Team Roberts Rider Kensei Matsudaira Debuts Prototype Krämer GP2-790R MotoAmerica Twins Cup Race Bike.
Team Roberts is excited to announce the unveiling of the new Krämer Motorcycles GP2-790R race bike with Team Roberts rider Kensei Matsudaira and veteran racer Stoney Landers piloting the bike to a podium finish in its first race, the N2RA 6 Hours of VIR endurance race held at Virginia International Raceway on August 9, 2026.
Although the Krämer GP2-790R had been in development for over a year, last weekend was the first time the prototype had been run on track and both Team Roberts and Krämer Motorcycles are very pleased to see the bike perform reliably at such a high level.
Joe Karvonen, Krämer USA owner: “We are excited to work with Kensei and Team Roberts on the GP2-790R project. With all of the data we have from our previous experience developing the GP2-890RR for BSB, we had a fast and stable chassis right out of the gate. We can’t wait to get more testing and validation done to have the GP2-790R available for customers in the future.”
Kensei Matsudaira: “It was very exciting to finally be able to ride the GP2-790R Twin after talking about it all year. Racing the 6hr was an awesome experience as it was only my second time doing a big bike endurance race. I had no expectations going into it but coming out of it with a podium is always great. I can’t thank Krämer USA enough for the opportunity and my team for all their hard work.”
Team Roberts is proud to play a part in the development and testing of the new Krämer GP2-790R which will also make its MotoAmerica debut next weekend in the highly competitive Twins Cup championship. The wildcard entry is a viability test of the new platform in the category with Kensei Matsudaira on board, also making his Twins Cup debut.
Arney Wick, Team Roberts Co-Principal: “Any time we have an opportunity to reciprocate support with one of our partners like Krämer and Fujico, we jump at the opportunity and this last weekend returned dividends in spades to the entire team. We are proud to be affiliated with all of our partners and equally grateful when it comes to creating opportunities for the advancement of our sport in general.
“How could we not be over the moon with the results and experience everyone came away with this last weekend? Kensei did an awesome job, as always, on the APX-350 MA as well as shouldering the load in the 6 hour race on the GP2-790R prototype bike. Coupling this with an outstanding effort by veteran Stoney Landers and yielding a podium placement far
exceeded anyone’s expectations and can’t wait to see what the future holds for everyone.”
Next weekend Kensei will be on the Team Roberts Krämer APX-350 MA for Round 6 of the MotoAmerica Talent Cup in addition to his Twins Cup debut on board the Krämer GP2-790R at Virginia International Raceway in Alton, Virginia on August 14-16.
Quick question: Which U.S.-based national motorcycle road racing championship uses the word “Cup” in its name but doesn’t award an actual “cup” at the conclusion of each season? If you guessed the MotoAmerica Talent Cup, Twins Cup, or Mini Cup, you’re right. None of those championships awards a physical “cup” akin to the National Hockey League’s Stanley Cup or NASCAR’s Bill France Cup. But none of those is the U.S.-based national motorcycle road racing championship to which we’re referring.
Here’s a hint: It’s the same U.S.-based national motorcycle road racing championship that doesn’t compile race wins or even issue separate results.
The MotoAmerica Superbike Cup is an enigma. An outlier. A national championship that awards trophies after each race and a $25,000 grand prize to the top finisher at season’s end. The competitors race some of MotoAmerica’s fastest and most demanding motorcycles, and they compete in 20 races each season, just like riders do in MotoAmerica’s premier-class Superbike Championship.
But the wins don’t count as wins.
Past Superbike Cup Champions include Nolan Lamkin, Ashton Yates, and JD Beach. This season, the Superbike Cup Champion may be Andrew Lee, unless something truly catastrophic occurs to prevent Lee from adding a fourth MotoAmerica Championship to his resume.
JD Beach finished first in 19 of the 20 Superbike Cup races last year. That’s 19 race victories that rightfully should be added to his career wins total. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
For 2026, MotoAmerica did away with the Stock 1000 Championship, which was the class in which Lee won three season titles. He also racked up 15 AMA race victories during his tenure as a Stock 1000 Championship rider.
The likeable Californian has taken the checkered flag nine times out of 12 races so far this this season, but none of those nine first-place finishes count as official race wins.
Every rider who competes in any of the following MotoAmerica race classes—-Superbike, Supersport, King Of The Baggers, Twins Cup, Talent Cup, and the Super Hooligan National Championship—-earns victories when they finish first. Outside of Royal Enfield’s Build.Train.Race. program, the MotoAmerica Superbike Cup is the only race class where a win isn’t a win.
Even MotoAmerica has struggled with this conundrum. While, technically, the Superbike Cup “winner” within each Superbike race is called the “first-place finisher,” press releases and social media posts from MotoAmerica have often missed that nuance. On several occasions, they’ve said that the first-place finisher in Superbike Cup was the “winner” or “won” the race.
It’s understandable because that’s actually the way it should be.
The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA), part of the official sanctioning body for the MotoAmerica series, along with the FIM North America (FIMNA), sets the rules for what is considered to be a race “win.” The aforementioned Super Hooligan National Championship (SHNC), in the beginning, was also an outlier. It started out as an exhibition series, but over time, the AMA/FIMNA began to count race wins in SHNC as official victories. It was a conscious and calculated decision to do so. And, ironically, Super Hooligan is not even a MotoAmerica race class. It’s actually owned by Roland Sands.
So, what about Superbike Cup?
From Lamkin, to Yates, to Beach, and this year, to Lee, every one of those riders inquired about their first-place finishes in Superbike Cup and why they are not counted as race wins.
Ashton Yates won the 2024 Superbike Cup Championship on the strength of his 10 first-place finishes. Those 10 race victories would look even better on his resume. Photo courtesy Ashton Yates.Nolan Lamkin was awarded the AMA #1 plate and the $25,000 check for winning the 2023 Superbike Cup Championship. But how about his race wins? Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
For those four riders, as well as all the other MotoAmerica competitors who have raced in Superbike Cup, having their first-place race results counted as actual race victories would mean everything to them.
Right now, JD Beach is ranked seventh among active riders in all-time AMA race wins, and he is also in the top 10 among all riders, past and present. If his 19 first-place finishes in Superbike Cup last year counted as race wins, his grand total would be 67 all-time victories, which would tie him for third among active riders and sixth in all-time AMA race victories. That’s a big deal.
This year, Andrew Lee’s nine first-place finishes so far in Superbike Cup would bring his career AMA wins total to 24, which would put him just outside the top 10 among active riders.
Recognizing Superbike Cup first-place finishes as race wins would also be a boon to Ashton Yates, Nolan Lamkin, and even this year’s Cup contenders. There is no doubt that Deion Campbell would be happy to have three AMA race wins to his credit in only his second full season of AMA professional road racing competition
It’s time to give Superbike Cup its due. No need to roll out an actual “cup” for the season champions to sip from. Just give the riders their wins.
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – MX Sports Pro Racing, in partnership with Budds Creek Motocross Park, has announced that action sports icon and AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Travis Pastrana will serve as Grand Marshal of the 36th running of the Yamaha Budds Creek National Presented by Carter CAT, the penultimate race of the Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing and Round 27 of the 2026 Monster Energy SMX World Championship regular season. The beloved Maryland native will make an anticipated return to his home race as the event’s ceremonial ambassador, headlined by a special autograph session on race day, Saturday, August 22.
“The sport of motocross, action sports, and motorsports as a whole have never seen an athlete more gifted and dynamic than Travis Pastrana,” said Ezra Beasley, Organizer, Budds Creek Motocross Park. “No one transcended into the mainstream quite like this happy-go-lucky young kid from Annapolis, who simply loved going fast and pushing the limits of what’s possible. It’s incredible to think that 26 years after his first ever professional gate drop Travis remains as popular as ever and continues to break new barriers, be it two wheels or four. We’re honored to have him as our Grand Marshal and know our fans will be thrilled to see him make a return to Budds Creek.”
Pastrana boasts arguably the most prolific career aboard two wheels than anyone else in history. He became a household name as a teenage freestyle motocross phenom and single handedly made X Games the ultimate spectacle for action sports. Under the mentorship and guidance of Roger DeCoster at Suzuki, Pastrana made an incredibly seamless transition into SMX competition, winning the 2000 AMA Motocross 125cc Championship and the 2001 AMA Supercross East 125cc Championship. He also helped lead Team USA to victory at the 2000 FIM Motocross of Nations in France. In the midst of his success, Pastrana’s freestyle roots kept calling and he eventually cut his racing career short and stepped away from full-time competition following the 2005 season. He remained an FMX fixture, winning countless X Games Gold Medals and breaking barriers with tricks that once never seemed possible. For all his contributions to motorcycling, Pastrana was inducted in the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame as a member of the “Class of 2023.”
Pastrana also made a foray into four wheels, proving to be a quick adapter to rally racing, where he captured even more X Games success in addition to becoming an American Rally Association champion. His icon status grew even more with the creation of Nitro Circus, Pastrana’s collective of close friends and fellow action sports athletes willing to push the boundaries of physics. A hugely popular MTV show spawned the Nitro Circus Tour, which continues to visit stadiums across the globe and will make a visit to Pastrana’s hometown of Annapolis on Sunday, August 23, from Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.
Not to be outdone, Pastrana’s one-of-a-kind career has also included a stint in NASCAR and a championship-winning foray into offshore powerboat racing. He’s responsible for an array of world record stunts, on both two and four wheels, has become a central figure of the infamous Gymkhana series, carrying on a legacy created by his late mentor and close friend Ken Block. In the 27 years since Pastrana first graced television screens around the world, he has participated in more disciplines and achieved more success piloting a motorized vehicle than anyone else in history.
Pastrana’s freestyle roots followed him into every discipline, including on the racetracks of the Pro Motocross Championship and AMA Supercross Championship. Photo Courtesy Racer X Archives
In addition to his autograph session, which will be held from 10 a.m. – 11:30 p.m. local time at Budds Creek, Pastrana will partake in various other festivities at the National and will be properly celebrated for his accomplishments and contributions to the sport.
The Yamaha Budds Creek National will take place Saturday, August 22, with on-track action starting at 5 a.m. PT / 8 a.m. ET, followed by opening ceremonies at 9:15 a.m. PT / 12:15 p.m. ET then motos for the 250SMX Class, 450SMX Class, and WMX starting at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET. Live network coverage of the second motos will air on NBC starting at 12:30 p.m. PT / 3:30 p.m. ET. Comprehensive live streaming coverage will air on Peacock, beginning with Race Day Live at 7 a.m. PT / 10 a.m. ET before coverage of the motos gets underway at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET.
The chances of the inaugural World Moto Clash event taking place on the scheduled date next month are “50-50” after the organization’s primary investor failed to meet a key financial deadline, founder and Chief Executive Officer Stanford W. Crane Jr. told Roadracing World on Wednesday.
“It’s 50-50. We’re meeting with two (potential investor) groups over the next couple of days,” Crane said in a telephone interview.
Crane said that the primary investor for the race, which promised a $1 million prize to the winner and an overall purse of $2.86 million, did not provide the funding on the agreed-upon date. Instead, the investor made a counteroffer which would not allow WMC to meet its goals, Crane said.
World Moto Clash (WMC) is the brainchild of Stanford Crane, a former motorcycle racer and team owner. Photo courtesy WMC.
Crane said that WMC is meeting with two other potential investors with experience in motorsports to secure funding for the event, which is scheduled for Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on Sept. 18-20.
In an inverview with Roadracing World published on April 29, Crane said the purse money for the original event, slated for July 10-12 at Utah Motorsports Campus, would be in escrow 30 days before the event. That date was changed because it conflicted with the MotoAmerica round at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, and the Mid-Ohio race was slated to be the kickoff event.
