NASHVILLE – The Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship made its anticipated return to “Music City” for Round 13 of the 2026 Monster Energy SMX World Championship as a massive crowd gathered inside Nissan Stadium to witness the closest three-rider title fight in 450SMX Class history. When the dust settled, Honda HRC Progressive’s Hunter Lawrence stepped up and seized control of the championship battle with an emphatic victory that saw him take sole possession of the points lead heading into the final four races of the season.
Hunter Lawrence Rises to the Occasion in Nashville to Seize Control of Monster Energy Supercross Title Fight
The start of the premier class 20 Minutes + 1 Lap Main Event saw Quad Lock Honda’s Shane McElrath grab the holeshot, but he was quickly surpassed by several riders that ultimately moved Team Tedder Racing KTM’s Justin Hill into the lead ahead of Progressive Insurance Cycle Gear Suzuki’s Ken Roczen and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jorge Prado. Lawrence slotted into the top five as Roczen went on the attack and seized control of the early lead. Behind them, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Eli Tomac, the championship co-leader, was mired outside the top 10.
As Roczen paced the field, Lawrence charged up to second and was the fastest rider on the track. The pace up front stabilized through the middle of the Main Event with a gap that hovered between one to two seconds as the top two pulled away from the rest of the field. With just over eight minutes to go Roczen lost traction before a triple jump, which allowed Lawrence to jump by into the lead. Roczen attempted to fight back, but Lawrence completed the pass and sprinted away to a gap of nearly two seconds. Roczen went down a short time later and dropped to fourth behind Hill and Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cooper Webb.
Lawrence found himself more than 15 seconds clear of the field through the final five minutes, while the battle for the podium raged on behind him. Webb attempted to make a pass on Hill for second but was initially denied. Webb regrouped and made the move stick a short time later. Roczen then followed through into third, with Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Chase Sexton pressing from fourth.
Back up front, Lawrence never put a wheel wrong and rode to a decisive fourth win this season by a margin of 7.1 seconds over Webb, as the reigning champion earned his first podium in four races. Roczen grabbed a fourth consecutive podium in third. Tomac, who was fastest qualifier and won his Heat Race, never factored into the Main Event and ran as high as eighth before a late crash relegated him to 12th, equaling his worst result of the season.
With four races to go Lawrence has opened a 10-point lead in the championship standings over Roczen, who moved from third to second. Tomac fell to third and now sits 15 points out of the lead after sharing possession of the red plate entering Nashville.
Honda HRC Progressive’s Hunter Lawrence captured a crucial fourth win of the season to take sole possession of the 450SMX Class points lead. Photo courtesy SMX
Hunter Lawrence – 1st Place – 450SMX Class:
“It feels great [to be back on top of the podium]. I’m so happy my wrist wasn’t holding me back today. That’s probably the coolest thing. Every Saturday I want to go out and have no limitations holding me back from anything. It feels like a home race with my collaboration with Gibson [Guitars] and how welcoming everyone is and I always look forward to coming back.”
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cooper Webb overcame a start outside the top 10 for the first podium in four races for the reigning Supercross champion. Photo courtesy SMX
Cooper Webb – 2nd Place – 450SMX Class:
“This race was hard. The track was sketchy and you wanted to push, but you couldn’t. I’m happy with [second] and we got through safe. I had another terrible start, which is not how you want to draw it up. We’ve got some work to do to catch that lead group, but I’ll take the podium after the past few weekends. It’s a good boost of confidence for me.”
Progressive Insurance Cycle Gear Suzuki’s Ken Roczen continued his late season momentum surge with a fourth straight podium finish. Photo courtesy SMX
Ken Roczen – 3rd Place – 450SMX Class:
“I just felt a little bit off today compared to the past few weekends, but nonetheless we still have only four races to go, and anything goes in the Main Event. I was doing pretty good and once Hunter [Lawrence] got by me, I was going to settle for second and that felt like it was a win for me today. I ended up tossing it right before the finish line and luckily, I got the bike started and back going. I would have loved to finish second, but I’ll take a podium. That’s like a win for us. We’ve got a bunch of racing to go.”
450SMX Class Podium (left to right): Cooper Webb, Hunter Lawrence, and Ken Roczen. Photo courtesy SMX
Eli Tomac – 12th Place – 450SMX Class:
“What a day – the whole day was good, other than the Main Event result. I was comfortable with my setup all day, so I’m just frustrated not only with the bad gate selection – I should have avoided the inside on the start – but also the crash. That bad start really put me in a tough spot from the get-go and I had my work cut out for me trying to make passes on such a slick, tight track. I lost a bunch of points today, but all I can do at this point is ride my best at the remaining rounds and let the chips fall where they may.”
Despite a win in his Heat Race, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Eli Tomac never factored into the Main Event and finished 12th after a late-race crash. Photo courtesysy SMX
Cole Davies Dominant En Route to Fourth Eastern Divisional 250SMX Win
The 15 Minutes + 1 Lap Eastern Divisional 250SMX Class Main Event began with the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing machine of Daxton Bennick out front for the holeshot ahead of Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Nate Thrasher and Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Drew Adams. Also in the mix were the East’s two title combatants, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cole Davies and Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Seth Hammaker. Thrasher was able to take advantage of his strong start to quickly power by Bennick, and grab hold of the early lead.
Davies and Hammaker latched on to one another and made a march forward, with Davies capitalizing on his explosive whoop speed to make passes. Less than five minutes into the race Davies moved to the front of the field, while Hammaker bided his time and worked his way up to second a short time later. As he looked to make up ground on the lead Hammaker made a costly miscue when his foot hit a tuff block and shot his Kawasaki sideways, which sent Hammaker to the ground. He quickly remounted in fourth, but several seconds outside podium contention.
Davies built a lead of more than five seconds halfway into the Main Event and added to a dominant advantage through the remainder of the race. Meanwhile, Hammaker dug deep and clawed his way back onto the podium. He passed Thrasher for third and with time running out on the race clock was all over Bennick for second. The Husqvarna rider lost traction with his rear tire in his attempt to fend off Hammaker, which initiated a collision between the pair and sent both riders to the ground. Thrasher slipped by into second, while Hammaker remounted in third and Bennick in fourth.
Davies cruised to his fourth win of the season by a margin of 17.2 seconds over Thrasher, who benefitted from the misfortunes of his rivals to capture his first podium result of the season. Hammaker salvaged a podium result in third after an adversity filled race but was later penalized two positions by race officials after he cut the track re-entering the race following his first crash. That moved ClubMX Yamaha’s Devin Simonson, who passed Bennick on the final lap, up to third for a maiden podium result.
Following the penalty to Hammaker, Davies’ points lead expanded to 29 points with three races to go. Bennick sits third, 40 points out of the lead.
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cole Davies was dominant on the way to his fourth win of the season to extend his Eastern Divisional points lead. Photo courtesy SMX
Cole Davies – 1st Place – Eastern Divisional 250SMX Class:
“The whoops were sketchy today. They were super steep and since [the track crew] left them all day the cups were really gnarly. I’m stoked, that was a good race. I didn’t get off to a good start, but I made it happen and I’m stoked with that.”
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Nate Thrasher earned an unexpected runner-up finish for his first podium result of the season. Photo courtesy SMX
Nate Thrasher – 2nd Place – Eastern Divisional 250SMX Class:
“Honestly, I did not ride good at all. I just didn’t have a flow. I was really great in practice and solid in the Heat Race. The track just kept getting harder packed and I started struggling a little bit. I got a little pumped up and did the best I could. I’m pumped to be on the podium, but we’ve got a lot of work to do.”
ClubMX Yamaha’s Devin Simonson ended up with the first podium result of his career after a post-race penalty was given to Seth Hammaker. Photo courtesy SMX
Devin Simonson – 3rd Place – Eastern Divisional 250SMX Class*:
“I was able to pick up on some lines battling with Henry [Miller] and made the pass on him quick [for fifth]. A bunch of carnage was happening out front, I honestly don’t know what, but I saw on the pit board I was battling for fourth, so I gave it everything I had and came out with this one.”
*Quote provided prior to penalty.
Eastern Divisional 250SMX Class Podium (left to right): Nate Thrasher, Cole Davies, and Seth Hammaker. Hammaker was later penalized two positions for cutting the track. Photo courtesy SMX
Even though he crossed the line in third place, Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Seth Hammaker was penalized two positions for cutting the track and dropped to fifth, which lost him valuable points in the championship standings. Photo courtesy SMX
The Monster Energy SMX World Championship and Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship will continue next Saturday, April 18, with Round 14 from Huntington Bank Field for the sport’s first visit to Cleveland in 30 years. Live broadcast coverage will be highlighted by a network showcase on NBC at 3 p.m. ET, in addition to comprehensive coverage on Peacock, beginning at 9 a.m. ET with Race Day Live, followed by the Gate Drop at 3 p.m. ET. A special encore network presentation will air on NBC as well on Sunday, April 19, at 2 p.m. ET. Additionally, a domestic Spanish language broadcast is available on Peacock while international viewers can choose from dedicated English, French, and Spanish broadcasts via SMX Video Pass (www.SMXVideoPass.com).
All 17 rounds of the 2026 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship and 11 rounds of the Pro Motocross Championship are on sale. Tickets for the SMX World Championship Playoff Rounds and Final are now on sale at Supermotocross.com. Saturday FanFest will take place at all postseason races, Friday FanFest and camping will be available in Columbus and Ridgedale, additional details to follow.
For information about the Monster Energy SMX World Championship, please visit www.SuperMotocross.com and be sure to follow all of the new SMX social media channels for exclusive content and additional information on the latest news:
STATEMENT: GOVERNOR EVERS’ VETO OF RIGHT-TO-RACE BILL STALLS WISCONSIN’S ECONOMIC ENGINE
The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) and its Performance Racing Industry (PRI) subsidiary issued the following statement following Gov. Tony Evers’ veto of AB 880:
Governor Tony Evers claims to have fond childhood memories growing up near a Wisconsin racetrack, but just vetoed AB 880, the Right-to-Race bill, just so his trial-lawyer buddies can keep suing tracks out of business.
Evers acted despite overwhelming support from lawmakers from across the state who know the value of small businesses and the cultural importance of motorsports. There was no registered opposition to this bill, and for good reason: motorsports matter.
Wisconsin’s racetracks foster an industry that is the soul of Wisconsin’s small, multi-generational business community and the engine of the state’s economic viability, including:
• $2.46 billion in total economic impact
• 10,601 jobs
• $697.92 million in wages and benefits
• $271.60 million in tax revenue.
Motorsports is an industry that has enlivened life in Wisconsin for nearly a century. Instead of protecting Wisconsin’s economy and network of family-owned dirt ovals, drag strips, and every motorsports facility in between, and instead of fostering American manufacturing, STEM education, and engineering innovation, Evers made it crystal clear whose side he’s on: lawyers and NIMBYs.
SEMA and PRI instead will continue to stand with the working families, racers, mechanics, concession workers, and fans who lose when tracks close. This race isn’t finished. In fact, our coalition is stronger than ever, and we’re just getting started.
BACKGROUND
AB 880, which was passed in the Wisconsin State Legislature with strong support in the Assembly and Senate, would protect long-standing racetracks from nuisance-based lawsuits brought by nearby property owners who moved into the area after the tracks were already established.
SEMA and PRI support “Right-to-Race” laws like AB 880 that protect legally compliant, long-standing tracks from nuisance claims. These protections ensure facilities that follow all laws and permits can operate without constant legal threats, preserving racing heritage, jobs, and revenue generated by motorsports.
The automotive aftermarket and motorsports industries annually contribute a combined $406 billion to the national economy, including $69 billion by the motorsports industry alone, and support millions of jobs nationwide. Lawmakers should champion commonsense policies to protect racetrack operations, prosperity, and longevity.
SEMA and PRI work with lawmakers, track operators, sanctioning bodies, and parts manufacturers to advance these protections through advocacy, coalition building, and grassroots engagement. Tracks have operated for decades and deserve stability. This commonsense legislation ensures facilities that predate neighbors are legally protected, preserving both urban and rural jobs, tourism, and community tradition.
Motorsports venues are vital to local economies, small businesses, tourism, and heritage. Still, many face lawsuits from neighbors who moved in after the track was established and seek to limit operations or shut down the venue entirely.\
ABOUT PERFORMANCE RACING INDUSTRY
Performance Racing Industry fuels the passion for motorsports by building, promoting, and protecting the worldwide racing community. PRI supports the interests of racers, enthusiasts, builders, tracks, sanctioning bodies and businesses through legislative action and advocacy, its monthly business magazine Performance Racing Industry, and the world’s premier motorsports trade show, the PRI Trade Show. PRI also supports businesses by providing market research, education and best practices in motorsports business and racing technology. For more information, visit PerformanceRacing.com.
ABOUT SEMA
The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) serves as a leading voice for the worldwide car culture, representing over 7,000 member companies that create, buy, sell, and use specialty-automotive parts that make vehicles more unique, attractive, convenient, safer, fun, and even like new again. Business member benefits include product development resources, market research, networking, education, legislative advocacy and more. The Association organizes the annual SEMA Show in Las Vegas, Nev., and actively supports the career and business opportunities that the aftermarket generates. The industry contributes nearly $337 billion in economic impact to the U.S. economy, supports 1.3 million jobs nationally, and generates nearly $53 billion in parts sales annually. For more information, visit www.sema.org.
Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy (MIMIT) Government Agency Honors Ducati
Ducati is among the companies to which the MIMIT has dedicated a stamp of the series “Excellence of the Production System and Made in Italy.”
The issue pays tribute to the 100-year history of the Borgo Panigale company, recognizing its contribution to the promotion of Made in Italy around the world.
The stamp design features an iconic Ducati motorcycle crossed by the colours of the Italian flag, symbolizing the company’s identity and connection to its Italian roots.
Rome/Borgo Panigale – On the occasion of its Centenary, Ducati is being celebrated by the Italian State with a special stamp dedicated to the history, vision and achievements that have made the Borgo Panigale-based manufacturer a global benchmark in the motorcycle industry. The issue is part of the thematic series “Excellence of the Production System and Made in Italy” dedicated to companies that have made a significant contribution to the Country’s development and innovation.
The official presentation took place on Thursday 9 April in the Sala degli Arazzi of Palazzo Piacentini, headquarters of the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy, in the presence of Undersecretary of State for Philately, Fausta Bergamotto.
“2026 represents an extraordinary milestone for Ducati, embodying one hundred years of history, passion and expertise” said Claudio Domenicali, CEO of Ducati, during the ceremony. “Made in Italy is part of our identity: a way of working that combines tradition and innovation and has enabled us to establish a distinctive vision of technology, design, and performance on the international stage. A journey that today receives further recognition through institutional initiatives such as this one, for which we would like to express our gratitude to Minister Adolfo Urso and the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy.”
Founded in 1926 in Borgo Panigale (Bologna), Ducati has built a unique identity over the course of a century, evolving from its early days in radio technology to become a global excellence in motorcycling and motorsport. The values of Style, Sophistication, and Performance have always guided the Company’s choices and are reflected in motorcycles that combine advanced technology, distinctive design and an unmistakably Italian sporting character.
These elements come together in the commemorative stamp dedicated to the Centenary, featuring an iconic Ducati motorcycle–the Ducati Superleggera V4 Centenario Tricolore– crossed by the colors of the Italian flag: a tribute to the Company’s identity and its deep connection to the Country’s creativity, technological innovation, and tradition.
