Delayed by KTM’s financial challenges, the 990 Duke R is finally here. Starting from the base of the 990 Duke, the R model is enhanced all the way through. Refinement in each and every key area of the machine adds up to a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts – it’s a different machine, and KTM reflects this by granting the Duke R a different nickname, “The Punisher.”
KTM invited motojournalists to the Palm Springs area for a two-day introduction of the Duke R. KTM’s Media Relations and R&D Manager Chris Fillmore, a former Supermoto National Champion, had a prototype similar to the Duke R and talked company management into letting him race it as a wild card in the Super Hooligan class at the 2024 MotoAmerica Mid-Ohio round. Fillmore wrestled and slid the beast around at the front of the field, and had such a good time that he wanted part of the 990 Duke R intro to take place on the track.
The 2026 KTM 990 Duke R on the street near Idyllwild. Photo by Simon Cudby/courtesy KTM.
So the first day was riding the Duke R through the mountains up above Palm Springs, through the town of Idyllwild, and the second day took place at Chuckwalla Valley Raceway, sharing the circuit with Dale Keiffer’s Racer’s Edge track day.
The 2026 KTM 990 Duke R on the track at Chuckwalla Valley Raceway. Photo by Simon Cudby/courtesy KTM.
I’d ridden the 990 Duke on the track and on the street, so I was able to compare it and the Duke R. Short answer – it is definitely different, sharper in every way.
990 Duke R Technical Details
The Duke R shares its core with the Duke, starting with the 947cc four-stroke, DOHC Parallel-Twin LC8c engine with a bore and stroke of 92.5mm by 70.4mm. New mapping boosts power to a claimed 126.09 bhp and torque to 78.2 lbs.-ft. The engine is a stressed member of the chassis, and plays another important role in the behavior of the bike. It weighs 125.6 pounds, making it the most compact Twin in its class, KTM says.
Bolted to the tubular steel frame are upgraded suspension components front and rear. A new forged aluminum triple clamp holds a pair of 48mm WP Apex inverted open-cartridge forks, now adjustable for rebound, compression and preload. The change at the rear may be the most significant: The WP Apex monoshock offers high- and low-speed compression damping adjustment along with rebound and preload adjustment, and it operates through a linkage rather than being bolted directly to the swingarm. This allowed KTM engineers to get the progressive action they wanted mechanically.
990 Duke R engine is hot-rodded version of the 947cc Twin of the 990 Duke. A linkage now connects the WP Apex shock to the swingarm. Photo courtesy KTM.
Brakes are upgraded as well, with four-piston Brembo Stylema radial-mounted calipers now operating on 12.6-inch discs in front and a single Brembo caliper mated to a 9.44-inch disc at the rear. A Brembo MCS master cylinder is adjustable for ratio, and the ABS system has four settings – Cornering, Sport, Supermoto and Supermoto+, which all offer different degrees of intervention front and rear.
Ergonomics are more aggressive, with a higher seat, higher and more rearward footpegs and a handlebar that is lower. And talk about aggressive – the Duke R doesn’t come stock with passenger pegs or a passenger seat!
The Duke R features a new 8.8-inch TFT dash that offers customizable split screen functionality and is actually touch-sensitive, even through gloves. Standard features include four ride modes, including a new Custom option, and include traction control and wheelie control. The optional Track Mode incorporates slip angle control, five-level anti-wheelie control, launch control, and a quickshifter is available as either an individual add-on or as part of the Tech Pack, which has all of the Track Mode features as well as engine braking and cruise control. The package is rounded out by Michelin Power Cup 2 track-oriented DOT tires, orange wheels from the 1390 Super Duke R EVO and a color scheme from the 2011 990 Super Duke R.
Riding The 990 Duke R
I definitely noticed the higher seat height when I swung a leg over the Duke R, but once aboard, the riding position felt roomy and comfortable. Dukes have a unique riding position, one that strikes a balance between sportiness and comfort, and it’s one that I like a lot. Pulling into Palm Springs morning traffic, I noticed that the quick-shifter was slick and precise, the seat comfortable, and there was little vibration.
Onto Highway 243, where the pavement shifted from recently paved and smooth to not-so-recently paved, the Duke was in its element. I used Track and Sport riding modes, settling on Sport mode as it allowed a bit more nuance in the application of throttle, which I find useful on twisty roads where mid-corner course corrections are part of the game. The increased fork stiffness was noticeable, but the big difference to me was the increased sophistication of the rear suspension action. Over frost heaves (and yes, it snows up there!) the rear did a much better job of absorbing sharp-edged bumps, and if I were riding the bike only on the street, the standard suspension settings would serve nicely as they are. There was no shortage of power for street riding, and more than enough brakes.
On the track, especially at Chuckwalla, there was still plenty of power – the bike never felt breathless on the relatively short straights, and there was plenty of punch coming out of corners. With Dunlop slicks installed, it was all about lean angle and mid-corner speed, and the Duke R was more than comfortable being ridden this way. I added preload to the rear to help minimize some of the weight transfer coming out of corners, and I spent most of the time in Track Mode for a sharper throttle response – I mean, isn’t that what a big Twin is about, torque and punch?
The other thing I noticed was the sheer flickability of the bike through transitions and into corners. The center of gravity is raised, there are no aero appendages to weigh down the steering inputs, and the bike transitions quickly and with very little effort. I put in lap after lap, session after session, and I thought toward the end of the event that this was a bike I really could take out for every session on a track day – and be ready to do it again the next day.
The American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association’s (AHRMA) 2026 Vintage Cup kicked off with ideal racing conditions.
The first race of the AHRMA season took place Feb 14th and 15th at Roebling Road Raceway in Bloomingdale, GA, as the kick-off to the 2026 AHRMA National Roadracing Series, presented by VIB-ISO.
Sponsored by Roadracingworld.com, and NYC Norton (nycnorton.com), this year AHRMA’s 2026 Vintage Cup features the 250 Grand Prix class, which includes any fully GP-kitted 250cc OHV/OHC four-stroke; 250cc air-cooled single cylinder two stroke; 175cc liquid cooled single cylinder two-stroke; or 175cc air-cooled twin-cylinder two-stroke built before December 31, 1968. It’s a showdown of classic small displacement racing that relies heavily on corner-speed, momentum, and precise engineering, and certain to leave fans on the edge of their seats.
Typical AHRMA 250GP grids include a wide variety of motorcycles such as Aermacchi, Bultaco, Greeves, Montesa, Ducati, NSU, Ossa, and more.
The start of Saturday’s race saw Craig Light riding his 1973 Bultaco get the hole shot with Rob Hall aboard 1967 BSA C17 hot on his heels. Light held the lead through the first lap with Hall overtaking him at the beginning of lap 2, where he then created a good gap and held a comfortable lead to the checkered flag. Also putting in fast laps and good passes was Craig Hirko on his 1967 Bridgestone 175, who crossed the finish in 2nd, with Jonas Stein on his 1972 Honda CB175 half a second behind and coming in 3rd. The battle for 4th place was the race to watch, with several riders changing places throughout the race. The race ended with Tim Terrell riding his 1966 Honda CB160, Holly Varey on David Rhodes’ 1976 Honda MT125, Eric Watts on his 1966 Ducati 250, Jim Jowers riding a 1965 Ducati 250, and Light all swapping places.
Sunday’s race first looked to be a replay of Saturday’s race, although Rob Hall had switched to his (very fast) CB 160. Varey pulled a textbook hole shot, leading the pack through turn one. Hall pulled out in front but had a mechanical on lap 4. Hirko took full advantage and was able to secure the lead riding his Bridgestone to the checkered flag, with Colton Roberts putting in some good laps to come around in 2nd, and Stein rounding out the podium in 3rd. Again, the 4-8th place racing was some of the best on track, with Varey, Jowers, Watts, Terrell, and Light all coming in within a second and a half of each other as they crossed the line.
“I was so happy to see so many entries for the 250GP class going into this weekend for the 2026 Vintage Cup season opener at our old favorite Roebling Road Raceway. These bikes and riders did not disappoint! Wow, what an amazing couple of races to watch. As an added bonus we had AHRMA stalwart Eric Watts’ onboard camera catching all the intense 4th to 8th place race action and seeing it from this perspective gave great insight into how much the draft, corner entry speed, and the proper race line is imperative to stay up front. What these bikes may lack in displacement is made up by rider talent and judicious use of the throttle hand. What a successful launch to the 2026 Vintage Cup! It’s our first time featuring the 250GP class, and I’m a proud papa!”,said series sponsor Kenny Cummings of NYC Norton.
AHRMA first launched the Vintage Cup series during 2019 by spotlighting the 350 GP class. The series resumed during 2021 and highlighted the 500 Premier class. It was followed by Vintage Superbike Heavyweight in 2022, and Formula 750 in 2023. In 2024, the second rotation of featured classes was initiated with 350GP, followed by 500 Premier in 2025. 250GP was added to the series in 2026 – the first year it has been featured.
“On behalf of all of us at American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association, I couldn’t be more thrilled with how the opening round of our 2026 Road Race season unfolded—especially the electrifying 250GP class competing for the 2026 Vintage Cup,”said Greg“GT” Tomlinson, Chairman of the Board of Trustees.The level of competitiveness across the entire field was nothing short of phenomenal. Every rider brought intensity, precision, and heart to the grid, and it showed in every lap. I found myself shoulder to shoulder with fans at the track wall, sharing in their excitement as we watched those incredible cornering speeds. We were cheering at the top of our lungs, but our voices were happily drowned out by the lovely, unmistakable sound of those 250GP bikes trumpeting down the straight. If this first round is any indication of what the rest of the 2026 Vintage Cup season has in store, then we are in for one hell of a year!”
Rounds three and four of the AHRMA National Road Race Series Presented by VIB-ISO will be March 14-15 at Carolina Motorsports Park in Kershaw, SC.
The annual Vintage Cup spotlights one of AHRMA’s road racing classes with extra attention on competitors in the selected class during each race event. Enhanced awards for the Vintage Cup competitors are presented separately from other class trophies during the Saturday awards ceremony at each AHRMA National Road Race event. Highlights from each Vintage Cup race will be reported in RoadRacingWorld.com’s online edition. At the conclusion of each season, the perpetual Vintage Cup trophy will be engraved with the national champion winner’s name and presented to the winner at the National Awards Banquet to keep for one year.
2026 AHRMA Roadracing Series Presented by VIB-ISO, 250GP – Vintage Cup Results
Saturday, February 14, 2026
1 – 270 Rob Hall, 1967 BSA C15, Charlotte, NC
2 – 641 Craig Hirko, 1967 Bridgestone TA 1, Newark Valley, NY
3 – 123 Jonas Stein, 1972 Honda CB175, Nashville, TN
4 – 220 Tim Terrell, 1966 Honda CB160, Burlington, NC
5 – 50H Holly Varey, 1976 Honda MT125, Bradford, ON
6 – 87 Eric Watts, 1966 Ducati 250, Blacklick, OH
7 – 37 Jim Jowers, 1965 Ducati 250, East Hampton, NY
8 – 79A Craig Light, 1973 Bultaco, Peachtree City, GA
10 – 521 Kevin Nixon, 1965 Honda CB160, Naugatuck, CT
11 – 270 Rob Hall, 1965 Honda CB160, Charlotte, NC
About AHRMA:
The American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to competing on fantastic classic and true vintage along with a wide range of modern motorcycles. With over 3,000 members, AHRMA is the largest vintage racing group in North America and one of the biggest in the world. The association has grown steadily over the years, reflecting the increasing interest in classic bikes.
More from a press release issued by Red Bull KTM Factory Racing:
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing and Eli Tomac back on top in Seattle.
Eli Tomac and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing returned to the top step of the AMA Supercross podium at Round 6 in Seattle tonight, as the two-time 450SX Champion raced to a convincing third win of 2026 in technical conditions at Lumen Field.
Equipped with the KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION, Tomac set the second-fastest qualifying time behind Red Bull KTM Factory Racing teammate Jorge Prado at the conclusion of the afternoon sessions.
The 33-year-old then powered to a measured third-place finish in the opening 450SX Heat Race, earning a strong gate selection for the upcoming Main Event as track conditions continued to break down throughout the night.
In launching out of the gates well for the Main Event, Tomac positioned himself in second position early on, then trailed the race leader during the opening stages of the race as he looked for opportunities to make a move. A decisive pass at the halfway point saw him take control of the lead, going on to deliver victory by 9.265 seconds.
Tomac recorded his third win of the 2026 SMX World Championship season in Seattle – which was also the 56th of his career in 450SX – and now is one point outside of the 450SX lead entering Arlington next weekend.
Eli Tomac (3) at Seattle. Photo courtesy KTM
Eli Tomac:“Seattle was the usual conditions today, a tough track to really get ahold of and get comfortable on, but I saved the best for last – I got the best start and had my best ride in the Main Event. I cleaned up some lines, did some different jump combinations, and this was just typical Seattle, and one of the toughest rounds that we have on the schedule. I am glad to come here and get back on top, as the last couple of weekends have been a little tough, so we’re back at it!”
Also onboard the KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION, Aaron Plessinger qualified ninth overall during the afternoon, later taking a direct transfer to the 450SX Main Event with a convincing third-place finish in his Heat Race.
‘The Cowboy’ then powered to a good start in the Main Event, battling within the top-five throughout the opening stages of the race, before eventually crossing the finish in seventh position and continuing to improve into the middle stages of the Supercross series.
Aaron Plessinger (7) at Seattle. Photo courtesy KTM
Aaron Plessinger:“Wrapping up Round 6 in Seattle, it was an alright night for me. I struggled a little in practice, but then got a pretty good start in the Heat Race and finished third, and then made another good start in the Main Event. Half of that one was solid, but it just kind of fell apart after that, so I’ve just got to be better. We’re getting back towards consistent riding and not making so many mistakes, and I think heading back to Florida this week will do me good – we’ll get some riding done and work on some things. The positives are that we got two good starts tonight and had some good laps, so we’ll build on that in Arlington!”
Four-time world champion Jorge Prado continued his impressive pace in Seattle, setting the fastest overall qualifying time for the second-consecutive week with a 50.600-second lap — nearly half a second clear of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing teammate Eli Tomac.
An incident late in the second 450SX qualifying session, however, ultimately sidelined the 25-year-old for the remainder of the night program. After attempting to line up for Heat 2, Prado withdrew from Round 6 and will undergo further medical evaluation this week.
Next Race: February 21 – Arlington, Texas
More from a press release issued by Yamaha:
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cooper Webb closes the gap in the 450SX title fight with a runner-up finish, while teammate Justin Cooper joins him on the podium in third.
Cooper Webb (1) at Seattle. Photo courtesy Yamaha
One thing about Cooper Webb — he never stops fighting. It’s that mentality that has earned three premier-class titles in Monster Energy AMA Supercross. And while Saturday night wasn’t the third-straight win in Seattle, Washington, that he was aiming for, the runner-up finish may prove important in his pursuit of a fourth 450SX crown.
“You always want to win, but second place, we’ve got to just keep taking these and cutting the points down,”said Rich Simmons, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s 450 Team Manager.Two races ago, Coop was 24 points down, and now he’s 11. We’ve just got to keep working at it.”
A 13-point swing in the class as stacked as the 450SX Championship is no easy feat, but Webb and his team kept working, kept improving, and it showed at Round 6 of the championship at Lumen Field. In addition to his best qualifying of the season in third, the North Carolina rider grabbed the holeshot in his heat race. It was a great battle with Hunter Lawrence, with Webb ultimately finishing runner-up after an error had him on the ground.
Cooper Webb (1) at Seattle. Photo courtesy Yamaha
In the main event, it was another great start from the reigning champ as he grabbed his second holeshot of the evening. Webb also clocked the fastest lap on Lap 2 and had a decent gap up front, leading for over half the race, but on Lap 14 Eli Tomac made his move and rode on to remain unchallenged.
“Eli got around me and had some good laps,”Webb said.“I just tightened up for sure and got a bit of arm pump. At the end of the day, I can’t keep hitting whoops like that and expect to win. We’ll get back to work. I want to give it up to the team. We did a great job all day. We worked on our starts this week, and it showed tonight. I got my first holeshot, which was awesome. Led a bunch of laps, which was the first time this year, so that was nice.”
Webb’s second-place finish moved him closer to the points leader as he heads to his favorite event on the calendar – Arlington Supercross.
“We’ll take the positives and keep plugging away,Webb said.“We’re crawling back into the championship, so I’m stoked on that. We’ll keep digging. This is a long championship, and we’ll keep fighting through and hopefully click off some better results next weekend.”
Cooper Webb on the podium at Seattle. Photo courtesy Yamaha
Although he didn’t have as good a qualifying as he had hoped in eighth, Cooper got a good start to his heat race in third and made his way through to the runner-up spot, where he would finish to earn his best heat race result this season. With a good gate pick for the main event, he got another good start in fourth, and although he was shuffled back to seventh soon after, he kept pushing and rode some strong laps to make his way into the top five. A late-race incident between Hunter Lawrence and Ken Roczen opened the door — and Cooper was right there. He capitalized, moved into third, and never looked back, earning his first podium of the season.
“It was a good night, all around,”Cooper said.“Not the best qualifying, but then the heat race was one of my best of the year. I got a third-place start and then made it to second. I had a good gate pick for the main, and I started around seventh or sixth. I made a few passes and was kind of hovering around fourth and fifth for most of the race. Then I was able to capitalize on some mistakes by other riders, get together with them, and get into the podium spot, and just hit my marks. It feels good to take a podium this early in the season. Fourth last weekend and third this weekend – we’re trending in the right direction and looking forward to more racing.”
Justin Cooper (32) at Seattle. Photo courtesy Yamaha
Seattle Supercross is known for having some of the toughest conditions on the calendar, and this year was no exception.
“It’s just Seattle, the track was absolutely gnarly,”Cooper said.“Twenty minutes plus one out there with all the 450s, it gets really demanding. A lot of focus is involved, and I just put together solid laps and got a little gift from those two, but you’ve got to stay in it.”
