This week in US Powersports racing.
Craig DeLong and Korie Steede race to Powerline Park GNCC podium results
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing riders record P2 finishes in class
Grand National Cross Country Series – Round 7
Former GNCC Champion DeLong entered the Powerline Park weekend with momentum on his side after recording 3-4 finishes across the previous two rounds in the XC1 Open Pro Class.
That form continued in Ohio, where DeLong powered his Husqvarna FX 350 into the top-five off the start before moving into the race lead on Lap 3.
Battling challenging conditions throughout the three-hour duration, he completed the event with a total time of 3:12:11 to secure his second podium of the 2026 season.
The result sees DeLong climb to third in the overall standings, sitting 16 points from the championship lead entering next month’s Watkins Glen International GNCC.
“We had a good day out here at Powerline Park, where I ended up second,”commented DeLong.”I had a decent start and was in around fifth place for the first lap, and then I made some passes – by the third lap I was in the lead! I felt good, but today was hot, so I got to lead for about a lap and a half, and then I struggled a bit at the end there. I’m happy to be on the box, the bike worked really well, and I’m stoked on the result.”
It was another strong outing for defending WXC Champion Steede, who launched her Husqvarna FC 250 Factory Edition to the holeshot and remained locked in a race-long battle for victory.
Following multiple lead changes throughout the race, a final-lap attempt to reclaim P1 ultimately fell short, with the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rider crossing the finish line in second place with a total time of 1:57:48.
“I got off to a killer start – grabbed the holeshot and led the whole first lap,”recalled Steede.”On the second lap, we got into lapped riders and it was getting a little hairy as Brandy [Richards] and I went back and forth a couple of times. I just tried to keep looking and moving forward, and then on the last lap, I tried a really gnarly pass for the lead – I missed my rear brake and my wheels were off the ground! I ended up in a bush, but I rode my heart out and gave it my all. It sucks to come up short of the win, but we’ll be back at the next one.”
Steede is currently ranked third in the WXC Class standings, only eight points out of the series lead with six rounds remaining.
XC1 Open Pro Class Results1. Steward Baylor Jr, Kawasaki2. Craig DeLong, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing3. Kailub Russell, Yamaha7. Ben Kelley, KTM12. Grant Davis, KTM
WXC Class Results1. Brandy Richards, KTM2. Korie Steede, Rockstar Husqvarna Factory Racing3. Danielle McDonald, Yamaha
National Grand Prix Championship – Round 6
Round 6 of the National Grand Prix Championship (NGPC) saw a consistent outing for Mateo Oliveira, with the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rider finishing fourth in the Pro Class during the MotoFest Grand Prix at Glen Helen Raceway.
Equipped with the Husqvarna FE 450, Oliveira began the race in P5 before advancing to fourth by Lap 2, maintaining that position across the following seven laps to complete the race in 1:32:44. The result sees him retain third place in the Pro Class standings.
“The track was sweet this weekend,” Oliveira explained.”There were a couple of slippery sections, but I didn’t crush the start today, and ultimately I paid the price for that. Eyes forward to the next round!”
The National Grand Prix Championship series will resume on August 28-30 with the Dynamite Grand Prix in Preston, Idaho.
Pro Class Results1. Dante Oliveira, KTM2. Mason Semmens, KTM3. Dare Demartile, Beta4. Mateo Oliveira, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
BRANDY RICHARDS AND DANTE OLIVEIRA LEAD WINNING WEEKEND FOR FMF KTM FACTORY RACING
KTM Offroad Update
GRAND NATIONAL CROSS COUNTRY SERIES – ROUND 7
Equipped with the KTM 350 XC-F FACTORY EDITION in GNCC, Brandy Richards emerged at the front of the WXC field in Ohio, battling for the lead throughout the four-lap duration in challenging conditions.
After fending off pressure from her series rivals, Richards captured her third victory of the season with a total time of 1:57:30, moving to within six points of the WXC Class lead after seven rounds.
Brandy Richards:“It was tricky out there! It was so slippery, and the lappers made it a challenge as well – a lot of it came down to luck if you got through clean or not. And it was just a battle the whole way, we had such a good race. I love battling with Korie [Steede], I knew with that last lap move she was coming in a little hot, so I just checked up on that one, but I knew that whole last lap was going to be a sprint and we had a heap of fun out there. It feels good to come away with the win!”
