Stefano Manzi was quickest during FIM Supersport World Championship Free Practice Friday morning at Magny-Cours, in France. Riding his Pata Yamaha Ten Kate YZF R9 on Pirelli control tires, the Italian covered the 2.74-mile (4.41 km) road course in 1:40.193, topping the field of 33 riders.
Filippo Farioli was the best of the rest with a 1:40.602 on his MV Agusta Reparto Corse F3 800 RR.
His teammate, Bo Bendsneyder was third with a lap time of 1:40.758.
Former MotoAmerica Supersport regular Valentin Debise was 10th with a 1:41.158 on his Renzi Corse Ducati Panigale V2.
Pedro Acosta topped MotoGP World Championship Free Practice 1 Friday morning at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, in Spain. Riding his Michelin-shod Red Bull KTM Factory RC16, the Spaniard turned a lap of 1:38.979 around the 2.89-mile (4.66 km) track and led the 24-rider field.
French sensation, Johann Zarco was second-best with a 1:39.074 on his CASTROL Honda LCR RC213V.
Marc Marquez was third with a lap of 1:39.198 on his Lenovo Ducati Desmosedici GP25.
Acosta powers to P1 in Barcelona FP1. A mega start for the KTM star who headed the manufacturer’s strong start to the Catalan GP.
Recent form provided a solid foundation for Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) to build from in Barcelona as he topped the opening session. A 1’38.979 was enough for him to charge to the top late on but with all four KTMs inside the top ten, there were smiles right across both garages and not just in the #37’s corner.
There were a flurry of late laps, including back-to-back fastest laps for Acosta at the end of the session to go top. The Spaniard’s form of recent rounds has pointed towards a strong showing in Barcelona and that’s how his weekend has started. There was something of a surprise in P2 with Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR) moving up late on. There were three manufacturers inside the top three with Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) securing third having led for much of the session. A welcome return for Maverick Viñales (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) in fourth, splitting MotoGP’s fastest brothers as Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) bagged fifth.
Honda’s late charge was emphasised by Luca Marini (Honda HRC Castrol) in sixth, one place ahead of the third KTM of Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing). The best of the Aprilias was Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing), following on from form in recent rounds by taking P8 on Friday morning in Montmelo, ahead of wildcard Aleix Espargaro (Honda HRC Test Team). Rounding out the top ten, a fourth KTM with Enea Bastianini (Red Bull KTM Tech 3). The Austrian manufacturer look strong going into the remainder of Friday but the same can’t be said for Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), P23 and second-to-last on the leaderboard. Pecco’s not renowned for his Friday pace but he may be a tad more concerned than normal after FP1.
Toprak Razgatlioglu was quickest during FIM Superbike World Championship Free Practice 1 Friday morning at Magny-Cours, in France. Riding his Pirelli-shod ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team M1000R on the 2.74-mile (4.41 km) track, the Turkish rider recorded a 1:36.930 to lead the field of 23 riders.
Sam Lowes was the best of the rest with a 1:37.152 on his ELF Marc VDS Ducati Panigale V4R. Nicolo Bulega was third-fastest with a 1:37.183 on his Aruba.It Racing – Ducati Panigale V4R.
Danilo Petrucci was 5th on his Barni Spark Racing Ducati Panigale V4R with a lap time of 1:37.240.
American Garrett Gerloff finished the opening session in 7th with a 1:37.374 on his Kawasaki ZX-10RR.
Razgatlioglu tops FP1 at Magny-Cours ahead of Sam Lowes, Bulega P3 as Vierge puts Honda fourth. Less than a second separated the top 17 in FP1 with all six manufacturers inside the top eight after the opening 45-minute session.
Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) claimed top spot in Free Practice 1 for the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship field as the French Round kicked off at the iconic Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours. The reigning Champion was more than two tenths clear of his rivals with Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) claiming second and title rival Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) completing the top three.
Razgatlioglu went P1 in the standings early in the 45-minute session and retained his grip on top spot throughout. Impressively, in FP1 last year on his first lap, he set a 1’37.695s while this year, again on his first lap, it was a 1’37.694s. Times rapidly improved with ‘El Turco’ putting in a 1’36.983s before improving to a 1’36.930s to secure P1; he was the first and only rider to break into the 1’36s bracket. Sam Lowes made a late play for P1, going faster than Razgatlioglu in the first three sectors but losing time in the final one. The #14 finished second with a 1’37.152s. The top three was completed by Bulega who put in a late 1’37.183s to secure P3, although 0.253s down on title rival Razgatlioglu.
Xavi Vierge (Honda HRC) enjoyed a strong start to the French Round with fourth after setting a 1’37.208s. The #97 was often inside the top three but was demoted by Bulega in the final minutes of the session. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) was another who found himself in the top three throughout FP1 but dropped down to P5 at the end of the first WorldSBK outing of the weekend; the #9 seemingly had a small technical issue on his Panigale V4R towards the end of FP1. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) was sixth for Yamaha, ensuring four manufacturers were in the top six, as he set a 1’37.251s.
American star Garrett Gerloff (Kawasaki WorldSBK Team) was 0.444s off the pace in FP1 as he put Kawasaki in seventh, finishing 0.013s clear of Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) in eighth; ensuring all six manufacturers featured in the top eight. Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) was ninth with Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) completing the top ten, 0.567s down on the pace of what was an incredibly close FP1 session.
Daniel Holgado was quickest during Moto2 World Championship Free Practice 1 Friday morning at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, in Spain. Riding his Pirelli-shod CFMOTO Impulse Aspar Team Kalex on the 2.89-mile (4.66 km) track, the Spaniard recorded a 1:42.306 to lead the field of 29 riders.
Barry Baltus was the best of the rest with a 1:42.453 on his Fantic Racing Lino Sonego Kalex.
Manuel Gonzalez was third-fastest with a 1:42.473 on his LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP Kalex.
American Joe Roberts finished the opening session in 24th with a 1:43.826 on his American Racing Team Kalex.
The MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship is back, and with it comes the traditional Thursday debriefs. There were hot topics aplenty, discussing all the big news from the summer break, looking at the French Round and talking about the future as the grid gathered at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours.
Jonathan Rea. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Jonathan Rea (Pata Maxus Yamaha): “I’m jumping into the unknown in 2026… I was able to see those messages, it made me feel very proud”
Reflecting on his retirement announcement, Rea said: “I feel quite light; right now, it’s exciting because I’m jumping into the unknown in 2026, whatever that may be. I’m trying to focus on the last four rounds of the season. It was important to make the announcement before Magny-Cours. I want to finish this chapter strong; I want to be competitive. I probably made the decision two or three weeks before the announcement, after the last race. I think I walked out of the paddock at Balaton pretty convinced it was the correct decision. It’s the most difficult decision as a rider or athlete to make, when it’s all you’ve ever known, but for me it’s the correct decision at the correct time. I’ll miss the burning fire inside to win, the team working and many things; thousands of things that are incredible in this job. It was super nice to read all the comments. I was able to see those messages about the impact I’ve had in the sport, and it made me feel very proud.”
Danilo Petrucci (9). Photo courtesy Barni Racing Team.
Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team): “After the technical meetings, I had a clear idea of my future”
Discussing his move to BMW for 2026, ‘Petrux’ stated: “I’m really happy and proud to be a factory rider. Next season will be my fourth season, and riding with a factory team has been my goal. It was not an easy decision to leave Barni. They were the team that launched my career in MotoGP, and I stayed with them after that, now in WorldSBK, so it was very tough because we accomplished so much together. We spoke with the team on the technical side, looking at the bike and how Toprak is riding it. They said they asked Toprak who’s the rider who likes to brake hard to stop the bike, and he said I was one of the possibilities. I want to say thanks for this. It was a difficult choice, but after the technical meetings, I had a clear idea of my future. Taking Toprak’s seat is really challenging! I already feel the pressure. Rea’s the greatest rider in WorldSBK. Looking at his statistics, I think he did almost half of the WorldSBK races. He’s Mr. WorldSBK. Just the numbers can speak for him, and I’m so proud to have raced with him for the last part of his career.”
