COTTONWOOD, CA – The Golden State Championship and Hawk Mazzotta Moto Camp remain committed to protecting the future of motorcycle racing through safety, accountability, and responsible risk management.
Recent developments reported by RoadracingWorld.com have reinforced the importance of participant waivers, rider responsibility, and preserving the future of our sport.
As owner of the Golden State Championship and Hawk Mazzotta Moto Camp, I reserve the right to determine who participates in our events and programs. Effective immediately, individuals whose actions are inconsistent with the values and long-term interests of our organization and the sport will not be permitted to participate in the Golden State Championship or any Hawk Mazzotta Moto Camp program.
We stand behind Rocco Landers and support him as this legal matter continues. We also stand with the racers, families, promoters, tracks, and organizations working to protect the future of motorcycle racing.
A huge thank you to RoadracingWorld.com for spreading the word and bringing attention to this important issue. We also extend our sincere appreciation to Alex Assanti at Bike911.com for his continued commitment, advocacy, and unwavering support of the motorcycle racing community.
For those who would like to learn more about the ongoing case, please refer to the full report at www.roadracingworld.com.
As the MotoGP World Championship heads to Silverstone for the British Grand Prix, teams are finalizing their preparations for another crucial race weekend. Read the latest team press releases below for rider comments, preview quotes, and updates from across the paddock.
More from a press release issued by Aprilia Racing:
Aprilia Racing ready for the second half of the 2026 season. Marco Bezzecchi returns to the track after his injury on the Sachsenring, Jorge Martin ready for the twelfth GP of the season.
With the summer break at an end, Aprilia Racing is ready for the challenge on Silverstone Circuit for the twelfth GP of the season, scheduled for this weekend. Present at the British track will be Jorge Martín and Marco Bezzecchi, who will undergo a medical check before being able to take to the track.
Jorge Martín is headed to Silverstone with the goal of confirming the level of competitiveness demonstrated in the first part of the season and continuing the positive trend which currently has him leading the championship with 208 points.
Marco Bezzecchi, absent from the German GP due to an injury to his left collarbone suffered during Q2, will be back on the track after three weeks of downtime. Before taking to the track, the Italian rider will need to be examined by the MotoGP medical team in order to be declared fit to race, following not only surgery on his collarbone but also a procedure to clean the wound on his left knee.
The Silverstone track is considered to be one of the fastest on the calendar and one of the most prestigious in the world, with more than 70 years of history. It is a technical circuit comprising long straights, 10 right turns and 8 left turns.
Jorge Martin (89). Photo courtesy Aprilia.
Jorge Martin: “It was an extremely positive summer break. I was able to rest up, but also to train a lot and complete a bicycle challenge along with my friends which I had dreamed of doing for a long time. I can’t wait to be back on the track with my Aprilia and to work with my team again. We have an exciting second half of the season ahead of us, where we’ll be striving to give one hundred percent. We’re headed to Silverstone now – a track that I like a lot and where I have outstanding memories. I hope to give our fans some great satisfaction.”
Marco Bezzecchi (72). Photo courtesy Aprilia.
Marco Bezzecchi: “I’m pleased to be returning, but I’ll need to undergo the medical check first in order to be declared fit to race. It was a rather different summer break than I had imagined, but I am truly happy to get back to racing and I can’t wait to get on my RS-GP26. I hope I can manage to stay well. I know I am still not at 100%, but I am extremely keen to get back at it.”
More from a press release issued by Honda HRC:
British GP brings racing action back to Honda HRC Castrol. The MotoGP Summer Break comes to a close at the ominous Silverstone Circuit, 5.9 kilometers ready to reunite Luca Marini and Joan Mir with their Honda RC213V machines.
Three weeks of rest, recovery and hard work have come to an end as the Honda HRC Castrol team arrive at one of the fastest circuits on the MotoGP World Championship calendar. With 75 years of motorcycle racing history, Silverstone is amongst the most famous racetracks in the world and has produced some of MotoGP’s most memorable battles. Now Luca Marini and Joan Mir look to restart their 2026 campaigns on this hallowed ground.
Clockwork-like consistency has seen Luca Marini steadily build himself to lead the Honda charge in the World Championship standings. Scoring points every single weekend has the Italian tenth overall with 79 points – 31 clear of Diogo Moreira, the second highest placed Honda. The best defence for Marini is a good offence, the Italian ready to resume his pursuit of the higher positions in Qualifying, the Sprint and the Grand Prix. Silverstone has seen Marini miss points on just a single occasion in the premier class, his best result a seventh place in 2023.
Even a three-week break could not damp Joan Mir’s champion spirit and his quest to deliver the maximum possible result each and every weekend for Honda HRC Castrol. The #36 arrives in England with his usual focus and determination, looking to put recent rounds in the rear view and focus purely on the future. Silverstone has been an uncharacteristically complicated circuit for the 2020 MotoGP World Champion, his tenth place on the Honda RC213V there in 2025 one of just two top-tens he has achieved since joining the premier class in 2019.
The weekend will see a revised running order, Free Practice 1 starting at 11:45 Local Time on Friday, August 07 and the 20-lap British Grand Prix officially ending the summer drought at 13:00 Local Time, Sunday, August 08 just before the Moto3 race.
Luca Marini (10) and Joan Mir (36). Photo courtesy Honda HRC.
Luca Marini:“I’m ready to get back on track and see the team again. These past few weeks have been very important for the physical and mental side, a refresh to head into the second half of the season hunting our maximum. A circuit like Silverstone throws everything at you as a rider, so it’s a good place to get back into racing mode. Qualifying again will be the first critical point of the weekend, and I hope we can accomplish Q2. We need to keep taking good points to protect our position in the top ten in the standings and stay as the fastest Honda.”
Joan Mir:“This time away from the circuit has been very beneficial after a mixed start to the year. My focus in this second part of the year is to show my speed like we did in Barcelona and Brno, give my all to take the maximum from each weekend. Silverstone always throws up some interesting situations, so we need to put ourselves in the position to take profit from that. The weather is looking really nice which makes the weekend a lot more enjoyable, especially after the break!”
More from a press release issued by Monster Energy Yamaha:
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Return to Action After Summer Break for Round 12 at Silverstone.
The Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team have travelled to the United Kingdom to resume action after the three-week summer break. Fully recharged, they are gearing up for Round 12 of the 2026 MotoGP World Championship.
After the three-week summer break, the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team is looking forward to being back on track at this weekend’s Grand Prix of Great Britain.
Fabio Quartararo is all set to step aboard his YZR-M1 once more. He is currently 14th in the championship and is keen to climb up the rankings. The Frenchman is known to be competitive at the Silverstone Circuit, as testified by his 2021 premier-class victory there.
Álex Rins arrives in Britain holding 19th in the championship standings. The Spaniard has an impressive record at Silverstone, with a Moto3 second place in 2013 and victory in 2014, followed by a Moto2 runner-up finish in 2015. In MotoGP, he won at the circuit in 2019 and finished second in 2021.
MotoGP returned to Silverstone’s international paddock in 2023, with Abbey as Turn 1 and Club as the final corner. The circuit is run clockwise. At 5.9 km with 18 turns, Silverstone is the longest track on the MotoGP calendar. It had hosted MotoGP from 1977 to 1986 before returning in 2010 and boasts more than 75 years of racing history. Continuous investment and innovation have made it one of the fastest circuits on the calendar and a favourite among riders.
The schedule for the British GP differs from the usual Central European Grand Prix timetable. FP1 will take place on Friday from 11:45-12:30 and Practice from 16:00-17:00 local track time (GMT+1). On Saturday, FP2 will be held from 11:10-11:40, followed by Q1 and Q2 from 11:50-12:30. The 10-lap Sprint in the afternoon starts at 16:00. On Sunday, Warm Up will be staged from 09:40-09:50, and the 20-lap Race is scheduled to start at 13:00 local track time.
Alex Rins (42) and Fabio Quartararo (20). Photo courtesy Yamaha.
Fabio Quartararo: “It was nice to have some time to recharge during the summer break, and now I’m ready to be back racing at Silverstone. It’s a track that I really enjoy, and I know I can be competitive there. Though last year’s race didn’t end as we hoped, we’ve had some strong moments in Silverstone. We’ll keep working hard again this weekend to try to get a good result.”
Alex Rins: “I enjoyed the summer break, but now it’s time to get back on the bike. Silverstone is a circuit that I like. It’s very fast and technical, and I have good memories there from different classes. I’m hoping we can start the second half of the season and the British GP weekend well on Friday and keep building session by session.”
Massimo Meregalli – Team Director: “We ended the first half of the season with a clearer sense of direction, and we are looking forward to getting back to work. Silverstone has an interesting character, with its high-speed sections and flowing layout, and historically it has produced close and competitive racing. We believe there are areas of the circuit that could suit our package, so we are interested to see what we can achieve this weekend. As always, we will stay focused, continue working step by step, and do our best to keep making progress in the right direction.”
More from a press release issued by Prima Pramac Yamaha:
Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP Returns to Action at Silverstone After the Summer Break.
Following the summer break, Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP resumes its 2026 campaign at Silverstone, a circuit that provided one of the team’s strongest performances last season and offers another opportunity to assess the progress of the Yamaha project.
Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP returns to action this weekend at Silverstone as the MotoGP World Championship resumes after the three-week summer break. The British Grand Prix marks the beginning of the second half of the season, with the team eager to continue the development of the Yamaha YZR-M1 and build on the progress achieved during the opening rounds of the championship.
Silverstone holds positive memories for the team, having hosted one of its strongest weekends in 2025. Jack Miller finished seventh in last year’s Grand Prix, the team’s best race result of the season at that stage, while the circuit’s fast, flowing layout has traditionally suited the characteristics of the Yamaha. With the project now significantly more mature than it was twelve months ago, the British Grand Prix provides another valuable opportunity to measure the progress made over the past year.
For Miller, the weekend offers the chance to return to a circuit where he has consistently been competitive, while Toprak Razgatlıoğlu continues his MotoGP learning journey at a track whose high-speed nature rewards confidence and rhythm. As the championship enters its second half, Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP remains focused on gathering valuable data and continuing the steady development of the project.
To accommodate the time difference with the United Kingdom, the weekend schedule has been revised. Friday’s practice sessions will take place at 11:45 and 16:00, Saturday’s Practice 2 and Sprint are scheduled for 11:50 and 16:00, while Sunday’s Warm Up will begin at 09:40, with the British Grand Prix getting underway at 13:00.
Jack Miller (left) and Toprak Razgatlioglu (right). Photo courtesy Prima Pramac Yamaha.
Toprak Razgatlioglu: “I’m really happy to be back at Silverstone. It’s a circuit I really enjoy, even though the last time I raced here was twelve years ago in the Rookies Cup. It will be completely different on a MotoGP bike, especially with the long straights, so we’ll have to see what to expect.
As always, the goal is to do our best and keep learning. Every weekend I’m gaining more experience with the bike, and I’m looking forward to getting back on track and starting the second half of the season at such a great circuit.”
Jack Miller: “I’m looking forward to getting back on track after the summer break and starting the second half of the season. Hopefully, we’ve been able to make a bit more progress during the three-week break, and it’ll be good to see how that translates once we’re back racing.
Silverstone is a circuit I always enjoy, and it’s always special to race in front of the British fans. I’m excited to get the weekend underway and see what we can achieve.”
Gino Borsoi – Team Director: “We’re back in action after the summer break with our batteries recharged and ready for the second half of the season. Silverstone is a fantastic circuit and one where we enjoyed a very positive weekend last year, so we’re pleased to be returning.
On paper, the layout should suit the characteristics of the Yamaha, but this year’s bike is completely different, so it’s difficult to predict exactly what to expect. A lot of work has gone into the project over the summer break and, although the next major upgrades won’t arrive for another couple of Grands Prix, we’re confident we’re moving in the right direction.
Our objective is to continue improving race after race and finish the season stronger than we started it. We’ll keep working with the same determination as always, making the most of every opportunity to move the project forward.”
More from a press release issued by Ducati:
Ducati Lenovo Team heading to the British GP: all set to return from the summer break.
The MotoGP paddock moves to Great Britain for the 12th round of the season, taking up the legacy of the legendary TT on a historic track like Silverstone. The British race, on the calendar since 1949 and held over the years between the Donington Park and Silverstone, has seen Ducati triumph 5 times: from the first historic victories of Casey Stoner at Donington in 2007 and 2008, to Andrea Dovizioso’s success in 2017 and Francesco Bagnaia’s victory in 2022, up to Enea Bastianini’s splendid triumph in 2024, which came right on the day where we were celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Motorcycle World Championship. In 2025, Marc Márquez secured a solid haul by finishing second in the Sprint and stepping onto the third step of the podium in Sunday’s race.
After a three-week break, Marc and Pecco are ready to get back on track. Marc made the most of these days to continue his physical recovery path and returns to work strong by the maximum points haul obtained at the Sachsenring. For Pecco, on the other hand, the weekend will begin with the usual medical check to get the fit to race, which is essential for getting back on his Desmosedici GP after undergoing surgery on his right forearm at the beginning of July.
Marc Márquez (#93, Ducati Lenovo Team): “In Germany, it was a perfect weekend, where we able to make the most of every opportunity and collect all the points possible, moving up to third place in the Championship. I took advantage of the three-week break to enjoy a bit of relaxation, but also to recharge my energy and continue with training. Silverstone is a long and extremely demanding track, where a lot of physical strength will be needed; plus, there’s always the unknow weather, which as usual can completely overturn the outcome of the race”.
Francesco Bagnaia (#63, Ducati Lenovo Team): “Silverstone is a physically demanding track that I’m tackling right after my arm surgery. I feel good and I’ve recovered during these weeks off, but I haven’t been back on a MotoGP bike yet, so after the fit to race, it will be essential to understand my feelings and work well right from the start. Silverstone is a circuit I really like: the fans are among the most affectionate, and the atmosphere at the track is among the best in the entire calendar”.
More from a press release issued by Yamaha Factory Team:
Augusto Fernández to Continue Yamaha Development Programme as Silverstone Wild Card.
The Yamaha Factory Racing Team return to MotoGP action this weekend at the British Grand Prix, Round 12 of the MotoGP World Championship, held at the Silverstone Circuit. Official test rider Augusto Fernández joins the first race after the MotoGP summer break as a wild-card entry with the aim of aiding Yamaha’s bike development programme.
Augusto Fernández and the Yamaha Factory Racing Team will take part in the British Grand Prix as a wild-card entry, with the goal of gathering valuable data and further advancing the development of Yamaha’s MotoGP package under race conditions.
Fernández, the 2022 Moto2 World Champion and former premier-class rider (2023–2024), has previous experience at Silverstone from across his Grand Prix career, having won the 2019 and 2022 Moto2 Race and securing a best MotoGP Race placement of P11 there in 2023.
Returning to competition after the summer hiatus, the Spaniard is eager to continue the work carried out through the season and contribute to Yamaha’s ongoing technical progress.
The Silverstone Circuit is one of the most historic venues on the MotoGP calendar. Located in Northamptonshire, England, the 5.9 km track is renowned for its high-speed layout, flowing sequences of corners, and demanding technical sections. Featuring eight left-hand and ten right-hand turns, Silverstone tests both rider and machine, making it an ideal venue for development work and data collection.
Augusto Fernández (47) at Jerez. Photo courtesy Yamaha.
Augusto Fernández: “I’m happy to be back racing after the summer break and to continue helping with the development of the bike. Silverstone is a nice circuit with a lot of fast corners, and it’s always enjoyable to ride there. The goals for this weekend are clear: I want to be on the pace as fast as possible in order to gather as much useful information as we can.”
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (August 5, 2026) – Reigning champion Tom Drane (No. 1 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) arrives at the 86th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally with yet another record in his sights as the KICKER AFT Singles competitors prepare for the Caterpillar Jackpine Gypsies Super TT, Round 12 of the 2026 Progressive American Flat Track season, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, on Saturday, August 8.
Drane Storm
Estenson Racing Yamaha ace Drane has proven a nigh-unstoppable force as of late, racking up five consecutive victories. That run of success has vaulted him into some truly rarified air as the Australian continues to make his case for consideration as the greatest rider in KICKER AFT Singles history.
The numbers are increasingly on his side. Drane now boasts the most career wins and the most consecutive podiums, among many other achievements of significance. Now he enters Saturday’s race at the Jackpine Gypsies Motorcycle Club in Sturgis, South Dakota, needing just one more victory to claim a share of the longest win streak in class history.
Despite all that, he might not even be the pre-race favorite this week.
Drane has won a lot of races at a lot of different venues. Not only does he have more overall victories than anyone else, he has the most Mile wins, the second most Short Track wins, and the third most Half-Mile wins.
However, of those 26 wins just one has come at a TT. Granted, it came at the series’ most recent, the 2025 Peoria TT, a triumph that made him just the sixth to ever complete the KICKER AFT Singles Grand Slam.
Despite having enjoyed just a single TT win, Drane’s background as a standout roadracer certainly has the makeup to excel at TTs, and he has regularly demonstrated the pace to do so.
While it’s fair to point out that the relative infrequency of the discipline on the calendar has presented him with a limited number of opportunities to change the narrative, it also makes for a refreshing change of pace to be able to position Drane as the underdog following a lengthy reign as the resident overdog.
The Rider to Chase
The rider arguably most in need of a huge week in Sturgis also happens to be the one who just so happened to enjoy a huge week in Sturgis one year ago.
Long-time Drane foil Chase Saathoff (No. 88 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450) powered to victory in last year’s Caterpillar Jackpine Gypsies Super TT to round out a spectacular 1-2-1 week.
Despite having racked up eight podiums en route to a clear second-place ranking this season, Saathoff is still seeking his first victory of ‘26.
With more than a full race’s padding on third-ranked Kage Tadman (No. 28 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), Saathoff is primed to let it hang out at a track he’s previously conquered with hopes of finally bringing Drane’s win streak to an end.
Vindicated
Last year’s Super TT was also a monumental one for Bradon Pfanders (No. 83 Memphis Shades/Corbin Seats Yamaha YZ450F) – albeit more in hindsight than in action.
Pfanders was credited with third, marking his first career Progressive AFT podium. However, it didn’t involve a trip to the podium, as he crossed the line in fourth and was only elevated to the position after Aidan RoosEvans was DQ’d from second.
While likely not how he envisioned his first podium, Pfanders more than made up for it when he took his maiden KICKER AFT Singles victory at the DAYTONA double season opener earlier this year.
He’s also well set up to stand upon the box in Sturgis this year, having rediscovered his form following a mid-season dip. The OTB Racing pilot has reeled in consecutive finishes of fifth, fifth, and sixth and appears ready to capitalize at a track he’s done well at in the past.
Bounce Back Candidate
While Pfanders has gotten his season back on the track, preseason title hopeful Trevor Brunner (No. 21 KMA Racing/March Equipment Yamaha YZ450F) is looking for a turnaround of his own.
Brunner – among the most decorated riders the class has ever known – came out swinging in ‘26, claiming four podiums over the season’s first five races, including a victory at the Senoia ST.
However, he’s now mired in an uncharacteristic slump that’s seen him finish eighth or lower six races running. Brunner is obviously capable of much more, and perhaps the Super TT is exactly what he needs to re-unlock his potential.
He’s tied with Saathoff for most TT wins among active riders (two). One more would vault him into a tie for third all-time while giving him a much-needed boost in confidence.
Puncher’s Chance
While Drane has made it unlikely-bordering-on-impossible as of late, the KICKER AFT Singles class is still capable of springing a surprise winner at times.
Tadman did it twice in 2025, and, as noted above, Pfanders pulled off an upset of his own earlier this year.
A win by Tarren Santero (No. 75 Roof Systems/Texas Utility Studies/Vinson Construction Honda CRF450R) might not even register as a surprise, considering how close he’s come on multiple occasions before.
Jared Lowe (No. 63 Big R Racing/Vinson Construction Honda CRF450R) was strong here a year ago, while Walker Porter (No. 10 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) has made himself a regular up near the front at times this season.
We haven’t yet gotten a chance to see how rookies like Jack Brucks (No. 113 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450) and Jett Katarzy (No. 117 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450) will fare at a Super TT, but we can trust that long-time Supermoto ace Bronson Pearce (No. 132 A1R Racing/FRA Trust Yamaha YZ450F) will be at the top of his game.
Party Like You’re at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally
The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is regarded the world over as one of the planet’s ultimate party destinations, and the revelry will be overflowing at the track and throughout the town. NASCAR legend Mike Skinner will serve as Grand Marshal to help cement the event’s elevated status.
And along with the world-class race action, the Caterpillar Jackpine Gypsies Motorcycle Club will host the V-Twin Visionary Ride-In Bike Show, a Strider race for kids, big-screen viewing, an abundance of food and beverage options, and more.
Act Fast to Secure Your Seat
A limited number of General Admission tickets for the Caterpillar Jackpine Gypsies Super TT and the Caterpillar Jackpine Gypsies Short Track are available for just $25 each round. General Admission Grandstand tickets are only $53 per round (kids 12 and under free with a paid adult ticket) with Reserved Grandstand tickets available for $64 (all ages). Students can purchase a GA Grandstand ticket for just $20 at the gate the day of the event with a valid ID.
The Harley-Davidson VIP Experience ($135, all ages), delivers H.O.G. members an unforgettable evening that includes exclusive H-D seating, a rider meet-and-greet, an infield tour complete with podium photos, and Harley swag.
Finally, an exclusive offering – limited to just 30 guests – is access to the AFT Hospitality Tent, which provides prime sightlines along with food and drinks all day for $125 (all ages).
And if you act fast, you can save $5 off the gate price and be one of the first 500 who’ll snag a free seat cushion.
For those who can’t catch the live action at the track, FloRacing is the live streaming home of Progressive American Flat Track. Motorsports fans can subscribe to FloRacing to enjoy over 1,000 live motorsports events in 2026. FloSports is available by visiting https://flosports.link/AFT2026 or by downloading the FloSports app on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire, and Chromecast.
FOX Sports
FOX Sports provides national television coverage of select Progressive American Flat Track events throughout the season, featuring in-depth race coverage, rider features, and onboard cameras. The 2026 Progressive AFT television schedule is available at https://www.americanflattrack.com/events-foxsports.
Young American rider joins Saddlemen Race Development for Round 4 as he and Bradley Smith make their FIM Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup debut at the British Grand Prix. Smith will also appear at Thursday’s fan event in central London ahead of the race weekend.
MILWAUKEE, WI — The FIM Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup returns toaction on August 7–9 at Silverstone Circuit for Round 4 of its inaugural season, taking placealongside the MotoGP™ British Grand Prix.
Harley-Davidson confirms an update to the official entry list for the British round, with Americanrider Max Tothjoining Saddlemen Race Developmentin place of Cory West, who sustainedinjuries during practice for the recent MotoAmerica Mission King of the Baggers round at Mid-Ohio.
One of the rising talents in American road racing, Toth has progressed through the MotoAmerica ranks and already has experience aboard the Saddlemen Harley-Davidson RoadGlide. He made his Mission King of the Baggers debut with the team at Ridge Motorsports Park, where he substituted for Saddlemen’s regular riders while they were competing in the Mugello round of the Bagger World Cup. Silverstone will mark his first appearance in the FIM Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup.
David Echert – Team Owner, Saddlemen Race Development: “Cory’s crash at Mid-Ohio was a difficult moment for everyone in our team, and we’re thankful the outcome wasn’t more serious. Everyone at Saddlemen Race Development is wishing Cory a full and speedy recovery, and we’ll be behind him every step of the way as he works towards returning to the track. As Cory focuses on his recovery, we’re pleased to have Max Toth stepping in once again. He proved himself to be a valuable addition to the team earlier this season, and we have complete confidence that he’ll do a great job for us at Silverstone. Until Cory is ready to return, we’ll be racing for him.”
Max Toth. Photo courtesy Bagger World Cup.
Max Toth –Rider:“Firstly, I’d like to wish Cory the smoothest and quickest recovery following his crash. To have the opportunity to join the MotoGP paddock in the FIM Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup is monumental for me and for all the people supporting me in my corner. I want to thank everybody at Saddlemen for trusting me and bringing me into their project, and I look forward to giving 110% at Silverstone and hitting the ground running!
