Former Grand Prix crew chief Peter Bom traveled to Sepang for the first tests of the 2026 MotoGP season, and he sits down with Roadracing World MotoGP Editor Mat Oxley to share his first-hand insights in the latest edition of the Oxley Bom MotoGP Podcast.
Listen to the podcast here:
The post Oxley Bom MotoGP Podcast: What Happens In Sepang … appeared first on Roadracing World Magazine | Motorcycle Riding, Racing & Tech News.
Supercross: Results From Glendale, Arizona [ 08-Feb-26 2:42pm ]GLENDALE, Ariz. (February 7, 2026) - The fifth round of the 2026 Monster Energy SMX World Championship was headlined by the largest audience ever for a Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship race inside State Farm Stadium, which also included unprecedented attendance at FanFest. The record crowd was treated to a memorable night of racing that provided a shakeup of the early 450SMX Class title fight as Progressive Insurance Cycle Gear Suzuki's Ken Roczen became the fourth different winner in the first five races, while Honda HRC Progressive's Hunter Lawrence took over the points lead. It all unfolded after misfortune hindered entering points leader and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider Eli Tomac to a finish outside the top 10.
Ken Roczen Wins in Glendale to Become Fourth Different Winner in Five Races to Open 2026 Monster Energy Supercross Season.
The 450SMX Class Main Event began with ISRT MX4Christ Kawasaki's Vince Friese briefly out front for the holeshot before Lawrence grabbed the early lead ahead of Roczen and Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing's Cooper Webb, the defending series champion and winner of last weekend's race in Houston. Behind them, Tomac was taken to the ground entering the first turn by Quad Lock Honda's Christian Craig, who lost traction and collided with his KTM-mounted counterpart. Tomac took his time to re-enter the race and resumed well back of the field in 22nd place. Back up front, Lawrence paced the field for the opening stint of the 20 Minutes + 1 Lap Main Event until Roczen went on the attack and seized control of the lead with about 16 minutes left on the race clock. The German's impressive pace allowed him to establish a lead of about 3.5 seconds, which he managed for the majority of the race. Lawrence asserted a firm hold of second, as Webb slowly lost touch with the lead duo and soon settled in all by himself in third. As the lead trio strengthened their respective positions, the attention shifted to Tomac and his recovery from the early misfortune. Once he caught the rear of the field, Tomac methodically worked his way up the running order, picking off riders one-by-one until he found himself on the cusp of the top 10 in the closing stages of the race.
Roczen went unchallenged en route to his fifth victory inside State Farm Stadium, where he took the checkered flag 3.3 seconds ahead of Lawrence, who captured a fourth straight runner-up finish. Webb followed up his win with a third-place effort, while Tomac climbed up to 12th and salvaged what could have been a devastating night in the championship.
Roczen's triumph was the 24th of his decorated career and he has now emerged victorious across seven consecutive seasons. It served as an emotional win for the veteran, following a Friday announcement from Pipes Motorsports Group that revealed esteemed team manager Larry Brooks has been diagnosed with cancer and has taken a leave from the races as he undergoes treatment.
Lawrence, whose fifth career runner-up is tied for the second-most without a win in series history, moved atop the 450SMX Class standings and took possession of the red plate for the first time in the premier division. He currently holds a five-point lead over Roczen, while Tomac dropped to third, eight points behind Lawrence.
Progressive Insurance Cycle Gear Suzuki's Ken Roczen became the fourth different winner in five races with an impressive performance in Glendale. Photo courtesy Feld Motor Sports, Inc.
Ken Roczen - 1st Place - 450SMX Class: "This feels unreal. I got a good start and then Friese cut me off going into the first turn, which I expected, which slowed my momentum a little bit. [Eventually] I was able to pass Hunter [Lawrence] and I knew it was going to be a long Main Event because trying to put a gap [on the field] was really hard and the track was tricky. It was just so fast, and everything was built super tall. I'm just really happy. "I want to dedicate this win specifically to Larry [Brooks]. He hasn't been able to be with us here the last few races. It really hurts all of our hearts. He loves this more than anybody. This one goes out to him."
With his fourth straight runner-up finish Honda HRC Progressive's Hunter Lawrence has moved atop the 450SMX Class standings for the first time. Photo courtesy Feld Motor Sports, Inc.
Hunter Lawrence - 2nd Place - 450SMX Class:
"It's bittersweet. I got a great start and was in a great position. Kenny [Roczen] was riding unreal tonight. He was riding a lot better than me in the first 10 minutes and opened that gap. I just didn't quite have it. I didn't feel amazing, just flat, but not bad. We'll take it. [Getting] the red plate is cool, but we've got a long season ahead."
One week after his first win of the season defending champion Cooper Webb finished third aboard his Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing machine. Photo courtesy Feld Motor Sports, Inc.
Cooper Webb - 3rd Place - 450SMX Class: "It was a good night overall. I think we know this hasn't always been my best place [results wise], so I was really happy with that result. Kenny [Roczen] was riding awesome and I was right there with Hunter [Lawrence] for a bit and then he started inching away. I fell into a bit of a no-man's land and took it for a third. I'm happy with that. Happy to leave here with good points. A podium here is a win for me."
450SMX Class Podium (left to right) Hunter Lawrence, Ken Rcozen, and Cooper Webb. Photo courtesy Feld Motor Sports, Inc.
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing's Eli Tomac endured through his toughest night of the young season and lost his hold of the points lead after a 12th-place finish. Photo courtesy Feld Motor Sports, Inc.
Eli Tomac - 12th Place - 450SMX Class: "I put myself in a position where bad things can happen. I started off a little bit pinched [by other riders] and then got taken out by Craig. I don't know what happened before that or why he crashed. All I know is Craig hit me and I was done. It took me a little while to get warmed up again, to get my body loosened up and going. That's what I had to get back to 12th. The good thing is we're not too far down [in the championship]. We'll just have to do some digging now."
Haiden Deegan Goes Wire-to-Wire for Fourth Straight 250SMX Class Victory.
The fifth race of the Western Divisional 250SMX Class was arguably the most dominant yet for Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing's Haiden Deegan, the reigning West champion. He stormed out the gate to open the 15 Minutes + 1 Lap Main Event with a convincing holeshot that he turned into a multi-second lead just a couple laps into the race. From there, Deegan never looked back and continued to add to his advantage. Fellow Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing rider Michael Mosiman gave chase from second, while Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki's Cameron McAdoo and Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing's Ryder DiFrancesco battled for third. McAdoo held the position initially but gave way to DiFrancesco for several laps before the Kawasaki rider reclaimed the position and inched away from his rival. As the race wore on, all eyes centered on Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki's Levi Kitchen, who was on an incredible charge through the field after he rounded the first turn in 19th place. The Washington native made an improbable climb into the top five and then passed his teammate McAdoo to move into podium position with less than three minutes remaining. Kitchen's journey forward didn't end there as he caught and passed Mosiman for second with 90 seconds to go and even had Deegan in his sights on the final lap.
Deegan's command of the Main Event was never threatened, and he easily amassed a wire-to-wire performance for his fourth straight victory. He took the 11th win of his career by 4.1 seconds over Kitchen, who passed 17 riders to secure back-to-back runner-up finishes. McAdoo made a late charge to catch and pass Mosiman and finish third for the second consecutive race, which resulted in an identical podium from the previous race.
Deegan further solidified his command of the Western Divisional standings and has a lead of more than a single race, at 27 points over Mosiman, who finished fourth. DiFrancesco, who finished fifth, sits third, 29 points out of the lead. McAdoo and Kitchen sit fifth and sixth, respectively.
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing's Haiden Deegan went wire-to-wire for his fourth straight Western Divisional 250SMX Class victory. Photo courtesy Feld Motor Sports, Inc.
Haiden Deegan - 1st Place - Western Divisional 250SMX Class: "These races have been solid. Lots of hard work with the family and the team. Thank you to Yamaha and the whole Star Racing team, my bike is amazing. This feels good. The hard work I put in this offseason, it's paid off. It shows who works hard and who doesn't."
Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki's Levi Kitchen impressed in a runner-up effort that saw him pass 17 riders in a climb from 19th to second. Photo courtesy Feld Motor Sports, Inc.
Levi Kitchen - 2nd Place - Western Divisional 250SMX Class: "It's a good night with a lot of positives, but there's always a negative in my nights [as well]. I can't be doing that when [Deegan] is doing everything right. Track position is really important, and I didn't help myself there, but I feel good. I've just got to keep working and keep fighting."
Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki's Cameron McAdoo earned his third podium finish in the past four races. Photo courtesy Feld Motor Sports, Inc.
Cameron McAdoo - 3rd Place - Western Divisional 250SMX Class: "I fought hard for that one. I got myself into third on the first lap and then in the option lane I chose the inside, which let Ryder [DiFrancesco] slingshot around me. Then I got him [back for third], then Levi [Kitchen] came and got me [for third]. With three to go I was fourth and I was pretty far from Michael [Mosiman], but I had been digging the whole time. I saw him and saw where I had some more in the tank and just made it happen."
Western Divisional 250SMX Class Podium (left to right) Levi Kitchen, Haiden Deegan, and Cameron McAdoo. Photo courtesy Feld Motor Sports, Inc.
The Monster Energy SMX World Championship and Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship will continue next Saturday for the sixth race of the season from Seattle's Lumen Field. Live broadcast coverage on Peacock will begin at 1 p.m. ET with Race Day Live, followed by the Gate Drop at 7 p.m. ET. Additionally, a domestic Spanish language broadcast is available on Pea cock while international viewers can choose from dedicated English, French, and Spanish broadcasts via SMX Video Pass (www.SMXVideoPass.com).
All 17 rounds of the 2026 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship and 11 rounds of the Pro Motocross Championship are on sale. Tickets for the SMX World Championship Playoff Rounds and Final will go on pre-sale Tuesday, Jan. 27, with general tickets on-sale to the public on Tuesday, Feb. 3 at Supermotocross.com. Saturday FanFest will take place at all postseason races, Friday FanFest and camping will be available in Columbus and Ridgedale, additional details to follow.
For information about the Monster Energy SMX World Championship, please visit www.SuperMotocross.com and be sure to follow all of the new SMX social media channels for exclusive content and additional information on the latest news:
- Instagram: @supermotocross
- Facebook: @supermotocross
- X: @supermotocross
- YouTube: @supermotocross
- TikTok: @supermotocross
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MotoGP Season Launch: Lights Up Kuala Lumpur [ 08-Feb-26 11:41am ]The Malaysian capital hosted an incredible 2026 Season Launch, full of fans, noise and headline acts - from the riders to the performers.
MotoGP descended on downtown Kuala Lumpur this weekend for an unforgettable Season Launch. Not just one, but TWO days of MotoGP's takeover in Malaysia's capital city culminated in an estimated 20,000 fans coming out to welcome their heroes to the show run and stunning stage finale.
First, the official opening party added some glitz and glamour, held in the Permata Sapura Tower on Friday evening - with a stunning view across the city. Fans greeted the riders on the red carpet as the paddock turned out in black tie before it was time to get suited and booted for the main event.
After the bikes headed around the city on display throughout Friday, on Saturday night it was time to fire up the engines and take them for a spin for the Show Run. Rain ahead of go time only added to the intensity before the weather calmed and the engines starting warming up. Team by team, the riders did two show laps - and added some flair - on their way to the stage to greet the crowd.
The show kicked off at 19:30 and the first bikes headed out through the fan-lined streets from 20:00. After each of the heroes of the 2026 grid had made their appearances, award-winning band The Script took to the stage - adding to performances from DJ PAWSA and Malaysian band DOLLA. The close of the show saw the riders join The Script on stage for their final photo op, signing off in style.
After a stunner to launch the 2026 season, fans don't have to wait long for more action from the most exciting sport on Earth. The Buriram Test is another two days of track action as the sporting storylines of the season continue to unfold, before it's finally time for the lights to go out on racing. Buriram, Thailand, March 1 - save the date and join us for the start of a season already guaranteed to make history as 22 Grands Prix await.
PHOTOS - SEASON LAUNCH:
Jack Miller on the left and Toprak Razgatlıoğlu on the right. Photo courtesy Dorna
Francesco Bagnaia (63) and Marc Marquez (93). Photo courtesy Dorna
Joan Mir (36) and Luca Marini (10). Photo courtesy Dorna
Alex Rins (42). Photo courtesy Dorna
Raul Fernandez (25). Photo courtesy Dorna
Marco Bezzecchi (on the left) and Jorge Martin (on the right). Photo courtesy Dorna
Fabio Di Giannantonio (49) and Franco Morbidelli (21). Photo courtesy Dorna
Maverick Viñales (12) and Enea Bastianini (23). Photo courtesy Dorna
Alex Marquez (73). Photo courtesy Dorna
Johann Zarco (5) and Diogo Moreira (11). Photo courtesy Dorna
The post MotoGP Season Launch: Lights Up Kuala Lumpur appeared first on Roadracing World Magazine | Motorcycle Riding, Racing & Tech News.
Photos from Friday as the most exciting sport on Earth touches down in KLCC.
The Opening Party takes place tonight in KL for the 2026 MotoGP Season Launch, and the riders headed out for a photo op first, with the iconic PETRONAS towers serving as a backdrop.
On Saturday night, the show run and incredible stage event will take place just underneath the towers. Find out more HERE and come back for more tomorrow as MotoGP stages a night to remember.
MotoGP Season Launch in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Photo courtesy Dorna
MotoGP Season Launch in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Photo courtesy Dorna
The post MotoGP Season Launch: Postcards from Kuala Lumpur appeared first on Roadracing World Magazine | Motorcycle Riding, Racing & Tech News.
Alex Marquez fends off Bezzecchi as sun sets on Sepang Test. The 2025 GP winner is top but 'Bez' is hot on the chase as testing concludes in Malaysia.
Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) remains top of the pile as action concludes at Sepang, with the #73 - who won the Grand Prix in Malaysia last year - having just enough in hand to edge out Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) in second after a late push. Completing the top three is Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) after three days of interesting testing, with plenty to talk about beyond one-lap pace.
Marc Marquez (93) and Fabio Di Giannantonio (49) at Sepang, day 3. Photo courtesy Dorna.
BK8 GRESINI RACING MOTOGP, DUCATI LENOVO TEAM, PERTAMINA ENDURO VR46 RACING TEAM:
The fastest Sprint simulation of the day went to 2025 silver medallist Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) who, upon completion of his 10-lap Sprint trial, had an average lap time of a 1'58.027. He ended the day fastest too with a 1'56.402; the #73 is very much in the groove at the track where he was victorious at last year.
Reigning World Champion Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) ran the 2025 front aero on both bikes during the morning and sampled elements of the 2026 aero package. However, the #93 suffered his first crash of the year at Turn 1 but was perfectly OK. For teammate Francesco Bagnaia, he stated he felt more comfortable than at any point throughout the Grand Prix weekend in October whilst also declaring which aero package he preferred. Interestingly, over a 10-lap Sprint simulation, the #63 had the upper-hand over his teammate, leaving food for thought within the factory Ducati squad. It's fourth for Marquez and sixth for Bagnaia across the three days, attention turns to Buriram's test.
Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) was another Ducati rider who fell, crashing at Turn 14. The Italian's work focused mainly on adapting to the GP25 which he inherits for the new season and he ended the test in seventh across all days - with Diggia on the GP26 in that top three.
Marco Bezzecchi (72) at Sepang, day 3. Photo courtesy Dorna
APRILIA RACING & TRACKHOUSE MOTOGP TEAM:
Bezzecchi ends the test second and as top Aprilia after a busy few days, topping the final session of Thursday. We've seen new aero options for the seat unit - call it what you want but it is certainly innovative - and despite being a full-time rider down with Jorge Martin's (Aprilia Racing) absence, the Noale factory can leave buoyed by their breakthroughs. The final day saw the #72's Sprint simulation end in the high 1'58s but at a circuit they've historically struggled at, they can say they're back in BEZness.
In the Trackhouse camp, Raul Fernandez was their shining light as he finished seventh on the final day and P10 overall in what was a complete contrast to his 2025 testing struggles and subsequent day one crash. On the other side, Ai Ogura's incremental improvements saw him finish P12 overall with a focus shifting to the place where the Japanese rider got his best result of 2025: Buriram.
Joan Mir (36) at Sepang, day 3. Photo courtesy Dorna
HONDA HRC CASTROL & HONDA LCR:
After Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol) topped Day 2's timesheets, the final day of testing in Sepang was a little trickier for HRC in general, with both the 2020 World Champion and teammate Luca Marini saying the lower grip conditions after Wednesday's rain caused them to run into a few more issues. Still, the vibes are positive and a stride forward has been made in all areas with the 2026 RC213V. And, importantly, they've found gains with the engine that needs to be homologated for the season now HRC are in Rank C of the concessions. At the end of the three days, Mir finished P5 overall after his 1:56.8 and Marini P13.
For Castrol Honda LCR's Johann Zarco and Pro Honda LCR's Diogo Moreira there was plenty to talk about too. Speaking at the end of six days of testing in Malaysia, including the three-day Shakedown, it's safe to say the Brazilian rookie was tired. However, the #11 was very happy with his progress. The braking area is somewhere Moreira is particularly pleased with, and the reigning Moto2 World Champion also mentioned that he and the team are happy with the base set up they've found.
On the other side of the box, Zarco - like the factory duo - has been feeding us positivity about the new package for the entire test. He was P16 overall on the standings.
Enea Bastianini (23) at Sepang, day 3. Photo courtesy Tech3 Racing
RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING & RED BULL KTM TECH3:
It's just 0.010 between Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and Maverick Viñales (Red Bull KTM Tech3) on the combined timesheets from the whole test as they slot into P8 and P9. It's been a busy test and seemingly a positive one, with Viñales still saying that after trying out lots of different directions on Day 3, it's the first setup he tried that he'd want to stay with - and he'd be happy to roll out for the GP in Buriram with it. He crashed near the end of play but rider ok.
Enea Bastianini (Red Bull KTM Tech3) ends the test in P11, less than half a second off Raul Fernandez ahead of him, who split him from Acosta and Viñales. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory) also said it was coming together and was P15 on the combined times, saying he didn't put a lap together at full push.
Alex Rins (42) at Sepang, day 3. Photo courtesy Dorna
MONSTER ENERGY YAMAHA MOTOGP & PRIMA PRAMAC YAMAHA MOTOGP:
There was great news from the off on Day 3: yes, the Iwata marque were going to run. They sat out Day 2 until they could diagnose the cause - knowing, according to Technical Director Max Bartolini, what the issue was at least. Having got Japan on the task from Asian time on Day 2 joined by their base in Italy as Europe woke up later in the day by the time action began on Thursday.
Alex Rins (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) was top Yamaha in P14 over all, Fabio Quartararo actually 17th on the timesheets from Day 1. Prima Pramac Racing's Jack Miller and rookie Toprak Razgatlioglu were a little further back in P18 and P19 overall.
For full results, click HERE - as that's a wrap on the Sepang Test. Swingarms, chassis, new aero front and rear… there's been a little of everything up and down pitlane and, lest we overlook, an entirely new bike at Yamaha in the YZR-M1. Now we're off into the city for the Season Launch in Kuala Lumpur and switch racing suits for a little black tie… but we'll be back on track soon as Buriram awaits in two weeks.
Then, it's time to get suited and booted for a record-breaking 22-GP calendar.
More from a press release issued by BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP:
Alex Marquez fastest over the three days in Sepang.
- DAY1:
FP1 - 1'57.487 - 31 laps
FP2 - 1'58.169 - 18 laps
- DAY2:
FP3 - 1'57.664 - 22 laps
FP4 - 1'58.094 - 5 laps
- DAY3:
FP5 - 1'56.404 - 31 Laps
FP6 - 1'57.295 - 14 Laps
Alex Marquez tops day 3 at Sepang. Photo courtesy BK8 Gresini Team
Alex Marquez (1'56.404s - 121 laps): "It's always good to finish the tests with the fastest time. The feeling is positive, and we also did some good things in the sprint simulation. We tried a lot and worked well, but it's still just a test. The important thing was to finish these three days in good physical shape, and we managed to do that. Now we'll have the Buriram tests to try other solutions and fine-tune everything ahead of the start of the Championship."
More from a press release issued bu Honda HRC Castrol:
Honda HRC Castrol content with first outing of 2026.
Ninth and 16th for Joan Mir and Luca Marini on the final day of the Sepang Test, both pleased with the progress made and keen to return to the track at the pending Buriram Test.
Three days and some 265 laps later, the first test of the 2026 season has come and gone with Honda HRC Castrol collecting a wealth of data to analyse over the coming weeks. Hard work was rewarded with several moments of bright potential across the Sepang Test, Joan Mir and Luca Marini ultimately leaving satisfied with what they accomplished and motivated for what is to come.
Ending the ultimate day in ninth, Joan Mir concluded Thursday as the top Honda as all his competitors chased one off fast laps. Mir's 1'56.874 from Wednesday morning remains as his quickest lap of the weekend and places him in the top five overall. A confidence building test for the 2020 World Champion who is aiming to start 2026 as he ended the previous season and once again battle for the podium.
Luca Marini leaves Malaysia having progressed with all areas of the Honda RC213V and despite ending the final day in 16th, he remains confident in the changes made by engineers over the winter. Less the two seconds split the top 18 riders on the final day, just a few tenths making a big difference in the standings. The unique layout of the Buriram Circuit will give the #10 another opportunity to assess the 2026 package in different conditions and further improve his feeling.
Now both Mir and Marini will head to Kuala Lumpur city centre for the MotoGP Season Launch. After that, just the Buriram Test awaits before the year truly begins with the Thai GP.
Joan Mir (36) at Sepang, day 3. Photo courtesy Honda HRC
Joan Mir: "Today we were able to do a longer run, a bit more than a Sprint Race distance. Our pace was quite good, but today we saw the other riders make a step as well, so we need to remain focused and keep working. We've made a step over last year, but everyone else has been working hard as well. The position is not super important today, we had to adapt our plan and cut out our time attack, so it was not as impressive as yesterday. If tomorrow was a race, we can be there in the top five."
Luca Marini (10) at Sepang, day 3. Photo courtesy Honda HRC
Luca Marini: "We improved the bike with another step today, a satisfying end to the three days but like always - everyone else has made a step. The situation is similar to the GP last year in terms of the gap, so we have to work well in Thailand in a few weeks. We will have a couple of new things in Thailand as well, so there's still plenty to do before the first race. It's just the first test and people are always playing a bit, so we will wait to see what happens at the first race. Looking forward to it. Thanks to the team for their hard work of the winter and this test."
More from a press release issued by Monster Energy Yamaha:
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Wrap Up Sepang Test Day 3 in P12 & P21st.
After sitting out Day 2 of the Malaysia MotoGP Official Test, the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team were back in action on Day 3. Álex Rins and Augusto Fernández (replacing the injured Fabio Quartararo) wrapped up testing in 12th and 21st place respectively in the overall Day 3 rankings.
Following overnight investigations in Japan and Italy into the technical issue encountered on Day 1 of the Malaysia MotoGP Official Test, Yamaha returned to action on Day 3. Álex Rins and Augusto Fernández (replacing the injured Fabio Quartararo) completed a productive day on track, finishing 12th and 21st respectively in today's timesheets.
Rins posted a 1'57.580s best time in Session 1 on lap 11/26. As the majority of the rider field didn't improve their times in the afternoon, that lap was fast enough to earn him 12th position in today's classification, 1.178s from first. Completing 10 laps in Session 2 brought his Day-3 lap tally up to 36.
Fernández took on bike development duties for the injured Quartararo, making the test rider part of the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team for the day. Fernández only took part in the morning session. His best time, a 1'59.278s set on lap 19/20, had him place 21st in the Day 3 rankings and in the combined results, 2.876s from the top.
The team will now travel to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, for the MotoGP Launch event, held from 6-7 February. The team will be back in action on track on 21-22 February for the Thailand MotoGP Official Test in Buriram.
Alex Rins (42) at Sepang, day 3. Photo courtesy Monster Energy Yamaha
Alex Rins: "We have been able to test all the items that we had to try here in Sepang during the Shakedown Test and the IRTA Test and made a selection of items we like for Buriram. Unfortunately, because of a technical issue and safety precaution, we couldn't ride yesterday, losing some time on track. Luckily, today we were able to ride again, and we completed our plans. We will work more on settings in Buriram."
Massimo Meregalli: "It has been a productive test. We have been able to evaluate most of the items that we had scheduled to try here. We chose the main topics for this test, like chassis, rear arm, and aerodynamics, with which we will start the Buriram Test - and this was the priority. Even though we were forced to temporarily halt the test due to a technical issue that occurred on Day 1, we were able to understand the cause and could finish today's test thanks to the big effort of the engineers here in Malaysia as well as in Japan and Italy. What we didn't have time for was fine-tuning the set-ups, which we will, of course, move to the Buriram Test."
More from a press release issued by Prima Pramac Yamaha:
Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP Team finishes intense days of winter testing in Sepang.
Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP concluded the three days of Official MotoGP Winter Testing at Sepang, completing an intense programme of evaluation and development. Jack Miller and Toprak Razgatlıoğlu faced a demanding learning curve with the new bike — and, for Razgatlıoğlu, a completely new environment — but collected positive feedback across a wide range of set-ups tested during the Sepang test.
Gino Borsoi - Team Director: "During the Shakedown, to be honest, things went quite well and we completed all the work we had planned. The three days here were not easy — especially for Toprak — with the conditions and the high temperatures in Malaysia, but they both managed the workload well and we brought home important information. Going into the Official Test, we honestly expected to do a little better. In the two days we were out on the track, we were able to run and continue evaluating the material Yamaha provided. Our goal was not to chase lap time, but to build stability in performance. On the final day we found some improvements and, from a chassis point of view, the bike is quite competitive and works very well. It's clear that we are still missing some top speed, but Yamaha is already working on this, so we're not concerned."
Toprak Razgatlıoğlu (7) at Sepang, day 3. Photo courtesy Prima Pramac Yamaha
Toprak Razgatlıoğlu: "It's still difficult for me and the learning curve is steep, but the feedback we're getting is positive and we're making progress. I'm trying to understand where I need to improve and also how much I need to adapt my riding style to this bike. Jack helped me a lot today — I followed him for a few laps to understand how to approach some corners that are still tricky for me. I was hoping to get into the 1'57s and even though I felt fast, the lap time didn't come yet. But I'm pushing every day to learn and improve, and I'm already looking forward to continuing this work at the next test in Buriram."
Jack Miller (43) at Sepang, day 3. Photo courtesy Prima Pramac Yamaha
Jack Miller: "It wasn't an easy day, but these things are part of the process. If you expect everything to run smoothly, you're being naïve — we're pushing the most high-performance machines in the world to their limits. Sometimes you need to pause, reassess what's needed and then get back to work. Of course I would have liked a bit more from this test, but I really believe the bike still has plenty of potential. The last few days were busy, with a lot of parts going on and off the bike, and the key is not just trying things, but properly analysing what works, what doesn't and where you can find a compromise for the future.
More from a press release issued by Pro Honda LCR:
Pro Honda LCR rider Diogo Moreira finished 19th on Thursday at the Sepang Test.
- Brazilian rider Diogo Moreira completed his first official test, which allowed him to continue getting to know the bike and learning.
- Today, Diogo completed a total of 46 laps, which, added to the 34 on Wednesday and the 39 on Tuesday, brings the total to 119 laps of hard work over three days.
- The rider admits that, after the Shakedown and the Sepang Test, he is pleased with the work done and motivated ahead of the next test in Buriram, as he has already felt improvements and gained important learnings at the beginning of his MotoGP journey.
Diogo Moreira (11) at Sepang, day 3. Photo courtesy Pro Honda LCR.
Diogo Moreira 19th - (1'58.476): "I'm happy but exhausted, these days have been intense! I've understood many things, we've done many laps, and the progress has been positive. My feeling on the bike improved day by day, and especially today, I felt good riding it. I believe we've found our base setup, and this is great. I still need to do more hours on the bike and improve, but everything will come. We are happy and motivated!"
More from a press release issued by Castrol Honda LCR:
Castrol Honda LCR rider Johann Zarco finished 15th on Thursday at the Sepang Test.
- French rider Johann Zarco and his crew ended the Sepang Test with consistent and positive feelings after some initial struggles.
- Today, Johann completed a total of 58 laps, which, added to the 33 on Wednesday and the 60 on Tuesday, brings the total to 151 laps of hard work over three days.
- The rider admits that the bike has improved and that, with a few adjustments, he is confident he will have a lot of fun, a positive sign heading into the Buriram Test.
Johann Zarco (5) at Sepang, day 3. Photo courtesy Castrol Honda LCR
Johann Zarco 15th - (1'57.601): "I finished this Sepang test on a positive note. We had an intense afternoon today; we rode non-stop, and the feeling was good. Overall, I struggled at the beginning of the test, but we managed to solve the issues and finish in a good way. Since yesterday, we've been more consistent, and that's important. We struggled a bit with tyre drop, but it was the same for everyone. The bike has improved, and now we're just trying to find the right balance. Let's keep working like this."
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Sepang tests Day 2 update for our esteemed Oxley Bom #MotoGP podcast Patreon followers is a sound clash with the Paddock Pass podcast. It's all here, from the Yamaha disaster down…
Listen the podcast HERE.
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Three-time (1984-1985-1986) AMA 250cc Grand Prix Champion and WERA Pro Formula 2 Champion Donny Green died February 3rd, at age 64.
Donny Greene receives his 1981 AMA 250cc Novice #1 plate from AMA Official Bill Boyce. Photo courtesy The Rider Files.
His son Derek wrote on Facebook, "I lost my best friend, father, mentor and idol. He lived larger than life and had an even bigger heart…Thank you for buying my first drum set at 12. Thank you for teaching me good manners. Thank you for teaching me how to ski. Thank you for being there for me when times got tough. I'll always remember calling you after my shows and reflecting on my performance of that night. You always believed in me as I believed in you. You are a legend. I hate cancer and how ugly that disease is…Gone way too soon. You crossed the final finish line tonight as I kissed your forehead and told you, 'I love you dad!' 'Go Greene Go!'"
