The #11 started the weekend exactly as he'd have envisaged by leading the timesheets in the 45-minute FP1 session

The #96 crashed on Day 2 of the Official Test and was ruled out of the season-opening round with fractures to his left wrist and hand

Vortex Racing and EK Chain will continue their support of MotoAmerica in 2026, returning as Official Sponsors of North America's premier motorcycle road racing championship.

Their continued sponsorship of the MotoAmerica series reinforces a shared commitment to competition, reliability, and development at the highest level of American road racing.

Vortex Racing, a long-time manufacturer of high-performance motorcycle components, and EK Chain, a global leader in drive-chain technology, bring decades of racing experience, acquired from the highest levels of competition, to the MotoAmerica Championship. Products from both companies, including sprockets, rearsets, clip-ons, and chains, are used broadly throughout the MotoAmerica paddock on every race weekend, in an unmatched test environment where durability and performance are critical.

The 2026 season marks another step in the ongoing relationship between MotoAmerica, Vortex Racing, and EK Chain reflecting the brands' continued investment in American road racing and their support of teams and riders competing at the national level.

"MotoAmerica continues to be the most demanding and meaningful proving ground for our products, and we are proud to support a championship that consistently pushes teams, riders, and manufacturers to perform at the highest level," said Steve Malone, VP of Operations at Vortex Racing and EK Chain. "We remain fully committed to the paddock, the people, and the competition that make this series what it is, and we are grateful to be part of a championship that continues to strengthen professional motorcycle road racing in the United States."

MotoAmerica emphasized the value of long-term partners with a deep understanding of racing and its demands.

"Racing in MotoAmerica often separates champions from competitors by hundredths of a second," said Lance Bryson, Director of Sponsorship for MotoAmerica. "Consistency in performance is non-negotiable, which is why companies like Vortex Racing and EK Chain are fixtures in our paddock with top performing teams. Their continued support reflects our commitment to strengthen the championship and push the level of our competition."

The 2026 MotoAmerica Championship will feature competition in seven classes and at 10 rounds across the United States, continuing the series' role as the top level of professional motorcycle road racing in North America.

For more information about Vortex Racing and EK Chain, visit www.vortexracing.com

The post Vortex Racing & EK Chain Return As MotoAmerica Partners appeared first on Roadracing World Magazine | Motorcycle Riding, Racing & Tech News.

So MotoGP has lost Phillip Island. That is a tragedy in itself. Phillip Island and Mugello are the two greatest motorcycle race tracks on the planet, and to lose one from the calendar is devastating. The fans and most of the riders will be heartbroken.

I say "most of the riders", because as Aleix Espargaro pointed out on his social media account, losing Phillip Island means losing one of the most dangerous tracks on the calendar. You do not want to crash at Phillip Island, because when you do, it can end very badly. When pretty much every corner bar Miller Corner and MG are blisteringly fast, falling off is always going to hurt.

Which brings me to why Phillip Island lost MotoGP in the first place. As glorious as the location and layout is, the facilities are more 1976 than 2026. I freely admit that I am not speaking from first-hand experience. But I have been badgered for long enough by fans, friends and fellow journalists that I really should be making the pilgrimage to have gotten the truth about the facilities from them. The nicest thing that you can say about the circuit is that there is a barista in the media center.

Left behind

In more practical terms, the garages are over 20 years old, small and dingy. Power supplies struggle to cope with the demands of the current MotoGP grid, as data processing requirements have exploded. Spectators are mostly left exposed out in the open. Which at Phillip Island in October, risks hypothermia, a drenching, and sunburn all at the same time.

• Read more about OPINION: Mourning The Loss Of Phillip Island, And Why It Was Inevitable
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The 2026 WorldSBK entry list is boosted with the arrival of Superbike Advocates Racing; the Australian-owned team will fully commit to the championship as of Round 2, taking to the tracks with rider Tommy Bridewell and the Ducati Panigale V4R.

In a late development, Superbike Advocates Racing announces its full-time entry to the 2026 FIM Superbike World Championship. Ready to field expert rider Tommy Bridewell and a 2026 spec Ducati Panigale V4R, this new-entry team will contest all eleven European championship rounds starting with the Portuguese round at Portimão (27-29 March) and will be the first Australian-owned team ever to do so.

Operating from its UK base, the squad originally intended to compete in British Superbike this season but has taken the bold step of accelerating its plans and will now debut in WorldSBK in 2026, a move originally envisaged for 2027. An ambitious project that is perfectly suited to a highly motivated and experienced rider like Bridewell.

Tommy is no stranger to Ducati; the British rider having secured the 2023 British Superbike Championship with the Panigale V4. A standout performance from bike and rider brought a total of 8 race wins and 10 additional podiums. Bridewell also powered his Ducati to top three in the 2019, 2021 and 2022 BSB seasons and scored WorldSBK points in 2019 while competing as a wildcard. Despite his extensive racing experience, Tommy essentially takes on the 2026 WorldSBK campaign as a rookie, a challenge the Brit relishes.

"It's an opportunity I've never been given before" admits Bridewell. "We were testing at Portimão and when the bikes arrived - full WorldSBK spec - I made a jokey comment to the team to the effect of 'wouldn't it be nice to leave them like that and not have to remove all the electronics.' I think this gave the team food for thought and before I knew it the entry was submitted and we were approved to compete in WorldSBK. A lastminute switch but I couldn't be more excited."

"I want to say a huge thankyou to the team for the opportunity" continues an enthusiastic Tommy. "I think it's all coming together and we're in for an exciting year. Sure, I've got a lot to learn - I've been racing for many years and am going into the season as prepared as I've ever been, but I feel a bit like a rookie! I'm really looking forward to it though. I just couldn't turn down this chance, and I really hope the BSB fans can get to some of the races and support me and the other British riders. Let's see how we do."

It is also a rookie season for Superbike Advocates Racing, a project launched by Australian Lee Khouri. Wellknown in the automotive world as the founder of Supercar Advocates and an avid Ducati collector, Lee's passion for the prestigious Italian brand left no doubt as to the machinery the team would field on track. Having cut its teeth in Australian Superbike with Glenn Allerton - and finishing the 2025 season a notable fifth overall - the team is excited to make the jump to the world championship.

"To officially step onto the WorldSBK grid in 2026 is an incredibly proud moment - not just for our team, but for Australia", comments Team Owner, Lee Khouri. "Superbike Advocates Racing will be the first Australianowned team in the history of the Superbike World Championship, and that's something that means a great deal to me personally. This project started with pure passion - passion for Ducati, for racing, and for building something that could compete at the highest level. What began in Australian Superbike has evolved into a world championship campaign much sooner than we originally planned, and that reflects the belief we have in the people around us."

Structurally, the team can count on the expertise of several key figures, not least Alan Jackson, who takes the helm as team manager. The former TT winner has managed teams competing across BSB, Endurance and road racing and offers the kind of support and insight that only a former racer can. Mick Shanley comes aboard as technical director, bringing a wealth of experience from his many years of operation in WorldSBK and MotoGP. Together, Alan and Mick have hand-picked a group of expert technicians ready to support Bridewell during his rookie WorldSBK season.

"WorldSBK is one of the most competitive championships in global motorsport. We're not entering to make up the numbers - we're here to build, to learn quickly, and to fight", Khouri concludes. "With Tommy's experience, the Ducati Panigale V4R, and the strength of our technical structure, we believe we can establish ourselves as a serious and professional operation from day one. To represent Australia and the United Kingdom on the world stage in this way is something I'm extremely proud of. This is just the beginning."

The stage is set and Superbike Advocates Racing is ready to perform - stay tuned as the team sets its sights on WorldSBK success!

https://www.superbikeadvocatesracing.com/

The post WSBK: Superbike Advocates Racing Confirms 2026 Entry appeared first on Roadracing World Magazine | Motorcycle Riding, Racing & Tech News.

After all the testing and all the talking, it's time to go racing in 2026 as WorldSBK ushers in a new season.

126 days will have passed since the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship's last race when Race 1 gets underway on Saturday at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit. More than a hundred days of looking back on 2025, finding out where to improve, how to make steps, a few (not very dry) days of testing mixed in there as well, but it's time to find out who has the answers to the questions last season posed. There are new bikes and new line-ups as a new era begins with the 2026 Australian Round.

CHASING BULEGA: Who can catch the #11?

Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) completed a hat-trick in Australia last year and, if testing is anything to go by, he's the favourite this year. He finished the test as the only rider in the 1'28s and six tenths clear of his rivals but, as riders like to say: "testing is testing and racing is racing". Things can change quickly and there's no shortage of competitors looking to take the fight to 'Bulegas'. Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) was his closest challenger at the test and goes in search of a first WorldSBK victory, while there was a shock name at the front: Lorenzo Baldassarri (Team GoEleven). Could 'Balda' stun the field and take a podium on his WorldSBK return? Elsewhere, Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) was quick during the test and he was fast in the round in 2025 too, so he'll be searching for a maiden rostrum too. Elsewhere, Axel Bassani (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) and teammate Alex Lowes were fast too, with 'El Bocia' showing rapid improvement across each session. And let's not forget the #22 is a three-time winner at Phillip Island… could he make that four and claim Bimota's first win in 26 years? Elsewhere, Garrett Gerloff (Kawasaki WorldSBK Team) showed flashes of speed during the test, often in the top-ten, and will be looking for more of that.

MAKING PROGRESS: BMW's new recruits look for more 'Down Under'

A wet winter hasn't helped either Miguel Oliveira (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) or teammate Danilo Petrucci adapt any quicker to the BMW M1000RR machine, although the two dry days at Phillip Island will have made a big difference. Both riders made progress throughout the test and will hope to continue that as they close the gap to the top positions. Oliveira's best MotoGP result at Phillip Island is 12th, on two occasions, although he won in both Moto3 and Moto2 there. Petrucci has two WorldSBK rostrums at the Australian venue, from 2024 and 2025.

NEW CHAPTERS BEGIN: Who will shine for their new squads?

Plenty of new eras begin in earnest at the weekend. Xavi Vierge (Pata Maxus Yamaha) will mark his first race in blue and he comes into it after being the lead Yamaha rider throughout the Official Test. Alvaro Bautista (Barni Spark Racing Team) will be searching for podiums as he races for an Independent outfit for the first time - and he's a serial winner at Phillip Island, with eight wins to his name there. His replacement at the factory Ducati team, Iker Lecuona (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati), has only completed one round at Phillip Island in his WorldSBK career, when he took two P6 finishes in 2023. He'll be hoping for a podium-challenging Ducati debut, if not a rostrum itself.

WANTING TO FIND GAINS AFTER THE TEST: 'Loka' struggling, Gardner wants more on home soil

Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) usually goes well at Phillip Island but was struggling with the bumps on the track throughout the test, leaving him languishing down the order. 'Loka' will be hoping to find a solution to this at a track he's been so consistent at, with only one result outside the top seven; and that was a retirement when he crashed fighting for victory. Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) seemingly has no luck when it comes to his home round, even if he does have plenty of pace. He heads into 2026 on the back of a broken arm and dislocated shoulder sustained in training in November and will be hoping to climb the order when racing gets underway. His rookie teammate, Stefano Manzi, has shown speed in abundance since jumping onto the Yamaha R1. His debut weekend awaits and the #62 will be hoping for a good start. Elsewhere, Tarran Mackenzie (MGM Racing Performance) finished the test in P13 but will want to be inside the top ten as he prepares for a first full campaign on the Panigale V4R. Rookie Alberto Surra (Motocorsa Racing) was close to 'Taz' as he looks for a strong start to his maiden season, as is Mattia Rato (Motoxracing WorldSBK Team). His teammate, Bahattin Sofuoglu, is preparing for a second year after a solid rookie 2025 season, and will be aiming to move closer and closer to those top ten positions.