Toth’s addition completes the 11-rider field for Round 4, which also includes the previously announced wildcard appearance of former MotoGP™ race winner Bradley Smith. Racing for ParkinGO Team, Smith will make his championship debut in front of his home crowd.
ROUND 4 ENTRY LIST:
#10 Travis Wyman – Saddlemen Race Development
#13 Max Toth – Saddlemen Race Development
#20 Dimas Ekky Pratama – Niti Racing
#27 Filippo Rovelli – ParkinGO Team
#29 Andrea Iannone – Niti Racing
#34 Jordi Torres – Joe Rascal Racing
#38 Bradley Smith* – ParkinGO Team
#51 Eric Granado – Joe Rascal Racing
#69 Archie McDonald – Joe Rascal Racing
#85 Jake Lewis – Saddlemen Race Development
#99 Oscar Gutiérrez – Niti Racing
* Wildcar
THE CHASE FOR THE TITLE
Three rounds have already produced six spectacular races and four different winners. As the FIM Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup returns to the MotoGP™ paddock at Silverstone, the championship battle remains extremely close, matching the intensity and unpredictability of this year’s MotoGP title fight, one of the most compelling in recent seasons.
After six races, the championship standing sare:
1.Eric Granado – 111 points
2.Oscar Gutiérrez – 109 points
3.Archie McDonald – 97 points
4.Andrea Iannone – 74 points
5.Jake Lewis – 71 points
6.Travis Wyman – 66 points
7.Jordi Torres – 58 points
8.Dimas Ekky Pratama – 49 points
9.Cory West – 36 points
10.Filippo Rovelli – 26 points
With only 14 points separating the top three riders and 150 points still available across the remaining three rounds at Silverstone, Aragón and the Red Bull Ring, the inaugural Bagger World Cup title remains very much up for grabs. While Granado, Gutiérrez and McDonald lead the standings, both Andrea Iannone and Jake Lewis remain firmly in contention, setting the stage for an exciting second half of the season.
SPECIAL EVENT IN DOWNTOWN LONDON
The British Grand Prix weekend will officially get underway with a special pre-event press conference at Outernet London, open free of charge to fans.
British wildcard rider Bradley Smith will attend the event and be available for media interviews, where he will share his experience racing the Harley-Davidson Road Glide and his expectations ahead of his championship debut on home soil.
Fans can secure official Harley-Davidson Ticket Packages for both the full race weekend and the new Sunday-only package through MotoGP.com. Packages offer exclusive Harley-Davidson experiences, including the dedicated Harley-Davidson Grandstand, the Harley-Davidson Village and the championship’s distinctive open-paddock format, bringing fans closer to the riders, teams and motorcycles than ever before. Packages also include rider autograph sessions, dedicated motorcycle parking, helmet and jacket storage (subject to availability), and an exclusive Harley-Davidson gift pack.
ON-TRACK SCHEDULE
Friday
13:40–14:00 Free Practice 1
18:05–18:25 Free Practice 2
Saturday
13:10–13:30 Qualifying
17:10 Race 1 (7 laps)
Sunday
16:00Race 2 (7 laps)
About FIM Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup:
The FIM Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup is the first global championship exclusively dedicated to high-performance Harley-Davidson bagger motorcycles, organized by Harley-Davidson in partnership with MotoGP™and officially recognized by the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM). The series is contested at selected international circuits alongside the MotoGP™calendar, bringing Harley-Davidson’s iconic machines into a premier global racing environment. The championship combines heritage, technical innovation, and on-track competition, extending the brand’s racing legacy onto the world stage. Learn more on the dedicated FIM Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup page at www.harley-davidson.com.
About Harley-Davidson:
Harley-Davidson, Inc. is the parent company of Harley-Davidson Motor Company and Harley-Davidson Financial Services. Our vision: Building our legend and leading our industry through innovation, evolution and emotion. Our mission: More than building machines, we stand for the timeless pursuit of adventure. Freedom for the soul. Since 1903, Harley-Davidson has defined motorcycle culture with an expanding range of leading-edge, distinctive and customizable motorcycles in addition to riding experiences and exceptional motorcycle accessories, riding gear and apparel. Harley-Davidson Financial Services provides financing, insurance and other programs to help get Harley-Davidson riders on the road. Learn more at www.harley-davidson.com.
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Many of you were gracious enough to help MotoAmerica racer Rocco Landers, age 22, when he was sued by Rivian engineer Greg Dachner following an accident on a closed-course Supermoto track at Adams Motorsports Park in Riverside, California.
During the incident, Rocco was involved in an on-track collision with another rider, which resulted in injuries to Mr. Dachner.
Mr. Dachner had signed a waiver prior to entering the track acknowledging the risks of the activity. Despite the waiver, a lawsuit alleging gross negligence was filed.
After experts were designated and as the matter approached trial, the parties reached a settlement and a notice of settlement was filed with the court. A dispute has since arisen regarding that settlement. A court hearing is scheduled in the coming weeks to determine whether the settlement will be enforced or the case will return to the trial calendar.
In the meantime, Mr. Landers still needs assistance to help cover the expert fees incurred during this process. I am continuing to donate my legal services to Rocco and to the broader cause of defending riders against lawsuits that refuse to account for personal responsibility on the track. Please, if you can, donate to Rocco’s GoFundMe page at https://gofund.me/7dc8477b2.
Thank you all again for your continued support. Rocco deeply appreciates everything the community has done for him.
Lexington, OH – The 2026 Royal Enfield Build.Train.Race. season came to its conclusion this weekend at Mid-Ohio, as Jasmine Noelle secured the series championship with a hard-fought victory in Race One, before Bryanna Everitt rounded the 2026 season out with a commanding win in Sunday’s season finale.
Race One delivered an intense battle as polesitter Jasmine Noelle faced pressure throughout the entire eight-lap race from Brianna Cutler. Noelle led from the start, only briefly surrendering top spot after a mistake late in the race, only to reclaim the lead with a pass on Cutler with just two laps remaining, taking the win just 0.7 seconds ahead of Cutler.
Brianna Cutler crossed the line second after pushing the eventual champion from start to finish, while Bryanna Everitt completed the podium in third. Tati Paze finished fourth, giving Noelle an insurmountable 39-point advantage in the championship standings and handing her the title, with only Sunday’s finale remaining.
With the title already secured, Sunday’s finale provided one last showcase of this season’s BTR competitors. Bryanna Everitt made the most of a strong start, grabbing the holeshot before steadily building a gap at the front. Behind her, Brianna Cutler and newly crowned champion Jasmine Noelle, plus Brazil’s Tati Paze fought for the remaining podium positions.
Paze briefly slipped to fourth before mounting a late-race charge, passing both Cutler and Noelle in the closing laps to claim second place. Cutler finished third, while Noelle capped her championship-winning campaign with a fourth-place finish.
Everitt crossed the finish line 0.7 seconds clear of the field to earn her second victory of the season and end the year on the highest step of the podium.
This year’s championship showcased another year of growth for the unique program, which combines rider development, motorcycle preparation, education, and professional road racing to create opportunities for women in motorsports. Throughout the season, competitors demonstrated progression both on and off the racetrack, highlighting the program’s continued impact in developing the next generation of racers.
Adrian Sellers, Head – Custom & Motorsport at Royal Enfield said: “The level of competition throughout the season has been fantastic, and only continued to intensify as the year progressed. This weekend’s final two races were a perfect example of the determination, racecraft, and sportsmanship that define this program. This championship is the result of an incredible amount of work from every rider in the Build.Train.Race. paddock and we want to pass a huge congratulations to our new champion Jasmine, and every other rider on the grid in making this such a special series.”
The 2026 BTR season once again highlighted Royal Enfield’s commitment to growing women’s motorcycle racing by empowering participants to build their own motorcycles, develop their racing skills, and compete at the highest level.
Final 2026 Championship Standings:
Find out more about the Build.Train.Race. series here: buildtrainrace.com
About Royal Enfield:
The oldest motorcycle brand in continuous production, Royal Enfield has created beautifully crafted motorcycles since 1901. A division of Eicher Motors Limited, Royal Enfield has created the midsize motorcycle segment in India with its unique and distinctive modern classic motorcycles. With its manufacturing base in Chennai, India, Royal Enfield has been able to grow its production rapidly against a surge in demand for its motorcycles. A leading player in the global middleweight motorcycle market, Royal Enfields are engaging, uncomplicated, accessible and fun to ride; a vehicle for exploration and self-expression. It’s an approach the brand calls ‘Pure Motorcycling’.
Royal Enfield’s premium middleweight line-up includes a range of twin-cylinder 650cc models including the Bear 650, INT 650, Continental GT 650, Shotgun 650, Classic 650 and Super Meteor 650. In addition, the new liquid-cooled Sherpa 450 engine has garnered great interest with the Himalayan 450 and Guerrilla 450. The even more affordable 350cc models consist of the Hunter 350, Meteor 350, Bullet 350, Classic 350 and Goan Classic 350. Riders and a passionate community are fostered with a rich profusion of events at a local, regional and international level. Royal Enfield operates through nearly 4,000 stores in 80+ countries around the globe, including approximately 150 dealers in North America.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – From August 7-16, the eyes of the motorcycling world will be firmly focused on the 86th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally and its half-million or so hardcore enthusiasts in attendance. And at the center of the action the superstars of Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, will celebrate that burning bright spotlight with two rounds of the Grand National Championship.
With just eleven points separating the three primary Mission AFT SuperTwins title contenders and 40% of the year’s remaining races slotted into a three-day span, the upcoming week is destined to be intense.
First up is the first TT of the 2026 season – the Caterpillar Jackpine Gypsies Super TT – which will take place at the historic Jackpine Gypsies Motorcycle Club in Sturgis, South Dakota, on Saturday, August 8.
Numbers Game
Even by Sturgis’ standards, this edition is destined to be an especially patriotic affair. Having evolved into an iconic showcase of Americana, the 86th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally will take place just over a month after the United States celebrated its 250th birthday and just over a month prior to 9/11, the nation now 25 years removed from that fateful day in 2001.
While the rally has grown far beyond its initial ambitions, Progressive AFT has done well to remind the world that it was originally launched in 1938 by the Jackpine Gypsies Motorcycle Club as a way of promoting a Half-Mile dirt track race.
Its racing heritage once again prominent via its renewed ties to the venerable-yet-vibrant Grand National Championship, Sturgis may just see another historic number recognized this weekend…
700
Another icon of Americana – Harley-Davidson – comes to Sturgis boasting 698 GNC Main Event victories, putting the brand within reach of scoring #699 and #700 in front of the legions of Harley faithful that will descend upon Sturgis by the hundreds of thousands this week.
And 700 is not just a mathematical possibility – it’s a very real one indeed. H-D has zeroed in on that number in rapid fashion in ‘26 with rookie title leader Kody Kopp (No. 12 Latus Motors Racing Harley-Davidson XG750R) and wins leader Briar Bauman (No. 3 Super.com/RWR/Rocket Doctor Harley-Davidson XG750R) combining to tally up nine victories already this year.
Both riders are blessed with the requisite all-around skills to stand atop the box at a TT and a ST, while being further fueled by their respective championship ambitions in a scorching hot title fight that’s racing toward its conclusion.
The Harley-Davidson contingent will be further bolstered by the presence of Aidan RoosEvans (No. 26 FRA Trust Advisors Harley-Davidson XG750R). While RoosEvans earned his first official Progressive AFT podium earlier this season, fans will remember that he held off KICKER AFT Singles king Tom Drane to cross the stripe as the runner-up in the class’ Main Event at the Super TT a year ago before later being disqualified for a technical infraction.
While the result was ultimately scratched, that performance certainly demonstrated his potential at the venue.
TT Defense
But to hit #700 in Sturgis, H-D is going to have to go through reigning Grand National Champion and defending Caterpillar Jackpine Gypsies Super TT winner Dallas Daniels (No. 1 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07).
Daniels – another all-around ace with especially sublime TT chops – took the honors last season in a state of extreme motivation following a controversial clash with rival Bauman days prior.
While emotions aren’t running that hot (at least not yet), Daniels understands that he needs to come up big down the stretch to overcome the formidable duo of Kopp and Bauman. And to realistically do so, it’s vital that he capitalizes on each and every occasion in which he holds the upper hand – as he arguably does at a Super TT.
Saturday’s race is the fifth all-time to carry the Super TT moniker, which is reserved for layouts that go beyond the usual TT addition of a righthand corner and a jump. The Jackpine Gypsies Super TT meets that threshold and then some by way of multiple right-handers, multiple jumps, and a pavement section.
Yamaha has won every previous premier-class Super TT, courtesy of Daniels and former Estenson teammate JD Beach, both of whom happen to be elite-caliber flat trackers and roadracers.
The Fight for Fifth
Following an uneven start to the season, Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing KTM 790 Duke) has things rolling nicely now. The Oregonian is well clear in fourth place, thanks to an active run of four consecutive podium finishes.
Fisher has it in him to up that number to five on Saturday; he was hunting a podium finish here a year ago, hounding TT legend Henry Wiles (No. 911 DL Racing/HYMMC Yamaha MT-07), before a mechanical issue dropped him from contention.
While Kopp, Daniels, Bauman, and Fisher have a firm grasp on the top four positions in the standings, a coveted top-five ranking in the Grand National Championship is still up for grabs.
Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods Honda CB750 Hornet) achieved that honor in his very first attempt, securing fourth overall in his rookie campaign last year. Lowe is well positioned to back that up with another top-five, as he currently ranks fifth.
However, the aforementioned RoosEvans is just eight points back in sixth (117-109), and Fisher’s teammate and noted TT expert, Ben Lowe (No. 25 Rackley Racing/Roof Systems KTM 790 Duke), is just a further 13 points adrift and not out of top-five contention just yet.
Party Like You’re at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally
The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is regarded the world over as one of the planet’s ultimate party destinations, and the revelry will be overflowing at the track and throughout the town. NASCAR legend Mike Skinner will serve as Grand Marshal to help cement the event’s elevated status.
And along with the world-class race action, the Caterpillar Jackpine Gypsies Motorcycle Club will host the V-Twin Visionary Ride-In Bike Show, a Strider race for kids, big-screen viewing, an abundance of food and beverage options, and more.
Act Fast to Lock in Savings and Your Seat
A limited number of General Admission tickets for the Caterpillar Jackpine Gypsies Super TT and the Caterpillar Jackpine Gypsies Short Track are available for just $25 each round. General Admission Grandstand tickets are only $53 per round (kids 12 and under free with a paid adult ticket) with Reserved Grandstand tickets available for $64 (all ages). Students can purchase a GA Grandstand ticket for just $20 at the gate the day of the event with a valid ID.
The Harley-Davidson VIP Experience ($135, all ages), delivers H.O.G. members an unforgettable evening that includes exclusive H-D seating, a rider meet-and-greet, an infield tour complete with podium photos, and Harley swag.
Finally, an exclusive offering – limited to just 30 guests – is access to the AFT Hospitality Tent, which provides prime sightlines along with food and drinks all day for $125 (all ages).
And if you act fast, you can save $5 off the gate price and be one of the first 500 who’ll snag a free seat cushion.
For those who can’t catch the live action at the track, FloRacing is the live streaming home of Progressive American Flat Track. Motorsports fans can subscribe to FloRacing to enjoy over 1,000 live motorsports events in 2026. FloSports is available by visiting https://flosports.link/AFT2026 or by downloading the FloSports app on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire, and Chromecast.
FOX Sports
FOX Sports provides national television coverage of select Progressive American Flat Track events throughout the season, featuring in-depth race coverage, rider features, and onboard cameras. The 2026 Progressive AFT television schedule is available at https://www.americanflattrack.com/events-foxsports.
Catch up on everything from the MotoAmerica weekend at Mid-Ohio with the latest team press releases and race recaps.
More from a press release issued by Yamaha:
Yamaha BLU CRU riders enjoy successful outing at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course with MotoAmerica Championships heating up in the second half of the 2026 season.
After a disappointing weekend at Laguna Seca and a challenging start to Mid-Ohio, Strack Racing Yamaha’s Mathew Scholtz rebounded on Sunday, returning to the top step of the podium in a drama-filled Race 2. The back-to-back Supersport Champion’s fourth win aboard his YZF-R1 also put him back into the thick of the title fight with eight races remaining in the 2026 season.
Also making trips to the podium in the premier class were Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing’s Bobby Fong and JD Beach. Fong took home a second- and third-place finish, while teammate JD Beach rounded out the Race 1 podium in third and salvaged points after an off-track excursion in a shortened Race 2, keeping his title hopes alive with an eighth-place finish.
In the Super Hooligan Championship, BPR Yamaha Racing’s Bryce Kornbau and Andy DiBrino continued to lead the way aboard their MT-09s. The duo split wins on the weekend and left the penultimate round of the championship separated by five points. Their teammate Josh Hayes also continued to carry momentum to the East Coast, returning to the podium in Supersport Race 1 at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.
MotoAmerica Superbike
From the start, the times were tight in MotoAmerica Superbike at the 2.4-mile circuit in Lexington, Ohio, with the top 11 all within .797 of a second in qualifying. Limited track time due to technical issues left the South African on the back foot, qualifying ninth and starting both races from the third row.
In Race 1, he got a good start into the top five and was locked in a multi-rider battle. He maintained fifth for the first six laps, but dropped back to seventh around the halfway mark. Scholtz continued to push, and with five laps to go, regained sixth to salvage points.
“I came into Mid-Ohio knowing it was a little more difficult right off the bat, considering it was my first time on the Superbike here,” said Scholtz. “I do enjoy the layout, though. It’s a high-grip track, and those are always fun to ride.
“The first session started off well, but we suffered a few electrical gremlins and didn’t get as much track time as we would’ve liked. We knew our outright pace was pretty decent – we managed to do a 1:24 in qualifying – but the field was stacked so tightly for a one-lap pace. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to try the harder tire, so we went into Race 1 on the softer compound. It started to go away pretty early, and I spent most of the race struggling around sixth and seventh. In the end, we brought it home in sixth and collected some valuable points.”
Mathew Scholtz (11) at Mid-Ohio. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Between races, the Strack Racing Yamaha team went to work and made some changes for Sunday that paid off. Race 2 delivered plenty of drama. Rain sprinkled the grid during the pre-race ceremonies, threatening mixed conditions, before a first-lap crash brought out the red flag.
After the restart, Scholtz got another great start from the third row of the grid, moving into the top five. He quickly worked his way into second in the opening laps before charging to the front on Lap 5, first passing Fong and then his title rival, Sean Dylan Kelly. Under pressure, Scholtz held them off until another crash brought out the red flag. The race was declared complete, with Scholtz’s fourth win of the season moving him back to second in the standings, 24 points behind the leader.
“Going into Sunday, we knew we had to do something drastic, so we turned the bike upside down, and we could see in warm-up that the pace was much better – not just for a few laps, but over the full race distance,” said Scholtz. “The race started with a red flag, but I managed to work my way to the front and get behind Bobby and Sean (Dylan Kelly). I learned a little bit from them, got to the front, and decided the best thing for me was to make myself as wide as possible and try to hold them off.
“Fortunately for us, the red flag came out before the front tire started to wear too much. Sometimes luck goes against you, and sometimes it’s on your side. Today, we had a bit of luck on our side. Not to say we couldn’t have been in the fight anyway, but a win is a win. We’ll take the 25 points, keep the championship fight alive, and look ahead to VIR. It’s always been a strong track for me, and I’m looking forward to trying to claw some points back while continuing to develop the motorbike.”
Bobby Fong (50) at Mid-Ohio. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
After a tough couple of rounds, Fong bounced back in Mid-Ohio. With some adjustments to the setup that made the Northern California native more comfortable, he was third in qualifying and got two great starts from the front row of the grid. In Race 1, he was third after the start and briefly held the runner-up spot on that first lap. With multiple riders in that lead group, Fong made his way back to second on Lap 3 as the top three started to build a gap on the rest of the competition. Then, just before the halfway mark, he made the pass on Benjamin Smith for the lead, but Sean Dylan Kelly remained right on his heels. Fong held the points leader at bay, but ultimately was shuffled back to the runner-up spot, where he would finish.
Fong got another great start to the twice-started Race 2, slotting into the runner-up spot where he rode before getting passed by fellow Yamaha rider Scholtz on Lap 4. He got shuffled back another spot a couple of laps later, but would regain third after a rider ahead crashed and brought out the red flag, with Fong securing his sixth podium finish of the season. The Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing rider heads to the next round fourth in the standings and 55 points from the top spot.
“I’m happy to get two podiums this weekend,” said Fong. “We found something on the bike that I’m a lot more comfortable with. We are hungry for some wins, and I’m looking forward to VIR in two weeks, where I had two strong finishes last season.”
JD Beach in parc fermé after Superbike Race 1 at Mid-Ohio. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Coming off of a great weekend at Laguna Seca where he brought home a Superbike sweep, Beach was looking to keep the momentum rolling at Mid-Ohio. Although Beach was just half a second off pole, the Kentucky rider was 10th in qualifying, putting him on the fourth row of the grid.
Beach got a good start to Race 1, slotting in behind Scholtz in sixth. Locked in a multi-rider battle for the top five, the Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing rider made a pair of passes before the halfway mark to move into fourth. Although the top three had built a sizeable gap, Beach put his head down and reeled in Benjamin Smith, making the pass for third with five laps remaining. In the end, there was not enough time to advance further, and he settled for his sixth podium finish of the season.
In Race 2, he got another good start amidst the chaos of multiple riders in the lead group and was sixth on the opening lap. Beach set about making another charge to the front, moving to fifth on the next lap. He went to make the pass for fourth on Lap 5, but would end up off track and rejoining in 15th. Undeterred, Beach made good time, working his way back into the top 10 by the halfway mark and then to ninth before the red flag ended his forward progress, ultimately scoring eighth. Beach leaves Ohio third in the standings, and 32 points from the leader as the championship heats up with three rounds remaining, two of which are triple headers.
“The weekend didn’t go as smoothly as Laguna did,” said Beach. “I made a small mistake in qualifying that cost us a lot. The times were so close, so it put me starting 10th. In Race 1, I had to fight through the pack, but the R1 was working so well it made my job easier. We were able to string good laps together and fight up to a podium position.
“I had the same game plan for Race 2. I was marching my way forward and tried to make a pass around the outside going into Turn 6. I put myself in a bad position and just got run off the track. It was just a racing incident. I got the bike back on track and just tried to salvage as many points as I could.”
Super Hooligan
In the support classes, BPR Racing Yamaha’s Bryce Kornbau and Andy DiBrino carried the momentum from the West Coast rounds to Mid-Ohio, once again splitting wins in the Super Hooligan Championship. Team owner Kornbau led the initial charge, topping the timesheets and setting a new lap record for the class at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. After passing his teammate on the second lap, he rode away to secure his second win in the class and tie DiBrino for the points lead.
Bryce Kornbau (74) at Mid-Ohio. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
“Mid-Ohio was a great weekend for the whole BPR team,” said Kornbau. “I got pole position and a new track record in Super Hooligans for Mid-Ohio. Then in Race 1, I was able to break away and maintain a gap in the field and take the win, while Andy finished second. In Race 2, I led the whole race until the last lap, setting another new track record. Andy made a late brake pass on me at the end of the back straight, and took the lead on the last lap, ultimately taking the victory.”
Andy DiBrino (62) at Mid-Ohio. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
DiBrino answered back on Sunday, reclaiming the championship lead after another BPR Racing Yamaha 1-2 finish. It started out as a repeat of Race 1 with the rider from the Pacific Northwest grabbing the holeshot and then being passed by Kornbau on Lap 2, but in the end DiBrino would take home his third win of the season.
“I’m proud to go 2-1 on the weekend for the third round in a row,” said DiBrino. “We have the bike absolutely dialed, and we didn’t change anything from Laguna Seca. I have a five-point lead going into the Super Hooligan finale at the Circuit of the Americas, and I’m looking to finish this dream season with Yamaha on top.”
