Aprilia Racing officially unveiled the Aprilia RS-GP26, entrusted for the second year in a row to Marco Bezzecchi and Jorge Martín for the 2026 MotoGP season. The proudly Italian bike has a strong technological and sport identity which represents the cutting edge of a continuously developing project.
The big change for the RS-GP26 livery, which maintains the iconic Aprilia Racing colours, is the presence of a noble symbol from our history – the lion which is part of Aprilia Racing’s DNA. Besides representing the strong ties with the territory, the Leone Alato – symbol of Venice, located just a few kilometres from Aprilia Racing headquarters in Noale – embodies values which fully reflect the identity of the team and its riders: power, strength, determination, and courage. It is the emblem of a team that never gives up, capable of stubbornly tackling difficulties and re-emerging even stronger and more steadfast.
The goal for 2026 is to improve on the results from last season, the most victorious ever for Aprilia Racing, ending with second place in the Manufacturers Championship at 418 points, breaking the 400 barrier for the first time in its history, and third place in the Riders Championship with Marco Bezzecchi at 353 points – the best result ever for a rider in Aprilia Racing’s MotoGP history. Adding to this are numerous impressive statistics: 19 podiums in all, with 3 sprint race wins and 4 long race wins, 5 pole positions to tie the previous record, and the 300th win for the Noale-based manufacturer in the Australian GP. This milestone, which later increased to 302, confirmed Aprilia Racing as the most victorious European manufacturer in the history of World Motorcycle Grand Prix Racing.
Defending the colours for the manufacturer from Noale in the 2026 season will be Marco Bezzecchi and Jorge Martín. In 2025, the Italian rider was the protagonist of an extremely high-level season which placed him third overall in the Riders World Championship standings, with a performance that consecrated him as the best rider in Aprilia Racing history. Bezzecchi is approaching 2026 with the goal of reconfirming his status at the top of the category and continuing the upward trend begun with the team.
Jorge Martín, who will be on track with number 89 on his front fairing, is preparing to tackle a new season after a 2025 conditioned by injuries. For the Spanish rider, 2026 represents the start of a new chapter, which he is facing with determination and the desire to fully express his potential.
Supporting the factory riders, Lorenzo Savadori is confirmed as tester, after his immense contribution in recent years to the development and growth of the RS-GP.
Aprilia RS-GP26 represents an important evolution for Aprilia Racing’s MotoGP project. Each detail has been redesigned in order to be able to battle at top levels and consolidate Aprilia Racing’s position among the protagonists of MotoGP. Every area of the bike has been improved, from the further refined aerodynamics to the chassis architecture and all the way to the electronics and V4 engine, which underwent extensive development in every component not restricted by championship regulations. The technical office in Noale, led by Fabiano Sterlacchini, tackled this new challenge remaining faithful to their DNA and developing a bike that makes innovation an indispensable anchor of their vision.
The RS-GP26 will also be the latest evolution of a technical cycle which has placed the fastest bikes in MotoGP history on the track, thanks to extreme aerodynamics, ride height devices, and 1000cc engines which will no longer be permitted by the technical regulations from 2027. For these reasons, the RS-GP26 will be the fastest prototype ever built in Aprilia Racing history.
Marco Bezzecchi and Jorge Martín will continue to be able to count on a solid and united team, with the support of official tester Lorenzo Savadori and Trackhouse MotoGP Team, with Raúl Fernández and Ai Ogura. The Trackhouse project, conceived as a strategic partner and not as a simple satellite team, continues to represent a fundamental resource for the continued development of the RS-GP, providing invaluable data and contributing to the innovation process.
Marco Bezzecchi on his new Aprilia RS-GP26. Photo courtesy Aprilia.
MARCO BEZZECCHI: “I’m happy to finally be getting back to talking about bikes. I am anxious to start and we have a lot of work to do, although we never really stopped. In Noale, the company is working intensely and I have been training constantly. I am highly motivated and I can’t wait to have fun in the saddle. The 2025 season finale was extremely positive and that boosts our confidence even more. The goal is to start the season straight away in the best possible way and to continue doing a good job.”
Jorge Martín on his new Aprilia RS-GP26. Photo courtesy Aprilia.
JORGE MARTÍN: “After our experience last year along with Aprilia and the latest extremely important tests in Valencia, the goal now is to keep growing together. I’m sure there will be a lot of work to do at the start of the season, but we are well aware of where we need to improve. This will be a year where I want to get back to battling for the top spots and winning. As soon as I am at 100% fitness, we’ll be ready for anything.”
Lorenzo Savadori on his new Aprilia RS-GP26. Photo courtesy Aprilia.
LORENZO SAVADORI: “I can’t wait for 2026 to begin. The primary objective is to continue improving the bike, advancing the work and the path we began in 2025, in order to see Aprilia consistently at the front. I’ll be riding in a few wild-card spots throughout the season, and I’ll be giving it my all to contribute to developing the RS-GP26. In addition to all this, around April, we’ll also begin working and developing in view of 2027.”
MASSIMO RIVOLA, CEO APRILIA RACING: “We’re tackling the 2026 season well aware of what we are and where we want to be. We are coming from a solid 2025 which allowed us to reach an extremely high level of competitiveness, and the goal now is to battle in every race. We’ll be following two different paths in the garage. On one side, we’re keen to pick up from the same level where we left off at the end of last season with Marco, and on the other, we’ll be building a lot with Jorge. We believe very much in the RS-GP26 and we maintain that it has great potential, as do our riders.”
The presentation of the Aprilia Racing MotoGP Team at the Sky Studios in Milan was produced and realized by Sky Sport e Sky Content Factory.
Van Beveren storms stage 10 as Brabec takes Dakar Rally lead.
Stage 10 of the 2026 Dakar Rally delivered yet another dramatic swing in fortunes, as Adrien Van Beveren returned to top form with a dominant stage win, while Ricky Brabec emerged as the new overall leader.
Following a night of marathon-stage camping, riders set off early toward Bisha in Saudi Arabia’s Asir Province.A brutal 368 km special across soft, energy-draining dunes tested both endurance and concentration, with competitors pushing themselves to the limit before finally reuniting with their teams at the finish.
Van Beveren was outstanding throughout the day and by drawing on his vast experience in the sand – including three victories at the Le Touquet beach race – the Monster Energy Honda HRC rider looked completely at ease on the towering dunes.As he reeled in Tosha Schareina, Brabec, and Michael Docherty, he maximised the opportunity to collect bonus time from the front.
Although Luciano Benavides mounted a strong charge midway through the stage, Van Beveren kept his composure and pace to secure his seventh career Dakar stage win, finishing 3’49” ahead of Brabec.On his 11th Dakar appearance, it was a statement ride and one that confirmed his early rally issues are firmly behind him as he eyes further success before Saturday’s finish.
Brabec’s day was equally impressive, if more calculated.Starting fourth, the American used the tracks ahead to his advantage.His rhythm was briefly interrupted when he stopped to check on Daniel Sanders following his crash in the dunes, but he quickly regrouped to claim second place.A 1’37” time credit for assisting Sanders proved crucial, lifting Brabec to the top of the overall standings.
With the leaderboard reshuffled once again, Brabec now leads the rally by just 56 seconds over Benavides after more than 41 hours of racing.
After winning the previous stage, Schareina faced the difficult task of opening the route and paid the price early, losing 17 minutes within the first 123 km.Later working alongside Brabec to assist Sanders, the Spaniard then settled into a steady rhythm through the relentless dunes.Despite finishing sixth, 5’28” of bonus time for running at the front moved him onto the provisional podium in third overall.With a more favourable starting position tomorrow, he has a strong chance to extend his nearly two-minute gap to Sanders, who is now in fourth.
Skyler Howes continued his consistent Dakar with a solid fourth-place finish, also picking up bonus time.The dune-heavy terrain suited both the American and his Honda CRF450 RALLY and he completed the two-day marathon stage without issue, keeping him fifth overall.
With just three stages remaining, the battle for Dakar honours is wide open.Stage 11 will demand absolute focus as riders head toward Al Henakiyah, facing a punishing 883 km day with no margin for error.
Ruben Faria – General Manager:
“What a stage today! A few months ago in Spain, David Castera said at the Dakar presentation that if you liked dunes, stage ten would be full of them and he was true to his word. There were kilometres of dunes: soft dunes, big dunes, all kinds of dunes. For us, it was a good stage. Tosha had a tough job opening this long stage, but he rode well to finish sixth and climb back onto the podium in third place. Skyler isn’t a fan of dunes, he prefers hard-packed, stony terrain, but he rode a solid stage to finish fourth. Ricky started in a good position, but he caught the front runners early and had to ride alongside Tosha, which made it hard to build a gap. Still, he finished second and took the overall lead, achieving the goal. Adrien is a completely different rider from the first week. He’s riding much better and winning today’s tough stage was a fantastic victory. As for stage 11, we don’t know much yet, based on the map, it looks fast, so we’ll see how it unfolds.”
Ricky Brabec (9):
“The marathon stage was good overall. We got to sleep on the ground, under the stars, it was really cool. Overall, the two days was awesome, we did the best job we could and the outcome is pretty good. If we’re still in a good position for the next three days, we’ll just keep doing the best we can and we’ll keep plugging away. We made it back which is my main goal, my bike is in one piece, so for my mechanics it’s super awesome. The times are super tight, I don’t know if I like it still, but it’s a good race I’m sure for the people watching. We’ll keep fighting, there’s three days to go, hopefully at the end of this thing we’re in the position we want to be in.”
Set against the timeless beauty of Siena‘s historic centre, Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP launches its 2026 MotoGP campaign at the Accademia Musicale Chigiana, just steps from the iconic Piazza del Campo.
Founded in 1923 and recognised as one of the world‘s most prestigious musical institutions, the Accademia Musicale Chigiana is housed in a magnificent historic building in the heart of the city. A place where tradition, excellence and innovation meet, it provides a fitting backdrop for the unveiling of the team‘s new season.
The choice of Siena is deeply symbolic. It reflects the heritage of Pramac, the construction equipment company whose long-term vision and commitment have played a central role in the development of the racing project. In 2026, two important milestones are celebrated: 25 years of competition in the MotoGP World Championship and 60 years of Pramac, making Siena a meaningful setting to mark these anniversaries.
The first season of the technical partnership with Yamaha marked the opening chapter of a long-term project, laying important groundwork for future development. As Yamaha‘s second Factory Team, Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP has begun a learning process that continues into 2026.
The shared objective remains clear: to contribute actively to bringing this ambitious project to where it belongs — at the front of the field.
The Yamaha YZR-M1. Photo courtesy Prima Pramac Team
The 2026 season also marks the MotoGP debut of three-time World Superbike Champion Toprak Razgatlıoğlu, who becomes the first Turkish rider to compete in the premier class. Renowned for his spectacular and instinctive riding style, his transition to MotoGP will be one of the highlights of the season.
Alongside him, Jack Miller once again represents a key pillar of the project. The experienced Australian brings valuable knowledge of the championship and will play an important role in both bike development and race performance.
Stability remains one of the team‘s strengths. The management structure is confirmed for 2026, with a group that has worked together for years and continues to operate with cohesion, efficiency and shared ambition.
A winning partnership remains unchanged at the heart of the project. Prima Assicurazioni will once again be the title sponsor of Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP for the 2026 season, continuing to support the team and its long-term project with Yamaha.
From left to right, Jack Miller, Paolo Campinoti, Gino Borsoi and Toprak Razgatlioglu. Photo courtesy Prima Pramac Team
PAOLO CAMPINOTI – Team Principal, Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP:
“The 2026 season is a special milestone for us, as we celebrate 25 years in the MotoGP World Championship. These years have been full of emotions, challenges and growth, and they have shaped the strong and determined team we are today.