This is not the first time Ducati has been celebrated through philately. In 2022, a stamp in the thematic series “Sport” was dedicated to the MotoGP World Championship victory, featuring the Desmosedici GP22 of Francesco Bagnaia reinterpreted in the colours of the Italian flag.
The Centenary stamp is issued at the B rate.
For the occasion, a special A4 three-fold philatelic folder has also been produced, containing a block of four stamps, a single stamp, a stamped and postmarked postcard, a philatelic card, a first-day cover and an illustrated bulletin. The folder is available at post offices with philatelic counters, in Philately Spaces, and on the website filatelia.it.
The Ducati stamp will also be included in the “Book of Stamps 2026,” the annual publication that collects all the year’s issues, combining collecting, institutional memory and the story of the Country.
Gilbert to Introduce Reigning Supercross Champion and Close Friend Cooper Webb in Special Opening Ceremonies Tribute.Gilbert’s new single “Good Damn” among the most added songs at country radio two weeks in a row.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Multi-platinum selling country artist Brantley Gilbert has been named the official Grand Marshal for Round 13 of the Monster Energy SMX World ChampionshipTM taking place this Saturday, April 11 at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee.
Amassing over 8.3 BILLION career streams and seven No. 1 singles with hit songs such as “Bottoms Up,” “Country Must Be Country Wide,” and “You Don’t Know Her Like I Do”, Gilbert is also an accomplished songwriter, lending his world-class pen to Jason Aldean’s “Dirt Road Anthem” and “My Kinda Party.” An ACM, CMA and AMA Award winner, Gilbert’s latest single “Good Damn” was enthusiastically embraced both by fans and country radio, landing among the most-added songs two weeks in a row. “Good Damn” is the lead single from Gilbert’s eighth studio album, set for release later in the year.
Gilbert recently attended his first SMX event a couple of weeks ago in Birmingham, Alabama and enjoys a close friendship with reigning Supercross Champion Cooper Webb. Webb will be donning Brantley Gilbert artwork on his racing gear in a unique collaboration between the two superstars. Webb’s FLY Racing gear kit, helmet and Alpinestars boots will be revealed at a special event taking place at Tootsies on Friday night. Gilbert will also have a bike on hand with special event graphics.
Gilbert will play an integral role in opening ceremonies, make an appearance on the pre-race Race Day Live show, plus deliver the customary “gentleman start your engines” heard famously at motorsports events around the world. Gilbert will also wave the green flag for the official start of the premier 450SMX Class Main Event.
FanFest and Qualifying kick off at Nissan Stadium at 7:00 a.m. with opening ceremonies starting at 1:30 p.m. and racing at 2:00 p.m. CT. Tickets can be purchased at SupercrossLIVE.
For information about the Monster Energy SMX World Championship, please visit www.SuperMotocross.com and be sure to follow all of the new SMX social media channels for exclusive content and additional information on the latest news:
New Global Brand Platform Sets Stage For New Era of Harley-Davidson, While Honoring Its Heritage
Harley-Davidson reignites the brand with the global launch of RIDE, a refreshed brand platform that honors more than a century of driving motorcycle culture, designed for the riders of today, and paves a path forward for Harley-Davidson.
More than a word, RIDE is, at its core, the very idea that defines and drives Harley-Davidson. It is an action, a feeling, and a way of life that has been embedded into the brand since its founding in 1903. Harley-Davidson doesn’t have merely owners, rather a community of passionate riders. The very notion of RIDE brings people together, clears the mind, and turns miles into stories, reaffirming that life is better on two wheels.
“I’m thrilled to launch the RIDE platform as a full reset of the brand ahead of our company strategy rollout in May. It celebrates the fun and joy people experience riding the world’s greatest motorcycle, a Harley-Davidson,” said Artie Starrs, President and CEO, Harley-Davidson.
With the launch of RIDE, Harley-Davidson unveils a new visual identity, anchored by the return of the historic Harley-Davidson bar and shield logo; a nod to where it all began and a signal to the role heritage continues to play in shaping the future of Harley-Davidson.
The platform debut comes to life through a video set to the iconic Willie Nelson’s “On the Road Again,” featuring raw, authentic footage of real riders and the joy of the RIDE. The visual spotlights the true spirit of the open road and the culture that exists around it, a community Harley-Davidson originated and continues to champion. The video will air nationally across broadcast and streaming platforms, along with a comprehensive internal and external integrated campaign.
For over a century, Harley-Davidson has defined what it means to ride. RIDE is the next chapter, celebrating every rider, those who have been with us from the beginning and opening the road to anyone ready to join in. More riders. More rides. More freedom. More stories to be told.
Harley-Davidson, Inc. is the parent company of Harley-Davidson Motor Company and Harley-Davidson Financial Services. Our vision: Building our legend and leading our industry through innovation, evolution and emotion. Our mission: More than building machines, we stand for the timeless pursuit of adventure. Freedom for the soul. Since 1903, Harley-Davidson has defined motorcycle culture with an expanding range of leading-edge, distinctive and customizable motorcycles in addition to riding experiences and exceptional motorcycle accessories, riding gear and apparel. Harley-Davidson Financial Services provides financing, insurance and other programs to help get Harley-Davidson riders on the road. Learn more at www.harley-davidson.com.
Live Streaming Test Going On This Weekend From CMP
ASRA is testing live streaming from Carolina Motorsports Park but is encountering track bandwidth issues even after deploying multiple Starlink satellite internet systems.
ASRA’s Alex Spellman says he’s confident the live streaming will be functional at tracks with better internet connections, including Summit Point May 23-24.
If ASRA gets the system working at CMP, watch it here:
The organization plans to expand its live-streaming program to seven other events during the 2026 season. More information is available from www.asra.com and [email protected].
With this claim, MV Agusta proudly introduces its most exclusive and technologically advanced interpretation of the hyper naked philosophy, handcrafted in the historic production line of Schiranna, Varese.
The Rush Titanio further elevates the model’s unmistakable identity through comprehensive technical upgrades, including a refined Euro 5+ engine behaviour, extensive use of titanium components, as well as carbon and blue anodized details, up to the debut of the latest generation Öhlins Smart EC 3.0 electronic suspension system.
AN EVOLVING ICON OF RADICAL DESIGN
Since its introduction, the MV Agusta Rush has represented the boldest and most visionary expression of the hyper naked concept, combining instantly recognizable styling with cutting-edge engineering solutions and benchmark performance.
The new Rush Titanio introduces a striking Nero Intenso livery combined with Argento Magnum and Blu Titanio accents. The name “Titanio” reflects the extensive titanium package featured throughout the motorcycle, emphasizing its premium engineering and performance-driven character.
ENHANCED EURO 5+ FOUR-CYLINDER PERFORMANCE
At the heart of the Rush Titanio lies MV Agusta’s renowned 1000 cc inline four-cylinder engine, to comply with Euro 5+ regulations while maintaining uncompromising performance. The updated engine is more responsive at lower revs, ensuring smoother performance with minimal vibration.
Key updates include new camshafts, revised engine mapping, improved throttle sensitivity, optimized gearbox ratios, and a shorter final drive ratio designed to enhance acceleration and responsiveness.
Performance figures reach:
201 hp at 13,500 rpm with standard exhaust
206 hp at 14,000 rpm with Arrow Titanium Slip-on (homologated for street use)
Maximum torque stands at 116 Nm at 11,000 rpm, while a torque-assist clutch improves smoothness and rider comfort.
The Rush Titanio debuts the latest evolution of the Öhlins Smart EC 3 semi-active suspension system, representing a significant step forward in electronic chassis control.
The new hardware features Öhlins’ advanced Spool Valve technology, delivering actuator response up to seven times faster than the previous needle-valve architecture, enabling near-instant damping adjustments that continuously adapt to rider inputs and road conditions.
A new Event Based Control software platform analyses riding dynamics in real time and integrates seamlessly with ABS, Traction Control, and Wheelie Control systems. Suspension behaviour is dynamically linked to the selected Ride Mode, ensuring a coherent and fully personalized riding experience across road and track environments.
TITANIUM ENGINEERING MEETS DESIGN EXPRESSION
A defining feature of the Rush Titanio is the extensive use of brushed-finish titanium components, enhancing both performance and exclusivity. These include:
Arrow Titanium Slip-on
Exhaust carrier
Fuel tank front cover
Dashboard carrier
Headlight carrier
Complementing these elements are multiple Blu Titanio anodized aluminum details, including the rear wheel nut, rear light cover, headlight cover, fuel tank cap, lever protectors, swingarm pivot adjustment plates, and the numbered “RUSH Edizione Limitata XXX/300” plate.
Design atom-inspired elements further reinforce the technical identity of the Titanio edition.
CARBON FIBER
All carbon fiber components now feature a new twill weave finish, replacing the previous plain weave and enhancing the motorcycle’s technical aesthetic. Updated elements include engine covers, side panels, mudguards, and a redesigned rear wheel cover, alongside new graphics incorporating the Italian flag and “Motorcycle Art” lettering.
The iconic wheel configuration remains, with a spoked front wheel and signature carbon rear wheel cover.
INDUSTRY FIRST: FULL ALCANTARA SEAT
The Rush Titanio introduces the world’s first motorcycle seat entirely crafted in Alcantara using a combination of thermo-welding and laser engraving technologies within a single component.
An Alcantara EXO membrane makes the foam padding fully water-repellent, ensuring durability and comfort in all conditions. The seat was developed through close collaboration between the MV Agusta Centro Stile and Alcantara Milano, achieving a balance between luxury craftsmanship and functional performance.
EXCLUSIVE OWNERSHIP EXPERIENCE
Each Rush Titanio is delivered with a dedicated premium kit including:
Arrow Titanium Slip-on with dedicated ECU map*
Carbon cover for Slip-on
Bracket for silencer
Carbon tail cover
CNC brake/clutch levers
CNC levers protection L/R
CNC racing fuel cap
Swingarm pivot adjustment plates
Dedicated bike cover
Welcome kit and certificate of authenticity
*The Arrow Titanium Slip-on is not included in the homologated US version.
LIMITED EDITION PRODUCTION
The MV Agusta Rush Titanio will be produced in only 300 individually numbered units, confirming its status as the ultimate expression of Italian craftsmanship, advanced engineering, and exclusive hyper naked performance.
The Italian market MSRP is set at €44,900 (about $53,000 U.S.D.), with start of production scheduled for July 2026.
More from a press release issued by Suzuki Motor USA:
Suzuki’s Ken Roczen dominates St. Louis Supercross.Ken Roczen’s Third Win Tightens Points Toward the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship.
Round 12 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross season delivered exciting action at the annual Love Moto Stop Cancer race in St. Louis, Missouri. Unique bike graphics and riding gear designs represented the continuing partnership with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The dirt inside The Dome at America’s Center was softer and tackier than anticipated. The soil initially provided great traction, but track conditions deteriorated dramatically throughout the racing.
Race Highlights:
Progressive Insurance Cycle Gear ECSTAR Suzuki
450 Class
Ken Roczen captured his third win of the season with a tour de force performance at the St. Louis Supercross.
Twisted Tea Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance
450 Class
Colt Nichols gained positions throughout the main as the track grew increasingly more treacherous.
Justin Bogle posted his best overall qualifying result before withdrawing due to a crash.
Ken Roczen (94) won at St Louis. Photo courtesy Suzuki.
Ken Roczen (94) continued to display career-best speed with the fastest lap time in the second qualifying session; it was good for the top overall qualifying spot. In his heat race, Roczen launched to a third-place start. He blitzed into second then leapt into first place just two minutes into the race. Roczen set the fastest lap time as well as fastest times through track Sectors 1, 3 (whoop section), 4, and 8 en route to his sixth heat win of the season. In the main event, Roczen again found himself in third place at the holeshot stripe. Less than a minute into the main, Roczen used his Suzuki RM-Z450’s precise turning to cut under two other racers in two consecutive corners. Roczen then set the race’s fastest lap time and gapped the field by two seconds in a single lap. Roczen looked picture perfect even as the track deteriorated; he set the race’s fastest times through Sectors 2 and 3 and steadily stretched his lead to over twelve seconds. Roczen took the checkered flag with a 13.2 second margin over the next racer. This performance extended Roczen’s season-topping statistics as the 450SX Class rider with the most main event laps led and the highest-ranking average for fastest lap times. Roczen remains in third place in the standings, but the St. Louis win chopped the gap to the championship lead from 14 down to just five points.
“St. Louis, you were good to us,” said Roczen. “It was a brutal day. The track was unexpectedly soft compared to when we were here during [the] SMX [Playoff]. It made for some crazy racing because it was built really tall, we had some really tricky rhythm lanes, and I just knew that the track, in 20 minutes, was going to get really torn up. But man, we won qualifying, won our heat race, and then it was just such a dream ride in the main event to bring home first place again. [These are the first] back-to-back [Supercross wins] for me since 2021. I’m just really on a high right now with that. I’m really trying to take this in, enjoy this, because I haven’t been in this position, really ever, in Supercross. So, I’m enjoying every bit of it but at the same time I know I need to stay focused and that’s what we’re going to do.”
Colt Nichols (45) put on a hard charge in the St. Louis main event and gained points to move up in the championship standings. Photo courtesy Suzuki.
Colt Nichols (45) started the night’s racing with a top-five start in his heat race. Nichols held onto the position for half of the race and crossed the checkered flag with a direct transfer into the main. At the start of the main, Nichols charged to a mid-pack start. After losing some positions on the chaotic opening laps, Nichols put his head down and steadily gained spots. Nichols set a top-three Sector 6 (short rhythm lane) time during the early laps of the 23-lap race.
“It was kind of an uneventful day,” reported Nichols. “It started off not good at all, to be honest. I felt really off all day. But we kept making changes to the bike and as the day went it got better and better and better. [I was] just a little too slow at the beginning of that main event; not the best start, but I rode up to 13th. So, I’ve been better, been worse. [We’ve] got a lot of work to do to get to where we need to be. We’ll try again next weekend.”
Justin Bogle (891) matched his season-best qualifying session result and topped his season-best overall qualifying position. Unfortunately, Bogle crashed in the second qualifying outing and it was determined that he should sit out the event.
“St. Louis started out good for me, with improvements from last week; P-15 overall [after] Q1 was a big step forward,” said Bogle. “In Q2 I had a big get off right away and am going to be heading home to get checked out and sorted on a timeline for me to return. The track was one of the sketchiest tracks I’ve ridden in a long time, and it caught me out. It’s unfortunate, as I’ve been loving being back on the gate. I’ll do my best to get healthy and get back.”
“It was a great night in St. Louis,” reported Dustin Pipes, Team Principal for the Twisted Tea/H.E.P. Motorsports/Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance Team. “Ken Roczen executed well all day, through qualifying, his heat, and the main event en route to another main event win. I’m really amazed at how in-tune he is with his motorcycle and his team around him. Colt Nichols had a solid 13th in the main event. He belongs in the top 10, but it was a good bounce back after a not so good qualifying and heat. The only drawback would be Justin Bogle’s crash in qualifying. It was a scary crash that ended his night early and put him in concussion protocol. We’re really hoping the best for Justin, and we’ll update as more information becomes available. Now it’s on to Nashville!”
