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Supercross: More From Teams at San Diego

Mathilde Gasnier
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Supercross: More From Teams at San Diego

More from a press release issued by Red Bull KTM:

Eli Tomac and Red Bull KTM earn back-to-back 450SX wins in San Diego.

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Eli Tomac and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing have made it back-to-back victories to open the 2026 AMA Supercross Championship, extending their advantage at the top of the 450SX standings following Round 2 in San Diego tonight.
Two-time Supercross champion Tomac set the fastest combined qualifying time in the premier class during Saturday’s afternoon sessions, displaying immediate comfort onboard his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION at Snapdragon Stadium.
 
The decorated racer from Cortez, Colorado, powered to a strong start in his Heat Race, finishing P2 to secure a favorable gate pick for the upcoming Main Event. Another fast start in the Main Event saw the 33-year-old exit the first rhythm lane in third position, which would set the tone for the remainder of the race toward the front of the field.

 
A race-long back-and-forth fight for position saw red plate-holder Tomac take control of the lead with six minutes remaining, fending off additional challenges late in the race to deliver his second win of the season and the 55th of his career.
 
 
Eli Tomac (3) in San Diego. Photo courtesy Red Bull KTM Factory Racing.

Eli Tomac: “It was quite a back-and-forth race tonight! At the beginning, I tried to play the patience game as Hunter [Lawrence] and Ken [Roczen] were really dicing it out, so I tried to warm into the race from there. It was close racing all Main Event, but of course, it was a great night, and to get two race wins in a row is massive. I feel very happy with what I am working with right now. As far as winning two in a row to open the season, you dream of it, but making it happen is a whole different deal. So, it’s been a great start for us – I feel really at one with the KTM and it’s showing.”

 
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450SX teammate Aaron Plessinger’s night in San Diego also was a promising one, with the number 7 overcoming illness to finish third in his Heat Race, directly behind Tomac. Equipped with the KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION, ‘The Cowboy’ featured among the top-five for a large portion of the Main Event, before recording a hard-fought P7 finish.

 
With his combined results, Plessinger sits eighth in the 450SX Championship as the series returns to Angel Stadium in Anaheim next Saturday.
 
 
Aaron Plessinger (7) in San Diego. Photo courtesy Red Bull KTM Factory Racing.

Aaron Plessinger: “San Diego was pretty good! I’ve been sick all week, but I was feeling better in practice than I did last weekend, and I was actually feeling really good going into the Heat Race. Once I got done with that one, my chest was on fire and I had a headache, so it was tough… No excuses, though. I went into the Main Event and did what I could – I was around sixth for a while, and then was there until the last lap before a lapped rider held me up. It’s racing, but we’ll go back this week, return to 100 percent, and then be ready for A2.”

 
In his second AMA Supercross appearance as part of the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team, multi-time MXGP World Champion Jorge Prado posted the second-fastest 450SX qualifying time in the afternoon onboard his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION, before capturing the holeshot in Heat 1 and racing to a P2 result, which continued his impressive form following a podium at the season-opener.

 
Upon launching to a top 10 start in the Main Event, the Spaniard posted a measured performance on a deteriorating circuit, eventually claiming 13th position by the time the checkered flag flew to continue building important experience in the discipline.
 
 
Jorge Prado (26) in San Diego. Photo courtesy Red Bull KTM Factory Racing.

Jorge Prado: “Round 2 was a positive day. Even though the Main Event didn’t go as well as I would have liked, I was still P2 in qualifying and then was also second in the Heat Race, so up until then, things were going very well. Then in the Main, I missed the start and after that I was riding tight. I didn’t really ride like myself, I would say, and it was a bit of a struggle. I kind of fell into some other riders’ pace around me, so I’ll need to learn from this, and again, it’s a good learning experience to be better in the future. We’ll come back solid for A2.”

Next Race: January 24 – Anaheim, California

 

 

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More from a press release issued by Suzuki Motor USA:

Progressive Insurance Cycle Gear Suzuki Solidifies Second Place in the Standings.

Brea, CA  – Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, California provided ideal weather and track conditions for Round 2 of the 2026 Monster Energy AMA Supercross season. The 17-round Supercross series also pays points toward the 31-round SMX World Championship. The San Diego track crew overcame some early timing equipment challenges with an extended second qualifying session for the top 450SMX Class racers. 

Race Highlights:

  • Progressive Insurance Cycle Gear Suzuki
    • 450 Class
      • Ken Roczen never ran outside of the top-three positions and delivered his second straight podium performance of the year. 
  • Twisted Tea Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance
    • 450 Class
      • Jason Anderson notched a heat race podium and battled up front in the main event.
      • Colt Nichols used his speed to move forward five positions throughout the main event.

 

Ken Roczen (94) battled into the lead early and was embroiled in a race-long, three-rider battle for the win at the San Diego Supercross. Photo courtesy Suzuki Motor USA

 

Ken Roczen (94) maintained the momentum of an opening round podium at Anaheim 1 with fast qualifying times in San Diego. After a timing & scoring session-length adjustment, Roczen powered to a top-three spot in the second session and overall qualifying times. Ken Roczen was brilliant in his heat race, nabbing the holeshot and leading every lap. As he stretched out a five second lead, Roczen used his RM-Z450’s precise throttle response to adjust to the changing traction conditions of the California soil. When the gate dropped for the main, Roczen emerged from the first corner in second place. Roczen applied heavy pressure and took over the lead six minutes into the race. He defended a challenge with an inspiring blitz through the whoops on lap 10, then Roczen led the three-rider break-away pack for six laps. At the checkered flag, Roczen earned his second podium in the first two rounds of 2026 and crossed the finish line within three seconds of the lead. The San Diego points keep Rozcen in sole possession of second place in the championship standings with 15 rounds remaining on the Supercross season. 

“We had a really good day overall,” said Roczen. “We were third in qualifying, we won our heat race, and we had an insane battle throughout the main event. The race leader and I went back and forth a couple of times. I led a bunch of laps in the beginning, and I ended up third, but not far off the leaders. I lacked just 3 to 5 percent, you know? It’s very minimal, but I definitely wasn’t the best guy tonight. Overall, we had a really good night. I’m not going to complain about a podium by any means. So, the second round is done and dusted and we’re looking forward to Anaheim 2.”

 

Jason Anderson (21) is adapting to his Suzuki RM-Z450 brilliantly, setting sector-best times in Sector 6 and 8 during his heat race. Photo courtesy Suzuki Motor USA

 

Jason Anderson (21) was fast and aggressive from his first gate drop in San Diego. In his heat race, Anderson pressured the leader for most of the race. In the closing laps, Anderson was forced to ride defensively and held on for a podium heat race finish. In the main, Anderson held strong inside the top five for the first seven laps before relinquishing a few spots in the second half of the race. 

“This weekend was not as good as last weekend,” stated Anderson. “We ended up 11th in the main event; I just kind of hit a wall there in the main and then went backwards a little bit. But we’ll be ready for next weekend, and hopefully we can come out and do some damage.”

 

Colt Nichols (45) put in two impressive charges in San Diego to rack up more championship points at the second round of the 2026 season. Photo courtesy Suzuki Motor USA

 

Colt Nichols (45) found lines around other riders to move his Twisted Tea Suzuki RM-Z450 forward in each of his races. In his heat, Nichols carded a mid-pack start but advanced into a direct transfer position in the early laps. From there, Nichols nabbed two more spots to improve his gate pick for the main. In the San Diego Supercross main, Nichols was not able to capitalize on his gate pick; he rounded the first corner in 21st spot out of 22 riders. Nichols went to work and moved past five riders to finish just outside the top fifteen, a spot that did not reflect his track speed. 

“Round 2 was not a great night for me,” said Nichols. “I started [at the back] in the main, and you just can’t do that in this field. I’ve got a lot of work to do to get out of the gate and give myself a chance. But overall, I’m riding the bike really well. We’re going to be okay, and that group that I want to be in is right there in front of me. We just need to clean it up and give myself a good chance, and we’re going to do that next weekend.”

“It was a good night for us,” summed up Larry Brooks, Twisted Tea/H.E.P. Motorsports/Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance Team Manager. “We finished on the podium again; Ken Roczen finished third. Jason Anderson finished 11th, he showed some promise; he ran at the front of the pack at the beginning and then ran into some trouble. And Colt Nichols finished 16th, so it was a good night for the team. We’re going to just keep in the fight and keep moving forward. There’s a lot of racing left this year in this series, so I think we’re in a good spot right now. Ken’s going to stay in California this week, so we get to do a little testing, and it should be fun.”

The Supercross season moves back up the California coast for the second race inside Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California on January 24th. The Suzuki RM-Z450 race bikes are ready to lead more laps, and the riders and team members are excited to deliver more strong performances and results.

For the latest team updates, news, and race insights, visit SuzukiCycles.com/Racing/Motocross or pipesmotorsportsgroup.com.

 

 

 

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More from a press release issued by Honda HRC Progressive:

Hard-Fought Second-Place Result for Hunter Lawrence in San Diego.

  • Australian challenges for the 450SX win and finishes strong 
  • Up-and-down day for Chance Hymas, who finishes sixth in 250SX West 

After posting a calculated fourth-place result at last week’s season-opening AMA Supercross, Honda HRC Progressive rider Hunter Lawrence was more aggressive at San Diego’s round 2. The Australian led much of the 450SX main event before taking a close second-place finish, showing that he has the pace to match anyone, particularly in the late stages. Lawrence’s teammate Chance Hymas showed strong form at times during the day, but a close call in the 250SX West main event meant he ultimately had to settle for sixth. 

 

Hunter Lawrence (96) during the 450SX Main event in San Diego. Photo courtesy Honda HRC

 

Lawrence nailed the holeshot in the 450SX main and led the first portion aboard his CRF450RWE. He fended off repeated challenges from Ken Roczen, with Eli Tomac soon joining the battle, and the racing between the top three was aggressive but clean. Roczen and Tomac both got by Lawrence on lap 8, but the Honda rider regrouped and stayed in contact. As the race entered its final quarter, Lawrence mounted one of his signature late surges, passing Roczen before the whoops with six laps remaining. He then reeled in the leading Tomac and attempted a last-lap pass before finishing just 1.6 seconds behind. Also impressive was Quad Lock Honda’s Joey Savatgy, who finished a solid fifth. 

 

Chance Hymas (29) during the 250SX Main event in San Diego. Photo courtesy Honda

 

Hymas was third across the holeshot line in the 250SX West main event before running fourth early on and challenging Cameron McAdoo for much of the race. Both riders picked up a position when Max Anstie went down, but Hymas made a mistake over a jump; while an amazing save kept him on two wheels, the Idaho native lost three positions and held on to cross the finish line in sixth place. 

NOTES 

  • Hunter Lawrence and Chance Hymas were featured in Friday’s media day, and afterward the Honda HRC Progressive teammates both participated in a riding session on the track. 
  • San Diego dealership Fun Bike Center staffed a pop-up activation booth in the Honda HRC Progressive pits, where they displayed a CRF450R and engaged with fans and customers. 
  • For the second week in a row, Jett Lawrence and Jo Shimoda—both recovering from injuries—were on hand at the event, signing autographs and supporting their Honda HRC Progressive teammates. 
  • Justin Brayton’s No. 10 CRF450WE was displayed under the Honda HRC Progressive tent this weekend after the 2018 Daytona Supercross winner hit the track Friday for a preview with Adam Cianciarulo, which aired Saturday on Race Day Live during a full track breakdown. 
  • Chance and Hunter each qualified fourth in their respective combined qualifying sessions. Other Red Riders in the 250SX class included SLR Honda’s Justin Rodbell in 17th and Western Honda’s Hunter Schlosser in 23rd. SLR’s Matti Jorgensen finished 26th, Ty Freehill Racing’s Ty Freehill placed 40th, Lasting Impressions’ Ronnie Orres ended the session in 42nd and Next Level’s Colby Copp qualified 35th. In the 450SX class, additional Red Riders included Quad Lock Honda Racing trio Shane McElrath (12th), Joey Savatgy (14th) and Christian Craig (17th), along with McGinley Clinic’s Zack Williams, who qualified 31st. 
  • Hymas nearly grabbed the holeshot in his heat race, but he lost a couple positions in the first rhythm section, putting him in fifth. After fending off some attacks and making passes, he finished in third, giving him a decent gate pick for the main event. 
  • After starting his heat race in fourth, Lawrence lost a position to fellow Red Rider Joey Savatgy, while yet another Red Rider, Shane McElrath, sat behind him in sixth. The positions remained that way until the checkered flag. 
  • Hunter helped the family of Honda HRC Progressive 450 crew chief Grant Hutcheson with a special gender reveal during the San Diego race day. As the seconds counted down before the starting gate dropped for Hunter’s heat race, the broadcasting team zoomed in on his Alpinestars goggles, with the strap’s pink color revealing that Hutcheson will soon have a new niece. 
  • Formula One driver Liam Lawson—a racer for the Racing Bulls team—was in attendance at San Diego and took time to meet with fellow Red Bull athletes Hunter Lawrence and Chance Hymas. 
  • Hunter participated in the post-race media scrum organized by Feld.  
  • Hunter remains third in the 450SX standings, just two points behind second-place Ken Roczen. Chance sits third in the 250SX West points, four behind second-place Max Anstie. 
  • Next up for Honda HRC Progressive is AMA Supercross round 3 this Saturday, back at Angel Stadium in Anaheim.  

 

 

Hunter Lawrence (96): 

“I definitely feel more confident on the bike; we tried a lot of things during the week to help where I felt like we struggled [at Anaheim]. That’s one thing I pride myself on: being able to show up in the main event when it counts. We were close, it was a good race. I feel like the first 15 minutes was just trying to get it under my belt, as I feel like the last five minutes is where I can make up that gap. Honestly, for me the heat race is the hardest race of the night—it was just a frustrating one—but I shook that off and put all the chips on the main. I really love what I can do in 20 minutes and just hit my marks. All day, I look forward to the main event.”

 

 

 

 

 

Chance Hymas (29):

“It was a little bit of an up-and-down day for me; I just felt a little bit off all day but had some really good showings for me. I just made a couple of mistakes in the main, but overall blessed to be okay. We’re five points down in the championship—not too bad after this weekend—so we’ll regroup and go after A2.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lars Lindstrom – Team Manager: 

“We had another relatively smooth weekend, and as a team I think we executed well. We definitely seem to have a better idea of what direction we should be going with Hunter and his bike setup, which is encouraging. I don’t think we had on our bingo card that Hunter would do what he did in the main; he wasn’t exactly stoked on himself or the bike during the day, but it was awesome to see him lock in and show up when it mattered most. That’s a quality not all athletes have, but I feel like the elite do, and I couldn’t be prouder of him for that. Chance was so close to having the red plate, which would’ve been awesome, but he was a bit too nice to McAdoo, and probably could have picked up on a few things in the main that would’ve helped him out. Still, to only be five points down in a turbulent class is great, and I expect more great rides out of him.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

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More from a press release issued by Husqvarna Factory Racing:

Ryder DiFrancesco and Malcolm Stewart record top 10 finishes inside Snapdragon Stadium.

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing recorded a solid points night at Round 2 of the 2026 AMA Supercross Championship in San Diego, with both Malcolm Stewart and Ryder DiFrancesco achieving top 10 results, and 450SX newcomer RJ Hampshire showing signs of progress, at a sold out Snapdragon Stadium.

