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MotoAmerica Readies For Final Showdowns At NJMP

Mathilde Gasnier
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MotoAmerica Readies For Final Showdowns At NJMP

Supersport Caps Off 2026, A Duel For Top Two In Baggers, Gouker Set To Collect Talent Cup Title And Make Twins Cup Debut At Season Finale. 

Irvine, CA – As the 2026 MotoAmerica season reaches its conclusion at New Jersey Motorsports Park (NJMP) in Millville, New Jersey, September 25-27, Supersport, Mission King Of The Baggers, Talent Cup and Twins Cup will all make their final competitive appearances of the year.

Three of the four championships were settled at previous rounds, and the fourth will be decided this week without a wheel turned. With the number-one plates mostly spoken for, the racing at New Jersey turns to the positions still up for grabs and a final chance for riders to put a stamp on their seasons.

 

 

  • Supersport

Celtic/Economy Lube + Tire/Warhorse Ducati’s Darryn Binder clinched the 2026 Supersport Championship at COTA with a round to spare, sweeping the Texas weekend for his 10th win and 13th podium of the season. While New Jersey won’t change the top of the standings, it will settle who finishes behind Binder: Rahal Ducati Moto with Desnuda Organic Tequila’s Josh Herrin holds second by 76 points over his teammate Rahal Ducati Moto with Droplight’s Kayla Yaakov. However the 19-year-old female flyer only has a three point advantage over BPR Racing Yamaha’s Josh Hayes for the third points spot as the series moves into the final two races.

 

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Darryn Binder has made himself right at home in America by taking the MotoAmerica Supersport title in his rookie season. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.

 

M4 ECSTAR Suzuki has enlisted Rossi Moor to pilot their Supersport machine at New Jersey, as Tyler Scott continues filling in for the team’s injured Superbike rider, Richie Escalante. Moor, who has competed in MotoAmerica’s Junior Cup and Twins Cup ranks and has more recently been racing in Europe’s FIM JuniorGP Moto2 Championship, will make his MotoAmerica Supersport debut at the season finale.

 

 

  • Mission King Of The Baggers

J&P Cycles/Motul/Vance & Hines Factory Indian’s Hayden Gillim was another rider to seal up a championship at COTA. For New Jersey, the focus shifts to closing out the season strong and helping his teammate, Troy Herfoss, secure the runner-up spot in the final standings — the Australian trails Harley-Davidson x Dynojet Factory Racing’s Bradley Smith by just three points for the runner-up spot, keeping the Indian squad in the spotlight through the finale.

 

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Hayden Gillim (#69) already holds the 2026 Bagger title over Bradley Smith (#38) in second. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.

 

SDI Racing’s Tyler O’Hara is well clear in fourth but has gained momentum in the closing rounds with a podium finish in Race 2 at COTA.

Smith’s teammate, Kyle Wyman, rounds out the top five and gets an extra incentive to finish the season on a high note — New Jersey is his home round.

 

 

  • Talent Cup

Quarterley Racing’s Nathan Gouker arrives at New Jersey with an 18-point lead over Team Roberts’ Kensei Matsudaira, a gap built at COTA where Gouker finished runner-up to Sam Drane (Yamaha BLU CRU Estenson Racing) in a last-lap battle. Matsudaira however has since withdrawn from the season finale to compete in a Moto4 round in Europe, leaving Gouker as the only rider mathematically alive for the title — he’ll be crowned 2026 Talent Cup Champion regardless of where he finishes at NJMP. Despite Matsudaira’s absence he has clinched second place in the standings, 61 points clear of Drane in third.

 

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Nathan Gouker (#19) will claim the 2026 Talent Cup title in his rookie season while Sam Drane (#59) looks to hold off Jake Paige (#55) for third in points at NJMP. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.

 

The Australian Drane will be fighting to keep fellow Aussie Jake Paige behind him as they battle for the final podium position in the season standings. Drane leads his compatriot Paige by just five heading into the weekend and both will be shooting for high results that could secure a top-three points finish. 

Pennsylvania native Real Steel Honda rider Derek Sanchez (fifth in points) calls this round his home race, and looks to use that inspiration to challenge the leaders for his first podium of the year.

 

 

  • Twins Cup

With Hank Vossberg’s title long since wrapped up, New Jersey becomes less about the championship and more about the resumes riders take into 2027. Vossberg leaves the rest of the field with an unassailable points lead, but expect him to keep racing like a rider still building a case — seven wins already this season, and a strong final weekend only adds to a résumé that puts Robem Engineering and Aprilia back in the spotlight.

 

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2026 Twins Cup Champion Hank Vossberg (#31) has no pressure coming into New Jersey while Bodie Paige (#65) and Sam Drane (#59) will have to figure out who will finish second. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.

 

Behind Vossberg, the fight for the runner-up spot is tighter than the standings alone suggest: M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Bodie Paige holds second by just four points over Yamaha BLU CRU Estenson Racing’s Sam Drane, with Paige’s own teammate, Matthew Chapin, only five back of Drane in fourth. 

Chapin, a Damascus, Maryland native, gets a regional home-crowd boost heading into New Jersey, while Karns/TST Industries Racing’s Isaac Woodworth rounds out the top five. For all of them, New Jersey is a chance to make a final impression on their own teams, or others across the paddock, before 2027 rides get sorted out.

Graduating from the Talent Cup ranks, soon-to-be-crowned champion Nathan Gouker (Quarterley Racing) will try his hand at Twins Cup competition. Aboard an Aprilia RS 660, the move marks the 15-year-old’s debut in the welterweight class.

 

  • For the full 2026 MotoAmerica schedule and tickets, CLICK HERE
  • For information on how to watch the MotoAmerica series, CLICK HERE

 

 

About MotoAmerica:
 
MotoAmerica is North America’s premier motorcycle road racing series. Established in 2014, MotoAmerica is home to the AMA Superbike Championship as well as additional classes including Supersport, Twins Cup, Talent Cup, Super Hooligan National Championship, and King Of The Baggers. MotoAmerica is an affiliate of KRAVE Group LLC, a partnership including three-time 500cc World Champion, two-time AMA Superbike Champion, and AMA Hall of Famer Wayne Rainey; ex-racer and former manager of Team Roberts Chuck Aksland; motorsports marketing executive Terry Karges; and businessman Richard Varner. For more information, please visit www.MotoAmerica.com and follow MotoAmerica on Facebook Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and YouTube. To watch all things MotoAmerica, subscribe to MotoAmerica’s live streaming and video on demand service, MotoAmerica Live+

MotoGP: Grand Prix Commission Updates Regulations for 2027

Mathilde Gasnier
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MotoGP: Grand Prix Commission Updates Regulations for 2027

The Grand Prix Commission, composed of Messrs. Paul Duparc (FIM), Mike Webb (IRTA), Biense Bierma (MSMA) and Carmelo Ezpeleta (MotoGP SEG, Chairman) in the presence of Jorge Viegas (FIM President), Carlos Ezpeleta (MotoGP SEG), Corrado Cecchinelli (Director of Technology), Paul King (FIM CCR Director) and Dominique Hebrard (FIM CTI Technical Director), has made the following decisions:

 

  • Practice Starts banned from pitlane exit – all circuits – effective season 2027 

Practice Starts were previously permitted at pitlane exit at a little over 30% of circuits on the calendar. With dedicated practice start zones now having been introduced across the calendar, as well as a dedicated practice start session for MotoGP at every Grand Prix, practice starts from pitlane are now banned at all circuits, effective immediately.

 

  • Moto2 Concessions and Performance Parts – effective season 2027

The introduction of the new specification Moto2 engine in 2027 will result in the development of new chassis. Therefore, all Moto2 teams will begin the 2027 season with no concessions, with rankings to be first revised mid-season. Chassis manufacturers will be able to make one update to either their chassis or swingarm during the season, due to the limited pre-season testing available with the new engine and chassis. Aero body components will be frozen as per the 2026 designs, and a limit imposed on the number of earlier designs able to be used, in order to control costs.

 

  • MotoGP ECU RPM – effective immediately 

The RPM limit of 20,000rpm coded into the ECU software will now, for extra clarity, be written into the MotoGP class regulations following the same wording as the Moto3 regulations. 

 

  • Moto2 and Moto3 non-fossil fuels – effective season 2027

The introduction of fuels of 100% non-fossil origin to the Moto2 and Moto3 classes will now be implemented for the 2028 season. This is in order to provide continuity with the introduction of a new specification of engine from official Moto2 supplier Triumph in 2027 and the new Moto3 class machinery, introduced in 2028.

A regularly updated version of the FIM Grand Prix Regulations which contains the detailed text of the regulation changes may be viewed HERE.

 

Decisions_of_the_Grand_Prix_Commission_23_September_2026

Harley-Davidson “Reset” Eyes Backing Grass Roots Bagger Racing

John Ulrich
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Harley-Davidson “Reset” Eyes Backing Grass Roots Bagger Racing

A corporate initiative called “Back To The Bricks” and labeled as a “Reset” for the company may see Harley-Davidson concentrate its U.S. racing activities on supporting customers involved in Bagger racing, instead of continuing to spend money on its own factory team running in MotoAmerica. The company-sponsored Harley-Davidson MotoGP Bagger World Cup series, which involves less expensive, spec, identical Bagger racebikes Harley-Davidson builds and sells or leases to teams, will continue to run at selected MotoGP events. 

There has been some discussion of defending MotoAmerica Baggers Champion Kyle Wyman racing full time in the 2027 MotoGP Bagger World Cup Series; Wyman and his teammates James Rispoli and former MotoGP racer Bradley Smith recently competed in that series at a MotoGP event overseas. Whether or not Rispoli and Smith could also run in the MotoGP-affiliated Bagger World Cup in 2027 is unknown. 

In recent years the Bagger Racing League (BRL), which originated the Bagger racing concept, has run at selected regional events, using more restrictive rules than MotoAmerica, including running classes with rules that are closer to production bikes.

