second in the championship will come down to the wire between Kitchen (2nd), Anstie (3rd), and DiFrancesco (4th) with eight points separating the trio.
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan’s first race as West Division Champion featured a dominant performance for his seventh win of the season. Photo courtesy SMX
Haiden Deegan – 1st Place – Western Divisional 250SMX Class:
“I’ve got to get [more] 250 [class] wins and add it to the record books. That was a good race; a perfect start and led it [from the beginning]. I got up to about a six second gap and just tried to pace myself and put on a show for the Colorado fans.”
Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Levi Kitchen went unchallenged on the way to a second-place finish. Photo courtesy SMX
Levi Kitchen – 2nd Place – Western Divisional 250SMX Class:
“I’m actually really happy. Last week I hadn’t rode yet and I wasn’t sure if I was going to race. I had a really good week and I’m pumped [with this result]. I got up into second and just tried to put good laps in. The track was really difficult and could kind of bite you. I’m looking forward to finishing Supercross and heading outdoors.”
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Ryder DiFrancesco earned his third podium result of the season in third. Photo courtesy SMX
Ryder DiFrancesco – 3rd Place – Western Divisional 250SMX Class:
“Moving up the championship standings has been the goal the past few weeks. Second would be ideal. Tonight, once I got into third there wasn’t really anything I could do. I just pulled it in and finished with a solid effort. We’ll go to Salt Lake City and try to stack [more] points.”
Western Divisional 250SMX Class Podium (left to right): Levi Kitchen, Haiden Deegan, and Ryder DiFrancesco. Photo courtesy SMX.
The Monster Energy SMX World Championship and Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship will come to a thrilling and history-making conclusion next Saturday, May 9, with the Round 17 finale from Salt Lake City’s Rice-Eccles Stadium. Live comprehensive broadcast coverage will be available exclusively on Peacock, beginning at 1 p.m. ET with Race Day Live, followed by a special Pre-Race Show at 6:30 p.m. ET before Gate Drop at 7 p.m. ET. A special encore network presentation will air on NBC on Sunday, May 10, at 3 p.m. ET. Additionally, a domestic Spanish language broadcast is available on Peacock while international viewers can choose from dedicated English, French, and Spanish broadcasts via SMX Video Pass (www.SMXVideoPass.com).
All 17 rounds of the 2026 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship and 11 rounds of the Pro Motocross Championship are on sale. Tickets for the SMX World Championship Playoff Rounds and Final are now on sale at Supermotocross.com. Saturday FanFest will take place at all postseason races, Friday FanFest and camping will be available in Columbus and Ridgedale, additional details to follow.
For information about the Monster Energy SMX World Championship, please visit www.SuperMotocross.com and be sure to follow all of the new SMX social media channels for exclusive content and additional information on the latest news:
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (May 3, 2026) – California native Briar Bauman (No. 3 Super.com/RWR Harley-Davidson XG750R) completed the Golden State double-double with a victorious performance in the CRESCO CAT Rentals Silver Dollar Short Track, Round 5 of the 2026 Progressive American Flat Track season, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing.
For the second consecutive season, Bauman backed up his Mission AFT SuperTwins win at Ventura Raceway with another at Silver Dollar Speedway to sweep the series’ West Coast swing.
Saturday evening’s masterclass in Chico, California, was a certified competition crusher. The two-time Grand National Champion made quick work of reigning champ Dallas Daniels (No. 1 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07) and points leader Kody Kopp (No. 12 Latus Motors Racing Harley-Davidson XG750R) before proceeding to set sail at the front.
For the third consecutive race, Kopp did what he could to cling on in second. He even managed to mount something of a charge at mid-distance, bringing a near-two-second gap back down to just over a second. However, Bauman put in a final push to break it open late en route to a 2.614-second margin of victory.
After earning the 36th premier-class win of his decorated career, Bauman said, “Last week, I knew that we were ready. And now these guys know that we are ready. I’m fired up. It’s so hard to lead on these types of racetracks. I’ve never looked back that much in my life. But Kody is so witty, and his dad is so good, and Dave Z(anotti) is so good, I knew they were going to find something. So I kept looking, but I finally found something that was good enough to get us to the win. I’m super excited for the team.”
The AFT Mission SuperTwins podium at Chico, winner Briar Bauman flanked by second-place Kody Kopp (left) and third-place Aidan RoosEvans (right). Photo courtesy Harley-Davidson.