Donny Greene won the AMA 250cc Grand Prix Championship three times. Photo courtesy Rider Files.
Greene also raced and won with Dutchman Racing in the AMA/CCS Endurance Series.
May he rest in peace.
(Additional info will be posted as it becomes available.)
Donny Greene at Mid-Ohio, 1987. Photo by Larry Lawrence/Rider Files.
The post R.I.P.: AMA Formula 2 Champion Donny Greene appeared first on Roadracing World Magazine | Motorcycle Riding, Racing & Tech News.
A day of two halves sees Honda and VR46 claim the top three as opposite fortunes for Yamaha see all their machinery stay in the pits on Wednesday.
Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol) headed the timesheets on Day 2 in Sepang, putting in a notable laptime and becoming the fastest Honda rider ever at the venue - taking a chunk off test rider Aleix Espargaro's top lap at the Shakedown last week. Franco Morbidelli slots into second just ahead of teammate Fabio Di Giannantonio as Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team complete the top three. Action was curtailed a little early due to rain, but the morning made for some interesting laptimes…
One of the biggest stories of the day, however, was off track - Yamaha. After an issue on Day 1 for Fabio Quartararo - after his crash which later caused him to withdraw from the remainder of the test - the all-new YZR-M1 was kept in the pits on Wednesday. A precaution from the Iwata marque as they say they know the issue but not the cause and are investigating before doing any more running. So both Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP and Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP stayed in the box on Day 2.
Johann Zarco (5) at Sepang. Photo courtesy Castrol Honda LCR
HONDA HCR CASTROL & HONDA LCR:
Mir will take the plaudits on the second day in Sepang. It's the factory's first time dipping their toe in the coveted 1:56s, which confirms their continued progress that we saw towards the end of last season. Both Mir and Honda HRC Castrol teammate Luca Marini remain very positive about the performance of the 2026 RC213V, but - as expected and understandably - they're keeping their feet firmly on the ground, insisting that they're not looking at the timesheets. Marini ended the day sixth fastest with the mileage limited due to the afternoon weather, as HRC eye another solid day at the office on Thursday to head to Thailand in very good shape.
In the LCR box, Johann Zarco (Castrol Honda LCR) was also pleased with the how Day 2 went, with the Frenchman looking to have a solid long run on the final day to see where the package stacks up to the competition. And of course, Diogo Moreira (Pro Honda LCR) was back on track and said that he made solid progress in the morning, while also getting a taste of what his Honda feels like in the wet conditions for the first time. The Brazilian is upbeat about his feeling on a MotoGP bike heading into the final day of testing in Sepang.
Fabio Di Giannantonio (49) finished third at Sepang, day 2. Photo courtesy VR46 Racing Team.
DUCATI LENOVO TEAM, PERTAMINA ENDURO VR46 RACING TEAM, BK8 GRESINI RACING MOTOGP:
Continuing to go about their business quietly and methodically, Ducati's charge was led by Morbidelli in second - the only rider other than Mir to drop into the 1'56s. A 1'56.983 was good enough for the Italian, just 0.109s adrift of Mir and Honda in P1. Giannantonio continued his strong test and was third overall, a further 0.066s behind the #21, and said the front end feeling was a key improvement.
In factory red, Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) was again in P8 as his test continued; despite wanting to do a Sprint simulation, the morning saw him do six runs but none more than four laps long. Still, he was very positive about his feeling come the end of play. Teammate and reigning World Champion Marc Marquez was taking it easier on day two having topped the opening day of action and was 15th after a total of 30 laps. Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP), meanwhile, became the latest rider to crash at Turn 5 as he was back testing the 2024 aero package. He was OK and did go back out in the brief dry spell in the afternoon but didn't improve his morning time, finishing 12th overall.
Maverick Viñales (12) at Sepang test, day 2. Photo courtesy KTM Tech3.
RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING & RED BULL KTM TECH3:
Over at the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing outfit, Pedro Acosta was in fine form, setting laps in the low 1'57s - quicker than KTM's previous fastest ever time at Sepang but yet to crack the 1'56s. The Spaniard used an updated front fairing both in the wet and dry, getting valuable data en-route to fourth. Brad Binder was the lowest-placed KTM in 13th, his tougher day compounded by a couple of messy practice starts. As well as his on-track exploits, however, it's also worth noting that he continues to develop his working relationship with new crew chief Phil Marron.
At Red Bull KTM Tech3, Maverick Viñales took advantage of the rain to spin some wet laps and acquire useful data and experience whereas Enea Bastianini remained in the box and completed the top ten. It's a marked improvement for Tech 3 as during the same test last season, both riders weren't just continuing their adaptation but struggling to find a direction. This year, they're firmly in the top ten with fifth and tenth respectively on day two - let's see what time attacks on day three bring.
Raul Fernandez (25) and Ai Ogura (79) at Sepang. Photo courtesy Trackhouse Team
APRILIA RACING & TRACKHOUSE MOTOGP TEAM:
Marco Bezzecchi continued his honeymoon with the RS-GP in P6, fastest Aprilia, with Raul Fernandez of Trackhouse MotoGP Team right on his tail. Speaking of, the tail unit of the Aprilia caused plenty of chat on Day 2, with new aero fins sticking straight up making their debut in pitlane, which was tested back-to-back. The Noale factory were also testing a swingarm.
Ai Ogura slotted into P9 for Trackhouse, with only Bagnaia in eighth splitting the Aprilia-running race riders on Wednesday. Test rider Lorenzo Savadori was also back out putting in the kilometers.
That's all she wrote on Day 2, but there's more to come on Thursday in a final push at Sepang. Join us for more from 10:00 (UTC +8)!
Classification day 2 session 1
Classification day 2 session 2
More from a press release issued by Honda HRC Castrol:
Mir Reigns Supreme on Second Day in Sepang.
The Honda RC213V and Joan Mir set a new reference over a single lap while Luca Marini kept pace as weather curtailed the afternoon's running.
With a positive first day in their pocket, the Honda HRC Castrol squad were immediately back to work around the 5.54-kilometre-long circuit. Wednesday's action would again show that even in its early stage, the 2026 Honda RC213V has continued on the path set out in 2025 as engineers continue to work on refining all of the small details.
Leading the charge was Joan Mir who blitzed the field early in the day and set a 1'56.874. 0.6s faster than his Q2 time from the Malaysian GP just a few months ago. Although the time is impressive, Mir and Honda HRC remain focused on the work ahead with plenty more still to come in the 2026 season. Rain would see Mir do just two laps after the lunch break.
Another productive day saw Luca Marini continue to focus on the testing plan in the morning, the afternoon rain prematurely ending his chances to push from a single fast lap. 0.676s back from his teammate, the Italian was left content with what he achieved given the more limited track time. This evening will be spent finalising the plan and finding the balance between testing final items in Sepang and what can also be assessed in Buriram.
A final day of testing remains, and Honda HRC Castrol are eager to make the most before heading to Buriram, Thailand for the second test and first race of the season. Work to be done, but the first two days have certainly helped to maintain Honda HRC's momentum into the new year.
Joan Mir (36) at Sepang. Photo courtesy Honda HRC
Joan Mir: "I think we have to be happy about the lap time today! This morning, I was feeling quite strong and I was able to push for a good lap, my confidence is growing and this translates to what we saw today with the new tyre. Today we focused on the lap time in the morning before getting back to the puzzle of testing after. Tomorrow, we need to make another step and make up for the time we lost to the rain. At the moment I am happy with what we've done but there will also be a lot of work to do after the test."
Luca Marini (10) at Sepang. Photo courtesy Honda HRC
Luca Marini: "We had a busy morning, trying to make the most of every lap and really hit our targets. Even without the second session, we did a lot. Between me and the other Honda riders we split the work load a little bit which also has helped us to be more productive. It's been a good test so far and we are not in a big rush to do a huge job tomorrow; we can focus on what we need to do and find the balance."
More from a press release issued by Castrol Honda LCR:
Castrol Honda LCR rider Johann Zarco finished 14th on the second day of testing at Sepang.
- The Frenchman and his team had a productive and solid second day at Sepang, focusing on testing different configurations and collecting valuable data for future adjustments.
- Johann and the technicians tried various setups to find the most comfortable bike balance for him, and they identified some positive aspects.
- However, afternoon rain disrupted their plans, preventing them from completing their work. Tomorrow will be crucial to assess the improvements, with a long run scheduled.
Johann Zarco (5) at Sepang. Photo courtesy Castrol Honda LCR
Johann Zarco 14th - (1'58.346) : "The bike's balance is a narrow window, and we are working hard to find it so we can push and improve. We couldn't find it straight away today, but we tried many things, which helped us understand what could work. Then, we were unlucky with the weather, as it started to rain, so we couldn't nail the job. Tomorrow should be a good opportunity to gain consistency and keep improving, as we made progress before the rain. The long run will be important to see if we've found the right solution."
More from a press release issued by Pro Honda LCR:
Pro Honda LCR rider Diogo Moreira finished 17th on the second day of testing at Sepang.
- Determined to keep learning and pushing, the Brazilian rider had a consistent day working alongside his crew.
- Moreira completed 34 valuable laps to assess the bike's behavior, even in rainy conditions, which was another first for him.
- By the end of the day, Diogo was satisfied with the work done and is looking forward to trying a long run tomorrow, the final day of testing.
Diogo Moreira (11) at Sepang during the rainy day 2 session 2. Photo courtesy Pro Honda LCR
Diogo Moreira 17th - (1'58.571): "Today I rode in the rain for the first time. At the beginning, I was quite cautious, but lap after lap, I started to feel more comfortable on the bike. I'm getting to know the bike better as the laps go by, and that's important. The electronics are really good and are a great help. Tomorrow, we'll probably do a long run. I can't wait!"
The post MotoGP: Mir and Honda Top Day 2 of the Sepang Test appeared first on Roadracing World Magazine | Motorcycle Riding, Racing & Tech News.
The new FIM Racing Motorcycle Museum (RMM), that was inaugurated in December on the day of the 2025 FIM Awards Ceremony, will officially open to the public on Wednesday 18 February 2026.
Based in Mies, Switzerland, at the site of the previous FIM Headquarters, the RMM takes visitors on a journey through the chronicles of motorcycle racing history, from early classics all the way up to today's cutting-edge machines.
All the motorcycles on display have authenticated race pedigrees and include the 1949 AJS Porcupine that Leslie Graham rode to the first-ever FIM 500cc Grand Prix title, Mike Hailwood's 1967 Honda RC166 and Jonathan Rea's 2016 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R that carried him to the second of his six consecutive FIM Superbike World Championship crowns.
Off-road disciplines are also well represented with exhibits including Hubert Auriol's Dakar Rally-winning 1981 BMW R80 G/S, Jordi Tarres' 1989 Beta Zero prototype, Stefan Everts' 2006 Yamaha YZ450F that he raced to the FIM MX1 Motocross World Championship title and the highly-specialised Zaeta DT450RS that Francesco Cecchini clinched the 2019 FIM Flat Track World Championship aboard.
FIM Racing Motorcycle Museum. Photo by GPagency / courtesy FIM
Bringing the collection all the way up to the present day, visitors will also be able to view 2025 world championship-winning machines ridden by Marc Marquez (MotoGP), Toprak Razgatlioglu (WSBK), Toni Bou (TrialGP), Daniel Sanders (World Rally-Raid), Josep Garcia (EnduroGP), Bartosz Zmarzlik (Speedway) and Romain Febvre (MXGP).
With the exhibits curated around the three main pillars of 'Heroes', 'Technologies' and 'From Race to Road', the RMM is so much more than simply a collection of historic motorcycles and visitors will have the opportunity to discover and explore the breakthroughs in technology, equipment and engineering that have advanced motorcycle racing.
With the exhibits curated around the three main pillars of 'Heroes', 'Technologies' and 'From Race to Road', the RMM is so much more than simply a collection of historic motorcycles and visitors will have the opportunity to discover and explore the breakthroughs in technology, equipment and engineering that have advanced motorcycle racing.
The RMM also features the Paddock Café - a perfect place for enthusiasts to gather and watch racing on a big screen - while the Simulator Zone gives visitors the chance to experience first-hand, albeit virtually, the thrills of top-flight Motocross and Circuit Racing.
FIM Racing Motorcycle Museum. Photo by GPagency / courtesy FIM
Jorge Viegas, FIM President, stated: "The FIM Racing Motorcycle Museum truly is a remarkable collection, and to walk among the exhibits is to take a journey through the illustrious history of motorcycle racing, from its formative years all the way through to the present day. Much more than just a display of classic machines, the RMM gives visitors a valuable and interactive insight into the heritage of the sports we all love, helping to develop a better understanding of the emotions and innovation involved."
Fabio Muner, FIM Marketing and Digital Director, said: "The FIM is proud to welcome you to the Racing Motorcycle Museum - an immersive space where passion, performance and innovation come to life. Designed for devoted fans, seasoned experts and curious newcomers alike, the museum invites you to explore the rich history, striking beauty and raw exhilaration of motorcycle sport.
"Brought to life with the support of our twenty-seven industry partners, the Canton of Vaud and the Municipality of Mies, this project goes beyond celebrating legendary champions and iconic machines. It also highlights modern technologies and their impact on everyday motorcyclist safety."
The FIM Racing Motorcycle Museum is located at Route de Suisse 11b - Mies, Switzerland, just a short train journey from Geneva. Opening times are from 10:00hrs until 18:00hrs, Wednesday to Sunday.
The post FIM Racing Motorcycle Museum Opens To The Public appeared first on Roadracing World Magazine | Motorcycle Riding, Racing & Tech News.
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 Gary Fisher BMW undergoing preparations for the Daytona 50th Anniversary celebration. Photo courtesy RPM Ventures NC, LLC
- 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.
Reg Pridmore's AMA Superbike Championship BMW. Photo courtesy RPM Ventures NC, LLC
- 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.
MotoGP: M.Marquez Fastest on Day 1 at Sepang [ 03-Feb-26 5:43pm ]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.
Alex Marquez (73) during the first test day at Sepang. Photo courtesy Dorna
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.
Pedro Acosta (37) during the first test day at Sepang. Photo courtesy Dorna
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.
Diogo Moreira (11) during the first test day at Sepang. Photo courtesy Dorna
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.
Marco Bezzecchi (72) during the first test day at Sepang. Photo courtesy Dorna
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.
Toprak Razgatlioglu (7) during the first test day at Sepang. Photo courtesy Dorna
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!
CombinedPracticeTimes
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 (10) at Sepang. Photo courtesy Honda HRC Castrol
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 (36) at Sepang. Photo courtesy Honda HRC Castrol
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 (20) at Sepang. Photo courtesy Monster Energy Yamaha.
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 (42) at Sepang. Photo courtesy Monster Energy Yamaha.
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.
Johan Zarco (5) at Sepang. Photo courtesy Castrol Honda LCR
Johann Zarco 11th - (1'58.140) : "The bike is competitive, and with the new tyre, the lap times are solid. I'm happy with that; today's feelings confirm the bike is good, but I'm not entirely satisfied yet. I still haven't found the level of comfort I need to fully enjoy riding. There's work to be done to find the perfect feeling and maximize my performance. Even though today wasn't my best day, there are still positives, so we'll see tomorrow!"