MotoAmerica Supersport
In Supersport, BPR Racing Yamaha’s Josh Hayes returned to the podium in Race 1 aboard his YZF-R9. The multi-time AMA champ battled up front in the lead group and ran second for a lap before dropping back to third, where he would finish. In Race 2, Hayes once again battled for the podium and was holding down third before being passed on the final lap, finishing fourth.
Josh Hayes in parc fermé after finishing third in Supersport Race 1 at Mid-Ohio. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Strack Racing Yamaha’s Blake Davis continued to build confidence at Round 7 of the MotoAmerica Supersport Championship. The 20-year-old got a good start to Race 1. As the race developed, Davis found himself in an intense three-rider battle for the top five. On Lap 11, he made the pass for fourth and then kept cool under pressure to hold off challengers and cross the line fourth. In the end, he scored ninth after Race Direction assessed a five-second penalty for contact made with Tyler Scott during the pass. In Race 2, Davis was sixth after the start, making the pass for fifth in the opening laps and riding on to finish there.
Blake Davis (22) and Tyler Scott (70) at Mid-Ohio. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Liberty St. Yamaha Racing’s Dominic Doyle earned another top-10 finish in Supersport, crossing the line eighth in Race 1. Unfortunately, it was a tough Race 2 for the South African, which saw his race end early with a late-race crash.
MotoAmerica Twins Cup
Yamaha BLU CRU Estenson Racing’s Sam Drane had a strong weekend aboard his YZF-R7 in the MotoAmerica Twins Cup Championship. Fresh off earning his second Nicky Hayden AMA Horizon Award of 2026, Drane added his name to the short list of riders to win the honor in both flat track and road racing. With a bit of rain before the start of Race 1, Drane was third in the tricky mixed conditions. He then made his way to the runner-up spot on Lap 3, and led a four-rider group. On the following lap, he was shuffled back to fifth, and then further back to seventh before the halfway mark. The young Australian continued to fight in the multi-rider battle and finished fifth. In Race 2, Drane was fourth after the start but ultimately dropped back to fifth in the final laps, where he would finish to earn a pair of top-five results.
Sam Drane (59) at Mid-Ohio. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
MotoAmerica racing resumes in two weeks at Virginia International Raceway in Alton, Virginia, on Aug. 14–16. Seventy-five points will be on the line in the Superbike class, while the championship battles continue in Supersport, Twins Cup, and Talent Cup.
The Super Hooligan Championship concludes Sept. 11–13 at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.
More from a press release issued by OrangeCat Racing:
Kelly Extends Superbike Points Lead With A Win And Second Place At Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.
OrangeCat Racing’s Sean Dylan Kelly Wins Race One, Finishes Second In Race Two To Build On Championship Lead; Jayson Uribe Nabs Two Top 10s And Kaleb De Keyrel Finishes Second Twice In Superbike Cup Debut.
A red flag in the second of two Superbike races at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course brought an early end to the proceedings, costing OrangeCat Racing’s Sean Dylan Kelly a chance at a perfect weekend in Ohio. Still, a win on Saturday combined with a runner-up finish on Sunday allowed Kelly to extend his MotoAmerica Championship points lead.
Kelly came into the Mid-Ohio round with an 11-point lead over JD Beach. After his win and second-place finish, the Floridian leaves Ohio with a 24-point lead over Mathew Scholtz.
At the end of the shortened nine-lap race, Kelly was just .177 of a second behind Scholtz but was robbed of any chance of victory when the race was called complete. Kelly was, in turn, just .357 of a second ahead of Fong when the race was declared complete.
Kelly’s teammate Uribe, meanwhile, continues to pile on the championship points after finishing ninth in Saturday’s race one and sixth in Sunday’s race two. Uribe is eighth in the championship standings, just one point out of seventh and five points from sixth.
Kelly and Uribe were joined on the OrangeCat team by Kaleb De Keyrel, with the Texas resident riding one of the team’s BMWs in the MotoAmerica Superbike Cup. De Keyrel made the most of the opportunity and finished second in both Superbike Cup races.
Qualifying on Saturday morning saw the three OrangeCat Racing riders turn in strong performances, with Kelly finishing the 15-minute session in second. Uribe matched his best qualifying result of the year in sixth, with De Keyrel making his Superbike Cup qualifying debut with the 15th-best time in the session.
Saturday’s race one saw Kelly jump to the front of the pack from his middle-of-the-front-row start, and he held the spot for two laps before dropping back to third. There was no panic in the ever-patient Kelly, however, and he was content to sit in third for five laps before passing Benjamin Smith to move into second place behind Bobby Fong. Kelly sat on Fong’s rear wheel for six laps before taking the lead and ultimately pulling clear from his pursuers.
After 19 laps of the 2.4-mile Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Kelly crossed the finish line with a 2.597-second margin of victory and a 20-point lead in the MotoAmerica Superbike Championship.
Uribe, meanwhile, started from row two after qualifying sixth on Saturday morning, and he soon found himself in 10th place for almost the entire race. Never giving up, the Californian managed to work his way to ninth with two laps to go after making a pass on PJ Jacobsen.
De Keyrel’s 2026 debut on the team’s third BMW was a successful one as he stormed through from the sixth row of the grid to finish second in the Superbike Cup behind championship points leader Andrew Lee.
Sunday was more of the same for De Keyrel, with another second-place finish in the Superbike Cup battle. Sunday’s race two featured two red flags, the second of which marked the end of the race.
Uribe’s Sunday was better than his Saturday as he crossed the line in sixth, just a second and a half behind fifth-placed Cameron Petersen and well clear of Brandon Paasch, who ended up seventh. Uribe was ninth on lap one, but he was able to move forward to finish sixth.
Kelly led the first four laps of race two before being passed by Scholtz. From there, the OrangeCat Racing rider was content to sit behind and wait for the closing laps. Those laps didn’t come, as PJ Jacobsen’s crash brought out a second red flag and the race was consequently called complete.
With six rounds and 12 races in the books, Kelly leads the title chase over Scholtz by 24 points, 217-193. Beach slips to third, 32 points behind Kelly.
Jayson Uribe (36) at Mid-Ohio. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Jayson Uribe/No. 36: “Overall, it was a positive weekend for my side of the garage. I think we made a lot of good steps on soft tires and made a lot of new discoveries on harder tires that are going to help carry us through to the next few rounds.
We need to work more on the hard tire setup, but we’re making progress, and at the end of the day, the results were decent. I’m pretty disappointed with how race 2 went, having the red flags and then having the race cancelled. I felt like I was in a great position to fight for that top five.
The riders were starting to come back towards me, which I had planned for. So, that’s a hard one to take on the chin, but that’s racing and I’m just super thankful for all of the OrangeCat racing team for all their support and hard work this weekend. It’s paying off. Thank you.”
Sean Dylan Kelly on the podium after claiming victory during Superbike race 1 at Mid-Ohio. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Sean Dylan Kelly/No. 40: “We had an extremely positive weekend. We were fast and competitive straight out the gate, and I think I had one of my best Fridays ever, not just leading, but also just having a really good pace.
Yesterday for race one, we had an incredible race, my first time winning with a gap, and that felt amazing. And today (Sunday), I also felt very strong, but unfortunately, the race got cut short and I had to settle with 2nd place, which obviously is positive, but doesn’t feel as strong as I would have liked it to considering that I felt like I had a lot more in the bag. But that’s racing.
We have to look at the positives. We were really strong this weekend, and as always, I want to thank the entire team. All of OrangeCat Racing, and let’s get ready for VIR.”
Kaleb De Keyrel (51) and Deion Campbell (194) at Mid-Ohio. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Kaleb De Keyrel/No. 51: “Amazing weekend. It felt great to get back on the BMW. Huge thank you to the Orange Cat guys for giving me a super competitive bike.
I’m excited what we were able to do this weekend being my first time back on this bike. I felt great right away thanks to the team for just making me feel comfortable so I could go out and do what I do.
It was really cool to fight for podiums again. I love the BMW and I had a blast here at Mid-Ohio. I got 2nd in both races, which was good. I just think with a little bit more time and testing, we can push and battle for that win.”
Jeff Connor – Team Principal: “Mid-Ohio was a strong weekend for Orange Cat Racing across the board. Sean Dylan Kelly qualified 2nd, won Race 1, and finished 2nd in Race 2 aboard the BMW M 1000 RR — he showed winning pace in every session and the bike performed flawlessly all weekend. It’s disappointing that Race 2 got cut short, because we believe we could have had a shot at the win. Credit to crew chief Dave Weaver and the whole team — the work they’re putting in to find performance gains before every round is really paying off on track.
Jayson Uribe qualified 6th and came home 9th in Race 1 and 6th in Race 2 — I’d call this his best weekend of the season. The gap to the leaders is shrinking session by session, and once we sharpen up our starts in those first five laps, we’ll have a real shot at the podium. Ed Sullivan and the 36 crew are putting in the work, and we’re looking forward to showing that improvement at VIR.
We also gave Kaleb DeKeyrel a chance to shine in Superbike Cup this weekend, running one of our 2025 stock bikes while we sat the Lightfighter out of Superhooligan. He qualified 3rd and finished 2nd in both races — a great result for Kaleb and a great return on a pretty small lift for the team.
None of this happens without the support of Alpha Racing and BMW Motorrad Motorsport — their partnership and technical support continue to be a huge part of what’s making this team competitive. We also want to tip our hats to all of our competitors this weekend; racing at this level against a strong field is what pushes everyone, us included, to keep raising the bar.”
More from a press release issued by Ducati:
A competitive MotoAmerica weekend at Mid-Ohio puts Benjamin Smith on pole and Loris Baz in the fight for the win for Warhorse HSBK Ducati FLo4Law.
The 2026 Quad Lock MotoAmerica Superbike Championship produced a career-first Superbike pole position for Benajmin Smith and the Warhorse HSBK Ducati FLo4Law team during a tense final qualifying session.
Smith’s season has been a bruising one, but the Pennsylvanian showed he belonged with America’s best in race one at Mid-Ohio, leading four laps before fading to fourth place at the flag behind winner Sean Dylan Kelly.
Unfortunately for Smith, after a lightning start in race two that saw him grab the holeshot, he touched the still wet grass from overnight rain and was launched into a vicious highside crash on the entry to turn two, thankfully, without injury.
A red flag was pulled and Smith’s promising weekend was over, but there was plenty of good to come out of it for the #78.
With Cameron Beaubier still out with injury, his place was again taken by Loris Baz. The French ace carded a fifth place in race one and was in the fight for the win in the second encounter, but a crash for PJ Jacobsen ensured a second red flag was shown and as per the MotoAmerica rules, the race was called and Baz was classified as finishing fourth, 1.7-seconds from winner Mathew Scholtz.
In the Supersport category, South African superstar Darryn Binder (Celtic/Economy Lube + Tire/Warhorse) took both race wins, the first by 0.050-seconds and the second by 0.039-seconds in two nail-biting encounters.
Binder’s teammate, Wristin Grigg, failed to finish race one and finished 13th in race two.
The result means Binder now enjoys a 19-point gap over Josh Herrin in the title race with three rounds remaining.
Loris Baz (76) and Benjamin Smith (78) at Mid-Ohio. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Benjamin Smith (Warhorse HSBK Ducati FLo4Law team – #78):
“Man, what a roller coaster of a weekend,” Smith said. “I want to keep this super positive because that’s the weekend we had—it was a massive step for us to put it on pole position, lead laps in race one, and ultimately finish a solid fourth yesterday.
“Today didn’t go the way that I wanted. I got the start and was leading into the first turn and just misjudged it, touched the grass and that was the end of it. I take full ownership for that. The team has done an unreal job of getting us to where we need to be with the bike and I think the evidence is clear we are getting there. Luckily, I’m coming away mostly unscathed.
“I’ve got a week or so to heal up and then it’s on to VIR. I’ve always loved that place, so the plan is to come out swinging and keep making steps.”
Loris Baz (Warhorse HSBK Ducati FLo4Law team – #76):
“I’m not happy with the result we bought home, but I am really happy with the work we did this weekend,” Baz said. “I felt really good on the bike since Friday. We made a big step since Laguna Seca, and getting the race finishes means the guys on the team now have some good data to help move the bike forward.
“We had a bit of an odd strategy on the rear of the bike during qualifying—we were a bit overprotective in terms of saving tires, and it didn’t pay off as I was eighth on the grid. But the first race was good. I made a decent start, lost a bit of time at the beginning but fought back to fifth by the finish.
“I felt much better on the bike this morning. We topped the morning warm up and then it was a dramatic second race with Ben unfortunately going down early. With the red flag coming out, it felt like everything was against us, but I was always coming back and, in the end, I was only half a second from the podium.
“It was frustrating to end on another red flag, but the pace was good and I’m thankful to all the guys in my team for all their hard work.”
Darryn Binder (53) at Mid-Ohio. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
“I feel really good,” Binder said after the second Supersport race. “This was one of the tracks I couldn’t visit before the race weekend, so coming in, and seeing the forecast calling for mixed conditions, I was a little nervous. To come away with the double win is a fantastic result.
“Friday wasn’t our best day—I qualified fourth—but yesterday we put together a proper charge chasing Josh, and I was able to make a good move to get the win.
“Today was a very different race. I’m not sure if the red flag had anything to do with it, stopping and restarting on the same tires, but the grip just wasn’t the same. Josh would lead, then I’d get in front, and it felt like we were playing a bit of cat and mouse. I just kept my head down and started thinking about a plan for the final lap.
“When it came down to it, I knew I had to make him go the long way around. If he got by, we’d figure it out from there, but it’s difficult to make that move stick around the outside here. It worked out in my favor, we added some more points to the championship, and I’m really excited for the next round.”
The seventh round of the 2026 Quad Lock MotoAmerica Superbike Championship will see the crews head to the far northeast and Virginia International Raceway, one of the favored stops on the tour, over the August 14-16.
More from a press release issued by Suzuki Motor USA:
Paige and Chapin lead the way for M4 Ecstar Suzuki at Mid-Ohio.
Brea, CA – With their young chargers leading the way, Suzuki Motor USA and Team Hammer reeled in a 1-2 finish and another double podium as the 2026 MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North American Road Racing Championship continued at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio.
Race Highlights:
M4 ECSTAR Suzuki
Twins Cup
Bodie Paige was rewarded for his bravery with a Saturday race win.
Matthew Chapin racked up a pair of close runner-up finishes.
Superbike
Brandon Paasch picked his way up to seventh on Sunday.
Richie Escalante qualified fourth but crashed out of podium contention.
Supersport
Tyler Scott had a promising weekend go south after getting taken out in Race 1.
Bodie Paige led an M4 ECSTAR Suzuki 1-2 finish with a commanding Twins Cup victory at Mid-Ohio. Photo courtesy Suzuki.
M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Twins Cup duo of Bodie Paige and Matthew Chapin were back in action aboard their Suzuki GSX-8R racebikes following a summer break in the schedule for the Twins Cup class and immediately reasserted themselves at the front.
Fortune once again favored the bold, as young Australian Paige decided to push the issue early in Saturday’s race while the rest of the field tiptoed around in light rain. Paige stormed into the lead at the end of the first lap and opened up nearly nine seconds of padding at one point. While teammate Chapin led a hungry pack in closing the gap, Paige held them off to secure the victory. He’d back that up with a fighting third on Sunday.
After claiming his win, Paige said, “The first few laps I knew that it was going to be a little slick. It was just going to come down to who had the most confidence. I went on the out lap, and I saw everyone was a little bit timid and I felt pretty good. The plan from the start was to get a good start and try to get out front, just be smooth and tick my laps off… It’s the first time Matt and I have been one and two in a race, so that’s pretty sick. A good weekend for M4 ECSTAR Suzuki.”
Matthew Chapin battled at the front in both Twins Cup races, earning back-to-back runner-up finishes. Photo courtesy Suzuki.
Chapin put in another huge effort on Sunday, going back and forth at the front in an attempt to secure the team a second win on the weekend. It wasn’t to be, however, as he came up just 0.250 seconds short a day after missing out on victory by just over a half second. Still, Chapin was upbeat about his twin runner-up performance on the GSX-8R.
“I’m stoked on that race,” he said on Sunday. “We were pushing each other the whole time. We did some ‘29s, and I didn’t know I had that in me, but I guess I did. That was probably the most fun race I’ve had all season even though I didn’t come out on top. Of course, I want to beat everybody – I want to win every weekend. That’s the goal, and that’s what we’ll look to do at the next one, and we’ll see how it pans out. I want to give a huge thanks to my M4 ECSTAR Suzuki team and everybody here supporting me.”
Brandon Paasch continued his progress aboard the M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R1000R with a seventh-place finish at Mid-Ohio. Photo courtesy Suzuki.
M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Superbike pilot Brandon Paasch steadily improved throughout the weekend. After qualifying 12th, he picked up a position on Saturday to finish 11th aboard his GSX-R1000R. Sunday was considerably better still, as he was credited with seventh position while in the midst of a forward climb when the race was red flagged and ultimately called complete.
“We didn’t have the outright pace to run up front but we stayed consistently improving,” Paasch said. “We made progress with setup this round, especially the electronics, and I think it was a big step. On Sunday, we were able to stay in sight of the front, but it was a little frustrating knowing we couldn’t do much about it to close the gap right now. We’re not that far off. We know exactly what is next, and that is getting the chassis dialed for me so we can start taking off the couple of tenths we need to close the gap.”
Richie Escalante showcased front-running pace aboard the Mission M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R1000R before a Sunday crash ended his podium bid. Photo courtesy Suzuki.
Superbike teammate Richie Escalante flashed podium potential but was unable to capitalize. The Mexican qualified in fourth position before finishing Saturday’s race eighth. Sunday’s rematch was trending more in his favor, as he ran third in the early going and remained firmly in the battle for the box before suffering a low-side crash that took him out of the contest.
Escalante said, “We finished Mid-Ohio, and it was a good weekend in many ways. The results were not what we wanted, but we had a good practice and qualifying. Our setup on the bike felt really competitive, and we were able to earn fast lap times. The top ten is very tight, and we were able to qualify fourth. On Sunday, we decided to go with the harder front tire at the last minute. We had used the other tire all weekend, so that may have been a factor in the crash. We have to keep working and translate the speed into podium results again.”
Tyler Scott fought near the front before contact and mechanical issues denied him the results his pace deserved. Photo courtesy Suzuki.
M4 ECSTAR Suzuki Supersport ace Tyler Scott suffered through a second consecutive weekend in which his strong pace aboard the next-generation GSX-R750 went unrewarded in terms of race results. Scott worked his way up to fourth on Saturday but crashed after being contacted from behind. He was forced to retire despite riding his heavily damaged machine back to the pits. Sunday proved another frustrating affair. He ran as high as fifth early but tumbled down the order to finish an uncharacteristic 12th due to a mechanical issue.
Scott will now look to return to his more typical form and add to the tally of six podiums he’s already reeled in this season. He said, “I thought we had a really good race pace on Saturday. I did not get a good start, but I had made up two spots and was going forward when I got taken out in a crash. It tore up the bike and made for a lot of work for the team. For Sunday, I felt pretty good again, but we had a power delivery issue and that hindered our performance.”
The MotoAmerica season will resume in less than two weeks at Virginia International Raceway from August 14-16 in Alton, Virginia.
More from a press release issued by M4 ECSTAR Suzuki:
Lloyd fast in the rain, gains experience at Mid-Ohio.
M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Sonya Lloyd continued to pick up both speed and experience as the MotoAmerica Twins Cup resumed action at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio, following a mid-season layoff.
Lloyd’s improvement over the course of the weekend on the technical, undulating circuit aboard her GSX-R8 racebike was obvious on both the timesheets and in the results.
After qualifying 21st, Lloyd fought her way forward in the tricky wet-to-dry conditions that challenged the Twins Cup competitors on Saturday. She ultimately came home an impressive 13th, picking up eight positions on her grip position.
Sunday’s warm-up showed that the speed was still coming, as the Georgian lapped three 10ths quicker than she’d managed all weekend long. That trend continued in Sunday’s race, when she was timed at 1:35.492, nearly seven 10ths of a second better than her previous best of the weekend and almost a full second better than her qualifying time.
Sonya Lloyd (28) at Mid-Ohio. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Lloyd finished 17th on Sunday but might have finished considerably higher if not forced to take evasive action to avoid a downed rider at one point during the race.
At the end of the weekend, the former WorldWCR contender said, “It was a mixed weekend for us, but I felt like we made progress. We tied our best result of the year on Saturday. I go pretty well in the rain, so I didn’t mind to see it a little wet. I was able to stay in sight of the front the first few laps. But as things dried out, I was able to improve my lap times but not as much as those riders.
“On Sunday, I got a great start and was able to gain quite a few positions but there was a low-side crash in front of me. I had to avoid a sliding rider and lost all the ground I had gained. The hopes of getting a better result were gone, but I concentrated on my lap times. My last two laps were my fastest of the race.
“We are definitely making progress and not plateauing. Also, (my teammates) Bodie (Paige) and Matthew (Chapin) have been really helpful in sharing their data, and I would like to thank them for being helpful. I think we are getting there. In between the races, I was able to ride at VIR. I was happy with the lap times at our test. I am really looking forward to that race.”
The MotoAmerica season will resume in two weeks at Virginia International Raceway from August 14-16 in Alton, Virginia.
ABOUT TEAM HAMMER:
The 2026 season marks Team Hammer’s 46th consecutive year of operating as a professional road racing team. Racebikes built and fielded by Team Hammer have won 138 AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National races, have finished on AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National podiums 407 times and have won 11 AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National Championships, as well as two FIM South American Championships (in Superbike and Supersport). The team has also won 137 endurance races overall (including seven 24-hour races) and 13 Overall WERA National Endurance Championships with Suzuki motorcycles, and holds the U.S. record for mileage covered in a 24-hour race. The team also competed in the televised 1990s Formula USA National Championship, famously running “Methanol Monster” GSX-R1100 Superbikes fueled by methanol, and won four F-USA Championships.
More from a press release issued by Real Steel Honda:
Real Steel Honda Racing bounces back at Mid-Ohio.
Hayden Gillim bounced back from a bike destroying Friday afternoon crash to again qualifiy at the head of the 3rd row with a 7th place. In Race 1 on Saturday Hayden scored a 7th place finish and was keeping the lead pack in sight in Race 2 on Sunday in 5th place when he suffered a crash on lap 6. Hayden slipped to 9th in the Superbike championship standings. Andrew Lee bounced back from his Laguna Seca finishes in the Superbike Cup class with another weekend filled with double wins. Andrew now leads that championship by 98 points with 265 points.
Both Hayden and Andrew thank Honda and KYT for the collaboration on the special helmet livery for this round. Next up for the team is the MotoAmerica Superbikes at Virginia event August 14-16 at Virginia International Raceway in Alton VA.
Real Steel Honda Racing is proudly supported by American Honda, HRC, Progressive Insurance, Pro Honda Oils. Southern Honda Powersports, Idemitsu, Last Ark: Tactics Analogue, Vesrah, K-Tech suspension, Orient Express, Dunlop, Akrapovic Exhaust Systems, Sprint Filter, Armor Bodywork, Vortex and REB Graphics.
Hayden Gillim (69) and Richie Escalante (54) at Mid-Ohio. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Hayden Gillim – Rider #69 / Team Principal: “Going into the weekend I felt really good. With this being a home track for myself and the team I had a lot of confidence. I had good speed all weekend, but that speed was held back by a big crash on Friday afternoon that led to us having to go to the backup bike. The guys got everything back together and we were able to have a really good qualifying.
Race 1 I was in the lead group. I was having to wait for everyone else to make mistakes in order for me to make passes though. Eventually, coming home in 7th place. Race 2 again I was up in the mix and after some early chaos found myself in 5th place, but detached a bit from the front group. I was pushing as hard as I could to get to them and ended up tucking the front off the back straight. I want to thank everyone that came out to support us. Thank you to the team for all the hard work this weekend after all the crashes. VIR is up next and last year we had some good results there!”