Plastics and graphics from Ken Roczen’s race-winning RM-Z450, along with other great donated items, will be available to fans through an Auction to raise money for the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital on April 27th. Also, Roczen’s RM-Z450 race bike will be raffled off via the Kick Start for a Cause Sweepstakes; fans can purchase a chance to win by texting “SUZUKI” to 99126. The Supercross series now heads to Nissan Stadium in Nashville Tennessee; the event will run one hour ahead of the standard race day schedule. The Suzuki riders and team members are excited with the team’s late-season speed and momentum. Only five rounds remain and only five points separate the top three riders.
Justin Cooper Scores Runner-Up Finish in St. Louis. Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Justin Cooper earns a runner-up finish while Webb continues to chip away in the 450SX title fight.
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Justin Cooper has been steadily building, working his way to the top in the premier class of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship. On Saturday night in St. Louis, the New Yorker put in a great ride in challenging conditions at The Dome at America’s Center to earn season-best results.
At the previous round in Detroit, after three consecutive fourth-place finishes, Cooper made it clear that starts would be key – and he delivered. He qualified fourth, grabbed the holeshot in his heat race, and rode a flawless race to secure his first heat race win of the season.
In the main event, Cooper got another good start and battled with championship contenders, passing Hunter Lawrence on Lap 5. After the halfway mark, he made the pass on Jorge Prado to move into second. With the leader too far ahead to challenge, Cooper built a comfortable gap to secure the runner-up finish, matching his best result in the 450SX class.
Justin Cooper (32) at St Louis. Photo courtesy Yamaha.
“It was a good day, even though it started out not the best,” said Cooper. “This track is really tough, so we had tricky conditions all day. I felt better and better each time out on the track, and started with a pretty big change in the heat race. I got the holeshot and was able to run my laps clean, and felt really good and took that to the main. I think we started about sixth, so not as good as the heat, but I was able to make some good passes and get up to second. By the time I got there, Ken (Roczen) was way gone, and the track was pretty bad. With each lap that went by, we just had to hit our marks – doing the rhythms and really focusing, and that was key. I felt really good on the bike. I feel like my riding has been good lately, so we will keep this going.”
It was also a good ride from Cooper Webb in the tricky conditions, but still frustrating for the three-time 450SX Champion. After qualifying sixth, he had a good start to his heat race and finished second, securing a 1-2 finish for the team. In the main event, he found himself back in 12th after the start but quickly worked his way forward to ninth on the opening lap. Webb continued to push and, by the halfway mark, had broken into the top five, where he would finish to gain another point in the 450SX championship chase.
Cooper Webb (1) at St Louis. Photo courtesy Yamaha.
“St. Louis, overall, it was a decent day across the board,” said Webb. “I qualified sixth, got second in the heat race, and set myself up to do well in the main. My starts have been really good, but they weren’t for the main event, so that stunk. I made a lot of mistakes the first few laps trying to get by some guys, but then I definitely rode well, got my flow going, and made some passes. I felt like I was catching the lead group in front of me. I just started way too far behind, honestly, which was a bit of a bummer. I feel like we’ve been working hard during the week, and the results haven’t shown. So that’s pretty frustrating, but we’ll keep our heads up and keep plugging away.”
With five rounds remaining, Webb sits 25 points behind the leader in one of the most tightly contested 450SX title fights in recent memory.
“It was a pretty good day,” said Rich Simmons, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s 450 Team Manager. “The track was really rutted all day, so we were trying to anticipate that for the main event. It was a great heat race – 1-2 for the team. Justin executed well in the main, rode consistently, and pushed his way forward. We’re really proud of him and looking to take that next step to the top of the box. Webb, I think he salvaged a good night. I know it’s not where he wants to be, and it’s not where we know he can be, but we’ll just keep going and keep fighting in this championship.”
Next up, the series returns to Nashville, Tennessee, for Round 13 of the 2026 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship and the Monster Energy SMX World Championship at Nissan Stadium on April 11.
Haiden Deegan Crowned Back-to-Back 250SX West Champion in St. Louis.
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan adds a sixth title to his stellar 250 career, securing the crown early with a dominant win at St. Louis Supercross.
There was one more box for Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan to check off before moving on to the 450 class – defending his 250SX West title in dominant fashion. Well, it was mission accomplished for the 20-year-old Californian in St. Louis.
“That was sick,” said Deegan. “Seven in a row, too. That was a fat lead. It’s just heart, baby.”
It was another masterclass performance from Deegan at The Dome at America’s Center. He opened the night by winning the nine-lap 250SX West Heat Race by an impressive 13-second margin. In the East-West Showdown Main Event, he quickly worked his way into second in the opening laps, passed teammate Cole Davies on Lap 7, and rode on to claim another commanding victory, and by doing so, secured the championship a rare three rounds early.
Haiden Deegan (1W) at St Louis. Photo courtesy Yamaha.
“We’ve been digging, but we’re just getting started,” said Deegan. “I’m going to go to Nashville and have some fun. We’re still going to stay in line because we have a whole other goal to chase – 450 outdoors. But for now, we’ll celebrate this 250 title. Man, it feels good!”
The second Monster Energy AMA Supercross East-West Showdown of the season was also another display of strength from the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing team as a whole. The 250 team extended its win tally to 11 victories in 12 rounds, swept both divisional heat races, and once again finished 1-2 in the combined main event.
Cole Davies (37) at St Louis. Photo courtesy Yamaha.
Leading the way in the East was red plate holder Cole Davies, who continues to impress during his sophomore season. Entering the round on a three-race win streak, the young New Zealander won his divisional heat race and grabbed the holeshot in the main event, leading the first six laps. After being passed by Deegan, Davies ran a calculated race to secure second, extending his 250SX East Championship lead to 11 points with four rounds remaining.
“That track was so gnarly tonight,” said Davies. “It was by far the most challenging conditions I’ve ever ridden on. I pulled the holeshot and led early, but a couple of mistakes let Haiden capitalize, and he was on a mission. At that point, I locked in and focused on the championship. We extended our lead, and that’s the main goal. The bike was handling really well. I’m bummed to see Jo (Shimoda) go out the way he did, and I hope he’s all good. Congratulations to Haiden and the team on the West Coast title. Now we focus on locking up the East.”
Nate Thrasher (25) at St Louis. Photo courtesy Yamaha.
Nate Thrasher continued to build momentum, earning his best result of the season. After charging back to fourth in the 250SX East Heat Race, the Tennessee rider got a strong start in the main event and ran fourth on the opening lap. Thrasher battled for position, reclaiming fourth in the latter half of the main event, crossing the line fourth to earn his best result so far this season.
“I felt really good in the main,” said Thrasher. “I just fell a little short of the podium. I’m going to keep pushing and come out swinging at my home race in Nashville.”
Max Anstie (61) at St Louis. Photo courtesy Yamaha.
Max Anstie faced a challenging night in the demanding conditions. After recovering to finish seventh in the 250SX West Heat Race, he got a better start in the main event and ran eighth early. Unfortunately, he got stuck on a tough block, dropping him back to 15th, where he would finish to salvage some points. Anstie heads into the Western Divisional break third in the standings, just three points shy of second with two rounds remaining.
“It was a rough night in St Louis,” said Anstie. “I was around eighth in the main and went down on a tough block and got stuck, so that set me way back. It is what it is. We will rebound in Denver.”
Caden Dudney (82) at St Louis. Photo courtesy Yamaha.
Caden Dudney continued to gain valuable experience in his sixth pro Supercross start. After transferring through the heat race with an eighth-place finish, the rookie started 17th in the main event and charged forward to 12th in the opening laps. As the race wore on in the challenging conditions, he ultimately finished 16th.
“I felt alright in qualifying and had a good heat race,” said Dudney. “I was making good passes in the main, and got a little tired, but I need to get better starts and get some laps up front.”
“It was a good night for the whole team from 450 to 250″, said Wil Hahn, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s 250 Team General Manager. “Haiden got the win and the championship, Cole extended his points lead, and Nate getting back in the fight was fantastic. Max and Caden had a struggle of a night, but we’ll keep working. We’ll see you in Nashville.”
With the 250SX West title secured, the focus now shifts to the East Championship. Next up, the team heads to Nashville, Tennessee, for Round 7 of the 250SX East Championship and Round 13 of the Monster Energy SuperMotocross World Championship at Nissan Stadium on April 11.
More from a press release issued by Honda:
Lawrence reclaims Red Plate with St. Louis podium.
Australian finishes third and is tied for first in the 450SX standings
Shimoda injured during heat race ahead of 250SX East/West Showdown
Round 12 of AMA Supercross in St. Louis brought a mix of positive results and setbacks for the Honda HRC Progressive team, as Hunter Lawrence secured a premier-class podium finish to reclaim a share of the championship lead, while Jo Shimoda was forced out of the 250SX East/West Showdown before the main event, due to injury incurred in his heat race.
The 450SX main event saw Lawrence grab his second holeshot of the night. He engaged in early battles with Jorge Prado and Ken Roczen before settling into third on lap 2. As the race developed and the track conditions became more challenging, the Australian spent laps 5 through 14 outside the podium positions, while managing wrist discomfort from a crash at the previous round. He mounted a signature late-race surge to retake third and secured that position at the finish. Quad Lock Honda riders Joey Savatgy, Christian Craig and Shane McElrath completed the night in seventh, 11th and 12th, respectively.
Hunter Lawrence (96) at St Louis. Photo courtesy Honda
NOTES
Honda HRC Progressive 250SX West Region rider Chance Hymas (currently out, recovering from a shoulder injury) recently returned to riding, as he trains in Florida at The Dog Pound in preparation for the approaching AMA Pro Motocross series.
Ahead of the season’s second 250SX East/West Showdown, Honda HRC Progressive’s Jo Shimoda participated in media-day interviews and riding sessions on Friday.
Phoenix Racing Honda fielded a reduced lineup in St. Louis, with Cullin Park out for the remainder of the series to recover from a shoulder injury sustained in Birmingham.
Shimoda placed third in 250SX combined qualifying, which included the East and West regions. Phoenix Racing Honda riders Evan Ferry and Gavin Towers qualified 10th and 16th, respectively. Ryder Floyd (Ti Lube Honda) was 20th, and Storm Lake Honda riders Izaih Clark and Luke Neese were 32nd and 33rd, respectively. Next Level-backed privateer Hunter Schlosser was 38th, SLR Honda’s Justin Rodbell qualified in 40th, and Lasting Impressions-supported privateer Ronnie Orres was 45th.
Honda HRC Progressive rider Hunter Lawrence posted the ninth-best time in 450SX combined qualifying. Quad Lock Honda riders Joey Savatgy, Christian Craig and Shane McElrath qualified close behind in 10th, 13th and 14th, respectively. Other Red Riders included Jeremy Hand (Valley Motorsports), John Short IV (Short Racing), and Zack Williams (McGinley Clinic), who qualified 22nd, 26th and 30th, respectively.
Shimoda’s night was cut short soon after he got a mid-pack start in the 250SX East Region heat race. Congestion forced him to roll a jump and maneuver around a downed rider, resulting in him being landed on by another racer. Shimoda immediately felt pain in his lower left leg, and the medical crew transported him to the Alpinestars medical unit. An initial assessment indicated no bone fractures, and Shimoda will undergo further evaluation this week.
Lawrence grabbed the holeshot in the second 450SX heat race before being passed by Ken Roczen on the second lap. Lawrence remained in second until the checkered flag, giving him a decent gate pick for the main event, while Craig finished in seventh. In the other heat race, Savatgy and McElrath crossed the line in fourth and fifth, respectively.
Lawrence’s eighth podium of the season put him in a tie with Eli Tomac for the points lead, five ahead of Roczen.
Next up, Honda HRC Progressive heads to round 13 of AMA Supercross, this Saturday in Nashville.
Hunter Lawrence (96) at St Louis. Photo courtesy Honda
Hunter Lawrence: “From what happened last week and how my wrist is feeling, I’m pretty happy. I think this track was arguably one of our gnarliest tracks, more so than Daytona or Indy. It was wild how the bumps were, how kicky the jumps were, and how deep the ruts were. I had to ride more governed. A lot of it was just due to the strength loss in my wrist; it would give out on some of the stuff where normally I could kind of muscle up and continue on and make the next rhythm. Nothing’s broken—it’s just really sore and swollen in the joint, but it was good enough to do what I could do today. I’ve got a great team behind me, and we’re in a great spot. How cool is it? Three of us, so close, and two tied for the red plate! I’m going to get healthier again and be back ready to fight next weekend in Nashville.”
Jo Shimoda: “Not much to say about my weekend—I wasn’t able to finish a lap in the heat race. I was trying to avoid a rider crashing in front of me and ended up getting landed on. Alpinestars medical told me that there were no broken bones, but possible ligament damage. We’ll know more when I get an MRI.”
Lars Lindstrom – Team Manager: “A bittersweet night, which is common in racing when you have two riders that are championship contenders. Jo never got a chance to show what he had, and we’re doing everything we can to help him get back to being on the bike. Initially, it looked really serious, but now I’m more hopeful that it’s only a minor setback. Hopefully, we’ll know more after an MRI, but weight on the foot seems to be okay. I’m happy with Hunter’s race; if you’re going to race banged up, especially with a sore wrist, this is not the track you want to be racing at. It was absolutely brutal; Hutch and I had to walk the track afterwards, and that’s when they should have the fans walking the track. It blows my mind that the top guys are able to continue to do the rhythms and jump things out of turns when the track is that soft, rutted and destroyed. We’re satisfied with the result, happy to make up points and be tied for the red plate, but we definitely want more and look forward to battling for this championship to the end!”
More from another press release issued by Honda:
Shimoda Diagnosed with Fibula Fracture Following St. Louis Crash.
No surgery required for the reigning 250 SuperMotocross Champion
Shimoda expected to be ready in time for AMA Pro Motocross opener
Following a crash during Saturday’s AMA Supercross round in St. Louis, Honda HRC Progressive rider Jo Shimoda will miss the remainder of the series.
Initial evaluation at the track did not indicate a fracture, but imaging conducted Tuesday in Clermont, Florida, confirmed a small fracture of Shimoda’s left fibula. The injury is non-displaced and will not require surgery; however, Shimoda will wear an orthopedic boot for two to three weeks. The Japanese racer is expected to return in time for the May 30 AMA Pro Motocross season opener at Fox Raceway in Pala, California, where Honda HRC Progressive expects to have its full rider roster in action.
“Jo is a resilient competitor, and we’re confident he’ll make a full recovery,” said Brandon Wilson, Manager of Racing & Experiential at American Honda. “We fully expect him to be a contender for the 250 AMA Pro Motocross crown, and to fight hard in defense of his SuperMotocross Championship. Our team will provide all the support he needs during his rehab to ensure he’s ready to compete at the highest level.”
More from a press release issued by Red Bull KTM:
Jorge Prado claims P4 result with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing in St. Louis.
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jorge Prado claimed a well-earned fourth-place result at Round 12 of the 2026 AMA Supercross Championship in St. Louis, on a night where 450SX teammate Eli Tomac finished sixth to remain firmly in title contention with the red plate.
The St. Jude Love Moto Stop Cancer race headlined the 12th Round of the SMX World Championship in Missouri, where the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team ran special one-off graphics in support of the cause.
Equipped with the KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION, Prado posted the fifth-fastest combined qualifying time inside The Dome at America’s Center – highlighted by P1 in the opening session – with the four-time world champion then powering to fourth in his Heat Race.