 

Western division 250SX contender DiFrancesco began the day well on the fast-paced track layout, qualifying third on combined times and dialing in his Husqvarna FC 250 Factory Edition from the outset in warm conditions.

 

In his Heat Race, the 20-year-old was again competitive throughout the duration, claiming a fifth-place finish that saw him take a direct transfer into the night’s 250SX Main Event and looking to continue last weekend’s podium form.

 
Ryder DiFrancesco (34) in San Diego. Photo courtesy Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

 

A tough start to the Main Event saw DiFrancesco classified well outside the top 10 as the gates dropped, leaving the popular Californian with a lot of work to do throughout the race. In impressive style, he would charge forward, climbing to seventh position by the time the checkered flag flew, and limiting the damage toward his title chase.

 

After San Diego, Ryder D is currently ranked fifth in the 250SX West standings, only eight points outside of the lead as the series returns to Anaheim next weekend.

“San Diego was good!” reflected DiFrancesco. “I qualified really well, we were all so close on the leaderboard between the top-three, so my speed is really not a problem. I just need to work on putting myself in a better position from the start, but I feel like everything is coming together. My endurance and mental side are solid, so we’ll be aiming for some more podiums and wins as the season continues.”
 
 
Malcolm Stewart (27) in San Diego. Photo courtesy Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

 

After overcoming his incident at Anaheim 1 just one week ago, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Malcolm Stewart made a gritty return to racing at Snapdragon Stadium, battling soreness as he took his Husqvarna FC 450 Factory Edition to the 13th-fastest qualifying time. The 33-year-old was again impressive in his Heat, racing to a sixth-place finish while managing his shoulder injury.

Consistent laps saw Stewart complete the race with a well-earned 10th-place result, with continued recovery the priority as he and the team look forward to Anaheim 2 next weekend.

“First things first, I’m stoked to be out here racing,” said Stewart. “We had a big one last Saturday night, and then did a bunch of therapy during the week to be able to line up in San Diego. Practice went okay even if I was really sore, and then the Heat Race was decent, but all-in-all, I just geared myself up for the Main Event. I did everything I could and I am really proud to say that P10, honestly, means a lot to me. I rode my own race, which I’m happy with, and these next few weeks are going to be tough, but we’ll do some more therapy and then get ready for A2.”

 
 
RJ Hampshire (24) in San Diego. Photo courtesy Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

 

Following a promising week of testing onboard his Husqvarna FC 450 Factory Edition, Hampshire arrived in San Diego with added confidence as the Florida native continued his first full season in the 450SX class by qualifying seventh. The 29-year-old then showed more speed throughout the round, running up front in his Heat Race before a minor fall resulted in a P7 finish.

 
In the Main Event, Hampshire started just outside the top 10 in the opening laps before battling through the race to finish 12th, continuing to build experience in his maiden premier class campaign.
 
“I felt a lot better on the bike this weekend,” commented Hampshire. “We made big improvements as a team during the week, even if tonight’s result doesn’t really reflect that. I had better speed and it’s just about putting it all together now – getting stronger, completing the laps, and I think we’ll continue to grow. We’ll aim for a solid result next weekend. We’re not close to where we can be, so we’ll keep pushing to be better over the next few rounds. Thanks to the team for all the work they’ve been putting in.”
 
Next Race: January 24 – Anaheim, California
 
 
 
 
 
 
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More from a press release issued by Monster Energy Kawasaki:
 
Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider Cameron Mcadoo claims his first podium finish oh the season.
 

Foothill Ranch, Calif. – Monster Energy® Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider Cameron McAdoo displayed grit and strength as he secured an impressive second-place finish in front of a sold-out crowd at Round 2 of Monster Energy AMA Supercross in San Diego. Teammate Levi Kitchen charged to a hard-fought fourth-place finish on the night, after a tipover in the first turn of the main event. Monster Energy Kawasaki rider Chase Sexton showed his raw speed in the 450SX Main Event to claim a well-earned fourth-place finish. Garrett Marchbanks would miss Round 2 due to an injury sustained during the week while practicing. An additional No. 4 Kawasaki also sat under the tent in San Diego, as Kawasaki celebrated the 25th Anniversary of Ricky Carmichael’s 2001 Supercross Championship with his race bike on display and a special replica KX™450SR designed to match the original championship-winning bike.

In 250SX Qualifying, Kitchen’s blistering speed earned him second overall, only five-hundredths of a second behind the fastest qualifier, while McAdoo put in two consistent sessions for ninth overall. 

 

Cameron McAdoo (142) in San Diego. Photo courtesy Kawasaki

In 250SX Heat 1, Kitchen got boxed in off the start and shuffled to the back of the field, but the No. 47 Kawasaki made quick, strategic passes to work his way forward, clocking the fastest lap time on the second-to-last lap to secure fourth place. In 250SX Heat 2, McAdoo pulled a strong start aboard his KX™250, placing himself inside the Top 5. He quickly moved up to fourth by the second lap, where he would ultimately finish the race.

 

Levi Kitchen (47) during the 250SX main event in San Diego. Photo courtesy Kawasaki

 

In the 250SX Main Event, McAdoo pulled another incredible start. Nearly grabbing the holeshot, he put himself in a desirable second-place position. Kitchen launched a strong start off the gate to command the inside of the first turn until he caught a tough block, causing him to go down. Kitchen would quickly remount his bike and waste no time passing his competitors. Midway through the race, he posted his fastest lap time and had already climbed back up to sixth place. In the final two minutes, Kitchen gave it everything he had to be right on the rear wheel of the podium contenders to take a hard-earned fourth-place finish. Meanwhile, McAdoo rode a strong and consistent race while dealing with pressure from behind. McAdoo showed that he is right back where he left off last year, picking up his first podium of the season with a second-place finish. 

 

Levi Kitchen: “The day was pretty good. I had another good qualifying session, and the heat race was alright, but I started pretty far back. In the main event, I had a really good start, but I clipped a tough block in the first turn and fell. I was able to move my way from last to fourth. I finished two spots higher than last week, from starting last, but I need to stop starting last. The goal for next week is better starts.”

 

Cameron McAdoo: “I didn’t expect to finish 22nd last weekend, so I definitely had something to prove to myself. I want to win, and I expect myself to win. This is one position behind what I wanted to do tonight. I know I’m capable of always being on the box, and I expect myself to stay up here moving forward. These last 10 months have been a long road to get back, and as everyone knows, this sport isn’t easy. I’ve always taken pride in being able to respond, and tonight was pretty special. Being off the bike for that long and then being able to race at that pace again means a lot. I’m grateful for my family, my team, and everyone who has stuck with me. I can’t thank the Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki team enough for believing in me, and I’ll always stand behind them.”

 

Chase Sexton (4) in San Diego. Photo courtesy Kawasaki

 

In 450SX Qualifying, Sexton laid down strong laps in the first session, but timing issues led to an inaccurate display of most of the field’s results. As a result, the second qualifying session was extended to 15 minutes. During that session, two separate red flags paused the field, disrupting Sexton’s rhythm and affecting his ability to put in a solid, fast lap. Despite only posting a sixth-place qualifying position, the former champion was confident in his setup and speed.

In 450SX Heat 1, Sexton started just outside the Top 5 and quickly moved through the field, picking off two riders in a single lap. With the leader in his sights, he made two bold passes to go from third to first, securing his first heat race win of the season.

In the 450SX Main Event, eager to get a good jump, Sexton flinched as riders next to him shifted in the gate, causing him to hit the gate and round the first turn in last place. Fired up and determined, Sexton put his head down and went to work to move forward through the field. By Lap 2, Sexton had already moved up to eighth place and was still steadily moving forward. He continued to fight, logging lap times faster than the leaders, but with over 16 seconds of a gap to close, he was forced to settle for fourth on the night. An impressive come-from-behind effort from the No. 4 Kawasaki.

 

Chase Sexton (4) during the 450SX main event in San Diego. Photo courtesy Kawasaki

 

San Diego also served as the perfect round to recognize the dominant history and achievements that Carmichael left on the sport of supercross while with Kawasaki. San Diego supercross was the first race Carmichael won before dominating the 2001 season and securing his first championship in the premier class. Monster Energy Kawasaki celebrated Carmichel’s legacy by displaying his original 2001 KX™250SR along with building a 2026 KX™450SR replica race bike, built to pay a modern homage to a memorable era of racing. 

 

Chase Sexton: “The day was up and down. I had good speed during qualifying, but issues with timing didn’t reflect the effort I put in on the track. I’m happy with my heat race win, and I felt prepared going into the night after that. The main event went well for me based on the circumstances. I had good speed for about 15 minutes of it and then fell off a little bit, but I had to put in a big effort coming from last to fourth. I was frustrated that I put myself in that position off the start, but we fought back and saved a lot of points tonight. I had the bike to win tonight, but I made a mistake on my part. I’m going to put those mistakes behind me and focus on next weekend.”

MotoGP: VR46 Racing Team Reveals Its 2026 Colors

Mathilde Gasnier
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0
MotoGP: VR46 Racing Team Reveals Its 2026 Colors

From the fluo era into a new chapter, the covers come off the 2026 machinery of Di Giannantonio and Morbidelli.

Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team have revealed its 2026 colors! On Wednesday in Rome, the new “BLACKANDLIGHT” theme broke cover for the first time ahead of a record-breaking 22-race MotoGP season. Riders Fabio Di Giannantonio and Franco Morbidelli took to the stage at the event, where fans also got to hear from the boss himself aka team owner and MotoGP Hall of Famer Valentino Rossi, as well as Team Director Alessio Salucci and Team Manager Pablo Nieto.

 

 

“Harmony is born in the tension of opposites” is the Heraclitus quote cited by the team at the start of their new era – light and shadow, fluo and black. “Our energy meets the depth of a new balance. 2026 is BLACKANDLIGHT. The other side of our soul” is how VR46 put it – lofty, as are their ambitions as we head into another season of MotoGP.

 

Fabio Di Giannantonio (49). Photo courtesy Dorna

 

Fabio Di Giannantonio: “It’s my third year with the Pertamina VR46 Racing Team. Amazing to start our new, third season together with these new colours, brighter bike with this yellow that is super col this year with the black. I expect to do great races as we ended the year last year in 2025, I hope to grow a lot during the year and fight at the front. It’s super special to start again with the team, with the same stuff this year, which is the first time for me in MotoGP. So feeling great and can’t wait to joint the track.

“It’s my second year as a factory Ducati rider so it will be a little different year compared to last year. I have more experience, also the team has more experience with this situation, I think I’m more mature and more ready to understand what will be better for me on the bike and what not. Can’t wait to start also with the team, and let’s see if we can improve a lot the bike to fight on the top.

“The new livery is amazing, I think it’s very VR style with this black and yellow, it reminds me a lot of Vale’s helmet and I think it’s much more aggressive, much more racing, so it suits me really good I think. It’s super special, Rome is my city and with my bike and my team here, it’s fantastic. For sure it’s something I will remember forever and it’s also fantastic for the team I think, as an Italian team, to have the launch of the new season in the capital of Italy, in Rome, such a historic city. It’s a really fabulous thing.”

 

Franco Morbidelli (21). Photo courtesy Dorna

 

Franco Morbidelli: “For this second season I’m really excited and really looking forward to starting the season. We have one more year of experience together and for sure this is gonna work out well for us, we are going to speed up some processes that happen during a race weekend and I’m really trustful in the crew and the whole team. For sure there are some things we need to improve from last year, which was a positive year – especially the first half. A year where we had some good results, some great ones, and also some bad ones. There are things to improve and we’re working on that, we’re together in this and looking forward to starting.

“The bike is beautiful. I really like the yellow colour, it’s a colour I really lean to and a colour that has always been around me. I definitely love it and that’s the soul of the bike. But the character of the bike is given by this black on the fuel tank and around the bike, and it’s really a racing combination of colours. So hopefully the bike is going to be quicker around the track because of this.

“The season launch in Rome was beautiful. Rome is a city I love, I was born there and lived ten years there. I have a lot of friends and a lot of connection with that city. For me it’s the most beautiful city in the world and to have the team presentation in such a special place is unique. And it’s a really nice thing – hopefully it will give the whole team some extra energy to face this 2026 season in the best way.”

 

From left to right with Franco Morbidelli, Valentino Rossi and Fabio Di Giannantonio. Photo courtesy Dorna

 

Valentino Rossi, Team Owner: “We are ready, we are very optimistic and the target is try to do better than last year. Last year was an up and down season. Now in MotoGP it’s always very difficult for all teams to be able to remain in the top positions every weekend, so I think that can be the target for this year. Try to improve and try to be competitive everywhere.

“We changed this year. This is a project we did together with Aldo Drudi, it’s already our third season. At the beginning we started to modify a bit our image. Three years ago we did the yellow bike with the white, and we decided to continue that last year, but this year we wanted to change, we kept the yellow which is our colour but we put the black, which is more racing, and came back a bit more to our classical colours. So we’re ready. The bikes are so beautiful – now we just need to be fast.”

 

 

 

Oxley Bom MotoGP Podcast: Fans in High Places – Part 2

Mathilde Gasnier
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0
Oxley Bom MotoGP Podcast: Fans in High Places – Part 2

New Oxley Bom MotoGP podcast! Talking about… riders who’ve had out-of-body experiences while racing, why Phillip Island may lose its Grand Prix (guess!), MotoGP team crash-damage budgets, are these the last days of World Superbike and much more

So hit play, grab a fresh one and enjoy!

Listen to the podcast here: 

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2181509/episodes/18526400 

Want more? Visit our website or support us on Patreon. With big thanks as always to Brad Baloo from The Next Men and Gentleman’s Dub Club for writing our theme song. Check out The Nextmen for more great music! 

Supercross : Results From San Diego, California

Mathilde Gasnier
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0
Supercross : Results From San Diego, California

SAN DIEGO (January 18, 2026) – For the second week in a row the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship welcomed a sold-out crowd to begin its season, this time inside the intimate setting of Snapdragon Stadium for the second round of the 2026 Monster Energy SMX World Championship. One week after he captured a memorable debut victory with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 450SMX Class points leader Eli Tomac went back-to-back following a hard-fought Main Event in which he outlasted Progressive Insurance ECSTAR Suzuki’s Ken Roczen and Honda HRC Progressive’s Hunter Lawrence for the Colorado native’s 55th career win.

 

Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego. Photo courtesy Feld Motor Sports, Inc

 

Eli Tomac Goes Back-to-Back to Open 2026 Monster Energy Supercross Season After Hard Fought Victory in San Diego.

The 450SMX Class Main Event began with Lawrence leading the way for the holeshot, followed closely by Roczen and Tomac. The trio quickly asserted themselves at the front of the field and soon pulled away to set the stage for a three-rider battle for the win. Lawrence was impressive early on and successfully fended off heavy pressure from Roczen, but as their battle continued Tomac joined the fight, which pushed Roczen to make a pass around Lawrence with 14 minutes and a lap to go. Tomac was able to move into second as another battle for the lead unfolded. Tomac briefly made the pass on Roczen, but the German battled back to reclaim the position and lead most of the Main Event. 
 

With time running out, Tomac made the move on Roczen again and solidified his hold of the lead with six minutes remaining. Roczen’s pace slowed enough for Lawrence to make the pass for second and from there the Australian looked to track down Tomac. Tension was high in the closing laps, but Tomac kept Lawrence at bay on the final lap for his 87th career SMX win (Supercross + Pro Motocross) by a margin of 1.3 seconds. The victory moved him into a tie with Jeremy McGrath for second all-time. Lawrence’s runner-up finish equaled the best result of his career, while Roczen now has second and third place finishes to begin the season.
 