Meanwhile, Kopp’s fellow rookie, Aidan RoosEvans (No. 26 FRA Trust Advisors Harley-Davidson XG750R), came through in a big way for Harley as well as the championship aspirations of Bauman and Kopp. Despite being subjected to intense pressure from directly behind, RoosEvans held strong to finish ahead of Daniels while putting the finishing touches on a Harley-Davidson XG750R sweep of the podium.
The champ had to work hard to even will himself in a position to fight for the box. He found himself in a perilous position early with multiple riders nipping at his heels for fifth in the early going. And even after he settled in, Daniels couldn’t manage to find a way past RoosEvans, finishing off the podium for the first time in ten races.
In truth, the Estenson Yamaha ace was fortunate to stay ahead of a charging Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing KTM 790 Duke). Fisher raced up from the back row, having burned his provisional start after encountering mechanical issues in both his heat and the LCQ.
Sixth went to Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods Honda CB750 Hornet), followed closely by Ben Lowe (No. 25 Rackley Racing/Roof Systems KTM 790 Duke).
Evan Renshaw (No. 95 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650) earned his best premier-class result to date in eighth while part-timer Bronson Bauman (No. 37 Dick Ford Racing Yamaha MT-07) finished ninth.
Canadian Hunter Bauer (No. 24 G&G Racing Yamaha MT-07) finished tenth, and as a result, rookies accounted for a full half of the top ten.
Top rookie Kopp continues to lead the Grand National Championship chase at 103 points. Daniels is still second with 91, while Bauman continues to close at 85.
KICKER AFT Singles
It took five races, but defending KICKER AFT Singles champion Tom Drane (No. 1 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) finally became the first repeat winner of the ‘26 season.
That achievement was very much in doubt, however, up until the final minute of the contest. The Australian was hounded and harried deep into the race by archrival Chase Saathoff (No. 88 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450), who rode like a pilot desperate to claim a first victory of the year.
With the leaders’ bikes bucking as they pressed hard to break free at the front, Saathoff repeatedly threatened to execute a high-low pass on Drane. But rather than risk striking too soon, Saathoff looked to stay patient and bide his time.
However, that strategy ultimately backfired when his preferred line went away from him late, allowing Drane to make his escape.
“That was a really good race,” Drane said. “I knew I had to get out there and get a really good start. Once I did that, I put my head down. Chase was definitely pressuring me, working the high-side on me, but I was able to get the job done. I couldn’t have done it without my Estenson Racing Monster Energy Yamaha team – they gave me a great bike today.”
Drane and Saathoff were joined at the front during the race’s opening stages by young Walker Porter (No. 10 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), who continued to flash podium speed.
He’s yet to fully cash in on that pace, however. The Turner Racing Honda sophomore was overhauled by title hopeful Trevor Brunner (No. 21 KMA Racing/March Equipment Yamaha YZ450F) with just a handful of laps remaining to steal away the final spot on the box.
Porter did manage to narrowly fend off Tarren Santero (No. 75 Roof Systems/Vinson Construction Honda CRF450R) to post a new career-best professional finish of fourth.
Jared Lowe (No. 63 Big R Racing/Vinson Construction Honda CRF450R) came home sixth, finishing ahead of Kage Tadman (No. 28 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), whose California win streak was snapped at three.
Justin Anselmi (No. 15 Team TDR Yamaha YZ450F), Evan Kelleher (No. 31 Schaeffer’s Motorsports KTM 450 SX-F), and Jack Brucks (No. 113 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450) rounded out the top ten.
Drane extended his points lead with the win, now boasting a 16-point advantage over Brunner (98-82). Saathoff is third with 78 points.
AFT ProSport 450
Progressive American Flat Track fans got another peek into the future in Saturday night’s AFT ProSport 450 showdown. Twelve of the sport’s most promising amateurs earned an opportunity to showcase their skills alongside the world’s elite professional motorcycle dirt trackers by way of Friday’s AMA-sanctioned Mission Foods CTR Showcase Event at Silver Dollar Speedway.
And two of those twelve stepped forward to deliver a jaw-dropping show in Saturday’s Main Event. Adam Costan-Wood (No. 88 Turner Racing Honda CRF450R) and Jett Katarzy (No. 17 1st Impressions Husqvarna FC450) expanded the rivalry of Turner Racing and 1st Impressions Racing to include the AFT ProSport 450 class, battling back and forth throughout the 12-lap event.
