Make your dreams a reality by securing your registrations for Saturday, March 14 and Sunday, March 15 at Barber Motorsports Park today – they won’t last long!
Advanced riders, there’s still time to sign up! A handful of spots are open each day.
Intermediate riders, you could grab a spot if you act fast; a couple of spots are open each day!
Novice riders, you could luck out, too: there are a couple of spots left on Sunday!
LOUDON, N.H. — The 103rd Annual Loudon Classic, America’s oldest motorcycle road race, returns to New Hampshire Motor Speedway June 19–21, 2026, as the headline attraction of Laconia Motorcycle Week at NHMS.
With a $250,000 total purse, the Loudon Classic once again stands at the very top of American motorcycle road racing in 2026 — matching the famed Daytona 200’s $250,000 payout and delivering a must-watch weekend for fans while creating meaningful earning opportunities for racers.
A Purse Built for Racers: National Talent + Local Opportunity = A True Win-Win
The Loudon Classic has become a destination event for riders and teams across the country, bringing premier-level competition to New England — while still honoring a core mission: helping club racers go racing.
John Grush, Executive Director of NEMRR, said: “The Loudon Classic is designed to do two things at once: bring in talent from around the country to create a spectacular event for New England race fans — and give local racers a real shot at earning purse money that can fund the rest of their season. That’s the heartbeat of this event. It’s truly a win-win. When you build a purse that pays deep and rewards performance, you don’t just elevate one race — you elevate a whole season for a lot of racers.”
2026 Featured Pro Races & Purse Highlights (Saturday Spotlight Races)
The weekend’s headline races will again be staged as Saturday feature events during the three-day program.
Loudon Classic Main Event — $150,000 Total Purse
• Pays 32 positions deep
• $40,000 to win
• Includes a $10,000 Local Rider Bonus (paid to the top five eligible local finishers)
Pro Streetfighter — $85,000 Total Purse
• Pays 16 positions deep
• $26,000 to win
• Includes a $10,000 Local Rider Bonus (paid to the top five eligible local finishers)
Pro Thunderbike — $7,500 Total Purse
• $3,500 to win (pays five positions)
Pro 500 Superbike — $7,500 Total Purse
• $3,500 to win (pays five positions)
Event Details
What: 103rd Annual Loudon Classic Weekend
When: June 19–21, 2026
Where: New Hampshire Motor Speedway — Loudon, NH
Registration will open for all classes on Monday, March 2, 2026 at 10:00 AM EST.
The rules for each class will be posted in the Loudon Classic section on the front page of www.nemrr.com. There are QR codes at the end of the supplemental regulation sheet for each class that link to the registration page — those links will be disabled until registration opens. Entries are limited to 60 riders for the Loudon Classic and 48 riders for the Streetfighter class. For questions, riders should contact email [email protected].
Entering its eighth consecutive year of partnership, Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, is proud to announce the return of Back on Track as the Official Charity of the 2026 Progressive AFT season.
As a nonprofit focused on the recovery of injured riders, Back on Track provides vital financial aid and rehabilitation support. Their mission is a cornerstone of Progressive AFT’s commitment to rider welfare.
Throughout the 2026 season, fans can participate in trackside sweepstakes and giveaways at select events, offering the chance to win exclusive prizes while directly funding the recovery and long-term well-being of the sport’s athletes. Since its inception, Back on Track has helped numerous riders navigate the challenges of serious injuries, providing essential resources that allow them to focus on recovery and rebuilding their futures.
The 2026 Progressive American Flat Track season debuts at the Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA I & II at Daytona International Speedway on Thursday, March 5 and Friday, March 6.
First off, I want to personally thank everyone for coming out and supporting our event in my wife’s honor last month. Between what we were able to raise track-side, BRP’s gate, CaliPhotography, and the BRP Cafe, We raised north of $7000 for the RoadRacingWorld Action Fund which purchases airfence to help keep us all safe out there. I was great to feel all the love and support from this community Lily and I have made our home for 25+ years.
Our next event is the weekend of March 14-15. This time we’ll be burning laps on the Classic track at Buttonwillow. We’ll be running track configuration #13 both days, and plan on hosting a New Racer School on Sunday. ABC group format with 20 minute sessions both days.
We’ve done some things to the program to help make things better. We’ve got a sellout cap to keep the rider counts low and the quality of track-time up. We’ve made some steps with our e-waiver system which we plan to use to speed up registration process.
For this event, pre-registered riders who have pre-signed the E-WAIVER will not report to registration, but instead will bring their motorcycles straight to tech inspection.
In 1776, Adam Smith famously speculates on the concept of a free market and coins the term ‘capitalism’. Then, in 2026, the organizers of MotoGP suddenly announce that Philip Island is gone from the official roster of the tournament. Coincidence? We think not!
Yes, it’s the cruel, cold, capitalist culling of a great circuit and the hosts are not amused. In fact, Mat’s literally sick of it and has come down with an awful flu. But just like a certain racing organization, we’re a bunch of brutal bastards – so get that man in front of a mic, pronto!
And you, too, better press that play button. Because today we’re discussing what it means to lose Philip Island, why this decision was made, what precedents it sets and why it’s both aggravating and frightful.
And stick around, because we’ve got plenty of other things, too, that we need to discuss before we start racing next week. Like, what bike do we now have the highest technical expectations of? Is it possible for riders to unionize? And what is the best way to keep your temper around awful bikes? Heads up: that last one might be particularly interesting to one specific rider…can you guess who?
Please write down your guess on a piece of paper, open up a drink and press play to see if you were right…
Phillip Island delivered an exciting start to the WorldSBK season, with great battles and big moments in both the WorldSBK and WorldSSP races.
The race highlights are added below so you can catch up on all the key action.
WSBK Race 1 highlights
WSSP Race 1 highlights
WSBK Race 2 highlights
WSSP Race 2 highlights
WSBK Superpole Race highlights
More from a press release issued by World Superbike Championship:
DID YOU MISS IT? WorldSBK in 2026 kicks off at Phillip Island with dramatic visit Down Under.
Comebacks, incredible battles and more defined the beginning of WorldSBK’s 39th campaign which started in Australia
The 2026 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship got underway last weekend with the season-opening Australian Round. The stunning Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit hosted the action as the new season got underway, and there was no shortage of drama as teams and riders battled hard for every position. New names claimed rostrums in WorldSBK and WorldSSP, while the latter featured one of the best opening laps from a rider you will ever see.
KICKING OFF ON FRIDAY: Last chance to refine machines
WorldSBK’s Friday action kicked off with two Free Practice sessions, giving everyone their final chance to work on setup and make meaningful gains ahead of Saturday’s Tissot Superpole Session and Race 1. Plenty of stories developed throughout those sessions, as Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) set the pace while a couple of surprise names featured towards the top of the timesheets.
LIGHTS GO OUT ON 2026: Bulega victorious as two riders claim maiden podiums
The season got underway in earnest when Race 1 started under blue skies at Phillip Island, with Bulega converting his pole position into victory. However, two riders stood alongside him on the podium, with both celebrating their first rostrum. Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) had shown raw speed in 2025 but was often undone by mistakes, but he put this to the side in Race 1 to finish in second. Lorenzo Baldassarri (Team GoEleven) had spent two years out of WorldSBK but in his first race back in the Championship. Elsewhere, Xavi Vierge (Pata Maxus Yamaha) had a big crash at Turn 3 which dropped him out of the top nine, when he was on course to finish as the top Yamaha rider on his debut in blue. In WorldSSP, Jaume Masia (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) took victory ahead of Philipp Oettl (Feel Racing WorldSSP Team) and Oli Bayliss (PTR Triumph Factory Racing); the latter taking his first WorldSSP rostrum.
THE RAIN COMES ON SUNDAY: Big drama in Australia
If Saturday was dramatic, Sunday was another level. In the Tissot Superpole Race, Miguel Oliveira (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) had a rollercoaster race. Forced to start last after a Tissot Superpole crash on Saturday and being unable to set a lap time, he battled his way into the top nine before a technical issue dropped him to P18. He repeated the comeback in Race 2 – this time without the technical issue – as he finished P7. Bulega won the Superpole Race while Bimota celebrated their first double rostrum since Estoril in 1988. In Race 2, Montella was on course for a second podium but was caught out in wet conditions at Turn 9, crashing from second place as Bulega completed the hat-trick.
WORLD SUPERSPORT’S CRAZY RACE: Mahendra goes from P28 to P1 in just over a lap
WorldSSP Race 2 also featured rain, but to the extent where tyre choice was crucial. Aldi Mahendra (AS BLU CRU Racing Team) didn’t set a lap time in Superpole but a slick tyre choice helped him pull off one of the best opening laps (and a half) ever. He was an impressive sixth at the end of Lap 1, climbing 22 places in one lap, and led the race by Turn 4 on Lap 2. While he was unable to keep his extraordinary run going, he finished second behind teammate Albert Arenas, while Matteo Ferrari (WRP Racing) claimed third. It’s the first time since Phillip Island in 2001 where the three riders on the podium all celebrated their first rostrum, when Kevin Curtain, Adam Ferguson and Andrew Pitt took honours. These two occasions, outside the first WorldSSP race, are the only time it’s happened.
DON’T MISS OUT: Portimao is up next as WorldSPB debuts and WorldWCR’s season kicks off – get your tickets HERE.
Jacob Roulstone and Harrison Voight were the stars of the show as round one of the 2026 Penrite Australian Superbike Championship presented by Pirelli (ASBK) wound up at Phillip Island on Sunday, November 22.
Their victories in the two SW-Motech Superbike races were at opposite ends of the intensity spectrum: rookie Roulstone (Motocity Honda) catapulting from third on the final lap to win race two, and then an imperious Voight putting the field to the sword in race three.
Voight was the overall round winner with his 1-4-1 scorecard, and he’ll take a 6pt (68 to 62) lead over Roulstone into round two at Sydney Motorsport Park on March 27-28, followed by Cameron Dunker (Blue Marlin Pools Racing Yamaha, 56pts).
“I’m chuffed with how things have gone this weekend,”said Voight.“My pace was great, and in race two I got close to the lap record I set two years ago.
“I was a bit of a softie in race two in the mixed condittions, but I was also thinking about the championship. Overall, a fantastic start to the year.”
The Kawasaki Supersport/Supersport Next Gen and Race and Road Supersport 300 classes also concluded their race one programs at Phillip Island today, with Olly Simpson (DesmoSport Ducati) and Tara Morrison (Kawasaki) the victors – Simpson’s by just millimetres over Tom Toparis (Stop and Seal Ducati) in a grandstand finish.
The SW-Motech Superbike top three: (L to R) Roulstone, Dunker and Voight. Photo courtesy ASBK
SW-MOTECH SUPERBIKE
Light drizzle played its part in both 11-lap SW-Motech Superbike races today – at the start of this morning’s and at the tail end of the second.
After riders flirted with wets in the first, slicks were hastily fitted after the sighting lap, and it was defending champion Josh Waters (McMartin Racing Ducati) who got the best of the start as he attempted to win an amazing 21st Superbike race on at Phillip Island.
He led until the final lap, with Glenn Allerton (Superbike Advocates Racing Ducati) applying the initial pressure before Waters was swamped by Dunker (turn two) and Roulstone (turn four) on the final lap.
Roulstone then performed a slick move on Dunker after the exit of turn 10 to win his maiden ASBK Superbike race in just his second start.
Waters held on for third ahead of Voight, Allerton, Anthony West (DesmoSport Ducati), Mike Jones (Yamaha Racing Team) and Cru Halliday (Stop and Seal Ducati).
Josh Waters (1) leading Glenn Allerton (14) and Cameron Dunker (3) at Phillip Island. Photo courtesy ASBK.
Voight was unstoppable in race two, breaking ranks from the start without even allowing the pack to place a modicum of pressure on him.
And once he reeled off a searing 1:30.855 on lap three – just shy of his 1:30.790 circuit benchmark – the issue was beyond doubt.
After building such a huge gap, he had the scope to keep his powder dry as the drizzle hit in the final few laps. It was Voight’s third Superbike win at Phillip Island in just seven starts.
Meanwhile, there was plenty of jockeying going on behind with Roulstone, West, Jonathan Nahlous (Yamaha Racing Team) and Waters all spending time in the top three.
Roulstone ran off on lap eight to fall back to seventh, but he rallied to finish the race in fourth behind Voight, Nahlous and Dunker.
West was fifth from Waters, Allerton and Jack Favelle (Addicted to Track Yamaha).
After round one of five, Waters is fourth in the standings on 50pts from Nahlous (47pts), West (45pts), Allerton (42pts) and Jones (42pts).
KAWASAKI SUPERSPORT AND SUPERSPORT NEXT GEN
The final Kawasaki Supersport/Superport Next Gen race was declared wet, but it was like a dry affair as the leading riders put on their combative faces from the outset of the 10-lapper.
And what an epic finish, with Olly Simpson (DesmoSport) drafting past fellow Ducati rider Tom Toparis (Stop and Seal) at the death knell to win by just 0.001 seconds.
About 30 seconds earlier, Simpson looked to have scuppered his chances of winning when he nearly crashed at turn nine, with Toparis immediately seizing his opportunity to hit the lead.
But Simpson wasn’t done, and he quickly regrouped to score a pulsating victory – his second of the weekend.