Just off the podium in fourth was Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Chase Sexton, who impressed in a come-from-behind effort after he hit the gate to begin the Main Event and started at the tail end of the field. Along the way, Sexton made contact with defending champion Cooper Webb, who went down in the incident and recovered for an eighth-place finish aboard his Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing machine.
 

Tomac’s pair of wins through the first two races has extended his lead in the 450SMX Class standings to eight points over Roczen, while Lawrence moved from fourth to third and sits 10 points out of the lead.

 

It’s back-to-back wins for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Eli Tomac, who captured his 55th career Supercross victory and 87th career SMX win to move into a tie Jeremy McGrath for second all-time. Photo courtesy Feld Motor Sports, Inc

 

 
Eli Tomac – 1st Place – 450SMX Class: 
 
“Me and Ken [Roczen] had an unbelievable battle there and once we got into the lead I felt like I was in a really good groove. Towards the end there I was not paying attention and just looking at my front fender, I didn’t know Hunter [Lawrence] was there [because] I was so focused on marking Kenny around the track. I [went] over the tunnel on the last lap and heard Hunter revving his bike and was shocked he was right there. I feel fortunate I held onto the lead there. I guess I need better self-awareness next time. That was close.”
 
 
 
Honda HRC Progressive’s Hunter Lawrence came close to capturing his first Supercross victory and impressed every step of the way in a runner-up effort. Photo courtesy Feld Motor Sports, Inc

 

Hunter Lawrence – 2nd Place – 450SMX Class:
 
“It’s bittersweet when you’re so close. I wanted to be there with those guys last week [up front] so we worked really hard this week and made some progress, which is always rewarding. I think I shot my shot too fast on the last lap and thought I’d dive bomb into the corner, but at the last minute I thought it was going to be a really dirty move if I followed through, so I backed out of it. It was cool. A really great race.”
 
 
 
Another podium performance by Progressive Insurance ECSTAR Suzuki’s Ken Roczen has him in the thick of the early title fight in the 450SMX Class. Photo courtesy Feld Motor Sports, Inc

 

Ken Roczen – 3rd Place – 450SMX Class:
 
“Me and Eli [Tomac] went back and forth a couple times and then in the middle of the race I just had a couple laps where I was all over the place and fell off the back a bit and got passed. I tried to just settle back in and at least stay close to those guys. We have 17 rounds and it can swap around real quick, so being on the podium is really good. We want to win, but at the same time we can’t be mad at a podium. We’ll keep at it, see if I can snag a couple of wins, and see where it goes.”
 
 
 
450SMX Class Podium (left to right) Ken Roczen, Eli Tomac, and Hunter Lawrence. Photo courtesy Feld Motor Sports, Inc

 

 

 

 

Defending Western Divisional Champion Haiden Deegan Takes 250SMX Win

 

A captivating battle between teammates headlined the second race of the Western Divisional 250SMX Class, as Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan came out on top for the first time this season. The eighth career victory for the defending Western Division Champion wasn’t without controversy, as he went bar-to-bar with fellow Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing rider Max Anstie, who entered as the points leader. After Anstie grabbed the holeshot, he and Deegan resumed their entertaining battle that began in the Heat Race with a multi-lap fight for the lead. Deegan appeared to be faster, but the Englishman’s veteran savvy kept his younger teammate at bay. With nine minutes and one lap to remaining Deegan made his move in a bowl turn and aggressively cut down under Anstie, who went high to concede the position. As he exited, Deegan’s rear wheel hit Anstie’s front wheel and took the red plate holder to the ground. Deegan sprinted away as Anstie eventually remounted in sixth place.
 

As Deegan established a lead of over five seconds, the attention shifted to an exciting battle for the podium between Honda HRC Progressive’s Chance Hymas, Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Cameron McAdoo, and Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Michael Mosiman. After McAdoo made the pass on Hymas for second, Mosiman followed through shortly after as Hymas nearly crashed defending the position.
 

Deegan went unchallenged and took his first win carrying the No. 1 plate by a margin of 7.6 seconds over McAdoo, who finished last (22nd place) at the Anaheim opener and is coming back from a torn ACL suffered last season. Mosiman recorded his 11th career podium finish in third. Anstie battled back to finish fifth.
 

With the win, combined with Anstie’s finish, Deegan moved from fourth to first in the Western Divisional 250SMX Class standings, a single point ahead of Anstie. Hymas, who finished sixth, sits third, five points out of the lead.

 

While it wasn’t without controversy, the first win of the season for Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan moved him into control of the Western Divisional Championship. Photo courtesy Feld Motor Sports, Inc

 

Haiden Deegan – 1st Place – Western Divisional 250SMX Class:
 
“This one feels good. I wanted to show it at A1, but stuff happens. I came out swinging [tonight]. Sorry to Max [Anstie], I didn’t really want it to go that way. I tried to cut down [in the corner] so he wouldn’t cut down [to counterattack] and we came together.”
 
 
 
After a challenging opening round where he finished last, Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Cameron McAdoo rebounded with an impressive second-place effort. Photo courtesy Feld Motor Sports, Inc

 

Cameron McAdoo – 2nd Place – Western Divisional 250SMX Class:
 
“I didn’t expect to get 22nd place last weekend and end up in B practice this morning, so I had something to prove. It has been a long time and as you all know this sport is about trying. I always pride myself on being able to come back after being off the bike for a long time. Tonight was pretty special. I’m just a kid from Iowa living my dream and I’m really grateful I keep getting to do this. I have a lot of belief in myself that I belong here.”
 
 
 
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Michael Mosiman was consistent throughout the Main Event and recorded his 11th career podium result. Photo courtesy Feld Motor Sports, Inc

 

Michael Mosiman – 3rd Place – Western Divisional 250SMX Class:
 
“It feels great. We’ve been putting in the work, and it’s been a long road. Just to be able to hang in there the whole moto, to be right there and end up on the podium. To be able to push the pace feels really great. We’re going to keep it rolling.”
 
 
 
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Max Anstie entered as the points leader and was leading the Main Event until an incident with his teammate Deegan put him on the ground and resulted in a fifth-place finish. Photo courtesy Feld Motor Sports, Inc

 

Max Anstie – 5th Place – Western Divisional 250SMX Class:
 
“[Deegan’s move] was ‘impressive.’ I didn’t really want to play the game. I know who I’m racing against, but fair play. Straight up, I’ve got to take it on the chin. I’m a big boy, no problem. I didn’t expect that. I’ve got to go back and do some work.”
 
 
 
Western Divisional 250SMX Class Podium (left to right) Cameron McAdoo, Haiden Deegan, and Michael Mosiman. Photo courtesy Feld Motor Sports, Inc

 

 

 

 

The Monster Energy SMX World Championship and Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship will continue next Saturday with the third race of the season and a return to Anaheim, California’s Angel Stadium on January 24. Live broadcast coverage on Peacock will begin at 1 p.m. ET with Race Day Live, followed by the Gate Drop at 7 p.m. ET. Additionally, a domestic Spanish language broadcast is available on Peacock while international viewers can choose from dedicated English, French, and Spanish broadcasts via SMX Video Pass (www.SMXVideoPass.com).

 
All 17 rounds of the 2026 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship and 11 rounds of the Pro Motocross Championship are on sale. Tickets for the SMX World Championship Playoff Rounds and Final will go on pre-sale Tuesday, Jan. 27, with general tickets on-sale to the public on Tuesday, Feb. 3 at Supermotocross.com. Saturday FanFest will take place at all postseason races, Friday FanFest and camping will be available in Columbus and Ridgedale, additional details to follow.

 

Ken Roczen (94) and Eli Tomac (3) in San Diego. Photo courtesy Feld Motor Sports, Inc

 

For information about the Monster Energy SMX World Championship, please visit www.SuperMotocross.com and be sure to follow all of the new SMX social media channels for exclusive content and additional information on the latest news:

How Luciano Benavides and KTM Won The Dakar Rally

Mathilde Gasnier
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0
How Luciano Benavides and KTM Won The Dakar Rally
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Luciano Benavides has conquered the 2026 Dakar Rally in the most dramatic fashion imaginable, sealing overall victory by just two seconds after a never-give-up fight across Saudi Arabia. Refusing to surrender despite setbacks, pressure, and one of the closest battles in Dakar history, the Argentine delivered when it mattered most, attacking right to the final kilometer on his KTM 450 RALLY to claim his first Dakar Rally victory. Daniel Sanders and Edgar Canet both reached the finish of the world’s toughest rally-raid in fifth and 32nd positions respectively, completing an extraordinary Dakar campaign defined by resilience, belief, and relentless determination from the Red Bull KTM team.
 
 
Luciano Benavides (77). Photo courtesy Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
 
Benavides delivered a standout performance throughout the event, combining outright speed, consistency, and intelligent race management to fight for the overall victory right to the very end of the rally. The Argentine claimed three stage wins, including a decisive victory during the event’s first marathon stage, and consistently ran at the front as the terrain became increasingly demanding. By refusing to give up and attacking until the last day, Luciano sealed an extraordinary Dakar Rally victory, the greatest achievement of his career to date, and underlined his status as one of the leading forces in rally-raid competition.
 
Benavides’ win – the closest in the history of the event – marks KTM’s 21st Dakar Rally title and continues a remarkable family legacy, following Dakar triumphs by his brother Kevin in 2021 and 2023.
 
 
Luciano Benavides (77). Photo courtesy Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
Luciano Benavides: “I still can’t believe it. I never stopped dreaming. I woke up today full of energy and motivation, just thinking about what I could do and trusting in myself, and that was the key for this Dakar. I did this for myself, and this feeling is unreal. To win by just two seconds is unbelievable. I even missed the last two corners and nearly crashed, so it was right on the limit, but it paid off. I honestly can’t describe this moment. This is my ninth Dakar, and it shows that if you never stop dreaming, never stop believing, and keep fighting for your goals, anything is possible. I never gave up. Even today, when I was losing time and I saw Ricky pushing hard, I kept telling myself it wasn’t over until the last kilometer. In the end, he made a small mistake and I got it right. It’s just unreal. Vamos Argentina! Now it’s time to celebrate with my family, my friends, my sponsors, and everyone who has supported me through all these years to achieve this dream.”
 
Daniel Sanders’ Dakar was defined by determination and resilience. After showing front-running pace in the opening half of the rally and spending multiple days at the head of the overall standings, the Australian suffered injuries during the second week that significantly impacted his ability to push at full speed. Despite the pain, Sanders dug deep to complete the remaining stages and reach the finish in an incredible fifth place overall, demonstrating the grit and toughness that took him to the 2025 Dakar and World Rally-Raid Championship titles in dominant fashion.
 
 
Daniel Sanders (1). Photo courtesy Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
Daniel Sanders: “I’m really happy for the team, and that’s just Dakar – it’s never over until it’s over. Every day is different and anything can happen. I only heard the news at the finish. I was in a lot of pain and honestly just ready to lie down, but that gave me the extra motivation to go and see Luciano and congratulate him. It’s so cool and really incredible for the whole team. Unfortunately, I was unlucky in my own race and out of the fight for the win, but the result is still in the team, and that’s something special. Huge congratulations to everyone who worked so hard again this year, consistency has really paid off.”
 
For Edgar Canet, the 2026 Dakar Rally represented a major milestone in his career. Competing in the RallyGP category for the first time, the Spaniard made an immediate impact by winning the prologue and stage one, becoming the youngest-ever stage winner in the bike category. An issue with his rear mousse while pushing hard on stage five halted his charge in the overall standings, but Canet continued to demonstrate impressive speed and strong navigation throughout the remainder of the rally. Gaining invaluable experience, Edgar completed his second Dakar and first at RallyGP level in emphatic fashion, finishing the event on a high with a commanding victory on the final stage.
 
 
Edgar Canet (73). Photo courtesy Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
Edgar Canet: “It’s been a really crazy race for me. These two weeks were full of emotions, so many ups and downs, but the most important thing is that we made it to the end. I won three stages, and Luciano taking the overall win is huge. I’m super, super happy for him. It’s been a crazy Dakar, and I couldn’t be happier for the whole team and the entire KTM family. We showed throughout the race which bike is the fastest in the desert, and that was a big objective for us. Now the motivation is even higher to keep working, keep fighting, and keep improving. I know exactly what my main goal is for next year, so I’m really motivated to keep pushing and keep training.”
 
 
 
Andreas Hölzl – Rally Team Manager: “We are incredibly proud of what Luciano, Edgar, Chucky, and the entire team have achieved – it’s honestly unbelievable. We fought right until the very last meter and never gave up, and that was the key. Dakar always writes its own stories, and this year was another perfect example of that. Luciano fought from day one until the finish; he’s a true fighter, and without doubt this has been the best race of his career. It’s an incredible achievement. Edgar once again showed just how strong he is in winning the final stage. I’m really happy we have him in the team, because I’m convinced he will win a Dakar one day. And Chucky, our real survivor, deserves massive respect. I’m extremely proud of these three riders and of the whole team.”
 
 
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing won the 2026 Dakar Rally. Photo courtesy Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
KTM’s success at the 2026 Dakar Rally extended well beyond the overall classification, with victories across multiple categories. In Rally2, Toni Mulec delivered a commanding performance to secure class victory and claim a second Dakar win for BAS World KTM, underlining the competitiveness of the KTM 450 RALLY REPLICA at the highest level of customer racing. The celebrations continued in the Malle Moto class, where Benjamin Melot claimed a long-awaited Dakar victory aboard his KTM, finally stepping onto the top of the podium after four previous top-three finishes.
 
With the 2026 Dakar Rally now complete, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing turn their attention to the next chapter of the rally-raid season, building on a campaign defined by podium finishes, stage victories, and the continued development of both riders and the dominant KTM 450 RALLY at the highest level of the sport.
 
 
 
 
 
 
More from a press release issued by Monster Energy Honda HRC:
 

Monster Energy Honda HRC on Dakar podium after historic final stage.

The closest finish in Dakar Rally history saw Monster Energy Honda HRC’s Ricky Brabec lose victory by a heartbreaking two seconds.

Heading into the final stage of this year’s event, Brabec held a 3’20” advantage over his main rival, Luciano Benavides, after claiming the previous day’s stage win.  With just 105 km of timed competition remaining, Brabec knew that opening the stage would leave him without tracks to follow, placing a premium on precise navigation as he chased a third Dakar title.

The final special stage featured two timed sections separated by a liaison, with riders first tackling technical mountain valley tracks before switching to a faster route along the Red Sea coastline en route to the finish line at the Yanbu bivouac.  Brabec set a strong pace early, but a navigation issue just seven kilometres from the finish cost him valuable time, ultimately denying him the coveted Bedouin Trophy.

It was a dramatic conclusion to 49 hours and 41 seconds of racing across 4,737 km of Saudi Arabia.  Despite claiming two stage victories in 2026 and bringing his Dakar stage win tally to 13, Brabec was left with a bittersweet runner-up finish.

 

 

Tosha Schareina claimed a stage podium on the final day, capping a rollercoaster two weeks.  The 2025 runner-up entered the 48th edition as one of the favourites, but a ten-minute penalty for an incorrect starting procedure on the first marathon stage forced him to rethink his strategy.  With three stage victories and a determined second-week comeback, Schareina ultimately joined teammate Brabec on the final podium in Yanbu.

