Home Blog Page 23

Royal Enfield Begins 6th B.T.R Season in MotoAmerica

The Royal Enfield Build.Train.Race. (BTR) Road Race program embarked on its sixth year at the opening round of the 2026 MotoAmerica season, as the opening two races were held at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta last weekend.

The 2026 Build.Train.Race. Road Race program, whereby 10 female competitors each build their own race-spec Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 models, sees six new riders enter the series for 2026, alongside four returning competitors from 2025. Of the 10-rider lineup, four of these are international racers from Brazil, including returning racers Tati Paze and Karina Simoes, plus new to the program Sany Max Falci and Juliana Bernardes.

The first of this year’s four-round, eight-race Championship, saw the all-female road racing series Class of ‘26 take on the undulating Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta circuit. A combination of both new and returning riders on identical Royal Enfield machinery took to the grid for the first time this year, following on from their Build.Train.Race. Flat Track counterparts season start at Daytona in March.

 

A1 05875N
Brianna Cutler after winning race 1 and 2 at Road Atlanta. Photo courtesy Royal Enfield.

 

Race One saw a four-way battle for the podium across a five-lap dash, as Brianna Cutler took victory for the first time this season. Jasmine Noelle and Bryanna Everitt completed the podium, as all three riders finished within a second of each other. Emily Dickson was unfortunate to crash at the final corner, while fighting for a podium position in her debut BTR event.

Brianna Cutler completed a double victory, following a commanding Race Two win, as the podium was once again completed with a second-place finish for Jasmine Noelle, and third-place for Bryanna Everitt.

 

Adrian Sellers, Head – Custom & Motorsport at Royal Enfield said: “It’s always a pleasure to welcome the new riders to the Build.Train.Race. program, and see who will lay down an early marker for the season at the opening round. It’s also exciting to witness the progress of these new riders, and track their development from this first round throughout the season. Brianna Cutler’s off-season dedication and practice paid off, and she couldn’t have asked for a better start to the year.  I’m looking forward to seeing who will challenge her at Round Two in a month’s time.”

 

Next up for the Build.Train.Race. Road Racing program is Road America, Wisconsin, 29-31 May, which will host the third and fourth races of this season’s Championship.

Find out more on Royal Enfield’s Build.Train.Race. program here: https://buildtrainrace.com/road-racing/

 

 

About Royal Enfield:

The oldest motorcycle brand in continuous production, Royal Enfield has created beautifully crafted motorcycles since 1901. A division of Eicher Motors Limited, Royal Enfield has created the midsize motorcycle segment in India with its unique and distinctive modern classic motorcycles. With its manufacturing base in Chennai, India, Royal Enfield has been able to grow its production rapidly against a surge in demand for its motorcycles. A leading player in the global middleweight motorcycle market, Royal Enfields are engaging, uncomplicated, accessible and fun to ride; a vehicle for exploration and self-expression. It’s an approach the brand calls ‘Pure Motorcycling’.

Royal Enfield’s premium middleweight line-up includes a range of twin-cylinder 650cc models including the Bear 650, INT 650, Continental GT 650, Shotgun 650 and Super Meteor 650. In addition, the new liquid-cooled Sherpa 450 engine has garnered great interest with the Himalayan 450 and Guerrilla 450. The even more affordable 350cc models consist of the Hunter 350, Meteor 350, Bullet 350, Classic 350 and Goan Classic 350. Riders and a passionate community are fostered with a rich profusion of events at a local, regional and international level. Royal Enfield operates through nearly 4,000 stores in 80+ countries around the globe, including approximately 150 dealers in North America.

Supercross: More From Teams At Philadelphia, PA

More from a press release issued by Suzuki Motor USA:

Suzuki’s Ken Roczen takes over points lead with Philadelphia Supercross win. Ken Roczen Captures Red Plate with Two Rounds Remaining in Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship.

Heavy rains turned Round 15 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross season into a mud race inside Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Showers throughout the racing prevented the mud from tacking up, but the soupy surface provided unique challenges for the riders. Main events were truncated by three minutes and the whoops section was modified prior to those points-paying races. Diehard Philly race fans braved the weather and held their seats to the end.

Race Highlights:

  • Progressive Insurance Cycle Gear ECSTAR Suzuki
    • 450 Class
      • Ken Roczen grabbed the win and took over the championship points lead.
  • Twisted Tea Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance
    • 450 Class
      • Colt Nichols delivered two impressive charges on the slick, rutted track.

 

 

Ken Roczen (94) won his heat race, the main event, and took over the season points lead at the muddy Philadelphia Supercross. Photo courtesy Suzuki

 

Ken Roczen (94) qualified well on a dry track, but when the gate dropped for the racing, the dirt was saturated, slick and rapidly deteriorating. In his heat race, Roczen powered to second place at the holeshot stripe then leapt into the lead off of the first jump. Roczen used his Suzuki RM-Z’s precise throttle response to finesse the fastest lap time on his way to an uncontested win. It marked Roczen’s 58th heat race victory. Roczen entered the main event with the #1 gate pick and turned that into a third-place start. One minute into the 17-minute plus one lap race, Roczen made two consecutive passes to take over the lead. Roczen defended the spot against early pressure, including aggressive contact at a corner exit. Roczen maintained his composure, set the race’s fastest lap time by more than a full second, and stretched out an 8-second lead. More pressure came in the final minutes, and Roczen fended off the late attack to record his fifth win in 2026, more than any other rider. The victory moved Ken Roczen into a tie for eighth place on the Supercross premier class all-time win list alongside Rick Johnson. The performance also moved Ken Roczen up on the all-time podium list; he now shares fifth place with former Suzuki-rider Ricky Carmichael at 87 450SX Class podiums. As a personal-best, Roczen’s five wins match his season-best tally set 10 years ago, also aboard a Suzuki RM-Z450. 

“We started off dry in the morning. I felt pretty good on the track and was able to put myself in fourth [overall] in qualifying, which I was totally happy with. We had a long break to the night show and that’s when the real rain started,” said Roczen. “It ended up being a hell of a night. It started off with the heat race; [the track] was still pretty ridable, the dirt was just a little bit more sloshy and not as deep and hammered. So, I really enjoyed the heat race, we ended up winning that one. Going into the main event, it was just a nightmare out there. Like, when you watched the 250 race [conditions], we knew it was going to be a long main event. We couldn’t be happier with how the night went. We threw up a good start, made a couple of passes, and I was just really focused on not making any mistakes. It was tough out there with the lappers, we only had a couple of lines going, but coming away after a really hard-fought battle with the win was just an unbelievable feeling. So, everything’s going well at the moment; we’re truly enjoying it.”

 

Colt Nichols (45) returned to racing after a lingering injury kept him off the starting gate at the previous round. Photo courtesy Suzuki.

 

Colt Nichols (45) was back in action in Philadelphia and put in good qualifying times during the dry, daytime sessions. In his heat race, Nichols emerged from the first turn buried in 18th position. Nichols did a masterful job moving forward; on the final lap he made up five seconds on the rider ahead of him but came up one bike length short of a direct transfer position. Nichols fought forward from a tenth place start in the LCQ. He reached third place with one minute remaining on the race clock, but a brief tip-over in the sloppy whoops section cost Nichols two spots and a transfer into the main. 

“It was a rough night in Philly,” stated Nichols. “Straight up, I didn’t execute. And anytime you’re on the ground in the mud it makes it really difficult. We’re putting that in the rearview and are focused forward to the last two rounds.”

“It was a great night in Philadelphia for the team,” said Dustin Pipes, Team Principal for Twisted Tea/H.E.P. Motorsports/Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance. “It was stressful with the weather, as anything can happen; we saw that with Colt Nichols falling while in a qualifying position. Even with the weather, Ken persevered in the main and came out with the win. On to Denver!”

Only two events remain in the Supercross season, and Ken Roczen and Suzuki lead the championship by four points. The Suzuki riders and team members are proud to run the red plate, designating the points leader, at Round 16 on Saturday, May 2nd at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado. 

For the latest team updates, news, and race insights, visit SuzukiCycles.com/Racing/Motocross or pipesmotorsportsgroup.com.

 

 


More from a press release issued by Yamaha:

Cooper Webb Fights to the Finish in Philly. It was a thrilling conclusion to the 450SX mudder in Philadelphia, with Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cooper Webb earning his third consecutive runner-up finish.

As the 2026 Monster Energy AMA Supercross 450SX Championship nears its conclusion, Webb continues to fight. On Saturday night, inside Lincoln Financial Field for Round 15, the rain arrived, turning the race into a proper mudder. In the punishing conditions, Webb delivered a strong ride and left nothing on the track, coming just shy of the win.

“I was really going for it,” said Webb. “Trying to get that win, especially late – it was full send.”

In the dry and in the wet, it was a solid day for the reigning 450SX Champion. Webb qualified sixth and got a strong start in his heat race. Running third, he made a pass on Hunter Lawrence on that opening lap and went on to finish second.

 

Cooper Webb (1) at Philadelphia. Photo courtesy Yamaha

 

In the main event, Webb once again got a great start, slotting into second with all three title contenders in the top three. After Lawrence passed him on the second lap, Webb rode his own race and later closed back in as the battle ahead intensified. On Lap 8, Lawrence went down, allowing Webb to move back into the runner-up spot, with Ken Roczen holding a gap up front.

As time wound down, Webb mounted a late-race charge, erasing a nearly six-second gap in the closing laps to set up a dramatic finish. On the final lap, he gave it everything he had but ultimately crossed the line second, with the lead duo well clear of third and lapping all but the top-four finishers.

“I was so-so in practice, but then came around,” said Webb. “It started to rain really hard and became a mudder, and I actually rode really well. I got second in the heat and then made a hard charge in the main. I ended up P2, by just a little bit, so I’m a little bummed. I really wanted to get a win. We’re still not technically out of the championship, but it was definitely a little dagger in the heart. That being said, I can’t be mad. I rode great, and we lapped a lot of riders, so that was pretty cool.”

 

 

Cooper Webb on the podium at Philadelphia. Photo courtesy Yamaha

 

His teammate Justin Cooper was the fastest 450SX qualifier and showed strength in the changing conditions. The New Yorker had a good start to his heat race and was running third before dropping to fourth at the halfway mark. Undeterred, Cooper regained the position from Jorge Prado and then entered the battle up front, briefly taking the runner-up spot from Justin Barcia before ultimately finishing third.

Cooper got another top-five start to the main event, but found himself off track and stuck in the mud. By the time he had rejoined, he was a lap down. Despite the setback, Cooper continued to push and salvaged valuable points with a 13th-place finish.

“Track conditions were technical, but I felt like it was still in good condition for racing,” said Cooper. “I had a great qualifying on pole, and felt good and consistent in the mud. I got a good start in the main in the top five, but then got taken off track in Turn 2 by another rider and ended up getting stuck in the mud. So that put me a lap down right away and pretty much ended my chances at a good result.”

 

Justin Cooper (32) at Philadelphia. Photo courtesy Yamaha

 

“It was a good day here in Philly,” said Rich Simmons, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s 450 Team Manager. “Justin qualified P1, and then we had two good heat races. Unfortunately, Justin ended up off the track after the start of the main and then was stuck in the mud, so to come back to 13th was a good ride for him. And Webb, it was typical Webb – to stick in there until the end, and put in a really good effort. So I’m proud of him and proud of the whole team. It was a tough day with all this mud and the weather. We’ll move on to next weekend.”

Two more rounds to go in the race for the crown, and Webb is on the outside looking in, 24 points behind the leader. Cooper remains fifth, with a 13-point gap to fourth in the championship standings. Both Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing riders look to keep fighting as the series heads west, with the penultimate round next weekend at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado, on May 2.

 

 

Cole Davies Crowned 250SX East Champion in Philadelphia.

Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cole Davies secured the crown a round early with a commanding victory at Philadelphia Supercross.

As a young kid in New Zealand, Cole Davies dreamed of becoming a Monster Energy AMA Supercross Champion. Together, he and his family dedicated everything to that goal, making the long trek to the United States. In just his second year in the championship, the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing rider made that dream a reality. In a chaotic, twice-started 250SX Main Event, Davies rose to the occasion, earning a commanding victory to clinch the 2026 250SX East Championship a round early.

“I’ve dreamed of this moment since I was a little kid,” said Davies. “I’ve worked my whole life to get here, and to see it all pay off is really cool. We set a plan, and we’ve followed it through.”

It hasn’t been an easy road. After a standout debut season in 2025 that saw him contend for the 250SX West title and earn Rookie of the Year honors, Davies was sidelined by injuries. And while his 2026 campaign didn’t start as planned with a fifth-place finish in Arlington, the 18-year-old never finished off the podium from that point forward, scoring six wins and eight total podiums.

 

Cole Davies (37) at Philadelphia. Photo courtesy Yamaha

 

That sixth victory came on a night where anything could go wrong – a mud race. The night show didn’t start as planned, with Davies buried in 13th after the start of his heat race. He quickly charged forward, climbing to seventh on the opening lap and continuing his push to finish third.

In the main event, he got a much better start and took over the lead on Lap 2, building a comfortable gap out front. Then the red flag came out. Despite losing that advantage in the staggered restart, Davies went back out and did it again, pulling away to cross the line with nearly a 13-second margin of victory.

“It honestly felt like the longest main event of my entire life,” said Davies. “The conditions were brutal – a full-on mud race, red flag while leading, staggered restart with seven minutes to go – but we got it done. I can’t thank the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing team enough for believing in me and giving me the tools to make this happen. And thank you to my family for everything they’ve sacrificed to get me here. This is only the beginning.”

 

Cole Davies on the podium at Philadelphia. Photo courtesy Yamaha

 

“It’s special,” said Wil Hahn, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s 250 Team General Manager. “It was a long time coming for Cole. We set out a plan a long time ago, and for him to wrap it up a couple of rounds early in just his second year – I can’t put it into words.”

Nate Thrasher also got a great start to the night show, grabbing the holeshot in that first heat race. Running second, he was closing in on Nick Romano, but unfortunately went down and finished fourth. In the main event, he started inside the top 10 and worked his way up to fifth before dropping back to 18th prior to the red flag. After the restart, he charged from near the back of the field to finish fifth, delivering another impressive comeback ride.

“It was a solid night, I just needed to stay off the ground,” said Thrasher. “I was 19th on the restart and ended up fifth. The track was super gnarly tonight. I can’t wait for Salt Lake.”

 

Nate Thrasher (25) at Philadelphia. Photo courtesy Yamaha

 

Landen Gordon continued to show promise in his third pro Supercross round. He started third in his heat race and, after being shuffled back to seventh early, worked his way up to sixth. In the main event, he was 14th off the start and charged forward to eighth. Running ninth before the red flag, the rookie was making a move to the top-five after the restart until a tipover unfortunately dropped him back to 21st, where he would finish.

“It was a tricky day in Philadelphia,” said Gordon. “I felt alright in the mud. I did not have a great start in the main, but I worked my way up to fifth after the restart. Then I had a tip over, and it was tricky trying to get my bike up and get going again. Onto the next one!”

 

Philadelphia Supercross also hosted the championship-deciding race for the SMX Next class. Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Kayden Minear qualified third, but a first-turn tipover dropped him to ninth on the opening lap. The young Australian continued to push, fighting his way back to finish sixth.

“It was up and down this weekend,” said Minear. “I felt really good on the bike in the opening sessions, and unfortunately the rain came in and made the track tricky. I had a great jump out of the gate and tipped it over in the first corner, but got back to sixth.”

 

Kayden Minear (99) at Philadelphia. Photo courtesy Yamaha

 

Next weekend, the Western Divisional 250 class returns to action for its penultimate round of the season, on May 2 at the Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado. It’s been a standout year for the team in both divisional 250 class championships, securing both the West and East titles early, and scoring a total of 14 victories with two rounds remaining.

“It’s very special for our race team to have both championships wrapped up early,” said Hahn. “We’re going into these last two with no pressure. We’re ready for the outdoors.”

 

 

 


More from a press release issued by Honda HRC:

Podium Finish for Hunter Lawrence at Philadelphia Mud Race.

  • Australian limits damage in difficult conditions
  • Lawrence sits second in the championship standings, still in title fight

Adverse weather conditions created a demanding track and forced shortened main events at AMA Supercross’ 15th round, held in Philadelphia. While the 450SX race didn’t go the way Honda HRC Progressive or Hunter Lawrence had hoped, they minimized what could have been significant damage and turned in a third-place result, keeping them in the title hunt.

Lawrence powered to the 450SX main-event holeshot aboard his CRF450RWE, leading Ken Roczen and Cooper Webb. The trio of title contenders battled early on before Lawrence was displaced by Roczen. Lawrence recovered and began challenging the leader before the halfway mark, but a fall in a rhythm section relegated him to third. From there, the focus shifted to damage limitation, as the Australian managed the situation to secure valuable championship points. With two rounds remaining, he sits just four points back in the standings, keeping him firmly in title contention.

Quad Lock Honda rider Joey Savatgy finished fourth overall, equaling his career-best premier-class result. Quad Lock’s Shane McElrath and Dean Wilson were sixth and eighth, making it four Hondas in the top eight. Quad Lock rider Christian Craig was 15th.

 

Hunter Lawrence (96) at Philadelphia. Photo courtesy Honda

 

NOTES

  • Crossroad Powersports, a dealership in Upper Darby Township, enhanced the fan experience within the Honda HRC Progressive pit area through a pop-up activation, showcasing a CRF250R, a CRF110F and additional products while engaging directly with fans.

 

  • Still recovering from a fractured fibula, Honda HRC Progressive rider Jo Shimoda attended the Philadelphia round and participated in the autograph session with his teammate Hunter Lawrence.

 

  • Recently signed Storm Lake Honda rider Kyleigh Stallings, who will participate in the upcoming WMX championship, was interviewed by Peacock for an upcoming WMX preview show.

 

  • In 250SX East combined qualifying, Storm Lake Honda riders Izaih Clark and Luke Neese were 11th and 17th, respectively. Phoenix Racing Honda rider Gavin Towers qualified 13th, Jeremy Hand (Valley Motorsports) was 15th, Short Racing’s John Short IV was 18th, and Ti Lube Honda’s Ryder Floyd was 21st. Clark, Floyd, Hand, Towers and Neese went on to qualify for the main event through their heat races, respectively finishing third, fifth, sixth, eighth and ninth (five Hondas advancing directly to the main). Towers went on to finish a respectable ninth in the main event, with Hand 11th and Floyd 17th.

 

  • Lawrence turned in the second-fastest time in 450SX qualifying. Quad Lock Honda riders Shane McElrath, Joey Savatgy, Christian Craig and Dean Wilson qualified in seventh, ninth, 10th and 12th, respectively. Privateer Red Riders Kyle Bitterman (Underdog Racing) and Zack Williams (McGinley Clinic) qualified 31stand 32nd, respectively.

 

  • Following a crash in the 250SX East main event, Clark was carried off the track by the Alpinestars Mobile Medical crew. The following day, Storm Lake Honda Manager Buddy Brooks confirmed that Clark had broken his femur in the incident, and that he had undergone an eight-hour surgery and was in good spirits. Everyone at American Honda wishes Clark a speedy recovery.

 

  • Lawrence grabbed the holeshot in his 450SX heat race, before dropping to third on a very slippery track. In the second heat race, Savatgy impressed with a hard-fought win over Justin Barcia, marking his first premier-class heat race win since his rookie season in 2019. 

 

  • With only two rounds remaining, Hunter sits second in the 450SX standings, four points behind Ken Roczen and 20 points ahead of Cooper Webb. 

 

  • Honda HRC Progressive heads to Denver for the penultimate round of AMA Supercross on Saturday, May 2.

 

Hunter Lawrence (96) at Philadelphia. Photo courtesy Honda

 

Hunter Lawrence: “We invested a lot more time into the starts in wet conditions, and that was a big positive this weekend; I had good starts in the heat race and the main event, so it’s good to see the work pay off. I felt really good with how I was riding, and just the smallest little mistake in the wrong part of the track bit me. Then your gloves are all muddy, so it’s just kind of trying to get back into a rhythm and not have the train completely come off the tracks. They say mud is the great equalizer, but it’s more like a minefield. We didn’t quite get the end result we wanted, but that’s racing. I’m excited to leave here having learned more, so we’re ready for whatever the last two rounds bring—it’s going to be good!”

 

Lars Lindstrom – Team Manager: “Not the results we were aiming for, but as everyone knows, in these conditions, anything can happen, good or bad; to only lose five points is something we’ll look at positively. I’m really happy with Hunter and the team for understanding what we needed to improve to make sure that we get good starts in any condition, to give us the best chance at a win. It’s a bummer that Hunter had that tip-over, because he had a good flow going; I think he had a great chance at winning that race. Another positive is that this simplifies things; we have to go out and win the last two races if we want to win this championship.”

 

 

 


More from a press release issued by KTM:

Experience built for Jorge Prado in rain-affected Philadelphia Supercross.

Round 15 of the 2026 AMA Supercross Championship featured ultra-tough, rain-soaked conditions inside Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field on Saturday night, where Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jorge Prado ultimately recorded a P16 result in the 450SX Main Event.

The afternoon qualifying sessions provided a dry race track in Pennsylvania, with 25-year-old Prado powering his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION to a competitive fifth on the combined timesheets with a 48.030s laptime.

The skies then opened between qualifying and the night program, with a heavy downpour transforming the circuit into a mud race, where both speed and consistency would be at a premium for the remainder of the evening.

In 450SX Heat 2, the four-time world champion claimed a vital holeshot, delivering a P5 result and – most importantly – a direct transfer into the night’s Main Event.

A difficult start and intensifying weather saw Prado circulate well outside the top 10 on Lap 1, with the Spaniard forced to persevere with impaired vision from the outset. From there, he would climb to 16th by race’s end and continue his Supercross learning curve in 2026.

Jorge Prado (26) at Philadelphia. Photo courtesy KTM

Jorge Prado: “Philadelphia is done, and I had a great feeling in the morning. Qualifying was good – I felt super comfortable with the bike and track in dry conditions. Then everything changed for the Heat Race and Main Event – the Heat was actually not too bad, I was riding decent. And then in the Main Event, I had a terrible jump out of the gate with wheel-spin, and that made it super-hard for me. I wasn’t really in a flow and struggling a lot, so that’s it for Round 15. We’ll come back next weekend!”

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing teammate and two-time 450SX Champion Eli Tomac was absent from Round 15, as he continues to recover from his qualifying incident at the previous SMX World Championship round in Cleveland.

Next Race: May 2 – Denver, Colorado

 

 


More from a press release issued by Kawasaki:

Monster Energy Kawasaki scores two podiums in the treacherous Philadelphia mud.

Pennsylvania’s own Monster Energy® Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider Seth Hammaker displayed a gritty, determined ride to battle his way to a podium position in the treacherous mud-soaked conditions of Philadelphia for Round 15 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship. Teammate Nick Romano scored his first career heat race win in commanding fashion and, while fighting the elements in the main event, secured 14th place. Monster Energy Kawasaki Team Green™ rider, Kade Johnson, put his KX™250 on the box to score second in the SMX Next AMA National Championship, while teammate Vincent Wey missed the event due to an injury sustained while prepping for Philadelphia. Both Monster Energy Kawasaki riders battled through adversity in the main event as Chase Sexton took home seventh place and Garrett Marchbanks secured ninth.

 

Nicholas Romano (141) at Philadelphia. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.

 

In 250SX Qualifying, Hammaker set the pace in the class. Although losing his fastest lap in the second session due to cutting the track, his time from the first session kept him on top to secure fastest qualifier. Romano improved his time in the second session, shaving over a second off his time to secure one of his best qualifying positions with eighth overall.

 

Nicholas Romano (141) at Philadelphia. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.

 

In 250 Heat 1, Romano rocketed out of the gate, maneuvering his KX™250 through the tight first turn in second, then quickly moving into first place a few turns later. Romano’s quick pass into the lead allowed him an open track, giving him the best vision to race to the checkered flag. The No. 141 Kawasaki celebrated his first career heat race win as he crossed the finish line. 

In 250 Heat 2, Hammaker pulled a strong start, placing him in the Top 3 through the first turn. He quickly moved into the lead on Lap 1 and controlled the race through the finish line. Hammaker matched his teammate’s heat race win, giving both Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki riders ideal gate picks for the main event.

 

Nicholas Romano: “It was a good day here in Philadelphia. I qualified eighth when the track was dry, which I was happy about. Then the skies opened up, and it started raining pretty heavily. I was able to get my first career heat race win in the mud, so I was ecstatic with that. I know it’s just a heat race win, but a win’s a win. It’s been a long time since I’ve won something, so I was stoked on that. I got off to a so-so start in the main event. I unfortunately hit someone and went down on the first lap, putting me in last. I made a good charge, but then they restarted it, and I went from last to ninth again. Then I went down yet again and ended up in 14th. It was a so-so day, but I’m really happy with the progress, even though it was in the mud with the win. I’ll just keep trucking along and we’ll be at it for Salt Lake.”

 

Seth Hammaker (10) at Philadelphia. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.

 

With the rain showing no sign of letting up, the organizers shortened both the 250 and 450 Main Events by three minutes, while the SMX Next Main Event was cut down to only six minutes in length. 

In the 250 Main Event, Hammaker pulled a commanding holeshot, but through the first rhythm section, he got cross-rutted off the face of a jump that caused him to go down. Covered in mud, the No. 10 Kawasaki regrouped and focused on getting back to the front. Midway through the race, a downed rider forced a red flag, putting the field back together in a staggered restart, which allowed the riders a moment to clean themselves off for better grip and vision. In the restart, Hammaker was 11th, and Romano 22nd after going down in the opening laps. As the green flag flew, Hammaker pushed to get back to the front, quickly moving from 11th to fourth, and a couple of laps later into third. With the field already too spread out, Hammaker settled for a third-place podium finish in front of his home crowd. Meanwhile, Romano used the restart to his advantage by passing half the field, but the sticky mud would cause him to go down again, fighting his way back to finish 14th on the night. Despite a hard-fought battle in the 250 Eastern Divisional Championship, Hammaker’s championship campaign would end in Philadelphia as the championship was clinched early by the current points leader.

 

Seth Hammaker: “I’m definitely a little bummed. I had big title hopes, but I was up against a tough competitor, so credit to Cole [Davies] and his team. I feel like I took a big step forward this year, even if it doesn’t always show in the results. I’ve been riding well and staying consistent, but I just didn’t have everything fall into place the way I wanted. I actually felt pretty comfortable in the conditions tonight. I was trying to be loose with the bike and not try to fight where it wanted to go too much. I got off to a great start in the main event, but went down early and had to fight from way back. I was hurting pretty bad after I went down, but I’m happy to come away with another podium, especially here at home. It means a lot. Big thanks to my whole team, my family, and everyone who supports me. We’ll go into Salt Lake looking to end this thing strong.”

 

Kade Johnson (177) at Philadelphia. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.

 

In SMX Next Qualifying, Kade Johnson bettered his time in the second session to grab second overall, only four hundredths of a second behind the top qualifying spot. In the SMX Next Main Event, Johnson nearly pulled the holeshot aboard his KX™250. The No. 177 Kawasaki quickly settled into second place, while keeping his eyes on the leader. Johnson clicked off solid laps throughout the muddy race and crossed the finish line in second place.

 

Garrett Marchbanks (36) and Chase Sexton (4) at Philadelphia. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.

 

In 450SX Qualifying, Sexton pushed his KX™450SR machine as he recorded faster times lap after lap. The No. 4 Kawasaki swapped positions in the Top 3 through the second session before ultimately qualifying third overall. As the track continued to develop and the rain began to come down, Marchbanks bettered his time in the second session to put him 16th overall.

 

Chase Sexton (4) at Philadelphia. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.