Completing the opening lap of the Main Event in second position, the 25-year-old would then make a pass for the race lead before settling back into P2 after a heated exchange at the front of the field. Battling for the podium on a deteriorating circuit, Prado eventually took an impressive P4 finish, which marks his third top-five score of the 2026 season.
Jorge Prado (26) at St Louis. Photo courtesy KTM.
Jorge Prado:“St. Louis was a very good day for me and I saw a lot of improvements. Qualifying was really good to be P5 overall entering the night show, and then I had a solid Heat Race, also. We didn’t have the best start, but my flow was good, and I felt fast at the end. I was able to brake late off the start in the Main Event as I lined up a little more outside, which helped me a lot, and we were P2 out of the first corner. It was a hectic couple of laps from there with a lot of passes – I even got in the lead at one stage – and it was nice to be up there and showing my wheel. I lost some rhythm when we hit lapped riders and the track went away a lot – the sections I was doing in the first 10 minutes were completely different from what I was doing in the last 10 minutes, which was gnarly. We finished P4 and I think we can be very happy with that as a team.”
Two-time 450SX champion Tomac entered the 12th round with the series leader’s red plate, qualifying seventh aboard his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION before recording a P5 finish in his Heat Race, and a direct entry to the night’s Main Event.
The 33-year-old completed the opening lap of the Main Event in the top-five and maintained a consistent pace throughout, ultimately crossing the finish line in P6 and scoring an important haul of points. Tonight’s result keeps Tomac on top of the standings, now the joint red plate-holder with five rounds remaining in Supercross.
Eli Tomac:“It was a tougher day for us at St. Louis, but the good thing is that we didn’t lose too many points and we are still tied for the lead. I’m looking forward to the last five races, and doing what we can to get back up on top.”
Next Race: April 11 – Nashville, Tennessee
More from a press release issued by Rockstar Energy Husqvarna:
Top-five for Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Ryder DiFrancesco at St. Louis 250SX Showdown. Daxton Bennick finishes in sixth position as Malcolm Stewart races to top 10 in 450SX.
Ryder DiFrancesco and Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing achieved a solid fifth-place finish at Round 12 of the 2026 AMA Supercross Championship in St. Louis on Saturday night, as Daxton Bennick claimed sixth in the second 250SX East/West Showdown of the season.
The 12th round of the SMX World Championship marked the St. Jude Love Moto Stop Cancer race, with Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing featuring unique liveries in support of the initiative.
Both 250SX riders Bennick and DiFrancesco were in action in Missouri for the second Showdown event of the year, with Bennick qualifying fifth overall on combined times, as DiFrancesco set the 12th-fastest time.
Equipped with the Husqvarna FC 250 Factory Edition, DiFrancesco then powered to a P5 result in the 250SX West Heat Race, setting his night up well for the upcoming East/West Showdown Main Event.
Starting in 10th position, 20-year-old DiFrancesco pieced together a strong performance throughout the entire 15-minute plus one-lap Main Event, charging up to fifth place in what was an impressive ride in challenging track conditions.
With only two rounds of the Western Division left to contest, Ryder D sits fourth in the standings – three points behind third place – as the series resumes at Denver’s Empower Field at Mile High on May 2.
Ryder DiFrancesco (34) at St Louis. Photo courtesy Husqvarna
“I didn’t actually feel super-comfortable starting the day in St. Louis,”reflected DiFrancesco. “Then, I got better throughout the day – my second qualifying session was improved, and the Heat Race progressed better as it went on. In the Main Event, I didn’t get the best start in 10th, but fought my way to fifth while feeling pretty good out there in the challenging conditions. If we start up front and have some clean air, I think we’ll do well, so I’m looking forward to both Denver and Salt Lake.”
For Bennick, he was involved in an early incident during his Heat Race, which ultimately sent him to the Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ). He recovered to claim victory in the LCQ and lined up prepared to battle in the Main Event.
He launched to a start just outside the top 10, also posting a significant charge through the East/West Showdown field, surging all the way to sixth by the time the checkered flag flew. Bennick climbs to third in the 250SX East standings after his St. Louis result, entering next weekend’s Nashville round.
Daxton Bennick (58) at St Louis. Photo courtesy Husqvarna
“St. Louis was alright for me,”commented Bennick. “Qualifying was pretty good – we were P5 overall – and then unfortunately someone tagged me in the Heat Race, which sent me to the LCQ. I did the best I could in the Main Event from the outside gate, fought through the field, and although I made a couple of little mistakes, we were able to salvage a sixth. It’s not exactly what I want, so we’ll be looking for more in Nashville.”
Stewart was third on the combined 450SX qualifying timesheets on the technical St. Louis track layout, recording a 55.343s lap-time onboard his Husqvarna FC 450 Factory Edition. That form continued his momentum following a podium finish at the previous round.
The 33-year-old carried that speed into his Heat Race, claiming another well-earned P3 result and a strong gate selection for the Main Event. Stewart started inside the top 10 as the gates dropped and battled for position throughout, securing a well-earned P8 on a track that had become increasingly demanding by night’s end. He also sits eighth in the 450SX standings.
“Normally, St. Louis dirt is really good, but it felt like this year was one of the hardest visits here that I have had in my whole career,”said Stewart. “This was super-tough, so overall I’m happy to make it out safe, and now we can look forward to next weekend. I felt great here all day, but the track broke down a lot after the Heat Race, which made for a long night – I’m pumped to take this thing on to Nashville.”
Next Race: April 11 – Nashville, Tennessee
More from a press release issued by Kawasaki:
Monster Energy® Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider Seth Hammaker put on another podium performance at the second East/West Showdown of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship in St. Louis to take third place. Teammate Levi Kitchen continued to battle through a lingering back injury to secure seventh place, while Nick Romano showed podium-worthy speed and placed ninth in the main event. Monster Energy Kawasaki rider Garrett Marchbanks put on an impressive performance all day to secure ninth on the night, while Chase Sexton was forced to retire early from the main event after a crash in the rhythm section.
Nicholas Romano (141) at St Louis. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
In 250SX Qualifying, Hammaker consistently recorded the top time in both Eastern Divisional sessions to give him second overall. Meanwhile, Romano focused on adapting to the challenging track, finishing 24th overall. Kitchen was knocking on the door of the top qualifying spot in the Western Division, posting second-place in both sessions before ultimately placing sixth overall.
Levi Kitchen (47) at St Louis. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
As the gate dropped in the 250 West Heat Race, Kitchen got off to a midpack start, fighting his way towards the front. Kitchen clicked off consistent laps and made strategic passes to advance through the field. In the final two laps of the race, Kitchen found himself in a tight battle. The No. 47 Kawasaki was able to make the pass for fourth in the turn exiting the switchback section and continued to push for third but came up just shy across the line, settling for fourth in the heat race.
Nicholas Romano (141) and Seth Hammaker (10) at St Louis. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
In the 250 East Heat Race, Hammaker pulled a strong start, placing himself towards the front of the field with his teammate Romano close behind. On the opening lap, another rider went down, causing a red flag and a full restart for the field. On the following gate drop, Hammaker pulled a commanding holeshot aboard his KX™250, while Romano came through just inside the Top 10. Halfway through the race, the second-place rider began pressuring Hammaker for the lead. The No. 10 Kawasaki closed the door on an attempted pass and pushed to hold onto the lead, but slipped back to second in the treacherous whoops section and held his position through the checkered flag. Romano made strategic passes throughout the race to move himself into fifth place, where he ultimately finished.
Seth Hammaker (10) and Levi Kitchen (47) at St Louis. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
In the 250 Main Event, Hammaker and Romano got impressive jumps off the gate, running nearly side by side inside the Top 5. Kitchen had a less-than-ideal start as he came out midpack through the first turn but made quick work of the field as he moved into sixth by Lap 2. Romano ran in second place through the opening laps, with Hammaker right behind in third. Romano eventually began slipping back as he continues to work on his race pace after a year away from racing, ultimately finishing ninth. Hammaker held onto third place throughout the race, earning his spot on the box once again. Teammate Kitchen put in his best effort on the night as he continues recovering from his back injury, moving up as high as fourth at the midway point before slipping back and ultimately crossing the line in seventh.
Seth Hammaker: “Tonight’s race was tough with how the track shaped up throughout the day. I tried to stay consistent and be smart because of the challenging conditions. I just tried to hit my marks every lap to put myself in a good position. Cole [Davies] has been riding well, so I need to bring more speed the next couple of weekends and start taking some more risks as the season gets closer to an end. I am still happy with my performance tonight and the fact that I’ve been able to continue to stand on the box the last several races.“
Levi Kitchen:“It wasn’t a bad night, but it’s not where I want to be at this point in the season. I didn’t get the starts I needed, which made it tough right away. I’ve been trying different treatments for my back and had it worked on throughout the day, but it was still holding me back from being able to push how I wanted to in the race. I felt like the speed was there in spots, but I just wasn’t able to ride to my full potential and felt like I just had to manage the race. There are some positives to take, but I know I’ve got to be better. We’ll use this break from now until Denver to take some time to rest in order to finish off the season strong.
Nick Romano:“Overall, not a bad day. I had a pretty rough go in qualifying, but I wasn’t worried going into the night show. I ended up fifth in the heat race, which I was pretty happy about since it was essentially a shorter East Coast Main Event. The main event went well. I got off to a really good start and was pretty close to getting the holeshot. Cole [Davies] and I were up there off the jump. I went as long as I could with the front of the field. I needed a little more stamina at the end, but from where we were three weeks ago, it’s a big step forward. I had the third fastest time of the race, which tells me I have podium speed clearly, and I think that’s a great possibility for the end of the year. I’ll just keep trying to be better, go back to work this week with the team, and see where we end up next week in Nashville.”
Chase Sexton (4) at St Louis. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
In 450SX Qualifying, both Monster Energy Kawasaki riders posted consistent times. Sexton took second overall, just half a second off the top time, while Marchbanks secured eighth overall.
In 450 Heat 1, both Sexton and Marchbanks got off to midpack starts. Contact from other riders caused Sexton to lose his balance and ultimately go down in the first turn. Marchbanks successfully navigated the tight first turn and settled into the race. After remounting in last place, Sexton put his head down and began charging through the field. The No. 4 Kawasaki picked off riders one by one, and by the midway point had already passed 15 riders to move into fifth while setting the fastest lap time. With one lap left, Sexton engaged in a tight battle to finish the race in third place. Marchbanks clicked off consistent laps as he moved into sixth early on and held his position through the checkered flag.
Garrett Marchbanks (36) and Chase Sexton (4) at St Louis. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
In the 450 Main Event, both riders came out mid-pack off the start, with Sexton running in seventh and Marchbanks close behind in 11th. Marchbanks maintained a steady pace while methodically working past his competitors, while Sexton was focused on moving towards the front, he suffered a crash in the rhythm section, forcing him to retire early from the race. Marchbanks pushed as high as seventh toward the end of the race, but a few minor mistakes in the final laps disrupted his rhythm, dropping him to ninth place at the checkered flag. This marks Marchbanks’ fourth Top 10 of the season, as he continues to grow and gain momentum as the year goes on.
Garrett Marchbanks (36) at St Louis. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
Garrett Marchbanks: “The day was really solid. I would say this has been one of my best days yet in the 450 Class. I qualified eighth in the first session and eighth in the second session. The heat race was pretty hectic, but I was able to stay on two wheels through the first turn and came out in sixth place at the end of it. Going into the main event, I felt really good. I put in some good laps in the beginning and was running seventh for quite a while, when I hit around 15 minutes in, I kind of lost my flow, had some mistakes, and missed my rhythm through the rhythm section after the start turn quite a few times. That really hurt me with Joey [Savatgy] and Malcom [Stewart] catching me. Once they got around me, I kind of put my head down and just pushed through until the end. Once we were about two laps to go, I made a little push, but didn’t quite have it, and ended the night in ninth.
Chase Sexton: “I had a bit of an up and down day here in St. Louis. My speed was good in qualifying. I was pushing for fastest qualifier, but just wasn’t able to get there. In the heat race, I had some issues off the start. I got run in on by a few guys, which caused me to go down. I just pushed until the race was over to get up to third for a better gate pick in the main event. I still didn’t get the start I was looking for in the main event and had some mistakes that set me back. I ultimately had to pull off the track early because I was pretty banged up after my crash and was unable to finish the race.”
We’ve often said that the lifeblood of MotoAmerica is the riders. We advocate for their safety. They are our greatest assets. Plain and simple, without our riders, we literally would not have a race series.
There is a saying within the management at MotoAmerica. It’s a phrase that is attributed to MotoAmerica president Wayne Rainey.
“How bad do you want it?”
No one wanted to race and wanted it more than Wayne. It drove him to win two AMA Superbike Championships and three consecutive 500cc Grand Prix World Championships.
It also drove him to save motorcycle road racing in America by creating, with the support of his three partners Chuck Aksland, Richard Varner, and Terry Karges, the AMA/FIM North American Road Racing Championship, otherwise known as MotoAmerica.
We see frequent manifestations of “how bad do you want it?” in our paddock. Riders whose day jobs primarily fund their race programs, riders who sleep in their cars because virtually all of their money is spent on racing motorcycles and they cannot afford better places to live. Riders who train incessantly in an effort to achieve and maintain maximum fitness.
It is in this spirit that the MotoAmerica VIP Superfan Privateer Support Program was created.
A charitable subset of the VIP Superfan Experience, the Privateer Support Program began as an idea leading into the opening round of the 2026 season at Daytona International Speedway.
Block holds up the check for $2,525 that he received from the sale of commemorative hats purchased by the very generous VIP Superfans at Daytona. Photo courtesy MotoAmerica.
Ron Heben, “the man in the red jacket” who runs the VIP Superfan Experience, is also the man who created the Privateer Support Program. He purchased a collection of custom-embroidered hats resplendent in MotoAmerica and VIP Superfan logos, as well as Privateer Support Program lettering.
He sold the hats to the VIP Superfans who attended Daytona, and he randomly chose one rider out of the hundreds who make up our paddock.
The rider chosen was Eli Block.
MotoAmerica’s VIP Superfans are truly super fans, and they bought every single hat that was available. As a result, the VIP Superfans presented Twins Cup rider Block with a check (and cash) in the amount of $2,525.00! It was an incredibly generous gesture of support for him, and he really appreciated it.
“I was so caught off guard,” Block said. “It was an amazing experience. I didn’t even have a clue what was going on, and being picked was obviously a highlight of Daytona for me and my race program.”
Thank you to all our Daytona VIP Superfans for embracing the new program. And, to Eli Block, best of luck with your racing endeavors. We’re excited to see how the other rounds shape up as the word gets out and additional program supporters come on board. And, by the way, Ron is making sure we have enough VIP Superfan Privateer Support Program hats at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.
The 13th race of Monster Energy Supercross signified the championship's first visit to Nashville since the 2024 season. Photo courtesy SMX
NASHVILLE – The Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship made its anticipated return to “Music City” for Round 13 of the 2026 Monster Energy SMX World Championship as a massive crowd gathered inside Nissan Stadium to witness the closest three-rider title fight in 450SMX Class history. When the dust settled, Honda HRC Progressive’s Hunter Lawrence stepped up and seized control of the championship battle with an emphatic victory that saw him take sole possession of the points lead heading into the final four races of the season.