HONDA'S DIFFICULT START: No Chantra, no Dixon

It was already established that Somkiat Chantra (Honda HRC) would miss Australia after getting injured in a training crash in Malaysia, which left him requiring surgery. It was announced ahead of the round that he would be replaced by Tetsuta Nagashima. Sadly for Honda HRC, they will also be without fellow rookie Jake Dixon. The #96 crashed on Tuesday morning at Turn 11 during the test, which left him with a left wrist fracture and elbow contusion, ruling him out of the Australian Round. They do keep two CBR1000RR-R SP machines on the grid, however, with Ryan Vickers (Honda HRC) making a wildcard appearance for the Japanese brand.

Get set for the 2026 campaign by watching the FREE Season Preview, read the Official Programme HERE and subscribe to the WorldSBK VideoPass!

WSSP: Masia looks to take the field by storm in Australia after a dominant showing in Official Testing!

The WorldSSP season opener is just around the corner. Read more below to get fully up to date on what to watch out for at Phillip Island!

The moment we've all been waiting for is nearly here as the Official Test has concluded and the FIM Supersport World Championship field now lies in wait for their all-out assault on 2026 at lights out on Friday, February 20th. The 2026 preseason has been very limited due to poor weather at the European tests at Jerez and Portimao, but the sun shone down on World Supersport as they enjoyed two days of unmitigated testing earlier this week. The time for testing has passed; however, this weekend, points will be on the line for the first time in 2026.

MASIA RED-HOT IN TESTING: The Spanish sophomore kept the hammer down in testing. Can he do the same on the weekend?

Four of the last five WorldSSP winners here have ridden Ducati V2 bikes, and from the looks of his pace at the Official Test, Jaume Masia (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) is looking to make Phillip Island his own. Last season, he landed a P6 before crashing out of Race 2, but it would be hard to argue that Masia is not coming into the weekend looking to win at least one of the races. Philipp Oettl (Feel Racing WorldSSP Team), unlike most of the grid, partook extensively in the tests at Portimao and Jerez, laying down important laps as he has become one of the fastest riders of the preseason. Matteo Ferrari (WRP Racing) and Alessandro Zaccone (Ecosantagata Althea Racing Team) have hit the ground running after joining from MotoE. Ferrari will look to replicate his Day 2 FP1 P9 pace on the weekend, while Zaccone will hope to replicate his P11 earned on the Day 1 combined timesheets. Josh Whatley (Orelac Racing Verdnatura) turned heads as he finished FP1 in the top positions before finishing P8 on Day 1. The Englishman will hope to end the day at the business end of the order after showing such promising results in testing.

Leonardo Taccini (Ecosantagata Althea Racing Team) and Mattia Casadei (D34G WorldSSP Racing Team) have posted healthy results around the top ten throughout testing, and on their day with the Ducati Panigale V2 platform's affinity at Philip Island, they could easily snatch away a top-five result. Simon Jespersen (EAB Racing Team) showed strong results in the second half of 2025, even landing a P2 result at Balaton Park Race 2. He has been hovering around P15 in the testing timesheets so far Down Under, but the Dane has plenty of potential to shoot up the order. Borja Jimenez (WRP Racing) and Riccardo Rossi (Renzi Corse) will look to take points away from their first round in WorldSSP.

ONCU LOOKS TO LEAD THE WAY: The Turk hopes to set the tone early

Title favourite Can Oncu (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) joined up with his former rival Stefano Manzi's team and has every intention to get back on the horse this weekend after a slower pair of testing days than expected, finishing Day 1 in fourth, however, dropped to 19th on Day 2's timesheets. Lucas Mahias (GMT94 Yamaha) and new teammate Roberto Garcia approaches the weekend with optimism as Mahias posted times around top-eight pace and Garcia set one time to earn P6 on the opening Day of testing. Aldi Mahendra (AS BLU CRU Racing Team) is back on track after missing the second half of his rookie WorldSSP season with injuries to both forearms ruling him out after Balaton. 2020 Moto3 Champion Albert Arenas joined his garage this offseason and has shown promising pace in testing. Italian sophomore Filippo Farioli (VFT Racing) suffered a tech issue on Day 1; however, recovered to participate on both days.  Farioli, Xavi Cardelus (Cerba Yamaha Racing Team) and Yuki Okamoto (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) will look to set a base of points from this first round in 2026 atop their Yamaha R9s.

BAYLISS LOOKS TO MAKE A SPLASH AT HOME: Triumph's riders hope for a strong start

Australian rider Oli Bayliss (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) is looking poised for a home hero performance as he finished both testing days in P2, on top of already having a strong track record here at his home track. His teammate, Tom Booth-Amos, ended 2025 on a down note after a strong start, including a Race 2 win here; the #69 will hope to get the ball rolling in the same vein in 2026. Ondrej Vostatek (Compos Racing Team) impressed at the pair of testing days after an off-pace 2025 season. If Vostatek can capitalise and start his season strong, anything is possible. Oliver Konig (Compos Racing Team) is back in the WorldSBK paddock after two WorldSBK seasons in 2022 and 2023. He will look to start hot in his first round in WorldSSP.

DEBISE AND ZXMOTO ENJOY A STRONG START: Debise lands P10 and P12 in testing

Valentin Debise (ZXMOTO Factory Evan Bros Racing) joined a new team just in time for their new chapter with inbound Chinese manufacturer ZXMOTO as they set sail on their WorldSSP journey in 2026. The Frenchman looked comfortable on both days, lading top 12 across both days. Veteran rider Federico Caricasulo (ZXMOTO Factory Evan Bros Racing) didn't look quite as fast, but if he can bring his experience to bear, ZXMOTO could enjoy a very strong start in WorldSSP.

KAWASAKI STILL GETTING UP TO SPEED: Alcoba and Aegerter struggled at times in testing

Dominique Aegerter (Kawaski WorldSSP Team) is one of the most exciting riders joining the field in 2026. He won back-to-back World titles in WorldSSP in 2021 and 2022, as well as winning Race 2 here in his second title campaign. While he and his teammate, Jeremy Alcoba, were still working out the kinks atop their Kawasaki ZX-6R 636 bikes, they had each shown podium pace in the category.

MV AGUSTA RIDERS WORK TO FIND FOOTING: Cretaro and Giombini both suffered crashes in the test

Jacopo Cretaro (Flembbo by Racing Development) and Andrea Giombini (Motozoo by Madforce Dubai) are set to start their first full seasons as WorldSSP permanent riders in 2026. Each has appeared in the category before; this will be their first season riding an MV Agusta F3 800 RR. At the test, both were still getting the hang of their bikes, with Cretaro on Day 1 the only one of the two to land in the top 15 times.

Act now and book your ticket to live, OnDemand and behind-the-scenes WorldSBK content, including the WorldSSP season debut with the WorldSBK VideoPass!

The post WSBK Preview: Superbike Lands in Australia appeared first on Roadracing World Magazine | Motorcycle Riding, Racing & Tech News.

By Adam Wheeler. Photos by Yamaha Racing

Yamaha last ruled MotoGP back in June 2022. They once owned seven titles in 10 years from 2004. The Yamaha M1 inline 4 was not renowned for top speed but its pliant handling allowed even antiquated iterations of the technology to win Grands Prix and rise to the position of championship runner-up at the start of the decade.

The last two seasons have been miserly with just one podium appearance by lead ace Fabio Quartararo. The Frenchman combed the limit of physics to obtain five Pole Positions in 2025 but was largely toothless in the charge for silverware against European machinery and the failure of his rear ride height device while leading the '25 British Grand Prix overshadowed the rapid one-lap prowess. Yamaha are now last in the Constructors table and are the only firm with full MotoGP Concessions, allowing them time and resources to catch back up.

Their three-year mire is perhaps the definition of a 'transition phase'. The Japanese were arguably late in their development, as well as their strategy when they lost their satellite team to Aprilia in 2023 and 2024 and shrunk to a two-bike presence on the grid. Previous Yamaha Motor Racing Director, Lin Jarvis, made way for former Yamaha Motor Europe Marketing boss Paolo Pavesio and even though Cal Crutchlow was shrewdly employed to lead testing duties, the Brit was injured and the programme stuttered as Andrea Dovizioso (and then Augusto Fernandez) was also given more prominence in the R&D.

Yamaha rallied against the malaise by securing the talents of Quartararo on a bumper deal for 2024 and 2025 and brought in Alex Rins, to mind-pick his Suzuki and Honda knowledge. Also hiring the likes of ex-Ducati and Ferrari specialist Max Bartolini and combed their centre of excellences in both Japan and Italy. They then took the head-scratching decision to forge ahead with a 1000cc V4 M1 that would see competitive laps for a single season while concurrently pursuing an 850 version that would vanguard their MotoGP future. The time tight frames meant that Yamaha were also squeezing every single piece of juice from the inline M1 while trying to placate Quartararo's growing impatience. The Grand Prix riders themselves were able to test away from the races (as per the concessions) but, even from distance, it seems that Yamaha still needed more high-level resources in this area.

Yamaha were caught in a stop-or-go situation. By sitting solely on the inline M1 for 2025 and 2026 (if Quartararo could not take the motorcycle into the top three then there is little hope for others) they would be largely doomed in terms of results but going V4-only for 2026 represented a major leap of faith. For all of its temporality, 2026 is still a championship of 22 Grands Prix to win and plenty of track mileage for Yamaha to filter whatever knowledge they can to the 850.

They went public with the scale of their effort at the San Marino Grand Prix last September, when Fernandez raced the V4 for the first time. It was also a first serious outing for the likes of Quartararo and co on the bike during the following one-day test at Misano. Enthusiasm was muted by the rudimentary state of the V4, and the potential - judging by comments (even if Pramac's Jack Miller was a constant source of rational positivity) - had not surged upwards by the time of the Valencia test, and then into the many days and laps completed by the Yamaha contingent during both the Shakedown days and the IRTA test in Sepang several weeks ago.

Yamaha were not explicit about their reasoning for rushing a 1000c V4 during a presentation at Misano. But their quest seems as much about overhauling Yamaha's racing operation as finding a way back into the spray of Prosecco. President Takahiro Sumi said Yamaha were altering their "mindset" as well as the processes between Asia and Europe. "It is not an easy way," he admitted.

The Japanese also commented that Yamaha wanted to "explore possibilities of V4 engine and as a pathway. Our main challenge is how to make it and how to accomplish it, as a project." He remarked as well that the parallel project is "unprecedented" in MotoGP, meaning Yamaha had to "change completely and upgrade ourselves".

Yamaha's hunt is therefore bigger than sourcing a route back to MotoGP acclaim. Or maybe the largesse of their scheme demonstrates seriousness and dedication to racing, while papering-over the failures and pitfalls that are inevitable for technical evolution at this (very public) level. The middling ground of engineering and performance as well as the complicated web of promises and assurances for future potential is likely to have cost them their star rider, but then Yamaha have moved to obtain talented leftfield knowledge in the form of Toprak Razgatlıoğlu for 2027. They will likely replace Quartararo with another sizeable name, either through sizeable remuneration or the same guarantees that could not entice Fabio for ninth and tenths seasons with the factory. And, there is also the possibility that Yamaha come out swinging with their M1 850 as MotoGP resets in less than twelve months.

On the eve of the second 2026 test in Thailand, Yamaha are barely keeping their chin above water in the deep end of MotoGP. The dismaying engine failure that cost them the second day of the Sepang test was not the buoyancy the teams and company needed.

In short, Yamaha are already in full rehearsal for 2027…but with a motorcycle that will soon enter the Communications Plaza museum complex in Iwata. Test mode is activated and with high revs…while their four competitors go about making refinements to partially frozen and, in some cases, already proven packages.

