R.I.P.: Remembering Mert Lawwill, Champion & Movie Star (Videos)

John Ulrich

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September 6, 2026

Remembering Mert Lawwill, Champion & Movie Star

1940-2026

By Lori Tyson Richwine

The motorcycle and mountain bike communities came together at the Carson Center in Carson, California to pay their respects and say goodbye to a true legend, Mert Lawwill.

There were amazing vintage dirt track bikes and racing bicycles lining the entryway, along with a wall of career-defining photos from way back in the early days up to the latter days of his career.

The banquet room was filled with the warmth of Mert’s legacy. Nearly 500 attendees watched Dana Brown’s tribute film with tearful eyes and grins on faces. And Mert’s son Joe’s speech brought a tear to the eye and a smile to many faces.

For many, it was a reminder of the original On Any Sunday movie, prominently featuring Mert’s AMA Championship.

And learning about how “Mert’s Hands” prosthetics giving wounded bicycle and motorcycle riders their dignity and freedom back, was a side that many were not aware of.

Mert Lawwill was and is a legend who won’t be soon forgotten.

May He Rest In Peace…

Scroll down for videos.

1980 ME Mert SJ 2024 Mush Emmons — Mert Lawwill in 1980. Photo copyright 2026 by Mush Emmons, all rights reserved.

Mert and Joe Lawwill back in the day IMG 0418 — Mert Lawwill and his son Joe, back in the day. Photo courtesy Joe Lawwill/Lawwill family.

Young family: Mert, June, and baby Lawwill. Photo courtesy Joe Lawwill/Lawwill family.

Mert wave email — A photo of Mert Lawwill in more recent times, superimposed over a flat track action shot from his AMA racing days, when he ran and won as #18. Photo artwork courtesy Joe Lawwill/Lawwill family.

Lawwill1 — Several racebikes were on display at the event honoring Mert Lawwill at the Carson Center. Photo by Lori Tyson Richwine.

Lawwill1 street tracker 1 Tyson — The first Mert Lawwill Enterprises street tracker. Photo by Lori Tyson Richwine.

Photo wall Tyson — One side of a photo wall commemorating Mert Lawwill’s life. Photo by Lori Tyson Richwine.

Mert Lawwill flip side of wall of fame ReNoLcNA — Seen on the flip side of the Wall of Fame at the event honoring Mert Lawwill’s legacy. Photo by Lori Tyson Richwine.

Mert Lawwill event speakers Q8FOR GQ — Speakers at the Mert Lawwill event included, from left, Don Emde, On Any Sunday camera man Allan Seymour, David Aldana, Kenny Roberts, and Wayne Rainey. The photo in the background shows (from left) Lawwill, Steve McQueen, a film crew member, Malcolm Smith, and film maker/director Bruce Brown. Photo by Lori Tyson Richwine.

Mert commemoration David Aldana L3HXg Dw — David Aldana speaking about being featured along with Mert Lawwill in the On Any Sunday movie. Aldana also raced a couple of XR750s built by Mert. Photo by Lori Tyson Richwine.

Mert Lawwill commemoration Kenny Roberts speaks Sk J k0g — Kenny Roberts talking about racing and working with Mert Lawwill. Photo by Lori Tyson Richwine.

Mert sharper Wayne photo by Lori — Wayne Rainey remembers Mert Lawwill as he speaks to the crowd. Photo by Lori Tyson Richwine.

Joe Lawwill Lori Richwine picsY5J7BjA — Joe Lawwill speaking at the Carson Center. Photo by Lori Tyson Richwine.

More, From Mert’s Son Joe Lawwill:

To everyone who joined us on Sunday,

I want to express my heartfelt thanks to all of you who attended Mert’s Celebration of Life. Seeing nearly 500 people gathered together to celebrate my father was incredibly moving. Many of you traveled a great distance to be there, and I want you to know how much that effort meant to me and our entire family.

As I shared in my speech, I have been deeply touched by the response to Mert’s passing and by the unwavering support I received while putting this event together. Everywhere I turned for help or guidance, I consistently heard the same response:

“For Mert? Absolutely. What do you need?”

That says so much about the way Mert treated people throughout his life. It is also a powerful reminder that how we treat the people around us matters. Being generous with our time, helping others and setting a good example whenever we have the opportunity really does make a lasting difference. The love and support surrounding Sunday’s event were a reflection of the impact Mert had on so many people.

I would also like to thank each of our speakers for sharing their memories and stories on stage. Together, they helped tell the story of Mert’s life in a way that was personal, honest, funny and meaningful. Hearing those stories—and hearing the laughter and emotion throughout the room—was exactly what I hoped the day would be.

I also want to recognize Chris Curto from High Impact Event Technology and his entire AV team for their outstanding work throughout the program. The audio and visual presentation was exceptional, and their skill and professionalism helped everything on stage come together seamlessly. Their work was a critical part of the experience, and I am extremely grateful for everything they did.

A very special acknowledgment must go to our beloved Mert’s Hands crew. Having Jake McCullough, Sherman Lee, Shane Cahill, Josie Fouts and John Van Hoove, better known as “Bandit,” all in attendance was truly special. Every one of these remarkable people is an inspiration, and Mert would have been absolutely delighted to know they were all there together.

I also want to sincerely thank the many attendees who made additional donations in support of the event. A very special thank-you goes to Chris Carter of Motion Pro, whose generosity and support made a tremendous difference. These contributions allowed me to continue moving forward with the level of quality and attention to detail that I felt Mert’s celebration deserved. Quite simply, that generosity helped make it possible to create the first-class event that all of us experienced on Sunday.

I also want to recognize the incredible team at Proforma Hi-Rez. They were instrumental in turning the vision for the displays into reality. Working within a tight timeline, they kept this ambitious project moving forward, worked through countless construction details, built the displays and handled the printing of all the graphics. Throughout the process, they continually checked in with me to make sure everything remained true to the vision and that I was comfortable with each direction before they proceeded. Their commitment to getting it all across the finish line was extraordinary. They were truly fabulous to work with, and without their talent, dedication and tireless work behind the scenes, the displays could never have come together as beautifully as they did.

Having ChadMichael Morrisette from Oh Mannequin to lean on for all of the mannequins was also a tremendous help and relief. His support played an important role in bringing the racing displays together and allowing us to present those pieces of Mert’s history in such a compelling way. I am also very grateful to Alec Call and Bryan Johns for generously sponsoring ChadMichael’s services and helping make this important part of the displays possible.

Once again, I need to give special credit to Don Emde. Don’s help and guidance early in the planning process paved the way for much of what you experienced on Sunday. He also made the wonderful commemorative booklet about Mert’s life possible. A heartfelt thank-you goes to Mike Cowan, who stepped up in a very significant way to help ensure we could afford to produce the booklet in full color and with the quality I felt Mert’s story deserved. I also want to recognize Zap Espinoza for helping craft so many of the words in the book, as well as Mert’s childhood friend Al Kozak, who contributed the wonderful stories that brought Mert’s early years to life.

I hope everyone in attendance received a copy of the booklet. For anyone who did not—or for those who were unable to attend—I have added a digital copy to Mert’s website. The wonderful tribute video created by the Brown family is also available there. You can find both on the Mert Lawwill Celebration of Life page.