Ventura winner Katarzy made what he hoped would prove the race’s decisive pass with three laps remaining before a minor mistake allowed Coston-Wood to power back past.
Katarzy put his head down to reel his rival back in and threw in a last-gasp, last-corner strike that Coston-Wood rebuffed by a miniscule 0.053-second margin at the stripe.
Colt Shafer (No. 45 Colton Shafer Racing Husqvarna FC 450) claimed third after coming out on top of his own duel with Christian Knox (No. 69 Knox Racing KTM 450 SX-F), while Braxton Ragan (No. 84 UnSettled Racing Honda CRF450R) completed the top five.
For those that can’t catch the live action at the track, FloRacing is the live streaming home of Progressive American Flat Track. Motorsports fans can subscribe to FloRacing to enjoy over 1,000 live motorsports events in 2026. FloSports is available by visitinghttps://flosports.link/AFT2026 or by downloading the FloSports app on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire and Chromecast.
FS1
FOX Sports coverage of the Silver Dollar Short Track, featuring in-depth features and thrilling onboard cameras, will premiere on FS1 on Sunday, May 10, at 11:30 a.m. ET (8:30 a.m. PT). The full listing of American Flat Track’s television premieres can be found at https://www.americanflattrack.com/events-foxsports.
More, from a press release issued by Harley-Davidson:
Super.com/Rick Ware Racing/Jacob Construction/Parts Plus rider Briar Bauman led a Harley-Davidson sweep of the Mission AFT SuperTwins podium at the CRESCO CAT Rentals Silver Dollar Short Track in Chico, Calif. Bauman raced a Harley-Davidson XG750R motorcycle to his second consecutive decisive victory of the season and 36th premier-class win of his career. Series points leader Latus Motors Racing/Harley-Davidson/BMC Racing rider Kody Kopp finished second on a Harley-Davidson XG750R motorcycle. FRA Trust Advisors rider Aidan RoosEvans, also on a Harley-Davidson XG750R motorcycle, finished third to score the first podium result of his rookie SuperTwins season.
“Last week, I knew that we were ready. And now these guys know that we are ready,” said Bauman, who also won the Ventura Short Track on April 25 and swept the Mission AFT SuperTwins West Coast swing. “I’m fired up. It’s so hard to lead on these types of racetracks. I’ve never looked back that much in my life. But Kody is so witty, and his dad is so good, and Dave Z is so good, I knew they were going to find something. So I kept looking, but I finally found something that was good enough to get us to the win. I’m super excited for the team.”
Briar Bauman (3) takes the checkered flag to win the Mission SuperTwins race at Chico. Photo courtesy Harley-Davidson.
Bauman, a two-time Grand National champion, set the pace early, winning his heat race by 2.394 seconds over RoosEvans and the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge bonus sprint on a bumpy quarter-mile Silver Dollar Speedway track. Kopp got the hole shot and led the first lap of the main event (eight minutes plus two laps) before Bauman made a low-side pass and started building a lead that stretched to 1.9 seconds at the mid-way point of the race. Kopp raced alone in second place, while RoosEvans engaged in a race-long battle with Yamaha rider Dallas Daniels and KTM rider Davis Fisher. Bauman crossed the finish line 2.164 seconds clear of Kopp and 8.239 seconds ahead of RoosEvans, who nipped Daniels by 0.271 seconds to secure third place.
After five of 16 rounds in the 2026 Mission AFT SuperTwins championship, Kopp leads with 103 points, followed by Daniels with 91 points and Bauman with 85 points.
The AFT Mission SuperTwins series resumes May 16 at the ThrottleFest Budds Creek Half-Mile in Mechanicsville, Md.
Mission AFT SuperTwins Race Results – CRESCO CAT Rentals Silver Dollar Short Track (Top 10)
Briar Bauman (H-D) Super.com/Rick Ware Racing/Jacob Construction/Parts Plus
Kody Kopp (H-D) Latus Motors Racing/Harley-Davidson/BMC Racing
Aidan RoosEvans (H-D) FRA Trust Advisors
Dallas Daniels (Yam) Estenson Racing/Yamaha Racing/Monster Energy
Davis Fisher (KTM) Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing/Wall60 Racing
Trent Lowe (Hon) American Honda/Mission Foods/Castrol/Roof Systems
Ben Lowe (KTM) Rackley Racing/Roof Systems/J&M Logging
Evan Renshaw (RE) Moto Anatomy X Royal Enfield
Bronson Bauman (Yam) Dick Ford Racing/Mission Foods/Roof Systems
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
Troy Bayliss (12) leading Loris Capirossi (65) and Nicky Hayden (69) at Valencia in 2006. Photo courtesy Mat Oxley.