Hunter Lawrence Rises to the Occasion in Nashville to Seize Control of Monster Energy Supercross Title Fight
The start of the premier class 20 Minutes + 1 Lap Main Event saw Quad Lock Honda’s Shane McElrath grab the holeshot, but he was quickly surpassed by several riders that ultimately moved Team Tedder Racing KTM’s Justin Hill into the lead ahead of Progressive Insurance Cycle Gear Suzuki’s Ken Roczen and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jorge Prado. Lawrence slotted into the top five as Roczen went on the attack and seized control of the early lead. Behind them, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Eli Tomac, the championship co-leader, was mired outside the top 10.
As Roczen paced the field, Lawrence charged up to second and was the fastest rider on the track. The pace up front stabilized through the middle of the Main Event with a gap that hovered between one to two seconds as the top two pulled away from the rest of the field. With just over eight minutes to go Roczen lost traction before a triple jump, which allowed Lawrence to jump by into the lead. Roczen attempted to fight back, but Lawrence completed the pass and sprinted away to a gap of nearly two seconds. Roczen went down a short time later and dropped to fourth behind Hill and Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cooper Webb.
Lawrence found himself more than 15 seconds clear of the field through the final five minutes, while the battle for the podium raged on behind him. Webb attempted to make a pass on Hill for second but was initially denied. Webb regrouped and made the move stick a short time later. Roczen then followed through into third, with Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Chase Sexton pressing from fourth.
Back up front, Lawrence never put a wheel wrong and rode to a decisive fourth win this season by a margin of 7.1 seconds over Webb, as the reigning champion earned his first podium in four races. Roczen grabbed a fourth consecutive podium in third. Tomac, who was fastest qualifier and won his Heat Race, never factored into the Main Event and ran as high as eighth before a late crash relegated him to 12th, equaling his worst result of the season.
With four races to go Lawrence has opened a 10-point lead in the championship standings over Roczen, who moved from third to second. Tomac fell to third and now sits 15 points out of the lead after sharing possession of the red plate entering Nashville.
Honda HRC Progressive’s Hunter Lawrence captured a crucial fourth win of the season to take sole possession of the 450SMX Class points lead. Photo courtesy SMX
Hunter Lawrence – 1st Place – 450SMX Class:
“It feels great [to be back on top of the podium]. I’m so happy my wrist wasn’t holding me back today. That’s probably the coolest thing. Every Saturday I want to go out and have no limitations holding me back from anything. It feels like a home race with my collaboration with Gibson [Guitars] and how welcoming everyone is and I always look forward to coming back.”
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cooper Webb overcame a start outside the top 10 for the first podium in four races for the reigning Supercross champion. Photo courtesy SMX
Cooper Webb – 2nd Place – 450SMX Class:
“This race was hard. The track was sketchy and you wanted to push, but you couldn’t. I’m happy with [second] and we got through safe. I had another terrible start, which is not how you want to draw it up. We’ve got some work to do to catch that lead group, but I’ll take the podium after the past few weekends. It’s a good boost of confidence for me.”
Progressive Insurance Cycle Gear Suzuki’s Ken Roczen continued his late season momentum surge with a fourth straight podium finish. Photo courtesy SMX
Ken Roczen – 3rd Place – 450SMX Class:
“I just felt a little bit off today compared to the past few weekends, but nonetheless we still have only four races to go, and anything goes in the Main Event. I was doing pretty good and once Hunter [Lawrence] got by me, I was going to settle for second and that felt like it was a win for me today. I ended up tossing it right before the finish line and luckily, I got the bike started and back going. I would have loved to finish second, but I’ll take a podium. That’s like a win for us. We’ve got a bunch of racing to go.”
450SMX Class Podium (left to right): Cooper Webb, Hunter Lawrence, and Ken Roczen. Photo courtesy SMX
Eli Tomac – 12th Place – 450SMX Class:
“What a day – the whole day was good, other than the Main Event result. I was comfortable with my setup all day, so I’m just frustrated not only with the bad gate selection – I should have avoided the inside on the start – but also the crash. That bad start really put me in a tough spot from the get-go and I had my work cut out for me trying to make passes on such a slick, tight track. I lost a bunch of points today, but all I can do at this point is ride my best at the remaining rounds and let the chips fall where they may.”
Despite a win in his Heat Race, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Eli Tomac never factored into the Main Event and finished 12th after a late-race crash. Photo courtesysy SMX
Cole Davies Dominant En Route to Fourth Eastern Divisional 250SMX Win
The 15 Minutes + 1 Lap Eastern Divisional 250SMX Class Main Event began with the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing machine of Daxton Bennick out front for the holeshot ahead of Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Nate Thrasher and Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Drew Adams. Also in the mix were the East’s two title combatants, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cole Davies and Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Seth Hammaker. Thrasher was able to take advantage of his strong start to quickly power by Bennick, and grab hold of the early lead.
Davies and Hammaker latched on to one another and made a march forward, with Davies capitalizing on his explosive whoop speed to make passes. Less than five minutes into the race Davies moved to the front of the field, while Hammaker bided his time and worked his way up to second a short time later. As he looked to make up ground on the lead Hammaker made a costly miscue when his foot hit a tuff block and shot his Kawasaki sideways, which sent Hammaker to the ground. He quickly remounted in fourth, but several seconds outside podium contention.
Davies built a lead of more than five seconds halfway into the Main Event and added to a dominant advantage through the remainder of the race. Meanwhile, Hammaker dug deep and clawed his way back onto the podium. He passed Thrasher for third and with time running out on the race clock was all over Bennick for second. The Husqvarna rider lost traction with his rear tire in his attempt to fend off Hammaker, which initiated a collision between the pair and sent both riders to the ground. Thrasher slipped by into second, while Hammaker remounted in third and Bennick in fourth.
Davies cruised to his fourth win of the season by a margin of 17.2 seconds over Thrasher, who benefitted from the misfortunes of his rivals to capture his first podium result of the season. Hammaker salvaged a podium result in third after an adversity filled race but was later penalized two positions by race officials after he cut the track re-entering the race following his first crash. That moved ClubMX Yamaha’s Devin Simonson, who passed Bennick on the final lap, up to third for a maiden podium result.
Following the penalty to Hammaker, Davies’ points lead expanded to 29 points with three races to go. Bennick sits third, 40 points out of the lead.
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cole Davies was dominant on the way to his fourth win of the season to extend his Eastern Divisional points lead. Photo courtesy SMX
Cole Davies – 1st Place – Eastern Divisional 250SMX Class:
“The whoops were sketchy today. They were super steep and since [the track crew] left them all day the cups were really gnarly. I’m stoked, that was a good race. I didn’t get off to a good start, but I made it happen and I’m stoked with that.”
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Nate Thrasher earned an unexpected runner-up finish for his first podium result of the season. Photo courtesy SMX
Nate Thrasher – 2nd Place – Eastern Divisional 250SMX Class:
“Honestly, I did not ride good at all. I just didn’t have a flow. I was really great in practice and solid in the Heat Race. The track just kept getting harder packed and I started struggling a little bit. I got a little pumped up and did the best I could. I’m pumped to be on the podium, but we’ve got a lot of work to do.”
ClubMX Yamaha’s Devin Simonson ended up with the first podium result of his career after a post-race penalty was given to Seth Hammaker. Photo courtesy SMX
Devin Simonson – 3rd Place – Eastern Divisional 250SMX Class*:
“I was able to pick up on some lines battling with Henry [Miller] and made the pass on him quick [for fifth]. A bunch of carnage was happening out front, I honestly don’t know what, but I saw on the pit board I was battling for fourth, so I gave it everything I had and came out with this one.”
*Quote provided prior to penalty.
Eastern Divisional 250SMX Class Podium (left to right): Nate Thrasher, Cole Davies, and Seth Hammaker. Hammaker was later penalized two positions for cutting the track. Photo courtesy SMX
Even though he crossed the line in third place, Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Seth Hammaker was penalized two positions for cutting the track and dropped to fifth, which lost him valuable points in the championship standings. Photo courtesy SMX
The Monster Energy SMX World Championship and Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship will continue next Saturday, April 18, with Round 14 from Huntington Bank Field for the sport’s first visit to Cleveland in 30 years. Live broadcast coverage will be highlighted by a network showcase on NBC at 3 p.m. ET, in addition to comprehensive coverage on Peacock, beginning at 9 a.m. ET with Race Day Live, followed by the Gate Drop at 3 p.m. ET. A special encore network presentation will air on NBC as well on Sunday, April 19, at 2 p.m. ET. Additionally, a domestic Spanish language broadcast is available on Peacock while international viewers can choose from dedicated English, French, and Spanish broadcasts via SMX Video Pass (www.SMXVideoPass.com).
All 17 rounds of the 2026 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship and 11 rounds of the Pro Motocross Championship are on sale. Tickets for the SMX World Championship Playoff Rounds and Final are now on sale at Supermotocross.com. Saturday FanFest will take place at all postseason races, Friday FanFest and camping will be available in Columbus and Ridgedale, additional details to follow.
For information about the Monster Energy SMX World Championship, please visit www.SuperMotocross.com and be sure to follow all of the new SMX social media channels for exclusive content and additional information on the latest news:
Road America, in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. Photo courtesy Road America.
STATEMENT: GOVERNOR EVERS’ VETO OF RIGHT-TO-RACE BILL STALLS WISCONSIN’S ECONOMIC ENGINE
The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) and its Performance Racing Industry (PRI) subsidiary issued the following statement following Gov. Tony Evers’ veto of AB 880:
Governor Tony Evers claims to have fond childhood memories growing up near a Wisconsin racetrack, but just vetoed AB 880, the Right-to-Race bill, just so his trial-lawyer buddies can keep suing tracks out of business.
Evers acted despite overwhelming support from lawmakers from across the state who know the value of small businesses and the cultural importance of motorsports. There was no registered opposition to this bill, and for good reason: motorsports matter.
Wisconsin’s racetracks foster an industry that is the soul of Wisconsin’s small, multi-generational business community and the engine of the state’s economic viability, including:
• $2.46 billion in total economic impact
• 10,601 jobs
• $697.92 million in wages and benefits
• $271.60 million in tax revenue.
Motorsports is an industry that has enlivened life in Wisconsin for nearly a century. Instead of protecting Wisconsin’s economy and network of family-owned dirt ovals, drag strips, and every motorsports facility in between, and instead of fostering American manufacturing, STEM education, and engineering innovation, Evers made it crystal clear whose side he’s on: lawyers and NIMBYs.
SEMA and PRI instead will continue to stand with the working families, racers, mechanics, concession workers, and fans who lose when tracks close. This race isn’t finished. In fact, our coalition is stronger than ever, and we’re just getting started.
BACKGROUND
AB 880, which was passed in the Wisconsin State Legislature with strong support in the Assembly and Senate, would protect long-standing racetracks from nuisance-based lawsuits brought by nearby property owners who moved into the area after the tracks were already established.
SEMA and PRI support “Right-to-Race” laws like AB 880 that protect legally compliant, long-standing tracks from nuisance claims. These protections ensure facilities that follow all laws and permits can operate without constant legal threats, preserving racing heritage, jobs, and revenue generated by motorsports.
The automotive aftermarket and motorsports industries annually contribute a combined $406 billion to the national economy, including $69 billion by the motorsports industry alone, and support millions of jobs nationwide. Lawmakers should champion commonsense policies to protect racetrack operations, prosperity, and longevity.
SEMA and PRI work with lawmakers, track operators, sanctioning bodies, and parts manufacturers to advance these protections through advocacy, coalition building, and grassroots engagement. Tracks have operated for decades and deserve stability. This commonsense legislation ensures facilities that predate neighbors are legally protected, preserving both urban and rural jobs, tourism, and community tradition.
Motorsports venues are vital to local economies, small businesses, tourism, and heritage. Still, many face lawsuits from neighbors who moved in after the track was established and seek to limit operations or shut down the venue entirely.\
ABOUT PERFORMANCE RACING INDUSTRY
Performance Racing Industry fuels the passion for motorsports by building, promoting, and protecting the worldwide racing community. PRI supports the interests of racers, enthusiasts, builders, tracks, sanctioning bodies and businesses through legislative action and advocacy, its monthly business magazine Performance Racing Industry, and the world’s premier motorsports trade show, the PRI Trade Show. PRI also supports businesses by providing market research, education and best practices in motorsports business and racing technology. For more information, visit PerformanceRacing.com.
ABOUT SEMA
The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) serves as a leading voice for the worldwide car culture, representing over 7,000 member companies that create, buy, sell, and use specialty-automotive parts that make vehicles more unique, attractive, convenient, safer, fun, and even like new again. Business member benefits include product development resources, market research, networking, education, legislative advocacy and more. The Association organizes the annual SEMA Show in Las Vegas, Nev., and actively supports the career and business opportunities that the aftermarket generates. The industry contributes nearly $337 billion in economic impact to the U.S. economy, supports 1.3 million jobs nationally, and generates nearly $53 billion in parts sales annually. For more information, visit www.sema.org.
The Italian government has issued a postage stamp and associated collectibles in honor of Ducati's 100th anniversary.
Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy (MIMIT) Government Agency Honors Ducati
Ducati is among the companies to which the MIMIT has dedicated a stamp of the series “Excellence of the Production System and Made in Italy.”
The issue pays tribute to the 100-year history of the Borgo Panigale company, recognizing its contribution to the promotion of Made in Italy around the world.
The stamp design features an iconic Ducati motorcycle crossed by the colours of the Italian flag, symbolizing the company’s identity and connection to its Italian roots.
Rome/Borgo Panigale – On the occasion of its Centenary, Ducati is being celebrated by the Italian State with a special stamp dedicated to the history, vision and achievements that have made the Borgo Panigale-based manufacturer a global benchmark in the motorcycle industry. The issue is part of the thematic series “Excellence of the Production System and Made in Italy” dedicated to companies that have made a significant contribution to the Country’s development and innovation.
The official presentation took place on Thursday 9 April in the Sala degli Arazzi of Palazzo Piacentini, headquarters of the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy, in the presence of Undersecretary of State for Philately, Fausta Bergamotto.
“2026 represents an extraordinary milestone for Ducati, embodying one hundred years of history, passion and expertise” said Claudio Domenicali, CEO of Ducati, during the ceremony. “Made in Italy is part of our identity: a way of working that combines tradition and innovation and has enabled us to establish a distinctive vision of technology, design, and performance on the international stage. A journey that today receives further recognition through institutional initiatives such as this one, for which we would like to express our gratitude to Minister Adolfo Urso and the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy.”
Founded in 1926 in Borgo Panigale (Bologna), Ducati has built a unique identity over the course of a century, evolving from its early days in radio technology to become a global excellence in motorcycling and motorsport. The values of Style, Sophistication, and Performance have always guided the Company’s choices and are reflected in motorcycles that combine advanced technology, distinctive design and an unmistakably Italian sporting character.
These elements come together in the commemorative stamp dedicated to the Centenary, featuring an iconic Ducati motorcycle–the Ducati Superleggera V4 Centenario Tricolore– crossed by the colors of the Italian flag: a tribute to the Company’s identity and its deep connection to the Country’s creativity, technological innovation, and tradition.
This is not the first time Ducati has been celebrated through philately. In 2022, a stamp in the thematic series “Sport” was dedicated to the MotoGP World Championship victory, featuring the Desmosedici GP22 of Francesco Bagnaia reinterpreted in the colours of the Italian flag.