More details will be posted as they become available.

 

 

 

MotoGP: Somkiat Chantra Set For Premier Class Return In Motegi

Mathilde Gasnier
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MotoGP: Somkiat Chantra Set For Premier Class Return In Motegi
The Japanese GP will see Honda HRC WorldSBK’s Somkiat Chantra replace Joan Mir aboard the Honda HRC Castrol RC213V as the 2020 World Champion continues his recovery.
 

Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) confirm that Somkiat Chantra will step in for Joan Mir at the upcoming Japanese Grand Prix, as the Spaniard continues his recovery and observation period following medical concerns first raised after the San Marino GP.

Chantra, who competed in the premier class during the 2025 season with Honda LCR, has spent 2026 competing as part of HRC’s World Superbike programme. He now returns to the premier class at Motegi, a circuit holding personal significance as the site of his memorable Moto2 victory in 2023.

In 2025, Thailand’s first Premier Class rider scored a 15th place finish aboard the Honda RC213V in Motegi. His 2026 campaign in WorldSBK has seen Chantra take points on seven occasions while recovering from pre-season injuries.

Mir will continue his recovery programme with updates on his condition to be shared after the Indonesian Grand Prix.

 

MotoAmerica: Record Viewership, Attendance and Social Reach

Mathilde Gasnier
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MotoAmerica: Record Viewership, Attendance and Social Reach

Tenfold Household Reach With 540% Increase In Viewership, Six Consecutive Years Of Increased Attendance, And Soaring Social Metrics Heading Into Season Finale

Irvine, CA  – MotoAmerica, North America’s premier motorcycle road racing series, announced today extraordinary year-to-date growth across broadcast, attendance, and digital media for its 2026 season. The expansion is anchored by multi-platform distribution partnerships with Samsung TV Plus and Vice TV, alongside a dynamic content ecosystem that offers fans live racing access across all seven MotoAmerica classes for the first time in series history.

 

Explosive Percentage Growth Across All Metrics

Through the first eight events of the season, total broadcast viewership surged 5.4x year-over-year – representing a 540% increase compared to the same period in 2025. Cumulative household reach similarly expanded tenfold (a 1,000% increase) across North America.

 

Individual race weekends experienced massive broadcast multipliers, led by:

•    Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course: 9.4x increase in viewership

•    VIRginia International Raceway: 7.3x increase in viewership

•    WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca: 6.3x increase in viewership

 

The surge in viewership underscores the immense success of MotoAmerica’s multi-platform distribution, supported by a trifecta that includes record attendance and rapid growth in digital presence across social media. 

MotoAmerica’s digital following now counts more than 5.6M followers – up from 3.9M at the start of 2025 (41.5+% growth in less than two seasons). The growth isn’t just on screens. Trackside attendance has climbed for six straight years – has set back-to-back record attendance figures for a motorcycle event at Road America – and projects to eclipse 290,000 attendees as MotoAmerica wraps its final 2026 round at New Jersey Motorsports Park, setting a new series’ benchmark.

 

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Sean Dylan Kelly (#40) leads a trio of Championship Rivals (Mathew Scholtz, #11, Bobby Fong, #50, and JD Beach, #95) into this weekend’s Quad Lock Superbike Championship triple-header at New Jersey Motorsports Park.

 

 

Multi-Channel Distribution & Expanded Ecosystem

The series’ momentum across viewership, attendance, and fan engagement is backed by strong distribution support and content accessibility:

  • Samsung TV Plus: Reaching over 110 million active monthly users, Samsung TV Plus delivers live racing on Samsung TV Network (STN) and hosts MotoAmericaTV, a dedicated 24/7 FAST channel.
    • Distribution continues to scale globally across North America and into expanding international markets, including Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and beyond.
  • Vice TV Partnership: Serves as the official broadcast partner for the Quad Lock Superbike Championship, providing live linear cable coverage across race weekends.
  • Live Coverage Across All Seven Classes: For the first time, racing fans can watch live action across all MotoAmerica classes across non-native streaming and cable options.
  • Mainstream Cross-Pollination: Cultural reach has been further elevated through the six-part docuseries Hooligans: The ARCH Racing Project, featuring Keanu Reeves, bringing new audiences into motorcycle road racing.

 

Collectively, these multi-channel initiatives have brought more eyes, more fans, and more engaged sponsors to the sport, setting a strong tone heading into 2027—the second year of the landmark Samsung partnership.

“Our broadcast performance in 2026 shows there is a strong appetite for motorcycle road racing when fans have easy access to the racing,” said Chuck Aksland, Chief Operating Officer of MotoAmerica. “Our partnerships with Samsung TV Plus and VICE TV have expanded our reach significantly, putting MotoAmerica in front of millions of motorsports fans while also introducing our racing to a new audience.”

 

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An open paddock, pre-race Quad Lock Superbike grid walk and rider autograph sessions, as pictured here at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, have been fan favorites. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.

 

With numbers still being reported for Circuit of The Americas (September 11-13), and this weekend’s Quad Lock Superbike triple-header season finale at New Jersey Motorsports Park (September 25-27), MotoAmerica is positioned to finish 2026 with historic milestone figures across all media channels.

 

  • For the full 2026 MotoAmerica schedule and tickets, CLICK HERE
  • For information on how to watch the MotoAmerica series, CLICK HERE
  • For Press Release Images and graphic, CLICK HERE

EWC: Bridgestone-Equipped BMW Motorrad Takes 2026 Title

Mathilde Gasnier
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EWC: Bridgestone-Equipped BMW Motorrad Takes 2026 Title

• BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team wins 2026 FIM EWC title, marking Bridgestone’s sixth consecutive championship as tire supplier.

• Teams on Bridgestone BATTLAX tires swept the top five positions in final season standings.

• Bridgestone reaffirms its commitment to supporting EWC teams and advancing global motorsport culture.

 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Bridgestone Americas (Bridgestone) today announced that the Bridgestone-supported BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team captured the 2026 FIM1 Endurance World Championship (EWC) title on Sept. 20 following the season final at the Bol d’Or at Circuit Paul Ricard in Le Castellet, France. Riding on premium Bridgestone BATTLAX motorcycle tires, the BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team secured the top spot in the world’s premier endurance motorcycle racing series, marking the sixth consecutive year, and seventh time overall, a Bridgestone-equipped team has claimed the EWC championship.

Demonstrating proven performance and durability, all five of the top teams in the final overall standings ran on Bridgestone tires. Ultimately, the BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team secured victory in the final race of the season following a dramatic 24-hour endurance race filled with dynamic twists and turns down to the final lap.

 

The 2026 Bol d’Or was about redemption for the Belgian-based team, as twelve months prior at the same circuit, they were less than 30 minutes away from claiming the title when a mechanical failure ended their chance at the championship win. Returning to Circuit Paul Ricard, riders Markus Reiterberger, Steven Odendaal and Michael van der Mark delivered a remarkable performance to secure BMW’s first-ever FIM EWC World Championship.

 

2026 FIM EWC Bridgestone Results:

• 1st Place: Team Name: BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team; Team Number: 37; Bike: BMW M 1000 RR; Riders: Markus Reiterberger, Steven Odendaal, Michael van der Mark and Jérémy Guarnoni; Team Manager: Werner Daemen

• 2nd Place: Team Name: YART Yahama Official EWC Team; Team Number: 1; Bike: Yamaha YZF–R1; Riders: Karel Hanika, Marvin Fritz and Leandro Denis Mercado; Team Manager: Manfred Kainz

• 3rd Place: Team Name: Yoshimura Sert Motul; Team Number: 12; Bike: Suzuki GSX-R 1000R; Riders: Gregg Black, Etienne Masson and Dan Linfoot; Team Manager: Damien Saulnier

• 4th Place: Team Name: Kawasaki Webike Trickstar; Team Number: 11; Bike: KawasakiZX-10RR; Riders: Roman Ramos Alvaro, Christian Gamarino, Grẽgory Leblanc and Enzo De La Vega; Team Manager: Ryuji Tsuruta

• 5th Place: Team Name: Autorace Ube Racing Team; Team Number: 76; Bike: BMW M 1000 RR; Riders: Naomichi Uramoto, Sylvain Guintoli, Hannes Soomer and Jẽrẽmy Guarnoni; Team Manager: Tsunetaka Igami

• 7th Place: Team Name: F.C.C TSR Honda France; Team Number: 5; Bike: Honda CBR 1000 RR-R; Riders: Alan Techer, Corentin Perolari, John McPhee and Jordi Torres Fernandez; Team Manager: Toru Bovẽ

• 12th Place: Team Name: Honda HRC; Team Number: 30; Bike: Honda CBR 1000 RR-R-SP; Riders: Takumi Takahashi, Jonathan Rea and Somkiat Chantra; Team Manager: Teruaki Matsubara

• 13th Place: Team Name: Elf Marc VDS Racing Team/KM99; Team Number: 99; Bike: Yamaha YZF–R1; Riders: Randy De Puniet, Florian Marino, Alessandro Delbianco and Bo Bendsneyder; Team Manager: Kupper Mario

• 17th Place: Team Name: Yamaha Factory Racing Team; Team Number: 21; Bike: Yamaha YZF–R1; Riders: Katsuyuki Nakasuga, Jack Miller and Andrea Locatelli; Team Manager: Wataru Yoshikawa

• 18th Place: Team Name: Team PMS99 YAM Service; Team Number: 98; Bike: Yamaha YZF–R1; Riders: Marcus Delestre, Ryan Maher, Fausto Mincione and Timothee Monot; Team Manager: Loĩc Pouvillon

• 19th Place: Team Name: SDG Team Harc-Pro. Honda; Team Number: 73; Bike: Honda CBR 1000RR-R; Riders: Yuki Kunii, Teppei Nagoe and Keito Abe; Team Manager: Kotaro Honda