Tom Edwards (BCperformance Kawasaki) was only a whisker behind in third from early race leader Jake Farnsworth (Yamaha), Hayden Nelson (BCperformance Kawasaki), Will Nassif (Gow Racing Yamaha), race two winner Roberto Tamburini (Addicted to Track Yamaha) and rookie Ghage Plowman (Yamaha).
After round one, Tamburini leads the Supersport class on 69pts from Valentino Knezovic (Addicted to Track Yamaha, 54pts) and Scott Nicholson (TeamBWR Yamaha, 39pts), and in Supersport Next Gen it’s Simpson (70pts) from Edwards (61pts) and Nelson (56pts).
Race and Road Supersport 300 race start at Phillip Island. Photo courtesy ASBK.
Morning drizzle provided Sketchy conditions for the final Race and Road Supersport 300 battle – but that was only of minor nuisance value for Tara Morrison (Kawasaki) who romped to a three-second start to finish victory in the shortened four-lapper.
It was the South Aussie’s third win at Phillip Island in the last nine races, as she leapfrogged up to third in the Supersport 300 standings on 52pts ahead of round two at Sydney Motorsport Park on March 27-28. Tyler King (Kawasaki, 55pts) leads the battle of the fast-twitch brigade from Jordy Simpson (Yamaha, 54pts).
Lincoln Knight (Yamaha) was second in race three from Simpson – completing a trio of third places for the reigning No. 2 – with Phoenix O’Brien (Yamaha), Tom Nicolson (Kawasaki) and Jake Senior (Yamaha) in positions 4-6 among the 27 finishers.
Nauta and King, who won races one and two respectively, were well back in 18th and 11th respectively.
Nauta (48pts) is fifth in the standings, behind O’Brien (49pts) and ahead of Senior (45pts).
Tara Morrison (95) at Phillip Island. Photo courtesy ASBK.
For more information on the 2026 Penrite Australian Superbike Championship presented by Pirelli:
Buriram Test: Bezzecchi beats lap record to lead Ogura in Thailand.
Aprilia shine as pre-season concludes, with Marc Marquez edged down to third heading into Thai GP week.
Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) was under lap record pace on the final day of 2026 pre-season, setting a 1’28.668 at Buriram to close out testing with the fastest ever lap of the venue, be it the official race weekend record or not. Next up it’s Ai Ogura putting Trackhouse MotoGP Team into second, 0.097 off ‘Bez’, with the top three completed by Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) despite a third tumble in two days for the #93. Rider ok. With such a show of force from Aprilia and plenty to write home about, we can’t wait for next weekend. Here’s how testing concluded!
Jorge Martin (89) at Buriram. Photo courtesy MotoGP
Aprilia Racing and Trackhouse MotoGP Team
Pre-season is done for Aprilia and it may be their best yet. Bezzecchi undertook a long run, led for most of the afternoon before firing in an all-time lap record in the final 15 minutes. A 1’28.668 is a major benchmark ahead of next weekend’s Grand Prix and with an average lap time of 1’30.454 after 20 laps, is the #72 in the strongest position for 2026? Both Bezzecchi and teammate Jorge Martin trialled rear aero variations, perhaps to use both at certain points throughout the year. It was P8 for Martin as the 2024 World Champion returns in earnest, and his reports on how he feels getting back to it were overwhelmingly positive.
Meanwhile, MotoGP Team pairing Ai Ogura and Raul Fernandez checked out some back-to-back testing of Aprilia’s rear aero too. Both were up inside the top ten on the combined times with less than an hour and a half of pre-season to go but the gauntlet was laid down in the final 30 minutes in Ogura’s time attack, 0.097s from Bezzecchi in P2. We make that most likely the third ever fastest lap of the track. Fernandez was 11th but all four Aprilias look competitive as 2026 looms.
Francesco Bagnaia (63) at Buriram. Photo courtesy MotoGP
Ducati Lenovo Team, BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP and Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team
It’s felt like the great debate of MotoGP’s 2026 pre-season: 2024 aero vs 2025 aero at Ducati. Straight out the box this morning having been second on day one, Marc Marquez topped the morning session and was spotted with the older of the aero variations, along with his teammate Francesco Bagnaia. It was a slow start for the reigning Champion in the afternoon as illness plagues him and when he did go out, he crashed at Turn 3 – but rider OK. Pecco was in great form, knocking eight tenths off his time from day one, and once Marquez headed back out too, he finished third and only just pipped Bagnaia in fourth.
If there was Tower of Champions for testing, it’d have gone to Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP). Comfortably clear in Malaysia, Thailand welcomed him to the top on day one and he was 5th on day two. He was also with the 2024 aero package as he follows the factory team suit. It perhaps didn’t conclude in the best way for the #73, who fell at Turn 9 but was all OK and did head back out. Stand-in teammate Michele Pirro improved his time and finished in 22nd.
Keeping up their solid pre-season, Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team’s Franco Morbidelli and Fabio Di Giannantonio worked methodically on the final day of testing. Morbidelli left it late to go out in the afternoon but when he did, he finished seventh and whilst over one lap he’s quick, race pace may not be there. It wasn’t all straightforward for ‘Diggia’, with the #49 experiencing tech problems in the morning before finishing in ninth after setting his fastest lap in the last half an hour during his time attack. In contrary to Morbidelli, Di Giannantonio has strong pace but he suffered over one lap during the Buriram test.
Pedro Acosta (37) at Buriram. Photo courtesy MotoGP
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing and Red Bull KTM Tech3
Completing the top six and making it three manufacturers towards the sharp end of the order, Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) ends the test much higher up than Day 1. Eight tenths quicker on Sunday as well and getting a Grand Prix simulation bagged, hard yards in high heat brought positivity. For teammate Brad Binder, the South African struggled but did put in a fast lap late on to move up to P12 with encouraging improvements over one lap coming at the end.
Having been the best KTM on day one, Maverick Viñales didn’t improve in outright one lap speed on Sunday, taking P15 overall. He seems to be preferring the 2025 package, whereas the other three RC-16s are on the latest spec. Teammate Enea Bastianini likewise didn’t leap up the timesheets although he did improve, taking a tenth or so off his time from the opening day. But that’s one-lap speed and racing is a far more complex game, so KTM will be interesting to watch come lights out.
Joan Mir (36) at Buriram. Photo courtesy MotoGP
Honda HRC Castrol, CASTROL Honda LCR and Pro Honda LCR
It was a quieter day for Honda on Day 2, but the positivity continues and they end the test in the top ten. Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol) rocketed himself up into P10 by the final chequered flag of the day whilst Luca Marini, who was the fastest Honda for the majority of the day, ultimately took 13th. The pair were just under 0.8s off the pace of Bezzecchi at the top but head into 2026 in a strong position.
Elsewhere for the Japanese manufacturer, Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR) spun some laps with Diogo Moreira (Pro Honda LCR) as they finished 14th and 19th respectively. Zarco worked on consistently controlling of the bike from one lap to another whilst Moreira’s goals were to learn from his rivals – where better to start than your teammate?
Fabio Quartararo (20) at Buriram. Photo courtesy MotoGP.
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP and Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP
For Yamaha, Jack Miller (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP) did a long run before lunch and set an average lap time in the low 1’32s before going all-out for a time attack in the closing ten minutes. The Aussie got Yamaha into the 1’29s with a 1’29.701. Along with Grand Prix simulations, he and rookie teammate Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP had on Saturday. For Razgatlioglu, his final day didn’t start well with technical issues and in the end, the Turkish rider just missed out getting into the 1’30s.
Whilst it’s been far from the ideal start to 2026, Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) was their second-fastest rider on day two of testing in Thailand and able to join Miller in the 1’29s with just 0.029s splitting them both. Teammate Alex Rins was able to improve too and ended the test with his one-lap blast putting him around half a second from Miller. The all-new V4-powered Yamaha YZR-M1 is just that – all new – so they’ll be looking to move further and further forward as the first race weekend of the season approaches.
That’s next weekend, so get ready and strap in for the PT Grand Prix of Thailand. The first pole, Tissot Sprint win and Grand Prix victory of the year are soon on offer – and pre-season has revealed plenty of storylines set to unfold. Don’t miss it!
More from a press release issued by BK8 Gresini Racing:
Alex closes pre-season with a top5, Pirro back to the family.
Alex Marquez (73) at Buriram. Photo courtesy Gresini Team
Alex Marquez 5th – 1’28.961 (+0.293s): “Aside from the crash, which happened during the race simulation, it was a positive test. Yesterday we had the fastest time, today we were very close to the top. We’re not at 10/10 yet, but compared to yesterday we’ve already made a big step forward in confidence with the bike. Compared to last year, I feel more ready to fight for important results, but this year there will be many riders at top level and it will be a great challenge. I don’t feel pressure, I feel confidence and I can’t wait to start.”
Crash in FP4 – Turn 9 – Rider OK
Michele Pirro (51) at Buriram. Photo courtesy Gresini Team
Michele Pirro 22nd – 1’31.777 (+3.109s): “Obviously, I’m sorry to be here as a replacement for an injured rider. That said, we worked hard over these two days; the track is new to me and I didn’t have the chance to push in a time attack. In any case, I’m very happy to be back with Team Gresini after so many years. We’ll work throughout the weekend to help Ducati and Team Gresini.”
More from a press release issued by Pertamina Enduro VR46 Team:
The Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team ends the 2026 pre-season with confidence.
Positive feelings for Franco Morbidelli and Fabio Di Giannantonio, who end the official MotoGP winter test in Thailand in seventh and ninth place respectively in the combined classification over the two days.
At the Chang International Circuit, the official MotoGP winter tests came to an end, and the Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team also completed Day 2 with positive feelings and confidence ahead of the start of the 2026 season. Franco Morbidelli finished the final day of testing in seventh place, while Fabio Di Giannantonio secured ninth place.
Franco Morbidelli (21) and Fabio Di Giannantonio (49) at Buriram. Photo courtesy VR46
It was a positive day for Morbidelli, who continued on Day 2 the work started on the first day of testing. Franco confirmed the good feeling with his Ducati Desmosedici GP, as shown by his time attack. On the second day of testing, the Italian-Brazilian rider improved his best reference time compared to Day 1. Morbidelli completed 61 laps overall, with a best laptime of 1’29”071, which placed him seventh both in the combined classification for the day and in the overall classification across the two days of testing.
Di Giannantonio also completed a positive Day 2, during which he carried out a race simulation with encouraging feedback. Fabio continued working on the updates to his Ducati Desmosedici GP and proved to be competitive in the time attack as well – in the afternoon he topped the timesheets, finishing the session in the Top3. The rider from Rome – who improved his laptime both from Day 1 to Day 2 and from the morning to the afternoon session – completed 68 laps overall. His fastest laptime was 1’29”173, which placed him ninth in both today’s combined classification and the overall classification across the two days of testing.
With the Buriram tests, the MotoGP winter comes to an end, and the Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team will be back on track in a few days for the Thailand Grand Prix, which will kick off the 2026 season from February 27th to March 1st.
Fabio Di Giannantonio (49) at Buriram. Photo courtesy VR46
Fabio Di Giannantonio: “Long testing days! And this one in Buriram was the hardest of my life because I tried so many things. But I am very happy about that, because we worked very well with the team, we could do everything we had in mind and in our work plan. In terms of speed, it wasn’t our best test because we tried so many things and it was difficult to find the perfect lap and rhythm. But I am happy with the base setup for the first race, it seems that the final one is the same as Sepang, and it’s a huge step. We arrive to the first race with a lot of clear ideas, feeling confident and great with the team. I’m fully confident that we can do a good job with the package we have. We are ready for the season!”
Franco Morbidelli (21) at Buriram. Photo courtesy VR46
Franco Morbidelli: “It was a positive pre-season: we worked very well during these five days of testing; we cleared out many things. In this Buriram test, we understood few more things about the new bike, that is a bit smoother, quicker and faster on the straight, it gives a better comfort. We were able to improve the feeling step by step throughout the days. On this track, I was four tenths quicker than last year, that is positive. For the start of the season, we can be competitive, we had a good speed, even though the rivals were fast. But we are there.”
More from a press release issued by Honda HRC Castrol:
Honda HRC Castrol conclude pre-season testing in Thailand.
Just as quickly as it began, Joan Mir and Luca Marini have wrapped up the Buriram Test and now all attentions turn to the opening race of 2026. Honda HRC looking to make the most of the few days between the test and the race for final improvements.
Hot and humid conditions continued steadily throughout the second day of testing in Buriram, a final chance to acclimatise before the first race of the year. These conditions allowed the Honda HRC Castrol squad to run through a comprehensive testing plan to put everything in place for the 2026 season.
Concluding the Buriram Test as the tenth fastest rider on the second day and just over half a second off the quickest rider of the day, Joan Mir continued his strong form on the Honda RC213V. Top Honda throughout the Buriram Test, the 2020 World Champion was hoping for some more overall speed after a very competitive end to 2025 and a positive first test in Sepang but he remains confident Honda HRC’s engineers will find a few cards up their sleeves before the lights go out.
Diligently working until the very last moment, Luca Marini completed the last day of the last test in 13th and less than two tenths off his Honda HRC Castrol teammate. Throughout both the Sepang and Buriram Tests, the #10 has been able to post competitive times and consistently be within a second of the fastest rider. Times will be tight when the lights go out on Saturday and Sunday, but the Italian is confident in picking up where he left off and challenging for the top positions.
It’s time to put our learnings to the test as the newest MotoGP World Championship season is set to begin on Friday, February 27 at the Chang International Circuit when the bikes roll out for Free Practice 1.