“We are fully focused on continuing the progress required by this ambitious partnership with Yamaha. Now in its second year, this project brings new challenges that we are eager to face with commitment, experience and the full strength of our team.
“I would like to thank Prima Assicurazioni for their continued trust and support, which gives us stability and confidence as we build for the future.
“I am delighted to welcome Toprak Razgatlıoğlu to the team and excited to see his talent and spectacular riding style in Prima Pramac colours. I also want to thank Jack Miller for being with us once again – his experience and contribution are fundamental to our ambitions.”
GINO BORSOI – Team Director, Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP:
“The second year of our partnership with Yamaha is extremely important, especially as it coincides with a major shift in their technical philosophy. Yamaha has taken a bold step forward with a completely new project, and their full support is helping us adapt quickly and effectively to this new bike.
The 2026 season represents a fresh start in many ways. While we welcome back Jack Miller, the new bike and the arrival of Toprak Razgatlıoğlu bring new challenges and a natural learning curve for everyone involved – an exciting phase where adaptability will be key.
We strongly believe in our rider line-up. Jack‘s experience, including his familiarity with V-engine bikes, will be invaluable in development, while Toprak will be given the time he needs to learn a new bike, new tyres and a new championship. His talent is exceptional and we know he can surprise us from the very beginning.
There is a strong determination within the team to help bring Yamaha back to where they belong. With their commitment, our structure and the talent of our riders, we are confident we can grow together and truly ’Rev Your Heart‘.”
Jack Miller. Photo courtesy Prima Pramac Team
JACK MILLER – Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP Rider:
“Kicking off a new season with the same crew feels good. There‘s a lot to be said for continuity in this paddock and coming back into the garage knowing the people, the work ethic and the direction makes a big difference.
“Last year was a proper learning year for me with Yamaha. We had some strong moments, worked through a few tough ones but ultimately built a solid base together. I genuinely enjoyed the challenge of adapting and figuring things out as the season went on.
“Now with the V4 as our race bike for the season, it feels like a fresh chapter. It‘s an exciting project to be part of and there‘s a real sense of belief behind it. I‘m proud to be continuing with Prima Pramac Yamaha and keen to see where we can take this thing.”
Toprak Razgatlıoğlu. Photo courtesy Prima Pramac Team
TOPRAK RAZGATLIOGLU – Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP rider:
“Today is a very special moment for me to join the Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP family. The team‘s history and its strong partnership with Yamaha played a key role in my decision. This is a new chapter in my career, and I want to approach it with a long-term development mindset from the very beginning.
The first tests with the new YZR-M1 V4 have been positive, especially in terms of acceleration and corner exit. Of course, this is just the start — in MotoGP, performance comes from continuous work, data sharing and step-by-step improvement, and that is our focus right now.
My main objective this season is development: adapting to MotoGP, understanding the bike and the level of competition, and building consistency race by race. Results matter, but at this stage the process is the priority.
I‘ve found a very strong and motivated team here, and I‘m grateful to Prima Pramac Yamaha and to Yamaha for their trust and support. I will give my best every lap, and with patience, commitment and teamwork, I believe we are heading in the right direction.”
Gerardo and Martinez Join Nassaney and Collins for the 2026 MotoAmerica Supersport Season.
In his third season with Altus Motorsports, Torin Collins moves from Suzuki to Yamaha for the Supersport Championship. Photo courtesy Altus Motorsports
Torin Collins returns for his 3rd season with Altus, piloting the Yamaha R9 in the MotoAmerica Supersport class. Collins finished 9th overall in Supersport last season and made significant improvements with his pace. He is more determined then ever to be a consistent top rider.
Jaret Nassaney will be returning for his 12th season competing in MotoAmerica. Nassaney improved all of last season and battled in the top 10 the last few rounds aboard the Altus Yamaha R9.
Maximiliano “Maxi” Gerardo earns a full-time Altus Yamaha ride for 2026 following his Laguna Seca appearance. Photo courtesy Altus Motorsports
Max Gerardo has joined the Altus team racing in Supersport. Gerardo filled in last season at Laguna and rode with impressive top 10 finishes in both races. Gerardo brings international experience along with the skill set to put him fighting at the top.
Austin Martinez completes the Altus Motorsports Supersport lineup, racing a Suzuki in 2026. Photo courtesy Altus Motorsports
Austin Martinez is the newest member joining the Altus Team. This will be Austin’s first season competing in MotoAmerica Supersport and is excited to show his talent. Surrounding himself with experienced riders and the Altus Team will give Martinez a competitive advantage.
“We have put together an incredible lineup for 2026,”said Janette Nassaney, Altus Motorsports Co-Owner.“A mixture of returning talent and new riders, this team is poised for an incredible season. The Team Manager and Technical Director Boyd Brunner has brought on seasoned staff to make sure our riders will have success. Thibault Few and Michael Murphy will provide our riders technical data that is crucial every weekend. Our riders and crew share a commitment to excellence and embody the family-team atmosphere that Altus is known for. With everyone working together, we’re confident this season will bring consistent podium finishes and incredible moments on and off the track.”
“I am very excited to get the season started. Last season we had a lot of learning on the Yamaha R9, but made great improvements at the end of the season. We are proud to announce several new sponsors Parts Unlimited and MOTUL along with returning sponsors Buy A Jet From Steve Main and Barnett Clutches. Without these sponsors along with the rest of our family of sponsors this would not be possible.”Said Co-Owner George Nassaney
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Altus Motorsports team is supported by our great family of sponsors: Altus Motorsports, Parts Unlimited, MOTUL, Yamaha, Buy A Jet From Steve Main, Barnett, Hot Bodies Racing, Vortex EK, Motion Pro, SBS Brakes, BrakeTech USA, Inc., GB Racing, Maxima Racing Oils, K-Tech, Orient Express, Attack Racing, RS Taichi, Arai, Core Moto, PUIG, Pro Bolt, Chicken Hawk Tire Warmers, TechSpec Tank Grip, and Altus Factory Racing
“Coaches Challenge” Indoor Event featured Honda 50s on Concrete with star racers.
The 50th annual Motorcycle SuperShow at the International Centre, presented by the cooperators, featured the debut of a Super Sonic Road Race School organized Mini racer demonstration event. A series of heat and final races over three days highlighted many of the top instructors used at Super Sonic’s variety of summer go kart track venues, as well as guest celebrities including Kawasaki Superbike hero Jordan Szoke – Canadas’s most successful Pro competitor.
The temporary convention hall circuit set-up was tight and busy, with a concrete surface that didn’t allow ultimate traction for the popular small-wheeled, learner dirt bike-based Honda single cylinder 50cc racers. The seven-turn layout featured three “long lap” sections, with an agreement among competitors that the leader would take the detour every time it was available.
Over the three days of the Consumer Show, most of the time the on-track race leader took the extra section of track, a wider line. Sometimes that leader was joined by other competitors due to timing and proximity, so close together was the field. Some front runners didn’t follow the long lap rule’s structure, and track limits were also a challenge, certainly late in the short races when officials clamped down on riding standards.
Saturday evening Feature race action at the Super Sonic Road Race School Honda 50 Mini Demo races at the International Motorcycle SuperShow in Toronto, with (Left to Right) Eric Tanasic, Tomas Casas, Jordan Szoke and Cole Alexander fighting for first in turn two. Photo by Colin Fraser
“T.V. Tommy” Casas, a front runner on the FAST Riding School Suzuki GSX-R750 during the most recent Bridgestone CSBK National Supersport National at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park last August, was the early pace setter when activities got underway on Friday afternoon, January 9.
A key instructor for the Super Sonic Road Race School since it’s inception, Casas has also attended the MotoMini World finals in Valencia to help coach Canada’s front runners. It also helps that he speaks Spanish!
Casas took the opening win , but then tumbled unhurt early in part two, loosing time while waiting to remount his machine in traffic. Alex Tanasic, father of Super Sonic protégé Stefan, won Friday’s evening main event, where Jordan Szoke made his first appearance to much acclaim.
14-year-old Stefan Tanasic and the rest of his racer family have been training in Florida in preparation for moving to “big wheel” action with a Kawasaki 500 in the Lightweight category next season.
Canadian Kawasaki Superbike racer and Canada’s most successful Superbike National competitor, Jordan Szoke, celebrates one of his Honda 50 mounted wins at the indoor Mini Road race demonstration event held in conjunction with the International Motorcycle SuperShow in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, January 9-11. Photo by Colin Fraser
Saturday afternoon’s program got under way with Tanasic loosing a Heat win for a last lap Track Limits violation, and issue that was typically only enforced late in each event. This ruling moved Lightweight ace Jared Walker to the top of the box in the winner’s circle. In race two, Walker again just edged Casas.
The third race of the afternoon was the Feature, run in front of a big crowd, and Walker worked hard to edge Casas and Alan Burns before Casas got disqualified for Track Limits issues.
After running up front, Walker passed his bike and leathers off to rising Lightweight star Cole Alexander for the Saturday evening Show, and Alexander was immediately at the front, a threat to Casas and the returning Szoke.
Alexander plans to run in the Bridgestone csbk middleweight class with a GSX-R750 in 2026.
Tanasic won Saturday’s later opener from Alexander, and then in heat two Szoke held off Cole and Casas, these three setting a torrid pace in the quickest laps of the weekend. In race three, Casas won from Cole and Szoke while Tanasic was again dinged for Track Limits. Tanasic then fell, unhurt, out of contention for the win in race four, Casas winning from Cole and Szoke.
“T.V. Tommy” Casas takes a tumble in Mini 50 Demo race action during the Super Sonic Road Race School demonstration event for Honda 50s at the International Motorcycle Supershow in Toronto. The two-time Bridgestone CSBK Canadian National Super Sport champion was uninjured and won several races over three days of indoor action, although he skipped Sunday’s deciding race. Photo by Colin Frasee
Saturday’s second set of races would mark the popular Alexander’s only race appearance, but the 19-year-old certainly made a strong impression at the front.
The drop-in front runner for Sunday early set of races was HB Cycle’s Ben Hudson, the racer taking the biggest chances on the circuit that used spray Cola as a traction agent! Hudson wound up a lap down after a fall in the opener, with a returning Walker winning from Tanasic and another new recruit, Andrew Leim.
Hudson found form with the win in race two, edging Walker and Tanasic. Casas was not in attendance, meaning the event was short a pace setter. Leim took the point for the win in race three, ahead of Burns and Tanasic, and then Hudson won again to earn the overall.
Canadian Motorcycle Hall of Famer, former AMA Superbike and World Endurance racer, MotoMini Team Canada World Mini Captain, and Super Sonic Road Race School owner Toni Sharpless with some of the instructors who raced at the Mini Demo during the International Motorcycle SuperShow, January 9-11, in Toronto. Left to Right: Tomas Casas, Eric Tanasic, Sharpless, Darin Marshall, Jared Walker, and Alan Burns. Photo by Colin Fraser
For Sunday afternoon’s last set of races in the program of six events, crowd fave Szoke returned and agreed the track did not have the traction of the night before. Even so, Szoke went first/third/first/first to net a popular overall victory.
Organizer Toni Sharpless aims to turn the Instructor and Celebrity demonstration events of January 2026 into a more significant indoor competition in years to come. Crowd response certainly suggest that the opportunity is there at the International Centre.
The first global programme in motorsport aimed at creating grassroots equality opens applications for the upcoming season on the Road to MotoGP™.
Federations and unions from around the world can now apply to become part of the 2026 FIM MotoMini World Series. The first global programme in motorsport aimed at creating grassroots equality, the Series is designed to standardise MotoMini competitions from around the world under the same umbrella and provide an equal stepping stone for all.
There are two classes: 160cc and 190cc. Applications to run a 190cc Series may only be made by those who have already run a 160cc Series. Applications should be made by National Federations or CONUs (Continental Unions) and are open until the 28th of February 2026.