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 (43) at Sepang. Photo courtesy Prima Pramac Yamaha
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 (7) at Sepang. Photo courtesy Prima Pramac Yamaha
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.
Diogo Moreira (11) at Sepang. Photo courtesy Pro Honda LCR.
Diogo Moreira 19th - (1'58.682): "After four days of pushing and trying to find the limit, there came a point where I had no choice but to crash. I've learned from it; I lost the front end while I was riding at a high speed and couldn't save it. I have a minor bruise, but nothing serious. While the crash threw off our plans, we still had a strong day overall. Looking forward to tomorrow!"
The post MotoGP: M.Marquez Fastest on Day 1 at Sepang appeared first on Roadracing World Magazine | Motorcycle Riding, Racing & Tech News.
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."
Cooper Webb (1) at Houston. Photo courtesy Yamaha
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.
Cooper Weeb and his family at Houston. Photo courtesy Yamaha.
"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.
Justin Cooper (32) at Houston. Photo courtesy Yamaha
"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.
Haiden Deegan (1) at Houston. Photo courtesy Yamaha.
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."
Haiden Deegan (1) at Houston. Photo courtesy Yamaha.
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."
Haiden Deegan (1) and Max Anstie (61) at Houston. Photo courtesy Yamaha.
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."
Michael Mosiman (23) at Houston. Photo courtesy Yamaha
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.
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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.
Hunter Lawrence (96) on the podium at Houston. Photo courtesy HRC
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.
Hunter Lawrence (96) at Houston. Photo courtesy HRC.
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 (3) at Houston. Photo courtesy KTM
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 (26) at Houston. Photo courtesy KTM
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 (7) at Houston. Photo courtesy KTM
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.
- 450 Class
- 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.
- 450 Class
Ken Roczen (94) holeshot and led Race 1 from start to finish. He battled to within one pass of the event overall victory during a thrilling Race 3. Photo courtesy Suzuki
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) led laps and racked up several fastest-Sector times over the three-race format of the Houston Supercross. Photo courtesy Suzuki
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."
It was 'mission accomplished' in Houston for Colt Nichols (45), who improved his morning performance with season-best results in both qualifying sessions and the overall qualifying standings. Photo courtesy Suzuki
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.
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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.
Levi Kitchen (on the left) and Cameron McAdoo (on the right). Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
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.
Levi Kitchen (47) at Houston. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
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 KX
250 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.
Cameron McAdoo (142). Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
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.
Chase Sexton (4) at Houston. Photo courtesy Kawasaki
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 (36) at Houston. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
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.
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing's Malcolm Stewart delivered a strong performance to secure eighth overall in the 450SX Class at Round 4 of the 2026 AMA Supercross Championship in Houston on Saturday night, as 250SX West teammate Ryder DiFrancesco recorded a consistent 6-5-5 scorecard to claim fifth overall in the 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.
The 33-year-old followed with a consistent eighth-place finish in the opening final, improved to sixth in Race 2 on a deteriorating circuit, and crossed the line 10th in the final outing to secure P8 on the night. The result shows encouraging signs of progress for Stewart, who is racing back into form during the early stages of the 2026 SMX World Championship series.
Malcolm Stewart (27) at Houston. Photo courtesy Husqvarna
"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.
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.
Trackdaz Airfence Fundraiser Will Honor Lily Coyner, R.I.P. [ 02-Feb-26 10:50pm ]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.
MotoGP: The Sepang Test Kicks Off Tomorrow [ 02-Feb-26 10:01pm ]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.
Aleix Espargaro (41) at Sepang. Photo courtesy Dorna
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.
MotoGP: Honda HRC Castrol Reveals its 2026 Colors [ 02-Feb-26 7:55pm ]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.
Joan Mir (36). Photo courtesy Honda HRC Castrol.
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.
Luca Marini (10). Photo courtesy Honda HRC Castrol.
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.
Honda RC213V. Photo courtesy Honda HRC Castrol.
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: Bezzecchi Renews With Aprilia Until 2027 [ 02-Feb-26 11:34am ]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 will race with Aprilia in 2027. Photo courtesy Aprilia.
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 (on the left) and Marco Bezzecchi (on the right). Photo courtesy Aprilia.
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.
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Oxley Bom MotoGP Podcast: The Great Auction [ 02-Feb-26 11:25am ]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.
MotoGP: Honda LCR Unveils Its 2026 Colors [ 01-Feb-26 8:45pm ]Zarco's Castrol Honda LCR & Moreira's all-new Pro Honda LCR liveries revealed.
The French veteran and the Brazilian rookie takes the covers off their machinery for our record-breaking 2026 season.
LCR took the covers off their stunning colour schemes for 2026 on Sunday, with the online show revealing a few updates for Johann Zarco's popular Castrol Honda LCR livery and an all-new look on the other side of the garage as Brazilian Diogo Moreira prepares to roll out with Pro Honda LCR for his rookie MotoGP season.
Zarco remains with the team - with whom he won the 2025 French GP in awesome style - for his third season, ready to fight at the front once more as his experience only continues to pay off. Moreira arrives fresh from becoming the first Grand Prix champion from Brazil after claiming the 2025 Moto2 title, one of the two exciting rookies joining this season.
Take a look through the new liveries below!
Lucio Cecchinello (on the left) and Diogo Moreira (11) on the right. Photo courtesy Honda LCR.
Lucio Cecchinello (on the left) and Johann Zarco (5) on the right. Photo courtesy Honda LCR.
Pro Honda LCR RC213V. Photo courtesy Honda LCR.
Castrol Honda LCR RC213V. Photo courtesy Honda LCR.
Lucio Cecchinello, Team Principal: "I was the first rider to kick off the LCR journey, which is not just my dream, but also the place I call home. Over the years, we've had the privilege of watching various riders evolve, each one leaving their mark with impressive results and unforgettable moments. For2026, I am incredibly proud to have Brazilian rider Diogo Moreira on board, fighting with the Pro Honda LCR team. He has consistently shown his exceptional ability to adapt to any bike, and his dedication, work ethic, and personality are a perfect fit for the values we uphold at LCR. I am really proud to have Johann Zarco on the team, fighting and defending the colours of Castrol Honda LCR. The experience Johann has gathered over the years is a great contribution to our results, and over the past years with him, we've built a strong bond with a common goal and a united synchrony.
"2026 marks LCR's 30th anniversary. Since 1996, we've earned 133 podiums, 41 wins, and 36 pole positions. As Team Principal, I cannot wait to see those numbers grow. We are fully committed and motivated to fight for it."
The first ride out for Zarco is the Sepang Test on Tuesday, with Moreira having already completed the Shakedown and ready to take back to the track. Tune in as the full MotoGP grid gets back in action!
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Supercross : Results From Houston, Texas [ 01-Feb-26 11:22am ]HOUSTON - The fourth race of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship held its first stop of the 2026 season outside the state of California as Round 4 of the Monster Energy SMX World Championship traveled to the Lone Star State and the domed confines of NRG Stadium. The first Triple Crown race of the stadium campaign produced the most unpredictable action of the young season as three different riders took race wins during the trio of 450SMX Class sprint races. However, none of those racers sat atop the overall podium at night's end as reigning 450SMX Class Champion Cooper Webb parlayed a consistent night into his first win of the season, providing a much-needed boost to what has been a frustrating start to the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing rider's title defense.
Defending Champion Cooper Webb Emerges with First Victory of Season After Triple Crown Showdown in Houston.
Race 1 was dominated by Progressive Insurance Cycle Gear Suzuki's Ken Roczen, as the German grabbed the holeshot and rode to an uneventful wire-to-wire win where he never faced a serious challenge for the lead. Roczen took the first checkered flag of the night by 1.9 seconds over Monster Energy Kawasaki's Chase Sexton, with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing's Eli Tomac in third. Webb began the night with a fourth-place result, while Red Bull KTM Factory Racing's Jorge Prado rounded out the top five. Honda HRC Progressive's Hunter Lawrence saw a podium finish slip away when a late miscue and tip over relegated him to seventh.
The second race of the evening got underway with Prado out front for the holeshot, followed closely by Lawrence and Twisted Tea Suzuki Presented by Progressive Insurance's Jason Anderson. Webb started fourth, with Roczen a few positions back in eighth. Both Tomac and Sexton were mired outside the top 10, with Tomac 11th and Sexton 17th. Prado impressed out front and led more than half of the race before Lawrence made the move in the closing stages and carried on to take the win. Webb battled his way into the top three and slipped by Prado as well to finish second, 2.1 seconds behind Lawrence. Prado held on for third, followed by Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing's Justin Cooper in fourth and Roczen in fifth. Sexton did well to claw his way up to ninth, while the biggest moment of the race came when Tomac crashed while running sixth. The championship leader remounted and soldiered home to a 13th-place finish. After two races, Webb and Roczen sat tied for the lead, while Lawrence and Prado were tied for second.
The third and deciding race provided a captivating end to the night and began with Tomac out front for the holeshot, followed by Anderson and Lawrence. Webb started seventh, while Roczen (11th) and Prado (14th) were forced to battle back from outside the top 10. As riders jockeyed for position early, Webb made a costly error off the finish line jump that took him off track and back to eighth, behind each of his contending foes. Out front, Anderson charged by Tomac into the lead, as Lawrence followed through into second. The KTM rider settled back in and mounted an attack, which saw him get back by Lawrence for second and reclaim the lead from Anderson. Roczen, meanwhile, had fought his way up to fourth, just behind the leaders, in position for the overall. Lawrence then got by Anderson for second, which positioned the Honda rider for the overall. Behind them, Webb had overcome his early misfortune and was on the cusp of the top five. As he looked to pass his teammate for third, Roczen mistimed a rhythm section, which allowed Sexton and Webb to drop the Suzuki rider to sixth. Sexton then moved by Anderson for third but also mistimed a rhythm, which allowed Anderson, Webb, and Roczen to get by. Webb then went on the attack and made what became the winning move with a pass for third. Out front, Tomac bounced back from the adversity in the second race and cruised to the Race 3 win by 4.3 seconds over Lawrence. Webb successfully kept a hard-charging Roczen at bay for third, in what became the battle for the overall victory.
Webb's 4-2-3 finishes and nine total points sealed the 31st win of his decorated career and his sixth Triple Crown triumph. Lawrence came up a single point shy of a maiden victory with 10 points on 7-1-2 finishes but netted a third consecutive runner-up result. Roczen rounded out the overall podium after 1-5-4 finishes tied him with Lawrence but placed him in third via Lawrence's better Race 3 result. Tomac's victory in the final race was significant in the overall standings as he finished fourth with 17 points on 3-13-1 finishes. Sexton rounded out the top five (2-9-6), one week after he claimed victory at Anaheim 2.
By missing the podium for the first time in 2026, Tomac's lead in the 450SMX Class standings dropped to just four points over Lawrence, while Roczen moved to within 12 points of the lead. Sexton sits fourth (-14), while the win vaulted Webb up to fifth (-17).
A consistent effort across all three races allowed Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing's Cooper Webb to parlay 4-2-3 finishes into his first victory of the season. Photo courtesy Feld Motor Sports, Inc
Cooper Webb - 1st Place - 450SMX Class: "This feels amazing. I can't even put it into words. Honestly, it's weird not to win a [race], but I'll take any skin I can get right now. It's been a really tough month mentally, physically, emotionally. Even yesterday was a rough day. Just to come in here today and make this happen means so much. It's never over. I thought last week might be the nail in the coffin [in the title defense], but that's a Cooper Webb move to come back a week later, put myself in a good position, and win. I'm proud of myself. We've still got plenty of work to do. We need to be better, but it's a breath of fresh air and a boost of confidence. It's just good to be back on top."
Honda HRC Progressive's Hunter Lawrence just missed out on his maiden 450SMX Class victory but now has three straight runner-up finishes. Photo courtesy Feld Motor Sports, Inc
Hunter Lawrence - 2nd Place - 450SMX Class:
"The first [race] is where it all went bad for me. Just a silly little mistake. I'm happy with how the night went from that point on, honestly. I rode really well and this format is one of the tougher ones for me. Short duration sprints don't come easy to me. I'm pretty happy with how it went after the first [race] and what could have been. We did good damage control and pulled four points back on the lead. We live to fight another day."
Progressive Insurance Cycle Gear Suzuki's Ken Roczen took a Race 1 win and tied for second overall, but ultimately finished third via tiebreaker. Photo courtesy Feld Motor Sports, Inc
Ken Roczen - 3rd Place - 450SMX Class: "I've got a little bit mixed emotions. This could have been my night. I got a little bit held up by my teammate [Anderson] and that forced me into a couple mistakes where I lost the rhythm and two positions. Here we are, back in third place. It's the difference between catching Cooper [Webb] and winning and doing what I did. But I don't want to be too bummed. We're going to keep chugging along on the podium. My time will come."
450SMX Class Podium (left to right) Hunter Lawrence, Cooper Webb, and Ken Roczen. Photo courtesy Feld Motor Sports, Inc
Haiden Deegan Sweeps Triple Crown Races for Third Straight 250SMX Win.
The Western Divisional 250SMX Class was much more straightforward as Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing's Haiden Deegan was the class of the field in each race. The reigning champion made a statement in Race 1 after he grabbed the holeshot and ran away with a wire-to-wire win by a margin of 2.0 seconds over Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki's Levi Kitchen and his teammate Cameron McAdoo. In Race 2 Deegan secured another top three start and methodically worked his way forward. He made clean passes around McAdoo, who earned the holeshot, and Kitchen, who led most of the race, to bring home his second win of the night by 3.9 seconds. The third and final race was Deegan's most challenging, as he and Kitchen engaged in a cat-and-mouse fight for third place early on. The Kawasaki rider made an aggressive dive under Deegan, but the Yamaha rider fought back and gave Kitchen a nudge as he reclaimed the spot. Deegan then tracked down his Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing teammate Max Anstie for second and was patient before he made the pass on ClubMX Yamaha's Max Vohland, who captured the holeshot, for the race lead. Once out front, Deegan never looked back and completed the hat trick by 1.3 seconds over Anstie. Kitchen and McAdoo followed in third and fourth.
The Triple Crown sweep proved to be a statement in Deegan's title defense as he's now in the midst of a three-race win streak and continues to add to his lead in the championship standings. After a difficult start to the season that produced 6th, 4th, and 21st-place finishes, Kitchen broke through for his first podium result with a runner-up finish with 7 points on 2-2-3 finishes. McAdoo landed on the podium for the second time in three races and the 25th time in his career following 3-3-4 finishes for 10 points. Deegan's lead in the Western Divisional standings over his Star Yamaha teammates now sits at 19 points over Anstie, who finished sixth in Houston following 10-6-2 finishes, and 20 points over Michael Mosiman, who endured through his toughest race of the season in an eighth-place effort following 4-14-8 finishes.
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing's Haiden Deegan swept the Triple Crown races for his third straight Western Divisional 250SMX Class win. Photo courtesy Feld Motor Sports, Inc
Haiden Deegan - 1st Place - Western Divisional 250SMX Class: "It's racing. I'm just trying to get into the lead and win races, so I'm down with cat and mouse [with Kitchen]. Aggressive is pretty much my middle name at this point. [It was] a good race and it was nice to hear some cheers out there [from the fans]. I appreciate that. I tried to make it entertaining for them and hope they enjoyed it."
Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki's Levi Kitchen broke through for his first podium finish of the season in a runner-up effort. Photo courtesy Feld Motor Sports, Inc
Levi Kitchen - 2nd Place - Western Divisional 250SMX Class: "It's been a rough start to the season, so I need to give a lot of thanks to my team and everyone for sticking behind me. I'm pretty happy with tonight, to just get a couple good starts and kind of feel that pace [up front]. Haiden is riding phenomenal and I'm just trying to go out there and do my best."
Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki's Cameron McAdoo earned his second podium finish over the past three races. Photo courtesy Feld Motor Sports, Inc
Cameron McAdoo - 3rd Place - Western Divisional 250SMX Class: "It was frustrating last weekend to lose the podium the way I did towards the end. I love these Triple Crowns. I love the pressure of three [races] and was able to execute every time. It was a fun night and awesome to put a couple Pro Circuit bikes on the podium."
Western Divisional 250SMX Class Podium (left to right) Levi Kitchen, Haiden Deegan, and Cameron McAdoo. Photo courtesy Feld Motor Sports, Inc
For the second week in-a-row, the action of the 450SMX and 250SMX classes was complemented by the budding stars of SMX Next - Supercross. An elite group of the top A and B class prospects in amateur motocross took to the track once again with a field of 21 racers, with last week's winner Kayden Minear missing in action after the 18-year-old Australian crashed aboard his Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing machine during qualifying and was forced to sit out. As the gate dropped on the 8 Minute + 1 Lap race, it was 16-year-old Monster Energy Kawasaki Team Green rider Vincent Wey who put himself out front early with the holeshot. It wasn't long before 17-year-old Triumph Racing America rider Deacon Denno, a Texas native, took the lead to the delight of the home crowd. As the race wore on, all eyes were on another Texan, 16-year-old Caden Dudney, who charged to the lead aboard his Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing ride and stormed to his first SMX Next victory by a margin of 1.5 seconds over Denno for a Texas 1-2. Wey crashed out of third in the closing laps while he attempted to pass Denno for second, which allowed 18-year-old Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing rider Landed Gordon to finish third.
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing's Caden Dudney captured his first SMX Next - Supercross victory in front of a hometown crowd. Photo courtesy Feld Motor Sports, Inc
Caden Dudney - 1st Place - SMX Next - Supercross: "The track was pretty tough out there, but it feels good to get the win in my home state. I was pretty close last weekend and that kind of pissed me off, so I had to get redemption on that. I had to put in the work [during the week] and here we are."
SMX Next Podium (left to right) Deacon Denno, Caden Dudney and Landen Gordon. Photo courtesy Feld Motor Sports, Inc
The Monster Energy SMX World Championship and Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship will continue next Saturday for the fifth race of the season from Glendale, Arizona's State Farm Stadium. Live broadcast coverage on Peacock will begin at 1 p.m. ET with Race Day Live, followed by the Gate Drop at 7 p.m. ET.Additionally, a domestic Spanish language broadcast is available on Pea cock while international viewers can choose from dedicated English, French, and Spanish broadcasts via SMX Video Pass (www.SMXVideoPass.com).
All 17 rounds of the 2026 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship and 11 rounds of the Pro Motocross Championship are on sale. Tickets for the SMX World Championship Playoff Rounds and Final will go on pre-sale Tuesday, Jan. 27, with general tickets on-sale to the public on Tuesday, Feb. 3 at Supermotocross.com. Saturday FanFest will take place at all postseason races, Friday FanFest and camping will be available in Columbus and Ridgedale, additional details to follow.
For information about the Monster Energy SMX World Championship, please visit www.SuperMotocross.com and be sure to follow all of the new SMX social media channels for exclusive content and additional information on the latest news:
- Instagram: @supermotocross
- Facebook: @supermotocross
- X: @supermotocross
- YouTube: @supermotocross
- TikTok: @supermotocross
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MotoGP: BK8 Gresini Racing Launches Its 2026 Season [ 31-Jan-26 2:09pm ]Kuala Lumpur, January 31, 2026 - The BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP Team officially unveiled its new project for the 2026 season in a brand-new international setting. For the first time, the team presentation took place in Kuala Lumpur, hosted by title sponsor BK8 News, marking a significant step in the team's growth and global expansion.
Alex Márquez took centre stage at the event, attending in person alongside team management and partners, while Fermín Aldeguer joined via live connection from home due to an injury. A purely physical absence that did not limit the young Spanish rider's involvement in the sporting project, which will see him back on his Desmosedici as soon as possible.
The new livery represents a coherent evolution of Gresini Racing's identity: an essential and modern design, clean surfaces and enhanced volumes, with the team's iconic light blue interpreted in a richer, more solid finish. A clear stylistic choice that completely abandons chrome details to express an even stronger racing character.
The presentation was also an opportunity to remember Fausto Gresini and to retrace the moments that have shaped the history of the Faenza-based team, which this year enters its 30th MotoGP season.
Alex Marquez. Photo courtesy BK8 Gresini Team
ALEX MARQUEZ #73: "I'm very happy with the new bike and really excited to start a new season with this team. This year the presentation in Kuala Lumpur was very special; it's a different and very important market. We hope it will be a season full of success, and on our side we will put in all the commitment and hard work needed to achieve our goals. We are absolutely ready to challenge ourselves."
FERMÍN ALDEGUER #54: "It is obviously a great disappointment not to be here in Kuala Lumpur for the team presentation. We've had a small setback and are working tirelessly to return as soon as possible. I miss the team and I miss the bike; unfortunately we need to do things properly and recover. That is the only goal at the moment: to get back to 100%, and then we will think about getting back on the bike. One step at a time. The bike is even more beautiful than last year's, and there is a strong desire to return".
From left to right with, Michele Masini (Team Manager), Nadia Padovani (Team Owner), Alex Marquez and Michael Gatt (BK8 News Managing Director). Photo courtesy BK8 Gresini Team
NADIA PADOVANI - TEAM OWNER GRESINI RACING: "We leave behind a 2025 season full of confirmations and look ahead to 2026 with enthusiasm and great determination. Expectations remain high: we have a solid team, with a lot of experience behind us, and two extremely talented riders ready to continue the growth path we have built over the years. Fermín has joined the project with natural confidence and personality, immediately showing he has the right values and approach, and even though he is currently on the sidelines, he will be back with us very soon. Alex has everything it takes to be a consistent front-runner and to fight for the positions that matter every race weekend. We strongly believe in this pairing and in the work we are doing together. We are truly proud of this new project: a bike with a strong, essential character that perfectly reflects our identity and our desire to keep surprising."
MICHAEL GATT - BK8 NEWS MANAGING DIRECTOR: "Bringing the team launch to Kuala Lumpur is not simply a change of location. It reflects how BK8 News approaches this partnership. We are not involved only as a title sponsor. We are here to actively support Gresini Racing's global growth and connection with new audiences. BK8 News is built on credibility. Our role is to strengthen the visibility of Gresini Racing's values, heritage, and racing identity, while giving fans clearer access to the people, decisions, and effort behind the results. As the 2026 season begins, this project marks a shared commitment to long-term progress, on track and beyond, with the ambition to keep building together at the highest level."
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WSBK: Rain-disrupted Portimao Test [ 30-Jan-26 10:40pm ]The second private WorldSBK test at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve continued under difficult conditions on Day 2, with intermittent rain and strong winds once again restricting track time as teams worked through their final European outing before the Official Test at Phillip Island.
- Despite the lack of consistent dry running, Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.itRacing - Ducati) topped the timesheets with a 1'59.144, narrowly ahead of teammate Iker Lecuona, who also dipped into the 1'59s as he continued his adaptation to the Ducati Panigale V4 R.
Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati): "Unfortunately, this winter we were very unlucky with the weather. Today was the last day and it was raining again, so we decided to do some laps even in wet conditions. Honestly, though, the conditions were quite extreme: cold, very windy and very wet. I did a few laps just to check that everything was okay before heading to Australia. The bike is new, so it was still important to ride a little, even in the wet, but these conditions are not very useful. When you have a new bike, you really need to do a lot of laps to understand it, and also for the guys in the box to check that everything is working properly. Unfortunately, we couldn't really try anything this winter, so we'll go to Australia like this and see how it goes. The Official Test at Phillip Island will be very important. The goal will be to stay on track as much as possible and complete a lot of laps."
Jake Dixon (96) at Portimao. Photo courtesy Dorna
- Jake Dixon (Honda HRC) completed a structured programme across two machines, posting a best lap of 2'00.111 to finish the day inside the top three overall.
Alberto Surra (67) at Portimao. Photo courtesy Dorna
- Further down the order, Alberto Surra (Motocorsa Racing) made the most of the limited opportunities available, setting a 2'00.757 as he continued his learning process ahead of his rookie WorldSBK campaign.
Lorenzo Baldassarri (34) at Portimao. Photo courtesy Dorna
- Lorenzo Baldassarri (Team GoEleven) also returned to the track, adding mileage during a second consecutive day of testing at Portimao and recording a best lap of 2'01.610.
Yari Montella (5) at Portimao. Photo courtesy Dorna
- Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) also took advantage of the test to log steady mileage aboard the Ducati Panigale V4 R, with a best time of 2'04.442 as he focused on set-up work rather than outright pace.
Xavi Fores (12) at Portimao. Photo courtesy Dorna
- Meanwhile, Xavi Fores continued his development role with bimota, completing valuable laps on the KB998 Rimini.
- With wet weather limiting track time at Portimao, the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team chose to relocate its test to Valencia to benefit from dry conditions.
- In WorldSSP, Philipp Oettl was the sole representative on track, using the mixed conditions to continue preparations ahead of the Australian season opener.
- Garrett Gerloff (Kawasaki WorldSBK Team) and Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) were both present at Portimao, having completed their running on Wednesday, as Yamaha teams chose not to make use of their testing days in the challenging conditions.
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Candy's World On Wheels: Ep. 17 with Donnie Rowe [ 30-Jan-26 8:55pm ]Inside One of Road Atlanta's Most Influential Figures: Donnie Rowe | Candy's World On Wheels Ep. 17.
Our guest Donnie Rowe shares behind-the-scenes stories from MotoAmerica weekends, Road Atlanta, and a lifetime immersed in motorcycle racing culture. A former road racer and longtime fixture at Road Atlanta (Donnie Rowe Boulevard), Donnie talks racing history, fan culture, and how MotoAmerica weekends grew into the high-energy community experience fans know today.
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A Tribute To Motorcycle Racing And Industry Award Banquets [ 30-Jan-26 8:25pm ]FIRST PERSON/OPINION:
By John Ulrich
There is a lot to be said for award banquets held by racing organizations. AFM, the club I started racing with in 1973, held a 2025 banquet last Saturday in Benecia, Californa. ASRA and NJMiniGP had a combined award banquet scheduled in Hammonton, New Jersey on the same day, but rescheduled it to February to avoid the giant snowstorm that battered a huge swath of the country last weekend and early this week.
Over the years I have been to many awards banquets, big and small, hosted by AFM, AMA Pro Racing, WSMC, WERA, CMRA, MRA, Formula USA, ASRA, MotoAmerica, and others. Most of them were really fun for me, with the best part catching up with other racers and old friends.
The biggest annual banquets I have been to were hosted by the Trailblazers Motorcycle Club, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization established in 1940 and now run by a 15-member board. For 15 years (through 2025) the organization was led by President and Daytona 200 winner Don Emde; the newly-elected 2026 President is Norm Bigelow. The Trailblazers Club has its own Hall of Fame covering all sorts of motorcycle racing and gives out various awards. The annual banquet is held in Carson, California and draws about 700 people (last year's event sold out at 720!) and a ticket costs $135. The times I have attended it's been fun seeing and hanging out with all sorts of racing and motorcycle industry luminaries; I usually sit at a table with Ron Pierce, one of my best racing friends, and his lovely wife Carol. Another Trailblazers event coming up this spring.
As fun as they can be, fewer organizations seem to be holding award banquets, so it you get a chance, go to one, applaud the champions and award winners, and enjoy yourself!
If your organization has an award banquet, send in (or ask the organizers to send in) photos of the event and at least some of the awardees, to pressreleases@roadracingworld.com.
Mini Cup Champion Kensei Matsudaira poses with Roadracing World Racing Editor Chris Ulrich during the 2021 MotoAmerica Awards Banquet. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
AFM's 2025 Top 10 riders on stage at the club's awards banquet held last Saturday. Photo by Andrea Chrzanowska/Oxymoron Photography.
AFM Overall Champion and #1 plate holder Brenden Ketelsen, seen at the 2025 AFM Awards Banquet. Photo by Andrea Chrzanowska.Oxymoron Photography.
A scene from the 2024 Trailblazers banquet held in Carson, California and drawing about 700 people. Photo by Jim Gianatsis/Trailblazers.
Another shot from the 2024 Trailblazers banquet. Photo by Jim Gianatsis/Trailblazers.
Racer and On Any Sunday movie co-star David Aldana (left) frequently attends the annual Trailblazers Banquet. He's seen here checking out a vintage racebike on display at the 2024 version of the event. Photo by Jim Gianatsis/Trailblazers.
David Aldana was honored with an award at the 2024 Trailblazers banquet. Photo by Jim Gianatsis/Trailblazers.
Photographer Jim Gianatsis (left) with World Champion Kevin Schwantz at the 2024 Trailblazers event. Trailerblazers photo.
Seen at the 2023 Trailblazers banquet, from left, Jon Seidel, Jon Row, Mark Homchick, Thad Wolff, and Lori Tyson Richwine. Photo by John Ulrich.
Ron Pierce and his wife Carol at the 2023 Trailblazers banquet. Photo by John Ulrich.
Superbike World Champion Toprak Razgatlioglu and MotoGP World Champion Marc Marquez pose with gold medals at the 2025 FIM Awards banquet. FIM photo.
FIM officials and staffers pose at the 2025 FIM Awards banquet. FIM photo.
The post A Tribute To Motorcycle Racing And Industry Award Banquets appeared first on Roadracing World Magazine | Motorcycle Riding, Racing & Tech News.
MotoAmerica: Karns Racing Announces 2026 Rider Line-Up [ 30-Jan-26 6:40pm ]Homestead, Florida (2026) — Karns / TST Industries Racing opened its 2026 campaign by bringing the full race team together for the first time at Homestead, completing a productive multi-rider test and officially unveiling its rider line-up for the new season. Returning to the squad are Isaac Woodworth (#27). New additions Kevin Olmedo (#116) and Solomon "Solly" Mervis (#25) as the team continues development of its Suzuki GSX-8R program.
Isaac Woodworth is back for 2026 after delivering strong performances last season and showing frontrunning potential.
"The test at Homestead was really productive. We made good progress with the setup, got solid data, and I felt very comfortable the whole time." — Isaac Woodworth
Kevin Olmedo Makes His Return on #116. Photo courtesy Karns / TST Industries Racing Team
Olmedo returns to competition for the first time since 2022 after working to overcome a serious illness, arriving at Homestead focused and motivated.