Joan Mir (36) at Buriram. Photo courtesy Honda HRC.
Joan Mir: “We have had a pre-season with a lot of potential, but of course you’re always wanting more as a rider. This track for us, but especially me, has been more difficult than the last few circuits. The grip wasn’t quite there for us, and it was there for some other guys, so we spent a lot of the test playing with the geometry of the bike. There are a couple of options with the direction of the bike to try and make ourselves more competitive. We have a few days for everyone to find a couple more solutions before we go racing, so let’s make the most of it and be competitive when the racing starts.”
Luca Marini (10) at Buriram. Photo courtesy Honda HRC
Luca Marini: “The bike has improved a lot with the engine, the aero and the braking phase and we have to be pleased with this. Everyone has worked hard over the winter and these two tests and I know they will keep working hard throughout the year. We need to stay focused on the things we are missing to go faster, just a little more time to improve these parts. I am looking forward to the race to see where everyone really is, Qualifying will be very important in this first race so we need to prepare well for it. I think our potential is easily in the top seven, maybe even more if we can find a few things with the bike in these next few days.”
More from a press release issued by KTM Tech3:
Final Preparations Complete: Red Bull KTM Tech3 set for 2026 MotoGP™ season opener.
Red Bull KTM Tech3 head into the opening round of the 2026 MotoGP World Championship with valuable mileage and data secured, logging a combined total of 248 laps across the two-day pre-season test at the Chang International Circuit in Buriram, Thailand.
The intensive programme allowed Maverick Viñales and Enea Bastianini to further refine their KTM RC16 machines ahead of next week’s Thailand Grand Prix at the same venue.
Following a positive opening test in Sepang, the team arrived in Buriram with a comprehensive schedule of test items. Working across both sides of the garage, the focus centred on optimising base set-up, validating components introduced in Malaysia, and consolidating key configuration directions for the season opener.
On day one, Viñales set the eighth fastest time after a late improvement on his final run, while Bastianini concluded the session in 16th as he continued to build confidence with his race package at the 4.554km circuit.
The second and final day of running saw the riders complete race simulations alongside dedicated Time Attack laps, as the team worked through its final race-weekend configurations, building a clearer picture of its race package ahead of the first round. Viñales concluded the day in P14, with Bastianini in P18.
With the pre-season programme now complete, Red Bull KTM Tech3 conclude the Buriram Test with Viñales 15th overall and Bastianini 18th. The team will now focus on analysing the data gathered across all five days of winter testing, with attention turning to the opening race of the 2026 MotoGP season.
Maverick Viñales (12) at Buriram. Photo courtesy KTM Tech3.
Maverick Viñales:“It was a busy test because we needed to confirm many items and make sure we have the right direction. On the second day we concentrated a lot on the race simulations and recovered important information for both the Sprint and the full race distance. We weren’t able to put it all together for Time Attack today, so I couldn’t put in a representative lap, but the Sprint simulation felt quite good and I was consistent. For the longer distance we still need to improve the balance of the bike and tyre management, but we now have a clear direction. Physically I feel strong — I completed a full race distance and a Sprint run without any issues, so that’s a big positive heading into the first weekend.”
Enea Bastianini (23) at Buriram. Photo courtesy KTM Tech3.
Enea Bastianini:“To be honest, we have to take some positives and some negatives from this test, but we still need to improve in several areas. We tried different set-ups over the two days to understand where we are losing time, and the new chassis at the end of the test was a good solution for me. I have more references compared to last year, which helps, but we need to stay focused and analyse everything carefully before the race. I will be working hard over the next few days and the goal now is to put everything together next weekend.”
Nicolas Goyon, Team Mananger:“The Buriram test marks the end of an intensive winter preparation for us. We know that this is a circuit that doesn’t necessarily suit our bike that well, but we used the time on track efficiently to make positive steps forward. Over these two days we confirmed the configurations for both riders — Maverick completed a full race simulation and Sprint run with different set-ups, which gave us a clear understanding of the direction to take. On Enea’s side, he used the time to evaluate several combinations and found a better package towards the end of the test. The outright positions are not the full picture of the work completed, but the important thing is that we now have a lot of data we can analyse and make final changes to the bike before heading into the first race. Job done for the winter — now the championship begins.”
More from a press release issued by CASTROL HONDA LCR:
Castrol Honda LCR rider Johann Zarco has completed the second and final day of testing at the Buriram Circuit, finishing 14th on the combined standings.
The Frenchman and his crew have wrapped up the Buriram Test with improved initial feelings on the bike and have found adjustments that will help deliver solid performance.
In the afternoon, Zarco completed a race simulation and shared positive feedback.
Having gathered valuable data and made effective changes, and after 157 useful laps, both Zarco and his crew are now ready for the first Grand Prix of the 2026 season, scheduled for next week here in Thailand.
Johann Zarco (5) at Buriram. Photo courtesy Honda LCR.
Johann Zarco 14th – (1’29.467):“We have a much clearer path now. From the start of the test, the bike showed great potential, although I initially struggled to ride smoothly and feel comfortable. Today we found some solutions that helped me, and it feels great to finish like this. I can’t wait to start the Grand Prix. We still have a few days to prepare and be ready, because with this bike we can achieve strong results this year. We’ll see!”
More from a press release issued by Prima Pramac Yamaha:
Long-run focus for Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP on final day of Sepang testing.
A productive final day in Sepang for Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP, with both riders focusing on longer runs throughout the session. While the new project still requires a steep learning curve, clear progress and improvements were visible in every outing, allowing the team to head to next week‘s season opener with confidence.
Gino Borsoi – Team Manager:“All in all, it was an interesting day and we‘re particularly pleased for Jack, who set a good time. We tried many different solutions and completed several long runs, and the race pace is encouraging. We know we are still missing something, but we‘re satisfied with the level we‘ve reached with the package we currently have. We‘ll use the race weekend to continue improving the set-up. We‘ve closed the gap to the front group, and what makes me happiest is that Jack gave us very positive feedback about the bike‘s behaviour. As for Toprak, we were able to narrow down our working direction and better understand what works and what doesn‘t. Even though many people expect a big result from him straight away, we know he needs time to adapt and learn, and we also need to fully understand his requirements. At the end of the day, I saw him optimistic.”
Jack Miller (43) at Buriram. Photo courtesy Prima Pramac Yamaha.
Jack Miller:“Today was busy and tough — I‘ll definitely sleep well tonight. We completed two long runs of around 20 laps each, and that‘s part of the process when you‘re working with a new motorcycle, trying to understand it and develop it. We know there are clear areas we need to improve, but overall I feel good on the bike and I can feel it getting better step by step. That‘s encouraging, and I‘m looking forward to going racing. We‘re aware that this track is a challenging one for us, especially with the long straights, but we have a clear plan for the first updates and everyone is pushing hard. I‘m pushing the guys, and at the same time trying to give them the most precise feedback possible to shorten the development process. Handling-wise I feel comfortable, and I firmly believe the engineers are doing everything they can. Considering this bike was basically built six months ago, being around a second off on a single lap shows we‘re moving in the right direction.”
Toprak Razgatlıoğlu (07) at Buriram. Photo courtesy Prima Pramac Yamaha.
Toprak Razgatlıoğlu:“Today my focus was on race simulation work and also on riding behind Jack. I think I understood much more about the bike and I‘m starting to understand these tyres better as well. The more I ride, the more comfortable I feel. I know I still have a lot to improve, also mentally. When I was riding behind Jack and saw how much he leaned on the front tyre, I was sure he was going to crash. But then I saw how smoothly he carried the corner, and I realised it‘s my mind that needs to adapt and trust these tyres more. I was able to do six or seven laps on the same set of tyres with consistent lap times, which is positive. I‘m looking forward to continuing this learning process.”
More from a press release issued by Pro Honda LCR:
Pro Honda LCR rider Diogo Moreira has completed a positive and productive second and final day of testing at the Buriram Circuit, finishing 19th on the combined standings.
From the early laps this morning, Moreira posted a strong lap time, just one second off the top, demonstrating both speed and adaptability to the bike.
In the afternoon, the Brazilian rider and his crew made solid progress, completing a race simulation with positive feedback and notable improvements.
With a wealth of data and high motivation, and after 148 laps, Moreira and the Pro Honda LCR team wrap up the Buriram Test and are now prepared for the first Grand Prix of the 2026 season, scheduled for next week here in Thailand.
Diogo Moreira (11) at Buriram. Photo courtesy Pro Honda LCR
Diogo Moreira 19th – (1’29.920):“I’m really happy with how the test went. We’ve made significant progress since yesterday and are almost ready to kick off the season! There’s still work to be done, but we’re much closer now. The team and I have done a great job together, and I want to thank them for their support, they give me a lot of confidence, and we have great communication. In terms of pace, we still have room to improve, and I’m excited to get started at the Grand Prix next week.”
More from a press release issued by Monster Energy Yamaha:
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Complete 2026 Preseason Testing in Thailand.
The Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team concluded their 2026 preseason testing programme on Day 2 of the Buriram MotoGP Official Test. Riders Fabio Quartararo and Álex Rins wrapped up the day in 17th and 20th place respectively in the Day 2 and overall Buriram Test rankings.
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP’s Fabio Quartararo and Álex Rins returned to the Chang International Circuit today for the final day of 2026 preseason testing. They completed their testing schedules and took 17th and 20th place respectively in the Day 2 and the combined Buriram MotoGP Official Test results.
With the 2026 MotoGP season due to start in one week’s time, the teammates made the most of today’s two riding sessions (Session 1 from 10:00-13:00 GMT +7 and Session 2 from 13:20-17:30) and worked diligently to find a good base set-up.
Quartararo got another 55 laps in on Day 2. He clocked a 1’30.206s in the morning session, which had him take 17th place in the Session 1 results. In the afternoon, he dipped under the 1’30s mark. His 1’29.701s, set in the final stages, had him rank 9th in the Session 2 results and 17th in the combined Day 2 rankings, 1.033s off today’s top time.
Rins completed 54 laps on Day 2. His 1’30.234s best morning time put him in 18th position in the Session-1 timesheets. He wrapped up Session 2 in 16th place with a 1’30.122s. This time has the Spaniard rank 20th in today’s overall classifications, 1.454s from the fastest rider.
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP will be back in action at the Chang track from 27 February – 1 March to kick off the 2026 MotoGP season with the Grand Prix of Thailand.
Massimo Meregalli:“These last two days have been a bit tougher than the previous test days in Sepang, but we got some good information. We are still at the beginning of this new project, and ups and downs are a part of the process. Up to this test, we had spent all our time on evaluating components. Here, we started working on the set-ups for the first time. We discovered some limits, but also some opportunities. The riders all have their own way of describing things, but they are all giving the same feedback – this is very important for us. This gives us a clear direction to work towards, and we believe we will be able to gradually improve the performance throughout the season.”
Fabio Quartararo (20) at Buriram. Photo courtesy Yamaha.
Fabio Quartararo:“We are in the process of figuring out how the new bike works compared to the previous one. We need a bit more time. Hopefully, we will make more steps in the coming months. In terms of pace, we still need to improve. We will work hard on this. My finger is not fully healed yet at the moment, but I will be fine for the first race.”
Alex Rins (42) at Buriram. Photo courtesy Yamaha.
Alex Rins:“The test and the preseason have been completed. We need to keep working. I tried to give my best feedback to the engineers to improve the bike. Physically, I’m feeling super strong. I did a really good preseason in terms of the gym, so I’m ready for the season.”
ARLINGTON, Texas – The seventh round of the 2026 Monster Energy SMX World Championship signified the annual visit of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship to the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex for Military Appreciation Night inside AT&T Stadium. A captivating night of racing produced a pair of first-time winners, as 450SMX Class points leader Hunter Lawrence finally seized control of the spotlight with an impressive breakthrough victory for Honda HRC Progressive. The Australian outlasted each of his championship rivals to assert his hold of the red plate.
Hunter Lawrence Breaks Through for First Career Monster Energy Supercross Victory on Night of Firsts in Arlington.
The 450SMX Class Main Event started with the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing machine of Cooper Webb and the Progressive Insurance Cycle Gear Suzuki of Ken Roczen side-by-side exiting the first turn, as Webb was able to edge out Roczen for the holeshot only to give up the lead to the German as they fought for position on the opening lap. Lawrence slotted behind them into third, while Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Eli Tomac started outside the top 10 in 11th place. Roczen was able to keep Webb at bay and grabbed hold of the race lead. Soon the lead trio settled in while Tomac made an incredible charge up to fourth within the first couple laps to set the stage for a thrilling fight for victory. As Webb pursued Roczen he made a small bobble, which allowed Lawrence to pass for third. Shortly thereafter, Lawrence surged onto Roczen’s rear fender and applied pressure for the lead with about 13 minutes to go, which allowed the top four to move within two seconds of one another. Roczen withstood the attack and the top four once again settled in through the middle of the 20 Minute + 1 Lap race.
As the race approached its final six minutes the action picked up once more as Lawrence mounted another attack and got alongside Roczen in the whoops, only to be halted by a slower rider. Lawrence didn’t relent and made a pass stick moments later. Webb then got by Roczen for second, only to have Tomac surge by both Roczen and Webb to move from fourth to second. Webb was forced off the track in the process, which allowed Roczen to reclaim third. However, Webb made another pass to regain podium position.
