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.”
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.
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. Photo courtesy Barber Vintage Motorsports MuseumDucati 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
NAVARRA, SPAIN — Thirteen-year-old American racer Maverick Johnson scored his first international podium Sunday at Circuito de Navarra, finishing third in Race 2 of Round 6 of the Spanish ESBK Championship after battling for the lead throughout the 25-minute race.
The pace was exceptionally fast, with all five riders in the lead group recording lap times more than one second faster than the previous Pre-Talent class lap record at Navarra.
Johnson’s podium marks a significant milestone in his young international racing career and comes during his first season competing in Spain with the Aspar KSB Team.
“I’m super happy to get my first podium in ESBK!” said Maverick. “It was really fun! The race was fast and intense, and we were battling hard the entire time. I was able to take the lead a couple of times, and I just kept pushing and fighting with the group all the way to the finish. Thank you to my family, team, and sponsors for helping me achieve this result!”
Maverick Johnson on the ESBK podium holding his 3rd place trophy at Circuito de Navarra. Photo by The Bulb Project.
Maverick and the Aspar KSB Team will return to action for the seventh and final round of the 2026 ESBK Championship at Circuito de Jerez on October 31-November 1.
Johnson would like to thank all of his sponsors and supporters who have contributed to his 2026 racing season: US Money Reserve, Eleven Motorsports, Shiloh Services, Star GP Academy, Bison, KYT, Fusport, Dunlop, Halford Mobile Services, Alonzo, Matt, Steve, CG Law, VnM Sport, Paco/Bedstemor, The Kulchinskis, and KartMoto.
About Maverick Johnson:
Maverick Johnson is a 13-year-old American motorcycle racer competing with the Aspar KSB Team in the Pre-Talent class of the Spanish ESBK Championship as well as in the U.S. MotoAmerica and FIM Mini Cup programs. He turns 14 in December and will be eligible to compete in the MotoAmerica Talent Cup and International Talent Cup Series in 2027.
Shannonville: TSN Coverage, Big Superbike Purse, Anniversary Celebrations and Mini Finals.
The completion of the Canadian motorcycle roadracing Championship year will take place this weekend at Shannonville Motorsport Park, with the last round of the RACE Moto Regional series, the celebration event for the 50th Anniversary of Nelson International Raceway.
S.M.P. was originally know as Nelson and held their first ever race at the Shannonville location on a just-completed track during Canadian Thanksgiving weekend, 1976, on October 10. The venue was built by former racer, team owner and Honda shop principal John Nelson. The popular Nelson operated the venue until selling his track to auto racer Jack Boxstrom in 1979 and then remained as a worker and Manager until his death in 2006, the same year he entered the Canadian Motorcycle Hall of Fame.
That first race at Nelson was organized on short notice, but in cool and snowy conditions, attracting a solid entry. The feature F1 race was won by two-time Canadian overall National Champ Jim Allen on an Ernie White Racing Egli-framed Yamaha TZ750. The early challenge of Robbie Meiklejohn’s Mike Crompton built, Curtis framed, Weber carbureted Honda 750 based racer fizzled with catastrophic engine failure early in the big race.
More famously, Allen was favored to win the 250cc Grand prix race on a Yamaha TZ250D, but fell twice during the race after leading early, eventually placing fourth. These events caused the corner where Allen fell to be named in his honor by announcer Pat Gonsalves, an unimportant fact until the track was revamped and expanded in 1988, bringing this part of the layout back into use.
Nelson International Raceway near Shannonville, Ontario, Canada in early 1979, with original venue builder John Nelson in front of the first generation pit boxes, then under construction. Photo courtesy Steve Nelson.
This weekend’s event at Shannonville will feature Jim Allen as the Grand Marshal, a fitting tribute given that Allen at one point raced for Nelson’s Toronto-area Shop at the famed Harewood Acres venue near Hamilton, Ontario. When Harewood closed, there was a desire for a smaller, more bike friendly course in southern Ontario, and Shannonville fulfilled that aim. Nelson International was central to the rapid rise of roadracing competition and especially Superbikes in Canada during the late 1970s and 1980s.
Saturday, September 26 at Shannonville Motorsport Park will feature the final races for Ohvale 160 and 190 spec class young competitors in the MotoMINI FIM National Series, determining Team Canada selection for the World finals for Valencia, Spain, on November 26.
Saturday night will feature a live streamed event, when many of the top competitors from Shannonville’s storied history will talk about the track and their memories of John Nelson.
Sunday’s schedule includes a full slate of Regional events for the RACE Moto field, as well as TSN network television coverage of the Featured Superbike class, with a large, $10,000 purse provided by Economy Lube + Tire for the top ten finishers. The Superbike class in RACE Moto competition is open in terms of tire selection, meaning a range of slick tires providers oberings will be used by the front runners.
Favored in the 14-lap Feature is newly crowned RACE Moto Champ Eli Daccache on his Milwaukee Yamaha YZF-R1, using Pirelli rubber. Michael Leon is expected to return from injury to challenge with the Royal Distributing/Pro 6 BMW. The Bridgestone brigade will be headed by SOAR Western Ontario pace setter David MacKay with his Snow City Honda CBR100RR-SP .
A surprise entry is also attracting attention, with Scott Miller entering his ex-works 2002 Suzuki GSX-1000R for three-time Canadian Superbike Champ Francis Martin. This bike is a throw back to the old, “open” Superbike rules of 25 years ago, and in the same configuration as raced at Shannonville, by Martin for Miller’s Fast Company team, in 2002.
The UtahSBK season finale took place September 19th-20th in Grantsville, Utah at what was formerly known as Utah Motorsports Campus. The World Class facility hosted its Grand Re-Opening event on the same weekend inviting local government and media agencies as well as legends of our sport such as John Ulrich, Moto GP champion Kevin Schwantz, and Moto America team owner Graham Rahal. The unveiling of future plans for the facility accompanied by the lengthy list of improvements already made by the new ownership has the motorcycling world excited for next season and beyond. But on this weekend, the UtahSBK proudly hosted its final round of the season, and the first racing action under the track’s new moniker “West Desert”.