Andrew Lee (14) at Mid-Ohio. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Andrew Lee – Rider #14: “We had a great weekend in Ohio, at the team’s home round! We ended up going 1-1 and had some great lessons throughout the weekend. We used Friday as a full-on test, learning some new things on the bike to better understand options for the remainder of the season. I’m really happy with the recovery after a DNF and Second at laguna. Moving into VIR in a week and a half, I look forward to continuing the momentum. Thank you to the whole Real Steel Honda Racing team, American Honda, and the HRC corporation for the continued support!”
More from a press release issued by Aprilia Racing:
Aprilia RS 660 claims victory at Mid-Ohio in MotoAmerica. Hank Vossberg of Robem Engineering ended a standout weekend with third place in race 1 and victory in race 2.
Aprilia’s positive momentum in MotoAmerica continued thanks to Hank Vossberg’s victory in Race 2 with the Aprilia RS 660 in the sixth round of the Twins Cup, held at Mid-Ohio.
The 15-year-old Robem Engineering Team rider confirmed his excellent form with another front-running performance in the Twins Cup class. After claiming pole position, Vossberg finished Race 1 in third place, just six tenths of a second behind the winner, before going on to take victory in Race 2. Thanks to these results, the American rider extends his lead in the Twins Cup standings to 218 points, opening up a 63-point advantage over his closest rival.
Hank Vossberg (31) at Mid-Ohio. Photo courtesy Aprilia.
In addition to Vossberg’s victory, three more Aprilia RS 660 riders finished inside the top ten in Race 2: Andrew Weyh in sixth, Logan Cunnison in seventh, and Eli Block in ninth. Race 1 had also highlighted the RS 660’s competitiveness and consistency, with five Aprilia bikes finishing inside the top ten.
More from a press release issued by Altus Motorsports:
Mesa charges through the field in Race 2 after a difficult Saturday; Nassaney fights through setup struggles to finish in the top 15.
Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course hosted the sixth round of the 2026 MotoAmerica Championship as Altus Motorsports worked through setup challenges to showcase a strong comeback on Sunday.
Supersport
Stefano Mesa returned for his second round of the season with Altus Motorsports and continued his adaptation to the Yamaha YZF-R9. Practice and qualifying proved challenging as Mesa and the team searched for a strong base setup. After qualifying in P16, Mesa was battling for positions in Race 1 before a tire issue forced an early retirement on lap five. A last-minute setup change prior to Sunday’s warm-up brought Mesa immediate confidence which allowed him to fight for positions throughout the race. Mesa started P14 in Race 2 and established a strong pace which he kept up throughout the race. Mesa made key passes toward the end of the race and finished with a hard fought P9.
Stefano Mesa (37) at Mid-Ohio. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Stefano Mesa:“Ohio was a challenging weekend, but one that showed a lot of progress. We struggled to find the right feeling with the bike through practice and qualifying, and unfortunately had to retire from Race 1 due to a tire issue.
The team owners Janette and George Nassaney decided it was time to make a big change with the suspension Saturday evening. The team installed the new suspension Sunday morning before Sunday’s warm-up, and it immediately put us in a much better direction. Starting from the back, I was able to settle into a good rhythm, make some passes, and fight back to P9.
I’m proud of the progress we made throughout the weekend and grateful for all the hard work from the Altus Motorsports crew. We learned a lot, and I’m excited to keep building on that momentum heading into VIR.”
Jaret Nassaney worked tirelessly alongside the team to find a comfortable setup throughout the weekend. Qualifying in P19, Nassaney put together a gritty drive in Race 1, finishing in P17. Starting from P18 in Race 2, Nassaney made quick early passes and held a steady pace to finish P15.
Jaret Nassaney (59) at Mid-Ohio. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Jaret Nassaney:“It was a very difficult weekend. We struggled with setup all weekend so we were disappointed with the results. We will recoup for VIR and hope for much better results.”
“Sometimes in racing you have to make difficult decisions. This weekend my wife and me had to do that. We truly believe our decision will help us be more competitive and improve our riders confidence. We are excited to see if we can continue the progress at VIR.” said Team Co Owner George Nassaney.
While early sessions at Mid-Ohio tested the team as they searched for the right setup, Sunday demonstrated the determination and adaptability of the Altus Motorsports crew. The overnight suspension adjustments unlocked critical speed and confidence for Mesa, rewarding the team’s hard work with a top 10 finish, while Nassaney showed true perseverance to fight back into the points. Altus Motorsports is eager to continue improving the YZF-R9 and achieving better results at Virginia International Raceway.
More from a press release issued by ARCH Motorcycle Racing:
Mid-Ohio Tests ARCH Racing’s Consistency in Championship Stretch.
Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course brought ARCH Racing into a different kind of fight this past weekend as the MotoAmerica Mission Super Hooligan National Championship moved into the final stretch of the season.
After the highs of The Ridge and Laguna Seca, where the team earned its first Super Hooligan victory and continued a run of podium finishes, Mid-Ohio demanded clean execution across two closely contested races.
Corey Alexander and Jeremy McWilliams both put the ARCH Motorcycle 2s-R in competitive positions during combined qualifying, with Alexander qualifying eighth overall and McWilliams 11th overall. In a field where the gaps remained tight throughout the weekend, both riders started within reach of the front group.
Race 1 saw Alexander settle into a strong rhythm and keep pressure on the riders ahead, ultimately bringing the 2s-R home in fourth place. McWilliams also delivered one of his strongest finishes of the season, taking seventh and giving ARCH Racing two bikes inside the top seven.
Sunday’s Race 2 produced another hard-fought result. Alexander again ran near the front of the field and finished fourth for the second time on the weekend. McWilliams backed up Saturday’s result with an eighth-place finish, closing out Mid-Ohio with two complete races and two top-eight results.
Corey Alexander (23) at Mid-Ohio. Photo courtesy ARCH Racing.
Corey Alexander Q: 8th R1: 4th R2: 4th
“Mid-Ohio was a solid weekend for us,” said Corey Alexander. “Of course, after the last few rounds, we came in wanting to fight for podiums again, but this class is extremely tight and fourth place in both races still gives us a lot to take away. The 2s-R was competitive, Jeremy had two strong finishes, and the team kept putting us in good positions all weekend. We know where we need to improve between now and COTA.”
Jeremy McWilliams (99) at Mid-Ohio. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Jeremy McWilliams Q: 11th R1: 7th R2: 8th
“It was a much more complete weekend for us,” said Jeremy McWilliams. “We qualified in a better position, finished both races, and were able to keep moving forward with the bike. Mid-Ohio is a tricky place and the field is very close, so to come away with two solid finishes is a good step. The crew did a great job all weekend, and we have more useful information to carry into the next round.”
For ARCH Racing, Mid-Ohio was not defined by one standout moment, but by two complete race days in a highly competitive field. Across the weekend, Alexander finished fourth twice, McWilliams delivered two top-eight rides, and both ARCH 2s-R machines stayed in the fight from start to finish.
The team now turns its focus to the next and final round of the MotoAmerica Mission Super Hooligan National Championship at Circuit of The Americas, September 11–13.
More from a press release issued by Indian Motorcycle Racing:
Indian Motorcycle racing dominates Mid-Ohio, delivers back-to-back 1-2 finishes with Vance & Hines-Built Indian Challenger. Gillim’s Weekend Sweep Marks 50th Career Victory & Ties Record for Most Wins in a Single Season
Indian Motorcycle & Vance & Hines Eye Record Books in First Year of Factory Collaboration.
Golden Valley, MN — Following a dominant weekend sweep at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Indian Motorcycle and Vance & Hines’ first factory racing collaboration is rewriting the King of the Baggers record books. In his first year piloting a new Vance & Hines-built Indian Challenger, Hayden Gillim has tied Kyle Wyman’s single-season record of seven wins through just 10 races this season. With four races remaining, Gillim is poised to reach a new milestone and set a new standard for performance in the KOTB series.In total, the J&P Cycles / Motul / Vance & Hines Factory Indian Motorcycle Racing has a combined eight victories, 17 podium finishes, four 1-2 finishes, and one full podium sweep.
“What this team is accomplishing isn’t just impressive, it’s historic,” said Mike Kennedy, CEO of Indian Motorcycle. “To record eight wins and 17 podium finishes through just 10 races speaks volumes of the Indian Challenger and the engineering prowess of Vance & Hines. We’re not simply winning races, we’re redefining what’s possible in this series.”
The Mid-Ohio performance once again showcased why the Indian Challenger remains the motorcycle to beat. Gillim claimed victories in both races, while teammate Troy Herfoss delivered back-to-back runner-up finishes to secure another pair of 1-2 results for the factory Indian Motorcycle team. With four races remaining, Gillim now leads the championship by 23 points over Herfoss and holds a commanding 54-point advantage over third place, Bradley Smith.
Hayden Gillim (69) and Troy Herfoss (17) at Mid-Ohio. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Race 1 was plagued with crashes resulting in a shortened five-lap sprint. Once the race got underway, Gillim wasted little time asserting himself at the front. Making his move through the Keyhole on the opening lap, the No. 69 Indian Challenger quickly established control before steadily pulling away from the field. Gillim maintained control to cross the finish line more than three seconds ahead of Herfoss. Fellow Indian Challenger rider Rocco Landers narrowly missed the all-Indian podium, finishing fourth by just 0.073 seconds after an impressive ride despite racing with a hand injury.
Sunday’s nine-lap finale required a remarkable comeback. Starting from pole position, Gillim struggled off the line and slipped to sixth entering Turn 1 as Herfoss launched perfectly to grab the holeshot and immediately assumed command of the race. Rather than forcing the issue, Gillim patiently worked his way forward, making decisive passes through the Keyhole and to climb into third by Lap 4 before overtaking the Harley-Davidson riders ahead of him.
With three laps remaining, Gillim closed the gap to Herfoss and made his move. The teammates briefly traded positions in a thrilling battle before Gillim claimed the lead and delivered a flawless closing run, denying Herfoss any opportunity to pass. Gillim crossed the finish line just 0.250 seconds ahead of his teammate to complete the Mid-Ohio sweep and secure the team’s fourth 1-2 finish of the season.
Hayden Gillim (69) and Troy Herfoss (17) at Mid-Ohio. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
“Race 2 proved to be a hard-earned win, as I didn’t get the start I wanted, so I knew I’d have to put my head down and make up ground early,” said Gillim. “The Indian Challenger was working exactly where I needed it to, especially through the Keyhole, and that gave me the confidence to make some decisive passes. Troy rode an incredible race. I knew he’d be right there the rest of the way, so it was all about staying smooth, hitting my marks and not giving him an opening. I’m really proud of what this J&P Cycles / Motul / Vance & Hines Factory Indian Motorcycle Racing team accomplished and to havereached more than 50 career wins along with tying the record for most wins in a season is beyond special. We have a great team and I love competing with them each weekend.”
The impressive showing was another testament to the race-winning performance of the Vance & Hines-built Indian Challenger, powered by the championship-proven PowerPlus 112 engine. As the 2026 Mission King Of The Baggers season enters its final stretch, J&P Cycles / Motul / Vance & Hines Factory Indian Motorcycle Racing continues to showcase the engineering, durability and relentless performance that has made the Indian Challenger the benchmark in Mission King Of The Baggers.
With four races remaining, Gillim sits comfortably in first with 206 points, with Herfoss right behind him with 183 points. Gillim holds a commanding 54-point advantage over third place, factory Harley-Davidson rider Bradley Smith with 152 points. The Mid-Ohio performance further solidified J&P Cycles / Motul / Vance & Hines Factory Indian Motorcycle Racing as the team to beat, with the championship battle increasingly centering on the factory Indian Motorcycle teammates as they chase another King Of The Baggers title.
Mission King Of The Baggers returns to action at Circuit of The Americas September 11-13 before concluding the 2026 season at New Jersey Motorsports Park September 25-27.
(August 5, 2026, Knoxville, TN) – The Vintage Cup series returned to the Gingerman Raceway July 25-26 , continuing with a back to back weekend in the Northern Region at Blackhawk Farms Raceway, August 1-2 as part of the 2026 AHRMA National Roadracing Series presented by VIB-ISO, delivering a double dose of classic motorcycle racing.
Sponsored by Roadracingworld.com, and NYC Norton (nycnorton.com), this year AHRMA’s 2026 Vintage Cup features the 250 Grand Prix class, which includes any fully GP-kitted 250cc OHV/OHC four-stroke; 250cc air-cooled single cylinder two stroke; 175cc liquid cooled single cylinder two-stroke; or 175cc air-cooled twin-cylinder two-stroke built before December 31, 1968. It’s a showdown of classic small displacement racing that relies heavily on corner-speed, momentum, and precise engineering, and certain to leave fans on the edge of their seats.
Typical AHRMA 250GP grids include a wide variety of motorcycles such as Aermacchi, Bultaco, Greeves, Montesa, Ducati, NSU, Ossa, and more.
Saturday’s race at Gingerman saw Paul Germain, riding a 1967 Yamaha DTIRR, take an early lead. He secured the hole shot and led an impressive flag-to-flag to the checkers, with a large gap behind him for second. Jack Kainz, on a 1972 Yamaha CS3, and Tim Terrell, on a 1966 Honda CB160, battled hard behind, with Kainz ultimately edging out Terrell and taking the second step on the podium, with Terrell a hard-fought third.
The balance of the results in order of finish were: Dustin Johnson on a 1968 Yamaha YCS1, David Roper riding a 1967 Harley-Davidson CRTT, Craig Hirko on a 1967 Bridgestone TA1, Holly Varey on a 1968 VanTech CS3, Bill Doran on a 1970 Yamaha CS3, Alex McLean on Jonathan White’s 1966 Ducati 250 Single, Gregory Glevicky on a 1970 Yamaha DT1, Francis Ganance on a 1966 Ducati 250 Single, Robert Himmelman on a 1970 Yamaha CS3, and Trever Scales on a 1969 Honda CB160.
In Sunday’s race, Germain again got the hole shot, but this time Hirko and Varey were within half a bike’s length going into T1. Although Germain led for most of the race, the riders behind were giving him serious chase and it was going to be whoever wanted to send it into the last turn on the last lap. Sadly, on that last lap, Holly had to pull off with a mechanical, leaving Hirko to put the work in to keep Germain close. As the two sprinted down the back straight Germain’s 2-stroke seized; he pulled in the clutch and let it cool for a second or two, then tried to bump it to get it going again, but no joy. As he coasted out of the last turn towards the Start/Finish, Hirko was able to pull aside and pass JUST at the line, as Paul paddled his bike across for 2nd place. Wow! Real racing excitement! Johnson rolled over in third. The balance of the results in order of finish were Scales, McLean, Terrell, Ganance, Himmelman, Varey, Roper, and Kainz on a 1972 Yamaha CS3.
The following weekend at Blackhawk Farms Raceway brought together a strong field, including a number of returnees from Gingerman. The weather prediction for the weekend called for rain starting Friday afternoon and continuing through Saturday evening. Although the pouring rain had stopped, the track was wet for the Vintage Cup race. Riders coming in from wet practice said there was good grip on the newly repaved surface, so we still had an opportunity for some race craft, albeit avoiding puddles!
As the green flag waved, Jonas Stein, on his 1972 Honda CB175, led flag-to-flag, with Roper and Hirko in hot pursuit for second and third, finishing in that order. In races like these there are often races within the race worth noting. McLean battled with Scales, with Scales ultimately prevailing for fifth behind Himmelman in fourth and McLean in sixth. Varey, still fighting with her bike from the front brake issue she had at Gingerman, finished seventh, and Johnson eighth.
On Sunday, track conditions were vastly different, with a completely dry track and sunny weather. Varey took the hole shot, followed by Roper and Scales. Varey led the race for a lap or two, battling Joe Ackley with Johnson joining the fray. The racing was extremely competitive, with three and four bikes wide through some turns. Johnson worked his way from the back of the grid and took the lead halfway through the race. Ackley, on a 1972 Yamaha CS5, mixed it up with him, trading the lead and showing a wheel. Johnson was able to outpower Ackley on the front straight for the checkered flag, with Ackley taking second. Roper battled for third until the last lap, when Varey overtook him, leaving Roper fourth.
Completing the top finishers were Hirko, Scales, Kainz, and Himmelman. (To make clear of the difference between the two days’ racing; Dustin Johnson finished last on Saturday, and first on Sunday!)
“Wow, what a couple of weeks of racing. Going into this weekend we saw championship points quite close between Hirko and Varey – both of whom had more than 10 races already – so any points acquired had to be podium finishes to chip away at some of the lower points that get tossed away. Sadly, Holly didn’t get much needed points at either race at Gingerman, and Hirko’s Sunday win really put a wedge into the championship. Going into Blackhawk, Holly and Hirko didn’t get high in the standings on Saturday, so again a wash points-wise for them, but Holly’s Sunday showing gave her a needed boost to begin closing the gap with Hirko. We shall see…. We are heading into our penultimate round a Nelson Ledges on September 11 – 13, 2026, and I can assure all who are following, these riders are serious and this race weekend will be the lynchpin into how this all plays out for the big show at Barber in October. Can’t wait”, said series sponsor Kenny Cummings of NYC Norton.
AHRMA first launched the Vintage Cup series during 2019 by spotlighting the 350 GP class. The series resumed during 2021 and highlighted the 500 Premier class. It was followed by Vintage Superbike Heavyweight in 2022, and Formula 750 in 2023. In 2024, the second rotation of featured classes was initiated with 350GP, followed by 500 Premier in 2025. 250GP was added to the series in 2026 – the first year it has been featured.
“The last two rounds of the 250 GP Vintage Cup were nonstop intensity from my seat in race control. Germain’s breakaway at Gingerman immediately made me think about what it meant for Hirko and Varey—then his bike quit just feet from the line on Sunday, handing Hirko the win in one of the wildest finishes I’ve seen,” said Leasha Overturf, AHRMA’s Road Race Director.
Jonas Stein (123), Trever Scales (779) at Blackhawk Raceway in the rain. Photo by Cathy Drexler.
At Blackhawk Farms, rain, mechanical issues, and a hungry newcomer reshuffled everything. Jonas Stein took off in the wet, and by Sunday the dry track brought a whole new fight. Holly finally had a sorted bike, grabbed the hole shot, and delivered one of the best battles of the weekend while Dustin Johnson powered to the top step.
Two weekends, pure excitement. Nelson Ledges can’t come soon enough!”
From Bob Robbins, co-Chairman of the AHRMA Safety Committee: “AHRMA loves to be at Blackhawk Farms where they always deploy soft barriers kept on site from the Roadracing World Action Fund through donations from various fundraisers to keep riders safe at their motorcycle events. That safety initiative makes the track safe and keeps AHRMA coming back.”
Rounds nineteen and twenty of the AHRMA National Road Race Series Presented by VIB-ISO will be September 12-13 at Nelson Ledges, Garrettsville, OH.
The annual Vintage Cup spotlights one of AHRMA’s road racing classes with extra attention on competitors in the selected class during each race event. Enhanced awards for the Vintage Cup competitors are presented separately from other class trophies during the Saturday awards ceremony at each AHRMA National Road Race event. Highlights from each Vintage Cup race will be reported in RoadRacingWorld.com’s online edition. At the conclusion of each season, the perpetual Vintage Cup trophy will be engraved with the national champion winner’s name and presented to the winner at the National Awards Banquet to keep for one year.
2026 AHRMA Roadracing Series Presented by VIB-ISO, 250GP – Vintage Cup Results:
Gingerman Raceway – Saturday, July 24, 2026
61 Paul Germain, 1967 Yamaha DTIRR, Winnipeg, MB
35L Jack Kainz, 1972 Yamaha CS3, Helenville, WI
220 Tim Terrell, 1966 Honda CB160, Burlington, NC
760 Dustin Johnson, 1968 Yamaha YCS1, San Francisco, CA
7 David Roper, 1967 Harley-Davidson CRTT, Hicksville, NY
641 Craig Hirko, 1967 Bridgestone TA 1, Newark Valley, NY
50H Holly Varey, 1968 VanTech CS3, Brantford, ON
6 Bill Doran, 1970 Yamaha CS3, Athens, OH
17X Alex McLean, 1966 Ducati 250 Single, Jacksonville Beach, Florida
97F Francis Ganance, 1966 Ducati 250 Single, Cincinnati, OH
62X Robert Himmelman, 1970 Yamaha CS3, New Glarus, WI
779 Trever Scales, 1969 Honda CB160, Graham, NC
Gingerman Raceway – Sunday, July 25, 2026
641 Craig Hirko, 1967 Bridgestone TA 1, Newark Valley, NY
61 Paul Germain, 1967 Yamaha DTIRR, Winnipeg, MB
760 Dustin Johnson, 1968 Yamaha YCS1, San Francisco, CA
779 Trever Scales, 1969 Honda CB160, Graham, NC
17X Alex McLean, 1966 Ducati 250 Single, Jacksonville Beach, Florida
220 Tim Terrell, 1966 Honda CB160, Burlington, NC
97F Francis Ganance, 1966 Ducati 250 Single, Cincinnati, OH
62X Robert Himmelman, 1970 Yamaha CS3, New Glarus, WI
50H Holly Varey, 1968 VanTech CS3, Brantford, ON
7 David Roper, 1967 Harley-Davidson CRTT, Hicksville, NY
35L Jack Kainz, 1972 Yamaha CS3, Helenville, WI
Blackhawk Farms Raceway – Saturday, August 1, 2026
123 Jonas Stein, 1972 Honda CB175, Nashville, TN
7 David Roper, 1967 Harley-Davidson CRTT, Hicksville, NY
641 Craig Hirko, 1967 Bridgestone TA 1, Newark Valley, NY
62X Robert Himmelman, 1970 Yamaha CS3, New Glarus, WI
779 Trever Scales, 1969 Honda CB160, Graham, NC
17X Alex McLean, 1966 Ducati 250 Single, Jacksonville Beach, Florida
50H Holly Varey, 1968 VanTech CS3, Brantford, ON
760 Dustin Johnson, 1968 Yamaha YCS1, San Francisco, CA
Blackhawk Farms Raceway – Sunday, August 2, 2026
760 Dustin Johnson, 1968 Yamaha YCS1, San Francisco, CA
709 Joe Ackley, 1972 Yamaha CS5, Rio Rancho, NM
50H Holly Varey, 1968 VanTech CS3, Brantford, ON
7 David Roper, 1967 Harley-Davidson CRTT, Hicksville, NY
641 Craig Hirko, 1967 Bridgestone TA 1, Newark Valley, NY
779 Trever Scales, 1969 Honda CB160, Graham, NC
35L Jack Kainz, 1972 Yamaha CS3, Helenville, WI
62X Robert Himmelman, 1970 Yamaha CS3, New Glarus, WI
About AHRMA:
The American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to competing on fantastic classic and true vintage along with a wide range of modern motorcycles. With over 3,000 members, AHRMA is the largest vintage racing group in North America and one of the biggest in the world. The association has grown steadily over the years, reflecting the increasing interest in classic bikes.
In this video, I compare a Ducati Panigale R V-Twin Superbike to a Ducati Panigale V4 Superbike. The Panigale R is the last version of the long line of Ducati V-Twin superbikes, and the V4R is the first in the new line of V4 superbikes. In the video, I review the technical specifications and provide riding impressions on track for each.
Rocco Landers aboard his SuperMoto machine during on-track action.
COTTONWOOD, CA – The Golden State Championship and Hawk Mazzotta Moto Camp remain committed to protecting the future of motorcycle racing through safety, accountability, and responsible risk management.
Recent developments reported by RoadracingWorld.com have reinforced the importance of participant waivers, rider responsibility, and preserving the future of our sport.
As owner of the Golden State Championship and Hawk Mazzotta Moto Camp, I reserve the right to determine who participates in our events and programs. Effective immediately, individuals whose actions are inconsistent with the values and long-term interests of our organization and the sport will not be permitted to participate in the Golden State Championship or any Hawk Mazzotta Moto Camp program.
We stand behind Rocco Landers and support him as this legal matter continues. We also stand with the racers, families, promoters, tracks, and organizations working to protect the future of motorcycle racing.