FIM MotoMini National Cup: organised by or through one FMN (National Federation)
FIM MotoMini Regional Cup: organised by or through various FMNs
FIM MotoMini Continental Cup: organised by or through a CONU
Each Series must comprise five events and a total minimum of 10 races per category.
Applications are to be made to the FIM, via an application form that the FIM will provide to each National/Continental Union.
Once the application period closes in February, the FIM will select the competitions that will form the 2026 FIM MotoMini World Series and inform the competitions whose applications to add a 190cc Series have been accepted.
All Series must apply for the 2026 season through the official Application Form, attaching the calendar and entry lists and complying with the 2026 conditions, and send it to FIM and Dorna minimum of 3 months before the first event and latest by the 28th of February 2026. It is mandatory for all series to have the 160cc category (series cannot have only the 190cc category).
The 2026 guide provides a comprehensive look at the regulations, conditions, equipment, technical requirements and next steps for each FMN/CONU, promoter or interested party looking to apply to become part of the FIM MotoMini World Series.
PICKERINGTON, Ohio — The AMA Ice Race Grand Championship will run Feb. 7-8 at the Leisure Lake Family Campground in Sumner, Mich., with two days jam-packed with racing across a number of classes.
“We look forward to getting up to Michigan and enjoying a weekend on the ice while we crown a collection of AMA National Champions with No. 1 plates in ice racing,” AMA Track Racing Manager Ken Saillant said. “We always enjoy this event and we can’t wait for another exciting couple of days of racing action.”
The AMA Ice Race Grand Championships provide the only opportunities in which a racer can earn an AMA National No. 1 plate in amateur ice racing. Not only will AMA No. 1 plates be on the line, but racers will also compete for AMA Ice Racer of the Year, AMA Vet/Senior Ice Racer of the Year and AMA Youth Racer of the Year.
Hosted by Team CDI Racing, a chartered AMA and AMA District 14 Club, the AMA Ice Race Grand Championship will contain a wide-range of classes across several tire distinctions, including Quad Studded, Quad Rubber, Motorcycle Studded, Motorcycle Rubber and Sidecar Rubber.
Founded in 1924, the AMA is a not-for-profit member-based association whose mission is to promote the motorcycle lifestyle and protect the future of motorcycling. As the world’s largest motorcycling rights and event sanctioning organization, the AMA advocates for riders’ interests at all levels of government and sanctions thousands of competition and recreational events every year. Besides offering members money-saving discounts on products and services, the AMA also publishes American Motorcyclist, a recently revitalized and monthly full-color magazine (and digital version of same) that covers current events and motorcycle history with brilliant photography and compelling writing. American Motorcyclist is also North America’s largest-circulation motorcycle magazine. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio, the AMA honors the heroes and heritage of motorcycling. For more information, visit AmericanMotorcyclist.com.
More from a press release issued by KTM Factory Racing:
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing and Eli Tomac race to Anaheim 1 Supercross victory.
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing opened the 2026 AMA Supercross Championship with a pair of convincing podium performances tonight at Anaheim 1, where Eli Tomac captured a spectacular 450SX Main Event victory and with teammate Jorge Prado claiming third position.
In his SMX World Championship debut with KTM, Tomac set the quickest time in Qualifying 1 and then was P2 on combined times onboard the KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION within the famed Angel Stadium.
The decorated two-time 450SX Champion from Cortez, Colorado, managed a strong start in 450SX Heat 1, charging to second position and holding firm to secure a direct transfer into the Main Event.
Following an initial race restart, the 33-year-old Tomac moved to the front of the field on the opening lap of the Main Event and controlled the race from the head of the pack, eventually taking the checkered flag with a closing advantage of 1.470 seconds in clinching the season-opening win – marking the 54th of his career in the premier division.
Eli Tomac (3) at Anaheim 1. Photo courtesy Red Bull KTM Factory Racing.
Eli Tomac: “This one feels good! Leading from the get-go like that is tough, because you need to really maintain focus the whole time, but my motorcycle was the best it was all day in the Main Event after a slight adjustment from the Heat Race. We went in the right direction, and this is the perfect way to start a new season and with my new team in Red Bull KTM Factory Racing. After a big off-season with both myself and the team testing and developing all over the place, it means a lot to achieve this early success together.”
Making his first appearance with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing in Supercross, multi-time MXGP World Champion Prado qualified an impressive sixth while acclimatizing to the KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION in race conditions, before he powered to the holeshot in the first 450SX Heat Race of the year to hold off a fast-finishing Tomac for P1.
Upon launching to another impressive holeshot in the Main Event, the Spaniard rode a calculated race to earn a first-career Supercross podium finish, making for a significant Red Bull KTM Factory Racing double podium result.
Jorge Prado (26) at Anaheim 1. Photo courtesy Red Bull KTM Factory Racing.
Jorge Prado: “This is really ahead of my expectations – the goal for this weekend was to just get through each session and do the best that I can. I had a great preparation leading into this year, but I am still so new to Supercross. Getting the Heat Race win was awesome, but I am really happy with my Main Event and to be on the podium. I rode within my limits, and still don’t have a lot of words to describe my feelings right now, but all I can say is that hard work always pays off! It’s great to start the season this way, so now we’ll keep learning and look forward to a new opportunity next week.”
In a welcome return to competition, Aaron Plessinger was back in action at Anaheim 1 to open the 2026 season. ‘The Cowboy’ led his Heat Race early on, before contact with another rider ultimately sent him to the Last Chance Qualifier. After winning the LCQ, Plessinger raced his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION forward to 10th place in the Main Event, earning solid points at Round 1.
Aaron Plessinger (7) at Anaheim 1. Photo courtesy Red Bull KTM Factory Racing.
Aaron Plessinger: “Obviously, this wasn’t the Anaheim 1 that I wanted. It started well, but I hit the ground with Coop [Cooper Webb] in the Heat Race, which was unfortunate, but it happens. Good to get the Round 1 jitters out, and I had a few good starts today actually, which was nice. We have a good direction, my setup is in the ballpark, and I came from dead-last in the Main Event to 10th place, which I thought was a good way to rebound. It was a decent ending to a tough start, and now we’ll go back and do some homework for next weekend.”
Next Race: January 17 – San Diego, California
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More from a press release issued by Suzuki Motor USA:
Suzuki’s Ken Roczen charges to second at Anaheim Supercross opener.
Brea, CA – The opening round of the 2026 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship delivered thrilling race action that matched the excitement leading into the season. The Anaheim 1 Supercross pays points toward both the 17-round Supercross season and the 31-round SMX World Championship. Clear skies but high winds challenged the riders and track crew; the dirt inside Angel Stadium was hard packed and slick for the 20-minute plus one lap 450SX Class Main Event.
Race Highlights:
Progressive Insurance Cycle Gear Suzuki
450 Class
Ken Roczen charged past six riders in the opening laps to deliver a second-place result at the Anaheim 1 Supercross.
Twisted Tea Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance
450 Class
Jason Anderson debuted his Twisted Tea Suzuki RM-Z450 with podium heat race and top-five main event results
Colt Nichols battled to earn twelfth-place points.
Ken Roczen (94) kicked off his 2026 Supercross championship campaign with a strong second-place showing inside Angel Stadium. Photo courtesy Suzuki Motor USA
Ken Roczen (94) was on point throughout the day at the Anaheim 1 Supercross. In qualifying, Roczen garnered a top-three result in each session as well as in the overall qualifying standings. In his heat race, Roczen was part of a four-wide battle down the first rhythm lane. Roczen emerged from the second corner with the lead. After an opening-lap battle, Roczen pulled a gap on the field and took the win.
The main event was red flagged on the opening lap due to multi rider-crash. On the re-start, Roczen crossed the holeshot stripe in eighth place and immediately worked his way toward the front. Roczen moved his Suzuki into fourth place before the third corner and was into the top three within one lap. Roczen pushed into second place just one lap later, then set the fastest lap time of the race. Roczen kept the leader in his sights as he put down a blistering pace from that point until the checkered flag.
“Anaheim is done and dusted. We had a really good day the entire day in qualifying, the heat race, and the main,”said Roczen. “We got first in the heat race and then went to the main where we had a really good battle with [the race leader]. We pretty much kept the same gap for the entire race and [both of us] put a big gap on third. We just rode our own race. The track was really tricky, very slippery and it broke down, so it was very easy to make mistakes. I’m really happy to get away with a second place here; it’s a great start to the season and now the focus is on the next round.”
Fresh off of his 2025 FIM World Supercross Championship aboard his Suzuki RM-Z450, Jason Anderson (21) put his Suzuki into the top five at his AMA debut with the Twisted Tea Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance team. Photo courtesy Suzuki Motor USA
Jason Anderson (21) progressed through both qualifying sessions to post a top-five session 2 and overall qualifying result. In his heat race, Anderson bumped with another rider in the first turn; he recovered brilliantly from the mid-pack start and earned a top-five result. In the main, Anderson launched off to a fifth-place start. In the opening minutes of the race, Anderson sliced under another rider to take over fourth position; he defended the spot until the final laps and ultimately crossed the finish line in fifth place.
“We ended up fifth on the night. It was a pretty eventful night for everyone, and for me it was solid,”stated Anderson. “I’ve been a little bit under the weather but was able to manage the race with a decent start and ended up fifth. We’ll see if we can get better from there.”
Colt Nichols (45) charged past seven riders in the Anaheim 1 Supercross Main Event to card a top-fifteen result. Photo courtesy Suzuki Motor USA
After sliding out in the first turn of his heat race, Colt Nichols (45) cut through the pack but ran out of time before reaching a direct transfer position. Nichols rode a smart LCQ to earn a spot on the starting gate for the main. Nichols’ night ended like it began, with a charge through the pack after a tough start in the main. Nichols passed seven riders to move from nineteenth up to a strong twelfth-place result at the checkers.
“2026 A1 was better than 2025, so we will take it,”said Nichols.“In my heat race I had a crash off the start. My bike got a little tweaked up, but I came back to 12th. I had to go the LCQ, so I made it kind of hard on myself today. We started last in the main; we had to fight all the way up to a P-12. I’m happy. We’ve got a lot of room to improve so that’s the exciting thing. It was a good first race and I still feel like we’ve got a lot of room to go, so we’ll keep plugging away and try and get better every week.”
“It was a good night for the PMG Team Suzuki race team,”reported Larry Books, Team Manger of the Twisted Tea/H.E.P. Motorsports/Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance teams.“The first round is always extremely stressful. Ken Roczen, like he always does, pulled through with a podium and finished second. Jason Anderson, still getting used to the bike, finished fifth tonight. And Colt Nichols, after his crash in his heat race, came back and finished 12th in the main event. So, we had three Suzukis in the top 12. I’m pretty stoked. The night went good, I think all of our sponsors are pretty happy with us, and we’re just going to roll on into round two and keep this momentum going.”
The 17-round Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship will next line the riders up inside Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, California on January 17th. The Suzuki riders and team members are ready to continue the battle for the championship and start the 2026 season with more strong performances and results.
Steady Opening Race for Honda HRC Progressive at Anaheim 1 SX.
Honda HRC Progressive’s approach to the 2026 AMA Supercross season opener at Anaheim, California’s Angel Stadium was defined by strategic patience, with the team focused on capitalizing on opportunities while minimizing unnecessary risk. That mindset paid off in the main events, as Hunter Lawrence and Chance Hymas delivered strong, measured rides to earn fourth- and second-place finishes, respectively.
Lawrence got a strong second-place start in the 450SX main event, and although the race was halted by a lap-1 red flag, the restart saw him start well again, in third. He slipped back two positions early on and spent the bulk of the race trying to get around Jason Anderson. After recovering from a scary off-track excursion in a rhythm section with just a few minutes remaining, he made a pass stick and challenged the third-place rider before ultimately ending the race fourth.