Toprak Razgatlioglu (1). Photo courtesy WorldSBK.
Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team): “He helped me a lot, especially when I had my first test at Portimao. I’ll never forget this”
Looking ahead to his return at Magny-Cours and reacting to Rea’s retirement news, ‘El Turco’ said: “Last year here wasn’t good for me because I had a really big crash. This is my favourite track, and my target is to win three races. I’m just thinking that last year I didn’t win here, and this year I want to win three races. I took my first win in WorldSBK here in 2019; I’m always strong here. I’m happy for Petrucci because he’s a very experienced rider. This is good to improve the BMW again. When I saw Rea’s news, I was sad. I’ve ridden with him for many years. He did an incredible job and had an incredible career. Six times World Champion and all in a row, that’s incredible; it’s why I say he’s a WorldSBK legend. He helped me a lot, especially when I had my first test at Portimao. He came to my box and showed me corner by corner, and I rode with him on the track. I’ll never forget this.”
Alvaro Bautista (19). Photo courtesy Aruba.it Team.
Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati): “In the final weeks before making my decision, I had the chance to stay… I chose Barni because it was the more exciting proposal to me”
Reflecting on his move to Barni Ducati for 2026, Bautista said: “I’m so happy and excited for this new challenge with Barni. After the whole situation with the factory team, I appreciated them showing me that they wanted me for their bike, and that’s always a nice feeling. We spoke a lot with Ducati during the negotiations, and in the end, I think we arrived at a really good compromise. I will have full factory support from Ducati with the bike, technicians, etc. I didn’t want to keep racing just to keep racing; I want to fight for wins. This is my target, so I wanted to be sure that I would have the best on the technical side. Barni was my main option, but in the final weeks before making my decision, I had the chance to stay with Aruba.it Racing – Ducati. I chose Barni because it was the more exciting proposal to me, but it was always clear to stay on a Ducati. It’s not easy to make the decision that Jonny made, but I wish him the best for the future, and it has been a pleasure to race against the best rider in the history of WorldSBK.”
Xavi Vierge (97). Photo courtesy Honda HRC Team.
Xavi Vierge (Honda HRC): “They’re very happy with me, but for some reason, they still need time. I don’t have much more time”
Speaking about having a new teammate for France and his future, Vierge said: “Two weeks ago, we were testing at Aragon, which were two productive days. It’s very good to have Sergio and, of course, I wish a speedy recovery to Iker. Straight away at Aragon, he was very fast. I’m very happy for Iker as he’s doing a good job and he got a very good opportunity for next year. I know his speed, and he’ll be one of the title contenders. Right now, I’m the best Honda rider, and the reality right now is my future is still open. I had a clause with Honda, but this has already expired. They’re very happy with me, but for some reason, they still need time. I don’t have much more time. I’m free to speak to another factory, and I hope that in the coming weeks, I will sort out my future. The first thing is a big congratulations to Rea for an amazing career. It’s been a big pleasure to share the track with him in the last few years.”
Nicolo Bulega (11). Photo courtesy WorldSBK.
Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati): “These next races will be better for me and my bike”
Expecting a battle with Razgatlioglu in France, Bulega said: “Toprak didn’t ride here because he was injured in FP2; we know that every year he’s very strong here. For sure, I expect that to be the same, but we are strong too, so I think we will be competitive, and we will try to stay in the front. The last few races have been at tracks that are not very good for me or for my bike; slow corners are not perfect for us. Here, some corners are more open and faster, and these next races will be better for me and my bike. I’m very motivated to be fast. Jonny is incredible, even at his age. When I arrived to WorldSBK, he was still very fast. He won a lot of races; he’s the greatest of all time. I’m very happy and proud to say I was able to race against him. I wish him the best for the rest of his life.”
Sergio Garcia (03). Photo courtesy Honda HRC Team.
Sergio Garcia (Honda HRC): “I think it could be a good track for me; I rode it recently on the PlayStation on the WorldSBK game”
Previewing his first weekend in WorldSBK, Garcia said: “I’m super happy to be here in a new Championship. Everything is different for me. I’m really focused on learning everything. The test went quite well. The bike was different, but from the first moment, I was going quite well. I was happy but super tired; I came directly from Balaton Park! Understanding everything on the bike was super fun, and I was learning every lap I did. The speed was different; the bike is so fast at the end of the straight. It’s different, but I like the bike, and the team did a great job adapting the bike to me. I think it could be a good track for me; I rode it recently on the PlayStation on the WorldSBK game.”
Andrea Locatelli (55). Photo courtesy Pata Maxus Team.
Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha): “He is an all-time legend of the sport. I can only be jealous of everything he has accomplished”
Discussing his recent form and teammate Rea’s retirement, Locatelli said: “I’m arriving with full motivation after the podium at Suzuka, I have good confidence with the bike. We’re trying to keep the focus on that and push hard this weekend. It’s been a difficult season. Sometimes, we need to be realistic and shoot to achieve top fives because the competition’s level is so high. We have found a good base setup and a good feeling, and we’re working really well. I think from here until the end of the year, we have many possibilities for podiums and maybe even another race win if the possibility arises. This is our target for now. It was big news to me when I heard that Jonathan was retiring. I still see in his eyes that he wants to win. He is an all-time legend of the sport. I can only be jealous of everything he has accomplished. To have his mentality to want to win at all times at 38 years old is something I’ve learned from him.”
Jose Antonio Rueda was quickest during Moto3 World Championship practice Friday morning at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, in Spain. Riding his Red Bull KTM Ajo on Pirelli control tires, the Spaniard covered the 2.89-mile (4.66 km) road course in 1:47.483, topping the field of 26 riders.
David Muñoz was the best of the rest with a 1:47.671 on his LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt IntactGP KTM.
Adrian Fernandez was third with a lap time of 1:48.007 on his Leopard Racing Honda.
Turner Racing Honda’s Trent Lowe wins SuperTwins class at Springfield Mile
Win is Honda’s first in U.S. flat-track racing’s premier class in 27 years
Race bike is powered by 755cc parallel-twin from Honda’s Transalp and Hornet
On Sunday, August 31, at the Illinois State Fairgrounds, Trent Lowe rode the Turner Racing Honda Transalp/Hornet-powered race bike to a historic victory in the thrilling AFT SuperTwins main event. The win, which took place during American Flat Track’s traditional Labor Day Weekend Springfield Mile doubleheader, was the first by a Honda rider in AMA Pro Racing-sanctioned twins-class competition in more than a quarter century; the previous victory was posted by RS750-mounted Rich King at the 1998 Joliet Half Mile.
Lowe, who one day earlier had provided a hint of what was to come by threatening for the overall win during Saturday’s unique Triple Challenge format event, faced a stacked field of riders in day 2’s traditional-format event, besting not only the series regulars but also several retired racers making cameos at the legendary dirt track venue. To score the victory, the 22-year-old from Guilford, Indiana, rode in the top group for the entire main event, leading briefly at times but sitting in second place as the pack began the final lap. Going into turn 3 for the last time, Lowe pulled to the inside of series points-leader Dallas Daniels and made the pass, crossing the line with a winning margin of.026 seconds; in the end, only .548 seconds separated the top seven riders.
In addition to being a milestone victory for Honda, this was the first premier-class win ever for Lowe, who turned pro in 2019 and signed with Turner Racing Honda to campaign the 2023 season aboard a CRF450R in American Flat Track’s AFT Singles class. This year saw him promoted to the AFT SuperTwins class, as the rider in Turner’s still-young Transalp/Hornet project.