"We're given the best of each part, really run them and tried to understand good, bad, ugly from each one," Miller explained of the work in Malaysia. "You throw a chassis [in] and you don't just say that's shit and throw it out. You try and understand what's different, try to give the most clear and precise feedback as I possibly can to the manufacturer. And we've done that over these last couple of days."

Razgatlıoğlu had his own trajectory in trying to understand Yamaha, the V4, news circuits and more "It's really hard for me," he confessed.

For his one foot-in, one foot-out positioning, Quartararo is still the point-man for 2026, even if the 26-year-old should deservingly have some scrutiny over his capabilities to lead a revolving and costly development force. "I know the strong point of our bike last year was the turning and with this year's bike it is still not there," he assessed at Sepang and before the fall that led to a broken right finger and technical issue that warmed the kill switches.

"I think our V4 is not [as] complete as the others," he added. "There is still work to do, especially on the turning, on the traction, on the electronics, on the grip, on the power. So, there are many things to adjust. We know we have margin to improve. How? This is more for the engineers…but the way I'm riding is again different to last year."

"We see that our lap times are not very good. But the only thing I can do is do my best, try to be riding at my maximum and whatever the position is, try to make the best I can."

Miller, as ever, was articulate and detailed about the differences of Yamaha's big, bold offering for the next ten months. "Where pieces of your body make contact with the bike it still feels foreign," he described as Yamaha dealt with ergonomics at the shakedown. "You're just learning. [It] becomes muscle memory after a minute. But you've got to wrap your head around it."

The Australian, who boasts V4 sensibility from Ducati and KTM, said that Yamaha's characteristics were still inherent. "It hasn't lost that M1 turning. Front -end feel or performance is pretty bloody good for this stage. It can always get better…but the way you can pick the line at Turn 12, down the hill is pretty nice. One place we're lacking a bit compared to the old one is the change of direction."

Alex Rins was wary of the timescale, especially with the absence of critical laps at Sepang. "You cannot lose time, especially now," the Catalan warned.

Bartolini spoke with the media at the test. "We don't have experience or history [with the V4] and riders need to get used to the bike so they need bike time," the Italian understated, while also reminding people that 2026 is about the journey rather than the destination. "Compared to our competitors we are still weak…but it's in the plan: it's a new bike. I would be more surprised if the bike is already to the limit of the others."

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Expect more parts and more engines for the Yamaha quartet at Buriram this week as the factory continue to roll several dice at their most lucrative and speculative racing outlay. In one sense, the overall approach is hard to understand but it is a total '180' compared to their MotoGP endeavours as little as four years ago. MotoGP should also be encouraged that Yamaha are wading through the hard yards and the minor embarrassments at this stage, as opposed to the fickle attitude of a company like Suzuki. It is also credit to the Japanese hierarchy that there is an evolution taking place, the same can be said of HRC's mentality with their diversification in recruitment, and the series will only be richer for a notable cast member committing more to the show.

Yamaha's ambitions will probably shudder to a halt at time this year, or evaporate in smoke at some point and the chase for the final points of a Grand Prix will be humbling but all that background push has to stand for something?

DAYTONA BEACH, FL - Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, is thrilled to announce a special Quarters for Kids Campaign that will fund $27,000 in bike learning programs through All Kids Bike. During the 2026 Progressive AFT Season, $0.25 from every race ticket will help fund new All Kids Bike Kindergarten PE Learn-to-Ride programs.

A 501(c)(3) nonprofit, All Kids Bike provides schools with everything they need to teach kids how to ride a bike - from balancing to pedaling - as part of their Kindergarten PE class. The comprehensive, ready-to-teach program is currently teaching over 180,000 students across the US how to ride this school year.

"As huge fans of Progressive American Flat Track racing, we truly believe that inspiring the next generation of racers starts by empowering children to ride at the youngest age possible," said All Kids Bike Executive Director Lisa Weyer. "The amazing part of this Quarters for Kids campaign is that it enables AFT fans to help fund the future of the sport. Even if you attend just one race this season, you'll help 3,000 Kindergarteners discover the confidence and joy of riding a bike."

Twenty-five cents from every ticket this season will help fund the $9,000 All Kids Bike Kindergarten PE Learn-to-Ride Program in three (3) new schools. Because each program remains in a school for 10 years, this single season can ultimately help approximately 3,000 children learn to ride a bike. If the program falls short of its $27,000 goal, a donation from Tim Estenson will offset the difference to ensure all programs are fully funded, proving that Progressive AFT racing teams truly believe in the power of the All Kids Bike Program.

Don't miss the start of the 2026 Progressive American Flat Track season. The series kicks off the year with the Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA I & II at Daytona International Speedway on Thursday, March 5 and Friday, March 6. 

To purchase tickets to the Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA I & II, visit: https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack.

Following the season opener, the series travels to Senoia Raceway for the Yamaha Atlanta Short Track on March 21. 

To purchase tickets for the Yamaha Atlanta Short Track, visit: https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack/events/2026-atlanta-short-track-165280.   

• About All Kids Bike

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Quarters for Kids is a simple, powerful fundraising initiative proving that small change can make a big difference. By allocating just $0.25 per ticket or registration, participating events can collectively generate significant funding to support multiple All Kids Bike programs, impacting hundreds of kindergarten students each year. Because each program remains in a school for up to 10 years, the long-term impact can extend to thousands of children learning to ride a bike, creating lasting benefits for students, schools, and communities - showing that every ticket truly makes a difference.

• About AMA Pro Racing

AMA Pro Racing is the premier professional motorcycle racing organization in North America, operating a full schedule of events and championships for a variety of motorcycle disciplines from its headquarters in Daytona Beach, Fla. Learn more at www.amaproracing.com.

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The post AFT & All Kids Bike Launch $27K Quarters for Kids Campaign appeared first on Roadracing World Magazine | Motorcycle Riding, Racing & Tech News.

2026 is set to be a sensational season in WorldSBK, so find out where and how you can watch it throughout the year

To: Lorna Murphy, Director of Buses, TfL

From: Kevin Mustafa

RE: Why do the Mayor and TfL refuse to protect London's Bus Drivers from Institutionally Unsafe Working Conditions?

Sent: Thursday, February 19, 2026 1:20 PM

cc: Transport Commissioner; Deputy Mayor for Transport; Deputy Mayor for Social Justice and Communities, London Victims' Commissioner; TfL Walking and Cycling Commissioner; TfL Board Secretariat; TfL SSHR Panel Secretariat; TfL Chief Safety Officer; TfL Director of Bus; TfL Head of Insights and Direction; TfL Chief Operations Officer; London Assembly Transport Committee Members; CEO, London TravelWatch; Dan Tomlinson MP; Ben Coleman MP; Katie Lam MP; Olly Glover MP; Ruth Cadbury MP; Catherine Atkinson MP;  Workplace Colleague Network - London Bus Forums; Sharon Graham - Unite the Union; Journalists; Bus Drivers; Campaigners

Dear Ms Murphy,

Thank you for your perfunctory response. Kindly note that I have recirculated it to everyone who was copied on my original email, as I have also  done with my response today.

As you probably know from my earlier letters to City Hall and TfL (cf. Speaking out against London Buses' Culture of Fear, 19 August 2021), my decision to quit the buses and campaign for the Bus Drivers' Bill of Rights was inspired by the fact that, six years ago today, Bus Drivers were being abandoned by their Bus Operator employers, Unite the Union, TfL and the Mayor when they started getting sick and dying from Covid-19.  Your response confirms that, despite at least 76 Bus Drivers dying from Covid-19, nothing has changed. 

·       TfL has yet to conduct "a short-term review of shift lengths, patterns and rotas of London bus drivers" recommended by the UCL Institute of Health Equity in March 2021 and agreed by TfL to complete "by summer 2021";

·       One in Four London Bus Routes still lack Toilet Facilities at one end for Bus Drivers;

·       Compared to 2024, in 2025 the number of Bus Drivers taken to hospital from Assault/Vandalism incidents increased by 17%. 

Since (a) the Mayor has sole responsibility for Policing in London and (b) the unanimous London Assembly Motion called for the Mayor and TfL—

 "to issue a public apology to Mr Hehir and to apply pressure to Metroline to reinstate Mr Hehir or provide appropriate compensation for his dismissal"

—I think you'll find your complacent restatement of TfL's long-standing policy of ignoring Bus Driver welfare is deeply out-of-sync with both the Mayor's legal obligations and the public mood. 

According to TfL's own data, over the period 1 January 2014-31 December 2025, an average of 7 Bus Drivers per month were reported by TfL as having been injured in Assault/Vandalism incidents on London's buses, of which over one driver per month was taken to hospital. 

Since I know that many Bus Drivers don't report injuries they receive on duty, I believe TfL's numbers are underestimates. 

Over the same 11-year period, an average of 15 people per month were reported injured from an Assault/Vandalism incident on buses and about 4 per month were taken to hospital.  

I'd wager TfL's numbers of passenger injuries from Assault/Vandalism incidents are also underestimates. 

TfL's data also reveal that Bus Drivers accounted for 41% of all reported injuries from Assault/Vandalism incidents and 46% of all those taken to hospital.

As you no doubt know, over the period for which TfL has made bus safety data available for public scrutiny, Bus Drivers—on average—have only constituted an infinitesimal (0.0011%!) of the total number of annual Bus Passengers.  Hence, I think you'll agree with me that the fact that Bus Drivers are 80,000 times more likely than a passenger to be injured and 40,000 times more likely than a passenger to be taken to the hospital in an Assault/Vandalism incident on London's buses demands that TfL do more than just abdicate responsibility for Bus Drivers' safety and security. 

TfL's numbers reveal an obvious fact: Bus Drivers are not just casual victims of Assault/Vandalism incidents on London's buses, they are the primary victims of this increasing violence.

Given this well-evidenced risk, when a Bus Driver chooses to intervene to defend a Bus Passenger against Assault/Vandalism and is subsequently dismissed for gross misconduct—and the Mayor, TfL and Unite the Union do nothing—the outcome of this complacency undermines the safety of London's Bus Network for which the Mayor and TfL are legally accountable. 

And TfL's decision to side with Metroline against Mark Hehir—i.e., against someone who TfL's own data shows had the highest risk of serious injury and the most to lose from intervening in an Assault/Vandalism incident—simply re-broadcasts a clear message, that I've been familiar with— 

(a) since Bus Drivers started to sicken and die around me from Covid-19 6 years ago this month, and;

(b) each time the Mayor fails to respond to Bus Drivers' reasonable demand to incorporate the Bus Drivers Bill of Rights into TfL's Framework Bus Services Agreement:

—TfL takes no responsibility for the security and safety of London's Bus Drivers. 

Since we already know that TfL's  "incident reporting system does not specifically collect data relating to disciplinary outcomes" regarding Bus Drivers, your statement that it "would not be appropriate for TfL to intervene" rings hollow: the public record shows that TfL completely washes its hands of how Bus Drivers are disciplined by their employers.

The London Assembly Motion also calls on the Mayor and TfL—

"to set out clear guidance for transport workers protecting passengers."

I do hope the London Assembly Members copied here will take note of the clear guidance your response conveyed: 

TfL will support any Bus Operator which fires a Bus Driver who chooses to risk injury to protect Bus Passengers against Assault/Vandalism incidents on London's buses.

Why do the Mayor and TfL refuse to protect London's Bus Drivers?