 

In 450 Heat 1, Marchbanks got off to a midpack start but quickly moved his way into the Top 5 by the midway point. With track conditions incredibly slick and challenging, the field was very spread out, making it difficult to make up any ground on the competition. Marchbanks continued pushing forward but was unable to make up the gap, settling for a solid fifth-place finish. 

In 450 Heat 2, Sexton got a less-than-ideal start, placing him midpack. The No. 4 Kawasaki pushed through the treacherous conditions to move forward. While fighting to make up time on his competition, Sexton set the fastest lap of the race and crossed the finish line in seventh place.

 

Garrett Marchbanks (36) at Philadelphia. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.

 

In the 450 Main Event, Sexton and Marchbanks pulled less-than-ideal starts in 20th and 17th, respectively. The pair would charge through the field, passing an impressive number of riders, but both would face separate challenges in the process. Sexton made up multiple positions and was fighting for a Top 5 before he found himself down with several other riders in the rhythm section, dropping him back to 12th midway through the race. Undeterred, Sexton remounted and began laying down 1:03 laptimes that matched those of the leaders to fight past as many riders as possible. Marchbanks became tangled with other riders but was able to fight back and salvage 10th place as he charged past seven riders through the rough conditions. After the race, Marchbanks’ finishing position was adjusted to ninth as the rider in front of him was penalized three positions for cutting the track. Despite Sexton’s setback, he was able to pass 13 riders to finish the night in seventh place.

 

Chase Sexton: “I qualified better here in Philadelphia, qualifying third. Then it started raining, so it was a bit chaotic after that. I had a bad start in the heat race and just tried to make it through. In the main event, I had another bad start. I made it up to around seventh, and then I fell, and I went back to around 12th, and then just worked my way back to seventh. I actually rode a decent race, just a bad start and a fall kept me from the podium. We’ll go back to work. The team is coming back to Florida this week, and we plan to make some progress and get ready for Denver.”

 

Garrett Marchbanks: “Philadelphia was a bit up and down, but I was happy to end it on a good note in the main event. Qualifying was OK I was just trying to do my laps and get comfortable in the first session. In the second session, I felt like I had some solid laps. I didn’t get the lap time I wanted, but I was able to feel more comfortable on the bike and felt really good going into the heat race. I went into the heat race with an OK start, just put my laps in and got into fifth, and rode my own race from there. In the main event, I had two big mistakes. I stalled the bike and got tangled up with some guys, and just charged from last to 10th. There were two guys in front of me the last two laps, and I tried to make a pass, but I couldn’t quite make it happen. I wish the night had gone a bit better, but I’m happy to be back in the Top 10 again.”

 

 


More from a press release issued by Husqvarna:

Daxton Bennick and Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing earn Philadelphia 250SX podium. Finishes in second position following rain-soaked night of Supercross in Pennsylvania. 

A second-place result in a rain-affected Philadelphia round of the 2026 AMA Supercross Championship marked a second podium of the year for Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Daxton Bennick, excelling in difficult, muddy conditions to maintain third in the 250SX East standings.

 

The 20-year-old qualified third on the combined 250SX East timesheets in dry conditions at Lincoln Financial Field, before the inclement weather arrived and made for a rain-soaked night program.

Bennick remained consistent in the second 250SX Heat Race, recording a second-place finish onboard his Husqvarna FC 250 Factory Edition.

A mid-field start to the Main Event saw Bennick make a sequence of decisive passes to climb into the top-five during the early stages, running as high as P2 – and challenging for the lead – before a red-flag stoppage prompted a staggered restart.

Bennick would launch to a strong start from there, moving into second place and maintaining the position all the way to the checkered flag, claiming his second podium result of the season and consolidating third in the 250SX East standings with one round in the division remaining.

 
Daxton Bennick (58) at Philadelphia. Photo courtesy Husqvarna.
 
 

“Obviously, qualifying started dry here and everything was feeling good,” Bennick reflected. “Then everything changed real quick! I did get some wheel-spin off the start in the Heat Race, but rode really good to come back to second – I was happy with that, and then kind of the same thing happened in the Main Event. I rode really well before the restart and I almost passed for the lead at one stage, but once the restart hit, I was trying a little too hard and made a couple of mistakes. But all-in-all, it’s good we’re back on the box, so I can’t be too mad at it – especially in those conditions!”

450SX teammate Malcolm Stewart posted the eighth-fastest qualifying time in the afternoon, before scoring a P4 finish in the first 450SX Heat Race equipped with his Husqvarna FC 450 Factory Edition.

 
Malcolm Stewart (27) at Philadelphia. Photo courtesy Husqvarna.

 

The 33-year-old started inside the top 10 for the Main Event and kept pushing forward as the race progressed. He would eventually record a P11 result and continue holding eighth in the championship with two rounds left to contest.

“We struggled a little bit with the track tonight,” said Stewart. “But at the end of the day, it’s just good to make it out of this in one piece because those conditions were brutal – we’ll keep our heads up and keep progressing forward. We’re off to Mile High next weekend, and we’ve always achieved some pretty good results there, so I’m looking forward to that!”

Next Race: May 2 – Denver, Colorado

NHRA: Herrera Wins NHRA 4-Wide Nationals in Charlotte

Brea, CA –  Gaige Herrera returned to winning form and put his pursuit of a third Pro Stock Motorcycle world championship solidly on track with a resounding victory aboard his RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki Gen 3 Hayabusa at the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals at zMax Dragway in Concord, NC, on Sunday.

Race Highlights:

  • Gaige Herrera qualified third, won the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge and earned his 29th career NHRA victory
  • Points leader Richard Gadson qualified seventh and finished runner-up 

 

Gaige Herrera Wins NHRA 4-Wide Nationals in Charlotte. Photo courtesy Suzuki Motor USA.

 

After a tough second-round loss at the season opener in Gainesville, Herrera turned disappointment into positive energy by qualifying third with a 6.756-second/200.50 mph run and winning the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge. Herrera’s victory in the specialty race-within-a-race held during Saturday’s qualifying sessions forecast the dominant performance that carried the two-time world champion into the winner’s circle on Sunday.

Under the NHRA’s unique four-wide racing format in Charlotte, the first two riders in each four-motorcycle quad to cross the finish line, barring a redlight jumpstart, advance to the next elimination round. In the final round four-wide quad, the first motorcycle to cross the finish line wins.

Herrera won his first-round quad matchup against John Hall (runner up), Geno Scali and Marc Ingwersen with a 6.775-second/198.17 mph run. In round two, Herrera went quicker, running 6.756 seconds at 200.08 mph in a victory over his RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki teammate Richard Gadson (runner up), John Hall and Ryan Oehler.

In the final four-wide quad, Herrera ran 6.758 seconds at 199.88 mph to prevail again over Gadson (runner up), Clayton Howey and Chase Van Sant, all of whom raced Suzuki motorcycles powered by Vance & Hines-built engines. It was Herrera’s 29th career NHRA victory and his first since the penultimate round of the 2025 season in Las Vegas. 

With the win, Herrera leapt from seventh to second in the points standings and gained a boost of confidence and momentum as he seeks a third NHRA title.

“It was an awesome weekend. I was feeling great from the first pass, and it continued all the way to the final. Andrew Hines was on point with the tune up and everything was just clicking. I’m beyond ecstatic about how it went,” Herrera said. “Having four Vance & Hines Suzuki engines in the final, that’s just incredible for the whole team too.

“The season is still early, and anything can happen, but it’s a big one for me for sure. I never felt down after Gainesville, because I have a great motorcycle and team behind me and I know what I’m capable of as a rider, but it feels good to be back to winning,” Herrera said. 

 

Gadson started slower than expected, qualifying seventh with a 6.790-second/200.00 mph before rallying with a string of runner-up performances on Sunday. Photo courtesy Suzuki Motor USA.

 

Following a 7-week break in racing after Gainesville, reigning world champion Richard Gadson came to Charlotte hoping for a repeat of his season-opening victory in March. Gadson posted runs of 6.858 seconds at 197.88 mph, 6.785 seconds at 199.55 mph and 6.809 seconds at 198.17 mph in runner-up finishes to Ryan Oehler (6.802 seconds/197.86 mph) in round one, Herrera in round two, and Herrera again in the final round. 

“I struggled big time Friday and Saturday. We made some changes to my motorcycle, and I just couldn’t get into my groove, so in the second round today we went back to what we knew worked and I made my best pass of the weekend,” Gadson said. “I went into the final round feeling confident, and when I let the clutch I go, I thought they were all dead because I hit the tree hard. Then I spun the tire about a half second later, and I thought I was dead. Seeing the runner-up light come on was nothing but excitement. From the way the weekend started to finishing runner-up, I can’t ask for anything better. Leaving with the points lead, going one-two for our team and winning in the hometown of our main rivals makes for a pretty good weekend.”

RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki crew chief Andrew Hines said the extended break between the season’s first two races was like having a second offseason that gave teams a second chance to refine their programs based on what they’d learned at Gainesville.

“I was telling the guys when we left the shop that I wasn’t sure what we were going to wind up with and that we’d probably get our butts kicked,” Hines said. “But we lost one of the fastest bikes in the first round when Matt Smith went out on a red light and that opened the door for us to capitalize. I think we might still be a little behind on some aspects of our package, but with the riders and the track conditions that we had this weekend, we were able to overachieve compared to what we expected. As a former rider, I would not want to have to race against these guys.”

After the second of 14 rounds in the 2026 Pro Stock Motorcycle season, Gadson and Herrera sit first and second in the championship standings with 217 and 182 points, respectively. 

The RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines team returns to action May 1-3 at the NHRA Southern Nationals at South Georgia Motorsports Park in Adel, GA.

 

For the latest Suzuki team news, race reports, and information visit SuzukiCycles.com/Racing/Drag-Racing

Matsudaira Makes AFT Debut with Top 5 Finish at Ventura Track

Team Roberts Rider Kensei Matsudaira Makes American Flat Track Debut  with Top 5 Finish in AFT ProSport 450 at Ventura Short Track.

Less than a week after taking a double victory at Road Atlanta in the two MotoAmerica Talent Cup races, Team Roberts rider Kensei Matsudaira made his American Flat Track debut at Ventura Raceway in California.

Kensei qualified for the AFT ProSport 450 entry by finishing in the top 12 of the Mission Foods CTR Showcase Road to AFT class on Friday night. It was Kensei’s first time racing at Ventura Raceway and he had finished the night with 8th in 450cc Amateur, 8th in Open Amateur, and 10th in Road to AFT.

On Saturday, Kensei started the day strong finishing 5th in Qualifying 1 and 6th in Qualifying 2. Starting 6th on the grid, Kensei impressed in the heat race by finishing 4th, earning a spot on the front row for the main event.

In the 12-lap AFT ProSport 450 main event, Kensei got a great start and worked his way up to 3rd coming out of the first corner, but by the third lap was swallowed up in a big group fighting for the top positions. He fought in the group throughout the race and crossed the
line in 5th, just half a second off the podium.

 

Kensei Matsudaira (74) in the AFT ProSport 450 Main Event on his way to a 5th place finish at Ventura Raceway, California. Photo by Tim Lester.

Kensei Matsudaira: “A little disappointed because I was in the fight for the podium and just missed out, but I’m still really happy to make my AFT debut with a top 5 finish and showing that I can fight in the front at a national flat track race. My focus is on road racing, but I love flat track and hope that I can race with AFT again soon, the vibe and people here were amazing.”

Arney Wick, Team Roberts Co-Principal:“Given the constantly changing track conditions which were tricky for even many of the savvy veterans who race here annually, I think that this was a great first effort for Kensei’s inaugural outing in American Flat Track. With more and more seat time and another start or two under his belt, pretty sure Kensei will become a regular fixture on the podium much like he does in the MotoAmerica Talent Cup series…”

Despite his lack of previous experience racing at a national level flat track event, Kensei has been racing flat track locally since he was 5 years old, winning dozens of races and 5 championships in the junior classes ranging from 50cc to 85cc. He is looking forward to making more AFT appearances in the future.

Next up, Kensei will be back on the Team Roberts Krämer APX-350 MA for Round 3 of the MotoAmerica Talent Cup being held at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama on May 15-17.

Where To Ride In May 2026

The following track days, riding schools, and racing events are scheduled by organizations based in the United States during May 2026.

This list includes many opportunities to ride at races, schools, and track days during the month of May in North America.

To have your motorcycle racing or riding event added to the Event Calendar on this website and published in the print edition of Roadracing World & Motorcycle Technology magazine, submit your calendar and contact information via the contact page on this website or by emailing to [email protected] or to [email protected].

Before heading to an event, contact the organization or track and confirm that it’s going to be held as publicized.

 

5/1 2Fast Motorcycle Track Days & Instruction, Portland International Raceway, Portland, OR

5/1 Shannonville Motorsport Park Motorcycle Lapping Days, Shannonville Motorsport Park, Shannonville, ON

5/1 Rich Oliver’s Mystery School (Dirt Track School), Private Training Day- Flat Track

5/1 Penguin Riding School, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Loudon, NH

5/1-3 WMRRA (Washington Motorcycle Road Racing Association) Series, Portland International Raceway, Portland, OR

5/1-3 OMRRA (Oregon Motorcycle Road Racing Association) Series, Portland International Raceway, Portland, OR

5/2 Fun Track Dayz, Thunderhill Raceway Park (West), Willows, CA

5/2 Socal Supermoto School, Apex Motorsports Park, Perris, CA

5/2 Superbike-Coach Corp. (School), Body Position & Knee Down Class, Little 99 Raceway, Stockton, CA

5/2 Sandy Hook Mini Moto Races & Track Days, Sandy Hook Spdway, Street, MD, Race

5/2 AMA Pro American Flat Track (AFT), Silver Dollar Short Track, Silver Dollar Speedway, Chico, CA

5/2 Southeast Mini Moto Track Days, VIR Kart Track, Alton, VA

5/2 Racing Associates Canada Events (RACE), Race School & Test Day, Shannonville Motorsport Park, Shannonville, ON 

5/2 Apex Track Days, Utah Motorsports Campus (West), Grantsville, UT

5/2 Southeast Mini Moto Track Days, VIR Kart Track, Alton, VA

5/2-3 Fast Line Track Days, NCM Motorsports Park, Bowling Green, KY

5/2-3 Rich Oliver’s Mystery School (Dirt Track School), Fun Camp

5/2-3 NEMRR (North East Motorcycle Road Racing) Series, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Loudon, NH

5/2-3 Evolve GT School and Track Days, NCBIKE, Garysburg, NC

5/2-3 ASMA Track Days and Advanced Rider Training, Arroyo Seco CW, Deming, NM

5/2-3 2Wheels Track Days, Chuckwalla Valley Raceway, Desert Center, CA

5/2-3 CMRA (Central Motorcycle Roadracing Association) Series, Motorsport Ranch, Cresson, Texas

5/2-3 ASMA (Arroyo Seco Motorcycle Association) Series, Arroyo Seco CW, Deming, NM

5/2-3 Fasttrax Motorcycle Performance Track Days, Nelson Ledges Road Course, Garrettsville, OH

5/2-3 Fun Track Dayz, Thunderhill Raceway Park (West double), Willows, CA

5/2-3-4 STT (Sportbike Track Time) Track Days, Barber Motorsports Park, Birmingham, AL

5/3 Fun Track Dayz, Thunderhill Raceway Park (West), Willows, CA

5/3 XCEL Trackdays Track days, Firebird Motorsports Park, , Chandler, AZ, West Track

5/3 Superbike-Coach Corp. (School), Wheelie Course, Little 99 Raceway, Stockton, CA

5/3 Ohio Mini Roadracing, Wilmington Raceway Park, Wilmington, OH 

5/3-4 Optimum Performance Rider Training Track Days, Ridge Motorsports Park, Shelton, WA

5/4 Motovid.com All Levels Motorcycle Track Days/ Performance Riding Clinics, Blackhawk Farms Raceway, S. Beloit, IL

5/4 Precision Track Days, VIRginia International Raceway, Alton, VA, VIR North

5/4 Socal Supermoto School, Apex Motorsports Park, Perris, CA, Semi Private Supermoto School

5/4-5 California Superbike School, New Jersey Motorsports Park, Thunderbolt, NJ (All Levels)

5/5-6 Yamaha Champions Riding School, Inde Motorsports Ranch (ChampGrad), Willcox, AZ

5/6 2Fast Motorcycle Track Days & Instruction, Pacific Raceways, Kent, WA

5/6 Rich Oliver’s Mystery School (Dirt Track School), FES Kids Ride & Wrench Camp

5/6-7 California Superbike School, New Jersey Motorsports Park, Thunderbolt, NJ (All Levels)

5/7 Rich Oliver’s Mystery School (Dirt Track School), FES Kids Ride & Wrench Camp

5/7 Shannonville Motorsport Park Motorcycle Lapping Days, Shannonville Motorsport Park, Shannonville, ON

5/8 Carters@thetrack Track Days, Thunderhill Raceway Park, East (AFM Practice/NRS), Willows, CA

5/8 Jennings GP Track Days & Novice Schools, Jennings GP, Jennings, FL (Novice School)

5/8  Northwest Mini Moto & Endurance Challenge, Tri City Kart Club, Richland, WA – 12-hour Endurance 

5/8-9 N2 Track Days, Summit Point Raceway (Main), Summit Point, WV

5/8-9 Precision Track Days, Carolina Motorsports Park, Kershaw, SC

5/8-9 American Supercamp (Dirt Track School), Delaware State Fairgrounds, Harrington, DE – Non-Racer Camp

5/8-10 CRA MN (Central Roadracing Association) Series, Brainerd International Raceway, Brainerd, MN

5/8-10 Racing Associates Canada Events (RACE), Shannonville Motorsport Park, Pro Track, Shannonville, ON 

5/9 Legion Moto Trackdays, High Plains Raceway, Deer Trail, CO

5/9 Motorheads Track Attacks Track Days, Stratotech Park, Sturgeon County, AB

5/9 Rich Oliver’s Mystery School (Dirt Track School), Learn To Ride Off-Road Course

5/9 UtahSBA Track Days, Utah Motorsports Campus, East, Grantsville, UT

5/9 Brake Free Track Time Track Days, The Podium Club at Attesa CW, Casa Grande AZ

5/9 HART (Hallet Advanced Rider Training) Motorcycle Lapping Day Program, Hallett Motor Racing Circuit, Hallett, OK

5/9-10 AFM (American Federation of Motorcyclists) Series, Thunderhill Raceway Park, Willows, CA

5/9-10 STT (Sportbike Track Time) Track Days, Grattan Raceway, Belding, MI

5/10 MRA (Motorcycle Roadracing Association) Series, High Plains Rcwy, Deer Trail, CO

5/10 Socal Supermoto School, Apex Motorsports Park, Perris, CA

5/10 2Fast Motorcycle Track Days & Instruction, Ridge Motorsports Park, Shelton, WA

5/10-11 American Supercamp (Dirt Track School), Delaware State Fairgrounds, Harrington, DE – Racer Camp

5/11 2Fast Motorcycle Track Days & Instruction, Ridge Motorsports Park, Shelton, WA

5/11 N2 Track Days, New Jersey Motorsports Park (Thunderbolt), Millville, NJ

5/11 Z2 Track Days, Sonoma Raceway, Sonoma, CA

5/11 WMRC (Westwood Motorcycle Racing Club) School & Track Days, Mission Raceway Park, Mission, B.C

5/11-12 California Superbike School, Carolina Motorsports Park, SC (All Levels)

5/12-13 Yamaha Champions Riding School, New Jersey Motorsports Park, Millville, NJ

5/12-13 Rich Oliver’s Mystery School (Dirt Track School), POST Motorcycle Offi cer Update Course

5/13 Motovid.com All Levels Motorcycle Track Days/ Performance Riding Clinics, Blackhawk Farms Raceway, S. Beloit, IL

5/15 WERA National Endurance Series Co-Sanctioned by AMA, Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, Braselton, GA –  Friday Race

5/15 Rich Oliver’s Mystery School (Dirt Track School), Private Training Day- Flat Track

5/15 STT (Sportbike Track Time) Track Days, Grattan Raceway, Belding, MI

5/15-17 SMRI (Sandia Motorcycle RoadRacing Inc.) Track & Race Days, License School, Suika Circuit, Albuquerque, NM

5/15-17 WERA Sportsman Series Southeast Region Co- Sanctioned by AMA, WERA Cycle Jam at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, Braselton, GA

5/15-17 WERA Sportsman Series Atlantic Coastal Region Co-Sanctioned by AMA, WERA Cycle Jam at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, Braselton, GA

5/15-17 AHRMA Academy of RoadRacing (AAR) & Sidecar Racing School (SRS), Motorsports Park Hastings; Hastings, NE (BOTH AAR & SRS)

5/15-17 WERA Sportsman Series Mid Central Region Co-Sanctioned by AMA, WERA Cycle Jam at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, Braselton, GA

5/15-17 AHRMA National Road Racing Series, Motorsport Park Hastings, Hastings, NE

5/15-17 WERA National Challenge Series Co-Sanctioned by AMA, WERA Cycle Jam at Road Atlanta, Braselton, GA

5/15-17 MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North America Series, Barber Motorsports Park, Birmingham, AL

5/16 AMA Pro American Flat Track (AFT), ThrottleFest, Budds Creek Motocross Park, Mechanicsville, MD

5/16 Moto Mini USA – Ovale USA, APEX Motorsports Park, Perris, CA 

5/16 Socal Supermoto School, Apex Motorsports Park, Perris, CA

5/16 2WTD Mini Racing, APEX Motorsports Park, Perris, CA 

5/16 SMRI (Sandia Motorcycle RoadRacing Inc.) Track & Race Days, Track Day, Suika Circuit, Albuquerque, NM

5/16 2Fast Motorcycle Track Days & Instruction, Oregon Raceway Park, Grass Valley, OR

5/16 Sandy Hook Mini Moto Races & Track Days, Sandy Hook Spdway, Street, MD, Track Day

5/16 Atlantic Roadracing League (ARL), Atlantic Motorsport Park, Mill Village, NS 

5/16-17 N2 Track Days, Roebling Road Raceway, Bloomington, GA

5/16-17 Rich Oliver’s Mystery School (Dirt Track School), Fun Camp

5/16-17 TrackXperience Track Days, Chuckwalla Valley Raceway, Desert Center, CA

5/16-17 STT (Sportbike Track Time) Track Days, Putnam Park, Belding, MI

5/16-17 Pacific Track Time, Thunderhill Raceway Park (West), Willows, CA

5/16-17 FIM MotoMini USA East / SFLMiniGP Championship, Gainesville Raceway, Gainesville, FL (Round 4)

5/16-17 WERA Sportsman Series North Central Region Co- Sanctioned by AMA, Grattan Raceway Park, Grattan, MI

5/16-17 Evolve GT School and Track Days, Polecat Training Center (PTC), Lynchburg, TN

5/16-17 Alaska Road Racing Motorcycle Track Days, Tanacross Race Course, Tok, AK

5/17 United MiniMoto, United Karting, Hanover, MD

5/17 Atlantic Roadracing League (ARL), Atlantic Motorsport Park, Mill Village, NS 

5/17 Central Illinois Mini Moto, Mid State Kart Club, Dawson, IL 

5/17 Rocky Mountain Mini Moto, Grand Junction Motor Speedway, Grand Junction, CO 

5/17 The Riders Club Track Days, New Jersey Motorsports Park, Millville, NJ, Liberator

5/17 Superbike-Coach Corp. (School), Cornering School Day 1, Little 99 Raceway, Stockton, CA

5/17 Motorheads Track Attacks Track Days, Stratotech Park, Sturgeon County, AB

5/17 SMRI (Sandia Motorcycle RoadRacing Inc.) Track & Race Days, Race Day, Suika Circuit, Albuquerque, NM

5/17 2Fast Motorcycle Track Days & Instruction, Oregon Raceway Park, Grass Valley, OR

5/17 Motocorsa Track Days, Portland International Raceway, Portland, OR

5/18 Optimum Performance Rider Training Track Days, Ridge Motorsports Park, Shelton, WA

5/18 Socal Supermoto School, Apex Motorsports Park, Perris, CA, Semi Private Supermoto School

5/18 The Riders Club Track Days, New Jersey Motorsports Park, Millville, NJ, Thunderbolt

5/18 Penguin Riding School, Thompson Spdwy., Thompson, CT

5/18 STT (Sportbike Track Time) Track Days, Barber Motorsports Park, Birmingham, AL

5/18-19 California Superbike School, Jennings GP, FL (All Levels)

5/21 Vintage Road Racing Association (VRRA), Shannonville Motorsports Park, Shannonville, ON 

5/22 ASRA National Practice & Track Days (AMA Sanctioned), Summit Point Motorsports Park, Summit Point, WV

5/22 Hardnox Track Dayz, Rocky Mountain Motorsports, Carstairs, AB

5/22 WMRC (Westwood Motorcycle Racing Club) School & Track Days, Mission Raceway Park, Mission, B.C

5/22 Atlantic RoadRacing League Track Days and High Performance Riding Academy, Atlantic Motorsport Park, Mill Village, NS – TD

5/22 Evolve GT School and Track Days, Summit Point Circuit, Summit Point, WV (Main Track)

5/22 Apex Track Days, Utah Motorsports Campus (East), Grantsville, UT

5/22 Riders Choice Lapping Days, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Bowmanville, ON

5/22-23 California Superbike School, Barber Motorsports Park, AL (All Levels)

5/22-24 ASRA Relay/Endurance Series, Summit Point Motorsports Park, Summit Point, WV

5/22-24 ASRA National Series, Summit Point Motorsports Park, Summit Point, WV

5/22-24 ASRA Atlantic Region (AMA Sanctioned), Summit Point Motorsports Park, Summit Point, WV

5/22-24 Vintage Road Racing Association (VRRA), Shannonville Motorsports Park, Shannonville, ON 

5/22-24 Ruts To Racelines Track Days, NCBike, Garysburg, NC

5/22-24 Southern Ontario Associates of Racing (SOAR), Grand Bend Motorplex, Grand Bend, ON 

5/22-23-24 STT (Sportbike Track Time) Track Days, Autobahn Country ClubClub, Joliet, IL

5/23 AMA Pro American Flat Track (AFT), Williams Grove Half-Mile, Williams Grove, Mechanicsburg, PA

5/23 Sierra Nevada Moto Championship (NNKC), Northern Nevada Kart Club, Reno, NV 

5/23 Socal Supermoto School, Apex Motorsports Park, Perris, CA

5/23 Atlantic RoadRacing League Track Days and High Performance Riding Academy, Atlantic Motorsport Park, Mill Village, NS – HPRA

5/23-24 Fishtail Riding School, Canaan Motor Club, Canaan, NH

5/23-24 WMRC (Westwood Motorcycle Racing Club) School & Track Days, Mission Raceway Park, Mission, B.C, Hybrid Day

5/23-24 Yamaha Champions Riding School, High Plains Raceway, Deer Trail, CO

5/23-24 The Riders Club Track Days, New Jersey Motorsports Park, Millville, NJ, Lightning

5/23-24 New Jersey MiniGP Days and Camps, Shenandoah Course, Summit Point Raceway, Summit Point, WV – Round 1

5/23-24 Evolve GT School and Track Days, Ozarks International Raceway, Gravois Mills, MO

5/23-24 RideSmart Motorcycle School, Circuit of The Americas, Austin, TX

5/23-24 Z2 Track Days, Thunderhill Raceway Park (West), Willows, CA

5/23-24 Fast Line Track Days, Talladega Gran Prix Raceway, Munford, AL

5/23-24 CMRA (Calgary Motorcycle Roadracing Association), Rocky Mountain Motorsports Park, Alberta, Canada – Race School