Skyler Howes experienced the full spectrum of Dakar highs and lows.  A tyre issue on the first marathon stage derailed his early ambitions, but he rebounded in the final week to claim his first-ever Dakar stage victory and finish fourth overall in the opening World Rally-Raid Championship round.

Adrien Van Beveren endured a challenging 11th Dakar Rally.  His first week was compromised by a crash, metal wire becoming lodged in his wheel on stage five and difficulty finding rhythm.  Determined to turn things around, the Frenchman delivered a strong second week.  Once dialled in on his Honda CRF450 RALLY, he claimed victory on stage ten and consistently ran at the front, securing a positive sixth-place finish overall.

After a demanding Dakar, the Monster Energy Honda HRC riders will now enjoy a well-earned break before regrouping in two months’ time for Rally-Raid Portugal, taking place from 17-22 March.

 
Ruben Faria – General Manager:
 

“The last day of Dakar 2026 didn’t bring the result we were expecting, but this is Dakar — this is rally raid. Six kilometres from the end of the final stage, Ricky turned left slightly too early. He didn’t take the correct track, lost a significant amount of time, and crossed the finish line just two seconds behind Luciano.

Going into today, Ricky had a good margin thanks to the time bonuses — a gap of 4 minutes and 42 seconds over second place. With that small mistake, we lost the Dakar by just two seconds. Of course, we wanted more. We wanted to win, but we have to accept the result.

Overall, it was still a strong performance for the team: Ricky finished second, Tosha third, Skyler fourth, and Adrien sixth. Ricky delivered a very solid Dakar. Tosha made a mistake in the first week but still managed to finish with a strong overall result. Skyler struggled during the first week but recovered well in the second. Adrien lost almost an hour when a cable that was in the middle of nowhere got stuck in his wheel , yet he had an excellent second week.

Naturally, we expected more — the goal was to win, and we finished incredibly close. This has never happened before. We’ll keep pushing, aim to win the next races, and come back even stronger for the next Dakar. The team did a great job, and the Honda bikes performed extremely well throughout the rally.”

 

 

 

 

Ricky Brabec (9) – Stage 8th – Overall 2nd: 

“This Dakar was a real fight from start to finish. On the final stage, a quite confusing note led me to choose a line that wasn’t the correct one. When I turned back, Luciano was coming behind me and, seeing the situation, he stayed on the right track, which made the difference in such a close battle.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Skyler Howes (10) – Stage 5th – Overall 4th: 

“A lot of crazy stuff out there. I’m super happy to make it to the finish line of this one, a lot of adversity, some things to overcome and some really good riding. I’m happy with how I rode, the team did a great job, they did awesome with the mechanics, the logistics and I’m super happy to be a part of Monster Energy Honda HRC and to make it to the finish line of this one. A lot of things to clean up on my end. As far as everything else that went for me this race, stage one I needed a little bit more patience. I got really lucky this time, my mom is looking over me and she made sure I got to the finish line of this one. So I’m super proud of that and this one is for her.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NJMP Introduces Instructor Certification Program for Riders Club

Mathilde Gasnier
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NJMP Introduces Instructor Certification Program for Riders Club

MILLVILLE, N.J.  — New Jersey Motorsports Park is proud to announce its “Riders Club Instructor Certification Program.” The course was created by Ken Hill, a former professional road racer widely acknowledged as one of the top riding coaches in the nation.

Over the past year, NJMP management recognized that club members were asking for access to professional-level instruction. Building on a well-established foundation, a highly structured, in-house certification program was a natural next step.

Curriculum follows Hill’s “Order of the Sport,” a comprehensive motorsports training guide designed to help riders achieve a high degree of safety, skill, and consistency by breaking down complex operations into digestible fundamental practices.

This methodical approach is based on proven habits and time-tested techniques. It goes beyond telling students what to do. Rather, it teaches them how to ride with awareness, intention, and precision, while mitigating risk as their pace improves and they circulate faster.

“Other sports have figured it out across the board,” says Hill. “Coaches teach fundamentals that scale; what works for beginners also translates to the elite, with just a different degree of precision. Track-day riders and racers deserve that same clarity and structure.”

The individually customizable system includes a detailed handbook, which will serve as the basis for Hill’s classroom instruction. Testing, also performed by Hill, includes both written and on-track evaluations.

“New Jersey Motorsports Park is committed to growing the sport,” said Brad Scott, president and COO. “We are thrilled to work with Ken and provide this certification to ensure our coaches meet the highest standards for instruction, professionalism, and safety. By enhancing rider education through one of the first track-sponsored certification programs, we are investing not only in the Riders Club and its hundreds of members but also in the continued development of our staff.”

The New Jersey Motorsports Park Riders Club is a private membership experience for road-racing enthusiasts. The program offers track days and other benefits in a safe and controlled environment run by experienced management and certified instructors.

In 2026, the Riders Club boasts a reduced registration rate, an improved cancellation policy, benefits with partner RevZilla, and reciprocal track resources. The club is expected to surpass its previous 440-member record by midseason.

To learn more about the New Jersey Motorsports Park Riders Club, including how to become a member and begin your on-track journey with an officially certified instructor, visit NJMP.com or call 856-327-7248.

 

“The Riders Club Instructor Certification Program will ensure members operate at the highest level of the training pyramid,” says Brad Scott, president and COO of New Jersey Motorsports Park. “Whether they are new to motorcycle road racing or looking to compete at the national level, they will have the coaching and resources needed to support their goals.”

 

Superbike Racer Pegram’s IMSA Car Team Back In 2026

Mathilde Gasnier
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0
Superbike Racer Pegram’s IMSA Car Team Back In 2026
A New Era for Pegram Racing
 

Pegram Racing is proud to announce its return to the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge for the 2026 season, competing in the highly competitive TCR class.

 

For 2026, Pegram Racing has joined forces with Honda Racing Corporation US (HRC) and is supported by title sponsor Lindsay Honda Acura. This partnership marks a significant step forward for the team as it continues to grow its presence in professional sports car racing.

 

Following an unfortunate crash during the team’s December test at Daytona International Speedway, Larry Pegram will sit out the Rolex 24 weekend. Riley Pegram will still pilot the team’s new Honda Civic Type R TCR alongside experienced driver,Mario Farnbacher.

 

Larry explained, “With Pegram Racing, this truly feels like a homecoming. Twenty years ago, I signed with Honda on two wheels, and now to be back with the brand in IMSA is incredibly special.”

 

Riley also shared her excitement for the upcoming season:

“I am beyond excited to be back this year and to be supported by such an incredible manufacturer. I have big plans for 2026, and this partnership is going to be a huge part of my development, not only as a driver, but also as a team manager. We’re building something special, and I’m excited for what’s ahead.”

With strong a manufacturer, experienced driver pairing, and renewed momentum, Pegram Racing enters 2026 ready to embrace a new era in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge.

FIM Launches Motorcycle Sport–Specific Concussion Guidelines

Mathilde Gasnier
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0
FIM Launches Motorcycle Sport–Specific Concussion Guidelines

The Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) has officially launched the first edition of its Concussion Assessment and Management Guidelines, developed specifically for motorcycle sport at all levels of competition.

Recognised as a significant traumatic brain injury, concussion requires timely identification and appropriate management to prevent potentially serious short- and long-term health consequences. While the FIM has referenced the International Consensus Statement on Concussion in Sport since 2011, it became increasingly evident that existing assessment tools were not fully adapted to the specific demands and risks of motorcycle sport.

As a result, concussion was selected as the central theme of the first FIM Medical Summit, held in 2024 in Lyon, France, bringing together leading international experts, representatives from within motorcycle sport, and contributors involved in the International Consensus Statement on Concussion in Sport. The outcome of this summit was a clear agreement to develop concussion guidelines tailored specifically to motorcycle racing.

The newly released FIM Concussion Guidelines provide clear, consistent and sport-specific procedures for the assessment, management and return-to-sport process following concussion. Applicable across all disciplines and levels of motorcycle sport, the guidelines emphasise early recognition, mandatory removal from riding when concussion is suspected, and a structured, medically supervised return-to-sport framework.

The guidelines were formally validated during the fourth meeting of the FIM Board of Directors of the year, held on 3 December 2025 at the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) Headquarters.

Commenting on the importance of the initiative, FIM President Jorge Viegas said: “Placing safety first is essential to the sustainable development of motorcycle sport. With the introduction of these concussion guidelines, the FIM is taking a decisive step to ensure that rider health and well-being remain at the heart of everything we do. This initiative reflects our responsibility to evolve the sport in a safe, structured and scientifically grounded manner, protecting riders today while building a stronger and more sustainable future for motorcycle sport worldwide.”

A key feature of the guidelines is the adoption of the “9 R’s” of concussion management – Reduce, Recognise, Remove, Refer, Rest, Recover, Rehabilitation, Return-to-sport and Review – ensuring a comprehensive and evidence-based approach to rider safety. The document also outlines mandatory minimum exclusion periods, differentiated for adults and children, and introduces a motorcycling-specific graduated return-to-riding programme.

“These guidelines represent an important step forward in protecting the health, well-being and safety of our riders,” added Dr David McManus, FIM Medical Director and Director of the FIM International Medical Commission. “They are the result of extensive research, expert consultation and collaboration with national federations and other sports. Education and awareness are essential, and these guidelines will be supported by dedicated educational programmes for riders, teams, officials and federations.”

Developed following an extensive review of current scientific research and best clinical practice, the FIM Concussion Guidelines will be regularly reviewed and updated in line with emerging evidence to ensure the highest standard of care across motorcycle sport.

The FIM would like to acknowledge the valuable contributions of the FIM International Medical Commission, national federations, international experts and partner organisations involved in the development of these guidelines.

 

VIEW THE CONCUSSION GUIDELINES HERE

 

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RPM Ventures Celebrating 50th Anniversary Of R90S Daytona Win

John Ulrich
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0
RPM Ventures Celebrating 50th Anniversary Of R90S Daytona Win

RPM Ventures Announces 50th Anniversary Celebration at Daytona International Speedway: A Return to the “World Center of Racing”

RPM Ventures, in partnership with MotoAmerica and the BMW Motorcycle Owners of America (MOA), is proud to announce a historic 50th Anniversary Celebration at Daytona International Speedway on March 6-7, 2026. The event honors the golden anniversary of the inaugural AMA Superbike race in 1976—a race that transformed the landscape of American motorcycling and re-established BMW as a premier maker of high-performance sporting machines and ignited a passion for the brand among a whole new generation of riders.

Honoring the Legacy of 1976

In March 1976, the “Bavarian Murder Weapons” (as dubbed by renowned race tuner Todd Schuster) fired a shot heard ’round the world. The Butler & Smith BMW R90S team secured a stunning 1-2 finish at the first-ever AMA Superbike race at Daytona, with Steve McLaughlin nipping teammate Reg Pridmore by a mere three inches in a legendary photo finish.

The victory proved that BMW was more than a manufacturer of long-distance touring machines; it proved they could build “canyon carvers” capable of defeating the world’s fastest superbikes. BMW went on to sweep the top three spots in the 1976 season standings, with Pridmore capturing the first-ever AMA Superbike Championship.

The Legend Returns

For the first time in decades, the three original Butler & Smith BMW R90S Superbikes will be reunited at Daytona. These machines, prepared by legendary tuner Udo Gietl, featured then-revolutionary tech including Michelin slicks, Koni monoshock suspension and many more innovations.

The celebration bridges 50 years of racing excellence by also featuring the Tytlers Cycle Racing BMW M 1000 RR, the defending MotoAmerica Superbike championship machine ridden by Cameron Beaubier in 2025. This display highlights BMW’s journey from the 92-horsepower R90S to the modern carbon-fiber-clad 200+ horsepower M 1000 RR, which also carried Toprak Razgatlıoğlu to consecutive Superbike World Championships.

Weekend Highlights & Fan Experiences

Fans and enthusiasts are invited to participate in a series of exclusive events:

• The Original Prototypes: Udo and Eric Gietl will showcase the original R90S racing prototype, joined by a second rare prototype from a private collector.

• Parade Laps: Registrants will have the rare opportunity to ride a parade lap around the high banks of the fabled 3.56-mile Daytona road course.

• Commemorative Gear: Todd Trumbore has produced limited-edition 50th Anniversary pins, designed to the exact dimensions of the iconic R90S seat cowl emblems.

• Celebrity Dinner: On Saturday, March 7 at 6:00 PM, the Daytona 500 Club will host an evening with the legends. Guests include Reg Pridmore, Steve McLaughlin, John Long, Harry Klinzmann, Ron Pierce, Tom Cutter, Udo Gietl, and Heidi Fisher (representing the late Gary Fisher).

Reg Pridmore and Udo Gietl on pit lane at Daytona in 1976. They will return to Daytona this coming March with the monoshock BMW R90S for a 50th anniversary celebration of BMW taking first and second in the Superbike race, with Steve McLaughlin winning and his teammate Pridmore finishing a mere three inches behind. Photo by John Ulrich.

Registration and Accommodations
Registration for this landmark event is now open through the BMW MOA at:

https://bmwmoaf.regfox.com/50th-anniversary-daytona-event

On-site camping and hotel blocks are available. A special rate of $279/night has been secured at the Marriott Courtyard adjacent to the Speedway. For booking details, please contact Rob McIsaac at [email protected].

Join us in Daytona to celebrate 50 years of speed, innovation, and the spirit of the Boxer.

 

 

AFT: Kody Kopp Returns Full-Time with Latus Motors Racing

Mathilde Gasnier
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AFT: Kody Kopp Returns Full-Time with Latus Motors Racing

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.  – Latus Motors Racing is pleased to announce that Kody Kopp will return to competition for the 2026 Progressive American Flat Track season, making his debut in the Mission AFT SuperTwins class aboard the Harley-Davidson XG750R.

A former three-time AFT Singles champion and the winningest rider in AFT Singles history, Kopp returns to the Progressive AFT paddock following a year away from the series spent competing in professional road racing.

The Mica, Washington, native will step into the sport’s premier class for the first time in his career, marking a new chapter for both Kopp and Latus Motors as the team takes on Mission AFT SuperTwins competition.

Kopp and the Latus Motors Harley-Davidson XG750R are scheduled to make their Mission AFT SuperTwins debut at the Royal Enfield Short Track at Daytona, March 5–6, opening the 2026 Progressive American Flat Track season.

 

Kody Kopp – Latus Motors Racing:

“I am extremely excited for 2026 and grateful for this opportunity to compete in the premier class of American Flat Track. I felt very comfortable from my first few laps aboard the XG750R, and that feeling has only progressed since. I am confident that as a team, we will be prepared to kick off the 2026 season in strong fashion at Daytona!”

 

Team Owner George Latus:

“The team is super excited to have Kody as our rider for the season. I’ve had the privilege of working with the Kopp family for over two decades, both when Joe was actively campaigning and now as Kody continues his career on the Harley-Davidson XG750R. I’m personally honored to have Dave Zanotti and Michelle DiSalvo continuing with us, along with Chris Carr, Joe Kopp, and a very supportive group of sponsors. As Kody’s sister, Karly, once said about why she liked our team: ‘They just want to go fast and have a blast.’ We’ll do exactly that in 2026.”

Supercross: More From Teams at San Diego

Eli Tomac (3) in San Diego. Photo courtesy Red Bull KTM Factory Racing.