The Centenary stamp is issued at the B rate.
For the occasion, a special A4 three-fold philatelic folder has also been produced, containing a block of four stamps, a single stamp, a stamped and postmarked postcard, a philatelic card, a first-day cover and an illustrated bulletin. The folder is available at post offices with philatelic counters, in Philately Spaces, and on the website filatelia.it.
The Ducati stamp will also be included in the “Book of Stamps 2026,” the annual publication that collects all the year’s issues, combining collecting, institutional memory and the story of the Country.
Multi-platinum selling country artist Brantley Gilbert named Grand Marshal for the Nashville Supercross race being held at Nissan Stadium. Photo courtesy SMX
Gilbert to Introduce Reigning Supercross Champion and Close Friend Cooper Webb in Special Opening Ceremonies Tribute.Gilbert’s new single “Good Damn” among the most added songs at country radio two weeks in a row.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Multi-platinum selling country artist Brantley Gilbert has been named the official Grand Marshal for Round 13 of the Monster Energy SMX World ChampionshipTM taking place this Saturday, April 11 at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee.
Amassing over 8.3 BILLION career streams and seven No. 1 singles with hit songs such as “Bottoms Up,” “Country Must Be Country Wide,” and “You Don’t Know Her Like I Do”, Gilbert is also an accomplished songwriter, lending his world-class pen to Jason Aldean’s “Dirt Road Anthem” and “My Kinda Party.” An ACM, CMA and AMA Award winner, Gilbert’s latest single “Good Damn” was enthusiastically embraced both by fans and country radio, landing among the most-added songs two weeks in a row. “Good Damn” is the lead single from Gilbert’s eighth studio album, set for release later in the year.
Gilbert recently attended his first SMX event a couple of weeks ago in Birmingham, Alabama and enjoys a close friendship with reigning Supercross Champion Cooper Webb. Webb will be donning Brantley Gilbert artwork on his racing gear in a unique collaboration between the two superstars. Webb’s FLY Racing gear kit, helmet and Alpinestars boots will be revealed at a special event taking place at Tootsies on Friday night. Gilbert will also have a bike on hand with special event graphics.
Gilbert will play an integral role in opening ceremonies, make an appearance on the pre-race Race Day Live show, plus deliver the customary “gentleman start your engines” heard famously at motorsports events around the world. Gilbert will also wave the green flag for the official start of the premier 450SMX Class Main Event.
FanFest and Qualifying kick off at Nissan Stadium at 7:00 a.m. with opening ceremonies starting at 1:30 p.m. and racing at 2:00 p.m. CT. Tickets can be purchased at SupercrossLIVE.
For information about the Monster Energy SMX World Championship, please visit www.SuperMotocross.com and be sure to follow all of the new SMX social media channels for exclusive content and additional information on the latest news:
Bradley Smith (38) on his Harley-Davidson Bagger racebike at Daytona. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
HARLEY-DAVIDSON LAUNCHES RIDE
New Global Brand Platform Sets Stage For New Era of Harley-Davidson, While Honoring Its Heritage
Harley-Davidson reignites the brand with the global launch of RIDE, a refreshed brand platform that honors more than a century of driving motorcycle culture, designed for the riders of today, and paves a path forward for Harley-Davidson.
More than a word, RIDE is, at its core, the very idea that defines and drives Harley-Davidson. It is an action, a feeling, and a way of life that has been embedded into the brand since its founding in 1903. Harley-Davidson doesn’t have merely owners, rather a community of passionate riders. The very notion of RIDE brings people together, clears the mind, and turns miles into stories, reaffirming that life is better on two wheels.
“I’m thrilled to launch the RIDE platform as a full reset of the brand ahead of our company strategy rollout in May. It celebrates the fun and joy people experience riding the world’s greatest motorcycle, a Harley-Davidson,” said Artie Starrs, President and CEO, Harley-Davidson.
With the launch of RIDE, Harley-Davidson unveils a new visual identity, anchored by the return of the historic Harley-Davidson bar and shield logo; a nod to where it all began and a signal to the role heritage continues to play in shaping the future of Harley-Davidson.
The platform debut comes to life through a video set to the iconic Willie Nelson’s “On the Road Again,” featuring raw, authentic footage of real riders and the joy of the RIDE. The visual spotlights the true spirit of the open road and the culture that exists around it, a community Harley-Davidson originated and continues to champion. The video will air nationally across broadcast and streaming platforms, along with a comprehensive internal and external integrated campaign.
For over a century, Harley-Davidson has defined what it means to ride. RIDE is the next chapter, celebrating every rider, those who have been with us from the beginning and opening the road to anyone ready to join in. More riders. More rides. More freedom. More stories to be told.
Harley-Davidson, Inc. is the parent company of Harley-Davidson Motor Company and Harley-Davidson Financial Services. Our vision: Building our legend and leading our industry through innovation, evolution and emotion. Our mission: More than building machines, we stand for the timeless pursuit of adventure. Freedom for the soul. Since 1903, Harley-Davidson has defined motorcycle culture with an expanding range of leading-edge, distinctive and customizable motorcycles in addition to riding experiences and exceptional motorcycle accessories, riding gear and apparel. Harley-Davidson Financial Services provides financing, insurance and other programs to help get Harley-Davidson riders on the road. Learn more at www.harley-davidson.com.
Live Streaming Test Going On This Weekend From CMP
ASRA is testing live streaming from Carolina Motorsports Park but is encountering track bandwidth issues even after deploying multiple Starlink satellite internet systems.
ASRA’s Alex Spellman says he’s confident the live streaming will be functional at tracks with better internet connections, including Summit Point May 23-24.
If ASRA gets the system working at CMP, watch it here:
The organization plans to expand its live-streaming program to seven other events during the 2026 season. More information is available from www.asra.com and [email protected].
MV Agusta Rush Titanio production is scheduled to start in July. MV photo.
MV AGUSTA RUSH TITANIO. PURE ELEMENT
With this claim, MV Agusta proudly introduces its most exclusive and technologically advanced interpretation of the hyper naked philosophy, handcrafted in the historic production line of Schiranna, Varese.
The Rush Titanio further elevates the model’s unmistakable identity through comprehensive technical upgrades, including a refined Euro 5+ engine behaviour, extensive use of titanium components, as well as carbon and blue anodized details, up to the debut of the latest generation Öhlins Smart EC 3.0 electronic suspension system.
AN EVOLVING ICON OF RADICAL DESIGN
Since its introduction, the MV Agusta Rush has represented the boldest and most visionary expression of the hyper naked concept, combining instantly recognizable styling with cutting-edge engineering solutions and benchmark performance.
The new Rush Titanio introduces a striking Nero Intenso livery combined with Argento Magnum and Blu Titanio accents. The name “Titanio” reflects the extensive titanium package featured throughout the motorcycle, emphasizing its premium engineering and performance-driven character.
ENHANCED EURO 5+ FOUR-CYLINDER PERFORMANCE
At the heart of the Rush Titanio lies MV Agusta’s renowned 1000 cc inline four-cylinder engine, to comply with Euro 5+ regulations while maintaining uncompromising performance. The updated engine is more responsive at lower revs, ensuring smoother performance with minimal vibration.
Key updates include new camshafts, revised engine mapping, improved throttle sensitivity, optimized gearbox ratios, and a shorter final drive ratio designed to enhance acceleration and responsiveness.
Performance figures reach:
201 hp at 13,500 rpm with standard exhaust
206 hp at 14,000 rpm with Arrow Titanium Slip-on (homologated for street use)
Maximum torque stands at 116 Nm at 11,000 rpm, while a torque-assist clutch improves smoothness and rider comfort.
The Rush Titanio debuts the latest evolution of the Öhlins Smart EC 3 semi-active suspension system, representing a significant step forward in electronic chassis control.
The new hardware features Öhlins’ advanced Spool Valve technology, delivering actuator response up to seven times faster than the previous needle-valve architecture, enabling near-instant damping adjustments that continuously adapt to rider inputs and road conditions.
A new Event Based Control software platform analyses riding dynamics in real time and integrates seamlessly with ABS, Traction Control, and Wheelie Control systems. Suspension behaviour is dynamically linked to the selected Ride Mode, ensuring a coherent and fully personalized riding experience across road and track environments.
TITANIUM ENGINEERING MEETS DESIGN EXPRESSION
A defining feature of the Rush Titanio is the extensive use of brushed-finish titanium components, enhancing both performance and exclusivity. These include:
Arrow Titanium Slip-on
Exhaust carrier
Fuel tank front cover
Dashboard carrier
Headlight carrier
Complementing these elements are multiple Blu Titanio anodized aluminum details, including the rear wheel nut, rear light cover, headlight cover, fuel tank cap, lever protectors, swingarm pivot adjustment plates, and the numbered “RUSH Edizione Limitata XXX/300” plate.
Design atom-inspired elements further reinforce the technical identity of the Titanio edition.
CARBON FIBER
All carbon fiber components now feature a new twill weave finish, replacing the previous plain weave and enhancing the motorcycle’s technical aesthetic. Updated elements include engine covers, side panels, mudguards, and a redesigned rear wheel cover, alongside new graphics incorporating the Italian flag and “Motorcycle Art” lettering.
The iconic wheel configuration remains, with a spoked front wheel and signature carbon rear wheel cover.
INDUSTRY FIRST: FULL ALCANTARA SEAT
The Rush Titanio introduces the world’s first motorcycle seat entirely crafted in Alcantara using a combination of thermo-welding and laser engraving technologies within a single component.
An Alcantara EXO membrane makes the foam padding fully water-repellent, ensuring durability and comfort in all conditions. The seat was developed through close collaboration between the MV Agusta Centro Stile and Alcantara Milano, achieving a balance between luxury craftsmanship and functional performance.
EXCLUSIVE OWNERSHIP EXPERIENCE
Each Rush Titanio is delivered with a dedicated premium kit including:
Arrow Titanium Slip-on with dedicated ECU map*
Carbon cover for Slip-on
Bracket for silencer
Carbon tail cover
CNC brake/clutch levers
CNC levers protection L/R
CNC racing fuel cap
Swingarm pivot adjustment plates
Dedicated bike cover
Welcome kit and certificate of authenticity
*The Arrow Titanium Slip-on is not included in the homologated US version.
LIMITED EDITION PRODUCTION
The MV Agusta Rush Titanio will be produced in only 300 individually numbered units, confirming its status as the ultimate expression of Italian craftsmanship, advanced engineering, and exclusive hyper naked performance.
The Italian market MSRP is set at €44,900 (about $53,000 U.S.D.), with start of production scheduled for July 2026.
Ken Roczen (94) muscled into the lead on the second lap then rode uncontested to the St. Louis Supercross victory. Photo courtesy Suzuki.
More from a press release issued by Suzuki Motor USA:
Suzuki’s Ken Roczen dominates St. Louis Supercross.Ken Roczen’s Third Win Tightens Points Toward the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship.
Round 12 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross season delivered exciting action at the annual Love Moto Stop Cancer race in St. Louis, Missouri. Unique bike graphics and riding gear designs represented the continuing partnership with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The dirt inside The Dome at America’s Center was softer and tackier than anticipated. The soil initially provided great traction, but track conditions deteriorated dramatically throughout the racing.
Race Highlights:
Progressive Insurance Cycle Gear ECSTAR Suzuki
450 Class
Ken Roczen captured his third win of the season with a tour de force performance at the St. Louis Supercross.
Twisted Tea Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance
450 Class
Colt Nichols gained positions throughout the main as the track grew increasingly more treacherous.
Justin Bogle posted his best overall qualifying result before withdrawing due to a crash.
Ken Roczen (94) won at St Louis. Photo courtesy Suzuki.
Ken Roczen (94) continued to display career-best speed with the fastest lap time in the second qualifying session; it was good for the top overall qualifying spot. In his heat race, Roczen launched to a third-place start. He blitzed into second then leapt into first place just two minutes into the race. Roczen set the fastest lap time as well as fastest times through track Sectors 1, 3 (whoop section), 4, and 8 en route to his sixth heat win of the season. In the main event, Roczen again found himself in third place at the holeshot stripe. Less than a minute into the main, Roczen used his Suzuki RM-Z450’s precise turning to cut under two other racers in two consecutive corners. Roczen then set the race’s fastest lap time and gapped the field by two seconds in a single lap. Roczen looked picture perfect even as the track deteriorated; he set the race’s fastest times through Sectors 2 and 3 and steadily stretched his lead to over twelve seconds. Roczen took the checkered flag with a 13.2 second margin over the next racer. This performance extended Roczen’s season-topping statistics as the 450SX Class rider with the most main event laps led and the highest-ranking average for fastest lap times. Roczen remains in third place in the standings, but the St. Louis win chopped the gap to the championship lead from 14 down to just five points.
“St. Louis, you were good to us,” said Roczen. “It was a brutal day. The track was unexpectedly soft compared to when we were here during [the] SMX [Playoff]. It made for some crazy racing because it was built really tall, we had some really tricky rhythm lanes, and I just knew that the track, in 20 minutes, was going to get really torn up. But man, we won qualifying, won our heat race, and then it was just such a dream ride in the main event to bring home first place again. [These are the first] back-to-back [Supercross wins] for me since 2021. I’m just really on a high right now with that. I’m really trying to take this in, enjoy this, because I haven’t been in this position, really ever, in Supercross. So, I’m enjoying every bit of it but at the same time I know I need to stay focused and that’s what we’re going to do.”
Colt Nichols (45) put on a hard charge in the St. Louis main event and gained points to move up in the championship standings. Photo courtesy Suzuki.
Colt Nichols (45) started the night’s racing with a top-five start in his heat race. Nichols held onto the position for half of the race and crossed the checkered flag with a direct transfer into the main. At the start of the main, Nichols charged to a mid-pack start. After losing some positions on the chaotic opening laps, Nichols put his head down and steadily gained spots. Nichols set a top-three Sector 6 (short rhythm lane) time during the early laps of the 23-lap race.
“It was kind of an uneventful day,” reported Nichols. “It started off not good at all, to be honest. I felt really off all day. But we kept making changes to the bike and as the day went it got better and better and better. [I was] just a little too slow at the beginning of that main event; not the best start, but I rode up to 13th. So, I’ve been better, been worse. [We’ve] got a lot of work to do to get to where we need to be. We’ll try again next weekend.”
Justin Bogle (891) matched his season-best qualifying session result and topped his season-best overall qualifying position. Unfortunately, Bogle crashed in the second qualifying outing and it was determined that he should sit out the event.
“St. Louis started out good for me, with improvements from last week; P-15 overall [after] Q1 was a big step forward,” said Bogle. “In Q2 I had a big get off right away and am going to be heading home to get checked out and sorted on a timeline for me to return. The track was one of the sketchiest tracks I’ve ridden in a long time, and it caught me out. It’s unfortunate, as I’ve been loving being back on the gate. I’ll do my best to get healthy and get back.”
“It was a great night in St. Louis,” reported Dustin Pipes, Team Principal for the Twisted Tea/H.E.P. Motorsports/Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance Team. “Ken Roczen executed well all day, through qualifying, his heat, and the main event en route to another main event win. I’m really amazed at how in-tune he is with his motorcycle and his team around him. Colt Nichols had a solid 13th in the main event. He belongs in the top 10, but it was a good bounce back after a not so good qualifying and heat. The only drawback would be Justin Bogle’s crash in qualifying. It was a scary crash that ended his night early and put him in concussion protocol. We’re really hoping the best for Justin, and we’ll update as more information becomes available. Now it’s on to Nashville!”