We will also be sharing a short highlight video on Mert’s Instagram and Facebook pages as soon as possible. A special thank-you goes to Rich Van Every, who hustled throughout the event capturing photos and video and will be editing both of our recap videos. His work will help preserve the day and allow us to share it with many more people.

In addition to the quick recap, we are producing an extended video that will capture much more of the complete experience of Mert’s Celebration of Life. We expect to share it in the coming weeks.

I am also very happy to share that many of the displays you saw on Sunday will have a future home. Troy Lee is planning to open a small museum at the Troy Lee Designs headquarters in Corona, with the goal of having it open in December. Once it is ready, you will have an opportunity to revisit many of the displays from Mert’s Celebration of Life and experience those pieces of his story again. I will share more information as those plans come together on Mert’s Instagram and Facebook pages.

For those who ordered a Mert T-shirt but were unable to attend the event, please know that we will absolutely get your shirt sent to you. We just need a little time to decompress and then sort through the remaining orders to identify all of the shirts that need to be shipped. We promise we will get to it as soon as possible, and we appreciate your patience and understanding.

For anyone who did not preorder a shirt but would still like one, we will be offering a limited additional print run. We will announce the details on Mert’s social media pages.

There were so many people working behind the scenes, offering advice, loaning important items, sharing photographs and stories, building displays, helping with registration and doing whatever was needed to bring the day together. I remain incredibly grateful to every one of you. I will never forget the generosity, encouragement and friendship you showed me and my family.

Most of all, thank you for being there. Thank you for sharing your stories, your laughter and your memories. Thank you for helping us give Mert the celebration he deserved.

It was an unforgettable day, and all of you made it possible.

With sincere gratitude,

Joe Lawwill

Mert Crowd Number 2 0h5dHiOg — A crowd of nearly 500 people showed up for the Mert Lawwill commemorative event. Photo by Lori Tyson Richwine.

Lawwill Crowd another view 21 yzEBQ — Another view of the crowd at the Mert Lawwill memorial event. Photo by Lori Tyson Richwine.

Merts Hands display IMG 1725 — Besides building motorcycle and mountain bike frames and suspension parts, Mert Lawwill also engineered and built prosthetic hands to allow amputees to ride motorcycles and bicycles with more secure control. This display was at the Lawwill memorial event. Photo by Don Emde.

Speakers, in order of appearance on stage:

Don Emde (emcee)

Joe Lawwill

Marcy Lawwill (Mert’s daughter, Joe’s younger sister; their mom June predeceased Mert)

Al Kozak

Kyle Kozak

Allan Seymour

David Aldana

Kenny Roberts

Wayne Rainey

John Parker

Zap Espinoza

Troy Lee

Jake McCullough

John Van Hoove

Josie Fouts

Sherman Lee

Shane Cahill

Dana Brown

Online, check these videos out:

https://www.mertlawwill.com/pages/celebration-of-life

WorldSBK: Race Two Results From Magny-Cours

Mathilde Gasnier

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September 6, 2026

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WorldSBK: Race Two Results From Magny-Cours

Nicolo Bulega won the FIM Superbike World Championship Race Two Sunday afternoon at Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, in France. Riding his Aruba.it Racing Ducati Panigale V4R, the championship point leader won the 19-lap race by 5.458 seconds.

His teammate, Iker Lecuona was the runner-up, and Yari Montella was third on his Barni Spark Racing Team Ducati Panigale V4R.

Lorenzo Baldassarri finished the race fourth on his Team Goeleven Ducati Panigale V4R and Alberto Surra crossed the finish line fifth on his Motocorsa Racing Ducati Panigale V4R.

American Garrett Gerloff went from 13th on the grid to 7th at the finish on his Kawasaki ZX-10RR.

Danilo Petrucci finished his race 12th on his ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team M1000RR.

Nicolo Bulega leads the championship with 553 points, 146 ahead of Iker Lecuona who has 407 points. Yari Montella is third with 247 points.

WSBK RACE 2

WSBKChampionshipStandings

More, from a press release issued by WSBK:

Bulega controls red-flagged Race 2 at Magny-Cours, Lecuona and Montella on the rostrum. The #11 is now on 26 victories in 2026, one away from the all-time record, while Lecuona and Montella joined him on the rostrum.

Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) continued his run towards MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship glory with a commanding Race 2 victory at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours. The #11 was unchallenged as he beat teammate Iker Lecuona by more than five seconds in the final race of the Acerbis French Round, with Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) completing the rostrum.

LIGHTS TO FLAG WIN

Bulega grabbed the holeshot from pole position at Turn 1 but, unlike, in Race 1 and the Tissot Superpole Race, the #11 was able to defend from teammate Iker Lecuona at the Adelaide Hairpin on the opening lap. ‘Bulegas’ immediately started pulling out a gap over his teammate over the first three laps. On Lap 4, Bulega set a 1’35.159s, seven tenths quicker than Lecuona, as he put distance between himself and his teammate. That gave him control of the race as he kept building his gap, eventually claiming the 46^th win of his WorldSBK career. Lecuona now has 22^nd P2 finishes this season. Alberto Surra (Motocorsa Racing) got a good start on Lap 1, passing Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) at Turn 5 to move into a provisional podium spot. On Lap 6, Montella made his move at Turn 5 on Surra, with the pair giving no inch but it was the #5 who came out on top to take third from the #67.

THE PODIUM SCRAP

Surra was unable to respond against Montella, although didn’t lose ground to him over the immediate laps, but did have to defend from Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team). The #22 tried, on Lap 7, to get ahead of Surra on the run into Turn 5 but Surra was able to defend position at the Adelaide Hairpin. Surra then attempted to break away from the chasing Bimota as he looked to make it two P4 finishes on Sunday, before Alex Lowes crashed from fifth at Turn 5 on Lap 11. He was able to re-join the race at the back of the field. That left Lorenzo Baldassarri (Team GoEleven) to chase down Surra for fourth, with ‘Balda’ on the back of his fellow Independent Ducati rider by Lap 13. On Lap 14, Baldassarri got ahead at Turn 13 to move into fourth, although Surra tried to fight back by cutting back heading into Turn 14; he was unable to do so. That meant Montella completed the podium, his 13^th in WorldSBK, while Baldassarri took his best result since Most. Despite finishing in fifth, it’s Surra’s best result in a feature-length race.

LATE CRASH FOR BRIDEWELL

The fight for sixth raged in the latter stages between Alvaro Bautista (Barni Spark Racing Team) and Tommy Bridewell (Superbike Advocates), with two-time WorldSBK Champion making his move for P6 at Turn 5 on Lap 17, but the #46 was able to defend on the exit of the hairpin. However, a few corners later, Bautista made his move to claim P6. It’s the Spanish star’s first top-six finish since the Tissot Superpole Race at Balaton Park. Bridewell was looking to claim P7 but he crashed at Turn 3 on Lap 20, which promoted Garrett Gerloff (Kawasaki WorldSBK Team) to P7 and brought out the red flags. As two-thirds race distance had been completed, it was not restarted.

THE FIGHT FOR THE TOP TEN

Xavi Vierge (Pata Maxus Yamaha) finished in eighth, eight tenths behind American star Gerloff, with Axel Bassani (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) six tenths behind the #97 as he finished in ninth place. Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) completed the top ten as he finished 1.1 seconds back from ‘El Bocia’.