Lawrence opened up a healthy lead with his pass on Roczen and was forced to deal with a brief push from Tomac with two minutes to go. Lawrence responded and carried on to a long-awaited victory by 2.8 seconds over Tomac, with Webb in third and Roczen fourth.
Lawrence’s win came in his 26th premier class start, inside the same venue of his first 250SMX Class victory during the 2021 season. He became the season’s fifth different winner in seven races and moved out to a four-point lead over Tomac. Webb is third, 16 points out of the lead, with Roczen fourth, 18 points back.
After four runner-up finishes in the first six races, Honda HRC Progressive’s Hunter Lawrence broke through for his first premier class victory. Photo courtesy SMX
Hunter Lawrence – 1st Place – 450SMX Class:
“It’s cool, but we’ve got a lot of racing left. I’m happy to tick that little box. It’s a huge thank you to my team and everyone that’s around me. We’ve got an amazing group and that’s really the most valuable thing in my program. It takes a whole village to move mountains.
“Even when you get a sixth place it’s really tough, but man how cool it was racing against all those boys. Me and Kenny [Roczen] had some awesome back-and-forth, Coop [Webb] was right there, Eli [Tomac] was right there. It’s pretty cool racing with the sport’s legends. Awesome.”
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Eli Tomac overcame a start outside the top 10 to bring home a hard-fought second place finish. Photo courtesy SMX.
Eli Tomac – 2nd Place – 450SMX Class:
“[The first lap] absolutely saved my race. I was happy to make some moves there and just happened to find openings that allowed me to pass two or three guys at a time. Somehow by Lap 2 or 3 I could see the front of the race and knew I was okay. What a difficult track tonight. I fought to the end as much as I could. Second was all we had tonight.”
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cooper Webb grabbed the holeshot and stayed in the thick of the fight for victory en route to a third place result. Photo courtesy SMX.
Cooper Webb – 3rd Place – 450SMX Class:
“It was a fun race, for sure, but I’m honestly a little bummed. I was pretty nice and should have been more aggressive with [Roczen] and maybe gotten the pass [for the lead] earlier. It was a sick race with all of us four bunched up there. I tried to make the pass on [Roczen for second] and Eli [Tomac] ended up getting me and ran me off the track, then Kenny got back by me. I kind of lost the tow of [the leaders]. I’m bummed at myself. I saw a few openings I should have taken and I didn’t. I was too patient tonight. Overall, we’ll take it.”
450SMX Class Podium (left to right): Eli Tomac, Hunter Lawrence, and Cooper Webb. Photo courtesy SMX.
Pierce Brown Opens Eastern Divisional 250SMX Class with Maiden Win.
The anticipated opening race of the Eastern Divisional 250SX Class Championship was equally exciting and got underway with Honda HRC Progressive’s Jo Shimoda out front for the holeshot in his first race since he underwent surgery in November to repair two fractured and displaced vertebrae in his neck and upper back. The reigning 250SMX World Champion from Japan was followed by Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Pierce Brown and Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Daxton Bennick, while Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cole Davies, a title favorite, started deep inside the top 20 after he fell in the first turn and collected multiple contenders.
Shimoda sprinted out to a lead of more than three seconds and stabilized his advantage through the opening portion of the race until an unexpected sequence changed the complexion of the race. Red medical lights were displayed as Shimoda approached the finish line, which required him to not jump any obstacle until cleared. As he rolled through to begin the next lap, both Brown and Bennick completed the obstacles at normal race pace, with no apparent lights displayed, which allowed Brown to not only overcome the deficit but also make the pass for the lead. Shimoda resumed full pace in second and fought back but was unable to get by Brown as Bennick pursued from third. Shimoda’s pursuit of Brown and the lead continued throughout the remainder of the 15 Minute + 1 Lap race and while the Honda rider appeared to be faster at times, he was unable to attempt a pass. With less than one minute to go Shimoda made one final push and dove under Brown with an inside line but was unable to sustain the momentum, which allowed Brown to pull away to victory.
Brown took the checkered flag by 2.4 seconds over Shimoda, with Bennick right behind in third. Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Seth Hammaker, who was involved in the first-turn incident with Davies, finished fourth, while Davies impressed with a resilient come-from-behind fifth place result. For Brown, it not only signified his first Supercross victory in 33 starts, but it also came one year after he crashed out of the lead of the 2025 Eastern Divisional opener and suffered a fractured vertebra, which sidelined for the remainder of the year.
Brown’s win has put him atop the Eastern Divisional standings, with a three-point lead over Shimoda and a five-point advantage over Bennick. It will mark the first time Brown has ever carried the red plate.
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Pierce Brown captured an emotional first career Supercross win to open the Eastern Divisional Championship. Photo courtesy SMX.
Pierce Brown – 1st Place – Eastern Divisional 250SMX Class:
“I don’t even know where to start. There were so many nights where I didn’t think this would be possible. Missing a year, especially with the injury I had, it’s pretty degrading. It’s a scary thing to come back from and there were a lot of doubts. I’m just thankful I never stopped fighting. Every day this offseason we put our best foot forward. Wow. This is…amazing.”
An anticipated return to action from injury for Honda HRC Progressive’s Jo Shimoda resulted in a holeshot, multiple laps led, and a runner-up finish. Photo courtesy SMX.
Jo Shimoda – 2nd Place – Eastern Divisional 250SMX Class:
“I saw the red [medical] light come on and you’re not supposed to jump that, so I don’t know what happened. We’ll review it. Overall, it was a good one for me. I felt rusty all day, to be honest, but my adrenaline kicked in for the race. It’s a good way to start.”
Daxton Bennick captured a third career podium finish in his debut race with Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing. Photo courtesy SMX.
Daxton Bennick – 3rd Place – Eastern Divisional 250SMX Class:
“I turned a pretty bad day into a good day. I thought if I could be top five [in the main event] that’d be good for me. I struggled all day, but I’m pumped to come away with a podium. I dug deep in that race. We’ll keep digging this week and come out swinging next weekend.”
Eastern Divisional 250SMX Class Podium (left to right): Jo Shimoda, Pierce Brown, and Daxton Bennick. Photo courtesy SMX.
The Monster Energy SMX World Championship and Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship will continue next Saturday, February 28, for the eighth race of the season from legendary Daytona International Speedway and the 56th running of the Daytona Supercross in Florida. Live broadcast coverage on Peacock will begin at 1 p.m. ET with Race Day Live, followed by the Gate Drop at 7 p.m. ET. Additionally, a domestic Spanish language broadcast is available on Pea cock 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:
Nicolo Bulega won the World Superbike Race Two Sunday afternoon at rainy Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, in Australia. Riding his Aruba.it Racing Ducati Panigale V4R, the Italian won the 22-lap race by 11.336 seconds.
Axel Bassani was the runner-up on his Bimota by Kawasaki KB998 Rimini, and Alvaro Bautista was third on his Barni Spark Racing Ducati Panigale V4R.
Danilo Petrucciwent from 10th on the grid to 6th at the finish on his ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team M1000RR.
American Garrett Gerloff crossed the finish line 10th on his Kawasaki ZX-10RR.
Nicolo Bulega leads the championship with 62 points, 20 ahead of Axel Bassani who has 42 points. Yari Montella is third with 26 points.
More from a press release issued by FIM World Superbike Championship:
PERFECTION DOWN UNDER: Bulega completes Australian hat-trick, Bautista takes first Barni Ducati podium.
The #11 topped all but one session throughout the weekend as he made the perfect start to his 2026 title quest
Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) repeated his 2025 success at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit by claiming a hat-trick to start the 2026 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship in stunning fashion. The #11 mastered the rain in Race 2 for the Australian Round to make it three from three at the season-opener, finishing ahead of Axel Bassani (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) and Alvaro Bautista (Barni Spark Racing Team).
Nicolo Bulega (11) won the WSBK Race 2 at Phillip Island. Photo courtesy WSBK
WET RACE DRAMA: Chaos from lights out
Bulega got a great start in the wet conditions as he held the lead from pole position, pulling out a gap of over a second ahead of Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team), who charged into the provisional podium places from the second row. Bassani was also looking to make moves, while teammate Alex Lowes struggled in the early laps, dropping to fifth. Although he stabilised his pace, the #22 crashed out on Lap 19 at Turn 1. On Lap 4, Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) passed Bassani to move into the podium places.
Alvaro Bautista (19) during the WSBK Race 2 at Phillip Island. Photo courtesy WSBK
TAKING HOME THE PODIUM: Bautista on the rostrum for the first time as an Independent rider
Sam Lowes was running in the podium places but crashed out on Lap 6 at Turn 3, with the #14 walking away from the spill but he was taken to the medical centre for a check-up following that crash. There, he was diagnosed with a left wrist fracture and contusions to his right hand and left ankle. That crash promoted Bassani back into the podium places, although he was some six seconds behind Montella in second. That settled down the podium places, until Montella fell at Turn 9 on Lap 16, as he lost the rear of his bike. That promoted Bassani into second and teammate Bautista into third place. Bulega’s 23rd WorldSBK win moved him ahead of Marco Melandri in terms of Italian riders with the most wins, while he’s also gone level with Troy Corser and Jonathan Rea for Phillip Island wins, with eight. Bassani’s rostrum meant it was just the second time he’s had two podiums in a round, coming after Magny-Cours in 2022, while Bimota’s three podiums mean they are already only one behind their 2025 tally. Bautista became the second-oldest rider to take a WorldSBK podium at 41 years, 3 months and 1 day old; only Max Biaggi (44 years, 1 month, 7 days old) was older.
MACKENZIE’S BEST RESULT: P4 for the Brit
Bautista had to fend off Tarran Mackenzie (MGM Optical Action Racing) for P4 before Sam Lowes’ crash, with the #95 settling for P4 from 13th on the grid and his best WorldSBK result as he once again showed his wet weather prowess. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) took Yamaha’s best result of the weekend as he took P5, comfortably his best showing of the weekend.
OLIVEIRA’S LATEST COMEBACK: P21 to P7 for the #88
There was a big battle between Danilo Petrucci (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team), teammate Miguel Oliveira and Iker Lecuona (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) over P6. Petrucci came out on top ahead of Portuguese star Oliveira, who had to fight back from 21st on the grid again after his late tech problem in the Tissot Superpole Race demoted him from the top nine. However, the #88 was able to climb through the field to secure P7, finishing 0.473s ahead of Lecuona in eighth.
BALDASSARRI PENALISED: ‘Balda’ fights back for P9
Lorenzo Baldassarri (Team GoEleven) was unable to hit the high notes of Race 1. The #34 was penalised with a double Long Lap Penalty for a jump start, but ‘Balda’ was able to fight back to claim P9, less than a second away from Lecuona. Garrett Gerloff (Kawasaki WorldSBK Team) rounded out the top ten, although he was some 15 seconds back from the Italian ahead of him.
SCORING POINTS: All finishers take home rewards from Race 2
Tetsuta Nagashima (Honda HRC) claimed P11 ahead of rookie Alberto Surra (Motocorsa Racing), with the Italian more than six seconds back from the Japanese rider. Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) scored points with 13th ahead of teammate Stefano Manzi in 14th, while Bahattin Sofuoglu (Motoxracing WorldSBK Team) was the last classified rider; meaning all riders who finished the race scored points.
RETIREMENTS FROM RACE 2: Rato, Vickers and Vierge join the Lowes brothers
Mattia Rato (Motoxracing WorldSBK Team) was the first victim of the conditions when he highsided on the exit of Turn 4, retiring from the race. Ryan Vickers (Honda HRC) brought his machine into the pits to retire in the first half of the race, while Xavi Vierge (Pata Maxus Yamaha) crashed out at Turn 2 on Lap 13.
The top six from WorldSBK Race 2, full results here:
1. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati)
2. Axel Bassani (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) +11.336s
3. Alvaro Bautista (Barni Spark Racing Team) +17.790s
Two students riding during a Sportbike Track Time event. Photo by SPImages
DREAMING OF BARBER?
Make your dreams a reality by securing your registrations for Saturday, March 14 and Sunday, March 15 at Barber Motorsports Park today – they won’t last long!
Advanced riders, there’s still time to sign up! A handful of spots are open each day.
Intermediate riders, you could grab a spot if you act fast; a couple of spots are open each day!
Novice riders, you could luck out, too: there are a couple of spots left on Sunday!
Tyler Scott (70) leads Joseph LiMandri Jr. (931) and Jake Lewis (85) in the 2025 Loudon Classic. Photo by Sam Draiss.
LOUDON, N.H. — The 103rd Annual Loudon Classic, America’s oldest motorcycle road race, returns to New Hampshire Motor Speedway June 19–21, 2026, as the headline attraction of Laconia Motorcycle Week at NHMS.
With a $250,000 total purse, the Loudon Classic once again stands at the very top of American motorcycle road racing in 2026 — matching the famed Daytona 200’s $250,000 payout and delivering a must-watch weekend for fans while creating meaningful earning opportunities for racers.
A Purse Built for Racers: National Talent + Local Opportunity = A True Win-Win
The Loudon Classic has become a destination event for riders and teams across the country, bringing premier-level competition to New England — while still honoring a core mission: helping club racers go racing.
John Grush, Executive Director of NEMRR, said: “The Loudon Classic is designed to do two things at once: bring in talent from around the country to create a spectacular event for New England race fans — and give local racers a real shot at earning purse money that can fund the rest of their season. That’s the heartbeat of this event. It’s truly a win-win. When you build a purse that pays deep and rewards performance, you don’t just elevate one race — you elevate a whole season for a lot of racers.”