Hymas barely missed out on the 250SX main-event holeshot and ran second to Ryder DiFrancesco in the early going. A fierce battle for second with Cameron McAdoo and Max Anstie ensued, and although Hymas slipped to third in the middle part of the race, he ultimately finished a solid second behind Anstie.
Hunter Lawrence (96) at Anaheim 1. Photo courtesy Honda HRC
Hunter Lawrence:“That was my best A1 to date. I said to myself that I’d be content with a top-five finish. I really wanted to get the win, but we’re still working, chipping away. I think we’re in a great spot to make progress where we want to and hopefully get that worked out. But I’m okay with tonight, for sure; this is one of my worst venues if you look back over my career, so I’m happy to move forward.”
Chance Hymas (29) at Anaheim 1. Photo courtesy Honda HRC
Chance Hymas:“The first round at A1 was really good for me-third overall in qualifying, third in the heat race, second in the main was really good. I wanted some consistent laps; I made a few mistakes, but we’ll clean it up for next weekend.”
Lars Lindstrom – Team manager:“This was for sure one of the smoothest A1s that we’ve ever had as a team, and for me as the team manager. We all came in prepared, and from parking the trucks to pulling out at the end of the night, everything went to plan; I’m proud of the team for that. I’m also really happy with our results; we wanted to get through the first one safe and get some good points, which we accomplished. I’m super stoked for Chance. It was his first race back since knee surgery, and he showed he is one of the top guys in SX, not only MX. Before the 450 race, we talked about a top-five, with a hopeful podium, so we can’t be disappointed with a fourth, especially since the last two A1s have been a bit tough for Hunter! He didn’t ride to his full potential, so that makes me excited for the rest of the series, since he tends to improve throughout the season.”
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More from a press release issued by Kawasaki:
Monster Engery Kawasaki opens the 2026 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship at Angel Stadium.
Monster Energy® Kawasaki kicked off their 2026 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship efforts at the iconic Anaheim season opener. Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Chase Sexton lined up behind the gate for his much-anticipated racing debut with the team. The No. 4 Kawasaki set the pace early in qualifying with the fastest time. After battling through adversity during the night show, he would come out of the night with a Top 10 finish in seventh place. Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki riders Levi Kitchen and Cameron McAdoo showed a strong pace early through qualifying and the heat races. Kitchen would go on to add a Top 10 finish with a sixth-place result in the 250SX Main Event, and McAdoo salvaged 22nd place after an incident with another rider.
In 450SX Qualifying, Sexton commanded the track aboard his KX™450SR, earning fastest qualifier by over half a second over the competition. Garrett Marchbanks showed flashes of speed while he adjusted to the new track and the 450 Class, qualifying 17th heading into the night show.
Both Monster Energy Kawasaki riders lined up behind the gate for 450 Heat 2. Sexton rocketed off the start to grab the holeshot and quickly lead the field around the track. On Lap 2, Sexton suffered a setback as he went down on the face of the over-under tunnel. He rebounded just outside the Top 10 and put his head down to finish the race in fifth place. Marchbanks had a less-than-ideal start and got shuffled back near mid-pack. After experiencing some challenges throughout the race, the No. 36 finished just outside of a qualifying spot in 10th place, sending him to the Last Chance Qualifier.
In the 450SX LCQ, Marchbanks pulled a much stronger start, placing himself inside the Top 3. An incident in the whoops dropped him back to 15th, but he remounted and fought through the field to finish 10th, ending his chances of lining up for the main event.
In the 450SX Main Event, Sexton would be squeezed out on the start with his far inside gate pick. While moving through the field, a multi-rider incident caused a red flag that stopped the race on the opening lap. Sexton would go back to the gate, focused and prepared for a full restart. As the gate dropped, the No. 4 pulled a stronger start inside the Top 10. Sexton battled the tricky, deteriorating track to pass his competitors, only for mistakes to set him back again. Although he was the fastest rider in two sectors of the track, he was forced to settle for eighth place. Sexton leaves Round 1 with a strong foundation and valuable data to learn from as the season goes into Round 2 at San Diego.
250 Main Event Start at Anaheim 1. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
In 250SX qualifying, Kitchen topped both sessions to take fastest qualifier, while his teammate McAdoo qualified just inside the Top 10 in 10th place.
In the 250 Heat 1, McAdoo got a strong jump off the gate and placed himself inside the Top 3. He battled the field and moved into second place to finish the race. In Heat 2, Kitchen rode a similar race, with a Top 3 start and second-place finish. The teammates’ strong heat race results set them up with ideal gate picks for the main event.
In the 250 Main Event, Kitchen and McAdoo pulled strong starts, running side by side into the first turn. Kitchen would get caught up in the chaos of the first turn and drop back to 22nd, while McAdoo shined at the front of the field in second place. Kitchen put on an impressive come-from-behind run, working his way up through the field, finishing just outside the Top 5 in sixth place. McAdoo flowed through the race up front until midway through, when another rider cross-jumped, causing him to go down. The No.142 pulled into the mechanics area for a brief moment before heading back out on the track. Unable to make up positions due to his time off the track, McAdoo would take 22nd on the night.
Chase Sexton (4) at Anaheim 1. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
“The day started off well with earning fastest qualifier. I felt really comfortable on the track and felt like I had the speed to contend up front. Unfortunately, I had a couple of mistakes during the heat race and main event that forced me to work my way through the field. It’s only the first round, and we have a good base to build off. We’ve got some work to do, but I know we’re capable of improving and putting up better results next week.” – Chase Sexton
Garrett Marchbanks (36) at Anaheim 1. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
“Today was a tough one for me and not how I expected or would have liked for it to go. I felt good during qualifying, and I had good speed throughout sections of the track. Poor starts and mistakes on my part led to me being out of the mix. I know what the team and I are capable of and we will show it next weekend. This will be a learning experience for me and we’ll move forward.” – Garrett Marchbanks
Levi Kitchen (47) at Anaheim 1. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
“It felt good to start the season with the fastest qualifying time. The speed is there, and the bike felt great all day. The main event didn’t go how we wanted off the gate, but salvaging a sixth after being that far back is something to build on. It’s a long season, and this is just the beginning.” – Levi Kitchen
Cameron McAdoo (142) at Anaheim 1. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
“It felt great to be back behind the gate and racing again. The heat race and the start of the main showed what we’re capable of, and I felt comfortable up front. I had another rider cross jump me, which led me to crash, and I had to go into the mechanics area for a while. I went back out and salvaged as much of the race as I could, but tonight wasn’t our night. We’ll come back next week prepared and ready to fight.” – Cameron McAdoo
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More from a press release issued by Husqvarna:
Podium for Ryder DiFrancesco and Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing at A1.
New Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing recruit Ryder DiFrancesco delivered an exceptional third-place finish at Anaheim’s 2026 AMA Supercross Championship opener on Saturday night, racing to a first-career 250SX podium result after leading his share of laps in the Main Event.
Western division standout DiFrancesco started the day strongly inside Angel Stadium, qualifying fourth during the afternoon session and dialing in his Husqvarna FC 250 Factory Edition to quickly find comfort in the technical, dry conditions.
Lining up for the second Heat Race of the event, the 20-year-old recovered from a difficult start to climb to fifth position, continuing his early-season form to head directly into the Main Event.
DiFrancesco was fast out of the gate in the Main Event, scoring an important holeshot and holding onto the lead through the opening stages of the race. In the end, the popular Californian would find himself on the 250SX podium for the first time in his young career with a well-earned third-place result.
Ryder DiFrancesco (340 at Anaheim 1. Photo courtesy Husqvarna
“Today was good!”reflected DiFrancesco.“All day, I just wanted to be on the board in each practice, then the Heat Race was just okay. In the Main Event, we got the holeshot, and then I just tried not to look back from there – I wanted to lead as many laps as I could, and tonight was a big learning step. We’d like to lead more laps next weekend, continue to build, and try to land on the podium like this each weekend to give us a good shot at the title. This cements the work we’ve done in the off-season – I’m ready for more, now.”
RJ Hampshire (24) at Anaheim 1. Photo courtesy Husqvarna
In his first full Supercross season in the 450SX ranks, RJ Hampshire posted the 11th-fastest qualifying time in the afternoon at Anaheim 1, as he continues to build comfort and familiarity onboard the Husqvarna FC 450 Factory Edition in the tight confines of stadium competition.
Hampshire managed to finish in eighth position following his Heat Race, before a costly fall in the whoop section early in the Main Event impacted his final result on the night. The focus now shifts to next weekend in San Diego for the former 250SX West title winner.
“A1 was a challenge all day,”commented Hampshire.“I started out alright and was building throughout the day, but then in the Heat Race I unfortunately got tagged and went down. We aimed for an entry into the Main Event from there, which we were able to, and I was in a decent spot after the race restart once we got going in the Main. By the third or fourth lap in, I had a big one in the whoops, so that made for a tough night in the end. The main thing for Round 1 was building experience, getting some data for the bike to further develop a Supercross setting for me, and I think we’ll be much better from next weekend onwards.”
Following a solid off-season, that momentum continued for 450SX challenger Malcolm Stewart and his Husqvarna FC 450 Factory Edition during the sold-out Anaheim 1 season-opener, where he powered to the fourth-fastest qualifying time leading into the night program.
The experienced fan favorite then recorded sixth position in his Heat Race and had his sights set on a strong Main Event, however, Stewart’s night would come to an abrupt end following a scary multi-rider incident on the opening lap. He sustained a left shoulder injury in the impact, with further updates on his status to be made once available.
Chris Clark – the first American to win a race in the Yamaha R3 BLU CRU World Cup – will return to Europe for the 2026 season with his hopes set firmly on the title he narrowly missed in 2025.
Remaining with the Panattoni BGR Smrz Racing squad for a third consecutive year, the #5 American rider looks to build on a successful 2025 that saw him finish fifth overall with three podium finishes including a maiden win in the season opener.
With a full year’s experience under his belt Chris is determined to once again be at the sharp end when the six round, twelve race series gets underway in May.
Testing will begin in Spain in the coming weeks.
Further announcements regarding his 2026 partners will follow in due course.
Chris Clark on the podium after his victory at Portimao. Photo courtesy Chris Clark Racing
Chris Clark:“I am super happy to finally announce my 2026 and am super happy to be remaining with the Panattoni BGR Smrz Racing team. To be able to continue to work with Kuba (Smrz) and all the same guys as I have for the past couple of seasons is really special. We built a solid foundation over the last two years, and I am so grateful to Kuba especially for giving me a shot to move to the WorldSBK paddock and continuing to stick with me. I have learned so much and I am ready to put it all into practice. I want to be fighting for wins at every round and as much as I want to win the title I want to win it for them. As a team we have a good chance, we work well together and I hope that this year we can bring it home. I want to also thank everyone who has made this possible, especially my mom, my manager, and my sponsors. See you at Round One!”
Marco Bezzecchi (on the left) and Jorge Martín (on the right) with the new Aprilia RS-GP26. Photo courtesy Aprilia Racing.
A roaring 2026 for Aprilia Racing.
Aprilia Racing officially unveiled the Aprilia RS-GP26, entrusted for the second year in a row to Marco Bezzecchi and Jorge Martín for the 2026 MotoGP season. The proudly Italian bike has a strong technological and sport identity which represents the cutting edge of a continuously developing project.
The big change for the RS-GP26 livery, which maintains the iconic Aprilia Racing colours, is the presence of a noble symbol from our history – the lion which is part of Aprilia Racing’s DNA. Besides representing the strong ties with the territory, the Leone Alato – symbol of Venice, located just a few kilometres from Aprilia Racing headquarters in Noale – embodies values which fully reflect the identity of the team and its riders: power, strength, determination, and courage. It is the emblem of a team that never gives up, capable of stubbornly tackling difficulties and re-emerging even stronger and more steadfast.