NO GAINS FOR SAM LOWES, OLIVEIRA PENALISED

Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) was unable to make progress from his starting position of 10^th on the grid, and in fact lost one compared to his grid slot. The #14 came home in 11^th place, with around one second between Sam Lowes and Gardner. Danilo Petrucci (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) was 12^th ahead of Alex Lowes, who was 13^th despite his crash, while Somkiat Chantra (Honda HRC) and Miguel Oliveira (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team); the Portuguese rider received a three-second penalty for course cutting without losing sufficient time, demoting him from 13^th.

CRASHING OUT OF RACE 2

Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) crashed out of the race on the exit of Turn 15 and the entry of Turn 16, after contact with Manzi on the entry into the chicane; the incident will be investigated after the race by the FIM WorldSBK Stewards. Mattia Rato (Motoxracing WorldSBK Team) fell at Turn 15 at the end of Lap 5, ending his race. Jake Dixon (Honda HRC) had been enjoying a decent weekend, but he crashed at Turn 13 on Lap 12.

The top six from WorldSBK Race 2, full results here:

Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati)
Iker Lecuona (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +5.420s
Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) +9.378s
Lorenzo Baldassarri (Team GoEleven) +13.908s
Alberto Surra (Motocorsa Racing) +16.387s
Alvaro Bautista (Barni Spark Racing Team) +21.852s

Fastest lap: Nicolo Bulega (Ducati) – 1’35.159s

Championship Standings

Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 553 Points
Iker Lecuona (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 407
Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) 247
Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) 201
Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) 198
Lorenzo Baldassarri (Team GoEleven) 171

Next up, Cremona! Will Bulega be crowned Champion on home soil? Find out using the WorldSBK VideoPass – now 70% off!

WorldSSP: Race Two Results From Magny-Cours

Mathilde Gasnier

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September 6, 2026

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WorldSSP: Race Two Results From Magny-Cours

Roberto Garcia won FIM Supersport World Championship red-flagged Race Two Sunday at Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, in France. The GMT94 Yamaha YZF-R9 rider won the five-lap race by just 0.414 second.

Albert Arenas was a second on his AS BLU CRU Racing Team Yamaha YZF-R9, and former MotoAmerica regular Valentin Debise finished third, 0.761 second behind the race winner, on his Eastroc Evan Bros ZXMOTO 820RR.

Can Oncu got fourth on his Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing YZF-R9.

Jeremy Alcoba crossed the finish line fifth on his Kawasaki WorldSSP Team ZX-6R 636.

Albert Arenas leads the championship with 311 points, 70 ahead of Valentin Debise who has 241 points. Can Oncu is third with 216 points.

WSSP RACE 2

WSSPChampionshipStandings

More from a press release issued by WSBK:

Garcia seals his first WorldSSP win in five-lap shootout after red flag. WorldSSP had the whole paddock on its feet for a winner-takes-all run to the line.

The FIM Supersport World Championship brought their Acerbis French Round to a close in dramatic fashion as Roberto Garcia (GMT94 Yamaha) took the top step of the podium for his career-first WorldSSP win, becoming the 72^nd different winner in the class’s history. His triumphant effort makes him the sixth-youngest ever winner and brings Yamaha their 170^th win in the class. Riding home from France in P2, Albert Arenas’s (AS BLU CRU Racing Team) podium effort was a grind, but with his hand injury, pulling out such a result was an emotional feat for the #75. Snagging a bronze medal in Race 2, Valentin Debise (EASTROC ZXMOTO Factory Evan Bros Racing) closes his home round in P3, tying Sebastien Charpentier for 13^th all-time in WorldSSP podiums.

FIVE RIDERS AT THE FRONT PRIOR TO RED FLAG

Tom Booth Amos started from pole and took the holeshot into Turn 1 on the opening Lap. Filippo Farioli (VFT Racing), Aldi Mahendra (AS BLU CRU Racing Team), Jorge Navarro (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) and Can Oncu (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) quickly made their way past him on Lap 1. Albert Arenas (AS BLU CRU Racing Team) charged up the grid from P13 after a poor Tissot Superpole showing and a Race 1 crashout after contact. After just four laps, Arenas was already up at the front in P2 fighting with Can Oncu (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) for the race lead while his Indonesian teammate had fallen backwards out of the podium fight. Debise fell back from P4 to P7 after the opening lap, yet as Arenas blazed past him up from P13 on the grid, he found another gear and chased him back up to the front of the order, chasing the #61 and #75 in the battle for the race win with 12 Laps to go. Replacement rider Navarro even led the race for stretches, but he closed his first weekend in the WorldSSP saddle in 2026 with an unfortunate DNF finish after a Turn 13 crash on Lap 4. Later on Turn 13 of Lap 10, the battle heated up as Debise slipped past Oncu to lead the race for the first time, yet the battle was put on hold as Tom Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) took an unfortunate spill on Turn 3 of Lap 11, bringing out the red flag in order to make repairs to the air fence.

GARCIA SIEZES THE DAY

After the restart, Albert Arenas (AS BLU CRU Racing Team) flew off the line to take the holeshot at the head of fellow Yamaha riders Oncu and Roberto Garcia (GMT94 Yamaha). Debise had dropped back to P4 after the first lap of the restart, behind Oncu who ran wide on the second lap after the restart on Turn 3, losing ground to Debise while the Turk managed to keep the position. Just before the start of the final lap, Arenas ran wide into Turn 17, dropping him back to P3 ahead of Debise Oncu and Garcia. Ahead of them, the Turk ran clear of Garcia until Turn 15, sending him wide as the Spaniard shot past for his first-ever WorldSSP win.

TOUGH LUCK FOR THE TURK

Oncu was one of the strongest riders on track, leading for stretches both before and after the red flag, but one mistake was enough to send him down off the podium as he finished P4. Jeremy Alcoba (Kawasaki WorldSSP Team) was all the way up to P5 at the end of the first lap after the restart, considerable progress as he had started the race originally from P12. He dug in and defended that position to finish in that spot, his fourth top-six finish in five races after scoring just one this season prior to this streak. Farioli took P6, dropping one position after starting from P5 after the restart, similarly strong results for the Italian.

PROUD RESULTS FOR CHINESE MANUFACTURERS

Jaume Masia (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) closed Race 2 in P7, recovering well from P11 and closing the round without having been involved in the podium battle in the round. Federico Caricasulo (EASTROC ZXMOTO Factory Evan Bros Racing) made it two ZXMOTO 820RR machines in the top eight, and scored points in both of a round’s races for the second time this season. Mahendra did well to log the second-fastest lap in Race 1 to earn a P2 grid start, but by the red flag he had fallen back to P8 and lost another position to finish Race 2 in P9. Rounding off the top ten, home hero Lucas Mahias (GMT94 Yamaha) wasn’t able to make much headway up the grid ahead of him, finishing in P10. Farther back, Raffaele de Rosa (QJMOTOR Factory Racing) landed QJMOTOR’s first points of the season as he finished P13.

The top six from the WorldSSP Race 2: Full results here!