The WMC concept, which was originally made public nearly two decades ago, centered around the idea of a massive purse, reality show-type television content and unlimited machine regulations which promised motorcycles faster than MotoGP racebikes. But to date, no entries have been announced and no professional racing teams have announced plans to participate.
UtahSBK, presented by Utah Motorcycle Law, returned from summer break where high temperatures and tricky conditions awaited riders for Round 3 of the 2026 Superbike race season. The series hosted its 3rd round of the 5 round season August 8th and 9th at Utah Motorsports Campus on the West Course. Racers from all around the southwest and beyond made their way to the world class facility for 3 full days of testing and racing action starting with Friday’s test and tune hosted by Apex Trackdays.
The race weekend kicked off Saturday morning when racers took to the track for qualifying in what would be the best conditions of the weekend. During the qualifying sessions, Brian Childree would top the charts with a 1:31.2 earning pole position for Sundays King of the Mountain race. Anthony Norton and Justin Delong would round out the front row, all 3 separated by less than .3 of a second. Once qualifying concluded, another huge group of Street GP participants got their first taste of road racing in a unique format that UtahSBK is proud to offer every race weekend. Young Powersports Street GP is an easy entry point for riders who may be curious about racing but are not quite ready to dive in headfirst. This format has offered the opportunity for many riders to get their feet wet and has proven success in growing the sport and getting more riders on the race grids.
Now at the midway point of the season, championship battles are starting to shape up, intensifying action on track. Saturday’s Precision Fab Machinery Open Superbike race was a perfect example when Chris Mousley and Jeff Taylor put on a show for all 7 laps. Justin Delong would lead the field for the first lap before having a last corner mishap on lap 2. This left Mousley and Taylor fighting for the win. Taylor put constant pressure on Mousley for almost 6 laps before finally making the pass in turn 9. Mousley went right to work attempting to return fire, but a lap later Taylor would lead across the line for a narrow victory and maximum points. Chris Mousley would have another chance at victory later in the day when he led the majority of the Mountain Motor Club Deseret Dash only to be sniped by newly promoted expert racer Landon Richey. Richey would make the pass in the hard braking zone entering turn 5 and take his first victory as an expert.
Endurance Race Start. Photo by Rich Jellerson.
Endurance racing has come to be a favorite amongst racers and fans in Utah since its inception last season seeing larger grids every round. Racers didn’t shy away from the 101-degree afternoon as they prepared for another 90-minute contest on Saturdayafternoon. True Endurance teams, Relay teams, and Ironman entrants, took to the grid in the heat of the day putting their fitness and their machines to the test. Ryan Richardson aboard the Precision Fab ZX10r took the early overall lead handing off the bike to his teammate Anthony Norton around the midway point of the race with nearly 50 seconds advantage. In the popular Apex Assassins Ironman class, it was Geiser Hernandez, Trevor Nosack, and Eliu Heredia battling at the front of the class for the entire race until Hernandez had an incident bringing out a red flag with 16 minutes remaining. The clock wound down while getting the incident cleaned up leaving the Precision Fab Team as the overall and Vortex True Endurance winners and Trevor Nosack taking top ironman honors. It was a tight battle in the Relay class, but it was Parker Mayer, Josh Fisher, and Josh Lerner teaming up for the win. After a hot and grueling endurance race, it was a mad dash to the IV Haven care clinic where racers took advantage of Iv hydration and recovery services powering up for Sunday racing.
Crew swap transponder for Endurance Relay Racers Parker Mayer (775) and Josh Fisher (928). Photo by Rich Jellerson.
True Endurance racers Anthony Norton and Ryan Richardson switch during their fuel stop. Photo by Rich Jellerson.
Sunday’s action featured first the Combined expert and novice Eazzy’s Paint “Summit Cup” followed by the premier SameDay Heating and Air “King of the Mountain” race. In the Summit cup, split by open and middleweight classes, it was Landon Richey taking the top Open spot and Alex Zinaich with the middleweight win.
Alex Zinaich (11) leads Nolan Kiiskila(913), Issac Gray (69) and Josh Lerner(755) in middleweight. Photo by Rich Jellerson.
The SameDay Heating and Air “King of the Mountain” race was highly anticipated as always. All eyes were on the front row as Brian Childree and Anthony Norton set off when the lights went out. Norton secured the holeshot with Childree leaving nothing between them. Childree made the pass for the lead in turn 8, Norton passed back to start the second lap. The pace increased with the racing intensity. Near the end of lap 2, Childree low sided out of 2nd place with his bike tumbling in dramatic fashion, unfortunately taking him out of contention. Norton would now lead uncontested besides the hot and tricky track conditions for the remainder of the race. The rest of the Top 5 would prove to be a battle. Kinzer Naylor was relegated to 2nd on his ZX6R after the early exit of Childree, Leaving a hard charging Ryan Richardson in 3rd.Just behind in 4th and 5th positions were Kohl Burmester and Parker Mayer in a battle of their own. Richardson would catch Naylor after a few laps but passing was another challenge. The two raced close at the midway point of the race until Richardson was finally able to make the pass on Naylor stick. Burmester and Mayer would trade spots multiple times throughout the course of the race. In the end Mayer crossed the line in 4th and Burmester finished strong in 5th. Norton would win and take the top spot on the podium with Richardson in 2nd and Naylor in 3rd, all three collecting their share of the SameDay Heating and Air purse money.
SameDay Heating and Air King of the Mountain Podium: (left to right) Kinzer Naylor, Anthony Norton, Ryan Richardson. Photo by Zac Harston.
About his race, Anthony Norton had this to say: “So bummed for Brian (Childree). He didn’t deserve that. The track was unforgiving today. It was slick, hot, windy, and as tough as it’s ever been. My Racers Edge Dunlop Tires did their part and I’m happy to take another KOM victory. Proud of my teammates that all seem to be getting faster and had their own personal victories today . Always thankful to my supporters for their efforts to keep me out front. Wouldn’t have even had a chance today without Fuzimoto helping me through some issues I was having.”
This entire weekend of racing was made special by Oxymoron Photogrpahy and AirMax Imaging. With the support of track day organization Volant Vivere, and the hard work of their team, Oxymoron and AirMax broadcasted the first ever livestream of a UtahSBK race weekend. This team plans on coming together again for UtahSBK rd5 September 18th-19th to offer an even more grand production of the club’s season finale. If you missed this broadcast, subscribe to “Oxmophoto” on youtube to rewatch all the action and turn on notifications for the next livestream from Utah Motorsports Campus. In addition, if you are interested in marketing/advertising opportunities during the live stream reach out to [email protected] for more information.
Tap the rock. Fist bump. Whatever you call it, it seems like the age-old handshake has been supplanted in motorcycle road racing paddocks. Developed during medieval times, the handshake was a way for two people to peacefully greet one another while extending their right hands in order to show that neither is holding a weapon.
The handshake was probably replaced by the fist bump in the MotoAmerica paddock because of COVID-19, but I have a different theory. Fist bumps are easier on injured hands than handshakes.
Have you ever considered just how many motorcycle road racers suffer hand injuries? Missing or abbreviated pinkies have long been common among road racers, especially from the two-stroke era when a suddenly seized engine would catch riders before they could pull in the clutch, and little fingers trapped under the handlebar invariably bore the brunt of the impact.
Then, there is the late, great Randy Renfrow, who lost his right thumb (again, trapped under a handlebar and surgically amputated) in a pre-season testing crash and then subsequently (and intentionally) lost a big toe, which he had surgically attached to where his thumb used to be. For a road racer, a noticeable limp is a lesser evil than not having an opposable thumb to properly grip the handlebar and throttle.
Hand injuries continue to happen in motorcycle road racing despite vastly improved safety gear and the much-improved reliability of modern motorcycles.
PJ Jacobsen damaged his hand in a crash at the opening round of this year’s MotoAmerica Superbike Championship. And, at the recent round at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Cory West suffered a crash that resulted in injuries to his hand, wrist, and elbow.
During the WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca event, one round prior to Mid-Ohio, Kayla Yaakov had a crash that caused a hand injury eerily similar to what happened to her Rahal Ducati Moto teammate and muse Jacobsen.
Rahal Ducati Moto rider with Droplight rider Kayla Yaakov finished fourth in Supersport race one at Mid-Ohio and notched a podium finish in race two despite her injured left hand. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Jacobsen’s and Yaakov’s hand injuries were particularly gruesome. Both suffered soft tissue and bone damage the likes of what you imagine would happen if you stuck your hand in a meat grinder. No hyperbole intended here. You’ve probably heard of an “angry cut.” Jacobsen’s and Yaakov’s injuries were superfly TNT, mushroom-cloud-layin’ angry.
And yet, neither Jacobsen nor Yaakov missed the next rounds of their respective championships.
It wasn’t easy for the two Ducati riders, however.
Yaakov recently wrote about it on her Facebook Page: “During Race 2 (at Laguna Seca), I had a crash in the early laps while chasing the front two guys. This crash unfortunately opened up a couple of my fingers and caused some fractures in the fingers, as well. I took the week and a half between Laguna and Mid-Ohio very seriously in terms of my recovery, just to grid up again and keep fighting.
“Mid-Ohio was probably the most challenging weekend of the season for many reasons, but I pulled through in Race 2 for a P3! With my screwed-up fingers and sickness aside, we struggled all of Friday and Saturday to find my feeling again on the bike, but (we) made a huge turnaround for Sunday’s race. While it wasn’t our best weekend, walking out with a P4 and P3 wasn’t bad considering everything that’s gone on the last few weeks. (I) finally felt more like myself on the bike again on Sunday, and (I) can’t wait to carry what we’ve learned over to VIR!”
And so, it goes for Kayla Yaakov. And for PJ Jacobsen. And, for all the other injured riders in the MotoAmerica paddock who literally suffer for their craft. That’s how much they love our sport.
If you’re going to VIRginia International Raceway this weekend, or to Circuit of The Americas or New Jersey Motorsports Park, be sure to say hello to the riders. And don’t be offended if they don’t shake your hand.
The aftermath of PJ Jacobsen’s crash at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta. He kept right on racing…and texting on his phone. Photo courtesy PJ Jacobsen.
Irvine, CA (August 12, 2026) – Three MotoAmerica Feature Classes return to VIRginia International Raceway with Supersport, Twins Cup and Talent Cup racers all heading into their own critical championship rounds. As the 2026 season moves toward its final stretch, the points battles in all three classes remain alive, with every race at VIR carrying added importance.
The flowing layout in Virginia has a little bit of everything from fast, sweeping sections to technical corners where carrying the right momentum can make or break a lap. The 2.25-mile, 17-turn circuit gives riders plenty of opportunities for close racing, while the August heat and humidity add another layer to an already demanding weekend. VIR provides the perfect setting for championship pressure to intensify in each class.
Supersport
Celtic/Economy Lube + Tire/Warhorse Ducati’s Darryn Binder heads into Round 8 having swept the prior Mid-Ohio weekend. The result pushed the South African rider’s championship lead to 19 points over Rahal Ducati Moto with Desnuda Organic Tequila’s Josh Herrin and 102 over Rahal Ducati Moto with Droplight’s Kayla Yaakov with three rounds and 150 points remaining. Herrin, who lost Race 2 by less than a tenth of a second, needs to start closing that gap now rather than later, while Yaakov remains a live threat for the podium.
This photo of Josh Herrin (#2) and Darryn Binder (#53) at Mid-Ohio is an accurate representation of how close the Supersport points battle is this year. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Behind the top three, BPR Racing Yamaha’s Josh Hayes and M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Tyler Scott remain firmly in the mix. The four-time Superbike champion Hayes continues to be a consistent presence near the front, while Scott has shown the pace to challenge for wins aboard his Suzuki GSX-R750.
VIR presents a distinct hometown advantage for Strack Racing’s Blake Davis. The 20-year-old has steadily climbed the championship standings throughout the season and will have plenty of support from his hometown crowd of Lynchburg, Virginia, just 80 miles from the circuit.