More from a press release issued by Red Bull KTM:

Eli Tomac and Red Bull KTM earn back-to-back 450SX wins in San Diego.

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Eli Tomac and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing have made it back-to-back victories to open the 2026 AMA Supercross Championship, extending their advantage at the top of the 450SX standings following Round 2 in San Diego tonight.
Two-time Supercross champion Tomac set the fastest combined qualifying time in the premier class during Saturday’s afternoon sessions, displaying immediate comfort onboard his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION at Snapdragon Stadium.
 
The decorated racer from Cortez, Colorado, powered to a strong start in his Heat Race, finishing P2 to secure a favorable gate pick for the upcoming Main Event. Another fast start in the Main Event saw the 33-year-old exit the first rhythm lane in third position, which would set the tone for the remainder of the race toward the front of the field.

 
A race-long back-and-forth fight for position saw red plate-holder Tomac take control of the lead with six minutes remaining, fending off additional challenges late in the race to deliver his second win of the season and the 55th of his career.
 
 
Eli Tomac (3) in San Diego. Photo courtesy Red Bull KTM Factory Racing.

Eli Tomac: “It was quite a back-and-forth race tonight! At the beginning, I tried to play the patience game as Hunter [Lawrence] and Ken [Roczen] were really dicing it out, so I tried to warm into the race from there. It was close racing all Main Event, but of course, it was a great night, and to get two race wins in a row is massive. I feel very happy with what I am working with right now. As far as winning two in a row to open the season, you dream of it, but making it happen is a whole different deal. So, it’s been a great start for us – I feel really at one with the KTM and it’s showing.”

 
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450SX teammate Aaron Plessinger’s night in San Diego also was a promising one, with the number 7 overcoming illness to finish third in his Heat Race, directly behind Tomac. Equipped with the KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION, ‘The Cowboy’ featured among the top-five for a large portion of the Main Event, before recording a hard-fought P7 finish.

 
With his combined results, Plessinger sits eighth in the 450SX Championship as the series returns to Angel Stadium in Anaheim next Saturday.
 
 
Aaron Plessinger (7) in San Diego. Photo courtesy Red Bull KTM Factory Racing.

Aaron Plessinger: “San Diego was pretty good! I’ve been sick all week, but I was feeling better in practice than I did last weekend, and I was actually feeling really good going into the Heat Race. Once I got done with that one, my chest was on fire and I had a headache, so it was tough… No excuses, though. I went into the Main Event and did what I could – I was around sixth for a while, and then was there until the last lap before a lapped rider held me up. It’s racing, but we’ll go back this week, return to 100 percent, and then be ready for A2.”

 
In his second AMA Supercross appearance as part of the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team, multi-time MXGP World Champion Jorge Prado posted the second-fastest 450SX qualifying time in the afternoon onboard his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION, before capturing the holeshot in Heat 1 and racing to a P2 result, which continued his impressive form following a podium at the season-opener.

 
Upon launching to a top 10 start in the Main Event, the Spaniard posted a measured performance on a deteriorating circuit, eventually claiming 13th position by the time the checkered flag flew to continue building important experience in the discipline.
 
 
Jorge Prado (26) in San Diego. Photo courtesy Red Bull KTM Factory Racing.

Jorge Prado: “Round 2 was a positive day. Even though the Main Event didn’t go as well as I would have liked, I was still P2 in qualifying and then was also second in the Heat Race, so up until then, things were going very well. Then in the Main, I missed the start and after that I was riding tight. I didn’t really ride like myself, I would say, and it was a bit of a struggle. I kind of fell into some other riders’ pace around me, so I’ll need to learn from this, and again, it’s a good learning experience to be better in the future. We’ll come back solid for A2.”

Next Race: January 24 – Anaheim, California

 

 

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More from a press release issued by Suzuki Motor USA:

Progressive Insurance Cycle Gear Suzuki Solidifies Second Place in the Standings.

Brea, CA  – Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, California provided ideal weather and track conditions for Round 2 of the 2026 Monster Energy AMA Supercross season. The 17-round Supercross series also pays points toward the 31-round SMX World Championship. The San Diego track crew overcame some early timing equipment challenges with an extended second qualifying session for the top 450SMX Class racers. 

Race Highlights:

  • Progressive Insurance Cycle Gear Suzuki
    • 450 Class
      • Ken Roczen never ran outside of the top-three positions and delivered his second straight podium performance of the year. 
  • Twisted Tea Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance
    • 450 Class
      • Jason Anderson notched a heat race podium and battled up front in the main event.
      • Colt Nichols used his speed to move forward five positions throughout the main event.

 

Ken Roczen (94) battled into the lead early and was embroiled in a race-long, three-rider battle for the win at the San Diego Supercross. Photo courtesy Suzuki Motor USA

 

Ken Roczen (94) maintained the momentum of an opening round podium at Anaheim 1 with fast qualifying times in San Diego. After a timing & scoring session-length adjustment, Roczen powered to a top-three spot in the second session and overall qualifying times. Ken Roczen was brilliant in his heat race, nabbing the holeshot and leading every lap. As he stretched out a five second lead, Roczen used his RM-Z450’s precise throttle response to adjust to the changing traction conditions of the California soil. When the gate dropped for the main, Roczen emerged from the first corner in second place. Roczen applied heavy pressure and took over the lead six minutes into the race. He defended a challenge with an inspiring blitz through the whoops on lap 10, then Roczen led the three-rider break-away pack for six laps. At the checkered flag, Roczen earned his second podium in the first two rounds of 2026 and crossed the finish line within three seconds of the lead. The San Diego points keep Rozcen in sole possession of second place in the championship standings with 15 rounds remaining on the Supercross season. 

“We had a really good day overall,” said Roczen. “We were third in qualifying, we won our heat race, and we had an insane battle throughout the main event. The race leader and I went back and forth a couple of times. I led a bunch of laps in the beginning, and I ended up third, but not far off the leaders. I lacked just 3 to 5 percent, you know? It’s very minimal, but I definitely wasn’t the best guy tonight. Overall, we had a really good night. I’m not going to complain about a podium by any means. So, the second round is done and dusted and we’re looking forward to Anaheim 2.”

 

Jason Anderson (21) is adapting to his Suzuki RM-Z450 brilliantly, setting sector-best times in Sector 6 and 8 during his heat race. Photo courtesy Suzuki Motor USA

 

Jason Anderson (21) was fast and aggressive from his first gate drop in San Diego. In his heat race, Anderson pressured the leader for most of the race. In the closing laps, Anderson was forced to ride defensively and held on for a podium heat race finish. In the main, Anderson held strong inside the top five for the first seven laps before relinquishing a few spots in the second half of the race. 

“This weekend was not as good as last weekend,” stated Anderson. “We ended up 11th in the main event; I just kind of hit a wall there in the main and then went backwards a little bit. But we’ll be ready for next weekend, and hopefully we can come out and do some damage.”

 

Colt Nichols (45) put in two impressive charges in San Diego to rack up more championship points at the second round of the 2026 season. Photo courtesy Suzuki Motor USA

 

Colt Nichols (45) found lines around other riders to move his Twisted Tea Suzuki RM-Z450 forward in each of his races. In his heat, Nichols carded a mid-pack start but advanced into a direct transfer position in the early laps. From there, Nichols nabbed two more spots to improve his gate pick for the main. In the San Diego Supercross main, Nichols was not able to capitalize on his gate pick; he rounded the first corner in 21st spot out of 22 riders. Nichols went to work and moved past five riders to finish just outside the top fifteen, a spot that did not reflect his track speed. 

“Round 2 was not a great night for me,” said Nichols. “I started [at the back] in the main, and you just can’t do that in this field. I’ve got a lot of work to do to get out of the gate and give myself a chance. But overall, I’m riding the bike really well. We’re going to be okay, and that group that I want to be in is right there in front of me. We just need to clean it up and give myself a good chance, and we’re going to do that next weekend.”

“It was a good night for us,” summed up Larry Brooks, Twisted Tea/H.E.P. Motorsports/Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance Team Manager. “We finished on the podium again; Ken Roczen finished third. Jason Anderson finished 11th, he showed some promise; he ran at the front of the pack at the beginning and then ran into some trouble. And Colt Nichols finished 16th, so it was a good night for the team. We’re going to just keep in the fight and keep moving forward. There’s a lot of racing left this year in this series, so I think we’re in a good spot right now. Ken’s going to stay in California this week, so we get to do a little testing, and it should be fun.”

The Supercross season moves back up the California coast for the second race inside Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California on January 24th. The Suzuki RM-Z450 race bikes are ready to lead more laps, and the riders and team members are excited to deliver more strong performances and results.

For the latest team updates, news, and race insights, visit SuzukiCycles.com/Racing/Motocross or pipesmotorsportsgroup.com.

 

 

 

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More from a press release issued by Honda HRC Progressive:

Hard-Fought Second-Place Result for Hunter Lawrence in San Diego.

  • Australian challenges for the 450SX win and finishes strong 
  • Up-and-down day for Chance Hymas, who finishes sixth in 250SX West 

After posting a calculated fourth-place result at last week’s season-opening AMA Supercross, Honda HRC Progressive rider Hunter Lawrence was more aggressive at San Diego’s round 2. The Australian led much of the 450SX main event before taking a close second-place finish, showing that he has the pace to match anyone, particularly in the late stages. Lawrence’s teammate Chance Hymas showed strong form at times during the day, but a close call in the 250SX West main event meant he ultimately had to settle for sixth. 

 

Hunter Lawrence (96) during the 450SX Main event in San Diego. Photo courtesy Honda HRC

 

Lawrence nailed the holeshot in the 450SX main and led the first portion aboard his CRF450RWE. He fended off repeated challenges from Ken Roczen, with Eli Tomac soon joining the battle, and the racing between the top three was aggressive but clean. Roczen and Tomac both got by Lawrence on lap 8, but the Honda rider regrouped and stayed in contact. As the race entered its final quarter, Lawrence mounted one of his signature late surges, passing Roczen before the whoops with six laps remaining. He then reeled in the leading Tomac and attempted a last-lap pass before finishing just 1.6 seconds behind. Also impressive was Quad Lock Honda’s Joey Savatgy, who finished a solid fifth. 

 

Chance Hymas (29) during the 250SX Main event in San Diego. Photo courtesy Honda

 

Hymas was third across the holeshot line in the 250SX West main event before running fourth early on and challenging Cameron McAdoo for much of the race. Both riders picked up a position when Max Anstie went down, but Hymas made a mistake over a jump; while an amazing save kept him on two wheels, the Idaho native lost three positions and held on to cross the finish line in sixth place. 

NOTES 

  • Hunter Lawrence and Chance Hymas were featured in Friday’s media day, and afterward the Honda HRC Progressive teammates both participated in a riding session on the track. 
  • San Diego dealership Fun Bike Center staffed a pop-up activation booth in the Honda HRC Progressive pits, where they displayed a CRF450R and engaged with fans and customers. 
  • For the second week in a row, Jett Lawrence and Jo Shimoda—both recovering from injuries—were on hand at the event, signing autographs and supporting their Honda HRC Progressive teammates. 
  • Justin Brayton’s No. 10 CRF450WE was displayed under the Honda HRC Progressive tent this weekend after the 2018 Daytona Supercross winner hit the track Friday for a preview with Adam Cianciarulo, which aired Saturday on Race Day Live during a full track breakdown. 
  • Chance and Hunter each qualified fourth in their respective combined qualifying sessions. Other Red Riders in the 250SX class included SLR Honda’s Justin Rodbell in 17th and Western Honda’s Hunter Schlosser in 23rd. SLR’s Matti Jorgensen finished 26th, Ty Freehill Racing’s Ty Freehill placed 40th, Lasting Impressions’ Ronnie Orres ended the session in 42nd and Next Level’s Colby Copp qualified 35th. In the 450SX class, additional Red Riders included Quad Lock Honda Racing trio Shane McElrath (12th), Joey Savatgy (14th) and Christian Craig (17th), along with McGinley Clinic’s Zack Williams, who qualified 31st. 
  • Hymas nearly grabbed the holeshot in his heat race, but he lost a couple positions in the first rhythm section, putting him in fifth. After fending off some attacks and making passes, he finished in third, giving him a decent gate pick for the main event. 
  • After starting his heat race in fourth, Lawrence lost a position to fellow Red Rider Joey Savatgy, while yet another Red Rider, Shane McElrath, sat behind him in sixth. The positions remained that way until the checkered flag. 
  • Hunter helped the family of Honda HRC Progressive 450 crew chief Grant Hutcheson with a special gender reveal during the San Diego race day. As the seconds counted down before the starting gate dropped for Hunter’s heat race, the broadcasting team zoomed in on his Alpinestars goggles, with the strap’s pink color revealing that Hutcheson will soon have a new niece. 
  • Formula One driver Liam Lawson—a racer for the Racing Bulls team—was in attendance at San Diego and took time to meet with fellow Red Bull athletes Hunter Lawrence and Chance Hymas. 
  • Hunter participated in the post-race media scrum organized by Feld.  
  • Hunter remains third in the 450SX standings, just two points behind second-place Ken Roczen. Chance sits third in the 250SX West points, four behind second-place Max Anstie. 
  • Next up for Honda HRC Progressive is AMA Supercross round 3 this Saturday, back at Angel Stadium in Anaheim.  

 

 

Hunter Lawrence (96): 

“I definitely feel more confident on the bike; we tried a lot of things during the week to help where I felt like we struggled [at Anaheim]. That’s one thing I pride myself on: being able to show up in the main event when it counts. We were close, it was a good race. I feel like the first 15 minutes was just trying to get it under my belt, as I feel like the last five minutes is where I can make up that gap. Honestly, for me the heat race is the hardest race of the night—it was just a frustrating one—but I shook that off and put all the chips on the main. I really love what I can do in 20 minutes and just hit my marks. All day, I look forward to the main event.”

 

 

 

 

 

Chance Hymas (29):

“It was a little bit of an up-and-down day for me; I just felt a little bit off all day but had some really good showings for me. I just made a couple of mistakes in the main, but overall blessed to be okay. We’re five points down in the championship—not too bad after this weekend—so we’ll regroup and go after A2.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lars Lindstrom – Team Manager: 

“We had another relatively smooth weekend, and as a team I think we executed well. We definitely seem to have a better idea of what direction we should be going with Hunter and his bike setup, which is encouraging. I don’t think we had on our bingo card that Hunter would do what he did in the main; he wasn’t exactly stoked on himself or the bike during the day, but it was awesome to see him lock in and show up when it mattered most. That’s a quality not all athletes have, but I feel like the elite do, and I couldn’t be prouder of him for that. Chance was so close to having the red plate, which would’ve been awesome, but he was a bit too nice to McAdoo, and probably could have picked up on a few things in the main that would’ve helped him out. Still, to only be five points down in a turbulent class is great, and I expect more great rides out of him.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

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More from a press release issued by Husqvarna Factory Racing:

Ryder DiFrancesco and Malcolm Stewart record top 10 finishes inside Snapdragon Stadium.

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing recorded a solid points night at Round 2 of the 2026 AMA Supercross Championship in San Diego, with both Malcolm Stewart and Ryder DiFrancesco achieving top 10 results, and 450SX newcomer RJ Hampshire showing signs of progress, at a sold out Snapdragon Stadium.

 

Western division 250SX contender DiFrancesco began the day well on the fast-paced track layout, qualifying third on combined times and dialing in his Husqvarna FC 250 Factory Edition from the outset in warm conditions.