Justin Cooper on the podium at Seattle. Photo courtesy Yamaha
For both riders, the momentum continues to build. Next weekend, they head indoors for Round 7 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship and the Monster Energy SMX World Championship at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
“It was a pretty good day and a step in the right direction with everything,”Simmons said.“Qualifying was good for Webb, and even though Justin was eighth, he was right there in the first one. Starts were a lot better. Webb got a good start in every single one, and Justin’s starts were more consistent. So, that’s the biggest thing for us. We’ve really been working on that, and we’ve made some headway. We’ll move on to next week and just keep trying to make forward strides and take that win.”
Haiden Deegan Extends Win Streak in Epic 250SX Battle in Seattle.
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan heads into the break with a commanding 250SX West lead, while Max Anstie made key championship gains with a third-place finish.
There are races that people remember for a season, and others that get replayed for years. Only time will tell where the Monster Energy AMA Supercross 250SX Main Event in Seattle lands, but one thing is certain: it was a good one.
After pure domination from Monster Energy Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan at the last four rounds, Round 6 looked like more of the same. The reigning champ topped qualifying, grabbed holeshots, and won his heat race at Lumen Field. It was shaping up to be another runaway. Then Levi Kitchen, the home state hero, changed the script.
Deegan was fourth on the opening lap but wasted little time charging to the front. Around the halfway mark, Kitchen made the pass, and what followed was a cat-and-mouse game that had the Washington State crowd on its feet.
Haiden Deegan (1) at Seattle. Photo courtesy Yamaha
“Around halfway or so, when he got around me because there was a red cross flag and he kind of caught me, I wasn’t going to risk it,”Deegan explained.“I figured if he got around me, I’d just try and push it at the end.”
With three laps remaining, Deegan struck back. He reclaimed the lead and rode it in for his fifth consecutive victory, stretching his points advantage to 35 as the Western Divisional 250 class heads into its break.
Haiden Deegan won the 250SX main event at Seattle. Photo courtesy Yamaha
“That was gnarly,”Deegan said.“Before this race, I told my dad and Brad (Hoffman), ‘I want to battle.’ I haven’t battled in a long time, and as much as it is nice to get to the lead and take off, this isn’t good for me. Battles like this, learning how to have race craft like that, just teach me to be a better rider when I go to the 450. Having cake-walk races is nice, but a battle like that, that was fun.”
After a tough few rounds, Max Anstie rebounded in Seattle with a return to the podium. The British rider grabbed the holeshot in his heat race, and although he got shuffled back to fourth, he fought his way back to third. In the main event, he grabbed the holeshot again and settled into third after a few laps, maintaining a strong, steady pace on one of the most demanding tracks on the schedule. His second podium finish of the season moved him back into the runner-up spot in the 250SX West standings.
“It was a solid night, P3, and back on the box where I belong,”Anstie said.“We’ve got five weeks now to improve and come out swinging at the East/West Showdown rounds.”
Max Anstie (61) at Seattle. Photo courtesy Yamaha
Michael Mosiman showed speed early, earning his best qualifying result of the season in third. Although he did not get the start he was hoping for in his heat race, the Californian fought his way through from fourth and made the pass for second in the whoops with three laps to go. Unfortunately on the following lap, Hunter Yoder made contact with Mosiman, putting them both on the ground. The Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing rider finished sixth, and despite the gate pick, he had a decent start to the main event inside the top 10. Mosiman did what he could, finishing sixth to salvage points. He heads into the break third in the standings, just one point behind Anstie.
“It was a challenging night,”Mosiman said.“I had my best qualifying of the year and felt good going into the night program. A less-than-ideal start in the heat, but I worked my way to second before getting cleaned out. I was thankful to make the main without having to go to the LCQ, and in the main, I put myself in a decent position early, making some good moves the first few turns. I passed (Cameron) MacAdoo into fifth at the 12-minute mark, but I made a mistake, and he got me back. I’m disappointed with a sixth place on the night, but I’m proud of the effort and the fight. The team and I see what needs to be worked on, and we will be putting in the hours during the break to be even stronger during the latter half of the Supercross season.”
Michael Mosiman (23) at Seattle. Photo courtesy Yamaha.
With six wins in six rounds and all three riders occupying the top three spots in the 250SX West Championship, it’s been a stellar start to the year for the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing squad.
“It was another great points night,”said Wil Hahn, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s 250 Team General Manager.“A great race from Haiden and a double podium with getting Max back up on the box. Mosi (Michael Mosiman) rode solid to salvage the night. I’m proud of the whole crew.”
Next weekend, the 250SX East Championship kicks off at AT&T Stadium, also Round 7 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship and the Monster Energy SMX World Championship on February 21 in Arlington, Texas.
More from a press release issued by Honda HRC:
Hunter Lawrence minimizes damage on a difficult night in Seattle, retains points leads.
Australian finishes a respectable fourth despite poor start and a crash
Series heads to Arlington, where Jo Shimoda will campaign the first 250SX East round
While round 6 of AMA Supercross in Seattle didn’t go the way Hunter Lawrence had planned, the Honda HRC Progressive rider mitigated the impact from what could have been a more detrimental day, as he ultimately finished in fourth place—good enough for him to hold a one-point lead in the title chase as the series travels to Arlington, Texas.
The 450SX main event saw Lawrence spin his rear tire off the start and exit turn 1 in an uncharacteristic seventh place. He quickly made a pass before making a mistake on the tricky track and losing a spot on lap 3. Ten laps in, the Australian found his rhythm and mounted a charge. He sat in fifth at the race’s midway point and moved up to fourth with eight laps remaining. From there, Lawrence quickly closed the gap to Ken Roczen and made an aggressive move for a podium position in the sand section, an area of the track where he had made some great passes in the previous laps. Unfortunately, the lines came together and he made contact with Roczen, sending both riders to the ground. Lawrence remounted, with only Justin Cooper getting by. With limited time remaining, Lawrence had to settle for fourth. Quad Lock Honda’s Joey Savatgy finished a respectable eighth.
Hunter Lawrence (96) at Seattle. Photo courtesy Honda HRC
NOTES
The Seattle race took place less than three days after the Seattle Seahawks held a Super Bowl victory celebration party and parade at Lumen Field. As a result, the supercross track-building schedule was delayed, and the riding portion of Friday’s media activities was canceled. Honda HRC Progressive team manager Lars Lindstrom participated in a media scrum organized by Feld.
South Bound Honda activated a pop-up booth in Honda HRC Progressive’s pits, featuring a Chance Hymas No. 29 replica CRF110F equipped with team-sponsor parts, and a CRF450R wearing red-on-red SKDA graphics. Both bikes were appropriate for the weekend, as Chance Hymas was attending the race and Hunter Lawrence was wearing the red plate. Dealership staff used the opportunity to connect directly with fans and customers.
Idaho native Hymas took advantage of the series’ visit to the Pacific Southwest to support his team and spend time with fans. He joined Lawrence for the autograph session and made an appearance on Race Day Live, and he was also interviewed for the main broadcast after the heat races.
Lawrence placed fifth in 450SX combined qualifying. Quad Lock Honda riders Joey Savatgy, Christian Craig, and Shane McElrath qualified 13th, 14th and 15th, respectively. The other premier-class Red Rider for this weekend was McGinley Clinic’s Zack Williams, who qualified 27th.
In 250SX combined qualifying, participating Red Riders included SLR Honda racers Justin Rodbell and Matti Jorgensen, who qualified 22nd and 32nd, respectively; Next Level riders Hunter Schlosser and Colby Copp in 19th and 23rd; and Lasting Impressions’ Ronnie Orres in 31st.
Rodbell and Schlosser both advanced directly to the 250SX main through their respective heat races, each finishing eighth. Jorgensen advanced through the LCQ, finishing fourth. In the 250SX West main event, Jorgensen and Schlosser were 16th and 18th, while Rodbell didn’t finish and was credited with 22nd.
Quad Lock Honda rider Christian Craig got tangled up with Jason Anderson in the first 450SX heat race and unfortunately sustained multiple fractured fingers. Craig said on his Instagram account that he will rest during the week and attempt to return this coming weekend in Arlington.
The second 450SX heat race saw Lawrence battle Cooper Webb for the lead before Webb tipped over, leaving Lawrence out front. The win marked Hunter’s first heat-race victory of the season and the second of his career. Quad Lock Honda’s Joey Savatgy finished fourth, with teammate Shane McElrath eighth.
Lawrence remains the 450SX championship leader, holding a one-point advantage over Eli Tomac. The Australian will carry the red plate into the next round.
Up next for Honda HRC Progressive is AMA Supercross round 7 this Saturday in Arlington, Texas, which is a military-appreciation race. The event marks the first round of the 250SX East Region series, and Jo Shimoda is planning to compete. The Japanese racer suffered a neck injury during the off-season but has made a relatively speedy recovery from surgery. Everyone at Honda is happy to welcome the 2025 SMX 250 Champion back to racing.
Hunter Lawrence (96) at Seattle. Photo courtesy Honda HRC
Hunter Lawrence:“It was a bittersweet main event. I feel like my riding was really good, but I spun off the gate. I’m not sure 100% why that happened, but after that I was making my way through the pack. At the 10-minute mark, I figured the track out and really got going; I was able to do a lot of the rhythms deep into the main. Then I made my attempted pass on Kenny [Roczen] for third, and we got together. I certainly didn’t intend on taking him out—it was just a crappy racing incident, but not how I wanted the night to go, especially after how I felt. In my perfect world, I would’ve jumped to the inside, got that lane, and then tried to catch Cooper Webb. Obviously, it’s cool to still have the red plate—we definitely salvaged some points. With a good start, I feel like it could’ve been a completely different night; I had what it takes to get the win.”
More from a press release issued by Suzuki Motor USA:
Suzuki Riders Battle Back at Round Six of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship.
Round 6 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross season presented a rutted and technical track inside Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington. The racing conditions in the open stadium were a stark departure from the previous round’s hardpacked dirt under a domed stadium. The soft, wet soil rutted up and deteriorated quickly throughout the event, which paid championship points for both the Supercross season and the SMX World Championship.
Race Highlights:
Progressive Insurance Cycle Gear ECSTAR Suzuki
450 Class
Ken Roczen earned his third heat race win of the season and ran in a podium position for 19 out of 24 laps in the main event.
Twisted Tea Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance
450 Class
Jason Anderson bounced back brilliantly from a heat race crash to notch an LCQ victory.
Colt Nichols delivered his season-best heat race result and a fastest-sector time in the main event.
Ken Roczen (94) was positioned to back up his Glendale victory with a podium result until a late-race collision dropped him out of the top-three at the Seattle Supercross. Photo courtesy Suzuki
Ken Roczen (94) demonstrated the breadth of his talent in Seattle. After delivering a runaway main event win the weekend before on the hardpack of Glendale, Arizona, Roczen and his Suzuki RM-Z450 earned an uncontested victory in his heat race at the Seattle Supercross. In the Seattle main event, Roczen crossed the holeshot stripe in sixth place then launched a drive to the front; by lap three he had secured third place. As the top three riders pulled clear of the field, Roczen put in surges to get into position to attempt another pass. Late in the race, another rider jumped into Roczen in the sand section and both racers went down. It was the end of Roczen’s hope of a Seattle podium; he crossed the line inside the top ten and remains inside the top 3 in the championship standings.
“Overall, we had a pretty dang good day, honestly,”said Roczen.“This is always a crazy venue to go to just because the track gets so gnarly. But we had a really good heat race going, won that one, and had first gate pick [for the main]. I got off to a decent start and honestly was putting on a strong charge in the middle of the race and [among the top three riders] we were all bunched up and riding really well. But the track did deteriorate really, really quickly. I had a couple of bad laps there towards the end, and I made a mistake [and I] couldn’t double before the whoops section. That just really cost me and allowed [another rider] to get way too close to me and he pulled a move [that put us both on the ground]. He came over and apologized, and I have no hard feelings towards it at all; I think it was a little bit of a [brief mental lapse]. It’s just unfortunate with situations like that. We pulled the shorter end of the stick until I got going again, and then the main was over. We ended up not with the greatest result, but we’re only 11 points down. Overall, we rode well all day and had a really good main going, so I really can’t be too mad.”
Jason Anderson (21) rebounded from a first turn crash in his heat race to earn the LCQ win in Seattle. Photo courtesy Suzuki
Jason Anderson (21) held a consecutive string of heat race podiums in 2026, but his streak was ended with a tough crash in his Seattle heat. In the first-turn crash, Anderson tangled with other racers including his teammate, Nichols. Anderson remounted but did not continue beyond the first lap of the heat. Forced to race the LCQ, Anderson was patient on the opening lap before finding the flow of the track and working his way confidently into the lead. On the podium, Anderson told the fans inside Lumen Field that the additional track time was welcomed. The poor gate pick resulted in a poor start in the main for Anderson. After crossing the holeshot stripe in 12th, Anderson battled into the top ten. Anderson fought hard as the track got rougher and earned enough points to take over sole possession of seventh place in the standings.
“My weekend was pretty tough,”admitted Anderson.“But we ended up 11th. It was just a little bit of a struggle. Maybe next weekend, hopefully, we can be better. But I think tonight I was pretty much hovering in that tenth, 11th, 12th place area.”
Colt Nichols (45) was on the move, gaining nine positions in his heat race for his best heat result so far in 2026. Photo courtesy Suzuki
Colt Nichols (45) was stopped in the first turn of his heat race when his teammate Anderson tumbled and wound up right in front of Nichol’s front tire. From there, Nichols put on an incredible charge on a track that was unforgiving of rider mistakes. Nichols gained nine spots to card his best heat race result of the season. In the main, a poor start put the odds against Nichols again. The Oklahoman put his head down; Nichols used his Suzuki’s nimble handling to gain four positions and set the main event’s fastest time through the section before the whoops (Sector 3). Nichols brought home a top-15 result, which moved him up in the championship standings by one position.
“Seattle was an interesting day, to say the least,”said Nichols.“Practice was terrible, to be honest, and then we turned it around a little for the night show. I got into a [tangle] on the first start with Jason and [another rider], then I had to fight my way back and got into sixth in the heat. I feel like I rode really well. In the main event I got off to a little bit of a better start, it still wasn’t great, and then just fought trying to get around some guys and ended up P-13. That’s a little bit better, I didn’t get 16th [again], so I’m happy about that. But there’s a lot of work to do still. We’ll go back home, go to work, and then it’s my hometown race next weekend, so I’m excited.”
“It was a tough weekend in Seattle after fighting for the win early in the main event,”stated Dustin Pipes, Principal for the Twisted Tea/H.E.P. Motorsports/Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance team. “Even with everything that transpired, we are still only 11 points out of the championship lead. It’s time to get back to work and regroup in Arlington next weekend.”
The next Supercross race takes place this Saturday inside AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The Suzuki riders, mechanics, and team members are ready for the challenges of the season and eager to deliver more wins and podium rides with their Suzuki RM-Z450s.
More from a press release issued by Monster Energy Kawasaki:
Levi Kitchen impresses the hometown crowd with a podium finish at Seattle Supercross.
Monster Energy® Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider Levi Kitchen had the hometown crowd on their feet as he delivered a standout performance to take second place in the 250SX Main Event at Round 6 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship in Seattle. Teammate Cameron McAdoo powered through adversity to secure a solid fifth-place finish. Monster Energy Kawasaki rider Chase Sexton put in a solid effort on the day to take home fifth place in the 450SX Main Event. Garrett Marchbanks rebounded from a late race incident, but without enough time left in the race, the No. 36 Kawasaki would ultimately finish 22nd.
Levi Kitchen (47) and Cameron McAdoo (142) at Seattle. Photo courtesy Kawasaki
Following a day of non-stop rain on Friday, riders were met with challenging track conditions on race day. The sticky mud tested the bikes and riders throughout the day. In 250SX Qualifying, Kitchen laid down fast laps in both sessions, narrowly missing the top spot to earn second overall. McAdoo continued to adapt to the changing track conditions, putting down a fast lap in the second session to take sixth overall.
Levi Kitchen (47) at Seattle. Photo courtesy Kawasaki
The two Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki riders were lined up nearly side by side for the first heat race. As the gate dropped, both Kawasaki riders bolted out of the gate on their KX™250 machines, with McAdoo rounding the first turn in second and Kitchen close behind in fourth. Kitchen quickly went to work, making decisive passes into third and then second before taking the lead just two minutes into the race. Riding off the energy of the hometown crowd, he continued to charge forward, gapping the field by over seven seconds and clocking the fastest lap time by over a second. After slipping back a couple of positions, McAdoo regrouped and started his push back towards the front. While on the move, McAdoo suffered a mid-race crash that dropped him back to eighth. The No. 142 Kawasaki quickly regrouped and climbed his way back up to fifth to finish the heat race.
Cameron McAdoo (142) at Seattle. Photo courtesy Kawasaki
In the 250SX Main Event, both riders came out of the gate in favorable Top 5 positions. McAdoo entered the first lap in second, finding his speed and rhythm in the opening moments, while Kitchen charged his way from fifth to second by Lap 3, passing his teammate along the way. Riding the momentum, Kitchen set the fastest lap of the race on the following lap. Determined to get the lead in front of the home crowd, Kitchen made a clean pass for first at the halfway point. A back-and-forth battle with the series points leader ensued with Kitchen using his inside line in the sand and triple-triple through the Sector 7 rhythm lane to hold a gap. Through the closing laps, lapped riders and rutted conditions caused the leaders’ lap times to be upwards of five seconds slower than their best. The two riders exchanged positions until the checkered flag, with Kitchen finishing a hard-fought second place. Despite lingering soreness from his earlier crash, McAdoo maintained a Top 5 pace all night to secure fifth place.
Levi Kitchen:“I definitely built more confidence after the race tonight, and we will keep building each week. Tonight we delivered a show for the fans and I had fun racing out there. I think the fans had fun watching it, and this is what they have been waiting for. I do feel like we’re close right now. I feel like we’re pretty close in speed and just need to work on a few more things, but I know the team and I can do it. My goal now is to go into every weekend, knowing that I can break away from the field and push my ability and speed. I want to have more races like that and put it on the top step of the box for Mitch and the team.”