• 20th Place: Team Name: Honda Asia-Dream Racing with Astemo; Team Number: 88; Bike: Honda CBR 1000 RR–R; Riders: Nakarin Atiratphuvapat, Khairul Idham Pawi and Mohammad Adenanta Putra; Team Manager: Makoto Tamada

• 21st Place: Team Name: Team ATJ with NTT Docomo Business; Team Number: 40; Bike: Honda CBR 1000 RR-R-SP; Riders: Satoru Iwata, Koki Suzuki and Takuma Kunimine; Team Manager: Takahiro Nakatsuhara

• 22nd Place: Team Name: S-Pulse Dream Racing Suzuki; Team Number: 95; Bike: Suzuki GSX-R 1000R; Riders: Sho Nishimura, Jonas Folger and Jẽrẽmy Guarnoni; Team Manager: Hideyuki Ogata

• 23rd Place: Team Name: Marumae Team Kodama; Team Number: 50; Bike: YamahaYZF-R1; Riders: Yuta Kodama, Max Stauffer and Takumi Takahashi; Team Manager: Yuta Kodama

• 25th Place: Team Name: KRP Sanyo Kogyo & RS-ITOH; Team Number: 23; Bike: Kawasaki ZX 10R; Riders: Yuto Sano, Katsuto Sano and Riku Sugawara; Team Manager: Kazunari Ito• 26th Place: Team Name: Astemo Pro Honda Si Racing; Team Number: 17; Bike: Honda CBR 1000RR-R; Riders: Kohta Nozane, Taiga Hada and Kohta Arakawa; Team Manager: Shinichi Ito

• 27th Place: Team Name: Honda Suzuka Racing Team; Team Number: 20; Bike: Honda CBR 1000 RR-R; Riders: Ben Young, Genki Nakajima and Maiku Watanuki; Team Manager: Kazuhiro Matsushita

• 28th Place: Team Name: Shinsyuren with Totec; Team Number: 45; Bike: BMWM 1000 RR; Riders: Hinata Nakajima, Kyosuke Okuda and Isami Higashimura; Team Manager: Katsuyuki Yoshii. 

 

 

“On behalf of Bridgestone, I want to congratulate the BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team on earning a hard-fought championship victory,” said Nico Thuy, Director Motorcycle at Bridgestone EMEA. “To all our partner teams who also gave an extraordinary effort out on the track – we are proud to stand behind you. Reliable tires are a non-negotiable foundation for pushing the absolute limit in a series as grueling as the FIM EWC, and we are deeply honored that so many exceptional teams rely on Bridgestone to perform and endure.”

 

Championship-grade tech

Bridgestone has outfitted many full-season EWC competitors with high-performance BATTLAX race tires since 2017, establishing a proven track record of championship-winning success on the world’s most demanding circuits. In 2026, Bridgestone served as the exclusive tire supplier for 19 EWC teams, highlighting the trust these elite racing programs placed in the BATTLAX lineup to deliver consistent, winning performance in high-stakes endurance competition.

The FIM EWC places relentless demands on equipment, pushing tires, and riders, to their absolute limits over non-stop 8- to 24-hour stretches. Engineered with advanced compound technology and high-rigidity architecture, Bridgestone race tires are designed to deliver maximum traction, predictable handling and long-lasting durability through every stint. This precision engineering gives riders unwavering confidence to maintain a winning pace, regardless of shifting track temperatures, weather changes or variable surface conditions.

 

Driven by a passion for motorsports and sustainability

From world championship endurance racing to grassroots competitions, motorsports remain a vital proving ground for Bridgestone’s continuous pursuit of excellence. Bridgestone’s commitment extends beyond technical competition, actively nurturing global motorsport culture while collaborating with leading manufacturers and teams at every level to push the boundaries of tire technology and durability.

Through these high-stakes partnerships, Bridgestone advances its “From Circuit to Street” concept. Testing advanced rubber compounds and structural designs under demanding endurance conditions, including dramatic day-to-night temperature shifts and unpredictable weather, allows Bridgestone engineers to accelerate the development of premium replacement tires. This continuous innovation drives the future of sustainable, high-performance mobility for all riders.

 

 

About Bridgestone Americas, Inc.:

Bridgestone Americas, Inc. is the U.S.-based subsidiary of Bridgestone Corporation, a global leader in tires and rubber, building on its expertise to provide solutions for safe and sustainable mobility. Headquartered in Nashville, Tenn., Bridgestone Americas employs more than 45,000 people across its worldwide operations. Bridgestone offers a diverse product portfolio of premium tires and advanced solutions backed by innovative technologies, improving the way people around the world move, live, work and play.

EWC: Dunlop Extends Exclusive Tyre Supply Through 2029

Mathilde Gasnier
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EWC: Dunlop Extends Exclusive Tyre Supply Through 2029

Endurance Moto Promoter (EMP), promoter of the FIM Endurance World Championship, and Dunlop have announced a three-year extension to their agreement, running until the end of the 2029 season. Dunlop will remain the exclusive tyre supplier to the Superstock (FIM Endurance World Cup) and Production (FIM Production World Trophy) classes, a role it has held since 2022 for the Superstock class and since the creation of the Production class in 2025.

The new agreement also confirms Dunlop’s status as an Official Partner of the FIM EWC, a relationship dating back to 2016.

All teams in both categories will continue to race on the Dunlop KR slick range, with the same level of performance, reliability and technical support, regardless of the size of their structure. Since 2022, Dunlop has supported the steady progression of both grids, in terms of performance as well as the depth of competition.

In the Formula EWC, where tyre choice remains open to all manufacturers, Dunlop will continue working closely with several top teams. The brand remains the most successful tyre manufacturer in the history of the Championship

 

Wim Van Achter, Motorcycle Motorsport Manager EMEA, Dunlop Motorcycle Europe: “We are honoured to continue our partnership with the FIM Endurance World Championship and EMP as the exclusive tyre supplier for the Superstock and Production classes. EWC is a valuable arena for the active development of Dunlop’s KR racing tyres, which are available on the market for racers and track day riders. This partnership represents a stamp of approval for our tyres and a further incentive to continue developing the next generation of the Dunlop KR racing range in one of the most competitive racing environments.”

 

Claude Michy, President, Endurance Moto Promoter: “We are delighted to continue the long-standing partnership between the FIM EWC World Championship and Dunlop as the sole tyre manufacturer for the Superstock and Production classes. Endurance racing is a discipline that demands performance, but also great consistency and complete trust between the teams and their technical partners. Dunlop has unique expertise and experience in this field, and has always demonstrated its ability to meet the particularly high standards of the FIM EWC World Championship. This renewal reflects the quality of our collaboration and our shared commitment to keep promoting the championship. Above all, the main goal is to continue supporting the Superstock and Production teams as well as possible, thanks to a new allocation system.”

 

The 2027 FIM EWC season will get underway with the 24 Heures Motos at Le Mans, France, from 8 to 11 April 2027.

ASRA: Bruce Barry Named Midwest Region Race Director

Mathilde Gasnier
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ASRA: Bruce Barry Named Midwest Region Race Director

NEW FREEDOM, Pa. — The American Superbike Racing Association (ASRA) today announced the appointment of Bruce Barry as Midwest Region Race Director.

Barry, a longtime presence in Midwest sportbike racing, will oversee race operations for ASRA’s Midwest events, with a focus on rider safety, consistent race-day execution, and the competitor experience at venues including Blackhawk Farms Raceway, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, and other regional stops on the ASRA calendar.

As Race Director, Barry will work with ASRA staff, officials, and track partners to deliver well-run weekends for Amateur and Expert riders, support new-racer programs, and help keep the Midwest series competitive and accessible.

“Bruce knows this region from the grid and the paddock,” said Chris LaBuguen, ASRA Partner. “He understands what Midwest riders need on race weekend—clear communication, fair officiating, and events that respect both the veterans and the people just earning their licenses. We’re glad to have him leading the Midwest Region.”

 

BB 2025 Pitt race Endurance race
Bruce Barry named MW director. Photo by to Chris Labuegan.

 

Barry said: “The Midwest has always been home for me in this sport. I’m honored to take on this role with ASRA and to serve the same community that made racing here what it is. My priority is safe, well-run events that riders want to come back to—and a series that keeps growing the next generation of Midwest racers.”

The 2026 Midwest Region Awards Banquet date and the 2027 Midwest season schedule will be announced at asraracing.com and on ASRA’s social channels.

Barber Vintage Festival Set for 21st Edition

Mathilde Gasnier
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Barber Vintage Festival Set for 21st Edition

BIRMINGHAM, Al — For three days in early October, all eyes will turn to Barber Motorsports Park and the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum. The 21st annual Barber Vintage Festival, Friday, Oct. 9, through Sunday, Oct. 11, promises a multitude of activities within the park and inside the museum for motorcyclists of all ages.

This year’s festival is a celebration of the life and legacy of park and museum founder George Barber, who died in February, aged 85. Friday evening’s “Motorcycles by Moonlight” gala in the museum officially kicks off the weekend, accompanied by a silent auction supporting the “Discovery and Innovation Motorsports Fund” established in Barber’s honor.

A limited number of tickets are still available for an unforgettable night featuring live entertainment, passed hors d’oeuvres, whiskey and wine tastings, a chef-attended cooking station, and a multicourse dinner. A short documentary film highlighting Barber’s remarkable vision, influence, and enduring impact on the motorsports community will be shown.

Two new exhibitions opening on the third and fifth floors of the museum celebrate historic Ducati and Suzuki milestones. “DUCATI 100” and “GSX-R FORTY YEARS” are curated by museum board member Ultan Guilfoyle and designed by Pierre Terblanche, resident mentor of the Barber Advanced Design Center.