If there is one class where the championship pressure will rise it is Twins Cup. Robem Engineering’s Hank Vossberg has the points lead and momentum heading into the penultimate round of 2026 holding a 63 point lead over M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Matthew Chapin and 70 above Chapin’s teammate Bodie Paige. With two rounds and just 100 points remaining on the Twins Cup calendar, VIR is must-win territory for both Chapin and Paige if they want to extend the championship fight to the finale in September.
Hank Vossberg (#31) looks to lock up the 2026 Twins Cup title over Mathew Chapin (#95) this weekend. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Vossberg can potentially clinch the 2026 MotoAmerica Twins Cup Championship this weekend. The 16-year-old Wisconsin native needs to maintain a lead of at least 76 points after Saturday’s Race 1 or 51 points after Sunday’s Race 2, which would put the championship mathematically out of reach for Chapin and Paige.
Talent Cup returns for Round 6 at VIR with Team Roberts’ Kensei Matsudaira back on top of the standings after a sweep of his home round at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. The 15-year-old Californian holds a 23-point lead over Quarterley Racing’s Nathan Gouker heading into VIR. From nearby Lexington, North Carolina, Gouker has plenty of laps around the Virginia circuit and looks to lean on that track knowledge and close the gap to Matsudaira.
The top five in talent cup points, in running order: Kensei Matsudaira (#74), Nathan Gouker (#19), Jake Paige (#55), and Sam Drane(#59). Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Team Hammer’s Jake Paige sits third (-67 pts.) and Estenson BLU CRU Yamaha Racing’s Sam Drane is fourth (-92 pts.), both coming off podium runs of their own.
With three rounds and 150 points still remaining. That leaves the championship mathematically open as far down as eighth. Realistically, the championship conversation is down to four riders: Matsudaira, Gouker, Paige and Drane.
The quartet should provide some of the weekend’s closest racing as they battle aboard identical Talent Cup machinery, swapping positions multiple times per lap before the inevitable photo finish. With the championship on the line, every pass, draft and last-corner move could prove critical in the race for the 2026 Talent Cup title.
Talent Cup Championship Top 3:
Kensei Matsudaira – 217 points | Team Roberts (Krämer APX-350 MA)
The on-track championships aren’t the only story at VIR this year. The Motul ADV Experience returns to the historic Virginia road course in 2026.
The Motul sponsored event turns the race weekend into a dual-purpose festival for adventure riders, anchored by a dedicated campground that serves as a mini rally alongside the racing. At the center of the experience is the ADV Village, a hub featuring manufacturer displays from leading vendors that is free to all MotoAmerica ticket holders.
Adventure riders participating in the Motul ADV Experience at VIR will have access to on-site tent camping in a dedicated primitive camping area, as well as the Mini Adventure Loop, a 7.5-mile mixed-terrain route designed for riders of varying skill levels. The experience also includes Dragoo Adventure Rider Training (DART) clinics focused on teaching off-road riding techniques and navigation, the GIVI Obstacle Course for testing slow-speed balance and technical riding skills, and the Slow Race, a last-rider-to-the-line challenge.
The PARTS Unlimited Lounge will give riders an opportunity to explore products and technology from aftermarket companies, while the REV’IT! Morning Buzz provides a coffee stop to start each riding day.
President of Americade Events and ADV Logistics Expert Christian Dutcher returns to lead the Motul ADV Experience at VIR. Dutcher and his team also operate Dirt Daze, one of the country’s largest ADV rallies. For riders making the trip to VIR, the event also provides an opportunity to extend the weekend onto nearby sections of the Blue Ridge Parkway and surrounding roads or trails.
Fan Zone
Beyond the racing and ADV programming, the Fan Zone will give fans plenty of reasons to spend time away from the grandstands throughout the weekend.
The Ball of Steel returns, featuring riders performing thrilling stunts inside a steel-cage globe. Performances are scheduled for Saturday at 12:45 p.m., 2:45 p.m. and 3:45 p.m., followed by Sunday performances at 10:45 a.m., 1:45 p.m. and 2:45 p.m.
Families can also visit the Kid Zone, featuring free carnival games and activities throughout the weekend. The Kid Zone will operate from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
With three Quad Lock Superbike races, a tightening championship and a full slate of fan and ADV activations, MotoAmerica’s return to VIRginia International Raceway is set to be one of the busiest and most consequential weekends of the 2026 season.
To purchase the Motul ADV Experience Tent Camping Pass for the VIRginia International Raceway round, CLICK HERE.
For the full MotoAmerica schedule for 2026, and to purchase tickets for MotoAmerica events, CLICK HERE.
For information on how to watch MotoAmerica, CLICK HERE.
We came, we saw, we had an adventure, we had drama, we brought friends and family together through motorcycles, and we made new friends.
Team Passive Aggressive opened Friday practice for the N2RA Two-Hour Ultralight Endurance Race, at Virginia International Raceway (VIR), with grandniece Miranda Cain immediately applying her broadening racing skills to reduce her lap times. Meanwhile, her granduncle Peter Jones familiarized himself with the Aprilia RS 457 and the VIR track. In 2025, Cain secured her second place in the B.T.R. Royal Enfield Championship at VIR, while setting a class lap record. Jones did a Riding in the Zone track school, a couple track days, and wrote stuff.
Despite being the slower rider, Jones crashed in Saturday morning practice in turn five, after clipping the curb. The good news is, our photographer, Tommy Kinsman of Lowside Media, was shooting in that corner and captured the incident. Jones was on his third timed lap of the session, already having taken more than three seconds off his Friday lap times, closing to within seven seconds of Cain’s time, and feeling it. And then he felt the pavement. Cain, after the RS 457 was repaired, lowered her time another six seconds in qualifying to 1:47.470.
With Cain’s lap times, Team Passive Aggressive qualified 12th for the grid of 15 teams, feeling mighty proud due to numerous teams having faster race-only motorcycles with fast, young, current MotoAmerica competitors as pilots. Damn kids.
Cain started the race for Team Passive Aggressive, with a best race lap time of 1:47.759, moving up to 8th overall. The race was red-flagged at around the 30-miunte mark due to lightning strikes in the area, but the clock didn’t stop. During the down time a significant rain soaked the entire circuit but as the rain lightened a 10-minute warning for the race restart was announced, giving teams time to mount rain tires. Unfortunately, Team Passive Aggressive had no spare wheels, so the crew quickly removed and delivered the wheels to Dunlop’s Stickboy, who expediently mounted rain tires.
The race was restarted prior to completion of our tire change but stopped again after a couple laps due to a rider falling. The restart put Team Passive Aggressive down two laps, due to missing it, dropping the team to 12th overall and three laps behind race leader Team Roberts ULW. During this red-flagged period a restart was announced and the team was ready. At that moment, a very active lightning storm rushed over the track, running out the clock. Only Cain was able to compete for Team Passive Aggressive in the actual race.
Others joining Jones and Cain were Miranda’s uncle, Jesse Cain, a Cameraman on “The Studio”, airing on Apple TV, who videoed the event; Miranda’s grandmother Barbara Cain (Peter’s sister); grandaunts Robin Scott, Pamala Wiebusch and husband Bob, brother Alex and wife Adriana; and many friends of Miranda and Jones, making this race event a grand success of motorcycles bringing family and friends together.
We extend immeasurable gratitude to family and friends who contributed significantly to bringing this event together, with a special thank you to Jesse Cain, Tom Kinsman, Ren and Julia Doughty, Phil Arnold, Pete Dumanian, Florian Neuhauser, and our partners and sponsors Piaggio of the Americas, Aprilia, Woodcraft Technologies, Andreani, Dunlop (and Stickboy), Motovation USA/SC Project, Accossato, LS2 helmets, Bison, Moon Motorsports, Macklin Motorsports, Vanson, Alpinestars, plus N2RA and Race Director John Farrell. A RoadRUNNER feature and video are to follow, plus other media.
More, from a press release issued by KYT Americas:
Team KYT Americas Takes N2RA Superbike Victory.
Virginia International Raceway — August 12, 2026 — Team KYT Americas earned a hard-fought Superbike class victory at the inaugural N2RA 6-Hour Endurance Race at Virginia International Raceway, overcoming a mechanical failure that put the team more than 20 minutes behind just minutes into the six-hour event.
KYT Americas, which served as the title sponsor of the inaugural endurance race, is committed not only to supporting the sport through sponsorship of events, racing organizations and individual athletes, but also to showing up and participating in the same sport it serves.
Brandon Cretu on the KYT Americas Kawasaki ZX-10R endurance bike. Photo by Apex Pro Photography
Team KYT Americas consisted of Rise Moto founders Brandon Cretu and Brian D’Apice, along with KYT Americas-sponsored athlete Dan Kruger. Rise Moto serves as the North American distributor for KYT Americas.
Cretu and Kruger are longtime friends and international road racing veterans, with both having competed at the legendary Isle of Man TT and Macau Grand Prix.
The team’s race took a dramatic turn just three laps after the start when a clutch failure forced an unscheduled pit stop and complete clutch replacement. The repair cost Team KYT Americas more than 20 minutes, leaving the team with a significant deficit almost immediately.
Over the remaining hours, Cretu, D’Apice and Kruger steadily fought their way back through the field, ultimately overcoming the early setback to secure first place in the Superbike class. Proving that anything can happen in endurance racing and a team should never give up!
From Left to Right. Brian D’Apice, Dan Kruger, and Brandon Cretu. Photo by Apex Pro Photography
Following the victory, the team collectively decided to donate its entire $4,000 first-place purse to the Roadracing World Action Fund, supporting the organization’s efforts to provide Airfence and other soft-barrier protection at motorcycle racing and track-day events throughout the United States.
The people behind KYT Americas race in the same KYT helmets they sell and support throughout North America.
“We don’t just sponsor racing. We show up and compete. We trust the same helmets we ask our riders and customers to trust.” – Team KYT Americas rider – Brandon Cretu
Support the sport. Support the riders. Show up. Race. Give back.
The team would like to thank N2RA for hosting an amazing inaugural endurance event as well as other personal team sponsors that helped make their race win possible including: Nature Power, Pirelli, RK, EBC, and Hindle.
The Fay Myers Race of the Rockies Open delivered one of the most dramatic races of the 2026 MRA season, with mechanical drama before the green flag, a fierce battle for the lead, and a last-lap fight for the final podium position. When the dust settled at High Plains Raceway, Kreece Elliott #97 had not only claimed another Race of the Rockies victory, but also moved into the championship points lead.
Round 4 came during a particularly demanding weekend for the racers. Temperatures at High Plains Raceway climbed into the high 90’s, creating an additional physical challenge for competitors already facing the demands of a full weekend of racing. The weekend’s workload was made even more demanding with LegionSBK hosting 2- and 4-hour endurance races on Saturday, in conjunction with the MRA’s Sunday race schedule. For many riders, Sunday meant returning to the track already carrying the physical fatigue of Saturday’s endurance competition, making the heat and demanding MRA race schedule an even greater test of concentration and endurance.
Elliott entered Round 4 at High Plains Raceway carrying momentum from Round 3 at Pueblo Motorsports Park, where he captured the Race of the Rockies Open victory. With the championship battle tightening as the season reached its midpoint, every point was becoming increasingly important.
The drama began before the race even started.
Championship contender Mat Cunha #12 encountered a mechanical problem as he pulled into his grid position. A clutch issue caused the rear wheel to lock, forcing the race start to be delayed while Cunha’s motorcycle was lifted and removed from the racing surface. Unable to start from his original grid position, Cunha nevertheless managed to re-enter the race on Lap 2, limiting what could have been an even greater championship setback.
Kreece Elliot leads in Race of the Rockies. Photo by Kelly Vernell.
Once the race finally got underway, Elliott immediately made his intentions clear, taking the holeshot ahead of David Lambert #28, CJ Walker Jr. #50, and Justen Behmer #67, with the remainder of the field close behind.