By Mat Oxley:
Come on, it’s time to check out the best race ever.
You might have noticed, but a lot has been changing in MotoGP recently. New owners, new rules, new tracks and the end of the 1000cc-era. It feels weird, doesn’t it? Most humans, when unsure about the future, start ruminating on the past in search of answers. After all, it’s often only when seeing where we came from that we can actually see how far we’ve come and how much things changed. But turn back the clock by, say, twenty years. What do we find? Well, it’s the 990cc’s last hurrah. There’s money galore, courtesy of the tobacco companies, but those sponsors aren’t coming back next year. In other words: it’s the end of an era, all over again.
So, Valencia 2006. In one corner, there’s the late but great Nicky Hayden, aka The Kentucky Kid. In the other corner, it’s Il Dottore himself. Whoever wins the race, wins the tournament. It’s one of the greatest underdog stories in the MotoGP’s history, ending in ‘the greatest quote of my life’.
That’s Mat’s words, by the way.
So come join us this week as we go back in time and rewatch this legendary race. Go here(right at the 4:00 minute mark!), mute the video, press start when we tell you and enjoy the live commentary!
Want more? Visit our website or support us on Patreon. With big thanks as always to Brad Baloo from The Next Men and Gentleman’s Dub Club for writing our theme song. Check out The Nextmen for more great music!
And thanks to our sponsors, OnTrack Experiences. Check them out if you want an easy all-in-one package for your favourite race!
Oh, and a quick word in regards to sponsors:
If you’re interested in connecting with a really unique MotoGP audience — we’re working with Smash Brand Group out of Sydney to manage partnerships. Curious? Just head to smashbrandgroup.com.au and get in touch!
Empower Field at Mile High was the setting for the latest chapter in what has been a captivating and historic season of Monster Energy Supercross. Photo courtesy SMX
DENVER – The penultimate race of a historic 2026 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship traveled to the Mile High City for Round 16 of the Monster Energy SMX World Championship, where a jubilant crowd gathered inside Empower Field at Mile High to watch the latest chapter in one of the closest 450SMX Class title fights of all time. On a night in which he would greatly benefit from a winning performance, Honda HRC Progressive’s Hunter Lawrence rose to the occasion to wrestle away the championship momentum from points leader and Progressive Insurance Cycle Gear Suzuki racer Ken Roczen to set up the first winner-take-all showdown between two international athletes at the season finale.
Hunter Lawrence Grabs Championship Momentum in Denver to Set Up Monster Energy Supercross Final Showdown
The tension packed 20 Minutes + 1 Lap 450SMX Class Main Event began with a holeshot by Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jorge Prado, just ahead of Lawrence and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Eli Tomac, the Colorado native making his anticipated return from injury. Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cooper Webb, the reigning Supercross champion, slotted into fourth ahead of Roczen, who was carrying the red plate for the first time this season. Lawrence went on the attack immediately and was able to take control of the race lead on the second lap, as Webb slotted into third and Roczen up to fourth after Tomac stalled his motorcycle and lost several positions.
A clear track allowed Lawrence to sprint to a multi-second gap over the field, which forced Roczen to push the pace and move forward. The German native got by Webb and then made his way around Prado to move into second. Roczen faced about a 4.5 second deficit to Lawrence with just under 17 minutes left in the race. As the lead pair pulled away, a spirited battle for third unfolded between Prado, Webb, and Tomac, who bounced back from his early misfortune. The hometown favorite got by both riders to move within podium position just past the halfway point of the race. Lawrence, meanwhile, added to his lead and moved out nearly 10 seconds clear of Roczen. The Australian continued to build on his advantage to put the race out of reach.
Lawrence wrapped up his fifth win of the season by 13.2 seconds over Roczen to swing the championship momentum into the Honda rider’s favor. Tomac rode to his ninth podium finish of the season in third after missing the previous two races. It marked the 111th podium of his Supercross career, which moved him into a tie with the “King of Supercross” Jeremy McGrath for second all-time.
Just a single point separates Lawrence and Roczen heading to the Salt Lake City finale, with Roczen holding the slim edge. The duo shares the class lead in both wins, with five apiece, and podiums, with 12 each, and are in pursuit of their maiden premier class crown in Supercross. They’ll be the lone combatants for the championship after mathematically eliminating Webb, who finished 11th following a late crash with Prado.