The goal for 2026 is to improve on the results from last season, the most victorious ever for Aprilia Racing, ending with second place in the Manufacturers Championship at 418 points, breaking the 400 barrier for the first time in its history, and third place in the Riders Championship with Marco Bezzecchi at 353 points – the best result ever for a rider in Aprilia Racing’s MotoGP history. Adding to this are numerous impressive statistics: 19 podiums in all, with 3 sprint race wins and 4 long race wins, 5 pole positions to tie the previous record, and the 300th win for the Noale-based manufacturer in the Australian GP. This milestone, which later increased to 302, confirmed Aprilia Racing as the most victorious European manufacturer in the history of World Motorcycle Grand Prix Racing.
Defending the colours for the manufacturer from Noale in the 2026 season will be Marco Bezzecchi and Jorge Martín. In 2025, the Italian rider was the protagonist of an extremely high-level season which placed him third overall in the Riders World Championship standings, with a performance that consecrated him as the best rider in Aprilia Racing history. Bezzecchi is approaching 2026 with the goal of reconfirming his status at the top of the category and continuing the upward trend begun with the team.
Jorge Martín, who will be on track with number 89 on his front fairing, is preparing to tackle a new season after a 2025 conditioned by injuries. For the Spanish rider, 2026 represents the start of a new chapter, which he is facing with determination and the desire to fully express his potential.
Supporting the factory riders, Lorenzo Savadori is confirmed as tester, after his immense contribution in recent years to the development and growth of the RS-GP.
Aprilia RS-GP26 represents an important evolution for Aprilia Racing’s MotoGP project. Each detail has been redesigned in order to be able to battle at top levels and consolidate Aprilia Racing’s position among the protagonists of MotoGP. Every area of the bike has been improved, from the further refined aerodynamics to the chassis architecture and all the way to the electronics and V4 engine, which underwent extensive development in every component not restricted by championship regulations. The technical office in Noale, led by Fabiano Sterlacchini, tackled this new challenge remaining faithful to their DNA and developing a bike that makes innovation an indispensable anchor of their vision.
The RS-GP26 will also be the latest evolution of a technical cycle which has placed the fastest bikes in MotoGP history on the track, thanks to extreme aerodynamics, ride height devices, and 1000cc engines which will no longer be permitted by the technical regulations from 2027. For these reasons, the RS-GP26 will be the fastest prototype ever built in Aprilia Racing history.
Marco Bezzecchi and Jorge Martín will continue to be able to count on a solid and united team, with the support of official tester Lorenzo Savadori and Trackhouse MotoGP Team, with Raúl Fernández and Ai Ogura. The Trackhouse project, conceived as a strategic partner and not as a simple satellite team, continues to represent a fundamental resource for the continued development of the RS-GP, providing invaluable data and contributing to the innovation process.
Marco Bezzecchi on his new Aprilia RS-GP26. Photo courtesy Aprilia.
MARCO BEZZECCHI: “I’m happy to finally be getting back to talking about bikes. I am anxious to start and we have a lot of work to do, although we never really stopped. In Noale, the company is working intensely and I have been training constantly. I am highly motivated and I can’t wait to have fun in the saddle. The 2025 season finale was extremely positive and that boosts our confidence even more. The goal is to start the season straight away in the best possible way and to continue doing a good job.”
Jorge Martín on his new Aprilia RS-GP26. Photo courtesy Aprilia.
JORGE MARTÍN: “After our experience last year along with Aprilia and the latest extremely important tests in Valencia, the goal now is to keep growing together. I’m sure there will be a lot of work to do at the start of the season, but we are well aware of where we need to improve. This will be a year where I want to get back to battling for the top spots and winning. As soon as I am at 100% fitness, we’ll be ready for anything.”
Lorenzo Savadori on his new Aprilia RS-GP26. Photo courtesy Aprilia.
LORENZO SAVADORI: “I can’t wait for 2026 to begin. The primary objective is to continue improving the bike, advancing the work and the path we began in 2025, in order to see Aprilia consistently at the front. I’ll be riding in a few wild-card spots throughout the season, and I’ll be giving it my all to contribute to developing the RS-GP26. In addition to all this, around April, we’ll also begin working and developing in view of 2027.”
MASSIMO RIVOLA, CEO APRILIA RACING: “We’re tackling the 2026 season well aware of what we are and where we want to be. We are coming from a solid 2025 which allowed us to reach an extremely high level of competitiveness, and the goal now is to battle in every race. We’ll be following two different paths in the garage. On one side, we’re keen to pick up from the same level where we left off at the end of last season with Marco, and on the other, we’ll be building a lot with Jorge. We believe very much in the RS-GP26 and we maintain that it has great potential, as do our riders.”
The presentation of the Aprilia Racing MotoGP Team at the Sky Studios in Milan was produced and realized by Sky Sport e Sky Content Factory.
Ricky Brabec (9) takes the overall lead in Stage 10. Photo courtesy Honda HRC.
Van Beveren storms stage 10 as Brabec takes Dakar Rally lead.
Stage 10 of the 2026 Dakar Rally delivered yet another dramatic swing in fortunes, as Adrien Van Beveren returned to top form with a dominant stage win, while Ricky Brabec emerged as the new overall leader.
Following a night of marathon-stage camping, riders set off early toward Bisha in Saudi Arabia’s Asir Province.A brutal 368 km special across soft, energy-draining dunes tested both endurance and concentration, with competitors pushing themselves to the limit before finally reuniting with their teams at the finish.
Van Beveren was outstanding throughout the day and by drawing on his vast experience in the sand – including three victories at the Le Touquet beach race – the Monster Energy Honda HRC rider looked completely at ease on the towering dunes.As he reeled in Tosha Schareina, Brabec, and Michael Docherty, he maximised the opportunity to collect bonus time from the front.
Although Luciano Benavides mounted a strong charge midway through the stage, Van Beveren kept his composure and pace to secure his seventh career Dakar stage win, finishing 3’49” ahead of Brabec.On his 11th Dakar appearance, it was a statement ride and one that confirmed his early rally issues are firmly behind him as he eyes further success before Saturday’s finish.
Brabec’s day was equally impressive, if more calculated.Starting fourth, the American used the tracks ahead to his advantage.His rhythm was briefly interrupted when he stopped to check on Daniel Sanders following his crash in the dunes, but he quickly regrouped to claim second place.A 1’37” time credit for assisting Sanders proved crucial, lifting Brabec to the top of the overall standings.
With the leaderboard reshuffled once again, Brabec now leads the rally by just 56 seconds over Benavides after more than 41 hours of racing.
After winning the previous stage, Schareina faced the difficult task of opening the route and paid the price early, losing 17 minutes within the first 123 km.Later working alongside Brabec to assist Sanders, the Spaniard then settled into a steady rhythm through the relentless dunes.Despite finishing sixth, 5’28” of bonus time for running at the front moved him onto the provisional podium in third overall.With a more favourable starting position tomorrow, he has a strong chance to extend his nearly two-minute gap to Sanders, who is now in fourth.
Skyler Howes continued his consistent Dakar with a solid fourth-place finish, also picking up bonus time.The dune-heavy terrain suited both the American and his Honda CRF450 RALLY and he completed the two-day marathon stage without issue, keeping him fifth overall.
With just three stages remaining, the battle for Dakar honours is wide open.Stage 11 will demand absolute focus as riders head toward Al Henakiyah, facing a punishing 883 km day with no margin for error.
Ruben Faria – General Manager:
“What a stage today! A few months ago in Spain, David Castera said at the Dakar presentation that if you liked dunes, stage ten would be full of them and he was true to his word. There were kilometres of dunes: soft dunes, big dunes, all kinds of dunes. For us, it was a good stage. Tosha had a tough job opening this long stage, but he rode well to finish sixth and climb back onto the podium in third place. Skyler isn’t a fan of dunes, he prefers hard-packed, stony terrain, but he rode a solid stage to finish fourth. Ricky started in a good position, but he caught the front runners early and had to ride alongside Tosha, which made it hard to build a gap. Still, he finished second and took the overall lead, achieving the goal. Adrien is a completely different rider from the first week. He’s riding much better and winning today’s tough stage was a fantastic victory. As for stage 11, we don’t know much yet, based on the map, it looks fast, so we’ll see how it unfolds.”
Ricky Brabec (9):
“The marathon stage was good overall. We got to sleep on the ground, under the stars, it was really cool. Overall, the two days was awesome, we did the best job we could and the outcome is pretty good. If we’re still in a good position for the next three days, we’ll just keep doing the best we can and we’ll keep plugging away. We made it back which is my main goal, my bike is in one piece, so for my mechanics it’s super awesome. The times are super tight, I don’t know if I like it still, but it’s a good race I’m sure for the people watching. We’ll keep fighting, there’s three days to go, hopefully at the end of this thing we’re in the position we want to be in.”
Toprak Razgatlıoğlu on the left and Jack Miller on the right. Photo courtesy Prima Pramac Team
Set against the timeless beauty of Siena‘s historic centre, Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP launches its 2026 MotoGP campaign at the Accademia Musicale Chigiana, just steps from the iconic Piazza del Campo.
Founded in 1923 and recognised as one of the world‘s most prestigious musical institutions, the Accademia Musicale Chigiana is housed in a magnificent historic building in the heart of the city. A place where tradition, excellence and innovation meet, it provides a fitting backdrop for the unveiling of the team‘s new season.
The choice of Siena is deeply symbolic. It reflects the heritage of Pramac, the construction equipment company whose long-term vision and commitment have played a central role in the development of the racing project. In 2026, two important milestones are celebrated: 25 years of competition in the MotoGP World Championship and 60 years of Pramac, making Siena a meaningful setting to mark these anniversaries.
The first season of the technical partnership with Yamaha marked the opening chapter of a long-term project, laying important groundwork for future development. As Yamaha‘s second Factory Team, Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP has begun a learning process that continues into 2026.
The shared objective remains clear: to contribute actively to bringing this ambitious project to where it belongs — at the front of the field.
The Yamaha YZR-M1. Photo courtesy Prima Pramac Team
The 2026 season also marks the MotoGP debut of three-time World Superbike Champion Toprak Razgatlıoğlu, who becomes the first Turkish rider to compete in the premier class. Renowned for his spectacular and instinctive riding style, his transition to MotoGP will be one of the highlights of the season.
Alongside him, Jack Miller once again represents a key pillar of the project. The experienced Australian brings valuable knowledge of the championship and will play an important role in both bike development and race performance.
Stability remains one of the team‘s strengths. The management structure is confirmed for 2026, with a group that has worked together for years and continues to operate with cohesion, efficiency and shared ambition.
A winning partnership remains unchanged at the heart of the project. Prima Assicurazioni will once again be the title sponsor of Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP for the 2026 season, continuing to support the team and its long-term project with Yamaha.
From left to right, Jack Miller, Paolo Campinoti, Gino Borsoi and Toprak Razgatlioglu. Photo courtesy Prima Pramac Team
PAOLO CAMPINOTI – Team Principal, Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP:
“The 2026 season is a special milestone for us, as we celebrate 25 years in the MotoGP World Championship. These years have been full of emotions, challenges and growth, and they have shaped the strong and determined team we are today.
“We are fully focused on continuing the progress required by this ambitious partnership with Yamaha. Now in its second year, this project brings new challenges that we are eager to face with commitment, experience and the full strength of our team.
“I would like to thank Prima Assicurazioni for their continued trust and support, which gives us stability and confidence as we build for the future.