5/23-25 Cyclesmith Track Days, Palmer Motorsports Park, Palmer, MA

5/24 Florida Track Days (FTD), Homestead-Miami Speedway, Homestead, FL

5/24 Atlantic RoadRacing League Track Days and High Performance Riding Academy, Atlantic Motorsport Park, Mill Village, NS – HPRA

5/24 Ohio Mini Roadracing, G&J Kartway, Camden, OH 

5/24 Sierra Nevada Moto Championship (NNKC), Northern Nevada Kart Club, Reno, NV 

5/24 Pro 6 Cycle Inc. Track Days, Calabogie Motorsports Park, Calabogie, ON

5/24 Rich Oliver’s Mystery School (Dirt Track School), Private Training Day- Off Road

5/24 Oregon Lighweight Moto, Mac Track, McMinnville, OR 

5/24 SMEC Super Moto, Virginia International Raceway, Alton, VA 

5/24-25 California Superbike School, Barber Motorsports Park, AL (All Levels)

5/24-25 Let’s Ride Track Days & Schools, Buttonwillow Raceway Park, Buttonwillow, CA

5/24-25 Track Time Track Days, Ridge Motorsports Park, Shelton, WA

5/25 3:16 Trackdays/America Superbike Camp, Harris Hill Raceway, San Marcos, TX, Memorial Day

5/25 Socal Supermoto School, Apex Motorsports Park, Perris, CA

5/25 Pro 6 Cycle Inc. Track Days, Canadian Tire Motorsports Park, Bowmanville, ON

5/25 Yamaha Champions Riding School, CODE 303 Emergency Vehicle Operations Center, Douglas County, CO

5/25 Evolve GT School and Track Days, Summit Point Circuit, Summit Point, WV (Main Track)

5/25 PRE (Performance Riding Experience) Track Days, VIRginia International Raceway (North), Alton, VA

5/25-26 Zalusky Advanced Riding School (ZARS) & Track Days, Road America, Elkhart Lake, WI

5/26 Pro 6 Cycle Inc. Track Days, Canadian Tire Motorsports Park, Bowmanville, ON

5/26-27 California Superbike School, Barber Motorsports Park, AL (All Levels)

5/27 Motovid.com All Levels Motorcycle Track Days/ Performance Riding Clinics, Blackhawk Farms Raceway, S. Beloit, IL

5/28 The Riders Club Track Days, New Jersey Motorsports Park, Millville, NJ, Thunderbolt, advanced track day

5/28 Shannonville Motorsport Park Motorcycle Lapping Days, Shannonville Motorsport Park, Shannonville, ON

5/29 The Riders Club Track Days, New Jersey Motorsports Park, Millville, NJ, Thunderbolt, classic track day

5/29 Penguin Riding School, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Loudon, NH

5/29 STT (Sportbike Track Time) Track Days, GingerMan Raceway Bike Night, South Haven, MI

5/29-31 MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North America Series, Road America, Elkhart Lake, WI

5/29-31 USCRA (United States Classic Racing Association) Series (Vintage), Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park, CT

5/30 Sandy Hook Mini Moto Races & Track Days, Sandy Hook Spdway, Street, MD, Race

5/30 Legion Moto Trackdays, Pueblo Motorsports Park, Pueblo, CO

5/30 Motorheads Track Attacks Track Days, Rad Torque Raceway, Edmonton, AB

5/30 2WTD Mini Racing, APEX Motorsports Park, Perris, CA 

5/30 Moto Mini USA – Ovale USA, APEX Motorsports Park, Perris, CA 

5/30-31 NEMRR (North East Motorcycle Road Racing) Series, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Loudon, NH

5/30-31 STT (Sportbike Track Time) Track Days, GingerMan Raceway, South Haven, MI

5/30-31 WERA Sportsman Series Atlantic Coastal Region Co-Sanctioned by AMA, Roebling Road Raceway, Faulkville, GA

5/30-31 WERA Sportsman Series Southeast Region Co- Sanctioned by AMA, Roebling Road Raceway, Faulkville, GA

5/30-31 Rich Oliver’s Mystery School (Dirt Track School), Advance Kids Ride & Wrench Camp

5/30-31 Alaska Road Racing Motorcycle Track Days, Tanacross Race Course, Tok, AK

5/30-31 Evolve GT School and Track Days, NCBIKE, Garysburg, NC

5/30-31 PRE (Performance Riding Experience) Track Days, Carolina Motorsports Park, Kershaw, SC

5/30-31 Precision Track Days, NCM Motorsports Park, Bowling Green, KY

5/30-31 RideSmart Motorcycle School, MSR Houston, Angleton, TX

5/30-31 TrackAddix Track Days, Motorsports Park Hastings, Hastings, NE

5/30-31 Pro 6 Cycle Inc. Track Days, Calabogie Motorsports Park, Calabogie, ON

5/30-31 Texas Mini Grand Prix, Gulf Coast Kartway, Katy, TX 

5/31 Motorheads Track Attacks Track Days, Rad Torque Raceway, Edmonton, AB

5/31-6/1 Optimum Performance Rider Training Track Days, Ridge Motorsports Park, Shelton, WA

MotoGP: Aprilia’s Ogura and Fernandez Lead In Monday Tests

Jerez Test Round Up: Aprilia Leads Ducati On Monday

Ai Ogura edged out teammate Raul Fernandez for Monday testing honors while breakthroughs were found behind

After a memorable Spanish GP, it was back to the grind on Monday for MotoGP – with the field heading out for a one-day test at the same Circuito de Jerez-Angel Nieto. There was much to see at Ducati as the Borgo Panigale factory look to strengthen their fight back against Aprilia but there were a few things on show up and down pit lane. And there was an Aprilia 1-2-3 at the top.

By the end of action, Ai Ogura was fastest with a lap at 1:35.944 to lead a Trackhouse MotoGP Team 1-2 after deposing teammate Raul Fernandez by just 0.005-second. World Championship leader Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) was third ahead of Marc Marquez, back on track with the Ducati Lenovo Team after his Sunday crash, after the reigning World Champion was shuffled back courtesy of the Japanese star’s late lap.

Aprilia Racing & Trackhouse MotoGP Team

Fernandez set his best lap fairly late to top the time sheets, but Ogura had one last fast one in the locker to make it a 1-2 for the team with Fernandez second. Ahead of the test day, both had stated the need to work on one-lap pace and with the strong showing they put in, the proof was in the pudding. Positive by the end of play but keeping their feet on the ground, it’s a strong way to sign off from Jerez, with their new-found speed to be confirmed in Le Mans.

At the factory Aprilia Racing team, Bezzecchi pipped Marc Marquez by 0.005s to take third spot overall and an Aprilia lockout in the top three, although the #72 also suffered a fast crash at Turn 11, rider OK. A new front fairing was on show for the Noale factory, as well as a few things team boss Paolo Bonora said weren’t “visible.” On Jorge Martin’s side of the box, it was set-up and the ergonomics as the main focus; he ended the test in P10 and was beaming about the progress made.

Raul Fernandez (25) leads Trackhouse Aprilia teammate Ai Ogura (79) at Jerez. MotoGP Photo.

Ducati Lenovo Team, BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP, Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team

Down at Ducati, there was new front aero, a side aero fairing they already tested in the pre-season, a swingarm cover and a modified chassis. Marc Marquez, who ended the test in fourth, said he was working on the chassis, with some modifications there, and some “interesting things.” The focus was on trying to get back the front feeling – the key challenge in 2026. The aero was also cited as helpful in “some areas.” Vague as ever when testing but nonetheless a step forward! Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) took P6, the GP winner the only rider who didn’t better his time in the afternoon.

Alex Marquez (73) was sixth quickest in Jerez testing. MotoGP photo.

Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) took P8, Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) P10, Fermin Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) P18 – ending his day early after an intense weekend of Grand Prix action seemed to take its toll on his recovering femur – and Franky Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) P19 and likewise feeling a bit under the weather come the end of it all.

Ducati Lenovo’s Marc Marquez (93) was fourth-quickest during Monday testing at Jerez. MotoGP photo.

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, Red Bull KTM Tech3

Pedro Acosta led the way for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing in P5 in terms of positions, and had some aero to try. In terms of new things to test, MotoGP Hall of Famer and test rider Dani Pedrosa was out getting the laps in across a busy day, too. At Red Bull KTM Tech3, Enea Bastianini was also trying out new parts for the Austrian factory as he flew solo for the French team and ended the day in P12. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) was P16 by the end of play.

Pedro Acosta (37) testing aerodynamics at Jerez on Monday. MotoGP photo.
KTM factory team and Tech3 team riders were on track during the Monday tests. MotoGP photo.

Honda HRC Castrol, Castrol Honda LCR, Pro Honda LCR

Honda had a low-key day on the time sheets, focusing elsewhere and, outwardly, on their current package. The top Honda rider was veteran Johann Zarco (Castrol Honda LCR) in P9 after a strong weekend, with rookie teammate Diogo Moreira (Pro Honda LCR) in P13 – encouraging after a tougher weekend for him. Moreira was the first faller of the test during the morning but he was all OK. Luca Marini (Honda HRC Castrol) was right on Moreira’s tail in P14, 0.018-second further back, with teammate Joan Mir just 0.081-second behind in what was a tight trio.

Joan Mir (36) aboard his Honda RC213V during Monday testing at Jerez. MotoGP photo.

Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP, Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP

In Yamaha blue, work continued in developing the V4-powered package as well as other small updates. Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) was able to instantly lap quicker than the fastest lap of his Grand Prix in the morning before knocking three tenths off his weekend’s best in the afternoon. Top Yamaha rider and in P7, Quartararo can leave Jerez on a positive note ahead of his home Grand Prix at Le Mans in two weekend’s time. On the other side of the box, Alex Rins was a second off his teammate’s time and took P22, electing to finish early.

There was plenty of working going in the Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP outfit too with Jack Miller leaving Jerez with the upper-hand in that camp. He worked on trying to improve the front feeling of his machine and also had some small items to try. Teammate Toprak Razgatlioglu had a crash at Turn 3 in the morning but was otherwise OK as he continued to try and adapt his riding style. Electronic work to improve engine braking was on his agenda, whilst both bikes were spotted with the rear side aero that their Monster Energy counterparts used in the weekend. 17th for Miller, 21st for Razgatlioglu, Le Mans is their next destination. Despite being on the initial entry list, test rider Augusto Fernandez didn’t head out.

A Yamaha gives chase as riders head down the straightaway at Jerez on Monday. MotoGP photo.
Session_for_ES3_MotoGP_FP2_1_

Oxley Bom MotoGP Podcast: Jerez 2026

By Mat Oxley:

VIDEO ALERT! We’ve got Mat and Peter taking a stroll across Jerez, and that’s the episode version I’d most recommend!

There’s this thing called the law of opposites. You know: for every Ying, there’s a Yang. For every good thing, a bad thing. For every exciting sprint, one boring race. 

Oh bloody hell, we weren’t allowed to say that!

Well never mind anyway, because it won’t stay boring if you look a little closer. And you know who’s really good at that? That’s right, your hosts Mat and Peter! 

It’s a little cliche to call Jerez “Marquez-country”, but there’s good reason: in the past, the Spanish ‘King of Chaos’ has always ruled supreme over his kingdom here. But this year, something’s seriously wrong. Marc was out in the second lap; not a great sign for his condition this season. And now the king’s younger brother reigns in his stead, while Aprilia is steadily cementing itself further and further as best in class. 

And right in the middle of this? Mat and Peter, taking a stroll across the grid. Want to come backstage with us and see what they thought of it all? Then jump in! 

(Small note: today’s episode is pretty short, but tune in tomorrow night for a special surprise!)

 

  • LISTEN TO THE PODCAST HERE! 

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!  

The song during the sponsor segment is called Dolphin Shores by flowerhead

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!

MotoGP: More From Sunday at Jerez

At the Circuito de Jerez, the MotoGP race brought both excitement and surprises. Alex Márquez made a strong comeback, taking a memorable victory at his home track. Marco Bezzecchi finished second, with Fabio Di Giannantonio completing the podium. The race also saw drama for Marc Márquez, who crashed his Ducati and missed out on the fight at the front.

 

More from a press release issued by BK8 Gresini Team:

Ops, we’re back!

 

  • RACE DAY

ALEX MARQUEZ 1º 🥇

FERMIN ALDEGUER 

 

  • WORLD SSTANDINGS

ALEX MARQUEZ 7° – 53 points

FERMIN ALDEGUER 15° – 20 points

 

Alex Marquez won at Jerez. Photo courtesy Gresini Team.

 

ALEX MARQUEZ #73: “If there was a track where I could rediscover my feeling, it was Jerez. Magic happens here, and that’s exactly how it went. I felt good right from Friday, but I didn’t expect to be this fast. We did an amazing job together with the team—we worked hard, and getting two consecutive wins is absolutely incredible. I attacked right from the start, both Marco and Marc, and then I found a strong rhythm. These 25 points give us a lot of confidence and at least put us back among the top 7 in the overall standings. Now we’ll try to build race by race.”

 

Fermin Aldeguer on the grid of the MotoGP Race at Jerez. Photo courtesy Gresini Team.

 

FERMIN ALDEGUER #54: “Many positive things from this race. Starting from 12th, I knew it wouldn’t be easy, and after a disastrous start the situation got even worse. But I still managed to put together a good race—the top 10 is definitely important, though we still need to find a solid base with this new bike. We’re definitely lacking something physically; after Austin I was completely drained, but we were coming off a double-header. I feel better now, but we’ll see tomorrow morning how I feel for the tests.”

 

 


More from a press release issued by Aprilia:

Fourth consecutive race podium in 2026 for Aprilia Racing. Four Aprilias in the top six in Jerez: Marco Bezzecchi second and Jorge Martin fourth. Trackhouse MotoGP Team’s Ai Ogura fifth and Raul Fernandez sixth.

The weekend at Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto ended with a positive balance for Aprilia Racing. Marco Bezzecchi rode a solid race, finishing second and taking his sixth podium in a row, including the ones in 2025. This is the Italian rider’s fourth consecutive podium in the first four GP races of the season, becoming the first rider ever to do so in the top class since 2016. It is also his best personal MotoGP result in Jerez, as well as Aprilia Racing’s, which improves the previous third-place finish achieved in 2022 with Aleix Espargaró.

Positive race for Jorge Martín as well who, after starting from the tenth spot on the grid, was protagonist of an outstanding start which placed him in fourth position, thereby tying his best result on the Andalusian track.

Lorenzo Savadori, riding in a wild card slot, was forced to retire during the seventh lap due to his less-than-optimum fitness after the accident in the sprint race.

Also worth a mention is the performance of the Trackhouse MotoGP Team riders, with Ai Ogura and Raúl Fernández fifth and sixth across the finish line to complete a result with four Aprilias in the top six spots.

 

Marco Bezzecchi (72) at Jerez. Photo courtesy Aprilia.

 

Marco Bezzecchi:I gave it my all this weekend, but unfortunately it was not enough to battle for the win. During the race I managed to improve and maintain a competitive pace. In any case, I’m satisfied. The team did an outstanding job like always and I thank them. Now we’ll be looking ahead to the test.” 

 

Jorge Martin (89) at Jerez. Photo courtesy Aprilia.

 

Jorge Martin:The start was extremely good. I tried to manage the tyre, but from the early laps, the feeling with the rear wasn’t the best: I was lacking grip both under braking and under acceleration. In any case, I tried to give one hundred percent in this race. I can’t wait for the test on Monday in order to continue taking steps forward.”

 

Lorenzo Savadori (32) at Jerez. Photo courtesy Aprilia.

 

Lorenzo Savadori:The impact during the sprint race was rather violent, but fortunately, I didn’t suffer any fractures. However, I was unable to ride during the race. I couldn’t manage to lean off the bike to do the turn angles and to pick the bike up. Consequently, I was unfortunately forced to retire.”

 

Massimo Rivola – CEO Aprilia Racing:It was a Sunday where we demonstrated great consistency, with four Aprilias in the top six spots. The most positive aspect is seeing that we were not discouraged after a poor Saturday where everything possible happened. This gives us even more strength to tackle the upcoming races with the awareness that if we work every day seeking to give our maximum, we will achieve the maximum; so now we’re already focused on having a good test on Monday.”

 

 


More from a press release issued by Pertamina Enduro VR46 Team:

The Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team claims the second podium of the season in the Spanish GP with Fabio Di Giannantonio, who is third in Sunday’s race and in the Top3 of the World Standing. Franco Morbidelli is twelfth.

The Spanish GP ends on a positive note for the Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team, that proves to be competitive in Sunday’s race too and claims the podium with Fabio Di Giannantonio, who is third both at the finish line and in the World Standing. On dry track, Franco Morbidelli recovers some positions and ends in twelfth place.

A complicated start from the front row, forced Di Giannantonio to lose some places in the early stages of the race, but he showed a great rhythm right away, by entering again in the fight for the top places. The rider from Rome kept a good pace throughout all the race, crossing the finish line in third place and claiming his second podium of the season. With this result, Di Giannantonio is third in the World Standing with 71 points.

After his Sprint podium, Morbidelli had a solid race on Sunday, starting from the sixth row. At the difficult Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto, Franco completed many overtakes, recovering positions throughout the 25 laps of Sunday’s race. The Italian Brazilian rider crossed the finish line in twelfth position and collected some important points. Morbidelli sits now in thirteenth place in the World Standing with 25 points.

The Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team stays at the Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto for the Official IRTA Test Day that will take place on Monday. Then, MotoGP will go to Le Mans, where the French GP will take place from 8th to the 10th May.

 

Fabio Di Giannantonio in the parc fermé at Jerez. Photo courtesy VR46 Team.

 

FABIO DI GIANNANTONIO: “I am really happy with the level we’re showing. I’m just a bit upset because I made a mistake at the start: the team did a great job during all the weekend and in these months, but this little mistake didn’t allow us to really fight. For sure, it’s a great podium and we must be very happy. We are also in the Top3 of the World Standing and it’s great. But we think we could have done more without that mistake. Of course, when you start to collect such great results, a third place is not enough, but it’s an amazing result, anyway. We’re doing a great job; we just must keep the focus on and the feet on the ground. The season is still very long, but let’s keep working like this.”

 

Franco Morbidelli (21) and Luca Marini (10) at Jerez. Photo courtesy VR46 Team.

 

FRANCO MORBIDELLI: “Today’s race was tougher, but I expected that. Yesterday we secured a podium, but for today’s race we kept working on some changes that didn’t work as we wanted, although they were useful for understanding how to solve the issue of lack of rear grip. I perform better in the final laps of the race because the tyres are so used and the bike becomes more manageable and smoother. We made some steps, but we still need to work on improving the first part of the race. We’re working very well and we proved it yesterday with the podium in the Sprint, but in dry conditions we’re still struggling a bit. Ducati and the team are working to solve this problem; in that sense, tomorrow’s test day will be very full and crucial.”

 

PABLO NIETO: “The Spanish GP was a crucial weekend, the first European race is always very difficult, and you can understand your value. We proved to be very strong with Di Giannantonio during all the weekend and in every condition, even on wet where we used to struggle. This second podium is a great result to end the race weekend. Yesterday, we claimed a great third place with Franco in a Sprint where we had to be smart. We must still improve, but I am very happy with the steps we made with him. I think we must be very satisfied with the job we’ve done. Now, let’s focus on Monday’s test, another crucial day to keep working on the bike.”

 

 


More from a press release issued by Castrol Honda LCR:

Castrol Honda LCR rider Johann Zarco finished 7th in Sunday’s race at the Circuito de Jerez Ángel Nieto.

 

  • Starting from 2nd on the grid, Johann Zarco made a solid start and quickly established himself within the front group, in contention for the podium.
  • The Frenchman showed strong pace throughout, consistently fighting at the front and running 5th, defending his position with determination.
  • In the final stages, tyre wear became a limiting factor, making it harder for him to keep pushing. Zarco eventually crossed the line in 7th place, securing valuable points, finishing as the top Honda rider on the timesheets, and achieving his best result in 2026 after the first four races. 

 

Johann Zarco (5) at Jerez. Photo courtesy Honda LCR.
 
 
Johann Zarco 7th: “I gave my best to secure the best possible result, and today it was 7th. The start was tough, but I managed to defend my position and fight with my rivals. Our pace was better than I expected, honestly, it was very decent, and I’m happy about that. Of course, I was aiming for the podium, but with five laps to go I felt a big drop in the rear tyre. In the end, I crossed the line in 7th, which is still a positive result. Tomorrow’s test will help us improve in some areas and be better prepared for the next races.”

 

 


More from a press release issued by Red Bull KTM Tech3:

Bastianini leads KTM charge with strong points-scoring run in Spain. 

Enea Bastianini produced a pacy performance to register an eighth-place finish for Red Bull KTM Tech3 in today’s Grand Prix of Spain, starring in front of a sold-out, sun-kissed 96,540-strong crowd at the Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto during round four of the 2026 MotoGP™ World Championship.

Having lined up a season-best seventh on the grid amongst the 23 high-calibre contenders in the sport’s premier class, Bastianini made a solid start to the 25-lap contest – the milestone 40th running of the Andalusian race.

Swiftly settling into an entertaining three-way tussle for sixth with Pedro Acosta and Raúl Fernández, he showed particularly impressive pace through the final sector of the physical and tortuous 4.42km, 13-turn lap.

After conceding a spot to Fernández, the Italian got the better of Acosta to lead the KTM charge, rapidly pulling away to make seventh position his own. As the race progressed, however, Bastianini found himself under threat from a hard-charging Ai Ogura, with the pair thrilling fans by engaging in a wheel-to-wheel duel before the Japanese rider made his move stick.

Thereafter confidently consolidating eighth position aboard his #23 KTM RC16, ‘La Bestia’ closed the gap to fellow former Moto2 World Champion Johann Zarco to under a second-and-a-half by the chequered flag – in so doing, jumping from 12th to tenth in the World Championship standings.

Next up is Red Bull KTM Tech3’s home event at Le Mans’ Bugatti Circuit – round five of the 22-round campaign and the second stop on the calendar’s European leg on 8-10 May – where the squad hopes to be back to full strength with the return of Maverick Viñales on the sister bike alongside Bastianini. Prior to heading back to France, there is a day of testing at Jerez tomorrow (27 April).

 

Enea Bastianini (23) and Ai Ogura (79) at Jerez. Photo courtesy Tech3.

 

Enea Bastianini: “It’s been a solid weekend from my side. I can be happy, because we were competitive in every session – whether it was cold or hot and also with the wind in today’s race. To be honest, my expectation for the Grand Prix was a bit higher. I was thinking about the top five, but after a few laps, I felt a lot of drop-off from the front tyre so it was impossible to push it from then on. Still, we remained consistent to the end and since Austin, we have taken a good step forward; my main problem during the first two rounds of the season was a lack of all-round grip, but now, it feels much better. Let’s continue in this way!”

 

Nicolas Goyon, Team Manager: “Enea produced a really strong performance at Jerez. We were looking forward to seeing what he could do after his excellent results in Austin, and it has been another very positive weekend. He had his best qualifying of the season so far – which is so important around this track – and then ran very well in sixth place in the Sprint race until the rain came. We thought maybe we could challenge for the top five in the Grand Prix given how well he manages tyre degradation, but the top guys were just slightly out of reach so eighth and top KTM rider was still a good result. Enea is feeling happier on the bike after a tough start to the year, and climbing into the top ten in the championship will give him even more confidence. Now, it will be really important to maintain this level of performance. The test tomorrow offers us the perfect opportunity to confirm the improvements we have made and set ourselves up well for the rest of the season.”

 

 


More from a press release issued by Honda HRC Castrol:

Honda HRC Castrol takes points in challenging Spanish GP.

Contact and long lap penalties restricted both Luca Marini and Joan Mir from doing anything more, the pair leaving the first European Grand Prix of the year with a 13th and 15th place finish respectively.

From before sunrise, the hills and grandstands of the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto began to fill with close to 100,000 fans, eagerly awaiting what would unfold. The hottest conditions of the weekend introduced a new element to Sunday, Honda HRC Castrol making the most of morning Warm Up to prepare for the 25-lap Spanish Grand Prix.

Starting well, Luca Marini found himself squeezed heading into the first corner and resulting contact removed much of the aerodynamics on the lefthand side of his Honda RC213V. Settling into a rhythm to recover the positions he lost while also working to fully understand the condition of his machine, Marini put on a respectable march forward and he closed in on the likes of Rins, Quartararo and the points. Taking 13th at the line, the #10 leaves Spain with 27 points in the World Championship standings.

Double Long Lap Penalty looming, Joan Mir pushed from the off to open as much margin as possible before completing his penalty by lap eight. Consistent pace had the 2020 MotoGP World Champion close in on the factory Yamaha pair ahead, easily passing Rins and looking for a way past Quartararo until the final corner. 15th rewards Mir with a single point and his first Sunday race finish of the 2026 season.

The Honda HRC Castrol team will remain in Spain for the first post-race test of the year, a critical moment to make improvements before three Grands Prix in rapid succession.

 

Luca Marini (10) at Jerez. Photo courtesy Honda HRC.

 

Luca Marini: “Unfortunately at the start of the race I had contact with some other riders and our bike’s aerodynamics were damaged. Without the left side of the aero, everything was compromised – from wheelie in under acceleration to getting the bike stopped. We did what we could in this situation. Zarco showed how important Qualifying is, from second on the grid he could fight for sixth or seventh, so we need to keep working on our Friday and Saturday to improve Sunday. We keep improving and see what we can learn from the post-race test.”

 

Joan Mir (36) at Jerez. Photo courtesy Honda HRC.

Joan Mir: “Considering the Double Long Lap Penalty, the result is about as good as we could have hoped for. Our main objective was to finish the race because the conditions, the grip and everything were very critical today and with the weather we didn’t have the perfect package. Not the weekend or the result we aimed for, but some good information and at least we made some good overtakes during the comeback at the end. Now a day of testing with a few things to work on.”

 

 


More from a press release issued by Monster Energy Yamaha:

Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP’s Fabio Quartararo and Álex Rins engaged in battles in the 25-lap Grand Prix of Spain Race. They finished in P14 and P16 respectively.

 

 

The 25-lap Grand Prix of Spain Race riding conditions were in direct contrast with those of the Sprint completed less than 24-hours earlier. Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP’s Fabio Quartararo and Álex Rins pushed in the Spanish sunshine and took the chequered flag in 14th and 16th place respectively.

Quartararo had a good launch from P17 and pushed on in the first half of the race. He managed to climb as high as P12 but got under pressure in the final 10 laps from chasing rivals. The Yamaha man skilfully kept Joan Mir at bay on the last laps to finish in P14, 29.532s from first.

Starting from P21, Rins was keen to make inroads in the early laps. By lap 13, he was in 14th place. However, chasing rivals were looming while he experienced a tyre drop, making the final third of the race tough for Rins. He ultimately ended it in P16, 32.921s from the winner.

Today’s results put Quartararo in 16th place in the championship standings with 11 points. Rins is in 19th with 3 points. Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP are in 10th position in the team classifications with 14 points, and Yamaha is fifth in the constructor rankings with 14 points.

The team will be back in action at the Jerez track tomorrow for the one-day IRTA test.

 

Fabio Quartararo (20) at Jerez. Photo courtesy Yamaha.

 

Fabio Quartararo: “I tried to ride in a different way to see if that would help, but it didn’t really. Tomorrow we will continue the work from the weekend.”

 

Alex Rins (42) at Jerez. Photo courtesy Yamaha.

 

Alex Rins: “It was a tough weekend. From my side, I’m kind of happy because our pace was better than I expected. Overall, I was trying to fight until the rear tyre dropped, but when also the front tyre dropped, it became difficult for me to ride and lean like I wanted to. Let’s see what we have available to try at tomorrow’s test and if we can improve the bike a little.”