In support of the championship coming down to the wire, fans of Monster Energy Supercross still have time to enter the Kickstart for a Cause: Love Moto Stop Cancer campaign for a chance to win Ken Roczen’s Supercross Race Bike, a race set up Suzuki RM-Z450, by giving to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. A minimum donation of $1 provides 10 entries, while larger donations go further to provide crucial help for St. Jude patients in a variety of ways. The deadline to enter is 11:59 p.m. PT on Monday, May 4, with a winner announced via random draw at the Salt Lake City Supercross Final.
Honda HRC Progressive’s Hunter Lawrence captured a dominant and crucial victory in the historically close 450SMX Class title fight. Photo courtesy SMX
Hunter Lawrence – 1st Place – 450SMX Class:
“It’s good. When I see the [30] second board go sideways I get so excited. Let’s go out, have fun, and do what I love to do. It couldn’t have been much better than that. I’m really happy. Let’s go to Salt Lake, baby.”
Progressive Insurance Cycle Gear Suzuki’s Ken Roczen maintained his slim hold of the red place with a runner-up finish. Photo courtesy SMX
Ken Roczen – 2nd Place – 450SMX Class:
“It was a great race, I’m honestly happy with it. I just wasn’t fast enough, all day really. I know I had a great lap in Qualifying, but Hunter [Lawrence] was on it all day. Once I got into second, I tried a little bit [to catch Lawrence] but I didn’t want to override because it was going to be a long Main Event. I just settled into second. We had a four-point lead, it’s one point now. It is what it is going into the last race. That’s most exciting for the fans, us, and everyone.”
In his anticipated return to action Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Eli Tomac gave the home crowd something to cheer about with a podium effort. Photo courtesy SMX
Eli Tomac – 3rd Place – 450SMX Class:
“I’m just glad to land on the podium for the Colorado fans. I was so bummed when I stalled in the sand. I was able to claw back and have some fun on this track. It was a good bounce back [from the miscue]. I’m just happy to be back for these last two rounds. I love being on the West Coast and we’ll try to go get another podium next week.”
A single point separates Lawrence and Roczen entering the Salt Lake City finale. Photo courtesy SMX
450SMX Class Podium (left to right): Ken Roczen, Hunter Lawrence, and Eli Tomac. Photo courtesy SMX
Haiden Deegan Continues Reign of Dominance in 250SMX West Division
Even though the championship had already been decided, anticipation was high for the return of the Western Divisional 250SMX Class, which last competed for a standalone race in February. All eyes were on newly crowned back-to-back champion Haiden Deegan and his Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing squad, as both have been in the midst of dominant seasons rewriting the record books. The 15 Minutes + 1 Lap Main Event kicked off with the Star Yamaha duo of Deegan and Max Anstie side-by-side, as Anstie narrowly grabbed the holeshot but quickly gave way to Deegan, who sprinted out to a multi-second advantage. Anstie proceeded to drop to fifth as Toyota Redlands BarX Yamaha’s Lux Turner moved up to second, Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Levi Kitchen up to third, and Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Ryder DiFrancesco into fourth.
As Deegan’s lead grew to nearly five seconds, Kitchen was able to take control of second from Turner, as the Yamaha rider soon dropped out of podium position following passes by DiFrancesco and Anstie. The lead group went unchanged through the remainder of the race as Deegan managed a gap between five and six seconds over Kitchen, who strengthened his hold of second as the race wore on while DiFrancesco did the same from third.
Deegan lapped his way up into the top 10 and cruised to his seventh victory of the season, the most in all of Monster Energy Supercross, by a margin of 3.5 seconds over Kitchen, with DiFrancesco in third. Deegan’s triumph signified the 14th win of his career, which moved him into sole possession of third on the all-time 250SMX Class wins list in Supercross. It also set a new single season record for 250SMX Class wins by a manufacturer with 15, which have come from five different Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing athletes.
With the title in hand, Deegan heads to the East/West Showdown in Salt Lake City with an eye on cementing his status as one of the all-time greats in the smaller displacement in his final 250SMX Class start. The battle for second in the championship will come down to the wire between Kitchen (2nd), Anstie (3rd), and DiFrancesco (4th) with eight points separating the trio.