“I am delighted to welcome Toprak Razgatlıoğlu to the team and excited to see his talent and spectacular riding style in Prima Pramac colours. I also want to thank Jack Miller for being with us once again – his experience and contribution are fundamental to our ambitions.”
GINO BORSOI – Team Director, Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP:
“The second year of our partnership with Yamaha is extremely important, especially as it coincides with a major shift in their technical philosophy. Yamaha has taken a bold step forward with a completely new project, and their full support is helping us adapt quickly and effectively to this new bike.
The 2026 season represents a fresh start in many ways. While we welcome back Jack Miller, the new bike and the arrival of Toprak Razgatlıoğlu bring new challenges and a natural learning curve for everyone involved – an exciting phase where adaptability will be key.
We strongly believe in our rider line-up. Jack‘s experience, including his familiarity with V-engine bikes, will be invaluable in development, while Toprak will be given the time he needs to learn a new bike, new tyres and a new championship. His talent is exceptional and we know he can surprise us from the very beginning.
There is a strong determination within the team to help bring Yamaha back to where they belong. With their commitment, our structure and the talent of our riders, we are confident we can grow together and truly ’Rev Your Heart‘.”
Jack Miller. Photo courtesy Prima Pramac Team
JACK MILLER – Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP Rider:
“Kicking off a new season with the same crew feels good. There‘s a lot to be said for continuity in this paddock and coming back into the garage knowing the people, the work ethic and the direction makes a big difference.
“Last year was a proper learning year for me with Yamaha. We had some strong moments, worked through a few tough ones but ultimately built a solid base together. I genuinely enjoyed the challenge of adapting and figuring things out as the season went on.
“Now with the V4 as our race bike for the season, it feels like a fresh chapter. It‘s an exciting project to be part of and there‘s a real sense of belief behind it. I‘m proud to be continuing with Prima Pramac Yamaha and keen to see where we can take this thing.”
Toprak Razgatlıoğlu. Photo courtesy Prima Pramac Team
TOPRAK RAZGATLIOGLU – Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP rider:
“Today is a very special moment for me to join the Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP family. The team‘s history and its strong partnership with Yamaha played a key role in my decision. This is a new chapter in my career, and I want to approach it with a long-term development mindset from the very beginning.
The first tests with the new YZR-M1 V4 have been positive, especially in terms of acceleration and corner exit. Of course, this is just the start — in MotoGP, performance comes from continuous work, data sharing and step-by-step improvement, and that is our focus right now.
My main objective this season is development: adapting to MotoGP, understanding the bike and the level of competition, and building consistency race by race. Results matter, but at this stage the process is the priority.
I‘ve found a very strong and motivated team here, and I‘m grateful to Prima Pramac Yamaha and to Yamaha for their trust and support. I will give my best every lap, and with patience, commitment and teamwork, I believe we are heading in the right direction.”
Jaret Nassaney returns for his 12th MotoAmerica season, leading Altus Motorsports’ 2026 Supersport squad. Photo courtesy Altus Motorsports
Gerardo and Martinez Join Nassaney and Collins for the 2026 MotoAmerica Supersport Season.
In his third season with Altus Motorsports, Torin Collins moves from Suzuki to Yamaha for the Supersport Championship. Photo courtesy Altus Motorsports
Torin Collins returns for his 3rd season with Altus, piloting the Yamaha R9 in the MotoAmerica Supersport class. Collins finished 9th overall in Supersport last season and made significant improvements with his pace. He is more determined then ever to be a consistent top rider.
Jaret Nassaney will be returning for his 12th season competing in MotoAmerica. Nassaney improved all of last season and battled in the top 10 the last few rounds aboard the Altus Yamaha R9.
Maximiliano “Maxi” Gerardo earns a full-time Altus Yamaha ride for 2026 following his Laguna Seca appearance. Photo courtesy Altus Motorsports
Max Gerardo has joined the Altus team racing in Supersport. Gerardo filled in last season at Laguna and rode with impressive top 10 finishes in both races. Gerardo brings international experience along with the skill set to put him fighting at the top.
Austin Martinez completes the Altus Motorsports Supersport lineup, racing a Suzuki in 2026. Photo courtesy Altus Motorsports
Austin Martinez is the newest member joining the Altus Team. This will be Austin’s first season competing in MotoAmerica Supersport and is excited to show his talent. Surrounding himself with experienced riders and the Altus Team will give Martinez a competitive advantage.
“We have put together an incredible lineup for 2026,”said Janette Nassaney, Altus Motorsports Co-Owner.“A mixture of returning talent and new riders, this team is poised for an incredible season. The Team Manager and Technical Director Boyd Brunner has brought on seasoned staff to make sure our riders will have success. Thibault Few and Michael Murphy will provide our riders technical data that is crucial every weekend. Our riders and crew share a commitment to excellence and embody the family-team atmosphere that Altus is known for. With everyone working together, we’re confident this season will bring consistent podium finishes and incredible moments on and off the track.”
“I am very excited to get the season started. Last season we had a lot of learning on the Yamaha R9, but made great improvements at the end of the season. We are proud to announce several new sponsors Parts Unlimited and MOTUL along with returning sponsors Buy A Jet From Steve Main and Barnett Clutches. Without these sponsors along with the rest of our family of sponsors this would not be possible.”Said Co-Owner George Nassaney
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Altus Motorsports team is supported by our great family of sponsors: Altus Motorsports, Parts Unlimited, MOTUL, Yamaha, Buy A Jet From Steve Main, Barnett, Hot Bodies Racing, Vortex EK, Motion Pro, SBS Brakes, BrakeTech USA, Inc., GB Racing, Maxima Racing Oils, K-Tech, Orient Express, Attack Racing, RS Taichi, Arai, Core Moto, PUIG, Pro Bolt, Chicken Hawk Tire Warmers, TechSpec Tank Grip, and Altus Factory Racing
Jordan Szoke dives inside Jared Walker and Erik Tanasic during spec Honda 50 Demonstration races at the International Motorcycle SuperShow, January 9-11, near Toronto’s International Airport. Photo by Colin Fraser
“Coaches Challenge” Indoor Event featured Honda 50s on Concrete with star racers.
The 50th annual Motorcycle SuperShow at the International Centre, presented by the cooperators, featured the debut of a Super Sonic Road Race School organized Mini racer demonstration event. A series of heat and final races over three days highlighted many of the top instructors used at Super Sonic’s variety of summer go kart track venues, as well as guest celebrities including Kawasaki Superbike hero Jordan Szoke – Canadas’s most successful Pro competitor.
The temporary convention hall circuit set-up was tight and busy, with a concrete surface that didn’t allow ultimate traction for the popular small-wheeled, learner dirt bike-based Honda single cylinder 50cc racers. The seven-turn layout featured three “long lap” sections, with an agreement among competitors that the leader would take the detour every time it was available.
Over the three days of the Consumer Show, most of the time the on-track race leader took the extra section of track, a wider line. Sometimes that leader was joined by other competitors due to timing and proximity, so close together was the field. Some front runners didn’t follow the long lap rule’s structure, and track limits were also a challenge, certainly late in the short races when officials clamped down on riding standards.
Saturday evening Feature race action at the Super Sonic Road Race School Honda 50 Mini Demo races at the International Motorcycle SuperShow in Toronto, with (Left to Right) Eric Tanasic, Tomas Casas, Jordan Szoke and Cole Alexander fighting for first in turn two. Photo by Colin Fraser
“T.V. Tommy” Casas, a front runner on the FAST Riding School Suzuki GSX-R750 during the most recent Bridgestone CSBK National Supersport National at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park last August, was the early pace setter when activities got underway on Friday afternoon, January 9.
A key instructor for the Super Sonic Road Race School since it’s inception, Casas has also attended the MotoMini World finals in Valencia to help coach Canada’s front runners. It also helps that he speaks Spanish!
Casas took the opening win , but then tumbled unhurt early in part two, loosing time while waiting to remount his machine in traffic. Alex Tanasic, father of Super Sonic protégé Stefan, won Friday’s evening main event, where Jordan Szoke made his first appearance to much acclaim.
14-year-old Stefan Tanasic and the rest of his racer family have been training in Florida in preparation for moving to “big wheel” action with a Kawasaki 500 in the Lightweight category next season.
Canadian Kawasaki Superbike racer and Canada’s most successful Superbike National competitor, Jordan Szoke, celebrates one of his Honda 50 mounted wins at the indoor Mini Road race demonstration event held in conjunction with the International Motorcycle SuperShow in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, January 9-11. Photo by Colin Fraser
Saturday afternoon’s program got under way with Tanasic loosing a Heat win for a last lap Track Limits violation, and issue that was typically only enforced late in each event. This ruling moved Lightweight ace Jared Walker to the top of the box in the winner’s circle. In race two, Walker again just edged Casas.
The third race of the afternoon was the Feature, run in front of a big crowd, and Walker worked hard to edge Casas and Alan Burns before Casas got disqualified for Track Limits issues.
After running up front, Walker passed his bike and leathers off to rising Lightweight star Cole Alexander for the Saturday evening Show, and Alexander was immediately at the front, a threat to Casas and the returning Szoke.
Alexander plans to run in the Bridgestone csbk middleweight class with a GSX-R750 in 2026.
Tanasic won Saturday’s later opener from Alexander, and then in heat two Szoke held off Cole and Casas, these three setting a torrid pace in the quickest laps of the weekend. In race three, Casas won from Cole and Szoke while Tanasic was again dinged for Track Limits. Tanasic then fell, unhurt, out of contention for the win in race four, Casas winning from Cole and Szoke.
“T.V. Tommy” Casas takes a tumble in Mini 50 Demo race action during the Super Sonic Road Race School demonstration event for Honda 50s at the International Motorcycle Supershow in Toronto. The two-time Bridgestone CSBK Canadian National Super Sport champion was uninjured and won several races over three days of indoor action, although he skipped Sunday’s deciding race. Photo by Colin Frasee
Saturday’s second set of races would mark the popular Alexander’s only race appearance, but the 19-year-old certainly made a strong impression at the front.
The drop-in front runner for Sunday early set of races was HB Cycle’s Ben Hudson, the racer taking the biggest chances on the circuit that used spray Cola as a traction agent! Hudson wound up a lap down after a fall in the opener, with a returning Walker winning from Tanasic and another new recruit, Andrew Leim.
Hudson found form with the win in race two, edging Walker and Tanasic. Casas was not in attendance, meaning the event was short a pace setter. Leim took the point for the win in race three, ahead of Burns and Tanasic, and then Hudson won again to earn the overall.
Canadian Motorcycle Hall of Famer, former AMA Superbike and World Endurance racer, MotoMini Team Canada World Mini Captain, and Super Sonic Road Race School owner Toni Sharpless with some of the instructors who raced at the Mini Demo during the International Motorcycle SuperShow, January 9-11, in Toronto. Left to Right: Tomas Casas, Eric Tanasic, Sharpless, Darin Marshall, Jared Walker, and Alan Burns. Photo by Colin Fraser
For Sunday afternoon’s last set of races in the program of six events, crowd fave Szoke returned and agreed the track did not have the traction of the night before. Even so, Szoke went first/third/first/first to net a popular overall victory.
Organizer Toni Sharpless aims to turn the Instructor and Celebrity demonstration events of January 2026 into a more significant indoor competition in years to come. Crowd response certainly suggest that the opportunity is there at the International Centre.
2025 FIM MotoMini World Series. Photo courtesy Dorna
The first global programme in motorsport aimed at creating grassroots equality opens applications for the upcoming season on the Road to MotoGP™.
Federations and unions from around the world can now apply to become part of the 2026 FIM MotoMini World Series. The first global programme in motorsport aimed at creating grassroots equality, the Series is designed to standardise MotoMini competitions from around the world under the same umbrella and provide an equal stepping stone for all.