Turn 1 action on the opening lap of the Rockies. Photo by Chandler Dahl.
Elliott quickly began working to establish a gap at the front, but Behmer was not willing to let him escape. Behmer moved past Lambert to take over second position while Walker Jr. began closing in on Lambert.
Justen Behmer chases the leader in Race of the Rockies. Photo by Kelly Vernell.
By Lap 3, Behmer had reduced Elliott’s advantage to just 1.8 seconds. The pressure continued to build, and by Lap 6 the gap between the two leaders had been cut to only half a second.
While Elliott and Behmer battled at the front, an equally intense fight was developing for third.
CJ Walker Jr. pushes the pace in Race of the Rockies. Photo by Kelly Vernell.
Walker Jr. moved past Lambert on Lap 7 to take third position, but Lambert immediately answered back. On Lap 8, Lambert reclaimed the position, setting up a final-lap showdown between the two riders.
At the front, Elliott held his nerve and kept Behmer behind him through the closing laps. Elliott crossed the finish line first to claim the Fay Myers Race of the Rockies Open victory, with Behmer finishing second.
The fight for the final podium position went all the way to the checkered flag. Walker Jr. made his final move on the last lap to reclaim third from Lambert and secure the final spot on the podium.
Fay Myers Race of the Rockies Open — Top 3
Race of the Rockies Open Podium from left, CJ Walmer 3rd place, Kreece Elliot 1st place, Justen Behmer 2nd place. Photo by Chandler Dahl.
1. Kreece Elliott #97
2. Justen Behmer #67
3. CJ Walker Jr. #50
The victory continues Elliott’s strong run through the middle portion of the 2026 season and, more importantly, moves him into the Race of the Rockies Open championship points lead. With just one round remaining, the championship is now set for a final showdown at High Plains Raceway, where Elliott will look to defend his newly acquired lead and close out the season on top.
Takahashi Charges to Victory in Apex Autoglass Race of the Rockies Middleweight
Phil Takahashi leads the charge in Race of the Rockies Middleweight. Photo by Kelly Vernell.
The Apex Autoglass Race of the Rockies Middleweight provided another entertaining battle at High Plains Raceway, with an out-of-state newcomer leading the opening laps, a late charge for the win, and a determined comeback from a difficult start.
Ryan Breckenridge, competing in his first-ever MRA event, got off to a strong start by taking the holeshot into Turn 1. Breckenridge was followed closely by Phil Takahashi #807 and Tyrel Diekmann #724 as the Middleweight field settled into the opening laps.
Ryan Breckenridge takes charge in the beginning of Race of the Rockies Middleweight. Photo by Kelly Vernell.
Breckenridge quickly found himself dealing with traffic from some of the 1000cc Open-class motorcycles. While the additional horsepower of the larger machines was an advantage down High Plains Raceway’s long back straight, it also made finding a passing opportunity and making the move stick more difficult for the Middleweight leader.
The traffic allowed Takahashi to steadily close the gap to Breckenridge and begin putting pressure on the leader. Takahashi remained within striking distance as the race progressed, waiting for an opportunity to make his move.
That opportunity came on Lap 7.
Phil Takahashi defends his lead in Race of the Rockies. Photo by Chandler Dahl.
Takahashi made his move on Breckenridge and successfully took over the lead, putting himself in position to control the closing stages of the race.
Meanwhile, further back in the field, Orkun Krand #9 was mounting an impressive comeback. Krand’s race got off to a difficult start when he collided with another rider on the launch after a stalled motorcycle created trouble at the beginning of the race. Forced to fight his way forward, Krand steadily worked his way back into contention.
Orkun Krand recovers after a rough start in Race of the Rockies Middleweight. Photo by Chandler Dahl.
Krand would eventually catch Josh Radcliffe #342 and made his way around him, moving into position for the final podium spot. As the race entered its closing laps, Krand turned up the pace, putting down some of his fastest laps of the race when it mattered most.
Takahashi held on to take the checkered flag and claim the Apex Autoglass Race of the Rockies Middleweight victory. Breckenridge secured an impressive second-place finish in his first MRA appearance, while Krand completed his comeback with a third-place finish.
Apex Autoglass Race of the Rockies Middleweight — Top 3
Race of the Rockies Middleweight podium from left, Phil Takahashi 1st place, Ryan Breckenridge 2nd place, Orkun Krand 3rd place. Photo by Chandler Dahl.
1. Phil Takahashi #807
2. Ryan Breckenridge #347
3. Orkun Krand #9
The result gave Takahashi a hard-earned victory after patiently working through traffic and waiting for his opportunity to take the lead. Breckenridge’s second-place finish made an immediate impression in his first MRA appearance, while Krand’s recovery from the opening-lap incident to reach the podium was one of the race’s standout performances.
Ewan Remains Undefeated in Rider Justice Amateur Open
2026 Amateur Open race start. Photo by Chandler Dahl.
The Rider Justice Amateur Open continued to be dominated by Tony Ewan #125, who entered Round 4 at High Plains Raceway looking to extend his perfect 2026 season.
Ewan had already established himself as the rider to beat in the Amateur Open championship. He opened the season with a victory at High Plains Raceway in Round 1, followed it with another win at Pueblo Motorsports Park in Round 2, and remained undefeated after taking the checkered flag again at Round 3. Through the first three rounds, Ewan had been nearly untouchable, leading every lap of the Round 2 race and continuing his winning streak at Pueblo.
When the lights went out for Round 4, Ewan wasted no time adding another victory to his record.
Ewan #125 took the holeshot into Turn 1, followed by Walt Vogl #117 and Dan Parker #314, with the rest of the field close behind.
Tony Ewan defends on the opening lap against Walt Vogl in Amateur Open. Photo by Chandler Dahl.
Ewan immediately asserted control of the race, opening a significant gap during the first lap. Rather than allowing the field to close in, Ewan continued to build his advantage throughout the race, putting himself in a commanding position early.
Dan Parker slots into 2nd place in Amateur Open. Photo by Chandler Dahl.
Behind the leader, the battle for the remaining podium positions began to take shape. On Lap 2, Parker made his move on Vogl, moving into second position.
One lap later, Jamison Ziesch made his own move on Vogl, taking over third position and completing the podium lineup.
Jamison Ziesch secures 3rd in Amateur Open. Photo by Chandler Dahl.
From there, Ewan continued to stretch his advantage at the front. Despite the heat and physical demands of a long race weekend that also included LegionSBK’s 2- and 4-hour endurance races on Saturday, Ewan remained in complete control and carried his lead all the way to the checkered flag.
Tony Ewans secures the win in Amateur Open. photo by Kelly Vernell.
Ewan claimed his fourth consecutive Rider Justice Amateur Open victory of the 2026 season, remaining undefeated through four rounds. Parker finished second, with Ziesch completing the podium in third.
Rider Justice Amateur Open — Top 3
Amateur Open Podium from left, Jamison Ziesch 3rd place, Dan Parker 2nd place, Tony Ewan 1st place. Photo by Chandler Dahl.
1. Tony Ewan #125
2. Dan Parker #314
3. Jamison Ziesch
Ewan’s fourth consecutive victory further solidifies his position at the front of the Amateur Open championship heading into the final round. After winning every Amateur Open race of the 2026 season so far, Ewan now has one final opportunity to complete a perfect championship season
Looking Ahead to the Championship Finale
With Round 4 in the books, the 2026 Motorcycle Roadracing Association season is down to its final round. The championship battles across the MRA’s premier classes will be decided at High Plains Raceway on September 6, 2026, for Round 5.
For the season finale, MRA racers will take on the West Course, a two-mile configuration of High Plains Raceway that will provide a new challenge as riders fight for the final championship points of the season.
After a season filled with close racing, championship battles, new competitors, dramatic comebacks, and hard-fought victories, the final round promises to bring the 2026 MRA season to a thrilling conclusion. With championships still on the line, the season will come down to one final race day at High Plains Raceway on September 6.
Birdsboro, PA — August 12, 2026 — At just 15 years old, Pennsylvania road racer Cole Varnes is set to take the next step in his racing career as he prepares to compete in the MotoAmerica Twins Cup series at Virginia International Raceway (VIR).
The VIR event will mark a major milestone for Varnes: his first race in the Twins Cup series and his first MotoAmerica race as a professional rider.
“This is something I’ve been dreaming about for the last few years,” said Varnes. “I’ve worked really hard to get to this point, and now it’s time to see what we can do at the professional level. I’m excited, but I’m also ready to go out there and compete.”
Over the past two seasons, the ASRA Roadracing Series has provided Varnes with the opportunity to compete against some of the strongest club-level road racers on the East Coast. At just 15 years old, Varnes currently leads the Atlantic Region championship standings in Lightweight GP Expert, GTL, Thunderbike, Lightweight Superbike, and the Overall Championship.
Varnes has also continued to compete and train in the District 6 Flat Track Series, using the discipline and racecraft developed on the dirt to complement his road racing program.
A Family-Run Race Team
Cole’s father, Mike, handles much of the bike building, preparation, transportation, and logistics. Together, the family has built the program from the ground up, investing countless hours, resources, and sacrifices to give Cole the opportunity to pursue his dream of racing at the professional level.
“We’re a family race team,” said Mike. “We build the bikes, we haul the bikes, and we make it happen together as a family. Cole puts in the work on the track, and the rest of us do everything we can to give him the opportunity to succeed.”
That family effort has been a major part of Cole’s development, helping him progress from Mini Cup racing to flat track, ASRA road racing, and now the MotoAmerica Twins Cup.
A successful weekend at the ASRA Mid-Ohio VMD weekend, including Varnes’ first opportunity to compete in the AMA Grand Championship races, provided another important benchmark for the young rider and his team.
“Mid-Ohio really showed us that we’re ready to take the next step,” Varnes said. “We went there to compete against some of the best riders in the Twins Cup series, and the results gave us a lot of confidence. We know MotoAmerica is going to be a big step up, but we believe we’re ready for the challenge.”
For his MotoAmerica Twins Cup debut, Varnes will campaign a Suzuki GSX-8R.
“I’ve been working toward this moment for a long time,” Varnes said. “Getting the opportunity to race in MotoAmerica as a professional at 15 years old is something I’m extremely proud of. I know there is still a lot to learn, but I’m going to VIR ready to learn, ready to work, and ready to race.”
Sponsors & Partners
Varnes will be supported by an outstanding group of sponsors and partners who have helped make his 2026 racing program possible: Schaeffers Motorsports, Karns Performance, Bob’s Pools, Arai, Dunlop, Dietrich Trucking, Jim & Dolly Varnes, Vortex, NECO, Woodcraft, Motion Pro, Chicken Hawk Tire Warmers, Reading Standard Motorsports, Classic HD, REV’IT Leathers, Trackside Parts Club, Motorex.
Varnes and his team will head to Virginia International Raceway focused on making the most of his first professional MotoAmerica weekend and gaining valuable experience at the highest level of competition he has faced to date.
“This is just the beginning,” said Varnes. “I want to thank everyone who has supported me and helped me get here. My family, my team, my sponsors, and everyone who has believed in me have all played a huge part in this. Now we get to go racing.”
Kensei Matsudaira on board the Krämer GP2-790R during the N2RA 6
Hours of VIR. Photo by Apex Pro Photo
Team Roberts Rider Kensei Matsudaira Debuts Prototype Krämer GP2-790R MotoAmerica Twins Cup Race Bike.
Team Roberts is excited to announce the unveiling of the new Krämer Motorcycles GP2-790R race bike with Team Roberts rider Kensei Matsudaira and veteran racer Stoney Landers piloting the bike to a podium finish in its first race, the N2RA 6 Hours of VIR endurance race held at Virginia International Raceway on August 9, 2026.
Although the Krämer GP2-790R had been in development for over a year, last weekend was the first time the prototype had been run on track and both Team Roberts and Krämer Motorcycles are very pleased to see the bike perform reliably at such a high level.