 

Massimo Meregalli – Team Director: “All in all, it’s been a tough race weekend, but today we did what we could in the Race. We knew that the feeling wasn’t great in the dry, so we expected it to be a long race today. Fabio and Álex made good starts and capitalised on the pack being close together at the time. While our riders still couldn’t battle to their full potential, especially Fabio showed some expert defensive riding in the final laps, and overall the riders got the maximum result within our capabilities. We will be back at the Jerez track tomorrow for the one-day IRTA test. Thankfully, it looks like we will have good riding weather again, so we should be able to complete our full testing programme.”

 

 


More from a press release issued by Pro Honda LCR:

Pro Honda LCR rider Diogo Moreira finished 17th in Sunday’s race at the Circuito de Jerez Ángel Nieto.

  • Starting from 23rd on the grid, Moreira faced a challenging comeback over the course of the 25-lap race.
  • The Brazilian rider reported feeling strong during the early stages, where he was able to push and make progress through the field.
  • However, in the closing laps, tyre degradation became a key factor, making it difficult for him to maintain his pace. Despite the late struggles, Moreira crossed the line in 17th position, gathering valuable data and already looking ahead to the Monday test. 
 
Diogo Moreira (11) at Jerez. Photo courtesy Honda LCR.
 
Diogo Moreira 17th: “We know it’s difficult to overtake in MotoGP, and even more so at this track. The race wasn’t bad, I was there, following the factory Hondas. With 10 laps to go, I started to struggle with the tyre wear. Tomorrow it will be important to try some different setup options and see where we can improve.”
 

 

 


More from a press release issued by Prima Pramac Yamaha:

Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP Concludes Challenging Weekend in Jerez. 

Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP endured a demanding race in Jerez, with penalties and technical challenges affecting the final outcome as the team now turns its focus to crucial post-race testing.

 

It was a difficult weekend for Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP at Jerez, as both Jack Miller and Toprak Razgatlıoğlu were unable to build on the progress shown at COTA. Solutions that had appeared promising did not deliver the expected results on track, while the changing weather conditions on Saturday further limited the team‘s ability to carry out consistent development work.

Toprak Razgatlıoğlu, who started the race with a long lap penalty following his involvement in a crash during Saturday‘s Sprint, initially made up positions at the start. However, after serving the penalty, he rejoined near the back of the field with a significant gap to the pack and was unable to recover, maintaining that position until the chequered flag.

Jack Miller, who was once again engaged in close battles in the latter part of the field, faced additional challenges due to a rear brake issue that limited his ability to push further. Despite his efforts, he crossed the line in 18th position after a demanding race.

With the race weekend concluded, the team will remain in Jerez for an important day of testing on Monday. This session will be a key opportunity to continue the development and set-up work on the Yamaha YZR-M1, building on the data gathered since the first tests in Sepang and aiming to take another step forward.

 
 
 
Jack Miller (43) at Jerez. Photo courtesy Pramac Yamaha.

 

Jack Miller: “It was one of those weekends for us. The race itself didn‘t feel too bad — I got a decent start, but I made a mistake in the last corner on the first lap where I carried too much closing speed. After that, I was starting to find a rhythm and make my way forward.

I had just passed Diogo and put in a couple of strong laps, but then I lost the rear brake. That obviously made things difficult, especially in the heavy braking zones, and Diogo was able to come back past me. In the faster, flowing corners I actually felt quite good, but overall it limited what I could do.

Tomorrow we resume work and will be trying different new things that hopefully can be a new step in the right direction.”

 

Toprak Razgatlıoğlu (07) at Jerez. Photo courtesy Pramac Yamaha.

 

Toprak Razgatlıoğlu: “It was a really difficult race. I struggled at the beginning to find my rhythm, especially with the new tyre and had the same issue with engine braking that I have had in the past — the bike wasn‘t stopping the way I wanted. But towards the end of the race, my feeling improved and I was able to do better lap times over the last few laps. Now we need to analyse the difference between the start and the end of the race to understand what changed.

At the moment, the main issue for me is still the engine braking. It‘s something I‘ve been feeling consistently, and we need to solve it. Once we fix that, we can then focus on improving the turning and rear grip. We will keep working together as a team to find solutions, starting from the test tomorrow.”

 

Gino Borsoi – Team Director: “It was definitely not an easy weekend. To be honest, I was convinced we could have done better at this circuit, especially considering some of the positive signs we had seen in the previous race with a few improvements to the bike. However, the whole weekend turned out to be quite complicated.

The changing weather certainly didn‘t help, but overall we weren‘t able to find the right set-up for both riders. We struggled yesterday and again today in the race. In particular, Saturday presented a good opportunity that we weren‘t able to take advantage of.

It‘s been a difficult weekend, and now we need to use it as a moment to reflect, understand where we can improve, and make sure we don‘t miss opportunities when they arise. It will require a collective effort from the whole team, and hopefully this will help us move forward in the future.”

 

 

 


More from a press release issued by Yamaha Factory:

Augusto Fernández Perseveres in Spanish GP Race.

The Yamaha Factory Racing Team had planned on using the perfect riding conditions of the Grand Prix of Spain Sunday to the fullest. With a clear objective – collect race data at the Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto – wild-card entry Augusto Fernández started the 25-lap MotoGP Race, but contact on lap 2 caused rear-brake failure. The test rider still managed to finish the race in 20th place.

The Yamaha Factory Racing Team completed their Grand Prix of Spain testing programme in today’s 25-lap MotoGP Race. Wild-card entry Augusto Fernández took the chequered flag in P20 despite his rear brake being damaged due to contact with another rider on lap 2. 

The goal for the perfectly sunny 25-lap race was to secure racing data. Fernández started from P16 and fell back to P22 in the opening stages. Riding with a damaged rear brake after lap 2, the number 47 still opted to finish the race. He ultimately crossed the finish line in 20th place, 1’05.023s from first.

 

Augusto Fernández (47) at Jerez. Photo courtesy Yamaha.

 

 

 


More from a press release issued by Ducati Lenovo Team:

A challenging Sunday for the Ducati Lenovo Team at Jerez: Marc Márquez crashes on lap two, Francesco Bagnaia forced to retire. 

The Ducati Lenovo Team wrapped up the Estrella Galicia 0,0 Grand Prix of Spain at the ‘Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto’ with an unexpected result, following Saturday’s one-two finish in the Sprint. Marc Márquez crashed out of the race on lap two while running second, while Francesco Bagnaia was forced to retire on lap thirteen.

Márquez made a strong start from pole position and held the lead into turn one. After attempting to pull away on the opening lap, he was caught and passed by his brother Alex before losing the front of his Desmosedici GP at turn eleven. Bagnaia lost one position at the start but climbed back up to ninth in the first half of the race. On lap thirteen, Pecco encountered a technical issue that forced him to return to the pits.

As the fourth Grand Prix of the season comes to a close, Marc Márquez sits fifth in the championship standings with 57 points, while Francesco Bagnaia is ninth, 23 points adrift of his teammate. The Ducati Lenovo Team is fifth in the teams’ standings (91 points), with Ducati second in the constructors’ championship (106 points).

The Ducati Lenovo Team will be back in action tomorrow at Jerez for a one-day official test, while the fifth Grand Prix of the 2026 season will take place at Le Mans (France) on May 8–10.

 

Marc Márquez (93) at Jerez. Photo courtesy Ducati.

 

Marc Márquez (#93 Ducati Lenovo Team) – DNF: “I’m fine physically. We enjoyed this Grand Prix of Spain from Thursday to Sunday, so it’s a pity that the race ended so early. I did something different at turn eleven, which caused the crash. I was trying to manage the situation, as I knew Alex (Márquez) was quicker, and the goal was to finish in third or fourth place. We struggled in terms of feeling and pace in the first three races, while this has been our strongest weekend so far this season. We were competitive in the wet, but there’s still work to do in dry conditions, and we’ll start addressing that already tomorrow.”

 

Francesco Bagnaia (63) at Jerez. Photo courtesy Ducati.

 

Francesco Bagnaia (#63 Ducati Lenovo Team) – DNF: “We were lucky yesterday, not so much today. I didn’t get a great start but tried to recover positions, and I was lapping at a solid pace — not enough for the podium, but a top-seven finish was within reach. I tried to follow the lines of Enea (Bastianini) and Ogura, who were ahead of me, and our pace was similar. Unfortunately, I had an issue with a detail of the bike from the start, and it worsened lap after lap. In the end, I had to return to the pits because I couldn’t get the bike to stop properly. I believe this issue won’t happen again going forward. Tomorrow we’ll work to get closer to Alex’s pace and evaluate the solutions available to us.”

AFT: Bauman Won At Ventura in Front of a Sold Out Crowd

Editorial Note: MotoAmerica road racer Kensei Matsudaira finished fifth in the AFT ProSport 450 (Road To AFT) race.

 

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Briar Bauman (No. 3 RWR/Jacob Construction/Parts Plus Harley-Davidson XG750R) formally announced his arrival as a 2026 Grand National Championship contender with a dominant performance in Saturday’s Memphis Shades Ventura Short Track presented by 805 Beer. 

Even after a somewhat-slower-than-expected start to his ‘26 Mission AFT SuperTwins campaign, Bauman’s one-sided victory at Ventura Raceway came as little surprise. The win was his third straight at the ocean-side venue and served as a stark reminder to the rest of the field the type of performance the two-time premier-class champion is capable of when on his game. 

Bauman blasted into the lead from the start and soon after eliminated the threat of all but fellow Harley-Davidson ace Kody Kopp (No. 12 Latus Motors Racing Harley-Davidson XG750R). 

The rookie points leader did all he could just to keep Bauman in sight as they raced away from the pack. But despite his best efforts, Bauman ultimately proved too strong.  

Kopp was given a glimmer of hope late when Bauman got hung up behind a three-rider group waging fifth position as he lapped his way up the order. However, Bauman’s hard work and big lead paid off, as he held on to grab the checkered flag with a 1.373-second margin of victory.  

After earning his first win of the season, Bauman admitted, “I got a little bit greedy the first three rounds. I kind of led the team in a difficult direction. We wanted to bite off more than we could chew, and we got a little ahead of ourselves. So apologies to Rick Ware Racing and the whole family, but this is where we belong. 

“I love coming here. I see my friends. I see my family where I grew up. I’m a pretty good Short Tracker, so I enjoy riding this track in general… I’m so proud of my guys. We did something massive tonight.”   

Dallas Daniels (No. 1 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07) finished third but required a good deal of luck to claim his usual spot on the podium.  

Earlier, the reigning class king engaged in a bar-banging battle with a motivated Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing KTM 790 Duke). But just as Fisher looked to have gotten the better of Daniels, he was dealt a cruel hand of mechanical misfortune with less than a minute remaining on the clock.  

Fisher’s disappointment also elevated part-timer Bronson Bauman (No. 37 Dick Ford Racing/Mission/Roof Systems Yamaha MT-07) to a hugely impressive fourth in his 2026 debut. 

Fisher’s teammate, Ben Lowe (No. 25 Rackley Racing/Roof Systems KTM 790 Duke), rounded out the top five, finishing just ahead of Aidan RoosEvans (No. 26 FRA Trust Advisors Harley-Davidson XG750R) and Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods Honda CB750 Hornet).  

Logan Mcgrane (No. 14 Schaffers MotorSports/Ryan Varnes Racing KTM 790 Duke), Jacob Lehmann (No. 16 Weirbach Racing Kawasaki Ninja 650), and Evan Renshaw (No. 95 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650) finished eighth through tenth, respectively. 

Four races into his Mission AFT SuperTwins career, Kopp continues to lead the Grand National Championship with 84 points courtesy of two wins and two runners-up. Daniels is second at 77, followed by Bauman with 62.

 

1

 

KICKER AFT Singles

Kage Tadman (No. 28 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) did it again, scoring a scintillating KICKER AFT Singles victory in the return to the scene of his shock maiden win at Ventura Raceway one year ago. 

This one was arguably even more tense than the first if possible, coming by just 0.034 seconds following a race-long showdown with reigning class champion Tom Drane (No. 1 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F).  

However, it was an on-form Jared Lowe (No. 63 Big R Racing/Vinson Construction Honda CRF450R) who actually grabbed the holeshot. 

Lowe led in the opening stages before Tadman came railing around the outside. Soon after, Drane pushed his way up the inside of Lowe, desperate to keep the Californian from running away at the front. The Australian then proceeded to apply heavy pressure, taking full advantage of the fact that Tadman’s high line kept the door open for an inside lunge throughout.   

The Estenson Racing Yamaha star finally made a go with just over a minute to go, but Tadman countered by crossing up his line and immediately reclaiming the position.  

Drane’s bike bucked and weaved as he attempted to mount another charge, but he never got quite close enough to edge ahead again. The closest he came was on the final lap, coming up a wheel short as the two stormed past the stripe.  

Tadman’s victory makes him the fourth different KICKER AFT Singles winner in four races this season. He said, “It’s been a roller coaster. I can’t thank the Turner Racing team enough for everything they do for me. We had a couple bad rounds; I’ve been struggling with some things, but we got it figured out when it mattered. Right now, this is a dream come true – again.” 

Prior to the Main, Senoia winner Brunner thought he had another win coming his way. A less-than-ideal start dropped him from realistic contention for the win, but he still managed to track down Lowe in order to collect third.  

Despite narrowly missing out on the box, Lowe equaled his career-best result in fourth.  

Tarren Santero (No. 75 Roof Systems/Vinson Construction Honda CRF450R) fought his way up to fifth after starting from the back of the pack due to earning his way via the Last Chance Qualifier.   

Chase Saathoff (No. 88 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450), who had factored into previous podium fights at Ventura, was an uncharacteristically quiet sixth. Meanwhile, Tadman’s teammate, Walker Porter (No. 10 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) came home seventh, with Justin Jones (No. 91 Fairway Ford Chevy GMC Yamaha YZ450F 450), Justin Anselmi (No. 15 Team TDR/Leblanc Family Farms Yamaha YZ450F), and  Skylar Sentell (No. 60 Hoffer Performance/Stauffer Motors KTM 450 SX-F) rounding out the top ten. 

Drane now leads Brunner, 75-66, with Tadman right there in third with 61 points following his Ventura Short Track heroics. 

 

2

 

AFT ProSport 450 

Californian Jett Katarzy (No. 17 1st Impressions Husqvarna FC450) secured a popular first-career AFT ProSport victory in front of his home fans with a wire-to-wire victory.  

The AFT ProSport 450’s West Coast debut brought out a number of new contenders to race against the established frontrunners who made the trip out to Ventura. However, none of the talented amateurs who qualified for the event by way of the 450 Road to AFT Main Event in Friday’s AMA-sanctioned Mission Foods CTR Showcase Event had anything for home-state hero Katarzy. 

Prior to Ventura, the 1st Impressions Husqvarna had twice finished inside the top five but was yet to stand on the podium. The highly rated prospect rectified that by bolting out into the lead off the line and going unchallenged from that point forward.  

“It just feels so good,” Katarzy said. ”I know I get good starts, and I knew if I got out front, I could just stay calm and hold it for the win.” 

Behind Katarzy, a frenetic, multi-rider brawl broke out for second. While a revolving collection of challengers took their shot at displacing Bayne Nantz (No. 313 Nantz Bros Racing KTM 450 SX-F) from second, no one managed to make a move stick.  

Meanwhile, Ryder Bitz-Hay (No. 14 Bitz-Hay Racing KTM 450 SX-F) finished close behind Nantz in third to up his perfect AFT ProSport 450 podium record to three-for-three. 

Adam Costan-Wood (No. 88 Turner Racing Honda CRF450R) and Kensei Matsudaira (No. 74 Team Roberts Husqvarna FC 450) registered with top-five debuts, finishing fourth and fifth, respectively.  

 

4

 

Royal Enfield Build.Train.Race. (BTR)

Emma Gottsch (No. 5 Royal Enfield/Parts Unlimited/Arai/Alpinestars) extended her 2026 Royal Enfield Build.Train.Race. win streak to three following an early back-and-forth battle with top qualifier Julia Heess (No. 13 Royal Enfield/Parts Unlimited/Arai/Alpinestars). 

Despite the determined challenge from Heess, Gottsch shook free to grab control of the race shortly before a red flag reset things. Burdened with a renewed potential for upset, Gottsch shrugged it off, got away clean, and carried on to pick up a convincing victory.  

While Gottsch and Heess went 1-2 for the third consecutive race, Hanna Brewer (No. 39 Royal Enfield/Parts Unlimited/Arai/Alpinestars) broke Madicela Rodriguez’s (No. 113 Royal Enfield/Parts Unlimited/Arai/Alpinestars) stranglehold over third by edging her to claim the final spot on the box. 

 

3

 

Next Up 

Progressive American Flat Track will round out its back-to-back California swing in Chico next Saturday, May 2, with the Silver Dollar Short Track.

Visit https://www.americanflattrack.com/events/2026/view/silver-dollar-short-track-2026 to secure your tickets today.  

 

How to Watch 

  • FloRacing  
    For those that can’t catch the live action at the track, FloRacing is the live streaming home of Progressive American Flat Track. Motorsports fans can subscribe to FloRacing to enjoy over 1,000 live motorsports events in 2026. FloSports is available by visiting https://flosports.link/AFT2026 or by downloading the FloSports app on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire and Chromecast. 

 

  • FS1 
    FOX Sports coverage of the Memphis Shades Ventura Short Track, featuring in-depth features and thrilling onboard cameras, will premiere on FS1 on Saturday, May 2, at 10:30 a.m. ET (7:30 a.m. PT). The full listing of American Flat Track’s television premieres can be found at https://www.americanflattrack.com/events-foxsports

Supercross: Results From Philadelphia, PA

PHILADELPHIA  – The final East Coast stop of the 2026 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship became the biggest wild card of an already captivating season as Mother Nature became the great equalizer for Round 15 of the Monster Energy SMX World Championship inside Lincoln Financial Field. An afternoon of clear conditions and cool temperatures gave way to intermittent showers for the night show, which saturated the racetrack and made both track position and a patient approach the key to victory. Amidst the most difficult and treacherous conditions of the season, the Eastern Divisional 250SMX Class turned into a championship celebration as 18-year-old New Zealander Cole Davies navigated a chaotic Main Event to secure his fifth victory of the year and clinch his first professional title.

 

 

Ken Roczen Seizes 450SMX Points Lead with Fifth Win of the Season

 

A shortened 17 Minutes + 1 Lap 450SMX Class Main Event began with the class’ top three title contenders out front as Honda HRC Progressive’s Hunter Lawrence, Progressive Insurance Cycle Gear Suzuki’s Ken Roczen, and Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cooper Webb duked it out. The early edge went to Lawrence with the holeshot as he fended off Webb for the early lead, but Roczen then made his way from third to first just a couple minutes into the race. The lead trio then settled into their respective positions as Roczen and Lawrence inched away from Webb. Lawrence then started to pressure Roczen for the lead, as the championship rivals traded momentum. Then, with a little more than nine minutes remaining, Lawrence went down. He lost second to Webb but remounted in third, more than 20 seconds off the lead.

 
Without the pressure from Lawrence, Roczen was able to ride at his own pace and managed a comfortable margin over Webb through the heart of the Main Event, which became crucial as Roczen was faced with heavy lapped traffic throughout the entirety of the race’s second half. Webb made a final push as time ran out on the race clock and closed within a couple bike lengths of Roczen to initiate a last lap battle for the win. Roczen responded and kept Webb at bay to capture his 28th career victory by a slim margin of 2.4 seconds. Lawrence followed in a distant third on a night when just four riders finished on the lead lap.

 
Roczen’s class leading fifth win of the season vaulted him to the top of the championship standings on the heels of four wins over the past five races. It marks the first time in his decorated career that Roczen has had possession of the red plate in the second half of a championship campaign. The German native holds a four-point lead over Lawrence with two races remaining, while Webb lurks in third, 24 points back.

 

Progressive Insurance Cycle Gear Suzuki’s Ken Roczen has seized control of the 450SMX Class title fight with his fourth win in five races. Photo courtesy SMX

 

Ken Roczen – 1st Place – 450SMX Class:

“The pressure has been there for a long time, but now I’m just dealing with it on an [every] weekend basis. I just do whatever I need to keep myself calm or whatever mindset I need to be in. There’s certain weekends where you need to be more aggressive and whatnot. This was such an important race. In these conditions things can go sideways in a heartbeat. I am so pumped and proud of my crew and myself for putting all this together when it’s really important. I’m really enjoying it. Hard work pays off.”

 

Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cooper Webb settled for second, but the defending Supercross champion made a bid for victory on the final lap. Photo courtesy SMX

 

Cooper Webb – 2nd Place – 450SMX Class:

“It got crazy at the end. I just went full send. It’s a bummer to get second after riding that flawless of a race but we were pushing hard. I got close at the end, but lappers dictated some of it at the end and helped Kenny [Roczen] or hurt me, or vice versa. I felt like tonight was an opportunity I needed to make the most of and just didn’t quite pull it off. Overall, a great ride.”

 

Honda HRC Progressive’s Hunter Lawrence overcame a crash to finish third and minimize his loss of the points lead. Photo courtesy SMX

 

Hunter Lawrence – 3rd Place – 450SMX Class:

“I’ve got a little extra fuel during the week [losing the points lead]. I look forward to Denver and Salt Lake [City]. They’ve been good to me, and I like racing at altitude. Happy to get out of here in one piece. I had a few ‘oh crap’ moments out there. Damage control with that little crash, so happy with that all things considered because once it happens sometimes the train can go off the tracks. Happy to bring it home.”

 

450SMX Class Podium (left to right): Cooper Webb, Ken Roczen, and Hunter Lawrence. Photo courtesy SMX

 

 

 

 

New Zealand’s Cole Davies Prevails with Eastern Divisional 250SMX Class Championship in Philadelphia

 

The penultimate race of the Eastern Divisional 250SMX Class Championship featured shortened 12 Minutes + 1 Lap Main Event, which began with Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Seth Hammaker out front for the holeshot in front of the hometown crowd just ahead of Davies, who slotted in right behind Hammaker. Moments later, the Pennsylvania native crashed his Kawasaki, which nearly collected Davies, and dropped to the tail end of the 22-rider field. That briefly handed the top spot to MX6 Racing Kawasaki’s Derek Kelley before Davies made a pass for the lead. Davies then went down but was able to remount just ahead of Kelley and Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Daxton Bennick. A red flag for a downed rider halted the race with 7:22 remaining on the race clock, which necessitated a staggered restart.

 
When racing resumed, Davies reclaimed his spot out front while Bennick moved up to second. Behind them, the ClubMX Yamaha duo of Devin Simonson and Coty Schock battled for third. Simonson briefly held the position, but Shock made the pass as Simonson tipped over. Hammaker, meanwhile, had fought his way to the cusp of the podium in fourth and made the move around Schock to take control of third. Back out front, Davies rode flawlessly and never faced any pressure en route to an impressive, championship-clinching victory by a margin of 12.9 seconds over Bennick. Hammaker closed within striking distance of Bennick on the final lap and needed a second-place finish to extend the title fight, but went down and was forced to settle for third in a resilient come-from-behind performance.

 
Hammaker’s inability to get by Bennick became the difference maker in the championship as it gave Davies the necessary advantage to clinch the title one race early. He became the second New Zealand native to win a Supercross title, joining his mentor Ben Townley, and gave Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing a clean sweep of the divisional titles alongside Haiden Deegan in the Western Division. Moreover, Davies’ victory was the 14th for Yamaha in the 250SMX Class this season, which equals the record for a single season set by both Honda (2023) and Kawasaki (2004). Two races remain for the bLU cRU to set a new all-time standard for success.

 

Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cole Davies withstood a late-race restart to take his fifth win of the season and clinch the Eastern Divisional Championship. Photo courtesy SMX

 

Cole Davies – 1st Place – Eastern Divisional 250SMX Class Champion:

“[This championship] means everything to me and my family. We’ve sacrificed everything to come over here [and race in the U.S.]. I cannot thank them enough. All the hard work, the ups and downs, it’s all worth it now. This track was treacherous, but we got it done. A dream come true.”

 

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Daxton Bennick equaled a career-best finish with his second ever runner-up effort. Photo courtesy SMX

 

Daxton Bennick – 2nd Place – Eastern Divisional 250SMX Class:

“[That race] was tough. I rode good in my Heat Race, so I just kept that momentum going into the Main Event. I knew if I could keep my wheels off the ground as much as I could that would put me in a good spot. I’m glad to be back up on the podium.”

 

Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Seth Hammaker battled through adversity at his home race going from first, to last, to third. Photo courtesy SMX

 

Seth Hammaker – 3rd Place – Eastern Divisional 250SMX Class:

“I’m definitely bummed. I had big title hopes for this season, but I was racing a tough competitor. Congratulations to Cole [Davies] and his team. He’s been riding unreal this year. I felt like, for me, I took a step [forward] this season, even though it may not show it on the results side of things. I felt like my consistency has improved and I’ve been riding good, but nothing fell into place like I would have hoped. All in all, it was still a good season, and we’ve still got one more race to go.”

 

Eastern Divisional 250SMX Class Podium (left to right): Daxton Bennick, Cole Davies, and Seth Hammaker. Photo courtesy SMX

 

 

 

 

The 6 Minutes + 1 Lap SMX Next – Supercross AMA National Championship Main Event saw the top 18 amateur prospects battle it out in the challenging conditions for a shot at a coveted national title. The action kicked off with the Triumph Factory Racing machine of Deacon Denno out front exiting the first turn, which gave him a clear track to build a gap and assume control of the race. Behind him, Monster Energy Kawasaki Team Green’s Kade Johnson settled into a firm hold of second, while KTM Orange Brigade’s Jeremy Fappani slotted into third. The field quickly spread out as riders navigated the rain-soaked track, with Denno’s lead growing to more than a dozen seconds over the field. The newly turned 18-year-old from Texas kept his Triumph clean and on two wheels and easily completed a wire-to-wire performance by a margin of 9.3 seconds for the biggest win of his budding career. Johnson went unchallenged on the way to a runner-up finish, while Fappani did the same to round out the championship podium in third. Denno, who prevailed at Daytona in March, became the first repeat winner in SMX Next – Supercross this season and was also the only prospect to secure a top five finish at all five races.

 

Triumph Factory Racing’s Deacon Denno went wire-to-wire to capture the SMX Next – Supercross AMA National Championship. Photo courtesy SMX

 

Deacon Denno – SMX Next – Supercross AMA National Champion:

“I was just focused on the start. That’s a big part of [racing in] the mud and it’s a big part of any race. I got the rhythms clean and I felt like I rode smooth and calm, which is what you need in the mud. It feels good to make it known I can make it happen anywhere, Daytona, in the mud, wherever I want. A lot of confidence for me heading into the pros.”

 

 

The Monster Energy SMX World Championship and Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship will continue next Saturday, May 2, with Round 16 from Denver’s Empower Field at Mile High. Live comprehensive broadcast coverage will be available exclusively on Peacock, beginning at 1 p.m. ET with Race Day Live, followed by the Gate Drop at 7 p.m. ET. A special encore network presentation will air on NBC on Sunday, May 3, at 2 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:

Royal Enfield Begins 6th B.T.R Season in MotoAmerica

image
Bryanna Everitt (93), Emily Dickson (99) and Brianna Cutler (35) at Road Atlanta. Photo courtesy Royal Enfield.

The Royal Enfield Build.Train.Race. (BTR) Road Race program embarked on its sixth year at the opening round of the 2026 MotoAmerica season, as the opening two races were held at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta last weekend.

The 2026 Build.Train.Race. Road Race program, whereby 10 female competitors each build their own race-spec Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 models, sees six new riders enter the series for 2026, alongside four returning competitors from 2025. Of the 10-rider lineup, four of these are international racers from Brazil, including returning racers Tati Paze and Karina Simoes, plus new to the program Sany Max Falci and Juliana Bernardes.