Roberto Garcia (GMT94 Yamaha)
Albert Arenas (AS BLU CRU Racing Team) +0.414s
Valentin Debise (EASTROC ZXMOTO Evan Bros Factory) +0.761s
Can Oncu (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) +0.841s
Jeremy Alcoba (Kawasaki WorldSSP Team) +1.071s
Filippo Farioli (VFT Racing Yamaha) +1.629s

Championship standings

Albert Arenas (AS BLU CRU Racing Team) 311 points
Valentin Debise (EASTROC ZXMOTO Evan Bros Factory) 241
Can Oncu (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) 216
Jaume Masia (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) 210
Tom Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) 165
Roberto Garcia (GMT94 Yamaha) 164

Next up: Cremona! Action on track kicks off on Friday, September 25^th, tune in live and OnDemand with the WorldSBK VideoPass! Now 70% off!

WorldSBK: Superpole Race Results From Magny-Cours

Mathilde Gasnier

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September 6, 2026

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WorldSBK: Superpole Race Results From Magny-Cours

Nicolo Bulega won the World Superbike Superpole Race Sunday morning at Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, in France. Riding his Aruba.it Racing Ducati Panigale V4R, the championship point leader won the 10-lap race by 2.073 seconds.

His teammate, Iker Lecuona was the runner-up, and Yari Montella was third on his Barni Spark Racing Team Ducati Panigale V4R.

American Garrett Gerloff finished 13th on his Kawasaki ZX-10RR.

Danilo Petrucci finished his race 16th on his ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team M1000RR.

Nicolo Bulega leads the championship with 528 points, 141 ahead of Iker Lecuona who has 387 points. Yari Montella is third with 231 points.

WSBK SUPERPOLE RACE

WSBKChampionshipStandings

More, from a press release issued by WSBK:

Bulega resists early Lecuona challenge for 25th win of the 2026 campaign. The #11 is closing in on the all-time record for victories in a single campaign by claiming the Tissot Superpole Race win.

Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) claimed victory in the Tissot Superpole Race for the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship ahead of teammate Iker Lecuona as he closes in on the 2026 title. The #11 was made to work hard for the win at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours in the early stages, while there was drama in the battle for the podium during the Acerbis French Round.

BULEGA VS LECUONA, LATE PODIUM DRAMA

As in Race 1, Bulega got the holeshot when the lights went out for the 10-lap race, with Lecuona getting ahead of Sam Lowes. Then, at Turn 5, the #7 made his way past Bulega to take the lead of the race. On Lap 3, the #11 got his revenge at the same corner as he outbraked Lecuona to re-take P1. A lap later and Lecuona attempted a late lunge on Bulega, but he went wide, which then left him vulnerable to Sam Lowes who moved into P2; Lecuona was able to respond a few corners later. That gave Bulega a lead of more than 1.5 seconds over Lecuona, with the #11 going on to control the race for his 25^th win of the season; two behind the all-time record of 27. Lecuona came home in P2, his 21^st second-place finish of the year, the highest value in one season, but Sam Lowes crashed out of the race on the final lap at Turn 3; that promoted Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) onto the podium. The #14 was taken to the medical centre following the crash and is due to start Race 2 from P10.

SURRA MATCHES HIS BEST, BRIDEWELL BOUNCES BACK

Montella was originally fighting for P4 with rookie Alberto Surra (Motocorsa Racing), with the #5 passing the Italian at Turn 13 to get ahead of his compatriot. Surra’s P4 finish is his joint-best finish of the campaign. Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) crossed the line in P5 with Tommy Bridewell (Superbike Advocates) bouncing back from his big Race 1 crash to take sixth; one place shy of his WorldSBK best.

YAMAHA DUEL FOR P8

Lorenzo Baldassarri (Team GoEleven) had an up-and-down race. Initially, ‘Balda’ was running outside the top ten, but he battled his way into seventh place to take a third-row start in Race 2. Behind him, it was a three-way Yamaha scrap for P8. Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) crossed the line in eighth after an aggressive move on Xavi Vierge (Pata Maxus Yamaha) at the final chicane. That left Vierge vulnerable to teammate Andrea Locatelli behind, but the #55 fell just 0.029s from securing a top-nine finish.

The top nine from the Tissot Superpole Race, full results here:

Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati)
Iker Lecuona (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +2.073s
Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) +5.400s
Alberto Surra (Motocorsa Racing) +6.773s
Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) +7.325s
Tommy Bridewell (Superbikes Advocates) +10.269s
Lorenzo Baldassarri (Team GoEleven) +12.775s
Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) +14.518s
Xavi Vierge (Pata Maxus Yamaha) +14.891s

Fastest Lap: Nicolo Bulega (Ducati) – 1’34.750s, new lap record

Watch Race 2 from Magny-Cours at 14:00 Local Time (UTC+2) using the WorldSBK VideoPass – now 70% off!

AFT: Daniels Conquers Caterpillar Springfield Mile I

Mathilde Gasnier

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September 5, 2026

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AFT: Daniels Conquers Caterpillar Springfield Mile I

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (September 5, 2026) – A destiny promised is now a destiny realized. Dallas Daniels (No. 1 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07) joined the exclusive ranks of multi-time Grand National Champions with a victorious performance in Saturday’s Caterpillar Springfield Mile I at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Illinois. 

Racing in front of his home-state fans at the crown jewel of the Progressive American Flat Track season, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, Daniels once again did exactly what he needed to do when it mattered the most.

Main Event 1

The Mission AFT SuperTwins competitors lined up for the season’s third and final Mission Triple Challenge contending with not just one another but near-triple-digit temperatures to boot. That extreme heat carried over into the competition, which was scorching hot from the opening lap.

An initial ten-lap sprint properly set the tone for the day with an eight-rider lead pack scrapping for top honors as the contest settled in. Two-time Grand National Champion Briar Bauman (No. 3 Super.com/RWR/Rocket Doctor Harley-Davidson XG750R) grabbed the holeshot but was immediately overhauled by last year’s hero of Springfield, Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods Honda CB750 Hornet). 

Daniels took his turn at the front soon after but saw Lowe and Fisher simultaneously rip past on either flank with seven laps to go. Those three would then proceed to slowly stretch out an advantage over the remainder of the field.

Fisher kicked in up another gear late, shaking free over the final two laps to claim an unchallenged victory in the first of three Mission Triple Challenge Main Events.

Daniels edged Lowe for second by just 0.059 seconds, while KICKER AFT SuperTwins champion Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07) did his part to help out his teammate, drafting past Bauman and Kody Kopp (No. 12 Latus Motors Racing Harley-Davidson XG750R) on the final lap to steal away fourth.

Main Event 2

An even better race played out in the 15-lap Main Event 2 – and one that ultimately proved to have massive championship implications.

From the early going, this one was a six-rider affair. Fisher immediately dropped to the back of the group following a poor start from pole that sent him spinning up the track, while Daniels powered under Lowe to secure the lead.

Daniels proceeded to control the race from the front but never had room to breathe with Lowe, Drane, Kopp, Bauman, and Fisher running in tight formation on his rear wheel.

With four laps remaining, title hopeful Bauman raised his hand, indicating a problem. Moments later, he pulled out of the race, further opening the door for Daniels’ quest for a second-consecutive crown.

He raced through that opening to close out Main Event 2, holding Lowe at bay by 0.111 seconds to claim the win.

Kopp edged former 450cc rival Drane for third while Main Event 1 winner Fisher came home fifth, finishing just 0.564 seconds off the win despite struggling to keep his bike tidy and low in the rematch.