 

In his Heat Race, the 20-year-old was again competitive throughout the duration, claiming a fifth-place finish that saw him take a direct transfer into the night’s 250SX Main Event and looking to continue last weekend’s podium form.

 
Ryder DiFrancesco (34) in San Diego. Photo courtesy Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

 

A tough start to the Main Event saw DiFrancesco classified well outside the top 10 as the gates dropped, leaving the popular Californian with a lot of work to do throughout the race. In impressive style, he would charge forward, climbing to seventh position by the time the checkered flag flew, and limiting the damage toward his title chase.

 

After San Diego, Ryder D is currently ranked fifth in the 250SX West standings, only eight points outside of the lead as the series returns to Anaheim next weekend.

“San Diego was good!” reflected DiFrancesco. “I qualified really well, we were all so close on the leaderboard between the top-three, so my speed is really not a problem. I just need to work on putting myself in a better position from the start, but I feel like everything is coming together. My endurance and mental side are solid, so we’ll be aiming for some more podiums and wins as the season continues.”
 
 
Malcolm Stewart (27) in San Diego. Photo courtesy Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

 

After overcoming his incident at Anaheim 1 just one week ago, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Malcolm Stewart made a gritty return to racing at Snapdragon Stadium, battling soreness as he took his Husqvarna FC 450 Factory Edition to the 13th-fastest qualifying time. The 33-year-old was again impressive in his Heat, racing to a sixth-place finish while managing his shoulder injury.

Consistent laps saw Stewart complete the race with a well-earned 10th-place result, with continued recovery the priority as he and the team look forward to Anaheim 2 next weekend.

“First things first, I’m stoked to be out here racing,” said Stewart. “We had a big one last Saturday night, and then did a bunch of therapy during the week to be able to line up in San Diego. Practice went okay even if I was really sore, and then the Heat Race was decent, but all-in-all, I just geared myself up for the Main Event. I did everything I could and I am really proud to say that P10, honestly, means a lot to me. I rode my own race, which I’m happy with, and these next few weeks are going to be tough, but we’ll do some more therapy and then get ready for A2.”

 
 
RJ Hampshire (24) in San Diego. Photo courtesy Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

 

Following a promising week of testing onboard his Husqvarna FC 450 Factory Edition, Hampshire arrived in San Diego with added confidence as the Florida native continued his first full season in the 450SX class by qualifying seventh. The 29-year-old then showed more speed throughout the round, running up front in his Heat Race before a minor fall resulted in a P7 finish.

 
In the Main Event, Hampshire started just outside the top 10 in the opening laps before battling through the race to finish 12th, continuing to build experience in his maiden premier class campaign.
 
“I felt a lot better on the bike this weekend,” commented Hampshire. “We made big improvements as a team during the week, even if tonight’s result doesn’t really reflect that. I had better speed and it’s just about putting it all together now – getting stronger, completing the laps, and I think we’ll continue to grow. We’ll aim for a solid result next weekend. We’re not close to where we can be, so we’ll keep pushing to be better over the next few rounds. Thanks to the team for all the work they’ve been putting in.”
 
Next Race: January 24 – Anaheim, California
 
 
 
 
 
 
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More from a press release issued by Monster Energy Kawasaki:
 
Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider Cameron Mcadoo claims his first podium finish oh the season.
 

Foothill Ranch, Calif. – Monster Energy® Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider Cameron McAdoo displayed grit and strength as he secured an impressive second-place finish in front of a sold-out crowd at Round 2 of Monster Energy AMA Supercross in San Diego. Teammate Levi Kitchen charged to a hard-fought fourth-place finish on the night, after a tipover in the first turn of the main event. Monster Energy Kawasaki rider Chase Sexton showed his raw speed in the 450SX Main Event to claim a well-earned fourth-place finish. Garrett Marchbanks would miss Round 2 due to an injury sustained during the week while practicing. An additional No. 4 Kawasaki also sat under the tent in San Diego, as Kawasaki celebrated the 25th Anniversary of Ricky Carmichael’s 2001 Supercross Championship with his race bike on display and a special replica KX™450SR designed to match the original championship-winning bike.

In 250SX Qualifying, Kitchen’s blistering speed earned him second overall, only five-hundredths of a second behind the fastest qualifier, while McAdoo put in two consistent sessions for ninth overall. 

 

Cameron McAdoo (142) in San Diego. Photo courtesy Kawasaki

In 250SX Heat 1, Kitchen got boxed in off the start and shuffled to the back of the field, but the No. 47 Kawasaki made quick, strategic passes to work his way forward, clocking the fastest lap time on the second-to-last lap to secure fourth place. In 250SX Heat 2, McAdoo pulled a strong start aboard his KX™250, placing himself inside the Top 5. He quickly moved up to fourth by the second lap, where he would ultimately finish the race.

 

Levi Kitchen (47) during the 250SX main event in San Diego. Photo courtesy Kawasaki

 

In the 250SX Main Event, McAdoo pulled another incredible start. Nearly grabbing the holeshot, he put himself in a desirable second-place position. Kitchen launched a strong start off the gate to command the inside of the first turn until he caught a tough block, causing him to go down. Kitchen would quickly remount his bike and waste no time passing his competitors. Midway through the race, he posted his fastest lap time and had already climbed back up to sixth place. In the final two minutes, Kitchen gave it everything he had to be right on the rear wheel of the podium contenders to take a hard-earned fourth-place finish. Meanwhile, McAdoo rode a strong and consistent race while dealing with pressure from behind. McAdoo showed that he is right back where he left off last year, picking up his first podium of the season with a second-place finish. 

 

Levi Kitchen: “The day was pretty good. I had another good qualifying session, and the heat race was alright, but I started pretty far back. In the main event, I had a really good start, but I clipped a tough block in the first turn and fell. I was able to move my way from last to fourth. I finished two spots higher than last week, from starting last, but I need to stop starting last. The goal for next week is better starts.”

 

Cameron McAdoo: “I didn’t expect to finish 22nd last weekend, so I definitely had something to prove to myself. I want to win, and I expect myself to win. This is one position behind what I wanted to do tonight. I know I’m capable of always being on the box, and I expect myself to stay up here moving forward. These last 10 months have been a long road to get back, and as everyone knows, this sport isn’t easy. I’ve always taken pride in being able to respond, and tonight was pretty special. Being off the bike for that long and then being able to race at that pace again means a lot. I’m grateful for my family, my team, and everyone who has stuck with me. I can’t thank the Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki team enough for believing in me, and I’ll always stand behind them.”

 

Chase Sexton (4) in San Diego. Photo courtesy Kawasaki

 

In 450SX Qualifying, Sexton laid down strong laps in the first session, but timing issues led to an inaccurate display of most of the field’s results. As a result, the second qualifying session was extended to 15 minutes. During that session, two separate red flags paused the field, disrupting Sexton’s rhythm and affecting his ability to put in a solid, fast lap. Despite only posting a sixth-place qualifying position, the former champion was confident in his setup and speed.

In 450SX Heat 1, Sexton started just outside the Top 5 and quickly moved through the field, picking off two riders in a single lap. With the leader in his sights, he made two bold passes to go from third to first, securing his first heat race win of the season.

In the 450SX Main Event, eager to get a good jump, Sexton flinched as riders next to him shifted in the gate, causing him to hit the gate and round the first turn in last place. Fired up and determined, Sexton put his head down and went to work to move forward through the field. By Lap 2, Sexton had already moved up to eighth place and was still steadily moving forward. He continued to fight, logging lap times faster than the leaders, but with over 16 seconds of a gap to close, he was forced to settle for fourth on the night. An impressive come-from-behind effort from the No. 4 Kawasaki.

 

Chase Sexton (4) during the 450SX main event in San Diego. Photo courtesy Kawasaki

 

San Diego also served as the perfect round to recognize the dominant history and achievements that Carmichael left on the sport of supercross while with Kawasaki. San Diego supercross was the first race Carmichael won before dominating the 2001 season and securing his first championship in the premier class. Monster Energy Kawasaki celebrated Carmichel’s legacy by displaying his original 2001 KX™250SR along with building a 2026 KX™450SR replica race bike, built to pay a modern homage to a memorable era of racing. 

 

Chase Sexton: “The day was up and down. I had good speed during qualifying, but issues with timing didn’t reflect the effort I put in on the track. I’m happy with my heat race win, and I felt prepared going into the night after that. The main event went well for me based on the circumstances. I had good speed for about 15 minutes of it and then fell off a little bit, but I had to put in a big effort coming from last to fourth. I was frustrated that I put myself in that position off the start, but we fought back and saved a lot of points tonight. I had the bike to win tonight, but I made a mistake on my part. I’m going to put those mistakes behind me and focus on next weekend.”

MotoGP: VR46 Racing Team Reveals Its 2026 Colors

Franco Morbidelli (21) and Fabio Di Giannantonio (49). Photo courtesy Dorna

From the fluo era into a new chapter, the covers come off the 2026 machinery of Di Giannantonio and Morbidelli.

Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team have revealed its 2026 colors! On Wednesday in Rome, the new “BLACKANDLIGHT” theme broke cover for the first time ahead of a record-breaking 22-race MotoGP season. Riders Fabio Di Giannantonio and Franco Morbidelli took to the stage at the event, where fans also got to hear from the boss himself aka team owner and MotoGP Hall of Famer Valentino Rossi, as well as Team Director Alessio Salucci and Team Manager Pablo Nieto.

 

 

“Harmony is born in the tension of opposites” is the Heraclitus quote cited by the team at the start of their new era – light and shadow, fluo and black. “Our energy meets the depth of a new balance. 2026 is BLACKANDLIGHT. The other side of our soul” is how VR46 put it – lofty, as are their ambitions as we head into another season of MotoGP.

 

Fabio Di Giannantonio (49). Photo courtesy Dorna

 

Fabio Di Giannantonio: “It’s my third year with the Pertamina VR46 Racing Team. Amazing to start our new, third season together with these new colours, brighter bike with this yellow that is super col this year with the black. I expect to do great races as we ended the year last year in 2025, I hope to grow a lot during the year and fight at the front. It’s super special to start again with the team, with the same stuff this year, which is the first time for me in MotoGP. So feeling great and can’t wait to joint the track.

“It’s my second year as a factory Ducati rider so it will be a little different year compared to last year. I have more experience, also the team has more experience with this situation, I think I’m more mature and more ready to understand what will be better for me on the bike and what not. Can’t wait to start also with the team, and let’s see if we can improve a lot the bike to fight on the top.

“The new livery is amazing, I think it’s very VR style with this black and yellow, it reminds me a lot of Vale’s helmet and I think it’s much more aggressive, much more racing, so it suits me really good I think. It’s super special, Rome is my city and with my bike and my team here, it’s fantastic. For sure it’s something I will remember forever and it’s also fantastic for the team I think, as an Italian team, to have the launch of the new season in the capital of Italy, in Rome, such a historic city. It’s a really fabulous thing.”

 

Franco Morbidelli (21). Photo courtesy Dorna

 

Franco Morbidelli: “For this second season I’m really excited and really looking forward to starting the season. We have one more year of experience together and for sure this is gonna work out well for us, we are going to speed up some processes that happen during a race weekend and I’m really trustful in the crew and the whole team. For sure there are some things we need to improve from last year, which was a positive year – especially the first half. A year where we had some good results, some great ones, and also some bad ones. There are things to improve and we’re working on that, we’re together in this and looking forward to starting.

“The bike is beautiful. I really like the yellow colour, it’s a colour I really lean to and a colour that has always been around me. I definitely love it and that’s the soul of the bike. But the character of the bike is given by this black on the fuel tank and around the bike, and it’s really a racing combination of colours. So hopefully the bike is going to be quicker around the track because of this.

“The season launch in Rome was beautiful. Rome is a city I love, I was born there and lived ten years there. I have a lot of friends and a lot of connection with that city. For me it’s the most beautiful city in the world and to have the team presentation in such a special place is unique. And it’s a really nice thing – hopefully it will give the whole team some extra energy to face this 2026 season in the best way.”

 

From left to right with Franco Morbidelli, Valentino Rossi and Fabio Di Giannantonio. Photo courtesy Dorna

 

Valentino Rossi, Team Owner: “We are ready, we are very optimistic and the target is try to do better than last year. Last year was an up and down season. Now in MotoGP it’s always very difficult for all teams to be able to remain in the top positions every weekend, so I think that can be the target for this year. Try to improve and try to be competitive everywhere.

“We changed this year. This is a project we did together with Aldo Drudi, it’s already our third season. At the beginning we started to modify a bit our image. Three years ago we did the yellow bike with the white, and we decided to continue that last year, but this year we wanted to change, we kept the yellow which is our colour but we put the black, which is more racing, and came back a bit more to our classical colours. So we’re ready. The bikes are so beautiful – now we just need to be fast.”

 

 

 

Oxley Bom MotoGP Podcast: Fans in High Places – Part 2

Maverick Viñales(12) crashed his Red Bull KTM Tech3 RC16 during the MotoGP in Mugello.

New Oxley Bom MotoGP podcast! Talking about… riders who’ve had out-of-body experiences while racing, why Phillip Island may lose its Grand Prix (guess!), MotoGP team crash-damage budgets, are these the last days of World Superbike and much more

So hit play, grab a fresh one and enjoy!

Listen to the podcast here: 

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2181509/episodes/18526400 

Want more? Visit our website or support us on Patreon. With big thanks as always to Brad Baloo from The Next Men and Gentleman’s Dub Club for writing our theme song. Check out The Nextmen for more great music! 

Supercross : Results From San Diego, California

Another sold out crowd was on hand inside Snapdragon Stadium as the 2026 Monster Energy Supercross season traveled to San Diego. Photo courtesy Feld Motor Sports, Inc

SAN DIEGO (January 18, 2026) – For the second week in a row the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship welcomed a sold-out crowd to begin its season, this time inside the intimate setting of Snapdragon Stadium for the second round of the 2026 Monster Energy SMX World Championship. One week after he captured a memorable debut victory with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 450SMX Class points leader Eli Tomac went back-to-back following a hard-fought Main Event in which he outlasted Progressive Insurance ECSTAR Suzuki’s Ken Roczen and Honda HRC Progressive’s Hunter Lawrence for the Colorado native’s 55th career win.

 

Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego. Photo courtesy Feld Motor Sports, Inc

 

Eli Tomac Goes Back-to-Back to Open 2026 Monster Energy Supercross Season After Hard Fought Victory in San Diego.

The 450SMX Class Main Event began with Lawrence leading the way for the holeshot, followed closely by Roczen and Tomac. The trio quickly asserted themselves at the front of the field and soon pulled away to set the stage for a three-rider battle for the win. Lawrence was impressive early on and successfully fended off heavy pressure from Roczen, but as their battle continued Tomac joined the fight, which pushed Roczen to make a pass around Lawrence with 14 minutes and a lap to go. Tomac was able to move into second as another battle for the lead unfolded. Tomac briefly made the pass on Roczen, but the German battled back to reclaim the position and lead most of the Main Event. 
 

With time running out, Tomac made the move on Roczen again and solidified his hold of the lead with six minutes remaining. Roczen’s pace slowed enough for Lawrence to make the pass for second and from there the Australian looked to track down Tomac. Tension was high in the closing laps, but Tomac kept Lawrence at bay on the final lap for his 87th career SMX win (Supercross + Pro Motocross) by a margin of 1.3 seconds. The victory moved him into a tie with Jeremy McGrath for second all-time. Lawrence’s runner-up finish equaled the best result of his career, while Roczen now has second and third place finishes to begin the season.
 