Joe Karvonen, Krämer USA owner: “We are excited to work with Kensei and Team Roberts on the GP2-790R project. With all of the data we have from our previous experience developing the GP2-890RR for BSB, we had a fast and stable chassis right out of the gate. We can’t wait to get more testing and validation done to have the GP2-790R available for customers in the future.”
Kensei Matsudaira: “It was very exciting to finally be able to ride the GP2-790R Twin after talking about it all year. Racing the 6hr was an awesome experience as it was only my second time doing a big bike endurance race. I had no expectations going into it but coming out of it with a podium is always great. I can’t thank Krämer USA enough for the opportunity and my team for all their hard work.”
Team Roberts is proud to play a part in the development and testing of the new Krämer GP2-790R which will also make its MotoAmerica debut next weekend in the highly competitive Twins Cup championship. The wildcard entry is a viability test of the new platform in the category with Kensei Matsudaira on board, also making his Twins Cup debut.
Arney Wick, Team Roberts Co-Principal: “Any time we have an opportunity to reciprocate support with one of our partners like Krämer and Fujico, we jump at the opportunity and this last weekend returned dividends in spades to the entire team. We are proud to be affiliated with all of our partners and equally grateful when it comes to creating opportunities for the advancement of our sport in general.
“How could we not be over the moon with the results and experience everyone came away with this last weekend? Kensei did an awesome job, as always, on the APX-350 MA as well as shouldering the load in the 6 hour race on the GP2-790R prototype bike. Coupling this with an outstanding effort by veteran Stoney Landers and yielding a podium placement far
exceeded anyone’s expectations and can’t wait to see what the future holds for everyone.”
Next weekend Kensei will be on the Team Roberts Krämer APX-350 MA for Round 6 of the MotoAmerica Talent Cup in addition to his Twins Cup debut on board the Krämer GP2-790R at Virginia International Raceway in Alton, Virginia on August 14-16.
Andrew Lee (14) is well ahead in MotoAmerica Superbike Cup points, but he’d like his “first-place finishes” to count as career race wins. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Andrew Lee’s Cup Is Empty
First Person/Opinion By Sean Bice
Quick question: Which U.S.-based national motorcycle road racing championship uses the word “Cup” in its name but doesn’t award an actual “cup” at the conclusion of each season? If you guessed the MotoAmerica Talent Cup, Twins Cup, or Mini Cup, you’re right. None of those championships awards a physical “cup” akin to the National Hockey League’s Stanley Cup or NASCAR’s Bill France Cup. But none of those is the U.S.-based national motorcycle road racing championship to which we’re referring.
Here’s a hint: It’s the same U.S.-based national motorcycle road racing championship that doesn’t compile race wins or even issue separate results.
The MotoAmerica Superbike Cup is an enigma. An outlier. A national championship that awards trophies after each race and a $25,000 grand prize to the top finisher at season’s end. The competitors race some of MotoAmerica’s fastest and most demanding motorcycles, and they compete in 20 races each season, just like riders do in MotoAmerica’s premier-class Superbike Championship.
But the wins don’t count as wins.
Past Superbike Cup Champions include Nolan Lamkin, Ashton Yates, and JD Beach. This season, the Superbike Cup Champion may be Andrew Lee, unless something truly catastrophic occurs to prevent Lee from adding a fourth MotoAmerica Championship to his resume.
JD Beach finished first in 19 of the 20 Superbike Cup races last year. That’s 19 race victories that rightfully should be added to his career wins total. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
For 2026, MotoAmerica did away with the Stock 1000 Championship, which was the class in which Lee won three season titles. He also racked up 15 AMA race victories during his tenure as a Stock 1000 Championship rider.
The likeable Californian has taken the checkered flag nine times out of 12 races so far this this season, but none of those nine first-place finishes count as official race wins.
Every rider who competes in any of the following MotoAmerica race classes—-Superbike, Supersport, King Of The Baggers, Twins Cup, Talent Cup, and the Super Hooligan National Championship—-earns victories when they finish first. Outside of Royal Enfield’s Build.Train.Race. program, the MotoAmerica Superbike Cup is the only race class where a win isn’t a win.
Even MotoAmerica has struggled with this conundrum. While, technically, the Superbike Cup “winner” within each Superbike race is called the “first-place finisher,” press releases and social media posts from MotoAmerica have often missed that nuance. On several occasions, they’ve said that the first-place finisher in Superbike Cup was the “winner” or “won” the race.
It’s understandable because that’s actually the way it should be.
The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA), part of the official sanctioning body for the MotoAmerica series, along with the FIM North America (FIMNA), sets the rules for what is considered to be a race “win.” The aforementioned Super Hooligan National Championship (SHNC), in the beginning, was also an outlier. It started out as an exhibition series, but over time, the AMA/FIMNA began to count race wins in SHNC as official victories. It was a conscious and calculated decision to do so. And, ironically, Super Hooligan is not even a MotoAmerica race class. It’s actually owned by Roland Sands.
So, what about Superbike Cup?
From Lamkin, to Yates, to Beach, and this year, to Lee, every one of those riders inquired about their first-place finishes in Superbike Cup and why they are not counted as race wins.
Ashton Yates won the 2024 Superbike Cup Championship on the strength of his 10 first-place finishes. Those 10 race victories would look even better on his resume. Photo courtesy Ashton Yates.Nolan Lamkin was awarded the AMA #1 plate and the $25,000 check for winning the 2023 Superbike Cup Championship. But how about his race wins? Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
For those four riders, as well as all the other MotoAmerica competitors who have raced in Superbike Cup, having their first-place race results counted as actual race victories would mean everything to them.
Right now, JD Beach is ranked seventh among active riders in all-time AMA race wins, and he is also in the top 10 among all riders, past and present. If his 19 first-place finishes in Superbike Cup last year counted as race wins, his grand total would be 67 all-time victories, which would tie him for third among active riders and sixth in all-time AMA race victories. That’s a big deal.
This year, Andrew Lee’s nine first-place finishes so far in Superbike Cup would bring his career AMA wins total to 24, which would put him just outside the top 10 among active riders.
Recognizing Superbike Cup first-place finishes as race wins would also be a boon to Ashton Yates, Nolan Lamkin, and even this year’s Cup contenders. There is no doubt that Deion Campbell would be happy to have three AMA race wins to his credit in only his second full season of AMA professional road racing competition
It’s time to give Superbike Cup its due. No need to roll out an actual “cup” for the season champions to sip from. Just give the riders their wins.
Travis Pastrana has been successful at everything he's attempted, but his exceptional talents in motocross saw him capture the 125cc National Championship as a rookie. Photo Courtesy Racer X Archives.
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – MX Sports Pro Racing, in partnership with Budds Creek Motocross Park, has announced that action sports icon and AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Travis Pastrana will serve as Grand Marshal of the 36th running of the Yamaha Budds Creek National Presented by Carter CAT, the penultimate race of the Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing and Round 27 of the 2026 Monster Energy SMX World Championship regular season. The beloved Maryland native will make an anticipated return to his home race as the event’s ceremonial ambassador, headlined by a special autograph session on race day, Saturday, August 22.
“The sport of motocross, action sports, and motorsports as a whole have never seen an athlete more gifted and dynamic than Travis Pastrana,” said Ezra Beasley, Organizer, Budds Creek Motocross Park. “No one transcended into the mainstream quite like this happy-go-lucky young kid from Annapolis, who simply loved going fast and pushing the limits of what’s possible. It’s incredible to think that 26 years after his first ever professional gate drop Travis remains as popular as ever and continues to break new barriers, be it two wheels or four. We’re honored to have him as our Grand Marshal and know our fans will be thrilled to see him make a return to Budds Creek.”
Pastrana boasts arguably the most prolific career aboard two wheels than anyone else in history. He became a household name as a teenage freestyle motocross phenom and single handedly made X Games the ultimate spectacle for action sports. Under the mentorship and guidance of Roger DeCoster at Suzuki, Pastrana made an incredibly seamless transition into SMX competition, winning the 2000 AMA Motocross 125cc Championship and the 2001 AMA Supercross East 125cc Championship. He also helped lead Team USA to victory at the 2000 FIM Motocross of Nations in France. In the midst of his success, Pastrana’s freestyle roots kept calling and he eventually cut his racing career short and stepped away from full-time competition following the 2005 season. He remained an FMX fixture, winning countless X Games Gold Medals and breaking barriers with tricks that once never seemed possible. For all his contributions to motorcycling, Pastrana was inducted in the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame as a member of the “Class of 2023.”
Pastrana also made a foray into four wheels, proving to be a quick adapter to rally racing, where he captured even more X Games success in addition to becoming an American Rally Association champion. His icon status grew even more with the creation of Nitro Circus, Pastrana’s collective of close friends and fellow action sports athletes willing to push the boundaries of physics. A hugely popular MTV show spawned the Nitro Circus Tour, which continues to visit stadiums across the globe and will make a visit to Pastrana’s hometown of Annapolis on Sunday, August 23, from Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.
Not to be outdone, Pastrana’s one-of-a-kind career has also included a stint in NASCAR and a championship-winning foray into offshore powerboat racing. He’s responsible for an array of world record stunts, on both two and four wheels, has become a central figure of the infamous Gymkhana series, carrying on a legacy created by his late mentor and close friend Ken Block. In the 27 years since Pastrana first graced television screens around the world, he has participated in more disciplines and achieved more success piloting a motorized vehicle than anyone else in history.
Pastrana’s freestyle roots followed him into every discipline, including on the racetracks of the Pro Motocross Championship and AMA Supercross Championship. Photo Courtesy Racer X Archives
In addition to his autograph session, which will be held from 10 a.m. – 11:30 p.m. local time at Budds Creek, Pastrana will partake in various other festivities at the National and will be properly celebrated for his accomplishments and contributions to the sport.
The Yamaha Budds Creek National will take place Saturday, August 22, with on-track action starting at 5 a.m. PT / 8 a.m. ET, followed by opening ceremonies at 9:15 a.m. PT / 12:15 p.m. ET then motos for the 250SMX Class, 450SMX Class, and WMX starting at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET. Live network coverage of the second motos will air on NBC starting at 12:30 p.m. PT / 3:30 p.m. ET. Comprehensive live streaming coverage will air on Peacock, beginning with Race Day Live at 7 a.m. PT / 10 a.m. ET before coverage of the motos gets underway at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET.
The chances of the inaugural World Moto Clash event taking place on the scheduled date next month are “50-50” after the organization’s primary investor failed to meet a key financial deadline, founder and Chief Executive Officer Stanford W. Crane Jr. told Roadracing World on Wednesday.
“It’s 50-50. We’re meeting with two (potential investor) groups over the next couple of days,” Crane said in a telephone interview.
Crane said that the primary investor for the race, which promised a $1 million prize to the winner and an overall purse of $2.86 million, did not provide the funding on the agreed-upon date. Instead, the investor made a counteroffer which would not allow WMC to meet its goals, Crane said.
World Moto Clash (WMC) is the brainchild of Stanford Crane, a former motorcycle racer and team owner. Photo courtesy WMC.
Crane said that WMC is meeting with two other potential investors with experience in motorsports to secure funding for the event, which is scheduled for Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on Sept. 18-20.
In an inverview with Roadracing World published on April 29, Crane said the purse money for the original event, slated for July 10-12 at Utah Motorsports Campus, would be in escrow 30 days before the event. That date was changed because it conflicted with the MotoAmerica round at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, and the Mid-Ohio race was slated to be the kickoff event.
The WMC concept, which was originally made public nearly two decades ago, centered around the idea of a massive purse, reality show-type television content and unlimited machine regulations which promised motorcycles faster than MotoGP racebikes. But to date, no entries have been announced and no professional racing teams have announced plans to participate.
Anthony Norton (1) on his way to KOM victory. Photo by Rich Jellerson.