Behind, Declan Bender (No. 70 Memphis Shades/Vinson Construction Yamaha MT-07) ran a lonely race to sixth, with Hunter Bauer (No. 24 G&G Racing Yamaha MT-07), Chad Cose (No. 49 PRO Roofing/Parker Racing Yamaha MT-07), Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650), and Ben Lowe (No. 25 Rackley Racing/Roof Systems KTM 790 Duke) rounding out the top ten.

Main Event 3

While his shattered championship aspirations couldn’t be resurrected, Bauman did get a significant measure of revenge in Main Event 3.

Starting from the back of the field, Bauman clawed his way into contention, slotting into sixth after the opening lap.

Working a slightly higher line, the RWR Harley-Davidson ace continued to pick his way forward, taking his position at the front of a seven-rider pack shortly after the race hit its half-way point.

Meanwhile, Daniels had bigger concerns, finding himself in a dogfight with Fisher, Lowe, and Drane as he calculated what he needed to do to secure the day’s overall win and the 2026 Grand National Championship along with it.

While Fisher repeated his Main Event 2 fade, Lowe and Drane didn’t go anywhere. Bauman managed to break the draft with Daniels, Lowe, and Drane racing side-by-side for second over the contest’s final three laps.

Once in position, Daniels again proved a difficult quarry. And he indeed came home in second, finishing some 0.289 seconds behind Bauman and 0.059 seconds ahead of Lowe.

That (2-1-2) was all Daniels needed to do to lock down the Caterpillar Springfield Mile I overall win and another #1 plate. 

The victory was Daniels’ fourth in a row and moved him equal with Bauman at six on the season. Afterward, he said, “It was a tough year. It was really long, and it was hard. The guys I’m racing against are so good. Each year you expect to take a step (forward), but your competition does too. I didn’t know if it was going to happen today.

“I could talk about the day, or I could talk about the season, but really, I want to thank my whole team. The Estenson Racing Monster Energy Yamaha team – Tommy Hayden and Tim Estenson – gave me the opportunity of a lifetime to come out here and do what I love and make a living doing it. I also want to thank all of my supporters… This year came together late, but winning four in a row and the Springfield Mile, it’s awesome. 

“This is an emotional time for me. I dreamed of this for a long time. It’s cool.”

Lowe finished the day second overall (3-2-3) to claim his first podium of the season. Meanwhile, Bauman’s victory more than made up for his second race 15th, springing him all the way up to third (5-15-1) on the combined order. Fisher finished fourth (1-5-6) with Drane rounding out the top five (4-4-4).

With one race to go, Daniels now holds an unassailable 27-point lead over Bauman (295-268). Kopp is third at 261 and still well within striking distance of second heading into Sunday’s finale.

KICKER AFT Singles

Two-time KICKER AFT Singles champion Tom Drane (No. 1 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) continued his unprecedented revision of the record books with yet another Springfield Mile performance to remember.

Saturday’s Main Event was predictably frenetic with a huge pack of motivated riders holding the throttle wide open around the fabled Mile. A red flag brought the action to a momentary halt after promising rookie Charlie Jaques (No. 110 J&M Logging/Miller Racing Honda CRF450R) crashed from fourth after briefly running in the lead.

When the race resumed, it took shape as a five-rider breakaway. Kage Tadman (No. 28 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) did manage to open up a gap of more than a half-second as the race took the halfway flags but was quickly hunted down by the chasing Drane, Chase Saathoff (No. 88 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450), Trevor Brunner (No. 21 JMC Motorsports/Fairway GMC KTM 450 SX-F), and Logan Eisenhard (No. 66 Mark Tepper Racing/Pags Powersports KTM 450 SX-F).

All but Eisenhard held the lead at one point or another as the contenders rehearsed last-lap strategies with the laps ticking away. Eisenhard finally fell off the lead pack with less than a minute to go, as the jockeying continued at the front.

As the last lap opened, Tadman sailed ahead of Drane entering Turn 1 to reclaim the lead but was helpless as Drane rushed back by on the entrance to Turn 3.

Drane tucked in low coming off of Turn 4, hoping to beat his pursuers to the checkered flag. The gambit worked, as he blasted past the checkered flag mere fractions of a second ahead of second-placed Saathoff (.037 seconds back) and third-placed Brunner (0.067 seconds back).

The victory was the Estenson Racing star’s ninth of 2026, establishing a new single-season wins record for the category. It also upped the Australian’s Mile win streak to seven and his Springfield-specific streak to six.

Tadman, despite leading on the final lap and finishing just 0.085 seconds back of the win, didn’t even earn himself a trip to the podium in fourth.

Eisenhard managed to come home with a top five but only just, as Evan Kelleher (No. 31 Schaeffer’s Motorsports KTM 450 SX-F) closed in to finish 0.035 seconds behind him in sixth.

Walker Porter (No. 10 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) battled from the back to an eventual seventh, while Jordan Beaulac (No. 156 Picotte Motosport/Dofralex GASGAS MC 450F), Jett Katarzy (No. 117 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450), and Bradon Pfanders (No. 83 Memphis Shades/Corbin Seats Yamaha YZ450F) completed the top ten.

Next Up

The 2026 Progressive AFT season will conclude tomorrow with the second half of this weekend’s double finale, the Caterpillar Springfield Mile II.

Visit https://www.tixr.com/groups/meespromotions/events/day-2-springfield-2026-165643 to secure your seats now.

How to Watch

FloRacing

For those that can’t catch the live action at the track, FloRacing is the live streaming home of Progressive American Flat Track. Motorsports fans can subscribe to FloRacing to enjoy over 1,000 live motorsports events in 2026. FloSports is available by visiting https://flosports.link/AFT2026 or by downloading the FloSports app on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire and Chromecast.

FS1

FOX Sports coverage of the Caterpillar Springfield Mile I, featuring in-depth features and thrilling onboard cameras, will premiere on FS1 on Sunday, September 13, at 10:00 a.m. ET (7:00 a.m. PT). The Caterpillar Springfield Mile II will air the following Sunday, September 20, at  11:00 a.m. ET (8:00 a.m. PT)

For more information on Progressive AFT visit https://www.americanflattrack.com.

WorldSBK: Race One Results From France

Mathilde Gasnier

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September 5, 2026

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Nicolo Bulega won FIM Superbike World Championship restarted Race One Saturday afternoon at Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, in France. Bulega started from pole position and rode his Aruba.it Racing Ducati Panigale V4R to a 3.118- second margin of victory in the 12-lap race.

Race 1 was red-flagged due to an incident at turns 14-15 involving rider #46 Thomas Bridewell.

Bulega’s teammate, Iker Lecuona was the runner-up and Sam Lowes, riding his ELF Marc VDS Racing Team Ducati Panigale V4R finished third.

American Garrett Gerloff crossed the finish line 9th on his Kawasaki ZX-10RR.

Danilo Petrucci finished the race 13th on his ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team M1000RR.

Nicolo Bulega leads the championship with 516 points, 138 ahead of Iker Lecuona who has 378 points. Yari Montella is third with 224 points.

WSBK RACE 1

WSBKChampionshipStandings

More, from a press release issued by WSBK:

Bulega beats Lecuona in red-flagged Race 1, Sam Lowes completes the Magny-Cours rostrum. The #11 continued his march towards the WorldSBK title with a hard-fought victory over teammate Iker Lecuona.

Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) made it 44 wins in the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship, above Noriyuki Haga, in Race 1 of the Acerbis French Round with victory over teammate Iker Lecuona (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati). Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) completed the rostrum at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours in a race which was interrupted and restarted due to a red flag.

THE FIRST HALF OF THE RACE

Bulega grabbed the holeshot when the lights went out while Lecuona immediately gained a place as he leapt ahead of Sam Lowes, before attacking the #11 at the Turn 5 Adelaide hairpin to take the lead of the race. On Lap 3, Bulega claimed the lead of the race at Turn 5 by outbraking his teammate, while, on the following lap, Lecuona tried an audacious move at the same corner but ran wide. On Lap 6, the #11 lapped half-a-second clear of Lecuona to build a gap over the #7. Lecuona kept pushing hard though, pulling off a save at Turn 13. However, on Lap 10, the red flags were shown following a crash for Tommy Bridewell (Superbike Advocates) at Turn 14 on Lap 9. The #46 was taken to the medical centre for a check-up following the crash. He was declared fit following his check.

SCRAPPING FOR VICTORY

The race was restarted over 12 laps, with the grid based on the positions at the last completed timing point for each rider, with Bulega, Lecuona and Sam Lowes going from the front row. On Lap 1 at Turns 6 and 7, Leuona forced his way into the lead of the race. On Lap 2, Bulega regained the lead at Turn 5, while Sam Lowes tried to take advantage at Turn 8, but the Spanish rider was able to hold second place, before the #11 put in a new race lap record to build a gap of over a second to his teammate. From there, ‘Bulegas’ had the race under control as he made it 24 wins out of 25 this season and three in a row; the 24 wins in a single campaign is just three shy of the all-time record, held by Alvaro Bautista (Barni Spark Racing Team). His victory puts him above Haga in sixth in the all-time list with 44 in total. while Lecuona finished in second, and that result means Bulega’s coronation will be delayed until at least Cremona. The Spanish rider’s 20^th second place finish of the year is tied for the all-time record, level with Toprak Razgatlioglu in 2023.

BATTLING IT OUT

Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) finished in fourth place after a battle with Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) in the restarted race. It ignited on Lap 5, when the #5 tried to pass the #22 at Turn 5, but a forceful Alex Lowes ensured he remained ahead of the Independent Ducati rider. A lap later, the Bimota rider ran wide at the Imola chicane, which gave Montella the opportunity to take P4 with Alex Lowes demoted into fifth. Lorenzo Baldassarri (Team GoEleven) claimed sixth despite a dramatic start to his race. On the Warm Up Lap, ‘Balda’ was checking his bike, before he belatedly arrived on the grid.

BASSANI CLIMBS FROM P16 TO P7

Axel Bassani (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) was one of the main beneficiaries of the red flag. Having initially started in 16^th, he was ninth when the race was stopped, and he used this to climb up the order to seventh at the chequered flag; he had been closing in on Baldassarri, but he ran wide in the opening sector, and cost himself a couple of seconds. Alberto Surra (Motocorsa Racing) finished in eighth ahead of Garrett Gerloff (Kawasaki WorldSBK Team), with Xavi Vierge (Pata Maxus Yamaha) completing the top ten.

EVERYONE SCORES POINTS

Jake Dixon (Honda HRC) scored his first points of the season as he finished in 11^th place after a last-lap fight with Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha), who was demoted to 12^th at the end of the race. Danilo Petrucci (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) was 13^th while a crash for Bautista at Turn 15 on Lap 3 of the restarted race ended his hopes of a top ten finish. However, the two-time Champion was able to re-join the race and, with the spate of retirements in Race 1, was able to collect two Championship points.

RACE OF ATTRITION

Somkiat Chantra (Honda HRC) brought his bike into the pits at the end of the opening lap to retire from the race. Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) crashed out of the race at the Adelaide hairpin after contact from Vierge, with the incident being investigated by the FIM WorldSBK Stewards. Miguel Oliveira (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) crashed out at Turn 8 on Lap 5, while Mattia Rato (Motoxracing WorldSBK Team) crashed in the opening sector on Lap 6. Stefano Manzi (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) crashed out at the end of Lap 8 when he had a spectacular highside through the final chicane.

The top six from WorldSBK Race 1, full results here:

Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati)
Iker Lecuona (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +3.118s
Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) +6.293s
Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) +8.786s
Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) +9.433s
Lorenzo Baldassarri (Team GoEleven) +10.050s

Fastest lap: Nicolo Bulega (Ducati) 1’35.030s – new lap record

Watch all the action on Sunday at Magny-Cours from 09:00 Local Time (UTC+2) using the WorldSBK VideoPass – now 70% off!

WorldSSP: Race One Results From France

Mathilde Gasnier

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September 5, 2026

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Can Oncu won FIM Supersport World Championship Race One Saturday at Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, in France. Riding his Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing YZF-R9, the Turkish rider won the 19-lap race by just 0.107 second.

Roberto Garcia was the runner-up on his GMT94 Yamaha YZF- R9, just 0.285 second ahead of third-place finisher Valentin Debise, who rode a Eastroc Evan Bros ZXMOTO 820RR.

Garcia’s teammate, Lucas Mahias got fourth and Debise’s teammate Federico Cariasulo crossed the finish line fifth.

Albert Arenas leads the championship with 291 points, 66 ahead of Valentin Debise who has 225 points. Can Oncu is third with 203 points.

WSSP RACE 1

WSSPChampionshipStandings

More, from a press release issued by WSBK:

INSTANT CLASSIC: Oncu pips Garcia in epic WorldSSP Race 1, Arenas crashes out. The Championship picture takes a stunning turn as Arenas is taken to the medical centre and Debise capitalises in P3.

Can Oncu (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) strikes first in France! The Turk’s win spells his first of the season and promotes him to third place in the title race, as well as tying Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team), Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team), and Valentin Debise (EASTROC ZXMOTO Factory Evan Bros Racing) for all-time WorldSSP wins. Roberto Garcia finished just behind the #61, landing his second podium of the season, and in P2 he takes his career-best WorldSSP result. The Yamaha 1-2 made history for the Japanese manufacturer, marking their 300^th WorldSSP race on the podium. Valentin Debise takes P3, the Frenchman’s first time finishing P3 this season, as each time he has taken his ZXMOTO 820RR onto the rostrum, it has been onto the top step.

ARENAS WIPES OUT, TAKEN TO MEDICAL CENTRE

Mahias shot off the line from P3 to take the holeshot from Debise. Moments later, however, from P2, the #53 had a big moment at Turn 5 of the first lap, slipping down to P10. The mistake looked as though it would be very costly to his title dreams; however, Turn 5 of Lap 3 sent shockwaves through the Championship battle as farther back, Jeremy Alcoba (Kawasaki WorldSSP Team) and Albert Arenas (AS BLU CRU Racing Team) got tangled up and sent both riders down onto the tarmac. The #75 was taken to the medical centre and was seen clutching his right wrist as marshals ushered him off track. He will be reevaluated on Sunday morning before Warm Ups.