Plastics and graphics from Ken Roczen’s race-winning RM-Z450, along with other great donated items, will be available to fans through an Auction to raise money for the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital on April 27th. Also, Roczen’s RM-Z450 race bike will be raffled off via the Kick Start for a Cause Sweepstakes; fans can purchase a chance to win by texting “SUZUKI” to 99126. The Supercross series now heads to Nissan Stadium in Nashville Tennessee; the event will run one hour ahead of the standard race day schedule. The Suzuki riders and team members are excited with the team’s late-season speed and momentum. Only five rounds remain and only five points separate the top three riders.
Justin Cooper Scores Runner-Up Finish in St. Louis. Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Justin Cooper earns a runner-up finish while Webb continues to chip away in the 450SX title fight.
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Justin Cooper has been steadily building, working his way to the top in the premier class of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship. On Saturday night in St. Louis, the New Yorker put in a great ride in challenging conditions at The Dome at America’s Center to earn season-best results.
At the previous round in Detroit, after three consecutive fourth-place finishes, Cooper made it clear that starts would be key – and he delivered. He qualified fourth, grabbed the holeshot in his heat race, and rode a flawless race to secure his first heat race win of the season.
In the main event, Cooper got another good start and battled with championship contenders, passing Hunter Lawrence on Lap 5. After the halfway mark, he made the pass on Jorge Prado to move into second. With the leader too far ahead to challenge, Cooper built a comfortable gap to secure the runner-up finish, matching his best result in the 450SX class.
Justin Cooper (32) at St Louis. Photo courtesy Yamaha.
“It was a good day, even though it started out not the best,” said Cooper. “This track is really tough, so we had tricky conditions all day. I felt better and better each time out on the track, and started with a pretty big change in the heat race. I got the holeshot and was able to run my laps clean, and felt really good and took that to the main. I think we started about sixth, so not as good as the heat, but I was able to make some good passes and get up to second. By the time I got there, Ken (Roczen) was way gone, and the track was pretty bad. With each lap that went by, we just had to hit our marks – doing the rhythms and really focusing, and that was key. I felt really good on the bike. I feel like my riding has been good lately, so we will keep this going.”
It was also a good ride from Cooper Webb in the tricky conditions, but still frustrating for the three-time 450SX Champion. After qualifying sixth, he had a good start to his heat race and finished second, securing a 1-2 finish for the team. In the main event, he found himself back in 12th after the start but quickly worked his way forward to ninth on the opening lap. Webb continued to push and, by the halfway mark, had broken into the top five, where he would finish to gain another point in the 450SX championship chase.
Cooper Webb (1) at St Louis. Photo courtesy Yamaha.
“St. Louis, overall, it was a decent day across the board,” said Webb. “I qualified sixth, got second in the heat race, and set myself up to do well in the main. My starts have been really good, but they weren’t for the main event, so that stunk. I made a lot of mistakes the first few laps trying to get by some guys, but then I definitely rode well, got my flow going, and made some passes. I felt like I was catching the lead group in front of me. I just started way too far behind, honestly, which was a bit of a bummer. I feel like we’ve been working hard during the week, and the results haven’t shown. So that’s pretty frustrating, but we’ll keep our heads up and keep plugging away.”
With five rounds remaining, Webb sits 25 points behind the leader in one of the most tightly contested 450SX title fights in recent memory.
“It was a pretty good day,” said Rich Simmons, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s 450 Team Manager. “The track was really rutted all day, so we were trying to anticipate that for the main event. It was a great heat race – 1-2 for the team. Justin executed well in the main, rode consistently, and pushed his way forward. We’re really proud of him and looking to take that next step to the top of the box. Webb, I think he salvaged a good night. I know it’s not where he wants to be, and it’s not where we know he can be, but we’ll just keep going and keep fighting in this championship.”
Next up, the series returns to Nashville, Tennessee, for Round 13 of the 2026 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship and the Monster Energy SMX World Championship at Nissan Stadium on April 11.
Haiden Deegan Crowned Back-to-Back 250SX West Champion in St. Louis.
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan adds a sixth title to his stellar 250 career, securing the crown early with a dominant win at St. Louis Supercross.
There was one more box for Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan to check off before moving on to the 450 class – defending his 250SX West title in dominant fashion. Well, it was mission accomplished for the 20-year-old Californian in St. Louis.
“That was sick,” said Deegan. “Seven in a row, too. That was a fat lead. It’s just heart, baby.”
It was another masterclass performance from Deegan at The Dome at America’s Center. He opened the night by winning the nine-lap 250SX West Heat Race by an impressive 13-second margin. In the East-West Showdown Main Event, he quickly worked his way into second in the opening laps, passed teammate Cole Davies on Lap 7, and rode on to claim another commanding victory, and by doing so, secured the championship a rare three rounds early.
Haiden Deegan (1W) at St Louis. Photo courtesy Yamaha.
“We’ve been digging, but we’re just getting started,” said Deegan. “I’m going to go to Nashville and have some fun. We’re still going to stay in line because we have a whole other goal to chase – 450 outdoors. But for now, we’ll celebrate this 250 title. Man, it feels good!”
The second Monster Energy AMA Supercross East-West Showdown of the season was also another display of strength from the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing team as a whole. The 250 team extended its win tally to 11 victories in 12 rounds, swept both divisional heat races, and once again finished 1-2 in the combined main event.
Cole Davies (37) at St Louis. Photo courtesy Yamaha.
Leading the way in the East was red plate holder Cole Davies, who continues to impress during his sophomore season. Entering the round on a three-race win streak, the young New Zealander won his divisional heat race and grabbed the holeshot in the main event, leading the first six laps. After being passed by Deegan, Davies ran a calculated race to secure second, extending his 250SX East Championship lead to 11 points with four rounds remaining.
“That track was so gnarly tonight,” said Davies. “It was by far the most challenging conditions I’ve ever ridden on. I pulled the holeshot and led early, but a couple of mistakes let Haiden capitalize, and he was on a mission. At that point, I locked in and focused on the championship. We extended our lead, and that’s the main goal. The bike was handling really well. I’m bummed to see Jo (Shimoda) go out the way he did, and I hope he’s all good. Congratulations to Haiden and the team on the West Coast title. Now we focus on locking up the East.”
Nate Thrasher (25) at St Louis. Photo courtesy Yamaha.
Nate Thrasher continued to build momentum, earning his best result of the season. After charging back to fourth in the 250SX East Heat Race, the Tennessee rider got a strong start in the main event and ran fourth on the opening lap. Thrasher battled for position, reclaiming fourth in the latter half of the main event, crossing the line fourth to earn his best result so far this season.
“I felt really good in the main,” said Thrasher. “I just fell a little short of the podium. I’m going to keep pushing and come out swinging at my home race in Nashville.”
Max Anstie (61) at St Louis. Photo courtesy Yamaha.
Max Anstie faced a challenging night in the demanding conditions. After recovering to finish seventh in the 250SX West Heat Race, he got a better start in the main event and ran eighth early. Unfortunately, he got stuck on a tough block, dropping him back to 15th, where he would finish to salvage some points. Anstie heads into the Western Divisional break third in the standings, just three points shy of second with two rounds remaining.
“It was a rough night in St Louis,” said Anstie. “I was around eighth in the main and went down on a tough block and got stuck, so that set me way back. It is what it is. We will rebound in Denver.”
Caden Dudney (82) at St Louis. Photo courtesy Yamaha.
Caden Dudney continued to gain valuable experience in his sixth pro Supercross start. After transferring through the heat race with an eighth-place finish, the rookie started 17th in the main event and charged forward to 12th in the opening laps. As the race wore on in the challenging conditions, he ultimately finished 16th.
“I felt alright in qualifying and had a good heat race,” said Dudney. “I was making good passes in the main, and got a little tired, but I need to get better starts and get some laps up front.”
“It was a good night for the whole team from 450 to 250″, said Wil Hahn, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s 250 Team General Manager. “Haiden got the win and the championship, Cole extended his points lead, and Nate getting back in the fight was fantastic. Max and Caden had a struggle of a night, but we’ll keep working. We’ll see you in Nashville.”
With the 250SX West title secured, the focus now shifts to the East Championship. Next up, the team heads to Nashville, Tennessee, for Round 7 of the 250SX East Championship and Round 13 of the Monster Energy SuperMotocross World Championship at Nissan Stadium on April 11.
More from a press release issued by Honda:
Lawrence reclaims Red Plate with St. Louis podium.
Australian finishes third and is tied for first in the 450SX standings
Shimoda injured during heat race ahead of 250SX East/West Showdown
Round 12 of AMA Supercross in St. Louis brought a mix of positive results and setbacks for the Honda HRC Progressive team, as Hunter Lawrence secured a premier-class podium finish to reclaim a share of the championship lead, while Jo Shimoda was forced out of the 250SX East/West Showdown before the main event, due to injury incurred in his heat race.
The 450SX main event saw Lawrence grab his second holeshot of the night. He engaged in early battles with Jorge Prado and Ken Roczen before settling into third on lap 2. As the race developed and the track conditions became more challenging, the Australian spent laps 5 through 14 outside the podium positions, while managing wrist discomfort from a crash at the previous round. He mounted a signature late-race surge to retake third and secured that position at the finish. Quad Lock Honda riders Joey Savatgy, Christian Craig and Shane McElrath completed the night in seventh, 11th and 12th, respectively.
Hunter Lawrence (96) at St Louis. Photo courtesy Honda
NOTES
Honda HRC Progressive 250SX West Region rider Chance Hymas (currently out, recovering from a shoulder injury) recently returned to riding, as he trains in Florida at The Dog Pound in preparation for the approaching AMA Pro Motocross series.
Ahead of the season’s second 250SX East/West Showdown, Honda HRC Progressive’s Jo Shimoda participated in media-day interviews and riding sessions on Friday.
Phoenix Racing Honda fielded a reduced lineup in St. Louis, with Cullin Park out for the remainder of the series to recover from a shoulder injury sustained in Birmingham.
Shimoda placed third in 250SX combined qualifying, which included the East and West regions. Phoenix Racing Honda riders Evan Ferry and Gavin Towers qualified 10th and 16th, respectively. Ryder Floyd (Ti Lube Honda) was 20th, and Storm Lake Honda riders Izaih Clark and Luke Neese were 32nd and 33rd, respectively. Next Level-backed privateer Hunter Schlosser was 38th, SLR Honda’s Justin Rodbell qualified in 40th, and Lasting Impressions-supported privateer Ronnie Orres was 45th.
Honda HRC Progressive rider Hunter Lawrence posted the ninth-best time in 450SX combined qualifying. Quad Lock Honda riders Joey Savatgy, Christian Craig and Shane McElrath qualified close behind in 10th, 13th and 14th, respectively. Other Red Riders included Jeremy Hand (Valley Motorsports), John Short IV (Short Racing), and Zack Williams (McGinley Clinic), who qualified 22nd, 26th and 30th, respectively.
Shimoda’s night was cut short soon after he got a mid-pack start in the 250SX East Region heat race. Congestion forced him to roll a jump and maneuver around a downed rider, resulting in him being landed on by another racer. Shimoda immediately felt pain in his lower left leg, and the medical crew transported him to the Alpinestars medical unit. An initial assessment indicated no bone fractures, and Shimoda will undergo further evaluation this week.
Lawrence grabbed the holeshot in the second 450SX heat race before being passed by Ken Roczen on the second lap. Lawrence remained in second until the checkered flag, giving him a decent gate pick for the main event, while Craig finished in seventh. In the other heat race, Savatgy and McElrath crossed the line in fourth and fifth, respectively.
Lawrence’s eighth podium of the season put him in a tie with Eli Tomac for the points lead, five ahead of Roczen.
Next up, Honda HRC Progressive heads to round 13 of AMA Supercross, this Saturday in Nashville.
Hunter Lawrence (96) at St Louis. Photo courtesy Honda
Hunter Lawrence: “From what happened last week and how my wrist is feeling, I’m pretty happy. I think this track was arguably one of our gnarliest tracks, more so than Daytona or Indy. It was wild how the bumps were, how kicky the jumps were, and how deep the ruts were. I had to ride more governed. A lot of it was just due to the strength loss in my wrist; it would give out on some of the stuff where normally I could kind of muscle up and continue on and make the next rhythm. Nothing’s broken—it’s just really sore and swollen in the joint, but it was good enough to do what I could do today. I’ve got a great team behind me, and we’re in a great spot. How cool is it? Three of us, so close, and two tied for the red plate! I’m going to get healthier again and be back ready to fight next weekend in Nashville.”
Jo Shimoda: “Not much to say about my weekend—I wasn’t able to finish a lap in the heat race. I was trying to avoid a rider crashing in front of me and ended up getting landed on. Alpinestars medical told me that there were no broken bones, but possible ligament damage. We’ll know more when I get an MRI.”
Lars Lindstrom – Team Manager: “A bittersweet night, which is common in racing when you have two riders that are championship contenders. Jo never got a chance to show what he had, and we’re doing everything we can to help him get back to being on the bike. Initially, it looked really serious, but now I’m more hopeful that it’s only a minor setback. Hopefully, we’ll know more after an MRI, but weight on the foot seems to be okay. I’m happy with Hunter’s race; if you’re going to race banged up, especially with a sore wrist, this is not the track you want to be racing at. It was absolutely brutal; Hutch and I had to walk the track afterwards, and that’s when they should have the fans walking the track. It blows my mind that the top guys are able to continue to do the rhythms and jump things out of turns when the track is that soft, rutted and destroyed. We’re satisfied with the result, happy to make up points and be tied for the red plate, but we definitely want more and look forward to battling for this championship to the end!”
More from another press release issued by Honda:
Shimoda Diagnosed with Fibula Fracture Following St. Louis Crash.
No surgery required for the reigning 250 SuperMotocross Champion
Shimoda expected to be ready in time for AMA Pro Motocross opener
Following a crash during Saturday’s AMA Supercross round in St. Louis, Honda HRC Progressive rider Jo Shimoda will miss the remainder of the series.
Initial evaluation at the track did not indicate a fracture, but imaging conducted Tuesday in Clermont, Florida, confirmed a small fracture of Shimoda’s left fibula. The injury is non-displaced and will not require surgery; however, Shimoda will wear an orthopedic boot for two to three weeks. The Japanese racer is expected to return in time for the May 30 AMA Pro Motocross season opener at Fox Raceway in Pala, California, where Honda HRC Progressive expects to have its full rider roster in action.
“Jo is a resilient competitor, and we’re confident he’ll make a full recovery,” said Brandon Wilson, Manager of Racing & Experiential at American Honda. “We fully expect him to be a contender for the 250 AMA Pro Motocross crown, and to fight hard in defense of his SuperMotocross Championship. Our team will provide all the support he needs during his rehab to ensure he’s ready to compete at the highest level.”
More from a press release issued by Red Bull KTM:
Jorge Prado claims P4 result with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing in St. Louis.
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jorge Prado claimed a well-earned fourth-place result at Round 12 of the 2026 AMA Supercross Championship in St. Louis, on a night where 450SX teammate Eli Tomac finished sixth to remain firmly in title contention with the red plate.