UtahSBK, presented by Utah Motorcycle Law, returned from summer break where high temperatures and tricky conditions awaited riders for Round 3 of the 2026 Superbike race season. The series hosted its 3rd round of the 5 round season August 8th and 9th at Utah Motorsports Campus on the West Course. Racers from all around the southwest and beyond made their way to the world class facility for 3 full days of testing and racing action starting with Friday’s test and tune hosted by Apex Trackdays.
The race weekend kicked off Saturday morning when racers took to the track for qualifying in what would be the best conditions of the weekend. During the qualifying sessions, Brian Childree would top the charts with a 1:31.2 earning pole position for Sundays King of the Mountain race. Anthony Norton and Justin Delong would round out the front row, all 3 separated by less than .3 of a second. Once qualifying concluded, another huge group of Street GP participants got their first taste of road racing in a unique format that UtahSBK is proud to offer every race weekend. Young Powersports Street GP is an easy entry point for riders who may be curious about racing but are not quite ready to dive in headfirst. This format has offered the opportunity for many riders to get their feet wet and has proven success in growing the sport and getting more riders on the race grids.
Now at the midway point of the season, championship battles are starting to shape up, intensifying action on track. Saturday’s Precision Fab Machinery Open Superbike race was a perfect example when Chris Mousley and Jeff Taylor put on a show for all 7 laps. Justin Delong would lead the field for the first lap before having a last corner mishap on lap 2. This left Mousley and Taylor fighting for the win. Taylor put constant pressure on Mousley for almost 6 laps before finally making the pass in turn 9. Mousley went right to work attempting to return fire, but a lap later Taylor would lead across the line for a narrow victory and maximum points. Chris Mousley would have another chance at victory later in the day when he led the majority of the Mountain Motor Club Deseret Dash only to be sniped by newly promoted expert racer Landon Richey. Richey would make the pass in the hard braking zone entering turn 5 and take his first victory as an expert.
Endurance Race Start. Photo by Rich Jellerson.
Endurance racing has come to be a favorite amongst racers and fans in Utah since its inception last season seeing larger grids every round. Racers didn’t shy away from the 101-degree afternoon as they prepared for another 90-minute contest on Saturdayafternoon. True Endurance teams, Relay teams, and Ironman entrants, took to the grid in the heat of the day putting their fitness and their machines to the test. Ryan Richardson aboard the Precision Fab ZX10r took the early overall lead handing off the bike to his teammate Anthony Norton around the midway point of the race with nearly 50 seconds advantage. In the popular Apex Assassins Ironman class, it was Geiser Hernandez, Trevor Nosack, and Eliu Heredia battling at the front of the class for the entire race until Hernandez had an incident bringing out a red flag with 16 minutes remaining. The clock wound down while getting the incident cleaned up leaving the Precision Fab Team as the overall and Vortex True Endurance winners and Trevor Nosack taking top ironman honors. It was a tight battle in the Relay class, but it was Parker Mayer, Josh Fisher, and Josh Lerner teaming up for the win. After a hot and grueling endurance race, it was a mad dash to the IV Haven care clinic where racers took advantage of Iv hydration and recovery services powering up for Sunday racing.
Crew swap transponder for Endurance Relay Racers Parker Mayer (775) and Josh Fisher (928). Photo by Rich Jellerson.
True Endurance racers Anthony Norton and Ryan Richardson switch during their fuel stop. Photo by Rich Jellerson.
Sunday’s action featured first the Combined expert and novice Eazzy’s Paint “Summit Cup” followed by the premier SameDay Heating and Air “King of the Mountain” race. In the Summit cup, split by open and middleweight classes, it was Landon Richey taking the top Open spot and Alex Zinaich with the middleweight win.
Alex Zinaich (11) leads Nolan Kiiskila(913), Issac Gray (69) and Josh Lerner(755) in middleweight. Photo by Rich Jellerson.
The SameDay Heating and Air “King of the Mountain” race was highly anticipated as always. All eyes were on the front row as Brian Childree and Anthony Norton set off when the lights went out. Norton secured the holeshot with Childree leaving nothing between them. Childree made the pass for the lead in turn 8, Norton passed back to start the second lap. The pace increased with the racing intensity. Near the end of lap 2, Childree low sided out of 2nd place with his bike tumbling in dramatic fashion, unfortunately taking him out of contention. Norton would now lead uncontested besides the hot and tricky track conditions for the remainder of the race. The rest of the Top 5 would prove to be a battle. Kinzer Naylor was relegated to 2nd on his ZX6R after the early exit of Childree, Leaving a hard charging Ryan Richardson in 3rd.Just behind in 4th and 5th positions were Kohl Burmester and Parker Mayer in a battle of their own. Richardson would catch Naylor after a few laps but passing was another challenge. The two raced close at the midway point of the race until Richardson was finally able to make the pass on Naylor stick. Burmester and Mayer would trade spots multiple times throughout the course of the race. In the end Mayer crossed the line in 4th and Burmester finished strong in 5th. Norton would win and take the top spot on the podium with Richardson in 2nd and Naylor in 3rd, all three collecting their share of the SameDay Heating and Air purse money.
SameDay Heating and Air King of the Mountain Podium: (left to right) Kinzer Naylor, Anthony Norton, Ryan Richardson. Photo by Zac Harston.
About his race, Anthony Norton had this to say: “So bummed for Brian (Childree). He didn’t deserve that. The track was unforgiving today. It was slick, hot, windy, and as tough as it’s ever been. My Racers Edge Dunlop Tires did their part and I’m happy to take another KOM victory. Proud of my teammates that all seem to be getting faster and had their own personal victories today . Always thankful to my supporters for their efforts to keep me out front. Wouldn’t have even had a chance today without Fuzimoto helping me through some issues I was having.”
This entire weekend of racing was made special by Oxymoron Photogrpahy and AirMax Imaging. With the support of track day organization Volant Vivere, and the hard work of their team, Oxymoron and AirMax broadcasted the first ever livestream of a UtahSBK race weekend. This team plans on coming together again for UtahSBK rd5 September 18th-19th to offer an even more grand production of the club’s season finale. If you missed this broadcast, subscribe to “Oxmophoto” on youtube to rewatch all the action and turn on notifications for the next livestream from Utah Motorsports Campus. In addition, if you are interested in marketing/advertising opportunities during the live stream reach out to [email protected] for more information.
Kayla Yaakov (19) in action. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
By Sean Bice
Tap the rock. Fist bump. Whatever you call it, it seems like the age-old handshake has been supplanted in motorcycle road racing paddocks. Developed during medieval times, the handshake was a way for two people to peacefully greet one another while extending their right hands in order to show that neither is holding a weapon.
The handshake was probably replaced by the fist bump in the MotoAmerica paddock because of COVID-19, but I have a different theory. Fist bumps are easier on injured hands than handshakes.
Have you ever considered just how many motorcycle road racers suffer hand injuries? Missing or abbreviated pinkies have long been common among road racers, especially from the two-stroke era when a suddenly seized engine would catch riders before they could pull in the clutch, and little fingers trapped under the handlebar invariably bore the brunt of the impact.
Then, there is the late, great Randy Renfrow, who lost his right thumb (again, trapped under a handlebar and surgically amputated) in a pre-season testing crash and then subsequently (and intentionally) lost a big toe, which he had surgically attached to where his thumb used to be. For a road racer, a noticeable limp is a lesser evil than not having an opposable thumb to properly grip the handlebar and throttle.
Hand injuries continue to happen in motorcycle road racing despite vastly improved safety gear and the much-improved reliability of modern motorcycles.
PJ Jacobsen damaged his hand in a crash at the opening round of this year’s MotoAmerica Superbike Championship. And, at the recent round at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Cory West suffered a crash that resulted in injuries to his hand, wrist, and elbow.
During the WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca event, one round prior to Mid-Ohio, Kayla Yaakov had a crash that caused a hand injury eerily similar to what happened to her Rahal Ducati Moto teammate and muse Jacobsen.
Rahal Ducati Moto rider with Droplight rider Kayla Yaakov finished fourth in Supersport race one at Mid-Ohio and notched a podium finish in race two despite her injured left hand. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Jacobsen’s and Yaakov’s hand injuries were particularly gruesome. Both suffered soft tissue and bone damage the likes of what you imagine would happen if you stuck your hand in a meat grinder. No hyperbole intended here. You’ve probably heard of an “angry cut.” Jacobsen’s and Yaakov’s injuries were superfly TNT, mushroom-cloud-layin’ angry.
And yet, neither Jacobsen nor Yaakov missed the next rounds of their respective championships.
It wasn’t easy for the two Ducati riders, however.
Yaakov recently wrote about it on her Facebook Page: “During Race 2 (at Laguna Seca), I had a crash in the early laps while chasing the front two guys. This crash unfortunately opened up a couple of my fingers and caused some fractures in the fingers, as well. I took the week and a half between Laguna and Mid-Ohio very seriously in terms of my recovery, just to grid up again and keep fighting.
“Mid-Ohio was probably the most challenging weekend of the season for many reasons, but I pulled through in Race 2 for a P3! With my screwed-up fingers and sickness aside, we struggled all of Friday and Saturday to find my feeling again on the bike, but (we) made a huge turnaround for Sunday’s race. While it wasn’t our best weekend, walking out with a P4 and P3 wasn’t bad considering everything that’s gone on the last few weeks. (I) finally felt more like myself on the bike again on Sunday, and (I) can’t wait to carry what we’ve learned over to VIR!”
And so, it goes for Kayla Yaakov. And for PJ Jacobsen. And, for all the other injured riders in the MotoAmerica paddock who literally suffer for their craft. That’s how much they love our sport.
If you’re going to VIRginia International Raceway this weekend, or to Circuit of The Americas or New Jersey Motorsports Park, be sure to say hello to the riders. And don’t be offended if they don’t shake your hand.
The aftermath of PJ Jacobsen’s crash at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta. He kept right on racing…and texting on his phone. Photo courtesy PJ Jacobsen.
Josh Herrin (2), Darryn Binder (53), Josh Hayes (4) and Kayla Yaakov (19) during the Supersport race 2 at Mid-Ohio. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Irvine, CA (August 12, 2026) – Three MotoAmerica Feature Classes return to VIRginia International Raceway with Supersport, Twins Cup and Talent Cup racers all heading into their own critical championship rounds. As the 2026 season moves toward its final stretch, the points battles in all three classes remain alive, with every race at VIR carrying added importance.
The flowing layout in Virginia has a little bit of everything from fast, sweeping sections to technical corners where carrying the right momentum can make or break a lap. The 2.25-mile, 17-turn circuit gives riders plenty of opportunities for close racing, while the August heat and humidity add another layer to an already demanding weekend. VIR provides the perfect setting for championship pressure to intensify in each class.
Supersport
Celtic/Economy Lube + Tire/Warhorse Ducati’s Darryn Binder heads into Round 8 having swept the prior Mid-Ohio weekend. The result pushed the South African rider’s championship lead to 19 points over Rahal Ducati Moto with Desnuda Organic Tequila’s Josh Herrin and 102 over Rahal Ducati Moto with Droplight’s Kayla Yaakov with three rounds and 150 points remaining. Herrin, who lost Race 2 by less than a tenth of a second, needs to start closing that gap now rather than later, while Yaakov remains a live threat for the podium.
This photo of Josh Herrin (#2) and Darryn Binder (#53) at Mid-Ohio is an accurate representation of how close the Supersport points battle is this year. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Behind the top three, BPR Racing Yamaha’s Josh Hayes and M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Tyler Scott remain firmly in the mix. The four-time Superbike champion Hayes continues to be a consistent presence near the front, while Scott has shown the pace to challenge for wins aboard his Suzuki GSX-R750.
VIR presents a distinct hometown advantage for Strack Racing’s Blake Davis. The 20-year-old has steadily climbed the championship standings throughout the season and will have plenty of support from his hometown crowd of Lynchburg, Virginia, just 80 miles from the circuit.