“All season, we’ve just been learning stuff,” Lowe said. “I knew going in that it was going to be tough; I had to do two things at once—learn how to ride a twin, and develop a new bike. We’ve been testing a lot of stuff all year, and this weekend we finally had a good package that was capable of winning. It’s a huge achievement. I hadn’t looked into the history behind it, but people have been messaging me; at first I just looked at it as being a win, but there’s all kinds of cherries on top.”
Trent Lowe (48) at Springfield 2. Photo courtesy American Honda Motor Co
This is the second year for the Honda SuperTwins project, which was launched in 2024 by Al Lamb’s Dallas Honda. This year saw the Texas dealership join forces with Turner Racing Honda (which was already fielding the Honda AFT Singles program), and American Honda pitched in additional funding. The engine was competitive from the beginning, thanks to its broad spread of smooth, useable power, but the custom chassis was a major undertaking. The squad introduced a revamped chassis four months ago—with the season already underway—and immediately knew the package had potential.
“Twins is obviously the big class for flat track, so we always knew we wanted to go that way—bringing Honda back to the premier class in flat track,” said Mike Turner, owner of the Mission Foods/Castrol/United Rentals/Helmet House-backed team. “We had some good outings, but some unfortunate things happened. Finally, all the hard work paid off this weekend. We kind of thought we had something for them, and after the first three laps on the first day, we were like, ‘We’re coming.’ This is just a confirmation of where we’re going. We knew this bike had it, and we just had to prove it. It’s a big deal for us, but we’re not done; we still think the bike can be better.”
Lowe sits in fourth place in the series standings with only one round remaining—a September 13 short-track race in Eldon, Missouri. After that, the team will turn its efforts to 2026, buoyed by its historic success this past weekend.
“On behalf of everyone at American Honda, congratulations to Trent, Mike, Al and the entire Turning Racing operation,” said Brandon Wilson, Manager of Racing & Advertising at American Honda. “The team has put in countless hours on this project, and we’re grateful that they’ve shown the racing potential of an engine that is also enjoying sales success in Honda’s production adventure-bike and naked-bike lineups. Honda has a proud heritage in flat-track racing, but this one has obviously been a long time coming. We’re excited to see what the Turner team can do in the both the SuperTwins and Singles classes in 2026.”
The 2025 mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul (ASBK) spotlight will fall on Phillip Island again this weekend (September 6-7), in what is shaping as a season-defining round for riders still harbouring title ambitions.
And nowhere are the stakes higher than in the flagship SW-Motech Superbike class, where defending four-time champion Josh Waters (McMartin Racing Ducati) has the chance to tighten the screws even further at his favourite ASBK hunting ground.
He leads the championship by 54pts over Yamaha Racing Team’s Mike Jones after five of eight rounds, and another commanding result at Phillip Island could just about pull the shutters down on his rivals in 2025 – psychologically if not mathematically.
The Phillip Island round will again be held in a condensed two-day format which proved to be massively popular with riders, teams and spectators in 2024.
For the SW-Motech Superbike, Kawasaki Supersport and Race and Road Supersport 300 classes, September 6-7 will mark their second visit to Phillip Island in 2025, while the schedule will also feature the BLU CRU Oceania Junior Cup and the Yamaha R3 BLU CRU Asia-Pacific Championship, which will venture to the grand prix circuit for the first time.
There will also be off-track activities to entertain the family, including ASBK Trade Alley and the chance to meet riders in a pitlane walk at 12:30pm on Sunday. ASBK’s resident stunt guru, Tjay Stuntz, will also showcase his bag of tricks across the weekend.
Round six of the Australian Superbike Championship is supported by the Victorian Government via its Significant Sporting Events Program.
To purchase tickets for ASBK round six, click here
For the entry lists, event schedule and more, click here
SW-Motech Superbike
Thanks to an imposing record at Phillip Island, Waters is a short-priced favourite to continue his winning ways in the two 11-lap SW-Motech Superbike races.
However, if cracks start to appear in his composure, the likes of Jones, Anthony West (Addicted to Track Yamaha), Glenn Allerton (Superbike Advocates Racing Ducati), Cameron Dunker (MotoGo Yamaha), Broc Pearson (DesmoSport Ducati) and Jonathan Nahlouus (Omega Racing Team Yamaha) will be ready to pounce.
The 20-rider field has also been bolstered by the return of three-time champion Troy Herfoss, who has replaced Max Stauffer at Yamaha Racing Team for the final three rounds of the season.
Stauffer remains in the championship on a privately entered Yamaha, while Herfoss has enjoyed one shakedown test on the YZF-R1M – but will approach his Phillip Island YRT debut in a typically methodical and composed fashion.
“I’m really enjoying what I’m doing in the US, but I still love racing a Superbike and when the opportunity came up to race with YRT at the final three rounds, we were able to put something together pretty quickly and make it happen,” Herfoss said. “Mike has proven that the bike is good, and the team have what it takes to be up the front. I’m looking forward to getting down to Phillip Island and testing myself in race conditions.”
Mike Jones slips up the inside of Josh Waters in a thrilling battle at Queensland Raceway. Photo by Russell Colvin
Meanwhile, former Superbike number two Halliday (Stop and Seal) also heads to Phillip Island with plenty of intrigue as he makes his ASBK debut on a Ducati – enjoying his first competitive outing on the Panigale V4 R in a low-key state-based round at Sydney Motorsport Park two weeks ago.
Pearson is one rider who has the capacity to make solid inroads at Phillip Island after what at times has been a luckless campaign, including at Queensland Raceway’s round five when he was skittled by the sliding machine of Harrison Voight.
After eight wins from 11 races in 2025, Waters leads the championship on 261pts from Jones (207), West (191), Allerton (161), Dunker (150), Pearson (147), Stauffer (147) and Nahlous (142).
Glenn Allerton (#14), Anthony West (#13) and Cameron Dunker (#3). Photo by RbMotoLens
Kawasaki Supersport
Only 32pts separates the top three in Kawasaki Supersport – Stop and Seal teammates Jack Mahaffy and Archie McDonald (both Yamaha) and Olly Simpson (BCperformance Racing Team Kawasaki).
The juiciest part of that equation is the budding rivalry between Mahaffy and McDonald, with the latter having skipped a weekend due to European commitments otherwise the differential would have been much closer.
In the previous round at Morgan Park, back in June, McDonald made a decisive move with a ‘full monty’ – pole position and two wins compared to Mahaffy’s 3-2 scorecard.
Mahaffy leads McDonald by 26pts (186 to 160), followed by the ever-smiling Olly Simpson (154pts) and his Kawasaki teammate Hayden Nelson (130pts), and then Tom Bramich (Yamaha, 129pts). Other than Nelson, all the riders have won races in 2025.
Tom Edwards (Team BWR Yamaha) was brilliant in his Supersport return at Morgan Park and will be on the hunt for podiums again, while the mercurial Jake Farnsworth (Yamaha) can never be discounted. Marcus Hamod (Honda), Levi Russo (Motoschool Racing Team Yamaha), Josh Newman (Addicted to Track Yamaha) and Will Nassif (Omega Racing Team Yamaha) add to a stacked field of emerging circuit racing stars.
Meanwhile, the Supersport Next Gen Ducati Panigale V2s of Tom Toparis (Stop and Seal) and Luca Durning (DesmoSport Ducati) will also line up in the Supersport races.
Archie McDonald (#69) and Jack Mahaffy (#37) have been nipping at each other’s heels all season in Kawasaki Supersport. Photo by RbMotoLens
Race and Road Supersport 300
What can be left to describe the Race and Road Supersport 300 Championship? It’s a flurry of fast-twitch activity from start to finish, especially at Phillip Island where slipstreaming really comes into the equation. Expect more of the same this weekend – with a chance of even more fireworks as the championship builds towards an exciting conclusion.