2026 Featured Pro Races & Purse Highlights (Saturday Spotlight Races)
The weekend’s headline races will again be staged as Saturday feature events during the three-day program.
Loudon Classic Main Event — $150,000 Total Purse
• Pays 32 positions deep
• $40,000 to win
• Includes a $10,000 Local Rider Bonus (paid to the top five eligible local finishers)
Pro Streetfighter — $85,000 Total Purse
• Pays 16 positions deep
• $26,000 to win
• Includes a $10,000 Local Rider Bonus (paid to the top five eligible local finishers)
Pro Thunderbike — $7,500 Total Purse
• $3,500 to win (pays five positions)
Pro 500 Superbike — $7,500 Total Purse
• $3,500 to win (pays five positions)
Event Details
What: 103rd Annual Loudon Classic Weekend
When: June 19–21, 2026
Where: New Hampshire Motor Speedway — Loudon, NH
Registration will open for all classes on Monday, March 2, 2026 at 10:00 AM EST.
The rules for each class will be posted in the Loudon Classic section on the front page of www.nemrr.com. There are QR codes at the end of the supplemental regulation sheet for each class that link to the registration page — those links will be disabled until registration opens. Entries are limited to 60 riders for the Loudon Classic and 48 riders for the Streetfighter class. For questions, riders should contact email [email protected].
Chase Saathoff interviewed about Back on Track's assistance after suffering an injury. Photo by Kristen Lassen / courtesy AMA Pro Racing.
Entering its eighth consecutive year of partnership, Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, is proud to announce the return of Back on Track as the Official Charity of the 2026 Progressive AFT season.
As a nonprofit focused on the recovery of injured riders, Back on Track provides vital financial aid and rehabilitation support. Their mission is a cornerstone of Progressive AFT’s commitment to rider welfare.
Throughout the 2026 season, fans can participate in trackside sweepstakes and giveaways at select events, offering the chance to win exclusive prizes while directly funding the recovery and long-term well-being of the sport’s athletes. Since its inception, Back on Track has helped numerous riders navigate the challenges of serious injuries, providing essential resources that allow them to focus on recovery and rebuilding their futures.
The 2026 Progressive American Flat Track season debuts at the Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA I & II at Daytona International Speedway on Thursday, March 5 and Friday, March 6.
Some students riding during a TrackDaz Event. Photo courtesy TrackDaz.
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Attention in the pits.
First off, I want to personally thank everyone for coming out and supporting our event in my wife’s honor last month. Between what we were able to raise track-side, BRP’s gate, CaliPhotography, and the BRP Cafe, We raised north of $7000 for the RoadRacingWorld Action Fund which purchases airfence to help keep us all safe out there. I was great to feel all the love and support from this community Lily and I have made our home for 25+ years.
Our next event is the weekend of March 14-15. This time we’ll be burning laps on the Classic track at Buttonwillow. We’ll be running track configuration #13 both days, and plan on hosting a New Racer School on Sunday. ABC group format with 20 minute sessions both days.
We’ve done some things to the program to help make things better. We’ve got a sellout cap to keep the rider counts low and the quality of track-time up. We’ve made some steps with our e-waiver system which we plan to use to speed up registration process.
For this event, pre-registered riders who have pre-signed the E-WAIVER will not report to registration, but instead will bring their motorcycles straight to tech inspection.
MotoGP Sports Entertainment Group announced that the Australian Grand Prix will be hosted on a city center street circuit in Adelaide from 2027. Photo courtesy Mat Oxley
In 1776, Adam Smith famously speculates on the concept of a free market and coins the term ‘capitalism’. Then, in 2026, the organizers of MotoGP suddenly announce that Philip Island is gone from the official roster of the tournament. Coincidence? We think not!
Yes, it’s the cruel, cold, capitalist culling of a great circuit and the hosts are not amused. In fact, Mat’s literally sick of it and has come down with an awful flu. But just like a certain racing organization, we’re a bunch of brutal bastards – so get that man in front of a mic, pronto!
And you, too, better press that play button. Because today we’re discussing what it means to lose Philip Island, why this decision was made, what precedents it sets and why it’s both aggravating and frightful.
And stick around, because we’ve got plenty of other things, too, that we need to discuss before we start racing next week. Like, what bike do we now have the highest technical expectations of? Is it possible for riders to unionize? And what is the best way to keep your temper around awful bikes? Heads up: that last one might be particularly interesting to one specific rider…can you guess who?
Please write down your guess on a piece of paper, open up a drink and press play to see if you were right…
Phillip Island delivered an exciting start to the WorldSBK season, with great battles and big moments in both the WorldSBK and WorldSSP races.
The race highlights are added below so you can catch up on all the key action.
WSBK Race 1 highlights
WSSP Race 1 highlights
WSBK Race 2 highlights
WSSP Race 2 highlights
WSBK Superpole Race highlights
More from a press release issued by World Superbike Championship:
DID YOU MISS IT? WorldSBK in 2026 kicks off at Phillip Island with dramatic visit Down Under.
Comebacks, incredible battles and more defined the beginning of WorldSBK’s 39th campaign which started in Australia
The 2026 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship got underway last weekend with the season-opening Australian Round. The stunning Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit hosted the action as the new season got underway, and there was no shortage of drama as teams and riders battled hard for every position. New names claimed rostrums in WorldSBK and WorldSSP, while the latter featured one of the best opening laps from a rider you will ever see.
KICKING OFF ON FRIDAY: Last chance to refine machines
WorldSBK’s Friday action kicked off with two Free Practice sessions, giving everyone their final chance to work on setup and make meaningful gains ahead of Saturday’s Tissot Superpole Session and Race 1. Plenty of stories developed throughout those sessions, as Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) set the pace while a couple of surprise names featured towards the top of the timesheets.
LIGHTS GO OUT ON 2026: Bulega victorious as two riders claim maiden podiums
The season got underway in earnest when Race 1 started under blue skies at Phillip Island, with Bulega converting his pole position into victory. However, two riders stood alongside him on the podium, with both celebrating their first rostrum. Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) had shown raw speed in 2025 but was often undone by mistakes, but he put this to the side in Race 1 to finish in second. Lorenzo Baldassarri (Team GoEleven) had spent two years out of WorldSBK but in his first race back in the Championship. Elsewhere, Xavi Vierge (Pata Maxus Yamaha) had a big crash at Turn 3 which dropped him out of the top nine, when he was on course to finish as the top Yamaha rider on his debut in blue. In WorldSSP, Jaume Masia (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) took victory ahead of Philipp Oettl (Feel Racing WorldSSP Team) and Oli Bayliss (PTR Triumph Factory Racing); the latter taking his first WorldSSP rostrum.
THE RAIN COMES ON SUNDAY: Big drama in Australia
If Saturday was dramatic, Sunday was another level. In the Tissot Superpole Race, Miguel Oliveira (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) had a rollercoaster race. Forced to start last after a Tissot Superpole crash on Saturday and being unable to set a lap time, he battled his way into the top nine before a technical issue dropped him to P18. He repeated the comeback in Race 2 – this time without the technical issue – as he finished P7. Bulega won the Superpole Race while Bimota celebrated their first double rostrum since Estoril in 1988. In Race 2, Montella was on course for a second podium but was caught out in wet conditions at Turn 9, crashing from second place as Bulega completed the hat-trick.
WORLD SUPERSPORT’S CRAZY RACE: Mahendra goes from P28 to P1 in just over a lap
WorldSSP Race 2 also featured rain, but to the extent where tyre choice was crucial. Aldi Mahendra (AS BLU CRU Racing Team) didn’t set a lap time in Superpole but a slick tyre choice helped him pull off one of the best opening laps (and a half) ever. He was an impressive sixth at the end of Lap 1, climbing 22 places in one lap, and led the race by Turn 4 on Lap 2. While he was unable to keep his extraordinary run going, he finished second behind teammate Albert Arenas, while Matteo Ferrari (WRP Racing) claimed third. It’s the first time since Phillip Island in 2001 where the three riders on the podium all celebrated their first rostrum, when Kevin Curtain, Adam Ferguson and Andrew Pitt took honours. These two occasions, outside the first WorldSSP race, are the only time it’s happened.
DON’T MISS OUT: Portimao is up next as WorldSPB debuts and WorldWCR’s season kicks off – get your tickets HERE.
Jacob Roulstone (112) and Mike Jones (46) at Phillip Island. Photo courtesy ASBK.
Jacob Roulstone and Harrison Voight were the stars of the show as round one of the 2026 Penrite Australian Superbike Championship presented by Pirelli (ASBK) wound up at Phillip Island on Sunday, November 22.
Their victories in the two SW-Motech Superbike races were at opposite ends of the intensity spectrum: rookie Roulstone (Motocity Honda) catapulting from third on the final lap to win race two, and then an imperious Voight putting the field to the sword in race three.
Voight was the overall round winner with his 1-4-1 scorecard, and he’ll take a 6pt (68 to 62) lead over Roulstone into round two at Sydney Motorsport Park on March 27-28, followed by Cameron Dunker (Blue Marlin Pools Racing Yamaha, 56pts).
“I’m chuffed with how things have gone this weekend,”said Voight.“My pace was great, and in race two I got close to the lap record I set two years ago.
“I was a bit of a softie in race two in the mixed condittions, but I was also thinking about the championship. Overall, a fantastic start to the year.”
The Kawasaki Supersport/Supersport Next Gen and Race and Road Supersport 300 classes also concluded their race one programs at Phillip Island today, with Olly Simpson (DesmoSport Ducati) and Tara Morrison (Kawasaki) the victors – Simpson’s by just millimetres over Tom Toparis (Stop and Seal Ducati) in a grandstand finish.
The SW-Motech Superbike top three: (L to R) Roulstone, Dunker and Voight. Photo courtesy ASBK
SW-MOTECH SUPERBIKE
Light drizzle played its part in both 11-lap SW-Motech Superbike races today – at the start of this morning’s and at the tail end of the second.
After riders flirted with wets in the first, slicks were hastily fitted after the sighting lap, and it was defending champion Josh Waters (McMartin Racing Ducati) who got the best of the start as he attempted to win an amazing 21st Superbike race on at Phillip Island.
He led until the final lap, with Glenn Allerton (Superbike Advocates Racing Ducati) applying the initial pressure before Waters was swamped by Dunker (turn two) and Roulstone (turn four) on the final lap.
Roulstone then performed a slick move on Dunker after the exit of turn 10 to win his maiden ASBK Superbike race in just his second start.
Waters held on for third ahead of Voight, Allerton, Anthony West (DesmoSport Ducati), Mike Jones (Yamaha Racing Team) and Cru Halliday (Stop and Seal Ducati).
Josh Waters (1) leading Glenn Allerton (14) and Cameron Dunker (3) at Phillip Island. Photo courtesy ASBK.
Voight was unstoppable in race two, breaking ranks from the start without even allowing the pack to place a modicum of pressure on him.
And once he reeled off a searing 1:30.855 on lap three – just shy of his 1:30.790 circuit benchmark – the issue was beyond doubt.
After building such a huge gap, he had the scope to keep his powder dry as the drizzle hit in the final few laps. It was Voight’s third Superbike win at Phillip Island in just seven starts.
Meanwhile, there was plenty of jockeying going on behind with Roulstone, West, Jonathan Nahlous (Yamaha Racing Team) and Waters all spending time in the top three.
Roulstone ran off on lap eight to fall back to seventh, but he rallied to finish the race in fourth behind Voight, Nahlous and Dunker.
West was fifth from Waters, Allerton and Jack Favelle (Addicted to Track Yamaha).
After round one of five, Waters is fourth in the standings on 50pts from Nahlous (47pts), West (45pts), Allerton (42pts) and Jones (42pts).
KAWASAKI SUPERSPORT AND SUPERSPORT NEXT GEN
The final Kawasaki Supersport/Superport Next Gen race was declared wet, but it was like a dry affair as the leading riders put on their combative faces from the outset of the 10-lapper.
And what an epic finish, with Olly Simpson (DesmoSport) drafting past fellow Ducati rider Tom Toparis (Stop and Seal) at the death knell to win by just 0.001 seconds.
About 30 seconds earlier, Simpson looked to have scuppered his chances of winning when he nearly crashed at turn nine, with Toparis immediately seizing his opportunity to hit the lead.
But Simpson wasn’t done, and he quickly regrouped to score a pulsating victory – his second of the weekend.
Tom Edwards (BCperformance Kawasaki) was only a whisker behind in third from early race leader Jake Farnsworth (Yamaha), Hayden Nelson (BCperformance Kawasaki), Will Nassif (Gow Racing Yamaha), race two winner Roberto Tamburini (Addicted to Track Yamaha) and rookie Ghage Plowman (Yamaha).
After round one, Tamburini leads the Supersport class on 69pts from Valentino Knezovic (Addicted to Track Yamaha, 54pts) and Scott Nicholson (TeamBWR Yamaha, 39pts), and in Supersport Next Gen it’s Simpson (70pts) from Edwards (61pts) and Nelson (56pts).
Race and Road Supersport 300 race start at Phillip Island. Photo courtesy ASBK.
Morning drizzle provided Sketchy conditions for the final Race and Road Supersport 300 battle – but that was only of minor nuisance value for Tara Morrison (Kawasaki) who romped to a three-second start to finish victory in the shortened four-lapper.