A huge thank you to RoadracingWorld.com for spreading the word and bringing attention to this important issue. We also extend our sincere appreciation to Alex Assanti at Bike911.com for his continued commitment, advocacy, and unwavering support of the motorcycle racing community.
For those who would like to learn more about the ongoing case, please refer to the full report at www.roadracingworld.com.
MotoGP race start at Assen. Photo courtesy MotoGP.
As the MotoGP World Championship heads to Silverstone for the British Grand Prix, teams are finalizing their preparations for another crucial race weekend. Read the latest team press releases below for rider comments, preview quotes, and updates from across the paddock.
More from a press release issued by Aprilia Racing:
Aprilia Racing ready for the second half of the 2026 season. Marco Bezzecchi returns to the track after his injury on the Sachsenring, Jorge Martin ready for the twelfth GP of the season.
With the summer break at an end, Aprilia Racing is ready for the challenge on Silverstone Circuit for the twelfth GP of the season, scheduled for this weekend. Present at the British track will be Jorge Martín and Marco Bezzecchi, who will undergo a medical check before being able to take to the track.
Jorge Martín is headed to Silverstone with the goal of confirming the level of competitiveness demonstrated in the first part of the season and continuing the positive trend which currently has him leading the championship with 208 points.
Marco Bezzecchi, absent from the German GP due to an injury to his left collarbone suffered during Q2, will be back on the track after three weeks of downtime. Before taking to the track, the Italian rider will need to be examined by the MotoGP medical team in order to be declared fit to race, following not only surgery on his collarbone but also a procedure to clean the wound on his left knee.
The Silverstone track is considered to be one of the fastest on the calendar and one of the most prestigious in the world, with more than 70 years of history. It is a technical circuit comprising long straights, 10 right turns and 8 left turns.
Jorge Martin (89). Photo courtesy Aprilia.
Jorge Martin: “It was an extremely positive summer break. I was able to rest up, but also to train a lot and complete a bicycle challenge along with my friends which I had dreamed of doing for a long time. I can’t wait to be back on the track with my Aprilia and to work with my team again. We have an exciting second half of the season ahead of us, where we’ll be striving to give one hundred percent. We’re headed to Silverstone now – a track that I like a lot and where I have outstanding memories. I hope to give our fans some great satisfaction.”
Marco Bezzecchi (72). Photo courtesy Aprilia.
Marco Bezzecchi: “I’m pleased to be returning, but I’ll need to undergo the medical check first in order to be declared fit to race. It was a rather different summer break than I had imagined, but I am truly happy to get back to racing and I can’t wait to get on my RS-GP26. I hope I can manage to stay well. I know I am still not at 100%, but I am extremely keen to get back at it.”
More from a press release issued by Honda HRC:
British GP brings racing action back to Honda HRC Castrol. The MotoGP Summer Break comes to a close at the ominous Silverstone Circuit, 5.9 kilometers ready to reunite Luca Marini and Joan Mir with their Honda RC213V machines.
Three weeks of rest, recovery and hard work have come to an end as the Honda HRC Castrol team arrive at one of the fastest circuits on the MotoGP World Championship calendar. With 75 years of motorcycle racing history, Silverstone is amongst the most famous racetracks in the world and has produced some of MotoGP’s most memorable battles. Now Luca Marini and Joan Mir look to restart their 2026 campaigns on this hallowed ground.
Clockwork-like consistency has seen Luca Marini steadily build himself to lead the Honda charge in the World Championship standings. Scoring points every single weekend has the Italian tenth overall with 79 points – 31 clear of Diogo Moreira, the second highest placed Honda. The best defence for Marini is a good offence, the Italian ready to resume his pursuit of the higher positions in Qualifying, the Sprint and the Grand Prix. Silverstone has seen Marini miss points on just a single occasion in the premier class, his best result a seventh place in 2023.
Even a three-week break could not damp Joan Mir’s champion spirit and his quest to deliver the maximum possible result each and every weekend for Honda HRC Castrol. The #36 arrives in England with his usual focus and determination, looking to put recent rounds in the rear view and focus purely on the future. Silverstone has been an uncharacteristically complicated circuit for the 2020 MotoGP World Champion, his tenth place on the Honda RC213V there in 2025 one of just two top-tens he has achieved since joining the premier class in 2019.
The weekend will see a revised running order, Free Practice 1 starting at 11:45 Local Time on Friday, August 07 and the 20-lap British Grand Prix officially ending the summer drought at 13:00 Local Time, Sunday, August 08 just before the Moto3 race.
Luca Marini (10) and Joan Mir (36). Photo courtesy Honda HRC.
Luca Marini:“I’m ready to get back on track and see the team again. These past few weeks have been very important for the physical and mental side, a refresh to head into the second half of the season hunting our maximum. A circuit like Silverstone throws everything at you as a rider, so it’s a good place to get back into racing mode. Qualifying again will be the first critical point of the weekend, and I hope we can accomplish Q2. We need to keep taking good points to protect our position in the top ten in the standings and stay as the fastest Honda.”
Joan Mir:“This time away from the circuit has been very beneficial after a mixed start to the year. My focus in this second part of the year is to show my speed like we did in Barcelona and Brno, give my all to take the maximum from each weekend. Silverstone always throws up some interesting situations, so we need to put ourselves in the position to take profit from that. The weather is looking really nice which makes the weekend a lot more enjoyable, especially after the break!”
More from a press release issued by Monster Energy Yamaha:
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Return to Action After Summer Break for Round 12 at Silverstone.
The Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team have travelled to the United Kingdom to resume action after the three-week summer break. Fully recharged, they are gearing up for Round 12 of the 2026 MotoGP World Championship.
After the three-week summer break, the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team is looking forward to being back on track at this weekend’s Grand Prix of Great Britain.
Fabio Quartararo is all set to step aboard his YZR-M1 once more. He is currently 14th in the championship and is keen to climb up the rankings. The Frenchman is known to be competitive at the Silverstone Circuit, as testified by his 2021 premier-class victory there.
Álex Rins arrives in Britain holding 19th in the championship standings. The Spaniard has an impressive record at Silverstone, with a Moto3 second place in 2013 and victory in 2014, followed by a Moto2 runner-up finish in 2015. In MotoGP, he won at the circuit in 2019 and finished second in 2021.
MotoGP returned to Silverstone’s international paddock in 2023, with Abbey as Turn 1 and Club as the final corner. The circuit is run clockwise. At 5.9 km with 18 turns, Silverstone is the longest track on the MotoGP calendar. It had hosted MotoGP from 1977 to 1986 before returning in 2010 and boasts more than 75 years of racing history. Continuous investment and innovation have made it one of the fastest circuits on the calendar and a favourite among riders.
The schedule for the British GP differs from the usual Central European Grand Prix timetable. FP1 will take place on Friday from 11:45-12:30 and Practice from 16:00-17:00 local track time (GMT+1). On Saturday, FP2 will be held from 11:10-11:40, followed by Q1 and Q2 from 11:50-12:30. The 10-lap Sprint in the afternoon starts at 16:00. On Sunday, Warm Up will be staged from 09:40-09:50, and the 20-lap Race is scheduled to start at 13:00 local track time.
Alex Rins (42) and Fabio Quartararo (20). Photo courtesy Yamaha.
Fabio Quartararo: “It was nice to have some time to recharge during the summer break, and now I’m ready to be back racing at Silverstone. It’s a track that I really enjoy, and I know I can be competitive there. Though last year’s race didn’t end as we hoped, we’ve had some strong moments in Silverstone. We’ll keep working hard again this weekend to try to get a good result.”
Alex Rins: “I enjoyed the summer break, but now it’s time to get back on the bike. Silverstone is a circuit that I like. It’s very fast and technical, and I have good memories there from different classes. I’m hoping we can start the second half of the season and the British GP weekend well on Friday and keep building session by session.”
Massimo Meregalli – Team Director: “We ended the first half of the season with a clearer sense of direction, and we are looking forward to getting back to work. Silverstone has an interesting character, with its high-speed sections and flowing layout, and historically it has produced close and competitive racing. We believe there are areas of the circuit that could suit our package, so we are interested to see what we can achieve this weekend. As always, we will stay focused, continue working step by step, and do our best to keep making progress in the right direction.”
More from a press release issued by Prima Pramac Yamaha:
Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP Returns to Action at Silverstone After the Summer Break.
Following the summer break, Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP resumes its 2026 campaign at Silverstone, a circuit that provided one of the team’s strongest performances last season and offers another opportunity to assess the progress of the Yamaha project.
Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP returns to action this weekend at Silverstone as the MotoGP World Championship resumes after the three-week summer break. The British Grand Prix marks the beginning of the second half of the season, with the team eager to continue the development of the Yamaha YZR-M1 and build on the progress achieved during the opening rounds of the championship.
Silverstone holds positive memories for the team, having hosted one of its strongest weekends in 2025. Jack Miller finished seventh in last year’s Grand Prix, the team’s best race result of the season at that stage, while the circuit’s fast, flowing layout has traditionally suited the characteristics of the Yamaha. With the project now significantly more mature than it was twelve months ago, the British Grand Prix provides another valuable opportunity to measure the progress made over the past year.
For Miller, the weekend offers the chance to return to a circuit where he has consistently been competitive, while Toprak Razgatlıoğlu continues his MotoGP learning journey at a track whose high-speed nature rewards confidence and rhythm. As the championship enters its second half, Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP remains focused on gathering valuable data and continuing the steady development of the project.
To accommodate the time difference with the United Kingdom, the weekend schedule has been revised. Friday’s practice sessions will take place at 11:45 and 16:00, Saturday’s Practice 2 and Sprint are scheduled for 11:50 and 16:00, while Sunday’s Warm Up will begin at 09:40, with the British Grand Prix getting underway at 13:00.
Jack Miller (left) and Toprak Razgatlioglu (right). Photo courtesy Prima Pramac Yamaha.
Toprak Razgatlioglu: “I’m really happy to be back at Silverstone. It’s a circuit I really enjoy, even though the last time I raced here was twelve years ago in the Rookies Cup. It will be completely different on a MotoGP bike, especially with the long straights, so we’ll have to see what to expect.
As always, the goal is to do our best and keep learning. Every weekend I’m gaining more experience with the bike, and I’m looking forward to getting back on track and starting the second half of the season at such a great circuit.”
Jack Miller: “I’m looking forward to getting back on track after the summer break and starting the second half of the season. Hopefully, we’ve been able to make a bit more progress during the three-week break, and it’ll be good to see how that translates once we’re back racing.
Silverstone is a circuit I always enjoy, and it’s always special to race in front of the British fans. I’m excited to get the weekend underway and see what we can achieve.”
Gino Borsoi – Team Director: “We’re back in action after the summer break with our batteries recharged and ready for the second half of the season. Silverstone is a fantastic circuit and one where we enjoyed a very positive weekend last year, so we’re pleased to be returning.
On paper, the layout should suit the characteristics of the Yamaha, but this year’s bike is completely different, so it’s difficult to predict exactly what to expect. A lot of work has gone into the project over the summer break and, although the next major upgrades won’t arrive for another couple of Grands Prix, we’re confident we’re moving in the right direction.
Our objective is to continue improving race after race and finish the season stronger than we started it. We’ll keep working with the same determination as always, making the most of every opportunity to move the project forward.”
More from a press release issued by Ducati:
Ducati Lenovo Team heading to the British GP: all set to return from the summer break.
The MotoGP paddock moves to Great Britain for the 12th round of the season, taking up the legacy of the legendary TT on a historic track like Silverstone. The British race, on the calendar since 1949 and held over the years between the Donington Park and Silverstone, has seen Ducati triumph 5 times: from the first historic victories of Casey Stoner at Donington in 2007 and 2008, to Andrea Dovizioso’s success in 2017 and Francesco Bagnaia’s victory in 2022, up to Enea Bastianini’s splendid triumph in 2024, which came right on the day where we were celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Motorcycle World Championship. In 2025, Marc Márquez secured a solid haul by finishing second in the Sprint and stepping onto the third step of the podium in Sunday’s race.
After a three-week break, Marc and Pecco are ready to get back on track. Marc made the most of these days to continue his physical recovery path and returns to work strong by the maximum points haul obtained at the Sachsenring. For Pecco, on the other hand, the weekend will begin with the usual medical check to get the fit to race, which is essential for getting back on his Desmosedici GP after undergoing surgery on his right forearm at the beginning of July.
Marc Márquez (#93, Ducati Lenovo Team): “In Germany, it was a perfect weekend, where we able to make the most of every opportunity and collect all the points possible, moving up to third place in the Championship. I took advantage of the three-week break to enjoy a bit of relaxation, but also to recharge my energy and continue with training. Silverstone is a long and extremely demanding track, where a lot of physical strength will be needed; plus, there’s always the unknow weather, which as usual can completely overturn the outcome of the race”.
Francesco Bagnaia (#63, Ducati Lenovo Team): “Silverstone is a physically demanding track that I’m tackling right after my arm surgery. I feel good and I’ve recovered during these weeks off, but I haven’t been back on a MotoGP bike yet, so after the fit to race, it will be essential to understand my feelings and work well right from the start. Silverstone is a circuit I really like: the fans are among the most affectionate, and the atmosphere at the track is among the best in the entire calendar”.
More from a press release issued by Yamaha Factory Team:
Augusto Fernández to Continue Yamaha Development Programme as Silverstone Wild Card.
The Yamaha Factory Racing Team return to MotoGP action this weekend at the British Grand Prix, Round 12 of the MotoGP World Championship, held at the Silverstone Circuit. Official test rider Augusto Fernández joins the first race after the MotoGP summer break as a wild-card entry with the aim of aiding Yamaha’s bike development programme.
Augusto Fernández and the Yamaha Factory Racing Team will take part in the British Grand Prix as a wild-card entry, with the goal of gathering valuable data and further advancing the development of Yamaha’s MotoGP package under race conditions.
Fernández, the 2022 Moto2 World Champion and former premier-class rider (2023–2024), has previous experience at Silverstone from across his Grand Prix career, having won the 2019 and 2022 Moto2 Race and securing a best MotoGP Race placement of P11 there in 2023.
Returning to competition after the summer hiatus, the Spaniard is eager to continue the work carried out through the season and contribute to Yamaha’s ongoing technical progress.
The Silverstone Circuit is one of the most historic venues on the MotoGP calendar. Located in Northamptonshire, England, the 5.9 km track is renowned for its high-speed layout, flowing sequences of corners, and demanding technical sections. Featuring eight left-hand and ten right-hand turns, Silverstone tests both rider and machine, making it an ideal venue for development work and data collection.
Augusto Fernández (47) at Jerez. Photo courtesy Yamaha.
Augusto Fernández: “I’m happy to be back racing after the summer break and to continue helping with the development of the bike. Silverstone is a nice circuit with a lot of fast corners, and it’s always enjoyable to ride there. The goals for this weekend are clear: I want to be on the pace as fast as possible in order to gather as much useful information as we can.”
Chase Saathoff (No. 88) leading Aidan RoosEvans (No. 26) and Tom Drane (No. 59) during the 2025 Jackpine Gypsies Super TT. Photo by Scott Hunter for AMA Pro Racing.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (August 5, 2026) – Reigning champion Tom Drane (No. 1 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) arrives at the 86th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally with yet another record in his sights as the KICKER AFT Singles competitors prepare for the Caterpillar Jackpine Gypsies Super TT, Round 12 of the 2026 Progressive American Flat Track season, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, on Saturday, August 8.
Drane Storm
Estenson Racing Yamaha ace Drane has proven a nigh-unstoppable force as of late, racking up five consecutive victories. That run of success has vaulted him into some truly rarified air as the Australian continues to make his case for consideration as the greatest rider in KICKER AFT Singles history.
The numbers are increasingly on his side. Drane now boasts the most career wins and the most consecutive podiums, among many other achievements of significance. Now he enters Saturday’s race at the Jackpine Gypsies Motorcycle Club in Sturgis, South Dakota, needing just one more victory to claim a share of the longest win streak in class history.
Despite all that, he might not even be the pre-race favorite this week.
Drane has won a lot of races at a lot of different venues. Not only does he have more overall victories than anyone else, he has the most Mile wins, the second most Short Track wins, and the third most Half-Mile wins.
However, of those 26 wins just one has come at a TT. Granted, it came at the series’ most recent, the 2025 Peoria TT, a triumph that made him just the sixth to ever complete the KICKER AFT Singles Grand Slam.
Despite having enjoyed just a single TT win, Drane’s background as a standout roadracer certainly has the makeup to excel at TTs, and he has regularly demonstrated the pace to do so.
While it’s fair to point out that the relative infrequency of the discipline on the calendar has presented him with a limited number of opportunities to change the narrative, it also makes for a refreshing change of pace to be able to position Drane as the underdog following a lengthy reign as the resident overdog.
The Rider to Chase
The rider arguably most in need of a huge week in Sturgis also happens to be the one who just so happened to enjoy a huge week in Sturgis one year ago.
Long-time Drane foil Chase Saathoff (No. 88 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450) powered to victory in last year’s Caterpillar Jackpine Gypsies Super TT to round out a spectacular 1-2-1 week.
Despite having racked up eight podiums en route to a clear second-place ranking this season, Saathoff is still seeking his first victory of ‘26.
With more than a full race’s padding on third-ranked Kage Tadman (No. 28 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), Saathoff is primed to let it hang out at a track he’s previously conquered with hopes of finally bringing Drane’s win streak to an end.
Vindicated
Last year’s Super TT was also a monumental one for Bradon Pfanders (No. 83 Memphis Shades/Corbin Seats Yamaha YZ450F) – albeit more in hindsight than in action.
Pfanders was credited with third, marking his first career Progressive AFT podium. However, it didn’t involve a trip to the podium, as he crossed the line in fourth and was only elevated to the position after Aidan RoosEvans was DQ’d from second.
While likely not how he envisioned his first podium, Pfanders more than made up for it when he took his maiden KICKER AFT Singles victory at the DAYTONA double season opener earlier this year.
He’s also well set up to stand upon the box in Sturgis this year, having rediscovered his form following a mid-season dip. The OTB Racing pilot has reeled in consecutive finishes of fifth, fifth, and sixth and appears ready to capitalize at a track he’s done well at in the past.
Bounce Back Candidate
While Pfanders has gotten his season back on the track, preseason title hopeful Trevor Brunner (No. 21 KMA Racing/March Equipment Yamaha YZ450F) is looking for a turnaround of his own.
Brunner – among the most decorated riders the class has ever known – came out swinging in ‘26, claiming four podiums over the season’s first five races, including a victory at the Senoia ST.
However, he’s now mired in an uncharacteristic slump that’s seen him finish eighth or lower six races running. Brunner is obviously capable of much more, and perhaps the Super TT is exactly what he needs to re-unlock his potential.
He’s tied with Saathoff for most TT wins among active riders (two). One more would vault him into a tie for third all-time while giving him a much-needed boost in confidence.
Puncher’s Chance
While Drane has made it unlikely-bordering-on-impossible as of late, the KICKER AFT Singles class is still capable of springing a surprise winner at times.
Tadman did it twice in 2025, and, as noted above, Pfanders pulled off an upset of his own earlier this year.
A win by Tarren Santero (No. 75 Roof Systems/Texas Utility Studies/Vinson Construction Honda CRF450R) might not even register as a surprise, considering how close he’s come on multiple occasions before.
Jared Lowe (No. 63 Big R Racing/Vinson Construction Honda CRF450R) was strong here a year ago, while Walker Porter (No. 10 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) has made himself a regular up near the front at times this season.
We haven’t yet gotten a chance to see how rookies like Jack Brucks (No. 113 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450) and Jett Katarzy (No. 117 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450) will fare at a Super TT, but we can trust that long-time Supermoto ace Bronson Pearce (No. 132 A1R Racing/FRA Trust Yamaha YZ450F) will be at the top of his game.
Party Like You’re at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally
The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is regarded the world over as one of the planet’s ultimate party destinations, and the revelry will be overflowing at the track and throughout the town. NASCAR legend Mike Skinner will serve as Grand Marshal to help cement the event’s elevated status.
And along with the world-class race action, the Caterpillar Jackpine Gypsies Motorcycle Club will host the V-Twin Visionary Ride-In Bike Show, a Strider race for kids, big-screen viewing, an abundance of food and beverage options, and more.
Act Fast to Secure Your Seat
A limited number of General Admission tickets for the Caterpillar Jackpine Gypsies Super TT and the Caterpillar Jackpine Gypsies Short Track are available for just $25 each round. General Admission Grandstand tickets are only $53 per round (kids 12 and under free with a paid adult ticket) with Reserved Grandstand tickets available for $64 (all ages). Students can purchase a GA Grandstand ticket for just $20 at the gate the day of the event with a valid ID.
The Harley-Davidson VIP Experience ($135, all ages), delivers H.O.G. members an unforgettable evening that includes exclusive H-D seating, a rider meet-and-greet, an infield tour complete with podium photos, and Harley swag.
Finally, an exclusive offering – limited to just 30 guests – is access to the AFT Hospitality Tent, which provides prime sightlines along with food and drinks all day for $125 (all ages).
And if you act fast, you can save $5 off the gate price and be one of the first 500 who’ll snag a free seat cushion.
For those who can’t catch the live action at the track, FloRacing is the live streaming home of Progressive American Flat Track. Motorsports fans can subscribe to FloRacing to enjoy over 1,000 live motorsports events in 2026. FloSports is available by visiting https://flosports.link/AFT2026 or by downloading the FloSports app on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire, and Chromecast.
FOX Sports
FOX Sports provides national television coverage of select Progressive American Flat Track events throughout the season, featuring in-depth race coverage, rider features, and onboard cameras. The 2026 Progressive AFT television schedule is available at https://www.americanflattrack.com/events-foxsports.
Max Toth (27) at Road America. Photo courtesy Brian J. Nelson.
Young American rider joins Saddlemen Race Development for Round 4 as he and Bradley Smith make their FIM Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup debut at the British Grand Prix. Smith will also appear at Thursday’s fan event in central London ahead of the race weekend.
MILWAUKEE, WI — The FIM Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup returns toaction on August 7–9 at Silverstone Circuit for Round 4 of its inaugural season, taking placealongside the MotoGP™ British Grand Prix.
Harley-Davidson confirms an update to the official entry list for the British round, with Americanrider Max Tothjoining Saddlemen Race Developmentin place of Cory West, who sustainedinjuries during practice for the recent MotoAmerica Mission King of the Baggers round at Mid-Ohio.
One of the rising talents in American road racing, Toth has progressed through the MotoAmerica ranks and already has experience aboard the Saddlemen Harley-Davidson RoadGlide. He made his Mission King of the Baggers debut with the team at Ridge Motorsports Park, where he substituted for Saddlemen’s regular riders while they were competing in the Mugello round of the Bagger World Cup. Silverstone will mark his first appearance in the FIM Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup.
David Echert – Team Owner, Saddlemen Race Development: “Cory’s crash at Mid-Ohio was a difficult moment for everyone in our team, and we’re thankful the outcome wasn’t more serious. Everyone at Saddlemen Race Development is wishing Cory a full and speedy recovery, and we’ll be behind him every step of the way as he works towards returning to the track. As Cory focuses on his recovery, we’re pleased to have Max Toth stepping in once again. He proved himself to be a valuable addition to the team earlier this season, and we have complete confidence that he’ll do a great job for us at Silverstone. Until Cory is ready to return, we’ll be racing for him.”
Max Toth. Photo courtesy Bagger World Cup.
Max Toth –Rider:“Firstly, I’d like to wish Cory the smoothest and quickest recovery following his crash. To have the opportunity to join the MotoGP paddock in the FIM Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup is monumental for me and for all the people supporting me in my corner. I want to thank everybody at Saddlemen for trusting me and bringing me into their project, and I look forward to giving 110% at Silverstone and hitting the ground running!
Toth’s addition completes the 11-rider field for Round 4, which also includes the previously announced wildcard appearance of former MotoGP™ race winner Bradley Smith. Racing for ParkinGO Team, Smith will make his championship debut in front of his home crowd.