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan’s first race as West Division Champion featured a dominant performance for his seventh win of the season. Photo courtesy SMX
Haiden Deegan – 1st Place – Western Divisional 250SMX Class:
“I’ve got to get [more] 250 [class] wins and add it to the record books. That was a good race; a perfect start and led it [from the beginning]. I got up to about a six second gap and just tried to pace myself and put on a show for the Colorado fans.”
Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Levi Kitchen went unchallenged on the way to a second-place finish. Photo courtesy SMX
Levi Kitchen – 2nd Place – Western Divisional 250SMX Class:
“I’m actually really happy. Last week I hadn’t rode yet and I wasn’t sure if I was going to race. I had a really good week and I’m pumped [with this result]. I got up into second and just tried to put good laps in. The track was really difficult and could kind of bite you. I’m looking forward to finishing Supercross and heading outdoors.”
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Ryder DiFrancesco earned his third podium result of the season in third. Photo courtesy SMX
Ryder DiFrancesco – 3rd Place – Western Divisional 250SMX Class:
“Moving up the championship standings has been the goal the past few weeks. Second would be ideal. Tonight, once I got into third there wasn’t really anything I could do. I just pulled it in and finished with a solid effort. We’ll go to Salt Lake City and try to stack [more] points.”
Western Divisional 250SMX Class Podium (left to right): Levi Kitchen, Haiden Deegan, and Ryder DiFrancesco. Photo courtesy SMX.
The Monster Energy SMX World Championship and Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship will come to a thrilling and history-making conclusion next Saturday, May 9, with the Round 17 finale from Salt Lake City’s Rice-Eccles Stadium. Live comprehensive broadcast coverage will be available exclusively on Peacock, beginning at 1 p.m. ET with Race Day Live, followed by a special Pre-Race Show at 6:30 p.m. ET before Gate Drop at 7 p.m. ET. A special encore network presentation will air on NBC on Sunday, May 10, at 3 p.m. ET. Additionally, a domestic Spanish language broadcast is available on Peacock while international viewers can choose from dedicated English, French, and Spanish broadcasts via SMX Video Pass (www.SMXVideoPass.com).
All 17 rounds of the 2026 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship and 11 rounds of the Pro Motocross Championship are on sale. Tickets for the SMX World Championship Playoff Rounds and Final are now on sale at Supermotocross.com. Saturday FanFest will take place at all postseason races, Friday FanFest and camping will be available in Columbus and Ridgedale, additional details to follow.
For information about the Monster Energy SMX World Championship, please visit www.SuperMotocross.com and be sure to follow all of the new SMX social media channels for exclusive content and additional information on the latest news:
Briar Bauman (No. 3) and his Rick Ware Racing team gear up for practice at Silver Dollar Speedway. Photo by Kristen Lassen for AMA Pro Racing.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (May 3, 2026) – California native Briar Bauman (No. 3 Super.com/RWR Harley-Davidson XG750R) completed the Golden State double-double with a victorious performance in the CRESCO CAT Rentals Silver Dollar Short Track, Round 5 of the 2026 Progressive American Flat Track season, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing.
For the second consecutive season, Bauman backed up his Mission AFT SuperTwins win at Ventura Raceway with another at Silver Dollar Speedway to sweep the series’ West Coast swing.
Saturday evening’s masterclass in Chico, California, was a certified competition crusher. The two-time Grand National Champion made quick work of reigning champ Dallas Daniels (No. 1 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07) and points leader Kody Kopp (No. 12 Latus Motors Racing Harley-Davidson XG750R) before proceeding to set sail at the front.
For the third consecutive race, Kopp did what he could to cling on in second. He even managed to mount something of a charge at mid-distance, bringing a near-two-second gap back down to just over a second. However, Bauman put in a final push to break it open late en route to a 2.614-second margin of victory.
After earning the 36th premier-class win of his decorated career, Bauman said, “Last week, I knew that we were ready. And now these guys know that we are ready. I’m fired up. It’s so hard to lead on these types of racetracks. I’ve never looked back that much in my life. But Kody is so witty, and his dad is so good, and Dave Z(anotti) is so good, I knew they were going to find something. So I kept looking, but I finally found something that was good enough to get us to the win. I’m super excited for the team.”
The AFT Mission SuperTwins podium at Chico, winner Briar Bauman flanked by second-place Kody Kopp (left) and third-place Aidan RoosEvans (right). Photo courtesy Harley-Davidson.