Yours sincerely,

Kevin Mustafa

London Bus Safety Campaigner

Founding Member - Bus Driver Bill of Rights Campaign

-----------------ATTACHMENT------------------

From: Bus Ops FOIs & Inquiries <BusOpsFOIsInquir@tfl.gov.uk>

Sent: Friday, February 13, 2026 1:13:07 PM

To: Kevin Mustafa

Subject: RE: Subject Intervention Requested: Dismissal of Bus Driver Mark Hehir

Dear Kevin,

Please see below a response to your email from Lorna Murphy.

Dear Kevin,

Thank you for your email. As you are aware, bus services in London are delivered by private operators, such as Metroline, under contract to TfL. Operational matters, including staffing and employment decisions within individual companies, sit with those operators. As this issue relates to Metroline's internal employment processes, it would not be appropriate for TfL to intervene. You may wish to raise your concerns directly with Metroline so they can address them through their established procedures.

Yours sincerely,

Lorna Murphy 

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The post MV Agusta Makes Full Electronics Standard Across Lineup appeared first on Roadracing World Magazine | Motorcycle Riding, Racing & Tech News.

MotoGP to roar into the city streets of Adelaide from 2027

MotoGP has confirmed that the Australian Grand Prix will move to the Adelaide Street Circuit from 2027, marking a first-of-its-kind event for the sport

MotoGP Sports Entertainment Group, the South Australian Government and the City of Adelaide announced that the Australian Grand Prix will be hosted on a city centre circuit in Adelaide from 2027.

The six‑year agreement begins next season and will see MotoGP race at the Adelaide Street Circuit until 2032 inclusive. This landmark event will be the first MotoGP Grand Prix to be held in a city‑centre location - with the uncompromised safety standards required in the modern era of the sport.

The circuit layout was unveiled in Adelaide on Thursday 19 February in front of national media by MotoGP Chief Sporting Officer Carlos Ezpeleta and Premier of South Australia Peter Malinauskas.

It was confirmed that the inaugural Australian GP in Adelaide will be held across three days in November 2027. The circuit will be approximately 4.195 km long with 18 corners winding through the city streets, enabling riders to reach speeds of more than 340 km/h.

The track design follows the blueprint of the famous Adelaide Street Circuit that hosted Formula 1 events between 1985 and 1995, with the significant adjustments required to ensure rider safety remains the number‑one priority.

The city's layout, culture and passion for major events make Adelaide the perfect home for a premium, festival‑style urban Grand Prix - providing a unique opportunity to elevate the fan experience to a new level.

MotoGP Chief Sporting Officer, Carlos Ezpeleta, said: "Bringing MotoGP to Adelaide marks a major milestone in the evolution of our championship. This city has a world‑class reputation for hosting major sporting events, and the opportunity to design a purpose‑built circuit in the city streets is something truly unique in our sport.

"From the very beginning, together with the FIM, we made sure that safety remained uncompromised - every element of the Adelaide Street Circuit has been engineered to meet the highest standards of modern MotoGP, ensuring riders can race at full intensity with complete confidence.

"Adelaide's commitment to major events makes it the perfect home for MotoGP's next chapter in Australia. We're incredibly excited to showcase a new style of racing here and to create a true celebration of our sport that brings fans even closer to the action.

"This partnership represents bold ambition from both MotoGP and Australia - and we couldn't be prouder to begin this journey together."

The Premier of South Australia, Peter Malinauskas, added: "This is a major coup for South Australia and yet more evidence our state has real momentum. "We are now competing with the rest of the nation for the world's best events - and winning. Hosting the world's first MotoGP race on a street circuit will give Adelaide a truly unique offering that is sure to attract visitors from interstate and overseas.

"This is about so much more than a world‑class motorsport event - it's about generating economic activity for our state, supporting jobs, and putting South Australia on the global stage.

"We back major events that deliver a strong economic return, and MotoGP does exactly that. MotoGP is growing globally at record pace - and Adelaide will now be a key part of that growth story."

More information regarding the event will be released in due course.

The post MotoGP Replacing Phillip Island With Street Circuit in 2027 appeared first on Roadracing World Magazine | Motorcycle Riding, Racing & Tech News.

A new agreement has been signed between Brembo and WorldSBK, with the braking system manufacturer becoming the Championship's Innovation Partner

Delayed by KTM's financial challenges, the 990 Duke R is finally here. Starting from the base of the 990 Duke, the R model is enhanced all the way through. Refinement in each and every key area of the machine adds up to a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts - it's a different machine, and KTM reflects this by granting the Duke R a different nickname, "The Punisher."

KTM brought motojournalists to the Palm Springs area for a two-day introduction of the Duke R. KTM's Media Relations and R&D Manager Chris Fillmore, a former Supermoto National Champion, had a prototype similar to the Duke R and talked company management into letting him race it as a wild card in the Super Hooligan class at the 2024 MotoAmerica Mid-Ohio round. Fillmore wrestled and slid the beast around at the front of the field, and had such a good time that he wanted part of the 990 Duke R intro to take place on the track.

So the first day was riding the Duke R through the mountains up above Palm Springs, through the town of Idyllwild, and the second day took place at Chuckwalla Valley Raceway, sharing the circuit with Dale Keiffer's Racer's Edge track day.

I'd ridden the 990 Duke on the track and on the street, so I was able to develop a back-to-back comparison between it and the Duke R. Short answer - it is definitely different, more capable, sharper in every way.

990 Duke R Technical Specifications

The Duke R shares its core with the Duke, starting with the 947 cc four-stroke, DOHC parallel-Twin LC8c engine with a bore and stroke of 92.5 mm by 70.4 mm. New mapping boosts power to a claimed 126.09 bhp and torque to 78.2 lbs.-ft. The engine is a stressed member of the chassis, and plays another important role in the behavior of the bike. It weighs 125.6 pounds, making it the most compact twin in its class, KTM says.

Bolted to the tubular steel frame are upgraded suspension components front and rear. A new forged aluminum triple clamp holds a pair of 48 mm WP Apex inverted open-cartridge forks, now adjustable for rebound, compression and preload. The change at the rear may be the most significant: the WP Apex monoshock offers high- and low-speed compression damping adjustment along with rebound and preload adjustment, and it operates through a linkage rather than being bolted directly to the swingarm. This allows KTM to get the progressive action it wants mechanically.

Brakes are upgraded as well, with four-piston Brembo Stylema radial-mounted calipers now operating on 12.6-inch discs in front and a single Brembo caliper mated to a 9.44-inch disc at the rear. A Brembo MCS master cylinder is adjustable for ratio, and the ABS system has four settings - Cornering, Sport, Supermoto and Supermoto+, which all offer different degrees of intervention front and rear.

Ergonomics are more aggressive, with a higher seat, higher and more rearward footpegs and a handlebar that is lower. And talk about aggressive - the Duke R doesn't come stock with passenger pegs or a passenger seat!

The Duke R features a new 8.8-inch TFT dash that offers customizable split screen functionality and is actually touch-sensitive, even through gloves. Standard features include four ride modes, including a new Custom option, and include traction control and wheelie control. The optional Track Mode incorporates slip angle control, five-level anti-wheelie control, launch control, and a quickshifter is available as either an individual add-on or as part of the Tech Pack, which has all of the Track Mode features as well as engine braking and cruise control. The package is rounded out by Michelin Power Cup 2 track-oriented DOT tires, orange wheels from the 1390 Super Duke R EVO and a color scheme from the 2011 990 Super Duke R.

Riding The 990 Duke R

You definitely notice the higher seat height when you swing a leg over the Duke R, but once aboard, the riding position feels roomy and comfortable. As I always mention, Dukes have a unique riding position, one that strikes a balance between sportiness and comfort, and it's one that I like a lot. Pulling into Palm Springs morning traffic, I noticed that the quickshifter was slick and precise, the seat comfortable and there was little vibration.

Onto Highway 243, where the pavement shifted from recently paved and smooth to not-so-recently paved, the Duke was in its element. I used Track and Sport riding modes, settling on Sport mode as it allowed a bit more nuance in the application of throttle, which I find useful on twisty roads where mid-corner course corrections are part of the game. The increased fork stiffness was noticeable, but the big difference to me was the increased sophistication of the rear suspension action. Over frost heaves (and yes, it snows up there!) the rear did a much better job of absorbing sharp-edged bumps, and if I were riding the bike only on the street, the standard suspension settings would serve nicely as they are. There was no shortage of power for street riding, and more than enough brakes.

On the track, especially at Chuckwalla, there was still plenty of power - the bike never felt breathless on the relatively short straights, and there was plenty of punch coming out of corners. With Dunlop slicks installed, it was all about lean angle and mid-corner speed, and the Duke R was more than comfortable being ridden this way. I added preload to the rear to help minimize some of the weight transfer coming out of corners, and I spent most of the time in Track Mode for a sharper throttle response - I mean, isn't that what a big twin is about, torque and punch?

The other thing I noticed was the sheer flickability of the bike through transitions and into corners. The center of gravity is raised, there are no aero appendages to weigh down the steering inputs, and the bike transitions quickly and with very little effort. I just put in lap after lap, session after session, and I thought toward the end of the event that this was a bike you really could take out for every session on a track day - and be ready to do it again the next day.

Suggested retail is $13,399.

The post Intro: KTM 2026 990 Duke R, A.K.A. "The Punisher" appeared first on Roadracing World Magazine | Motorcycle Riding, Racing & Tech News.

The WorldSBK and WorldSSP riders in Australia took part in the annual Chevron photoshoot ahead of the first round of the season

In a surprise late addition to the 2026 grid, Tommy Bridewell and Superbike Advocates Racing throw their hat into the ring in WorldSBK's 2026 season!

With features like Live Timing, Rider Tracking and live commentary, the WorldSBK app is a must-have to follow the 2026 season!

The first media day of the year is in the books with plenty of spicy quotes coming from Phillip Island…

Check out some incredible numbers provided by Brembo about the challenges of Phillip Island

2026 is upon us at Phillip Island, so let's take a dive into the key numbers from last year's incredible visit Down Under

The #19 will make history with his next win, as he looks to pass Max Biaggi for the honour of being WorldSBK's oldest race winner

The WorldSBK Predictor game is back once again in 2026 for every round offering a variety of exclusive prizes won by correctly guessing that Round's pole-setting time!

As reported earlier today, the MotoGP Sports Entertainment Group issued the following press release today, announcing that MotoGP will leave Phillip Island in Australia and switch to a street circuit in Adelaide from 2027 through 2032:

MotoGP to roar into the city streets of Adelaide from 2027

MotoGP has confirmed that the Australian Grand Prix will move to the Adelaide Street Circuit from 2027, marking a first-of-its-kind event for the sport

• Read more about Press Release: MotoGP Drops Phillip Island, Moves To Adelaide Street Circuit
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The American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association's (AHRMA) 2026 Vintage Cup kicked off with ideal racing conditions.

The first race of the AHRMA season took place Feb 14th and 15th at Roebling Road Raceway in Bloomingdale, GA, as the kick-off to the 2026 AHRMA National Roadracing Series, presented by VIB-ISO. 

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.

The start of Saturday's race saw Craig Light riding his 1973 Bultaco get the hole shot with Rob Hall aboard 1967 BSA C17 hot on his heels. Light held the lead through the first lap with Hall overtaking him at the beginning of lap 2, where he then created a good gap and held a comfortable lead to the checkered flag.  Also putting in fast laps and good passes was Craig Hirko on his 1967 Bridgestone 175, who crossed the finish in 2nd, with Jonas Stein on his 1972 Honda CB175 half a second behind and coming in 3rd.  The battle for 4th place was the race to watch, with several riders changing places throughout the race.  The race ended with Tim Terrell riding his 1966 Honda CB160, Holly Varey on David Rhodes' 1976 Honda MT125, Eric Watts on his 1966 Ducati 250, Jim Jowers riding a 1965 Ducati 250, and Light all swapping places.  