ROUND 4 ENTRY LIST:
#10 Travis Wyman – Saddlemen Race Development
#13 Max Toth – Saddlemen Race Development
#20 Dimas Ekky Pratama – Niti Racing
#27 Filippo Rovelli – ParkinGO Team
#29 Andrea Iannone – Niti Racing
#34 Jordi Torres – Joe Rascal Racing
#38 Bradley Smith* – ParkinGO Team
#51 Eric Granado – Joe Rascal Racing
#69 Archie McDonald – Joe Rascal Racing
#85 Jake Lewis – Saddlemen Race Development
#99 Oscar Gutiérrez – Niti Racing
* Wildcar
THE CHASE FOR THE TITLE
Three rounds have already produced six spectacular races and four different winners. As the FIM Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup returns to the MotoGP™ paddock at Silverstone, the championship battle remains extremely close, matching the intensity and unpredictability of this year’s MotoGP title fight, one of the most compelling in recent seasons.
After six races, the championship standing sare:
1.Eric Granado – 111 points
2.Oscar Gutiérrez – 109 points
3.Archie McDonald – 97 points
4.Andrea Iannone – 74 points
5.Jake Lewis – 71 points
6.Travis Wyman – 66 points
7.Jordi Torres – 58 points
8.Dimas Ekky Pratama – 49 points
9.Cory West – 36 points
10.Filippo Rovelli – 26 points
With only 14 points separating the top three riders and 150 points still available across the remaining three rounds at Silverstone, Aragón and the Red Bull Ring, the inaugural Bagger World Cup title remains very much up for grabs. While Granado, Gutiérrez and McDonald lead the standings, both Andrea Iannone and Jake Lewis remain firmly in contention, setting the stage for an exciting second half of the season.
SPECIAL EVENT IN DOWNTOWN LONDON
The British Grand Prix weekend will officially get underway with a special pre-event press conference at Outernet London, open free of charge to fans.
British wildcard rider Bradley Smith will attend the event and be available for media interviews, where he will share his experience racing the Harley-Davidson Road Glide and his expectations ahead of his championship debut on home soil.
Fans can secure official Harley-Davidson Ticket Packages for both the full race weekend and the new Sunday-only package through MotoGP.com. Packages offer exclusive Harley-Davidson experiences, including the dedicated Harley-Davidson Grandstand, the Harley-Davidson Village and the championship’s distinctive open-paddock format, bringing fans closer to the riders, teams and motorcycles than ever before. Packages also include rider autograph sessions, dedicated motorcycle parking, helmet and jacket storage (subject to availability), and an exclusive Harley-Davidson gift pack.
ON-TRACK SCHEDULE
Friday
13:40–14:00 Free Practice 1
18:05–18:25 Free Practice 2
Saturday
13:10–13:30 Qualifying
17:10 Race 1 (7 laps)
Sunday
16:00Race 2 (7 laps)
About FIM Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup:
The FIM Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup is the first global championship exclusively dedicated to high-performance Harley-Davidson bagger motorcycles, organized by Harley-Davidson in partnership with MotoGP™and officially recognized by the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM). The series is contested at selected international circuits alongside the MotoGP™calendar, bringing Harley-Davidson’s iconic machines into a premier global racing environment. The championship combines heritage, technical innovation, and on-track competition, extending the brand’s racing legacy onto the world stage. Learn more on the dedicated FIM Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup page at www.harley-davidson.com.
About Harley-Davidson:
Harley-Davidson, Inc. is the parent company of Harley-Davidson Motor Company and Harley-Davidson Financial Services. Our vision: Building our legend and leading our industry through innovation, evolution and emotion. Our mission: More than building machines, we stand for the timeless pursuit of adventure. Freedom for the soul. Since 1903, Harley-Davidson has defined motorcycle culture with an expanding range of leading-edge, distinctive and customizable motorcycles in addition to riding experiences and exceptional motorcycle accessories, riding gear and apparel. Harley-Davidson Financial Services provides financing, insurance and other programs to help get Harley-Davidson riders on the road. Learn more at www.harley-davidson.com.
MotoGP™Background:
Welcome to the most exciting sport on earth. The fastest bikes. The most forward-thinking manufacturers. The world’s most fearless riders. Come with us to the edge of possibility and the edge of your seat.MotoGP™. Faster. Forward. Fearless.
Rocco Landers on a MotoAmerica podium in 2024. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Many of you were gracious enough to help MotoAmerica racer Rocco Landers, age 22, when he was sued by Rivian engineer Greg Dachner following an accident on a closed-course Supermoto track at Adams Motorsports Park in Riverside, California.
During the incident, Rocco was involved in an on-track collision with another rider, which resulted in injuries to Mr. Dachner.
Mr. Dachner had signed a waiver prior to entering the track acknowledging the risks of the activity. Despite the waiver, a lawsuit alleging gross negligence was filed.
After experts were designated and as the matter approached trial, the parties reached a settlement and a notice of settlement was filed with the court. A dispute has since arisen regarding that settlement. A court hearing is scheduled in the coming weeks to determine whether the settlement will be enforced or the case will return to the trial calendar.
In the meantime, Mr. Landers still needs assistance to help cover the expert fees incurred during this process. I am continuing to donate my legal services to Rocco and to the broader cause of defending riders against lawsuits that refuse to account for personal responsibility on the track. Please, if you can, donate to Rocco’s GoFundMe page at https://gofund.me/7dc8477b2.
Thank you all again for your continued support. Rocco deeply appreciates everything the community has done for him.
Jasmine Noelle (711) at Mid-Ohio. Photo courtesy Royal Enfield.
Lexington, OH – The 2026 Royal Enfield Build.Train.Race. season came to its conclusion this weekend at Mid-Ohio, as Jasmine Noelle secured the series championship with a hard-fought victory in Race One, before Bryanna Everitt rounded the 2026 season out with a commanding win in Sunday’s season finale.
Race One delivered an intense battle as polesitter Jasmine Noelle faced pressure throughout the entire eight-lap race from Brianna Cutler. Noelle led from the start, only briefly surrendering top spot after a mistake late in the race, only to reclaim the lead with a pass on Cutler with just two laps remaining, taking the win just 0.7 seconds ahead of Cutler.
Brianna Cutler crossed the line second after pushing the eventual champion from start to finish, while Bryanna Everitt completed the podium in third. Tati Paze finished fourth, giving Noelle an insurmountable 39-point advantage in the championship standings and handing her the title, with only Sunday’s finale remaining.
With the title already secured, Sunday’s finale provided one last showcase of this season’s BTR competitors. Bryanna Everitt made the most of a strong start, grabbing the holeshot before steadily building a gap at the front. Behind her, Brianna Cutler and newly crowned champion Jasmine Noelle, plus Brazil’s Tati Paze fought for the remaining podium positions.
Paze briefly slipped to fourth before mounting a late-race charge, passing both Cutler and Noelle in the closing laps to claim second place. Cutler finished third, while Noelle capped her championship-winning campaign with a fourth-place finish.
Everitt crossed the finish line 0.7 seconds clear of the field to earn her second victory of the season and end the year on the highest step of the podium.
This year’s championship showcased another year of growth for the unique program, which combines rider development, motorcycle preparation, education, and professional road racing to create opportunities for women in motorsports. Throughout the season, competitors demonstrated progression both on and off the racetrack, highlighting the program’s continued impact in developing the next generation of racers.
Adrian Sellers, Head – Custom & Motorsport at Royal Enfield said: “The level of competition throughout the season has been fantastic, and only continued to intensify as the year progressed. This weekend’s final two races were a perfect example of the determination, racecraft, and sportsmanship that define this program. This championship is the result of an incredible amount of work from every rider in the Build.Train.Race. paddock and we want to pass a huge congratulations to our new champion Jasmine, and every other rider on the grid in making this such a special series.”
The 2026 BTR season once again highlighted Royal Enfield’s commitment to growing women’s motorcycle racing by empowering participants to build their own motorcycles, develop their racing skills, and compete at the highest level.
Final 2026 Championship Standings:
Find out more about the Build.Train.Race. series here: buildtrainrace.com
About Royal Enfield:
The oldest motorcycle brand in continuous production, Royal Enfield has created beautifully crafted motorcycles since 1901. A division of Eicher Motors Limited, Royal Enfield has created the midsize motorcycle segment in India with its unique and distinctive modern classic motorcycles. With its manufacturing base in Chennai, India, Royal Enfield has been able to grow its production rapidly against a surge in demand for its motorcycles. A leading player in the global middleweight motorcycle market, Royal Enfields are engaging, uncomplicated, accessible and fun to ride; a vehicle for exploration and self-expression. It’s an approach the brand calls ‘Pure Motorcycling’.
Royal Enfield’s premium middleweight line-up includes a range of twin-cylinder 650cc models including the Bear 650, INT 650, Continental GT 650, Shotgun 650, Classic 650 and Super Meteor 650. In addition, the new liquid-cooled Sherpa 450 engine has garnered great interest with the Himalayan 450 and Guerrilla 450. The even more affordable 350cc models consist of the Hunter 350, Meteor 350, Bullet 350, Classic 350 and Goan Classic 350. Riders and a passionate community are fostered with a rich profusion of events at a local, regional and international level. Royal Enfield operates through nearly 4,000 stores in 80+ countries around the globe, including approximately 150 dealers in North America.
Davis Fisher (No. 67) practicing during the 2025 Jackpine Gypsies Super TT. Photo by Tim Lester for AMA Pro Racing.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – From August 7-16, the eyes of the motorcycling world will be firmly focused on the 86th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally and its half-million or so hardcore enthusiasts in attendance. And at the center of the action the superstars of Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, will celebrate that burning bright spotlight with two rounds of the Grand National Championship.
With just eleven points separating the three primary Mission AFT SuperTwins title contenders and 40% of the year’s remaining races slotted into a three-day span, the upcoming week is destined to be intense.
First up is the first TT of the 2026 season – the Caterpillar Jackpine Gypsies Super TT – which will take place at the historic Jackpine Gypsies Motorcycle Club in Sturgis, South Dakota, on Saturday, August 8.
Numbers Game
Even by Sturgis’ standards, this edition is destined to be an especially patriotic affair. Having evolved into an iconic showcase of Americana, the 86th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally will take place just over a month after the United States celebrated its 250th birthday and just over a month prior to 9/11, the nation now 25 years removed from that fateful day in 2001.
While the rally has grown far beyond its initial ambitions, Progressive AFT has done well to remind the world that it was originally launched in 1938 by the Jackpine Gypsies Motorcycle Club as a way of promoting a Half-Mile dirt track race.
Its racing heritage once again prominent via its renewed ties to the venerable-yet-vibrant Grand National Championship, Sturgis may just see another historic number recognized this weekend…
700
Another icon of Americana – Harley-Davidson – comes to Sturgis boasting 698 GNC Main Event victories, putting the brand within reach of scoring #699 and #700 in front of the legions of Harley faithful that will descend upon Sturgis by the hundreds of thousands this week.
And 700 is not just a mathematical possibility – it’s a very real one indeed. H-D has zeroed in on that number in rapid fashion in ‘26 with rookie title leader Kody Kopp (No. 12 Latus Motors Racing Harley-Davidson XG750R) and wins leader Briar Bauman (No. 3 Super.com/RWR/Rocket Doctor Harley-Davidson XG750R) combining to tally up nine victories already this year.
Both riders are blessed with the requisite all-around skills to stand atop the box at a TT and a ST, while being further fueled by their respective championship ambitions in a scorching hot title fight that’s racing toward its conclusion.
The Harley-Davidson contingent will be further bolstered by the presence of Aidan RoosEvans (No. 26 FRA Trust Advisors Harley-Davidson XG750R). While RoosEvans earned his first official Progressive AFT podium earlier this season, fans will remember that he held off KICKER AFT Singles king Tom Drane to cross the stripe as the runner-up in the class’ Main Event at the Super TT a year ago before later being disqualified for a technical infraction.
While the result was ultimately scratched, that performance certainly demonstrated his potential at the venue.
TT Defense
But to hit #700 in Sturgis, H-D is going to have to go through reigning Grand National Champion and defending Caterpillar Jackpine Gypsies Super TT winner Dallas Daniels (No. 1 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07).
Daniels – another all-around ace with especially sublime TT chops – took the honors last season in a state of extreme motivation following a controversial clash with rival Bauman days prior.
While emotions aren’t running that hot (at least not yet), Daniels understands that he needs to come up big down the stretch to overcome the formidable duo of Kopp and Bauman. And to realistically do so, it’s vital that he capitalizes on each and every occasion in which he holds the upper hand – as he arguably does at a Super TT.
Saturday’s race is the fifth all-time to carry the Super TT moniker, which is reserved for layouts that go beyond the usual TT addition of a righthand corner and a jump. The Jackpine Gypsies Super TT meets that threshold and then some by way of multiple right-handers, multiple jumps, and a pavement section.
Yamaha has won every previous premier-class Super TT, courtesy of Daniels and former Estenson teammate JD Beach, both of whom happen to be elite-caliber flat trackers and roadracers.
The Fight for Fifth
Following an uneven start to the season, Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing KTM 790 Duke) has things rolling nicely now. The Oregonian is well clear in fourth place, thanks to an active run of four consecutive podium finishes.
Fisher has it in him to up that number to five on Saturday; he was hunting a podium finish here a year ago, hounding TT legend Henry Wiles (No. 911 DL Racing/HYMMC Yamaha MT-07), before a mechanical issue dropped him from contention.
While Kopp, Daniels, Bauman, and Fisher have a firm grasp on the top four positions in the standings, a coveted top-five ranking in the Grand National Championship is still up for grabs.
Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods Honda CB750 Hornet) achieved that honor in his very first attempt, securing fourth overall in his rookie campaign last year. Lowe is well positioned to back that up with another top-five, as he currently ranks fifth.
However, the aforementioned RoosEvans is just eight points back in sixth (117-109), and Fisher’s teammate and noted TT expert, Ben Lowe (No. 25 Rackley Racing/Roof Systems KTM 790 Duke), is just a further 13 points adrift and not out of top-five contention just yet.
Party Like You’re at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally
The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is regarded the world over as one of the planet’s ultimate party destinations, and the revelry will be overflowing at the track and throughout the town. NASCAR legend Mike Skinner will serve as Grand Marshal to help cement the event’s elevated status.
And along with the world-class race action, the Caterpillar Jackpine Gypsies Motorcycle Club will host the V-Twin Visionary Ride-In Bike Show, a Strider race for kids, big-screen viewing, an abundance of food and beverage options, and more.
Act Fast to Lock in Savings and Your Seat
A limited number of General Admission tickets for the Caterpillar Jackpine Gypsies Super TT and the Caterpillar Jackpine Gypsies Short Track are available for just $25 each round. General Admission Grandstand tickets are only $53 per round (kids 12 and under free with a paid adult ticket) with Reserved Grandstand tickets available for $64 (all ages). Students can purchase a GA Grandstand ticket for just $20 at the gate the day of the event with a valid ID.
The Harley-Davidson VIP Experience ($135, all ages), delivers H.O.G. members an unforgettable evening that includes exclusive H-D seating, a rider meet-and-greet, an infield tour complete with podium photos, and Harley swag.
Finally, an exclusive offering – limited to just 30 guests – is access to the AFT Hospitality Tent, which provides prime sightlines along with food and drinks all day for $125 (all ages).
And if you act fast, you can save $5 off the gate price and be one of the first 500 who’ll snag a free seat cushion.
For those who can’t catch the live action at the track, FloRacing is the live streaming home of Progressive American Flat Track. Motorsports fans can subscribe to FloRacing to enjoy over 1,000 live motorsports events in 2026. FloSports is available by visiting https://flosports.link/AFT2026 or by downloading the FloSports app on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire, and Chromecast.
FOX Sports
FOX Sports provides national television coverage of select Progressive American Flat Track events throughout the season, featuring in-depth race coverage, rider features, and onboard cameras. The 2026 Progressive AFT television schedule is available at https://www.americanflattrack.com/events-foxsports.
Mathew Scholtz (11) leading Sean Dylan Kelly (40), PJ Jacobsen (15) and Bobby Fong (50) at Mid-Ohio. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Catch up on everything from the MotoAmerica weekend at Mid-Ohio with the latest team press releases and race recaps.
More from a press release issued by Yamaha:
Yamaha BLU CRU riders enjoy successful outing at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course with MotoAmerica Championships heating up in the second half of the 2026 season.
After a disappointing weekend at Laguna Seca and a challenging start to Mid-Ohio, Strack Racing Yamaha’s Mathew Scholtz rebounded on Sunday, returning to the top step of the podium in a drama-filled Race 2. The back-to-back Supersport Champion’s fourth win aboard his YZF-R1 also put him back into the thick of the title fight with eight races remaining in the 2026 season.
Also making trips to the podium in the premier class were Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing’s Bobby Fong and JD Beach. Fong took home a second- and third-place finish, while teammate JD Beach rounded out the Race 1 podium in third and salvaged points after an off-track excursion in a shortened Race 2, keeping his title hopes alive with an eighth-place finish.
In the Super Hooligan Championship, BPR Yamaha Racing’s Bryce Kornbau and Andy DiBrino continued to lead the way aboard their MT-09s. The duo split wins on the weekend and left the penultimate round of the championship separated by five points. Their teammate Josh Hayes also continued to carry momentum to the East Coast, returning to the podium in Supersport Race 1 at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.
MotoAmerica Superbike
From the start, the times were tight in MotoAmerica Superbike at the 2.4-mile circuit in Lexington, Ohio, with the top 11 all within .797 of a second in qualifying. Limited track time due to technical issues left the South African on the back foot, qualifying ninth and starting both races from the third row.
In Race 1, he got a good start into the top five and was locked in a multi-rider battle. He maintained fifth for the first six laps, but dropped back to seventh around the halfway mark. Scholtz continued to push, and with five laps to go, regained sixth to salvage points.
“I came into Mid-Ohio knowing it was a little more difficult right off the bat, considering it was my first time on the Superbike here,” said Scholtz. “I do enjoy the layout, though. It’s a high-grip track, and those are always fun to ride.
“The first session started off well, but we suffered a few electrical gremlins and didn’t get as much track time as we would’ve liked. We knew our outright pace was pretty decent – we managed to do a 1:24 in qualifying – but the field was stacked so tightly for a one-lap pace. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to try the harder tire, so we went into Race 1 on the softer compound. It started to go away pretty early, and I spent most of the race struggling around sixth and seventh. In the end, we brought it home in sixth and collected some valuable points.”
Mathew Scholtz (11) at Mid-Ohio. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Between races, the Strack Racing Yamaha team went to work and made some changes for Sunday that paid off. Race 2 delivered plenty of drama. Rain sprinkled the grid during the pre-race ceremonies, threatening mixed conditions, before a first-lap crash brought out the red flag.
After the restart, Scholtz got another great start from the third row of the grid, moving into the top five. He quickly worked his way into second in the opening laps before charging to the front on Lap 5, first passing Fong and then his title rival, Sean Dylan Kelly. Under pressure, Scholtz held them off until another crash brought out the red flag. The race was declared complete, with Scholtz’s fourth win of the season moving him back to second in the standings, 24 points behind the leader.
“Going into Sunday, we knew we had to do something drastic, so we turned the bike upside down, and we could see in warm-up that the pace was much better – not just for a few laps, but over the full race distance,” said Scholtz. “The race started with a red flag, but I managed to work my way to the front and get behind Bobby and Sean (Dylan Kelly). I learned a little bit from them, got to the front, and decided the best thing for me was to make myself as wide as possible and try to hold them off.
“Fortunately for us, the red flag came out before the front tire started to wear too much. Sometimes luck goes against you, and sometimes it’s on your side. Today, we had a bit of luck on our side. Not to say we couldn’t have been in the fight anyway, but a win is a win. We’ll take the 25 points, keep the championship fight alive, and look ahead to VIR. It’s always been a strong track for me, and I’m looking forward to trying to claw some points back while continuing to develop the motorbike.”
Bobby Fong (50) at Mid-Ohio. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
After a tough couple of rounds, Fong bounced back in Mid-Ohio. With some adjustments to the setup that made the Northern California native more comfortable, he was third in qualifying and got two great starts from the front row of the grid. In Race 1, he was third after the start and briefly held the runner-up spot on that first lap. With multiple riders in that lead group, Fong made his way back to second on Lap 3 as the top three started to build a gap on the rest of the competition. Then, just before the halfway mark, he made the pass on Benjamin Smith for the lead, but Sean Dylan Kelly remained right on his heels. Fong held the points leader at bay, but ultimately was shuffled back to the runner-up spot, where he would finish.
Fong got another great start to the twice-started Race 2, slotting into the runner-up spot where he rode before getting passed by fellow Yamaha rider Scholtz on Lap 4. He got shuffled back another spot a couple of laps later, but would regain third after a rider ahead crashed and brought out the red flag, with Fong securing his sixth podium finish of the season. The Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing rider heads to the next round fourth in the standings and 55 points from the top spot.
“I’m happy to get two podiums this weekend,” said Fong. “We found something on the bike that I’m a lot more comfortable with. We are hungry for some wins, and I’m looking forward to VIR in two weeks, where I had two strong finishes last season.”
JD Beach in parc fermé after Superbike Race 1 at Mid-Ohio. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Coming off of a great weekend at Laguna Seca where he brought home a Superbike sweep, Beach was looking to keep the momentum rolling at Mid-Ohio. Although Beach was just half a second off pole, the Kentucky rider was 10th in qualifying, putting him on the fourth row of the grid.
Beach got a good start to Race 1, slotting in behind Scholtz in sixth. Locked in a multi-rider battle for the top five, the Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing rider made a pair of passes before the halfway mark to move into fourth. Although the top three had built a sizeable gap, Beach put his head down and reeled in Benjamin Smith, making the pass for third with five laps remaining. In the end, there was not enough time to advance further, and he settled for his sixth podium finish of the season.
In Race 2, he got another good start amidst the chaos of multiple riders in the lead group and was sixth on the opening lap. Beach set about making another charge to the front, moving to fifth on the next lap. He went to make the pass for fourth on Lap 5, but would end up off track and rejoining in 15th. Undeterred, Beach made good time, working his way back into the top 10 by the halfway mark and then to ninth before the red flag ended his forward progress, ultimately scoring eighth. Beach leaves Ohio third in the standings, and 32 points from the leader as the championship heats up with three rounds remaining, two of which are triple headers.
“The weekend didn’t go as smoothly as Laguna did,” said Beach. “I made a small mistake in qualifying that cost us a lot. The times were so close, so it put me starting 10th. In Race 1, I had to fight through the pack, but the R1 was working so well it made my job easier. We were able to string good laps together and fight up to a podium position.
“I had the same game plan for Race 2. I was marching my way forward and tried to make a pass around the outside going into Turn 6. I put myself in a bad position and just got run off the track. It was just a racing incident. I got the bike back on track and just tried to salvage as many points as I could.”
Super Hooligan
In the support classes, BPR Racing Yamaha’s Bryce Kornbau and Andy DiBrino carried the momentum from the West Coast rounds to Mid-Ohio, once again splitting wins in the Super Hooligan Championship. Team owner Kornbau led the initial charge, topping the timesheets and setting a new lap record for the class at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. After passing his teammate on the second lap, he rode away to secure his second win in the class and tie DiBrino for the points lead.
Bryce Kornbau (74) at Mid-Ohio. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
“Mid-Ohio was a great weekend for the whole BPR team,” said Kornbau. “I got pole position and a new track record in Super Hooligans for Mid-Ohio. Then in Race 1, I was able to break away and maintain a gap in the field and take the win, while Andy finished second. In Race 2, I led the whole race until the last lap, setting another new track record. Andy made a late brake pass on me at the end of the back straight, and took the lead on the last lap, ultimately taking the victory.”
Andy DiBrino (62) at Mid-Ohio. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
DiBrino answered back on Sunday, reclaiming the championship lead after another BPR Racing Yamaha 1-2 finish. It started out as a repeat of Race 1 with the rider from the Pacific Northwest grabbing the holeshot and then being passed by Kornbau on Lap 2, but in the end DiBrino would take home his third win of the season.