After some schizophrenic weather interrupted Friday’s practice day, racers welcomed partly cloudy skies and cool crisp temperatures Saturday morning while preparing for qualifying sessions. With many championships yet to be decided, and plenty of bragging rights to be had, a large field of racers across all classes had plenty of incentive to throw down their fastest laps and secure the best possible grid spots for the weekend’s races. Topping the time sheets in qualifying would be 2026 club champion Anthony Norton with a 1:31.2, followed by Justin Delong at a 1:32.0. Rounding out the front row for Sundays feature race with the 3rd fastest time in qualifying, past multi-time club champion making his return to the grid, Jerry Hicks, putting down a 1:32.5. With the grids all set, it was time to go Racin’…
Justin Delong (187) and Anthony Norton (1) push eachother in Qualifying. Photo by Les Wynn
Race 1 of the weekend would look a bit different… A squadron of single cylinder 450cc machines thundered down hot pit for sighting laps in route to taking their grid positions in a multi-wave start. The UtahSBK’s Supermoto series had just recently concluded their season, but the supermoto racers weren’t done racing yet. More than a dozen supermoto riders joined hooligan and lightweight grids throughout the weekend and had the honor of kicking off the weekend backing it in to turn one when the lights went out for the first time Saturday morning. Anthony Norton used his big track knowledge to his advantage, taking the lead piloting his Edge Powersports KTM SMR 450 halfway through lap 1 and didn’t look back. The leg out sideways bar to bar battles for the podium would heat up as the laps wound down. Jordan Pay and Jeff Panelley, running 2nd and 3rd, were fender to fender in the latter stages of the race, all the while, Dustin Biles was closing the gap to the podium battle. On the Last lap, Panelley made the move for 2nd, leaving Pay in 3rd, with Biles in 4th all separated by .6 of a second at the checkered flag. Nick Montella would move through the field to round out the top 5. This action was too good to ignore and UtahSBK may be adding a supermoto class to the SBK schedule full time for 2027.
Jordan Pay (666) battles Martina Velcheva (509) in Lightweight. Photo by Michael Barclay
The next race on track would be the start of a weekend long 3-way battle in the Expert Middleweight classes. Parker “Pablo” Mayer, Kinzer Naylor, and Ryan Breckenridge all on Kawaski Zx6r machines went head to head first in the Moto2 race. Mayer, only needing to finish in the points to secure the class championship, had no plans of riding conservatively which he made obvious by battling for the lead on lap 1. Breckenridge and Naylor simultaneously had no interest in yielding to the potential champ and the 3 battled for the entire 7 laps. Breckenridge led the trio early on before Mayer slotted into 2nd around Naylor in 3rd. On the last lap Mayer would make an aggressive pass on the brakes to take the lead and shortly after the win by just .140 of a second over Breckenridge, Naylor just bike lengths behind in 3rd. Later on, the 3 riders would face off again for the Fuzimoto Middleweight Superbike race. Very similar story with intense action and multiple passes but this time Breckenridge would take the win over Naylor in 2nd and 3rd going to Mayer just .6 of a second separating the 3. As if they couldn’t get enough, the 3 fierce competitors ran it back on Sunday in the second Middleweight Superbike moto and again put on a show with nonstop action and incrementally faster laps. This time Naylor would take the top step narrowly stretching away from Mayer in 2nd and Breckenridge in 3rd. Amazing action from these 3 all weekend long.
Kinzer Naylor (82) leads Parker “Pablo” Mayer (775) and Ryan Breckenridge(347) in middleweight superbike. Photo by Martina Velcheva
In one of the closest battles of the weekend fans and racers in attendance, as well as viewers tuning in to the oxymoron photography live race broadcast, were treated to a race resembling David and Goliath if they were motorcycle riders. Jeff Panelley on his KTM supermoto put the pressure on young prodigy Parker Busse who was riding very well on his borrowed Ninja 400 during Saturday’s Lightweight Superbike race. Mark Taylor set sail from the start on his Ninja Zx4RR while Busse and Panelley worked their way into 2nd and 3rd by the midway point of the race. Starting the penultimate lap, Panelley would use the grunt of his KTM to pass Busse coming on to the front straight, but that wouldn’t be the end of it. Busse first went back at Panelley into the hard braking turn 5, but didn’t quite make it stick. Then made the pass into the final corner before taking the white flag. The two played offense and defense respectively over the course of the final lap with just inches between them at any given moment. Panelley trying his hand at a few moves along the way and Busse closing the door every time there was a slight opening. Busse held the final corner tight and Panelley saved what looked to be an inevitable lowside as they charged onto the front straight, checkered flag in sight. At the line Busse would hold off Panelley by only .035 for 2nd, Panelley in 3rd and Taylor taking the win.
Parker Busse (49) leading the field in Lightweight Superbike. Photo by Michael Barclay
While the “West Desert” Grand Re-Opening was kicking off Saturday afternoon, so was the UtahSBK endurance. 90 min of nonstop flag to flag racing. 2 of our previously mentioned middleweight protagonists, Mayer and Breckenridge would join forces with fellow middleweight racer Josh Lerner in the Endurance relay class to eventually take the overall win for the final round. The bravest warriors of the endurance race are the ironman entrants, tackling every lap solo with no one to pass the baton to. It was a tight battle in the ironman class for the final endurance race of the season as the riders played out their individual strategies. Some tried to run their fastest laps and maintain speed while others tried to conserve their fuel and minimize their stops. At the 90-minute mark Geiser Hernandez, who went for the straight speed strategy, took the class win with 54 laps. Trevor Nosack, Eliu Heredia and Mark Taylor would all finish on the same 53rd lap of their race and in that order. While doing so, Eliu Heredia also secured the Ironman Endurance class championship by just 8 points over Nosack, concluding a hard-fought season by both contestants. Rounding out the top 5 for the class, race director Remington Mathews stepped out of the tower and used his aero dynamic stature aboard a borrowed r3 to run the entire race on just a single tank of fuel, completing the cool down lap on literal fumes after taking the checkered flag.
Sunday, the last day of racing for the 2026 season, picked up right where the previous day left off with an action-packed morning seeing more intense battles and more championship titles clinched. While the championship in the club’s premier class, the King of the Mountain, had been decided in round 4, all eyes were on the club’s fastest riders as they took their grid positions for the final Same Day Heating and Air KOM race. Reigning champion Anthony “LugNut” Norton starting from Pole, Previous #1 plate holder Jerry Hicks starting 3rd, and between them, challenger Justin Delong… Lights out and the field flew into turn 1 where Delong secured the Hole Shot. Norton followed just inches off Delong’s rear tire as they rounded turns 3 and 4 with Hicks close Behind. Norton wasted no time taking his shot at the lead going into turn 5, hard on the brakes rear tire skimming just off the ground as he slid by Delong and to the front of the field. Delong tucked right behind Norton for the first couple laps of the race. Around lap 4 Norton began to stretch away running a very fast and consistent pace as Delong started to lose ground to the lead. Meanwhile Jerry Hicks 3rd and Ryan Richardson 4th started to close the gap to 2nd. When Richardson and Hicks found their way to Delong’s rear tire the two made an aggressive move together to take over the podium spots and resume their 1 on 1 battle relegating Delong to 4th. Richardson would take over the 2nd spot for a moment around the halfway point of the 14-lap race before Hicks would fire back. Battles preceded throughout the field during the entire race, riders jockeying for position and the final points available in the championship for the season. When the checkered flag flew, now 4x club champion Norton took his 5th KOM win on the season in style crossing the line front wheel in the air to complete a perfect season in the class. Hicks would finish 2nd in his return to UtahSBK, just a few tenths ahead of Richardson in 3rd. Delong and Parker Mayer would round out the top 5 in 4th and 5th respectively.