Just off the podium in fourth was Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Chase Sexton, who impressed in a come-from-behind effort after he hit the gate to begin the Main Event and started at the tail end of the field. Along the way, Sexton made contact with defending champion Cooper Webb, who went down in the incident and recovered for an eighth-place finish aboard his Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing machine.
 

Tomac’s pair of wins through the first two races has extended his lead in the 450SMX Class standings to eight points over Roczen, while Lawrence moved from fourth to third and sits 10 points out of the lead.

 

It’s back-to-back wins for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Eli Tomac, who captured his 55th career Supercross victory and 87th career SMX win to move into a tie Jeremy McGrath for second all-time. Photo courtesy Feld Motor Sports, Inc

 

 
Eli Tomac – 1st Place – 450SMX Class: 
 
“Me and Ken [Roczen] had an unbelievable battle there and once we got into the lead I felt like I was in a really good groove. Towards the end there I was not paying attention and just looking at my front fender, I didn’t know Hunter [Lawrence] was there [because] I was so focused on marking Kenny around the track. I [went] over the tunnel on the last lap and heard Hunter revving his bike and was shocked he was right there. I feel fortunate I held onto the lead there. I guess I need better self-awareness next time. That was close.”
 
 
 
Honda HRC Progressive’s Hunter Lawrence came close to capturing his first Supercross victory and impressed every step of the way in a runner-up effort. Photo courtesy Feld Motor Sports, Inc

 

Hunter Lawrence – 2nd Place – 450SMX Class:
 
“It’s bittersweet when you’re so close. I wanted to be there with those guys last week [up front] so we worked really hard this week and made some progress, which is always rewarding. I think I shot my shot too fast on the last lap and thought I’d dive bomb into the corner, but at the last minute I thought it was going to be a really dirty move if I followed through, so I backed out of it. It was cool. A really great race.”
 
 
 
Another podium performance by Progressive Insurance ECSTAR Suzuki’s Ken Roczen has him in the thick of the early title fight in the 450SMX Class. Photo courtesy Feld Motor Sports, Inc

 

Ken Roczen – 3rd Place – 450SMX Class:
 
“Me and Eli [Tomac] went back and forth a couple times and then in the middle of the race I just had a couple laps where I was all over the place and fell off the back a bit and got passed. I tried to just settle back in and at least stay close to those guys. We have 17 rounds and it can swap around real quick, so being on the podium is really good. We want to win, but at the same time we can’t be mad at a podium. We’ll keep at it, see if I can snag a couple of wins, and see where it goes.”
 
 
 
450SMX Class Podium (left to right) Ken Roczen, Eli Tomac, and Hunter Lawrence. Photo courtesy Feld Motor Sports, Inc

 

 

 

 

Defending Western Divisional Champion Haiden Deegan Takes 250SMX Win

 

A captivating battle between teammates headlined the second race of the Western Divisional 250SMX Class, as Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan came out on top for the first time this season. The eighth career victory for the defending Western Division Champion wasn’t without controversy, as he went bar-to-bar with fellow Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing rider Max Anstie, who entered as the points leader. After Anstie grabbed the holeshot, he and Deegan resumed their entertaining battle that began in the Heat Race with a multi-lap fight for the lead. Deegan appeared to be faster, but the Englishman’s veteran savvy kept his younger teammate at bay. With nine minutes and one lap to remaining Deegan made his move in a bowl turn and aggressively cut down under Anstie, who went high to concede the position. As he exited, Deegan’s rear wheel hit Anstie’s front wheel and took the red plate holder to the ground. Deegan sprinted away as Anstie eventually remounted in sixth place.
 

As Deegan established a lead of over five seconds, the attention shifted to an exciting battle for the podium between Honda HRC Progressive’s Chance Hymas, Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Cameron McAdoo, and Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Michael Mosiman. After McAdoo made the pass on Hymas for second, Mosiman followed through shortly after as Hymas nearly crashed defending the position.
 

Deegan went unchallenged and took his first win carrying the No. 1 plate by a margin of 7.6 seconds over McAdoo, who finished last (22nd place) at the Anaheim opener and is coming back from a torn ACL suffered last season. Mosiman recorded his 11th career podium finish in third. Anstie battled back to finish fifth.
 

With the win, combined with Anstie’s finish, Deegan moved from fourth to first in the Western Divisional 250SMX Class standings, a single point ahead of Anstie. Hymas, who finished sixth, sits third, five points out of the lead.

 

While it wasn’t without controversy, the first win of the season for Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan moved him into control of the Western Divisional Championship. Photo courtesy Feld Motor Sports, Inc

 

Haiden Deegan – 1st Place – Western Divisional 250SMX Class:
 
“This one feels good. I wanted to show it at A1, but stuff happens. I came out swinging [tonight]. Sorry to Max [Anstie], I didn’t really want it to go that way. I tried to cut down [in the corner] so he wouldn’t cut down [to counterattack] and we came together.”
 
 
 
After a challenging opening round where he finished last, Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Cameron McAdoo rebounded with an impressive second-place effort. Photo courtesy Feld Motor Sports, Inc

 

Cameron McAdoo – 2nd Place – Western Divisional 250SMX Class:
 
“I didn’t expect to get 22nd place last weekend and end up in B practice this morning, so I had something to prove. It has been a long time and as you all know this sport is about trying. I always pride myself on being able to come back after being off the bike for a long time. Tonight was pretty special. I’m just a kid from Iowa living my dream and I’m really grateful I keep getting to do this. I have a lot of belief in myself that I belong here.”
 
 
 
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Michael Mosiman was consistent throughout the Main Event and recorded his 11th career podium result. Photo courtesy Feld Motor Sports, Inc

 

Michael Mosiman – 3rd Place – Western Divisional 250SMX Class:
 
“It feels great. We’ve been putting in the work, and it’s been a long road. Just to be able to hang in there the whole moto, to be right there and end up on the podium. To be able to push the pace feels really great. We’re going to keep it rolling.”
 
 
 
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Max Anstie entered as the points leader and was leading the Main Event until an incident with his teammate Deegan put him on the ground and resulted in a fifth-place finish. Photo courtesy Feld Motor Sports, Inc

 

Max Anstie – 5th Place – Western Divisional 250SMX Class:
 
“[Deegan’s move] was ‘impressive.’ I didn’t really want to play the game. I know who I’m racing against, but fair play. Straight up, I’ve got to take it on the chin. I’m a big boy, no problem. I didn’t expect that. I’ve got to go back and do some work.”
 
 
 
Western Divisional 250SMX Class Podium (left to right) Cameron McAdoo, Haiden Deegan, and Michael Mosiman. Photo courtesy Feld Motor Sports, Inc

 

 

 

 

The Monster Energy SMX World Championship and Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship will continue next Saturday with the third race of the season and a return to Anaheim, California’s Angel Stadium on January 24. Live broadcast coverage on Peacock will begin at 1 p.m. ET with Race Day Live, followed by the Gate Drop at 7 p.m. ET. Additionally, a domestic Spanish language broadcast is available on Peacock while international viewers can choose from dedicated English, French, and Spanish broadcasts via SMX Video Pass (www.SMXVideoPass.com).

 
All 17 rounds of the 2026 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship and 11 rounds of the Pro Motocross Championship are on sale. Tickets for the SMX World Championship Playoff Rounds and Final will go on pre-sale Tuesday, Jan. 27, with general tickets on-sale to the public on Tuesday, Feb. 3 at Supermotocross.com. Saturday FanFest will take place at all postseason races, Friday FanFest and camping will be available in Columbus and Ridgedale, additional details to follow.

 

Ken Roczen (94) and Eli Tomac (3) in San Diego. Photo courtesy Feld Motor Sports, Inc

 

For information about the Monster Energy SMX World Championship, please visit www.SuperMotocross.com and be sure to follow all of the new SMX social media channels for exclusive content and additional information on the latest news:

How Luciano Benavides and KTM Won The Dakar Rally

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing won the 2026 Dakar Rally. Photo courtesy Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Luciano Benavides has conquered the 2026 Dakar Rally in the most dramatic fashion imaginable, sealing overall victory by just two seconds after a never-give-up fight across Saudi Arabia. Refusing to surrender despite setbacks, pressure, and one of the closest battles in Dakar history, the Argentine delivered when it mattered most, attacking right to the final kilometer on his KTM 450 RALLY to claim his first Dakar Rally victory. Daniel Sanders and Edgar Canet both reached the finish of the world’s toughest rally-raid in fifth and 32nd positions respectively, completing an extraordinary Dakar campaign defined by resilience, belief, and relentless determination from the Red Bull KTM team.
 
 
Luciano Benavides (77). Photo courtesy Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
 
Benavides delivered a standout performance throughout the event, combining outright speed, consistency, and intelligent race management to fight for the overall victory right to the very end of the rally. The Argentine claimed three stage wins, including a decisive victory during the event’s first marathon stage, and consistently ran at the front as the terrain became increasingly demanding. By refusing to give up and attacking until the last day, Luciano sealed an extraordinary Dakar Rally victory, the greatest achievement of his career to date, and underlined his status as one of the leading forces in rally-raid competition.
 
Benavides’ win – the closest in the history of the event – marks KTM’s 21st Dakar Rally title and continues a remarkable family legacy, following Dakar triumphs by his brother Kevin in 2021 and 2023.
 
 
Luciano Benavides (77). Photo courtesy Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
Luciano Benavides: “I still can’t believe it. I never stopped dreaming. I woke up today full of energy and motivation, just thinking about what I could do and trusting in myself, and that was the key for this Dakar. I did this for myself, and this feeling is unreal. To win by just two seconds is unbelievable. I even missed the last two corners and nearly crashed, so it was right on the limit, but it paid off. I honestly can’t describe this moment. This is my ninth Dakar, and it shows that if you never stop dreaming, never stop believing, and keep fighting for your goals, anything is possible. I never gave up. Even today, when I was losing time and I saw Ricky pushing hard, I kept telling myself it wasn’t over until the last kilometer. In the end, he made a small mistake and I got it right. It’s just unreal. Vamos Argentina! Now it’s time to celebrate with my family, my friends, my sponsors, and everyone who has supported me through all these years to achieve this dream.”
 
Daniel Sanders’ Dakar was defined by determination and resilience. After showing front-running pace in the opening half of the rally and spending multiple days at the head of the overall standings, the Australian suffered injuries during the second week that significantly impacted his ability to push at full speed. Despite the pain, Sanders dug deep to complete the remaining stages and reach the finish in an incredible fifth place overall, demonstrating the grit and toughness that took him to the 2025 Dakar and World Rally-Raid Championship titles in dominant fashion.
 
 
Daniel Sanders (1). Photo courtesy Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
Daniel Sanders: “I’m really happy for the team, and that’s just Dakar – it’s never over until it’s over. Every day is different and anything can happen. I only heard the news at the finish. I was in a lot of pain and honestly just ready to lie down, but that gave me the extra motivation to go and see Luciano and congratulate him. It’s so cool and really incredible for the whole team. Unfortunately, I was unlucky in my own race and out of the fight for the win, but the result is still in the team, and that’s something special. Huge congratulations to everyone who worked so hard again this year, consistency has really paid off.”
 
For Edgar Canet, the 2026 Dakar Rally represented a major milestone in his career. Competing in the RallyGP category for the first time, the Spaniard made an immediate impact by winning the prologue and stage one, becoming the youngest-ever stage winner in the bike category. An issue with his rear mousse while pushing hard on stage five halted his charge in the overall standings, but Canet continued to demonstrate impressive speed and strong navigation throughout the remainder of the rally. Gaining invaluable experience, Edgar completed his second Dakar and first at RallyGP level in emphatic fashion, finishing the event on a high with a commanding victory on the final stage.
 
 
Edgar Canet (73). Photo courtesy Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
Edgar Canet: “It’s been a really crazy race for me. These two weeks were full of emotions, so many ups and downs, but the most important thing is that we made it to the end. I won three stages, and Luciano taking the overall win is huge. I’m super, super happy for him. It’s been a crazy Dakar, and I couldn’t be happier for the whole team and the entire KTM family. We showed throughout the race which bike is the fastest in the desert, and that was a big objective for us. Now the motivation is even higher to keep working, keep fighting, and keep improving. I know exactly what my main goal is for next year, so I’m really motivated to keep pushing and keep training.”
 
 
 
Andreas Hölzl – Rally Team Manager: “We are incredibly proud of what Luciano, Edgar, Chucky, and the entire team have achieved – it’s honestly unbelievable. We fought right until the very last meter and never gave up, and that was the key. Dakar always writes its own stories, and this year was another perfect example of that. Luciano fought from day one until the finish; he’s a true fighter, and without doubt this has been the best race of his career. It’s an incredible achievement. Edgar once again showed just how strong he is in winning the final stage. I’m really happy we have him in the team, because I’m convinced he will win a Dakar one day. And Chucky, our real survivor, deserves massive respect. I’m extremely proud of these three riders and of the whole team.”
 
 
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing won the 2026 Dakar Rally. Photo courtesy Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
KTM’s success at the 2026 Dakar Rally extended well beyond the overall classification, with victories across multiple categories. In Rally2, Toni Mulec delivered a commanding performance to secure class victory and claim a second Dakar win for BAS World KTM, underlining the competitiveness of the KTM 450 RALLY REPLICA at the highest level of customer racing. The celebrations continued in the Malle Moto class, where Benjamin Melot claimed a long-awaited Dakar victory aboard his KTM, finally stepping onto the top of the podium after four previous top-three finishes.
 
With the 2026 Dakar Rally now complete, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing turn their attention to the next chapter of the rally-raid season, building on a campaign defined by podium finishes, stage victories, and the continued development of both riders and the dominant KTM 450 RALLY at the highest level of the sport.
 
 
 
 
 
 
More from a press release issued by Monster Energy Honda HRC:
 

Monster Energy Honda HRC on Dakar podium after historic final stage.

The closest finish in Dakar Rally history saw Monster Energy Honda HRC’s Ricky Brabec lose victory by a heartbreaking two seconds.

Heading into the final stage of this year’s event, Brabec held a 3’20” advantage over his main rival, Luciano Benavides, after claiming the previous day’s stage win.  With just 105 km of timed competition remaining, Brabec knew that opening the stage would leave him without tracks to follow, placing a premium on precise navigation as he chased a third Dakar title.

The final special stage featured two timed sections separated by a liaison, with riders first tackling technical mountain valley tracks before switching to a faster route along the Red Sea coastline en route to the finish line at the Yanbu bivouac.  Brabec set a strong pace early, but a navigation issue just seven kilometres from the finish cost him valuable time, ultimately denying him the coveted Bedouin Trophy.

It was a dramatic conclusion to 49 hours and 41 seconds of racing across 4,737 km of Saudi Arabia.  Despite claiming two stage victories in 2026 and bringing his Dakar stage win tally to 13, Brabec was left with a bittersweet runner-up finish.

 

 

Tosha Schareina claimed a stage podium on the final day, capping a rollercoaster two weeks.  The 2025 runner-up entered the 48th edition as one of the favourites, but a ten-minute penalty for an incorrect starting procedure on the first marathon stage forced him to rethink his strategy.  With three stage victories and a determined second-week comeback, Schareina ultimately joined teammate Brabec on the final podium in Yanbu.