“I’m proud to go 2-1 on the weekend for the third round in a row,” said DiBrino. “We have the bike absolutely dialed, and we didn’t change anything from Laguna Seca. I have a five-point lead going into the Super Hooligan finale at the Circuit of the Americas, and I’m looking to finish this dream season with Yamaha on top.”
MotoAmerica Supersport
In Supersport, BPR Racing Yamaha’s Josh Hayes returned to the podium in Race 1 aboard his YZF-R9. The multi-time AMA champ battled up front in the lead group and ran second for a lap before dropping back to third, where he would finish. In Race 2, Hayes once again battled for the podium and was holding down third before being passed on the final lap, finishing fourth.
Josh Hayes in parc fermé after finishing third in Supersport Race 1 at Mid-Ohio. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Strack Racing Yamaha’s Blake Davis continued to build confidence at Round 7 of the MotoAmerica Supersport Championship. The 20-year-old got a good start to Race 1. As the race developed, Davis found himself in an intense three-rider battle for the top five. On Lap 11, he made the pass for fourth and then kept cool under pressure to hold off challengers and cross the line fourth. In the end, he scored ninth after Race Direction assessed a five-second penalty for contact made with Tyler Scott during the pass. In Race 2, Davis was sixth after the start, making the pass for fifth in the opening laps and riding on to finish there.
Blake Davis (22) and Tyler Scott (70) at Mid-Ohio. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Liberty St. Yamaha Racing’s Dominic Doyle earned another top-10 finish in Supersport, crossing the line eighth in Race 1. Unfortunately, it was a tough Race 2 for the South African, which saw his race end early with a late-race crash.
MotoAmerica Twins Cup
Yamaha BLU CRU Estenson Racing’s Sam Drane had a strong weekend aboard his YZF-R7 in the MotoAmerica Twins Cup Championship. Fresh off earning his second Nicky Hayden AMA Horizon Award of 2026, Drane added his name to the short list of riders to win the honor in both flat track and road racing. With a bit of rain before the start of Race 1, Drane was third in the tricky mixed conditions. He then made his way to the runner-up spot on Lap 3, and led a four-rider group. On the following lap, he was shuffled back to fifth, and then further back to seventh before the halfway mark. The young Australian continued to fight in the multi-rider battle and finished fifth. In Race 2, Drane was fourth after the start but ultimately dropped back to fifth in the final laps, where he would finish to earn a pair of top-five results.
Sam Drane (59) at Mid-Ohio. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
MotoAmerica racing resumes in two weeks at Virginia International Raceway in Alton, Virginia, on Aug. 14–16. Seventy-five points will be on the line in the Superbike class, while the championship battles continue in Supersport, Twins Cup, and Talent Cup.
The Super Hooligan Championship concludes Sept. 11–13 at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.
More from a press release issued by OrangeCat Racing:
Kelly Extends Superbike Points Lead With A Win And Second Place At Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.
OrangeCat Racing’s Sean Dylan Kelly Wins Race One, Finishes Second In Race Two To Build On Championship Lead; Jayson Uribe Nabs Two Top 10s And Kaleb De Keyrel Finishes Second Twice In Superbike Cup Debut.
A red flag in the second of two Superbike races at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course brought an early end to the proceedings, costing OrangeCat Racing’s Sean Dylan Kelly a chance at a perfect weekend in Ohio. Still, a win on Saturday combined with a runner-up finish on Sunday allowed Kelly to extend his MotoAmerica Championship points lead.
Kelly came into the Mid-Ohio round with an 11-point lead over JD Beach. After his win and second-place finish, the Floridian leaves Ohio with a 24-point lead over Mathew Scholtz.
At the end of the shortened nine-lap race, Kelly was just .177 of a second behind Scholtz but was robbed of any chance of victory when the race was called complete. Kelly was, in turn, just .357 of a second ahead of Fong when the race was declared complete.
Kelly’s teammate Uribe, meanwhile, continues to pile on the championship points after finishing ninth in Saturday’s race one and sixth in Sunday’s race two. Uribe is eighth in the championship standings, just one point out of seventh and five points from sixth.
Kelly and Uribe were joined on the OrangeCat team by Kaleb De Keyrel, with the Texas resident riding one of the team’s BMWs in the MotoAmerica Superbike Cup. De Keyrel made the most of the opportunity and finished second in both Superbike Cup races.
Qualifying on Saturday morning saw the three OrangeCat Racing riders turn in strong performances, with Kelly finishing the 15-minute session in second. Uribe matched his best qualifying result of the year in sixth, with De Keyrel making his Superbike Cup qualifying debut with the 15th-best time in the session.
Saturday’s race one saw Kelly jump to the front of the pack from his middle-of-the-front-row start, and he held the spot for two laps before dropping back to third. There was no panic in the ever-patient Kelly, however, and he was content to sit in third for five laps before passing Benjamin Smith to move into second place behind Bobby Fong. Kelly sat on Fong’s rear wheel for six laps before taking the lead and ultimately pulling clear from his pursuers.
After 19 laps of the 2.4-mile Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Kelly crossed the finish line with a 2.597-second margin of victory and a 20-point lead in the MotoAmerica Superbike Championship.
Uribe, meanwhile, started from row two after qualifying sixth on Saturday morning, and he soon found himself in 10th place for almost the entire race. Never giving up, the Californian managed to work his way to ninth with two laps to go after making a pass on PJ Jacobsen.
De Keyrel’s 2026 debut on the team’s third BMW was a successful one as he stormed through from the sixth row of the grid to finish second in the Superbike Cup behind championship points leader Andrew Lee.
Sunday was more of the same for De Keyrel, with another second-place finish in the Superbike Cup battle. Sunday’s race two featured two red flags, the second of which marked the end of the race.
Uribe’s Sunday was better than his Saturday as he crossed the line in sixth, just a second and a half behind fifth-placed Cameron Petersen and well clear of Brandon Paasch, who ended up seventh. Uribe was ninth on lap one, but he was able to move forward to finish sixth.
Kelly led the first four laps of race two before being passed by Scholtz. From there, the OrangeCat Racing rider was content to sit behind and wait for the closing laps. Those laps didn’t come, as PJ Jacobsen’s crash brought out a second red flag and the race was consequently called complete.
With six rounds and 12 races in the books, Kelly leads the title chase over Scholtz by 24 points, 217-193. Beach slips to third, 32 points behind Kelly.
Jayson Uribe (36) at Mid-Ohio. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Jayson Uribe/No. 36: “Overall, it was a positive weekend for my side of the garage. I think we made a lot of good steps on soft tires and made a lot of new discoveries on harder tires that are going to help carry us through to the next few rounds.
We need to work more on the hard tire setup, but we’re making progress, and at the end of the day, the results were decent. I’m pretty disappointed with how race 2 went, having the red flags and then having the race cancelled. I felt like I was in a great position to fight for that top five.
The riders were starting to come back towards me, which I had planned for. So, that’s a hard one to take on the chin, but that’s racing and I’m just super thankful for all of the OrangeCat racing team for all their support and hard work this weekend. It’s paying off. Thank you.”
Sean Dylan Kelly on the podium after claiming victory during Superbike race 1 at Mid-Ohio. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Sean Dylan Kelly/No. 40: “We had an extremely positive weekend. We were fast and competitive straight out the gate, and I think I had one of my best Fridays ever, not just leading, but also just having a really good pace.
Yesterday for race one, we had an incredible race, my first time winning with a gap, and that felt amazing. And today (Sunday), I also felt very strong, but unfortunately, the race got cut short and I had to settle with 2nd place, which obviously is positive, but doesn’t feel as strong as I would have liked it to considering that I felt like I had a lot more in the bag. But that’s racing.
We have to look at the positives. We were really strong this weekend, and as always, I want to thank the entire team. All of OrangeCat Racing, and let’s get ready for VIR.”
Kaleb De Keyrel (51) and Deion Campbell (194) at Mid-Ohio. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Kaleb De Keyrel/No. 51: “Amazing weekend. It felt great to get back on the BMW. Huge thank you to the Orange Cat guys for giving me a super competitive bike.
I’m excited what we were able to do this weekend being my first time back on this bike. I felt great right away thanks to the team for just making me feel comfortable so I could go out and do what I do.
It was really cool to fight for podiums again. I love the BMW and I had a blast here at Mid-Ohio. I got 2nd in both races, which was good. I just think with a little bit more time and testing, we can push and battle for that win.”
Jeff Connor – Team Principal: “Mid-Ohio was a strong weekend for Orange Cat Racing across the board. Sean Dylan Kelly qualified 2nd, won Race 1, and finished 2nd in Race 2 aboard the BMW M 1000 RR — he showed winning pace in every session and the bike performed flawlessly all weekend. It’s disappointing that Race 2 got cut short, because we believe we could have had a shot at the win. Credit to crew chief Dave Weaver and the whole team — the work they’re putting in to find performance gains before every round is really paying off on track.
Jayson Uribe qualified 6th and came home 9th in Race 1 and 6th in Race 2 — I’d call this his best weekend of the season. The gap to the leaders is shrinking session by session, and once we sharpen up our starts in those first five laps, we’ll have a real shot at the podium. Ed Sullivan and the 36 crew are putting in the work, and we’re looking forward to showing that improvement at VIR.
We also gave Kaleb DeKeyrel a chance to shine in Superbike Cup this weekend, running one of our 2025 stock bikes while we sat the Lightfighter out of Superhooligan. He qualified 3rd and finished 2nd in both races — a great result for Kaleb and a great return on a pretty small lift for the team.
None of this happens without the support of Alpha Racing and BMW Motorrad Motorsport — their partnership and technical support continue to be a huge part of what’s making this team competitive. We also want to tip our hats to all of our competitors this weekend; racing at this level against a strong field is what pushes everyone, us included, to keep raising the bar.”
More from a press release issued by Ducati:
A competitive MotoAmerica weekend at Mid-Ohio puts Benjamin Smith on pole and Loris Baz in the fight for the win for Warhorse HSBK Ducati FLo4Law.
The 2026 Quad Lock MotoAmerica Superbike Championship produced a career-first Superbike pole position for Benajmin Smith and the Warhorse HSBK Ducati FLo4Law team during a tense final qualifying session.
Smith’s season has been a bruising one, but the Pennsylvanian showed he belonged with America’s best in race one at Mid-Ohio, leading four laps before fading to fourth place at the flag behind winner Sean Dylan Kelly.
Unfortunately for Smith, after a lightning start in race two that saw him grab the holeshot, he touched the still wet grass from overnight rain and was launched into a vicious highside crash on the entry to turn two, thankfully, without injury.
A red flag was pulled and Smith’s promising weekend was over, but there was plenty of good to come out of it for the #78.
With Cameron Beaubier still out with injury, his place was again taken by Loris Baz. The French ace carded a fifth place in race one and was in the fight for the win in the second encounter, but a crash for PJ Jacobsen ensured a second red flag was shown and as per the MotoAmerica rules, the race was called and Baz was classified as finishing fourth, 1.7-seconds from winner Mathew Scholtz.
In the Supersport category, South African superstar Darryn Binder (Celtic/Economy Lube + Tire/Warhorse) took both race wins, the first by 0.050-seconds and the second by 0.039-seconds in two nail-biting encounters.
Binder’s teammate, Wristin Grigg, failed to finish race one and finished 13th in race two.
The result means Binder now enjoys a 19-point gap over Josh Herrin in the title race with three rounds remaining.
Loris Baz (76) and Benjamin Smith (78) at Mid-Ohio. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Benjamin Smith (Warhorse HSBK Ducati FLo4Law team – #78):
“Man, what a roller coaster of a weekend,” Smith said. “I want to keep this super positive because that’s the weekend we had—it was a massive step for us to put it on pole position, lead laps in race one, and ultimately finish a solid fourth yesterday.
“Today didn’t go the way that I wanted. I got the start and was leading into the first turn and just misjudged it, touched the grass and that was the end of it. I take full ownership for that. The team has done an unreal job of getting us to where we need to be with the bike and I think the evidence is clear we are getting there. Luckily, I’m coming away mostly unscathed.
“I’ve got a week or so to heal up and then it’s on to VIR. I’ve always loved that place, so the plan is to come out swinging and keep making steps.”
Loris Baz (Warhorse HSBK Ducati FLo4Law team – #76):
“I’m not happy with the result we bought home, but I am really happy with the work we did this weekend,” Baz said. “I felt really good on the bike since Friday. We made a big step since Laguna Seca, and getting the race finishes means the guys on the team now have some good data to help move the bike forward.
“We had a bit of an odd strategy on the rear of the bike during qualifying—we were a bit overprotective in terms of saving tires, and it didn’t pay off as I was eighth on the grid. But the first race was good. I made a decent start, lost a bit of time at the beginning but fought back to fifth by the finish.
“I felt much better on the bike this morning. We topped the morning warm up and then it was a dramatic second race with Ben unfortunately going down early. With the red flag coming out, it felt like everything was against us, but I was always coming back and, in the end, I was only half a second from the podium.
“It was frustrating to end on another red flag, but the pace was good and I’m thankful to all the guys in my team for all their hard work.”
Darryn Binder (53) at Mid-Ohio. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
“I feel really good,” Binder said after the second Supersport race. “This was one of the tracks I couldn’t visit before the race weekend, so coming in, and seeing the forecast calling for mixed conditions, I was a little nervous. To come away with the double win is a fantastic result.
“Friday wasn’t our best day—I qualified fourth—but yesterday we put together a proper charge chasing Josh, and I was able to make a good move to get the win.
“Today was a very different race. I’m not sure if the red flag had anything to do with it, stopping and restarting on the same tires, but the grip just wasn’t the same. Josh would lead, then I’d get in front, and it felt like we were playing a bit of cat and mouse. I just kept my head down and started thinking about a plan for the final lap.
“When it came down to it, I knew I had to make him go the long way around. If he got by, we’d figure it out from there, but it’s difficult to make that move stick around the outside here. It worked out in my favor, we added some more points to the championship, and I’m really excited for the next round.”
The seventh round of the 2026 Quad Lock MotoAmerica Superbike Championship will see the crews head to the far northeast and Virginia International Raceway, one of the favored stops on the tour, over the August 14-16.
More from a press release issued by Suzuki Motor USA:
Paige and Chapin lead the way for M4 Ecstar Suzuki at Mid-Ohio.
Brea, CA – With their young chargers leading the way, Suzuki Motor USA and Team Hammer reeled in a 1-2 finish and another double podium as the 2026 MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North American Road Racing Championship continued at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio.
Race Highlights:
M4 ECSTAR Suzuki
Twins Cup
Bodie Paige was rewarded for his bravery with a Saturday race win.
Matthew Chapin racked up a pair of close runner-up finishes.
Superbike
Brandon Paasch picked his way up to seventh on Sunday.
Richie Escalante qualified fourth but crashed out of podium contention.
Supersport
Tyler Scott had a promising weekend go south after getting taken out in Race 1.
Bodie Paige led an M4 ECSTAR Suzuki 1-2 finish with a commanding Twins Cup victory at Mid-Ohio. Photo courtesy Suzuki.
M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Twins Cup duo of Bodie Paige and Matthew Chapin were back in action aboard their Suzuki GSX-8R racebikes following a summer break in the schedule for the Twins Cup class and immediately reasserted themselves at the front.
Fortune once again favored the bold, as young Australian Paige decided to push the issue early in Saturday’s race while the rest of the field tiptoed around in light rain. Paige stormed into the lead at the end of the first lap and opened up nearly nine seconds of padding at one point. While teammate Chapin led a hungry pack in closing the gap, Paige held them off to secure the victory. He’d back that up with a fighting third on Sunday.
After claiming his win, Paige said, “The first few laps I knew that it was going to be a little slick. It was just going to come down to who had the most confidence. I went on the out lap, and I saw everyone was a little bit timid and I felt pretty good. The plan from the start was to get a good start and try to get out front, just be smooth and tick my laps off… It’s the first time Matt and I have been one and two in a race, so that’s pretty sick. A good weekend for M4 ECSTAR Suzuki.”
Matthew Chapin battled at the front in both Twins Cup races, earning back-to-back runner-up finishes. Photo courtesy Suzuki.
Chapin put in another huge effort on Sunday, going back and forth at the front in an attempt to secure the team a second win on the weekend. It wasn’t to be, however, as he came up just 0.250 seconds short a day after missing out on victory by just over a half second. Still, Chapin was upbeat about his twin runner-up performance on the GSX-8R.
“I’m stoked on that race,” he said on Sunday. “We were pushing each other the whole time. We did some ‘29s, and I didn’t know I had that in me, but I guess I did. That was probably the most fun race I’ve had all season even though I didn’t come out on top. Of course, I want to beat everybody – I want to win every weekend. That’s the goal, and that’s what we’ll look to do at the next one, and we’ll see how it pans out. I want to give a huge thanks to my M4 ECSTAR Suzuki team and everybody here supporting me.”
Brandon Paasch continued his progress aboard the M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R1000R with a seventh-place finish at Mid-Ohio. Photo courtesy Suzuki.
M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Superbike pilot Brandon Paasch steadily improved throughout the weekend. After qualifying 12th, he picked up a position on Saturday to finish 11th aboard his GSX-R1000R. Sunday was considerably better still, as he was credited with seventh position while in the midst of a forward climb when the race was red flagged and ultimately called complete.
“We didn’t have the outright pace to run up front but we stayed consistently improving,” Paasch said. “We made progress with setup this round, especially the electronics, and I think it was a big step. On Sunday, we were able to stay in sight of the front, but it was a little frustrating knowing we couldn’t do much about it to close the gap right now. We’re not that far off. We know exactly what is next, and that is getting the chassis dialed for me so we can start taking off the couple of tenths we need to close the gap.”
Richie Escalante showcased front-running pace aboard the Mission M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R1000R before a Sunday crash ended his podium bid. Photo courtesy Suzuki.
Superbike teammate Richie Escalante flashed podium potential but was unable to capitalize. The Mexican qualified in fourth position before finishing Saturday’s race eighth. Sunday’s rematch was trending more in his favor, as he ran third in the early going and remained firmly in the battle for the box before suffering a low-side crash that took him out of the contest.
Escalante said, “We finished Mid-Ohio, and it was a good weekend in many ways. The results were not what we wanted, but we had a good practice and qualifying. Our setup on the bike felt really competitive, and we were able to earn fast lap times. The top ten is very tight, and we were able to qualify fourth. On Sunday, we decided to go with the harder front tire at the last minute. We had used the other tire all weekend, so that may have been a factor in the crash. We have to keep working and translate the speed into podium results again.”
Tyler Scott fought near the front before contact and mechanical issues denied him the results his pace deserved. Photo courtesy Suzuki.
M4 ECSTAR Suzuki Supersport ace Tyler Scott suffered through a second consecutive weekend in which his strong pace aboard the next-generation GSX-R750 went unrewarded in terms of race results. Scott worked his way up to fourth on Saturday but crashed after being contacted from behind. He was forced to retire despite riding his heavily damaged machine back to the pits. Sunday proved another frustrating affair. He ran as high as fifth early but tumbled down the order to finish an uncharacteristic 12th due to a mechanical issue.
Scott will now look to return to his more typical form and add to the tally of six podiums he’s already reeled in this season. He said, “I thought we had a really good race pace on Saturday. I did not get a good start, but I had made up two spots and was going forward when I got taken out in a crash. It tore up the bike and made for a lot of work for the team. For Sunday, I felt pretty good again, but we had a power delivery issue and that hindered our performance.”
The MotoAmerica season will resume in less than two weeks at Virginia International Raceway from August 14-16 in Alton, Virginia.
More from a press release issued by M4 ECSTAR Suzuki:
Lloyd fast in the rain, gains experience at Mid-Ohio.
M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Sonya Lloyd continued to pick up both speed and experience as the MotoAmerica Twins Cup resumed action at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio, following a mid-season layoff.
Lloyd’s improvement over the course of the weekend on the technical, undulating circuit aboard her GSX-R8 racebike was obvious on both the timesheets and in the results.
After qualifying 21st, Lloyd fought her way forward in the tricky wet-to-dry conditions that challenged the Twins Cup competitors on Saturday. She ultimately came home an impressive 13th, picking up eight positions on her grip position.
Sunday’s warm-up showed that the speed was still coming, as the Georgian lapped three 10ths quicker than she’d managed all weekend long. That trend continued in Sunday’s race, when she was timed at 1:35.492, nearly seven 10ths of a second better than her previous best of the weekend and almost a full second better than her qualifying time.
Sonya Lloyd (28) at Mid-Ohio. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Lloyd finished 17th on Sunday but might have finished considerably higher if not forced to take evasive action to avoid a downed rider at one point during the race.
At the end of the weekend, the former WorldWCR contender said, “It was a mixed weekend for us, but I felt like we made progress. We tied our best result of the year on Saturday. I go pretty well in the rain, so I didn’t mind to see it a little wet. I was able to stay in sight of the front the first few laps. But as things dried out, I was able to improve my lap times but not as much as those riders.
“On Sunday, I got a great start and was able to gain quite a few positions but there was a low-side crash in front of me. I had to avoid a sliding rider and lost all the ground I had gained. The hopes of getting a better result were gone, but I concentrated on my lap times. My last two laps were my fastest of the race.
“We are definitely making progress and not plateauing. Also, (my teammates) Bodie (Paige) and Matthew (Chapin) have been really helpful in sharing their data, and I would like to thank them for being helpful. I think we are getting there. In between the races, I was able to ride at VIR. I was happy with the lap times at our test. I am really looking forward to that race.”
The MotoAmerica season will resume in two weeks at Virginia International Raceway from August 14-16 in Alton, Virginia.
ABOUT TEAM HAMMER:
The 2026 season marks Team Hammer’s 46th consecutive year of operating as a professional road racing team. Racebikes built and fielded by Team Hammer have won 138 AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National races, have finished on AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National podiums 407 times and have won 11 AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National Championships, as well as two FIM South American Championships (in Superbike and Supersport). The team has also won 137 endurance races overall (including seven 24-hour races) and 13 Overall WERA National Endurance Championships with Suzuki motorcycles, and holds the U.S. record for mileage covered in a 24-hour race. The team also competed in the televised 1990s Formula USA National Championship, famously running “Methanol Monster” GSX-R1100 Superbikes fueled by methanol, and won four F-USA Championships.
More from a press release issued by Real Steel Honda:
Real Steel Honda Racing bounces back at Mid-Ohio.
Hayden Gillim bounced back from a bike destroying Friday afternoon crash to again qualifiy at the head of the 3rd row with a 7th place. In Race 1 on Saturday Hayden scored a 7th place finish and was keeping the lead pack in sight in Race 2 on Sunday in 5th place when he suffered a crash on lap 6. Hayden slipped to 9th in the Superbike championship standings. Andrew Lee bounced back from his Laguna Seca finishes in the Superbike Cup class with another weekend filled with double wins. Andrew now leads that championship by 98 points with 265 points.
Both Hayden and Andrew thank Honda and KYT for the collaboration on the special helmet livery for this round. Next up for the team is the MotoAmerica Superbikes at Virginia event August 14-16 at Virginia International Raceway in Alton VA.
Real Steel Honda Racing is proudly supported by American Honda, HRC, Progressive Insurance, Pro Honda Oils. Southern Honda Powersports, Idemitsu, Last Ark: Tactics Analogue, Vesrah, K-Tech suspension, Orient Express, Dunlop, Akrapovic Exhaust Systems, Sprint Filter, Armor Bodywork, Vortex and REB Graphics.
Hayden Gillim (69) and Richie Escalante (54) at Mid-Ohio. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Hayden Gillim – Rider #69 / Team Principal: “Going into the weekend I felt really good. With this being a home track for myself and the team I had a lot of confidence. I had good speed all weekend, but that speed was held back by a big crash on Friday afternoon that led to us having to go to the backup bike. The guys got everything back together and we were able to have a really good qualifying.