Cameron McAdoo:“I had a few struggles today. I struggled a little bit in qualifying with comfort, but it wasn’t terrible. In the heat race, I had an unfortunate crash and banged myself up pretty good. Ending up fifth on the night was definitely the best that I had. I’m proud I was able to stay up there and get a solid result. I was glad that I was able to limit the damage as much as possible with how I was feeling after the heat race.”
Garrett Marchbanks (36) and Chase Sexton (4) at Seattle. Photo courtesy Kawasaki
In 450SX Qualifying, Sexton steadily learned the evolving track conditions and made key adjustments to dial in his KX™450SR. The No. 4 Kawasaki wrapped up the second session to take seventh overall on the tricky track. Marchbanks also used the second session to post his fastest lap time, matching his best qualifying finish from last week with a 12th overall.
Garrett Marchbanks (36) at Seattle. Photo courtesy Kawasaki
In Heat 1, Marchbanks pulled a strong start, placing himself inside the Top 10 and quickly passing riders on the opening laps. Before the race ended, the No. 36 Kawasaki was able to move himself into fifth place, marking his best heat race result of the season. In Heat 2, Sexton pulled an optimal start aboard his KX™ machine, putting himself in the Top 3 out of the gate. As the No. 4 Kawasaki navigated the deteriorating track, he suffered a tipover in the corner before the finish line. Sexton quickly remounted his bike and pushed back towards the front, moving from 10th to fifth by the end of the race. Sexton was right on pace with the rest of the field as he wrapped up the race, recording his fastest time at only three-tenths of a second behind the leader and setting multiple fastest sector times.
Chase Sexton (4) at Seattle. Photo courtesy Kawasaki
In the 450SX Main Event, Sexton pulled a prime start, rounding the first turn in the Top 5, while Marchbanks sat just outside the Top 10. Sexton rode a consistent race through the night, maintaining his position to take home fifth place. Marchbanks displayed consistent speed as he moved through the field on his way to crack a Top 10 finish, until a crash in the rhythm section sidelined him for a moment. The No. 36 pulled into the mechanics area to make adjustments to his bike, before riding back out determined to finish the race. Already three laps down due to his time off the track, Marchbanks pushed to make up time but would settle for 22nd on the night.
Chase Sexton:“Today was a bit frustrating for me. I expect to be at the front right now, but we’re not there yet. This week we worked on starts a lot and it paid off, as we saw today. Right now, I’m headed back to Florida and the team is going to come out and test more with me this week. We’re hopeful to make some positive changes and come into Arlington ready to fight.”
Garrett Marchbanks:“I love Seattle. The track was fun, but gnarly all day long. I felt like I started to get my flow and the bike together after second qualifying. We made a slight adjustment going into the heat race and had a good heat race from it. I started to feel better around Lap 4, we were able to put some good laps together and felt good going into the main event, with a good gate pick. I got off to a decent start and made some good passes in the main event. I was finally able to run up there in that Top 10 area and was able to battle the guys I knew I could always be around. I felt like I finally had that flow I’d been searching for, but I hit a weird spot in the rhythm and had a big crash. I knocked the wind out of myself pretty bad and couldn’t breathe for about two minutes. I got up and was just trying to catch my breath. I had to pull into the mechanics area to make some adjustments to my bike, and gave myself a minute to regroup because I was struggling to feel my hands. I wanted to go back out and finish this one out for the team, but I just had to roll this one out through the finish. Besides that, I thought it was really good improvement. I was having a lot of fun out here and looking forward to the rest of the season.”
More from a press release issued by Ducati Factory Racing:
Fight and Determination on Display for Troy Lee Designs Red Bull Ducati Factory Racing Team.
Round 6 of the AMA Supercross Championship marked the final stop of the West Coast swing as the series rolled into the Pacific Northwest. Challenging early tacky and sticky track conditions tested the field from the outset, but it was a night that highlighted the grit and determination of Dylan Ferrandis aboard the Ducati Desmo450 MX.
The day began with promise as Ferrandis put together a strong opening qualifying session, clocking the ninth-fastest time. He improved his pace in Qualifying 2 and secured 11th overall heading into the night show, setting the stage for solid gate selection and competitive racing under the lights.
In Heat Race 2, Ferrandis powered off the line and crossed the opening lap in sixth. Wasting no time, he made quick moves to advance into fifth on lap two. After battling intensely throughout the race, he ultimately secured a sixth-place finish, relinquishing just one position on the final lap.
Dylan Ferrandis (14) at Seattle. Photo courtesy Red Bull Ducati Factory Racing
The Main Event saw Ferrandis continue to push forward. He crossed the line in 10th position and recorded his fastest lap of the race, and of the entire day, on lap four with an impressive 53.283. Running consistently inside the top 10, his lap times demonstrated the potential to move further up the order. On lap six, he advanced into ninth and engaged in a fierce back-and-forth battle for position deep into the race.
A small tip-over in the turn just after the mechanics’ area briefly stalled his momentum, but Ferrandis refused to back down. Showing resilience and determination, he remounted and fought hard to secure a top-10 finish, knocking on the door of ninth by the checkered flag.
Seattle proved to be a testament to Ferrandis’ fighting spirit in a stacked and competitive field. Progress continues to be made as the team fine-tunes the package. The rhythm sections and whoops showed positive gains, while corner speed remains an area for refinement as the team works to bring the full package together.
Dylan Ferrandis (14) at Seattle. Photo courtesy Red Bull Ducati Factory Racing
“It was a very challenging track with the rain coming into the weekend. So far one of the nastiest and gnarly tracks,” said Dylan Ferrandis.“I started off feeling good in 1st practice, tried some things in practice and it didn’t walk that great. The heat race was fine, I was a little timid. In the main, I was feeling really good… my body and my mind was all in a good place. I was in a good spot fighting with the boys and was pushing, pushing, pushing and pushed the limit, a little too much. I lost the front and crashed. Came back to fight again and gave it everything I had. I was very disappointed with myself. I feel like tonight we could have improved on overall position. I think everybody in the team saw some good fight and saw some improvement on the bike. So next weekend we will have another to improve.”
With the West Coast swing complete, Troy Lee Designs Red Bull Ducati Factory Racing leaves Seattle encouraged by the progress shown and motivated to continue building momentum as the championship heads east.
More from a press release issued by Husqvarna Factory Racing:
Consistent results for Ryder DiFrancesco and Malcolm Stewart at Seattle Supercross.
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing teammates Ryder DiFrancesco and Malcolm Stewart delivered consistent performances at Round 6 of the 2026 AMA Supercross Championship in Seattle, Washington, where Ryder D finished fourth in the 250SX West division and Stewart recorded a season-best sixth-place result in 450SX.
DiFrancesco qualified eighth in the 250SX category, continuing to build comfort with the technical Lumen Field track conditions onboard his Husqvarna FC 250 Factory Edition over the course of the two sessions.
The 20-year-old charged to a convincing second-place finish in his Heat Race, before a composed ride in the Main Event saw DiFrancesco claim a P4 result, which now has him tied for third position in the Western Division standings after six rounds.
Ryder D will return to action on March 21 at Protective Stadium for the first 250SX East/West Showdown of the year, while the Eastern division commences next weekend in Arlington, Texas, with team riders Daxton Bennick and Casey Cochran making their first appearances of the 2026 season.
Ryder DiFrancesco (34) at Settle. Photo courtesy Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
“I didn’t have the best day in Seattle,”recalled DiFrancesco.“Out of the six rounds, this is probably the one I struggled with the most, so a fourth is a decent result entering the four-week break now. We’ll get that fire lit again, take a little time off, and regroup. Today was a bit of a struggle, although I am pretty stoked to come away with P4 and be tied for third in points.”
Stewart posted the sixth-fastest time overall in 450SX qualifying aboard his Husqvarna FC 450 Factory Edition, finding a strong rhythm early on during the afternoon and looking to maintain that form into the night show.
A crash in his Heat Race marked the lone major setback of what was an otherwise solid night for the 33-year-old Stewart, advancing directly to the 450SX Main Event with a seventh-place result.
Launching inside the top-10 on lap one, Stewart delivered a measured performance in demanding conditions, steadily working his way forward as the race wore on. Combining consistency with speed, Mookie crossed the line in P6 when the checkered flag flew.
Malcolm Stewart (27) at Seattle. Photo courtesy Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
“Seattle is always an interesting race,”said Stewart.“I always feel like I leave here with a positive mindset and decent results, and tonight we got sixth. Obviously, we wanted that top-five position, but considering how the beginning of the year has started, a sixth is a really good result for us! I felt really good all day. Practice was strong and it kind of starts from there, right? You know, just getting into that positive mindset, so yeah, Seattle was a good night, especially with the way the track was. It was pretty brutal out there – everybody was crashing and making big mistakes – but we kept it on two wheels and I was being smart with it. Now we head back indoors to Arlington and continue to build!”
Premier class teammate RJ Hampshire did not line up for Round 6 of the 2026 SMX World Championship in Seattle after fracturing his foot in a training crash earlier in the week, an injury that will also see him sit out upcoming rounds while he focuses on his recovery.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (February 18, 2026) – AMA Pro Racing is pleased to announce the appointment of seven-time AMA Grand National Champion Chris Carr as the Series Director of Progressive American Flat Track. Effective immediately, Carr will oversee all competition-related aspects of the series as it enters an exciting new chapter of growth and evolution.
“We’re proud to welcome Chris Carr back to AMA Pro Racing,” said Gene Crouch, CEO of AMA Pro Racing. “Chris understands this sport at the highest levels: as a champion, a leader, and a steward of its incredible history. He brings unmatched credibility, integrity, and competitive insight that will strengthen our riders, teams and manufacturer ecosystem while elevating the fan experience nationwide.”
One of the most accomplished riders in the history of American motorcycle racing, Carr’s career spans decades at the top of the sport. His championship success, institutional knowledge, and deep relationships across the industry uniquely position him to guide Progressive American Flat Track’s competition strategy.
“I’m excited to return to AMA Pro Racing and take on the role of Series Director for Progressive American Flat Track,” said Carr. “Flat track has defined my life. I look forward to working alongside riders, teams, manufacturers, and partners to ensure safe, fair, and fiercely competitive racing that honors our history and builds our future.”
In his new role, Carr will manage season calendar development and event planning, event operations and safety protocols, rulebook evolution and technical regulations, rider and team relations, new rider evaluations and licensing, and strategic initiatives including the Road to AFT talent development program.
He will serve as the primary competition liaison among riders, teams, manufacturers, promoters and officials, with fairness, safety and integrity as the guiding principles that define his leadership and shape the championship’s competitive standards.
Next Up
The 2026 Progressive American Flat Track season will kick off with the Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA doubleheader at the DAYTONA Flat Track during Daytona’s Bike Week festivities. The twin short track races will take place at the “World Center of Racing” on Thursday, March 5 and Friday, March 6. To purchase tickets to the Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA I & II, please visit: https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack.
For those that can’t catch the live action at the track, FloRacing is the live streaming home of Progressive American Flat Track. Motorsports fans can subscribe to FloRacing to enjoy over 1,000 live motorsports events in 2026. FloSports is available by visiting https://flosports.link/aft or by downloading the FloSports app on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire and Chromecast.
FS1:
FOX Sports will provide in-depth coverage of the Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA doubleheader featuring rider features and thrilling onboard cameras. Stay tuned for an upcoming announcement regarding premiere airdates on FS1 and re-airs on FS2. The full listing of American Flat Track’s television premieres will be posted to the AFT website at https://www.americanflattrack.com/events-foxsports.
We are deeply saddened by the passing of George Barber.
He built more than an organization—he built a community.
We are grateful for his vision and leadership, and we will share additional information in the days ahead.
George W. Barber Jr. was the founder of Barber Motorsports Park and the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum. Photo courtesy Barber Museum.
More, from a press release issued by AMA:
The American Motorcyclist Association is saddened to learn of the passing of AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer George Barber, who passed away at 85 years old.
Founder of the prestigious Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum in Birmingham, Ala., home to the world’s largest collection of historic motorcycles, Barber had a unique impact on the motorcycling community.
Son of George H. Barber, founder of Barber Dairy and pioneer for dairy pasteurization in the United States, the younger Barber’s love for motor vehicles started early in his life. In the 1960s, Barber raced and wrenched on his own Porsche racers with great success, claiming a large collection of wins behind the wheel.
Barber’s interest in motorcycles began soon after, leading him to open his own museum and hire skilled workers to restore vintage motorcycles to help build his collection. At the same time, Barber operated a vintage motorcycle racing team, which raced across the United States and Europe.
In 1994, Barber’s museum gained 501(c)(3) nonprofit status and was officially named the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum.
In 2002, Barber opted to close the original location of the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum, moving his collection to its current location in September 2003, an 830-acre complex that also includes a 2.38-mile road circuit.
For his longtime preservation of motorcycle history, Barber was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2014.
More, from a press release issued by Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum:
BARBER VINTAGE MOTORSPORTS MUSEUM CELEBRATES THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF GEORGE BARBER
Birmingham, Alabama: George W. Barber, Jr., founder of the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum and Barber Motorsports Park, died peacefully on Sunday, February 15, following a brief illness. He was 85 years old.
Following graduation from Auburn University, Barber enlisted in the Alabama Air National Guard, serving six years with the 117th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing. He took the helm of Barber Dairies at age 29, guiding it into a leading provider in the region.
His legendary competitive drive first manifested on the racetrack, where he dominated the Southeastern sports-car circuit. With 63 victories to his name, George was regarded as a leading talent of his era, trading paint with the likes of Dan Gurney and Peter Gregg.
Motorsports remained a driving force throughout his life. After the sale of Barber Dairies in 1998, Barber merged his various ventures to centralize the management of his diverse investments. In the 1980s, he envisioned a way to give back to Alabama through this lifelong interest.
Today, the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum houses the world’s largest collection of motorcycles and Lotus race cars. When the collection reached 1,000 vehicles, Barber was asked if they should stop. “Heck, no,” he replied. “We’ll keep going.’”
Located in the southeast corner of the 880-acre campus—bigger than New York City’s Central Park—the museum is a 230,000-square-foot architectural marvel, a global hub for restoration, preservation, design, and education, inspiring more than 4,000 students annually.
Often described as the “Augusta National of Racing,” Barber Motorsports Park was born from Barber’s mandate to create “a botanical garden with a racetrack in it.” The museum and park are considered the largest single philanthropic project by an individual in Alabama history.
Barber’s impact on education and environmental conservation is profound. He funded more than 500 full-tuition college scholarships and built a culture of mutual care and loyalty, consistently stepping in to support his employees and friends during times of need.
“Everyone who visits the museum and park has their own relationship with Mr. Barber,” said Executive Director Brian Case. “What we now share is the impact he had on our lives and responsibility we carry to honor his vision, generosity, and belief in what this place could be.”
A celebration of life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum.
About the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum
The Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum is a 501(C)(3) tax-exempt, private operating foundation dedicated to the preservation, interpretation, exhibition, and history of motorcycles, vintage vehicles, and motorsports located at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Ala. For more than 30 years, the museum has focused on various aspects of motorsports, from displaying motorcycles and cars spanning more than 120 years of production to the Barber Advanced Design Center, a high-tech workspace for design exploration. The museum embraces the culture of motorsports enthusiasts by hosting programs, such as the Barber Design Camp, and events, including the annual Barber Vintage Festival. With five floors housing 1,800 motorcycles, 150-plus automobiles, 60 of which are Lotus race cars, and numerous vintage and iconic vehicles, the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum is the ultimate family-friendly environment for education, exploration, and inspiration. Additional information is available at www.barbermuseum.org.
George Barber’s Official Obituary:
Full Speed Ahead: George W. Barber, Jr., 1940-2026
BIRMINGHAM – George W. Barber, Jr., of Birmingham, Alabama, passed away peacefully to be with his Savior on February 15, 2026. He was born September 11, 1940, to George W. Barber and Julia W. Barber. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sisters Lynn L. Woehle and Joan L. Hicks and brother Fritz Ludington. He is survived by his seven nieces and a nephew.
George attended Lakeview Elementary and Shades Valley High School, where he joined the
Alpha Sigma Delta fraternity. He went on to graduate from Auburn University as a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon. Following his studies, George enlisted in the Alabama Air National Guard, serving six years with the 117th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing.
George’s business acumen was rooted in a century of family tradition. Born into the dairy
business his grandfather established in 1921, George quite literally learned the ropes from the driver’s seat of a milk truck at eight years old. This early immersion evolved into a comprehensive mastery of the industry; by the time he took the helm at 29, George had served in nearly every capacity of the organization, guiding its evolution from a local staple into an Alabama industry leader.
George drove its continued growth, expanding into new geographies and product lines and
establishing Barber Dairies as a leading provider in the Southeast. A lifelong entrepreneur, he simultaneously scaled a diverse portfolio of ventures. His career was marked by high-profile acquisitions, including the Dairy Queen franchisor for Alabama and the Florida panhandle and Birmingham Realty Company, the historic successor to the Elyton Land Company, which founded the City of Birmingham. His strategic expansions also spanned luxury automotive with a Porsche and BMW dealership, the construction of Century Plaza Mall, as well as the development of a commercial landscape supply company and a premier marina in South Alabama.
The portfolio continued to evolve alongside George’s shifting business focus. Following the sale of Barber Dairies in 1998, he spent several years consolidating and merging his various ventures. By the early 2000s, he formalized these efforts under Barber Companies, an umbrella organization designed to centralize the management of his diverse investments. Today, the firm serves as a robust operating platform, managing a premier portfolio of approximately 300 commercial properties across Alabama, as well as the world-class Barber Marina.
While George’s philanthropy often took place behind the scenes, his impact on healthcare,
education, and environmental conservation is profound. Guided by a quiet humility, his
philanthropic reach extended to more than 90 organizations across the state of Alabama. He contributed significantly to the University of Alabama at Birmingham, endowing numerous scholarships to honor others’ legacies – a testament to his desire to elevate others rather than himself. His commitment to regional development was further solidified through Barber Dairies, where he funded more than 500 college scholarships, reaching every community in which the company served across Alabama, Florida, and Mississippi. He was a key benefactor to the Boy Scouts of America and Discovery Place (now McWane Science Center). A dedicated conservationist, George founded the Birmingham chapter of the Coastal Conservation Association and earned the title of Alabama Conservationist of the Year. Free advertising on millions of Barber milk cartons helped pass Alabama’s Forever Wild Act. His long-standing service on the Forever Wild Land Trust board and generous support for organizations like the Nature Conservancy reflect a lifelong dedication to preserving the natural world, carried out with the same unassuming spirit that defined his life’s work.