Six riders have won races in 2025, but for consistency one rider has stood above the others: 24-year-old Scott Nicholson. He leads by 47pts (229 to 182) over fellow Kawasaki rider Tara Morrison with a maximum of 128pts still up for grabs in the remaining rounds.
At Phillip Island in February, Morrison won a ground-breaking first race in the class, and her recent one-off ride in the Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship at Donington has certainly made her more determined than ever.
Jake Paige (Champion’s Ride Days Kawasaki) is third overall, 12pts behind Morrison, and with Yamaha duo Hudson Thompson and Jordy Simpson nipping at his heels.
A huge field of 36 riders will contest the Supersport 300 races.
Scott Nicholson and Tara Morrison at the Phillip Island round in February. Photo by RbMotoLens
BLU CRU Oceania Junior Cup
Leading the chase is Chaz Williams, who recently added a maiden circuit racing title to his resume when he took out the FIM MiniGP 160cc class with a round to spare.
Second is Connor Lewis, who has really come into his own in the last couple of rounds by shrinking the gap to Williams to just 8pts.
Third overall is a battle between three, with just 4pts separating Rossi McAdam, Xavier Curmi and Hunter Charlett.
The BLU CRU Oceania Junior Cup action riders battle for supremacy. Photo by RbMotoLens
For more information on the 2025 mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul:
Throughout September, Riders Can Test Ride the 2025 Lineup & Earn Exclusive Race-Themed Swag, Enter to Win a New Chieftain PowerPlus, and Raise Funds to Benefit Military & First Responder Families.
Indian Motorcycle, America’s First Motorcycle Company, today announced its Ride With Us Demo Days – a national test-ride program supporting Folds of Honor, an organization benefiting families of fallen or disabled U.S. military service members and first responders. The month-long initiative culminates with the brand’s National Charity Ride on Saturday, September 20. Riders can donate or register at the Indian Motorcycle National Charity Ride webpage.
At participating dealers nationwide, motorcyclists can experience the all-new 2025 Indian Motorcycle lineup. Each demo rider will receive a limited-edition 2025 race-themed sticker pack and be automatically entered to win a 2025 Chieftain PowerPlus. For every completed test ride, Indian Motorcycle will donate $50 to Folds of Honor.
“Our Ride With Us Demo Days are about more than just getting people on bikes,” said Aaron Jax, Vice President of Indian Motorcycle. “All month long, we’re uniting our community to support a cause that truly matters. Whether taking a demo ride or participating in the National Charity Ride, we’re proud to support Folds of Honor and help raise funds to benefit the brave families of fallen or disabled U.S. military service members and first responders.”
In 2024, the Indian Motorcycle community demonstrated remarkable generosity by surpassing its $50,000 goal and raising over $114,000 for Folds of Honor. Now in its second year, Indian Motorcycle has set an ambitious fundraising target of $250,000, underscoring its ongoing commitment to honoring and supporting families of those who served. Thanks to the steadfast support of its rider community, Indian Motorcycle is well on its way, having already raised more than $60,000 toward this year’s goal.
“Indian Motorcycle continues to be an incredible ally in our mission to provide educational scholarships to the families of fallen and disabled service members and first responders,” said Lt. Col. Dan Rooney, Founder and CEO of Folds of Honor. “The support generated through Ride With Us Demo Days and the National Charity Ride not only raises critical funds but also unites the riding community in a powerful show of patriotism and purpose.”
Folds of Honor has awarded nearly 62,000 educational scholarships totaling approximately $290 million in educational impact. The Folds of Honor National Charity Ride serves as one of many events featuring the Indian Motorcycle Riders Group (IMRG). With approximately 137 chapters and 7,500 riders from around the country, IMRG hosts hundreds of rides and events each year for members and general motorcycle riders alike. To learn more, visit the IMRG webpage.
Riders are encouraged to contact their local Indian Motorcycle dealership to schedule a demo ride and learn more about how they can participate in the National Charity Ride on September 20.
For more information, riders can visit IndianMotorcycle.com, or follow along on Facebook, X and Instagram.
ABOUT INDIAN MOTORCYCLE
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ABOUT FOLDS OF HONOR
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World Supersport Champion, four-time Suzuka 8 Hours winner and multiple time WorldSBK race winner Michael van der Mark is looking to move to MotoAmerica with BMW in 2026.
In an interview with the official WorldSBK.com website, van der Mark, who currently races for the factory BMW ROKit World Superbike team, says he will not continue with BMW in World Superbike next year but hopes to keep racing for the German manufacturer.
Van der Mark’s future has been uncertain, especially after BMW announced that it hired Danilo Petrucci to replace Toprak Razgatlioglu on the factory World Superbike team for next year, but made no mention of van der Mark. Razgatlioglu will race for Prima Pramac Yamaha in MotoGP next year.
“I think BMW made a good decision to sign Danilo (Petrucci). He’s third in the standings and I think he’ll fit the team and bike very well. That’s good for the team,” van der Mark said. “On my side, I won’t continue in WorldSBK with BMW although I plan to stay with BMW. We’re looking at different options. One of them, and I’m looking forward to and is my wish right now, is to go to MotoAmerica. We’re working on it. This is my plan to stay with BMW. We’ve planned a lot of things together with them and, of course, my Suzuka endurance team. I had a good time there so this could be in the pipeline. I want to stay with BMW.
“I’ve been here quite a long time and sometimes things don’t plan out how you want; that’s what happened this year. If I can stay with BMW, we can have a fresh start in another championship. I don’t feel like you have to stay there just to stay there. You can find something new. If I could stay with BMW, that would be fantastic.”
It is unclear where van der Mark would race in MotoAmerica if he did cement a deal for 2026. In the statement to WorldSBK.com, van der Mark did not specifically state that he was looking at the Superbike class. Currently in MotoAmerica, Tytlers Cycle Racing fields a single BMW Superbike for Cameron Beaubier. OrangeCat Racing fields Stock 1000-spec BMWs for Andrew Lee and Jayson Uribe, Edge Racing has a Stock 1000 BMW for Jason Waters, and Danilo Lewis rides a BMW for Aftercare Schiebe Racing. Alex Arango rides a Stock 1000 BMW for Top Pro Racing and AJ Blackmon rides in the class for Ikonic Yachts.
Van der Mark is a six-time WorldSBK race winner, a European Superstock Champion, a World Supersport Champion and has raced in MotoGP, Moto2 and 125cc Grand Prix competition.
Stefano Manzi at Balaton Park. Photo courtesy Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Team.
Stefano Manzi was quickest during FIM Supersport World Championship Free Practice Friday morning at Magny-Cours, in France. Riding his Pata Yamaha Ten Kate YZF R9 on Pirelli control tires, the Italian covered the 2.74-mile (4.41 km) road course in 1:40.193, topping the field of 33 riders.
Filippo Farioli was the best of the rest with a 1:40.602 on his MV Agusta Reparto Corse F3 800 RR.
His teammate, Bo Bendsneyder was third with a lap time of 1:40.758.
Former MotoAmerica Supersport regular Valentin Debise was 10th with a 1:41.158 on his Renzi Corse Ducati Panigale V2.
Pedro Acosta (37) at Balaton Park. Photo courtesy Red Bull KTM Factory Team.
Pedro Acosta topped MotoGP World Championship Free Practice 1 Friday morning at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, in Spain. Riding his Michelin-shod Red Bull KTM Factory RC16, the Spaniard turned a lap of 1:38.979 around the 2.89-mile (4.66 km) track and led the 24-rider field.