Sunday's race first looked to be a replay of Saturday's race, although Rob Hall had switched to his (very fast) CB 160.  Varey pulled a textbook hole shot, leading the pack through turn one.  Hall pulled out in front but had a mechanical on lap 4. Hirko took full advantage and was able to secure the lead riding his Bridgestone to the checkered flag, with Colton Roberts putting in some good laps to come around in 2nd, and Stein rounding out the podium in 3rd.  Again, the 4-8th place racing was some of the best on track, with Varey, Jowers, Watts, Terrell, and Light all coming in within a second and a half of each other as they crossed the line. 

"I was so happy to see so many entries for the 250GP class going into this weekend for the 2026 Vintage Cup season opener at our old favorite Roebling Road Raceway. These bikes and riders did not disappoint!  Wow, what an amazing couple of races to watch. As an added bonus we had AHRMA stalwart Eric Watts' onboard camera catching all the intense 4th to 8th place race action and seeing it from this perspective gave great insight into how much the draft, corner entry speed, and the proper race line is imperative to stay up front. What these bikes may lack in displacement is made up by rider talent and judicious use of the throttle hand. What a successful launch to the 2026 Vintage Cup! It's our first time featuring the 250GP class, and I'm a proud papa!", 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.

"On behalf of all of us at American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association, I couldn't be more thrilled with how the opening round of our 2026 Road Race season unfolded—especially the electrifying 250GP class competing for the 2026 Vintage Cup," said Greg "GT" Tomlinson, Chairman of the Board of Trustees. The level of competitiveness across the entire field was nothing short of phenomenal. Every rider brought intensity, precision, and heart to the grid, and it showed in every lap. I found myself shoulder to shoulder with fans at the track wall, sharing in their excitement as we watched those incredible cornering speeds. We were cheering at the top of our lungs, but our voices were happily drowned out by the lovely, unmistakable sound of those 250GP bikes trumpeting down the straight. If this first round is any indication of what the rest of the 2026 Vintage Cup season has in store, then we are in for one hell of a year!" 

Rounds three and four of the AHRMA National Road Race Series Presented by VIB-ISO will be March 14-15 at Carolina Motorsports Park in Kershaw, SC.

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

• Saturday, February 14, 2026

1 - 270 Rob Hall, 1967 BSA C15, Charlotte, NC

2 - 641 Craig Hirko, 1967 Bridgestone TA 1, Newark Valley, NY

3 - 123 Jonas Stein, 1972 Honda CB175, Nashville, TN

4 - 220 Tim Terrell, 1966 Honda CB160, Burlington, NC

5 - 50H Holly Varey, 1976 Honda MT125, Bradford, ON

6 - 87 Eric Watts, 1966 Ducati 250, Blacklick, OH

7 - 37 Jim Jowers, 1965 Ducati 250, East Hampton, NY

8 - 79A Craig Light, 1973 Bultaco, Peachtree City, GA

9 - 805 Greyson Rogers, 1972 Yamaha CT1, Claremont, NC

10 - 9 Colton Roberts, 1968 Harley-Davidson Aermacchi, Pawnee, IL

11 - 350 Doug Bowie, 1968 Ducati Mach 1, Lilburn, GA

12 - 500 Stuart Wray, 1965 Ducati 250, St. Petersburg, FL

13 - 903 Robert Brangaccio, 1971 Ducati 250, Basking Ridge, NJ

14 - 521 Kevin Nixon, 1965 Honda CB160, Naugatuck, CT

15 - 842 Tom Sanders, 1973 Honda CB175, Winter Springs, FL

16 - 455 Thomas Pillsbury, 1970 Yamaha DT1, Westminster, SC

• Sunday, February 15, 2026

1 - 641 Craig Hirko, 1967 Bridgestone TA 1, Newark Valley, NY

2 - 9 Colton Roberts, 1968 Harley-Davidson Aermacchi, Pawnee, IL

3 - 123 Jonas Stein, 1972 Honda CB175, Nashville, TN

4 - 50H Holly Varey, 1976 Honda MT125, Bradford, ON

5 - 37 Jim Jowers, 1965 Ducati 250, East Hampton, NY

6 - 87 Eric Watts, 1966 Ducati 250, Blacklick, OH

7 - 220 Tim Terrell, 1966 Honda CB160, Burlington, NC

8 - 79A Craig Light, 1973 Bultaco, Peachtree City, GA

9 - 903 Robert Brangaccio, 1971 Ducati 250, Basking Ridge, NJ

10 - 521 Kevin Nixon, 1965 Honda CB160, Naugatuck, CT

11 - 270 Rob Hall, 1965 Honda CB160, Charlotte, NC

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.

The post AHRMA: Hall & Hirko Split Wins at Roebling Road Raceway appeared first on Roadracing World Magazine | Motorcycle Riding, Racing & Tech News.

More from a press release issued by Red Bull KTM Factory Racing:

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing and Eli Tomac back on top in Seattle.

Eli Tomac and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing returned to the top step of the AMA Supercross podium at Round 6 in Seattle tonight, as the two-time 450SX Champion raced to a convincing third win of 2026 in technical conditions at Lumen Field.

Equipped with the KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION, Tomac set the second-fastest qualifying time behind Red Bull KTM Factory Racing teammate Jorge Prado at the conclusion of the afternoon sessions.

The 33-year-old then powered to a measured third-place finish in the opening 450SX Heat Race, earning a strong gate selection for the upcoming Main Event as track conditions continued to break down throughout the night.

In launching out of the gates well for the Main Event, Tomac positioned himself in second position early on, then trailed the race leader during the opening stages of the race as he looked for opportunities to make a move. A decisive pass at the halfway point saw him take control of the lead, going on to deliver victory by 9.265 seconds.

Tomac recorded his third win of the 2026 SMX World Championship season in Seattle - which was also the 56th of his career in 450SX - and now is one point outside of the 450SX lead entering Arlington next weekend.

Eli Tomac: "Seattle was the usual conditions today, a tough track to really get ahold of and get comfortable on, but I saved the best for last - I got the best start and had my best ride in the Main Event. I cleaned up some lines, did some different jump combinations, and this was just typical Seattle, and one of the toughest rounds that we have on the schedule. I am glad to come here and get back on top, as the last couple of weekends have been a little tough, so we're back at it!"

Also onboard the KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION, Aaron Plessinger qualified ninth overall during the afternoon, later taking a direct transfer to the 450SX Main Event with a convincing third-place finish in his Heat Race.

'The Cowboy' then powered to a good start in the Main Event, battling within the top-five throughout the opening stages of the race, before eventually crossing the finish in seventh position and continuing to improve into the middle stages of the Supercross series.

Aaron Plessinger: "Wrapping up Round 6 in Seattle, it was an alright night for me. I struggled a little in practice, but then got a pretty good start in the Heat Race and finished third, and then made another good start in the Main Event. Half of that one was solid, but it just kind of fell apart after that, so I've just got to be better. We're getting back towards consistent riding and not making so many mistakes, and I think heading back to Florida this week will do me good - we'll get some riding done and work on some things. The positives are that we got two good starts tonight and had some good laps, so we'll build on that in Arlington!" 

Four-time world champion Jorge Prado continued his impressive pace in Seattle, setting the fastest overall qualifying time for the second-consecutive week with a 50.600-second lap — nearly half a second clear of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing teammate Eli Tomac.

An incident late in the second 450SX qualifying session, however, ultimately sidelined the 25-year-old for the remainder of the night program. After attempting to line up for Heat 2, Prado withdrew from Round 6 and will undergo further medical evaluation this week.

Next Race: February 21 - Arlington, Texas

More from a press release issued by Yamaha:

Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing's Cooper Webb closes the gap in the 450SX title fight with a runner-up finish, while teammate Justin Cooper joins him on the podium in third.

One thing about Cooper Webb — he never stops fighting. It's that mentality that has earned three premier-class titles in Monster Energy AMA Supercross. And while Saturday night wasn't the third-straight win in Seattle, Washington, that he was aiming for, the runner-up finish may prove important in his pursuit of a fourth 450SX crown.

"You always want to win, but second place, we've got to just keep taking these and cutting the points down," said Rich Simmons, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing's 450 Team Manager. Two races ago, Coop was 24 points down, and now he's 11. We've just got to keep working at it."

A 13-point swing in the class as stacked as the 450SX Championship is no easy feat, but Webb and his team kept working, kept improving, and it showed at Round 6 of the championship at Lumen Field. In addition to his best qualifying of the season in third, the North Carolina rider grabbed the holeshot in his heat race. It was a great battle with Hunter Lawrence, with Webb ultimately finishing runner-up after an error had him on the ground.

In the main event, it was another great start from the reigning champ as he grabbed his second holeshot of the evening. Webb also clocked the fastest lap on Lap 2 and had a decent gap up front, leading for over half the race, but on Lap 14 Eli Tomac made his move and rode on to remain unchallenged.

"Eli got around me and had some good laps," Webb said. "I just tightened up for sure and got a bit of arm pump. At the end of the day, I can't keep hitting whoops like that and expect to win. We'll get back to work. I want to give it up to the team. We did a great job all day. We worked on our starts this week, and it showed tonight. I got my first holeshot, which was awesome. Led a bunch of laps, which was the first time this year, so that was nice."

Webb's second-place finish moved him closer to the points leader as he heads to his favorite event on the calendar - Arlington Supercross.

"We'll take the positives and keep plugging away, Webb said. "We're crawling back into the championship, so I'm stoked on that. We'll keep digging. This is a long championship, and we'll keep fighting through and hopefully click off some better results next weekend."

Although he didn't have as good a qualifying as he had hoped in eighth, Cooper got a good start to his heat race in third and made his way through to the runner-up spot, where he would finish to earn his best heat race result this season. With a good gate pick for the main event, he got another good start in fourth, and although he was shuffled back to seventh soon after, he kept pushing and rode some strong laps to make his way into the top five. A late-race incident between Hunter Lawrence and Ken Roczen opened the door — and Cooper was right there. He capitalized, moved into third, and never looked back, earning his first podium of the season.

"It was a good night, all around," Cooper said. "Not the best qualifying, but then the heat race was one of my best of the year. I got a third-place start and then made it to second. I had a good gate pick for the main, and I started around seventh or sixth. I made a few passes and was kind of hovering around fourth and fifth for most of the race. Then I was able to capitalize on some mistakes by other riders, get together with them, and get into the podium spot, and just hit my marks. It feels good to take a podium this early in the season. Fourth last weekend and third this weekend - we're trending in the right direction and looking forward to more racing."

Seattle Supercross is known for having some of the toughest conditions on the calendar, and this year was no exception.

"It's just Seattle, the track was absolutely gnarly," Cooper said. "Twenty minutes plus one out there with all the 450s, it gets really demanding. A lot of focus is involved, and I just put together solid laps and got a little gift from those two, but you've got to stay in it."

For both riders, the momentum continues to build. Next weekend, they head indoors for Round 7 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship and the Monster Energy SMX World Championship at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

"It was a pretty good day and a step in the right direction with everything," Simmons said. "Qualifying was good for Webb, and even though Justin was eighth, he was right there in the first one. Starts were a lot better. Webb got a good start in every single one, and Justin's starts were more consistent. So, that's the biggest thing for us. We've really been working on that, and we've made some headway. We'll move on to next week and just keep trying to make forward strides and take that win."

Haiden Deegan Extends Win Streak in Epic 250SX Battle in Seattle.

Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing's Haiden Deegan heads into the break with a commanding 250SX West lead, while Max Anstie made key championship gains with a third-place finish.

There are races that people remember for a season, and others that get replayed for years. Only time will tell where the Monster Energy AMA Supercross 250SX Main Event in Seattle lands, but one thing is certain: it was a good one.