George’s legendary competitive drive first manifested on the racetrack in his early years. While he was required to balance his passion with his professional duties – relying solely on vacation days to compete – he managed to dominate the Southeastern racing circuit. With 63 victories to his name, George was regarded as a leading talent of his era, trading paint with racing legends such as Dan Gurney and Peter Gregg.
While George transitioned from the driver’s seat to the executive suite following his father’s
passing in 1970, his passion for motorsports remained a driving force. In the 1980s, he envisioned a way to give back to Alabama through this lifelong interest. Following a strategic suggestion to focus on motorcycles – a niche then underserved by major collectors – George’s personal pursuit evolved into the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum. Today, the nonprofit institution houses the world’s largest collection of motorcycles and Lotus race cars.
Spanning an 880-acre campus located in the City of Birmingham, the museum is a 230,000-square-foot architectural marvel that serves as a global hub for restoration, preservation, and education, inspiring over 4,000 students annually. Often described as the “Augusta National of Racing,” the adjacent Barber Motorsports Park was born from George’s mandate to create “a botanical garden with a race track in it.” Now home to marquee events like the Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix, the park and museum represent an investment of more than $200 million, widely considered the largest single philanthropic project by an individual in Alabama history. For his efforts, he was inducted into the American Motorcycle Association Hall of Fame in 2014.
While George never married, his life was defined by a deep sense of kinship with those around him. To George, his employees were his family. This commitment was evidenced by his personal touch; he marked every employee’s birthday and work anniversary with a personal phone call and maintained a genuine interest in their lives and well-being. A true servant leader, George built a culture of mutual care and loyalty, consistently stepping in to support his team members and friends during times of need. This spirit of kinship extended far beyond the office; his legacy lives on through a wider family of the heart, including his closest confidantes and dearest friends.
The Super Sonic Road Race School and affiliated MotoMini FIM Canadian National Championship Series will attend the Toronto Motorcycle and Powersport Show at the Enercare Centre at Ehsibition Place on the Lake Ontario waterfront, February 20-22.
The history of this annual event traces back to the “Cycle Canada” Show in the late 1970s on the same grounds.
This will be the fifth and final winter show for Super Sonic founder and Team Canada MotoMini Captain Toni Sharpless, who started January at the International Centre near Toronto’s major Airport, then headed west for two shows affiliated with the Moto Canada industry group, formerly the M.M.I.C. – Motorcycle and Moped Industry Council.
Back from the most western of Canada’s ten provinces, Sharpless was at the ExpoMoto Quebec Show in Quebec City last weekend, prior to wrapping up 2026 show duties with the major Moto Canada affiliated event in Toronto.
Sharpless, inducted into the Canadian Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2012, developed her Mini program in association with the Canadian Motorcycle Association. The C.M.A. is the National representative of the F.I.M. – Federation Internationale de Motorclisme – and has sent Canadian representatives to Spain for the Motul World Finals each November since 2022.
At the World Finals, each invited competitor rides a supplied, identical, Pirelli slick shod Ohvale 160 single-cylinder racer against the top competitors from other National development programs.
The most recent Canadian to win the domestic Championship and represent Canada in Europe was Jager Stockill, the runner-up on the National tour behind Alberta’s Lincoln Scott in 2024 and the overall National victor last year. Stockill, and his AIM Insurance-backed racer, will also be on hand at the Enercare Centre.
The MotoMini Series will also celebrate a new sponsor at the event, with helmet builder KYT Americas just signed on to support the Series and School Systems.
The first round of the 2026 FIM Motul MotoMini Canadian Championship is scheduled for the Go-Kart layout at Shannonville Motorsport Park on Friday and Saturday, June 19 and 20.
The deciding National event of the 2026 five race series will take place around the same venue on September 25-26, as part of the 50th Anniversary Celebrations for motorcycle competition at the legendary Belleville-area race track.
Rancho Cucamonga, CA — Dunlop Tires is proud to announce the 2026 Team Dunlop Road Race Elite roster, continuing the brand’s commitment to developing the next generation of American road racing talent. Designed to support young riders competing at the highest amateur and junior professional levels, the Road Race Elite program provides a proven pathway toward national and international competition.
The 2026 roster features a diverse and highly accomplished group of 10 riders competing across MotoAmerica Mini Cup, Talent Cup, FIM MiniGP, World Finals, and international development series. Representing the depth and reach of the program are Christian Berlowitz, Connor Raymond, Gabe Datis, Zaal Farhand, Cruise Texter, Cooper Jazikoff, Chase Jazikoff, Jase Dill, Maverick Johnson, and Kensei Matsudaira.
The 2025 Mission MotoAmerica Mini Cup Champions show off their No. 1 plates. (From left to right) Bodie Paige, Cruise Texter, Kensei Matsudaira, Zaal Farhand, and Chase Jazikoff. Photo by Larry Lawrence
Among the standout athletes, Connor Raymond enters his second year on Team Dunlop after finishing second overall in the MotoAmerica 190cc Championship, while Kensei Matsudaira continues his progression on a global stage with experience in the MotoAmerica Talent Cup, FIM MiniGP World Series, Asia Talent Cup, and JuniorGP European Talent Cup. Chase Jazikoff returns as a back-to-back MotoAmerica Mini Cup National Champion, joined by younger brother Cooper Jazikoff, who continues to build momentum across multiple MiniGP platforms. Riders such as Christian Berlowitz, Gabe Datis, Zaal Farhand, and Jase Dill bring championship-winning resumes from MotoAmerica, FIM MiniGP, and international competition, while Maverick Johnson enters his first year with Dunlop following a rapid rise through national ranks and upcoming international opportunities. Cruise Texter, already a proven multi-discipline racer, continues to showcase Dunlop performance across road race and beyond.
The Team Dunlop Road Race Elite program mirrors the structure and philosophy of Dunlop’s established Elite initiatives, providing select riders with technical support, product access, and brand partnership both on and off the track. With an increasing number of Elite alumni advancing into professional competition, Dunlop’s road racing development efforts continue to play a critical role in shaping the future of the sport.
“We’re excited to continue growing the Team Dunlop Road Race Elite program in 2026,”said Cori Maynard, Dunlop Coordinator of Motorsports Logistics.“This group represents the next wave of road racing talent, and it’s rewarding to see how quickly these riders progress when given the right support and opportunities. The depth of this roster speaks to the strength of the program and the future of American road racing.”
Kensei Matsudaira made his MotoAmerica Talent Cup debut in September 2025 at Circuit of the Americas, and finished on the podium. Photo by Karen E. Ott Photography.
Fans and industry members can look for these Team Dunlop Road Race Elite riders competing throughout the 2026 MotoAmerica Mini Cup season, where many will continue to showcase their development and racecraft at some of the most competitive youth road racing events in the country. The Mini Cup series remains a key proving ground for emerging talent, and Dunlop looks forward to supporting these riders as they continue to progress on the national stage.
Team Roberts 2026 MotoAmerica Talent Cup rider Kensei Matsudaira will also race in the 2026 FIM Moto4 Latin Cup. Photo by Karen E. Ott Photography.
About Dunlop Motorcycle Tires:
Dunlop is the largest supplier of original equipment and replacement motorcycle tires in North America. For more information, visit www.DunlopMotorcycleTires.com. Follow @RideDunlop on Instagram, Facebook, and X for the latest Dunlop news. Use #RideDunlop and #RaceDunlop to share your Dunlop moments.
Werner Racing Fields Two GSX-8R Riders for 2026 Season
Werner Racing is proud to announce that two young riders will be under our canopy for the 2026 road racing season. Jacob Werner (#113) will be riding a Suzuki GSX-8R in his debut season for MotoAmerica. Jacob moved up from ARSA at the end of the 2025 season and will be making his MotoAmerica debut at the upcoming Daytona round in March followed closely by the Mid Ohio, VIR and NJMP rounds. The second rider for the team is also a rising star in the road racing paddock; Oren Bilik (#119) is a 3-time ASRA regional champion as well as the 2025 AMA amateur road racer of the year. Oren will be also riding a GSX-8R and starting the year as an expert racer in ASRA, with plans to move to MotoAmerica early in the season. Both riders will be riding bikes built by Karns Performance.
“I am very excited to start the season testing on my GSX-8R before the first MotoAmerica round at Daytona,” says Jacob Werner. The GSX-8R is a great platform that makes going fast easy and the team at Karns Performance did fantastic work building the bikes. Both Oren and myself have been training hard and we are ready to show what we can do.”
Oren Bilik says, “I am really grateful for the opportunity from Werner Racing and the rest of my sponsors for giving me an opportunity for the 2026 season. I have yet to ride the bike and am very excited to begin testing soon. I am extremely confident in the team and myself to show our potential amongst some of the fastest the U.S has to offer.”
Oren Bilik raced a Ninja 400 with ASRA in 2025. He wants to race a GSX-8R in Twins Cup in 2026. Teschner photo.
Testing at Phillip Island concluded with Nicolo Bulega setting the pace for Ducati. The strong form of the Italian brand was proven as they locked out the first four spots on the timesheet. The bimota duo of Axel Bassani and Alex Lowes were the closest challengers as the paddock now gears up for the first race of the season this weekend.
Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) topped all four sessions during testing and completed 138 laps of the 4.445km circuit. The Italian is the clear favourite, having set a time of 1’28.630 while also being the most consistent rider.
Sam Lowes (14) at Phillip Island. Photo courtesy Dorna
Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) was the closest challenger to Bulega, with the Brit six tenths of a second slower. His morning session ended with a consistent 15-lap stint, as many riders used the slightly cooler conditions for race simulations.
Axel Bassani (47) at Phillip Island. Photo courtesy Dorna
Bassani and Lowes showed strong pace for bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team, with the Italian setting his fastest time of the day in the morning, while Lowes left it until his final lap. The duo completed a combined total of 140 laps.
Alvaro Bautista (19) at Phillip Island. Photo courtesy Dorna
A Turn 11 crash for Jake Dixon opened the day and left the Honda HRC rider sidelined for the opening round with a fracture to his left wrist. The incident occurred on his first flying lap of the day. Later in the session, Stefano Manzi (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) crashed at Turn 2. Alvaro Bautista crashed at Turn 10 in the afternoon session, but the Barni Spark Racing Team rider still completed 74 laps to top the mileage charts.
Lorenzo Baldassari (34) at Phillip Island. Photo courtesy Dorna
Lorenzo Baldassari’s comeback to the Superbike class continues to impress. The Team GoEleven rider ended the test third fastest. Miguel Oliveira was the leading rookie with ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team’s Portuguese rider seventh fastest.
P1 – Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.It Racing – Ducati): “I feel good with the bike. We tried something different during the second session but then we decided to go back to the previous setting. When you already have a good feeling and you can push with confidence but changing things is not always better. So we returned to the morning setting and everything went well again. At the moment it’s just a test so the goal is to improve. I think there are still many areas where we can take a step forward, and I want to do that together with my team. We’ll work during these days before the race weekend and then we’ll see where we are.”
P2 – Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team): “I had a really good day. We improved the bike this afternoon and I started to find a good rhythm after doing a longer run this morning to understand my feeling with the bike. I did my best lap on the second run of the tyre which is positive at Phillip Island. I feel competitive. With the hard tyre I think we’ll be a bit closer and that’s the tyre that we’ll have for the race. The team has done a great job to improve the bike session by session. I still have areas we can work on but we’re in the mix.”
P3 – Lorenzo Baldassarri (Team GoEleven): “It was another positive day. I enjoyed the bike and the track and I could improve lap after lap. We’re working on the base setting to suit me better. It was good to confirm yesterday’s speed and today we focused on consistency with the race tyre. Honestly, the results from testing is a bit unexpected because during tests I prefer to build step by step rather than push too much. But we improved the pace, built a strong feeling with the bike, and I think we’re ready for the first race weekend.”
Jaume Masia (Orelac Racing Verdnatura) completed a strong two-day test at Phillip Island to set the pace in the Supersport class. The Spaniard completed 39 laps today but heavy rain during the final two hour session brought the action to a premature close.
PTR Triumph Factory Racing teammates Oli Bayliss and Tom Booth-Amos ended the day second and third fastest. For Bayliss it sets the scene for another strong home round while Booth-Amos was a race winner here twelve months ago.
Philipp Oettl (Feel Racing WorldSSP Team) was the only rider in the Top 15 not to improve on his morning time before the rain came in. The German ended the day fourth on the combined times.
Jaume Masia (5) at Phillip Island. Photo courtesy Dorna
P1 – Jaume Masia (Orelac Racing Verdnatura): “The morning session went quite well for us. We focused on understanding the bike. The afternoon was a bit crazy with the rain and wind but we finisher first. I feel confident for the weekend. I like to ride alone and to stay calm and consistent. If the race were tomorrow my target would be to lead and stay consistent.”
KTM's 2026 990 Duke R, seen here in action at Chuckwalla Valley Raceway, is more track-focused than its standard counterpart. Photo by Simon Cudby/courtesy KTM.
Delayed by KTM’s financial challenges, the 990 Duke R is finally here. Starting from the base of the 990 Duke, the R model is enhanced all the way through. Refinement in each and every key area of the machine adds up to a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts – it’s a different machine, and KTM reflects this by granting the Duke R a different nickname, “The Punisher.”
KTM invited motojournalists to the Palm Springs area for a two-day introduction of the Duke R. KTM’s Media Relations and R&D Manager Chris Fillmore, a former Supermoto National Champion, had a prototype similar to the Duke R and talked company management into letting him race it as a wild card in the Super Hooligan class at the 2024 MotoAmerica Mid-Ohio round. Fillmore wrestled and slid the beast around at the front of the field, and had such a good time that he wanted part of the 990 Duke R intro to take place on the track.
The 2026 KTM 990 Duke R on the street near Idyllwild. Photo by Simon Cudby/courtesy KTM.
So the first day was riding the Duke R through the mountains up above Palm Springs, through the town of Idyllwild, and the second day took place at Chuckwalla Valley Raceway, sharing the circuit with Dale Keiffer’s Racer’s Edge track day.
The 2026 KTM 990 Duke R on the track at Chuckwalla Valley Raceway. Photo by Simon Cudby/courtesy KTM.
I’d ridden the 990 Duke on the track and on the street, so I was able to compare it and the Duke R. Short answer – it is definitely different, sharper in every way.
990 Duke R Technical Details
The Duke R shares its core with the Duke, starting with the 947cc four-stroke, DOHC Parallel-Twin LC8c engine with a bore and stroke of 92.5mm by 70.4mm. New mapping boosts power to a claimed 126.09 bhp and torque to 78.2 lbs.-ft. The engine is a stressed member of the chassis, and plays another important role in the behavior of the bike. It weighs 125.6 pounds, making it the most compact Twin in its class, KTM says.
Bolted to the tubular steel frame are upgraded suspension components front and rear. A new forged aluminum triple clamp holds a pair of 48mm WP Apex inverted open-cartridge forks, now adjustable for rebound, compression and preload. The change at the rear may be the most significant: The WP Apex monoshock offers high- and low-speed compression damping adjustment along with rebound and preload adjustment, and it operates through a linkage rather than being bolted directly to the swingarm. This allowed KTM engineers to get the progressive action they wanted mechanically.
990 Duke R engine is hot-rodded version of the 947cc Twin of the 990 Duke. A linkage now connects the WP Apex shock to the swingarm. Photo courtesy KTM.
Brakes are upgraded as well, with four-piston Brembo Stylema radial-mounted calipers now operating on 12.6-inch discs in front and a single Brembo caliper mated to a 9.44-inch disc at the rear. A Brembo MCS master cylinder is adjustable for ratio, and the ABS system has four settings – Cornering, Sport, Supermoto and Supermoto+, which all offer different degrees of intervention front and rear.
Ergonomics are more aggressive, with a higher seat, higher and more rearward footpegs and a handlebar that is lower. And talk about aggressive – the Duke R doesn’t come stock with passenger pegs or a passenger seat!
The Duke R features a new 8.8-inch TFT dash that offers customizable split screen functionality and is actually touch-sensitive, even through gloves. Standard features include four ride modes, including a new Custom option, and include traction control and wheelie control. The optional Track Mode incorporates slip angle control, five-level anti-wheelie control, launch control, and a quickshifter is available as either an individual add-on or as part of the Tech Pack, which has all of the Track Mode features as well as engine braking and cruise control. The package is rounded out by Michelin Power Cup 2 track-oriented DOT tires, orange wheels from the 1390 Super Duke R EVO and a color scheme from the 2011 990 Super Duke R.
Riding The 990 Duke R
I definitely noticed the higher seat height when I swung a leg over the Duke R, but once aboard, the riding position felt roomy and comfortable. Dukes have a unique riding position, one that strikes a balance between sportiness and comfort, and it’s one that I like a lot. Pulling into Palm Springs morning traffic, I noticed that the quick-shifter was slick and precise, the seat comfortable, and there was little vibration.
Onto Highway 243, where the pavement shifted from recently paved and smooth to not-so-recently paved, the Duke was in its element. I used Track and Sport riding modes, settling on Sport mode as it allowed a bit more nuance in the application of throttle, which I find useful on twisty roads where mid-corner course corrections are part of the game. The increased fork stiffness was noticeable, but the big difference to me was the increased sophistication of the rear suspension action. Over frost heaves (and yes, it snows up there!) the rear did a much better job of absorbing sharp-edged bumps, and if I were riding the bike only on the street, the standard suspension settings would serve nicely as they are. There was no shortage of power for street riding, and more than enough brakes.
On the track, especially at Chuckwalla, there was still plenty of power – the bike never felt breathless on the relatively short straights, and there was plenty of punch coming out of corners. With Dunlop slicks installed, it was all about lean angle and mid-corner speed, and the Duke R was more than comfortable being ridden this way. I added preload to the rear to help minimize some of the weight transfer coming out of corners, and I spent most of the time in Track Mode for a sharper throttle response – I mean, isn’t that what a big Twin is about, torque and punch?