French sensation, Johann Zarco was second-best with a 1:39.074 on his CASTROL Honda LCR RC213V.
Marc Marquez was third with a lap of 1:39.198 on his Lenovo Ducati Desmosedici GP25.
Acosta powers to P1 in Barcelona FP1. A mega start for the KTM star who headed the manufacturer’s strong start to the Catalan GP.
Recent form provided a solid foundation for Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) to build from in Barcelona as he topped the opening session. A 1’38.979 was enough for him to charge to the top late on but with all four KTMs inside the top ten, there were smiles right across both garages and not just in the #37’s corner.
There were a flurry of late laps, including back-to-back fastest laps for Acosta at the end of the session to go top. The Spaniard’s form of recent rounds has pointed towards a strong showing in Barcelona and that’s how his weekend has started. There was something of a surprise in P2 with Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR) moving up late on. There were three manufacturers inside the top three with Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) securing third having led for much of the session. A welcome return for Maverick Viñales (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) in fourth, splitting MotoGP’s fastest brothers as Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) bagged fifth.
Honda’s late charge was emphasised by Luca Marini (Honda HRC Castrol) in sixth, one place ahead of the third KTM of Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing). The best of the Aprilias was Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing), following on from form in recent rounds by taking P8 on Friday morning in Montmelo, ahead of wildcard Aleix Espargaro (Honda HRC Test Team). Rounding out the top ten, a fourth KTM with Enea Bastianini (Red Bull KTM Tech 3). The Austrian manufacturer look strong going into the remainder of Friday but the same can’t be said for Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), P23 and second-to-last on the leaderboard. Pecco’s not renowned for his Friday pace but he may be a tad more concerned than normal after FP1.
Toprak Razgatlioglu (1) at Magny-Cours during FP1. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Toprak Razgatlioglu was quickest during FIM Superbike World Championship Free Practice 1 Friday morning at Magny-Cours, in France. Riding his Pirelli-shod ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team M1000R on the 2.74-mile (4.41 km) track, the Turkish rider recorded a 1:36.930 to lead the field of 23 riders.
Sam Lowes was the best of the rest with a 1:37.152 on his ELF Marc VDS Ducati Panigale V4R. Nicolo Bulega was third-fastest with a 1:37.183 on his Aruba.It Racing – Ducati Panigale V4R.
Danilo Petrucci was 5th on his Barni Spark Racing Ducati Panigale V4R with a lap time of 1:37.240.
American Garrett Gerloff finished the opening session in 7th with a 1:37.374 on his Kawasaki ZX-10RR.
Razgatlioglu tops FP1 at Magny-Cours ahead of Sam Lowes, Bulega P3 as Vierge puts Honda fourth. Less than a second separated the top 17 in FP1 with all six manufacturers inside the top eight after the opening 45-minute session.
Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) claimed top spot in Free Practice 1 for the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship field as the French Round kicked off at the iconic Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours. The reigning Champion was more than two tenths clear of his rivals with Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) claiming second and title rival Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) completing the top three.
Razgatlioglu went P1 in the standings early in the 45-minute session and retained his grip on top spot throughout. Impressively, in FP1 last year on his first lap, he set a 1’37.695s while this year, again on his first lap, it was a 1’37.694s. Times rapidly improved with ‘El Turco’ putting in a 1’36.983s before improving to a 1’36.930s to secure P1; he was the first and only rider to break into the 1’36s bracket. Sam Lowes made a late play for P1, going faster than Razgatlioglu in the first three sectors but losing time in the final one. The #14 finished second with a 1’37.152s. The top three was completed by Bulega who put in a late 1’37.183s to secure P3, although 0.253s down on title rival Razgatlioglu.
Xavi Vierge (Honda HRC) enjoyed a strong start to the French Round with fourth after setting a 1’37.208s. The #97 was often inside the top three but was demoted by Bulega in the final minutes of the session. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) was another who found himself in the top three throughout FP1 but dropped down to P5 at the end of the first WorldSBK outing of the weekend; the #9 seemingly had a small technical issue on his Panigale V4R towards the end of FP1. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) was sixth for Yamaha, ensuring four manufacturers were in the top six, as he set a 1’37.251s.
American star Garrett Gerloff (Kawasaki WorldSBK Team) was 0.444s off the pace in FP1 as he put Kawasaki in seventh, finishing 0.013s clear of Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) in eighth; ensuring all six manufacturers featured in the top eight. Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) was ninth with Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) completing the top ten, 0.567s down on the pace of what was an incredibly close FP1 session.
Daniel Holgado (27) at Balaton Park. Photo courtesy Aspar Team.
Daniel Holgado was quickest during Moto2 World Championship Free Practice 1 Friday morning at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, in Spain. Riding his Pirelli-shod CFMOTO Impulse Aspar Team Kalex on the 2.89-mile (4.66 km) track, the Spaniard recorded a 1:42.306 to lead the field of 29 riders.
Barry Baltus was the best of the rest with a 1:42.453 on his Fantic Racing Lino Sonego Kalex.
Manuel Gonzalez was third-fastest with a 1:42.473 on his LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP Kalex.
American Joe Roberts finished the opening session in 24th with a 1:43.826 on his American Racing Team Kalex.
Jonathan Rea (Pata Maxus Yamaha). Photo courtesy WorldSBK.
Talking Points: What to expect at Magny-Cours
The MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship is back, and with it comes the traditional Thursday debriefs. There were hot topics aplenty, discussing all the big news from the summer break, looking at the French Round and talking about the future as the grid gathered at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours.
Jonathan Rea. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Jonathan Rea (Pata Maxus Yamaha): “I’m jumping into the unknown in 2026… I was able to see those messages, it made me feel very proud”
Reflecting on his retirement announcement, Rea said: “I feel quite light; right now, it’s exciting because I’m jumping into the unknown in 2026, whatever that may be. I’m trying to focus on the last four rounds of the season. It was important to make the announcement before Magny-Cours. I want to finish this chapter strong; I want to be competitive. I probably made the decision two or three weeks before the announcement, after the last race. I think I walked out of the paddock at Balaton pretty convinced it was the correct decision. It’s the most difficult decision as a rider or athlete to make, when it’s all you’ve ever known, but for me it’s the correct decision at the correct time. I’ll miss the burning fire inside to win, the team working and many things; thousands of things that are incredible in this job. It was super nice to read all the comments. I was able to see those messages about the impact I’ve had in the sport, and it made me feel very proud.”
Danilo Petrucci (9). Photo courtesy Barni Racing Team.
Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team): “After the technical meetings, I had a clear idea of my future”
Discussing his move to BMW for 2026, ‘Petrux’ stated: “I’m really happy and proud to be a factory rider. Next season will be my fourth season, and riding with a factory team has been my goal. It was not an easy decision to leave Barni. They were the team that launched my career in MotoGP, and I stayed with them after that, now in WorldSBK, so it was very tough because we accomplished so much together. We spoke with the team on the technical side, looking at the bike and how Toprak is riding it. They said they asked Toprak who’s the rider who likes to brake hard to stop the bike, and he said I was one of the possibilities. I want to say thanks for this. It was a difficult choice, but after the technical meetings, I had a clear idea of my future. Taking Toprak’s seat is really challenging! I already feel the pressure. Rea’s the greatest rider in WorldSBK. Looking at his statistics, I think he did almost half of the WorldSBK races. He’s Mr. WorldSBK. Just the numbers can speak for him, and I’m so proud to have raced with him for the last part of his career.”
Toprak Razgatlioglu (1). Photo courtesy WorldSBK.
Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team): “He helped me a lot, especially when I had my first test at Portimao. I’ll never forget this”
Looking ahead to his return at Magny-Cours and reacting to Rea’s retirement news, ‘El Turco’ said: “Last year here wasn’t good for me because I had a really big crash. This is my favourite track, and my target is to win three races. I’m just thinking that last year I didn’t win here, and this year I want to win three races. I took my first win in WorldSBK here in 2019; I’m always strong here. I’m happy for Petrucci because he’s a very experienced rider. This is good to improve the BMW again. When I saw Rea’s news, I was sad. I’ve ridden with him for many years. He did an incredible job and had an incredible career. Six times World Champion and all in a row, that’s incredible; it’s why I say he’s a WorldSBK legend. He helped me a lot, especially when I had my first test at Portimao. He came to my box and showed me corner by corner, and I rode with him on the track. I’ll never forget this.”
Alvaro Bautista (19). Photo courtesy Aruba.it Team.
Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati): “In the final weeks before making my decision, I had the chance to stay… I chose Barni because it was the more exciting proposal to me”
Reflecting on his move to Barni Ducati for 2026, Bautista said: “I’m so happy and excited for this new challenge with Barni. After the whole situation with the factory team, I appreciated them showing me that they wanted me for their bike, and that’s always a nice feeling. We spoke a lot with Ducati during the negotiations, and in the end, I think we arrived at a really good compromise. I will have full factory support from Ducati with the bike, technicians, etc. I didn’t want to keep racing just to keep racing; I want to fight for wins. This is my target, so I wanted to be sure that I would have the best on the technical side. Barni was my main option, but in the final weeks before making my decision, I had the chance to stay with Aruba.it Racing – Ducati. I chose Barni because it was the more exciting proposal to me, but it was always clear to stay on a Ducati. It’s not easy to make the decision that Jonny made, but I wish him the best for the future, and it has been a pleasure to race against the best rider in the history of WorldSBK.”
Xavi Vierge (97). Photo courtesy Honda HRC Team.
Xavi Vierge (Honda HRC): “They’re very happy with me, but for some reason, they still need time. I don’t have much more time”
Speaking about having a new teammate for France and his future, Vierge said: “Two weeks ago, we were testing at Aragon, which were two productive days. It’s very good to have Sergio and, of course, I wish a speedy recovery to Iker. Straight away at Aragon, he was very fast. I’m very happy for Iker as he’s doing a good job and he got a very good opportunity for next year. I know his speed, and he’ll be one of the title contenders. Right now, I’m the best Honda rider, and the reality right now is my future is still open. I had a clause with Honda, but this has already expired. They’re very happy with me, but for some reason, they still need time. I don’t have much more time. I’m free to speak to another factory, and I hope that in the coming weeks, I will sort out my future. The first thing is a big congratulations to Rea for an amazing career. It’s been a big pleasure to share the track with him in the last few years.”
Nicolo Bulega (11). Photo courtesy WorldSBK.
Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati): “These next races will be better for me and my bike”
Expecting a battle with Razgatlioglu in France, Bulega said: “Toprak didn’t ride here because he was injured in FP2; we know that every year he’s very strong here. For sure, I expect that to be the same, but we are strong too, so I think we will be competitive, and we will try to stay in the front. The last few races have been at tracks that are not very good for me or for my bike; slow corners are not perfect for us. Here, some corners are more open and faster, and these next races will be better for me and my bike. I’m very motivated to be fast. Jonny is incredible, even at his age. When I arrived to WorldSBK, he was still very fast. He won a lot of races; he’s the greatest of all time. I’m very happy and proud to say I was able to race against him. I wish him the best for the rest of his life.”
Sergio Garcia (03). Photo courtesy Honda HRC Team.
Sergio Garcia (Honda HRC): “I think it could be a good track for me; I rode it recently on the PlayStation on the WorldSBK game”
Previewing his first weekend in WorldSBK, Garcia said: “I’m super happy to be here in a new Championship. Everything is different for me. I’m really focused on learning everything. The test went quite well. The bike was different, but from the first moment, I was going quite well. I was happy but super tired; I came directly from Balaton Park! Understanding everything on the bike was super fun, and I was learning every lap I did. The speed was different; the bike is so fast at the end of the straight. It’s different, but I like the bike, and the team did a great job adapting the bike to me. I think it could be a good track for me; I rode it recently on the PlayStation on the WorldSBK game.”
Andrea Locatelli (55). Photo courtesy Pata Maxus Team.
Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha): “He is an all-time legend of the sport. I can only be jealous of everything he has accomplished”
Discussing his recent form and teammate Rea’s retirement, Locatelli said: “I’m arriving with full motivation after the podium at Suzuka, I have good confidence with the bike. We’re trying to keep the focus on that and push hard this weekend. It’s been a difficult season. Sometimes, we need to be realistic and shoot to achieve top fives because the competition’s level is so high. We have found a good base setup and a good feeling, and we’re working really well. I think from here until the end of the year, we have many possibilities for podiums and maybe even another race win if the possibility arises. This is our target for now. It was big news to me when I heard that Jonathan was retiring. I still see in his eyes that he wants to win. He is an all-time legend of the sport. I can only be jealous of everything he has accomplished. To have his mentality to want to win at all times at 38 years old is something I’ve learned from him.”
Jose Antonio Rueda (99) at Balaton Park. Photo courtesy Red Bull KTM Ajo.
Jose Antonio Rueda was quickest during Moto3 World Championship practice Friday morning at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, in Spain. Riding his Red Bull KTM Ajo on Pirelli control tires, the Spaniard covered the 2.89-mile (4.66 km) road course in 1:47.483, topping the field of 26 riders.
David Muñoz was the best of the rest with a 1:47.671 on his LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt IntactGP KTM.
Adrian Fernandez was third with a lap time of 1:48.007 on his Leopard Racing Honda.
Trent Lowe (48) at Springfield 2. Photo courtesy American Honda Motor Co
Turner Racing Honda’s Trent Lowe wins SuperTwins class at Springfield Mile
Win is Honda’s first in U.S. flat-track racing’s premier class in 27 years
Race bike is powered by 755cc parallel-twin from Honda’s Transalp and Hornet
On Sunday, August 31, at the Illinois State Fairgrounds, Trent Lowe rode the Turner Racing Honda Transalp/Hornet-powered race bike to a historic victory in the thrilling AFT SuperTwins main event. The win, which took place during American Flat Track’s traditional Labor Day Weekend Springfield Mile doubleheader, was the first by a Honda rider in AMA Pro Racing-sanctioned twins-class competition in more than a quarter century; the previous victory was posted by RS750-mounted Rich King at the 1998 Joliet Half Mile.
Lowe, who one day earlier had provided a hint of what was to come by threatening for the overall win during Saturday’s unique Triple Challenge format event, faced a stacked field of riders in day 2’s traditional-format event, besting not only the series regulars but also several retired racers making cameos at the legendary dirt track venue. To score the victory, the 22-year-old from Guilford, Indiana, rode in the top group for the entire main event, leading briefly at times but sitting in second place as the pack began the final lap. Going into turn 3 for the last time, Lowe pulled to the inside of series points-leader Dallas Daniels and made the pass, crossing the line with a winning margin of.026 seconds; in the end, only .548 seconds separated the top seven riders.
In addition to being a milestone victory for Honda, this was the first premier-class win ever for Lowe, who turned pro in 2019 and signed with Turner Racing Honda to campaign the 2023 season aboard a CRF450R in American Flat Track’s AFT Singles class. This year saw him promoted to the AFT SuperTwins class, as the rider in Turner’s still-young Transalp/Hornet project.
“All season, we’ve just been learning stuff,” Lowe said. “I knew going in that it was going to be tough; I had to do two things at once—learn how to ride a twin, and develop a new bike. We’ve been testing a lot of stuff all year, and this weekend we finally had a good package that was capable of winning. It’s a huge achievement. I hadn’t looked into the history behind it, but people have been messaging me; at first I just looked at it as being a win, but there’s all kinds of cherries on top.”