It was the South Aussie’s third win at Phillip Island in the last nine races, as she leapfrogged up to third in the Supersport 300 standings on 52pts ahead of round two at Sydney Motorsport Park on March 27-28. Tyler King (Kawasaki, 55pts) leads the battle of the fast-twitch brigade from Jordy Simpson (Yamaha, 54pts).
Lincoln Knight (Yamaha) was second in race three from Simpson – completing a trio of third places for the reigning No. 2 – with Phoenix O’Brien (Yamaha), Tom Nicolson (Kawasaki) and Jake Senior (Yamaha) in positions 4-6 among the 27 finishers.
Nauta and King, who won races one and two respectively, were well back in 18th and 11th respectively.
Nauta (48pts) is fifth in the standings, behind O’Brien (49pts) and ahead of Senior (45pts).
Tara Morrison (95) at Phillip Island. Photo courtesy ASBK.
For more information on the 2026 Penrite Australian Superbike Championship presented by Pirelli:
Marco Bezzecchi (72) at Buriram. Photo courtesy MotoGP
Buriram Test: Bezzecchi beats lap record to lead Ogura in Thailand.
Aprilia shine as pre-season concludes, with Marc Marquez edged down to third heading into Thai GP week.
Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) was under lap record pace on the final day of 2026 pre-season, setting a 1’28.668 at Buriram to close out testing with the fastest ever lap of the venue, be it the official race weekend record or not. Next up it’s Ai Ogura putting Trackhouse MotoGP Team into second, 0.097 off ‘Bez’, with the top three completed by Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) despite a third tumble in two days for the #93. Rider ok. With such a show of force from Aprilia and plenty to write home about, we can’t wait for next weekend. Here’s how testing concluded!
Jorge Martin (89) at Buriram. Photo courtesy MotoGP
Aprilia Racing and Trackhouse MotoGP Team
Pre-season is done for Aprilia and it may be their best yet. Bezzecchi undertook a long run, led for most of the afternoon before firing in an all-time lap record in the final 15 minutes. A 1’28.668 is a major benchmark ahead of next weekend’s Grand Prix and with an average lap time of 1’30.454 after 20 laps, is the #72 in the strongest position for 2026? Both Bezzecchi and teammate Jorge Martin trialled rear aero variations, perhaps to use both at certain points throughout the year. It was P8 for Martin as the 2024 World Champion returns in earnest, and his reports on how he feels getting back to it were overwhelmingly positive.
Meanwhile, MotoGP Team pairing Ai Ogura and Raul Fernandez checked out some back-to-back testing of Aprilia’s rear aero too. Both were up inside the top ten on the combined times with less than an hour and a half of pre-season to go but the gauntlet was laid down in the final 30 minutes in Ogura’s time attack, 0.097s from Bezzecchi in P2. We make that most likely the third ever fastest lap of the track. Fernandez was 11th but all four Aprilias look competitive as 2026 looms.
Francesco Bagnaia (63) at Buriram. Photo courtesy MotoGP
Ducati Lenovo Team, BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP and Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team
It’s felt like the great debate of MotoGP’s 2026 pre-season: 2024 aero vs 2025 aero at Ducati. Straight out the box this morning having been second on day one, Marc Marquez topped the morning session and was spotted with the older of the aero variations, along with his teammate Francesco Bagnaia. It was a slow start for the reigning Champion in the afternoon as illness plagues him and when he did go out, he crashed at Turn 3 – but rider OK. Pecco was in great form, knocking eight tenths off his time from day one, and once Marquez headed back out too, he finished third and only just pipped Bagnaia in fourth.
If there was Tower of Champions for testing, it’d have gone to Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP). Comfortably clear in Malaysia, Thailand welcomed him to the top on day one and he was 5th on day two. He was also with the 2024 aero package as he follows the factory team suit. It perhaps didn’t conclude in the best way for the #73, who fell at Turn 9 but was all OK and did head back out. Stand-in teammate Michele Pirro improved his time and finished in 22nd.
Keeping up their solid pre-season, Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team’s Franco Morbidelli and Fabio Di Giannantonio worked methodically on the final day of testing. Morbidelli left it late to go out in the afternoon but when he did, he finished seventh and whilst over one lap he’s quick, race pace may not be there. It wasn’t all straightforward for ‘Diggia’, with the #49 experiencing tech problems in the morning before finishing in ninth after setting his fastest lap in the last half an hour during his time attack. In contrary to Morbidelli, Di Giannantonio has strong pace but he suffered over one lap during the Buriram test.
Pedro Acosta (37) at Buriram. Photo courtesy MotoGP
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing and Red Bull KTM Tech3
Completing the top six and making it three manufacturers towards the sharp end of the order, Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) ends the test much higher up than Day 1. Eight tenths quicker on Sunday as well and getting a Grand Prix simulation bagged, hard yards in high heat brought positivity. For teammate Brad Binder, the South African struggled but did put in a fast lap late on to move up to P12 with encouraging improvements over one lap coming at the end.
Having been the best KTM on day one, Maverick Viñales didn’t improve in outright one lap speed on Sunday, taking P15 overall. He seems to be preferring the 2025 package, whereas the other three RC-16s are on the latest spec. Teammate Enea Bastianini likewise didn’t leap up the timesheets although he did improve, taking a tenth or so off his time from the opening day. But that’s one-lap speed and racing is a far more complex game, so KTM will be interesting to watch come lights out.
Joan Mir (36) at Buriram. Photo courtesy MotoGP
Honda HRC Castrol, CASTROL Honda LCR and Pro Honda LCR
It was a quieter day for Honda on Day 2, but the positivity continues and they end the test in the top ten. Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol) rocketed himself up into P10 by the final chequered flag of the day whilst Luca Marini, who was the fastest Honda for the majority of the day, ultimately took 13th. The pair were just under 0.8s off the pace of Bezzecchi at the top but head into 2026 in a strong position.
Elsewhere for the Japanese manufacturer, Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR) spun some laps with Diogo Moreira (Pro Honda LCR) as they finished 14th and 19th respectively. Zarco worked on consistently controlling of the bike from one lap to another whilst Moreira’s goals were to learn from his rivals – where better to start than your teammate?
Fabio Quartararo (20) at Buriram. Photo courtesy MotoGP.
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP and Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP
For Yamaha, Jack Miller (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP) did a long run before lunch and set an average lap time in the low 1’32s before going all-out for a time attack in the closing ten minutes. The Aussie got Yamaha into the 1’29s with a 1’29.701. Along with Grand Prix simulations, he and rookie teammate Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP had on Saturday. For Razgatlioglu, his final day didn’t start well with technical issues and in the end, the Turkish rider just missed out getting into the 1’30s.
Whilst it’s been far from the ideal start to 2026, Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) was their second-fastest rider on day two of testing in Thailand and able to join Miller in the 1’29s with just 0.029s splitting them both. Teammate Alex Rins was able to improve too and ended the test with his one-lap blast putting him around half a second from Miller. The all-new V4-powered Yamaha YZR-M1 is just that – all new – so they’ll be looking to move further and further forward as the first race weekend of the season approaches.
That’s next weekend, so get ready and strap in for the PT Grand Prix of Thailand. The first pole, Tissot Sprint win and Grand Prix victory of the year are soon on offer – and pre-season has revealed plenty of storylines set to unfold. Don’t miss it!
More from a press release issued by BK8 Gresini Racing:
Alex closes pre-season with a top5, Pirro back to the family.
Alex Marquez (73) at Buriram. Photo courtesy Gresini Team
Alex Marquez 5th – 1’28.961 (+0.293s): “Aside from the crash, which happened during the race simulation, it was a positive test. Yesterday we had the fastest time, today we were very close to the top. We’re not at 10/10 yet, but compared to yesterday we’ve already made a big step forward in confidence with the bike. Compared to last year, I feel more ready to fight for important results, but this year there will be many riders at top level and it will be a great challenge. I don’t feel pressure, I feel confidence and I can’t wait to start.”
Crash in FP4 – Turn 9 – Rider OK
Michele Pirro (51) at Buriram. Photo courtesy Gresini Team
Michele Pirro 22nd – 1’31.777 (+3.109s): “Obviously, I’m sorry to be here as a replacement for an injured rider. That said, we worked hard over these two days; the track is new to me and I didn’t have the chance to push in a time attack. In any case, I’m very happy to be back with Team Gresini after so many years. We’ll work throughout the weekend to help Ducati and Team Gresini.”
More from a press release issued by Pertamina Enduro VR46 Team:
The Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team ends the 2026 pre-season with confidence.
Positive feelings for Franco Morbidelli and Fabio Di Giannantonio, who end the official MotoGP winter test in Thailand in seventh and ninth place respectively in the combined classification over the two days.
At the Chang International Circuit, the official MotoGP winter tests came to an end, and the Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team also completed Day 2 with positive feelings and confidence ahead of the start of the 2026 season. Franco Morbidelli finished the final day of testing in seventh place, while Fabio Di Giannantonio secured ninth place.
Franco Morbidelli (21) and Fabio Di Giannantonio (49) at Buriram. Photo courtesy VR46
It was a positive day for Morbidelli, who continued on Day 2 the work started on the first day of testing. Franco confirmed the good feeling with his Ducati Desmosedici GP, as shown by his time attack. On the second day of testing, the Italian-Brazilian rider improved his best reference time compared to Day 1. Morbidelli completed 61 laps overall, with a best laptime of 1’29”071, which placed him seventh both in the combined classification for the day and in the overall classification across the two days of testing.
Di Giannantonio also completed a positive Day 2, during which he carried out a race simulation with encouraging feedback. Fabio continued working on the updates to his Ducati Desmosedici GP and proved to be competitive in the time attack as well – in the afternoon he topped the timesheets, finishing the session in the Top3. The rider from Rome – who improved his laptime both from Day 1 to Day 2 and from the morning to the afternoon session – completed 68 laps overall. His fastest laptime was 1’29”173, which placed him ninth in both today’s combined classification and the overall classification across the two days of testing.
With the Buriram tests, the MotoGP winter comes to an end, and the Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team will be back on track in a few days for the Thailand Grand Prix, which will kick off the 2026 season from February 27th to March 1st.
Fabio Di Giannantonio (49) at Buriram. Photo courtesy VR46
Fabio Di Giannantonio: “Long testing days! And this one in Buriram was the hardest of my life because I tried so many things. But I am very happy about that, because we worked very well with the team, we could do everything we had in mind and in our work plan. In terms of speed, it wasn’t our best test because we tried so many things and it was difficult to find the perfect lap and rhythm. But I am happy with the base setup for the first race, it seems that the final one is the same as Sepang, and it’s a huge step. We arrive to the first race with a lot of clear ideas, feeling confident and great with the team. I’m fully confident that we can do a good job with the package we have. We are ready for the season!”
Franco Morbidelli (21) at Buriram. Photo courtesy VR46
Franco Morbidelli: “It was a positive pre-season: we worked very well during these five days of testing; we cleared out many things. In this Buriram test, we understood few more things about the new bike, that is a bit smoother, quicker and faster on the straight, it gives a better comfort. We were able to improve the feeling step by step throughout the days. On this track, I was four tenths quicker than last year, that is positive. For the start of the season, we can be competitive, we had a good speed, even though the rivals were fast. But we are there.”
More from a press release issued by Honda HRC Castrol:
Honda HRC Castrol conclude pre-season testing in Thailand.
Just as quickly as it began, Joan Mir and Luca Marini have wrapped up the Buriram Test and now all attentions turn to the opening race of 2026. Honda HRC looking to make the most of the few days between the test and the race for final improvements.
Hot and humid conditions continued steadily throughout the second day of testing in Buriram, a final chance to acclimatise before the first race of the year. These conditions allowed the Honda HRC Castrol squad to run through a comprehensive testing plan to put everything in place for the 2026 season.
Concluding the Buriram Test as the tenth fastest rider on the second day and just over half a second off the quickest rider of the day, Joan Mir continued his strong form on the Honda RC213V. Top Honda throughout the Buriram Test, the 2020 World Champion was hoping for some more overall speed after a very competitive end to 2025 and a positive first test in Sepang but he remains confident Honda HRC’s engineers will find a few cards up their sleeves before the lights go out.
Diligently working until the very last moment, Luca Marini completed the last day of the last test in 13th and less than two tenths off his Honda HRC Castrol teammate. Throughout both the Sepang and Buriram Tests, the #10 has been able to post competitive times and consistently be within a second of the fastest rider. Times will be tight when the lights go out on Saturday and Sunday, but the Italian is confident in picking up where he left off and challenging for the top positions.
It’s time to put our learnings to the test as the newest MotoGP World Championship season is set to begin on Friday, February 27 at the Chang International Circuit when the bikes roll out for Free Practice 1.
Joan Mir (36) at Buriram. Photo courtesy Honda HRC.
Joan Mir: “We have had a pre-season with a lot of potential, but of course you’re always wanting more as a rider. This track for us, but especially me, has been more difficult than the last few circuits. The grip wasn’t quite there for us, and it was there for some other guys, so we spent a lot of the test playing with the geometry of the bike. There are a couple of options with the direction of the bike to try and make ourselves more competitive. We have a few days for everyone to find a couple more solutions before we go racing, so let’s make the most of it and be competitive when the racing starts.”