The other thing I noticed was the sheer flickability of the bike through transitions and into corners. The center of gravity is raised, there are no aero appendages to weigh down the steering inputs, and the bike transitions quickly and with very little effort. I put in lap after lap, session after session, and I thought toward the end of the event that this was a bike I really could take out for every session on a track day – and be ready to do it again the next day.
Rob Hall (270) leading
Craig Light (79A), Jonas Stein (123), Tim Terrell (220) and Tony Read (50) at Roebling Road Raceway. Photo Credit Etechphoto.
The American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association’s (AHRMA) 2026 Vintage Cup kicked off with ideal racing conditions.
The first race of the AHRMA season took place Feb 14th and 15th at Roebling Road Raceway in Bloomingdale, GA, as the kick-off to the 2026 AHRMA National Roadracing Series, presented by VIB-ISO.
Sponsored by Roadracingworld.com, and NYC Norton (nycnorton.com), this year AHRMA’s 2026 Vintage Cup features the 250 Grand Prix class, which includes any fully GP-kitted 250cc OHV/OHC four-stroke; 250cc air-cooled single cylinder two stroke; 175cc liquid cooled single cylinder two-stroke; or 175cc air-cooled twin-cylinder two-stroke built before December 31, 1968. It’s a showdown of classic small displacement racing that relies heavily on corner-speed, momentum, and precise engineering, and certain to leave fans on the edge of their seats.
Typical AHRMA 250GP grids include a wide variety of motorcycles such as Aermacchi, Bultaco, Greeves, Montesa, Ducati, NSU, Ossa, and more.
The start of Saturday’s race saw Craig Light riding his 1973 Bultaco get the hole shot with Rob Hall aboard 1967 BSA C17 hot on his heels. Light held the lead through the first lap with Hall overtaking him at the beginning of lap 2, where he then created a good gap and held a comfortable lead to the checkered flag. Also putting in fast laps and good passes was Craig Hirko on his 1967 Bridgestone 175, who crossed the finish in 2nd, with Jonas Stein on his 1972 Honda CB175 half a second behind and coming in 3rd. The battle for 4th place was the race to watch, with several riders changing places throughout the race. The race ended with Tim Terrell riding his 1966 Honda CB160, Holly Varey on David Rhodes’ 1976 Honda MT125, Eric Watts on his 1966 Ducati 250, Jim Jowers riding a 1965 Ducati 250, and Light all swapping places.
Sunday’s race first looked to be a replay of Saturday’s race, although Rob Hall had switched to his (very fast) CB 160. Varey pulled a textbook hole shot, leading the pack through turn one. Hall pulled out in front but had a mechanical on lap 4. Hirko took full advantage and was able to secure the lead riding his Bridgestone to the checkered flag, with Colton Roberts putting in some good laps to come around in 2nd, and Stein rounding out the podium in 3rd. Again, the 4-8th place racing was some of the best on track, with Varey, Jowers, Watts, Terrell, and Light all coming in within a second and a half of each other as they crossed the line.
“I was so happy to see so many entries for the 250GP class going into this weekend for the 2026 Vintage Cup season opener at our old favorite Roebling Road Raceway. These bikes and riders did not disappoint! Wow, what an amazing couple of races to watch. As an added bonus we had AHRMA stalwart Eric Watts’ onboard camera catching all the intense 4th to 8th place race action and seeing it from this perspective gave great insight into how much the draft, corner entry speed, and the proper race line is imperative to stay up front. What these bikes may lack in displacement is made up by rider talent and judicious use of the throttle hand. What a successful launch to the 2026 Vintage Cup! It’s our first time featuring the 250GP class, and I’m a proud papa!”,said series sponsor Kenny Cummings of NYC Norton.
AHRMA first launched the Vintage Cup series during 2019 by spotlighting the 350 GP class. The series resumed during 2021 and highlighted the 500 Premier class. It was followed by Vintage Superbike Heavyweight in 2022, and Formula 750 in 2023. In 2024, the second rotation of featured classes was initiated with 350GP, followed by 500 Premier in 2025. 250GP was added to the series in 2026 – the first year it has been featured.
“On behalf of all of us at American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association, I couldn’t be more thrilled with how the opening round of our 2026 Road Race season unfolded—especially the electrifying 250GP class competing for the 2026 Vintage Cup,”said Greg“GT” Tomlinson, Chairman of the Board of Trustees.The level of competitiveness across the entire field was nothing short of phenomenal. Every rider brought intensity, precision, and heart to the grid, and it showed in every lap. I found myself shoulder to shoulder with fans at the track wall, sharing in their excitement as we watched those incredible cornering speeds. We were cheering at the top of our lungs, but our voices were happily drowned out by the lovely, unmistakable sound of those 250GP bikes trumpeting down the straight. If this first round is any indication of what the rest of the 2026 Vintage Cup season has in store, then we are in for one hell of a year!”
Rounds three and four of the AHRMA National Road Race Series Presented by VIB-ISO will be March 14-15 at Carolina Motorsports Park in Kershaw, SC.
The annual Vintage Cup spotlights one of AHRMA’s road racing classes with extra attention on competitors in the selected class during each race event. Enhanced awards for the Vintage Cup competitors are presented separately from other class trophies during the Saturday awards ceremony at each AHRMA National Road Race event. Highlights from each Vintage Cup race will be reported in RoadRacingWorld.com’s online edition. At the conclusion of each season, the perpetual Vintage Cup trophy will be engraved with the national champion winner’s name and presented to the winner at the National Awards Banquet to keep for one year.
2026 AHRMA Roadracing Series Presented by VIB-ISO, 250GP – Vintage Cup Results
Saturday, February 14, 2026
1 – 270 Rob Hall, 1967 BSA C15, Charlotte, NC
2 – 641 Craig Hirko, 1967 Bridgestone TA 1, Newark Valley, NY
3 – 123 Jonas Stein, 1972 Honda CB175, Nashville, TN
4 – 220 Tim Terrell, 1966 Honda CB160, Burlington, NC
5 – 50H Holly Varey, 1976 Honda MT125, Bradford, ON
6 – 87 Eric Watts, 1966 Ducati 250, Blacklick, OH
7 – 37 Jim Jowers, 1965 Ducati 250, East Hampton, NY
8 – 79A Craig Light, 1973 Bultaco, Peachtree City, GA
10 – 521 Kevin Nixon, 1965 Honda CB160, Naugatuck, CT
11 – 270 Rob Hall, 1965 Honda CB160, Charlotte, NC
About AHRMA:
The American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to competing on fantastic classic and true vintage along with a wide range of modern motorcycles. With over 3,000 members, AHRMA is the largest vintage racing group in North America and one of the biggest in the world. The association has grown steadily over the years, reflecting the increasing interest in classic bikes.
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing's Eli Tomac battled through the most demanding track conditions of the season to capture his third win of the championship campaign. Photo courtesy SMX
More from a press release issued by Red Bull KTM Factory Racing:
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing and Eli Tomac back on top in Seattle.
Eli Tomac and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing returned to the top step of the AMA Supercross podium at Round 6 in Seattle tonight, as the two-time 450SX Champion raced to a convincing third win of 2026 in technical conditions at Lumen Field.
Equipped with the KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION, Tomac set the second-fastest qualifying time behind Red Bull KTM Factory Racing teammate Jorge Prado at the conclusion of the afternoon sessions.
The 33-year-old then powered to a measured third-place finish in the opening 450SX Heat Race, earning a strong gate selection for the upcoming Main Event as track conditions continued to break down throughout the night.
In launching out of the gates well for the Main Event, Tomac positioned himself in second position early on, then trailed the race leader during the opening stages of the race as he looked for opportunities to make a move. A decisive pass at the halfway point saw him take control of the lead, going on to deliver victory by 9.265 seconds.
Tomac recorded his third win of the 2026 SMX World Championship season in Seattle – which was also the 56th of his career in 450SX – and now is one point outside of the 450SX lead entering Arlington next weekend.
Eli Tomac (3) at Seattle. Photo courtesy KTM
Eli Tomac:“Seattle was the usual conditions today, a tough track to really get ahold of and get comfortable on, but I saved the best for last – I got the best start and had my best ride in the Main Event. I cleaned up some lines, did some different jump combinations, and this was just typical Seattle, and one of the toughest rounds that we have on the schedule. I am glad to come here and get back on top, as the last couple of weekends have been a little tough, so we’re back at it!”
Also onboard the KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION, Aaron Plessinger qualified ninth overall during the afternoon, later taking a direct transfer to the 450SX Main Event with a convincing third-place finish in his Heat Race.
‘The Cowboy’ then powered to a good start in the Main Event, battling within the top-five throughout the opening stages of the race, before eventually crossing the finish in seventh position and continuing to improve into the middle stages of the Supercross series.
Aaron Plessinger (7) at Seattle. Photo courtesy KTM
Aaron Plessinger:“Wrapping up Round 6 in Seattle, it was an alright night for me. I struggled a little in practice, but then got a pretty good start in the Heat Race and finished third, and then made another good start in the Main Event. Half of that one was solid, but it just kind of fell apart after that, so I’ve just got to be better. We’re getting back towards consistent riding and not making so many mistakes, and I think heading back to Florida this week will do me good – we’ll get some riding done and work on some things. The positives are that we got two good starts tonight and had some good laps, so we’ll build on that in Arlington!”
Four-time world champion Jorge Prado continued his impressive pace in Seattle, setting the fastest overall qualifying time for the second-consecutive week with a 50.600-second lap — nearly half a second clear of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing teammate Eli Tomac.
An incident late in the second 450SX qualifying session, however, ultimately sidelined the 25-year-old for the remainder of the night program. After attempting to line up for Heat 2, Prado withdrew from Round 6 and will undergo further medical evaluation this week.
Next Race: February 21 – Arlington, Texas
More from a press release issued by Yamaha:
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cooper Webb closes the gap in the 450SX title fight with a runner-up finish, while teammate Justin Cooper joins him on the podium in third.
Cooper Webb (1) at Seattle. Photo courtesy Yamaha
One thing about Cooper Webb — he never stops fighting. It’s that mentality that has earned three premier-class titles in Monster Energy AMA Supercross. And while Saturday night wasn’t the third-straight win in Seattle, Washington, that he was aiming for, the runner-up finish may prove important in his pursuit of a fourth 450SX crown.
“You always want to win, but second place, we’ve got to just keep taking these and cutting the points down,”said Rich Simmons, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s 450 Team Manager.Two races ago, Coop was 24 points down, and now he’s 11. We’ve just got to keep working at it.”
A 13-point swing in the class as stacked as the 450SX Championship is no easy feat, but Webb and his team kept working, kept improving, and it showed at Round 6 of the championship at Lumen Field. In addition to his best qualifying of the season in third, the North Carolina rider grabbed the holeshot in his heat race. It was a great battle with Hunter Lawrence, with Webb ultimately finishing runner-up after an error had him on the ground.
Cooper Webb (1) at Seattle. Photo courtesy Yamaha
In the main event, it was another great start from the reigning champ as he grabbed his second holeshot of the evening. Webb also clocked the fastest lap on Lap 2 and had a decent gap up front, leading for over half the race, but on Lap 14 Eli Tomac made his move and rode on to remain unchallenged.
“Eli got around me and had some good laps,”Webb said.“I just tightened up for sure and got a bit of arm pump. At the end of the day, I can’t keep hitting whoops like that and expect to win. We’ll get back to work. I want to give it up to the team. We did a great job all day. We worked on our starts this week, and it showed tonight. I got my first holeshot, which was awesome. Led a bunch of laps, which was the first time this year, so that was nice.”
Webb’s second-place finish moved him closer to the points leader as he heads to his favorite event on the calendar – Arlington Supercross.
“We’ll take the positives and keep plugging away,Webb said.“We’re crawling back into the championship, so I’m stoked on that. We’ll keep digging. This is a long championship, and we’ll keep fighting through and hopefully click off some better results next weekend.”
Cooper Webb on the podium at Seattle. Photo courtesy Yamaha
Although he didn’t have as good a qualifying as he had hoped in eighth, Cooper got a good start to his heat race in third and made his way through to the runner-up spot, where he would finish to earn his best heat race result this season. With a good gate pick for the main event, he got another good start in fourth, and although he was shuffled back to seventh soon after, he kept pushing and rode some strong laps to make his way into the top five. A late-race incident between Hunter Lawrence and Ken Roczen opened the door — and Cooper was right there. He capitalized, moved into third, and never looked back, earning his first podium of the season.
“It was a good night, all around,”Cooper said.“Not the best qualifying, but then the heat race was one of my best of the year. I got a third-place start and then made it to second. I had a good gate pick for the main, and I started around seventh or sixth. I made a few passes and was kind of hovering around fourth and fifth for most of the race. Then I was able to capitalize on some mistakes by other riders, get together with them, and get into the podium spot, and just hit my marks. It feels good to take a podium this early in the season. Fourth last weekend and third this weekend – we’re trending in the right direction and looking forward to more racing.”
Justin Cooper (32) at Seattle. Photo courtesy Yamaha
Seattle Supercross is known for having some of the toughest conditions on the calendar, and this year was no exception.
“It’s just Seattle, the track was absolutely gnarly,”Cooper said.“Twenty minutes plus one out there with all the 450s, it gets really demanding. A lot of focus is involved, and I just put together solid laps and got a little gift from those two, but you’ve got to stay in it.”
Justin Cooper on the podium at Seattle. Photo courtesy Yamaha
For both riders, the momentum continues to build. Next weekend, they head indoors for Round 7 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship and the Monster Energy SMX World Championship at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
“It was a pretty good day and a step in the right direction with everything,”Simmons said.“Qualifying was good for Webb, and even though Justin was eighth, he was right there in the first one. Starts were a lot better. Webb got a good start in every single one, and Justin’s starts were more consistent. So, that’s the biggest thing for us. We’ve really been working on that, and we’ve made some headway. We’ll move on to next week and just keep trying to make forward strides and take that win.”
Haiden Deegan Extends Win Streak in Epic 250SX Battle in Seattle.
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan heads into the break with a commanding 250SX West lead, while Max Anstie made key championship gains with a third-place finish.
There are races that people remember for a season, and others that get replayed for years. Only time will tell where the Monster Energy AMA Supercross 250SX Main Event in Seattle lands, but one thing is certain: it was a good one.
After pure domination from Monster Energy Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan at the last four rounds, Round 6 looked like more of the same. The reigning champ topped qualifying, grabbed holeshots, and won his heat race at Lumen Field. It was shaping up to be another runaway. Then Levi Kitchen, the home state hero, changed the script.
Deegan was fourth on the opening lap but wasted little time charging to the front. Around the halfway mark, Kitchen made the pass, and what followed was a cat-and-mouse game that had the Washington State crowd on its feet.
Haiden Deegan (1) at Seattle. Photo courtesy Yamaha
“Around halfway or so, when he got around me because there was a red cross flag and he kind of caught me, I wasn’t going to risk it,”Deegan explained.“I figured if he got around me, I’d just try and push it at the end.”
With three laps remaining, Deegan struck back. He reclaimed the lead and rode it in for his fifth consecutive victory, stretching his points advantage to 35 as the Western Divisional 250 class heads into its break.
Haiden Deegan won the 250SX main event at Seattle. Photo courtesy Yamaha
“That was gnarly,”Deegan said.“Before this race, I told my dad and Brad (Hoffman), ‘I want to battle.’ I haven’t battled in a long time, and as much as it is nice to get to the lead and take off, this isn’t good for me. Battles like this, learning how to have race craft like that, just teach me to be a better rider when I go to the 450. Having cake-walk races is nice, but a battle like that, that was fun.”
After a tough few rounds, Max Anstie rebounded in Seattle with a return to the podium. The British rider grabbed the holeshot in his heat race, and although he got shuffled back to fourth, he fought his way back to third. In the main event, he grabbed the holeshot again and settled into third after a few laps, maintaining a strong, steady pace on one of the most demanding tracks on the schedule. His second podium finish of the season moved him back into the runner-up spot in the 250SX West standings.
“It was a solid night, P3, and back on the box where I belong,”Anstie said.“We’ve got five weeks now to improve and come out swinging at the East/West Showdown rounds.”
Max Anstie (61) at Seattle. Photo courtesy Yamaha
Michael Mosiman showed speed early, earning his best qualifying result of the season in third. Although he did not get the start he was hoping for in his heat race, the Californian fought his way through from fourth and made the pass for second in the whoops with three laps to go. Unfortunately on the following lap, Hunter Yoder made contact with Mosiman, putting them both on the ground. The Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing rider finished sixth, and despite the gate pick, he had a decent start to the main event inside the top 10. Mosiman did what he could, finishing sixth to salvage points. He heads into the break third in the standings, just one point behind Anstie.
“It was a challenging night,”Mosiman said.“I had my best qualifying of the year and felt good going into the night program. A less-than-ideal start in the heat, but I worked my way to second before getting cleaned out. I was thankful to make the main without having to go to the LCQ, and in the main, I put myself in a decent position early, making some good moves the first few turns. I passed (Cameron) MacAdoo into fifth at the 12-minute mark, but I made a mistake, and he got me back. I’m disappointed with a sixth place on the night, but I’m proud of the effort and the fight. The team and I see what needs to be worked on, and we will be putting in the hours during the break to be even stronger during the latter half of the Supercross season.”
Michael Mosiman (23) at Seattle. Photo courtesy Yamaha.
With six wins in six rounds and all three riders occupying the top three spots in the 250SX West Championship, it’s been a stellar start to the year for the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing squad.
“It was another great points night,”said Wil Hahn, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s 250 Team General Manager.“A great race from Haiden and a double podium with getting Max back up on the box. Mosi (Michael Mosiman) rode solid to salvage the night. I’m proud of the whole crew.”
Next weekend, the 250SX East Championship kicks off at AT&T Stadium, also Round 7 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship and the Monster Energy SMX World Championship on February 21 in Arlington, Texas.
More from a press release issued by Honda HRC:
Hunter Lawrence minimizes damage on a difficult night in Seattle, retains points leads.
Australian finishes a respectable fourth despite poor start and a crash
Series heads to Arlington, where Jo Shimoda will campaign the first 250SX East round
While round 6 of AMA Supercross in Seattle didn’t go the way Hunter Lawrence had planned, the Honda HRC Progressive rider mitigated the impact from what could have been a more detrimental day, as he ultimately finished in fourth place—good enough for him to hold a one-point lead in the title chase as the series travels to Arlington, Texas.
The 450SX main event saw Lawrence spin his rear tire off the start and exit turn 1 in an uncharacteristic seventh place. He quickly made a pass before making a mistake on the tricky track and losing a spot on lap 3. Ten laps in, the Australian found his rhythm and mounted a charge. He sat in fifth at the race’s midway point and moved up to fourth with eight laps remaining. From there, Lawrence quickly closed the gap to Ken Roczen and made an aggressive move for a podium position in the sand section, an area of the track where he had made some great passes in the previous laps. Unfortunately, the lines came together and he made contact with Roczen, sending both riders to the ground. Lawrence remounted, with only Justin Cooper getting by. With limited time remaining, Lawrence had to settle for fourth. Quad Lock Honda’s Joey Savatgy finished a respectable eighth.
Hunter Lawrence (96) at Seattle. Photo courtesy Honda HRC
NOTES
The Seattle race took place less than three days after the Seattle Seahawks held a Super Bowl victory celebration party and parade at Lumen Field. As a result, the supercross track-building schedule was delayed, and the riding portion of Friday’s media activities was canceled. Honda HRC Progressive team manager Lars Lindstrom participated in a media scrum organized by Feld.
South Bound Honda activated a pop-up booth in Honda HRC Progressive’s pits, featuring a Chance Hymas No. 29 replica CRF110F equipped with team-sponsor parts, and a CRF450R wearing red-on-red SKDA graphics. Both bikes were appropriate for the weekend, as Chance Hymas was attending the race and Hunter Lawrence was wearing the red plate. Dealership staff used the opportunity to connect directly with fans and customers.
Idaho native Hymas took advantage of the series’ visit to the Pacific Southwest to support his team and spend time with fans. He joined Lawrence for the autograph session and made an appearance on Race Day Live, and he was also interviewed for the main broadcast after the heat races.
Lawrence placed fifth in 450SX combined qualifying. Quad Lock Honda riders Joey Savatgy, Christian Craig, and Shane McElrath qualified 13th, 14th and 15th, respectively. The other premier-class Red Rider for this weekend was McGinley Clinic’s Zack Williams, who qualified 27th.
In 250SX combined qualifying, participating Red Riders included SLR Honda racers Justin Rodbell and Matti Jorgensen, who qualified 22nd and 32nd, respectively; Next Level riders Hunter Schlosser and Colby Copp in 19th and 23rd; and Lasting Impressions’ Ronnie Orres in 31st.
Rodbell and Schlosser both advanced directly to the 250SX main through their respective heat races, each finishing eighth. Jorgensen advanced through the LCQ, finishing fourth. In the 250SX West main event, Jorgensen and Schlosser were 16th and 18th, while Rodbell didn’t finish and was credited with 22nd.
Quad Lock Honda rider Christian Craig got tangled up with Jason Anderson in the first 450SX heat race and unfortunately sustained multiple fractured fingers. Craig said on his Instagram account that he will rest during the week and attempt to return this coming weekend in Arlington.
The second 450SX heat race saw Lawrence battle Cooper Webb for the lead before Webb tipped over, leaving Lawrence out front. The win marked Hunter’s first heat-race victory of the season and the second of his career. Quad Lock Honda’s Joey Savatgy finished fourth, with teammate Shane McElrath eighth.
Lawrence remains the 450SX championship leader, holding a one-point advantage over Eli Tomac. The Australian will carry the red plate into the next round.
Up next for Honda HRC Progressive is AMA Supercross round 7 this Saturday in Arlington, Texas, which is a military-appreciation race. The event marks the first round of the 250SX East Region series, and Jo Shimoda is planning to compete. The Japanese racer suffered a neck injury during the off-season but has made a relatively speedy recovery from surgery. Everyone at Honda is happy to welcome the 2025 SMX 250 Champion back to racing.
Hunter Lawrence (96) at Seattle. Photo courtesy Honda HRC
Hunter Lawrence:“It was a bittersweet main event. I feel like my riding was really good, but I spun off the gate. I’m not sure 100% why that happened, but after that I was making my way through the pack. At the 10-minute mark, I figured the track out and really got going; I was able to do a lot of the rhythms deep into the main. Then I made my attempted pass on Kenny [Roczen] for third, and we got together. I certainly didn’t intend on taking him out—it was just a crappy racing incident, but not how I wanted the night to go, especially after how I felt. In my perfect world, I would’ve jumped to the inside, got that lane, and then tried to catch Cooper Webb. Obviously, it’s cool to still have the red plate—we definitely salvaged some points. With a good start, I feel like it could’ve been a completely different night; I had what it takes to get the win.”
More from a press release issued by Suzuki Motor USA:
Suzuki Riders Battle Back at Round Six of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship.
Round 6 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross season presented a rutted and technical track inside Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington. The racing conditions in the open stadium were a stark departure from the previous round’s hardpacked dirt under a domed stadium. The soft, wet soil rutted up and deteriorated quickly throughout the event, which paid championship points for both the Supercross season and the SMX World Championship.
Race Highlights:
Progressive Insurance Cycle Gear ECSTAR Suzuki
450 Class
Ken Roczen earned his third heat race win of the season and ran in a podium position for 19 out of 24 laps in the main event.
Twisted Tea Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance
450 Class
Jason Anderson bounced back brilliantly from a heat race crash to notch an LCQ victory.
Colt Nichols delivered his season-best heat race result and a fastest-sector time in the main event.
Ken Roczen (94) was positioned to back up his Glendale victory with a podium result until a late-race collision dropped him out of the top-three at the Seattle Supercross. Photo courtesy Suzuki
Ken Roczen (94) demonstrated the breadth of his talent in Seattle. After delivering a runaway main event win the weekend before on the hardpack of Glendale, Arizona, Roczen and his Suzuki RM-Z450 earned an uncontested victory in his heat race at the Seattle Supercross. In the Seattle main event, Roczen crossed the holeshot stripe in sixth place then launched a drive to the front; by lap three he had secured third place. As the top three riders pulled clear of the field, Roczen put in surges to get into position to attempt another pass. Late in the race, another rider jumped into Roczen in the sand section and both racers went down. It was the end of Roczen’s hope of a Seattle podium; he crossed the line inside the top ten and remains inside the top 3 in the championship standings.
“Overall, we had a pretty dang good day, honestly,”said Roczen.“This is always a crazy venue to go to just because the track gets so gnarly. But we had a really good heat race going, won that one, and had first gate pick [for the main]. I got off to a decent start and honestly was putting on a strong charge in the middle of the race and [among the top three riders] we were all bunched up and riding really well. But the track did deteriorate really, really quickly. I had a couple of bad laps there towards the end, and I made a mistake [and I] couldn’t double before the whoops section. That just really cost me and allowed [another rider] to get way too close to me and he pulled a move [that put us both on the ground]. He came over and apologized, and I have no hard feelings towards it at all; I think it was a little bit of a [brief mental lapse]. It’s just unfortunate with situations like that. We pulled the shorter end of the stick until I got going again, and then the main was over. We ended up not with the greatest result, but we’re only 11 points down. Overall, we rode well all day and had a really good main going, so I really can’t be too mad.”
Jason Anderson (21) rebounded from a first turn crash in his heat race to earn the LCQ win in Seattle. Photo courtesy Suzuki
Jason Anderson (21) held a consecutive string of heat race podiums in 2026, but his streak was ended with a tough crash in his Seattle heat. In the first-turn crash, Anderson tangled with other racers including his teammate, Nichols. Anderson remounted but did not continue beyond the first lap of the heat. Forced to race the LCQ, Anderson was patient on the opening lap before finding the flow of the track and working his way confidently into the lead. On the podium, Anderson told the fans inside Lumen Field that the additional track time was welcomed. The poor gate pick resulted in a poor start in the main for Anderson. After crossing the holeshot stripe in 12th, Anderson battled into the top ten. Anderson fought hard as the track got rougher and earned enough points to take over sole possession of seventh place in the standings.
“My weekend was pretty tough,”admitted Anderson.“But we ended up 11th. It was just a little bit of a struggle. Maybe next weekend, hopefully, we can be better. But I think tonight I was pretty much hovering in that tenth, 11th, 12th place area.”
Colt Nichols (45) was on the move, gaining nine positions in his heat race for his best heat result so far in 2026. Photo courtesy Suzuki
Colt Nichols (45) was stopped in the first turn of his heat race when his teammate Anderson tumbled and wound up right in front of Nichol’s front tire. From there, Nichols put on an incredible charge on a track that was unforgiving of rider mistakes. Nichols gained nine spots to card his best heat race result of the season. In the main, a poor start put the odds against Nichols again. The Oklahoman put his head down; Nichols used his Suzuki’s nimble handling to gain four positions and set the main event’s fastest time through the section before the whoops (Sector 3). Nichols brought home a top-15 result, which moved him up in the championship standings by one position.
“Seattle was an interesting day, to say the least,”said Nichols.“Practice was terrible, to be honest, and then we turned it around a little for the night show. I got into a [tangle] on the first start with Jason and [another rider], then I had to fight my way back and got into sixth in the heat. I feel like I rode really well. In the main event I got off to a little bit of a better start, it still wasn’t great, and then just fought trying to get around some guys and ended up P-13. That’s a little bit better, I didn’t get 16th [again], so I’m happy about that. But there’s a lot of work to do still. We’ll go back home, go to work, and then it’s my hometown race next weekend, so I’m excited.”
“It was a tough weekend in Seattle after fighting for the win early in the main event,”stated Dustin Pipes, Principal for the Twisted Tea/H.E.P. Motorsports/Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance team. “Even with everything that transpired, we are still only 11 points out of the championship lead. It’s time to get back to work and regroup in Arlington next weekend.”
The next Supercross race takes place this Saturday inside AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The Suzuki riders, mechanics, and team members are ready for the challenges of the season and eager to deliver more wins and podium rides with their Suzuki RM-Z450s.
More from a press release issued by Monster Energy Kawasaki:
Levi Kitchen impresses the hometown crowd with a podium finish at Seattle Supercross.
Monster Energy® Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider Levi Kitchen had the hometown crowd on their feet as he delivered a standout performance to take second place in the 250SX Main Event at Round 6 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship in Seattle. Teammate Cameron McAdoo powered through adversity to secure a solid fifth-place finish. Monster Energy Kawasaki rider Chase Sexton put in a solid effort on the day to take home fifth place in the 450SX Main Event. Garrett Marchbanks rebounded from a late race incident, but without enough time left in the race, the No. 36 Kawasaki would ultimately finish 22nd.
Levi Kitchen (47) and Cameron McAdoo (142) at Seattle. Photo courtesy Kawasaki
Following a day of non-stop rain on Friday, riders were met with challenging track conditions on race day. The sticky mud tested the bikes and riders throughout the day. In 250SX Qualifying, Kitchen laid down fast laps in both sessions, narrowly missing the top spot to earn second overall. McAdoo continued to adapt to the changing track conditions, putting down a fast lap in the second session to take sixth overall.
Levi Kitchen (47) at Seattle. Photo courtesy Kawasaki
The two Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki riders were lined up nearly side by side for the first heat race. As the gate dropped, both Kawasaki riders bolted out of the gate on their KX™250 machines, with McAdoo rounding the first turn in second and Kitchen close behind in fourth. Kitchen quickly went to work, making decisive passes into third and then second before taking the lead just two minutes into the race. Riding off the energy of the hometown crowd, he continued to charge forward, gapping the field by over seven seconds and clocking the fastest lap time by over a second. After slipping back a couple of positions, McAdoo regrouped and started his push back towards the front. While on the move, McAdoo suffered a mid-race crash that dropped him back to eighth. The No. 142 Kawasaki quickly regrouped and climbed his way back up to fifth to finish the heat race.
Cameron McAdoo (142) at Seattle. Photo courtesy Kawasaki
In the 250SX Main Event, both riders came out of the gate in favorable Top 5 positions. McAdoo entered the first lap in second, finding his speed and rhythm in the opening moments, while Kitchen charged his way from fifth to second by Lap 3, passing his teammate along the way. Riding the momentum, Kitchen set the fastest lap of the race on the following lap. Determined to get the lead in front of the home crowd, Kitchen made a clean pass for first at the halfway point. A back-and-forth battle with the series points leader ensued with Kitchen using his inside line in the sand and triple-triple through the Sector 7 rhythm lane to hold a gap. Through the closing laps, lapped riders and rutted conditions caused the leaders’ lap times to be upwards of five seconds slower than their best. The two riders exchanged positions until the checkered flag, with Kitchen finishing a hard-fought second place. Despite lingering soreness from his earlier crash, McAdoo maintained a Top 5 pace all night to secure fifth place.
Levi Kitchen:“I definitely built more confidence after the race tonight, and we will keep building each week. Tonight we delivered a show for the fans and I had fun racing out there. I think the fans had fun watching it, and this is what they have been waiting for. I do feel like we’re close right now. I feel like we’re pretty close in speed and just need to work on a few more things, but I know the team and I can do it. My goal now is to go into every weekend, knowing that I can break away from the field and push my ability and speed. I want to have more races like that and put it on the top step of the box for Mitch and the team.”
Cameron McAdoo:“I had a few struggles today. I struggled a little bit in qualifying with comfort, but it wasn’t terrible. In the heat race, I had an unfortunate crash and banged myself up pretty good. Ending up fifth on the night was definitely the best that I had. I’m proud I was able to stay up there and get a solid result. I was glad that I was able to limit the damage as much as possible with how I was feeling after the heat race.”
Garrett Marchbanks (36) and Chase Sexton (4) at Seattle. Photo courtesy Kawasaki
In 450SX Qualifying, Sexton steadily learned the evolving track conditions and made key adjustments to dial in his KX™450SR. The No. 4 Kawasaki wrapped up the second session to take seventh overall on the tricky track. Marchbanks also used the second session to post his fastest lap time, matching his best qualifying finish from last week with a 12th overall.
Garrett Marchbanks (36) at Seattle. Photo courtesy Kawasaki
In Heat 1, Marchbanks pulled a strong start, placing himself inside the Top 10 and quickly passing riders on the opening laps. Before the race ended, the No. 36 Kawasaki was able to move himself into fifth place, marking his best heat race result of the season. In Heat 2, Sexton pulled an optimal start aboard his KX™ machine, putting himself in the Top 3 out of the gate. As the No. 4 Kawasaki navigated the deteriorating track, he suffered a tipover in the corner before the finish line. Sexton quickly remounted his bike and pushed back towards the front, moving from 10th to fifth by the end of the race. Sexton was right on pace with the rest of the field as he wrapped up the race, recording his fastest time at only three-tenths of a second behind the leader and setting multiple fastest sector times.
Chase Sexton (4) at Seattle. Photo courtesy Kawasaki
In the 450SX Main Event, Sexton pulled a prime start, rounding the first turn in the Top 5, while Marchbanks sat just outside the Top 10. Sexton rode a consistent race through the night, maintaining his position to take home fifth place. Marchbanks displayed consistent speed as he moved through the field on his way to crack a Top 10 finish, until a crash in the rhythm section sidelined him for a moment. The No. 36 pulled into the mechanics area to make adjustments to his bike, before riding back out determined to finish the race. Already three laps down due to his time off the track, Marchbanks pushed to make up time but would settle for 22nd on the night.
Chase Sexton:“Today was a bit frustrating for me. I expect to be at the front right now, but we’re not there yet. This week we worked on starts a lot and it paid off, as we saw today. Right now, I’m headed back to Florida and the team is going to come out and test more with me this week. We’re hopeful to make some positive changes and come into Arlington ready to fight.”
Garrett Marchbanks:“I love Seattle. The track was fun, but gnarly all day long. I felt like I started to get my flow and the bike together after second qualifying. We made a slight adjustment going into the heat race and had a good heat race from it. I started to feel better around Lap 4, we were able to put some good laps together and felt good going into the main event, with a good gate pick. I got off to a decent start and made some good passes in the main event. I was finally able to run up there in that Top 10 area and was able to battle the guys I knew I could always be around. I felt like I finally had that flow I’d been searching for, but I hit a weird spot in the rhythm and had a big crash. I knocked the wind out of myself pretty bad and couldn’t breathe for about two minutes. I got up and was just trying to catch my breath. I had to pull into the mechanics area to make some adjustments to my bike, and gave myself a minute to regroup because I was struggling to feel my hands. I wanted to go back out and finish this one out for the team, but I just had to roll this one out through the finish. Besides that, I thought it was really good improvement. I was having a lot of fun out here and looking forward to the rest of the season.”
More from a press release issued by Ducati Factory Racing:
Fight and Determination on Display for Troy Lee Designs Red Bull Ducati Factory Racing Team.
Round 6 of the AMA Supercross Championship marked the final stop of the West Coast swing as the series rolled into the Pacific Northwest. Challenging early tacky and sticky track conditions tested the field from the outset, but it was a night that highlighted the grit and determination of Dylan Ferrandis aboard the Ducati Desmo450 MX.
The day began with promise as Ferrandis put together a strong opening qualifying session, clocking the ninth-fastest time. He improved his pace in Qualifying 2 and secured 11th overall heading into the night show, setting the stage for solid gate selection and competitive racing under the lights.
In Heat Race 2, Ferrandis powered off the line and crossed the opening lap in sixth. Wasting no time, he made quick moves to advance into fifth on lap two. After battling intensely throughout the race, he ultimately secured a sixth-place finish, relinquishing just one position on the final lap.
Dylan Ferrandis (14) at Seattle. Photo courtesy Red Bull Ducati Factory Racing
The Main Event saw Ferrandis continue to push forward. He crossed the line in 10th position and recorded his fastest lap of the race, and of the entire day, on lap four with an impressive 53.283. Running consistently inside the top 10, his lap times demonstrated the potential to move further up the order. On lap six, he advanced into ninth and engaged in a fierce back-and-forth battle for position deep into the race.
A small tip-over in the turn just after the mechanics’ area briefly stalled his momentum, but Ferrandis refused to back down. Showing resilience and determination, he remounted and fought hard to secure a top-10 finish, knocking on the door of ninth by the checkered flag.
Seattle proved to be a testament to Ferrandis’ fighting spirit in a stacked and competitive field. Progress continues to be made as the team fine-tunes the package. The rhythm sections and whoops showed positive gains, while corner speed remains an area for refinement as the team works to bring the full package together.
Dylan Ferrandis (14) at Seattle. Photo courtesy Red Bull Ducati Factory Racing
“It was a very challenging track with the rain coming into the weekend. So far one of the nastiest and gnarly tracks,” said Dylan Ferrandis.“I started off feeling good in 1st practice, tried some things in practice and it didn’t walk that great. The heat race was fine, I was a little timid. In the main, I was feeling really good… my body and my mind was all in a good place. I was in a good spot fighting with the boys and was pushing, pushing, pushing and pushed the limit, a little too much. I lost the front and crashed. Came back to fight again and gave it everything I had. I was very disappointed with myself. I feel like tonight we could have improved on overall position. I think everybody in the team saw some good fight and saw some improvement on the bike. So next weekend we will have another to improve.”
With the West Coast swing complete, Troy Lee Designs Red Bull Ducati Factory Racing leaves Seattle encouraged by the progress shown and motivated to continue building momentum as the championship heads east.
More from a press release issued by Husqvarna Factory Racing:
Consistent results for Ryder DiFrancesco and Malcolm Stewart at Seattle Supercross.
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing teammates Ryder DiFrancesco and Malcolm Stewart delivered consistent performances at Round 6 of the 2026 AMA Supercross Championship in Seattle, Washington, where Ryder D finished fourth in the 250SX West division and Stewart recorded a season-best sixth-place result in 450SX.
DiFrancesco qualified eighth in the 250SX category, continuing to build comfort with the technical Lumen Field track conditions onboard his Husqvarna FC 250 Factory Edition over the course of the two sessions.
The 20-year-old charged to a convincing second-place finish in his Heat Race, before a composed ride in the Main Event saw DiFrancesco claim a P4 result, which now has him tied for third position in the Western Division standings after six rounds.
Ryder D will return to action on March 21 at Protective Stadium for the first 250SX East/West Showdown of the year, while the Eastern division commences next weekend in Arlington, Texas, with team riders Daxton Bennick and Casey Cochran making their first appearances of the 2026 season.
Ryder DiFrancesco (34) at Settle. Photo courtesy Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
“I didn’t have the best day in Seattle,”recalled DiFrancesco.“Out of the six rounds, this is probably the one I struggled with the most, so a fourth is a decent result entering the four-week break now. We’ll get that fire lit again, take a little time off, and regroup. Today was a bit of a struggle, although I am pretty stoked to come away with P4 and be tied for third in points.”
Stewart posted the sixth-fastest time overall in 450SX qualifying aboard his Husqvarna FC 450 Factory Edition, finding a strong rhythm early on during the afternoon and looking to maintain that form into the night show.
A crash in his Heat Race marked the lone major setback of what was an otherwise solid night for the 33-year-old Stewart, advancing directly to the 450SX Main Event with a seventh-place result.
Launching inside the top-10 on lap one, Stewart delivered a measured performance in demanding conditions, steadily working his way forward as the race wore on. Combining consistency with speed, Mookie crossed the line in P6 when the checkered flag flew.
Malcolm Stewart (27) at Seattle. Photo courtesy Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
“Seattle is always an interesting race,”said Stewart.“I always feel like I leave here with a positive mindset and decent results, and tonight we got sixth. Obviously, we wanted that top-five position, but considering how the beginning of the year has started, a sixth is a really good result for us! I felt really good all day. Practice was strong and it kind of starts from there, right? You know, just getting into that positive mindset, so yeah, Seattle was a good night, especially with the way the track was. It was pretty brutal out there – everybody was crashing and making big mistakes – but we kept it on two wheels and I was being smart with it. Now we head back indoors to Arlington and continue to build!”
Premier class teammate RJ Hampshire did not line up for Round 6 of the 2026 SMX World Championship in Seattle after fracturing his foot in a training crash earlier in the week, an injury that will also see him sit out upcoming rounds while he focuses on his recovery.
Chris Carr riding with the number one plate in 2002. Photo by Dave Hoenig for AMA Pro Racing.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (February 18, 2026) – AMA Pro Racing is pleased to announce the appointment of seven-time AMA Grand National Champion Chris Carr as the Series Director of Progressive American Flat Track. Effective immediately, Carr will oversee all competition-related aspects of the series as it enters an exciting new chapter of growth and evolution.
“We’re proud to welcome Chris Carr back to AMA Pro Racing,” said Gene Crouch, CEO of AMA Pro Racing. “Chris understands this sport at the highest levels: as a champion, a leader, and a steward of its incredible history. He brings unmatched credibility, integrity, and competitive insight that will strengthen our riders, teams and manufacturer ecosystem while elevating the fan experience nationwide.”
One of the most accomplished riders in the history of American motorcycle racing, Carr’s career spans decades at the top of the sport. His championship success, institutional knowledge, and deep relationships across the industry uniquely position him to guide Progressive American Flat Track’s competition strategy.
“I’m excited to return to AMA Pro Racing and take on the role of Series Director for Progressive American Flat Track,” said Carr. “Flat track has defined my life. I look forward to working alongside riders, teams, manufacturers, and partners to ensure safe, fair, and fiercely competitive racing that honors our history and builds our future.”
In his new role, Carr will manage season calendar development and event planning, event operations and safety protocols, rulebook evolution and technical regulations, rider and team relations, new rider evaluations and licensing, and strategic initiatives including the Road to AFT talent development program.
He will serve as the primary competition liaison among riders, teams, manufacturers, promoters and officials, with fairness, safety and integrity as the guiding principles that define his leadership and shape the championship’s competitive standards.
Next Up
The 2026 Progressive American Flat Track season will kick off with the Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA doubleheader at the DAYTONA Flat Track during Daytona’s Bike Week festivities. The twin short track races will take place at the “World Center of Racing” on Thursday, March 5 and Friday, March 6. To purchase tickets to the Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA I & II, please visit: https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack.
For those that can’t catch the live action at the track, FloRacing is the live streaming home of Progressive American Flat Track. Motorsports fans can subscribe to FloRacing to enjoy over 1,000 live motorsports events in 2026. FloSports is available by visiting https://flosports.link/aft or by downloading the FloSports app on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire and Chromecast.
FS1:
FOX Sports will provide in-depth coverage of the Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA doubleheader featuring rider features and thrilling onboard cameras. Stay tuned for an upcoming announcement regarding premiere airdates on FS1 and re-airs on FS2. The full listing of American Flat Track’s television premieres will be posted to the AFT website at https://www.americanflattrack.com/events-foxsports.
George W. Barber Jr. was the founder of Barber Motorsports Park and the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum. Photo courtesy Barber Museum. Photo courtesy AMA
(Please scroll down for updates)
We are deeply saddened by the passing of George Barber.
He built more than an organization—he built a community.
We are grateful for his vision and leadership, and we will share additional information in the days ahead.
George W. Barber Jr. was the founder of Barber Motorsports Park and the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum. Photo courtesy Barber Museum.
More, from a press release issued by AMA:
The American Motorcyclist Association is saddened to learn of the passing of AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer George Barber, who passed away at 85 years old.
Founder of the prestigious Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum in Birmingham, Ala., home to the world’s largest collection of historic motorcycles, Barber had a unique impact on the motorcycling community.
Son of George H. Barber, founder of Barber Dairy and pioneer for dairy pasteurization in the United States, the younger Barber’s love for motor vehicles started early in his life. In the 1960s, Barber raced and wrenched on his own Porsche racers with great success, claiming a large collection of wins behind the wheel.
Barber’s interest in motorcycles began soon after, leading him to open his own museum and hire skilled workers to restore vintage motorcycles to help build his collection. At the same time, Barber operated a vintage motorcycle racing team, which raced across the United States and Europe.
In 1994, Barber’s museum gained 501(c)(3) nonprofit status and was officially named the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum.
In 2002, Barber opted to close the original location of the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum, moving his collection to its current location in September 2003, an 830-acre complex that also includes a 2.38-mile road circuit.
For his longtime preservation of motorcycle history, Barber was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2014.
More, from a press release issued by Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum:
BARBER VINTAGE MOTORSPORTS MUSEUM CELEBRATES THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF GEORGE BARBER
Birmingham, Alabama: George W. Barber, Jr., founder of the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum and Barber Motorsports Park, died peacefully on Sunday, February 15, following a brief illness. He was 85 years old.
Following graduation from Auburn University, Barber enlisted in the Alabama Air National Guard, serving six years with the 117th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing. He took the helm of Barber Dairies at age 29, guiding it into a leading provider in the region.
His legendary competitive drive first manifested on the racetrack, where he dominated the Southeastern sports-car circuit. With 63 victories to his name, George was regarded as a leading talent of his era, trading paint with the likes of Dan Gurney and Peter Gregg.
Motorsports remained a driving force throughout his life. After the sale of Barber Dairies in 1998, Barber merged his various ventures to centralize the management of his diverse investments. In the 1980s, he envisioned a way to give back to Alabama through this lifelong interest.
Today, the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum houses the world’s largest collection of motorcycles and Lotus race cars. When the collection reached 1,000 vehicles, Barber was asked if they should stop. “Heck, no,” he replied. “We’ll keep going.’”
Located in the southeast corner of the 880-acre campus—bigger than New York City’s Central Park—the museum is a 230,000-square-foot architectural marvel, a global hub for restoration, preservation, design, and education, inspiring more than 4,000 students annually.
Often described as the “Augusta National of Racing,” Barber Motorsports Park was born from Barber’s mandate to create “a botanical garden with a racetrack in it.” The museum and park are considered the largest single philanthropic project by an individual in Alabama history.
Barber’s impact on education and environmental conservation is profound. He funded more than 500 full-tuition college scholarships and built a culture of mutual care and loyalty, consistently stepping in to support his employees and friends during times of need.
“Everyone who visits the museum and park has their own relationship with Mr. Barber,” said Executive Director Brian Case. “What we now share is the impact he had on our lives and responsibility we carry to honor his vision, generosity, and belief in what this place could be.”
A celebration of life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum.
About the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum
The Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum is a 501(C)(3) tax-exempt, private operating foundation dedicated to the preservation, interpretation, exhibition, and history of motorcycles, vintage vehicles, and motorsports located at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Ala. For more than 30 years, the museum has focused on various aspects of motorsports, from displaying motorcycles and cars spanning more than 120 years of production to the Barber Advanced Design Center, a high-tech workspace for design exploration. The museum embraces the culture of motorsports enthusiasts by hosting programs, such as the Barber Design Camp, and events, including the annual Barber Vintage Festival. With five floors housing 1,800 motorcycles, 150-plus automobiles, 60 of which are Lotus race cars, and numerous vintage and iconic vehicles, the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum is the ultimate family-friendly environment for education, exploration, and inspiration. Additional information is available at www.barbermuseum.org.
George Barber’s Official Obituary:
Full Speed Ahead: George W. Barber, Jr., 1940-2026
BIRMINGHAM – George W. Barber, Jr., of Birmingham, Alabama, passed away peacefully to be with his Savior on February 15, 2026. He was born September 11, 1940, to George W. Barber and Julia W. Barber. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sisters Lynn L. Woehle and Joan L. Hicks and brother Fritz Ludington. He is survived by his seven nieces and a nephew.
George attended Lakeview Elementary and Shades Valley High School, where he joined the
Alpha Sigma Delta fraternity. He went on to graduate from Auburn University as a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon. Following his studies, George enlisted in the Alabama Air National Guard, serving six years with the 117th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing.
George’s business acumen was rooted in a century of family tradition. Born into the dairy
business his grandfather established in 1921, George quite literally learned the ropes from the driver’s seat of a milk truck at eight years old. This early immersion evolved into a comprehensive mastery of the industry; by the time he took the helm at 29, George had served in nearly every capacity of the organization, guiding its evolution from a local staple into an Alabama industry leader.
George drove its continued growth, expanding into new geographies and product lines and
establishing Barber Dairies as a leading provider in the Southeast. A lifelong entrepreneur, he simultaneously scaled a diverse portfolio of ventures. His career was marked by high-profile acquisitions, including the Dairy Queen franchisor for Alabama and the Florida panhandle and Birmingham Realty Company, the historic successor to the Elyton Land Company, which founded the City of Birmingham. His strategic expansions also spanned luxury automotive with a Porsche and BMW dealership, the construction of Century Plaza Mall, as well as the development of a commercial landscape supply company and a premier marina in South Alabama.
The portfolio continued to evolve alongside George’s shifting business focus. Following the sale of Barber Dairies in 1998, he spent several years consolidating and merging his various ventures. By the early 2000s, he formalized these efforts under Barber Companies, an umbrella organization designed to centralize the management of his diverse investments. Today, the firm serves as a robust operating platform, managing a premier portfolio of approximately 300 commercial properties across Alabama, as well as the world-class Barber Marina.
While George’s philanthropy often took place behind the scenes, his impact on healthcare,
education, and environmental conservation is profound. Guided by a quiet humility, his
philanthropic reach extended to more than 90 organizations across the state of Alabama. He contributed significantly to the University of Alabama at Birmingham, endowing numerous scholarships to honor others’ legacies – a testament to his desire to elevate others rather than himself. His commitment to regional development was further solidified through Barber Dairies, where he funded more than 500 college scholarships, reaching every community in which the company served across Alabama, Florida, and Mississippi. He was a key benefactor to the Boy Scouts of America and Discovery Place (now McWane Science Center). A dedicated conservationist, George founded the Birmingham chapter of the Coastal Conservation Association and earned the title of Alabama Conservationist of the Year. Free advertising on millions of Barber milk cartons helped pass Alabama’s Forever Wild Act. His long-standing service on the Forever Wild Land Trust board and generous support for organizations like the Nature Conservancy reflect a lifelong dedication to preserving the natural world, carried out with the same unassuming spirit that defined his life’s work.
George’s legendary competitive drive first manifested on the racetrack in his early years. While he was required to balance his passion with his professional duties – relying solely on vacation days to compete – he managed to dominate the Southeastern racing circuit. With 63 victories to his name, George was regarded as a leading talent of his era, trading paint with racing legends such as Dan Gurney and Peter Gregg.
While George transitioned from the driver’s seat to the executive suite following his father’s
passing in 1970, his passion for motorsports remained a driving force. In the 1980s, he envisioned a way to give back to Alabama through this lifelong interest. Following a strategic suggestion to focus on motorcycles – a niche then underserved by major collectors – George’s personal pursuit evolved into the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum. Today, the nonprofit institution houses the world’s largest collection of motorcycles and Lotus race cars.
Spanning an 880-acre campus located in the City of Birmingham, the museum is a 230,000-square-foot architectural marvel that serves as a global hub for restoration, preservation, and education, inspiring over 4,000 students annually. Often described as the “Augusta National of Racing,” the adjacent Barber Motorsports Park was born from George’s mandate to create “a botanical garden with a race track in it.” Now home to marquee events like the Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix, the park and museum represent an investment of more than $200 million, widely considered the largest single philanthropic project by an individual in Alabama history. For his efforts, he was inducted into the American Motorcycle Association Hall of Fame in 2014.
While George never married, his life was defined by a deep sense of kinship with those around him. To George, his employees were his family. This commitment was evidenced by his personal touch; he marked every employee’s birthday and work anniversary with a personal phone call and maintained a genuine interest in their lives and well-being. A true servant leader, George built a culture of mutual care and loyalty, consistently stepping in to support his team members and friends during times of need. This spirit of kinship extended far beyond the office; his legacy lives on through a wider family of the heart, including his closest confidantes and dearest friends.
At the Motul FIM MotoMini World Championships past November at Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia, Spain, reigning Canadian National Champ Jager Stockill and Team Canada Captain Toni Sharpless await a Qualifying race start for the Ohvale 160 category.
Photo courtesy Colin Fraser/Super Sonic Roadrace School
The Super Sonic Road Race School and affiliated MotoMini FIM Canadian National Championship Series will attend the Toronto Motorcycle and Powersport Show at the Enercare Centre at Ehsibition Place on the Lake Ontario waterfront, February 20-22.
The history of this annual event traces back to the “Cycle Canada” Show in the late 1970s on the same grounds.
This will be the fifth and final winter show for Super Sonic founder and Team Canada MotoMini Captain Toni Sharpless, who started January at the International Centre near Toronto’s major Airport, then headed west for two shows affiliated with the Moto Canada industry group, formerly the M.M.I.C. – Motorcycle and Moped Industry Council.
Back from the most western of Canada’s ten provinces, Sharpless was at the ExpoMoto Quebec Show in Quebec City last weekend, prior to wrapping up 2026 show duties with the major Moto Canada affiliated event in Toronto.
Sharpless, inducted into the Canadian Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2012, developed her Mini program in association with the Canadian Motorcycle Association. The C.M.A. is the National representative of the F.I.M. – Federation Internationale de Motorclisme – and has sent Canadian representatives to Spain for the Motul World Finals each November since 2022.
At the World Finals, each invited competitor rides a supplied, identical, Pirelli slick shod Ohvale 160 single-cylinder racer against the top competitors from other National development programs.
The most recent Canadian to win the domestic Championship and represent Canada in Europe was Jager Stockill, the runner-up on the National tour behind Alberta’s Lincoln Scott in 2024 and the overall National victor last year. Stockill, and his AIM Insurance-backed racer, will also be on hand at the Enercare Centre.
The MotoMini Series will also celebrate a new sponsor at the event, with helmet builder KYT Americas just signed on to support the Series and School Systems.
The first round of the 2026 FIM Motul MotoMini Canadian Championship is scheduled for the Go-Kart layout at Shannonville Motorsport Park on Friday and Saturday, June 19 and 20.
The deciding National event of the 2026 five race series will take place around the same venue on September 25-26, as part of the 50th Anniversary Celebrations for motorcycle competition at the legendary Belleville-area race track.
Kensei Matsudaira (74), making his last MotoAmerica Mini Cup appearance, nipped rival Mahdi Salem (10) at the line in a GP 190 race during the 2025 MotoAmerica Mini Cup Finals. Photo by Larry Lawrence/MotoAmerica.
Rancho Cucamonga, CA — Dunlop Tires is proud to announce the 2026 Team Dunlop Road Race Elite roster, continuing the brand’s commitment to developing the next generation of American road racing talent. Designed to support young riders competing at the highest amateur and junior professional levels, the Road Race Elite program provides a proven pathway toward national and international competition.
The 2026 roster features a diverse and highly accomplished group of 10 riders competing across MotoAmerica Mini Cup, Talent Cup, FIM MiniGP, World Finals, and international development series. Representing the depth and reach of the program are Christian Berlowitz, Connor Raymond, Gabe Datis, Zaal Farhand, Cruise Texter, Cooper Jazikoff, Chase Jazikoff, Jase Dill, Maverick Johnson, and Kensei Matsudaira.
The 2025 Mission MotoAmerica Mini Cup Champions show off their No. 1 plates. (From left to right) Bodie Paige, Cruise Texter, Kensei Matsudaira, Zaal Farhand, and Chase Jazikoff. Photo by Larry Lawrence
Among the standout athletes, Connor Raymond enters his second year on Team Dunlop after finishing second overall in the MotoAmerica 190cc Championship, while Kensei Matsudaira continues his progression on a global stage with experience in the MotoAmerica Talent Cup, FIM MiniGP World Series, Asia Talent Cup, and JuniorGP European Talent Cup. Chase Jazikoff returns as a back-to-back MotoAmerica Mini Cup National Champion, joined by younger brother Cooper Jazikoff, who continues to build momentum across multiple MiniGP platforms. Riders such as Christian Berlowitz, Gabe Datis, Zaal Farhand, and Jase Dill bring championship-winning resumes from MotoAmerica, FIM MiniGP, and international competition, while Maverick Johnson enters his first year with Dunlop following a rapid rise through national ranks and upcoming international opportunities. Cruise Texter, already a proven multi-discipline racer, continues to showcase Dunlop performance across road race and beyond.
The Team Dunlop Road Race Elite program mirrors the structure and philosophy of Dunlop’s established Elite initiatives, providing select riders with technical support, product access, and brand partnership both on and off the track. With an increasing number of Elite alumni advancing into professional competition, Dunlop’s road racing development efforts continue to play a critical role in shaping the future of the sport.
“We’re excited to continue growing the Team Dunlop Road Race Elite program in 2026,”said Cori Maynard, Dunlop Coordinator of Motorsports Logistics.“This group represents the next wave of road racing talent, and it’s rewarding to see how quickly these riders progress when given the right support and opportunities. The depth of this roster speaks to the strength of the program and the future of American road racing.”
Kensei Matsudaira made his MotoAmerica Talent Cup debut in September 2025 at Circuit of the Americas, and finished on the podium. Photo by Karen E. Ott Photography.
Fans and industry members can look for these Team Dunlop Road Race Elite riders competing throughout the 2026 MotoAmerica Mini Cup season, where many will continue to showcase their development and racecraft at some of the most competitive youth road racing events in the country. The Mini Cup series remains a key proving ground for emerging talent, and Dunlop looks forward to supporting these riders as they continue to progress on the national stage.
Team Roberts 2026 MotoAmerica Talent Cup rider Kensei Matsudaira will also race in the 2026 FIM Moto4 Latin Cup. Photo by Karen E. Ott Photography.
About Dunlop Motorcycle Tires:
Dunlop is the largest supplier of original equipment and replacement motorcycle tires in North America. For more information, visit www.DunlopMotorcycleTires.com. Follow @RideDunlop on Instagram, Facebook, and X for the latest Dunlop news. Use #RideDunlop and #RaceDunlop to share your Dunlop moments.
ASRA racer Jacob Werner (113) plans to compete in MotoAmerica Twins Cup in 2026. He's seen here at the 2025 ASRA Race of Champions at Daytona. Photo by Faith Berry/Fullthrottle Visuals.
Werner Racing Fields Two GSX-8R Riders for 2026 Season
Werner Racing is proud to announce that two young riders will be under our canopy for the 2026 road racing season. Jacob Werner (#113) will be riding a Suzuki GSX-8R in his debut season for MotoAmerica. Jacob moved up from ARSA at the end of the 2025 season and will be making his MotoAmerica debut at the upcoming Daytona round in March followed closely by the Mid Ohio, VIR and NJMP rounds. The second rider for the team is also a rising star in the road racing paddock; Oren Bilik (#119) is a 3-time ASRA regional champion as well as the 2025 AMA amateur road racer of the year. Oren will be also riding a GSX-8R and starting the year as an expert racer in ASRA, with plans to move to MotoAmerica early in the season. Both riders will be riding bikes built by Karns Performance.
“I am very excited to start the season testing on my GSX-8R before the first MotoAmerica round at Daytona,” says Jacob Werner. The GSX-8R is a great platform that makes going fast easy and the team at Karns Performance did fantastic work building the bikes. Both Oren and myself have been training hard and we are ready to show what we can do.”
Oren Bilik says, “I am really grateful for the opportunity from Werner Racing and the rest of my sponsors for giving me an opportunity for the 2026 season. I have yet to ride the bike and am very excited to begin testing soon. I am extremely confident in the team and myself to show our potential amongst some of the fastest the U.S has to offer.”
Oren Bilik raced a Ninja 400 with ASRA in 2025. He wants to race a GSX-8R in Twins Cup in 2026. Teschner photo.
Nicolo Bulega (11) during the Phillip Island test. Photo courtesy Dorna
Testing at Phillip Island concluded with Nicolo Bulega setting the pace for Ducati. The strong form of the Italian brand was proven as they locked out the first four spots on the timesheet. The bimota duo of Axel Bassani and Alex Lowes were the closest challengers as the paddock now gears up for the first race of the season this weekend.
Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) topped all four sessions during testing and completed 138 laps of the 4.445km circuit. The Italian is the clear favourite, having set a time of 1’28.630 while also being the most consistent rider.
Sam Lowes (14) at Phillip Island. Photo courtesy Dorna
Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) was the closest challenger to Bulega, with the Brit six tenths of a second slower. His morning session ended with a consistent 15-lap stint, as many riders used the slightly cooler conditions for race simulations.
Axel Bassani (47) at Phillip Island. Photo courtesy Dorna
Bassani and Lowes showed strong pace for bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team, with the Italian setting his fastest time of the day in the morning, while Lowes left it until his final lap. The duo completed a combined total of 140 laps.
Alvaro Bautista (19) at Phillip Island. Photo courtesy Dorna
A Turn 11 crash for Jake Dixon opened the day and left the Honda HRC rider sidelined for the opening round with a fracture to his left wrist. The incident occurred on his first flying lap of the day. Later in the session, Stefano Manzi (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) crashed at Turn 2. Alvaro Bautista crashed at Turn 10 in the afternoon session, but the Barni Spark Racing Team rider still completed 74 laps to top the mileage charts.
Lorenzo Baldassari (34) at Phillip Island. Photo courtesy Dorna
Lorenzo Baldassari’s comeback to the Superbike class continues to impress. The Team GoEleven rider ended the test third fastest. Miguel Oliveira was the leading rookie with ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team’s Portuguese rider seventh fastest.
P1 – Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.It Racing – Ducati): “I feel good with the bike. We tried something different during the second session but then we decided to go back to the previous setting. When you already have a good feeling and you can push with confidence but changing things is not always better. So we returned to the morning setting and everything went well again. At the moment it’s just a test so the goal is to improve. I think there are still many areas where we can take a step forward, and I want to do that together with my team. We’ll work during these days before the race weekend and then we’ll see where we are.”
P2 – Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team): “I had a really good day. We improved the bike this afternoon and I started to find a good rhythm after doing a longer run this morning to understand my feeling with the bike. I did my best lap on the second run of the tyre which is positive at Phillip Island. I feel competitive. With the hard tyre I think we’ll be a bit closer and that’s the tyre that we’ll have for the race. The team has done a great job to improve the bike session by session. I still have areas we can work on but we’re in the mix.”
P3 – Lorenzo Baldassarri (Team GoEleven): “It was another positive day. I enjoyed the bike and the track and I could improve lap after lap. We’re working on the base setting to suit me better. It was good to confirm yesterday’s speed and today we focused on consistency with the race tyre. Honestly, the results from testing is a bit unexpected because during tests I prefer to build step by step rather than push too much. But we improved the pace, built a strong feeling with the bike, and I think we’re ready for the first race weekend.”
Jaume Masia (Orelac Racing Verdnatura) completed a strong two-day test at Phillip Island to set the pace in the Supersport class. The Spaniard completed 39 laps today but heavy rain during the final two hour session brought the action to a premature close.
PTR Triumph Factory Racing teammates Oli Bayliss and Tom Booth-Amos ended the day second and third fastest. For Bayliss it sets the scene for another strong home round while Booth-Amos was a race winner here twelve months ago.
Philipp Oettl (Feel Racing WorldSSP Team) was the only rider in the Top 15 not to improve on his morning time before the rain came in. The German ended the day fourth on the combined times.
Jaume Masia (5) at Phillip Island. Photo courtesy Dorna
P1 – Jaume Masia (Orelac Racing Verdnatura): “The morning session went quite well for us. We focused on understanding the bike. The afternoon was a bit crazy with the rain and wind but we finisher first. I feel confident for the weekend. I like to ride alone and to stay calm and consistent. If the race were tomorrow my target would be to lead and stay consistent.”
A “press release” is promotional text issued by a rider, team, company or organization to inform
the public about an event, product, or service from the issuer’s own point of view, and if deemed
to have news value, may be placed on roadracingworld.com as a service to our readers.
A press release is not an article written by Roadracingworld.com staffers. When a post is labeled with the words “press release”, it means that Roadracingworld.com is not responsible for its content and that Roadracingworld.com makes no guarantee that it is accurate. Not all press releases are posted and Roadracingworld.com may reject press releases if the content is too heavy on commercial promotion with little or no news value or if the press release contains obvious errors.
Accessibility
Accessibility modes
Epilepsy Safe Mode
Dampens color and removes blinks
This mode enables people with epilepsy to use the website safely by eliminating the risk of seizures that result from flashing or blinking animations and risky color combinations.
Visually Impaired Mode
Improves website's visuals
This mode adjusts the website for the convenience of users with visual impairments such as Degrading Eyesight, Tunnel Vision, Cataract, Glaucoma, and others.
Cognitive Disability Mode
Helps to focus on specific content
This mode provides different assistive options to help users with cognitive impairments such as Dyslexia, Autism, CVA, and others, to focus on the essential elements of the website more easily.
ADHD Friendly Mode
Reduces distractions and improve focus
This mode helps users with ADHD and Neurodevelopmental disorders to read, browse, and focus on the main website elements more easily while significantly reducing distractions.
Blindness Mode
Allows using the site with your screen-reader
This mode configures the website to be compatible with screen-readers such as JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, and TalkBack. A screen-reader is software for blind users that is installed on a computer and smartphone, and websites must be compatible with it.
Online Dictionary
Readable Experience
Content Scaling
Default
Text Magnifier
Readable Font
Dyslexia Friendly
Highlight Titles
Highlight Links
Font Sizing
Default
Line Height
Default
Letter Spacing
Default
Left Aligned
Center Aligned
Right Aligned
Visually Pleasing Experience
Dark Contrast
Light Contrast
Monochrome
High Contrast
High Saturation
Low Saturation
Adjust Text Colors
Adjust Title Colors
Adjust Background Colors
Easy Orientation
Mute Sounds
Hide Images
Hide Emoji
Reading Guide
Stop Animations
Reading Mask
Highlight Hover
Highlight Focus
Big Dark Cursor
Big Light Cursor
Cognitive Reading
Virtual Keyboard
Navigation Keys
Voice Navigation
Accessibility Statement
www.roadracingworld.com
April 7, 2026
Compliance status
We firmly believe that the internet should be available and accessible to anyone, and are committed to providing a website that is accessible to the widest possible audience,
regardless of circumstance and ability.
To fulfill this, we aim to adhere as strictly as possible to the World Wide Web Consortium’s (W3C) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 (WCAG 2.1) at the AA level.
These guidelines explain how to make web content accessible to people with a wide array of disabilities. Complying with those guidelines helps us ensure that the website is accessible
to all people: blind people, people with motor impairments, visual impairment, cognitive disabilities, and more.
This website utilizes various technologies that are meant to make it as accessible as possible at all times. We utilize an accessibility interface that allows persons with specific
disabilities to adjust the website’s UI (user interface) and design it to their personal needs.
Additionally, the website utilizes an AI-based application that runs in the background and optimizes its accessibility level constantly. This application remediates the website’s HTML,
adapts Its functionality and behavior for screen-readers used by the blind users, and for keyboard functions used by individuals with motor impairments.
If you’ve found a malfunction or have ideas for improvement, we’ll be happy to hear from you. You can reach out to the website’s operators by using the following email
Screen-reader and keyboard navigation
Our website implements the ARIA attributes (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) technique, alongside various different behavioral changes, to ensure blind users visiting with
screen-readers are able to read, comprehend, and enjoy the website’s functions. As soon as a user with a screen-reader enters your site, they immediately receive
a prompt to enter the Screen-Reader Profile so they can browse and operate your site effectively. Here’s how our website covers some of the most important screen-reader requirements,
alongside console screenshots of code examples:
Screen-reader optimization: we run a background process that learns the website’s components from top to bottom, to ensure ongoing compliance even when updating the website.
In this process, we provide screen-readers with meaningful data using the ARIA set of attributes. For example, we provide accurate form labels;
descriptions for actionable icons (social media icons, search icons, cart icons, etc.); validation guidance for form inputs; element roles such as buttons, menus, modal dialogues (popups),
and others. Additionally, the background process scans all the website’s images and provides an accurate and meaningful image-object-recognition-based description as an ALT (alternate text) tag
for images that are not described. It will also extract texts that are embedded within the image, using an OCR (optical character recognition) technology.
To turn on screen-reader adjustments at any time, users need only to press the Alt+1 keyboard combination. Screen-reader users also get automatic announcements to turn the Screen-reader mode on
as soon as they enter the website.
These adjustments are compatible with all popular screen readers, including JAWS and NVDA.
Keyboard navigation optimization: The background process also adjusts the website’s HTML, and adds various behaviors using JavaScript code to make the website operable by the keyboard. This includes the ability to navigate the website using the Tab and Shift+Tab keys, operate dropdowns with the arrow keys, close them with Esc, trigger buttons and links using the Enter key, navigate between radio and checkbox elements using the arrow keys, and fill them in with the Spacebar or Enter key.Additionally, keyboard users will find quick-navigation and content-skip menus, available at any time by clicking Alt+1, or as the first elements of the site while navigating with the keyboard. The background process also handles triggered popups by moving the keyboard focus towards them as soon as they appear, and not allow the focus drift outside it.
Users can also use shortcuts such as “M” (menus), “H” (headings), “F” (forms), “B” (buttons), and “G” (graphics) to jump to specific elements.
Disability profiles supported in our website
Epilepsy Safe Mode: this profile enables people with epilepsy to use the website safely by eliminating the risk of seizures that result from flashing or blinking animations and risky color combinations.
Visually Impaired Mode: this mode adjusts the website for the convenience of users with visual impairments such as Degrading Eyesight, Tunnel Vision, Cataract, Glaucoma, and others.
Cognitive Disability Mode: this mode provides different assistive options to help users with cognitive impairments such as Dyslexia, Autism, CVA, and others, to focus on the essential elements of the website more easily.
ADHD Friendly Mode: this mode helps users with ADHD and Neurodevelopmental disorders to read, browse, and focus on the main website elements more easily while significantly reducing distractions.
Blindness Mode: this mode configures the website to be compatible with screen-readers such as JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, and TalkBack. A screen-reader is software for blind users that is installed on a computer and smartphone, and websites must be compatible with it.
Keyboard Navigation Profile (Motor-Impaired): this profile enables motor-impaired persons to operate the website using the keyboard Tab, Shift+Tab, and the Enter keys. Users can also use shortcuts such as “M” (menus), “H” (headings), “F” (forms), “B” (buttons), and “G” (graphics) to jump to specific elements.
Additional UI, design, and readability adjustments
Font adjustments – users, can increase and decrease its size, change its family (type), adjust the spacing, alignment, line height, and more.
Color adjustments – users can select various color contrast profiles such as light, dark, inverted, and monochrome. Additionally, users can swap color schemes of titles, texts, and backgrounds, with over seven different coloring options.
Animations – person with epilepsy can stop all running animations with the click of a button. Animations controlled by the interface include videos, GIFs, and CSS flashing transitions.
Content highlighting – users can choose to emphasize important elements such as links and titles. They can also choose to highlight focused or hovered elements only.
Audio muting – users with hearing devices may experience headaches or other issues due to automatic audio playing. This option lets users mute the entire website instantly.
Cognitive disorders – we utilize a search engine that is linked to Wikipedia and Wiktionary, allowing people with cognitive disorders to decipher meanings of phrases, initials, slang, and others.
Additional functions – we provide users the option to change cursor color and size, use a printing mode, enable a virtual keyboard, and many other functions.
Browser and assistive technology compatibility
We aim to support the widest array of browsers and assistive technologies as possible, so our users can choose the best fitting tools for them, with as few limitations as possible. Therefore, we have worked very hard to be able to support all major systems that comprise over 95% of the user market share including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, Opera and Microsoft Edge, JAWS and NVDA (screen readers).
Notes, comments, and feedback
Despite our very best efforts to allow anybody to adjust the website to their needs. There may still be pages or sections that are not fully accessible, are in the process of becoming accessible, or are lacking an adequate technological solution to make them accessible. Still, we are continually improving our accessibility, adding, updating and improving its options and features, and developing and adopting new technologies. All this is meant to reach the optimal level of accessibility, following technological advancements. For any assistance, please reach out to