The St. Jude Love Moto Stop Cancer race headlined the 12th Round of the SMX World Championship in Missouri, where the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team ran special one-off graphics in support of the cause.
Equipped with the KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION, Prado posted the fifth-fastest combined qualifying time inside The Dome at America’s Center – highlighted by P1 in the opening session – with the four-time world champion then powering to fourth in his Heat Race.
Completing the opening lap of the Main Event in second position, the 25-year-old would then make a pass for the race lead before settling back into P2 after a heated exchange at the front of the field. Battling for the podium on a deteriorating circuit, Prado eventually took an impressive P4 finish, which marks his third top-five score of the 2026 season.
Jorge Prado (26) at St Louis. Photo courtesy KTM.
Jorge Prado:“St. Louis was a very good day for me and I saw a lot of improvements. Qualifying was really good to be P5 overall entering the night show, and then I had a solid Heat Race, also. We didn’t have the best start, but my flow was good, and I felt fast at the end. I was able to brake late off the start in the Main Event as I lined up a little more outside, which helped me a lot, and we were P2 out of the first corner. It was a hectic couple of laps from there with a lot of passes – I even got in the lead at one stage – and it was nice to be up there and showing my wheel. I lost some rhythm when we hit lapped riders and the track went away a lot – the sections I was doing in the first 10 minutes were completely different from what I was doing in the last 10 minutes, which was gnarly. We finished P4 and I think we can be very happy with that as a team.”
Two-time 450SX champion Tomac entered the 12th round with the series leader’s red plate, qualifying seventh aboard his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION before recording a P5 finish in his Heat Race, and a direct entry to the night’s Main Event.
The 33-year-old completed the opening lap of the Main Event in the top-five and maintained a consistent pace throughout, ultimately crossing the finish line in P6 and scoring an important haul of points. Tonight’s result keeps Tomac on top of the standings, now the joint red plate-holder with five rounds remaining in Supercross.
Eli Tomac:“It was a tougher day for us at St. Louis, but the good thing is that we didn’t lose too many points and we are still tied for the lead. I’m looking forward to the last five races, and doing what we can to get back up on top.”
Next Race: April 11 – Nashville, Tennessee
More from a press release issued by Rockstar Energy Husqvarna:
Top-five for Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Ryder DiFrancesco at St. Louis 250SX Showdown. Daxton Bennick finishes in sixth position as Malcolm Stewart races to top 10 in 450SX.
Ryder DiFrancesco and Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing achieved a solid fifth-place finish at Round 12 of the 2026 AMA Supercross Championship in St. Louis on Saturday night, as Daxton Bennick claimed sixth in the second 250SX East/West Showdown of the season.
The 12th round of the SMX World Championship marked the St. Jude Love Moto Stop Cancer race, with Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing featuring unique liveries in support of the initiative.
Both 250SX riders Bennick and DiFrancesco were in action in Missouri for the second Showdown event of the year, with Bennick qualifying fifth overall on combined times, as DiFrancesco set the 12th-fastest time.
Equipped with the Husqvarna FC 250 Factory Edition, DiFrancesco then powered to a P5 result in the 250SX West Heat Race, setting his night up well for the upcoming East/West Showdown Main Event.
Starting in 10th position, 20-year-old DiFrancesco pieced together a strong performance throughout the entire 15-minute plus one-lap Main Event, charging up to fifth place in what was an impressive ride in challenging track conditions.
With only two rounds of the Western Division left to contest, Ryder D sits fourth in the standings – three points behind third place – as the series resumes at Denver’s Empower Field at Mile High on May 2.
Ryder DiFrancesco (34) at St Louis. Photo courtesy Husqvarna
“I didn’t actually feel super-comfortable starting the day in St. Louis,”reflected DiFrancesco. “Then, I got better throughout the day – my second qualifying session was improved, and the Heat Race progressed better as it went on. In the Main Event, I didn’t get the best start in 10th, but fought my way to fifth while feeling pretty good out there in the challenging conditions. If we start up front and have some clean air, I think we’ll do well, so I’m looking forward to both Denver and Salt Lake.”
For Bennick, he was involved in an early incident during his Heat Race, which ultimately sent him to the Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ). He recovered to claim victory in the LCQ and lined up prepared to battle in the Main Event.
He launched to a start just outside the top 10, also posting a significant charge through the East/West Showdown field, surging all the way to sixth by the time the checkered flag flew. Bennick climbs to third in the 250SX East standings after his St. Louis result, entering next weekend’s Nashville round.
Daxton Bennick (58) at St Louis. Photo courtesy Husqvarna
“St. Louis was alright for me,”commented Bennick. “Qualifying was pretty good – we were P5 overall – and then unfortunately someone tagged me in the Heat Race, which sent me to the LCQ. I did the best I could in the Main Event from the outside gate, fought through the field, and although I made a couple of little mistakes, we were able to salvage a sixth. It’s not exactly what I want, so we’ll be looking for more in Nashville.”
Stewart was third on the combined 450SX qualifying timesheets on the technical St. Louis track layout, recording a 55.343s lap-time onboard his Husqvarna FC 450 Factory Edition. That form continued his momentum following a podium finish at the previous round.
The 33-year-old carried that speed into his Heat Race, claiming another well-earned P3 result and a strong gate selection for the Main Event. Stewart started inside the top 10 as the gates dropped and battled for position throughout, securing a well-earned P8 on a track that had become increasingly demanding by night’s end. He also sits eighth in the 450SX standings.
“Normally, St. Louis dirt is really good, but it felt like this year was one of the hardest visits here that I have had in my whole career,”said Stewart. “This was super-tough, so overall I’m happy to make it out safe, and now we can look forward to next weekend. I felt great here all day, but the track broke down a lot after the Heat Race, which made for a long night – I’m pumped to take this thing on to Nashville.”
Next Race: April 11 – Nashville, Tennessee
More from a press release issued by Kawasaki:
Monster Energy® Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider Seth Hammaker put on another podium performance at the second East/West Showdown of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship in St. Louis to take third place. Teammate Levi Kitchen continued to battle through a lingering back injury to secure seventh place, while Nick Romano showed podium-worthy speed and placed ninth in the main event. Monster Energy Kawasaki rider Garrett Marchbanks put on an impressive performance all day to secure ninth on the night, while Chase Sexton was forced to retire early from the main event after a crash in the rhythm section.
Nicholas Romano (141) at St Louis. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
In 250SX Qualifying, Hammaker consistently recorded the top time in both Eastern Divisional sessions to give him second overall. Meanwhile, Romano focused on adapting to the challenging track, finishing 24th overall. Kitchen was knocking on the door of the top qualifying spot in the Western Division, posting second-place in both sessions before ultimately placing sixth overall.
Levi Kitchen (47) at St Louis. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
As the gate dropped in the 250 West Heat Race, Kitchen got off to a midpack start, fighting his way towards the front. Kitchen clicked off consistent laps and made strategic passes to advance through the field. In the final two laps of the race, Kitchen found himself in a tight battle. The No. 47 Kawasaki was able to make the pass for fourth in the turn exiting the switchback section and continued to push for third but came up just shy across the line, settling for fourth in the heat race.
Nicholas Romano (141) and Seth Hammaker (10) at St Louis. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
In the 250 East Heat Race, Hammaker pulled a strong start, placing himself towards the front of the field with his teammate Romano close behind. On the opening lap, another rider went down, causing a red flag and a full restart for the field. On the following gate drop, Hammaker pulled a commanding holeshot aboard his KX™250, while Romano came through just inside the Top 10. Halfway through the race, the second-place rider began pressuring Hammaker for the lead. The No. 10 Kawasaki closed the door on an attempted pass and pushed to hold onto the lead, but slipped back to second in the treacherous whoops section and held his position through the checkered flag. Romano made strategic passes throughout the race to move himself into fifth place, where he ultimately finished.
Seth Hammaker (10) and Levi Kitchen (47) at St Louis. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
In the 250 Main Event, Hammaker and Romano got impressive jumps off the gate, running nearly side by side inside the Top 5. Kitchen had a less-than-ideal start as he came out midpack through the first turn but made quick work of the field as he moved into sixth by Lap 2. Romano ran in second place through the opening laps, with Hammaker right behind in third. Romano eventually began slipping back as he continues to work on his race pace after a year away from racing, ultimately finishing ninth. Hammaker held onto third place throughout the race, earning his spot on the box once again. Teammate Kitchen put in his best effort on the night as he continues recovering from his back injury, moving up as high as fourth at the midway point before slipping back and ultimately crossing the line in seventh.
Seth Hammaker: “Tonight’s race was tough with how the track shaped up throughout the day. I tried to stay consistent and be smart because of the challenging conditions. I just tried to hit my marks every lap to put myself in a good position. Cole [Davies] has been riding well, so I need to bring more speed the next couple of weekends and start taking some more risks as the season gets closer to an end. I am still happy with my performance tonight and the fact that I’ve been able to continue to stand on the box the last several races.“
Levi Kitchen:“It wasn’t a bad night, but it’s not where I want to be at this point in the season. I didn’t get the starts I needed, which made it tough right away. I’ve been trying different treatments for my back and had it worked on throughout the day, but it was still holding me back from being able to push how I wanted to in the race. I felt like the speed was there in spots, but I just wasn’t able to ride to my full potential and felt like I just had to manage the race. There are some positives to take, but I know I’ve got to be better. We’ll use this break from now until Denver to take some time to rest in order to finish off the season strong.
Nick Romano:“Overall, not a bad day. I had a pretty rough go in qualifying, but I wasn’t worried going into the night show. I ended up fifth in the heat race, which I was pretty happy about since it was essentially a shorter East Coast Main Event. The main event went well. I got off to a really good start and was pretty close to getting the holeshot. Cole [Davies] and I were up there off the jump. I went as long as I could with the front of the field. I needed a little more stamina at the end, but from where we were three weeks ago, it’s a big step forward. I had the third fastest time of the race, which tells me I have podium speed clearly, and I think that’s a great possibility for the end of the year. I’ll just keep trying to be better, go back to work this week with the team, and see where we end up next week in Nashville.”
Chase Sexton (4) at St Louis. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
In 450SX Qualifying, both Monster Energy Kawasaki riders posted consistent times. Sexton took second overall, just half a second off the top time, while Marchbanks secured eighth overall.
In 450 Heat 1, both Sexton and Marchbanks got off to midpack starts. Contact from other riders caused Sexton to lose his balance and ultimately go down in the first turn. Marchbanks successfully navigated the tight first turn and settled into the race. After remounting in last place, Sexton put his head down and began charging through the field. The No. 4 Kawasaki picked off riders one by one, and by the midway point had already passed 15 riders to move into fifth while setting the fastest lap time. With one lap left, Sexton engaged in a tight battle to finish the race in third place. Marchbanks clicked off consistent laps as he moved into sixth early on and held his position through the checkered flag.
Garrett Marchbanks (36) and Chase Sexton (4) at St Louis. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
In the 450 Main Event, both riders came out mid-pack off the start, with Sexton running in seventh and Marchbanks close behind in 11th. Marchbanks maintained a steady pace while methodically working past his competitors, while Sexton was focused on moving towards the front, he suffered a crash in the rhythm section, forcing him to retire early from the race. Marchbanks pushed as high as seventh toward the end of the race, but a few minor mistakes in the final laps disrupted his rhythm, dropping him to ninth place at the checkered flag. This marks Marchbanks’ fourth Top 10 of the season, as he continues to grow and gain momentum as the year goes on.
Garrett Marchbanks (36) at St Louis. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
Garrett Marchbanks: “The day was really solid. I would say this has been one of my best days yet in the 450 Class. I qualified eighth in the first session and eighth in the second session. The heat race was pretty hectic, but I was able to stay on two wheels through the first turn and came out in sixth place at the end of it. Going into the main event, I felt really good. I put in some good laps in the beginning and was running seventh for quite a while, when I hit around 15 minutes in, I kind of lost my flow, had some mistakes, and missed my rhythm through the rhythm section after the start turn quite a few times. That really hurt me with Joey [Savatgy] and Malcom [Stewart] catching me. Once they got around me, I kind of put my head down and just pushed through until the end. Once we were about two laps to go, I made a little push, but didn’t quite have it, and ended the night in ninth.
Chase Sexton: “I had a bit of an up and down day here in St. Louis. My speed was good in qualifying. I was pushing for fastest qualifier, but just wasn’t able to get there. In the heat race, I had some issues off the start. I got run in on by a few guys, which caused me to go down. I just pushed until the race was over to get up to third for a better gate pick in the main event. I still didn’t get the start I was looking for in the main event and had some mistakes that set me back. I ultimately had to pull off the track early because I was pretty banged up after my crash and was unable to finish the race.”
Twins Cup rider Eli Block was the first beneficiary of the Privateer Support Program that is a subset of the VIP Superfan Experience. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
From Sean Bice/ MotoAmerica:
We’ve often said that the lifeblood of MotoAmerica is the riders. We advocate for their safety. They are our greatest assets. Plain and simple, without our riders, we literally would not have a race series.
There is a saying within the management at MotoAmerica. It’s a phrase that is attributed to MotoAmerica president Wayne Rainey.
“How bad do you want it?”
No one wanted to race and wanted it more than Wayne. It drove him to win two AMA Superbike Championships and three consecutive 500cc Grand Prix World Championships.
It also drove him to save motorcycle road racing in America by creating, with the support of his three partners Chuck Aksland, Richard Varner, and Terry Karges, the AMA/FIM North American Road Racing Championship, otherwise known as MotoAmerica.
We see frequent manifestations of “how bad do you want it?” in our paddock. Riders whose day jobs primarily fund their race programs, riders who sleep in their cars because virtually all of their money is spent on racing motorcycles and they cannot afford better places to live. Riders who train incessantly in an effort to achieve and maintain maximum fitness.
It is in this spirit that the MotoAmerica VIP Superfan Privateer Support Program was created.
A charitable subset of the VIP Superfan Experience, the Privateer Support Program began as an idea leading into the opening round of the 2026 season at Daytona International Speedway.
Block holds up the check for $2,525 that he received from the sale of commemorative hats purchased by the very generous VIP Superfans at Daytona. Photo courtesy MotoAmerica.
Ron Heben, “the man in the red jacket” who runs the VIP Superfan Experience, is also the man who created the Privateer Support Program. He purchased a collection of custom-embroidered hats resplendent in MotoAmerica and VIP Superfan logos, as well as Privateer Support Program lettering.
He sold the hats to the VIP Superfans who attended Daytona, and he randomly chose one rider out of the hundreds who make up our paddock.
The rider chosen was Eli Block.
MotoAmerica’s VIP Superfans are truly super fans, and they bought every single hat that was available. As a result, the VIP Superfans presented Twins Cup rider Block with a check (and cash) in the amount of $2,525.00! It was an incredibly generous gesture of support for him, and he really appreciated it.
“I was so caught off guard,” Block said. “It was an amazing experience. I didn’t even have a clue what was going on, and being picked was obviously a highlight of Daytona for me and my race program.”
Thank you to all our Daytona VIP Superfans for embracing the new program. And, to Eli Block, best of luck with your racing endeavors. We’re excited to see how the other rounds shape up as the word gets out and additional program supporters come on board. And, by the way, Ron is making sure we have enough VIP Superfan Privateer Support Program hats at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.
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www.roadracingworld.com
May 27, 2026
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Notes, comments, and feedback
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