ONCU BECOMES 2026’S 7^thWINNER, THE MOST SINCE 2008

Can Oncu (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) didn’t need an invitation to take advantage of the Championship leader’s misfortune. He had climbed steadily up the grid when the incident took place, and he continued working up from P13 to lead the race. He fought throughout the second half of the race for P1 with Garcia, establishing himself in front in the final laps, and saw his effort home with a personal best lap time of 1’40.237s to seal his first win of the season. With 11 Laps to go, Debise was up to fifth as he slipped past Filippo Farioli (VFT Racing) for P5 at the Adelaide hairpin. A Lap later, the French rider had a hair-raising moment as he made contact with Jorge Navarro (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) on the exit of Adelaide, both riders staying up, and the moment earned Navarro a Long Lap Penalty for Irresponsible Riding. Debise pressed on, passing his rival Mahias to P3. He didn’t quite have the speed to battle for the race win, but the Frenchman cut his Championship deficit to 66 points behind Arenas.

MAHIAS PACEY IN RACE 1 YET MISSES PODIUM

Mahias fought for the podium positions for the entire affair until Debise slid inside him on the Turn 11-12 chicane, sending him wide. From there, the #94 didn’t have a whiff of the podium places. Federico Caricasulo (EASTROC ZXMOTO Factory Evan Bros Racing) showed that his Friday Tissot Superpole session pace was no fluke as he was right back in the thick of the top ten fight, finishing in P5 for his best result since Estoril 2024. Farioli turned heads early from his P8 starting position as he shot all the way up to P2. His Race 1 result arrives as his best result of the season so far, and his best result since Aragon last season.

RECORD HIGHS FOR WHATLEY

Josh Whatley’s (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) P7 effort spells his best-ever WorldSSP result; strong stuff from the British rider who takes top Ducati honours. Navarro finishes in P8, not quite representative of his strong Saturday pace in his first race of 2026 in the category. Aldi Mahendra (AS BLU CRU Racing Team) had a solid day at the office to recover his P16 starting position to finish in P9. Jaume Masia (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) as well did well to rectify a poor Friday Superpole result of P17, taking P10 on Saturday afternoon. Despite the result, he falls to P4 in the title race behind Oncu.

BOOTH-AMOS CRASHES OUT

Mattia Casadei (D34G WorldSSP Racing Team) and Tom Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) came to grief as they made contact on Turn 5, sending the Brit back to the boxes and the Italian was handed a Long Lap Penalty for Irresponsible Riding.

The top six from the WorldSSP Race 1: Full results here!

Can Oncu (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing)
Roberto Garcia (GMT94 Yamaha) +0.107s
Valentin Debise (EASTROC ZXMOTO Evan Bros Factory) +0.392s
Lucas Mahias (GMT94 Yamaha) +2.910s
Federico Caricasulo (EASTROC ZXMOTO Evan Bros Factory) +4.519s
Filippo Farioli (VFT Racing Yamaha) +5.323s

Fastest lap: Lucas Mahias (Yamaha) – 1’42.013s

The category will charge into their final day in France tomorrow with lights out on Race 2 at 12:40 (Local time UTC +2)! Tune in live or OnDemand with the WorldSBK VideoPass! Now 70% off!

WSBK: Bulega Breaks Lap Record, Takes Pole Position In France

Mathilde Gasnier

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September 5, 2026

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WSBK: Bulega Breaks Lap Record, Takes Pole Position In France

Nicolo Bulega took pole position during World Superbike Superpole qualifying Saturday morning at Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, in France. Riding his Aruba.it Racing Ducati Panigale V4R, Bulega recorded a lap time of 1:34.318, which was not only good enough to top the 20-rider field and secure pole position it also eclipsed Toprak Razgatlioglu’s 2025 All-Time Lap Record of 1:34.930.

Sam Lowes qualified second with a 1:34.486 on his ELF Marc VDS Racing Team Ducati Panigale V4R.

Bulega’s teammate, Iker Lecuona did a 1:34.596 to earn the third and final spot on the front row.

Row two starters include Barni Spark Racing’s Yari Montella (1:34.872), Motocorsa Racing’s Alberto Surra (1:35.141), and bimota by Kawasaki’s Alex Lowes (1:35.224).

American Garrett Gerloff qualified 12th with a 1:35.523 on his Kawasaki ZX-10RR.

Danilo Petrucci finished 18th with a time of 1:35.953 on his ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team M1000RR.

superpole wsbk

More, from a press release issued by WSBK:

10 IN A ROW: Bulega beats Sam Lowes and Lecuona to Magny-Cours pole as his streak continues. The #11 is unbeaten in Superpole this season as he claimed P1 at Magny-Cours as the top four all beat the previous lap record.

Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) extended his run of pole positions in the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship to 10 after snatching P1 on the Tissot Superpole timesheets in the latter stages of the 15-minute session. The #11’s run is already an all-time record as he defeated Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) and Iker Lecuona (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours for the Acerbis French Round.

THE FIRST RUN

Lecuona set a marker on the first run as he posted a 1’34.676s to go more than two tenths clear of teammate Bulega after the #11 set a 1’34.898s to lead a factory Ducati 1-2 in the early stages of Superpole. Provisionally, Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) was on the front row after setting a 1’35.152s, with Lecuona and Bulega the only riders to go into the 1’34s and break the lap record in that stint.

A NEW LAP RECORD

Lecuona was able to improve his time in the second stint, but it was bettered by Bulega who set a 1’34.318s to set a new lap record and deny his teammate a second WorldSBK pole position. Sam Lowes was up in three sectors, but lost time in the final sector, forcing him to settle for P2 behind Bulega with Lecuona demoted to third. Bulega ensured his pole streak continued and is now at 10 in a row, while it’s Ducati’s second pole at Magny-Cours; their first since 2003 with James Toseland. For Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team), it’s his joint-best Superpole result of the season. The results mean Bulega has won the 2026 Tissot Superpole Award.

LEAVING IT LATE

Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) will look to challenge for a podium from fourth on the grid after posting a 1’34.872s, 0.554s slower than Bulega. Alberto Surra (Motocorsa Racing) followed Bulega around on his final lap as he launched up the order from 11^th to fifth, demoting Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) into sixth as the #22 completed the second row. The Bimota rider was 0.906s off Bulega’s time, while he was just four tenths off Montella.

STRONG SHOWINGS BUT CRASHES AND A PENALTY

Tommy Bridewell (Superbike Advocates) was seventh on the timesheets – his best result in the Tissot Superpole session. The #46 looked to compete for the front two rows but had a late crash at Turn 15. Bridewell will start Race 1 from the back of the grid due to a yellow flag infringement. Lorenzo Baldassarri (Team GoEleven) had a late crash at Turn 8 but finished eighth on the timesheets, with Xavi Vierge (Pata Maxus Yamaha) completing the third row with a 1’35.449s. Jake Dixon (Honda HRC) will launch from a season-best P10 as he leads away the fourth row.

AIMING TO MAKE GAINS

There are several riders who will look to climb the order when lights go out, including Axel Bassani (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) from 17^th place and the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team duo of Danilo Petrucci and Miguel Oliveira from 18^th and 19^th respectively.

The top six from WorldSBK Superpole, full results here:

Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 1’34.318s
Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) +0.168s
Iker Lecuona (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +0.278s
Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) +0.554s
Alberto Surra (Motocorsa Racing) +0.823s
Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) +0.906s

New Lap Record – Nicolo Bulega (Ducati)

Don’t miss Race 1 from Magny-Cours at 15:30 Local Time (UTC+2) using the WorldSBK VideoPass – now 70% off!

