DAYTONA BEACH, FL - In March 1976, the "unassuming" image of BMW was shattered forever when a pair of flamboyant R90S superbikes thundered across the finish line at Daytona International Speedway, securing a historic 1-2 finish in the inaugural AMA Superbike race. On March 5-7, 2026, the world of motorcycling will gather at the Daytona International Speedway during the MotoAmerica weekend to celebrate the 50th anniversary of that monumental achievement.

For the first time in half a century, all three original Butler & Smith BMW R90S factory race machines will be reunited on the high banks of Daytona. These machines, famously nicknamed "The Ultimate Stone Axes" by Cycle World for their surprising dominance over more modern multi-cylinder rivals, represent the pinnacle of 1970s engineering and audacity.

• The Machines and The Icons

The celebration will feature the meticulously preserved motorcycles ridden by the legends of the 1976 season:

• The #83 Machine: Ridden by Steve McLaughlin, the man who claimed the first-ever Superbike win at Daytona in a photo finish.

• The #163 Machine: Ridden by Reg Pridmore, who finished second that day and went on to become the first-ever AMA Superbike Champion.

• The #24 Machine: Ridden by the late Gary Fisher, whose riding on a previous BMW prototype helped prove the BMW's racing possibilities.

In a rare gathering of racing royalty, both Steve McLaughlin and Reg Pridmore will be in attendance to share memories of the drafting battle that defined an era. Joining them is Udo Gietl, the visionary lead builder and "mad scientist" behind the Butler & Smith program. Gietl's engineering marvels—including titanium rods, hollow lifters, and a custom mono-shock rear suspension hidden behind the "stock" aesthetic—transformed the 60-hp R90S into a 100-hp racing titan. Representing the legacy of the late Gary Fisher, his daughter Heidi will also be on hand to honor her father's contribution to the team's success.

• Engineering a Miracle

The story of these bikes is one of extreme ingenuity. To achieve 150 mph on the banking, Gietl and fabricator Todd Schuster utilized aerospace materials and "borrowed" parts, such as McCullough chainsaw reed valves and Chrysler Hemi oil separators, to solve the unique challenges of the Boxer engine. "In 1976, we didn't see anyone as a threat," Gietl recalls. The results proved him right.

• A Community Celebration

This golden anniversary is made possible through the support of the motorcycling community, including key sponsors OrangeCat Racing of Chicago and Tytlers Cycle of Wisconsin.

Fans will have the opportunity to see these iconic machines up close throughout the MotoAmerica weekend. The festivities will culminate in a Celebrity Dinner on March 7, where Gietl, McLaughlin, Pridmore and more will recount the "metal chips and midnight oil" that fueled their journey to the top of the podium.

• Registration and Accommodations

Registration for this landmark event is now open through the BMW MOA at: https://bmwmoaf.regfox.com/50th-anniversary-daytona-event

On-site camping is available. For booking details, please contact Rob McIsaac at triangle.bmwcca.activities@gmail.com.

Join us in Daytona to celebrate 50 years of speed, innovation, and the spirit of the Boxer.

The post Return of the Legends: BMW's Iconic Daytona Superbikes appeared first on Roadracing World Magazine | Motorcycle Riding, Racing & Tech News.

Bimota are back for their second season since returning to WorldSBK!

Day 1 is in the books with a familiar #93 on top, but there's drama elsewhere as Quartararo crashes and withdraws to recover.

One day into 2026 and there's already plenty to talk about. One is the return of Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) as the #93 takes back to the top, first day out for the season. The other is a crash at Turn 5 for Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP), after which he's heading home. Initial checks saw him given the all-clear for any fractures and head back out, but after continued pain in his arm and hand, he reports a broken finger and has decided to focus on recovery and sit it out.

Meanwhile, second overall went to Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team), with Maverick Viñales (Red Bull KTM Tech3) completing the top three.

DUCATI LENOVO TEAM, PERTAMINA ENDURO VR46 RACING TEAM & BK8 GRESINI RACING MOTOGP:

Any concerns about his injury at the end of 2025 were very quickly banished as Marc Marquez hit the ground running. Steady progress throughout the day culminated in a late burst into P1 with a 1'57.018 - not bad considering the reigning World Champion hadn't visited the track since the same test last season. On the other side of the box and with Davide Tardozzi declaring during the Midday Live that it's a "new Pecco", Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) finished in P8 and was 0.702s off his teammate. The double MotoGP World Champion was positive at the end of the day and targets a race simulation on day two.

There was plenty for the Italian marque to be celebrating elsewhere. In stark contrast to 12 months ago when he crashed pulling a wheelie on a slow-down lap and missed the remainder of testing, Di Giannantonio was P2 on his first day of 2026. Making it a Ducati 1-2, the #49's late flurry of laps briefly saw him in P1 but finished 0.256s away from top slot. Teammate Franco Morbidelli rounded out the top ten, taking eight tenths off his morning time in the second session.

Rounding out Ducatis running was the sole Gresini machine of Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP), who topped the opening session but was the only rider in the top 13 who didn't improve in the afternoon. He is the most recent Grand Prix winner in Malaysia, however.

RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING & RED BULL KTM TECH3:

Viñales put Red Bull KTM Tech3 in third overall after a late push, in somewhat classic #12 style. He was also glowing about the team and factory's work in his debrief, saying it's the first time in a long time there are really key changes on the table to try. The Austrian factory have a new chassis, new swingarm and aero to try, with Viñales saying he's trying the former on Wednesday.

Enea Bastianini was P12 on the sister Red Bull KTM Tech3, not putting a push in at the end, with Brad Binder just behind him with the #33 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing machine. Pedro Acosta rounded out the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing line-up in P15 as they focused on testing and not pushing for the top.

HONDA HRC CASTROL & HONDA LCR:

One of the revelations of day one was the factory Honda outfit of Luca Marini (Honda HRC Castrol) and teammate Joan Mir. Both were building on the work done by the test team in the Shakedown Test to put themselves in the top seven, with Marini just pipping the 2020 World Champion. More than half a second quicker in comparison to last year's corresponding test, Honda's progress is clear for all to see.

Elsewhere for the Japanese giants, it was Johann Zarco (Castrol Honda LCR) who just missed out on a top ten spot by 0.072s to finish in P11. It wasn't the smoothest of days on the other side of the box; Diogo Moreira (Pro Honda LCR) fell at Turn 5 in the morning session and with just one bike at his disposal, spent longer than normal in the garage as it was repaired. He did return to the track but didn't improve his time and will hope that day two brings a good bunch of laps to add to his 26 done today. 

APRILIA RACING & TRACKHOUSE MOTOGP TEAM:

Bezzecchi ended the day at the top Aprilia rider in P5, just over half a second away from Marc Marquez's table-topping time. Overall, the Italian enjoyed a positive day back in the saddle, with Aprilia running several new components, including a new tail unit and larger seat wings, and a new swingarm. With Jorge Martin sidelined, test Rider Lorenzo Savadori picked up the baton to continue his work on several new items, including ergonomic set-ups and general set-up with electronics.

In the Trackhouse MotoGP ranks, 2025 Australian GP winner Raul Fernandez was very upbeat after finishing the opening day of the test without any crashes or injuries - something he's not been able to do in the last two Sepang Test outings. Fernandez said that he confirmed the feelings he had at the end of last year on the 2025 package, before switching to the 2026 RS-GP, and that also birthed plenty of positives on the opening day.

On the other side of the garage, Ai Ogura explained that Tuesday was all about him feeling good on the bike again and getting back up to speed, before the Japanese star gets properly stuck into the nitty gritty of 2026 RS-GP testing on Day 2 in Malaysia.

MONSTER ENERGY YAMAHA MOTOGP & PRIMA PRAMAC YAMAHA MOTOGP TEAM:

2026 is off to a tougher start. Working overtime to get the V4 as competitive as possible for the season, they'll now be without a key part of the project, Quartararo, after the 2021 World Champion fell at Turn 5 and was taken to the medical centre. Despite 'El Diablo' returning to the track to go P9, he's decided to withdraw from the rest of the test with pain to a finger and scrapes to his arm. It'll be on teammate Alex Rins to shoulder the rest of the test; he was 16th on day one, 1.2s from P1.

In P14, Jack Miller (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP) was the second-busiest Yamaha rider on track - only new teammate Toprak Razgatlioglu set more for the Iwata manufacturer. With his previous V4 experience, the Australian, along with Rins, will now be expected to drive the rest of the test forward.

Razgatlioglu, meanwhile, was joined by the rest of the world's best on-track. Saving his fresh rubber for the rest of the test, the #07 continued to adapt to MotoGP and the life aboard a V4 and Michelins. He experimented with different seats and found a breakthrough in braking late on with rear aero. He also got the chance to follow Marc Marquez out on track, something he said he learnt a lot from and that he aims to repeat on day two - so watch this space.

See you for more on Wednesday as action continues at Sepang!

More from a press release issued by Honda HRC Castrol: 

2026 begins in Sepang for Honda HRC Castrol. 

Fresh from revealing their 2026 colours, Luca Marini and Joan Mir got straight to work as testing began at the Sepang International Circuit with both sitting comfortably in the top ten.

Amongst the first on track, there was no doubting Luca Marini and Joan Mir's eagerness as the first of three days of testing in Malaysia began. Typical conditions awaited them in Sepang, high temperatures and oppressive humidity adding an extra level of challenge to the first laps of 2026. With 107 laps between the factory pair, it was a positive opening day of what will hopefully be an ambitious season.

Ending the day in sixth overall with a best lap of 1'57.569, Luca Marini was left content with his first steps of the new season. Assessing a number of new parts for his Honda RC213V, Marini managed to get through roughly half of the items on his list for this first test. Marginal gains will be key in finding the last tenths in the final year of the 1,000cc machines, these early runs providing important information for the rest of the season.

Just 0.124s behind his Honda HRC Castrol teammate, Joan Mir was able to set a fastest lap of 1'57.693 to wrap up the opening day in seventh place. Improving grip and trying several new parts will be the #36's main objective for the second day of the test after finding a positive base.

Two more days remain and both Marini and Mir have busy testing schedules to still complete, every lap will be crucial for 2026.

Luca Marini: "Great to be back on the Honda RC213V, today we had a good day and started where we left off last time out in Valencia. Already we have made progress, and this is a really nice feeling, to straight away be making improvements. The Japanese have done a great job during the winter; a lot of really good pieces have been brought here - more or less everything I asked for in Valencia has arrived. Steps in each direction have helped us, but always more room to improve. Some work to do overnight and see what's possible tomorrow. Really pleased to be back working with everyone in the team."

Joan Mir: "At the end, I think we continued our progress that we had at the end of 2025 - it's what I was expecting when I arrived here a few days ago. The whole team has been working really hard to provide us with a better package, improving every area a little bit. We are not trying a radically different bike which helps, the base is what we know, and it helps us to be more comfortable straight away. Today we tried a few different pieces and found something quite positive at the end of the day, following the correct path for the start of the year."

More from a press release issued by Monster Energy Yamaha: 

Quartararo and Rins End Sepang Test Day 1 in 9th and 16th Place, Quartararo To Sit Out Remainder of the Sepang Test.

Following the Sepang Shakedown Test held last week, the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team returned to the Sepang International Circuit today to resume their 2026 pre-season programme. Riders Fabio Quartararo and Álex Rins completed the first day of the three-day Malaysia MotoGP Official Test in 9th and 16th place respectively. Following a heavy crash this morning in Session 1, Quartararo will not take part in the remainder of the test due to a broken finger.

Today, Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP teammates Fabio Quartararo and Álex Rins kicked off the three-day Malaysia MotoGP Official Test in Sepang, placing 9th and 16th respectively on the combined Day 1 timesheets.

On Day 1 of the Sepang Test, Session 1 ran from 10:00-13:00 (GMT+8), followed by Session 2 from 13:20-18:00.

Quartararo's day did not start as planned. He crashed at Turn 8 on lap 9 and had to visite the Clinica Mobile for checks. He returned in the afternoon but suffered a second fall, which briefly interrupted his programme. Despite the setbacks, the Frenchman recovered well, setting a best lap of 1'57.869s to finish eighth in the afternoon session and ninth overall, 0.851s from the top.

Rins enjoyed a solid start in the morning, briefly topping the timesheets at 11:00 with a 1'58.576s before improving further to a 1'58.320s to end Session 1 in sixth place. The Spaniard spent the afternoon analysing components and did not improve his lap time, but his morning effort secured him 16th in the combined standings, 1.302s from first.

Fully supported by Yamaha, Quartararo has decided to sit out the remainder of the Sepang Test and will fly to Barcelona for further medical evaluation in order to be fully fit for the Thailand MotoGP Official Test held from 21-22 February in Buriram.

Tomorrow, the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team will resume action with Rins for Day 2 of the Sepang Test, again with Session 1 taking place from 10:00-13:00 and Session 2 from 13:20-18:00 local track time. Augusto Fernández will continue the bike development of the new YZR-M1 in Quartararo's absence.

MASSIMO MEREGALLI - Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team Director: "This is, of course, not how we wanted to start the test. Unfortunately, Fabio suffered a severe crash in Session 1 at Turn 5, which has brought his Sepang testing programme to an end. In agreement with Fabio, we decided that taking any additional risks was not worthwhile. Having Fabio back to full fitness in time for the Buriram Test is the priority. Everyone at Yamaha and the entire team wish him a speedy recovery. In the meantime, Augusto Fernández will substitute for Fabio over the next two days in order to complete the plan scheduled for the remainder of the Sepang test."

Fabio Quartararo: "I broke a finger in the crash this morning. I will have a check-up the day after tomorrow in Barcelona. We already tested what we needed to during last week's Shakedown Test. Of course, having two more days would have been helpful for electronics and mapping, but I think we've done enough, so I prefer to sit out the remainder of the test. Together with Yamaha, we decided to stop and focus on recovery so I can be 100% fit again in Buriram."

Alex Rins: "Having already completed the Shakedown Test here last week, today we finished testing the most important items that Yamaha brought here for us to try. It was a good day. We decided to focus on the swingarms, testing three different kinds. It was quite good. Over the next two days, we will focus a bit more on the bike's base set-up. Let's see what lap time we can achieve on the final day."

More from a press release issued by Castrol Honda LCR:

Castrol Honda LCR rider Johann Zarco finished 11th on Tuesday at the Sepang Test.  

• Tuesday at the Sepang Test was productive for Johann Zarco and the crew, with 60 consistent laps completed. 
• The rider acknowledges that the bike is working well and shows potential, but admits he still needs to feel more comfortable in order to push further.
• The challenges didn't prevent Johann and the crew from focusing on doing a solid job, and the next few days will provide another opportunity to continue improving.

More from a press release issued by Prima Pramac Yamaha:

Day 1 of Official Winter Tests in Sepang for Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP.

Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP completed its first day of the Official Test, focusing on long-run work to evaluate overall bike reliability and tyre consumption. Both riders ran different set-ups across the day, prioritising data gathering over single-lap performance as preparations continue for the coming sessions.

Jack Miller: "It was a busy but decent day. We tried a lot of different set-ups, mainly to understand the positives and negatives of each change and how everything works together — a real cause-and-effect approach. We also tested a few things with the electronics. Test days are always long, sometimes frustrating and sometimes rewarding, but I feel the basic package of the bike is there. It feels like a completely new bike, yet still very much a Yamaha. It hasn't lost the M1's turning ability and the front-end feel is pretty bloody good. There's always room to improve, but at this stage it's already impressive."

Toprak Razgatlioglu: "Today I focused mainly on seat position, because in terms of feeling this is still the area that feels most different from what I was used to. By the end of the day I also tried a higher seat and felt better: the bike was smoother under braking, the rear had more control, and I also felt more confident on the gas in some corners. Tomorrow I may focus more on the handlebar, which still feels a little high at the moment. That's what testing is for — understanding whether I can get the right feeling from set-ups I'm used to, or if I need to adapt my riding style to better match this bike."

More from a press release issued by Pro Honda LCR:

Pro Honda LCR rider Diogo Moreira finished 19th on Tuesday, on the first day of the Sepang Test. 

• After the shakedown, Diogo Moreira began the first day of the Sepang Test with positive feelings. In the morning, he showed strong performance, consistently placing in the top 10.
• However, a crash at Turn 5 (without any major consequences for the rider) disrupted his plans, preventing him from pushing for a time attack.
• Moreira completed 39 laps and is focused on continuing his learning and improvement over the next two days of testing.

The post MotoGP: M.Marquez Fastest on Day 1 at Sepang appeared first on Roadracing World Magazine | Motorcycle Riding, Racing & Tech News.

The reigning world champion Marc Márquez the fastest on Day 1 of the first preseason test of the 2026 MotoGP season at Sepang? That's it, call it off, hand him the trophy and move on. Sarcasm? How could you tell?

There is always a lot of excitement about the times set at the Sepang MotoGP test. Understandable, after a long winter without any news. But the times from Sepang are complicated to interpret at best. And the times from the first day of the test triply so.

The bikes rolled out for the start of the morning session in the same trim as the teams packed them away at the end of the Valencia test. The reason for doing that is simple: to stimulate the muscle memory of the riders, remind them of how the bike that last rode felt. The first job of a MotoGP rider at Sepang is to acclimatize yourself to the brutal horsepower and massive speed of a MotoGP bike.

Then, there's the fact that Michelin are forced by contract to bring two different rear compounds to the Sepang test. Pointless, as during the test and on a race weekend, everyone only wants to use the soft rear. So the first day of the test is also used to use up the medium rears the riders hate. They are useful for the basic work of the first day, but when the serious testing starts - that'll be tomorrow, Wednesday - then the teams want as many softs available as possible.

• Read more about 2026 Sepang MotoGP Test Tuesday Round Up: Wasting Laps On Mediums, Yamaha's Misfortune, And Bagnaia Is Back
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More from a press release issued by Yamaha:

Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing's Cooper Webb bounces back with a clutch Houston Supercross victory to keep title hopes alive.

After Anaheim 2, it was palpable that Cooper Webb could feel his championship hopes slipping away. The pressure was on, but few riders respond to pressure like Webb. One week later, the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing rider was standing on top of the podium at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, delivering a clutch victory at the first Monster Energy AMA Supercross Triple Crown event of the season.

"It feels amazing," Webb said. "It's been a really tough month - mentally, physically, and emotionally… It's never over, like I said last week. I thought it was a nail in the coffin, but that's why I'm proud of myself. It's a Cooper Webb move right there, to come back a week later and put myself in position to win."

Second on the all-time Triple Crown win list with six victories, Webb is no stranger to success with the three-race format. In the opening moto, he got a solid top-five start and fought his way to a fourth-place finish. He backed that up with another strong start to the second moto in fourth, fighting all the way to the end and crossing the line second to put him in contention for the overall victory.

The final moto nearly unraveled early. Webb was fifth on the opening lap when a mistake after the finish-line jump dropped him back to eighth. He quickly recovered to seventh and then launched a charge around the halfway point, making his way through to third in just a couple of laps. Calm under pressure, Webb held the position to the checkered flag, securing the overall victory with a 4-2-3 score and earning his 31st-career Supercross win. It was a championship-caliber ride that gave Webb's title defense a much-needed boost, and he leaves Texas fifth in the standings, just 17 points off the lead.

"Qualifying went a lot better, a lot smoother, and then it was just a very consistent, solid night of racing," Webb said, looking back on the day. "I rode really well all night and put myself in a good situation. The last one got a little hairy. I made a big mistake on the finish line jump on the first lap, and got pushed back. Then I made some good passes and put myself in position to get the win. It's a sigh of relief for myself and the team. I'm just motivated to keep this feeling going."

His teammate Justin Cooper continued to make progress, even if the results didn't show on paper. In the first moto, he was 12th after the start and made his way to ninth before the halfway mark, where he would finish. The New Yorker got a much better start to the second moto, slotting in fifth behind Webb. It was a multi-rider fight with Cooper battling for position, ultimately moving into fourth and holding off challenges to finish there.

Another difficult start in the final race of the evening saw Cooper get pushed wide and in 16th after the opening lap. Undeterred, he put his head down and steadily worked his way through to 12th to end the night ninth overall with a 9-4-12 score.

"It was a tough day overall, but we learned a lot today, and we can take a lot of positives going into the next few races," Cooper said. "I feel like this race went way better than the previous one, and there were improvements. I've just got to fine-tune some areas and will be ready to go racing again."

"It was a good day overall," said Rich Simmons, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing's 450 Team Manager. "We had press day yesterday, and we found a few things with the bike that we could improve on and made some changes today. With this being the Triple Crown, it's important to be consistent, and Webb's the king of consistency. He rode his butt off. That last moto, after landing on the back side of the finish and coming through to third - it was a clutch performance. Justin got a good start in there, and he skimmed the whoops pretty much all day, so big improvements on his side, too. It was a much-needed win for the team, and we'll move on to the next one."

The team heads to Glendale, Arizona, next weekend for Round 5 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship and the Monster Energy SMX World Championship series at State Farm Stadium on February 7.

In 250SX, Deegan Delivers a Triple Crown Sweep in Houston.

Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing's Haiden Deegan earns his first Triple Crown sweep and makes it three victories in a row to extend his 250SX West Championship lead.

In 2023, a 17-year-old Haiden Deegan made his Monster Energy AMA Supercross debut in Houston, Texas. Three years later, the Californian returned to NRG Stadium as a five-time Monster Energy SMX World Championship titleholder—and left with another emphatic victory to further strengthen his 250SX West title defense.

After earning fastest qualifier honors for the third time this season, Deegan grabbed the holeshot in the opening moto and controlled the race from the front, remaining unchallenged to take the win. In the second moto, he got a top-five start and wasted no time charging forward, moving into third on the opening lap before taking the lead with four laps to go. The result put him firmly in control of the overall heading into the final race of the night.

In Moto 3, Deegan got another strong start, slotting into third behind teammate Max Anstie. He made the pass for second four laps into the moto, and took over the lead on the following lap. From there, he managed the race up front to complete a perfect evening in Houston, earning his first-career Triple Crown sweep and his 10th victory in the 250SX class. The reigning 250SX West Champion now heads to Round 4 riding a three-race win streak and a 19-point advantage in the standings.

"Yeah, tonight was another perfect day, so that was awesome," said Deegan. "Being P1 in qualifying was huge. It was a Triple Crown, so qualifying is pretty much a heat race. I had a good gate pick and rocketed out to a holeshot in that first race, and kind of set the tone. Then, the next two, I was able to get a pretty good start around the top three and get to the lead. Going 1-1-1 on the night for my first ever triple crown sweep - that's cool."

It was a challenging start to the first Triple Crown of the season for Anstie, but the British rider showed poise and ended the evening on a high note. After going down in the first moto and charging from the back to finish 10th, Anstie rebounded in Moto 2, moving from 15th on the opening lap to sixth at the checkered flag. In the final moto, he got a great start and slotted into second, where he ran until being passed by Deegan, but later reclaimed the position with a pass on Max Vohland. His 10-6-2 score earned him sixth overall and moved him back into second in the championship standings.

"It was a tough night, but the last moto was better," Anstie said. "I went down in the first one and came out 10th, then in the second moto, I got a bad start and got to sixth. The last one, I had a decent start and rode around in second. It's not my best work, but we'll go to work this week and come back swinging in Phoenix."

Michael Mosiman had a strong start to the Triple Crown in Houston, but would later face challenges. He was sixth in the opening moto and quickly worked his way to fourth by Lap 2, where he would finish. Unfortunately, the second moto saw the Californian go down on the opening lap and rejoin at the back of the field. He charged forward in the latter half of the race to finish 14th. Then in the final moto, Mosiman got a solid start in fifth but dropped back to ninth early and ultimately finished eighth. His 4-14-8 score secured eighth overall on the night, placing him third in the championship standings.

"It was a tough night in Houston," said Mosiman. "It started out solid in qualifying and the first main event, but in the second race, I fell early and struggled to get the bike started. I was able to work my way back some, but that mistake was costly. Then the last moto, I struggled to find a flow. Eighth overall was not the night I was hoping for, but there is a lot to learn from tonight, and I will make better decisions going forward. That's how progress is made."

With two rounds remaining before the 250SX East region kicks off, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing continues to enjoy a stellar start to the 250SX West season. The team has claimed victories at all four rounds, with all three riders currently sitting inside the top three in the championship standings.

"It was a great night for the entire team, winning all three classes," said Wil Hahn, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing's 250 Team General Manager. "Everyone deserves this after all the hard work we put in. We've got a couple more rounds of West before heading East, and we're in a great spot in the championship. We're going to keep working to keep this going."

Next weekend, the team heads to Glendale, Arizona, for Round 5 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship and the Monster Energy SMX World Championship series at State Farm Stadium on February 7.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

More from a press release issued by Honda HRC:

Hunter Lawrence claims career-first 450 Triple Crown race win, finishes second overall.

・Regroups in the last two races after a crash in race 1

・Australian reduces championship gap by half, to just four points

The first Triple Crown race of the 2026 season, held at the domed NRG stadium in Houston, was a positive one for Honda HRC Progressive, as Hunter Lawrence earned his third consecutive runner-up overall result, finishing just one point shy of victory in a format that has not been friendly to him in the past. This is by far the best beginning to an AMA Supercross series of the Australian's young 450SX career, and the Texas performance reduced his gap to championship-leader Eli Tomac by half, from eight points to just four. Lawrence continues to close in on his first premier-class win, with confidence building each weekend.

The first 450SX race saw Lawrence start inside the top five and make his way to third before a small mistake relegated him to an eventual seventh-place finish. After regrouping during the short turnaround, he executed another strong start, getting around Jason Anderson in the first turn to take over second position. As he had done in the previous rounds, Lawrence gained strength lap by lap; he made a decisive pass on Jorge Prado to take the lead and never looked back until the checkered flag, earning his first win in an individual 450SX Triple Crown race. The final race of the evening got underway with Lawrence in second position. For the first half of the race, he faced challenges from Tomac and Anderson and briefly dropped to third before regaining second position. With Lawrence provisionally tied on race points with Cooper Webb in the late going, the overall victory was ultimately decided behind him, as Webb made a late pass to secure the overall victory. Lawrence's 7-1-2 tally earned him second overall.

NOTES

・Everyone on the Honda HRC Progressive team extends their sincere condolences to the friends and family of Team Faith president and founder Brian O'Rourke, who passed away over the race weekend due to an apparent heart attack.

・Honda of Houston activated a pop-up booth in Honda HRC Progressive's pits, featuring a CRF450R and CRF110F. Dealership staff used the opportunity to connect directly with fans and customers.

・Fans in Houston enjoyed meeting Hunter Lawrence during a private autograph session while his teammates continue to recover from injuries.

・Hunter Lawrence placed third in 450SX combined qualifying, marking his best qualifying result of the season so far. Quad Lock Honda's Joey Savatgy turned in the 11th-fastest time overall, followed by teammates Christian Craig in 14th and Shane McElrath in 17th. Other Red Riders included John Short IV in 30th (Short Racing), Zack Williams in 33rd (McGingley Clinic) and Kyle Bitterman in 34th (Underdog Racing).

・In 250SX West combined qualifying, participating Red Riders included SLR Honda racers Justin Rodbell and Matti Jorgensen in 14th and 25th, respectively; Next Level riders Hunter Schlosser and Colby Copp in 21st and 30th; and Lasting Impressions' Ronnie Orres in 40th.

・Schlosser and Jorgensen advanced to the evening program through the 250 LCQ, in which they finished second and third, respectively.

・Lawrence participated in the Feld-organized podium-finisher media scrum following the 450 main event.

・Thanks to consistent podium finishes, Lawrence now sits just four points behind the championship leader, Eli Tomac. 

・Next up for Honda HRC Progressive is AMA Supercross round 5 this Saturday in Glendale, Arizona.

Hunter Lawrence (96): 

"It was a bit of a bummer in the first race—it was just a silly little mistake; it wasn't really a crash, but then as soon as I went off the track where it meets the concrete, it's just so slippery and it's hard to save that. I just reset after that one, and I think we did pretty good. I'm happy with how the night went, honestly. This format is one of the tougher ones for me; those short-duration sprints don't come easy. I find the short turnaround from the first to the second race easier than the last one, where you're kind of waiting around a little bit longer. I feel like the longer you wait, the tougher it is because it's like you're starting fresh again. The start is everything—even in a normal main event, it just makes your night so much easier. You see the chaos that goes on and I've been on the other side of that, so I just try to give myself the best shot into that first turn. In the last moto, I didn't get that one middle lane, and that gave Eli the inside; that was where that race was decided, I think. I still tried to push and get in a rhythm. I knew the night win was there, and I needed to get him, but I think that if I keep putting myself in the top five around the first turn every weekend and click off good laps, good things are going to start happening. I like my chances over the next couple races. From what it could've been, we did pretty good damage control, and we pulled four points back on the lead. We live to fight another day, and I'm looking forward to Glendale." 

Lars Lindstrom: 

"It was another great weekend for us as a team, although we're definitely missing Chance Hymas and Jett—it was quiet under the tent! We're looking forward to having our teammates back (hopefully Jo soon). In the meantime, Hunter is going above and beyond to represent the team solo, and I think we're doing well as a team to focus on the big picture: the championship. This race was his to win, but unfortunately the first-race bobble didn't allow that. To me, it doesn't matter; we made up important points, and if he would've won the overall, then people probably would've said that it's 'only' a Triple Crown, and that he still hasn't won a 20-minute race yet. As long as we're scoring more points than the rivals, I'm happy."

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More from a press release issued by KTM:

Top-five finish keeps 450SX red plate for Eli Tomac in Houston triple crown. 

Fourth position overall for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing's Eli Tomac marked another convincing result at Round 4 of the 2026 AMA Supercross Championship in Houston's NRG Stadium, with his Triple Crown performance - highlighted by a Race 3 victory - seeing him maintain the 450SX red plate.

After an exceptional start to this year's SMX World Championship season, including two Main Event victories and a third-place result across the opening three rounds, Tomac entered this weekend targeting another competitive night in building on his 2026 campaign. The 33-year-old qualified P1 onboard his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION with a flying 46.684 lap-time set in the opening session.

A mid-field start in the opening race of the Triple Crown saw Tomac steadily climb forward, crossing the line in a hard-fought P3 as the checkered flag waved. Upon charging through the 450SX field in Race 2, the points-leader crashed while running P4, but was able to remount and salvage a spirited 13th-place finish.

Victory in the third and final outing of the night was enough for the double 450SX Champion to claim fourth place overall, and contributed valuable points toward his Supercross championship tally entering Glendale next weekend. He now holds a four-point advantage in the standings.

Eli Tomac: "That was such a high-speed on-off there, the triple on-off, and in the transition, I ended up stomping on my rear brake. Thankfully, I was able to get through my bars - I was like, 'Wow, I really need to step through my bars right now.' I felt a little tag by the bike, but the limbs are good, I'm good, and I'm excited I was able to get that rebound in the final race. If I'm going to toss one away, this is the one to do it at, and I'm just happy to get fourth overall, because that was a ride! Glad to move on to next week."

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing teammate Jorge Prado was sixth-fastest in combined 450SX qualifying at Houston, before the four-time world champion powered his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION to a strong start and a P5 result in the opening Triple Crown race.

A holeshot in the second one had the Spaniard leading a large portion of Race 2 on his way to third position, combined with 11th in Race 3 to earn seventh overall for the weekend. As a result, Prado has moved to eighth in the 450SX championship.

Jorge Prado: "Riding-wise, I think this was a very good event. I think I rode well all day - I got a solid start in the first race, same as the second race, and then in the third one I just messed it up big time in the first corner. I was really, really behind in that one, and it was very hard to pass a lot of riders in such a short time, so I am disappointed with the end result because I think that I could've done way better. It is what it is, we'll take the learnings from tonight into next weekend in Arizona."

Also equipped with the KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION, Aaron Plessinger set the 12th-fastest time in 450SX qualifying during the afternoon, before taking a P12 result in the first of three finals. 'The Cowboy' then raced to 11th in Race 2, and a P13 score in the final outing saw him claim 13th overall.

Aaron Plessinger: "Qualifying was going pretty well in Houston, before I cased a jump and hit my ankle pretty good. I got a decent start in the first Triple Crown race, but then made a few mistakes and dropped back - I was just really involved in those mid-field battles, which are tough. And then Race 2 was much the same - just didn't execute as well as I should. And then, for the third one, I got a decent start again and was riding alright, but then my ankle started hurting, which sent me back. Overall, not a great night, but we'll shift our focus to the next one in Glendale for a rebound."

Next Race: February 7 - Glendale, Arizona

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More from a press release issued by Suzuki Motor USA: 

Suzuki's Ken Roczen earns third podium result of season at Houston Supercross.

Brea, CA -  Round Four of the 17-Round Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship delivered the season's first Triple Crown race and the first event inside a domed stadium. Triple Crown events combine results from three Races, each 12-minutes plus one lap in the 450SX Class, to determine the event's overall standings. Long ruts through corner exits on the track inside NRG Stadium rewarded precise technique; The Houston Supercross was a test of minimizing mistakes through the rhythm sections rather than pushing the envelope of outright speed.

Race Highlights:

• Progressive Insurance Cycle Gear ECSTAR Suzuki
  • 450 Class
    • Ken Roczen dominated Race 1 and earned third place overall with (1-5-4) Race scores.
• Twisted Tea Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance
  • 450 Class
    • Jason Anderson led laps in Race 3 and racked up (6-7-5) Race scores to earn sixth overall.
    • Colt Nichols delivered season-best qualifying results and moved up one position in the championship standings.

Ken Roczen (94) held a tight inside line in the first corner of Race 1; he nabbed the holeshot and quickly put a comfortable gap on the field. Roczen held strong under mid-race pressure and never relinquished the lead. Roczen spent the early laps of Race 2 recovering from a ninth-place start. Roczen made several passes early, and with two laps to go nearly took over fourth place until a small mistake in a rhythm relegated him to fifth place. Entering Race 3, Roczen was tied for the win in event points. When the gate dropped, Roczen bumped another rider down the start straight and emerged from the first turn in 11th spot. Then on the opening lap Roczen had a very close call with a mid-air collision over the finish line jump. Roczen kept it on two wheels and moved quickly into fourth place, where he held the event overall score in points. A small mistake in a rhythm section midway through the Race cost Roczen the spot that changed his overall event position to third in Houston. 

"I was comfortable on the track [early], although when the racing came around the track was pretty sketchy; it was very high-speed and we had a couple odd obstacles that enhanced that a little bit," said Roczen. "I started off the first Race with the holeshot, or a near holeshot. [From there I] was in the lead the whole time and was able to win that one. That felt really good to start the night off with a good result like that. The second Race was a little bit tougher, as I didn't get off the gate as well. But I was able to ride my way up to fifth, and we ended up finishing there. That it made it tight for the for the overall going into Race three; I was tied with [one rider], and [another rider] was two points behind me… I knew what I had to do and where I had to be [at the checkered flag] to be able to pull off the overall. There was a lot of madness going on in that last one. Going over the finish line jump on the first lap [I had] a near-collision and it was very sketchy, but we all got out of it good. Then the battle started. In the middle of the Race, I lost a couple of spots because I missed the rhythm section, and I ended up being right behind [the rider I was tied with in event points]. Unfortunately, that put us from first to third [overall]. I don't want to complain, because it is a podium, but it is tough when [a win is] right in front of you and you just didn't get it. Nonetheless, we're happy to finish it off healthy here on the podium. The championship is looking really good, too."

Jason Anderson (21) battled just outside of the top five in Race 1 and was never far off the pace of the race leader, his Suzuki teammate. On the third lap Anderson posted the fasted time through Sector 1 of the track. In the second Race, Anderson arrived first at the first corner, but an outside gate pick put him outside in the corner and he crossed the holeshot stripe in second. Anderson put in strong laps, posted the fastest time through Sector 1, and carded seventh place. Anderson then went on a charge in Race 3; after crossing the holeshot stripe in third place, he pushed his way into the lead. Anderson led several laps and posted the fastest Sector 2 time; on the final lap he again nabbed the fastest Sector 1 time when the track was at its toughest. 

"I feel like my speed is better than what my result shows. We fought hard, ended up sixth overall, and I was one point out of fourth," stated Anderson. "So, it would have been nice to be able to stay in the top five, but we'll keep working and see if we can get there next weekend; but obviously we want to be further up even than that." 

Colt Nichols (45) entered the night's racing with his best speed of the year, but unfortunately emerged from the first turn of Race 1 well outside of the top 15. After dropping back a few more positions early, Nichols put on an incredible charge that took him past eight other riders. Nichols was off to a strong start in Race 2 with a top ten spot at the holeshot stripe. Nichols battled inside the top ten on the opening lap. Approximately four laps later Nichols had a tip over that cost him ten spots. In Race 3 Nichols earned another top-ten start and used fast, consistent times to deliver a top-15 Race result. 

"It was a much better day for me, start to finish; the results don't show it, but practice was way better. I was single digit [in qualifying] for a long time, and ended up qualifying overall P-13," said Nichols. "In the first Race I got 13th. In the second Race I crashed and then just could not get going; I had a really bad finish there. And then in the third Race I got out of the gate a lot better and then just didn't quite ride like I wanted to for the first few laps. We have some stuff to work on, per usual, but I feel like I'm in a much better spot; I'm finally knocking the sickness I had, so we'll be good to go for next weekend." 

"It was a good night in Houston; back on the podium for Ken Roczen with a great ride for the win in the first Race," reported Dustin Pipes, Principal for the Twisted Tea/H.E.P. Motorsports/Suzuki presented by Progressive Insurance Team. "We were just a couple mistakes away from a win, and the riding was great. Jason Anderson continues to improve as well with a sixth place. He's getting great starts and putting himself in position to succeed. Although the results won't show it because of a fall in the second race, Colt Nichols' day was much improved as well. Phoenix is up next and it's a venue that's been good to us in the past."

The Supercross schedule next takes the riders to State Farm Stadium in Glendale Arizona on Saturday, February 7th. The Suzuki riders and team members are excited about the successes in Houston and will keep the strong momentum going into the Glendale round.

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:

Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki earns double 250SX podium at Houston triple crown. 

Monster Energy® Pro Circuit Kawasaki riders Levi Kitchen and Cameron McAdoo rose to the occasion at the Houston Triple Crown, navigating the demanding three-race format to earn second and third-place overall finishes in the 250SX Class. Kitchen posted finishes of 2-2-3 on the night, while McAdoo followed closely with consistent 3-3-4 results, as the duo combined strong starts, calculated passes, and steady execution to secure a double podium for Kawasaki. In the 450SX Class, Monster Energy® Kawasaki rider Chase Sexton battled through a challenging night marked by fluctuating track conditions and difficult starts to finish fifth overall with race scores of 2-9-6. Teammate Garrett Marchbanks continued to show consistency throughout the evening, ultimately securing 15th overall after finishes of 14-15-16. Monster Energy Kawasaki Team Green riders Vincent Wey and Kade Johnson lined up for a second weekend in a row in the SMX Next Main Event, with Wey finishing 12th after leading early and Johnson taking home 22nd following an injury sustained earlier in the day.

Qualifying set the tone for a competitive night in Houston, with the Kawasaki 250SX riders immediately establishing themselves as front-runners. Kitchen opened the day with a strong third-place result in the first session before delivering a statement lap in the second, jumping to the top of the board and earning second overall. McAdoo complemented his teammate with steady, composed riding in both sessions, placing seventh in the first and improving to sixth in the second to secure sixth overall.

Race 1 began with both Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki riders launching cleanly off the gate, immediately establishing themselves at the front of the pack. Kitchen settled into second while McAdoo ran close behind in third. The pair maintained steady pressure on the leader while managing the intensity of the race. Despite a tightly packed field and multiple challenges from behind, both riders rode composed races to bring home second and third-place finishes. The second race saw McAdoo seize the moment early, grabbing the holeshot on his KX250 to lead the field early, but Kitchen quickly joined him to take over the lead on Lap 1 and the duo controlled the pace. What followed was a race-long battle with Kitchen and the leader trading lines and momentum throughout the main lanes. A late-race move in the closing minutes moved Kitchen to second after missing the tricky triple after the whoops, but he remained composed to secure another strong finish. McAdoo continued his consistent night with a third-place result, keeping himself firmly in podium contention. Race 3 tested patience and execution, as both riders were forced to fight forward from the middle of the pack following difficult starts. McAdoo methodically worked his way into fourth while Kitchen followed closely in fifth, the pair maintaining a steady pace through the middle stages of the race. As the time wound down, both riders pushed forward, capitalizing on late-race opportunities to cross the line second and third, respectively. Their combined results across all three races earned Kitchen second overall and McAdoo third overall, marking a successful night in one of the most demanding formats of the season.

In the 450SX Class, Sexton continued to showcase elite pace, qualifying second in the opening session before laying down the fastest lap of the second session. His consistency across both sessions earned him second overall heading into the night program. Marchbanks worked struggling to put in a clean lap in both sessions, but focused on building rhythm, ultimately qualifying 18th overall.

In the opening 450SX race, Sexton started near the front of the pack and immediately positioned himself in podium contention. Settling into a measured pace early, he made a decisive pass midway through the race to take over second place and maintained consistent pressure through the closing laps to secure the podium result. Marchbanks worked steadily through the field after a mid-pack start, managing traffic and rhythm sections to finish 14th. Race 2 presented new challenges, as both riders found themselves buried mid-pack off the start. Sexton mounted an aggressive charge from 17th, slicing his way through the field to reach seventh before a late mistake dropped him back to ninth as the track continued to break down. Marchbanks focused on maintaining flow and minimizing mistakes, climbing to 15th by the checkered flag. The final race of the night saw Sexton battle from the middle of the pack, charging through the field and passing up into a podium position before missing the crucial triple-triple-triple section across the start. The time lost in that section dropped him to sixth place where he'd finish the race. Marchbanks shot out the gate fast, rounding the first turn in fourth. He persevered through the same triple section in Sector 4, posting the fastest time of the evening, and finished 16th after another demanding effort. Sexton's consistency across all three races tied him in points for fourth overall, but earned fifth overall based on the final race finish, while Marchbanks secured 15th overall.

Garrett Marchbanks: 

"This weekend was about continuing to build and get more comfortable every time I was on the bike. It wasn't an easy night, especially when you're working through the pack in multiple races, but I felt better as the night went on. Each race I was able to settle in, find a rhythm, and make progress, even when the starts weren't ideal. There are definitely positives to take away, and I'm happy with the direction we're heading. I'm grateful to be back racing and putting laps together, and I know we'll keep improving as the season goes on."

Chase Sexton: 

"Tonight was tough. The first race was solid, and I felt like I was right where I needed to be, but the second race made things harder with the start, and I had to work my way forward and be smart about it. Going into the third race, it was about salvaging the best overall result possible and staying consistent. The speed is there, and I know we're close. The team never stopped pushing, and we'll learn more about the bike and apply it moving forward."

Levi Kitchen: 

"Tonight was intense. The second race was a battle from start to finish. I was close the entire time, and it really forced me to stay locked in. I focused on learning and resetting from last weekend, and being consistent. Getting second overall at a Triple Crown feels good, especially with how stacked the field was."

Cameron McAdoo: 

"Honestly, I'm prouder of this third than I was of my second in San Diego. Triple Crowns are brutal, you don't get a reset, and every race builds on the last. We stayed consistent, made smart decisions, and put ourselves in good positions all night. I have a lot of good things going for me in my life right now, and that's something to be proud of."

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

More from a press release issued by Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing:

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing in the fight at Houston Triple Crown. 

On the high-speed and technically challenging layout within NRG Stadium, Stewart continued his return to form while recovering from a fractured scapula, qualifying 10th fastest aboard his Husqvarna FC 450 Factory Edition during the afternoon sessions.

"Houston was trending in the right direction for me!" said Stewart. "I felt pretty good through all three races tonight. We've just been making sure to do all of the right things regarding recovery, and I have been working with Dr. G all week. I'm starting to feel a lot better and getting closer to feeling normal, so this is a very positive night. I know on paper it doesn't look that good, but under the circumstances from Anaheim 1, this is a big win for us. So, all we need to do is keep moving forward, keep putting in the work, and I know I can get back up to where I need to be. Glendale is always a fun one and one of my favorites, so I am looking forward to that race next week."

Also onboard the Husqvarna FC 450 Factory Edition, full-time 450SX newcomer RJ Hampshire raced to 10th in Race 1, before a late fall in Race 2 saw him credited P14. In the third and final race, the 30-year-old posted a ninth-place result in the ultra-competitive premier class field, earning 11th position overall for the round.

Combined times from morning and afternoon sessions:

• Read more about 2026 Sepang MotoGP Test Day 1 Combined Times - Marc Marquez Kicks Off 2026 On Top Of Timesheets
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I stared through the windows of the gym at the resort on the shores of Limassol and thought, I don't want to ride today. As I put in time on the treadmill, I watched the wind frantically whip palm tree fronds and pound the surf into the rocks just off the beach, all under a gloomy, dark, foreboding cover of fog and dew. The forecast for the weather up the mountain, where the ride was to take place, was for rain, wind and cold. It was so cold that the photographers were retreating into tents with heaters while waiting for the assembled journalists to ride past.

If I didn't have to ride today, I thought, I probably wouldn't. That was my first thought.

My second thought was, since I do have to ride today, I'm very grateful that I'm riding this bike.

This bike was a 2026 Triumph Trident 800, the successor to the company's 765 R naked roadster. And I was grateful because this bike came standard with all of the electronic safety measures that made riding in such nasty conditions so much safer. Multiple power modes, ABS, traction control, wheelie control - I wanted every one of them while riding through the rain, fog and on the wet mountain lanes that criss-crossed the Troodos Mountains of Cyprus.

Almost all of the 100 miles we covered were in actual rain or on rain-slicked roads, and that was mostly good for evaluating how the bike performed in less-than-optimal conditions. The last 10 miles or so, however, the roads were dry and traffic was light and we got to open the throttle for real. And the Trident 800 delivered exactly what Triumph promised it would. It was quick, light, responsive and planted, and I ended the day wanting more - at least, more of what I experienced in the dry!

Tech Overview

The naked roadster market segment is big and important to Triumph, so much so that it has three different models in the category. The Trident 660, aimed more for the less-experienced rider, underwent significant changes for 2026, and the more track-focused Street Triple 765 RS remains in the lineup. The Trident 800 is designed to fill the gap left behind by the departing Street Triple 765 R. The 765 R leaned more toward the 765 RS in terms of ergonomics, suspension and power delivery; Triumph wanted its replacement to be more Trident, less Street Triple.

To do so, Triumph started with the Trident 660 base - the steel frame and the new triple-throttle body induction setup that the 660 got in its recent upgrade. To that, Triumph added better forks, a smaller rear brake, better brake calipers, a better shock and the all-new engine from the Tiger Sport 800. The liquid-cooled, DOHC, three-cylinder Inline-Four has a bore and stroke of 78.0 mm x 55.7 mm and delivers 113.4 bhp at 10,750 rpm, Triumph says, and 61.96 lbs.-ft. of torque at 8,500 rpm.

That's down about five bhp from the 765 R, but up about three lbs.-ft. of torque, and the torque curve is much flatter than on the 765 R, the company says. That's deliberate - the Trident 800 isn't really aimed at track use, but for everyday riding and enthusiastic canyon carving. In this context, a flat, fat torque curve is a lot more useful and exciting than peakier power delivery. The rest of the Trident 800 echoes this zeitgeist. Compared to the 765 R, the bars are wider and closer to the rider; the seat is incrementally lower; the footpegs are lower and further forward. The suspension is slightly less sophisticated. The swingarm is pressed steel instead of the aluminum alloy unit mated to the 765 R's aluminum twin-spar frame.

The Trident 800's tubular steel frame uses the engine as a fully stressed member; there are mounting points ahead of and behind the cylinder head. Showa 41mm Big Piston split-function forks adjustable for rebound and compression handle suspension duties in the front, a single Showa shock adjustable for preload and rebound damping takes care of the rear. Twin 12.2-inch (310 mm) discs in the front are paired with four-piston radial-mount calipers and steel braided lines; an 8.66-inch (220 mm) disc is mated to a single-piston caliper in the rear. Cornering-sensitive ABS helps prevent panic stops from turning into something worse. Other riding aids include three ride modes - Sport, Road and Rain - each with its own traction control setting. The TC can be switched off entirely. A very welcome feature were the heated grips, as well as a single-button cruise control system. The rider just hits a button and the bike maintains that speed. Easiest one to use ever. And for those who don't like using a clutch, the Trident 800 has clutchless up- and down-shifting.

Riding The Trident 800

The first few miles were on dry city streets, and the Sport setting demonstrated an engine that was responsive and powerful in the midrange, just as Triumph promised, and still stout as the revs rose. Further explorations of the power were cut short by the wet roads, which were dealt with by switching to Rain mode and max TC. This made the bike much easier to handle on slick, narrow roads. The Michelin Road 6 tires performed well in the wet, but every mile contained a handful of little twitches through the bars that let you know that the bike had lost traction for a fraction of a second. The heated grips were awesome (although it was so cold that I was still riding with a pair of electric gloves I'd brought along for the occasion).

Even in this environment, I could tell that Triumph had hit several of its targets for the Trident 800 in the bull's-eye. The riding position was sporty but comfortable, the seat supportive. Vibration was minimal, and the dash remarkably intuitive. While there weren't a lot of electronic rider aid options, the ones that were there were easy to access, and I could quickly configure the dash the way I wanted it. And Triumph's engineers played around a bit with the sound of the bike, giving the rider a throaty induction roar and a bit of pop and burble on off-throttle coasting. I like the way triples sound; I like the way Triumph's triples sound a lot; and this was the best-sounding Triumph triple yet.

When we finally got a bit of clear, dry road, at least it was at the part of the ride with the best roads, at least from a sport riding perspective. Here, with the Trident 800 in Sport mode and the balls of my feet on the pegs, the bike snapped into focus. At anything about 6,000 rpm, the thing punched forward. The chassis felt stiff and composed, easily able to handle the forces the Michelins were loading into it. The suspension felt rigid, and even though it wasn't the most sophisticated, it did the job, striking a nice balance of control and comfort. A lot of bikes in this category have decent suspension, but they are right at the limit of their capabilities in rapid street riding. On the Trident 800, it felt like there was more margin before I hit the limit.

The Trident 800 is aimed at someone who likes the Triumph roadster aesthetic and concept, who isn't headed for the track but who isn't averse to a little hooliganism on the weekends or a long ride up the coast. It feels solid, muscular and at a starting MSRP of $9,995, it feels like there's real value here for the rider who knows what they want and wants what the Trident 800 delivers.

The post World Introduction: Triumph's 2026 Trident 800 appeared first on Roadracing World Magazine | Motorcycle Riding, Racing & Tech News.

The Independent teams feature a host of new faces, each eager to leave their mark on the 2026 season

Afternoon session results:

• Read more about 2026 Sepang MotoGP Test Day FP2 Times - Marc Marquez Quickest On First Day
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The teams took an extended break after lunch, to avoid the extreme heat in the middle of the day and to save tires for the last two days of the test. That means running has been limited so far this afternoon. Pecco Bagnaia was fastest at 4pm, which would have put him 3rd fastest overall on the day. Joan Mir was second quickest, though still half a second slower than he was this morning, while Fabio di Giannantonio, again still some time off his best lap.

• Read more about 2026 Sepang MotoGP Test Day FP2 4pm Times - Bagnaia Quickest As Test Resumes After Lunch
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Times at 1pm:

• Read more about 2026 Sepang MotoGP Test Day FP1 1pm Times - Alex Marquez Takes Over At The Top
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Marco Bezzecchi tops the timesheets after the first two hours of testing at Sepang. The Aprilia rider is currently the only rider to hit the 1'57s, and is a third of a second faster than the rest of the field. Jack Miller is second on the Pramac Yamaha, having the benefit of two days testing under his belt, with Pedro Acosta currently third.

• Read more about 2026 Sepang MotoGP Test Day 1 12:00 Times - Bezzecchi Fastest As 2026 Kicks Off
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Lily Coyner, wife of TrackDaz owner Dustin Coyner, tragically died suddenly on the morning of January 10, 2026. This tragedy has not only rocked the entire world of Dustin, but also the motorbike community. Lily has been a fixture in the paddock for over 25 years. She's the one who greeted TrackDaz riders in the morning at registration. She listened to whatever complaints or comments riders had, sold merch, rented Yamaha generators. She also was the one calling loved ones using the emergency contact info when something happened. She loved all TrackDaz riders, and wanted to help keep us all safe.

Since TrackDaz already had an event scheduled that weekend, we're working with Buttonwillow Raceway Park (BRP) and the Roadracing World Action Fund (RWAF) to raise money in her honor for more Airfence at the track. BRP will be donating all gate fees and likely offer other things for raffles. We'll do raffles and other things as well.

We ask for the community to come together and show strong support for this lovely woman who cared so much in spite of not riding herself.

February 14-15 Buttonwillow Circuit Registration:

http://www.trackrabbit.com/s/2mon

The post Trackdaz Airfence Fundraiser Will Honor Lily Coyner, R.I.P. appeared first on Roadracing World Magazine | Motorcycle Riding, Racing & Tech News.

New items, fresh faces and a return to action - three days of Malaysian testing await. Here's the who, what, where, of what we have in store.

We're in the first racing month of 2026 and just a few weeks away from the opening Grand Prix, so it's time to go testing. Preparation is the name of the game and following the first shots of bikes hitting the track of the year in the Shakedown Test, it's now time for our first Official Test of the year at Petronas Sepang International Circuit where the full grid - minus two key names who are sidelined - will be out in force. The test runs from Tuesday to Thursday inclusive, from 10am local time (UTC +8) until 18:00.

LINE-UP: who's on track this week?

Every factory and team will have their full-time rider line-up… nearly. Unfornately, through injury, Fermin Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) isn't present as he recovers from a broken leg, whilst 2024 World Champion Jorge Martin (Aprilia Racing) is also recovering from his two surgeries from December. He'll be present at the test but supporting from the box, replaced on track by test rider Lorenzo Savadori. As well as the official riders, there'll be two additional but very familiar names on-track too, with MotoGP Legend Andrea Dovizioso and Augusto Fernandez continuing to test for Yamaha and the Iwata marque's all-new V4.

SHAKEDOWN RECAP: in case you missed it:

There was plenty of news from the Shakedown Test. Aleix Espargaro grabbed headlines with the fastest laptime for Honda - quicker than their best bike in Q2 at the 2025 Malaysian GP, and their fastest ever MotoGP lap at the venue. With their progress only continuing to impress, there's plenty of expectation for their season ahead - and their 2027 project and riders.

Meanwhile, Yamaha had also seemingly taken a good step forward with their development of the v-4 powered YZR-M1. At the end of the test, Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) was only half a second away from his Q2 time in 2025 - not bad for Yamaha's first-ever MotoGP V4.

Elsewhere, Toprak Razgatlioglu (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP) was able to make considerable progress across the days. That said, it was Honda rookie Diogo Moreira (Pro Honda LCR) who took best rookie honours overall, the Brazilian pipping the Turkish day on Day 3.

MAJOR STORIES: Marc Marquez returns, race riders get in gear:

Having not been on a MotoGP bike since October, reigning World Champion Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) will offer us our first look at him post-Indonesian GP injury. After a lengthy layoff, the opening day is likely to be more of a shakedown for him - but will we see him push as the test goes on? Teammate Pecco Bagnaia will also be one to watch as he looks to reset for 2026 after a tough season - can he come out swinging at a track where he holds the lap record?

Just like Ducati, it's time for Honda, Aprilia and KTM to also get reunited with their race riders. Whereas Yamaha, in concessions Rank D, were able to field all theirs at the Shakedown, other factories had to wait for the official test - so now we can likely look forward to some more representative laptimes as they push more. Although Honda's top effort from Aleix Espargaro and the second quickest laptime, set by Pol Espargaro with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, weren't exactly hanging around…

HOW TO FOLLOW: never miss a story: 

MotoGP TimingPass keeps you updated with the three days of testing, along with updates from the track across social media. We'll have a midday round-up live from the paddock at Sepang with Louis Suddaby and Jack Appleyard every day, before After the Flag returns too, with both being joined by Elliott York on-site as well as studio analysis from MotoGP HQ with Kiko Giles. Add in reports, stories and interviews across all three days, you'll be up to speed with everything MotoGP. 2026 is GO! See you tomorrow for more from Sepang - you don't want to miss it as Monday was already a headline maker. Marco Bezzecchi is confirmed as staying with Aprilia in the first silly season domino to fall so far.

The post MotoGP: The Sepang Test Kicks Off Tomorrow appeared first on Roadracing World Magazine | Motorcycle Riding, Racing & Tech News.

Honda Racing Corporation unveiled the colours in which Luca Marini and Joan Mir will contest the 2026 MotoGP World Championship.

Honda Racing Corporation unveiled the colours in which Luca Marini and Joan Mir will contest the 2026 MotoGP World Championship as they target further success.

A year on from the debut of the Honda HRC Castrol team, Honda's factory effort has gone from strength to strength in a rapid turnaround in fortunes. Tireless work by Honda HRC's engineers, partners and riders throughout 2025 saw the Honda RC213V earn its best performance since 2019. With momentum behind them, Honda HRC Castrol have clear targets to achieve during the 2026 World Championship campaign while continuing to bring excitement to fans around the world. Consistency is again the key as Luca Marini and Joan Mir enter their third year together inside the factory team, the pairing now a proven combination and offering a holistic approach to racing.

Now in the second year of collaboration, the partnership between Honda HRC and Castrol produced impressive technical and performance increases during its first 12 months. Continuing this spectacular rate of development remains at the forefront for both parties as they target further technical excellence and performance gains from fuels and lubricants.

Now in his third year with Honda, Luca Marini's speed and metronomic consistency only progressed more throughout 2025 and will be vital for the 2026 campaign. Growing race-by-race aboard the ever-improving Honda RC213V, the 28-year old's steady hand saw him miss the top ten just twice in the second half of the year as he battled for top Honda billings until the very end. His objective for this season is to take another step and fight for podiums and victories.

Having achieved a thrilling first podium as an HRC rider at Honda's home in Motegi, Japan and a second at the Malaysian Grand Prix, Joan Mir enters 2026 with renewed motivations. The 2020 MotoGP World Champion showed his undeniable speed on multiple occasions and is determined to make those stand out performances a regular occurrence during 2026. Like his teammate, challenging at the front week in and week out is the objective.

The Honda RC213V will enter its final year of competition proudly wearing the iconic tricolore of Honda HRC again. Red representing passion for racing, Blue representing the quest for technical excellence and White for motorsports fans. These colours further unify and strengthen Honda HRC's presence across the top levels of two-wheeled motorsport and distinguish the Factory Teams. The design is bolstered once more by the presence of the striking appearance of title partner Castrol, the collaboration continuing to go from strength to strength.

2026 also marks the 60th anniversary of Honda's entry into the premier class - the 500cc RC181 starting a lineage which has led to the 1,000cc RC213V. The historic year will be punctuated with a several celebrations to commemorate the 314 Premier Class wins and more than 2,300 podiums across all classes that Honda currently have to their name.

Now Honda HRC Castrol prepare for the first pre-season test at the Sepang International Circuit, February 03 - 05 with the first Grand Prix of the year already looming. The countdown to the first lights out of the year at the Thai Grand Prix, February 27 - March 01 is on.

Koji Watanabe - President of Honda Racing Corporation:

"It is a pleasure to help reveal the 2026 Honda HRC Castrol team and highlight our global effort to return to the top of the MotoGP World Championship. It's a special year for Honda HRC as we celebrate the 60th anniversary of our first participation in the premier class, we are looking forward to commemorating this historic moment throughout 2026. Everyone in this team plays their part, as do all of our partners and I want to deeply thank everyone involved in the progress we made in 2025. Our target for this season is clear; we must continue on the trajectory we had and consistently battle at the front. Luca Marini has shown a steady hand and a keen technical mind with Joan Mir's determination and resilience inspiring us all. I would also like to commend Castrol for their efforts as our partnership continues to strengthen."

Sandeep Sangwan - Chief Marketing Officer, Castrol: 

"It's great to see the continuation of Castrol's strong legacy in racing with Honda Motorcycles, and we are thrilled to continue our partnership with Honda as part of the Honda HRC Castrol team in 2026. As a brand that values superior performance and technical innovation, we see a natural alignment with Honda HRC as we race together. This partnership and MotoGP provides a powerful platform for Castrol to connect even more closely with motorcycle racing fans and bike enthusiasts and Castrol wishes the team lots of success for the upcoming 2026 MotoGP World Championship season."

Alberto Puig - Team Manager, Honda HRC Castrol: 

" The DNA of this company is racing. What prevails, what finally is going to make the direction is the passion to win and the passion for racing that this company has shown throughout history. The foundation of Honda for 2026 is what we've done in 2025, there were solid developments on the technical side, and both riders were able to make progress. Marini's consistency was crucial in graduating to a new Concession Rank and Mir was able to show his talent as a champion with two great podiums."

Luca Marini (10): 

"It's a pleasure to begin another season with Honda HRC Castrol. The progress we showed in 2025 was incredibly rewarding and all winter I have been working to improve myself and begin this new season in 2026. Our objectives are clear: to be there fighting near the front and take full advantage of any and all opportunities which are presented to us. Everyone in this project has done their homework over the winter and I am itching to get back on the Honda RC213V and ride again. In the last year of the 1,000cc we need to finish in a good way and enjoy the beautiful moments along the way."

Joan Mir (36): 

"Another beautiful bike that I am proud to ride, being part of Honda HRC Castrol is something very special. In 2026 we need to find the consistency we struggled with last year, we showed that both myself and the Honda RC213V have the speed and ability to make Honda HRC proud. These two pre-seasons test will be very important to prepare everything well for the start of the year, I am certain that all the Honda HRC engineers have been working diligently during the winter. There is no time to wait around, we need to be working from the first lap to achieve our maximum and return Honda HRC to where it belongs."

The post MotoGP: Honda HRC Castrol Reveals its 2026 Colors appeared first on Roadracing World Magazine | Motorcycle Riding, Racing & Tech News.

MotoGP testing is about to kick off, and excitement hangs in the air among fans and paddock alike. As it should, of course: it's been 10 weeks since MotoGP bikes were out on track in full public view. But the excitement isn't just about the prospect of seeing what MotoGP's five manufacturers have brought to test. That is being overshadowed by the sudden explosion of the MotoGP rider market. Rumor is rife, speculation is running amok.

Making things worse, ironically, is the fact that we have our first officially announced rider signing. (Of course, that doesn't necessarily mean this was the first contract signed, just the first contract announced. Contract announcements are complicated things, with any number of representatives and sponsors needing to be informed before the news can be made public.

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2026's WorldSBK season is set to be one of the most dynamic in recent memory, as this campaign holds a litany of questions left open

From live session streaming to inside-the-paddock footage, the WorldSBK VideoPass brings you closer to the action than ever before

Marco Bezzecchi and the RS-GP say yes. 

After receiving a proposal at the end of the race in Valencia, the RS-GP Albarosa - as Marco called her at the beginning of his adventure with Aprilia - has said yes. Their union is now confirmed. Below is the contract that governs the terms, maintenance, sporting and emotional management of their relationship, as well as their reciprocal rights and responsibilities on and off track.
 

• Watch the ceremony here 

PROPERTY AGREEMENT

MARCO AND ALBAROSA agree to share all components, replacement parts, aerodynamic upgrades, wheels, tyres, fuel, lubricants, and any mechanical or software "add-ons", as well as awards and bonuses from results.
 

MAINTENANCE, CARE, AND SPORTING CUSTODY

MARCO undertakes to treat ALBAROSA with the diligence of a good garage caretaker, ensuring her routine and special maintenance in accordance with technical plans.

On her part, ALBAROSA undertakes to provide power in a quantity proportional to the twisting of the right wrist, avoiding manifestations of electronic jealousy towards other bikes on the grid.
 

FAITHFULNESS

MARCO acknowledges his responsibility to sporting faithfulness to ALBAROSA, her twin, and all Aprilia Racing prototypes. They do not constitute a violation of the obligation of faithfulness.
 

RACE MANAGEMENT AND STRATEGIC DECISIONS

Decisions on tyres, setup, overtaking on the final lap, and on race strategies in general, will always be implemented jointly, in observance of the principles of reason and track limits.

On the track, in the event of any discord, MARCO's feeling will prevail. In this case, ALBAROSA may express disagreement by vibrating or skidding, but not beyond the limits of traction control.
 

DURATION AND EFFECTIVENESS

This agreement takes effect on the date it is signed and is valid for multiple years, in particular, where MARCO is concerned, as long as he desires to race around the track and, where ALBAROSA is concerned, as long as fuel flows through her injectors. 
 

JURISDICTION

Past cases advise strongly against seeking recourse in any court.
 

FINAL PROVISIONS

MARCO declares his knowledge of ALBAROSA's every particularity, including engine maps and character during braking and acceleration.

ALBAROSA declares her acceptance of MARCO's riding, acknowledging his leaning skill, sensitivity with the front end, and attitude of never letting up on the gas.

MARCO BEZZECCHI: "I'm extremely happy to have renewed for another two years. From the first day I signed, I had the goal in mind of building a long-term project. I'm happy to have found the support of the entire team and the whole Noale factory. I hope I'll be able to give them a lot of joy, as they most certainly will with me."

MASSIMO RIVOLA, CEO APRILIA RACING: "We are obviously extremely satisfied, because the renewal was our priority. We wanted to celebrate the signing in a particularly fun way, which I believe goes perfectly well with Marco's personality. We have built a path creating solid foundations, and the fact that Marco chose to stay with us, in spite of various other offers he received, gives us great pleasure and further highlights the work and spirit of this team."

Marco Bezzecchi, in his first season with Aprilia Racing in 2025, has already become the most successful rider in the Italian team's MotoGP history. He has achieved three victories in the long races (Silverstone, Portimão and Valencia), three sprint race wins (Misano, Mandalika and Phillip Island), a total of 15 podium finishes and five pole positions (Austria, Misano, Mandalika, Portimão and Valencia). These results allowed him to finish the championship in third place with 353 points.

The post MotoGP: Bezzecchi Renews With Aprilia Until 2027 appeared first on Roadracing World Magazine | Motorcycle Riding, Racing & Tech News.

Hey, want to score a special deal? How about a nice MotoGP-rider, pretty fast and only slightly used. No? Maybe prefer a rookie, instead? Someone promising but without proven records, so dirt cheap if you act fast. Better act fast before they're all gone…

Yes everyone, it's Auction Day at Oxley Bom and we are your auctioneers! In front of us: a collection of riders, contracts currently still unsigned. Who will ride into a new season, and who will step out of the race? That's what we're about to find out. It's mean and merciless - but that's business, baby! 

So come with us and get bidding, because these riders are going fast… 

• Listen to the podcast here! 

Want more? Visit our website or support us on Patreon. With big thanks as always to Brad Baloo from The Next Men and Gentleman's Dub Club for writing our theme song. Check out The Nextmen for more great music! 

The post Oxley Bom MotoGP Podcast: The Great Auction appeared first on Roadracing World Magazine | Motorcycle Riding, Racing & Tech News.

The Honda HRC Castrol MotoGP team issued the following press release after their online team launch: 

Honda HRC Castrol Reveal 2026 Colours

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The LCR Honda team sent out the following press release and photos after their online team launch:

EVERY NUMBER TELLS A STORY

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The MotoGP Silly Season is in full swing at Sepang, with rumors and speculation swirling. But there is also the first official and confirmed signing, with Aprilia announcing a contract extension of two years with Marco Bezzecchi. The Italian will remain with Aprilia for the 2027 and 2028 seasons.

The news does not come as a surprise. At the Aprilia launch in Milan in January, Aprilia Racing CEO Massimo Rivola said that they were already talking with Bezzecchi and expected to sign a deal soon. Bezzecchi's strong 2025 season, and especially the second half of last year when he outscored everyone to finish third behind the Marquez brothers, was a testament to how well Bezzecchi fitted at Aprilia. So it was a natural step for both parties to continue.

• Read more about The First Official MotoGP Signing For 2027: Marco Bezzecchi Signs 2-Year Extension With Aprilia
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