Luca Marini (10) at Buriram. Photo courtesy Honda HRC
Luca Marini: “The bike has improved a lot with the engine, the aero and the braking phase and we have to be pleased with this. Everyone has worked hard over the winter and these two tests and I know they will keep working hard throughout the year. We need to stay focused on the things we are missing to go faster, just a little more time to improve these parts. I am looking forward to the race to see where everyone really is, Qualifying will be very important in this first race so we need to prepare well for it. I think our potential is easily in the top seven, maybe even more if we can find a few things with the bike in these next few days.”
More from a press release issued by KTM Tech3:
Final Preparations Complete: Red Bull KTM Tech3 set for 2026 MotoGP™ season opener.
Red Bull KTM Tech3 head into the opening round of the 2026 MotoGP World Championship with valuable mileage and data secured, logging a combined total of 248 laps across the two-day pre-season test at the Chang International Circuit in Buriram, Thailand.
The intensive programme allowed Maverick Viñales and Enea Bastianini to further refine their KTM RC16 machines ahead of next week’s Thailand Grand Prix at the same venue.
Following a positive opening test in Sepang, the team arrived in Buriram with a comprehensive schedule of test items. Working across both sides of the garage, the focus centred on optimising base set-up, validating components introduced in Malaysia, and consolidating key configuration directions for the season opener.
On day one, Viñales set the eighth fastest time after a late improvement on his final run, while Bastianini concluded the session in 16th as he continued to build confidence with his race package at the 4.554km circuit.
The second and final day of running saw the riders complete race simulations alongside dedicated Time Attack laps, as the team worked through its final race-weekend configurations, building a clearer picture of its race package ahead of the first round. Viñales concluded the day in P14, with Bastianini in P18.
With the pre-season programme now complete, Red Bull KTM Tech3 conclude the Buriram Test with Viñales 15th overall and Bastianini 18th. The team will now focus on analysing the data gathered across all five days of winter testing, with attention turning to the opening race of the 2026 MotoGP season.
Maverick Viñales (12) at Buriram. Photo courtesy KTM Tech3.
Maverick Viñales:“It was a busy test because we needed to confirm many items and make sure we have the right direction. On the second day we concentrated a lot on the race simulations and recovered important information for both the Sprint and the full race distance. We weren’t able to put it all together for Time Attack today, so I couldn’t put in a representative lap, but the Sprint simulation felt quite good and I was consistent. For the longer distance we still need to improve the balance of the bike and tyre management, but we now have a clear direction. Physically I feel strong — I completed a full race distance and a Sprint run without any issues, so that’s a big positive heading into the first weekend.”
Enea Bastianini (23) at Buriram. Photo courtesy KTM Tech3.
Enea Bastianini:“To be honest, we have to take some positives and some negatives from this test, but we still need to improve in several areas. We tried different set-ups over the two days to understand where we are losing time, and the new chassis at the end of the test was a good solution for me. I have more references compared to last year, which helps, but we need to stay focused and analyse everything carefully before the race. I will be working hard over the next few days and the goal now is to put everything together next weekend.”
Nicolas Goyon, Team Mananger:“The Buriram test marks the end of an intensive winter preparation for us. We know that this is a circuit that doesn’t necessarily suit our bike that well, but we used the time on track efficiently to make positive steps forward. Over these two days we confirmed the configurations for both riders — Maverick completed a full race simulation and Sprint run with different set-ups, which gave us a clear understanding of the direction to take. On Enea’s side, he used the time to evaluate several combinations and found a better package towards the end of the test. The outright positions are not the full picture of the work completed, but the important thing is that we now have a lot of data we can analyse and make final changes to the bike before heading into the first race. Job done for the winter — now the championship begins.”
More from a press release issued by CASTROL HONDA LCR:
Castrol Honda LCR rider Johann Zarco has completed the second and final day of testing at the Buriram Circuit, finishing 14th on the combined standings.
The Frenchman and his crew have wrapped up the Buriram Test with improved initial feelings on the bike and have found adjustments that will help deliver solid performance.
In the afternoon, Zarco completed a race simulation and shared positive feedback.
Having gathered valuable data and made effective changes, and after 157 useful laps, both Zarco and his crew are now ready for the first Grand Prix of the 2026 season, scheduled for next week here in Thailand.
Johann Zarco (5) at Buriram. Photo courtesy Honda LCR.
Johann Zarco 14th – (1’29.467):“We have a much clearer path now. From the start of the test, the bike showed great potential, although I initially struggled to ride smoothly and feel comfortable. Today we found some solutions that helped me, and it feels great to finish like this. I can’t wait to start the Grand Prix. We still have a few days to prepare and be ready, because with this bike we can achieve strong results this year. We’ll see!”
More from a press release issued by Prima Pramac Yamaha:
Long-run focus for Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP on final day of Sepang testing.
A productive final day in Sepang for Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP, with both riders focusing on longer runs throughout the session. While the new project still requires a steep learning curve, clear progress and improvements were visible in every outing, allowing the team to head to next week‘s season opener with confidence.
Gino Borsoi – Team Manager:“All in all, it was an interesting day and we‘re particularly pleased for Jack, who set a good time. We tried many different solutions and completed several long runs, and the race pace is encouraging. We know we are still missing something, but we‘re satisfied with the level we‘ve reached with the package we currently have. We‘ll use the race weekend to continue improving the set-up. We‘ve closed the gap to the front group, and what makes me happiest is that Jack gave us very positive feedback about the bike‘s behaviour. As for Toprak, we were able to narrow down our working direction and better understand what works and what doesn‘t. Even though many people expect a big result from him straight away, we know he needs time to adapt and learn, and we also need to fully understand his requirements. At the end of the day, I saw him optimistic.”
Jack Miller (43) at Buriram. Photo courtesy Prima Pramac Yamaha.
Jack Miller:“Today was busy and tough — I‘ll definitely sleep well tonight. We completed two long runs of around 20 laps each, and that‘s part of the process when you‘re working with a new motorcycle, trying to understand it and develop it. We know there are clear areas we need to improve, but overall I feel good on the bike and I can feel it getting better step by step. That‘s encouraging, and I‘m looking forward to going racing. We‘re aware that this track is a challenging one for us, especially with the long straights, but we have a clear plan for the first updates and everyone is pushing hard. I‘m pushing the guys, and at the same time trying to give them the most precise feedback possible to shorten the development process. Handling-wise I feel comfortable, and I firmly believe the engineers are doing everything they can. Considering this bike was basically built six months ago, being around a second off on a single lap shows we‘re moving in the right direction.”
Toprak Razgatlıoğlu (07) at Buriram. Photo courtesy Prima Pramac Yamaha.
Toprak Razgatlıoğlu:“Today my focus was on race simulation work and also on riding behind Jack. I think I understood much more about the bike and I‘m starting to understand these tyres better as well. The more I ride, the more comfortable I feel. I know I still have a lot to improve, also mentally. When I was riding behind Jack and saw how much he leaned on the front tyre, I was sure he was going to crash. But then I saw how smoothly he carried the corner, and I realised it‘s my mind that needs to adapt and trust these tyres more. I was able to do six or seven laps on the same set of tyres with consistent lap times, which is positive. I‘m looking forward to continuing this learning process.”
More from a press release issued by Pro Honda LCR:
Pro Honda LCR rider Diogo Moreira has completed a positive and productive second and final day of testing at the Buriram Circuit, finishing 19th on the combined standings.
From the early laps this morning, Moreira posted a strong lap time, just one second off the top, demonstrating both speed and adaptability to the bike.
In the afternoon, the Brazilian rider and his crew made solid progress, completing a race simulation with positive feedback and notable improvements.
With a wealth of data and high motivation, and after 148 laps, Moreira and the Pro Honda LCR team wrap up the Buriram Test and are now prepared for the first Grand Prix of the 2026 season, scheduled for next week here in Thailand.
Diogo Moreira (11) at Buriram. Photo courtesy Pro Honda LCR
Diogo Moreira 19th – (1’29.920):“I’m really happy with how the test went. We’ve made significant progress since yesterday and are almost ready to kick off the season! There’s still work to be done, but we’re much closer now. The team and I have done a great job together, and I want to thank them for their support, they give me a lot of confidence, and we have great communication. In terms of pace, we still have room to improve, and I’m excited to get started at the Grand Prix next week.”
More from a press release issued by Monster Energy Yamaha:
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Complete 2026 Preseason Testing in Thailand.
The Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team concluded their 2026 preseason testing programme on Day 2 of the Buriram MotoGP Official Test. Riders Fabio Quartararo and Álex Rins wrapped up the day in 17th and 20th place respectively in the Day 2 and overall Buriram Test rankings.
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP’s Fabio Quartararo and Álex Rins returned to the Chang International Circuit today for the final day of 2026 preseason testing. They completed their testing schedules and took 17th and 20th place respectively in the Day 2 and the combined Buriram MotoGP Official Test results.
With the 2026 MotoGP season due to start in one week’s time, the teammates made the most of today’s two riding sessions (Session 1 from 10:00-13:00 GMT +7 and Session 2 from 13:20-17:30) and worked diligently to find a good base set-up.
Quartararo got another 55 laps in on Day 2. He clocked a 1’30.206s in the morning session, which had him take 17th place in the Session 1 results. In the afternoon, he dipped under the 1’30s mark. His 1’29.701s, set in the final stages, had him rank 9th in the Session 2 results and 17th in the combined Day 2 rankings, 1.033s off today’s top time.
Rins completed 54 laps on Day 2. His 1’30.234s best morning time put him in 18th position in the Session-1 timesheets. He wrapped up Session 2 in 16th place with a 1’30.122s. This time has the Spaniard rank 20th in today’s overall classifications, 1.454s from the fastest rider.
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP will be back in action at the Chang track from 27 February – 1 March to kick off the 2026 MotoGP season with the Grand Prix of Thailand.
Massimo Meregalli:“These last two days have been a bit tougher than the previous test days in Sepang, but we got some good information. We are still at the beginning of this new project, and ups and downs are a part of the process. Up to this test, we had spent all our time on evaluating components. Here, we started working on the set-ups for the first time. We discovered some limits, but also some opportunities. The riders all have their own way of describing things, but they are all giving the same feedback – this is very important for us. This gives us a clear direction to work towards, and we believe we will be able to gradually improve the performance throughout the season.”
Fabio Quartararo (20) at Buriram. Photo courtesy Yamaha.
Fabio Quartararo:“We are in the process of figuring out how the new bike works compared to the previous one. We need a bit more time. Hopefully, we will make more steps in the coming months. In terms of pace, we still need to improve. We will work hard on this. My finger is not fully healed yet at the moment, but I will be fine for the first race.”
Alex Rins (42) at Buriram. Photo courtesy Yamaha.
Alex Rins:“The test and the preseason have been completed. We need to keep working. I tried to give my best feedback to the engineers to improve the bike. Physically, I’m feeling super strong. I did a really good preseason in terms of the gym, so I’m ready for the season.”
Adding to the excitement of the annual visit to AT&T Stadium was the Military Appreciation Race, with provided a patriotic atmosphere for the event. Photo courtesy SMX.
ARLINGTON, Texas – The seventh round of the 2026 Monster Energy SMX World Championship signified the annual visit of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship to the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex for Military Appreciation Night inside AT&T Stadium. A captivating night of racing produced a pair of first-time winners, as 450SMX Class points leader Hunter Lawrence finally seized control of the spotlight with an impressive breakthrough victory for Honda HRC Progressive. The Australian outlasted each of his championship rivals to assert his hold of the red plate.
Hunter Lawrence Breaks Through for First Career Monster Energy Supercross Victory on Night of Firsts in Arlington.
The 450SMX Class Main Event started with the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing machine of Cooper Webb and the Progressive Insurance Cycle Gear Suzuki of Ken Roczen side-by-side exiting the first turn, as Webb was able to edge out Roczen for the holeshot only to give up the lead to the German as they fought for position on the opening lap. Lawrence slotted behind them into third, while Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Eli Tomac started outside the top 10 in 11th place. Roczen was able to keep Webb at bay and grabbed hold of the race lead. Soon the lead trio settled in while Tomac made an incredible charge up to fourth within the first couple laps to set the stage for a thrilling fight for victory. As Webb pursued Roczen he made a small bobble, which allowed Lawrence to pass for third. Shortly thereafter, Lawrence surged onto Roczen’s rear fender and applied pressure for the lead with about 13 minutes to go, which allowed the top four to move within two seconds of one another. Roczen withstood the attack and the top four once again settled in through the middle of the 20 Minute + 1 Lap race.
As the race approached its final six minutes the action picked up once more as Lawrence mounted another attack and got alongside Roczen in the whoops, only to be halted by a slower rider. Lawrence didn’t relent and made a pass stick moments later. Webb then got by Roczen for second, only to have Tomac surge by both Roczen and Webb to move from fourth to second. Webb was forced off the track in the process, which allowed Roczen to reclaim third. However, Webb made another pass to regain podium position.
Lawrence opened up a healthy lead with his pass on Roczen and was forced to deal with a brief push from Tomac with two minutes to go. Lawrence responded and carried on to a long-awaited victory by 2.8 seconds over Tomac, with Webb in third and Roczen fourth.
Lawrence’s win came in his 26th premier class start, inside the same venue of his first 250SMX Class victory during the 2021 season. He became the season’s fifth different winner in seven races and moved out to a four-point lead over Tomac. Webb is third, 16 points out of the lead, with Roczen fourth, 18 points back.