After pure domination from Monster Energy Star Racing's Haiden Deegan at the last four rounds, Round 6 looked like more of the same. The reigning champ topped qualifying, grabbed holeshots, and won his heat race at Lumen Field. It was shaping up to be another runaway. Then Levi Kitchen, the home state hero, changed the script.

Deegan was fourth on the opening lap but wasted little time charging to the front. Around the halfway mark, Kitchen made the pass, and what followed was a cat-and-mouse game that had the Washington State crowd on its feet.

"Around halfway or so, when he got around me because there was a red cross flag and he kind of caught me, I wasn't going to risk it," Deegan explained. "I figured if he got around me, I'd just try and push it at the end."

With three laps remaining, Deegan struck back. He reclaimed the lead and rode it in for his fifth consecutive victory, stretching his points advantage to 35 as the Western Divisional 250 class heads into its break.

"That was gnarly," Deegan said. "Before this race, I told my dad and Brad (Hoffman), 'I want to battle.' I haven't battled in a long time, and as much as it is nice to get to the lead and take off, this isn't good for me. Battles like this, learning how to have race craft like that, just teach me to be a better rider when I go to the 450. Having cake-walk races is nice, but a battle like that, that was fun."

After a tough few rounds, Max Anstie rebounded in Seattle with a return to the podium. The British rider grabbed the holeshot in his heat race, and although he got shuffled back to fourth, he fought his way back to third. In the main event, he grabbed the holeshot again and settled into third after a few laps, maintaining a strong, steady pace on one of the most demanding tracks on the schedule. His second podium finish of the season moved him back into the runner-up spot in the 250SX West standings.

"It was a solid night, P3, and back on the box where I belong," Anstie said. "We've got five weeks now to improve and come out swinging at the East/West Showdown rounds."

Michael Mosiman showed speed early, earning his best qualifying result of the season in third. Although he did not get the start he was hoping for in his heat race, the Californian fought his way through from fourth and made the pass for second in the whoops with three laps to go. Unfortunately on the following lap, Hunter Yoder made contact with Mosiman, putting them both on the ground. The Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing rider finished sixth, and despite the gate pick, he had a decent start to the main event inside the top 10. Mosiman did what he could, finishing sixth to salvage points. He heads into the break third in the standings, just one point behind Anstie.

"It was a challenging night," Mosiman said. "I had my best qualifying of the year and felt good going into the night program. A less-than-ideal start in the heat, but I worked my way to second before getting cleaned out. I was thankful to make the main without having to go to the LCQ, and in the main, I put myself in a decent position early, making some good moves the first few turns. I passed (Cameron) MacAdoo into fifth at the 12-minute mark, but I made a mistake, and he got me back. I'm disappointed with a sixth place on the night, but I'm proud of the effort and the fight. The team and I see what needs to be worked on, and we will be putting in the hours during the break to be even stronger during the latter half of the Supercross season."

With six wins in six rounds and all three riders occupying the top three spots in the 250SX West Championship, it's been a stellar start to the year for the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing squad.

"It was another great points night," said Wil Hahn, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing's 250 Team General Manager. "A great race from Haiden and a double podium with getting Max back up on the box. Mosi (Michael Mosiman) rode solid to salvage the night. I'm proud of the whole crew."

Next weekend, the 250SX East Championship kicks off at AT&T Stadium, also Round 7 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship and the Monster Energy SMX World Championship on February 21 in Arlington, Texas.

More from a press release issued by Honda HRC:

Hunter Lawrence minimizes damage on a difficult night in Seattle, retains points leads.

• Australian finishes a respectable fourth despite poor start and a crash
• Series heads to Arlington, where Jo Shimoda will campaign the first 250SX East round

While round 6 of AMA Supercross in Seattle didn't go the way Hunter Lawrence had planned, the Honda HRC Progressive rider mitigated the impact from what could have been a more detrimental day, as he ultimately finished in fourth place—good enough for him to hold a one-point lead in the title chase as the series travels to Arlington, Texas.

The 450SX main event saw Lawrence spin his rear tire off the start and exit turn 1 in an uncharacteristic seventh place. He quickly made a pass before making a mistake on the tricky track and losing a spot on lap 3. Ten laps in, the Australian found his rhythm and mounted a charge. He sat in fifth at the race's midway point and moved up to fourth with eight laps remaining. From there, Lawrence quickly closed the gap to Ken Roczen and made an aggressive move for a podium position in the sand section, an area of the track where he had made some great passes in the previous laps. Unfortunately, the lines came together and he made contact with Roczen, sending both riders to the ground. Lawrence remounted, with only Justin Cooper getting by. With limited time remaining, Lawrence had to settle for fourth. Quad Lock Honda's Joey Savatgy finished a respectable eighth.

NOTES

• The Seattle race took place less than three days after the Seattle Seahawks held a Super Bowl victory celebration party and parade at Lumen Field. As a result, the supercross track-building schedule was delayed, and the riding portion of Friday's media activities was canceled. Honda HRC Progressive team manager Lars Lindstrom participated in a media scrum organized by Feld.

• South Bound Honda activated a pop-up booth in Honda HRC Progressive's pits, featuring a Chance Hymas No. 29 replica CRF110F equipped with team-sponsor parts, and a CRF450R wearing red-on-red SKDA graphics. Both bikes were appropriate for the weekend, as Chance Hymas was attending the race and Hunter Lawrence was wearing the red plate. Dealership staff used the opportunity to connect directly with fans and customers.

• Idaho native Hymas took advantage of the series' visit to the Pacific Southwest to support his team and spend time with fans. He joined Lawrence for the autograph session and made an appearance on Race Day Live, and he was also interviewed for the main broadcast after the heat races.

• Lawrence placed fifth in 450SX combined qualifying. Quad Lock Honda riders Joey Savatgy, Christian Craig, and Shane McElrath qualified 13th, 14th and 15th, respectively. The other premier-class Red Rider for this weekend was McGinley Clinic's Zack Williams, who qualified 27th.

• In 250SX combined qualifying, participating Red Riders included SLR Honda racers Justin Rodbell and Matti Jorgensen, who qualified 22nd and 32nd, respectively; Next Level riders Hunter Schlosser and Colby Copp in 19th and 23rd; and Lasting Impressions' Ronnie Orres in 31st.

• Rodbell and Schlosser both advanced directly to the 250SX main through their respective heat races, each finishing eighth. Jorgensen advanced through the LCQ, finishing fourth. In the 250SX West main event, Jorgensen and Schlosser were 16th and 18th, while Rodbell didn't finish and was credited with 22nd. 

• Quad Lock Honda rider Christian Craig got tangled up with Jason Anderson in the first 450SX heat race and unfortunately sustained multiple fractured fingers. Craig said on his Instagram account that he will rest during the week and attempt to return this coming weekend in Arlington.

• The second 450SX heat race saw Lawrence battle Cooper Webb for the lead before Webb tipped over, leaving Lawrence out front. The win marked Hunter's first heat-race victory of the season and the second of his career. Quad Lock Honda's Joey Savatgy finished fourth, with teammate Shane McElrath eighth.

• Lawrence remains the 450SX championship leader, holding a one-point advantage over Eli Tomac. The Australian will carry the red plate into the next round. 

• Up next for Honda HRC Progressive is AMA Supercross round 7 this Saturday in Arlington, Texas, which is a military-appreciation race. The event marks the first round of the 250SX East Region series, and Jo Shimoda is planning to compete. The Japanese racer suffered a neck injury during the off-season but has made a relatively speedy recovery from surgery. Everyone at Honda is happy to welcome the 2025 SMX 250 Champion back to racing.

Hunter Lawrence: "It was a bittersweet main event. I feel like my riding was really good, but I spun off the gate. I'm not sure 100% why that happened, but after that I was making my way through the pack. At the 10-minute mark, I figured the track out and really got going; I was able to do a lot of the rhythms deep into the main. Then I made my attempted pass on Kenny [Roczen] for third, and we got together. I certainly didn't intend on taking him out—it was just a crappy racing incident, but not how I wanted the night to go, especially after how I felt. In my perfect world, I would've jumped to the inside, got that lane, and then tried to catch Cooper Webb. Obviously, it's cool to still have the red plate—we definitely salvaged some points. With a good start, I feel like it could've been a completely different night; I had what it takes to get the win."

More from a press release issued by Suzuki Motor USA:

Suzuki Riders Battle Back at Round Six of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship.

Round 6 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross season presented a rutted and technical track inside Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington. The racing conditions in the open stadium were a stark departure from the previous round's hardpacked dirt under a domed stadium. The soft, wet soil rutted up and deteriorated quickly throughout the event, which paid championship points for both the Supercross season and the SMX World Championship.

Race Highlights:

• Progressive Insurance Cycle Gear ECSTAR Suzuki
  • 450 Class
    • Ken Roczen earned his third heat race win of the season and ran in a podium position for 19 out of 24 laps in the main event.
• Twisted Tea Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance
  • 450 Class
    • Jason Anderson bounced back brilliantly from a heat race crash to notch an LCQ victory.
    • Colt Nichols delivered his season-best heat race result and a fastest-sector time in the main event.

Ken Roczen (94) demonstrated the breadth of his talent in Seattle. After delivering a runaway main event win the weekend before on the hardpack of Glendale, Arizona, Roczen and his Suzuki RM-Z450 earned an uncontested victory in his heat race at the Seattle Supercross. In the Seattle main event, Roczen crossed the holeshot stripe in sixth place then launched a drive to the front; by lap three he had secured third place. As the top three riders pulled clear of the field, Roczen put in surges to get into position to attempt another pass. Late in the race, another rider jumped into Roczen in the sand section and both racers went down. It was the end of Roczen's hope of a Seattle podium; he crossed the line inside the top ten and remains inside the top 3 in the championship standings. 

"Overall, we had a pretty dang good day, honestly," said Roczen. "This is always a crazy venue to go to just because the track gets so gnarly. But we had a really good heat race going, won that one, and had first gate pick [for the main]. I got off to a decent start and honestly was putting on a strong charge in the middle of the race and [among the top three riders] we were all bunched up and riding really well. But the track did deteriorate really, really quickly. I had a couple of bad laps there towards the end, and I made a mistake [and I] couldn't double before the whoops section. That just really cost me and allowed [another rider] to get way too close to me and he pulled a move [that put us both on the ground]. He came over and apologized, and I have no hard feelings towards it at all; I think it was a little bit of a [brief mental lapse]. It's just unfortunate with situations like that. We pulled the shorter end of the stick until I got going again, and then the main was over. We ended up not with the greatest result, but we're only 11 points down. Overall, we rode well all day and had a really good main going, so I really can't be too mad."

Jason Anderson (21) held a consecutive string of heat race podiums in 2026, but his streak was ended with a tough crash in his Seattle heat. In the first-turn crash, Anderson tangled with other racers including his teammate, Nichols. Anderson remounted but did not continue beyond the first lap of the heat. Forced to race the LCQ, Anderson was patient on the opening lap before finding the flow of the track and working his way confidently into the lead. On the podium, Anderson told the fans inside Lumen Field that the additional track time was welcomed. The poor gate pick resulted in a poor start in the main for Anderson. After crossing the holeshot stripe in 12th, Anderson battled into the top ten. Anderson fought hard as the track got rougher and earned enough points to take over sole possession of seventh place in the standings. 

"My weekend was pretty tough," admitted Anderson. "But we ended up 11th. It was just a little bit of a struggle. Maybe next weekend, hopefully, we can be better. But I think tonight I was pretty much hovering in that tenth, 11th, 12th place area." 

Colt Nichols (45) was stopped in the first turn of his heat race when his teammate Anderson tumbled and wound up right in front of Nichol's front tire. From there, Nichols put on an incredible charge on a track that was unforgiving of rider mistakes. Nichols gained nine spots to card his best heat race result of the season. In the main, a poor start put the odds against Nichols again. The Oklahoman put his head down; Nichols used his Suzuki's nimble handling to gain four positions and set the main event's fastest time through the section before the whoops (Sector 3). Nichols brought home a top-15 result, which moved him up in the championship standings by one position. 

"Seattle was an interesting day, to say the least," said Nichols. "Practice was terrible, to be honest, and then we turned it around a little for the night show. I got into a [tangle] on the first start with Jason and [another rider], then I had to fight my way back and got into sixth in the heat. I feel like I rode really well. In the main event I got off to a little bit of a better start, it still wasn't great, and then just fought trying to get around some guys and ended up P-13. That's a little bit better, I didn't get 16th [again], so I'm happy about that. But there's a lot of work to do still. We'll go back home, go to work, and then it's my hometown race next weekend, so I'm excited."

"It was a tough weekend in Seattle after fighting for the win early in the main event," stated Dustin Pipes, Principal for the Twisted Tea/H.E.P. Motorsports/Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance team. "Even with everything that transpired, we are still only 11 points out of the championship lead. It's time to get back to work and regroup in Arlington next weekend." 

The next Supercross race takes place this Saturday inside AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The Suzuki riders, mechanics, and team members are ready for the challenges of the season and eager to deliver more wins and podium rides with their Suzuki RM-Z450s. 

For the latest team updates, news, and race insights, visit SuzukiCycles.com/Racing/Motocross or pipesmotorsportsgroup.com.

More from a press release issued by Monster Energy Kawasaki:

Levi Kitchen impresses the hometown crowd with a podium finish at Seattle Supercross.

Monster Energy® Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider Levi Kitchen had the hometown crowd on their feet as he delivered a standout performance to take second place in the 250SX Main Event at Round 6 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship in Seattle. Teammate Cameron McAdoo powered through adversity to secure a solid fifth-place finish. Monster Energy Kawasaki rider Chase Sexton put in a solid effort on the day to take home fifth place in the 450SX Main Event. Garrett Marchbanks rebounded from a late race incident, but without enough time left in the race, the No. 36 Kawasaki would ultimately finish 22nd.

Following a day of non-stop rain on Friday, riders were met with challenging track conditions on race day. The sticky mud tested the bikes and riders throughout the day. In 250SX Qualifying, Kitchen laid down fast laps in both sessions, narrowly missing the top spot to earn second overall. McAdoo continued to adapt to the changing track conditions, putting down a fast lap in the second session to take sixth overall.

The two Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki riders were lined up nearly side by side for the first heat race. As the gate dropped, both Kawasaki riders bolted out of the gate on their KX250 machines, with McAdoo rounding the first turn in second and Kitchen close behind in fourth. Kitchen quickly went to work, making decisive passes into third and then second before taking the lead just two minutes into the race. Riding off the energy of the hometown crowd, he continued to charge forward, gapping the field by over seven seconds and clocking the fastest lap time by over a second. After slipping back a couple of positions, McAdoo regrouped and started his push back towards the front. While on the move, McAdoo suffered a mid-race crash that dropped him back to eighth. The No. 142 Kawasaki quickly regrouped and climbed his way back up to fifth to finish the heat race.

In the 250SX Main Event, both riders came out of the gate in favorable Top 5 positions. McAdoo entered the first lap in second, finding his speed and rhythm in the opening moments, while Kitchen charged his way from fifth to second by Lap 3, passing his teammate along the way. Riding the momentum, Kitchen set the fastest lap of the race on the following lap. Determined to get the lead in front of the home crowd, Kitchen made a clean pass for first at the halfway point. A back-and-forth battle with the series points leader ensued with Kitchen using his inside line in the sand and triple-triple through the Sector 7 rhythm lane to hold a gap. Through the closing laps, lapped riders and rutted conditions caused the leaders' lap times to be upwards of five seconds slower than their best. The two riders exchanged positions until the checkered flag, with Kitchen finishing a hard-fought second place. Despite lingering soreness from his earlier crash, McAdoo maintained a Top 5 pace all night to secure fifth place.

Levi Kitchen: "I definitely built more confidence after the race tonight, and we will keep building each week. Tonight we delivered a show for the fans and I had fun racing out there. I think the fans had fun watching it, and this is what they have been waiting for. I do feel like we're close right now. I feel like we're pretty close in speed and just need to work on a few more things, but I know the team and I can do it. My goal now is to go into every weekend, knowing that I can break away from the field and push my ability and speed. I want to have more races like that and put it on the top step of the box for Mitch and the team."

Cameron McAdoo: "I had a few struggles today. I struggled a little bit in qualifying with comfort, but it wasn't terrible. In the heat race, I had an unfortunate crash and banged myself up pretty good. Ending up fifth on the night was definitely the best that I had. I'm proud I was able to stay up there and get a solid result. I was glad that I was able to limit the damage as much as possible with how I was feeling after the heat race."

In 450SX Qualifying, Sexton steadily learned the evolving track conditions and made key adjustments to dial in his KX450SR. The No. 4 Kawasaki wrapped up the second session to take seventh overall on the tricky track. Marchbanks also used the second session to post his fastest lap time, matching his best qualifying finish from last week with a 12th overall.

In Heat 1, Marchbanks pulled a strong start, placing himself inside the Top 10 and quickly passing riders on the opening laps. Before the race ended, the No. 36 Kawasaki was able to move himself into fifth place, marking his best heat race result of the season. In Heat 2, Sexton pulled an optimal start aboard his KX machine, putting himself in the Top 3 out of the gate. As the No. 4 Kawasaki navigated the deteriorating track, he suffered a tipover in the corner before the finish line. Sexton quickly remounted his bike and pushed back towards the front, moving from 10th to fifth by the end of the race. Sexton was right on pace with the rest of the field as he wrapped up the race, recording his fastest time at only three-tenths of a second behind the leader and setting multiple fastest sector times.

In the 450SX Main Event, Sexton pulled a prime start, rounding the first turn in the Top 5, while Marchbanks sat just outside the Top 10. Sexton rode a consistent race through the night, maintaining his position to take home fifth place. Marchbanks displayed consistent speed as he moved through the field on his way to crack a Top 10 finish, until a crash in the rhythm section sidelined him for a moment. The No. 36 pulled into the mechanics area to make adjustments to his bike, before riding back out determined to finish the race. Already three laps down due to his time off the track, Marchbanks pushed to make up time but would settle for 22nd on the night.

Chase Sexton: "Today was a bit frustrating for me. I expect to be at the front right now, but we're not there yet. This week we worked on starts a lot and it paid off, as we saw today. Right now, I'm headed back to Florida and the team is going to come out and test more with me this week. We're hopeful to make some positive changes and come into Arlington ready to fight."

Garrett Marchbanks: "I love Seattle. The track was fun, but gnarly all day long. I felt like I started to get my flow and the bike together after second qualifying. We made a slight adjustment going into the heat race and had a good heat race from it. I started to feel better around Lap 4, we were able to put some good laps together and felt good going into the main event, with a good gate pick. I got off to a decent start and made some good passes in the main event. I was finally able to run up there in that Top 10 area and was able to battle the guys I knew I could always be around. I felt like I finally had that flow I'd been searching for, but I hit a weird spot in the rhythm and had a big crash. I knocked the wind out of myself pretty bad and couldn't breathe for about two minutes. I got up and was just trying to catch my breath. I had to pull into the mechanics area to make some adjustments to my bike, and gave myself a minute to regroup because I was struggling to feel my hands. I wanted to go back out and finish this one out for the team, but I just had to roll this one out through the finish. Besides that, I thought it was really good improvement. I was having a lot of fun out here and looking forward to the rest of the season."

More from a press release issued by Ducati Factory Racing:

Fight and Determination on Display for Troy Lee Designs Red Bull Ducati Factory Racing Team.

Round 6 of the AMA Supercross Championship marked the final stop of the West Coast swing as the series rolled into the Pacific Northwest. Challenging early tacky and sticky track conditions tested the field from the outset, but it was a night that highlighted the grit and determination of Dylan Ferrandis aboard the Ducati Desmo450 MX.

The day began with promise as Ferrandis put together a strong opening qualifying session, clocking the ninth-fastest time. He improved his pace in Qualifying 2 and secured 11th overall heading into the night show, setting the stage for solid gate selection and competitive racing under the lights.

In Heat Race 2, Ferrandis powered off the line and crossed the opening lap in sixth. Wasting no time, he made quick moves to advance into fifth on lap two. After battling intensely throughout the race, he ultimately secured a sixth-place finish, relinquishing just one position on the final lap.

The Main Event saw Ferrandis continue to push forward. He crossed the line in 10th position and recorded his fastest lap of the race, and of the entire day, on lap four with an impressive 53.283. Running consistently inside the top 10, his lap times demonstrated the potential to move further up the order. On lap six, he advanced into ninth and engaged in a fierce back-and-forth battle for position deep into the race.

A small tip-over in the turn just after the mechanics' area briefly stalled his momentum, but Ferrandis refused to back down. Showing resilience and determination, he remounted and fought hard to secure a top-10 finish, knocking on the door of ninth by the checkered flag.

Seattle proved to be a testament to Ferrandis' fighting spirit in a stacked and competitive field. Progress continues to be made as the team fine-tunes the package. The rhythm sections and whoops showed positive gains, while corner speed remains an area for refinement as the team works to bring the full package together.

"It was a very challenging track with the rain coming into the weekend. So far one of the nastiest and gnarly tracks," said Dylan Ferrandis. "I started off feeling good in 1st practice, tried some things in practice and it didn't walk that great. The heat race was fine, I was a little timid. In the main, I was feeling really good… my body and my mind was all in a good place. I was in a good spot fighting with the boys and was pushing, pushing, pushing and pushed the limit, a little too much. I lost the front and crashed. Came back to fight again and gave it everything I had. I was very disappointed with myself. I feel like tonight we could have improved on overall position. I think everybody in the team saw some good fight and saw some improvement on the bike. So next weekend we will have another to improve."

With the West Coast swing complete, Troy Lee Designs Red Bull Ducati Factory Racing leaves Seattle encouraged by the progress shown and motivated to continue building momentum as the championship heads east.

More from a press release issued by Husqvarna Factory Racing:

Consistent results for Ryder DiFrancesco and Malcolm Stewart at Seattle Supercross.

DiFrancesco qualified eighth in the 250SX category, continuing to build comfort with the technical Lumen Field track conditions onboard his Husqvarna FC 250 Factory Edition over the course of the two sessions.

The 20-year-old charged to a convincing second-place finish in his Heat Race, before a composed ride in the Main Event saw DiFrancesco claim a P4 result, which now has him tied for third position in the Western Division standings after six rounds.

Ryder D will return to action on March 21 at Protective Stadium for the first 250SX East/West Showdown of the year, while the Eastern division commences next weekend in Arlington, Texas, with team riders Daxton Bennick and Casey Cochran making their first appearances of the 2026 season.

Stewart posted the sixth-fastest time overall in 450SX qualifying aboard his Husqvarna FC 450 Factory Edition, finding a strong rhythm early on during the afternoon and looking to maintain that form into the night show.

A crash in his Heat Race marked the lone major setback of what was an otherwise solid night for the 33-year-old Stewart, advancing directly to the 450SX Main Event with a seventh-place result.

Launching inside the t

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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (February 18, 2026) - AMA Pro Racing is pleased to announce the appointment of seven-time AMA Grand National Champion Chris Carr as the Series Director of Progressive American Flat Track. Effective immediately, Carr will oversee all competition-related aspects of the series as it enters an exciting new chapter of growth and evolution.

"We're proud to welcome Chris Carr back to AMA Pro Racing," said Gene Crouch, CEO of AMA Pro Racing. "Chris understands this sport at the highest levels: as a champion, a leader, and a steward of its incredible history. He brings unmatched credibility, integrity, and competitive insight that will strengthen our riders, teams and manufacturer ecosystem while elevating the fan experience nationwide."

One of the most accomplished riders in the history of American motorcycle racing, Carr's career spans decades at the top of the sport. His championship success, institutional knowledge, and deep relationships across the industry uniquely position him to guide Progressive American Flat Track's competition strategy.

"I'm excited to return to AMA Pro Racing and take on the role of Series Director for Progressive American Flat Track," said Carr. "Flat track has defined my life. I look forward to working alongside riders, teams, manufacturers, and partners to ensure safe, fair, and fiercely competitive racing that honors our history and builds our future."

In his new role, Carr will manage season calendar development and event planning, event operations and safety protocols, rulebook evolution and technical regulations, rider and team relations, new rider evaluations and licensing, and strategic initiatives including the Road to AFT talent development program.

He will serve as the primary competition liaison among riders, teams, manufacturers, promoters and officials, with fairness, safety and integrity as the guiding principles that define his leadership and shape the championship's competitive standards.

Next Up

The 2026 Progressive American Flat Track season will kick off with the Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA doubleheader at the DAYTONA Flat Track during Daytona's Bike Week festivities. The twin short track races will take place at the "World Center of Racing" on Thursday, March 5 and Friday, March 6. To purchase tickets to the Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA I & II, please visit: https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack.

After the season opener, America's Original Extreme Sport will head north for the Yamaha Atlanta Short Track at Senoia Raceway on March 21. Tickets are available now at https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack/events/2026-atlanta-short-track-165280

How to Watch

• FloRacing: 

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

• FS1:

FOX Sports will provide in-depth coverage of the Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA doubleheader featuring rider features and thrilling onboard cameras. Stay tuned for an upcoming announcement regarding premiere airdates on FS1 and re-airs on FS2. The full listing of American Flat Track's television premieres will be posted to the AFT website at https://www.americanflattrack.com/events-foxsports.

The post AFT: Chris Carr Returns to AMAPro Racing as Series Director appeared first on Roadracing World Magazine | Motorcycle Riding, Racing & Tech News.

The Super Sonic Road Race School and affiliated MotoMini FIM Canadian National Championship Series will attend the Toronto Motorcycle and Powersport Show at the Enercare Centre at Ehsibition Place on the Lake Ontario waterfront, February 20-22.

The history of this annual event traces back to the "Cycle Canada" Show in the late 1970s on the same grounds.

This will be the fifth and final winter show for Super Sonic founder and Team Canada MotoMini Captain Toni Sharpless, who started January at the International Centre near Toronto's major Airport, then headed west for two shows affiliated with the Moto Canada industry group, formerly the M.M.I.C. - Motorcycle and Moped Industry Council.

Back from the most western of Canada's ten provinces, Sharpless was at the ExpoMoto Quebec Show in Quebec City last weekend, prior to wrapping up 2026 show duties with the major Moto Canada affiliated event in Toronto.

Sharpless, inducted into the Canadian Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2012, developed her Mini program in association with the Canadian Motorcycle Association. The C.M.A. is the National representative of the F.I.M. - Federation Internationale de Motorclisme - and has sent Canadian representatives to Spain for the Motul World Finals each November since 2022.

At the World Finals, each invited competitor rides a supplied, identical, Pirelli slick shod Ohvale 160 single-cylinder racer against the top competitors from other National development programs.

The most recent Canadian to win the domestic Championship and represent Canada in Europe was Jager Stockill, the runner-up on the National tour behind Alberta's Lincoln Scott in 2024 and the overall National victor last year. Stockill, and his AIM Insurance-backed racer, will also be on hand at the Enercare Centre.

The MotoMini Series will also celebrate a new sponsor at the event, with helmet builder KYT Americas just signed on to support the Series and School Systems.

The first round of the 2026 FIM Motul MotoMini Canadian Championship is scheduled for the Go-Kart layout at Shannonville Motorsport Park on Friday and Saturday, June 19 and 20.

The deciding National event of the 2026 five race series will take place around the same venue on September 25-26, as part of the 50th Anniversary Celebrations for motorcycle competition at the legendary Belleville-area race track.

The post Super Sonic Roadrace School At Toronto Motorcycle Show appeared first on Roadracing World Magazine | Motorcycle Riding, Racing & Tech News.

Rancho Cucamonga, CA — Dunlop Tires is proud to announce the 2026 Team Dunlop Road Race Elite roster, continuing the brand's commitment to developing the next generation of American road racing talent. Designed to support young riders competing at the highest amateur and junior professional levels, the Road Race Elite program provides a proven pathway toward national and international competition.

The 2026 roster features a diverse and highly accomplished group of 10 riders competing across MotoAmerica Mini Cup, Talent Cup, FIM MiniGP, World Finals, and international development series. Representing the depth and reach of the program are Christian Berlowitz, Connor Raymond, Gabe Datis, Zaal Farhand, Cruise Texter, Cooper Jazikoff, Chase Jazikoff, Jase Dill, Maverick Johnson, and Kensei Matsudaira.

Among the standout athletes, Connor Raymond enters his second year on Team Dunlop after finishing second overall in the MotoAmerica 190cc Championship, while Kensei Matsudaira continues his progression on a global stage with experience in the MotoAmerica Talent Cup, FIM MiniGP World Series, Asia Talent Cup, and JuniorGP European Talent Cup. Chase Jazikoff returns as a back-to-back MotoAmerica Mini Cup National Champion, joined by younger brother Cooper Jazikoff, who continues to build momentum across multiple MiniGP platforms. Riders such as Christian Berlowitz, Gabe Datis, Zaal Farhand, and Jase Dill bring championship-winning resumes from MotoAmerica, FIM MiniGP, and international competition, while Maverick Johnson enters his first year with Dunlop following a rapid rise through national ranks and upcoming international opportunities. Cruise Texter, already a proven multi-discipline racer, continues to showcase Dunlop performance across road race and beyond.

The Team Dunlop Road Race Elite program mirrors the structure and philosophy of Dunlop's established Elite initiatives, providing select riders with technical support, product access, and brand partnership both on and off the track. With an increasing number of Elite alumni advancing into professional competition, Dunlop's road racing development efforts continue to play a critical role in shaping the future of the sport.

"We're excited to continue growing the Team Dunlop Road Race Elite program in 2026," said Cori Maynard, Dunlop Coordinator of Motorsports Logistics. "This group represents the next wave of road racing talent, and it's rewarding to see how quickly these riders progress when given the right support and opportunities. The depth of this roster speaks to the strength of the program and the future of American road racing."

Fans and industry members can look for these Team Dunlop Road Race Elite riders competing throughout the 2026 MotoAmerica Mini Cup season, where many will continue to showcase their development and racecraft at some of the most competitive youth road racing events in the country. The Mini Cup series remains a key proving ground for emerging talent, and Dunlop looks forward to supporting these riders as they continue to progress on the national stage.

About Dunlop Motorcycle Tires:

Dunlop is the largest supplier of original equipment and replacement motorcycle tires in North America. For more information, visit www.DunlopMotorcycleTires.com. Follow @RideDunlop on Instagram, Facebook, and X for the latest Dunlop news. Use #RideDunlop and #RaceDunlop to share your Dunlop moments.

The post Dunlop Announces 2026 Team Dunlop Road Race Elite Roster appeared first on Roadracing World Magazine | Motorcycle Riding, Racing & Tech News.

I have tried to explain the reasons behind MotoGP's decision to move the Australian Grand Prix away from Phillip Island and into an urban setting on a number of occasions. But shortly after I published this piece on how the MotoGP Sports Entertainment Group is about to announce that the race has been moved from Phillip Island to Adelaide, MSEG issued the press release reproduced below, explaining its reasoning.

The press release contains the following key sentence:

MotoGP is accelerating its evolution from a traditional motorsport championship into a fan-first global entertainment brand.

That, in a nutshell, is it.

The MotoGP Sports Entertainment Group press release appears below in full. I did not download the 24GB of video assets which accompany it:

MotoGP unveils Wired Different 2026 Season Campaign

The world's most magnetic sport returns with a bold new global campaign celebrating the mindset, machines and moments that make MotoGP unlike anything else on earth

Wednesday, 18 February 2026

After a record-breaking 2025 season that drew 3.6 million fans trackside, MotoGP today launches its 2026 season campaign: Wired Different.

This is not just a campaign. It is a statement. Wired Different captures the raw DNA of MotoGP - riders who make split-second decisions at over 360 km/h, teams who chase perfection down to the smallest data point, and fans who feel every overtake, every save, every collision as if they were on the bike themselves.

• Read more about OPINION: The MotoGP Press Release That Explains Why MotoGP Is Leaving Phillip Island For Adelaide
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Werner Racing Fields Two GSX-8R Riders for 2026 Season

Werner Racing is proud to announce that two young riders will be under our canopy for the 2026 road racing season. Jacob Werner (#113) will be riding a Suzuki GSX-8R in his debut season for MotoAmerica. Jacob moved up from ARSA at the end of the 2025 season and will be making his MotoAmerica debut at the upcoming Daytona round in March followed closely by the Mid Ohio, VIR and NJMP rounds. The second rider for the team is also a rising star in the road racing paddock; Oren Bilik (#119) is a 3-time ASRA regional champion as well as the 2025 AMA amateur road racer of the year. Oren will be also riding a GSX-8R and starting the year as an expert racer in ASRA, with plans to move to MotoAmerica early in the season. Both riders will be riding bikes built by Karns Performance.

"I am very excited to start the season testing on my GSX-8R before the first MotoAmerica round at Daytona," says Jacob Werner. The GSX-8R is a great platform that makes going fast easy and the team at Karns Performance did fantastic work building the bikes. Both Oren and myself have been training hard and we are ready to show what we can do."

Oren Bilik says, "I am really grateful for the opportunity from Werner Racing and the rest of my sponsors for giving me an opportunity for the 2026 season. I have yet to ride the bike and am very excited to begin testing soon. I am extremely confident in the team and myself to show our potential amongst some of the fastest the U.S has to offer."

The post ASRA Racers Moving Up To MotoAmerica Twins Cup appeared first on Roadracing World Magazine | Motorcycle Riding, Racing & Tech News.

Phillip Island has lost the battle to retain the Australian round of MotoGP. According to news reports from Australia, the government of South Australia offered MotoGP Sports Entertainment Group, as we must now refer to Dorna, conditions which the government of the Australian state of Victoria was not williing to grant. The race will now move to street circuit in Adelaide, with an announcement set to be made on Thursday, Australian time.

According to statements made to the 9 News channel in Australian by Victorian Sports Minister Steve Dimopoulos, the event could have been kept in the state of Victoria, but only if the Victorian government had met MSEG's demands to move the race to Albert Park, the circuit which hosts the F1 round. "We know we could have kept the event in Victoria, if we'd sold out Phillip Island. We weren't willing to do that," he said.

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The WorldSSP season opener is just around the corner. Read more below to get fully up to date on what to watch out for at Phillip Island!

There's a new tyre for the WorldSBK riders to use as the 2026 season gets underway at the beautiful Phillip Island

After all the testing and all the talking, it's time to go racing in 2026 as WorldSBK ushers in a new season

As the paddock gears up for the opening round of the year WorldSBK commentator Steve English picks his most interesting rider on the grid. Iker Lecuona has moved from Honda to Ducati for 2026 and needs to deliver from the outset