 

Yoshimura Suzuki GSX R1000 BVMM
Yoshimura Suzuki GSX R1000. Photo courtesy Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum
Ducati 750 Super Sport BVMM 1
Ducati 750 Super Sport. Photo courtesy Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum

 

Six staff-moderated seminars featuring respected motorcycle historians, journalists, and championship-winning racers are scheduled for Friday and Saturday afternoon during the festival. Books, jewelry, T-shirts, and other official festival-related souvenirs are available for purchase at the museum gift shop and in the several merchandise trailers on the park grounds.

Throughout the 880-acre park, festival attendees have access to BMW Motorrad Days Americas, the Isle of Triumph, new-product reveals, and manufacturer-represented demo rides, plus a kids ’ zone, live music, stunt shows, and other perennial crowd favorites, including the American Motor Drome Company’s “Wall of Death.”

Racing fans can look forward to AHRMA competition on the 17-turn, 2.38-mile road course, as well as on the dedicated cross-country, motocross, and trials layouts also located within the park. Hundreds of vendors are expected to participate in one of the largest vintage swap meets in the country, with a vast selection of rare motorcycles, difficult-to-find parts, and memorabilia.

 

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Tickets are available at barbermuseum.org/barber-vintage-festival. Children 15 years of age and under receive free admission when accompanied by a paying adult. A festival ticket does not provide admission to the museum. A separate ticket is required and may only be purchased in person at the front desk.

Official Barber Vintage Festival sponsors include BMW Motorrad USA, Triumph Motorcycles, Royal Enfield, Coca‑Cola, Law Tigers Motorcycle Lawyers, the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Mecum Auctions, Michelob ULTRA, and Papa Johns.

The museum wishes to thank Ducati North America, Suzuki Motor USA, and the Italian American Heritage Society of Birmingham for their support of the exhibitions.

 

About the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum: 

The Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum is a 501(C)(3) tax-exempt, private operating foundation dedicated to the preservation, interpretation, exhibition, and history of motorcycles, vintage vehicles, and motorsports located at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Ala. For more than 30 years, the museum has focused on various aspects of motorsports, from displaying motorcycles and cars spanning more than 120 years of production to the Barber Advanced Design Center, a high-tech workspace for design exploration. The museum embraces the culture of motorsports enthusiasts by hosting programs, such as the Barber Design Camp, and events, including the annual Barber Vintage Festival. With five floors housing 1,800 motorcycles, 150-plus automobiles, 60 of which are Lotus race cars, and numerous vintage and iconic vehicles, the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum is the ultimate family-friendly environment for education, exploration, and inspiration. Additional information is available at www.barbermuseum.org.

NHRA: Gadson Leads Pro Stock Motorcycle Class In Martin

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NHRA: Gadson Leads Pro Stock Motorcycle Class In Martin

Defending champion weathers a chaotic playoff opener in Michigan to retain the Pro Stock Motorcycle points lead.

Brea, CA – Reigning world champion Richard Gadson endured a wet and wild weekend aboard his RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki Gen 3 Hayabusa, battling challenging weather and starting line drama to maintain a slim lead in the Pro Stock Motorcycle standings after the opening round of the NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs at the Dodge NHRA Great Lakes Nationals at US 131 Motorsports Park in Martin, MI, on Monday.
 

 

Race Highlights

  • Richard Gadson qualified fourth and maintained the lead in the Countdown to the Championship after advancing to the second round
  • Gaige Herrera qualified fifth and sits sixth in the standings after exiting in round one

 

The promise of cool air and a sticky track surface set high expectations for the action at US 131 Motorsports Park, which made its debut on the NHRA national event circuit this weekend.
 

Although enthusiasm was somewhat dampened by rain showers that delayed Saturday’s qualifying rounds until late in the afternoon and later forced eliminations to be postponed until Monday, the event was also marked by questions about the track’s timing system that contributed to a race filled with upsets that roiled the standings in many of the pro classes, including Pro Stock Motorcycle.
 

Richard Gadson arrived in Martin as the top seed in the six-race Countdown to the Championship playoffs, hoping to build on the consistency that earned him the Pro Stock Motorcycle regular-season championship, which he clinched at the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis two weeks ago.

 

Gadson opened his playoffs campaign by qualifying fourth with a 6.818-second/197.86 mph run on Saturday, then defeated Mark Paquette (7.228 seconds/151.67 mph) with a 6.790-second/199.03 mph run in the first round of eliminations on Monday.

 

However, Gadson’s ambitions encountered a setback in the second round, when despite making a quicker 6.744-second/199.65 mph pass, he came up short against Marc Ingwersen (6.816 seconds/196.51 mph) after both riders simultaneously fouled on the starting line.
 

Under the NHRA’s “first-or-worst” rule, when two riders both commit a starting line foul, the rider who leaves earliest loses the round, resulting in Gadson’s -0.019-second foul losing to Ingwersen’s -0.018 foul by a difference of just .001-second.

 

“It was a rough weekend on the starting line. I haven’t red-lighted in competition in over two seasons. There’s a different timing system here with an extremely short rollout [the distance between the staging beam and the starting line] and it decided a lot of racing today across all of the classes. I’ve made hundreds of runs being aggressive, trying to cut the best light I can, but I have made zero runs trying to slow myself down until this weekend. We also didn’t have the normal LED lights on the tree, which caused some racers problems this weekend,” Gadson said. “But that’s part of racing and instead of complaining, it adds something to the list of things I need to learn to adjust for, because we’re going to face the same thing next weekend at Rockingham.”
 

On the positive side, upset losses for Matt and Angie Smith, his two closest competitors in the championship standings, helped keep Gadson in the points lead after the first round of the Countdown, albeit by a slimmer margin that he might have hoped for. Eventual race winner John Hall, who also survived a double-foul in the semi-finals, jumped up four spots to second in the standings, and now sits just one point behind Gadson.
 

“Kind of a crazy way to start the Countdown and while it could have been an opportunity for me to really capitalize in the points because the top four all went out early, at the same time I didn’t really lose anything. I’m still the points leader after going out in the second round, which if anyone had told me that before the race, I would have said ‘no way.’ So, it’s all good,” Gadson said. “We get to try again in another few days and I’ll be looking forward to doing better than today.”

 

Gaige Herrera qualified fifth on Saturday with a 6.760-second/200.00 mph run, his second lowest starting position of the season.

 

Bad luck then struck the two-time champion in round one, when a rare engine failure caused his Hayabusa to slow at the top end of the track to a 7.152-second/147.16 mph run against Marc Ingwersen (6.997 seconds/192.55 mph).
 

The wave of upset losses by racers in the top half of the standings helped limit the damage to Herrera’s Countdown position. Despite dropping three spots to sixth, Herrera is only 51 points behind Gadson, with ample opportunities to close the gap over the next five races.

 

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Despite an early-round exit in Martin, Gaige Herrera remains firmly in championship contention as the NHRA Countdown heads to Rockingham. Photo courtesy Suzuki.

 

“I was on a good run in that round, but we had a failure just past the eighth-mile marker. That’s part of racing and something we can’t always control,” Herrera said. “It’s only the first race of the Countdown, and with a lot of people going out early today, the top half of the class is bunched up tight. I think it’s going to be that way until the end and it’s going to make the championship more interesting for sure. We’ll try to keep our heads high and head to Rockingham in a few days to redeem ourselves. It’s a fast track and I’m looking forward to it.”
 

Between the unpredictability of the weather and the timing system, RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki crew chief Andrew Hines said this race was a far from a typical way to open the Countdown.
 

“It was a very strange one. The weather threw everyone for a loop. We started out thinking we’d only get the two qualifying runs on Friday and be able to race on Sunday and then ended up getting all four done by Saturday and racing on Monday,” Hines said. “It’s too bad the mechanical problem we had with Gaige’s engine didn’t happen at a more opportune time when it wouldn’t have affected his race, but we’ve had mechanicals early in the Countdown in past years and still managed to bounce back. With so many other top racers in the class also going out early, it’s almost like no harm, no foul. It could have been a more disastrous outcome than it turned out to be.”
 

Addressing questions about the track timing system, Hines said, “The new timing system they were using this weekend didn’t have the roll out set up properly for the pro classes. They have the same timing system at Rockingham, so we’re hoping NHRA is going to make some changes to adjust for it, because there were too many races this weekend decided arbitrarily by a timing system giving weird reaction times.”
 

“Gaige and Richard have both raced at Rockingham many times in other classes, so it won’t be unfamiliar for them, but it’s another new surface for the Pro Stock Motorcycle tuners to figure out,” Hines said. “It’s just a quarter mile and we have confidence we’ll figure it out.”
 

With five races remaining in the Countdown to the Championship, Gadson tops the standings with 2,170 points, followed by Herrera in sixth with 2,119 points.
 

The RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines team returns to action September 25-27 for round two of the Countdown to the Championship at the NHRA Nationals at The Rock at Rockingham Dragway in Rockingham, NC.

 

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

 

 

About Suzuki:
 
Suzuki Motor USA, LLC. (SMO) distributes Motorcycles, ATVs, Scooters, Accessories, and ECSTAR Oils & Chemicals via an extensive dealer network throughout 49 states. Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC), based in Hamamatsu, Japan, is a diversified worldwide manufacturer of Motorcycles, ATVs, Scooters, Automobiles, Outboard Motors, and related products. Founded in 1909 and incorporated in 1920, SMC has business relations with 201 countries/regions. For more information, visit  www.suzuki.com. 
 

About Vance & Hines Motorsports:

Vance & Hines Motorsports is a powerhouse in the world of motorcycle racing, boasting a rich legacy of success. With a focus on innovation, performance, and a commitment to pushing boundaries, the team continues to redefine excellence in the NHRA and MotoAmerica. For more information, visit www.vanceandhinesmotorsports.com.

MotoAmerica Readies For Final Showdowns At NJMP

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Supersport race start at COTA. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.

Supersport Caps Off 2026, A Duel For Top Two In Baggers, Gouker Set To Collect Talent Cup Title And Make Twins Cup Debut At Season Finale. 