If there is one class where the championship pressure will rise it is Twins Cup. Robem Engineering’s Hank Vossberg has the points lead and momentum heading into the penultimate round of 2026 holding a 63 point lead over M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Matthew Chapin and 70 above Chapin’s teammate Bodie Paige. With two rounds and just 100 points remaining on the Twins Cup calendar, VIR is must-win territory for both Chapin and Paige if they want to extend the championship fight to the finale in September.
Hank Vossberg (#31) looks to lock up the 2026 Twins Cup title over Mathew Chapin (#95) this weekend. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Vossberg can potentially clinch the 2026 MotoAmerica Twins Cup Championship this weekend. The 16-year-old Wisconsin native needs to maintain a lead of at least 76 points after Saturday’s Race 1 or 51 points after Sunday’s Race 2, which would put the championship mathematically out of reach for Chapin and Paige.
Talent Cup returns for Round 6 at VIR with Team Roberts’ Kensei Matsudaira back on top of the standings after a sweep of his home round at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. The 15-year-old Californian holds a 23-point lead over Quarterley Racing’s Nathan Gouker heading into VIR. From nearby Lexington, North Carolina, Gouker has plenty of laps around the Virginia circuit and looks to lean on that track knowledge and close the gap to Matsudaira.
The top five in talent cup points, in running order: Kensei Matsudaira (#74), Nathan Gouker (#19), Jake Paige (#55), and Sam Drane(#59). Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Team Hammer’s Jake Paige sits third (-67 pts.) and Estenson BLU CRU Yamaha Racing’s Sam Drane is fourth (-92 pts.), both coming off podium runs of their own.
With three rounds and 150 points still remaining. That leaves the championship mathematically open as far down as eighth. Realistically, the championship conversation is down to four riders: Matsudaira, Gouker, Paige and Drane.
The quartet should provide some of the weekend’s closest racing as they battle aboard identical Talent Cup machinery, swapping positions multiple times per lap before the inevitable photo finish. With the championship on the line, every pass, draft and last-corner move could prove critical in the race for the 2026 Talent Cup title.
Talent Cup Championship Top 3:
Kensei Matsudaira – 217 points | Team Roberts (Krämer APX-350 MA)
The on-track championships aren’t the only story at VIR this year. The Motul ADV Experience returns to the historic Virginia road course in 2026.
The Motul sponsored event turns the race weekend into a dual-purpose festival for adventure riders, anchored by a dedicated campground that serves as a mini rally alongside the racing. At the center of the experience is the ADV Village, a hub featuring manufacturer displays from leading vendors that is free to all MotoAmerica ticket holders.
Adventure riders participating in the Motul ADV Experience at VIR will have access to on-site tent camping in a dedicated primitive camping area, as well as the Mini Adventure Loop, a 7.5-mile mixed-terrain route designed for riders of varying skill levels. The experience also includes Dragoo Adventure Rider Training (DART) clinics focused on teaching off-road riding techniques and navigation, the GIVI Obstacle Course for testing slow-speed balance and technical riding skills, and the Slow Race, a last-rider-to-the-line challenge.
The PARTS Unlimited Lounge will give riders an opportunity to explore products and technology from aftermarket companies, while the REV’IT! Morning Buzz provides a coffee stop to start each riding day.
President of Americade Events and ADV Logistics Expert Christian Dutcher returns to lead the Motul ADV Experience at VIR. Dutcher and his team also operate Dirt Daze, one of the country’s largest ADV rallies. For riders making the trip to VIR, the event also provides an opportunity to extend the weekend onto nearby sections of the Blue Ridge Parkway and surrounding roads or trails.
Fan Zone
Beyond the racing and ADV programming, the Fan Zone will give fans plenty of reasons to spend time away from the grandstands throughout the weekend.
The Ball of Steel returns, featuring riders performing thrilling stunts inside a steel-cage globe. Performances are scheduled for Saturday at 12:45 p.m., 2:45 p.m. and 3:45 p.m., followed by Sunday performances at 10:45 a.m., 1:45 p.m. and 2:45 p.m.
Families can also visit the Kid Zone, featuring free carnival games and activities throughout the weekend. The Kid Zone will operate from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
With three Quad Lock Superbike races, a tightening championship and a full slate of fan and ADV activations, MotoAmerica’s return to VIRginia International Raceway is set to be one of the busiest and most consequential weekends of the 2026 season.
To purchase the Motul ADV Experience Tent Camping Pass for the VIRginia International Raceway round, CLICK HERE.
For the full MotoAmerica schedule for 2026, and to purchase tickets for MotoAmerica events, CLICK HERE.
For information on how to watch MotoAmerica, CLICK HERE.
Team Passive Aggressive after the race at VIR. Left to right, standing: Ren and Julia Doughty, Adriana and Alex Cain, Barbara Cain, Robin Scott, Bob Wiebusch, Miranda Cain, Tommy Kinsman, Peter Jones, Pamela Wiebusch, Phil Arnold, Peter Dumanian, Florian Neuhauser. Kneeling: Jesse Cain, Stickboy, John Farrell. Photo by Lowside Media.
Team Passive Aggressive Did It! …Sort Of.
We came, we saw, we had an adventure, we had drama, we brought friends and family together through motorcycles, and we made new friends.
Team Passive Aggressive opened Friday practice for the N2RA Two-Hour Ultralight Endurance Race, at Virginia International Raceway (VIR), with grandniece Miranda Cain immediately applying her broadening racing skills to reduce her lap times. Meanwhile, her granduncle Peter Jones familiarized himself with the Aprilia RS 457 and the VIR track. In 2025, Cain secured her second place in the B.T.R. Royal Enfield Championship at VIR, while setting a class lap record. Jones did a Riding in the Zone track school, a couple track days, and wrote stuff.
Despite being the slower rider, Jones crashed in Saturday morning practice in turn five, after clipping the curb. The good news is, our photographer, Tommy Kinsman of Lowside Media, was shooting in that corner and captured the incident. Jones was on his third timed lap of the session, already having taken more than three seconds off his Friday lap times, closing to within seven seconds of Cain’s time, and feeling it. And then he felt the pavement. Cain, after the RS 457 was repaired, lowered her time another six seconds in qualifying to 1:47.470.
With Cain’s lap times, Team Passive Aggressive qualified 12th for the grid of 15 teams, feeling mighty proud due to numerous teams having faster race-only motorcycles with fast, young, current MotoAmerica competitors as pilots. Damn kids.
Cain started the race for Team Passive Aggressive, with a best race lap time of 1:47.759, moving up to 8th overall. The race was red-flagged at around the 30-miunte mark due to lightning strikes in the area, but the clock didn’t stop. During the down time a significant rain soaked the entire circuit but as the rain lightened a 10-minute warning for the race restart was announced, giving teams time to mount rain tires. Unfortunately, Team Passive Aggressive had no spare wheels, so the crew quickly removed and delivered the wheels to Dunlop’s Stickboy, who expediently mounted rain tires.
The race was restarted prior to completion of our tire change but stopped again after a couple laps due to a rider falling. The restart put Team Passive Aggressive down two laps, due to missing it, dropping the team to 12th overall and three laps behind race leader Team Roberts ULW. During this red-flagged period a restart was announced and the team was ready. At that moment, a very active lightning storm rushed over the track, running out the clock. Only Cain was able to compete for Team Passive Aggressive in the actual race.
Others joining Jones and Cain were Miranda’s uncle, Jesse Cain, a Cameraman on “The Studio”, airing on Apple TV, who videoed the event; Miranda’s grandmother Barbara Cain (Peter’s sister); grandaunts Robin Scott, Pamala Wiebusch and husband Bob, brother Alex and wife Adriana; and many friends of Miranda and Jones, making this race event a grand success of motorcycles bringing family and friends together.
We extend immeasurable gratitude to family and friends who contributed significantly to bringing this event together, with a special thank you to Jesse Cain, Tom Kinsman, Ren and Julia Doughty, Phil Arnold, Pete Dumanian, Florian Neuhauser, and our partners and sponsors Piaggio of the Americas, Aprilia, Woodcraft Technologies, Andreani, Dunlop (and Stickboy), Motovation USA/SC Project, Accossato, LS2 helmets, Bison, Moon Motorsports, Macklin Motorsports, Vanson, Alpinestars, plus N2RA and Race Director John Farrell. A RoadRUNNER feature and video are to follow, plus other media.
More, from a press release issued by KYT Americas:
Team KYT Americas Takes N2RA Superbike Victory.
Virginia International Raceway — August 12, 2026 — Team KYT Americas earned a hard-fought Superbike class victory at the inaugural N2RA 6-Hour Endurance Race at Virginia International Raceway, overcoming a mechanical failure that put the team more than 20 minutes behind just minutes into the six-hour event.
KYT Americas, which served as the title sponsor of the inaugural endurance race, is committed not only to supporting the sport through sponsorship of events, racing organizations and individual athletes, but also to showing up and participating in the same sport it serves.
Brandon Cretu on the KYT Americas Kawasaki ZX-10R endurance bike. Photo by Apex Pro Photography
Team KYT Americas consisted of Rise Moto founders Brandon Cretu and Brian D’Apice, along with KYT Americas-sponsored athlete Dan Kruger. Rise Moto serves as the North American distributor for KYT Americas.
Cretu and Kruger are longtime friends and international road racing veterans, with both having competed at the legendary Isle of Man TT and Macau Grand Prix.
The team’s race took a dramatic turn just three laps after the start when a clutch failure forced an unscheduled pit stop and complete clutch replacement. The repair cost Team KYT Americas more than 20 minutes, leaving the team with a significant deficit almost immediately.
Over the remaining hours, Cretu, D’Apice and Kruger steadily fought their way back through the field, ultimately overcoming the early setback to secure first place in the Superbike class. Proving that anything can happen in endurance racing and a team should never give up!
From Left to Right. Brian D’Apice, Dan Kruger, and Brandon Cretu. Photo by Apex Pro Photography
Following the victory, the team collectively decided to donate its entire $4,000 first-place purse to the Roadracing World Action Fund, supporting the organization’s efforts to provide Airfence and other soft-barrier protection at motorcycle racing and track-day events throughout the United States.
The people behind KYT Americas race in the same KYT helmets they sell and support throughout North America.
“We don’t just sponsor racing. We show up and compete. We trust the same helmets we ask our riders and customers to trust.” – Team KYT Americas rider – Brandon Cretu
Support the sport. Support the riders. Show up. Race. Give back.
The team would like to thank N2RA for hosting an amazing inaugural endurance event as well as other personal team sponsors that helped make their race win possible including: Nature Power, Pirelli, RK, EBC, and Hindle.
The Fay Myers Race of the Rockies Open delivered one of the most dramatic races of the 2026 MRA season, with mechanical drama before the green flag, a fierce battle for the lead, and a last-lap fight for the final podium position. When the dust settled at High Plains Raceway, Kreece Elliott #97 had not only claimed another Race of the Rockies victory, but also moved into the championship points lead.
Round 4 came during a particularly demanding weekend for the racers. Temperatures at High Plains Raceway climbed into the high 90’s, creating an additional physical challenge for competitors already facing the demands of a full weekend of racing. The weekend’s workload was made even more demanding with LegionSBK hosting 2- and 4-hour endurance races on Saturday, in conjunction with the MRA’s Sunday race schedule. For many riders, Sunday meant returning to the track already carrying the physical fatigue of Saturday’s endurance competition, making the heat and demanding MRA race schedule an even greater test of concentration and endurance.
Elliott entered Round 4 at High Plains Raceway carrying momentum from Round 3 at Pueblo Motorsports Park, where he captured the Race of the Rockies Open victory. With the championship battle tightening as the season reached its midpoint, every point was becoming increasingly important.
The drama began before the race even started.