The first of this year’s four-round, eight-race Championship, saw the all-female road racing series Class of ‘26 take on the undulating Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta circuit. A combination of both new and returning riders on identical Royal Enfield machinery took to the grid for the first time this year, following on from their Build.Train.Race. Flat Track counterparts season start at Daytona in March.

 

A1 05875N
Brianna Cutler after winning race 1 and 2 at Road Atlanta. Photo courtesy Royal Enfield.

 

Race One saw a four-way battle for the podium across a five-lap dash, as Brianna Cutler took victory for the first time this season. Jasmine Noelle and Bryanna Everitt completed the podium, as all three riders finished within a second of each other. Emily Dickson was unfortunate to crash at the final corner, while fighting for a podium position in her debut BTR event.

Brianna Cutler completed a double victory, following a commanding Race Two win, as the podium was once again completed with a second-place finish for Jasmine Noelle, and third-place for Bryanna Everitt.

 

Adrian Sellers, Head – Custom & Motorsport at Royal Enfield said: “It’s always a pleasure to welcome the new riders to the Build.Train.Race. program, and see who will lay down an early marker for the season at the opening round. It’s also exciting to witness the progress of these new riders, and track their development from this first round throughout the season. Brianna Cutler’s off-season dedication and practice paid off, and she couldn’t have asked for a better start to the year.  I’m looking forward to seeing who will challenge her at Round Two in a month’s time.”

 

Next up for the Build.Train.Race. Road Racing program is Road America, Wisconsin, 29-31 May, which will host the third and fourth races of this season’s Championship.

Find out more on Royal Enfield’s Build.Train.Race. program here: https://buildtrainrace.com/road-racing/

 

 

About Royal Enfield:

The oldest motorcycle brand in continuous production, Royal Enfield has created beautifully crafted motorcycles since 1901. A division of Eicher Motors Limited, Royal Enfield has created the midsize motorcycle segment in India with its unique and distinctive modern classic motorcycles. With its manufacturing base in Chennai, India, Royal Enfield has been able to grow its production rapidly against a surge in demand for its motorcycles. A leading player in the global middleweight motorcycle market, Royal Enfields are engaging, uncomplicated, accessible and fun to ride; a vehicle for exploration and self-expression. It’s an approach the brand calls ‘Pure Motorcycling’.

Royal Enfield’s premium middleweight line-up includes a range of twin-cylinder 650cc models including the Bear 650, INT 650, Continental GT 650, Shotgun 650 and Super Meteor 650. In addition, the new liquid-cooled Sherpa 450 engine has garnered great interest with the Himalayan 450 and Guerrilla 450. The even more affordable 350cc models consist of the Hunter 350, Meteor 350, Bullet 350, Classic 350 and Goan Classic 350. Riders and a passionate community are fostered with a rich profusion of events at a local, regional and international level. Royal Enfield operates through nearly 4,000 stores in 80+ countries around the globe, including approximately 150 dealers in North America.

Supercross: More From Teams At Philadelphia, PA

Progressive Insurance Cycle Gear Suzuki's Ken Roczen has seized control of the 450SMX Class title fight with his fourth win in five races. Photo courtesy SMX

More from a press release issued by Suzuki Motor USA:

Suzuki’s Ken Roczen takes over points lead with Philadelphia Supercross win. Ken Roczen Captures Red Plate with Two Rounds Remaining in Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship.

Heavy rains turned Round 15 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross season into a mud race inside Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Showers throughout the racing prevented the mud from tacking up, but the soupy surface provided unique challenges for the riders. Main events were truncated by three minutes and the whoops section was modified prior to those points-paying races. Diehard Philly race fans braved the weather and held their seats to the end.

Race Highlights:

  • Progressive Insurance Cycle Gear ECSTAR Suzuki
    • 450 Class
      • Ken Roczen grabbed the win and took over the championship points lead.
  • Twisted Tea Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance
    • 450 Class
      • Colt Nichols delivered two impressive charges on the slick, rutted track.

 

 

Ken Roczen (94) won his heat race, the main event, and took over the season points lead at the muddy Philadelphia Supercross. Photo courtesy Suzuki

 

Ken Roczen (94) qualified well on a dry track, but when the gate dropped for the racing, the dirt was saturated, slick and rapidly deteriorating. In his heat race, Roczen powered to second place at the holeshot stripe then leapt into the lead off of the first jump. Roczen used his Suzuki RM-Z’s precise throttle response to finesse the fastest lap time on his way to an uncontested win. It marked Roczen’s 58th heat race victory. Roczen entered the main event with the #1 gate pick and turned that into a third-place start. One minute into the 17-minute plus one lap race, Roczen made two consecutive passes to take over the lead. Roczen defended the spot against early pressure, including aggressive contact at a corner exit. Roczen maintained his composure, set the race’s fastest lap time by more than a full second, and stretched out an 8-second lead. More pressure came in the final minutes, and Roczen fended off the late attack to record his fifth win in 2026, more than any other rider. The victory moved Ken Roczen into a tie for eighth place on the Supercross premier class all-time win list alongside Rick Johnson. The performance also moved Ken Roczen up on the all-time podium list; he now shares fifth place with former Suzuki-rider Ricky Carmichael at 87 450SX Class podiums. As a personal-best, Roczen’s five wins match his season-best tally set 10 years ago, also aboard a Suzuki RM-Z450. 

“We started off dry in the morning. I felt pretty good on the track and was able to put myself in fourth [overall] in qualifying, which I was totally happy with. We had a long break to the night show and that’s when the real rain started,” said Roczen. “It ended up being a hell of a night. It started off with the heat race; [the track] was still pretty ridable, the dirt was just a little bit more sloshy and not as deep and hammered. So, I really enjoyed the heat race, we ended up winning that one. Going into the main event, it was just a nightmare out there. Like, when you watched the 250 race [conditions], we knew it was going to be a long main event. We couldn’t be happier with how the night went. We threw up a good start, made a couple of passes, and I was just really focused on not making any mistakes. It was tough out there with the lappers, we only had a couple of lines going, but coming away after a really hard-fought battle with the win was just an unbelievable feeling. So, everything’s going well at the moment; we’re truly enjoying it.”

 

Colt Nichols (45) returned to racing after a lingering injury kept him off the starting gate at the previous round. Photo courtesy Suzuki.

 

Colt Nichols (45) was back in action in Philadelphia and put in good qualifying times during the dry, daytime sessions. In his heat race, Nichols emerged from the first turn buried in 18th position. Nichols did a masterful job moving forward; on the final lap he made up five seconds on the rider ahead of him but came up one bike length short of a direct transfer position. Nichols fought forward from a tenth place start in the LCQ. He reached third place with one minute remaining on the race clock, but a brief tip-over in the sloppy whoops section cost Nichols two spots and a transfer into the main. 

“It was a rough night in Philly,” stated Nichols. “Straight up, I didn’t execute. And anytime you’re on the ground in the mud it makes it really difficult. We’re putting that in the rearview and are focused forward to the last two rounds.”

“It was a great night in Philadelphia for the team,” said Dustin Pipes, Team Principal for Twisted Tea/H.E.P. Motorsports/Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance. “It was stressful with the weather, as anything can happen; we saw that with Colt Nichols falling while in a qualifying position. Even with the weather, Ken persevered in the main and came out with the win. On to Denver!”

Only two events remain in the Supercross season, and Ken Roczen and Suzuki lead the championship by four points. The Suzuki riders and team members are proud to run the red plate, designating the points leader, at Round 16 on Saturday, May 2nd at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado. 

For the latest team updates, news, and race insights, visit SuzukiCycles.com/Racing/Motocross or pipesmotorsportsgroup.com.

 

 


More from a press release issued by Yamaha:

Cooper Webb Fights to the Finish in Philly. It was a thrilling conclusion to the 450SX mudder in Philadelphia, with Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cooper Webb earning his third consecutive runner-up finish.

As the 2026 Monster Energy AMA Supercross 450SX Championship nears its conclusion, Webb continues to fight. On Saturday night, inside Lincoln Financial Field for Round 15, the rain arrived, turning the race into a proper mudder. In the punishing conditions, Webb delivered a strong ride and left nothing on the track, coming just shy of the win.

“I was really going for it,” said Webb. “Trying to get that win, especially late – it was full send.”

In the dry and in the wet, it was a solid day for the reigning 450SX Champion. Webb qualified sixth and got a strong start in his heat race. Running third, he made a pass on Hunter Lawrence on that opening lap and went on to finish second.

 

Cooper Webb (1) at Philadelphia. Photo courtesy Yamaha

 

In the main event, Webb once again got a great start, slotting into second with all three title contenders in the top three. After Lawrence passed him on the second lap, Webb rode his own race and later closed back in as the battle ahead intensified. On Lap 8, Lawrence went down, allowing Webb to move back into the runner-up spot, with Ken Roczen holding a gap up front.

As time wound down, Webb mounted a late-race charge, erasing a nearly six-second gap in the closing laps to set up a dramatic finish. On the final lap, he gave it everything he had but ultimately crossed the line second, with the lead duo well clear of third and lapping all but the top-four finishers.

“I was so-so in practice, but then came around,” said Webb. “It started to rain really hard and became a mudder, and I actually rode really well. I got second in the heat and then made a hard charge in the main. I ended up P2, by just a little bit, so I’m a little bummed. I really wanted to get a win. We’re still not technically out of the championship, but it was definitely a little dagger in the heart. That being said, I can’t be mad. I rode great, and we lapped a lot of riders, so that was pretty cool.”

 

 

Cooper Webb on the podium at Philadelphia. Photo courtesy Yamaha

 

His teammate Justin Cooper was the fastest 450SX qualifier and showed strength in the changing conditions. The New Yorker had a good start to his heat race and was running third before dropping to fourth at the halfway mark. Undeterred, Cooper regained the position from Jorge Prado and then entered the battle up front, briefly taking the runner-up spot from Justin Barcia before ultimately finishing third.

Cooper got another top-five start to the main event, but found himself off track and stuck in the mud. By the time he had rejoined, he was a lap down. Despite the setback, Cooper continued to push and salvaged valuable points with a 13th-place finish.

“Track conditions were technical, but I felt like it was still in good condition for racing,” said Cooper. “I had a great qualifying on pole, and felt good and consistent in the mud. I got a good start in the main in the top five, but then got taken off track in Turn 2 by another rider and ended up getting stuck in the mud. So that put me a lap down right away and pretty much ended my chances at a good result.”

 

Justin Cooper (32) at Philadelphia. Photo courtesy Yamaha

 

“It was a good day here in Philly,” said Rich Simmons, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s 450 Team Manager. “Justin qualified P1, and then we had two good heat races. Unfortunately, Justin ended up off the track after the start of the main and then was stuck in the mud, so to come back to 13th was a good ride for him. And Webb, it was typical Webb – to stick in there until the end, and put in a really good effort. So I’m proud of him and proud of the whole team. It was a tough day with all this mud and the weather. We’ll move on to next weekend.”

Two more rounds to go in the race for the crown, and Webb is on the outside looking in, 24 points behind the leader. Cooper remains fifth, with a 13-point gap to fourth in the championship standings. Both Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing riders look to keep fighting as the series heads west, with the penultimate round next weekend at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado, on May 2.

 

 

Cole Davies Crowned 250SX East Champion in Philadelphia.

Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cole Davies secured the crown a round early with a commanding victory at Philadelphia Supercross.

As a young kid in New Zealand, Cole Davies dreamed of becoming a Monster Energy AMA Supercross Champion. Together, he and his family dedicated everything to that goal, making the long trek to the United States. In just his second year in the championship, the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing rider made that dream a reality. In a chaotic, twice-started 250SX Main Event, Davies rose to the occasion, earning a commanding victory to clinch the 2026 250SX East Championship a round early.

“I’ve dreamed of this moment since I was a little kid,” said Davies. “I’ve worked my whole life to get here, and to see it all pay off is really cool. We set a plan, and we’ve followed it through.”

It hasn’t been an easy road. After a standout debut season in 2025 that saw him contend for the 250SX West title and earn Rookie of the Year honors, Davies was sidelined by injuries. And while his 2026 campaign didn’t start as planned with a fifth-place finish in Arlington, the 18-year-old never finished off the podium from that point forward, scoring six wins and eight total podiums.

 

Cole Davies (37) at Philadelphia. Photo courtesy Yamaha

 

That sixth victory came on a night where anything could go wrong – a mud race. The night show didn’t start as planned, with Davies buried in 13th after the start of his heat race. He quickly charged forward, climbing to seventh on the opening lap and continuing his push to finish third.

In the main event, he got a much better start and took over the lead on Lap 2, building a comfortable gap out front. Then the red flag came out. Despite losing that advantage in the staggered restart, Davies went back out and did it again, pulling away to cross the line with nearly a 13-second margin of victory.

“It honestly felt like the longest main event of my entire life,” said Davies. “The conditions were brutal – a full-on mud race, red flag while leading, staggered restart with seven minutes to go – but we got it done. I can’t thank the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing team enough for believing in me and giving me the tools to make this happen. And thank you to my family for everything they’ve sacrificed to get me here. This is only the beginning.”

 

Cole Davies on the podium at Philadelphia. Photo courtesy Yamaha

 

“It’s special,” said Wil Hahn, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s 250 Team General Manager. “It was a long time coming for Cole. We set out a plan a long time ago, and for him to wrap it up a couple of rounds early in just his second year – I can’t put it into words.”

Nate Thrasher also got a great start to the night show, grabbing the holeshot in that first heat race. Running second, he was closing in on Nick Romano, but unfortunately went down and finished fourth. In the main event, he started inside the top 10 and worked his way up to fifth before dropping back to 18th prior to the red flag. After the restart, he charged from near the back of the field to finish fifth, delivering another impressive comeback ride.

“It was a solid night, I just needed to stay off the ground,” said Thrasher. “I was 19th on the restart and ended up fifth. The track was super gnarly tonight. I can’t wait for Salt Lake.”

 

Nate Thrasher (25) at Philadelphia. Photo courtesy Yamaha

 

Landen Gordon continued to show promise in his third pro Supercross round. He started third in his heat race and, after being shuffled back to seventh early, worked his way up to sixth. In the main event, he was 14th off the start and charged forward to eighth. Running ninth before the red flag, the rookie was making a move to the top-five after the restart until a tipover unfortunately dropped him back to 21st, where he would finish.

“It was a tricky day in Philadelphia,” said Gordon. “I felt alright in the mud. I did not have a great start in the main, but I worked my way up to fifth after the restart. Then I had a tip over, and it was tricky trying to get my bike up and get going again. Onto the next one!”

 

Philadelphia Supercross also hosted the championship-deciding race for the SMX Next class. Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Kayden Minear qualified third, but a first-turn tipover dropped him to ninth on the opening lap. The young Australian continued to push, fighting his way back to finish sixth.

“It was up and down this weekend,” said Minear. “I felt really good on the bike in the opening sessions, and unfortunately the rain came in and made the track tricky. I had a great jump out of the gate and tipped it over in the first corner, but got back to sixth.”

 

Kayden Minear (99) at Philadelphia. Photo courtesy Yamaha

 

Next weekend, the Western Divisional 250 class returns to action for its penultimate round of the season, on May 2 at the Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado. It’s been a standout year for the team in both divisional 250 class championships, securing both the West and East titles early, and scoring a total of 14 victories with two rounds remaining.

“It’s very special for our race team to have both championships wrapped up early,” said Hahn. “We’re going into these last two with no pressure. We’re ready for the outdoors.”

 

 

 


More from a press release issued by Honda HRC:

Podium Finish for Hunter Lawrence at Philadelphia Mud Race.

  • Australian limits damage in difficult conditions
  • Lawrence sits second in the championship standings, still in title fight

Adverse weather conditions created a demanding track and forced shortened main events at AMA Supercross’ 15th round, held in Philadelphia. While the 450SX race didn’t go the way Honda HRC Progressive or Hunter Lawrence had hoped, they minimized what could have been significant damage and turned in a third-place result, keeping them in the title hunt.

Lawrence powered to the 450SX main-event holeshot aboard his CRF450RWE, leading Ken Roczen and Cooper Webb. The trio of title contenders battled early on before Lawrence was displaced by Roczen. Lawrence recovered and began challenging the leader before the halfway mark, but a fall in a rhythm section relegated him to third. From there, the focus shifted to damage limitation, as the Australian managed the situation to secure valuable championship points. With two rounds remaining, he sits just four points back in the standings, keeping him firmly in title contention.

Quad Lock Honda rider Joey Savatgy finished fourth overall, equaling his career-best premier-class result. Quad Lock’s Shane McElrath and Dean Wilson were sixth and eighth, making it four Hondas in the top eight. Quad Lock rider Christian Craig was 15th.

 

Hunter Lawrence (96) at Philadelphia. Photo courtesy Honda

 

NOTES

  • Crossroad Powersports, a dealership in Upper Darby Township, enhanced the fan experience within the Honda HRC Progressive pit area through a pop-up activation, showcasing a CRF250R, a CRF110F and additional products while engaging directly with fans.

 

  • Still recovering from a fractured fibula, Honda HRC Progressive rider Jo Shimoda attended the Philadelphia round and participated in the autograph session with his teammate Hunter Lawrence.

 

  • Recently signed Storm Lake Honda rider Kyleigh Stallings, who will participate in the upcoming WMX championship, was interviewed by Peacock for an upcoming WMX preview show.

 

  • In 250SX East combined qualifying, Storm Lake Honda riders Izaih Clark and Luke Neese were 11th and 17th, respectively. Phoenix Racing Honda rider Gavin Towers qualified 13th, Jeremy Hand (Valley Motorsports) was 15th, Short Racing’s John Short IV was 18th, and Ti Lube Honda’s Ryder Floyd was 21st. Clark, Floyd, Hand, Towers and Neese went on to qualify for the main event through their heat races, respectively finishing third, fifth, sixth, eighth and ninth (five Hondas advancing directly to the main). Towers went on to finish a respectable ninth in the main event, with Hand 11th and Floyd 17th.

 

  • Lawrence turned in the second-fastest time in 450SX qualifying. Quad Lock Honda riders Shane McElrath, Joey Savatgy, Christian Craig and Dean Wilson qualified in seventh, ninth, 10th and 12th, respectively. Privateer Red Riders Kyle Bitterman (Underdog Racing) and Zack Williams (McGinley Clinic) qualified 31stand 32nd, respectively.

 

  • Following a crash in the 250SX East main event, Clark was carried off the track by the Alpinestars Mobile Medical crew. The following day, Storm Lake Honda Manager Buddy Brooks confirmed that Clark had broken his femur in the incident, and that he had undergone an eight-hour surgery and was in good spirits. Everyone at American Honda wishes Clark a speedy recovery.

 

  • Lawrence grabbed the holeshot in his 450SX heat race, before dropping to third on a very slippery track. In the second heat race, Savatgy impressed with a hard-fought win over Justin Barcia, marking his first premier-class heat race win since his rookie season in 2019. 

 

  • With only two rounds remaining, Hunter sits second in the 450SX standings, four points behind Ken Roczen and 20 points ahead of Cooper Webb. 

 

  • Honda HRC Progressive heads to Denver for the penultimate round of AMA Supercross on Saturday, May 2.

 

Hunter Lawrence (96) at Philadelphia. Photo courtesy Honda

 

Hunter Lawrence: “We invested a lot more time into the starts in wet conditions, and that was a big positive this weekend; I had good starts in the heat race and the main event, so it’s good to see the work pay off. I felt really good with how I was riding, and just the smallest little mistake in the wrong part of the track bit me. Then your gloves are all muddy, so it’s just kind of trying to get back into a rhythm and not have the train completely come off the tracks. They say mud is the great equalizer, but it’s more like a minefield. We didn’t quite get the end result we wanted, but that’s racing. I’m excited to leave here having learned more, so we’re ready for whatever the last two rounds bring—it’s going to be good!”

 

Lars Lindstrom – Team Manager: “Not the results we were aiming for, but as everyone knows, in these conditions, anything can happen, good or bad; to only lose five points is something we’ll look at positively. I’m really happy with Hunter and the team for understanding what we needed to improve to make sure that we get good starts in any condition, to give us the best chance at a win. It’s a bummer that Hunter had that tip-over, because he had a good flow going; I think he had a great chance at winning that race. Another positive is that this simplifies things; we have to go out and win the last two races if we want to win this championship.”

 

 

 


More from a press release issued by KTM:

Experience built for Jorge Prado in rain-affected Philadelphia Supercross.

Round 15 of the 2026 AMA Supercross Championship featured ultra-tough, rain-soaked conditions inside Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field on Saturday night, where Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jorge Prado ultimately recorded a P16 result in the 450SX Main Event.

The afternoon qualifying sessions provided a dry race track in Pennsylvania, with 25-year-old Prado powering his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION to a competitive fifth on the combined timesheets with a 48.030s laptime.

The skies then opened between qualifying and the night program, with a heavy downpour transforming the circuit into a mud race, where both speed and consistency would be at a premium for the remainder of the evening.

In 450SX Heat 2, the four-time world champion claimed a vital holeshot, delivering a P5 result and – most importantly – a direct transfer into the night’s Main Event.

A difficult start and intensifying weather saw Prado circulate well outside the top 10 on Lap 1, with the Spaniard forced to persevere with impaired vision from the outset. From there, he would climb to 16th by race’s end and continue his Supercross learning curve in 2026.

Jorge Prado (26) at Philadelphia. Photo courtesy KTM

Jorge Prado: “Philadelphia is done, and I had a great feeling in the morning. Qualifying was good – I felt super comfortable with the bike and track in dry conditions. Then everything changed for the Heat Race and Main Event – the Heat was actually not too bad, I was riding decent. And then in the Main Event, I had a terrible jump out of the gate with wheel-spin, and that made it super-hard for me. I wasn’t really in a flow and struggling a lot, so that’s it for Round 15. We’ll come back next weekend!”

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing teammate and two-time 450SX Champion Eli Tomac was absent from Round 15, as he continues to recover from his qualifying incident at the previous SMX World Championship round in Cleveland.

Next Race: May 2 – Denver, Colorado

 

 


More from a press release issued by Kawasaki:

Monster Energy Kawasaki scores two podiums in the treacherous Philadelphia mud.

Pennsylvania’s own Monster Energy® Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider Seth Hammaker displayed a gritty, determined ride to battle his way to a podium position in the treacherous mud-soaked conditions of Philadelphia for Round 15 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship. Teammate Nick Romano scored his first career heat race win in commanding fashion and, while fighting the elements in the main event, secured 14th place. Monster Energy Kawasaki Team Green™ rider, Kade Johnson, put his KX™250 on the box to score second in the SMX Next AMA National Championship, while teammate Vincent Wey missed the event due to an injury sustained while prepping for Philadelphia. Both Monster Energy Kawasaki riders battled through adversity in the main event as Chase Sexton took home seventh place and Garrett Marchbanks secured ninth.

 

Nicholas Romano (141) at Philadelphia. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.

 

In 250SX Qualifying, Hammaker set the pace in the class. Although losing his fastest lap in the second session due to cutting the track, his time from the first session kept him on top to secure fastest qualifier. Romano improved his time in the second session, shaving over a second off his time to secure one of his best qualifying positions with eighth overall.

 

Nicholas Romano (141) at Philadelphia. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.

 

In 250 Heat 1, Romano rocketed out of the gate, maneuvering his KX™250 through the tight first turn in second, then quickly moving into first place a few turns later. Romano’s quick pass into the lead allowed him an open track, giving him the best vision to race to the checkered flag. The No. 141 Kawasaki celebrated his first career heat race win as he crossed the finish line. 

In 250 Heat 2, Hammaker pulled a strong start, placing him in the Top 3 through the first turn. He quickly moved into the lead on Lap 1 and controlled the race through the finish line. Hammaker matched his teammate’s heat race win, giving both Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki riders ideal gate picks for the main event.

 

Nicholas Romano: “It was a good day here in Philadelphia. I qualified eighth when the track was dry, which I was happy about. Then the skies opened up, and it started raining pretty heavily. I was able to get my first career heat race win in the mud, so I was ecstatic with that. I know it’s just a heat race win, but a win’s a win. It’s been a long time since I’ve won something, so I was stoked on that. I got off to a so-so start in the main event. I unfortunately hit someone and went down on the first lap, putting me in last. I made a good charge, but then they restarted it, and I went from last to ninth again. Then I went down yet again and ended up in 14th. It was a so-so day, but I’m really happy with the progress, even though it was in the mud with the win. I’ll just keep trucking along and we’ll be at it for Salt Lake.”

 

Seth Hammaker (10) at Philadelphia. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.

 

With the rain showing no sign of letting up, the organizers shortened both the 250 and 450 Main Events by three minutes, while the SMX Next Main Event was cut down to only six minutes in length. 

In the 250 Main Event, Hammaker pulled a commanding holeshot, but through the first rhythm section, he got cross-rutted off the face of a jump that caused him to go down. Covered in mud, the No. 10 Kawasaki regrouped and focused on getting back to the front. Midway through the race, a downed rider forced a red flag, putting the field back together in a staggered restart, which allowed the riders a moment to clean themselves off for better grip and vision. In the restart, Hammaker was 11th, and Romano 22nd after going down in the opening laps. As the green flag flew, Hammaker pushed to get back to the front, quickly moving from 11th to fourth, and a couple of laps later into third. With the field already too spread out, Hammaker settled for a third-place podium finish in front of his home crowd. Meanwhile, Romano used the restart to his advantage by passing half the field, but the sticky mud would cause him to go down again, fighting his way back to finish 14th on the night. Despite a hard-fought battle in the 250 Eastern Divisional Championship, Hammaker’s championship campaign would end in Philadelphia as the championship was clinched early by the current points leader.

 

Seth Hammaker: “I’m definitely a little bummed. I had big title hopes, but I was up against a tough competitor, so credit to Cole [Davies] and his team. I feel like I took a big step forward this year, even if it doesn’t always show in the results. I’ve been riding well and staying consistent, but I just didn’t have everything fall into place the way I wanted. I actually felt pretty comfortable in the conditions tonight. I was trying to be loose with the bike and not try to fight where it wanted to go too much. I got off to a great start in the main event, but went down early and had to fight from way back. I was hurting pretty bad after I went down, but I’m happy to come away with another podium, especially here at home. It means a lot. Big thanks to my whole team, my family, and everyone who supports me. We’ll go into Salt Lake looking to end this thing strong.”

 

Kade Johnson (177) at Philadelphia. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.

 

In SMX Next Qualifying, Kade Johnson bettered his time in the second session to grab second overall, only four hundredths of a second behind the top qualifying spot. In the SMX Next Main Event, Johnson nearly pulled the holeshot aboard his KX™250. The No. 177 Kawasaki quickly settled into second place, while keeping his eyes on the leader. Johnson clicked off solid laps throughout the muddy race and crossed the finish line in second place.

 

Garrett Marchbanks (36) and Chase Sexton (4) at Philadelphia. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.

 

In 450SX Qualifying, Sexton pushed his KX™450SR machine as he recorded faster times lap after lap. The No. 4 Kawasaki swapped positions in the Top 3 through the second session before ultimately qualifying third overall. As the track continued to develop and the rain began to come down, Marchbanks bettered his time in the second session to put him 16th overall.

 

Chase Sexton (4) at Philadelphia. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.

 

In 450 Heat 1, Marchbanks got off to a midpack start but quickly moved his way into the Top 5 by the midway point. With track conditions incredibly slick and challenging, the field was very spread out, making it difficult to make up any ground on the competition. Marchbanks continued pushing forward but was unable to make up the gap, settling for a solid fifth-place finish. 

In 450 Heat 2, Sexton got a less-than-ideal start, placing him midpack. The No. 4 Kawasaki pushed through the treacherous conditions to move forward. While fighting to make up time on his competition, Sexton set the fastest lap of the race and crossed the finish line in seventh place.