Irvine, CA – As the 2026 MotoAmerica season reaches its conclusion at New Jersey Motorsports Park (NJMP) in Millville, New Jersey, September 25-27, Supersport, Mission King Of The Baggers, Talent Cup and Twins Cup will all make their final competitive appearances of the year.

Three of the four championships were settled at previous rounds, and the fourth will be decided this week without a wheel turned. With the number-one plates mostly spoken for, the racing at New Jersey turns to the positions still up for grabs and a final chance for riders to put a stamp on their seasons.

 

 

  • Supersport

Celtic/Economy Lube + Tire/Warhorse Ducati’s Darryn Binder clinched the 2026 Supersport Championship at COTA with a round to spare, sweeping the Texas weekend for his 10th win and 13th podium of the season. While New Jersey won’t change the top of the standings, it will settle who finishes behind Binder: Rahal Ducati Moto with Desnuda Organic Tequila’s Josh Herrin holds second by 76 points over his teammate Rahal Ducati Moto with Droplight’s Kayla Yaakov. However the 19-year-old female flyer only has a three point advantage over BPR Racing Yamaha’s Josh Hayes for the third points spot as the series moves into the final two races.

 

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Darryn Binder has made himself right at home in America by taking the MotoAmerica Supersport title in his rookie season. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.

 

M4 ECSTAR Suzuki has enlisted Rossi Moor to pilot their Supersport machine at New Jersey, as Tyler Scott continues filling in for the team’s injured Superbike rider, Richie Escalante. Moor, who has competed in MotoAmerica’s Junior Cup and Twins Cup ranks and has more recently been racing in Europe’s FIM JuniorGP Moto2 Championship, will make his MotoAmerica Supersport debut at the season finale.

 

 

  • Mission King Of The Baggers

J&P Cycles/Motul/Vance & Hines Factory Indian’s Hayden Gillim was another rider to seal up a championship at COTA. For New Jersey, the focus shifts to closing out the season strong and helping his teammate, Troy Herfoss, secure the runner-up spot in the final standings — the Australian trails Harley-Davidson x Dynojet Factory Racing’s Bradley Smith by just three points for the runner-up spot, keeping the Indian squad in the spotlight through the finale.

 

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Hayden Gillim (#69) already holds the 2026 Bagger title over Bradley Smith (#38) in second. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.

 

SDI Racing’s Tyler O’Hara is well clear in fourth but has gained momentum in the closing rounds with a podium finish in Race 2 at COTA.

Smith’s teammate, Kyle Wyman, rounds out the top five and gets an extra incentive to finish the season on a high note — New Jersey is his home round.

 

 

  • Talent Cup

Quarterley Racing’s Nathan Gouker arrives at New Jersey with an 18-point lead over Team Roberts’ Kensei Matsudaira, a gap built at COTA where Gouker finished runner-up to Sam Drane (Yamaha BLU CRU Estenson Racing) in a last-lap battle. Matsudaira however has since withdrawn from the season finale to compete in a Moto4 round in Europe, leaving Gouker as the only rider mathematically alive for the title — he’ll be crowned 2026 Talent Cup Champion regardless of where he finishes at NJMP. Despite Matsudaira’s absence he has clinched second place in the standings, 61 points clear of Drane in third.

 

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Nathan Gouker (#19) will claim the 2026 Talent Cup title in his rookie season while Sam Drane (#59) looks to hold off Jake Paige (#55) for third in points at NJMP. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.

 

The Australian Drane will be fighting to keep fellow Aussie Jake Paige behind him as they battle for the final podium position in the season standings. Drane leads his compatriot Paige by just five heading into the weekend and both will be shooting for high results that could secure a top-three points finish. 

Pennsylvania native Real Steel Honda rider Derek Sanchez (fifth in points) calls this round his home race, and looks to use that inspiration to challenge the leaders for his first podium of the year.

 

 

  • Twins Cup

With Hank Vossberg’s title long since wrapped up, New Jersey becomes less about the championship and more about the resumes riders take into 2027. Vossberg leaves the rest of the field with an unassailable points lead, but expect him to keep racing like a rider still building a case — seven wins already this season, and a strong final weekend only adds to a résumé that puts Robem Engineering and Aprilia back in the spotlight.

 

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2026 Twins Cup Champion Hank Vossberg (#31) has no pressure coming into New Jersey while Bodie Paige (#65) and Sam Drane (#59) will have to figure out who will finish second. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.

 

Behind Vossberg, the fight for the runner-up spot is tighter than the standings alone suggest: M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Bodie Paige holds second by just four points over Yamaha BLU CRU Estenson Racing’s Sam Drane, with Paige’s own teammate, Matthew Chapin, only five back of Drane in fourth. 

Chapin, a Damascus, Maryland native, gets a regional home-crowd boost heading into New Jersey, while Karns/TST Industries Racing’s Isaac Woodworth rounds out the top five. For all of them, New Jersey is a chance to make a final impression on their own teams, or others across the paddock, before 2027 rides get sorted out.

Graduating from the Talent Cup ranks, soon-to-be-crowned champion Nathan Gouker (Quarterley Racing) will try his hand at Twins Cup competition. Aboard an Aprilia RS 660, the move marks the 15-year-old’s debut in the welterweight class.

 

  • For the full 2026 MotoAmerica schedule and tickets, CLICK HERE
  • For information on how to watch the MotoAmerica series, CLICK HERE

 

 

About MotoAmerica:
 
MotoAmerica is North America’s premier motorcycle road racing series. Established in 2014, MotoAmerica is home to the AMA Superbike Championship as well as additional classes including Supersport, Twins Cup, Talent Cup, Super Hooligan National Championship, and King Of The Baggers. MotoAmerica is an affiliate of KRAVE Group LLC, a partnership including three-time 500cc World Champion, two-time AMA Superbike Champion, and AMA Hall of Famer Wayne Rainey; ex-racer and former manager of Team Roberts Chuck Aksland; motorsports marketing executive Terry Karges; and businessman Richard Varner. For more information, please visit www.MotoAmerica.com and follow MotoAmerica on Facebook Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and YouTube. To watch all things MotoAmerica, subscribe to MotoAmerica’s live streaming and video on demand service, MotoAmerica Live+

MotoGP: Grand Prix Commission Updates Regulations for 2027

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Marc Marquez (93), Fabio Di Giannantonio (49). Photo courtesy MotoGP.

The Grand Prix Commission, composed of Messrs. Paul Duparc (FIM), Mike Webb (IRTA), Biense Bierma (MSMA) and Carmelo Ezpeleta (MotoGP SEG, Chairman) in the presence of Jorge Viegas (FIM President), Carlos Ezpeleta (MotoGP SEG), Corrado Cecchinelli (Director of Technology), Paul King (FIM CCR Director) and Dominique Hebrard (FIM CTI Technical Director), has made the following decisions:

 

  • Practice Starts banned from pitlane exit – all circuits – effective season 2027 

Practice Starts were previously permitted at pitlane exit at a little over 30% of circuits on the calendar. With dedicated practice start zones now having been introduced across the calendar, as well as a dedicated practice start session for MotoGP at every Grand Prix, practice starts from pitlane are now banned at all circuits, effective immediately.

 

  • Moto2 Concessions and Performance Parts – effective season 2027

The introduction of the new specification Moto2 engine in 2027 will result in the development of new chassis. Therefore, all Moto2 teams will begin the 2027 season with no concessions, with rankings to be first revised mid-season. Chassis manufacturers will be able to make one update to either their chassis or swingarm during the season, due to the limited pre-season testing available with the new engine and chassis. Aero body components will be frozen as per the 2026 designs, and a limit imposed on the number of earlier designs able to be used, in order to control costs.

 

  • MotoGP ECU RPM – effective immediately 

The RPM limit of 20,000rpm coded into the ECU software will now, for extra clarity, be written into the MotoGP class regulations following the same wording as the Moto3 regulations. 

 

  • Moto2 and Moto3 non-fossil fuels – effective season 2027

The introduction of fuels of 100% non-fossil origin to the Moto2 and Moto3 classes will now be implemented for the 2028 season. This is in order to provide continuity with the introduction of a new specification of engine from official Moto2 supplier Triumph in 2027 and the new Moto3 class machinery, introduced in 2028.

A regularly updated version of the FIM Grand Prix Regulations which contains the detailed text of the regulation changes may be viewed HERE.

 

Decisions_of_the_Grand_Prix_Commission_23_September_2026

Harley-Davidson “Reset” Eyes Backing Grass Roots Bagger Racing

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2025 MotoAmerica Kings Of The Baggers Champion Kyle Wyman. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.

A corporate initiative called “Back To The Bricks” and labeled as a “Reset” for the company may see Harley-Davidson concentrate its U.S. racing activities on supporting customers involved in Bagger racing, instead of continuing to spend money on its own factory team running in MotoAmerica. The company-sponsored Harley-Davidson MotoGP Bagger World Cup series, which involves less expensive, spec, identical Bagger racebikes Harley-Davidson builds and sells or leases to teams, will continue to run at selected MotoGP events. 

There has been some discussion of defending MotoAmerica Baggers Champion Kyle Wyman racing full time in the 2027 MotoGP Bagger World Cup Series; Wyman and his teammates James Rispoli and former MotoGP racer Bradley Smith recently competed in that series at a MotoGP event overseas. Whether or not Rispoli and Smith could also run in the MotoGP-affiliated Bagger World Cup in 2027 is unknown. 

In recent years the Bagger Racing League (BRL), which originated the Bagger racing concept, has run at selected regional events, using more restrictive rules than MotoAmerica, including running classes with rules that are closer to production bikes.

More details will be posted as they become available.