Meanwhile, Kopp’s fellow rookie, Aidan RoosEvans (No. 26 FRA Trust Advisors Harley-Davidson XG750R), came through in a big way for Harley as well as the championship aspirations of Bauman and Kopp. Despite being subjected to intense pressure from directly behind, RoosEvans held strong to finish ahead of Daniels while putting the finishing touches on a Harley-Davidson XG750R sweep of the podium.
The champ had to work hard to even will himself in a position to fight for the box. He found himself in a perilous position early with multiple riders nipping at his heels for fifth in the early going. And even after he settled in, Daniels couldn’t manage to find a way past RoosEvans, finishing off the podium for the first time in ten races.
In truth, the Estenson Yamaha ace was fortunate to stay ahead of a charging Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing KTM 790 Duke). Fisher raced up from the back row, having burned his provisional start after encountering mechanical issues in both his heat and the LCQ.
Sixth went to Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods Honda CB750 Hornet), followed closely by Ben Lowe (No. 25 Rackley Racing/Roof Systems KTM 790 Duke).
Evan Renshaw (No. 95 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650) earned his best premier-class result to date in eighth while part-timer Bronson Bauman (No. 37 Dick Ford Racing Yamaha MT-07) finished ninth.
Canadian Hunter Bauer (No. 24 G&G Racing Yamaha MT-07) finished tenth, and as a result, rookies accounted for a full half of the top ten.
Top rookie Kopp continues to lead the Grand National Championship chase at 103 points. Daniels is still second with 91, while Bauman continues to close at 85.
KICKER AFT Singles
It took five races, but defending KICKER AFT Singles champion Tom Drane (No. 1 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) finally became the first repeat winner of the ‘26 season.
That achievement was very much in doubt, however, up until the final minute of the contest. The Australian was hounded and harried deep into the race by archrival Chase Saathoff (No. 88 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450), who rode like a pilot desperate to claim a first victory of the year.
With the leaders’ bikes bucking as they pressed hard to break free at the front, Saathoff repeatedly threatened to execute a high-low pass on Drane. But rather than risk striking too soon, Saathoff looked to stay patient and bide his time.
However, that strategy ultimately backfired when his preferred line went away from him late, allowing Drane to make his escape.
“That was a really good race,” Drane said. “I knew I had to get out there and get a really good start. Once I did that, I put my head down. Chase was definitely pressuring me, working the high-side on me, but I was able to get the job done. I couldn’t have done it without my Estenson Racing Monster Energy Yamaha team – they gave me a great bike today.”
Drane and Saathoff were joined at the front during the race’s opening stages by young Walker Porter (No. 10 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), who continued to flash podium speed.
He’s yet to fully cash in on that pace, however. The Turner Racing Honda sophomore was overhauled by title hopeful Trevor Brunner (No. 21 KMA Racing/March Equipment Yamaha YZ450F) with just a handful of laps remaining to steal away the final spot on the box.
Porter did manage to narrowly fend off Tarren Santero (No. 75 Roof Systems/Vinson Construction Honda CRF450R) to post a new career-best professional finish of fourth.
Jared Lowe (No. 63 Big R Racing/Vinson Construction Honda CRF450R) came home sixth, finishing ahead of Kage Tadman (No. 28 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), whose California win streak was snapped at three.
Justin Anselmi (No. 15 Team TDR Yamaha YZ450F), Evan Kelleher (No. 31 Schaeffer’s Motorsports KTM 450 SX-F), and Jack Brucks (No. 113 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450) rounded out the top ten.
Drane extended his points lead with the win, now boasting a 16-point advantage over Brunner (98-82). Saathoff is third with 78 points.
AFT ProSport 450
Progressive American Flat Track fans got another peek into the future in Saturday night’s AFT ProSport 450 showdown. Twelve of the sport’s most promising amateurs earned an opportunity to showcase their skills alongside the world’s elite professional motorcycle dirt trackers by way of Friday’s AMA-sanctioned Mission Foods CTR Showcase Event at Silver Dollar Speedway.
And two of those twelve stepped forward to deliver a jaw-dropping show in Saturday’s Main Event. Adam Costan-Wood (No. 88 Turner Racing Honda CRF450R) and Jett Katarzy (No. 17 1st Impressions Husqvarna FC450) expanded the rivalry of Turner Racing and 1st Impressions Racing to include the AFT ProSport 450 class, battling back and forth throughout the 12-lap event.
Ventura winner Katarzy made what he hoped would prove the race’s decisive pass with three laps remaining before a minor mistake allowed Coston-Wood to power back past.