 

Garrett Marchbanks (36) at Philadelphia. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.

 

In the 450 Main Event, Sexton and Marchbanks pulled less-than-ideal starts in 20th and 17th, respectively. The pair would charge through the field, passing an impressive number of riders, but both would face separate challenges in the process. Sexton made up multiple positions and was fighting for a Top 5 before he found himself down with several other riders in the rhythm section, dropping him back to 12th midway through the race. Undeterred, Sexton remounted and began laying down 1:03 laptimes that matched those of the leaders to fight past as many riders as possible. Marchbanks became tangled with other riders but was able to fight back and salvage 10th place as he charged past seven riders through the rough conditions. After the race, Marchbanks’ finishing position was adjusted to ninth as the rider in front of him was penalized three positions for cutting the track. Despite Sexton’s setback, he was able to pass 13 riders to finish the night in seventh place.

 

Chase Sexton: “I qualified better here in Philadelphia, qualifying third. Then it started raining, so it was a bit chaotic after that. I had a bad start in the heat race and just tried to make it through. In the main event, I had another bad start. I made it up to around seventh, and then I fell, and I went back to around 12th, and then just worked my way back to seventh. I actually rode a decent race, just a bad start and a fall kept me from the podium. We’ll go back to work. The team is coming back to Florida this week, and we plan to make some progress and get ready for Denver.”

 

Garrett Marchbanks: “Philadelphia was a bit up and down, but I was happy to end it on a good note in the main event. Qualifying was OK I was just trying to do my laps and get comfortable in the first session. In the second session, I felt like I had some solid laps. I didn’t get the lap time I wanted, but I was able to feel more comfortable on the bike and felt really good going into the heat race. I went into the heat race with an OK start, just put my laps in and got into fifth, and rode my own race from there. In the main event, I had two big mistakes. I stalled the bike and got tangled up with some guys, and just charged from last to 10th. There were two guys in front of me the last two laps, and I tried to make a pass, but I couldn’t quite make it happen. I wish the night had gone a bit better, but I’m happy to be back in the Top 10 again.”

 

 


More from a press release issued by Husqvarna:

Daxton Bennick and Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing earn Philadelphia 250SX podium. Finishes in second position following rain-soaked night of Supercross in Pennsylvania. 

A second-place result in a rain-affected Philadelphia round of the 2026 AMA Supercross Championship marked a second podium of the year for Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Daxton Bennick, excelling in difficult, muddy conditions to maintain third in the 250SX East standings.

 

The 20-year-old qualified third on the combined 250SX East timesheets in dry conditions at Lincoln Financial Field, before the inclement weather arrived and made for a rain-soaked night program.

Bennick remained consistent in the second 250SX Heat Race, recording a second-place finish onboard his Husqvarna FC 250 Factory Edition.

A mid-field start to the Main Event saw Bennick make a sequence of decisive passes to climb into the top-five during the early stages, running as high as P2 – and challenging for the lead – before a red-flag stoppage prompted a staggered restart.

Bennick would launch to a strong start from there, moving into second place and maintaining the position all the way to the checkered flag, claiming his second podium result of the season and consolidating third in the 250SX East standings with one round in the division remaining.

 
Daxton Bennick (58) at Philadelphia. Photo courtesy Husqvarna.
 
 

“Obviously, qualifying started dry here and everything was feeling good,” Bennick reflected. “Then everything changed real quick! I did get some wheel-spin off the start in the Heat Race, but rode really good to come back to second – I was happy with that, and then kind of the same thing happened in the Main Event. I rode really well before the restart and I almost passed for the lead at one stage, but once the restart hit, I was trying a little too hard and made a couple of mistakes. But all-in-all, it’s good we’re back on the box, so I can’t be too mad at it – especially in those conditions!”

450SX teammate Malcolm Stewart posted the eighth-fastest qualifying time in the afternoon, before scoring a P4 finish in the first 450SX Heat Race equipped with his Husqvarna FC 450 Factory Edition.

 
Malcolm Stewart (27) at Philadelphia. Photo courtesy Husqvarna.

 

The 33-year-old started inside the top 10 for the Main Event and kept pushing forward as the race progressed. He would eventually record a P11 result and continue holding eighth in the championship with two rounds left to contest.

“We struggled a little bit with the track tonight,” said Stewart. “But at the end of the day, it’s just good to make it out of this in one piece because those conditions were brutal – we’ll keep our heads up and keep progressing forward. We’re off to Mile High next weekend, and we’ve always achieved some pretty good results there, so I’m looking forward to that!”

Next Race: May 2 – Denver, Colorado

NHRA: Herrera Wins NHRA 4-Wide Nationals in Charlotte

In the final four-wide quad, Herrera ran 6.758 seconds at 199.88 mph to beat teammate Richard Gadson. Photo courtesy Suzuki Motor USA.

Brea, CA –  Gaige Herrera returned to winning form and put his pursuit of a third Pro Stock Motorcycle world championship solidly on track with a resounding victory aboard his RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki Gen 3 Hayabusa at the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals at zMax Dragway in Concord, NC, on Sunday.

Race Highlights:

  • Gaige Herrera qualified third, won the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge and earned his 29th career NHRA victory
  • Points leader Richard Gadson qualified seventh and finished runner-up 

 

Gaige Herrera Wins NHRA 4-Wide Nationals in Charlotte. Photo courtesy Suzuki Motor USA.

 

After a tough second-round loss at the season opener in Gainesville, Herrera turned disappointment into positive energy by qualifying third with a 6.756-second/200.50 mph run and winning the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge. Herrera’s victory in the specialty race-within-a-race held during Saturday’s qualifying sessions forecast the dominant performance that carried the two-time world champion into the winner’s circle on Sunday.

Under the NHRA’s unique four-wide racing format in Charlotte, the first two riders in each four-motorcycle quad to cross the finish line, barring a redlight jumpstart, advance to the next elimination round. In the final round four-wide quad, the first motorcycle to cross the finish line wins.

Herrera won his first-round quad matchup against John Hall (runner up), Geno Scali and Marc Ingwersen with a 6.775-second/198.17 mph run. In round two, Herrera went quicker, running 6.756 seconds at 200.08 mph in a victory over his RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki teammate Richard Gadson (runner up), John Hall and Ryan Oehler.

In the final four-wide quad, Herrera ran 6.758 seconds at 199.88 mph to prevail again over Gadson (runner up), Clayton Howey and Chase Van Sant, all of whom raced Suzuki motorcycles powered by Vance & Hines-built engines. It was Herrera’s 29th career NHRA victory and his first since the penultimate round of the 2025 season in Las Vegas. 

With the win, Herrera leapt from seventh to second in the points standings and gained a boost of confidence and momentum as he seeks a third NHRA title.

“It was an awesome weekend. I was feeling great from the first pass, and it continued all the way to the final. Andrew Hines was on point with the tune up and everything was just clicking. I’m beyond ecstatic about how it went,” Herrera said. “Having four Vance & Hines Suzuki engines in the final, that’s just incredible for the whole team too.

“The season is still early, and anything can happen, but it’s a big one for me for sure. I never felt down after Gainesville, because I have a great motorcycle and team behind me and I know what I’m capable of as a rider, but it feels good to be back to winning,” Herrera said. 

 

Gadson started slower than expected, qualifying seventh with a 6.790-second/200.00 mph before rallying with a string of runner-up performances on Sunday. Photo courtesy Suzuki Motor USA.

 

Following a 7-week break in racing after Gainesville, reigning world champion Richard Gadson came to Charlotte hoping for a repeat of his season-opening victory in March. Gadson posted runs of 6.858 seconds at 197.88 mph, 6.785 seconds at 199.55 mph and 6.809 seconds at 198.17 mph in runner-up finishes to Ryan Oehler (6.802 seconds/197.86 mph) in round one, Herrera in round two, and Herrera again in the final round. 

“I struggled big time Friday and Saturday. We made some changes to my motorcycle, and I just couldn’t get into my groove, so in the second round today we went back to what we knew worked and I made my best pass of the weekend,” Gadson said. “I went into the final round feeling confident, and when I let the clutch I go, I thought they were all dead because I hit the tree hard. Then I spun the tire about a half second later, and I thought I was dead. Seeing the runner-up light come on was nothing but excitement. From the way the weekend started to finishing runner-up, I can’t ask for anything better. Leaving with the points lead, going one-two for our team and winning in the hometown of our main rivals makes for a pretty good weekend.”

RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki crew chief Andrew Hines said the extended break between the season’s first two races was like having a second offseason that gave teams a second chance to refine their programs based on what they’d learned at Gainesville.

“I was telling the guys when we left the shop that I wasn’t sure what we were going to wind up with and that we’d probably get our butts kicked,” Hines said. “But we lost one of the fastest bikes in the first round when Matt Smith went out on a red light and that opened the door for us to capitalize. I think we might still be a little behind on some aspects of our package, but with the riders and the track conditions that we had this weekend, we were able to overachieve compared to what we expected. As a former rider, I would not want to have to race against these guys.”

After the second of 14 rounds in the 2026 Pro Stock Motorcycle season, Gadson and Herrera sit first and second in the championship standings with 217 and 182 points, respectively. 

The RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines team returns to action May 1-3 at the NHRA Southern Nationals at South Georgia Motorsports Park in Adel, GA.

 

For the latest Suzuki team news, race reports, and information visit SuzukiCycles.com/Racing/Drag-Racing

Matsudaira Makes AFT Debut with Top 5 Finish at Ventura Track

Kensei Matsudaira in action with American Flat Track at the Ventura Short Track Race. Photo by Tim Lester.

Team Roberts Rider Kensei Matsudaira Makes American Flat Track Debut  with Top 5 Finish in AFT ProSport 450 at Ventura Short Track.

Less than a week after taking a double victory at Road Atlanta in the two MotoAmerica Talent Cup races, Team Roberts rider Kensei Matsudaira made his American Flat Track debut at Ventura Raceway in California.

Kensei qualified for the AFT ProSport 450 entry by finishing in the top 12 of the Mission Foods CTR Showcase Road to AFT class on Friday night. It was Kensei’s first time racing at Ventura Raceway and he had finished the night with 8th in 450cc Amateur, 8th in Open Amateur, and 10th in Road to AFT.

On Saturday, Kensei started the day strong finishing 5th in Qualifying 1 and 6th in Qualifying 2. Starting 6th on the grid, Kensei impressed in the heat race by finishing 4th, earning a spot on the front row for the main event.

In the 12-lap AFT ProSport 450 main event, Kensei got a great start and worked his way up to 3rd coming out of the first corner, but by the third lap was swallowed up in a big group fighting for the top positions. He fought in the group throughout the race and crossed the
line in 5th, just half a second off the podium.

 

Kensei Matsudaira (74) in the AFT ProSport 450 Main Event on his way to a 5th place finish at Ventura Raceway, California. Photo by Tim Lester.

Kensei Matsudaira: “A little disappointed because I was in the fight for the podium and just missed out, but I’m still really happy to make my AFT debut with a top 5 finish and showing that I can fight in the front at a national flat track race. My focus is on road racing, but I love flat track and hope that I can race with AFT again soon, the vibe and people here were amazing.”

Arney Wick, Team Roberts Co-Principal:“Given the constantly changing track conditions which were tricky for even many of the savvy veterans who race here annually, I think that this was a great first effort for Kensei’s inaugural outing in American Flat Track. With more and more seat time and another start or two under his belt, pretty sure Kensei will become a regular fixture on the podium much like he does in the MotoAmerica Talent Cup series…”

Despite his lack of previous experience racing at a national level flat track event, Kensei has been racing flat track locally since he was 5 years old, winning dozens of races and 5 championships in the junior classes ranging from 50cc to 85cc. He is looking forward to making more AFT appearances in the future.

Next up, Kensei will be back on the Team Roberts Krämer APX-350 MA for Round 3 of the MotoAmerica Talent Cup being held at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama on May 15-17.

Where To Ride In May 2026

StumanRides coaching a club racer during a RacePace track day at Chuckwalla Valley Raceway. Photo by CaliPhotography

The following track days, riding schools, and racing events are scheduled by organizations based in the United States during May 2026.

This list includes many opportunities to ride at races, schools, and track days during the month of May in North America.

To have your motorcycle racing or riding event added to the Event Calendar on this website and published in the print edition of Roadracing World & Motorcycle Technology magazine, submit your calendar and contact information via the contact page on this website or by emailing to [email protected] or to [email protected].

Before heading to an event, contact the organization or track and confirm that it’s going to be held as publicized.

 

5/1 2Fast Motorcycle Track Days & Instruction, Portland International Raceway, Portland, OR

5/1 Shannonville Motorsport Park Motorcycle Lapping Days, Shannonville Motorsport Park, Shannonville, ON

5/1 Rich Oliver’s Mystery School (Dirt Track School), Private Training Day- Flat Track

5/1 Penguin Riding School, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Loudon, NH

5/1-3 WMRRA (Washington Motorcycle Road Racing Association) Series, Portland International Raceway, Portland, OR

5/1-3 OMRRA (Oregon Motorcycle Road Racing Association) Series, Portland International Raceway, Portland, OR

5/2 Fun Track Dayz, Thunderhill Raceway Park (West), Willows, CA

5/2 Socal Supermoto School, Apex Motorsports Park, Perris, CA

5/2 Superbike-Coach Corp. (School), Body Position & Knee Down Class, Little 99 Raceway, Stockton, CA

5/2 Sandy Hook Mini Moto Races & Track Days, Sandy Hook Spdway, Street, MD, Race

5/2 AMA Pro American Flat Track (AFT), Silver Dollar Short Track, Silver Dollar Speedway, Chico, CA

5/2 Southeast Mini Moto Track Days, VIR Kart Track, Alton, VA

5/2 Racing Associates Canada Events (RACE), Race School & Test Day, Shannonville Motorsport Park, Shannonville, ON 

5/2 Apex Track Days, Utah Motorsports Campus (West), Grantsville, UT

5/2 Southeast Mini Moto Track Days, VIR Kart Track, Alton, VA

5/2-3 Fast Line Track Days, NCM Motorsports Park, Bowling Green, KY

5/2-3 Rich Oliver’s Mystery School (Dirt Track School), Fun Camp

5/2-3 NEMRR (North East Motorcycle Road Racing) Series, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Loudon, NH

5/2-3 Evolve GT School and Track Days, NCBIKE, Garysburg, NC

5/2-3 ASMA Track Days and Advanced Rider Training, Arroyo Seco CW, Deming, NM

5/2-3 2Wheels Track Days, Chuckwalla Valley Raceway, Desert Center, CA

5/2-3 CMRA (Central Motorcycle Roadracing Association) Series, Motorsport Ranch, Cresson, Texas

5/2-3 ASMA (Arroyo Seco Motorcycle Association) Series, Arroyo Seco CW, Deming, NM

5/2-3 Fasttrax Motorcycle Performance Track Days, Nelson Ledges Road Course, Garrettsville, OH

5/2-3 Fun Track Dayz, Thunderhill Raceway Park (West double), Willows, CA

5/2-3-4 STT (Sportbike Track Time) Track Days, Barber Motorsports Park, Birmingham, AL

5/3 Fun Track Dayz, Thunderhill Raceway Park (West), Willows, CA

5/3 XCEL Trackdays Track days, Firebird Motorsports Park, , Chandler, AZ, West Track

5/3 Superbike-Coach Corp. (School), Wheelie Course, Little 99 Raceway, Stockton, CA

5/3 Ohio Mini Roadracing, Wilmington Raceway Park, Wilmington, OH 

5/3-4 Optimum Performance Rider Training Track Days, Ridge Motorsports Park, Shelton, WA

5/4 Motovid.com All Levels Motorcycle Track Days/ Performance Riding Clinics, Blackhawk Farms Raceway, S. Beloit, IL

5/4 Precision Track Days, VIRginia International Raceway, Alton, VA, VIR North

5/4 Socal Supermoto School, Apex Motorsports Park, Perris, CA, Semi Private Supermoto School

5/4-5 California Superbike School, New Jersey Motorsports Park, Thunderbolt, NJ (All Levels)

5/5-6 Yamaha Champions Riding School, Inde Motorsports Ranch (ChampGrad), Willcox, AZ

5/6 2Fast Motorcycle Track Days & Instruction, Pacific Raceways, Kent, WA

5/6 Rich Oliver’s Mystery School (Dirt Track School), FES Kids Ride & Wrench Camp

5/6-7 California Superbike School, New Jersey Motorsports Park, Thunderbolt, NJ (All Levels)

5/7 Rich Oliver’s Mystery School (Dirt Track School), FES Kids Ride & Wrench Camp

5/7 Shannonville Motorsport Park Motorcycle Lapping Days, Shannonville Motorsport Park, Shannonville, ON

5/8 Carters@thetrack Track Days, Thunderhill Raceway Park, East (AFM Practice/NRS), Willows, CA

5/8 Jennings GP Track Days & Novice Schools, Jennings GP, Jennings, FL (Novice School)

5/8  Northwest Mini Moto & Endurance Challenge, Tri City Kart Club, Richland, WA – 12-hour Endurance 

5/8-9 N2 Track Days, Summit Point Raceway (Main), Summit Point, WV

5/8-9 Precision Track Days, Carolina Motorsports Park, Kershaw, SC

5/8-9 American Supercamp (Dirt Track School), Delaware State Fairgrounds, Harrington, DE – Non-Racer Camp

5/8-10 CRA MN (Central Roadracing Association) Series, Brainerd International Raceway, Brainerd, MN

5/8-10 Racing Associates Canada Events (RACE), Shannonville Motorsport Park, Pro Track, Shannonville, ON 

5/9 Legion Moto Trackdays, High Plains Raceway, Deer Trail, CO

5/9 Motorheads Track Attacks Track Days, Stratotech Park, Sturgeon County, AB

5/9 Rich Oliver’s Mystery School (Dirt Track School), Learn To Ride Off-Road Course

5/9 UtahSBA Track Days, Utah Motorsports Campus, East, Grantsville, UT

5/9 Brake Free Track Time Track Days, The Podium Club at Attesa CW, Casa Grande AZ

5/9 HART (Hallet Advanced Rider Training) Motorcycle Lapping Day Program, Hallett Motor Racing Circuit, Hallett, OK

5/9-10 AFM (American Federation of Motorcyclists) Series, Thunderhill Raceway Park, Willows, CA

5/9-10 STT (Sportbike Track Time) Track Days, Grattan Raceway, Belding, MI

5/10 MRA (Motorcycle Roadracing Association) Series, High Plains Rcwy, Deer Trail, CO

5/10 Socal Supermoto School, Apex Motorsports Park, Perris, CA

5/10 2Fast Motorcycle Track Days & Instruction, Ridge Motorsports Park, Shelton, WA

5/10-11 American Supercamp (Dirt Track School), Delaware State Fairgrounds, Harrington, DE – Racer Camp

5/11 2Fast Motorcycle Track Days & Instruction, Ridge Motorsports Park, Shelton, WA

5/11 N2 Track Days, New Jersey Motorsports Park (Thunderbolt), Millville, NJ

5/11 Z2 Track Days, Sonoma Raceway, Sonoma, CA

5/11 WMRC (Westwood Motorcycle Racing Club) School & Track Days, Mission Raceway Park, Mission, B.C

5/11-12 California Superbike School, Carolina Motorsports Park, SC (All Levels)

5/12-13 Yamaha Champions Riding School, New Jersey Motorsports Park, Millville, NJ

5/12-13 Rich Oliver’s Mystery School (Dirt Track School), POST Motorcycle Offi cer Update Course

5/13 Motovid.com All Levels Motorcycle Track Days/ Performance Riding Clinics, Blackhawk Farms Raceway, S. Beloit, IL

5/15 WERA National Endurance Series Co-Sanctioned by AMA, Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, Braselton, GA –  Friday Race

5/15 Rich Oliver’s Mystery School (Dirt Track School), Private Training Day- Flat Track

5/15 STT (Sportbike Track Time) Track Days, Grattan Raceway, Belding, MI

5/15-17 SMRI (Sandia Motorcycle RoadRacing Inc.) Track & Race Days, License School, Suika Circuit, Albuquerque, NM

5/15-17 WERA Sportsman Series Southeast Region Co- Sanctioned by AMA, WERA Cycle Jam at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, Braselton, GA

5/15-17 WERA Sportsman Series Atlantic Coastal Region Co-Sanctioned by AMA, WERA Cycle Jam at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, Braselton, GA

5/15-17 AHRMA Academy of RoadRacing (AAR) & Sidecar Racing School (SRS), Motorsports Park Hastings; Hastings, NE (BOTH AAR & SRS)

5/15-17 WERA Sportsman Series Mid Central Region Co-Sanctioned by AMA, WERA Cycle Jam at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, Braselton, GA

5/15-17 AHRMA National Road Racing Series, Motorsport Park Hastings, Hastings, NE

5/15-17 WERA National Challenge Series Co-Sanctioned by AMA, WERA Cycle Jam at Road Atlanta, Braselton, GA

5/15-17 MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North America Series, Barber Motorsports Park, Birmingham, AL

5/16 AMA Pro American Flat Track (AFT), ThrottleFest, Budds Creek Motocross Park, Mechanicsville, MD

5/16 Moto Mini USA – Ovale USA, APEX Motorsports Park, Perris, CA 

5/16 Socal Supermoto School, Apex Motorsports Park, Perris, CA

5/16 2WTD Mini Racing, APEX Motorsports Park, Perris, CA 

5/16 SMRI (Sandia Motorcycle RoadRacing Inc.) Track & Race Days, Track Day, Suika Circuit, Albuquerque, NM

5/16 2Fast Motorcycle Track Days & Instruction, Oregon Raceway Park, Grass Valley, OR

5/16 Sandy Hook Mini Moto Races & Track Days, Sandy Hook Spdway, Street, MD, Track Day

5/16 Atlantic Roadracing League (ARL), Atlantic Motorsport Park, Mill Village, NS 

5/16-17 N2 Track Days, Roebling Road Raceway, Bloomington, GA

5/16-17 Rich Oliver’s Mystery School (Dirt Track School), Fun Camp

5/16-17 TrackXperience Track Days, Chuckwalla Valley Raceway, Desert Center, CA

5/16-17 STT (Sportbike Track Time) Track Days, Putnam Park, Belding, MI

5/16-17 Pacific Track Time, Thunderhill Raceway Park (West), Willows, CA

5/16-17 FIM MotoMini USA East / SFLMiniGP Championship, Gainesville Raceway, Gainesville, FL (Round 4)

5/16-17 WERA Sportsman Series North Central Region Co- Sanctioned by AMA, Grattan Raceway Park, Grattan, MI

5/16-17 Evolve GT School and Track Days, Polecat Training Center (PTC), Lynchburg, TN

5/16-17 Alaska Road Racing Motorcycle Track Days, Tanacross Race Course, Tok, AK

5/17 United MiniMoto, United Karting, Hanover, MD

5/17 Atlantic Roadracing League (ARL), Atlantic Motorsport Park, Mill Village, NS 

5/17 Central Illinois Mini Moto, Mid State Kart Club, Dawson, IL 

5/17 Rocky Mountain Mini Moto, Grand Junction Motor Speedway, Grand Junction, CO 

5/17 The Riders Club Track Days, New Jersey Motorsports Park, Millville, NJ, Liberator

5/17 Superbike-Coach Corp. (School), Cornering School Day 1, Little 99 Raceway, Stockton, CA

5/17 Motorheads Track Attacks Track Days, Stratotech Park, Sturgeon County, AB

5/17 SMRI (Sandia Motorcycle RoadRacing Inc.) Track & Race Days, Race Day, Suika Circuit, Albuquerque, NM

5/17 2Fast Motorcycle Track Days & Instruction, Oregon Raceway Park, Grass Valley, OR

5/17 Motocorsa Track Days, Portland International Raceway, Portland, OR

5/18 Optimum Performance Rider Training Track Days, Ridge Motorsports Park, Shelton, WA

5/18 Socal Supermoto School, Apex Motorsports Park, Perris, CA, Semi Private Supermoto School

5/18 The Riders Club Track Days, New Jersey Motorsports Park, Millville, NJ, Thunderbolt

5/18 Penguin Riding School, Thompson Spdwy., Thompson, CT

5/18 STT (Sportbike Track Time) Track Days, Barber Motorsports Park, Birmingham, AL

5/18-19 California Superbike School, Jennings GP, FL (All Levels)

5/21 Vintage Road Racing Association (VRRA), Shannonville Motorsports Park, Shannonville, ON 

5/22 ASRA National Practice & Track Days (AMA Sanctioned), Summit Point Motorsports Park, Summit Point, WV

5/22 Hardnox Track Dayz, Rocky Mountain Motorsports, Carstairs, AB

5/22 WMRC (Westwood Motorcycle Racing Club) School & Track Days, Mission Raceway Park, Mission, B.C

5/22 Atlantic RoadRacing League Track Days and High Performance Riding Academy, Atlantic Motorsport Park, Mill Village, NS – TD

5/22 Evolve GT School and Track Days, Summit Point Circuit, Summit Point, WV (Main Track)

5/22 Apex Track Days, Utah Motorsports Campus (East), Grantsville, UT

5/22 Riders Choice Lapping Days, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Bowmanville, ON

5/22-23 California Superbike School, Barber Motorsports Park, AL (All Levels)

5/22-24 ASRA Relay/Endurance Series, Summit Point Motorsports Park, Summit Point, WV

5/22-24 ASRA National Series, Summit Point Motorsports Park, Summit Point, WV

5/22-24 ASRA Atlantic Region (AMA Sanctioned), Summit Point Motorsports Park, Summit Point, WV

5/22-24 Vintage Road Racing Association (VRRA), Shannonville Motorsports Park, Shannonville, ON 

5/22-24 Ruts To Racelines Track Days, NCBike, Garysburg, NC

5/22-24 Southern Ontario Associates of Racing (SOAR), Grand Bend Motorplex, Grand Bend, ON 

5/22-23-24 STT (Sportbike Track Time) Track Days, Autobahn Country ClubClub, Joliet, IL

5/23 AMA Pro American Flat Track (AFT), Williams Grove Half-Mile, Williams Grove, Mechanicsburg, PA

5/23 Sierra Nevada Moto Championship (NNKC), Northern Nevada Kart Club, Reno, NV 

5/23 Socal Supermoto School, Apex Motorsports Park, Perris, CA

5/23 Atlantic RoadRacing League Track Days and High Performance Riding Academy, Atlantic Motorsport Park, Mill Village, NS – HPRA

5/23-24 Fishtail Riding School, Canaan Motor Club, Canaan, NH

5/23-24 WMRC (Westwood Motorcycle Racing Club) School & Track Days, Mission Raceway Park, Mission, B.C, Hybrid Day

5/23-24 Yamaha Champions Riding School, High Plains Raceway, Deer Trail, CO

5/23-24 The Riders Club Track Days, New Jersey Motorsports Park, Millville, NJ, Lightning

5/23-24 New Jersey MiniGP Days and Camps, Shenandoah Course, Summit Point Raceway, Summit Point, WV – Round 1

5/23-24 Evolve GT School and Track Days, Ozarks International Raceway, Gravois Mills, MO

5/23-24 RideSmart Motorcycle School, Circuit of The Americas, Austin, TX

5/23-24 Z2 Track Days, Thunderhill Raceway Park (West), Willows, CA

5/23-24 Fast Line Track Days, Talladega Gran Prix Raceway, Munford, AL

5/23-24 CMRA (Calgary Motorcycle Roadracing Association), Rocky Mountain Motorsports Park, Alberta, Canada – Race School