Jerry Hicks (527) and Ryan Richardson (793) battle for podium positions in King of the Mountain. Photo by Martina Velcheva
After another dominant season and KOM race win, Norton had this to say: “What a year. The club keeps getting stronger and the riders keep getting faster. It wasn’t an easy year, but it all came together today and I enjoyed every lap of this race just hitting my marks and having a blast riding my bike. The Racers Edge Dunlops were so good today as usual and Fuzimoto helped me have the bike dialed. Huge thanks to Sameday Utah for putting up the purse money this year and to my sponsors Precision Fab Machinery, Bestige holdings, and Legal Ride for another great year together. Today, standing on the podium with Jerry (Hicks) was full circle for me. I looked up to him as a man and champion when I first came to Utah and I’m stoked to see him back racing with us.”
Ryan Richardson 3rd (left), Anthony Norton 1st(center), and Jerry Hicks 2nd (right) on the Same Day Heating and Air King of the Mountain Podium. Photo by Zac Harston
After Podium Celebrations for KOM and Summit Cup, racing action resumed. The novice middleweight racers took the spotlight as standout Israel Zitting lead the middleweight sbk race. Hard Charging Jack Vandergriff had come into his own after overcoming mechanical adversities throughout the weekend and had his sights set on ending his season on the top step of the podium. Vandergriff, running his personal best laps ever, reeled in the top novice of the season Zitting and secured the lead late in the race. Once out front Vandergriff ran flawlessly to take his first Race win of the season.
Jack Vandergriff (636) taking his first career race win. Photo by Zac Harston
While no one was ready for the season to be over, all good things do come to an end they say. Racers are planning for their 2026 season celebration taking place October 30th at Rice Eccles Stadium in SLC, while looking forward to the 2027 season.
UtahSBK President Brian Childree sends the season off with following statement:
“2026 has been one of the biggest years in Utah Superbike’s history. Both our Superbike and Supermoto/Mini-Moto series had successful seasons, with close battles for position in nearly every class and a field of racers who push each other every weekend. We had qualifying for every class and held our endurance race every round. We brought live announcing to the series, and our partnership with Oxymoron Photography let us live stream our events, so fans at the track and at home could follow every race. We also have a great partnership with the new management at West Desert.
We put a lot of work into bringing new riders into the sport and helping current riders improve. We launched our Emerging Racer Scholarship program, and we partnered with Yamaha Champ School on our Advanced Rider Training program. Through StreetGP, more than 160 riders got to experience road racing this year.
What I’m most proud of is what happens off the track. Our racers compete hard, but in the paddock, they help each other with bikes, share advice, and cheer each other on. The camaraderie and friendships in this community are what make Utah Superbike special. Thank you to our racers, volunteers, sponsors, and fans for making this season possible.”
In this video, I walk through and share my riding impressions of a Ducati Streetfighter V4. I cover the bike’s features and share my thoughts on why it is such a great bike for track days and street riding. I ride the bike on track at Chuckwalla Valley Raceway.
Just as there is more to becoming an adult than simply turning 18, there is more to becoming a Pro motorcycle racer than simply making the grid. Celtic Racing Warhorse Ducati rider, Wristin Grigg, is on that journey.
Four Riders, Three Races, Two Manufacturers, One Title: 2026 Quad Lock Superbike Championship To Be Decided In New Jersey.
(Orange)Cat’s Got Your Tongue: Kelly Holds The Advantage Over Fong, Scholtz And Beach Heading Into Season Finale.
Irvine, CA – The 2026 MotoAmerica Quad Lock Superbike Championship comes down to its final round at New Jersey Motorsports Park (NJMP) in Millville, New Jersey, September 25-27, where a three-race, triple-header weekend will decide the series champion. Four riders remain mathematically alive for the title, with 75 points on offer across the weekend and no rider more than 49 points off the lead.
OrangeCat Racing’s Sean Dylan Kelly carries a 26-point cushion over Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing’s Bobby Fong into the finale, with Strack Racing’s Mathew Scholtz and Fong’s teammate JD Beach also alive mathematically. Kelly, Fong, Scholtz and Beach have combined to win all but three of this season’s Superbike races — the other three victories all going to Ducati riders: Cameron Petersen (Wrench Motorcycles) took Race 1 at Road America, while Warhorse HSBK Ducati Flo4Law claimed two wins, with Loris Baz taking Race 3 at VIR and Cameron Beaubier winning Race 1 at COTA. The four riders that remain have never won a Superbike title which guarantees a new Quad Lock Superbike champion to be crowned in the Garden State.
NJMP’s Thunderbolt Circuit is a clockwise 2.25-mile, 13-turn road course known for its fast, flowing and technical run through the final sector that leads onto the half-mile front straight. With a first turn that sets up prime passing opportunities and the possibility of late-September weather, NJMP has a well-earned reputation for scrambling the order — a wet weekend would equalize the field and add another variable to an already tight championship equation.
Kelly’s title path is about managing the gap more than chasing wins. Sitting on 279 points, the Floridian needs only to keep pace with his rivals through the weekend’s three races — and he’s shown he can absorb a bad day, having salvaged a single point with a 15th-place finish on a damaged BMW at VIR. Kelly has finished on the podium in 13 of 15 races this year, including three wins, making a top-five weekend an attainable target. The 24-year-old Floridian is the only rider to score at least one point in every Quad Lock Superbike race thus far.
Sean Dylan Kelly (#40) leads the Quad Lock Superbike standings into New Jersey. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Fong arrives as the hottest rider in the series, with three wins and six podiums in his last seven starts, including a Race 2 victory at COTA that pulled him back within striking distance of Kelly. To take the title outright, Fong needs to outscore Kelly by at least 27 points across the weekend. Fong has history at NJMP, having won Race 1 there last year before his own title bid slipped away.
Bobby Fong (#50) has won three of his last seven starts heading into New Jersey. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Scholtz’s deficit is a steep hill to climb from 46 points back in P3. The South African can certainly go out and win all three races himself, but a sweep alone may not be enough. With a gap this size, he’ll also need the rest of the weekend to break his way.
Mathew Scholtz (#11) opened the year with four straight podiums but late season spells of bad luck have him third in points entering the final round. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Beach faces the longest road of the four, needing to outscore Kelly by at least 50 points across the weekend. A clean sweep would give Beach the full 75 points, but he’d also need Kelly limited to 25 points or fewer.
JD Beach trails the points lead by 49 with three races to go. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Petersen rounds out the top five in points but remains a threat to disrupt the finishes at the front. Kelly’s Teammate Jayson Uribe is sixth and represents a strong ally for the points leader.
While out of the points, several riders mark NJMP as a home round in the Northeast. Rahal Ducati Moto with XPEL’s PJ Jacobsen represents his Upstate New York roots in seventh, with two podiums this season.
M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Brandon Paasch is eighth and will race in front of his home-crowd from nearby Freehold, New Jersey. Paasch’s teammate Richie Escalante, who is recovering from injury (ninth in points), will miss the final round but 20-year-old Pennsylvanian Tyler Scott suits up for the finale at what is his home race on the calendar.
Rounding out the top ten in points is Real Steel Honda’s Hayden Gillim.