Race 1 I was in the lead group. I was having to wait for everyone else to make mistakes in order for me to make passes though. Eventually, coming home in 7th place. Race 2 again I was up in the mix and after some early chaos found myself in 5th place, but detached a bit from the front group. I was pushing as hard as I could to get to them and ended up tucking the front off the back straight. I want to thank everyone that came out to support us. Thank you to the team for all the hard work this weekend after all the crashes. VIR is up next and last year we had some good results there!”
Andrew Lee (14) at Mid-Ohio. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Andrew Lee – Rider #14: “We had a great weekend in Ohio, at the team’s home round! We ended up going 1-1 and had some great lessons throughout the weekend. We used Friday as a full-on test, learning some new things on the bike to better understand options for the remainder of the season. I’m really happy with the recovery after a DNF and Second at laguna. Moving into VIR in a week and a half, I look forward to continuing the momentum. Thank you to the whole Real Steel Honda Racing team, American Honda, and the HRC corporation for the continued support!”
More from a press release issued by Aprilia Racing:
Aprilia RS 660 claims victory at Mid-Ohio in MotoAmerica. Hank Vossberg of Robem Engineering ended a standout weekend with third place in race 1 and victory in race 2.
Aprilia’s positive momentum in MotoAmerica continued thanks to Hank Vossberg’s victory in Race 2 with the Aprilia RS 660 in the sixth round of the Twins Cup, held at Mid-Ohio.
The 15-year-old Robem Engineering Team rider confirmed his excellent form with another front-running performance in the Twins Cup class. After claiming pole position, Vossberg finished Race 1 in third place, just six tenths of a second behind the winner, before going on to take victory in Race 2. Thanks to these results, the American rider extends his lead in the Twins Cup standings to 218 points, opening up a 63-point advantage over his closest rival.
Hank Vossberg (31) at Mid-Ohio. Photo courtesy Aprilia.
In addition to Vossberg’s victory, three more Aprilia RS 660 riders finished inside the top ten in Race 2: Andrew Weyh in sixth, Logan Cunnison in seventh, and Eli Block in ninth. Race 1 had also highlighted the RS 660’s competitiveness and consistency, with five Aprilia bikes finishing inside the top ten.
More from a press release issued by Altus Motorsports:
Mesa charges through the field in Race 2 after a difficult Saturday; Nassaney fights through setup struggles to finish in the top 15.
Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course hosted the sixth round of the 2026 MotoAmerica Championship as Altus Motorsports worked through setup challenges to showcase a strong comeback on Sunday.
Supersport
Stefano Mesa returned for his second round of the season with Altus Motorsports and continued his adaptation to the Yamaha YZF-R9. Practice and qualifying proved challenging as Mesa and the team searched for a strong base setup. After qualifying in P16, Mesa was battling for positions in Race 1 before a tire issue forced an early retirement on lap five. A last-minute setup change prior to Sunday’s warm-up brought Mesa immediate confidence which allowed him to fight for positions throughout the race. Mesa started P14 in Race 2 and established a strong pace which he kept up throughout the race. Mesa made key passes toward the end of the race and finished with a hard fought P9.
Stefano Mesa (37) at Mid-Ohio. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Stefano Mesa:“Ohio was a challenging weekend, but one that showed a lot of progress. We struggled to find the right feeling with the bike through practice and qualifying, and unfortunately had to retire from Race 1 due to a tire issue.
The team owners Janette and George Nassaney decided it was time to make a big change with the suspension Saturday evening. The team installed the new suspension Sunday morning before Sunday’s warm-up, and it immediately put us in a much better direction. Starting from the back, I was able to settle into a good rhythm, make some passes, and fight back to P9.
I’m proud of the progress we made throughout the weekend and grateful for all the hard work from the Altus Motorsports crew. We learned a lot, and I’m excited to keep building on that momentum heading into VIR.”
Jaret Nassaney worked tirelessly alongside the team to find a comfortable setup throughout the weekend. Qualifying in P19, Nassaney put together a gritty drive in Race 1, finishing in P17. Starting from P18 in Race 2, Nassaney made quick early passes and held a steady pace to finish P15.
Jaret Nassaney (59) at Mid-Ohio. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Jaret Nassaney:“It was a very difficult weekend. We struggled with setup all weekend so we were disappointed with the results. We will recoup for VIR and hope for much better results.”
“Sometimes in racing you have to make difficult decisions. This weekend my wife and me had to do that. We truly believe our decision will help us be more competitive and improve our riders confidence. We are excited to see if we can continue the progress at VIR.” said Team Co Owner George Nassaney.
While early sessions at Mid-Ohio tested the team as they searched for the right setup, Sunday demonstrated the determination and adaptability of the Altus Motorsports crew. The overnight suspension adjustments unlocked critical speed and confidence for Mesa, rewarding the team’s hard work with a top 10 finish, while Nassaney showed true perseverance to fight back into the points. Altus Motorsports is eager to continue improving the YZF-R9 and achieving better results at Virginia International Raceway.
More from a press release issued by ARCH Motorcycle Racing:
Mid-Ohio Tests ARCH Racing’s Consistency in Championship Stretch.
Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course brought ARCH Racing into a different kind of fight this past weekend as the MotoAmerica Mission Super Hooligan National Championship moved into the final stretch of the season.
After the highs of The Ridge and Laguna Seca, where the team earned its first Super Hooligan victory and continued a run of podium finishes, Mid-Ohio demanded clean execution across two closely contested races.
Corey Alexander and Jeremy McWilliams both put the ARCH Motorcycle 2s-R in competitive positions during combined qualifying, with Alexander qualifying eighth overall and McWilliams 11th overall. In a field where the gaps remained tight throughout the weekend, both riders started within reach of the front group.
Race 1 saw Alexander settle into a strong rhythm and keep pressure on the riders ahead, ultimately bringing the 2s-R home in fourth place. McWilliams also delivered one of his strongest finishes of the season, taking seventh and giving ARCH Racing two bikes inside the top seven.
Sunday’s Race 2 produced another hard-fought result. Alexander again ran near the front of the field and finished fourth for the second time on the weekend. McWilliams backed up Saturday’s result with an eighth-place finish, closing out Mid-Ohio with two complete races and two top-eight results.
Corey Alexander (23) at Mid-Ohio. Photo courtesy ARCH Racing.
Corey Alexander Q: 8th R1: 4th R2: 4th
“Mid-Ohio was a solid weekend for us,” said Corey Alexander. “Of course, after the last few rounds, we came in wanting to fight for podiums again, but this class is extremely tight and fourth place in both races still gives us a lot to take away. The 2s-R was competitive, Jeremy had two strong finishes, and the team kept putting us in good positions all weekend. We know where we need to improve between now and COTA.”
Jeremy McWilliams (99) at Mid-Ohio. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Jeremy McWilliams Q: 11th R1: 7th R2: 8th
“It was a much more complete weekend for us,” said Jeremy McWilliams. “We qualified in a better position, finished both races, and were able to keep moving forward with the bike. Mid-Ohio is a tricky place and the field is very close, so to come away with two solid finishes is a good step. The crew did a great job all weekend, and we have more useful information to carry into the next round.”
For ARCH Racing, Mid-Ohio was not defined by one standout moment, but by two complete race days in a highly competitive field. Across the weekend, Alexander finished fourth twice, McWilliams delivered two top-eight rides, and both ARCH 2s-R machines stayed in the fight from start to finish.
The team now turns its focus to the next and final round of the MotoAmerica Mission Super Hooligan National Championship at Circuit of The Americas, September 11–13.
More from a press release issued by Indian Motorcycle Racing:
Indian Motorcycle racing dominates Mid-Ohio, delivers back-to-back 1-2 finishes with Vance & Hines-Built Indian Challenger. Gillim’s Weekend Sweep Marks 50th Career Victory & Ties Record for Most Wins in a Single Season
Indian Motorcycle & Vance & Hines Eye Record Books in First Year of Factory Collaboration.
Golden Valley, MN — Following a dominant weekend sweep at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Indian Motorcycle and Vance & Hines’ first factory racing collaboration is rewriting the King of the Baggers record books. In his first year piloting a new Vance & Hines-built Indian Challenger, Hayden Gillim has tied Kyle Wyman’s single-season record of seven wins through just 10 races this season. With four races remaining, Gillim is poised to reach a new milestone and set a new standard for performance in the KOTB series.In total, the J&P Cycles / Motul / Vance & Hines Factory Indian Motorcycle Racing has a combined eight victories, 17 podium finishes, four 1-2 finishes, and one full podium sweep.
“What this team is accomplishing isn’t just impressive, it’s historic,” said Mike Kennedy, CEO of Indian Motorcycle. “To record eight wins and 17 podium finishes through just 10 races speaks volumes of the Indian Challenger and the engineering prowess of Vance & Hines. We’re not simply winning races, we’re redefining what’s possible in this series.”
The Mid-Ohio performance once again showcased why the Indian Challenger remains the motorcycle to beat. Gillim claimed victories in both races, while teammate Troy Herfoss delivered back-to-back runner-up finishes to secure another pair of 1-2 results for the factory Indian Motorcycle team. With four races remaining, Gillim now leads the championship by 23 points over Herfoss and holds a commanding 54-point advantage over third place, Bradley Smith.
Hayden Gillim (69) and Troy Herfoss (17) at Mid-Ohio. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Race 1 was plagued with crashes resulting in a shortened five-lap sprint. Once the race got underway, Gillim wasted little time asserting himself at the front. Making his move through the Keyhole on the opening lap, the No. 69 Indian Challenger quickly established control before steadily pulling away from the field. Gillim maintained control to cross the finish line more than three seconds ahead of Herfoss. Fellow Indian Challenger rider Rocco Landers narrowly missed the all-Indian podium, finishing fourth by just 0.073 seconds after an impressive ride despite racing with a hand injury.
Sunday’s nine-lap finale required a remarkable comeback. Starting from pole position, Gillim struggled off the line and slipped to sixth entering Turn 1 as Herfoss launched perfectly to grab the holeshot and immediately assumed command of the race. Rather than forcing the issue, Gillim patiently worked his way forward, making decisive passes through the Keyhole and to climb into third by Lap 4 before overtaking the Harley-Davidson riders ahead of him.
With three laps remaining, Gillim closed the gap to Herfoss and made his move. The teammates briefly traded positions in a thrilling battle before Gillim claimed the lead and delivered a flawless closing run, denying Herfoss any opportunity to pass. Gillim crossed the finish line just 0.250 seconds ahead of his teammate to complete the Mid-Ohio sweep and secure the team’s fourth 1-2 finish of the season.
Hayden Gillim (69) and Troy Herfoss (17) at Mid-Ohio. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
“Race 2 proved to be a hard-earned win, as I didn’t get the start I wanted, so I knew I’d have to put my head down and make up ground early,” said Gillim. “The Indian Challenger was working exactly where I needed it to, especially through the Keyhole, and that gave me the confidence to make some decisive passes. Troy rode an incredible race. I knew he’d be right there the rest of the way, so it was all about staying smooth, hitting my marks and not giving him an opening. I’m really proud of what this J&P Cycles / Motul / Vance & Hines Factory Indian Motorcycle Racing team accomplished and to havereached more than 50 career wins along with tying the record for most wins in a season is beyond special. We have a great team and I love competing with them each weekend.”
The impressive showing was another testament to the race-winning performance of the Vance & Hines-built Indian Challenger, powered by the championship-proven PowerPlus 112 engine. As the 2026 Mission King Of The Baggers season enters its final stretch, J&P Cycles / Motul / Vance & Hines Factory Indian Motorcycle Racing continues to showcase the engineering, durability and relentless performance that has made the Indian Challenger the benchmark in Mission King Of The Baggers.
With four races remaining, Gillim sits comfortably in first with 206 points, with Herfoss right behind him with 183 points. Gillim holds a commanding 54-point advantage over third place, factory Harley-Davidson rider Bradley Smith with 152 points. The Mid-Ohio performance further solidified J&P Cycles / Motul / Vance & Hines Factory Indian Motorcycle Racing as the team to beat, with the championship battle increasingly centering on the factory Indian Motorcycle teammates as they chase another King Of The Baggers title.
Mission King Of The Baggers returns to action at Circuit of The Americas September 11-13 before concluding the 2026 season at New Jersey Motorsports Park September 25-27.
Robert Himmelman (62X), Dustin Johnson (760), Tim Terrell (220), Alex McLean (17X), Craig Hirko (641), Francis Ganance (97F) at Gingerman Raceway. Photo by Ian Pokriefka
(August 5, 2026, Knoxville, TN) – The Vintage Cup series returned to the Gingerman Raceway July 25-26 , continuing with a back to back weekend in the Northern Region at Blackhawk Farms Raceway, August 1-2 as part of the 2026 AHRMA National Roadracing Series presented by VIB-ISO, delivering a double dose of classic motorcycle racing.
Sponsored by Roadracingworld.com, and NYC Norton (nycnorton.com), this year AHRMA’s 2026 Vintage Cup features the 250 Grand Prix class, which includes any fully GP-kitted 250cc OHV/OHC four-stroke; 250cc air-cooled single cylinder two stroke; 175cc liquid cooled single cylinder two-stroke; or 175cc air-cooled twin-cylinder two-stroke built before December 31, 1968. It’s a showdown of classic small displacement racing that relies heavily on corner-speed, momentum, and precise engineering, and certain to leave fans on the edge of their seats.
Typical AHRMA 250GP grids include a wide variety of motorcycles such as Aermacchi, Bultaco, Greeves, Montesa, Ducati, NSU, Ossa, and more.
Saturday’s race at Gingerman saw Paul Germain, riding a 1967 Yamaha DTIRR, take an early lead. He secured the hole shot and led an impressive flag-to-flag to the checkers, with a large gap behind him for second. Jack Kainz, on a 1972 Yamaha CS3, and Tim Terrell, on a 1966 Honda CB160, battled hard behind, with Kainz ultimately edging out Terrell and taking the second step on the podium, with Terrell a hard-fought third.
The balance of the results in order of finish were: Dustin Johnson on a 1968 Yamaha YCS1, David Roper riding a 1967 Harley-Davidson CRTT, Craig Hirko on a 1967 Bridgestone TA1, Holly Varey on a 1968 VanTech CS3, Bill Doran on a 1970 Yamaha CS3, Alex McLean on Jonathan White’s 1966 Ducati 250 Single, Gregory Glevicky on a 1970 Yamaha DT1, Francis Ganance on a 1966 Ducati 250 Single, Robert Himmelman on a 1970 Yamaha CS3, and Trever Scales on a 1969 Honda CB160.
In Sunday’s race, Germain again got the hole shot, but this time Hirko and Varey were within half a bike’s length going into T1. Although Germain led for most of the race, the riders behind were giving him serious chase and it was going to be whoever wanted to send it into the last turn on the last lap. Sadly, on that last lap, Holly had to pull off with a mechanical, leaving Hirko to put the work in to keep Germain close. As the two sprinted down the back straight Germain’s 2-stroke seized; he pulled in the clutch and let it cool for a second or two, then tried to bump it to get it going again, but no joy. As he coasted out of the last turn towards the Start/Finish, Hirko was able to pull aside and pass JUST at the line, as Paul paddled his bike across for 2nd place. Wow! Real racing excitement! Johnson rolled over in third. The balance of the results in order of finish were Scales, McLean, Terrell, Ganance, Himmelman, Varey, Roper, and Kainz on a 1972 Yamaha CS3.
The following weekend at Blackhawk Farms Raceway brought together a strong field, including a number of returnees from Gingerman. The weather prediction for the weekend called for rain starting Friday afternoon and continuing through Saturday evening. Although the pouring rain had stopped, the track was wet for the Vintage Cup race. Riders coming in from wet practice said there was good grip on the newly repaved surface, so we still had an opportunity for some race craft, albeit avoiding puddles!
As the green flag waved, Jonas Stein, on his 1972 Honda CB175, led flag-to-flag, with Roper and Hirko in hot pursuit for second and third, finishing in that order. In races like these there are often races within the race worth noting. McLean battled with Scales, with Scales ultimately prevailing for fifth behind Himmelman in fourth and McLean in sixth. Varey, still fighting with her bike from the front brake issue she had at Gingerman, finished seventh, and Johnson eighth.
On Sunday, track conditions were vastly different, with a completely dry track and sunny weather. Varey took the hole shot, followed by Roper and Scales. Varey led the race for a lap or two, battling Joe Ackley with Johnson joining the fray. The racing was extremely competitive, with three and four bikes wide through some turns. Johnson worked his way from the back of the grid and took the lead halfway through the race. Ackley, on a 1972 Yamaha CS5, mixed it up with him, trading the lead and showing a wheel. Johnson was able to outpower Ackley on the front straight for the checkered flag, with Ackley taking second. Roper battled for third until the last lap, when Varey overtook him, leaving Roper fourth.
Completing the top finishers were Hirko, Scales, Kainz, and Himmelman. (To make clear of the difference between the two days’ racing; Dustin Johnson finished last on Saturday, and first on Sunday!)
“Wow, what a couple of weeks of racing. Going into this weekend we saw championship points quite close between Hirko and Varey – both of whom had more than 10 races already – so any points acquired had to be podium finishes to chip away at some of the lower points that get tossed away. Sadly, Holly didn’t get much needed points at either race at Gingerman, and Hirko’s Sunday win really put a wedge into the championship. Going into Blackhawk, Holly and Hirko didn’t get high in the standings on Saturday, so again a wash points-wise for them, but Holly’s Sunday showing gave her a needed boost to begin closing the gap with Hirko. We shall see…. We are heading into our penultimate round a Nelson Ledges on September 11 – 13, 2026, and I can assure all who are following, these riders are serious and this race weekend will be the lynchpin into how this all plays out for the big show at Barber in October. Can’t wait”, said series sponsor Kenny Cummings of NYC Norton.
AHRMA first launched the Vintage Cup series during 2019 by spotlighting the 350 GP class. The series resumed during 2021 and highlighted the 500 Premier class. It was followed by Vintage Superbike Heavyweight in 2022, and Formula 750 in 2023. In 2024, the second rotation of featured classes was initiated with 350GP, followed by 500 Premier in 2025. 250GP was added to the series in 2026 – the first year it has been featured.
“The last two rounds of the 250 GP Vintage Cup were nonstop intensity from my seat in race control. Germain’s breakaway at Gingerman immediately made me think about what it meant for Hirko and Varey—then his bike quit just feet from the line on Sunday, handing Hirko the win in one of the wildest finishes I’ve seen,” said Leasha Overturf, AHRMA’s Road Race Director.
Jonas Stein (123), Trever Scales (779) at Blackhawk Raceway in the rain. Photo by Cathy Drexler.
At Blackhawk Farms, rain, mechanical issues, and a hungry newcomer reshuffled everything. Jonas Stein took off in the wet, and by Sunday the dry track brought a whole new fight. Holly finally had a sorted bike, grabbed the hole shot, and delivered one of the best battles of the weekend while Dustin Johnson powered to the top step.
Two weekends, pure excitement. Nelson Ledges can’t come soon enough!”
From Bob Robbins, co-Chairman of the AHRMA Safety Committee: “AHRMA loves to be at Blackhawk Farms where they always deploy soft barriers kept on site from the Roadracing World Action Fund through donations from various fundraisers to keep riders safe at their motorcycle events. That safety initiative makes the track safe and keeps AHRMA coming back.”
Rounds nineteen and twenty of the AHRMA National Road Race Series Presented by VIB-ISO will be September 12-13 at Nelson Ledges, Garrettsville, OH.
The annual Vintage Cup spotlights one of AHRMA’s road racing classes with extra attention on competitors in the selected class during each race event. Enhanced awards for the Vintage Cup competitors are presented separately from other class trophies during the Saturday awards ceremony at each AHRMA National Road Race event. Highlights from each Vintage Cup race will be reported in RoadRacingWorld.com’s online edition. At the conclusion of each season, the perpetual Vintage Cup trophy will be engraved with the national champion winner’s name and presented to the winner at the National Awards Banquet to keep for one year.
2026 AHRMA Roadracing Series Presented by VIB-ISO, 250GP – Vintage Cup Results:
Gingerman Raceway – Saturday, July 24, 2026
61 Paul Germain, 1967 Yamaha DTIRR, Winnipeg, MB
35L Jack Kainz, 1972 Yamaha CS3, Helenville, WI
220 Tim Terrell, 1966 Honda CB160, Burlington, NC
760 Dustin Johnson, 1968 Yamaha YCS1, San Francisco, CA
7 David Roper, 1967 Harley-Davidson CRTT, Hicksville, NY
641 Craig Hirko, 1967 Bridgestone TA 1, Newark Valley, NY
50H Holly Varey, 1968 VanTech CS3, Brantford, ON
6 Bill Doran, 1970 Yamaha CS3, Athens, OH
17X Alex McLean, 1966 Ducati 250 Single, Jacksonville Beach, Florida
97F Francis Ganance, 1966 Ducati 250 Single, Cincinnati, OH
62X Robert Himmelman, 1970 Yamaha CS3, New Glarus, WI
779 Trever Scales, 1969 Honda CB160, Graham, NC
Gingerman Raceway – Sunday, July 25, 2026
641 Craig Hirko, 1967 Bridgestone TA 1, Newark Valley, NY
61 Paul Germain, 1967 Yamaha DTIRR, Winnipeg, MB
760 Dustin Johnson, 1968 Yamaha YCS1, San Francisco, CA
779 Trever Scales, 1969 Honda CB160, Graham, NC
17X Alex McLean, 1966 Ducati 250 Single, Jacksonville Beach, Florida
220 Tim Terrell, 1966 Honda CB160, Burlington, NC
97F Francis Ganance, 1966 Ducati 250 Single, Cincinnati, OH
62X Robert Himmelman, 1970 Yamaha CS3, New Glarus, WI
50H Holly Varey, 1968 VanTech CS3, Brantford, ON
7 David Roper, 1967 Harley-Davidson CRTT, Hicksville, NY
35L Jack Kainz, 1972 Yamaha CS3, Helenville, WI
Blackhawk Farms Raceway – Saturday, August 1, 2026
123 Jonas Stein, 1972 Honda CB175, Nashville, TN
7 David Roper, 1967 Harley-Davidson CRTT, Hicksville, NY
641 Craig Hirko, 1967 Bridgestone TA 1, Newark Valley, NY
62X Robert Himmelman, 1970 Yamaha CS3, New Glarus, WI
779 Trever Scales, 1969 Honda CB160, Graham, NC
17X Alex McLean, 1966 Ducati 250 Single, Jacksonville Beach, Florida
50H Holly Varey, 1968 VanTech CS3, Brantford, ON
760 Dustin Johnson, 1968 Yamaha YCS1, San Francisco, CA
Blackhawk Farms Raceway – Sunday, August 2, 2026
760 Dustin Johnson, 1968 Yamaha YCS1, San Francisco, CA
709 Joe Ackley, 1972 Yamaha CS5, Rio Rancho, NM
50H Holly Varey, 1968 VanTech CS3, Brantford, ON
7 David Roper, 1967 Harley-Davidson CRTT, Hicksville, NY
641 Craig Hirko, 1967 Bridgestone TA 1, Newark Valley, NY
779 Trever Scales, 1969 Honda CB160, Graham, NC
35L Jack Kainz, 1972 Yamaha CS3, Helenville, WI
62X Robert Himmelman, 1970 Yamaha CS3, New Glarus, WI
About AHRMA:
The American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to competing on fantastic classic and true vintage along with a wide range of modern motorcycles. With over 3,000 members, AHRMA is the largest vintage racing group in North America and one of the biggest in the world. The association has grown steadily over the years, reflecting the increasing interest in classic bikes.
A Ducati Panigale R V-Twin and a Panigale V4R (V4) on the front straight at Chuckwalla Valley Raceway.
Photo by Stuart Smith.
By Stuart Smith:
In this video, I compare a Ducati Panigale R V-Twin Superbike to a Ducati Panigale V4 Superbike. The Panigale R is the last version of the long line of Ducati V-Twin superbikes, and the V4R is the first in the new line of V4 superbikes. In the video, I review the technical specifications and provide riding impressions on track for each.
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