Trent Lowe (48) at Springfield 2. Photo courtesy American Honda Motor Co
This is the second year for the Honda SuperTwins project, which was launched in 2024 by Al Lamb’s Dallas Honda. This year saw the Texas dealership join forces with Turner Racing Honda (which was already fielding the Honda AFT Singles program), and American Honda pitched in additional funding. The engine was competitive from the beginning, thanks to its broad spread of smooth, useable power, but the custom chassis was a major undertaking. The squad introduced a revamped chassis four months ago—with the season already underway—and immediately knew the package had potential.
“Twins is obviously the big class for flat track, so we always knew we wanted to go that way—bringing Honda back to the premier class in flat track,” said Mike Turner, owner of the Mission Foods/Castrol/United Rentals/Helmet House-backed team. “We had some good outings, but some unfortunate things happened. Finally, all the hard work paid off this weekend. We kind of thought we had something for them, and after the first three laps on the first day, we were like, ‘We’re coming.’ This is just a confirmation of where we’re going. We knew this bike had it, and we just had to prove it. It’s a big deal for us, but we’re not done; we still think the bike can be better.”
Lowe sits in fourth place in the series standings with only one round remaining—a September 13 short-track race in Eldon, Missouri. After that, the team will turn its efforts to 2026, buoyed by its historic success this past weekend.
“On behalf of everyone at American Honda, congratulations to Trent, Mike, Al and the entire Turning Racing operation,” said Brandon Wilson, Manager of Racing & Advertising at American Honda. “The team has put in countless hours on this project, and we’re grateful that they’ve shown the racing potential of an engine that is also enjoying sales success in Honda’s production adventure-bike and naked-bike lineups. Honda has a proud heritage in flat-track racing, but this one has obviously been a long time coming. We’re excited to see what the Turner team can do in the both the SuperTwins and Singles classes in 2026.”
The magnificent Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit. Photo by Russell Colvin
The 2025 mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul (ASBK) spotlight will fall on Phillip Island again this weekend (September 6-7), in what is shaping as a season-defining round for riders still harbouring title ambitions.
And nowhere are the stakes higher than in the flagship SW-Motech Superbike class, where defending four-time champion Josh Waters (McMartin Racing Ducati) has the chance to tighten the screws even further at his favourite ASBK hunting ground.
He leads the championship by 54pts over Yamaha Racing Team’s Mike Jones after five of eight rounds, and another commanding result at Phillip Island could just about pull the shutters down on his rivals in 2025 – psychologically if not mathematically.
The Phillip Island round will again be held in a condensed two-day format which proved to be massively popular with riders, teams and spectators in 2024.
For the SW-Motech Superbike, Kawasaki Supersport and Race and Road Supersport 300 classes, September 6-7 will mark their second visit to Phillip Island in 2025, while the schedule will also feature the BLU CRU Oceania Junior Cup and the Yamaha R3 BLU CRU Asia-Pacific Championship, which will venture to the grand prix circuit for the first time.
There will also be off-track activities to entertain the family, including ASBK Trade Alley and the chance to meet riders in a pitlane walk at 12:30pm on Sunday. ASBK’s resident stunt guru, Tjay Stuntz, will also showcase his bag of tricks across the weekend.
Round six of the Australian Superbike Championship is supported by the Victorian Government via its Significant Sporting Events Program.
To purchase tickets for ASBK round six, click here
For the entry lists, event schedule and more, click here
SW-Motech Superbike
Thanks to an imposing record at Phillip Island, Waters is a short-priced favourite to continue his winning ways in the two 11-lap SW-Motech Superbike races.
However, if cracks start to appear in his composure, the likes of Jones, Anthony West (Addicted to Track Yamaha), Glenn Allerton (Superbike Advocates Racing Ducati), Cameron Dunker (MotoGo Yamaha), Broc Pearson (DesmoSport Ducati) and Jonathan Nahlouus (Omega Racing Team Yamaha) will be ready to pounce.
The 20-rider field has also been bolstered by the return of three-time champion Troy Herfoss, who has replaced Max Stauffer at Yamaha Racing Team for the final three rounds of the season.
Stauffer remains in the championship on a privately entered Yamaha, while Herfoss has enjoyed one shakedown test on the YZF-R1M – but will approach his Phillip Island YRT debut in a typically methodical and composed fashion.
“I’m really enjoying what I’m doing in the US, but I still love racing a Superbike and when the opportunity came up to race with YRT at the final three rounds, we were able to put something together pretty quickly and make it happen,” Herfoss said. “Mike has proven that the bike is good, and the team have what it takes to be up the front. I’m looking forward to getting down to Phillip Island and testing myself in race conditions.”
Mike Jones slips up the inside of Josh Waters in a thrilling battle at Queensland Raceway. Photo by Russell Colvin
Meanwhile, former Superbike number two Halliday (Stop and Seal) also heads to Phillip Island with plenty of intrigue as he makes his ASBK debut on a Ducati – enjoying his first competitive outing on the Panigale V4 R in a low-key state-based round at Sydney Motorsport Park two weeks ago.
Pearson is one rider who has the capacity to make solid inroads at Phillip Island after what at times has been a luckless campaign, including at Queensland Raceway’s round five when he was skittled by the sliding machine of Harrison Voight.
After eight wins from 11 races in 2025, Waters leads the championship on 261pts from Jones (207), West (191), Allerton (161), Dunker (150), Pearson (147), Stauffer (147) and Nahlous (142).
Glenn Allerton (#14), Anthony West (#13) and Cameron Dunker (#3). Photo by RbMotoLens
Kawasaki Supersport
Only 32pts separates the top three in Kawasaki Supersport – Stop and Seal teammates Jack Mahaffy and Archie McDonald (both Yamaha) and Olly Simpson (BCperformance Racing Team Kawasaki).
The juiciest part of that equation is the budding rivalry between Mahaffy and McDonald, with the latter having skipped a weekend due to European commitments otherwise the differential would have been much closer.
In the previous round at Morgan Park, back in June, McDonald made a decisive move with a ‘full monty’ – pole position and two wins compared to Mahaffy’s 3-2 scorecard.
Mahaffy leads McDonald by 26pts (186 to 160), followed by the ever-smiling Olly Simpson (154pts) and his Kawasaki teammate Hayden Nelson (130pts), and then Tom Bramich (Yamaha, 129pts). Other than Nelson, all the riders have won races in 2025.
Tom Edwards (Team BWR Yamaha) was brilliant in his Supersport return at Morgan Park and will be on the hunt for podiums again, while the mercurial Jake Farnsworth (Yamaha) can never be discounted. Marcus Hamod (Honda), Levi Russo (Motoschool Racing Team Yamaha), Josh Newman (Addicted to Track Yamaha) and Will Nassif (Omega Racing Team Yamaha) add to a stacked field of emerging circuit racing stars.
Meanwhile, the Supersport Next Gen Ducati Panigale V2s of Tom Toparis (Stop and Seal) and Luca Durning (DesmoSport Ducati) will also line up in the Supersport races.
Archie McDonald (#69) and Jack Mahaffy (#37) have been nipping at each other’s heels all season in Kawasaki Supersport. Photo by RbMotoLens
Race and Road Supersport 300
What can be left to describe the Race and Road Supersport 300 Championship? It’s a flurry of fast-twitch activity from start to finish, especially at Phillip Island where slipstreaming really comes into the equation. Expect more of the same this weekend – with a chance of even more fireworks as the championship builds towards an exciting conclusion.
Six riders have won races in 2025, but for consistency one rider has stood above the others: 24-year-old Scott Nicholson. He leads by 47pts (229 to 182) over fellow Kawasaki rider Tara Morrison with a maximum of 128pts still up for grabs in the remaining rounds.