There are two classes: 160cc and 190cc. Applications to run a 190cc Series may only be made by those who have already run a 160cc Series. Applications should be made by National Federations or CONUs (Continental Unions) and are open until the 28th of February 2026.
FIM MotoMini National Cup: organised by or through one FMN (National Federation)
FIM MotoMini Regional Cup: organised by or through various FMNs
FIM MotoMini Continental Cup: organised by or through a CONU
Each Series must comprise five events and a total minimum of 10 races per category.
Applications are to be made to the FIM, via an application form that the FIM will provide to each National/Continental Union.
Once the application period closes in February, the FIM will select the competitions that will form the 2026 FIM MotoMini World Series and inform the competitions whose applications to add a 190cc Series have been accepted.
All Series must apply for the 2026 season through the official Application Form, attaching the calendar and entry lists and complying with the 2026 conditions, and send it to FIM and Dorna minimum of 3 months before the first event and latest by the 28th of February 2026. It is mandatory for all series to have the 160cc category (series cannot have only the 190cc category).
The 2026 guide provides a comprehensive look at the regulations, conditions, equipment, technical requirements and next steps for each FMN/CONU, promoter or interested party looking to apply to become part of the FIM MotoMini World Series.
2026 AMA Ice Race Grand Championship Set to Run Feb. 7-8. Photo Credit: Jen Muecke
PICKERINGTON, Ohio — The AMA Ice Race Grand Championship will run Feb. 7-8 at the Leisure Lake Family Campground in Sumner, Mich., with two days jam-packed with racing across a number of classes.
“We look forward to getting up to Michigan and enjoying a weekend on the ice while we crown a collection of AMA National Champions with No. 1 plates in ice racing,” AMA Track Racing Manager Ken Saillant said. “We always enjoy this event and we can’t wait for another exciting couple of days of racing action.”
The AMA Ice Race Grand Championships provide the only opportunities in which a racer can earn an AMA National No. 1 plate in amateur ice racing. Not only will AMA No. 1 plates be on the line, but racers will also compete for AMA Ice Racer of the Year, AMA Vet/Senior Ice Racer of the Year and AMA Youth Racer of the Year.
Hosted by Team CDI Racing, a chartered AMA and AMA District 14 Club, the AMA Ice Race Grand Championship will contain a wide-range of classes across several tire distinctions, including Quad Studded, Quad Rubber, Motorcycle Studded, Motorcycle Rubber and Sidecar Rubber.
Founded in 1924, the AMA is a not-for-profit member-based association whose mission is to promote the motorcycle lifestyle and protect the future of motorcycling. As the world’s largest motorcycling rights and event sanctioning organization, the AMA advocates for riders’ interests at all levels of government and sanctions thousands of competition and recreational events every year. Besides offering members money-saving discounts on products and services, the AMA also publishes American Motorcyclist, a recently revitalized and monthly full-color magazine (and digital version of same) that covers current events and motorcycle history with brilliant photography and compelling writing. American Motorcyclist is also North America’s largest-circulation motorcycle magazine. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio, the AMA honors the heroes and heritage of motorcycling. For more information, visit AmericanMotorcyclist.com.
Bryce Kornbau (17), leading Victor Perez deLeon (61), Owen Williams (13) and Joel Ohman (92) at the start of a CVMA Middleweight Shootout race in October. Photo by Caliphotography.com/courtesy CVMA.
Round 4 registration closes at midnight tonight, January 13, for the event at Chuckwalla Valley Raceway, taking place January 16–18.
Eli Tomac (3) storms to victory on his first race in orange. Photo courtesy Red Bull KTM Factory
More from a press release issued by KTM Factory Racing:
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing and Eli Tomac race to Anaheim 1 Supercross victory.
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing opened the 2026 AMA Supercross Championship with a pair of convincing podium performances tonight at Anaheim 1, where Eli Tomac captured a spectacular 450SX Main Event victory and with teammate Jorge Prado claiming third position.
In his SMX World Championship debut with KTM, Tomac set the quickest time in Qualifying 1 and then was P2 on combined times onboard the KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION within the famed Angel Stadium.
The decorated two-time 450SX Champion from Cortez, Colorado, managed a strong start in 450SX Heat 1, charging to second position and holding firm to secure a direct transfer into the Main Event.
Following an initial race restart, the 33-year-old Tomac moved to the front of the field on the opening lap of the Main Event and controlled the race from the head of the pack, eventually taking the checkered flag with a closing advantage of 1.470 seconds in clinching the season-opening win – marking the 54th of his career in the premier division.
Eli Tomac (3) at Anaheim 1. Photo courtesy Red Bull KTM Factory Racing.
Eli Tomac: “This one feels good! Leading from the get-go like that is tough, because you need to really maintain focus the whole time, but my motorcycle was the best it was all day in the Main Event after a slight adjustment from the Heat Race. We went in the right direction, and this is the perfect way to start a new season and with my new team in Red Bull KTM Factory Racing. After a big off-season with both myself and the team testing and developing all over the place, it means a lot to achieve this early success together.”
Making his first appearance with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing in Supercross, multi-time MXGP World Champion Prado qualified an impressive sixth while acclimatizing to the KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION in race conditions, before he powered to the holeshot in the first 450SX Heat Race of the year to hold off a fast-finishing Tomac for P1.
Upon launching to another impressive holeshot in the Main Event, the Spaniard rode a calculated race to earn a first-career Supercross podium finish, making for a significant Red Bull KTM Factory Racing double podium result.
Jorge Prado (26) at Anaheim 1. Photo courtesy Red Bull KTM Factory Racing.
Jorge Prado: “This is really ahead of my expectations – the goal for this weekend was to just get through each session and do the best that I can. I had a great preparation leading into this year, but I am still so new to Supercross. Getting the Heat Race win was awesome, but I am really happy with my Main Event and to be on the podium. I rode within my limits, and still don’t have a lot of words to describe my feelings right now, but all I can say is that hard work always pays off! It’s great to start the season this way, so now we’ll keep learning and look forward to a new opportunity next week.”
In a welcome return to competition, Aaron Plessinger was back in action at Anaheim 1 to open the 2026 season. ‘The Cowboy’ led his Heat Race early on, before contact with another rider ultimately sent him to the Last Chance Qualifier. After winning the LCQ, Plessinger raced his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION forward to 10th place in the Main Event, earning solid points at Round 1.
Aaron Plessinger (7) at Anaheim 1. Photo courtesy Red Bull KTM Factory Racing.
Aaron Plessinger: “Obviously, this wasn’t the Anaheim 1 that I wanted. It started well, but I hit the ground with Coop [Cooper Webb] in the Heat Race, which was unfortunate, but it happens. Good to get the Round 1 jitters out, and I had a few good starts today actually, which was nice. We have a good direction, my setup is in the ballpark, and I came from dead-last in the Main Event to 10th place, which I thought was a good way to rebound. It was a decent ending to a tough start, and now we’ll go back and do some homework for next weekend.”
Next Race: January 17 – San Diego, California
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More from a press release issued by Suzuki Motor USA:
Suzuki’s Ken Roczen charges to second at Anaheim Supercross opener.
Brea, CA – The opening round of the 2026 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship delivered thrilling race action that matched the excitement leading into the season. The Anaheim 1 Supercross pays points toward both the 17-round Supercross season and the 31-round SMX World Championship. Clear skies but high winds challenged the riders and track crew; the dirt inside Angel Stadium was hard packed and slick for the 20-minute plus one lap 450SX Class Main Event.
Race Highlights:
Progressive Insurance Cycle Gear Suzuki
450 Class
Ken Roczen charged past six riders in the opening laps to deliver a second-place result at the Anaheim 1 Supercross.
Twisted Tea Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance
450 Class
Jason Anderson debuted his Twisted Tea Suzuki RM-Z450 with podium heat race and top-five main event results
Colt Nichols battled to earn twelfth-place points.
Ken Roczen (94) kicked off his 2026 Supercross championship campaign with a strong second-place showing inside Angel Stadium. Photo courtesy Suzuki Motor USA
Ken Roczen (94) was on point throughout the day at the Anaheim 1 Supercross. In qualifying, Roczen garnered a top-three result in each session as well as in the overall qualifying standings. In his heat race, Roczen was part of a four-wide battle down the first rhythm lane. Roczen emerged from the second corner with the lead. After an opening-lap battle, Roczen pulled a gap on the field and took the win.
The main event was red flagged on the opening lap due to multi rider-crash. On the re-start, Roczen crossed the holeshot stripe in eighth place and immediately worked his way toward the front. Roczen moved his Suzuki into fourth place before the third corner and was into the top three within one lap. Roczen pushed into second place just one lap later, then set the fastest lap time of the race. Roczen kept the leader in his sights as he put down a blistering pace from that point until the checkered flag.
“Anaheim is done and dusted. We had a really good day the entire day in qualifying, the heat race, and the main,”said Roczen. “We got first in the heat race and then went to the main where we had a really good battle with [the race leader]. We pretty much kept the same gap for the entire race and [both of us] put a big gap on third. We just rode our own race. The track was really tricky, very slippery and it broke down, so it was very easy to make mistakes. I’m really happy to get away with a second place here; it’s a great start to the season and now the focus is on the next round.”
Fresh off of his 2025 FIM World Supercross Championship aboard his Suzuki RM-Z450, Jason Anderson (21) put his Suzuki into the top five at his AMA debut with the Twisted Tea Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance team. Photo courtesy Suzuki Motor USA
Jason Anderson (21) progressed through both qualifying sessions to post a top-five session 2 and overall qualifying result. In his heat race, Anderson bumped with another rider in the first turn; he recovered brilliantly from the mid-pack start and earned a top-five result. In the main, Anderson launched off to a fifth-place start. In the opening minutes of the race, Anderson sliced under another rider to take over fourth position; he defended the spot until the final laps and ultimately crossed the finish line in fifth place.
“We ended up fifth on the night. It was a pretty eventful night for everyone, and for me it was solid,”stated Anderson. “I’ve been a little bit under the weather but was able to manage the race with a decent start and ended up fifth. We’ll see if we can get better from there.”
Colt Nichols (45) charged past seven riders in the Anaheim 1 Supercross Main Event to card a top-fifteen result. Photo courtesy Suzuki Motor USA
After sliding out in the first turn of his heat race, Colt Nichols (45) cut through the pack but ran out of time before reaching a direct transfer position. Nichols rode a smart LCQ to earn a spot on the starting gate for the main. Nichols’ night ended like it began, with a charge through the pack after a tough start in the main. Nichols passed seven riders to move from nineteenth up to a strong twelfth-place result at the checkers.
“2026 A1 was better than 2025, so we will take it,”said Nichols.“In my heat race I had a crash off the start. My bike got a little tweaked up, but I came back to 12th. I had to go the LCQ, so I made it kind of hard on myself today. We started last in the main; we had to fight all the way up to a P-12. I’m happy. We’ve got a lot of room to improve so that’s the exciting thing. It was a good first race and I still feel like we’ve got a lot of room to go, so we’ll keep plugging away and try and get better every week.”
“It was a good night for the PMG Team Suzuki race team,”reported Larry Books, Team Manger of the Twisted Tea/H.E.P. Motorsports/Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance teams.“The first round is always extremely stressful. Ken Roczen, like he always does, pulled through with a podium and finished second. Jason Anderson, still getting used to the bike, finished fifth tonight. And Colt Nichols, after his crash in his heat race, came back and finished 12th in the main event. So, we had three Suzukis in the top 12. I’m pretty stoked. The night went good, I think all of our sponsors are pretty happy with us, and we’re just going to roll on into round two and keep this momentum going.”
The 17-round Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship will next line the riders up inside Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, California on January 17th. The Suzuki riders and team members are ready to continue the battle for the championship and start the 2026 season with more strong performances and results.