5/23-25 Cyclesmith Track Days, Palmer Motorsports Park, Palmer, MA

5/24 Florida Track Days (FTD), Homestead-Miami Speedway, Homestead, FL

5/24 Atlantic RoadRacing League Track Days and High Performance Riding Academy, Atlantic Motorsport Park, Mill Village, NS – HPRA

5/24 Ohio Mini Roadracing, G&J Kartway, Camden, OH 

5/24 Sierra Nevada Moto Championship (NNKC), Northern Nevada Kart Club, Reno, NV 

5/24 Pro 6 Cycle Inc. Track Days, Calabogie Motorsports Park, Calabogie, ON

5/24 Rich Oliver’s Mystery School (Dirt Track School), Private Training Day- Off Road

5/24 Oregon Lighweight Moto, Mac Track, McMinnville, OR 

5/24 SMEC Super Moto, Virginia International Raceway, Alton, VA 

5/24-25 California Superbike School, Barber Motorsports Park, AL (All Levels)

5/24-25 Let’s Ride Track Days & Schools, Buttonwillow Raceway Park, Buttonwillow, CA

5/24-25 Track Time Track Days, Ridge Motorsports Park, Shelton, WA

5/25 3:16 Trackdays/America Superbike Camp, Harris Hill Raceway, San Marcos, TX, Memorial Day

5/25 Socal Supermoto School, Apex Motorsports Park, Perris, CA

5/25 Pro 6 Cycle Inc. Track Days, Canadian Tire Motorsports Park, Bowmanville, ON

5/25 Yamaha Champions Riding School, CODE 303 Emergency Vehicle Operations Center, Douglas County, CO

5/25 Evolve GT School and Track Days, Summit Point Circuit, Summit Point, WV (Main Track)

5/25 PRE (Performance Riding Experience) Track Days, VIRginia International Raceway (North), Alton, VA

5/25-26 Zalusky Advanced Riding School (ZARS) & Track Days, Road America, Elkhart Lake, WI

5/26 Pro 6 Cycle Inc. Track Days, Canadian Tire Motorsports Park, Bowmanville, ON

5/26-27 California Superbike School, Barber Motorsports Park, AL (All Levels)

5/27 Motovid.com All Levels Motorcycle Track Days/ Performance Riding Clinics, Blackhawk Farms Raceway, S. Beloit, IL

5/28 The Riders Club Track Days, New Jersey Motorsports Park, Millville, NJ, Thunderbolt, advanced track day

5/28 Shannonville Motorsport Park Motorcycle Lapping Days, Shannonville Motorsport Park, Shannonville, ON

5/29 The Riders Club Track Days, New Jersey Motorsports Park, Millville, NJ, Thunderbolt, classic track day

5/29 Penguin Riding School, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Loudon, NH

5/29 STT (Sportbike Track Time) Track Days, GingerMan Raceway Bike Night, South Haven, MI

5/29-31 MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North America Series, Road America, Elkhart Lake, WI

5/29-31 USCRA (United States Classic Racing Association) Series (Vintage), Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park, CT

5/30 Sandy Hook Mini Moto Races & Track Days, Sandy Hook Spdway, Street, MD, Race

5/30 Legion Moto Trackdays, Pueblo Motorsports Park, Pueblo, CO

5/30 Motorheads Track Attacks Track Days, Rad Torque Raceway, Edmonton, AB

5/30 2WTD Mini Racing, APEX Motorsports Park, Perris, CA 

5/30 Moto Mini USA – Ovale USA, APEX Motorsports Park, Perris, CA 

5/30-31 NEMRR (North East Motorcycle Road Racing) Series, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Loudon, NH

5/30-31 STT (Sportbike Track Time) Track Days, GingerMan Raceway, South Haven, MI

5/30-31 WERA Sportsman Series Atlantic Coastal Region Co-Sanctioned by AMA, Roebling Road Raceway, Faulkville, GA

5/30-31 WERA Sportsman Series Southeast Region Co- Sanctioned by AMA, Roebling Road Raceway, Faulkville, GA

5/30-31 Rich Oliver’s Mystery School (Dirt Track School), Advance Kids Ride & Wrench Camp

5/30-31 Alaska Road Racing Motorcycle Track Days, Tanacross Race Course, Tok, AK

5/30-31 Evolve GT School and Track Days, NCBIKE, Garysburg, NC

5/30-31 PRE (Performance Riding Experience) Track Days, Carolina Motorsports Park, Kershaw, SC

5/30-31 Precision Track Days, NCM Motorsports Park, Bowling Green, KY

5/30-31 RideSmart Motorcycle School, MSR Houston, Angleton, TX

5/30-31 TrackAddix Track Days, Motorsports Park Hastings, Hastings, NE

5/30-31 Pro 6 Cycle Inc. Track Days, Calabogie Motorsports Park, Calabogie, ON

5/30-31 Texas Mini Grand Prix, Gulf Coast Kartway, Katy, TX 

5/31 Motorheads Track Attacks Track Days, Rad Torque Raceway, Edmonton, AB

5/31-6/1 Optimum Performance Rider Training Track Days, Ridge Motorsports Park, Shelton, WA

MotoGP: Aprilia’s Ogura and Fernandez Lead In Monday Tests

Trackhouse Racing's Ai Ogura was quickest during MotoGP testing on Monday at Jerez, leading an Aprilia 1-2-3. MotoGP Photo.

Jerez Test Round Up: Aprilia Leads Ducati On Monday

Ai Ogura edged out teammate Raul Fernandez for Monday testing honors while breakthroughs were found behind

After a memorable Spanish GP, it was back to the grind on Monday for MotoGP – with the field heading out for a one-day test at the same Circuito de Jerez-Angel Nieto. There was much to see at Ducati as the Borgo Panigale factory look to strengthen their fight back against Aprilia but there were a few things on show up and down pit lane. And there was an Aprilia 1-2-3 at the top.

By the end of action, Ai Ogura was fastest with a lap at 1:35.944 to lead a Trackhouse MotoGP Team 1-2 after deposing teammate Raul Fernandez by just 0.005-second. World Championship leader Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) was third ahead of Marc Marquez, back on track with the Ducati Lenovo Team after his Sunday crash, after the reigning World Champion was shuffled back courtesy of the Japanese star’s late lap.

Aprilia Racing & Trackhouse MotoGP Team

Fernandez set his best lap fairly late to top the time sheets, but Ogura had one last fast one in the locker to make it a 1-2 for the team with Fernandez second. Ahead of the test day, both had stated the need to work on one-lap pace and with the strong showing they put in, the proof was in the pudding. Positive by the end of play but keeping their feet on the ground, it’s a strong way to sign off from Jerez, with their new-found speed to be confirmed in Le Mans.

At the factory Aprilia Racing team, Bezzecchi pipped Marc Marquez by 0.005s to take third spot overall and an Aprilia lockout in the top three, although the #72 also suffered a fast crash at Turn 11, rider OK. A new front fairing was on show for the Noale factory, as well as a few things team boss Paolo Bonora said weren’t “visible.” On Jorge Martin’s side of the box, it was set-up and the ergonomics as the main focus; he ended the test in P10 and was beaming about the progress made.

Raul Fernandez (25) leads Trackhouse Aprilia teammate Ai Ogura (79) at Jerez. MotoGP Photo.

Ducati Lenovo Team, BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP, Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team

Down at Ducati, there was new front aero, a side aero fairing they already tested in the pre-season, a swingarm cover and a modified chassis. Marc Marquez, who ended the test in fourth, said he was working on the chassis, with some modifications there, and some “interesting things.” The focus was on trying to get back the front feeling – the key challenge in 2026. The aero was also cited as helpful in “some areas.” Vague as ever when testing but nonetheless a step forward! Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) took P6, the GP winner the only rider who didn’t better his time in the afternoon.

Alex Marquez (73) was sixth quickest in Jerez testing. MotoGP photo.

Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) took P8, Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) P10, Fermin Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) P18 – ending his day early after an intense weekend of Grand Prix action seemed to take its toll on his recovering femur – and Franky Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) P19 and likewise feeling a bit under the weather come the end of it all.

Ducati Lenovo’s Marc Marquez (93) was fourth-quickest during Monday testing at Jerez. MotoGP photo.

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, Red Bull KTM Tech3

Pedro Acosta led the way for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing in P5 in terms of positions, and had some aero to try. In terms of new things to test, MotoGP Hall of Famer and test rider Dani Pedrosa was out getting the laps in across a busy day, too. At Red Bull KTM Tech3, Enea Bastianini was also trying out new parts for the Austrian factory as he flew solo for the French team and ended the day in P12. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) was P16 by the end of play.

Pedro Acosta (37) testing aerodynamics at Jerez on Monday. MotoGP photo.
KTM factory team and Tech3 team riders were on track during the Monday tests. MotoGP photo.

Honda HRC Castrol, Castrol Honda LCR, Pro Honda LCR

Honda had a low-key day on the time sheets, focusing elsewhere and, outwardly, on their current package. The top Honda rider was veteran Johann Zarco (Castrol Honda LCR) in P9 after a strong weekend, with rookie teammate Diogo Moreira (Pro Honda LCR) in P13 – encouraging after a tougher weekend for him. Moreira was the first faller of the test during the morning but he was all OK. Luca Marini (Honda HRC Castrol) was right on Moreira’s tail in P14, 0.018-second further back, with teammate Joan Mir just 0.081-second behind in what was a tight trio.

Joan Mir (36) aboard his Honda RC213V during Monday testing at Jerez. MotoGP photo.

Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP, Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP

In Yamaha blue, work continued in developing the V4-powered package as well as other small updates. Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) was able to instantly lap quicker than the fastest lap of his Grand Prix in the morning before knocking three tenths off his weekend’s best in the afternoon. Top Yamaha rider and in P7, Quartararo can leave Jerez on a positive note ahead of his home Grand Prix at Le Mans in two weekend’s time. On the other side of the box, Alex Rins was a second off his teammate’s time and took P22, electing to finish early.

There was plenty of working going in the Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP outfit too with Jack Miller leaving Jerez with the upper-hand in that camp. He worked on trying to improve the front feeling of his machine and also had some small items to try. Teammate Toprak Razgatlioglu had a crash at Turn 3 in the morning but was otherwise OK as he continued to try and adapt his riding style. Electronic work to improve engine braking was on his agenda, whilst both bikes were spotted with the rear side aero that their Monster Energy counterparts used in the weekend. 17th for Miller, 21st for Razgatlioglu, Le Mans is their next destination. Despite being on the initial entry list, test rider Augusto Fernandez didn’t head out.

A Yamaha gives chase as riders head down the straightaway at Jerez on Monday. MotoGP photo.
Session_for_ES3_MotoGP_FP2_1_

Oxley Bom MotoGP Podcast: Jerez 2026

Alex Marquez won at Jerez. Photo courtesy Gresini Team.

By Mat Oxley:

VIDEO ALERT! We’ve got Mat and Peter taking a stroll across Jerez, and that’s the episode version I’d most recommend!

There’s this thing called the law of opposites. You know: for every Ying, there’s a Yang. For every good thing, a bad thing. For every exciting sprint, one boring race. 

Oh bloody hell, we weren’t allowed to say that!

Well never mind anyway, because it won’t stay boring if you look a little closer. And you know who’s really good at that? That’s right, your hosts Mat and Peter! 

It’s a little cliche to call Jerez “Marquez-country”, but there’s good reason: in the past, the Spanish ‘King of Chaos’ has always ruled supreme over his kingdom here. But this year, something’s seriously wrong. Marc was out in the second lap; not a great sign for his condition this season. And now the king’s younger brother reigns in his stead, while Aprilia is steadily cementing itself further and further as best in class. 

And right in the middle of this? Mat and Peter, taking a stroll across the grid. Want to come backstage with us and see what they thought of it all? Then jump in! 

(Small note: today’s episode is pretty short, but tune in tomorrow night for a special surprise!)

 

  • LISTEN TO THE PODCAST HERE! 

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!  

The song during the sponsor segment is called Dolphin Shores by flowerhead

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!

MotoGP: More From Sunday at Jerez

Alex Marquez (73) at Jerez. Photo courtesy MotoGP.

At the Circuito de Jerez, the MotoGP race brought both excitement and surprises. Alex Márquez made a strong comeback, taking a memorable victory at his home track. Marco Bezzecchi finished second, with Fabio Di Giannantonio completing the podium. The race also saw drama for Marc Márquez, who crashed his Ducati and missed out on the fight at the front.

 

More from a press release issued by BK8 Gresini Team:

Ops, we’re back!

 

  • RACE DAY

ALEX MARQUEZ 1º 🥇

FERMIN ALDEGUER 

 

  • WORLD SSTANDINGS

ALEX MARQUEZ 7° – 53 points

FERMIN ALDEGUER 15° – 20 points

 

Alex Marquez won at Jerez. Photo courtesy Gresini Team.

 

ALEX MARQUEZ #73: “If there was a track where I could rediscover my feeling, it was Jerez. Magic happens here, and that’s exactly how it went. I felt good right from Friday, but I didn’t expect to be this fast. We did an amazing job together with the team—we worked hard, and getting two consecutive wins is absolutely incredible. I attacked right from the start, both Marco and Marc, and then I found a strong rhythm. These 25 points give us a lot of confidence and at least put us back among the top 7 in the overall standings. Now we’ll try to build race by race.”

 

Fermin Aldeguer on the grid of the MotoGP Race at Jerez. Photo courtesy Gresini Team.

 

FERMIN ALDEGUER #54: “Many positive things from this race. Starting from 12th, I knew it wouldn’t be easy, and after a disastrous start the situation got even worse. But I still managed to put together a good race—the top 10 is definitely important, though we still need to find a solid base with this new bike. We’re definitely lacking something physically; after Austin I was completely drained, but we were coming off a double-header. I feel better now, but we’ll see tomorrow morning how I feel for the tests.”

 

 


More from a press release issued by Aprilia:

Fourth consecutive race podium in 2026 for Aprilia Racing. Four Aprilias in the top six in Jerez: Marco Bezzecchi second and Jorge Martin fourth. Trackhouse MotoGP Team’s Ai Ogura fifth and Raul Fernandez sixth.

The weekend at Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto ended with a positive balance for Aprilia Racing. Marco Bezzecchi rode a solid race, finishing second and taking his sixth podium in a row, including the ones in 2025. This is the Italian rider’s fourth consecutive podium in the first four GP races of the season, becoming the first rider ever to do so in the top class since 2016. It is also his best personal MotoGP result in Jerez, as well as Aprilia Racing’s, which improves the previous third-place finish achieved in 2022 with Aleix Espargaró.

Positive race for Jorge Martín as well who, after starting from the tenth spot on the grid, was protagonist of an outstanding start which placed him in fourth position, thereby tying his best result on the Andalusian track.

Lorenzo Savadori, riding in a wild card slot, was forced to retire during the seventh lap due to his less-than-optimum fitness after the accident in the sprint race.

Also worth a mention is the performance of the Trackhouse MotoGP Team riders, with Ai Ogura and Raúl Fernández fifth and sixth across the finish line to complete a result with four Aprilias in the top six spots.

 

Marco Bezzecchi (72) at Jerez. Photo courtesy Aprilia.

 

Marco Bezzecchi:I gave it my all this weekend, but unfortunately it was not enough to battle for the win. During the race I managed to improve and maintain a competitive pace. In any case, I’m satisfied. The team did an outstanding job like always and I thank them. Now we’ll be looking ahead to the test.” 

 

Jorge Martin (89) at Jerez. Photo courtesy Aprilia.

 

Jorge Martin:The start was extremely good. I tried to manage the tyre, but from the early laps, the feeling with the rear wasn’t the best: I was lacking grip both under braking and under acceleration. In any case, I tried to give one hundred percent in this race. I can’t wait for the test on Monday in order to continue taking steps forward.”

 

Lorenzo Savadori (32) at Jerez. Photo courtesy Aprilia.

 

Lorenzo Savadori:The impact during the sprint race was rather violent, but fortunately, I didn’t suffer any fractures. However, I was unable to ride during the race. I couldn’t manage to lean off the bike to do the turn angles and to pick the bike up. Consequently, I was unfortunately forced to retire.”

 

Massimo Rivola – CEO Aprilia Racing:It was a Sunday where we demonstrated great consistency, with four Aprilias in the top six spots. The most positive aspect is seeing that we were not discouraged after a poor Saturday where everything possible happened. This gives us even more strength to tackle the upcoming races with the awareness that if we work every day seeking to give our maximum, we will achieve the maximum; so now we’re already focused on having a good test on Monday.”

 

 


More from a press release issued by Pertamina Enduro VR46 Team:

The Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team claims the second podium of the season in the Spanish GP with Fabio Di Giannantonio, who is third in Sunday’s race and in the Top3 of the World Standing. Franco Morbidelli is twelfth.

The Spanish GP ends on a positive note for the Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team, that proves to be competitive in Sunday’s race too and claims the podium with Fabio Di Giannantonio, who is third both at the finish line and in the World Standing. On dry track, Franco Morbidelli recovers some positions and ends in twelfth place.

A complicated start from the front row, forced Di Giannantonio to lose some places in the early stages of the race, but he showed a great rhythm right away, by entering again in the fight for the top places. The rider from Rome kept a good pace throughout all the race, crossing the finish line in third place and claiming his second podium of the season. With this result, Di Giannantonio is third in the World Standing with 71 points.

After his Sprint podium, Morbidelli had a solid race on Sunday, starting from the sixth row. At the difficult Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto, Franco completed many overtakes, recovering positions throughout the 25 laps of Sunday’s race. The Italian Brazilian rider crossed the finish line in twelfth position and collected some important points. Morbidelli sits now in thirteenth place in the World Standing with 25 points.

The Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team stays at the Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto for the Official IRTA Test Day that will take place on Monday. Then, MotoGP will go to Le Mans, where the French GP will take place from 8th to the 10th May.

 

Fabio Di Giannantonio in the parc fermé at Jerez. Photo courtesy VR46 Team.

 

FABIO DI GIANNANTONIO: “I am really happy with the level we’re showing. I’m just a bit upset because I made a mistake at the start: the team did a great job during all the weekend and in these months, but this little mistake didn’t allow us to really fight. For sure, it’s a great podium and we must be very happy. We are also in the Top3 of the World Standing and it’s great. But we think we could have done more without that mistake. Of course, when you start to collect such great results, a third place is not enough, but it’s an amazing result, anyway. We’re doing a great job; we just must keep the focus on and the feet on the ground. The season is still very long, but let’s keep working like this.”

 

Franco Morbidelli (21) and Luca Marini (10) at Jerez. Photo courtesy VR46 Team.

 

FRANCO MORBIDELLI: “Today’s race was tougher, but I expected that. Yesterday we secured a podium, but for today’s race we kept working on some changes that didn’t work as we wanted, although they were useful for understanding how to solve the issue of lack of rear grip. I perform better in the final laps of the race because the tyres are so used and the bike becomes more manageable and smoother. We made some steps, but we still need to work on improving the first part of the race. We’re working very well and we proved it yesterday with the podium in the Sprint, but in dry conditions we’re still struggling a bit. Ducati and the team are working to solve this problem; in that sense, tomorrow’s test day will be very full and crucial.”

 

PABLO NIETO: “The Spanish GP was a crucial weekend, the first European race is always very difficult, and you can understand your value. We proved to be very strong with Di Giannantonio during all the weekend and in every condition, even on wet where we used to struggle. This second podium is a great result to end the race weekend. Yesterday, we claimed a great third place with Franco in a Sprint where we had to be smart. We must still improve, but I am very happy with the steps we made with him. I think we must be very satisfied with the job we’ve done. Now, let’s focus on Monday’s test, another crucial day to keep working on the bike.”

 

 


More from a press release issued by Castrol Honda LCR:

Castrol Honda LCR rider Johann Zarco finished 7th in Sunday’s race at the Circuito de Jerez Ángel Nieto.

 

  • Starting from 2nd on the grid, Johann Zarco made a solid start and quickly established himself within the front group, in contention for the podium.
  • The Frenchman showed strong pace throughout, consistently fighting at the front and running 5th, defending his position with determination.
  • In the final stages, tyre wear became a limiting factor, making it harder for him to keep pushing. Zarco eventually crossed the line in 7th place, securing valuable points, finishing as the top Honda rider on the timesheets, and achieving his best result in 2026 after the first four races. 

 

Johann Zarco (5) at Jerez. Photo courtesy Honda LCR.
 
 
Johann Zarco 7th: “I gave my best to secure the best possible result, and today it was 7th. The start was tough, but I managed to defend my position and fight with my rivals. Our pace was better than I expected, honestly, it was very decent, and I’m happy about that. Of course, I was aiming for the podium, but with five laps to go I felt a big drop in the rear tyre. In the end, I crossed the line in 7th, which is still a positive result. Tomorrow’s test will help us improve in some areas and be better prepared for the next races.”

 

 


More from a press release issued by Red Bull KTM Tech3:

Bastianini leads KTM charge with strong points-scoring run in Spain. 

Enea Bastianini produced a pacy performance to register an eighth-place finish for Red Bull KTM Tech3 in today’s Grand Prix of Spain, starring in front of a sold-out, sun-kissed 96,540-strong crowd at the Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto during round four of the 2026 MotoGP™ World Championship.

Having lined up a season-best seventh on the grid amongst the 23 high-calibre contenders in the sport’s premier class, Bastianini made a solid start to the 25-lap contest – the milestone 40th running of the Andalusian race.

Swiftly settling into an entertaining three-way tussle for sixth with Pedro Acosta and Raúl Fernández, he showed particularly impressive pace through the final sector of the physical and tortuous 4.42km, 13-turn lap.

After conceding a spot to Fernández, the Italian got the better of Acosta to lead the KTM charge, rapidly pulling away to make seventh position his own. As the race progressed, however, Bastianini found himself under threat from a hard-charging Ai Ogura, with the pair thrilling fans by engaging in a wheel-to-wheel duel before the Japanese rider made his move stick.

Thereafter confidently consolidating eighth position aboard his #23 KTM RC16, ‘La Bestia’ closed the gap to fellow former Moto2 World Champion Johann Zarco to under a second-and-a-half by the chequered flag – in so doing, jumping from 12th to tenth in the World Championship standings.

Next up is Red Bull KTM Tech3’s home event at Le Mans’ Bugatti Circuit – round five of the 22-round campaign and the second stop on the calendar’s European leg on 8-10 May – where the squad hopes to be back to full strength with the return of Maverick Viñales on the sister bike alongside Bastianini. Prior to heading back to France, there is a day of testing at Jerez tomorrow (27 April).

 

Enea Bastianini (23) and Ai Ogura (79) at Jerez. Photo courtesy Tech3.

 

Enea Bastianini: “It’s been a solid weekend from my side. I can be happy, because we were competitive in every session – whether it was cold or hot and also with the wind in today’s race. To be honest, my expectation for the Grand Prix was a bit higher. I was thinking about the top five, but after a few laps, I felt a lot of drop-off from the front tyre so it was impossible to push it from then on. Still, we remained consistent to the end and since Austin, we have taken a good step forward; my main problem during the first two rounds of the season was a lack of all-round grip, but now, it feels much better. Let’s continue in this way!”

 

Nicolas Goyon, Team Manager: “Enea produced a really strong performance at Jerez. We were looking forward to seeing what he could do after his excellent results in Austin, and it has been another very positive weekend. He had his best qualifying of the season so far – which is so important around this track – and then ran very well in sixth place in the Sprint race until the rain came. We thought maybe we could challenge for the top five in the Grand Prix given how well he manages tyre degradation, but the top guys were just slightly out of reach so eighth and top KTM rider was still a good result. Enea is feeling happier on the bike after a tough start to the year, and climbing into the top ten in the championship will give him even more confidence. Now, it will be really important to maintain this level of performance. The test tomorrow offers us the perfect opportunity to confirm the improvements we have made and set ourselves up well for the rest of the season.”

 

 


More from a press release issued by Honda HRC Castrol:

Honda HRC Castrol takes points in challenging Spanish GP.

Contact and long lap penalties restricted both Luca Marini and Joan Mir from doing anything more, the pair leaving the first European Grand Prix of the year with a 13th and 15th place finish respectively.

From before sunrise, the hills and grandstands of the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto began to fill with close to 100,000 fans, eagerly awaiting what would unfold. The hottest conditions of the weekend introduced a new element to Sunday, Honda HRC Castrol making the most of morning Warm Up to prepare for the 25-lap Spanish Grand Prix.

Starting well, Luca Marini found himself squeezed heading into the first corner and resulting contact removed much of the aerodynamics on the lefthand side of his Honda RC213V. Settling into a rhythm to recover the positions he lost while also working to fully understand the condition of his machine, Marini put on a respectable march forward and he closed in on the likes of Rins, Quartararo and the points. Taking 13th at the line, the #10 leaves Spain with 27 points in the World Championship standings.

Double Long Lap Penalty looming, Joan Mir pushed from the off to open as much margin as possible before completing his penalty by lap eight. Consistent pace had the 2020 MotoGP World Champion close in on the factory Yamaha pair ahead, easily passing Rins and looking for a way past Quartararo until the final corner. 15th rewards Mir with a single point and his first Sunday race finish of the 2026 season.

The Honda HRC Castrol team will remain in Spain for the first post-race test of the year, a critical moment to make improvements before three Grands Prix in rapid succession.

 

Luca Marini (10) at Jerez. Photo courtesy Honda HRC.

 

Luca Marini: “Unfortunately at the start of the race I had contact with some other riders and our bike’s aerodynamics were damaged. Without the left side of the aero, everything was compromised – from wheelie in under acceleration to getting the bike stopped. We did what we could in this situation. Zarco showed how important Qualifying is, from second on the grid he could fight for sixth or seventh, so we need to keep working on our Friday and Saturday to improve Sunday. We keep improving and see what we can learn from the post-race test.”

 

Joan Mir (36) at Jerez. Photo courtesy Honda HRC.

Joan Mir: “Considering the Double Long Lap Penalty, the result is about as good as we could have hoped for. Our main objective was to finish the race because the conditions, the grip and everything were very critical today and with the weather we didn’t have the perfect package. Not the weekend or the result we aimed for, but some good information and at least we made some good overtakes during the comeback at the end. Now a day of testing with a few things to work on.”

 

 


More from a press release issued by Monster Energy Yamaha:

Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP’s Fabio Quartararo and Álex Rins engaged in battles in the 25-lap Grand Prix of Spain Race. They finished in P14 and P16 respectively.

 

 

The 25-lap Grand Prix of Spain Race riding conditions were in direct contrast with those of the Sprint completed less than 24-hours earlier. Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP’s Fabio Quartararo and Álex Rins pushed in the Spanish sunshine and took the chequered flag in 14th and 16th place respectively.

Quartararo had a good launch from P17 and pushed on in the first half of the race. He managed to climb as high as P12 but got under pressure in the final 10 laps from chasing rivals. The Yamaha man skilfully kept Joan Mir at bay on the last laps to finish in P14, 29.532s from first.

Starting from P21, Rins was keen to make inroads in the early laps. By lap 13, he was in 14th place. However, chasing rivals were looming while he experienced a tyre drop, making the final third of the race tough for Rins. He ultimately ended it in P16, 32.921s from the winner.

Today’s results put Quartararo in 16th place in the championship standings with 11 points. Rins is in 19th with 3 points. Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP are in 10th position in the team classifications with 14 points, and Yamaha is fifth in the constructor rankings with 14 points.

The team will be back in action at the Jerez track tomorrow for the one-day IRTA test.

 

Fabio Quartararo (20) at Jerez. Photo courtesy Yamaha.

 

Fabio Quartararo: “I tried to ride in a different way to see if that would help, but it didn’t really. Tomorrow we will continue the work from the weekend.”

 

Alex Rins (42) at Jerez. Photo courtesy Yamaha.