 

 

 

MotoGP: Somkiat Chantra Set For Premier Class Return In Motegi

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The Thai rider, Somkiat Chantra, will replace Mir at Honda HRC Castrol for the Japanese GP. Photo courtesy MotoGP.
The Japanese GP will see Honda HRC WorldSBK’s Somkiat Chantra replace Joan Mir aboard the Honda HRC Castrol RC213V as the 2020 World Champion continues his recovery.
 

Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) confirm that Somkiat Chantra will step in for Joan Mir at the upcoming Japanese Grand Prix, as the Spaniard continues his recovery and observation period following medical concerns first raised after the San Marino GP.

Chantra, who competed in the premier class during the 2025 season with Honda LCR, has spent 2026 competing as part of HRC’s World Superbike programme. He now returns to the premier class at Motegi, a circuit holding personal significance as the site of his memorable Moto2 victory in 2023.

In 2025, Thailand’s first Premier Class rider scored a 15th place finish aboard the Honda RC213V in Motegi. His 2026 campaign in WorldSBK has seen Chantra take points on seven occasions while recovering from pre-season injuries.

Mir will continue his recovery programme with updates on his condition to be shared after the Indonesian Grand Prix.

 

MotoAmerica: Record Viewership, Attendance and Social Reach

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PJ Jacobsen (#15, Rahal Ducati Moto with XPEL) pushing the limits at Road America, during MotoAmerica's record setting weekend for attendance at a motorcycle-event. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.

Tenfold Household Reach With 540% Increase In Viewership, Six Consecutive Years Of Increased Attendance, And Soaring Social Metrics Heading Into Season Finale

Irvine, CA  – MotoAmerica, North America’s premier motorcycle road racing series, announced today extraordinary year-to-date growth across broadcast, attendance, and digital media for its 2026 season. The expansion is anchored by multi-platform distribution partnerships with Samsung TV Plus and Vice TV, alongside a dynamic content ecosystem that offers fans live racing access across all seven MotoAmerica classes for the first time in series history.

 

Explosive Percentage Growth Across All Metrics

Through the first eight events of the season, total broadcast viewership surged 5.4x year-over-year – representing a 540% increase compared to the same period in 2025. Cumulative household reach similarly expanded tenfold (a 1,000% increase) across North America.

 

Individual race weekends experienced massive broadcast multipliers, led by:

•    Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course: 9.4x increase in viewership

•    VIRginia International Raceway: 7.3x increase in viewership

•    WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca: 6.3x increase in viewership

 

The surge in viewership underscores the immense success of MotoAmerica’s multi-platform distribution, supported by a trifecta that includes record attendance and rapid growth in digital presence across social media. 

MotoAmerica’s digital following now counts more than 5.6M followers – up from 3.9M at the start of 2025 (41.5+% growth in less than two seasons). The growth isn’t just on screens. Trackside attendance has climbed for six straight years – has set back-to-back record attendance figures for a motorcycle event at Road America – and projects to eclipse 290,000 attendees as MotoAmerica wraps its final 2026 round at New Jersey Motorsports Park, setting a new series’ benchmark.

 

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Sean Dylan Kelly (#40) leads a trio of Championship Rivals (Mathew Scholtz, #11, Bobby Fong, #50, and JD Beach, #95) into this weekend’s Quad Lock Superbike Championship triple-header at New Jersey Motorsports Park.

 

 

Multi-Channel Distribution & Expanded Ecosystem

The series’ momentum across viewership, attendance, and fan engagement is backed by strong distribution support and content accessibility:

  • Samsung TV Plus: Reaching over 110 million active monthly users, Samsung TV Plus delivers live racing on Samsung TV Network (STN) and hosts MotoAmericaTV, a dedicated 24/7 FAST channel.
    • Distribution continues to scale globally across North America and into expanding international markets, including Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and beyond.
  • Vice TV Partnership: Serves as the official broadcast partner for the Quad Lock Superbike Championship, providing live linear cable coverage across race weekends.
  • Live Coverage Across All Seven Classes: For the first time, racing fans can watch live action across all MotoAmerica classes across non-native streaming and cable options.
  • Mainstream Cross-Pollination: Cultural reach has been further elevated through the six-part docuseries Hooligans: The ARCH Racing Project, featuring Keanu Reeves, bringing new audiences into motorcycle road racing.

 

Collectively, these multi-channel initiatives have brought more eyes, more fans, and more engaged sponsors to the sport, setting a strong tone heading into 2027—the second year of the landmark Samsung partnership.

“Our broadcast performance in 2026 shows there is a strong appetite for motorcycle road racing when fans have easy access to the racing,” said Chuck Aksland, Chief Operating Officer of MotoAmerica. “Our partnerships with Samsung TV Plus and VICE TV have expanded our reach significantly, putting MotoAmerica in front of millions of motorsports fans while also introducing our racing to a new audience.”

 

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An open paddock, pre-race Quad Lock Superbike grid walk and rider autograph sessions, as pictured here at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, have been fan favorites. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.

 

With numbers still being reported for Circuit of The Americas (September 11-13), and this weekend’s Quad Lock Superbike triple-header season finale at New Jersey Motorsports Park (September 25-27), MotoAmerica is positioned to finish 2026 with historic milestone figures across all media channels.

 

  • For the full 2026 MotoAmerica schedule and tickets, CLICK HERE
  • For information on how to watch the MotoAmerica series, CLICK HERE
  • For Press Release Images and graphic, CLICK HERE

EWC: Bridgestone-Equipped BMW Motorrad Takes 2026 Title

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Michael Van Der Mark (37) and Naomichi Uramoto (76) during the Bol d'Or. Photo courtesy Bridgestone.

• BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team wins 2026 FIM EWC title, marking Bridgestone’s sixth consecutive championship as tire supplier.

• Teams on Bridgestone BATTLAX tires swept the top five positions in final season standings.

• Bridgestone reaffirms its commitment to supporting EWC teams and advancing global motorsport culture.

 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Bridgestone Americas (Bridgestone) today announced that the Bridgestone-supported BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team captured the 2026 FIM1 Endurance World Championship (EWC) title on Sept. 20 following the season final at the Bol d’Or at Circuit Paul Ricard in Le Castellet, France. Riding on premium Bridgestone BATTLAX motorcycle tires, the BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team secured the top spot in the world’s premier endurance motorcycle racing series, marking the sixth consecutive year, and seventh time overall, a Bridgestone-equipped team has claimed the EWC championship.

Demonstrating proven performance and durability, all five of the top teams in the final overall standings ran on Bridgestone tires. Ultimately, the BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team secured victory in the final race of the season following a dramatic 24-hour endurance race filled with dynamic twists and turns down to the final lap.

 

The 2026 Bol d’Or was about redemption for the Belgian-based team, as twelve months prior at the same circuit, they were less than 30 minutes away from claiming the title when a mechanical failure ended their chance at the championship win. Returning to Circuit Paul Ricard, riders Markus Reiterberger, Steven Odendaal and Michael van der Mark delivered a remarkable performance to secure BMW’s first-ever FIM EWC World Championship.

 

2026 FIM EWC Bridgestone Results:

• 1st Place: Team Name: BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team; Team Number: 37; Bike: BMW M 1000 RR; Riders: Markus Reiterberger, Steven Odendaal, Michael van der Mark and Jérémy Guarnoni; Team Manager: Werner Daemen

• 2nd Place: Team Name: YART Yahama Official EWC Team; Team Number: 1; Bike: Yamaha YZF–R1; Riders: Karel Hanika, Marvin Fritz and Leandro Denis Mercado; Team Manager: Manfred Kainz

• 3rd Place: Team Name: Yoshimura Sert Motul; Team Number: 12; Bike: Suzuki GSX-R 1000R; Riders: Gregg Black, Etienne Masson and Dan Linfoot; Team Manager: Damien Saulnier

• 4th Place: Team Name: Kawasaki Webike Trickstar; Team Number: 11; Bike: KawasakiZX-10RR; Riders: Roman Ramos Alvaro, Christian Gamarino, Grẽgory Leblanc and Enzo De La Vega; Team Manager: Ryuji Tsuruta

• 5th Place: Team Name: Autorace Ube Racing Team; Team Number: 76; Bike: BMW M 1000 RR; Riders: Naomichi Uramoto, Sylvain Guintoli, Hannes Soomer and Jẽrẽmy Guarnoni; Team Manager: Tsunetaka Igami

• 7th Place: Team Name: F.C.C TSR Honda France; Team Number: 5; Bike: Honda CBR 1000 RR-R; Riders: Alan Techer, Corentin Perolari, John McPhee and Jordi Torres Fernandez; Team Manager: Toru Bovẽ

• 12th Place: Team Name: Honda HRC; Team Number: 30; Bike: Honda CBR 1000 RR-R-SP; Riders: Takumi Takahashi, Jonathan Rea and Somkiat Chantra; Team Manager: Teruaki Matsubara

• 13th Place: Team Name: Elf Marc VDS Racing Team/KM99; Team Number: 99; Bike: Yamaha YZF–R1; Riders: Randy De Puniet, Florian Marino, Alessandro Delbianco and Bo Bendsneyder; Team Manager: Kupper Mario

• 17th Place: Team Name: Yamaha Factory Racing Team; Team Number: 21; Bike: Yamaha YZF–R1; Riders: Katsuyuki Nakasuga, Jack Miller and Andrea Locatelli; Team Manager: Wataru Yoshikawa

• 18th Place: Team Name: Team PMS99 YAM Service; Team Number: 98; Bike: Yamaha YZF–R1; Riders: Marcus Delestre, Ryan Maher, Fausto Mincione and Timothee Monot; Team Manager: Loĩc Pouvillon

• 19th Place: Team Name: SDG Team Harc-Pro. Honda; Team Number: 73; Bike: Honda CBR 1000RR-R; Riders: Yuki Kunii, Teppei Nagoe and Keito Abe; Team Manager: Kotaro Honda