Steady Opening Race for Honda HRC Progressive at Anaheim 1 SX.
Honda HRC Progressive’s approach to the 2026 AMA Supercross season opener at Anaheim, California’s Angel Stadium was defined by strategic patience, with the team focused on capitalizing on opportunities while minimizing unnecessary risk. That mindset paid off in the main events, as Hunter Lawrence and Chance Hymas delivered strong, measured rides to earn fourth- and second-place finishes, respectively.
Lawrence got a strong second-place start in the 450SX main event, and although the race was halted by a lap-1 red flag, the restart saw him start well again, in third. He slipped back two positions early on and spent the bulk of the race trying to get around Jason Anderson. After recovering from a scary off-track excursion in a rhythm section with just a few minutes remaining, he made a pass stick and challenged the third-place rider before ultimately ending the race fourth.
Hymas barely missed out on the 250SX main-event holeshot and ran second to Ryder DiFrancesco in the early going. A fierce battle for second with Cameron McAdoo and Max Anstie ensued, and although Hymas slipped to third in the middle part of the race, he ultimately finished a solid second behind Anstie.
Hunter Lawrence (96) at Anaheim 1. Photo courtesy Honda HRC
Hunter Lawrence:“That was my best A1 to date. I said to myself that I’d be content with a top-five finish. I really wanted to get the win, but we’re still working, chipping away. I think we’re in a great spot to make progress where we want to and hopefully get that worked out. But I’m okay with tonight, for sure; this is one of my worst venues if you look back over my career, so I’m happy to move forward.”
Chance Hymas (29) at Anaheim 1. Photo courtesy Honda HRC
Chance Hymas:“The first round at A1 was really good for me-third overall in qualifying, third in the heat race, second in the main was really good. I wanted some consistent laps; I made a few mistakes, but we’ll clean it up for next weekend.”
Lars Lindstrom – Team manager:“This was for sure one of the smoothest A1s that we’ve ever had as a team, and for me as the team manager. We all came in prepared, and from parking the trucks to pulling out at the end of the night, everything went to plan; I’m proud of the team for that. I’m also really happy with our results; we wanted to get through the first one safe and get some good points, which we accomplished. I’m super stoked for Chance. It was his first race back since knee surgery, and he showed he is one of the top guys in SX, not only MX. Before the 450 race, we talked about a top-five, with a hopeful podium, so we can’t be disappointed with a fourth, especially since the last two A1s have been a bit tough for Hunter! He didn’t ride to his full potential, so that makes me excited for the rest of the series, since he tends to improve throughout the season.”
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More from a press release issued by Kawasaki:
Monster Engery Kawasaki opens the 2026 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship at Angel Stadium.
Monster Energy® Kawasaki kicked off their 2026 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship efforts at the iconic Anaheim season opener. Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Chase Sexton lined up behind the gate for his much-anticipated racing debut with the team. The No. 4 Kawasaki set the pace early in qualifying with the fastest time. After battling through adversity during the night show, he would come out of the night with a Top 10 finish in seventh place. Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki riders Levi Kitchen and Cameron McAdoo showed a strong pace early through qualifying and the heat races. Kitchen would go on to add a Top 10 finish with a sixth-place result in the 250SX Main Event, and McAdoo salvaged 22nd place after an incident with another rider.
In 450SX Qualifying, Sexton commanded the track aboard his KX™450SR, earning fastest qualifier by over half a second over the competition. Garrett Marchbanks showed flashes of speed while he adjusted to the new track and the 450 Class, qualifying 17th heading into the night show.
Both Monster Energy Kawasaki riders lined up behind the gate for 450 Heat 2. Sexton rocketed off the start to grab the holeshot and quickly lead the field around the track. On Lap 2, Sexton suffered a setback as he went down on the face of the over-under tunnel. He rebounded just outside the Top 10 and put his head down to finish the race in fifth place. Marchbanks had a less-than-ideal start and got shuffled back near mid-pack. After experiencing some challenges throughout the race, the No. 36 finished just outside of a qualifying spot in 10th place, sending him to the Last Chance Qualifier.
In the 450SX LCQ, Marchbanks pulled a much stronger start, placing himself inside the Top 3. An incident in the whoops dropped him back to 15th, but he remounted and fought through the field to finish 10th, ending his chances of lining up for the main event.
In the 450SX Main Event, Sexton would be squeezed out on the start with his far inside gate pick. While moving through the field, a multi-rider incident caused a red flag that stopped the race on the opening lap. Sexton would go back to the gate, focused and prepared for a full restart. As the gate dropped, the No. 4 pulled a stronger start inside the Top 10. Sexton battled the tricky, deteriorating track to pass his competitors, only for mistakes to set him back again. Although he was the fastest rider in two sectors of the track, he was forced to settle for eighth place. Sexton leaves Round 1 with a strong foundation and valuable data to learn from as the season goes into Round 2 at San Diego.
250 Main Event Start at Anaheim 1. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
In 250SX qualifying, Kitchen topped both sessions to take fastest qualifier, while his teammate McAdoo qualified just inside the Top 10 in 10th place.
In the 250 Heat 1, McAdoo got a strong jump off the gate and placed himself inside the Top 3. He battled the field and moved into second place to finish the race. In Heat 2, Kitchen rode a similar race, with a Top 3 start and second-place finish. The teammates’ strong heat race results set them up with ideal gate picks for the main event.
In the 250 Main Event, Kitchen and McAdoo pulled strong starts, running side by side into the first turn. Kitchen would get caught up in the chaos of the first turn and drop back to 22nd, while McAdoo shined at the front of the field in second place. Kitchen put on an impressive come-from-behind run, working his way up through the field, finishing just outside the Top 5 in sixth place. McAdoo flowed through the race up front until midway through, when another rider cross-jumped, causing him to go down. The No.142 pulled into the mechanics area for a brief moment before heading back out on the track. Unable to make up positions due to his time off the track, McAdoo would take 22nd on the night.
Chase Sexton (4) at Anaheim 1. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
“The day started off well with earning fastest qualifier. I felt really comfortable on the track and felt like I had the speed to contend up front. Unfortunately, I had a couple of mistakes during the heat race and main event that forced me to work my way through the field. It’s only the first round, and we have a good base to build off. We’ve got some work to do, but I know we’re capable of improving and putting up better results next week.” – Chase Sexton
Garrett Marchbanks (36) at Anaheim 1. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
“Today was a tough one for me and not how I expected or would have liked for it to go. I felt good during qualifying, and I had good speed throughout sections of the track. Poor starts and mistakes on my part led to me being out of the mix. I know what the team and I are capable of and we will show it next weekend. This will be a learning experience for me and we’ll move forward.” – Garrett Marchbanks
Levi Kitchen (47) at Anaheim 1. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
“It felt good to start the season with the fastest qualifying time. The speed is there, and the bike felt great all day. The main event didn’t go how we wanted off the gate, but salvaging a sixth after being that far back is something to build on. It’s a long season, and this is just the beginning.” – Levi Kitchen
Cameron McAdoo (142) at Anaheim 1. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
“It felt great to be back behind the gate and racing again. The heat race and the start of the main showed what we’re capable of, and I felt comfortable up front. I had another rider cross jump me, which led me to crash, and I had to go into the mechanics area for a while. I went back out and salvaged as much of the race as I could, but tonight wasn’t our night. We’ll come back next week prepared and ready to fight.” – Cameron McAdoo
——
More from a press release issued by Husqvarna:
Podium for Ryder DiFrancesco and Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing at A1.
New Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing recruit Ryder DiFrancesco delivered an exceptional third-place finish at Anaheim’s 2026 AMA Supercross Championship opener on Saturday night, racing to a first-career 250SX podium result after leading his share of laps in the Main Event.
Western division standout DiFrancesco started the day strongly inside Angel Stadium, qualifying fourth during the afternoon session and dialing in his Husqvarna FC 250 Factory Edition to quickly find comfort in the technical, dry conditions.
Lining up for the second Heat Race of the event, the 20-year-old recovered from a difficult start to climb to fifth position, continuing his early-season form to head directly into the Main Event.
DiFrancesco was fast out of the gate in the Main Event, scoring an important holeshot and holding onto the lead through the opening stages of the race. In the end, the popular Californian would find himself on the 250SX podium for the first time in his young career with a well-earned third-place result.
Ryder DiFrancesco (340 at Anaheim 1. Photo courtesy Husqvarna
“Today was good!”reflected DiFrancesco.“All day, I just wanted to be on the board in each practice, then the Heat Race was just okay. In the Main Event, we got the holeshot, and then I just tried not to look back from there – I wanted to lead as many laps as I could, and tonight was a big learning step. We’d like to lead more laps next weekend, continue to build, and try to land on the podium like this each weekend to give us a good shot at the title. This cements the work we’ve done in the off-season – I’m ready for more, now.”
RJ Hampshire (24) at Anaheim 1. Photo courtesy Husqvarna
In his first full Supercross season in the 450SX ranks, RJ Hampshire posted the 11th-fastest qualifying time in the afternoon at Anaheim 1, as he continues to build comfort and familiarity onboard the Husqvarna FC 450 Factory Edition in the tight confines of stadium competition.
Hampshire managed to finish in eighth position following his Heat Race, before a costly fall in the whoop section early in the Main Event impacted his final result on the night. The focus now shifts to next weekend in San Diego for the former 250SX West title winner.
“A1 was a challenge all day,”commented Hampshire.“I started out alright and was building throughout the day, but then in the Heat Race I unfortunately got tagged and went down. We aimed for an entry into the Main Event from there, which we were able to, and I was in a decent spot after the race restart once we got going in the Main. By the third or fourth lap in, I had a big one in the whoops, so that made for a tough night in the end. The main thing for Round 1 was building experience, getting some data for the bike to further develop a Supercross setting for me, and I think we’ll be much better from next weekend onwards.”
Following a solid off-season, that momentum continued for 450SX challenger Malcolm Stewart and his Husqvarna FC 450 Factory Edition during the sold-out Anaheim 1 season-opener, where he powered to the fourth-fastest qualifying time leading into the night program.
The experienced fan favorite then recorded sixth position in his Heat Race and had his sights set on a strong Main Event, however, Stewart’s night would come to an abrupt end following a scary multi-rider incident on the opening lap. He sustained a left shoulder injury in the impact, with further updates on his status to be made once available.
American rider Chris Clark in action during a 2025 Yamaha R3 BLU CRU World Cup race. Photo courtesy Chris Clark Racing
Chris Clark – the first American to win a race in the Yamaha R3 BLU CRU World Cup – will return to Europe for the 2026 season with his hopes set firmly on the title he narrowly missed in 2025.
Remaining with the Panattoni BGR Smrz Racing squad for a third consecutive year, the #5 American rider looks to build on a successful 2025 that saw him finish fifth overall with three podium finishes including a maiden win in the season opener.
With a full year’s experience under his belt Chris is determined to once again be at the sharp end when the six round, twelve race series gets underway in May.
Testing will begin in Spain in the coming weeks.
Further announcements regarding his 2026 partners will follow in due course.
Chris Clark on the podium after his victory at Portimao. Photo courtesy Chris Clark Racing
Chris Clark:“I am super happy to finally announce my 2026 and am super happy to be remaining with the Panattoni BGR Smrz Racing team. To be able to continue to work with Kuba (Smrz) and all the same guys as I have for the past couple of seasons is really special. We built a solid foundation over the last two years, and I am so grateful to Kuba especially for giving me a shot to move to the WorldSBK paddock and continuing to stick with me. I have learned so much and I am ready to put it all into practice. I want to be fighting for wins at every round and as much as I want to win the title I want to win it for them. As a team we have a good chance, we work well together and I hope that this year we can bring it home. I want to also thank everyone who has made this possible, especially my mom, my manager, and my sponsors. See you at Round One!”
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