At Phillip Island in February, Morrison won a ground-breaking first race in the class, and her recent one-off ride in the Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship at Donington has certainly made her more determined than ever.
Jake Paige (Champion’s Ride Days Kawasaki) is third overall, 12pts behind Morrison, and with Yamaha duo Hudson Thompson and Jordy Simpson nipping at his heels.
A huge field of 36 riders will contest the Supersport 300 races.
Scott Nicholson and Tara Morrison at the Phillip Island round in February. Photo by RbMotoLens
BLU CRU Oceania Junior Cup
Leading the chase is Chaz Williams, who recently added a maiden circuit racing title to his resume when he took out the FIM MiniGP 160cc class with a round to spare.
Second is Connor Lewis, who has really come into his own in the last couple of rounds by shrinking the gap to Williams to just 8pts.
Third overall is a battle between three, with just 4pts separating Rossi McAdam, Xavier Curmi and Hunter Charlett.
The BLU CRU Oceania Junior Cup action riders battle for supremacy. Photo by RbMotoLens
For more information on the 2025 mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul:
Indian Motorcycle National Charity Ride. Photo courtesy Indian Motorcycle.
Throughout September, Riders Can Test Ride the 2025 Lineup & Earn Exclusive Race-Themed Swag, Enter to Win a New Chieftain PowerPlus, and Raise Funds to Benefit Military & First Responder Families.
Indian Motorcycle, America’s First Motorcycle Company, today announced its Ride With Us Demo Days – a national test-ride program supporting Folds of Honor, an organization benefiting families of fallen or disabled U.S. military service members and first responders. The month-long initiative culminates with the brand’s National Charity Ride on Saturday, September 20. Riders can donate or register at the Indian Motorcycle National Charity Ride webpage.
At participating dealers nationwide, motorcyclists can experience the all-new 2025 Indian Motorcycle lineup. Each demo rider will receive a limited-edition 2025 race-themed sticker pack and be automatically entered to win a 2025 Chieftain PowerPlus. For every completed test ride, Indian Motorcycle will donate $50 to Folds of Honor.
“Our Ride With Us Demo Days are about more than just getting people on bikes,” said Aaron Jax, Vice President of Indian Motorcycle. “All month long, we’re uniting our community to support a cause that truly matters. Whether taking a demo ride or participating in the National Charity Ride, we’re proud to support Folds of Honor and help raise funds to benefit the brave families of fallen or disabled U.S. military service members and first responders.”
In 2024, the Indian Motorcycle community demonstrated remarkable generosity by surpassing its $50,000 goal and raising over $114,000 for Folds of Honor. Now in its second year, Indian Motorcycle has set an ambitious fundraising target of $250,000, underscoring its ongoing commitment to honoring and supporting families of those who served. Thanks to the steadfast support of its rider community, Indian Motorcycle is well on its way, having already raised more than $60,000 toward this year’s goal.
“Indian Motorcycle continues to be an incredible ally in our mission to provide educational scholarships to the families of fallen and disabled service members and first responders,” said Lt. Col. Dan Rooney, Founder and CEO of Folds of Honor. “The support generated through Ride With Us Demo Days and the National Charity Ride not only raises critical funds but also unites the riding community in a powerful show of patriotism and purpose.”
Folds of Honor has awarded nearly 62,000 educational scholarships totaling approximately $290 million in educational impact. The Folds of Honor National Charity Ride serves as one of many events featuring the Indian Motorcycle Riders Group (IMRG). With approximately 137 chapters and 7,500 riders from around the country, IMRG hosts hundreds of rides and events each year for members and general motorcycle riders alike. To learn more, visit the IMRG webpage.
Riders are encouraged to contact their local Indian Motorcycle dealership to schedule a demo ride and learn more about how they can participate in the National Charity Ride on September 20.
For more information, riders can visit IndianMotorcycle.com, or follow along on Facebook, X and Instagram.
ABOUT INDIAN MOTORCYCLE
Indian Motorcycle is America’s First Motorcycle Company. Founded in 1901, Indian Motorcycle has won the hearts of motorcyclists around the world and earned distinction as one of America’s most legendary and iconic brands through unrivaled racing dominance, engineering prowess and countless innovations and industry firsts. Today that heritage and passion is reignited under new brand stewardship. To learn more, please visit www.indianmotorcycle.com.
ABOUT FOLDS OF HONOR
Folds of Honor is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization that provides educational scholarships to the spouses and children of US military service members and first responders who have fallen or been disabled while serving our country and communities. Our educational scholarships support private school tuition or tutoring in grades K-12, tuition for college, technical or trade school and post-graduate work, including a master’s degree, doctorate, or professional program. Funds for a second bachelor’s degree or trade/technical program certification are also available. Since its inception in 2007, Folds of Honor has awarded nearly 62,000 scholarships totaling about $290 million in all 50 states. Among the students served, 45 percent are minorities. A total of 91 percent of expenses fund our mission of providing educational scholarships to the families of our nation’s heroes. It is rated a four-star charity by Charity Navigator and Platinum on Candid. It was founded by Lt Col Dan Rooney, the only-ever F-16 fighter pilot (with three combat tours in Iraq) and PGA Professional. He is currently stationed at Headquarters Air Force Recruiting Service at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas. For more information or to donate in support of a Folds of Honor scholarship visit foldsofhonor.org.
World Supersport Champion, four-time Suzuka 8 Hours winner and multiple time WorldSBK race winner Michael van der Mark is looking to move to MotoAmerica with BMW in 2026.
In an interview with the official WorldSBK.com website, van der Mark, who currently races for the factory BMW ROKit World Superbike team, says he will not continue with BMW in World Superbike next year but hopes to keep racing for the German manufacturer.
Van der Mark’s future has been uncertain, especially after BMW announced that it hired Danilo Petrucci to replace Toprak Razgatlioglu on the factory World Superbike team for next year, but made no mention of van der Mark. Razgatlioglu will race for Prima Pramac Yamaha in MotoGP next year.
“I think BMW made a good decision to sign Danilo (Petrucci). He’s third in the standings and I think he’ll fit the team and bike very well. That’s good for the team,” van der Mark said. “On my side, I won’t continue in WorldSBK with BMW although I plan to stay with BMW. We’re looking at different options. One of them, and I’m looking forward to and is my wish right now, is to go to MotoAmerica. We’re working on it. This is my plan to stay with BMW. We’ve planned a lot of things together with them and, of course, my Suzuka endurance team. I had a good time there so this could be in the pipeline. I want to stay with BMW.
“I’ve been here quite a long time and sometimes things don’t plan out how you want; that’s what happened this year. If I can stay with BMW, we can have a fresh start in another championship. I don’t feel like you have to stay there just to stay there. You can find something new. If I could stay with BMW, that would be fantastic.”
It is unclear where van der Mark would race in MotoAmerica if he did cement a deal for 2026. In the statement to WorldSBK.com, van der Mark did not specifically state that he was looking at the Superbike class. Currently in MotoAmerica, Tytlers Cycle Racing fields a single BMW Superbike for Cameron Beaubier. OrangeCat Racing fields Stock 1000-spec BMWs for Andrew Lee and Jayson Uribe, Edge Racing has a Stock 1000 BMW for Jason Waters, and Danilo Lewis rides a BMW for Aftercare Schiebe Racing. Alex Arango rides a Stock 1000 BMW for Top Pro Racing and AJ Blackmon rides in the class for Ikonic Yachts.
Van der Mark is a six-time WorldSBK race winner, a European Superstock Champion, a World Supersport Champion and has raced in MotoGP, Moto2 and 125cc Grand Prix competition.
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November 10, 2025
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