• 20th Place: Team Name: Honda Asia-Dream Racing with Astemo; Team Number: 88; Bike: Honda CBR 1000 RR–R; Riders: Nakarin Atiratphuvapat, Khairul Idham Pawi and Mohammad Adenanta Putra; Team Manager: Makoto Tamada

• 21st Place: Team Name: Team ATJ with NTT Docomo Business; Team Number: 40; Bike: Honda CBR 1000 RR-R-SP; Riders: Satoru Iwata, Koki Suzuki and Takuma Kunimine; Team Manager: Takahiro Nakatsuhara

• 22nd Place: Team Name: S-Pulse Dream Racing Suzuki; Team Number: 95; Bike: Suzuki GSX-R 1000R; Riders: Sho Nishimura, Jonas Folger and Jẽrẽmy Guarnoni; Team Manager: Hideyuki Ogata

• 23rd Place: Team Name: Marumae Team Kodama; Team Number: 50; Bike: YamahaYZF-R1; Riders: Yuta Kodama, Max Stauffer and Takumi Takahashi; Team Manager: Yuta Kodama

• 25th Place: Team Name: KRP Sanyo Kogyo & RS-ITOH; Team Number: 23; Bike: Kawasaki ZX 10R; Riders: Yuto Sano, Katsuto Sano and Riku Sugawara; Team Manager: Kazunari Ito• 26th Place: Team Name: Astemo Pro Honda Si Racing; Team Number: 17; Bike: Honda CBR 1000RR-R; Riders: Kohta Nozane, Taiga Hada and Kohta Arakawa; Team Manager: Shinichi Ito

• 27th Place: Team Name: Honda Suzuka Racing Team; Team Number: 20; Bike: Honda CBR 1000 RR-R; Riders: Ben Young, Genki Nakajima and Maiku Watanuki; Team Manager: Kazuhiro Matsushita

• 28th Place: Team Name: Shinsyuren with Totec; Team Number: 45; Bike: BMWM 1000 RR; Riders: Hinata Nakajima, Kyosuke Okuda and Isami Higashimura; Team Manager: Katsuyuki Yoshii. 

 

 

“On behalf of Bridgestone, I want to congratulate the BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team on earning a hard-fought championship victory,” said Nico Thuy, Director Motorcycle at Bridgestone EMEA. “To all our partner teams who also gave an extraordinary effort out on the track – we are proud to stand behind you. Reliable tires are a non-negotiable foundation for pushing the absolute limit in a series as grueling as the FIM EWC, and we are deeply honored that so many exceptional teams rely on Bridgestone to perform and endure.”

 

Championship-grade tech

Bridgestone has outfitted many full-season EWC competitors with high-performance BATTLAX race tires since 2017, establishing a proven track record of championship-winning success on the world’s most demanding circuits. In 2026, Bridgestone served as the exclusive tire supplier for 19 EWC teams, highlighting the trust these elite racing programs placed in the BATTLAX lineup to deliver consistent, winning performance in high-stakes endurance competition.

The FIM EWC places relentless demands on equipment, pushing tires, and riders, to their absolute limits over non-stop 8- to 24-hour stretches. Engineered with advanced compound technology and high-rigidity architecture, Bridgestone race tires are designed to deliver maximum traction, predictable handling and long-lasting durability through every stint. This precision engineering gives riders unwavering confidence to maintain a winning pace, regardless of shifting track temperatures, weather changes or variable surface conditions.

 

Driven by a passion for motorsports and sustainability

From world championship endurance racing to grassroots competitions, motorsports remain a vital proving ground for Bridgestone’s continuous pursuit of excellence. Bridgestone’s commitment extends beyond technical competition, actively nurturing global motorsport culture while collaborating with leading manufacturers and teams at every level to push the boundaries of tire technology and durability.

Through these high-stakes partnerships, Bridgestone advances its “From Circuit to Street” concept. Testing advanced rubber compounds and structural designs under demanding endurance conditions, including dramatic day-to-night temperature shifts and unpredictable weather, allows Bridgestone engineers to accelerate the development of premium replacement tires. This continuous innovation drives the future of sustainable, high-performance mobility for all riders.

 

 

About Bridgestone Americas, Inc.:

Bridgestone Americas, Inc. is the U.S.-based subsidiary of Bridgestone Corporation, a global leader in tires and rubber, building on its expertise to provide solutions for safe and sustainable mobility. Headquartered in Nashville, Tenn., Bridgestone Americas employs more than 45,000 people across its worldwide operations. Bridgestone offers a diverse product portfolio of premium tires and advanced solutions backed by innovative technologies, improving the way people around the world move, live, work and play.

EWC: Dunlop Extends Exclusive Tyre Supply Through 2029

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EMP representatives - Sophie Casasnovas (Larivière Organisation), Tsuyoshi Saito (Honda MobilityLand), Pierre Fillon (ACO) and Claude Michy (EMP President) - alongside Dunlop's Wim Van Achter and David Auerbacher. Photo courtesy EWC.

Endurance Moto Promoter (EMP), promoter of the FIM Endurance World Championship, and Dunlop have announced a three-year extension to their agreement, running until the end of the 2029 season. Dunlop will remain the exclusive tyre supplier to the Superstock (FIM Endurance World Cup) and Production (FIM Production World Trophy) classes, a role it has held since 2022 for the Superstock class and since the creation of the Production class in 2025.

The new agreement also confirms Dunlop’s status as an Official Partner of the FIM EWC, a relationship dating back to 2016.

All teams in both categories will continue to race on the Dunlop KR slick range, with the same level of performance, reliability and technical support, regardless of the size of their structure. Since 2022, Dunlop has supported the steady progression of both grids, in terms of performance as well as the depth of competition.

In the Formula EWC, where tyre choice remains open to all manufacturers, Dunlop will continue working closely with several top teams. The brand remains the most successful tyre manufacturer in the history of the Championship

 

Wim Van Achter, Motorcycle Motorsport Manager EMEA, Dunlop Motorcycle Europe: “We are honoured to continue our partnership with the FIM Endurance World Championship and EMP as the exclusive tyre supplier for the Superstock and Production classes. EWC is a valuable arena for the active development of Dunlop’s KR racing tyres, which are available on the market for racers and track day riders. This partnership represents a stamp of approval for our tyres and a further incentive to continue developing the next generation of the Dunlop KR racing range in one of the most competitive racing environments.”

 

Claude Michy, President, Endurance Moto Promoter: “We are delighted to continue the long-standing partnership between the FIM EWC World Championship and Dunlop as the sole tyre manufacturer for the Superstock and Production classes. Endurance racing is a discipline that demands performance, but also great consistency and complete trust between the teams and their technical partners. Dunlop has unique expertise and experience in this field, and has always demonstrated its ability to meet the particularly high standards of the FIM EWC World Championship. This renewal reflects the quality of our collaboration and our shared commitment to keep promoting the championship. Above all, the main goal is to continue supporting the Superstock and Production teams as well as possible, thanks to a new allocation system.”

 

The 2027 FIM EWC season will get underway with the 24 Heures Motos at Le Mans, France, from 8 to 11 April 2027.

ASRA: Bruce Barry Named Midwest Region Race Director

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Bruce Barry named MW director. Photo by to Chris Labuegan.

NEW FREEDOM, Pa. — The American Superbike Racing Association (ASRA) today announced the appointment of Bruce Barry as Midwest Region Race Director.

Barry, a longtime presence in Midwest sportbike racing, will oversee race operations for ASRA’s Midwest events, with a focus on rider safety, consistent race-day execution, and the competitor experience at venues including Blackhawk Farms Raceway, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, and other regional stops on the ASRA calendar.

As Race Director, Barry will work with ASRA staff, officials, and track partners to deliver well-run weekends for Amateur and Expert riders, support new-racer programs, and help keep the Midwest series competitive and accessible.

“Bruce knows this region from the grid and the paddock,” said Chris LaBuguen, ASRA Partner. “He understands what Midwest riders need on race weekend—clear communication, fair officiating, and events that respect both the veterans and the people just earning their licenses. We’re glad to have him leading the Midwest Region.”

 

BB 2025 Pitt race Endurance race
Bruce Barry named MW director. Photo by to Chris Labuegan.

 

Barry said: “The Midwest has always been home for me in this sport. I’m honored to take on this role with ASRA and to serve the same community that made racing here what it is. My priority is safe, well-run events that riders want to come back to—and a series that keeps growing the next generation of Midwest racers.”

The 2026 Midwest Region Awards Banquet date and the 2027 Midwest season schedule will be announced at asraracing.com and on ASRA’s social channels.

Barber Vintage Festival Set for 21st Edition

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Stefano Mesa (37) at the 2025 Barber Vintage Festival. Photo by Craig Chawla.

BIRMINGHAM, Al — For three days in early October, all eyes will turn to Barber Motorsports Park and the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum. The 21st annual Barber Vintage Festival, Friday, Oct. 9, through Sunday, Oct. 11, promises a multitude of activities within the park and inside the museum for motorcyclists of all ages.

This year’s festival is a celebration of the life and legacy of park and museum founder George Barber, who died in February, aged 85. Friday evening’s “Motorcycles by Moonlight” gala in the museum officially kicks off the weekend, accompanied by a silent auction supporting the “Discovery and Innovation Motorsports Fund” established in Barber’s honor.

A limited number of tickets are still available for an unforgettable night featuring live entertainment, passed hors d’oeuvres, whiskey and wine tastings, a chef-attended cooking station, and a multicourse dinner. A short documentary film highlighting Barber’s remarkable vision, influence, and enduring impact on the motorsports community will be shown.

Two new exhibitions opening on the third and fifth floors of the museum celebrate historic Ducati and Suzuki milestones. “DUCATI 100” and “GSX-R FORTY YEARS” are curated by museum board member Ultan Guilfoyle and designed by Pierre Terblanche, resident mentor of the Barber Advanced Design Center.