Skyler Howes experienced the full spectrum of Dakar highs and lows.  A tyre issue on the first marathon stage derailed his early ambitions, but he rebounded in the final week to claim his first-ever Dakar stage victory and finish fourth overall in the opening World Rally-Raid Championship round.

Adrien Van Beveren endured a challenging 11th Dakar Rally.  His first week was compromised by a crash, metal wire becoming lodged in his wheel on stage five and difficulty finding rhythm.  Determined to turn things around, the Frenchman delivered a strong second week.  Once dialled in on his Honda CRF450 RALLY, he claimed victory on stage ten and consistently ran at the front, securing a positive sixth-place finish overall.

After a demanding Dakar, the Monster Energy Honda HRC riders will now enjoy a well-earned break before regrouping in two months’ time for Rally-Raid Portugal, taking place from 17-22 March.

 
Ruben Faria – General Manager:
 

“The last day of Dakar 2026 didn’t bring the result we were expecting, but this is Dakar — this is rally raid. Six kilometres from the end of the final stage, Ricky turned left slightly too early. He didn’t take the correct track, lost a significant amount of time, and crossed the finish line just two seconds behind Luciano.

Going into today, Ricky had a good margin thanks to the time bonuses — a gap of 4 minutes and 42 seconds over second place. With that small mistake, we lost the Dakar by just two seconds. Of course, we wanted more. We wanted to win, but we have to accept the result.

Overall, it was still a strong performance for the team: Ricky finished second, Tosha third, Skyler fourth, and Adrien sixth. Ricky delivered a very solid Dakar. Tosha made a mistake in the first week but still managed to finish with a strong overall result. Skyler struggled during the first week but recovered well in the second. Adrien lost almost an hour when a cable that was in the middle of nowhere got stuck in his wheel , yet he had an excellent second week.

Naturally, we expected more — the goal was to win, and we finished incredibly close. This has never happened before. We’ll keep pushing, aim to win the next races, and come back even stronger for the next Dakar. The team did a great job, and the Honda bikes performed extremely well throughout the rally.”

 

 

 

 

Ricky Brabec (9) – Stage 8th – Overall 2nd: 

“This Dakar was a real fight from start to finish. On the final stage, a quite confusing note led me to choose a line that wasn’t the correct one. When I turned back, Luciano was coming behind me and, seeing the situation, he stayed on the right track, which made the difference in such a close battle.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Skyler Howes (10) – Stage 5th – Overall 4th: 

“A lot of crazy stuff out there. I’m super happy to make it to the finish line of this one, a lot of adversity, some things to overcome and some really good riding. I’m happy with how I rode, the team did a great job, they did awesome with the mechanics, the logistics and I’m super happy to be a part of Monster Energy Honda HRC and to make it to the finish line of this one. A lot of things to clean up on my end. As far as everything else that went for me this race, stage one I needed a little bit more patience. I got really lucky this time, my mom is looking over me and she made sure I got to the finish line of this one. So I’m super proud of that and this one is for her.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NJMP Introduces Instructor Certification Program for Riders Club

Photo by Ken Hill.

MILLVILLE, N.J.  — New Jersey Motorsports Park is proud to announce its “Riders Club Instructor Certification Program.” The course was created by Ken Hill, a former professional road racer widely acknowledged as one of the top riding coaches in the nation.

Over the past year, NJMP management recognized that club members were asking for access to professional-level instruction. Building on a well-established foundation, a highly structured, in-house certification program was a natural next step.

Curriculum follows Hill’s “Order of the Sport,” a comprehensive motorsports training guide designed to help riders achieve a high degree of safety, skill, and consistency by breaking down complex operations into digestible fundamental practices.

This methodical approach is based on proven habits and time-tested techniques. It goes beyond telling students what to do. Rather, it teaches them how to ride with awareness, intention, and precision, while mitigating risk as their pace improves and they circulate faster.

“Other sports have figured it out across the board,” says Hill. “Coaches teach fundamentals that scale; what works for beginners also translates to the elite, with just a different degree of precision. Track-day riders and racers deserve that same clarity and structure.”

The individually customizable system includes a detailed handbook, which will serve as the basis for Hill’s classroom instruction. Testing, also performed by Hill, includes both written and on-track evaluations.

“New Jersey Motorsports Park is committed to growing the sport,” said Brad Scott, president and COO. “We are thrilled to work with Ken and provide this certification to ensure our coaches meet the highest standards for instruction, professionalism, and safety. By enhancing rider education through one of the first track-sponsored certification programs, we are investing not only in the Riders Club and its hundreds of members but also in the continued development of our staff.”

The New Jersey Motorsports Park Riders Club is a private membership experience for road-racing enthusiasts. The program offers track days and other benefits in a safe and controlled environment run by experienced management and certified instructors.

In 2026, the Riders Club boasts a reduced registration rate, an improved cancellation policy, benefits with partner RevZilla, and reciprocal track resources. The club is expected to surpass its previous 440-member record by midseason.

To learn more about the New Jersey Motorsports Park Riders Club, including how to become a member and begin your on-track journey with an officially certified instructor, visit NJMP.com or call 856-327-7248.

 

“The Riders Club Instructor Certification Program will ensure members operate at the highest level of the training pyramid,” says Brad Scott, president and COO of New Jersey Motorsports Park. “Whether they are new to motorcycle road racing or looking to compete at the national level, they will have the coaching and resources needed to support their goals.”

 

Superbike Racer Pegram’s IMSA Car Team Back In 2026

Pegram Racing will return to the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge for the 2026 season. Photo courtesy Pegram Racing
A New Era for Pegram Racing
 

Pegram Racing is proud to announce its return to the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge for the 2026 season, competing in the highly competitive TCR class.

 

For 2026, Pegram Racing has joined forces with Honda Racing Corporation US (HRC) and is supported by title sponsor Lindsay Honda Acura. This partnership marks a significant step forward for the team as it continues to grow its presence in professional sports car racing.

 

Following an unfortunate crash during the team’s December test at Daytona International Speedway, Larry Pegram will sit out the Rolex 24 weekend. Riley Pegram will still pilot the team’s new Honda Civic Type R TCR alongside experienced driver,Mario Farnbacher.

 

Larry explained, “With Pegram Racing, this truly feels like a homecoming. Twenty years ago, I signed with Honda on two wheels, and now to be back with the brand in IMSA is incredibly special.”

 

Riley also shared her excitement for the upcoming season:

“I am beyond excited to be back this year and to be supported by such an incredible manufacturer. I have big plans for 2026, and this partnership is going to be a huge part of my development, not only as a driver, but also as a team manager. We’re building something special, and I’m excited for what’s ahead.”

With strong a manufacturer, experienced driver pairing, and renewed momentum, Pegram Racing enters 2026 ready to embrace a new era in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge.

FIM Launches Motorcycle Sport–Specific Concussion Guidelines

Factory Ducati MotoGP rider Francesco Bagnaia (63) crashes in Turn Four at Circuito de Valencia in 2025. Bagnaia hit the ground 11 times during official Grand Prix sessions in 2025. Photo by Michael Gougis.

The Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) has officially launched the first edition of its Concussion Assessment and Management Guidelines, developed specifically for motorcycle sport at all levels of competition.

Recognised as a significant traumatic brain injury, concussion requires timely identification and appropriate management to prevent potentially serious short- and long-term health consequences. While the FIM has referenced the International Consensus Statement on Concussion in Sport since 2011, it became increasingly evident that existing assessment tools were not fully adapted to the specific demands and risks of motorcycle sport.

As a result, concussion was selected as the central theme of the first FIM Medical Summit, held in 2024 in Lyon, France, bringing together leading international experts, representatives from within motorcycle sport, and contributors involved in the International Consensus Statement on Concussion in Sport. The outcome of this summit was a clear agreement to develop concussion guidelines tailored specifically to motorcycle racing.

The newly released FIM Concussion Guidelines provide clear, consistent and sport-specific procedures for the assessment, management and return-to-sport process following concussion. Applicable across all disciplines and levels of motorcycle sport, the guidelines emphasise early recognition, mandatory removal from riding when concussion is suspected, and a structured, medically supervised return-to-sport framework.

The guidelines were formally validated during the fourth meeting of the FIM Board of Directors of the year, held on 3 December 2025 at the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) Headquarters.

Commenting on the importance of the initiative, FIM President Jorge Viegas said: “Placing safety first is essential to the sustainable development of motorcycle sport. With the introduction of these concussion guidelines, the FIM is taking a decisive step to ensure that rider health and well-being remain at the heart of everything we do. This initiative reflects our responsibility to evolve the sport in a safe, structured and scientifically grounded manner, protecting riders today while building a stronger and more sustainable future for motorcycle sport worldwide.”

A key feature of the guidelines is the adoption of the “9 R’s” of concussion management – Reduce, Recognise, Remove, Refer, Rest, Recover, Rehabilitation, Return-to-sport and Review – ensuring a comprehensive and evidence-based approach to rider safety. The document also outlines mandatory minimum exclusion periods, differentiated for adults and children, and introduces a motorcycling-specific graduated return-to-riding programme.

“These guidelines represent an important step forward in protecting the health, well-being and safety of our riders,” added Dr David McManus, FIM Medical Director and Director of the FIM International Medical Commission. “They are the result of extensive research, expert consultation and collaboration with national federations and other sports. Education and awareness are essential, and these guidelines will be supported by dedicated educational programmes for riders, teams, officials and federations.”

Developed following an extensive review of current scientific research and best clinical practice, the FIM Concussion Guidelines will be regularly reviewed and updated in line with emerging evidence to ensure the highest standard of care across motorcycle sport.

The FIM would like to acknowledge the valuable contributions of the FIM International Medical Commission, national federations, international experts and partner organisations involved in the development of these guidelines.

 

VIEW THE CONCUSSION GUIDELINES HERE

 

CONCUSSION_final.01

RPM Ventures Celebrating 50th Anniversary Of R90S Daytona Win

The three Butler & Smith R90S BMW Superbikes lined up for tech at Daytona in 1976, including Gary Fisher's #24, Steve McLaughlin's #83, and Reg Pridmore's # 163. Photo courtesy BMA MOA.

RPM Ventures Announces 50th Anniversary Celebration at Daytona International Speedway: A Return to the “World Center of Racing”

RPM Ventures, in partnership with MotoAmerica and the BMW Motorcycle Owners of America (MOA), is proud to announce a historic 50th Anniversary Celebration at Daytona International Speedway on March 6-7, 2026. The event honors the golden anniversary of the inaugural AMA Superbike race in 1976—a race that transformed the landscape of American motorcycling and re-established BMW as a premier maker of high-performance sporting machines and ignited a passion for the brand among a whole new generation of riders.

Honoring the Legacy of 1976

In March 1976, the “Bavarian Murder Weapons” (as dubbed by renowned race tuner Todd Schuster) fired a shot heard ’round the world. The Butler & Smith BMW R90S team secured a stunning 1-2 finish at the first-ever AMA Superbike race at Daytona, with Steve McLaughlin nipping teammate Reg Pridmore by a mere three inches in a legendary photo finish.

The victory proved that BMW was more than a manufacturer of long-distance touring machines; it proved they could build “canyon carvers” capable of defeating the world’s fastest superbikes. BMW went on to sweep the top three spots in the 1976 season standings, with Pridmore capturing the first-ever AMA Superbike Championship.

The Legend Returns

For the first time in decades, the three original Butler & Smith BMW R90S Superbikes will be reunited at Daytona. These machines, prepared by legendary tuner Udo Gietl, featured then-revolutionary tech including Michelin slicks, Koni monoshock suspension and many more innovations.

The celebration bridges 50 years of racing excellence by also featuring the Tytlers Cycle Racing BMW M 1000 RR, the defending MotoAmerica Superbike championship machine ridden by Cameron Beaubier in 2025. This display highlights BMW’s journey from the 92-horsepower R90S to the modern carbon-fiber-clad 200+ horsepower M 1000 RR, which also carried Toprak Razgatlıoğlu to consecutive Superbike World Championships.

Weekend Highlights & Fan Experiences

Fans and enthusiasts are invited to participate in a series of exclusive events:

• The Original Prototypes: Udo and Eric Gietl will showcase the original R90S racing prototype, joined by a second rare prototype from a private collector.

• Parade Laps: Registrants will have the rare opportunity to ride a parade lap around the high banks of the fabled 3.56-mile Daytona road course.

• Commemorative Gear: Todd Trumbore has produced limited-edition 50th Anniversary pins, designed to the exact dimensions of the iconic R90S seat cowl emblems.

• Celebrity Dinner: On Saturday, March 7 at 6:00 PM, the Daytona 500 Club will host an evening with the legends. Guests include Reg Pridmore, Steve McLaughlin, John Long, Harry Klinzmann, Ron Pierce, Tom Cutter, Udo Gietl, and Heidi Fisher (representing the late Gary Fisher).

Reg Pridmore and Udo Gietl on pit lane at Daytona in 1976. They will return to Daytona this coming March with the monoshock BMW R90S for a 50th anniversary celebration of BMW taking first and second in the Superbike race, with Steve McLaughlin winning and his teammate Pridmore finishing a mere three inches behind. Photo by John Ulrich.

Registration and Accommodations
Registration for this landmark event is now open through the BMW MOA at:

https://bmwmoaf.regfox.com/50th-anniversary-daytona-event

On-site camping and hotel blocks are available. A special rate of $279/night has been secured at the Marriott Courtyard adjacent to the Speedway. For booking details, please contact Rob McIsaac at [email protected].

Join us in Daytona to celebrate 50 years of speed, innovation, and the spirit of the Boxer.

 

 

AFT: Kody Kopp Returns Full-Time with Latus Motors Racing

Kody Kopp, three-time AFT Singles champion, will be atop a Harley-Davidson XG750R in the Mission AFT SuperTwins full-time in 2026. Photo courtesy Latus Motors Racing

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.  – Latus Motors Racing is pleased to announce that Kody Kopp will return to competition for the 2026 Progressive American Flat Track season, making his debut in the Mission AFT SuperTwins class aboard the Harley-Davidson XG750R.

A former three-time AFT Singles champion and the winningest rider in AFT Singles history, Kopp returns to the Progressive AFT paddock following a year away from the series spent competing in professional road racing.

The Mica, Washington, native will step into the sport’s premier class for the first time in his career, marking a new chapter for both Kopp and Latus Motors as the team takes on Mission AFT SuperTwins competition.

Kopp and the Latus Motors Harley-Davidson XG750R are scheduled to make their Mission AFT SuperTwins debut at the Royal Enfield Short Track at Daytona, March 5–6, opening the 2026 Progressive American Flat Track season.

 

Kody Kopp – Latus Motors Racing:

“I am extremely excited for 2026 and grateful for this opportunity to compete in the premier class of American Flat Track. I felt very comfortable from my first few laps aboard the XG750R, and that feeling has only progressed since. I am confident that as a team, we will be prepared to kick off the 2026 season in strong fashion at Daytona!”

 

Team Owner George Latus:

“The team is super excited to have Kody as our rider for the season. I’ve had the privilege of working with the Kopp family for over two decades, both when Joe was actively campaigning and now as Kody continues his career on the Harley-Davidson XG750R. I’m personally honored to have Dave Zanotti and Michelle DiSalvo continuing with us, along with Chris Carr, Joe Kopp, and a very supportive group of sponsors. As Kody’s sister, Karly, once said about why she liked our team: ‘They just want to go fast and have a blast.’ We’ll do exactly that in 2026.”

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