After four runner-up finishes in the first six races, Honda HRC Progressive’s Hunter Lawrence broke through for his first premier class victory. Photo courtesy SMX
Hunter Lawrence – 1st Place – 450SMX Class:
“It’s cool, but we’ve got a lot of racing left. I’m happy to tick that little box. It’s a huge thank you to my team and everyone that’s around me. We’ve got an amazing group and that’s really the most valuable thing in my program. It takes a whole village to move mountains.
“Even when you get a sixth place it’s really tough, but man how cool it was racing against all those boys. Me and Kenny [Roczen] had some awesome back-and-forth, Coop [Webb] was right there, Eli [Tomac] was right there. It’s pretty cool racing with the sport’s legends. Awesome.”
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Eli Tomac overcame a start outside the top 10 to bring home a hard-fought second place finish. Photo courtesy SMX.
Eli Tomac – 2nd Place – 450SMX Class:
“[The first lap] absolutely saved my race. I was happy to make some moves there and just happened to find openings that allowed me to pass two or three guys at a time. Somehow by Lap 2 or 3 I could see the front of the race and knew I was okay. What a difficult track tonight. I fought to the end as much as I could. Second was all we had tonight.”
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cooper Webb grabbed the holeshot and stayed in the thick of the fight for victory en route to a third place result. Photo courtesy SMX.
Cooper Webb – 3rd Place – 450SMX Class:
“It was a fun race, for sure, but I’m honestly a little bummed. I was pretty nice and should have been more aggressive with [Roczen] and maybe gotten the pass [for the lead] earlier. It was a sick race with all of us four bunched up there. I tried to make the pass on [Roczen for second] and Eli [Tomac] ended up getting me and ran me off the track, then Kenny got back by me. I kind of lost the tow of [the leaders]. I’m bummed at myself. I saw a few openings I should have taken and I didn’t. I was too patient tonight. Overall, we’ll take it.”
450SMX Class Podium (left to right): Eli Tomac, Hunter Lawrence, and Cooper Webb. Photo courtesy SMX.
Pierce Brown Opens Eastern Divisional 250SMX Class with Maiden Win.
The anticipated opening race of the Eastern Divisional 250SX Class Championship was equally exciting and got underway with Honda HRC Progressive’s Jo Shimoda out front for the holeshot in his first race since he underwent surgery in November to repair two fractured and displaced vertebrae in his neck and upper back. The reigning 250SMX World Champion from Japan was followed by Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Pierce Brown and Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Daxton Bennick, while Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cole Davies, a title favorite, started deep inside the top 20 after he fell in the first turn and collected multiple contenders.
Shimoda sprinted out to a lead of more than three seconds and stabilized his advantage through the opening portion of the race until an unexpected sequence changed the complexion of the race. Red medical lights were displayed as Shimoda approached the finish line, which required him to not jump any obstacle until cleared. As he rolled through to begin the next lap, both Brown and Bennick completed the obstacles at normal race pace, with no apparent lights displayed, which allowed Brown to not only overcome the deficit but also make the pass for the lead. Shimoda resumed full pace in second and fought back but was unable to get by Brown as Bennick pursued from third. Shimoda’s pursuit of Brown and the lead continued throughout the remainder of the 15 Minute + 1 Lap race and while the Honda rider appeared to be faster at times, he was unable to attempt a pass. With less than one minute to go Shimoda made one final push and dove under Brown with an inside line but was unable to sustain the momentum, which allowed Brown to pull away to victory.
Brown took the checkered flag by 2.4 seconds over Shimoda, with Bennick right behind in third. Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Seth Hammaker, who was involved in the first-turn incident with Davies, finished fourth, while Davies impressed with a resilient come-from-behind fifth place result. For Brown, it not only signified his first Supercross victory in 33 starts, but it also came one year after he crashed out of the lead of the 2025 Eastern Divisional opener and suffered a fractured vertebra, which sidelined for the remainder of the year.
Brown’s win has put him atop the Eastern Divisional standings, with a three-point lead over Shimoda and a five-point advantage over Bennick. It will mark the first time Brown has ever carried the red plate.
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Pierce Brown captured an emotional first career Supercross win to open the Eastern Divisional Championship. Photo courtesy SMX.
Pierce Brown – 1st Place – Eastern Divisional 250SMX Class:
“I don’t even know where to start. There were so many nights where I didn’t think this would be possible. Missing a year, especially with the injury I had, it’s pretty degrading. It’s a scary thing to come back from and there were a lot of doubts. I’m just thankful I never stopped fighting. Every day this offseason we put our best foot forward. Wow. This is…amazing.”
An anticipated return to action from injury for Honda HRC Progressive’s Jo Shimoda resulted in a holeshot, multiple laps led, and a runner-up finish. Photo courtesy SMX.
Jo Shimoda – 2nd Place – Eastern Divisional 250SMX Class:
“I saw the red [medical] light come on and you’re not supposed to jump that, so I don’t know what happened. We’ll review it. Overall, it was a good one for me. I felt rusty all day, to be honest, but my adrenaline kicked in for the race. It’s a good way to start.”
Daxton Bennick captured a third career podium finish in his debut race with Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing. Photo courtesy SMX.
Daxton Bennick – 3rd Place – Eastern Divisional 250SMX Class:
“I turned a pretty bad day into a good day. I thought if I could be top five [in the main event] that’d be good for me. I struggled all day, but I’m pumped to come away with a podium. I dug deep in that race. We’ll keep digging this week and come out swinging next weekend.”
Eastern Divisional 250SMX Class Podium (left to right): Jo Shimoda, Pierce Brown, and Daxton Bennick. Photo courtesy SMX.
The Monster Energy SMX World Championship and Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship will continue next Saturday, February 28, for the eighth race of the season from legendary Daytona International Speedway and the 56th running of the Daytona Supercross in Florida. Live broadcast coverage on Peacock will begin at 1 p.m. ET with Race Day Live, followed by the Gate Drop at 7 p.m. ET. Additionally, a domestic Spanish language broadcast is available on Pea cock 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:
Axel Bassani (47) and Sam Lowes (14) during the WSBK Race 2 at Phillip Island. Photo courtesy WSBK
Nicolo Bulega won the World Superbike Race Two Sunday afternoon at rainy Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, in Australia. Riding his Aruba.it Racing Ducati Panigale V4R, the Italian won the 22-lap race by 11.336 seconds.
Axel Bassani was the runner-up on his Bimota by Kawasaki KB998 Rimini, and Alvaro Bautista was third on his Barni Spark Racing Ducati Panigale V4R.
Danilo Petrucciwent from 10th on the grid to 6th at the finish on his ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team M1000RR.
American Garrett Gerloff crossed the finish line 10th on his Kawasaki ZX-10RR.
Nicolo Bulega leads the championship with 62 points, 20 ahead of Axel Bassani who has 42 points. Yari Montella is third with 26 points.
More from a press release issued by FIM World Superbike Championship:
PERFECTION DOWN UNDER: Bulega completes Australian hat-trick, Bautista takes first Barni Ducati podium.
The #11 topped all but one session throughout the weekend as he made the perfect start to his 2026 title quest
Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) repeated his 2025 success at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit by claiming a hat-trick to start the 2026 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship in stunning fashion. The #11 mastered the rain in Race 2 for the Australian Round to make it three from three at the season-opener, finishing ahead of Axel Bassani (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) and Alvaro Bautista (Barni Spark Racing Team).
Nicolo Bulega (11) won the WSBK Race 2 at Phillip Island. Photo courtesy WSBK
WET RACE DRAMA: Chaos from lights out
Bulega got a great start in the wet conditions as he held the lead from pole position, pulling out a gap of over a second ahead of Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team), who charged into the provisional podium places from the second row. Bassani was also looking to make moves, while teammate Alex Lowes struggled in the early laps, dropping to fifth. Although he stabilised his pace, the #22 crashed out on Lap 19 at Turn 1. On Lap 4, Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) passed Bassani to move into the podium places.
Alvaro Bautista (19) during the WSBK Race 2 at Phillip Island. Photo courtesy WSBK
TAKING HOME THE PODIUM: Bautista on the rostrum for the first time as an Independent rider
Sam Lowes was running in the podium places but crashed out on Lap 6 at Turn 3, with the #14 walking away from the spill but he was taken to the medical centre for a check-up following that crash. There, he was diagnosed with a left wrist fracture and contusions to his right hand and left ankle. That crash promoted Bassani back into the podium places, although he was some six seconds behind Montella in second. That settled down the podium places, until Montella fell at Turn 9 on Lap 16, as he lost the rear of his bike. That promoted Bassani into second and teammate Bautista into third place. Bulega’s 23rd WorldSBK win moved him ahead of Marco Melandri in terms of Italian riders with the most wins, while he’s also gone level with Troy Corser and Jonathan Rea for Phillip Island wins, with eight. Bassani’s rostrum meant it was just the second time he’s had two podiums in a round, coming after Magny-Cours in 2022, while Bimota’s three podiums mean they are already only one behind their 2025 tally. Bautista became the second-oldest rider to take a WorldSBK podium at 41 years, 3 months and 1 day old; only Max Biaggi (44 years, 1 month, 7 days old) was older.
MACKENZIE’S BEST RESULT: P4 for the Brit
Bautista had to fend off Tarran Mackenzie (MGM Optical Action Racing) for P4 before Sam Lowes’ crash, with the #95 settling for P4 from 13th on the grid and his best WorldSBK result as he once again showed his wet weather prowess. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) took Yamaha’s best result of the weekend as he took P5, comfortably his best showing of the weekend.
OLIVEIRA’S LATEST COMEBACK: P21 to P7 for the #88
There was a big battle between Danilo Petrucci (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team), teammate Miguel Oliveira and Iker Lecuona (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) over P6. Petrucci came out on top ahead of Portuguese star Oliveira, who had to fight back from 21st on the grid again after his late tech problem in the Tissot Superpole Race demoted him from the top nine. However, the #88 was able to climb through the field to secure P7, finishing 0.473s ahead of Lecuona in eighth.
BALDASSARRI PENALISED: ‘Balda’ fights back for P9
Lorenzo Baldassarri (Team GoEleven) was unable to hit the high notes of Race 1. The #34 was penalised with a double Long Lap Penalty for a jump start, but ‘Balda’ was able to fight back to claim P9, less than a second away from Lecuona. Garrett Gerloff (Kawasaki WorldSBK Team) rounded out the top ten, although he was some 15 seconds back from the Italian ahead of him.
SCORING POINTS: All finishers take home rewards from Race 2
Tetsuta Nagashima (Honda HRC) claimed P11 ahead of rookie Alberto Surra (Motocorsa Racing), with the Italian more than six seconds back from the Japanese rider. Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) scored points with 13th ahead of teammate Stefano Manzi in 14th, while Bahattin Sofuoglu (Motoxracing WorldSBK Team) was the last classified rider; meaning all riders who finished the race scored points.
RETIREMENTS FROM RACE 2: Rato, Vickers and Vierge join the Lowes brothers
Mattia Rato (Motoxracing WorldSBK Team) was the first victim of the conditions when he highsided on the exit of Turn 4, retiring from the race. Ryan Vickers (Honda HRC) brought his machine into the pits to retire in the first half of the race, while Xavi Vierge (Pata Maxus Yamaha) crashed out at Turn 2 on Lap 13.
The top six from WorldSBK Race 2, full results here:
1. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati)
2. Axel Bassani (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) +11.336s
3. Alvaro Bautista (Barni Spark Racing Team) +17.790s
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Keyboard Navigation Profile (Motor-Impaired): this profile enables motor-impaired persons to operate the website using the keyboard Tab, Shift+Tab, and the Enter keys. Users can also use shortcuts such as “M” (menus), “H” (headings), “F” (forms), “B” (buttons), and “G” (graphics) to jump to specific elements.
Additional UI, design, and readability adjustments
Font adjustments – users, can increase and decrease its size, change its family (type), adjust the spacing, alignment, line height, and more.
Color adjustments – users can select various color contrast profiles such as light, dark, inverted, and monochrome. Additionally, users can swap color schemes of titles, texts, and backgrounds, with over seven different coloring options.
Animations – person with epilepsy can stop all running animations with the click of a button. Animations controlled by the interface include videos, GIFs, and CSS flashing transitions.
Content highlighting – users can choose to emphasize important elements such as links and titles. They can also choose to highlight focused or hovered elements only.
Audio muting – users with hearing devices may experience headaches or other issues due to automatic audio playing. This option lets users mute the entire website instantly.
Cognitive disorders – we utilize a search engine that is linked to Wikipedia and Wiktionary, allowing people with cognitive disorders to decipher meanings of phrases, initials, slang, and others.
Additional functions – we provide users the option to change cursor color and size, use a printing mode, enable a virtual keyboard, and many other functions.
Browser and assistive technology compatibility
We aim to support the widest array of browsers and assistive technologies as possible, so our users can choose the best fitting tools for them, with as few limitations as possible. Therefore, we have worked very hard to be able to support all major systems that comprise over 95% of the user market share including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, Opera and Microsoft Edge, JAWS and NVDA (screen readers).
Notes, comments, and feedback
Despite our very best efforts to allow anybody to adjust the website to their needs. There may still be pages or sections that are not fully accessible, are in the process of becoming accessible, or are lacking an adequate technological solution to make them accessible. Still, we are continually improving our accessibility, adding, updating and improving its options and features, and developing and adopting new technologies. All this is meant to reach the optimal level of accessibility, following technological advancements. For any assistance, please reach out to