 

Yoshimura Suzuki GSX R1000 BVMM
Yoshimura Suzuki GSX R1000. Photo courtesy Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum
Ducati 750 Super Sport BVMM 1
Ducati 750 Super Sport. Photo courtesy Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum

 

Six staff-moderated seminars featuring respected motorcycle historians, journalists, and championship-winning racers are scheduled for Friday and Saturday afternoon during the festival. Books, jewelry, T-shirts, and other official festival-related souvenirs are available for purchase at the museum gift shop and in the several merchandise trailers on the park grounds.

Throughout the 880-acre park, festival attendees have access to BMW Motorrad Days Americas, the Isle of Triumph, new-product reveals, and manufacturer-represented demo rides, plus a kids ’ zone, live music, stunt shows, and other perennial crowd favorites, including the American Motor Drome Company’s “Wall of Death.”

Racing fans can look forward to AHRMA competition on the 17-turn, 2.38-mile road course, as well as on the dedicated cross-country, motocross, and trials layouts also located within the park. Hundreds of vendors are expected to participate in one of the largest vintage swap meets in the country, with a vast selection of rare motorcycles, difficult-to-find parts, and memorabilia.

 

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Tickets are available at barbermuseum.org/barber-vintage-festival. Children 15 years of age and under receive free admission when accompanied by a paying adult. A festival ticket does not provide admission to the museum. A separate ticket is required and may only be purchased in person at the front desk.

Official Barber Vintage Festival sponsors include BMW Motorrad USA, Triumph Motorcycles, Royal Enfield, Coca‑Cola, Law Tigers Motorcycle Lawyers, the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Mecum Auctions, Michelob ULTRA, and Papa Johns.

The museum wishes to thank Ducati North America, Suzuki Motor USA, and the Italian American Heritage Society of Birmingham for their support of the exhibitions.

 

About the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum: 

The Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum is a 501(C)(3) tax-exempt, private operating foundation dedicated to the preservation, interpretation, exhibition, and history of motorcycles, vintage vehicles, and motorsports located at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Ala. For more than 30 years, the museum has focused on various aspects of motorsports, from displaying motorcycles and cars spanning more than 120 years of production to the Barber Advanced Design Center, a high-tech workspace for design exploration. The museum embraces the culture of motorsports enthusiasts by hosting programs, such as the Barber Design Camp, and events, including the annual Barber Vintage Festival. With five floors housing 1,800 motorcycles, 150-plus automobiles, 60 of which are Lotus race cars, and numerous vintage and iconic vehicles, the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum is the ultimate family-friendly environment for education, exploration, and inspiration. Additional information is available at www.barbermuseum.org.

NHRA: Gadson Leads Pro Stock Motorcycle Class In Martin

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Richard Gadson maintained the Pro Stock Motorcycle points lead aboard the RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki Hayabusa after a challenging Countdown opener at Martin, Michigan. Photo courtesy Suzuki.

Defending champion weathers a chaotic playoff opener in Michigan to retain the Pro Stock Motorcycle points lead.

Brea, CA – Reigning world champion Richard Gadson endured a wet and wild weekend aboard his RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki Gen 3 Hayabusa, battling challenging weather and starting line drama to maintain a slim lead in the Pro Stock Motorcycle standings after the opening round of the NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs at the Dodge NHRA Great Lakes Nationals at US 131 Motorsports Park in Martin, MI, on Monday.
 

 

Race Highlights

  • Richard Gadson qualified fourth and maintained the lead in the Countdown to the Championship after advancing to the second round
  • Gaige Herrera qualified fifth and sits sixth in the standings after exiting in round one

 

The promise of cool air and a sticky track surface set high expectations for the action at US 131 Motorsports Park, which made its debut on the NHRA national event circuit this weekend.
 

Although enthusiasm was somewhat dampened by rain showers that delayed Saturday’s qualifying rounds until late in the afternoon and later forced eliminations to be postponed until Monday, the event was also marked by questions about the track’s timing system that contributed to a race filled with upsets that roiled the standings in many of the pro classes, including Pro Stock Motorcycle.
 

Richard Gadson arrived in Martin as the top seed in the six-race Countdown to the Championship playoffs, hoping to build on the consistency that earned him the Pro Stock Motorcycle regular-season championship, which he clinched at the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis two weeks ago.

 

Gadson opened his playoffs campaign by qualifying fourth with a 6.818-second/197.86 mph run on Saturday, then defeated Mark Paquette (7.228 seconds/151.67 mph) with a 6.790-second/199.03 mph run in the first round of eliminations on Monday.

 

However, Gadson’s ambitions encountered a setback in the second round, when despite making a quicker 6.744-second/199.65 mph pass, he came up short against Marc Ingwersen (6.816 seconds/196.51 mph) after both riders simultaneously fouled on the starting line.
 

Under the NHRA’s “first-or-worst” rule, when two riders both commit a starting line foul, the rider who leaves earliest loses the round, resulting in Gadson’s -0.019-second foul losing to Ingwersen’s -0.018 foul by a difference of just .001-second.

 

“It was a rough weekend on the starting line. I haven’t red-lighted in competition in over two seasons. There’s a different timing system here with an extremely short rollout [the distance between the staging beam and the starting line] and it decided a lot of racing today across all of the classes. I’ve made hundreds of runs being aggressive, trying to cut the best light I can, but I have made zero runs trying to slow myself down until this weekend. We also didn’t have the normal LED lights on the tree, which caused some racers problems this weekend,” Gadson said. “But that’s part of racing and instead of complaining, it adds something to the list of things I need to learn to adjust for, because we’re going to face the same thing next weekend at Rockingham.”
 

On the positive side, upset losses for Matt and Angie Smith, his two closest competitors in the championship standings, helped keep Gadson in the points lead after the first round of the Countdown, albeit by a slimmer margin that he might have hoped for. Eventual race winner John Hall, who also survived a double-foul in the semi-finals, jumped up four spots to second in the standings, and now sits just one point behind Gadson.
 

“Kind of a crazy way to start the Countdown and while it could have been an opportunity for me to really capitalize in the points because the top four all went out early, at the same time I didn’t really lose anything. I’m still the points leader after going out in the second round, which if anyone had told me that before the race, I would have said ‘no way.’ So, it’s all good,” Gadson said. “We get to try again in another few days and I’ll be looking forward to doing better than today.”

 

Gaige Herrera qualified fifth on Saturday with a 6.760-second/200.00 mph run, his second lowest starting position of the season.

 

Bad luck then struck the two-time champion in round one, when a rare engine failure caused his Hayabusa to slow at the top end of the track to a 7.152-second/147.16 mph run against Marc Ingwersen (6.997 seconds/192.55 mph).
 

The wave of upset losses by racers in the top half of the standings helped limit the damage to Herrera’s Countdown position. Despite dropping three spots to sixth, Herrera is only 51 points behind Gadson, with ample opportunities to close the gap over the next five races.

 

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Despite an early-round exit in Martin, Gaige Herrera remains firmly in championship contention as the NHRA Countdown heads to Rockingham. Photo courtesy Suzuki.

 

“I was on a good run in that round, but we had a failure just past the eighth-mile marker. That’s part of racing and something we can’t always control,” Herrera said. “It’s only the first race of the Countdown, and with a lot of people going out early today, the top half of the class is bunched up tight. I think it’s going to be that way until the end and it’s going to make the championship more interesting for sure. We’ll try to keep our heads high and head to Rockingham in a few days to redeem ourselves. It’s a fast track and I’m looking forward to it.”
 

Between the unpredictability of the weather and the timing system, RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki crew chief Andrew Hines said this race was a far from a typical way to open the Countdown.
 

“It was a very strange one. The weather threw everyone for a loop. We started out thinking we’d only get the two qualifying runs on Friday and be able to race on Sunday and then ended up getting all four done by Saturday and racing on Monday,” Hines said. “It’s too bad the mechanical problem we had with Gaige’s engine didn’t happen at a more opportune time when it wouldn’t have affected his race, but we’ve had mechanicals early in the Countdown in past years and still managed to bounce back. With so many other top racers in the class also going out early, it’s almost like no harm, no foul. It could have been a more disastrous outcome than it turned out to be.”
 

Addressing questions about the track timing system, Hines said, “The new timing system they were using this weekend didn’t have the roll out set up properly for the pro classes. They have the same timing system at Rockingham, so we’re hoping NHRA is going to make some changes to adjust for it, because there were too many races this weekend decided arbitrarily by a timing system giving weird reaction times.”
 

“Gaige and Richard have both raced at Rockingham many times in other classes, so it won’t be unfamiliar for them, but it’s another new surface for the Pro Stock Motorcycle tuners to figure out,” Hines said. “It’s just a quarter mile and we have confidence we’ll figure it out.”
 

With five races remaining in the Countdown to the Championship, Gadson tops the standings with 2,170 points, followed by Herrera in sixth with 2,119 points.
 

The RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines team returns to action September 25-27 for round two of the Countdown to the Championship at the NHRA Nationals at The Rock at Rockingham Dragway in Rockingham, NC.

 

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

 

 

About Suzuki:
 
Suzuki Motor USA, LLC. (SMO) distributes Motorcycles, ATVs, Scooters, Accessories, and ECSTAR Oils & Chemicals via an extensive dealer network throughout 49 states. Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC), based in Hamamatsu, Japan, is a diversified worldwide manufacturer of Motorcycles, ATVs, Scooters, Automobiles, Outboard Motors, and related products. Founded in 1909 and incorporated in 1920, SMC has business relations with 201 countries/regions. For more information, visit  www.suzuki.com. 
 

About Vance & Hines Motorsports:

Vance & Hines Motorsports is a powerhouse in the world of motorcycle racing, boasting a rich legacy of success. With a focus on innovation, performance, and a commitment to pushing boundaries, the team continues to redefine excellence in the NHRA and MotoAmerica. For more information, visit www.vanceandhinesmotorsports.com.

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