"I really appreciate the opportunity that Jason Karns and the rest of my sponsors are giving me. We went to Homestead for some testing. The bike felt really good although the riding style is different than I'm used to. Lap by lap we got confidence and better pace. I am really happy with the team, I know how hard they have been working, and I am ready to start the season at Daytona." — Kevin Olmedo
Solomon "Solly" Mervis Joins the Line-Up on #25. Photo courtesy Karns / TST Industries Racing Team
Mervis (known to most as "Solly") becomes the newest addition to the rider roster after previously testing with the team and racing NJMP in 2025.
"I had a lot of fun getting back on the bike after being in the classroom so much and it felt great to get back into the rhythm of racing. We tested a range of different setups and found some direction with the bike that I know I will like moving forward. I'm very excited to be part of the Karns Team,and I can learn a lot from Kevin, and Isaac." — Solomon 'Solly' Mervis
Team Principal Jason Karns on 2026 Momentum
With rider and crew additions, the team leaves Homestead confident in its direction and ready for the season opener.
"I am very confident in the Suzuki GSX-8R that we have been developing for some time now and I am excited to get the season started. With new additions to both the riders and the crew, morale is high." — Jason Karns, Team Principal
2026 Team Partners
•Karns Performance
•TST Industries
•Meck's Auto Body
•IceBarn Racing
•Bobblehead Moto
•Andreani USA / Nitron Suspension
•NG Brakes
•Spiegler Brake Lines
•Blumanstock Machine
•M4 Exhaust
•Blud Lubricants
•Vesrah brake pads
•Woodcraft Technologies
•Nutter Block 3D
About Karns / TST Industries Racing
Karns / TST Industries Racing is a competition motorcycle road racing team committed to rider development, professional preparation, and ongoing performance engineering—centered around continued development of the Suzuki GSX-8R platform.
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MotoGP: Results of the Shakedown Test Day 2 [ 30-Jan-26 5:43pm ]Miller takes Yamaha's V4 to the top as Shakedown Test Day 2 concludes.
Putting Yamaha's new project through its paces in Malaysia, the Australian topped the times by just 0.025s
It's time to keep on shaking down as the Day 2 of the Sepang Shakedown Test draws to a close and we take another step closer to the first racing month of the year. With the factory test riders, manufacturers from Rank D - Yamaha and their full-time riders - and rookies on track, it's vital track time which is almost impossible to replicate at any other time of the season. Hotter and far more humid today compared to day one, sunny skies greeted riders for their second day of 2026 action.
Fabio Quartararo (20) at the Sepang test, day 2. Photo courtesy Dorna.
It was a positive day for Yamaha as Jack Miller (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP) topped the timesheets and dipped into the 1'57 bracket, setting a 1'57.908, nearly a second quicker than Alex Rins' day two-topping time from 2025's shakedown. Just a couple of tenths behind him in P4, we got our first look at Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) in 2026 and the 2021 World Champion hit the ground running. He put both his bikes in the top five, whereas teammate Alex Rins wasn't far behind in P7 on the times but fifth fastest rider.
Rookie Toprak Razgatlioglu (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP) knocked seven tenths off of his day one lap time as he continued to learn the V4 Yamaha, Michelin tyres and Sepang. Finally for the Iwata manufacturer, their test team were hard at work again but this time with two riders: Augusto Fernandez and MotoGP Legend Andrea Dovizioso. Between them, a best of 1'59.351.
Pol Espargaro (44) at the Sepang test, day 2. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Hot on the heels of the Japanese manufacturer, the KTM clan were once again near the top of the times. Pol Espargaro was up in P2 at the chequered flag and into the 1'57s too, just 0.025s away from Miller at the top. 'Polyccio' wasn't the only KTM on track on day two though as Dani Pedrosa continued his work long into the afternoon, setting 47 laps and putting both of his RC16s in the top ten fastest times. Along with Pedrosa and Espargaro, Mika Kallio also joined in, setting a best lap time of 2'04.376.
Diogo Moreira (11) at the Sepang test, day 2. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Onto Honda and it was Espargaro of the Aleix variety who was their fastest rider. Aleix Espargaro posted a 1'58.066 to put himself third and just 0.133s away from brother Pol. He did have a technical issue though but that's what testing is for after all, to give all the new equipment a good run out before the full-time race team takes over. Diogo Moreira (Pro Honda LCR) continued his adaptation, knocking off nearly a second from day one and now into the 1'59s.
Michele Pirro (51) at the Sepang test, day 2. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Ducati's sole rider Michele Pirro continued putting in his hard yards. 46 laps bagged and a best of a 1'59.155 meant he was only 1.2s off Miller's best time of the day and took off six and a half tenths from his opening day banker. After the aero breakout of day one, it seemed a calmer day for the Italian manufacturer.
Lorenzo Savadori (32) at the Sepang test, day 2. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Finally, onto probably the busiest test rider on track: Lorenzo Savadori for Aprilia. He's in charge of dialling in all the bikes that will be used during pre-season testing; that's eight across the board - two per full-time rider. He spent day two mainly focussing on the bikes from Trackhouse whilst on the technical front, it seems the chassis that Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) ended his 2025 campaign so strongly with and that teammate Jorge Martin liked in Valencia will now become the standard one for 2026. It's just the small matter of aero that needs to be finalised.
Three different manufacturers in the top three, covered by around a tenth and a half and Yamaha not just leading the way but seemingly finding their V4 feet. One more day awaits in the heat and humidity of Sepang before a couple of days 'rest' to gather up the energy for the full-time riders to tackle the track!
The post MotoGP: Results of the Shakedown Test Day 2 appeared first on Roadracing World Magazine | Motorcycle Riding, Racing & Tech News.
Where To Ride In February 2026 [ 30-Jan-26 12:17pm ]The following track days, riding schools, and racing events are scheduled by organizations based in the United States during February 2026.
This list includes 38 opportunities to ride at races, schools, and track days during the month of February in North America.
To have your motorcycle racing or riding event added to the Event Calendar on this website and published in the print edition of Roadracing World & Motorcycle Technology magazine, submit your calendar and contact information via the contact page on this website or by emailing to calendar@roadracingworld.com or to pressreleases@roadracingworld.com.
Before heading to an event, contact the organization or track and confirm that it's going to be held as publicized.
2/1-2 Florida Track Days (FTD), Homestead-Miami Speedway, Homestead, FL
2/1-2 American Supercamp, Double Check Arena, Eaton, CO - Special 30th Anniversary Racer Camp
2/5 Socal Supermoto School, Apex Motorsports Park, Perris, CA, Semi Private Supermoto School
2/7 Socal Supermoto School, Apex Motorsports Park, Perris, CA
2/7 Race Pace Track Days, Chuckwalla Valley Rcwy., CW, Desert Center, CA
2/7 Brake Free Track Time Track Days, Firebird Motorsports Park CCW, Phoenix, AR
2/7-8 FIM MotoMini USA East/SFLMiniGP Championship, Gainesville Raceway, Gainesville, FL (Round 1)
2/8 Race Pace Track Days, Chuckwalla Valley Rcwy., CW, Desert Center, CA
2/8 Superbike-Coach Corp. (School), Cornering School Day 1, Little 99 Raceway, Stockton, CA
2/7-9 Jennings GP Track Days & Novice Schools, Jennings GP, Jennings, FL (Track Days)
2/7-8-9 Precision Track Days, Jennings GP, Jennings, FL
2/9 Socal Supermoto School, Apex Motorsports Park, Perris, CA, Semi Private Supermoto School
2/10-11 Rich Oliver's Mystery School (Dirt Track School), POST Motorcycle Officer Update Course
2/12 Racers Edge Track Days And Private Coaching Days, Private day with training, Chuckwalla Valley Raceway, Desert Center, CA
2/12-15 AHRMA National Road Racing Series, Roebling Road Raceway, Bloomingdale, GA
2/12-15 AHRMA Academy of RoadRacing (AAR) & Sidecar Racing School (SRS), Roebling Road Raceway, Bloomingdale, GA (BOTH AAR & SRS)
2/13-15 Chuckwalla Valley Motorcycle Association (CVMA) Winter Series, Chuckwalla Valley Raceway, Desert Center, CA (CW)
2/14-15 Trackdaz Track Days, Buttonwillow Circuit (New Track), Buttonwillow, CA
2/14-15 ASMA Track Days and Advanced Rider Training, Firebird Motorsports Park East, Chandler, AZ
2/15 Socal Supermoto School, Apex Motorsports Park, Perris, CA
2/16 Let's Ride Track Days & Schools, Buttonwillow Raceway Park, Buttonwillow, CA
2/16 Rich Oliver's Mystery School (Dirt Track School), PSR Day
2/16-22 Colin Edward's Texas Tornado Boot Camp (Dirt Track School), 7-Day Camp, Montgomery, TX (Beginners are not eligible for Racer Camp)
2/17 Socal Supermoto School, Apex Motorsports Park, Perris, CA, Semi Private Supermoto School
2/18-19 Yamaha Champions Riding School, Chuckwalla Valley Raceway, Desert Center, CA
2/20 Sportbike Track Time Track Days, Talladega Gran Prix Raceway, Munford, AL
2/20-21 Central Motorcycle Roadracing Association (CMRA) Series, MSR Houston, Angleton, TX
2/21-22 WERA Sportsman Series Mid Central Region Co-Sanctioned by AMA, Talladega Gran Prix Raceway, Talladega, AL
2/21-22 WERA Sportsman Series Southeast Region Co-Sanctioned by AMA, Talladega Gran Prix Raceway, Talladega, AL
2/21-22 Precision Track Days, Carolina Motorsports Park, Kershaw, SC
2/22 Superbike-Coach Corp. (School), Cornering School Day 2, Little 99 Raceway, Stockton, CA
2/22 Socal Supermoto School, Apex Motorsports Park, Perris, CA
2/22 XCEL Trackdays Track days, Firebird Motorsports Park, Chandler, AZ, West Track
2/23 2Wheels Track Days, Buttonwillow Raceway Park, Buttonwillow, CA
2/24-25 Yamaha Champions Riding School, Inde Motorsports Ranch, Willcox, AZ
2/1-2 American Supercamp, Sonoma County Fairgrounds, Santa Rosa, CA - Non-Racer Camp
2/28 Fun Track Dayz, Thunderhill Raceway Park (East), Willows, CA
2/28 Superbike-Coach Corp. (School), Track Drill 1-on-4 Coaching, Thunderhill Raceway, Willows, CA
The post Where To Ride In February 2026 appeared first on Roadracing World Magazine | Motorcycle Riding, Racing & Tech News.
Back From The Brink: Dainese Reorganizes With New Financing [ 29-Jan-26 10:21pm ](Editorial Note: Dainese has survived serious financial problems through reorganization which reduced its debt by more than Euro 190,000,000 and the company will continue to operate, including keeping its D-Stores open in the United States. Some riders who had been sponsored by Dainese have switched to other leathers and related gear brands for reasons which may or may not be connected to the reorganization, notably 3-time Superbike World Champion Toprak Razgatlioglu. Other Dainese riders say they are staying with the brand, including MotoAmerica Superbike rider Bobby Fong.)
Dainese's first U.S. flagship store, seen here, opened in Orange County, California 20 years ago and has been joined by 12 other stores. Dainese photo.
The Dainese D-Store in Atlanta, Georgia. Photo courtesy Dainese.
A Dainese store in San Diego, California. Photo courtesy Dainese.
New capital will support the Group's development strategy and accelerate product and technology innovation.
- HPS and Arcmont acquire 100% of Dainese following European Commission antitrust approval.
- €30,000,000 of new equity funding provided to the Dainese group.
- Financial debt reduced by €190,000,001.72.
The interior of the Dainese store in San Diego, California. Photo courtesy Dainese.
Dainese S.p.A. ("Dainese" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that, following receipt of anti-trust approval from the European Commission, HPS Investment Partners ("HPS") and Arcmont Asset Management ("Arcmont") have closed the transaction to acquire 100% of the shares and voting rights in Dainese through certain managed investment funds, as previously announced on 24 October 2025. As part of the transaction, HPS and Arcmont have also provided a combined €30,000,000 in new equity funding to the Dainese group.
Dainese's financial debt has been reduced by €190,000,001.72, resulting in €142,091,558 senior secured floating rate notes due 2030, and its revolving credit facility has been upsized to €45,000,000 provided by Intesa Sanpaolo S.p.A., UniCredit S.p.A. and Bank of America Europe Designated Activity Company.
This transaction marks the beginning of a new phase in the Dainese Group's corporate journey which is focused on expanding its innovation capabilities, growth opportunities and global footprint.
The significant investment from HPS and Arcmont will enable Dainese to further develop its brand portfolio, accelerate technological advancement and reinforce its presence across its key markets.
Statement from Angel Sánchez, CEO of Dainese:
"This transaction represents a great milestone for Dainese. HPS and Arcmont are both investors and partners who have chosen to share our vision, passion for innovation and unwavering commitment to safety and quality. Their support will allow us to build on our momentum, explore new pathways and continue developing products that seamlessly integrate technology, protection and design.
"We also wish to thank Carlyle for their partnership in recent years, which helped expand our global presence and enhance our product portfolio. We look ahead with confidence, ready to achieve new milestones. The future is wide open before us, and we are prepared to embrace it at full speed."
Statement from HPS and Arcmont:
"We are proud to strengthen our longstanding relationship with Dainese. With this investment, we are pleased to support CEO Angel Sánchez, the management team and Dainese in further strengthening its market position and advancing innovation across all its business segments."
The post Back From The Brink: Dainese Reorganizes With New Financing appeared first on Roadracing World Magazine | Motorcycle Riding, Racing & Tech News.
MotoAmerica: Who Is Riding Where In Supersport, 2026 [ 29-Jan-26 6:31pm ]Supersport is often a scrum at the front, and 2026 promises to be even more competitive at the sharp end of the MotoAmerica field. With talent coming into the class from above, sideways and below, and the top two finishers in the Championship in 2025 moving up to Superbike, there are unknowns and knowns and questions that will be answered only at the end of the season.
Josh Herrin (1) on the Warhorse HSBK Ducati Panigale V4 R Superbike at The Ridge in 2025. Photo by Michael Gougis.
Dropping down from Superbike is former class Champion Josh Herrin. He'll be on familiar machinery. Herrin dominated the 2022 MotoAmerica Supersport Championship on a Warhorse HSBK Ducati Panigale V2. He rode the team's Panigale V4 R racebikes in Superbike for three years to multiple race wins and the 2024 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship. And he won the Daytona 200 three straight times on a Warhorse Panigale V2.
Josh Herrin will race the Desnuda Tequila Rahal Ducati Moto Panigale V2 in 2026. Photo courtesy Rahal Ducati.
Herrin signed for Rahal Ducati Moto for Supersport for 2026, aboard the team's Panigale V2 racebikes, with a new sponsor, Desnuda Tequila. The team nearly took the Supersport title last season, with PJ Jacobsen winning three times and taking 15 podiums. So the bike, the team and the rider are all known quantities, and expectations are high.
Darryn Binder (15) on the Gresini Moto2 racebike at Circuit of The Americas, 2025. Photo by Michael Gougis.