Katarzy put his head down to reel his rival back in and threw in a last-gasp, last-corner strike that Coston-Wood rebuffed by a miniscule 0.053-second margin at the stripe.
Colt Shafer (No. 45 Colton Shafer Racing Husqvarna FC 450) claimed third after coming out on top of his own duel with Christian Knox (No. 69 Knox Racing KTM 450 SX-F), while Braxton Ragan (No. 84 UnSettled Racing Honda CRF450R) completed the top five.
For those that can’t catch the live action at the track, FloRacing is the live streaming home of Progressive American Flat Track. Motorsports fans can subscribe to FloRacing to enjoy over 1,000 live motorsports events in 2026. FloSports is available by visitinghttps://flosports.link/AFT2026 or by downloading the FloSports app on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire and Chromecast.
FS1
FOX Sports coverage of the Silver Dollar Short Track, featuring in-depth features and thrilling onboard cameras, will premiere on FS1 on Sunday, May 10, at 11:30 a.m. ET (8:30 a.m. PT). The full listing of American Flat Track’s television premieres can be found at https://www.americanflattrack.com/events-foxsports.
More, from a press release issued by Harley-Davidson:
Super.com/Rick Ware Racing/Jacob Construction/Parts Plus rider Briar Bauman led a Harley-Davidson sweep of the Mission AFT SuperTwins podium at the CRESCO CAT Rentals Silver Dollar Short Track in Chico, Calif. Bauman raced a Harley-Davidson XG750R motorcycle to his second consecutive decisive victory of the season and 36th premier-class win of his career. Series points leader Latus Motors Racing/Harley-Davidson/BMC Racing rider Kody Kopp finished second on a Harley-Davidson XG750R motorcycle. FRA Trust Advisors rider Aidan RoosEvans, also on a Harley-Davidson XG750R motorcycle, finished third to score the first podium result of his rookie SuperTwins season.
“Last week, I knew that we were ready. And now these guys know that we are ready,” said Bauman, who also won the Ventura Short Track on April 25 and swept the Mission AFT SuperTwins West Coast swing. “I’m fired up. It’s so hard to lead on these types of racetracks. I’ve never looked back that much in my life. But Kody is so witty, and his dad is so good, and Dave Z is so good, I knew they were going to find something. So I kept looking, but I finally found something that was good enough to get us to the win. I’m super excited for the team.”
Briar Bauman (3) takes the checkered flag to win the Mission SuperTwins race at Chico. Photo courtesy Harley-Davidson.
Bauman, a two-time Grand National champion, set the pace early, winning his heat race by 2.394 seconds over RoosEvans and the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge bonus sprint on a bumpy quarter-mile Silver Dollar Speedway track. Kopp got the hole shot and led the first lap of the main event (eight minutes plus two laps) before Bauman made a low-side pass and started building a lead that stretched to 1.9 seconds at the mid-way point of the race. Kopp raced alone in second place, while RoosEvans engaged in a race-long battle with Yamaha rider Dallas Daniels and KTM rider Davis Fisher. Bauman crossed the finish line 2.164 seconds clear of Kopp and 8.239 seconds ahead of RoosEvans, who nipped Daniels by 0.271 seconds to secure third place.
After five of 16 rounds in the 2026 Mission AFT SuperTwins championship, Kopp leads with 103 points, followed by Daniels with 91 points and Bauman with 85 points.
The AFT Mission SuperTwins series resumes May 16 at the ThrottleFest Budds Creek Half-Mile in Mechanicsville, Md.
Mission AFT SuperTwins Race Results – CRESCO CAT Rentals Silver Dollar Short Track (Top 10)
Briar Bauman (H-D) Super.com/Rick Ware Racing/Jacob Construction/Parts Plus
Kody Kopp (H-D) Latus Motors Racing/Harley-Davidson/BMC Racing
Aidan RoosEvans (H-D) FRA Trust Advisors
Dallas Daniels (Yam) Estenson Racing/Yamaha Racing/Monster Energy
Davis Fisher (KTM) Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing/Wall60 Racing
Trent Lowe (Hon) American Honda/Mission Foods/Castrol/Roof Systems
Ben Lowe (KTM) Rackley Racing/Roof Systems/J&M Logging
Evan Renshaw (RE) Moto Anatomy X Royal Enfield
Bronson Bauman (Yam) Dick Ford Racing/Mission Foods/Roof Systems
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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:
