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Trackdaz Airfence Fundraiser Will Honor Lily Coyner, R.I.P. (Updated)

Lily Coyner, wife of TrackDaz owner Dustin Coyner, tragically died suddenly on the morning of January 10, 2026. This tragedy has not only rocked the entire world of Dustin, but also the motorbike community. Lily has been a fixture in the paddock for over 25 years. She’s the one who greeted TrackDaz riders in the morning at registration. She listened to whatever complaints or comments riders had, sold merch, rented Yamaha generators. She also was the one calling loved ones using the emergency contact info when something happened. She loved all TrackDaz riders, and wanted to help keep us all safe.

Since TrackDaz already had an event scheduled that weekend, we’re working with Buttonwillow Raceway Park (BRP) and the Roadracing World Action Fund (RWAF) to raise money in her honor for more Airfence at the track. BRP will be donating all gate fees and likely offer other things for raffles. We’ll do raffles and other things as well.

We ask for the community to come together and show strong support for this lovely woman who cared so much in spite of not riding herself.

February 14-15 Buttonwillow Circuit Registration: http://www.trackrabbit.com/s/2mon

 

Claudia Guitierrez, lily’s sister, with Dustin Coyner, Lily’s widower, at Buttonwillow. The track honored her with a tree planted in her memory.

 

Aprilia Racers Days Returns to COTA for Two-Day Event

New York, NY (February 13, 2026) – Following North America’s only MotoGP Round at Circuit of the Americas, Aprilia returns to Austin to host Aprilia Racers Days at COTA, taking place Monday, March 30th, and Tuesday, March 31st, 2026 – delivering an unmatched post-race riding experience at one of the most iconic circuits in the world.

 

Watch your heroes race on Sunday, then join them on track Monday!

Monday, March 30th will be an exclusive VIP experience, featuring invited guests, special access, and the presence of Aprilia MotoGP riders and members of Aprilia Racing and Trackhouse MotoGP Team. This intimate day is designed to bring participants closer than ever to the passion, performance, and people behind Aprilia’s racing DNA.

Set within the MotoGP race garages, Aprilia Racers Days at COTA offers a truly unheard-of environment. Rider groups are limited to just 45 participants, maximizing track time, exclusivity, and the adrenaline that comes from riding the Circuit of the Americas immediately following MotoGP race weekend. As always, each ticket includes complimentary professional photography and lunch, along with the opportunity to ride select models from the 2026 Aprilia lineup on track. This is more than a track day – it’s a rare opportunity to ride, connect, and experience Aprilia in its element.

 

From left to right with Marco Bezzecchi, Lorenzo Savadori and Max Biaggi at COTA. Photo courtesy Aprilia

 

Event Details – VIP Experience (Monday, 3/30)

● Price: $1,500

● Aprilia Racing Team in Attendance

● VIP Guests

● On-Site Coaching

● Communal Garages (first come, first served)

● 1 Demo Ride Per Guest

● Complimentary Lunch

● Complimentary Photography

● Aprilia Gift Bag Including Commemorative T-Shirt

 

Event Details – Standard ARD Ticket (Tuesday, 3/31)

● Price: $850

● Communal Garages

● 1 Demo Ride Per Guest

● Complimentary Lunch

● Complimentary Photography

 

More Than Just a Ride – An Unmatched Experience

Aprilia Racers Days is about more than just riding – it’s about precision, passion, and performance. With expert coaching, professional photography, and direct support from Aprilia-trained technicians and brand representatives, every rider gets an immersive and tailored experience. Enthusiasts can ride the full Aprilia street lineup, including the RSV4, Tuono V4, RS 660, Tuono 660, and RS 457 or bring their own motorcycles for additional track time in skill-based riding groups.

 

Sign Up for the Aprilia Racers Days Experience.

Aprilia Racers Days at Circuit of the Americas 2026 is an unmissable event for riders looking to elevate their skills and experience the thrill of Aprilia’s high-performance motorcycles. Spaces are limited, so secure your spot today!

For registration and more details, visit: https://aprilia.ticketspice.com/cota-2026

For any additional questions, please contact [email protected].

 

Seen at a 2025 Aprilia Racers Days event at COTA. Aprilia photo.

 

Aprilia Racers Days events will be supported directly by Aprilia trained technicians and product specialists, as well as partners Pirelli, Dainese and AGV to offer the best on track experience with expert advice, performance and protection. The cost of participation in the events will not only qualify for an incredible track day experience with your existing motorcycle, but also include a VIP Aprilia Racers Days package, with ability to demo a new Aprilia for one of the track day sessions, equipped with Pirelli performance tires. Additionally, activities will include coaching, event photography, and an included lunch.

 

Daytona 200: Carl Soltisz On Astro-JJR HIPPO & MAR Suzuki

Astro-JJR HIPPO Suzuki and MAR Performance Moto combine for the 2026 Daytona 200 with Carl Soltisz, of Super Carl Racing, piloting the team’s Suzuki GSXR-750.

“Continuing the relationship that took current British Supersport Champion Rhys Irwin and former Australian Supersport Champion Tom Toparis to Daytona in previous years, we are again joining forces to provide Carl a platform to showcase his talent and commitment to a wide audience,” said team owner Stuart Tromans. “We hope this will lead to further opportunities both in the USA and further afield here in the UK.

“The team has enjoyed considerable success with 2 x Daytona participant Harry Truelove and current British Champion Rhys Irwin as well as the much-missed former MotoAmerica rider Shane Richardson who we sadly lost in 2025. We hope Carl’s experience and meticulous working practices along with a first-class racing pedigree and attitude will bring a valuable contribution to this HIPPO supported venture.”

Rider Carl Soltisz added “I am super excited to team up with the Astro MAR Performance HIPPO Suzuki team for the 84th running of the iconic Daytona 200. Malcom Ashley and I talked during the off-season and developed a great working relationship after discovering that we shared similar racing ambitions and goals.

“Having raced every Daytona 200 since 2015, and recently notching a personal best 11th-place finish in 2025 while riding with a broken arm, I feel I bring crucial Daytona experience, knowledge, and strategy to the party. Combined with the team’s own Daytona experience and their tremendous achievements in the British Championship over the years, I think we have a great opportunity to score our best Daytona 200 finish yet. Now that we have teamed up I am looking forward to taking on this challenge.”

Super Carl Soltisz.

MAR is owned and run by Malcom Ashley, a former BSB Superbike rider who now owns and operates MAR Performance MOTO specializing in GSX-R preparation.

ASTRO-JJR HIPPO Suzuki is a front-running British Supersport team that has since 2022 been instrumental in the development of the Supersport Next Gen category in the UK and abroad with development taking place in the USA and Australia alongside the UK team.

Super Carl Racing is the race team owned and operated by rider/engineer “Super” Carl Soltisz. It is a top-10 MotoAmerica Supersport team that has been competing in the series since its start in 2015. For more information, visit www.carlsoltisz.com.

MotoAmerica: Strack Steps Up To Superbike

After multiple championship-winning seasons in MotoAmerica’s Supersport class, Strack Racing Yamaha is taking a big step forward by entering the Superbike Championship in 2026 alongside their continuation in Supersport. The move marks the next phase in the team’s long-term growth at the national level.

Two-time, back-to-back Supersport Champion Mathew Scholtz will set aside his #1 Strack Racing Yamaha YZF-R9 and swing his leg over the brand-new #11 Strack Racing Yamaha YZF-R1 Superbike. For Scholtz, he returns to MotoAmerica’s premier class where he previously notched five Superbike wins prior to joining Strack Racing in 2024. The South African brings championship momentum and continuity as the team expands into MotoAmerica’s premier race class.

 

Mathew Scholtz was en fuego in Texas. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Mathew Scholtz was en fuego in Texas. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.

 

Also continuing with Strack Racing Yamaha is Scholtz’s Supersport teammate from the past year, Blake Davis. The 19-year-old from Virginia finished third in the 2025 Supersport standings and, with both season champion Scholtz and runner-up PJ Jacobsen moving up to Superbike, Davis is the odds-on favorite to make it three years in a row for Strack Racing Yamaha to win the Supersport crown.

Davis will be back aboard the #22 Strack Racing Yamaha YZF-R9 as he and the team continue to develop the Supersport Next Generation machine.

 

Blake Davis (22). Photo by Michael Gougis.

 

With Scholtz in Superbike and Davis continuing in Supersport, Strack Racing Yamaha will work in close technical alignment with Attack Performance, strengthening the Superbike program while maintaining championship-level performance across both race classes.

Commenting on his team’s 2026 racing plans, Strack Racing Yamaha’s team owner Peter Strack said, “Supersport enabled us to build a championship foundation, and that didn’t happen easily—it was deliberate and strategic. With Yamaha and Attack Performance aligned with us technically, we’re confident about stepping into Superbike while continuing to compete at the front of a stacked Supersport field.”

About continuing with Strack Racing Yamaha and moving back up to Superbike, Scholtz said, “Coming back to Superbike with Strack Racing Yamaha feels like the right move at the right time for me. What we’ve built together in Supersport gives us a strong foundation, and I’m excited to take that momentum back into the premier class with a team I trust.”

 

Mathew Scholtz and the entire Strack Racing crew celebrate in style after clinching the MotoAmerica Supersport Championship. Photo courtesy Yamaha Motor Corporation.
Mathew Scholtz and the entire Strack Racing crew celebrate in style after clinching the MotoAmerica Supersport Championship. Photo courtesy Yamaha Motor Corporation.

 

Davis had this to say about his second year with Strack Racing Yamaha and his plans to keep the Supersport title in the team: “I’m excited to continue with Strack Racing Yamaha and build on what we started last season. The Supersport class is stacked, and my goal is to be fighting for wins every race while continuing to develop the R9 with the team.”

Commenting on the continued partnership, Yamaha Racing’s Assistant Department Manager for YMUS Jeff Sidlovsky said, “Yamaha Racing is proud to support Strack Racing stepping up to the Superbike class with Mathew Scholtz, and continuing to build on their championship foundation in the Supersport class with Blake Davis. The team’s commitment to excellence is evident, and Mathew, Blake, and the team continue to grow. We value the collaboration between Strack Racing and Attack Performance as this strengthens the bonds between our racing partners, elevates the Yamaha brand, and promotes the strength of the YZF-R1 and YZF-R9.”

MotoGP: Key Things to Know Ahead of the Thailand Opener

A delve into a few notable topics ahead of MotoGP landing in Thailand for Round 1 of what’s set to be another compelling campaign.

Here we go then. The Sepang Shakedown and Official Test kicked off proceedings as another MotoGP season bursts into life, with 2026 the last of its kind before a new era begins in 2027.

With the opening Grand Prix of the year in Thailand now rapidly approaching, what’s to know ahead of another stint of enjoying the most exciting sport on earth? If you’re a familiar face around here, then you’ll have a very good idea already. But, if you’re a new fan (welcome, first and foremost), then this should give you a good leg up as we strap in for MotoGP to go racing in 2026.

 

Marc Marquez (93) quickest on day 1 at Sepang. Photo courtesy Dorna.

 

  • Chasing the eighth

Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team), having completed the greatest sporting comeback in 2025, now sets out to clinch an eighth MotoGP World Championship title in 2026.

And despite undergoing another winter of rehabilitation following the shoulder injury sustained in October’s Indonesian Grand Prix, the #93 will land at the Thai Grand Prix as the rider to beat. After all, Marc Marquez lines up on the grid at Round 1 as the reigning World Champion for the first time since 2020. The target will be on his back, with the numerous chasers setting out to try and beat one of the greatest motorcycle racers of all time. A tough ask.

 

Two-time MotoGP World Champion Francesco Bagnaia testing at Circuito de Valencia, November 2025. Photo by Michael Gougis.

 

  • A quintet of MotoGP World Champions

It’s not just the 73-time MotoGP winner who knows how to climb to MotoGP’s summit and conquer the world. Marc Marquez is joined on the 2026 grid, as he was last season, by four other MotoGP Champions. 2024 king Jorge Martin (Aprilia Racing), 2023 and 2022 number one Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), 2021 ruler Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP), and 2020 master Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol) have all tasted title-winning success between Marquez’s last two championship wins in 2019 and 2025.

Will a new name be added to that illustrious list in 2026?

 

Toprak Razgatlioglu (7) at Sepang. Photo courtesy Prima Pramac Yamaha

 

  • The arrival of Toprak

Another name who is well known for World Championship title victories is MotoGP rookie Toprak Razgatlioglu. The three-time WorldSBK champion links up with Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP in 2026 and is set to become the first Turkish rider to compete in MotoGP, and while a title victory isn’t likely to come this season, Razgatlioglu’s arrival into the Grand Prix paddock is properly exciting. The #07 is without doubt one of the most talented motorcycle riders on the planet, so once he’s in his groove, expect fireworks from the 29-year-old.

 

Diogo Moreira (11) during the first test day at Sepang. Photo courtesy Dorna

 

  • Bem-vindo de volta, Brasil!

While we welcome our first-ever Turkish MotoGP rider to the grid, we also get ready to witness Brazil’s Diogo Moreira (Pro Honda LCR) enter the fray. The 2025 Moto2 World Champion became the first from his country to win a Grand Prix title last season, as Moreira picks up the baton left by our last Brazilian rider Alex Barros, who last raced in MotoGP back in 2007.

Oh, and what about that for timing? Because Round 2 takes us back to Brazil for the first time since 1992, and back to Goiânia for the first time since 1989.

 

Raul Fernandez (25) and Ai Ogura (79) at Sepang. Photo courtesy Trackhouse Team

 

  • Hunting a debut victory

Five riders on the 2026 grid are all dreaming of clinching their first MotoGP win this season. There’s of course our two rookies, Razgatlioglu and Moreira. Then there’s 2024 Moto2 World Champion Ai Ogura (Trackhouse MotoGP Team), Honda HRC Castrol’s Luca Marini, and the one most will be talking about… Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing).

Is 2026 the year Acosta finally clinches his maiden MotoGP win? The Spaniard is a 10-time podium finisher in the class and finished P4 in the Championship in 2025, and having risen through the ranks as a leading star, Acosta will want nothing more than to collect a Sunday 25-point haul.

 

Some MotoGP riders during the Sepang test. Photo courtesy Dorna.

 

  • Awakening sleeping giants

Honda HRC Castrol are hunting their first victory in five long years. And after Mir was able to climb onto the podium twice in the last six races, coupled with a positive pre-season, HRC are becoming a force once again.

Then there’s Yamaha. There may have been a hiccup or two in pre-season, but the Iwata marque are now armed with a bold new V4 engine. A mammoth task still lies ahead in what is a huge change in philosophy for the Japanese manufacturer, but the foundations for success are being laid.

 

  • The last dance of MotoGP’s 1000cc era

Contracts expiring, new regulations looming. There’s an almighty shake up coming for 2027 and already, things are getting very, very interesting. Big name moves. Shocks on the cards. Keep your eyes firmly fixed on what’s about to unfold both on and off track in MotoGP.

CVMA: Round 5 Will Be Streamed Live

We’re excited to announce that CVMA Round 5 will be streamed live!

  • Round 5 Saturday:

https://youtube.com/live/2OyJEQLKSVo?feature=share

  • Round 5 Sunday:

https://youtube.com/live/FUmQ9ZylrDM?feature=share

Subscribe to the 951 Live YouTube Channel to get notified as soon as we go live. And please encourage your friends, family, and motorcycle racing fans to subscribe and tune in for most races.

MotoAmerica: Yamaha Announces Official Teams for 2026

Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. (YMUS) has announced its official, factory-supported teams for the 2026 MotoAmerica season, and four teams go to the fore, including Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing, Strack Racing Yamaha, Liberty Yamaha Racing, and Yamaha BLU CRU Estenson Racing.

“Yamaha Racing is pleased to announce our official teams for the 2026 MotoAmerica season,” commented Jeff Sidlovsky, Yamaha Racing Assistant Department Manager for YMUS. “We’re proud to continue our partnerships with a strong group of teams competing across four MotoAmerica classes, showcasing the strength of the YZF-R1, YZF-R9, and YZF-R7. We’re also excited to continue our involvement in the MotoAmerica Talent Cup, a series that aligns well with our BLU CRU initiative by developing young riders and creating a pathway to the highest levels of competition. With a great rider lineup that blends emerging talent and championship-proven experience, we’re looking forward to an exciting 2026 MotoAmerica season.”

 

Bobby Fong (50). Photo by Brian J. Nelson.

 

Entering its seventh season as an official YMUS Superbike team, Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing will feature a strong, two-rider lineup that includes incumbent Bobby Fong and returning fan favorite JD Beach, who will both be aboard Yamaha YZF-R1 Superbikes.

Fong is coming off a standout debut season with the team. Earning six Superbike victories and finishing third in the standings last year, he looks to contend for another championship in 2026. Joining the team this year is Beach, who returns to Yamaha where he has enjoyed a lot of success in both road racing and flat track, including two MotoAmerica Supersport Championships and two Superbike victories.

 

Blake Davis (22) leads teammate Mathew Scholtz (1) through the Corkscrew in Sunday’s Motovation Supersport race at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. Photo by Brian J. Nelson

 

Strack Racing Yamaha returns for 2026 with its championship-proven, tandem of Mathew Scholtz and Blake Davis. In addition to making another run at a MotoAmerica Supersport title, the team will expand its efforts to Superbike. Following a highly successful two-year campaign with the team that yielded 19 wins and 31 podiums en route to back-to-back Supersport titles, Scholtz will head the team’s efforts in Superbike. Before his tenure with the team, the South African enjoyed success aboard the Yamaha YZF-R1, including five Superbike victories and the 2017 MotoAmerica Superstock 1000 Championship.

Davis returns for his second season with Strack Racing Yamaha to lead the team’s Supersport title defense and continue the development of Yamaha’s YZF-R9 next-generation Supersport platform. The 2022 and 2023 Twins Cup Champion earned three wins and 10 podiums last season, finishing third in the championship aboard his #22 R9.  

 

Dominic Doyle (25). Photo by Michael Gougis.

 

Also competing for top honors in MotoAmerica Supersport is Liberty Yamaha Racing, formerly known as Giaccmoto Yamaha Racing. Liberty St. Development returns for a second year to support the program and assumes title sponsorship for the 2026 season. Dominic Doyle returns to lead the team aboard the Liberty Yamaha YZF-R9. The 24-year-old South African brings multiple wins across MotoAmerica support classes and was the 2020 Junior Cup Championship runner-up. Following strong results in Twins Cup and the Super Hooligan National Championship over the past few seasons, Doyle is poised to challenge for Supersport victories in 2026.

 

Sam Drane (59). Photo by Brian J. Nelson.

 

Yamaha BLU CRU Estenson Racing returns in 2026 with an expanded, two-class effort in Twins Cup and Talent Cup. Already a championship-proven program as an official YMUS American Flat Track team, Estenson Racing became an official YMUS MotoAmerica Talent Cup team in 2025. Sam Drane returns to the team after an impressive rookie season in the series, finishing third overall in the inaugural Talent Cup Championship. The young Australian earned one victory and nine podiums across seven rounds and now sets his sights on the Talent Cup title, while also making his Twins Cup debut aboard the Yamaha YZF-R7.

For more racing news, click here: https://www.yamahamotorsports.com/racing

LapSnap Telemetry Analysis App Available With Track Data

LapSnap Acquired by American Interests, Establishes U.S.-Based Company Focused on Data-Driven Motorsports Performance

LapSnap Inc., a newly incorporated American company, has acquired the LapSnap motorsports telemetry analysis app. The acquisition formalizes the app’s transition into a U.S.-based company and marks a renewed commitment to helping track enthusiasts turn raw telemetry data into real lap time improvements.

LapSnap eliminates the guesswork traditionally associated with motorsports data analysis. The app presents telemetry in a clear, actionable way, allowing riders to quickly identify where lap time is gained or lost and how to improve their performance.

“Most people using lap timer systems never take the time to look at the data they are collecting,” said a spokesperson for LapSnap. “LapSnap bridges that gap by allowing you to download data from your lap timer directly to your phone or tablet. The software makes it understandable, practical, and immediately useful—-so users can see how to improve their technique.”

The new LapSnap app.

Used by track-day goers, racers, and motorsports enthusiasts, LapSnap analyzes performance data such as GPS speed, line selection, RPM, lean angle, and brake/throttle usage. This data helps users make informed improvements session over session. The app also allows users to compare their data to other users, which eliminates the guesswork as to why one rider may be faster than the other.

With the formation of LapSnap Inc., the company plans to continue investing in the app’s core capabilities while expanding its analysis tools and improving usability for drivers of all experience levels. LapSnap currently supports popular GPS telemetry systems including AiM, Racebox and GPS enabled GoPros. Additional telemetry systems are planned to be supported in the future.

LapSnap is available on iOS/Android and can be found at https://lapsnap.app

About LapSnap Inc.

LapSnap Inc. is a U.S.-based motorsports technology company focused on simplifying telemetry analysis for drivers. Through its mobile app, the company helps track enthusiasts understand their data, improve performance, and go faster on track.

 

More, from a press release issued by Joel Ohman:

MotoAmerica Racer Joel Ohman Partners With LapSnap, Releases 2025 Racing Data for Free

Track day riders can now compare their performance directly against MotoAmerica-level telemetry gathered during the 2025 season.

Joel Ohman, a MotoAmerica racer with three years of professional competition experience, has announced he is making his 2025 racing data freely available through the LapSnap mobile app. The data release includes telemetry from all regular-season MotoAmerica events across the United States, giving track day riders unprecedented access to professional-level data.

Ohman, who formerly raced with Team Hammer and currently competes under his personal Open Source Racing banner, is releasing detailed telemetry data including lap times, brake and throttle inputs, lean angle, and GPS traces for all MotoAmerica tracks including Circuit of the Americas, The Ridge, Laguna Seca, New Jersey Motorsports Park, Virginia International Raceway, Road America, Road Atlanta, Barber Motorsports Park, and Mid-Ohio. The data was gathered from his MotoAmerica Supersport-spec Suzuki GSX-R750 during MotoAmerica qualifying and race sessions.

“I want to give other riders tools to help improve their riding by comparing their data directly to mine,” said Ohman. “The ability to see exactly where and how a faster rider approaches each corner can be invaluable for someone looking to take their skills to the next level. This type of data was something I wished I had when I started racing. My hope is it shows people that it’s possible to go from a novice racer to a national competitor in just a few years like I did. The data removes the guesswork.”

LapSnap’s overlay feature allows riders to compare their own data side-by-side with Ohman’s telemetry, often revealing counter-intuitive insights. “The results are sometimes surprising,” Ohman explained. “For example, it’s common for intermediate riders to actually be too fast mid-corner. Comparing data, they might see that I’m actually slower at certain points on the track, which allows you to get on the throttle earlier and achieve a better exit. These are the kinds of details that can transform someone’s understanding of their riding technique.”

The LapSnap app is compatible with popular data logging systems including AiM lap timers, GoPro cameras with GPS, and RaceBox devices, with additional lap timer systems planned for future releases. The app is available to download on both iOS and Android app stores. Track day riders and racers can access Ohman’s complete data library by downloading LapSnap and searching for his rider profile within the app.

About LapSnap

LapSnap is a mobile application designed for track day riders and motorcycle racers to analyze and compare performance data directly on their mobile devices. The app is compatible with popular data logging systems including AiM lap timers, RaceBox devices, and GoPro cameras with GPS. Additional telemetry systems will be supported in future releases.

About Joel Ohman

Joel Ohman is a MotoAmerica racer with three years of professional racing experience, from Seattle, Washington. He started racing club events in 2019, and entered his first MotoAmerica race in 2022. He owns and operates Open Source Racing, with a mission to help other riders improve their technique by providing transparency and insight into the racing world.

Golden State Championship Heading to Round 2 At Apex

The Golden State Championship is looking forward to Round Two of the series, set for March 14–15 at Apex Motorsports Park in Southern California with co-host and legendary racer John Hopkins, promising even more competition and thrilling racing. 

The inaugural round of the AMA-sanctioned Golden State Championship was a big success, kicking off January 31–February 1 at Buttonwillow Kart Track, delivering high-octane racing, packed grids, and a weekend full of excitement. The event attracted riders from across the country, including top American road race professionals, Supermoto pros, Motocross and Flat Track racers, and rising stars from the MotoAmerica Mini Cup.

The first weekend featured 16 classes, 4 classes using the dirt section, with the remaining classes contested on asphalt. The track layout, including a challenging dirt section with a deep mud pit, produced intense battles that tested rider skill, adaptability, and strategy. Racing was safe, and the paddock buzzed with enthusiasm from teams, riders, and fans.

Andrew Berner (13) in the 190 Ohvale class. Photo by Karen E. Ott.

Round 1 also featured a $2,000 purse, plus an additional $1,700 in cash bonuses, ensuring every top-three podium finisher received a payout thanks to sponsor Redwood Pipe and Drain. With 155 race entries, the championship’s first round set a high bar for competition and excitement. Series owner Hawk Mazzotta and co-host Bronson Pierce teamed up for this first round and had a blast and huge success working together!

“The goal here is to bring back Supermoto, and provide a stepping stone to MotoAmerica for our youth road racers. It has been in the works for a long time, and it’s finally come to fruition. I am really happy with how the first event went overall, and confident everything will only get better as we are always learning. I couldn’t have asked for a better partner in preparing and running this first event with Bronson, we worked so well together and had a blast while doing so. This has been a gritty process of hands on build it and they will come, they came! We are so pumped for round 2 and the high energy and vibes, let’s keep it going!”

Dexter Salaverria, son of former AMA 250cc GP star Al, in action in the 190 Ohvale class. Photo by Karen E. Ott.

Huge gratitude to partners and sponsors, including MotoAmerica, AMA, USMCA, Trackhouse, Yamaha, Bike911, Redwood Pipe and Drain, Dunlop, Roadracing World, California Customs, SDI Insulation, Cardo Systems, KYT, Bison, Yamalube, Farmers Brewing Company, ProTech Signs, Throttle Sauce, DP Brakes, BluCru, Signsations, Ohvale, 73Motorparts, VNM Sport, CT Racing-Pirelli/Metzler, our flag man Andy, volunteers, corner workers, and families who made the weekend possible.

For more information and updates visit hawkmazzottamotocamp.com

Results

Ducati Unveils Formula 73, Limited to 873 Numbered Units

  • Produced in a limited series of 873 numbered units, the Formula 73 celebrates the Super Sport 750 Desmo, one the most iconic models in Ducati history.
  • An Urban Café Racer that combines modern technology with the authentic charm of the 750 Super Sport Desmo.
  • The short film A Piece of Timeless celebrates the birth of this special bike.

 

 

Ducati Formula 73. Photo courtesy Ducati.

 

Borgo Panigale (Bologna, Italy), 12 February, 2026 – In its centenary year, the Borgo Panigale manufacturer presents the Formula 73, a motorcycle that revives, in a modern version, the spirit of a model and an era that helped create the Ducati legend and inspired the principles that still guide it today. The Formula 73 celebrates the 750 Super Sport Desmo, the first Ducati road bike equipped with a desmodromic valve timing system.

The Super Sport was in fact a replica of the 750 Imola Desmo with which Paul Smart and Bruno Spaggiari triumphed in the 1972 200 Miglia di Imola, the first European competition for production-derived motorcycles, a formula which would give rise to Superbike. The historic victory at Imola and the subsequent birth of the 750 Super Sport Desmo represented the first and fundamental episode in Ducati’s saga in production-derived racing, where it has achieved a world championship record that now stands at more than 400 victories, sixteen rider titles and twenty-one manufacturer titles.

The 750 Super Sport Desmo was born in a decade of great change and contrasts, marked by intense cultural creativity. It was a period characterised by changes in society and a widespread desire for renewal. An extraordinary artistic vitality influenced music, cinema, fashion and thought, making the 1970s a complex and deeply significant era.

The Formula 73 was created today as a tribute to that epoch-making motorcycle, which already embodied the values of Style, Sophistication and Performance that have inspired Ducati ever since. The Formula 73 is a model dedicated to motorcycle enthusiasts with timeless charm, who love to stand out by riding a bike with an unmistakable design and strong personality, shunning conformity and paying attention to every detail in their daily lives.

The Formula 73 is the star of the short film ‘A Piece of Timeless‘, in which Italian actor Stefano Accorsi, a great Ducati enthusiast, reflects on his experience of trying it for the first time. Stefano, drawing a parallel between riding a motorcycle and acting, recounts his relationship with acting and the world of motorsports in this film.

 

Ducati Formula 73. Photo courtesy Ducati.

 

  • Unmistakable personality

The Ducati Formula 73 line is a contemporary reinterpretation of the legendary 1973 750 Super Sport Desmo. Sleek and slender, this bike conveys agility thanks to its minimalist yet elegant aesthetics. Equipped with the iconic air-cooled Ducati twin-cylinder engine, it combines the rebellious spirit of Urban Café Racers with the timeless charm of what many collectors consider to be the most significant motorcycle in Ducati’s history.

Every detail contributes to making the Formula 73 unique. The silver and aqua green livery, inspired by the original 750 Super Sport Desmo, is the result of careful research in the company’s historical archives carried out by the Ducati Style Centre. The vertical gold stripe on the tank echoes the original unpainted strip on the 750 Imola Desmo, which allowed the team to check the fuel level without complicating and weighing down the bike with additional instruments. The clip-on handlebars with bar-end mirrors, the short, tapered fairing and tail confirm the Café Racer personality of this collector’s bike.

The many billet aluminium components, such as the brake and clutch levers with oil reservoirs, the footpegs and the Rizoma fuel cap supplied as standard, catch the eye and further enhance a bike designed to be admired both when stationary and in motion.

Like all Ducati limited edition models, the Formula 73 features the model name and serial number on the steering plate. Each bike comes with a certificate of authenticity, as well as a collection of period images and sketches created by the Ducati Style Centre, presented in a special box.

 

Ducati Formula 73. Photo courtesy Ducati.

 

  • Innovation in tradition

The Ducati Formula 73 is a timeless creation, faithful to the technical solutions that made the 750 Super Sport Desmo iconic, yet at the same time a modern, high-tech motorcycle.

Its 803 cc Desmodue engine is an L-twin with desmodromic distribution and two valves, Euro5+ approved, faithful to the technical standards on which Ducati built its legend in the 1970s and 1980s. An authentic engine, capable of 73 horsepower at 8,250 rpm, which goes beyond the concept of performance to unequivocally define the personality of the Formula 73, becoming a fundamental element of both the style and riding experience of the bike. The silencer, developed in collaboration with Termignoni with aesthetic details specifically designed for this model, gives the bike a full and evocative voice, and the Ride-by-Wire throttle makes the engine response quick, progressive and smooth even at low revs.

The steel trellis frame of the Formula 73 reinforces the connection with the Super Sport Desmo that inspired it. Sleek and painted in aqua green, it becomes part of the livery and, together with the 17-inch spoked wheels with Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV tyres, contributes to making the bike manoeuvrable and easy to ride.

The Formula 73 is a complete motorcycle, thanks to its electronic systems, which include DTC traction control, Cornering ABS, the Ducati Quick Shift system and two Riding Modes. This makes every ride, from your commute to work to trips over mountain passes, safer and more enjoyable, making every moment spent in the saddle unique.

 

Ducati Formula 73. Photo courtesy Ducati.

 

  • Availability

Fans wishing to complete their look with technical garments inspired by the aesthetics of this collector’s motorcycle can choose a helmet, created in collaboration with Arai, and a sports jacket that echo the Formula 73 livery. The Ducati Formula 73 will be produced in a numbered series limited to 873 units and will arrive in European dealerships in spring 2026. Distribution will be completed in the rest of the world by the end of summer.

The launch video of the bike is available on Ducati’s YouTube official channel.

 

Ducati Formula 73. Photo courtesy Ducati.

 

Formula 73

  • Livery
    • 750 Super Sport Desmo replica
  • Main standard equipment
    • Desmodue engine, 803 cm3
    • Maximum power: 73 CV @ 8,250 RPM
    • Maximum torque: 65.2 Nm @ 7,000 RPM
    • Type-approved Termignoni silencer
    • Wet weight no fuel: 183 Kg
    • Steel trellis frame
    • Upside-down 41 mm KYB front fork
    • KYB shock, preload adjustable
    • Front brake: 4-piston Brembo radial caliper and 330 mm disc
    • Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV tyres, 120/70 and 180/55
    • Electronic package with Inertial Measurement Unit: cornering ABS; Ducati Traction Control (DTC); Power Modes; Ducati Quick Shift (DQS)
    • Full TFT 4,3” dashboard
    • Riding Modes (Sport, Road)
    • Full-LED lights with DRL
    • Ducati Multimedia System (DMS) ready, Turn-by-turn navigation

Trackdaz Airfence Fundraiser Will Honor Lily Coyner, R.I.P. (Updated)

TrackDaz owners Dustin and Lily Coyner at the track. TrackDaz photo.

Lily Coyner, wife of TrackDaz owner Dustin Coyner, tragically died suddenly on the morning of January 10, 2026. This tragedy has not only rocked the entire world of Dustin, but also the motorbike community. Lily has been a fixture in the paddock for over 25 years. She’s the one who greeted TrackDaz riders in the morning at registration. She listened to whatever complaints or comments riders had, sold merch, rented Yamaha generators. She also was the one calling loved ones using the emergency contact info when something happened. She loved all TrackDaz riders, and wanted to help keep us all safe.

Since TrackDaz already had an event scheduled that weekend, we’re working with Buttonwillow Raceway Park (BRP) and the Roadracing World Action Fund (RWAF) to raise money in her honor for more Airfence at the track. BRP will be donating all gate fees and likely offer other things for raffles. We’ll do raffles and other things as well.

We ask for the community to come together and show strong support for this lovely woman who cared so much in spite of not riding herself.

February 14-15 Buttonwillow Circuit Registration: http://www.trackrabbit.com/s/2mon

 

Claudia Guitierrez, lily’s sister, with Dustin Coyner, Lily’s widower, at Buttonwillow. The track honored her with a tree planted in her memory.

 

Aprilia Racers Days Returns to COTA for Two-Day Event

Marco Bezzecchi and others riders at a previous Aprilia Racers Days track event. Photo courtesy Aprilia.

New York, NY (February 13, 2026) – Following North America’s only MotoGP Round at Circuit of the Americas, Aprilia returns to Austin to host Aprilia Racers Days at COTA, taking place Monday, March 30th, and Tuesday, March 31st, 2026 – delivering an unmatched post-race riding experience at one of the most iconic circuits in the world.

 

Watch your heroes race on Sunday, then join them on track Monday!

Monday, March 30th will be an exclusive VIP experience, featuring invited guests, special access, and the presence of Aprilia MotoGP riders and members of Aprilia Racing and Trackhouse MotoGP Team. This intimate day is designed to bring participants closer than ever to the passion, performance, and people behind Aprilia’s racing DNA.

Set within the MotoGP race garages, Aprilia Racers Days at COTA offers a truly unheard-of environment. Rider groups are limited to just 45 participants, maximizing track time, exclusivity, and the adrenaline that comes from riding the Circuit of the Americas immediately following MotoGP race weekend. As always, each ticket includes complimentary professional photography and lunch, along with the opportunity to ride select models from the 2026 Aprilia lineup on track. This is more than a track day – it’s a rare opportunity to ride, connect, and experience Aprilia in its element.

 

From left to right with Marco Bezzecchi, Lorenzo Savadori and Max Biaggi at COTA. Photo courtesy Aprilia

 

Event Details – VIP Experience (Monday, 3/30)

● Price: $1,500

● Aprilia Racing Team in Attendance

● VIP Guests

● On-Site Coaching

● Communal Garages (first come, first served)

● 1 Demo Ride Per Guest

● Complimentary Lunch

● Complimentary Photography

● Aprilia Gift Bag Including Commemorative T-Shirt

 

Event Details – Standard ARD Ticket (Tuesday, 3/31)

● Price: $850

● Communal Garages

● 1 Demo Ride Per Guest

● Complimentary Lunch

● Complimentary Photography

 

More Than Just a Ride – An Unmatched Experience

Aprilia Racers Days is about more than just riding – it’s about precision, passion, and performance. With expert coaching, professional photography, and direct support from Aprilia-trained technicians and brand representatives, every rider gets an immersive and tailored experience. Enthusiasts can ride the full Aprilia street lineup, including the RSV4, Tuono V4, RS 660, Tuono 660, and RS 457 or bring their own motorcycles for additional track time in skill-based riding groups.

 

Sign Up for the Aprilia Racers Days Experience.

Aprilia Racers Days at Circuit of the Americas 2026 is an unmissable event for riders looking to elevate their skills and experience the thrill of Aprilia’s high-performance motorcycles. Spaces are limited, so secure your spot today!

For registration and more details, visit: https://aprilia.ticketspice.com/cota-2026

For any additional questions, please contact [email protected].

 

Seen at a 2025 Aprilia Racers Days event at COTA. Aprilia photo.

 

Aprilia Racers Days events will be supported directly by Aprilia trained technicians and product specialists, as well as partners Pirelli, Dainese and AGV to offer the best on track experience with expert advice, performance and protection. The cost of participation in the events will not only qualify for an incredible track day experience with your existing motorcycle, but also include a VIP Aprilia Racers Days package, with ability to demo a new Aprilia for one of the track day sessions, equipped with Pirelli performance tires. Additionally, activities will include coaching, event photography, and an included lunch.

 

Daytona 200: Carl Soltisz On Astro-JJR HIPPO & MAR Suzuki

Super Carl Soltisz (60) in action at Daytona in 2025. Brian J. Nelson photo.

Astro-JJR HIPPO Suzuki and MAR Performance Moto combine for the 2026 Daytona 200 with Carl Soltisz, of Super Carl Racing, piloting the team’s Suzuki GSXR-750.

“Continuing the relationship that took current British Supersport Champion Rhys Irwin and former Australian Supersport Champion Tom Toparis to Daytona in previous years, we are again joining forces to provide Carl a platform to showcase his talent and commitment to a wide audience,” said team owner Stuart Tromans. “We hope this will lead to further opportunities both in the USA and further afield here in the UK.

“The team has enjoyed considerable success with 2 x Daytona participant Harry Truelove and current British Champion Rhys Irwin as well as the much-missed former MotoAmerica rider Shane Richardson who we sadly lost in 2025. We hope Carl’s experience and meticulous working practices along with a first-class racing pedigree and attitude will bring a valuable contribution to this HIPPO supported venture.”

Rider Carl Soltisz added “I am super excited to team up with the Astro MAR Performance HIPPO Suzuki team for the 84th running of the iconic Daytona 200. Malcom Ashley and I talked during the off-season and developed a great working relationship after discovering that we shared similar racing ambitions and goals.

“Having raced every Daytona 200 since 2015, and recently notching a personal best 11th-place finish in 2025 while riding with a broken arm, I feel I bring crucial Daytona experience, knowledge, and strategy to the party. Combined with the team’s own Daytona experience and their tremendous achievements in the British Championship over the years, I think we have a great opportunity to score our best Daytona 200 finish yet. Now that we have teamed up I am looking forward to taking on this challenge.”

Super Carl Soltisz.

MAR is owned and run by Malcom Ashley, a former BSB Superbike rider who now owns and operates MAR Performance MOTO specializing in GSX-R preparation.

ASTRO-JJR HIPPO Suzuki is a front-running British Supersport team that has since 2022 been instrumental in the development of the Supersport Next Gen category in the UK and abroad with development taking place in the USA and Australia alongside the UK team.

Super Carl Racing is the race team owned and operated by rider/engineer “Super” Carl Soltisz. It is a top-10 MotoAmerica Supersport team that has been competing in the series since its start in 2015. For more information, visit www.carlsoltisz.com.

MotoAmerica: Strack Steps Up To Superbike

Mathew Scholtz at NJMP. Photo courtesy Yamaha Motor Corporation.
Mathew Scholtz at NJMP. Photo courtesy Yamaha Motor Corporation.

After multiple championship-winning seasons in MotoAmerica’s Supersport class, Strack Racing Yamaha is taking a big step forward by entering the Superbike Championship in 2026 alongside their continuation in Supersport. The move marks the next phase in the team’s long-term growth at the national level.

Two-time, back-to-back Supersport Champion Mathew Scholtz will set aside his #1 Strack Racing Yamaha YZF-R9 and swing his leg over the brand-new #11 Strack Racing Yamaha YZF-R1 Superbike. For Scholtz, he returns to MotoAmerica’s premier class where he previously notched five Superbike wins prior to joining Strack Racing in 2024. The South African brings championship momentum and continuity as the team expands into MotoAmerica’s premier race class.

 

Mathew Scholtz was en fuego in Texas. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Mathew Scholtz was en fuego in Texas. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.

 

Also continuing with Strack Racing Yamaha is Scholtz’s Supersport teammate from the past year, Blake Davis. The 19-year-old from Virginia finished third in the 2025 Supersport standings and, with both season champion Scholtz and runner-up PJ Jacobsen moving up to Superbike, Davis is the odds-on favorite to make it three years in a row for Strack Racing Yamaha to win the Supersport crown.

Davis will be back aboard the #22 Strack Racing Yamaha YZF-R9 as he and the team continue to develop the Supersport Next Generation machine.

 

Blake Davis (22). Photo by Michael Gougis.

 

With Scholtz in Superbike and Davis continuing in Supersport, Strack Racing Yamaha will work in close technical alignment with Attack Performance, strengthening the Superbike program while maintaining championship-level performance across both race classes.

Commenting on his team’s 2026 racing plans, Strack Racing Yamaha’s team owner Peter Strack said, “Supersport enabled us to build a championship foundation, and that didn’t happen easily—it was deliberate and strategic. With Yamaha and Attack Performance aligned with us technically, we’re confident about stepping into Superbike while continuing to compete at the front of a stacked Supersport field.”

About continuing with Strack Racing Yamaha and moving back up to Superbike, Scholtz said, “Coming back to Superbike with Strack Racing Yamaha feels like the right move at the right time for me. What we’ve built together in Supersport gives us a strong foundation, and I’m excited to take that momentum back into the premier class with a team I trust.”

 

Mathew Scholtz and the entire Strack Racing crew celebrate in style after clinching the MotoAmerica Supersport Championship. Photo courtesy Yamaha Motor Corporation.
Mathew Scholtz and the entire Strack Racing crew celebrate in style after clinching the MotoAmerica Supersport Championship. Photo courtesy Yamaha Motor Corporation.

 

Davis had this to say about his second year with Strack Racing Yamaha and his plans to keep the Supersport title in the team: “I’m excited to continue with Strack Racing Yamaha and build on what we started last season. The Supersport class is stacked, and my goal is to be fighting for wins every race while continuing to develop the R9 with the team.”

Commenting on the continued partnership, Yamaha Racing’s Assistant Department Manager for YMUS Jeff Sidlovsky said, “Yamaha Racing is proud to support Strack Racing stepping up to the Superbike class with Mathew Scholtz, and continuing to build on their championship foundation in the Supersport class with Blake Davis. The team’s commitment to excellence is evident, and Mathew, Blake, and the team continue to grow. We value the collaboration between Strack Racing and Attack Performance as this strengthens the bonds between our racing partners, elevates the Yamaha brand, and promotes the strength of the YZF-R1 and YZF-R9.”

MotoGP: Key Things to Know Ahead of the Thailand Opener

Alex Marquez (73), Joan Mir (36), Raul Fernandez (25), Francesco Bagnaia (63), Johann Zarco (5), Pedro Acosta (37) during the Sepang test. Photo courtesy Dorna

A delve into a few notable topics ahead of MotoGP landing in Thailand for Round 1 of what’s set to be another compelling campaign.

Here we go then. The Sepang Shakedown and Official Test kicked off proceedings as another MotoGP season bursts into life, with 2026 the last of its kind before a new era begins in 2027.

With the opening Grand Prix of the year in Thailand now rapidly approaching, what’s to know ahead of another stint of enjoying the most exciting sport on earth? If you’re a familiar face around here, then you’ll have a very good idea already. But, if you’re a new fan (welcome, first and foremost), then this should give you a good leg up as we strap in for MotoGP to go racing in 2026.

 

Marc Marquez (93) quickest on day 1 at Sepang. Photo courtesy Dorna.

 

  • Chasing the eighth

Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team), having completed the greatest sporting comeback in 2025, now sets out to clinch an eighth MotoGP World Championship title in 2026.

And despite undergoing another winter of rehabilitation following the shoulder injury sustained in October’s Indonesian Grand Prix, the #93 will land at the Thai Grand Prix as the rider to beat. After all, Marc Marquez lines up on the grid at Round 1 as the reigning World Champion for the first time since 2020. The target will be on his back, with the numerous chasers setting out to try and beat one of the greatest motorcycle racers of all time. A tough ask.

 

Two-time MotoGP World Champion Francesco Bagnaia testing at Circuito de Valencia, November 2025. Photo by Michael Gougis.

 

  • A quintet of MotoGP World Champions

It’s not just the 73-time MotoGP winner who knows how to climb to MotoGP’s summit and conquer the world. Marc Marquez is joined on the 2026 grid, as he was last season, by four other MotoGP Champions. 2024 king Jorge Martin (Aprilia Racing), 2023 and 2022 number one Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), 2021 ruler Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP), and 2020 master Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol) have all tasted title-winning success between Marquez’s last two championship wins in 2019 and 2025.

Will a new name be added to that illustrious list in 2026?

 

Toprak Razgatlioglu (7) at Sepang. Photo courtesy Prima Pramac Yamaha

 

  • The arrival of Toprak

Another name who is well known for World Championship title victories is MotoGP rookie Toprak Razgatlioglu. The three-time WorldSBK champion links up with Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP in 2026 and is set to become the first Turkish rider to compete in MotoGP, and while a title victory isn’t likely to come this season, Razgatlioglu’s arrival into the Grand Prix paddock is properly exciting. The #07 is without doubt one of the most talented motorcycle riders on the planet, so once he’s in his groove, expect fireworks from the 29-year-old.

 

Diogo Moreira (11) during the first test day at Sepang. Photo courtesy Dorna

 

  • Bem-vindo de volta, Brasil!

While we welcome our first-ever Turkish MotoGP rider to the grid, we also get ready to witness Brazil’s Diogo Moreira (Pro Honda LCR) enter the fray. The 2025 Moto2 World Champion became the first from his country to win a Grand Prix title last season, as Moreira picks up the baton left by our last Brazilian rider Alex Barros, who last raced in MotoGP back in 2007.

Oh, and what about that for timing? Because Round 2 takes us back to Brazil for the first time since 1992, and back to Goiânia for the first time since 1989.

 

Raul Fernandez (25) and Ai Ogura (79) at Sepang. Photo courtesy Trackhouse Team

 

  • Hunting a debut victory

Five riders on the 2026 grid are all dreaming of clinching their first MotoGP win this season. There’s of course our two rookies, Razgatlioglu and Moreira. Then there’s 2024 Moto2 World Champion Ai Ogura (Trackhouse MotoGP Team), Honda HRC Castrol’s Luca Marini, and the one most will be talking about… Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing).

Is 2026 the year Acosta finally clinches his maiden MotoGP win? The Spaniard is a 10-time podium finisher in the class and finished P4 in the Championship in 2025, and having risen through the ranks as a leading star, Acosta will want nothing more than to collect a Sunday 25-point haul.

 

Some MotoGP riders during the Sepang test. Photo courtesy Dorna.

 

  • Awakening sleeping giants

Honda HRC Castrol are hunting their first victory in five long years. And after Mir was able to climb onto the podium twice in the last six races, coupled with a positive pre-season, HRC are becoming a force once again.

Then there’s Yamaha. There may have been a hiccup or two in pre-season, but the Iwata marque are now armed with a bold new V4 engine. A mammoth task still lies ahead in what is a huge change in philosophy for the Japanese manufacturer, but the foundations for success are being laid.

 

  • The last dance of MotoGP’s 1000cc era

Contracts expiring, new regulations looming. There’s an almighty shake up coming for 2027 and already, things are getting very, very interesting. Big name moves. Shocks on the cards. Keep your eyes firmly fixed on what’s about to unfold both on and off track in MotoGP.

CVMA: Round 5 Will Be Streamed Live

Michael Gilbert (55) leads Bryce Kornbau (17) and Justin Gibbs (646) at the start of the CVMA Stock 1000 Shootout. Photo courtesy CaliPhotography.com

We’re excited to announce that CVMA Round 5 will be streamed live!

  • Round 5 Saturday:

https://youtube.com/live/2OyJEQLKSVo?feature=share

  • Round 5 Sunday:

https://youtube.com/live/FUmQ9ZylrDM?feature=share

Subscribe to the 951 Live YouTube Channel to get notified as soon as we go live. And please encourage your friends, family, and motorcycle racing fans to subscribe and tune in for most races.

MotoAmerica: Yamaha Announces Official Teams for 2026

Blake Davis (22). Photo by Michael Gougis.

Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. (YMUS) has announced its official, factory-supported teams for the 2026 MotoAmerica season, and four teams go to the fore, including Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing, Strack Racing Yamaha, Liberty Yamaha Racing, and Yamaha BLU CRU Estenson Racing.

“Yamaha Racing is pleased to announce our official teams for the 2026 MotoAmerica season,” commented Jeff Sidlovsky, Yamaha Racing Assistant Department Manager for YMUS. “We’re proud to continue our partnerships with a strong group of teams competing across four MotoAmerica classes, showcasing the strength of the YZF-R1, YZF-R9, and YZF-R7. We’re also excited to continue our involvement in the MotoAmerica Talent Cup, a series that aligns well with our BLU CRU initiative by developing young riders and creating a pathway to the highest levels of competition. With a great rider lineup that blends emerging talent and championship-proven experience, we’re looking forward to an exciting 2026 MotoAmerica season.”

 

Bobby Fong (50). Photo by Brian J. Nelson.

 

Entering its seventh season as an official YMUS Superbike team, Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing will feature a strong, two-rider lineup that includes incumbent Bobby Fong and returning fan favorite JD Beach, who will both be aboard Yamaha YZF-R1 Superbikes.

Fong is coming off a standout debut season with the team. Earning six Superbike victories and finishing third in the standings last year, he looks to contend for another championship in 2026. Joining the team this year is Beach, who returns to Yamaha where he has enjoyed a lot of success in both road racing and flat track, including two MotoAmerica Supersport Championships and two Superbike victories.

 

Blake Davis (22) leads teammate Mathew Scholtz (1) through the Corkscrew in Sunday’s Motovation Supersport race at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. Photo by Brian J. Nelson

 

Strack Racing Yamaha returns for 2026 with its championship-proven, tandem of Mathew Scholtz and Blake Davis. In addition to making another run at a MotoAmerica Supersport title, the team will expand its efforts to Superbike. Following a highly successful two-year campaign with the team that yielded 19 wins and 31 podiums en route to back-to-back Supersport titles, Scholtz will head the team’s efforts in Superbike. Before his tenure with the team, the South African enjoyed success aboard the Yamaha YZF-R1, including five Superbike victories and the 2017 MotoAmerica Superstock 1000 Championship.

Davis returns for his second season with Strack Racing Yamaha to lead the team’s Supersport title defense and continue the development of Yamaha’s YZF-R9 next-generation Supersport platform. The 2022 and 2023 Twins Cup Champion earned three wins and 10 podiums last season, finishing third in the championship aboard his #22 R9.  

 

Dominic Doyle (25). Photo by Michael Gougis.

 

Also competing for top honors in MotoAmerica Supersport is Liberty Yamaha Racing, formerly known as Giaccmoto Yamaha Racing. Liberty St. Development returns for a second year to support the program and assumes title sponsorship for the 2026 season. Dominic Doyle returns to lead the team aboard the Liberty Yamaha YZF-R9. The 24-year-old South African brings multiple wins across MotoAmerica support classes and was the 2020 Junior Cup Championship runner-up. Following strong results in Twins Cup and the Super Hooligan National Championship over the past few seasons, Doyle is poised to challenge for Supersport victories in 2026.

 

Sam Drane (59). Photo by Brian J. Nelson.

 

Yamaha BLU CRU Estenson Racing returns in 2026 with an expanded, two-class effort in Twins Cup and Talent Cup. Already a championship-proven program as an official YMUS American Flat Track team, Estenson Racing became an official YMUS MotoAmerica Talent Cup team in 2025. Sam Drane returns to the team after an impressive rookie season in the series, finishing third overall in the inaugural Talent Cup Championship. The young Australian earned one victory and nine podiums across seven rounds and now sets his sights on the Talent Cup title, while also making his Twins Cup debut aboard the Yamaha YZF-R7.

For more racing news, click here: https://www.yamahamotorsports.com/racing

LapSnap Telemetry Analysis App Available With Track Data

MotoAmerica racer Joel Ohman is making his data available to LapSnap app users.

LapSnap Acquired by American Interests, Establishes U.S.-Based Company Focused on Data-Driven Motorsports Performance

LapSnap Inc., a newly incorporated American company, has acquired the LapSnap motorsports telemetry analysis app. The acquisition formalizes the app’s transition into a U.S.-based company and marks a renewed commitment to helping track enthusiasts turn raw telemetry data into real lap time improvements.

LapSnap eliminates the guesswork traditionally associated with motorsports data analysis. The app presents telemetry in a clear, actionable way, allowing riders to quickly identify where lap time is gained or lost and how to improve their performance.

“Most people using lap timer systems never take the time to look at the data they are collecting,” said a spokesperson for LapSnap. “LapSnap bridges that gap by allowing you to download data from your lap timer directly to your phone or tablet. The software makes it understandable, practical, and immediately useful—-so users can see how to improve their technique.”

The new LapSnap app.

Used by track-day goers, racers, and motorsports enthusiasts, LapSnap analyzes performance data such as GPS speed, line selection, RPM, lean angle, and brake/throttle usage. This data helps users make informed improvements session over session. The app also allows users to compare their data to other users, which eliminates the guesswork as to why one rider may be faster than the other.

With the formation of LapSnap Inc., the company plans to continue investing in the app’s core capabilities while expanding its analysis tools and improving usability for drivers of all experience levels. LapSnap currently supports popular GPS telemetry systems including AiM, Racebox and GPS enabled GoPros. Additional telemetry systems are planned to be supported in the future.

LapSnap is available on iOS/Android and can be found at https://lapsnap.app

About LapSnap Inc.

LapSnap Inc. is a U.S.-based motorsports technology company focused on simplifying telemetry analysis for drivers. Through its mobile app, the company helps track enthusiasts understand their data, improve performance, and go faster on track.

 

More, from a press release issued by Joel Ohman:

MotoAmerica Racer Joel Ohman Partners With LapSnap, Releases 2025 Racing Data for Free

Track day riders can now compare their performance directly against MotoAmerica-level telemetry gathered during the 2025 season.

Joel Ohman, a MotoAmerica racer with three years of professional competition experience, has announced he is making his 2025 racing data freely available through the LapSnap mobile app. The data release includes telemetry from all regular-season MotoAmerica events across the United States, giving track day riders unprecedented access to professional-level data.

Ohman, who formerly raced with Team Hammer and currently competes under his personal Open Source Racing banner, is releasing detailed telemetry data including lap times, brake and throttle inputs, lean angle, and GPS traces for all MotoAmerica tracks including Circuit of the Americas, The Ridge, Laguna Seca, New Jersey Motorsports Park, Virginia International Raceway, Road America, Road Atlanta, Barber Motorsports Park, and Mid-Ohio. The data was gathered from his MotoAmerica Supersport-spec Suzuki GSX-R750 during MotoAmerica qualifying and race sessions.

“I want to give other riders tools to help improve their riding by comparing their data directly to mine,” said Ohman. “The ability to see exactly where and how a faster rider approaches each corner can be invaluable for someone looking to take their skills to the next level. This type of data was something I wished I had when I started racing. My hope is it shows people that it’s possible to go from a novice racer to a national competitor in just a few years like I did. The data removes the guesswork.”

LapSnap’s overlay feature allows riders to compare their own data side-by-side with Ohman’s telemetry, often revealing counter-intuitive insights. “The results are sometimes surprising,” Ohman explained. “For example, it’s common for intermediate riders to actually be too fast mid-corner. Comparing data, they might see that I’m actually slower at certain points on the track, which allows you to get on the throttle earlier and achieve a better exit. These are the kinds of details that can transform someone’s understanding of their riding technique.”

The LapSnap app is compatible with popular data logging systems including AiM lap timers, GoPro cameras with GPS, and RaceBox devices, with additional lap timer systems planned for future releases. The app is available to download on both iOS and Android app stores. Track day riders and racers can access Ohman’s complete data library by downloading LapSnap and searching for his rider profile within the app.

About LapSnap

LapSnap is a mobile application designed for track day riders and motorcycle racers to analyze and compare performance data directly on their mobile devices. The app is compatible with popular data logging systems including AiM lap timers, RaceBox devices, and GoPro cameras with GPS. Additional telemetry systems will be supported in future releases.

About Joel Ohman

Joel Ohman is a MotoAmerica racer with three years of professional racing experience, from Seattle, Washington. He started racing club events in 2019, and entered his first MotoAmerica race in 2022. He owns and operates Open Source Racing, with a mission to help other riders improve their technique by providing transparency and insight into the racing world.

Golden State Championship Heading to Round 2 At Apex

Series promoter Hawk Mazzotta on his MotoAmerica Yamaha MT09. Photo courtesy Hawk Mazzotta.

The Golden State Championship is looking forward to Round Two of the series, set for March 14–15 at Apex Motorsports Park in Southern California with co-host and legendary racer John Hopkins, promising even more competition and thrilling racing. 

The inaugural round of the AMA-sanctioned Golden State Championship was a big success, kicking off January 31–February 1 at Buttonwillow Kart Track, delivering high-octane racing, packed grids, and a weekend full of excitement. The event attracted riders from across the country, including top American road race professionals, Supermoto pros, Motocross and Flat Track racers, and rising stars from the MotoAmerica Mini Cup.

The first weekend featured 16 classes, 4 classes using the dirt section, with the remaining classes contested on asphalt. The track layout, including a challenging dirt section with a deep mud pit, produced intense battles that tested rider skill, adaptability, and strategy. Racing was safe, and the paddock buzzed with enthusiasm from teams, riders, and fans.

Andrew Berner (13) in the 190 Ohvale class. Photo by Karen E. Ott.

Round 1 also featured a $2,000 purse, plus an additional $1,700 in cash bonuses, ensuring every top-three podium finisher received a payout thanks to sponsor Redwood Pipe and Drain. With 155 race entries, the championship’s first round set a high bar for competition and excitement. Series owner Hawk Mazzotta and co-host Bronson Pierce teamed up for this first round and had a blast and huge success working together!

“The goal here is to bring back Supermoto, and provide a stepping stone to MotoAmerica for our youth road racers. It has been in the works for a long time, and it’s finally come to fruition. I am really happy with how the first event went overall, and confident everything will only get better as we are always learning. I couldn’t have asked for a better partner in preparing and running this first event with Bronson, we worked so well together and had a blast while doing so. This has been a gritty process of hands on build it and they will come, they came! We are so pumped for round 2 and the high energy and vibes, let’s keep it going!”

Dexter Salaverria, son of former AMA 250cc GP star Al, in action in the 190 Ohvale class. Photo by Karen E. Ott.

Huge gratitude to partners and sponsors, including MotoAmerica, AMA, USMCA, Trackhouse, Yamaha, Bike911, Redwood Pipe and Drain, Dunlop, Roadracing World, California Customs, SDI Insulation, Cardo Systems, KYT, Bison, Yamalube, Farmers Brewing Company, ProTech Signs, Throttle Sauce, DP Brakes, BluCru, Signsations, Ohvale, 73Motorparts, VNM Sport, CT Racing-Pirelli/Metzler, our flag man Andy, volunteers, corner workers, and families who made the weekend possible.

For more information and updates visit hawkmazzottamotocamp.com

Results

Ducati Unveils Formula 73, Limited to 873 Numbered Units

Ducati Formula 73. Photo courtesy Ducati.
  • Produced in a limited series of 873 numbered units, the Formula 73 celebrates the Super Sport 750 Desmo, one the most iconic models in Ducati history.
  • An Urban Café Racer that combines modern technology with the authentic charm of the 750 Super Sport Desmo.
  • The short film A Piece of Timeless celebrates the birth of this special bike.

 

 

Ducati Formula 73. Photo courtesy Ducati.

 

Borgo Panigale (Bologna, Italy), 12 February, 2026 – In its centenary year, the Borgo Panigale manufacturer presents the Formula 73, a motorcycle that revives, in a modern version, the spirit of a model and an era that helped create the Ducati legend and inspired the principles that still guide it today. The Formula 73 celebrates the 750 Super Sport Desmo, the first Ducati road bike equipped with a desmodromic valve timing system.

The Super Sport was in fact a replica of the 750 Imola Desmo with which Paul Smart and Bruno Spaggiari triumphed in the 1972 200 Miglia di Imola, the first European competition for production-derived motorcycles, a formula which would give rise to Superbike. The historic victory at Imola and the subsequent birth of the 750 Super Sport Desmo represented the first and fundamental episode in Ducati’s saga in production-derived racing, where it has achieved a world championship record that now stands at more than 400 victories, sixteen rider titles and twenty-one manufacturer titles.

The 750 Super Sport Desmo was born in a decade of great change and contrasts, marked by intense cultural creativity. It was a period characterised by changes in society and a widespread desire for renewal. An extraordinary artistic vitality influenced music, cinema, fashion and thought, making the 1970s a complex and deeply significant era.

The Formula 73 was created today as a tribute to that epoch-making motorcycle, which already embodied the values of Style, Sophistication and Performance that have inspired Ducati ever since. The Formula 73 is a model dedicated to motorcycle enthusiasts with timeless charm, who love to stand out by riding a bike with an unmistakable design and strong personality, shunning conformity and paying attention to every detail in their daily lives.

The Formula 73 is the star of the short film ‘A Piece of Timeless‘, in which Italian actor Stefano Accorsi, a great Ducati enthusiast, reflects on his experience of trying it for the first time. Stefano, drawing a parallel between riding a motorcycle and acting, recounts his relationship with acting and the world of motorsports in this film.

 

Ducati Formula 73. Photo courtesy Ducati.

 

  • Unmistakable personality

The Ducati Formula 73 line is a contemporary reinterpretation of the legendary 1973 750 Super Sport Desmo. Sleek and slender, this bike conveys agility thanks to its minimalist yet elegant aesthetics. Equipped with the iconic air-cooled Ducati twin-cylinder engine, it combines the rebellious spirit of Urban Café Racers with the timeless charm of what many collectors consider to be the most significant motorcycle in Ducati’s history.

Every detail contributes to making the Formula 73 unique. The silver and aqua green livery, inspired by the original 750 Super Sport Desmo, is the result of careful research in the company’s historical archives carried out by the Ducati Style Centre. The vertical gold stripe on the tank echoes the original unpainted strip on the 750 Imola Desmo, which allowed the team to check the fuel level without complicating and weighing down the bike with additional instruments. The clip-on handlebars with bar-end mirrors, the short, tapered fairing and tail confirm the Café Racer personality of this collector’s bike.

The many billet aluminium components, such as the brake and clutch levers with oil reservoirs, the footpegs and the Rizoma fuel cap supplied as standard, catch the eye and further enhance a bike designed to be admired both when stationary and in motion.

Like all Ducati limited edition models, the Formula 73 features the model name and serial number on the steering plate. Each bike comes with a certificate of authenticity, as well as a collection of period images and sketches created by the Ducati Style Centre, presented in a special box.

 

Ducati Formula 73. Photo courtesy Ducati.

 

  • Innovation in tradition

The Ducati Formula 73 is a timeless creation, faithful to the technical solutions that made the 750 Super Sport Desmo iconic, yet at the same time a modern, high-tech motorcycle.

Its 803 cc Desmodue engine is an L-twin with desmodromic distribution and two valves, Euro5+ approved, faithful to the technical standards on which Ducati built its legend in the 1970s and 1980s. An authentic engine, capable of 73 horsepower at 8,250 rpm, which goes beyond the concept of performance to unequivocally define the personality of the Formula 73, becoming a fundamental element of both the style and riding experience of the bike. The silencer, developed in collaboration with Termignoni with aesthetic details specifically designed for this model, gives the bike a full and evocative voice, and the Ride-by-Wire throttle makes the engine response quick, progressive and smooth even at low revs.

The steel trellis frame of the Formula 73 reinforces the connection with the Super Sport Desmo that inspired it. Sleek and painted in aqua green, it becomes part of the livery and, together with the 17-inch spoked wheels with Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV tyres, contributes to making the bike manoeuvrable and easy to ride.

The Formula 73 is a complete motorcycle, thanks to its electronic systems, which include DTC traction control, Cornering ABS, the Ducati Quick Shift system and two Riding Modes. This makes every ride, from your commute to work to trips over mountain passes, safer and more enjoyable, making every moment spent in the saddle unique.

 

Ducati Formula 73. Photo courtesy Ducati.

 

  • Availability

Fans wishing to complete their look with technical garments inspired by the aesthetics of this collector’s motorcycle can choose a helmet, created in collaboration with Arai, and a sports jacket that echo the Formula 73 livery. The Ducati Formula 73 will be produced in a numbered series limited to 873 units and will arrive in European dealerships in spring 2026. Distribution will be completed in the rest of the world by the end of summer.

The launch video of the bike is available on Ducati’s YouTube official channel.

 

Ducati Formula 73. Photo courtesy Ducati.

 

Formula 73

  • Livery
    • 750 Super Sport Desmo replica
  • Main standard equipment
    • Desmodue engine, 803 cm3
    • Maximum power: 73 CV @ 8,250 RPM
    • Maximum torque: 65.2 Nm @ 7,000 RPM
    • Type-approved Termignoni silencer
    • Wet weight no fuel: 183 Kg
    • Steel trellis frame
    • Upside-down 41 mm KYB front fork
    • KYB shock, preload adjustable
    • Front brake: 4-piston Brembo radial caliper and 330 mm disc
    • Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV tyres, 120/70 and 180/55
    • Electronic package with Inertial Measurement Unit: cornering ABS; Ducati Traction Control (DTC); Power Modes; Ducati Quick Shift (DQS)
    • Full TFT 4,3” dashboard
    • Riding Modes (Sport, Road)
    • Full-LED lights with DRL
    • Ducati Multimedia System (DMS) ready, Turn-by-turn navigation
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