One of the out-of-the-blue signings in the class is the kinda, sorta lateral move of Darryn Binder to the Warhorse HSBK Panigale V2 raced by Cameron Petersen in 2025. Petersen is off to Superbike for 2026, replaced by Binder in the next-to-highest class in the United States after three seasons in the intermediate Moto2 class. Binder has a wealth of experience, having raced in Moto3 and then jumping straight into MotoGP, where he spent a year on a Yamaha YZR-M1 prior to moving to Moto2. But that experience hasn't translated into results. After 11 seasons of Grand Prix competition and 188 races, Binder has one win and six podiums, all in Moto3. The Warhorse team is well versed in preparing Panigale V2 machines, the unknown is how well Binder will adapt to a motorcycle very, very different from a Moto2 Grand Prix racebike. The famous quote from John Kocinski may apply here. When asked the difference between the 500cc, four-cylinder, two-stroke Grand Prix racebikes he raced and the Superbikes he raced, Kocinski said that after riding the 500s, everything else just felt slow. How fast Binder will prove to be on a slower motorcycle remains to be seen.
Alessandro Di Mario (27) in Supersport practice on the Warhorse HSBK Ducati Panigale V2 at The Ridge, 2025. Photo by Michael Gougis.
Moving up to Supersport with Rahal Ducati Moto is Alessandro Di Mario, the double Championship winner in MotoAmerica in 2025. Di Mario successfully defended his Twins Cup title and added the Talent Cup Championship to his resume. He also rode the Warhorse Panigale V2 in practice at the MotoAmerica round at The Ridge last year, and with no prior experience on a Supersport machine, was 12th in his first session and 10th in final qualifying. At times in 2025, Di Mario looked like he was in a different class than the rest of the field. At The Ridge, Di Mario was nearly two seconds faster than anyone else in Twins Cup qualifying. Whether that speed will transfer to the Supersport class is one of the most interesting questions leading into the 2026 season.
Blake Davis (22) at The Ridge, 2025. Photo by Michael Gougis.
Another big question coming into 2026 will be the speed of the Yamaha YZF-R9. Mathew Scholtz took the Strack Racing YZF-R9 to the Supersport Championship in its first year of competition, and ripped off five straight wins to end the season. Scholtz is back to Superbike for 2026, where he has won in the past, so his skills at the Supersport level never were in doubt. But there was much muttering in the paddock over the 2025 Supersport rules, inherited from the Supersport World Championship, that allowed the R9 to run with a longer swingarm from one of Yamaha's other CP3-powered machines. For 2026, the R9 must race with the stock swingarm, according to a competition bulletin issued by MotoAmerica.
Even though Scholtz is going racing with Strack in Superbike next year, Blake Davis, a multi-time winner with the team last year on the R9, is expected to be back for 2026. BPR Racing will once again field R9s for multi-time AMA Pro Racing National Champion Josh Hayes, as well as Brenden Ketelsen, who has extensive experience at the club level.
Josh Hayes (4) at The Ridge, 2025. Photo by Michael Gougis.
Brenden Ketelsen, 2025 AFM Overall Champion. Photo by oxymoronphotography.com.
Other riders returning to the Supersport grid in 2026 include Wristin Grigg on the second Warhorse machine; Tyler Scott, a multi-time podium finisher in 2025, on the M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R750; Kayla Yaakov on a Rahal Ducati Moto Panigale V2, and Altus Racing's Jaret Nassaney, Torin Collins and Maximiliano Gerardo on the team's Yamaha YZF-R9s (as well as new member Austin Martinez on a Suzuki GSX-R750).
With this level of riding talent and potent machinery, Supersport promises to be a class to watch in MotoAmerica in 2026. And just to kick it off properly, for the first time in the MotoAmerica era, the Daytona 200 will be a points-paying round of the Supersport Championship. That means the teams that sat out the race in prior years are likely to be there, and Rahal has already made it clear that Jacobsen will be on a Supersport bike for the race, meaning four additional Panigale V2 racebikes on the grid for the historic race. This promises to start the season off properly …
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MotoGP: Results of the Shakedown Day 1 [ 29-Jan-26 4:45pm ]Rookies on track and the sweet smell of a new season in the air: MotoGP is BACK.
The first laps of a new record-breaking season are in the bag as Day 1 of the Shakedown concludes in Sepang. The Shakedown is for factory test riders and rookies - as well as manufacturers with free testing in concession Rank D - so not everyone was out on track or will be. But it signals our return after a looooong winter without the most exciting sport on Earth.
Diogo Moreira at Sepang (11). Photo courtesy Dorna.
The big news can be split two ways - one, the debut of two exciting new rookies: Toprak Razgatlioglu, who moves over from WorldSBK as a three-time Champion, and reigning Moto2 Champion Diogo Moreira. Turkish rider Razgatlioglu slots in alongside Jack Miller at Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP, and Brazilian rider Moreira at Pro Honda LCR, teammate to Johann Zarco.
When it got down to the lap times for the rookies, it was Razgatlioglu who was fastest and completed the opening day of 2026 in fourth with a best of 1'59.647. This was despite a couple of gremlins in the opening hour. There was also a mechanical issue for Moreira but the Brazilian was able to put that behind him and finish his day in eighth with a 2'00.894. For context, Razgatlioglu's time would have been good enough for P1 on the same day in 2025 and whilst Moreira continues his adaptation, day two will surely see both take another step.
Aleix Espargaro (41) at Sepang. Photo courtesy Dorna
On top of the timesheets, however, it was Honda. Aleix Espargaro put the marque top with a lap time only six tenths off Joan Mir's qualifying time from the 2025 Malaysian GP and that locked up the top spot from midday on. Honda only fielded the #41 on Day 1 in terms of test riders, with their other representation from Moreira, the rookie. The factory has now moved up into concession Rank C so their options aren't as numerous as this time last season.
Dani Pedrosa (26) at Sepang. Photo courtesy Dorna
KTM, on the tails of their team presentations for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing and Red Bull KTM Tech3, were second and third with Pol Espargaro, half a second off the top, and MotoGP Hall of Famer Dani Pedrosa another half a second in arrears. Mika Kallio was also out on track to put in a few laps, further down the timesheets.
With Razgatlioglu leading the way for Yamaha, their test riders were right behind in the reigning WorldSBK Champion's slipstream. Just 0.111s split the Turkish star and the test team, spearheaded today by Augusto Fernandez. A key rider in the development of Yamaha's V4 engine from the very start, he set Yamaha's fastest top speed of the day too at 327.3kp/h - just over 8kp/h down on the fastest on day one, Honda. They were the only Yamaha riders out on track, we'll have to wait further for our first glimpse of Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) and his teammate Alex Rins, as well as Jack Miller (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP).
Michele Pirro (51) at Sepang. Photo courtesy Dorna
At Ducati, test rider Michele Pirro was out on track and he was the last rider in the 1:59s - but the headline was some new aero spotted down in pitlane. Take a look below! As the reigning champions and often the trend and pacesetters in pre-season, the new look will raise plenty of interest…
Lorenzo Savadori (32) at Sepang. Photo courtesy Dorna.
At Aprilia, Lorenzo Savadori settled into his long stint at Sepang. The Italian is present at the Shakedown and will follow that up at the Sepang Test as he rides alongside Marco Bezzecchi, standing in for Jorge Martin. He was putting all the Aprilias through their paces, including the Trackhouse MotoGP Team machinery, and was lapping around the 2 minute mark.
So, what's the biggest news of the day? The Ducati aero? Moreira bringing Brazil back to MotoGP? Razgatlioglu becoming the first Turkish rider in MotoGP? Or this report about Quartararo fielded by motorsport.com? Have a read… silly season is hotting up already, one day in. See you on Friday for more from Sepang!
The post MotoGP: Results of the Shakedown Day 1 appeared first on Roadracing World Magazine | Motorcycle Riding, Racing & Tech News.
MotoGP: Red Bull KTM & Tech3 Unveil New Livery for 2026 [ 29-Jan-26 11:46am ]Orange, blue, speed and go: Red Bull KTM officially pushes its teams and riders into play for 2026 with the official unveiling of the livery and partners for the MotoGP season ahead.
Watch the 2026 Red Bull KTM launch video HERE.
2026 represents the tenth year of elite level world championship Grand Prix racing for Red Bull KTM. The line-up of Pedro Acosta and Brad Binder for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, and Enea Bastianini and Maverick Viñales for Red Bull KTM Tech3, heads into the fierce heat of MotoGP competition this term with the latest (and last) iteration of the KTM RC16 within the guidelines of the current technical rulebook.
Enea Bastianini (23) and Maverick Viñales (12). Photo courtesy KTM Tech3.
Red Bull KTM will aim high for 2026, and have re-touched arguably the most distinctive race livery on the MotoGP grid for the new assault on the timing screens. Numbers will define the campaign: the milliseconds on the track, the hours of work by dedicated team staff, the days of planning by factory engineers, and the weeks of strategy to get ahead of the game both for 2026 and with a view to the next generation of MotoGP racing machinery.
Digits and data.
4: Pedro Acosta's 2025 world championship ranking in the Spaniard's second year in the premier class. Pedro equalled Red Bull KTM's highest standing, achieved by current teammate Brad Binder in 2023 (and Pol Espargaro tied on final points for P4 in 2020).
6: Rounds of the 2026 MotoGP calendar that count as home events for the Red Bull KTM quartet in a season of 22 Grands Prix, 22 Saturday Sprints, 18 countries and nine months of racing.
7: Days until the first official pre-season test takes place at the Sepang International Circuit, followed by the 2026 MotoGP launch in Kuala Lumpur on February 7, the second test from 21-22 February at the Buriram International Circuit in Thailand and then the Thai Grand Prix at the same venue from 27 February-1 March.
14: Podium Grand Prix trophies and Sprint medals gathered by Red Bull KTM in 2025.
17: Top five Grand Prix finishes logged by the current Red Bull KTM line-up in 2025.
24: Combined seasons of experience for the Red Bull KTM crew as 2026 begins (2 for Acosta, 6 for Binder, 5 for Bastianini and 11 for Viñales)
366.1: Kmph - the MotoGP top speed record posted by the KTM RC16 with Brad Binder in 2023 and matched by Pol Espargaro in 2024 at the Italian Grand Prix. Will the number remain through 2026?
3,600,000: A record attendance by fans at the circuits in 2025 - an increase of 21% over 2024 - and evidence that MotoGP is on the move.
Enea Bastianini (23). Photo courtesy KTM.
Enea Bastianini, Red Bull KTM Tech3: "It was so important to reflect on 2025 because it was a complicated year, but it was also good in a way because I've learned a lot. 2026 will be different since I will know both bike and team better, and I think I will be much stronger. I'm motivated to be back on track because I want to fight again for something important. This year I think the factory will be very strong. I saw a lot of potential, especially during the test in Valencia last year. I think we are Ready to Race, ready to fight."
Maverick Viñales (12). Photo courtesy KTM.
Maverick Viñales, Red Bull KTM Tech3: "Last year was a great experience for me: I needed to understand many things in a very short period of time, but after two races I started to understand the bike and how it works, so I was able to be competitive very quickly. Then we had the crash in Sachsenring. There were two or three ways to recover, but we needed to discover which one was the best for my shoulder, for my type of injury, and the guys in the Red Bull APC helped me to follow a way to recover quicker. Now, I feel that I have a big responsibility to make this project a winning one. This is something really nice because I always feel I am at my best when I have this type of pressure and responsibility. So, I'm ready to 'eat'! I have a lot of energy for this year."
Pedro Acosta (37) and Brad Binder (33). Photo courtesy KTM
Pedro Acosta, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing: "In the second half of 2025 we were starting to make good races, good results, even when we were not having our best days. We were able to manage to be in this top five constantly. All-in-all it was really good to be able to fight for 3rd place in the Championship. Thanks to the team and to KTM, for this. We go for more this year and to start in the right way from Sepang next week."
Brad Binder, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing: "It's been a great off-season. I took a couple weeks off and got a lot of riding done, a lot of cycling. I'm looking forward to a fresh start again this season and hopefully we can get back to the performances I know I'm capable of. MotoGP is tough: if you look at the lap times and there's almost nothing in it, but the way every single rider does it is always different. Some on the brakes, some on throttle, some completely different riding styles. Last year I felt like I was thinking the whole time on the motorbike, instead of letting just my natural ability take over and that's one thing that I want to change for this season. Just really enjoy riding the bike a bit more. I'm quite confident that I can make a good step up."
Aki Ajo, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team Manager: "Last year was somehow quite special for us after a challenging start. We had steady improvement during the season. I really feel that we made a big step generally for all the communication and for simplifying many aspects. Things were coming and results were coming by understanding and by daily improvement. You just focus for small daily steps because it's not easy to do big steps in short time, short term. We know the potential of the bike, the riders, the teams and the group. This means we can be excited about the potential for 2026 but we will keep patience in the work and focus."
Nicolas Goyon, Red Bull KTM Tech3 Team Manager: "2025 was emotional. We had some huge highs and unfortunately some down moments in the season, but it's part of this sport. We started this collaboration with KTM in 2019 and I have to say that since then the factory has been helping us more and more. 2025 was the season where we've received more support than ever. Both teams were evolving at the same level. Now, we're really looking forward to work with our new management, I really feel we're prepared for this new season, this new era. So overall, I'm excited about this new challenge."
Pit Beirer, KTM Motorsports Director: "We have four fantastic riders in our group and each one has something very special. Last year, I feel we couldn't really make the package ready for everybody to show their best potential. So that was the highest target we had over the last weeks: to make sure everyone gets what he needs to perform. We have belief, and many strengths and we stick together as a team. This makes me very confident that we have all the right people on board, and the bike improved quite a lot over the last weeks and months. I feel we are ready to race. 2026 will be a busy year: on one side everybody wants to look to '27 and think about that. But I just don't want to forget '26 is around the corner. We want to make this year our year, and use all the chances we have. It's time to go for it in '26."
From left to right with Enea Bastianini, Pedro Acosta, Brad Binder and Maverick Viñales. Photo courtesy KTM.
The post MotoGP: Red Bull KTM & Tech3 Unveil New Livery for 2026 appeared first on Roadracing World Magazine | Motorcycle Riding, Racing & Tech News.
Shocker Racing Fielding 3-Rider Team At Daytona & Road America [ 28-Jan-26 8:52pm ]TSR Goes MotoAmerica Racing
With support from our partners TLC The Living Community and ICAFe Companies Team Shocker Racing is set to field a three-rider Twins Cup line up consisting of Maxim Gulinsky, Charles Burton IV, and Ethan Song on Trickdaddy Performance prepared Aprilia RS660s for the Daytona and Road America Rounds.
For more information about the team visit us at: https://teamshockerracing.com/
The post Shocker Racing Fielding 3-Rider Team At Daytona & Road America appeared first on Roadracing World Magazine | Motorcycle Riding, Racing & Tech News.
MotoAmerica: Cam Beaubier Testing With Ducati In Portugal [ 28-Jan-26 8:30pm ]Cameron Beaubier is on track this week at Portimão, Portugal, taking part in a key test session alongside the Ducati Corse test team.
The American rider is working closely with the factory squad as part of FLO4LAW Warhorse Ducati Factory Racing, gaining valuable time aboard a 2026 Ducati Panigale V4 R Superbike.