MotoAmerica: Scheibe Racing Welcomes Simon Reid At COTA

Mathilde Gasnier

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September 4, 2026

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MotoAmerica: Scheibe Racing Welcomes Simon Reid At COTA

Simon Says, “Let’s Race!” Aftercare Scheibe Racing Welcomes Simon Reid As Second Superbike Rider At COTA.

Iron Mountain, MI – September 4, 2026 – Aftercare Scheibe Racing, which has fielded a rider in the MotoAmerica Superbike Championship every year since the series began in 2015, has doubled down for next weekend’s MotoAmerica Superbikes at Texas event, which will be held at Circuit of The Americas (COTA) near Austin. Along with British-born incumbent rider Max Flinders, team owner Steve Scheibe has brought in Ulsterman Simon Reid for a one-two UK punch in MotoAmerica’s premier class.

Simon, who hails from Banbridge in Northern Ireland, will compete in Superbike Cup aboard the #101 Aftercare Scheibe Racing BMW M 1000 RR. The son of two-time Formula Two World Champion and Isle of Man TT winner Brian Reid, Simon has been contesting British Superbike’s 2026 Pirelli National Superstock Championship on a Carl Cox BMW By MLav Racing BMW M 1000 RR. His MotoAmerica debut is being made possible in part by Carl Cox Motorsport, alpha Racing, BMW Motorrad USA, and BMW Motorrad Motorsport.

“I’m really excited to join Aftercare Scheibe Racing at COTA,” Simon said. “It’ll be my first race in MotoAmerica, and I can’t wait to get started next week. It’s a really cool collaboration, with Scheibe Racing, alpha Racing, and BMW Motorrad USA bringing Carl Cox Motorsport onto the U.S. stage. To have everyone working together to get me onto the grid in Texas is pretty special.

“I know the BMW well, so I’m looking forward to getting to work with the team and taking on a new challenge. It’s going to be a great experience, and I think everyone involved is excited to see what we can do.”

Simon Reid II — Simon Reid. Photos courtesy of Simon Reid.

Max Flinders, who teamed up with Aftercare Scheibe Racing earlier this season, has raced without a teammate for the entirety of his MotoAmerica career. Flinders was the first rider to take to the track back in 2015 at COTA for MotoAmerica’s very first official test at the beginning of its inaugural season. He welcomes Simon to the team and can’t wait to get things underway next week in Texas.

“I’m excited to have Simon as part of the Aftercare Scheibe Racing team at COTA,” commented Max. “Having another Brit around will be awesome, plus I’ve never had a teammate before, so it will be interesting to see how it is. I know Loris Baz and Josh Herrin always had a good time racing together on the same team, so let’s go.”

Steve Scheibe echoed Simon’s and Max’s thoughts: “I’m really looking forward to Simon joining us at COTA. Having a two-rider team is going to help both Simon and Max, and it will also help us advance our program and get both riders up to speed more quickly. I’ve managed a lot of two-rider teams in the past, so I know the advantages it provides.

“Big thanks to Carl Cox Motorsport, alpha Racing, BMW Motorrad USA, and BMW Motorrad Motorsport, who have all invested significant resources into this new venture. COTA will be an exciting weekend for all of us.”

Max Flinders and Simon Reid will be on track next Friday, September 11, at COTA starting with Superbike Free Practice 1 at 10:55 a.m. CT. Superbike Timed Practice is also on Friday at 2:50 p.m. CT. Superbike Free Practice 2 will commence on Saturday at 9:45 a.m. CT, Superbike Final Qualifying is at 11:35 a.m. CT, and Superbike Race 1 will go green at 3:12 p.m. CT on Saturday. Superbike Race 2 is on Sunday, also at 3:12 p.m. CT.

For information on how to watch Aftercare Scheibe Racing compete in the MotoAmerica Superbike Championship at COTA, CLICK HERE

Shannonville Celebrating 50 Years of Motorcycle Racing

Mathilde Gasnier

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September 4, 2026

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Shannonville Celebrating 50 Years of Motorcycle Racing

On Thanksgiving weekend in 1976, Nelson International Raceway (now Shannonville Motorsport Park) held its first motorcycle race. To honour this milestone, the Shannonville-based RACEMoto series is hosting the Nelson International Raceway 50^th Anniversary Celebration, a mix of on-track competition and historical festivities, on the weekend of September 25-27.

The original seven-turn track, owned by former racer and Toronto dealership owner John Nelson, was completed just days before the inaugural event on October 10, 1976. Over the coming years and decades, through name and ownership changes, the circuit served a central role in the development of motorcycle competition and talent in Canada.

Primary sponsorship for the event will come from Economy Lube + Tire, including a $10,000 purse for Sunday’s Superbike feature race.

“John Nelson and the track he built were central to the incredible progress of motorcycle sport in Canada in the 1980s and 1990s,” explains Economy Lube + Tire principal, team owner and former racer Stephen Moxey. “this seems like the right time to celebrate that legacy 50 years later.”

The weekend features a full slate of RACEMoto qualifying and racing, highlighted by the big-money Superbike race on Sunday, plus activities focused on the original Nelson track and its late owner-operator John Nelson, who passed away in 20xx.

Saturday’s program includes the FIM MiniGP Canada championship series finale, in which youth racers are competing to determine who will represent Canada at the World Championship in Valencia, Spain in November.

A special invite-only reception will be held after the races at the on-site Nelson Event Centre, hosted by legendary host Pat Gonsalves. Gonsalves, who announced that very first race in 1976, will interview former racers and personalities about their experiences racing at the track and their time with John Nelson. The event will be live-streamed.

The winner of the first race at Nelson International Raceway, former Canadian National Champ Jim Allen, will serve as grand marshal for the event. Riding for Toronto Yamaha dealer Ernie White, Allen took the feature class win fifty years ago on a unique Egli-framed TZ750cc two-stroke machine.

Sunday will feature a full slate of RACEMoto sprint races in all professional and amateur categories. The feature Pro Superbike race will take place mid-afternoon, and be recorded for later broadcast on TSN.

In addition to the large payout, another notable feature of the race will be the “open tire” format. The prize fund, supplied by Economy Lube, includes $ 2,500 for the winner down to $ 250 for tenth overall in Sunday afternoon’s Feature race.

Unlike most National events, where a spec tire is mandated, competitors may choose whichever brand of tire they wish.

Veteran racer Eli Daccache of Newcastle, ON seeks to earn his 10th straight No. 1 plate at Shannonville aboard his Pirelli-shod Milwaukee Yamaha YZF-R1.

For more info on the event, visit https://racemoto.ca/50th-anniversary-of-motorcycle-racing-at-shannonville/

Economy Lube + Tire is an Ontario-based maintenance chain and a major player in North American motosports.

Shannonville Motorsport Park, the “Birthplace of Champions,” is a multi-faceted racing facility located in Shannonville, ON featuring a road course with multiple configurations, drag strip and skid pad.

R.I.P.: Remembering Mert Lawwill, Champion & Movie Star (Videos)

September 6, 2026

20030422 69 27 — Mert Lawwill circa 1969. Photo courtesy Joe Lawwill and the Lawwill family.