Finishing off the list of Northeast riders calling this race home are Beaubier’s teammate, 26-year-old Pennsylvanian Benjamin Smith and New Hampshire native, Thrashed Bike/Scheibe Aftercare Racing’s Max Flinders from New Hampshire.
Superbike Cup
The 2026 Superbike Cup championship is already decided, with Real Steel Honda’s Andrew Lee wrapping up his fourth career MotoAmerica title at COTA. The race for second in the standings, however, is still live: BPR Racing Yamaha’s Deion Campbell (244 points) holds just a five-point edge over Carl Soltisz (239 points) as the two riders battle for runner-up in Superbike Cup.
Andrew Lee won’t be slowing down at NJMP as he aims for a nearly podium-perfect season in Superbike Cup competition. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
For the full 2026 MotoAmerica schedule and tickets, CLICK HERE
For information on how to watch the MotoAmerica series, CLICK HERE
The #36 will remain on the sidelines for the next two races, with a replacement TBC.
Honda HRC Castrol have announced that Joan Mir will miss the next two Grands Prix upon the medical advice of MotoGP Medical Director Dr Angel Charte and his team at the Dexeus University Hospital.
Having been forced to retire from the San Marino GP and sitting out the Austrian GP, Mir has continued to undergo a series of tests at the Dexeus University Hospital in Barcelona under the care of Dr Angel Charte and his medical team. The goal has been to uncover the root cause of a variety of symptoms the Honda HRC Castrol rider has been suffering from for several months, with the recent increase in severity leaving him unable to compete.
As yet, the tests remain inconclusive and Dr Charte has advised strict rest and rehabilitative therapy for the next 15 days. Consequently, Mir has been recommended against competing in the upcoming Japanese and Indonesian Grands Prix. His condition will be updated after further tests.
Honda Racing Corporation will announce his replacement in due course.
Angel Charte, MotoGP Medical Director: “Joan Mir has been experiencing a variety of symptoms impacting his energy and performance for several months with a recent increase in severity, the cause is still unconfirmed at this time. Due to their persistence and severity, Mir has been undergoing a series of tests at the Dexeus University Hospital with the aim of reaching a definitive diagnosis. Due to the symptoms, the medical advice is to observe strict rest and undergo various treatments for the next 15 days. Consequently, I have advised him against participating in the Japanese and Indonesian Grands Prix. His condition will continue to be closely monitored by my team.”
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.”
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.
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. Photo courtesy Barber Vintage Motorsports MuseumDucati 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Maverick Johnson, Aspar KSB Pre-Talent rider, on the gas through turn 6 at Circuito de Navarra. Photo by The Bulb Project.
NAVARRA, SPAIN — Thirteen-year-old American racer Maverick Johnson scored his first international podium Sunday at Circuito de Navarra, finishing third in Race 2 of Round 6 of the Spanish ESBK Championship after battling for the lead throughout the 25-minute race.
The pace was exceptionally fast, with all five riders in the lead group recording lap times more than one second faster than the previous Pre-Talent class lap record at Navarra.
Johnson’s podium marks a significant milestone in his young international racing career and comes during his first season competing in Spain with the Aspar KSB Team.
“I’m super happy to get my first podium in ESBK!” said Maverick. “It was really fun! The race was fast and intense, and we were battling hard the entire time. I was able to take the lead a couple of times, and I just kept pushing and fighting with the group all the way to the finish. Thank you to my family, team, and sponsors for helping me achieve this result!”
Maverick Johnson on the ESBK podium holding his 3rd place trophy at Circuito de Navarra. Photo by The Bulb Project.
Maverick and the Aspar KSB Team will return to action for the seventh and final round of the 2026 ESBK Championship at Circuito de Jerez on October 31-November 1.
Johnson would like to thank all of his sponsors and supporters who have contributed to his 2026 racing season: US Money Reserve, Eleven Motorsports, Shiloh Services, Star GP Academy, Bison, KYT, Fusport, Dunlop, Halford Mobile Services, Alonzo, Matt, Steve, CG Law, VnM Sport, Paco/Bedstemor, The Kulchinskis, and KartMoto.
About Maverick Johnson:
Maverick Johnson is a 13-year-old American motorcycle racer competing with the Aspar KSB Team in the Pre-Talent class of the Spanish ESBK Championship as well as in the U.S. MotoAmerica and FIM Mini Cup programs. He turns 14 in December and will be eligible to compete in the MotoAmerica Talent Cup and International Talent Cup Series in 2027.
Jim Allen will be the Grand Marshal at the Nelson International 50th Anniversary event at Shannonville Motorsport Park; he is pictured in 1976 on the Ernie White Racing Yamaha TZ250D Grand Prix Bike that contributed to Allen getting a corner named after him at the Shannonville venue. Photo courtesy Bill Petro.
Shannonville: TSN Coverage, Big Superbike Purse, Anniversary Celebrations and Mini Finals.
The completion of the Canadian motorcycle roadracing Championship year will take place this weekend at Shannonville Motorsport Park, with the last round of the RACE Moto Regional series, the celebration event for the 50th Anniversary of Nelson International Raceway.
S.M.P. was originally know as Nelson and held their first ever race at the Shannonville location on a just-completed track during Canadian Thanksgiving weekend, 1976, on October 10. The venue was built by former racer, team owner and Honda shop principal John Nelson. The popular Nelson operated the venue until selling his track to auto racer Jack Boxstrom in 1979 and then remained as a worker and Manager until his death in 2006, the same year he entered the Canadian Motorcycle Hall of Fame.
That first race at Nelson was organized on short notice, but in cool and snowy conditions, attracting a solid entry. The feature F1 race was won by two-time Canadian overall National Champ Jim Allen on an Ernie White Racing Egli-framed Yamaha TZ750. The early challenge of Robbie Meiklejohn’s Mike Crompton built, Curtis framed, Weber carbureted Honda 750 based racer fizzled with catastrophic engine failure early in the big race.
More famously, Allen was favored to win the 250cc Grand prix race on a Yamaha TZ250D, but fell twice during the race after leading early, eventually placing fourth. These events caused the corner where Allen fell to be named in his honor by announcer Pat Gonsalves, an unimportant fact until the track was revamped and expanded in 1988, bringing this part of the layout back into use.
Nelson International Raceway near Shannonville, Ontario, Canada in early 1979, with original venue builder John Nelson in front of the first generation pit boxes, then under construction. Photo courtesy Steve Nelson.
This weekend’s event at Shannonville will feature Jim Allen as the Grand Marshal, a fitting tribute given that Allen at one point raced for Nelson’s Toronto-area Shop at the famed Harewood Acres venue near Hamilton, Ontario. When Harewood closed, there was a desire for a smaller, more bike friendly course in southern Ontario, and Shannonville fulfilled that aim. Nelson International was central to the rapid rise of roadracing competition and especially Superbikes in Canada during the late 1970s and 1980s.
Saturday, September 26 at Shannonville Motorsport Park will feature the final races for Ohvale 160 and 190 spec class young competitors in the MotoMINI FIM National Series, determining Team Canada selection for the World finals for Valencia, Spain, on November 26.