Cameron Beaubier with a 2026 factory Ducati Panigale V4 R Superbike during testing at Portimao. Photo by Alex Photo.
Despite challenging conditions, Beaubier expressed his excitement about the opportunity: "The weather hasn't been the best here in Portugal but it's really cool to be here with Ducati Corse. We got our first laps in on wet tires today."
Cameron Beaubier ready to go on track at Portimão. Photo by Alex Photo.
Cameron Beaubier testing at Portimao. Photo by Alex Photo.
Cameron Beaubier on track at Portima. Photo by Alex Photo.
Cameron Beaubier and the Ducati crew at Portimao. Photo by Alex Photo.
Cameron Beaubier testing at Portimao. Photo by Alex Photo.
2026 factory Ducati Panigale V4 R Superbike. Photo by Alex Photo.
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MotoAmerica: OrangeCat Reveals 2026 BMW Superbike Livery [ 28-Jan-26 7:14pm ]BMW Motorrad Motorsport and OrangeCat Racing officially presented the brand-new livery for their upcoming Superbike campaign, showcasing the fresh look of the OrangeCat BMW M 1000 RR.
Almería became the center of attention this week as the OrangeCat Racing team hit the track for an important test session, giving fans an early glimpse of what's to come in 2026.
BMW Motorrad Motorsport and Orangecat group shot. Photo courtesy BMW Motorrad Motorsport
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BMW's First AMA Superbike Win Was 50 Years Ago At Daytona [ 28-Jan-26 2:13pm ]BMW's Daytona 50th Anniversary Celebration - Echo of The Shot Heard Round The World.
As many of us grapple with the effects of a major winter storm event, there is some good news. Less than six weeks before we kick off the 50th anniversary celebration for BMW's "Shot Heard Round the World" season! Preparations are now racing forward on many fronts as we get ready for The Big Event.
Steve McLaughlin (83) leads Reg Pridmore (163) and Gary Fisher (24) at Daytona in 1976. Photo courtesy RPM Ventures NC
Some other key update items include:
• All three of the R90S racers from 1976 are prepared and ready to be transported to Daytona to be together, on the banking again, for the first time in 50 years!
• The sponsorship program continues to come together. OrangeCat Racing in Chicago and Tytler's Cycles in Wisconsin are both enthusiastic participants now!
• Todd Trumbore in Pennsylvania has taken delivery of 300 t-shirts for the event. They are $20 each and will be available trackside. Todd is also working on the commemorative pins.
• We finalized the menu for the celebrity dinner on March 7th. Shortly we will be asking for selections from a menu that includes beef, chicken, fish, or vegetarian options.
• This week's big question? What kind of gasoline do we need for the trio of R90S racers when we put them on the track. A quick call to Udo Gietl confirmed that we're good with the 98-octane Sunoco fuel we can get at the DIS pumps.
The three Butler & Smith R90S BMW Superbikes lined up for tech at Daytona in 1976, including Gary Fisher's #24, Steve McLaughlin's #83, and Reg Pridmore's # 163. Photo courtesy BMA MOA.
Next up items include:
• Back in New Hampshire, Reg Pridmore's #163 is ready to take a trip from Don Krumholz's shop for some dyno testing.
• In Munich, Steve McLaughlin's #83 is being prepared for the trip to Daytona … then on to Goodwood for the Festival of Speed in July.
1976 isn't coming back, of course. For 2026, it will be history in the making. If any questions come up, please let us know at triangle.bmwcca.activities@gmail.com
Registration is now open at: https://bmwmoaf.regfox.com/50th-anniversary-daytona-event
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2025 AMA Racing, Organizer and Volunteer Awards Announced [ 28-Jan-26 1:05pm ]PICKERINGTON, Ohio — The American Motorcyclist Association enjoyed another outstanding year of racing and recreational riding, with several individuals and groups standing out as worthy of the 2025 AMA Racing, Organizer and Volunteer Awards.
These awards recognize excellent individuals and groups that helped maintain a thriving competitive and recreational environment in 2025, including championship-winning racers and diligent organizers.
"We are so grateful to all of the racers, riders and organizers that made 2025 another successful year for the AMA's racing and recreational riding pursuits," AMA Director of Racing Mike Pelletier said. "Several of those went above and beyond in their efforts, and we are delighted to recognize them with AMA Racing, Organizer and Volunteer Awards."
AMA members participated in the selection process of certain racing categories — including the Athlete of the Year awards — while AMA staff selected the recipients of the organizational and volunteer awards.
The AMA Athlete of the Year Award winners include Steward Baylor Jr. (National Championship), Bodie Paige (Grand Championship) and Syler Padusnak (ATV).
The AMA Veteran/Senior Racer of the Year went to Adam Beldyga, while Kannon Zabojnik earned AMA Youth Racer of the Year honors. Additionally, Rachel Gutish earned the AMA Female Racer of the Year award.
The AMA also recognized several organizations for their efforts over the previous year. BCMX was named the AMA Motocross Organizer of the Year, J Day Offroad earned the AMA Off-Road Organizer of the Year, Pioneer Motorcycle Club was awarded the AMA Track Organizer of the Year and Racer Productions received the AMA ATV Organizer of the Year.
On the recreational side of things, P&D Promotions earned the AMA Recreational Road Riding Organizer of the Year and Roaring Horse LLC secured the AMA Recreational Off-Road Organizer of the Year.
Rhode Island Trials was named the AMA Club of the Year while Mikey Waynes earned the AMA Media Award. Raycin Kyler was awarded the AMA Sportsman of the Year.
The AMA also recognized 14-year-old Charlie Walter as the AMA Volunteer of the Year. Despite being unable to race due to injury, Walter was a constant presence at District 6 and 7 events and stepped up in a variety of roles as a volunteer.
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MotoAmerica: Nathan Gouker Will Compete In Talent Cup [ 28-Jan-26 12:20pm ]Nathan Gouker, Age 14, Secures MotoAmerica Ride Through Collective Support of Industry Partners.
Lexington, NC — American motorcycle racer Nathan Gouker will compete in the 2026 MotoAmerica Talent Cup Championship following the formation of a collaborative program made possible through the combined support of multiple teams, partners, and sponsors.
Gouker will race under the Quarterley Racing banner while competing within the Wrench Motorcycles structure, joining the paddock as a teammate to MotoAmerica Superbike rider Cameron Petersen. The program represents a unique cooperative effort, bringing together experienced leadership, technical resources, and sponsor backing to provide Nathan with the opportunity to continue racing at the national level.
The effort is led by Bob Robbins and Dale Quarterley, whose guidance and commitment were instrumental in assembling the program. Wrench Motorcycles, owned by Jamin Mathis, will provide full logistical support throughout the season, including transportation of the motorcycle and equipment to each MotoAmerica round.
The race motorcycle and spares package have been made available with the support of North American Warhorse. Additional technical and performance support comes from Fast by Ferracci, further strengthening the program's foundation.
Nathan Gouker (19). Photo by Benaisa Photography
Nathan's return to the MotoAmerica grid is also supported by longtime partners CP Motorsports, KYT Americas, VO2 Leathers, Cornerspin, 64 Degree Racing, and Essex Moto, all of whom continue their commitment to his development following a strong 2025 international season.
"This program only exists because so many people stepped up to help," said Gouker. "I'm incredibly grateful to everyone who believed in me and worked together to make this season possible. I'm proud to represent Warhorse, Ducati NA, MotoAmerica, Quarterley Racing's Bob Robbins and Dale Quarterley, Wrench Motorcycles, and all of the partners supporting me, and I'm committed to making the most of this opportunity back on American soil."
At just 14 years old, Gouker enters the 2026 season as one of the youngest competitors on the MotoAmerica grid. His program reflects not only on-track potential, but also the strength of relationships and trust built across the racing community.
With the combined backing of teams, sponsors, and mentors, Nathan Gouker looks ahead to the 2026 MotoAmerica season focused on development, performance, and representing his supporters with professionalism both on and off track.
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SMX: Tickets On Sale for Playoffs and Final [ 27-Jan-26 9:25pm ]Pre-sale kicks off today with public on-sale starting next Tuesday, February 3.
ELLENTON, Fla. (January 27, 2026) - Tickets are officially on sale for the 2026 SMX World ChampionshipTM Playoffs and Final. As previously announced by the SMX LeagueTM , Playoff 1 will take place on Saturday, September 12 at Historic Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. Playoff 2 will take place on Saturday, September 19 at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California and the SMX World Championship Final will take place on Saturday, September 26 at Thunder Ridge Nature Arena in Ridgedale, Missouri.
SMX Priority Members can purchase tickets starting today, January 27 with public on-sale availability beginning Tuesday, February 3 at SuperMotocross.com.
Last year's postseason run saw two of the sport's brightest stars cement their place in the history books as Japanese athlete Jo Shimoda won his very first 250cc World Championship while era-defining Jett Lawrence successfully defended his 450cc World Championship and became the first athlete to win three back-to-back SMX World Championship titles in the premier class.
Columbus sits at the heart of the Midwest, a region long known for its passionate motorsports fan base and deep grassroots racing culture. Ohio has produced generations of riders and racing fans, making Historic Crew Stadium a natural fit for the SMX World Championship Playoffs. Every square foot of the venue's expansive floor space will be utilized to create a unique SMX track layout that will include a large contingent of sand; an elevated start and use of an existing stage built into the stands.
Historic Crew Stadium Track Map. Photo courtesy SMX
Southern California is a staple in the Supercross and Motocross racing history books, making the area highly desirable for racing when the opportunity is presented. The 2026 regular season began in California a mere three weeks ago and for the first time in its history will also include a postseason round late in the year. Situated in the greater Los Angeles area, Dignity Health Sports Park brings the Playoffs to a market with a long-standing connection to the sport and a strong motorsports and media presence. Sand will be integrated into the track design to create a more natural terrain environment.
Dignity Health Sports Park Track Map. Photo courtesy SMX
The Monster Energy SMX World Championship will culminate in a special Final at Thunder Ridge Nature Arena in Ridgedale, Missouri, which has already drawn rave reviews as one of the most picturesque and jaw-dropping venues in North America. Set within a stunning natural amphitheater, Thunder Ridge Nature Arena presents a one-of-a-kind outdoor experience that promises to create unforgettable memories by combining the natural beauty of the Ozarks with the striking architecture that seamlessly integrates into the surrounding environment. The SMX World Championship Final will offer world-class racing alongside a premier stay at Big Cedar Lodge, the Official Accommodations partner, featuring championship-level golf, exceptional restaurants and an immersive outdoor experience across its iconic resort. The natural terrain at Thunder Ridge Nature Arena will provide the most Motocross-inspired track design of this year's postseason with natural elevation, rough sections, and one-of-a-kind viewing options close to the track that fans have come to expect.
Thunder Ridge Nature Arena Track Map. Photo courtesy SMX
A variety of travel packages will be available to fans for the SMX World Championship Final. Please visit SuperMotocross.com for more details. Fans can purchase hotel and camping accommodations that include many ticketing and VIP experience options.
Fans can expect a two-day experience in Columbus, Ohio and Ridgedale, Missouri as these rounds will offer a Friday Fan Zone and a Saturday FanFest experience. Friday's Fan Zone will feature access to the pre-race press conference, free practice sessions, and the SMX Insiders Live show. Further details and a complete programming schedule will be released later in the year. Playoff 2 in Carson, California will be a one day event and will include access to all the race teams, athletes, and experiential activities in a one-day Saturday FanFest experience format.
The SMX World Championship Playoffs and Final will feature the best athletes in the world as the top 20 in combined Supercross and Pro Motocross points are automatically seeded into the playoff rounds. Athletes will be competing for the sport's ultimate World Championship title, and the prestige that comes from overcoming adversity through a 28-round, dual-discipline (indoor and outdoor) season, plus two SMX Playoffs and a Final.
The entire SMX World Championship series is now on sale, including 17 Rounds of Monster Energy Supercross, 11 Rounds of the Pro Motocross Championship, and the post-season Playoffs and Final. To purchase tickets and stay up to date on the latest news and highlights, visit SuperMotocross.com, SupercrossLIVE.com or ProMotocross.com.
For information about the Monster Energy SMX World Championship, please visit www.SuperMotocross.com and be sure to follow all of the new SMX social media channels for exclusive content and additional information on the latest news:
- Instagram: @supermotocross
- Facebook: @supermotocross
- X: @supermotocross
- YouTube: @supermotocross
- TikTok: @supermotocross
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MotoGP: 2026 Testing Calendar Confirmed [ 27-Jan-26 8:17pm ]All in-season official test dates revealed - with some extras set to take place in 2026.
MotoGP pre-season starts soon and the full rundown of test dates through the 2026 season can now also be revealed.
After the Shakedown Test from the 29th to the 31st of January, the Sepang Test opens official MotoGP action from the 3rd to the 5th of February in Malaysia. Then we head into Kuala Lumpur on the 7th of February for the Season Launch.
From there, Chang International Circuit in Buriram welcomes MotoGP for a final two-day test on the 21st and 22nd of February - the weekend before and we go racing for the PT Thai Grand Prix.
Once the season is underway, there will be four in-season test days this year. The first two are official tests and follow the Spanish Grand Prix at Jerez and the Catalan Grand Prix in Barcelona, respectively, and participants will test with tyres from the official MotoGP tyre supplier, Michelin.
Post-race non-official tests with the 2027 tyre supplier are planned on the Mondays following the Czech and Austrian Grands Prix.
Here's the full calendar:
Moto2 and Moto3
The test calendar for the Moto2 and Moto3 classes is also now confirmed. The pre-season tests have been split by category, with Moto3 heading out for their first test at Portimao on the 9th and 10th of February before Moto2 take to the track at the same venue on the 11th and 12th of February.
The Circuito de Jerez-Angel Nieto then hosts the official Moto3 test on the 14th and 15th of February and the official Moto2 test on the 16th and 17th of February.
Moto3 will have an in-season test on the Tuesday following the Spanish Grand Prix at Jerez, and Moto2 have an in-season test on the Tuesday following the Catalan Grand Prix in Barcelona.
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EWC: A New Promoter for the FIM Endurance World Championship [ 27-Jan-26 1:15pm ]January 27, 2026 - The Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO), PHA/Claude Michy, Honda Mobilityland Corporation, and Larivière Organisation, organizers of the four rounds of the 2026 FIM EWC World Endurance Championship, and Motul, a historic partner of endurance racing and shareholder, are delighted to announce the creation of Endurance Moto Promoter (EMP), a joint structure designed to promote and develop the Championship.
Tsuyoshi Saito (President of Honda Mobilityland Corporation): "Honda Mobilityland is proud to join the FIM Endurance World Championship as one of its shareholders. We aim to serve as a bridge between Asia and the global motorsports community, fostering mutual collaboration and contributing to the further development of EWC."
International broadcasting will remain available via Warner Bros Discovery channels and platforms, as well as its successors.
2026 FIM EWC calendar:
- 24 Heures Motos, Le Mans (France) - April 16-19 (ticketing)
- 8 Hours of Spa Motos, Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium) - June 5-6 (ticketing)
- Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours, Suzuka Circuit (Japan) - July 3-5 (website)
- Bol d'Or, Circuit Paul Ricard (France) - September 17-20 (ticketing)
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