 

Alex Rins: “It was a tough weekend. From my side, I’m kind of happy because our pace was better than I expected. Overall, I was trying to fight until the rear tyre dropped, but when also the front tyre dropped, it became difficult for me to ride and lean like I wanted to. Let’s see what we have available to try at tomorrow’s test and if we can improve the bike a little.”

 

Massimo Meregalli – Team Director: “All in all, it’s been a tough race weekend, but today we did what we could in the Race. We knew that the feeling wasn’t great in the dry, so we expected it to be a long race today. Fabio and Álex made good starts and capitalised on the pack being close together at the time. While our riders still couldn’t battle to their full potential, especially Fabio showed some expert defensive riding in the final laps, and overall the riders got the maximum result within our capabilities. We will be back at the Jerez track tomorrow for the one-day IRTA test. Thankfully, it looks like we will have good riding weather again, so we should be able to complete our full testing programme.”

 

 


More from a press release issued by Pro Honda LCR:

Pro Honda LCR rider Diogo Moreira finished 17th in Sunday’s race at the Circuito de Jerez Ángel Nieto.

  • Starting from 23rd on the grid, Moreira faced a challenging comeback over the course of the 25-lap race.
  • The Brazilian rider reported feeling strong during the early stages, where he was able to push and make progress through the field.
  • However, in the closing laps, tyre degradation became a key factor, making it difficult for him to maintain his pace. Despite the late struggles, Moreira crossed the line in 17th position, gathering valuable data and already looking ahead to the Monday test. 
 
Diogo Moreira (11) at Jerez. Photo courtesy Honda LCR.
 
Diogo Moreira 17th: “We know it’s difficult to overtake in MotoGP, and even more so at this track. The race wasn’t bad, I was there, following the factory Hondas. With 10 laps to go, I started to struggle with the tyre wear. Tomorrow it will be important to try some different setup options and see where we can improve.”
 

 

 


More from a press release issued by Prima Pramac Yamaha:

Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP Concludes Challenging Weekend in Jerez. 

Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP endured a demanding race in Jerez, with penalties and technical challenges affecting the final outcome as the team now turns its focus to crucial post-race testing.

 

It was a difficult weekend for Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP at Jerez, as both Jack Miller and Toprak Razgatlıoğlu were unable to build on the progress shown at COTA. Solutions that had appeared promising did not deliver the expected results on track, while the changing weather conditions on Saturday further limited the team‘s ability to carry out consistent development work.

Toprak Razgatlıoğlu, who started the race with a long lap penalty following his involvement in a crash during Saturday‘s Sprint, initially made up positions at the start. However, after serving the penalty, he rejoined near the back of the field with a significant gap to the pack and was unable to recover, maintaining that position until the chequered flag.

Jack Miller, who was once again engaged in close battles in the latter part of the field, faced additional challenges due to a rear brake issue that limited his ability to push further. Despite his efforts, he crossed the line in 18th position after a demanding race.

With the race weekend concluded, the team will remain in Jerez for an important day of testing on Monday. This session will be a key opportunity to continue the development and set-up work on the Yamaha YZR-M1, building on the data gathered since the first tests in Sepang and aiming to take another step forward.

 
 
 
Jack Miller (43) at Jerez. Photo courtesy Pramac Yamaha.

 

Jack Miller: “It was one of those weekends for us. The race itself didn‘t feel too bad — I got a decent start, but I made a mistake in the last corner on the first lap where I carried too much closing speed. After that, I was starting to find a rhythm and make my way forward.

I had just passed Diogo and put in a couple of strong laps, but then I lost the rear brake. That obviously made things difficult, especially in the heavy braking zones, and Diogo was able to come back past me. In the faster, flowing corners I actually felt quite good, but overall it limited what I could do.

Tomorrow we resume work and will be trying different new things that hopefully can be a new step in the right direction.”

 

Toprak Razgatlıoğlu (07) at Jerez. Photo courtesy Pramac Yamaha.

 

Toprak Razgatlıoğlu: “It was a really difficult race. I struggled at the beginning to find my rhythm, especially with the new tyre and had the same issue with engine braking that I have had in the past — the bike wasn‘t stopping the way I wanted. But towards the end of the race, my feeling improved and I was able to do better lap times over the last few laps. Now we need to analyse the difference between the start and the end of the race to understand what changed.

At the moment, the main issue for me is still the engine braking. It‘s something I‘ve been feeling consistently, and we need to solve it. Once we fix that, we can then focus on improving the turning and rear grip. We will keep working together as a team to find solutions, starting from the test tomorrow.”

 

Gino Borsoi – Team Director: “It was definitely not an easy weekend. To be honest, I was convinced we could have done better at this circuit, especially considering some of the positive signs we had seen in the previous race with a few improvements to the bike. However, the whole weekend turned out to be quite complicated.

The changing weather certainly didn‘t help, but overall we weren‘t able to find the right set-up for both riders. We struggled yesterday and again today in the race. In particular, Saturday presented a good opportunity that we weren‘t able to take advantage of.

It‘s been a difficult weekend, and now we need to use it as a moment to reflect, understand where we can improve, and make sure we don‘t miss opportunities when they arise. It will require a collective effort from the whole team, and hopefully this will help us move forward in the future.”

 

 

 


More from a press release issued by Yamaha Factory:

Augusto Fernández Perseveres in Spanish GP Race.

The Yamaha Factory Racing Team had planned on using the perfect riding conditions of the Grand Prix of Spain Sunday to the fullest. With a clear objective – collect race data at the Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto – wild-card entry Augusto Fernández started the 25-lap MotoGP Race, but contact on lap 2 caused rear-brake failure. The test rider still managed to finish the race in 20th place.

The Yamaha Factory Racing Team completed their Grand Prix of Spain testing programme in today’s 25-lap MotoGP Race. Wild-card entry Augusto Fernández took the chequered flag in P20 despite his rear brake being damaged due to contact with another rider on lap 2. 

The goal for the perfectly sunny 25-lap race was to secure racing data. Fernández started from P16 and fell back to P22 in the opening stages. Riding with a damaged rear brake after lap 2, the number 47 still opted to finish the race. He ultimately crossed the finish line in 20th place, 1’05.023s from first.

 

Augusto Fernández (47) at Jerez. Photo courtesy Yamaha.

 

 

 


More from a press release issued by Ducati Lenovo Team:

A challenging Sunday for the Ducati Lenovo Team at Jerez: Marc Márquez crashes on lap two, Francesco Bagnaia forced to retire. 

The Ducati Lenovo Team wrapped up the Estrella Galicia 0,0 Grand Prix of Spain at the ‘Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto’ with an unexpected result, following Saturday’s one-two finish in the Sprint. Marc Márquez crashed out of the race on lap two while running second, while Francesco Bagnaia was forced to retire on lap thirteen.

Márquez made a strong start from pole position and held the lead into turn one. After attempting to pull away on the opening lap, he was caught and passed by his brother Alex before losing the front of his Desmosedici GP at turn eleven. Bagnaia lost one position at the start but climbed back up to ninth in the first half of the race. On lap thirteen, Pecco encountered a technical issue that forced him to return to the pits.

As the fourth Grand Prix of the season comes to a close, Marc Márquez sits fifth in the championship standings with 57 points, while Francesco Bagnaia is ninth, 23 points adrift of his teammate. The Ducati Lenovo Team is fifth in the teams’ standings (91 points), with Ducati second in the constructors’ championship (106 points).

The Ducati Lenovo Team will be back in action tomorrow at Jerez for a one-day official test, while the fifth Grand Prix of the 2026 season will take place at Le Mans (France) on May 8–10.

 

Marc Márquez (93) at Jerez. Photo courtesy Ducati.

 

Marc Márquez (#93 Ducati Lenovo Team) – DNF: “I’m fine physically. We enjoyed this Grand Prix of Spain from Thursday to Sunday, so it’s a pity that the race ended so early. I did something different at turn eleven, which caused the crash. I was trying to manage the situation, as I knew Alex (Márquez) was quicker, and the goal was to finish in third or fourth place. We struggled in terms of feeling and pace in the first three races, while this has been our strongest weekend so far this season. We were competitive in the wet, but there’s still work to do in dry conditions, and we’ll start addressing that already tomorrow.”

 

Francesco Bagnaia (63) at Jerez. Photo courtesy Ducati.

 

Francesco Bagnaia (#63 Ducati Lenovo Team) – DNF: “We were lucky yesterday, not so much today. I didn’t get a great start but tried to recover positions, and I was lapping at a solid pace — not enough for the podium, but a top-seven finish was within reach. I tried to follow the lines of Enea (Bastianini) and Ogura, who were ahead of me, and our pace was similar. Unfortunately, I had an issue with a detail of the bike from the start, and it worsened lap after lap. In the end, I had to return to the pits because I couldn’t get the bike to stop properly. I believe this issue won’t happen again going forward. Tomorrow we’ll work to get closer to Alex’s pace and evaluate the solutions available to us.”

AFT: Bauman Won At Ventura in Front of a Sold Out Crowd

Briar Bauman (No. 3) leads the field into turn one during the Memphis Shades Ventura Short Track presented by 805 Beer. Photo by Tim Lester for AMA Pro Racing.

Editorial Note: MotoAmerica road racer Kensei Matsudaira finished fifth in the AFT ProSport 450 (Road To AFT) race.

 

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Briar Bauman (No. 3 RWR/Jacob Construction/Parts Plus Harley-Davidson XG750R) formally announced his arrival as a 2026 Grand National Championship contender with a dominant performance in Saturday’s Memphis Shades Ventura Short Track presented by 805 Beer. 

Even after a somewhat-slower-than-expected start to his ‘26 Mission AFT SuperTwins campaign, Bauman’s one-sided victory at Ventura Raceway came as little surprise. The win was his third straight at the ocean-side venue and served as a stark reminder to the rest of the field the type of performance the two-time premier-class champion is capable of when on his game. 

Bauman blasted into the lead from the start and soon after eliminated the threat of all but fellow Harley-Davidson ace Kody Kopp (No. 12 Latus Motors Racing Harley-Davidson XG750R). 

The rookie points leader did all he could just to keep Bauman in sight as they raced away from the pack. But despite his best efforts, Bauman ultimately proved too strong.  

Kopp was given a glimmer of hope late when Bauman got hung up behind a three-rider group waging fifth position as he lapped his way up the order. However, Bauman’s hard work and big lead paid off, as he held on to grab the checkered flag with a 1.373-second margin of victory.  

After earning his first win of the season, Bauman admitted, “I got a little bit greedy the first three rounds. I kind of led the team in a difficult direction. We wanted to bite off more than we could chew, and we got a little ahead of ourselves. So apologies to Rick Ware Racing and the whole family, but this is where we belong. 

“I love coming here. I see my friends. I see my family where I grew up. I’m a pretty good Short Tracker, so I enjoy riding this track in general… I’m so proud of my guys. We did something massive tonight.”   

Dallas Daniels (No. 1 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07) finished third but required a good deal of luck to claim his usual spot on the podium.  

Earlier, the reigning class king engaged in a bar-banging battle with a motivated Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing KTM 790 Duke). But just as Fisher looked to have gotten the better of Daniels, he was dealt a cruel hand of mechanical misfortune with less than a minute remaining on the clock.  

Fisher’s disappointment also elevated part-timer Bronson Bauman (No. 37 Dick Ford Racing/Mission/Roof Systems Yamaha MT-07) to a hugely impressive fourth in his 2026 debut. 

Fisher’s teammate, Ben Lowe (No. 25 Rackley Racing/Roof Systems KTM 790 Duke), rounded out the top five, finishing just ahead of Aidan RoosEvans (No. 26 FRA Trust Advisors Harley-Davidson XG750R) and Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods Honda CB750 Hornet).  

Logan Mcgrane (No. 14 Schaffers MotorSports/Ryan Varnes Racing KTM 790 Duke), Jacob Lehmann (No. 16 Weirbach Racing Kawasaki Ninja 650), and Evan Renshaw (No. 95 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650) finished eighth through tenth, respectively. 

Four races into his Mission AFT SuperTwins career, Kopp continues to lead the Grand National Championship with 84 points courtesy of two wins and two runners-up. Daniels is second at 77, followed by Bauman with 62.

 

1

 

KICKER AFT Singles

Kage Tadman (No. 28 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) did it again, scoring a scintillating KICKER AFT Singles victory in the return to the scene of his shock maiden win at Ventura Raceway one year ago. 

This one was arguably even more tense than the first if possible, coming by just 0.034 seconds following a race-long showdown with reigning class champion Tom Drane (No. 1 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F).  

However, it was an on-form Jared Lowe (No. 63 Big R Racing/Vinson Construction Honda CRF450R) who actually grabbed the holeshot. 

Lowe led in the opening stages before Tadman came railing around the outside. Soon after, Drane pushed his way up the inside of Lowe, desperate to keep the Californian from running away at the front. The Australian then proceeded to apply heavy pressure, taking full advantage of the fact that Tadman’s high line kept the door open for an inside lunge throughout.   

The Estenson Racing Yamaha star finally made a go with just over a minute to go, but Tadman countered by crossing up his line and immediately reclaiming the position.  

Drane’s bike bucked and weaved as he attempted to mount another charge, but he never got quite close enough to edge ahead again. The closest he came was on the final lap, coming up a wheel short as the two stormed past the stripe.  

Tadman’s victory makes him the fourth different KICKER AFT Singles winner in four races this season. He said, “It’s been a roller coaster. I can’t thank the Turner Racing team enough for everything they do for me. We had a couple bad rounds; I’ve been struggling with some things, but we got it figured out when it mattered. Right now, this is a dream come true – again.” 

Prior to the Main, Senoia winner Brunner thought he had another win coming his way. A less-than-ideal start dropped him from realistic contention for the win, but he still managed to track down Lowe in order to collect third.  

Despite narrowly missing out on the box, Lowe equaled his career-best result in fourth.  

Tarren Santero (No. 75 Roof Systems/Vinson Construction Honda CRF450R) fought his way up to fifth after starting from the back of the pack due to earning his way via the Last Chance Qualifier.   

Chase Saathoff (No. 88 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450), who had factored into previous podium fights at Ventura, was an uncharacteristically quiet sixth. Meanwhile, Tadman’s teammate, Walker Porter (No. 10 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) came home seventh, with Justin Jones (No. 91 Fairway Ford Chevy GMC Yamaha YZ450F 450), Justin Anselmi (No. 15 Team TDR/Leblanc Family Farms Yamaha YZ450F), and  Skylar Sentell (No. 60 Hoffer Performance/Stauffer Motors KTM 450 SX-F) rounding out the top ten. 

Drane now leads Brunner, 75-66, with Tadman right there in third with 61 points following his Ventura Short Track heroics. 

 

2

 

AFT ProSport 450 

Californian Jett Katarzy (No. 17 1st Impressions Husqvarna FC450) secured a popular first-career AFT ProSport victory in front of his home fans with a wire-to-wire victory.  

The AFT ProSport 450’s West Coast debut brought out a number of new contenders to race against the established frontrunners who made the trip out to Ventura. However, none of the talented amateurs who qualified for the event by way of the 450 Road to AFT Main Event in Friday’s AMA-sanctioned Mission Foods CTR Showcase Event had anything for home-state hero Katarzy. 

Prior to Ventura, the 1st Impressions Husqvarna had twice finished inside the top five but was yet to stand on the podium. The highly rated prospect rectified that by bolting out into the lead off the line and going unchallenged from that point forward.  

“It just feels so good,” Katarzy said. ”I know I get good starts, and I knew if I got out front, I could just stay calm and hold it for the win.” 

Behind Katarzy, a frenetic, multi-rider brawl broke out for second. While a revolving collection of challengers took their shot at displacing Bayne Nantz (No. 313 Nantz Bros Racing KTM 450 SX-F) from second, no one managed to make a move stick.  

Meanwhile, Ryder Bitz-Hay (No. 14 Bitz-Hay Racing KTM 450 SX-F) finished close behind Nantz in third to up his perfect AFT ProSport 450 podium record to three-for-three. 

Adam Costan-Wood (No. 88 Turner Racing Honda CRF450R) and Kensei Matsudaira (No. 74 Team Roberts Husqvarna FC 450) registered with top-five debuts, finishing fourth and fifth, respectively.  

 

4

 

Royal Enfield Build.Train.Race. (BTR)

Emma Gottsch (No. 5 Royal Enfield/Parts Unlimited/Arai/Alpinestars) extended her 2026 Royal Enfield Build.Train.Race. win streak to three following an early back-and-forth battle with top qualifier Julia Heess (No. 13 Royal Enfield/Parts Unlimited/Arai/Alpinestars). 

Despite the determined challenge from Heess, Gottsch shook free to grab control of the race shortly before a red flag reset things. Burdened with a renewed potential for upset, Gottsch shrugged it off, got away clean, and carried on to pick up a convincing victory.  

While Gottsch and Heess went 1-2 for the third consecutive race, Hanna Brewer (No. 39 Royal Enfield/Parts Unlimited/Arai/Alpinestars) broke Madicela Rodriguez’s (No. 113 Royal Enfield/Parts Unlimited/Arai/Alpinestars) stranglehold over third by edging her to claim the final spot on the box. 

 

3

 

Next Up 

Progressive American Flat Track will round out its back-to-back California swing in Chico next Saturday, May 2, with the Silver Dollar Short Track.

Visit https://www.americanflattrack.com/events/2026/view/silver-dollar-short-track-2026 to secure your tickets today.  

 

How to Watch 

  • FloRacing  
    For those that can’t catch the live action at the track, FloRacing is the live streaming home of Progressive American Flat Track. Motorsports fans can subscribe to FloRacing to enjoy over 1,000 live motorsports events in 2026. FloSports is available by visiting https://flosports.link/AFT2026 or by downloading the FloSports app on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire and Chromecast. 

 

  • FS1 
    FOX Sports coverage of the Memphis Shades Ventura Short Track, featuring in-depth features and thrilling onboard cameras, will premiere on FS1 on Saturday, May 2, at 10:30 a.m. ET (7:30 a.m. PT). The full listing of American Flat Track’s television premieres can be found at https://www.americanflattrack.com/events-foxsports

Supercross: Results From Philadelphia, PA

Monster Energy Supercross' annual visit to Philadelphia featured intermittent rain showers throughout the race, resulting in another dramatic night of racing. Photo courtesy SMX

PHILADELPHIA  – The final East Coast stop of the 2026 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship became the biggest wild card of an already captivating season as Mother Nature became the great equalizer for Round 15 of the Monster Energy SMX World Championship inside Lincoln Financial Field. An afternoon of clear conditions and cool temperatures gave way to intermittent showers for the night show, which saturated the racetrack and made both track position and a patient approach the key to victory. Amidst the most difficult and treacherous conditions of the season, the Eastern Divisional 250SMX Class turned into a championship celebration as 18-year-old New Zealander Cole Davies navigated a chaotic Main Event to secure his fifth victory of the year and clinch his first professional title.

 

 

Ken Roczen Seizes 450SMX Points Lead with Fifth Win of the Season

 

A shortened 17 Minutes + 1 Lap 450SMX Class Main Event began with the class’ top three title contenders out front as Honda HRC Progressive’s Hunter Lawrence, Progressive Insurance Cycle Gear Suzuki’s Ken Roczen, and Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cooper Webb duked it out. The early edge went to Lawrence with the holeshot as he fended off Webb for the early lead, but Roczen then made his way from third to first just a couple minutes into the race. The lead trio then settled into their respective positions as Roczen and Lawrence inched away from Webb. Lawrence then started to pressure Roczen for the lead, as the championship rivals traded momentum. Then, with a little more than nine minutes remaining, Lawrence went down. He lost second to Webb but remounted in third, more than 20 seconds off the lead.

 
Without the pressure from Lawrence, Roczen was able to ride at his own pace and managed a comfortable margin over Webb through the heart of the Main Event, which became crucial as Roczen was faced with heavy lapped traffic throughout the entirety of the race’s second half. Webb made a final push as time ran out on the race clock and closed within a couple bike lengths of Roczen to initiate a last lap battle for the win. Roczen responded and kept Webb at bay to capture his 28th career victory by a slim margin of 2.4 seconds. Lawrence followed in a distant third on a night when just four riders finished on the lead lap.

 
Roczen’s class leading fifth win of the season vaulted him to the top of the championship standings on the heels of four wins over the past five races. It marks the first time in his decorated career that Roczen has had possession of the red plate in the second half of a championship campaign. The German native holds a four-point lead over Lawrence with two races remaining, while Webb lurks in third, 24 points back.

 

Progressive Insurance Cycle Gear Suzuki’s Ken Roczen has seized control of the 450SMX Class title fight with his fourth win in five races. Photo courtesy SMX

 

Ken Roczen – 1st Place – 450SMX Class:

“The pressure has been there for a long time, but now I’m just dealing with it on an [every] weekend basis. I just do whatever I need to keep myself calm or whatever mindset I need to be in. There’s certain weekends where you need to be more aggressive and whatnot. This was such an important race. In these conditions things can go sideways in a heartbeat. I am so pumped and proud of my crew and myself for putting all this together when it’s really important. I’m really enjoying it. Hard work pays off.”

 

Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cooper Webb settled for second, but the defending Supercross champion made a bid for victory on the final lap. Photo courtesy SMX

 

Cooper Webb – 2nd Place – 450SMX Class:

“It got crazy at the end. I just went full send. It’s a bummer to get second after riding that flawless of a race but we were pushing hard. I got close at the end, but lappers dictated some of it at the end and helped Kenny [Roczen] or hurt me, or vice versa. I felt like tonight was an opportunity I needed to make the most of and just didn’t quite pull it off. Overall, a great ride.”

 

Honda HRC Progressive’s Hunter Lawrence overcame a crash to finish third and minimize his loss of the points lead. Photo courtesy SMX

 

Hunter Lawrence – 3rd Place – 450SMX Class:

“I’ve got a little extra fuel during the week [losing the points lead]. I look forward to Denver and Salt Lake [City]. They’ve been good to me, and I like racing at altitude. Happy to get out of here in one piece. I had a few ‘oh crap’ moments out there. Damage control with that little crash, so happy with that all things considered because once it happens sometimes the train can go off the tracks. Happy to bring it home.”

 

450SMX Class Podium (left to right): Cooper Webb, Ken Roczen, and Hunter Lawrence. Photo courtesy SMX

 

 

 

 

New Zealand’s Cole Davies Prevails with Eastern Divisional 250SMX Class Championship in Philadelphia

 

The penultimate race of the Eastern Divisional 250SMX Class Championship featured shortened 12 Minutes + 1 Lap Main Event, which began with Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Seth Hammaker out front for the holeshot in front of the hometown crowd just ahead of Davies, who slotted in right behind Hammaker. Moments later, the Pennsylvania native crashed his Kawasaki, which nearly collected Davies, and dropped to the tail end of the 22-rider field. That briefly handed the top spot to MX6 Racing Kawasaki’s Derek Kelley before Davies made a pass for the lead. Davies then went down but was able to remount just ahead of Kelley and Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Daxton Bennick. A red flag for a downed rider halted the race with 7:22 remaining on the race clock, which necessitated a staggered restart.

 
When racing resumed, Davies reclaimed his spot out front while Bennick moved up to second. Behind them, the ClubMX Yamaha duo of Devin Simonson and Coty Schock battled for third. Simonson briefly held the position, but Shock made the pass as Simonson tipped over. Hammaker, meanwhile, had fought his way to the cusp of the podium in fourth and made the move around Schock to take control of third. Back out front, Davies rode flawlessly and never faced any pressure en route to an impressive, championship-clinching victory by a margin of 12.9 seconds over Bennick. Hammaker closed within striking distance of Bennick on the final lap and needed a second-place finish to extend the title fight, but went down and was forced to settle for third in a resilient come-from-behind performance.

 
Hammaker’s inability to get by Bennick became the difference maker in the championship as it gave Davies the necessary advantage to clinch the title one race early. He became the second New Zealand native to win a Supercross title, joining his mentor Ben Townley, and gave Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing a clean sweep of the divisional titles alongside Haiden Deegan in the Western Division. Moreover, Davies’ victory was the 14th for Yamaha in the 250SMX Class this season, which equals the record for a single season set by both Honda (2023) and Kawasaki (2004). Two races remain for the bLU cRU to set a new all-time standard for success.

 

Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cole Davies withstood a late-race restart to take his fifth win of the season and clinch the Eastern Divisional Championship. Photo courtesy SMX

 

Cole Davies – 1st Place – Eastern Divisional 250SMX Class Champion:

“[This championship] means everything to me and my family. We’ve sacrificed everything to come over here [and race in the U.S.]. I cannot thank them enough. All the hard work, the ups and downs, it’s all worth it now. This track was treacherous, but we got it done. A dream come true.”

 

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Daxton Bennick equaled a career-best finish with his second ever runner-up effort. Photo courtesy SMX

 

Daxton Bennick – 2nd Place – Eastern Divisional 250SMX Class:

“[That race] was tough. I rode good in my Heat Race, so I just kept that momentum going into the Main Event. I knew if I could keep my wheels off the ground as much as I could that would put me in a good spot. I’m glad to be back up on the podium.”

 

Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Seth Hammaker battled through adversity at his home race going from first, to last, to third. Photo courtesy SMX

 

Seth Hammaker – 3rd Place – Eastern Divisional 250SMX Class:

“I’m definitely bummed. I had big title hopes for this season, but I was racing a tough competitor. Congratulations to Cole [Davies] and his team. He’s been riding unreal this year. I felt like, for me, I took a step [forward] this season, even though it may not show it on the results side of things. I felt like my consistency has improved and I’ve been riding good, but nothing fell into place like I would have hoped. All in all, it was still a good season, and we’ve still got one more race to go.”

 

Eastern Divisional 250SMX Class Podium (left to right): Daxton Bennick, Cole Davies, and Seth Hammaker. Photo courtesy SMX

 

 

 

 

The 6 Minutes + 1 Lap SMX Next – Supercross AMA National Championship Main Event saw the top 18 amateur prospects battle it out in the challenging conditions for a shot at a coveted national title. The action kicked off with the Triumph Factory Racing machine of Deacon Denno out front exiting the first turn, which gave him a clear track to build a gap and assume control of the race. Behind him, Monster Energy Kawasaki Team Green’s Kade Johnson settled into a firm hold of second, while KTM Orange Brigade’s Jeremy Fappani slotted into third. The field quickly spread out as riders navigated the rain-soaked track, with Denno’s lead growing to more than a dozen seconds over the field. The newly turned 18-year-old from Texas kept his Triumph clean and on two wheels and easily completed a wire-to-wire performance by a margin of 9.3 seconds for the biggest win of his budding career. Johnson went unchallenged on the way to a runner-up finish, while Fappani did the same to round out the championship podium in third. Denno, who prevailed at Daytona in March, became the first repeat winner in SMX Next – Supercross this season and was also the only prospect to secure a top five finish at all five races.

 

Triumph Factory Racing’s Deacon Denno went wire-to-wire to capture the SMX Next – Supercross AMA National Championship. Photo courtesy SMX

 

Deacon Denno – SMX Next – Supercross AMA National Champion:

“I was just focused on the start. That’s a big part of [racing in] the mud and it’s a big part of any race. I got the rhythms clean and I felt like I rode smooth and calm, which is what you need in the mud. It feels good to make it known I can make it happen anywhere, Daytona, in the mud, wherever I want. A lot of confidence for me heading into the pros.”

 

 

The Monster Energy SMX World Championship and Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship will continue next Saturday, May 2, with Round 16 from Denver’s Empower Field at Mile High. Live comprehensive broadcast coverage will be available exclusively on Peacock, beginning at 1 p.m. ET with Race Day Live, followed by the Gate Drop at 7 p.m. ET. A special encore network presentation will air on NBC on Sunday, May 3, at 2 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:
0FansLike
0FollowersFollow
0FollowersFollow
1,620SubscribersSubscribe

Latest Posts