Saturday night will feature a live streamed event, when many of the top competitors from Shannonville’s storied history will talk about the track and their memories of John Nelson.
Sunday’s schedule includes a full slate of Regional events for the RACE Moto field, as well as TSN network television coverage of the Featured Superbike class, with a large, $10,000 purse provided by Economy Lube + Tire for the top ten finishers. The Superbike class in RACE Moto competition is open in terms of tire selection, meaning a range of slick tires providers oberings will be used by the front runners.
Favored in the 14-lap Feature is newly crowned RACE Moto Champ Eli Daccache on his Milwaukee Yamaha YZF-R1, using Pirelli rubber. Michael Leon is expected to return from injury to challenge with the Royal Distributing/Pro 6 BMW. The Bridgestone brigade will be headed by SOAR Western Ontario pace setter David MacKay with his Snow City Honda CBR100RR-SP .
A surprise entry is also attracting attention, with Scott Miller entering his ex-works 2002 Suzuki GSX-1000R for three-time Canadian Superbike Champ Francis Martin. This bike is a throw back to the old, “open” Superbike rules of 25 years ago, and in the same configuration as raced at Shannonville, by Martin for Miller’s Fast Company team, in 2002.
Anthony Norton (1) rounds turn 3 on his way to KOM Victory. Photo by Martina Velcheva.
The UtahSBK season finale took place September 19th-20th in Grantsville, Utah at what was formerly known as Utah Motorsports Campus. The World Class facility hosted its Grand Re-Opening event on the same weekend inviting local government and media agencies as well as legends of our sport such as John Ulrich, Moto GP champion Kevin Schwantz, and Moto America team owner Graham Rahal. The unveiling of future plans for the facility accompanied by the lengthy list of improvements already made by the new ownership has the motorcycling world excited for next season and beyond. But on this weekend, the UtahSBK proudly hosted its final round of the season, and the first racing action under the track’s new moniker “West Desert”.
After some schizophrenic weather interrupted Friday’s practice day, racers welcomed partly cloudy skies and cool crisp temperatures Saturday morning while preparing for qualifying sessions. With many championships yet to be decided, and plenty of bragging rights to be had, a large field of racers across all classes had plenty of incentive to throw down their fastest laps and secure the best possible grid spots for the weekend’s races. Topping the time sheets in qualifying would be 2026 club champion Anthony Norton with a 1:31.2, followed by Justin Delong at a 1:32.0. Rounding out the front row for Sundays feature race with the 3rd fastest time in qualifying, past multi-time club champion making his return to the grid, Jerry Hicks, putting down a 1:32.5. With the grids all set, it was time to go Racin’…
Justin Delong (187) and Anthony Norton (1) push eachother in Qualifying. Photo by Les Wynn
Race 1 of the weekend would look a bit different… A squadron of single cylinder 450cc machines thundered down hot pit for sighting laps in route to taking their grid positions in a multi-wave start. The UtahSBK’s Supermoto series had just recently concluded their season, but the supermoto racers weren’t done racing yet. More than a dozen supermoto riders joined hooligan and lightweight grids throughout the weekend and had the honor of kicking off the weekend backing it in to turn one when the lights went out for the first time Saturday morning. Anthony Norton used his big track knowledge to his advantage, taking the lead piloting his Edge Powersports KTM SMR 450 halfway through lap 1 and didn’t look back. The leg out sideways bar to bar battles for the podium would heat up as the laps wound down. Jordan Pay and Jeff Panelley, running 2nd and 3rd, were fender to fender in the latter stages of the race, all the while, Dustin Biles was closing the gap to the podium battle. On the Last lap, Panelley made the move for 2nd, leaving Pay in 3rd, with Biles in 4th all separated by .6 of a second at the checkered flag. Nick Montella would move through the field to round out the top 5. This action was too good to ignore and UtahSBK may be adding a supermoto class to the SBK schedule full time for 2027.
Jordan Pay (666) battles Martina Velcheva (509) in Lightweight. Photo by Michael Barclay
The next race on track would be the start of a weekend long 3-way battle in the Expert Middleweight classes. Parker “Pablo” Mayer, Kinzer Naylor, and Ryan Breckenridge all on Kawaski Zx6r machines went head to head first in the Moto2 race. Mayer, only needing to finish in the points to secure the class championship, had no plans of riding conservatively which he made obvious by battling for the lead on lap 1. Breckenridge and Naylor simultaneously had no interest in yielding to the potential champ and the 3 battled for the entire 7 laps. Breckenridge led the trio early on before Mayer slotted into 2nd around Naylor in 3rd. On the last lap Mayer would make an aggressive pass on the brakes to take the lead and shortly after the win by just .140 of a second over Breckenridge, Naylor just bike lengths behind in 3rd. Later on, the 3 riders would face off again for the Fuzimoto Middleweight Superbike race. Very similar story with intense action and multiple passes but this time Breckenridge would take the win over Naylor in 2nd and 3rd going to Mayer just .6 of a second separating the 3. As if they couldn’t get enough, the 3 fierce competitors ran it back on Sunday in the second Middleweight Superbike moto and again put on a show with nonstop action and incrementally faster laps. This time Naylor would take the top step narrowly stretching away from Mayer in 2nd and Breckenridge in 3rd. Amazing action from these 3 all weekend long.
Kinzer Naylor (82) leads Parker “Pablo” Mayer (775) and Ryan Breckenridge(347) in middleweight superbike. Photo by Martina Velcheva
In one of the closest battles of the weekend fans and racers in attendance, as well as viewers tuning in to the oxymoron photography live race broadcast, were treated to a race resembling David and Goliath if they were motorcycle riders. Jeff Panelley on his KTM supermoto put the pressure on young prodigy Parker Busse who was riding very well on his borrowed Ninja 400 during Saturday’s Lightweight Superbike race. Mark Taylor set sail from the start on his Ninja Zx4RR while Busse and Panelley worked their way into 2nd and 3rd by the midway point of the race. Starting the penultimate lap, Panelley would use the grunt of his KTM to pass Busse coming on to the front straight, but that wouldn’t be the end of it. Busse first went back at Panelley into the hard braking turn 5, but didn’t quite make it stick. Then made the pass into the final corner before taking the white flag. The two played offense and defense respectively over the course of the final lap with just inches between them at any given moment. Panelley trying his hand at a few moves along the way and Busse closing the door every time there was a slight opening. Busse held the final corner tight and Panelley saved what looked to be an inevitable lowside as they charged onto the front straight, checkered flag in sight. At the line Busse would hold off Panelley by only .035 for 2nd, Panelley in 3rd and Taylor taking the win.
Parker Busse (49) leading the field in Lightweight Superbike. Photo by Michael Barclay
While the “West Desert” Grand Re-Opening was kicking off Saturday afternoon, so was the UtahSBK endurance. 90 min of nonstop flag to flag racing. 2 of our previously mentioned middleweight protagonists, Mayer and Breckenridge would join forces with fellow middleweight racer Josh Lerner in the Endurance relay class to eventually take the overall win for the final round. The bravest warriors of the endurance race are the ironman entrants, tackling every lap solo with no one to pass the baton to. It was a tight battle in the ironman class for the final endurance race of the season as the riders played out their individual strategies. Some tried to run their fastest laps and maintain speed while others tried to conserve their fuel and minimize their stops. At the 90-minute mark Geiser Hernandez, who went for the straight speed strategy, took the class win with 54 laps. Trevor Nosack, Eliu Heredia and Mark Taylor would all finish on the same 53rd lap of their race and in that order. While doing so, Eliu Heredia also secured the Ironman Endurance class championship by just 8 points over Nosack, concluding a hard-fought season by both contestants. Rounding out the top 5 for the class, race director Remington Mathews stepped out of the tower and used his aero dynamic stature aboard a borrowed r3 to run the entire race on just a single tank of fuel, completing the cool down lap on literal fumes after taking the checkered flag.
Sunday, the last day of racing for the 2026 season, picked up right where the previous day left off with an action-packed morning seeing more intense battles and more championship titles clinched. While the championship in the club’s premier class, the King of the Mountain, had been decided in round 4, all eyes were on the club’s fastest riders as they took their grid positions for the final Same Day Heating and Air KOM race. Reigning champion Anthony “LugNut” Norton starting from Pole, Previous #1 plate holder Jerry Hicks starting 3rd, and between them, challenger Justin Delong… Lights out and the field flew into turn 1 where Delong secured the Hole Shot. Norton followed just inches off Delong’s rear tire as they rounded turns 3 and 4 with Hicks close Behind. Norton wasted no time taking his shot at the lead going into turn 5, hard on the brakes rear tire skimming just off the ground as he slid by Delong and to the front of the field. Delong tucked right behind Norton for the first couple laps of the race. Around lap 4 Norton began to stretch away running a very fast and consistent pace as Delong started to lose ground to the lead. Meanwhile Jerry Hicks 3rd and Ryan Richardson 4th started to close the gap to 2nd. When Richardson and Hicks found their way to Delong’s rear tire the two made an aggressive move together to take over the podium spots and resume their 1 on 1 battle relegating Delong to 4th. Richardson would take over the 2nd spot for a moment around the halfway point of the 14-lap race before Hicks would fire back. Battles preceded throughout the field during the entire race, riders jockeying for position and the final points available in the championship for the season. When the checkered flag flew, now 4x club champion Norton took his 5th KOM win on the season in style crossing the line front wheel in the air to complete a perfect season in the class. Hicks would finish 2nd in his return to UtahSBK, just a few tenths ahead of Richardson in 3rd. Delong and Parker Mayer would round out the top 5 in 4th and 5th respectively.
Jerry Hicks (527) and Ryan Richardson (793) battle for podium positions in King of the Mountain. Photo by Martina Velcheva
After another dominant season and KOM race win, Norton had this to say: “What a year. The club keeps getting stronger and the riders keep getting faster. It wasn’t an easy year, but it all came together today and I enjoyed every lap of this race just hitting my marks and having a blast riding my bike. The Racers Edge Dunlops were so good today as usual and Fuzimoto helped me have the bike dialed. Huge thanks to Sameday Utah for putting up the purse money this year and to my sponsors Precision Fab Machinery, Bestige holdings, and Legal Ride for another great year together. Today, standing on the podium with Jerry (Hicks) was full circle for me. I looked up to him as a man and champion when I first came to Utah and I’m stoked to see him back racing with us.”
Ryan Richardson 3rd (left), Anthony Norton 1st(center), and Jerry Hicks 2nd (right) on the Same Day Heating and Air King of the Mountain Podium. Photo by Zac Harston
After Podium Celebrations for KOM and Summit Cup, racing action resumed. The novice middleweight racers took the spotlight as standout Israel Zitting lead the middleweight sbk race. Hard Charging Jack Vandergriff had come into his own after overcoming mechanical adversities throughout the weekend and had his sights set on ending his season on the top step of the podium. Vandergriff, running his personal best laps ever, reeled in the top novice of the season Zitting and secured the lead late in the race. Once out front Vandergriff ran flawlessly to take his first Race win of the season.
Jack Vandergriff (636) taking his first career race win. Photo by Zac Harston
While no one was ready for the season to be over, all good things do come to an end they say. Racers are planning for their 2026 season celebration taking place October 30th at Rice Eccles Stadium in SLC, while looking forward to the 2027 season.
UtahSBK President Brian Childree sends the season off with following statement:
“2026 has been one of the biggest years in Utah Superbike’s history. Both our Superbike and Supermoto/Mini-Moto series had successful seasons, with close battles for position in nearly every class and a field of racers who push each other every weekend. We had qualifying for every class and held our endurance race every round. We brought live announcing to the series, and our partnership with Oxymoron Photography let us live stream our events, so fans at the track and at home could follow every race. We also have a great partnership with the new management at West Desert.
We put a lot of work into bringing new riders into the sport and helping current riders improve. We launched our Emerging Racer Scholarship program, and we partnered with Yamaha Champ School on our Advanced Rider Training program. Through StreetGP, more than 160 riders got to experience road racing this year.
What I’m most proud of is what happens off the track. Our racers compete hard, but in the paddock, they help each other with bikes, share advice, and cheer each other on. The camaraderie and friendships in this community are what make Utah Superbike special. Thank you to our racers, volunteers, sponsors, and fans for making this season possible.”
Stuart Smith on the Ducati Streetfighter V4 at Chuckwalla Valley Raceway. Photo by Caliphotography.
By Stuart Smith:
In this video, I walk through and share my riding impressions of a Ducati Streetfighter V4. I cover the bike’s features and share my thoughts on why it is such a great bike for track days and street riding. I ride the bike on track at Chuckwalla Valley Raceway.
Wristin Grigg (272) at VIR. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
By Dave Williams:
Wristin Grigg: Becoming a Pro
Just as there is more to becoming an adult than simply turning 18, there is more to becoming a Pro motorcycle racer than simply making the grid. Celtic Racing Warhorse Ducati rider, Wristin Grigg, is on that journey.
Sean Dylan Kelly (40), Cameron Petersen (45), Bobby Fong (50) and Cameron Beaubier (1) at COTA. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Four Riders, Three Races, Two Manufacturers, One Title: 2026 Quad Lock Superbike Championship To Be Decided In New Jersey.
(Orange)Cat’s Got Your Tongue: Kelly Holds The Advantage Over Fong, Scholtz And Beach Heading Into Season Finale.
Irvine, CA – The 2026 MotoAmerica Quad Lock Superbike Championship comes down to its final round at New Jersey Motorsports Park (NJMP) in Millville, New Jersey, September 25-27, where a three-race, triple-header weekend will decide the series champion. Four riders remain mathematically alive for the title, with 75 points on offer across the weekend and no rider more than 49 points off the lead.
OrangeCat Racing’s Sean Dylan Kelly carries a 26-point cushion over Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing’s Bobby Fong into the finale, with Strack Racing’s Mathew Scholtz and Fong’s teammate JD Beach also alive mathematically. Kelly, Fong, Scholtz and Beach have combined to win all but three of this season’s Superbike races — the other three victories all going to Ducati riders: Cameron Petersen (Wrench Motorcycles) took Race 1 at Road America, while Warhorse HSBK Ducati Flo4Law claimed two wins, with Loris Baz taking Race 3 at VIR and Cameron Beaubier winning Race 1 at COTA. The four riders that remain have never won a Superbike title which guarantees a new Quad Lock Superbike champion to be crowned in the Garden State.
NJMP’s Thunderbolt Circuit is a clockwise 2.25-mile, 13-turn road course known for its fast, flowing and technical run through the final sector that leads onto the half-mile front straight. With a first turn that sets up prime passing opportunities and the possibility of late-September weather, NJMP has a well-earned reputation for scrambling the order — a wet weekend would equalize the field and add another variable to an already tight championship equation.
Kelly’s title path is about managing the gap more than chasing wins. Sitting on 279 points, the Floridian needs only to keep pace with his rivals through the weekend’s three races — and he’s shown he can absorb a bad day, having salvaged a single point with a 15th-place finish on a damaged BMW at VIR. Kelly has finished on the podium in 13 of 15 races this year, including three wins, making a top-five weekend an attainable target. The 24-year-old Floridian is the only rider to score at least one point in every Quad Lock Superbike race thus far.
Sean Dylan Kelly (#40) leads the Quad Lock Superbike standings into New Jersey. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Fong arrives as the hottest rider in the series, with three wins and six podiums in his last seven starts, including a Race 2 victory at COTA that pulled him back within striking distance of Kelly. To take the title outright, Fong needs to outscore Kelly by at least 27 points across the weekend. Fong has history at NJMP, having won Race 1 there last year before his own title bid slipped away.
Bobby Fong (#50) has won three of his last seven starts heading into New Jersey. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Scholtz’s deficit is a steep hill to climb from 46 points back in P3. The South African can certainly go out and win all three races himself, but a sweep alone may not be enough. With a gap this size, he’ll also need the rest of the weekend to break his way.
Mathew Scholtz (#11) opened the year with four straight podiums but late season spells of bad luck have him third in points entering the final round. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Beach faces the longest road of the four, needing to outscore Kelly by at least 50 points across the weekend. A clean sweep would give Beach the full 75 points, but he’d also need Kelly limited to 25 points or fewer.
JD Beach trails the points lead by 49 with three races to go. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Petersen rounds out the top five in points but remains a threat to disrupt the finishes at the front. Kelly’s Teammate Jayson Uribe is sixth and represents a strong ally for the points leader.
While out of the points, several riders mark NJMP as a home round in the Northeast. Rahal Ducati Moto with XPEL’s PJ Jacobsen represents his Upstate New York roots in seventh, with two podiums this season.
M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Brandon Paasch is eighth and will race in front of his home-crowd from nearby Freehold, New Jersey. Paasch’s teammate Richie Escalante, who is recovering from injury (ninth in points), will miss the final round but 20-year-old Pennsylvanian Tyler Scott suits up for the finale at what is his home race on the calendar.
Rounding out the top ten in points is Real Steel Honda’s Hayden Gillim.
Finishing off the list of Northeast riders calling this race home are Beaubier’s teammate, 26-year-old Pennsylvanian Benjamin Smith and New Hampshire native, Thrashed Bike/Scheibe Aftercare Racing’s Max Flinders from New Hampshire.
Superbike Cup
The 2026 Superbike Cup championship is already decided, with Real Steel Honda’s Andrew Lee wrapping up his fourth career MotoAmerica title at COTA. The race for second in the standings, however, is still live: BPR Racing Yamaha’s Deion Campbell (244 points) holds just a five-point edge over Carl Soltisz (239 points) as the two riders battle for runner-up in Superbike Cup.
Andrew Lee won’t be slowing down at NJMP as he aims for a nearly podium-perfect season in Superbike Cup competition. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
For the full 2026 MotoAmerica schedule and tickets, CLICK HERE
For information on how to watch the MotoAmerica series, CLICK HERE
The #36 will remain on the sidelines for the next two races, with a replacement TBC.
Honda HRC Castrol have announced that Joan Mir will miss the next two Grands Prix upon the medical advice of MotoGP Medical Director Dr Angel Charte and his team at the Dexeus University Hospital.
Having been forced to retire from the San Marino GP and sitting out the Austrian GP, Mir has continued to undergo a series of tests at the Dexeus University Hospital in Barcelona under the care of Dr Angel Charte and his medical team. The goal has been to uncover the root cause of a variety of symptoms the Honda HRC Castrol rider has been suffering from for several months, with the recent increase in severity leaving him unable to compete.
As yet, the tests remain inconclusive and Dr Charte has advised strict rest and rehabilitative therapy for the next 15 days. Consequently, Mir has been recommended against competing in the upcoming Japanese and Indonesian Grands Prix. His condition will be updated after further tests.
Honda Racing Corporation will announce his replacement in due course.
Angel Charte, MotoGP Medical Director: “Joan Mir has been experiencing a variety of symptoms impacting his energy and performance for several months with a recent increase in severity, the cause is still unconfirmed at this time. Due to their persistence and severity, Mir has been undergoing a series of tests at the Dexeus University Hospital with the aim of reaching a definitive diagnosis. Due to the symptoms, the medical advice is to observe strict rest and undergo various treatments for the next 15 days. Consequently, I have advised him against participating in the Japanese and Indonesian Grands Prix. His condition will continue to be closely monitored by my team.”
A “press release” is promotional text issued by a rider, team, company or organization to inform
the public about an event, product, or service from the issuer’s own point of view, and if deemed
to have news value, may be placed on roadracingworld.com as a service to our readers.
A press release is not an article written by Roadracingworld.com staffers. When a post is labeled with the words “press release”, it means that Roadracingworld.com is not responsible for its content and that Roadracingworld.com makes no guarantee that it is accurate. Not all press releases are posted and Roadracingworld.com may reject press releases if the content is too heavy on commercial promotion with little or no news value or if the press release contains obvious errors.
Accessibility
Accessibility modes
Epilepsy Safe Mode
Dampens color and removes blinks
This mode enables people with epilepsy to use the website safely by eliminating the risk of seizures that result from flashing or blinking animations and risky color combinations.
Visually Impaired Mode
Improves website's visuals
This mode adjusts the website for the convenience of users with visual impairments such as Degrading Eyesight, Tunnel Vision, Cataract, Glaucoma, and others.
Cognitive Disability Mode
Helps to focus on specific content
This mode provides different assistive options to help users with cognitive impairments such as Dyslexia, Autism, CVA, and others, to focus on the essential elements of the website more easily.
ADHD Friendly Mode
Reduces distractions and improve focus
This mode helps users with ADHD and Neurodevelopmental disorders to read, browse, and focus on the main website elements more easily while significantly reducing distractions.
Blindness Mode
Allows using the site with your screen-reader
This mode configures the website to be compatible with screen-readers such as JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, and TalkBack. A screen-reader is software for blind users that is installed on a computer and smartphone, and websites must be compatible with it.
Online Dictionary
Readable Experience
Content Scaling
Default
Text Magnifier
Readable Font
Dyslexia Friendly
Highlight Titles
Highlight Links
Font Sizing
Default
Line Height
Default
Letter Spacing
Default
Left Aligned
Center Aligned
Right Aligned
Visually Pleasing Experience
Dark Contrast
Light Contrast
Monochrome
High Contrast
High Saturation
Low Saturation
Adjust Text Colors
Adjust Title Colors
Adjust Background Colors
Easy Orientation
Mute Sounds
Hide Images
Hide Emoji
Reading Guide
Stop Animations
Reading Mask
Highlight Hover
Highlight Focus
Big Dark Cursor
Big Light Cursor
Cognitive Reading
Virtual Keyboard
Navigation Keys
Voice Navigation
Accessibility Statement
www.roadracingworld.com
November 10, 2026
Compliance status
We firmly believe that the internet should be available and accessible to anyone, and are committed to providing a website that is accessible to the widest possible audience,
regardless of circumstance and ability.
To fulfill this, we aim to adhere as strictly as possible to the World Wide Web Consortium’s (W3C) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 (WCAG 2.1) at the AA level.
These guidelines explain how to make web content accessible to people with a wide array of disabilities. Complying with those guidelines helps us ensure that the website is accessible
to all people: blind people, people with motor impairments, visual impairment, cognitive disabilities, and more.
This website utilizes various technologies that are meant to make it as accessible as possible at all times. We utilize an accessibility interface that allows persons with specific
disabilities to adjust the website’s UI (user interface) and design it to their personal needs.
Additionally, the website utilizes an AI-based application that runs in the background and optimizes its accessibility level constantly. This application remediates the website’s HTML,
adapts Its functionality and behavior for screen-readers used by the blind users, and for keyboard functions used by individuals with motor impairments.
If you’ve found a malfunction or have ideas for improvement, we’ll be happy to hear from you. You can reach out to the website’s operators by using the following email
Screen-reader and keyboard navigation
Our website implements the ARIA attributes (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) technique, alongside various different behavioral changes, to ensure blind users visiting with
screen-readers are able to read, comprehend, and enjoy the website’s functions. As soon as a user with a screen-reader enters your site, they immediately receive
a prompt to enter the Screen-Reader Profile so they can browse and operate your site effectively. Here’s how our website covers some of the most important screen-reader requirements,
alongside console screenshots of code examples:
Screen-reader optimization: we run a background process that learns the website’s components from top to bottom, to ensure ongoing compliance even when updating the website.
In this process, we provide screen-readers with meaningful data using the ARIA set of attributes. For example, we provide accurate form labels;
descriptions for actionable icons (social media icons, search icons, cart icons, etc.); validation guidance for form inputs; element roles such as buttons, menus, modal dialogues (popups),
and others. Additionally, the background process scans all the website’s images and provides an accurate and meaningful image-object-recognition-based description as an ALT (alternate text) tag
for images that are not described. It will also extract texts that are embedded within the image, using an OCR (optical character recognition) technology.
To turn on screen-reader adjustments at any time, users need only to press the Alt+1 keyboard combination. Screen-reader users also get automatic announcements to turn the Screen-reader mode on
as soon as they enter the website.
These adjustments are compatible with all popular screen readers, including JAWS and NVDA.
Keyboard navigation optimization: The background process also adjusts the website’s HTML, and adds various behaviors using JavaScript code to make the website operable by the keyboard. This includes the ability to navigate the website using the Tab and Shift+Tab keys, operate dropdowns with the arrow keys, close them with Esc, trigger buttons and links using the Enter key, navigate between radio and checkbox elements using the arrow keys, and fill them in with the Spacebar or Enter key.Additionally, keyboard users will find quick-navigation and content-skip menus, available at any time by clicking Alt+1, or as the first elements of the site while navigating with the keyboard. The background process also handles triggered popups by moving the keyboard focus towards them as soon as they appear, and not allow the focus drift outside it.
Users can also use shortcuts such as “M” (menus), “H” (headings), “F” (forms), “B” (buttons), and “G” (graphics) to jump to specific elements.
Disability profiles supported in our website
Epilepsy Safe Mode: this profile enables people with epilepsy to use the website safely by eliminating the risk of seizures that result from flashing or blinking animations and risky color combinations.
Visually Impaired Mode: this mode adjusts the website for the convenience of users with visual impairments such as Degrading Eyesight, Tunnel Vision, Cataract, Glaucoma, and others.
Cognitive Disability Mode: this mode provides different assistive options to help users with cognitive impairments such as Dyslexia, Autism, CVA, and others, to focus on the essential elements of the website more easily.
ADHD Friendly Mode: this mode helps users with ADHD and Neurodevelopmental disorders to read, browse, and focus on the main website elements more easily while significantly reducing distractions.
Blindness Mode: this mode configures the website to be compatible with screen-readers such as JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, and TalkBack. A screen-reader is software for blind users that is installed on a computer and smartphone, and websites must be compatible with it.
Keyboard Navigation Profile (Motor-Impaired): this profile enables motor-impaired persons to operate the website using the keyboard Tab, Shift+Tab, and the Enter keys. Users can also use shortcuts such as “M” (menus), “H” (headings), “F” (forms), “B” (buttons), and “G” (graphics) to jump to specific elements.
Additional UI, design, and readability adjustments
Font adjustments – users, can increase and decrease its size, change its family (type), adjust the spacing, alignment, line height, and more.
Color adjustments – users can select various color contrast profiles such as light, dark, inverted, and monochrome. Additionally, users can swap color schemes of titles, texts, and backgrounds, with over seven different coloring options.
Animations – person with epilepsy can stop all running animations with the click of a button. Animations controlled by the interface include videos, GIFs, and CSS flashing transitions.
Content highlighting – users can choose to emphasize important elements such as links and titles. They can also choose to highlight focused or hovered elements only.
Audio muting – users with hearing devices may experience headaches or other issues due to automatic audio playing. This option lets users mute the entire website instantly.
Cognitive disorders – we utilize a search engine that is linked to Wikipedia and Wiktionary, allowing people with cognitive disorders to decipher meanings of phrases, initials, slang, and others.
Additional functions – we provide users the option to change cursor color and size, use a printing mode, enable a virtual keyboard, and many other functions.
Browser and assistive technology compatibility
We aim to support the widest array of browsers and assistive technologies as possible, so our users can choose the best fitting tools for them, with as few limitations as possible. Therefore, we have worked very hard to be able to support all major systems that comprise over 95% of the user market share including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, Opera and Microsoft Edge, JAWS and NVDA (screen readers).
Notes, comments, and feedback
Despite our very best efforts to allow anybody to adjust the website to their needs. There may still be pages or sections that are not fully accessible, are in the process of becoming accessible, or are lacking an adequate technological solution to make them accessible. Still, we are continually improving our accessibility, adding, updating and improving its options and features, and developing and adopting new technologies. All this is meant to reach the optimal level of accessibility, following technological advancements. For any assistance, please reach out to