Championship contender Mat Cunha #12 encountered a mechanical problem as he pulled into his grid position. A clutch issue caused the rear wheel to lock, forcing the race start to be delayed while Cunha’s motorcycle was lifted and removed from the racing surface. Unable to start from his original grid position, Cunha nevertheless managed to re-enter the race on Lap 2, limiting what could have been an even greater championship setback.
Kreece Elliot leads in Race of the Rockies. Photo by Kelly Vernell.
Once the race finally got underway, Elliott immediately made his intentions clear, taking the holeshot ahead of David Lambert #28, CJ Walker Jr. #50, and Justen Behmer #67, with the remainder of the field close behind.
Turn 1 action on the opening lap of the Rockies. Photo by Chandler Dahl.
Elliott quickly began working to establish a gap at the front, but Behmer was not willing to let him escape. Behmer moved past Lambert to take over second position while Walker Jr. began closing in on Lambert.
Justen Behmer chases the leader in Race of the Rockies. Photo by Kelly Vernell.
By Lap 3, Behmer had reduced Elliott’s advantage to just 1.8 seconds. The pressure continued to build, and by Lap 6 the gap between the two leaders had been cut to only half a second.
While Elliott and Behmer battled at the front, an equally intense fight was developing for third.
CJ Walker Jr. pushes the pace in Race of the Rockies. Photo by Kelly Vernell.
Walker Jr. moved past Lambert on Lap 7 to take third position, but Lambert immediately answered back. On Lap 8, Lambert reclaimed the position, setting up a final-lap showdown between the two riders.
At the front, Elliott held his nerve and kept Behmer behind him through the closing laps. Elliott crossed the finish line first to claim the Fay Myers Race of the Rockies Open victory, with Behmer finishing second.
The fight for the final podium position went all the way to the checkered flag. Walker Jr. made his final move on the last lap to reclaim third from Lambert and secure the final spot on the podium.
Fay Myers Race of the Rockies Open — Top 3
Race of the Rockies Open Podium from left, CJ Walmer 3rd place, Kreece Elliot 1st place, Justen Behmer 2nd place. Photo by Chandler Dahl.
1. Kreece Elliott #97
2. Justen Behmer #67
3. CJ Walker Jr. #50
The victory continues Elliott’s strong run through the middle portion of the 2026 season and, more importantly, moves him into the Race of the Rockies Open championship points lead. With just one round remaining, the championship is now set for a final showdown at High Plains Raceway, where Elliott will look to defend his newly acquired lead and close out the season on top.
Takahashi Charges to Victory in Apex Autoglass Race of the Rockies Middleweight
Phil Takahashi leads the charge in Race of the Rockies Middleweight. Photo by Kelly Vernell.
The Apex Autoglass Race of the Rockies Middleweight provided another entertaining battle at High Plains Raceway, with an out-of-state newcomer leading the opening laps, a late charge for the win, and a determined comeback from a difficult start.
Ryan Breckenridge, competing in his first-ever MRA event, got off to a strong start by taking the holeshot into Turn 1. Breckenridge was followed closely by Phil Takahashi #807 and Tyrel Diekmann #724 as the Middleweight field settled into the opening laps.
Ryan Breckenridge takes charge in the beginning of Race of the Rockies Middleweight. Photo by Kelly Vernell.
Breckenridge quickly found himself dealing with traffic from some of the 1000cc Open-class motorcycles. While the additional horsepower of the larger machines was an advantage down High Plains Raceway’s long back straight, it also made finding a passing opportunity and making the move stick more difficult for the Middleweight leader.
The traffic allowed Takahashi to steadily close the gap to Breckenridge and begin putting pressure on the leader. Takahashi remained within striking distance as the race progressed, waiting for an opportunity to make his move.
That opportunity came on Lap 7.
Phil Takahashi defends his lead in Race of the Rockies. Photo by Chandler Dahl.
Takahashi made his move on Breckenridge and successfully took over the lead, putting himself in position to control the closing stages of the race.
Meanwhile, further back in the field, Orkun Krand #9 was mounting an impressive comeback. Krand’s race got off to a difficult start when he collided with another rider on the launch after a stalled motorcycle created trouble at the beginning of the race. Forced to fight his way forward, Krand steadily worked his way back into contention.
Orkun Krand recovers after a rough start in Race of the Rockies Middleweight. Photo by Chandler Dahl.
Krand would eventually catch Josh Radcliffe #342 and made his way around him, moving into position for the final podium spot. As the race entered its closing laps, Krand turned up the pace, putting down some of his fastest laps of the race when it mattered most.
Takahashi held on to take the checkered flag and claim the Apex Autoglass Race of the Rockies Middleweight victory. Breckenridge secured an impressive second-place finish in his first MRA appearance, while Krand completed his comeback with a third-place finish.
Apex Autoglass Race of the Rockies Middleweight — Top 3
Race of the Rockies Middleweight podium from left, Phil Takahashi 1st place, Ryan Breckenridge 2nd place, Orkun Krand 3rd place. Photo by Chandler Dahl.
1. Phil Takahashi #807
2. Ryan Breckenridge #347
3. Orkun Krand #9
The result gave Takahashi a hard-earned victory after patiently working through traffic and waiting for his opportunity to take the lead. Breckenridge’s second-place finish made an immediate impression in his first MRA appearance, while Krand’s recovery from the opening-lap incident to reach the podium was one of the race’s standout performances.
Ewan Remains Undefeated in Rider Justice Amateur Open
2026 Amateur Open race start. Photo by Chandler Dahl.
The Rider Justice Amateur Open continued to be dominated by Tony Ewan #125, who entered Round 4 at High Plains Raceway looking to extend his perfect 2026 season.
Ewan had already established himself as the rider to beat in the Amateur Open championship. He opened the season with a victory at High Plains Raceway in Round 1, followed it with another win at Pueblo Motorsports Park in Round 2, and remained undefeated after taking the checkered flag again at Round 3. Through the first three rounds, Ewan had been nearly untouchable, leading every lap of the Round 2 race and continuing his winning streak at Pueblo.
When the lights went out for Round 4, Ewan wasted no time adding another victory to his record.
Ewan #125 took the holeshot into Turn 1, followed by Walt Vogl #117 and Dan Parker #314, with the rest of the field close behind.
Tony Ewan defends on the opening lap against Walt Vogl in Amateur Open. Photo by Chandler Dahl.
Ewan immediately asserted control of the race, opening a significant gap during the first lap. Rather than allowing the field to close in, Ewan continued to build his advantage throughout the race, putting himself in a commanding position early.
Dan Parker slots into 2nd place in Amateur Open. Photo by Chandler Dahl.
Behind the leader, the battle for the remaining podium positions began to take shape. On Lap 2, Parker made his move on Vogl, moving into second position.
One lap later, Jamison Ziesch made his own move on Vogl, taking over third position and completing the podium lineup.
Jamison Ziesch secures 3rd in Amateur Open. Photo by Chandler Dahl.
From there, Ewan continued to stretch his advantage at the front. Despite the heat and physical demands of a long race weekend that also included LegionSBK’s 2- and 4-hour endurance races on Saturday, Ewan remained in complete control and carried his lead all the way to the checkered flag.
Tony Ewans secures the win in Amateur Open. photo by Kelly Vernell.
Ewan claimed his fourth consecutive Rider Justice Amateur Open victory of the 2026 season, remaining undefeated through four rounds. Parker finished second, with Ziesch completing the podium in third.
Rider Justice Amateur Open — Top 3
Amateur Open Podium from left, Jamison Ziesch 3rd place, Dan Parker 2nd place, Tony Ewan 1st place. Photo by Chandler Dahl.
1. Tony Ewan #125
2. Dan Parker #314
3. Jamison Ziesch
Ewan’s fourth consecutive victory further solidifies his position at the front of the Amateur Open championship heading into the final round. After winning every Amateur Open race of the 2026 season so far, Ewan now has one final opportunity to complete a perfect championship season
Looking Ahead to the Championship Finale
With Round 4 in the books, the 2026 Motorcycle Roadracing Association season is down to its final round. The championship battles across the MRA’s premier classes will be decided at High Plains Raceway on September 6, 2026, for Round 5.
For the season finale, MRA racers will take on the West Course, a two-mile configuration of High Plains Raceway that will provide a new challenge as riders fight for the final championship points of the season.
After a season filled with close racing, championship battles, new competitors, dramatic comebacks, and hard-fought victories, the final round promises to bring the 2026 MRA season to a thrilling conclusion. With championships still on the line, the season will come down to one final race day at High Plains Raceway on September 6.
15-year-old Cole Varnes is set to make his MotoAmerica Twins Cup debut at Virginia International Raceway. Photo by Noiseless Productions.
Birdsboro, PA — August 12, 2026 — At just 15 years old, Pennsylvania road racer Cole Varnes is set to take the next step in his racing career as he prepares to compete in the MotoAmerica Twins Cup series at Virginia International Raceway (VIR).
The VIR event will mark a major milestone for Varnes: his first race in the Twins Cup series and his first MotoAmerica race as a professional rider.
“This is something I’ve been dreaming about for the last few years,” said Varnes. “I’ve worked really hard to get to this point, and now it’s time to see what we can do at the professional level. I’m excited, but I’m also ready to go out there and compete.”
Over the past two seasons, the ASRA Roadracing Series has provided Varnes with the opportunity to compete against some of the strongest club-level road racers on the East Coast. At just 15 years old, Varnes currently leads the Atlantic Region championship standings in Lightweight GP Expert, GTL, Thunderbike, Lightweight Superbike, and the Overall Championship.
Varnes has also continued to compete and train in the District 6 Flat Track Series, using the discipline and racecraft developed on the dirt to complement his road racing program.
A Family-Run Race Team
Cole’s father, Mike, handles much of the bike building, preparation, transportation, and logistics. Together, the family has built the program from the ground up, investing countless hours, resources, and sacrifices to give Cole the opportunity to pursue his dream of racing at the professional level.
“We’re a family race team,” said Mike. “We build the bikes, we haul the bikes, and we make it happen together as a family. Cole puts in the work on the track, and the rest of us do everything we can to give him the opportunity to succeed.”
That family effort has been a major part of Cole’s development, helping him progress from Mini Cup racing to flat track, ASRA road racing, and now the MotoAmerica Twins Cup.
A successful weekend at the ASRA Mid-Ohio VMD weekend, including Varnes’ first opportunity to compete in the AMA Grand Championship races, provided another important benchmark for the young rider and his team.
“Mid-Ohio really showed us that we’re ready to take the next step,” Varnes said. “We went there to compete against some of the best riders in the Twins Cup series, and the results gave us a lot of confidence. We know MotoAmerica is going to be a big step up, but we believe we’re ready for the challenge.”
For his MotoAmerica Twins Cup debut, Varnes will campaign a Suzuki GSX-8R.
“I’ve been working toward this moment for a long time,” Varnes said. “Getting the opportunity to race in MotoAmerica as a professional at 15 years old is something I’m extremely proud of. I know there is still a lot to learn, but I’m going to VIR ready to learn, ready to work, and ready to race.”
Sponsors & Partners
Varnes will be supported by an outstanding group of sponsors and partners who have helped make his 2026 racing program possible: Schaeffers Motorsports, Karns Performance, Bob’s Pools, Arai, Dunlop, Dietrich Trucking, Jim & Dolly Varnes, Vortex, NECO, Woodcraft, Motion Pro, Chicken Hawk Tire Warmers, Reading Standard Motorsports, Classic HD, REV’IT Leathers, Trackside Parts Club, Motorex.
Varnes and his team will head to Virginia International Raceway focused on making the most of his first professional MotoAmerica weekend and gaining valuable experience at the highest level of competition he has faced to date.
“This is just the beginning,” said Varnes. “I want to thank everyone who has supported me and helped me get here. My family, my team, my sponsors, and everyone who has believed in me have all played a huge part in this. Now we get to go racing.”
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