Despite entering the round under the weather, Jason Tino delivered an inspired performance at Powerline Park, guiding his KTM 250 XC-F to third place in the XC2 250 Pro Class after three hours.
In his first season with FMF KTM Factory Racing, Tino now sits third in the championship standings, just seven points from the series lead entering next month’s Watkins Glen International GNCC.
Jason Tino:“This was a terrible weekend to get sick. I’ve been bedridden since Friday, and just did the best that I could today. I had to completely change my style – I was out there just sitting down as much as I could. I did the best I could, and getting on the podium here honestly feels like a win within itself.”
The high-powered XC1 Open Pro Class duo of Ben Kelley and Grant Davis endured a difficult day onboard their KTM 450 XC-F machines, with defending GNCC Champion Kelley showing a strong early pace after a positive start.
Entering the round under an injury cloud, Kelley managed the race with consistency, securing seventh in class and retaining fourth in the XC1 Open Pro Class standings.
Ben Kelley:“I got off to a great start, which I needed. I was nursing some injuries today, so it was great to be out front. I did what I could, stayed off the ground, and managed to earn some good points. I hope to be healthy next round.”
An early-race crash brought an unfortunate and premature end to Davis’ outing at Powerline Park, with the XC1 Open Pro Class newcomer forced to withdraw from the event and ultimately classified 12th.
Grant Davis:“I felt great on the bike today. I was coming through the pack and came together with another rider, which inevitably ended my day. On to the next!”
XC1 Open Pro Class Results
- Steward Baylor Jr, Kawasaki
- Craig DeLong, Husqvarna
- Kailub Russell, Yamaha
- Ben Kelley, FMF KTM Factory Racing
- Grant Davis, FMF KTM Factory Racing
XC2 250 Pro Class Results
- Angus Riordan, Honda
- Brody Johnson, Husqvarna
- Jason Tino, FMF KTM Factory Racing
WXC Class Results
- Brandy Richards, FMF KTM Factory Racing
- Korie Steede, Husqvarna
- Danielle McDonald, Yamaha
NATIONAL GRAND PRIX CHAMPIONSHIP – ROUND 6
Six-time defending NGPC number one Dante Oliveira entered Round 6 of the season at Glen Helen as part of the annual MotoFest with momentum on his side after recording a perfect scorecard to date in 2026, launching to the holeshot to commence the eight-lap race.
Conceding the position on Lap 1, the 26-year-old was then engaged in a race-long battle with fellow KTM-mounted rider Mason Semmens at the front of the pack, going on to reclaim the lead again and earn his sixth-straight NGPC victory of the year.
Fresh from a perfect double victory across NGPC and the National Hare & Hound Series this weekend, Oliveira continues to hold a perfect 180 points entering the Dynamite Grand Prix in Preston, Idaho, on August 28-30.
Dante Oliveira:“It was an epic race! I got off to the holeshot, then sent one of the rollers and Mason got around me, so the battle was on from there. We duked it out – the track was super-nice, you were able to use a lot of lines, which made things close. I just had a blast, though. The pace felt good and the bike felt really good, too. Overall, I’m stoked with this one, and it was an awesome day!”
Pro Class Results
- Dante Oliveira, FMF KTM Factory Racing
- Mason Semmens, KTM
- Dare Demartile, Beta
- Mateo Oliveira, Husqvarna
NATIONAL HARE & HOUND SERIES – ROUND 5
Also the reigning National Hare & Hound Champion, Saturday saw Dante Oliveira secure his fifth-consecutive victory at Round 5 of the season in Jericho, Utah, at the Desert Devotional event.
Racing his KTM 450 XC-F, Oliveira delivered a commanding performance from start to finish, leading both laps and recording a total time of 3:02:00 to secure his fifth win of the season – the first part of his impressive double for the weekend.
With two rounds remaining in the 2026 National Hare & Hound Series, Oliveira holds a 25-point lead at the top of the standings with a perfect 150-point haul. The next round is scheduled for September 19 in Nevada.
Dante Oliveira: “Five-for-five in Hare & Hound to open the weekend and we’re stoked with the result. I was able to lead from the front, which is always nice, and we were able to bring it home on the top step of the podium again! We’ll try to keep it going at the next one.”
Pro Class Results
- Dante Oliveira, FMF KTM Factory Racing
- Zane Roberts, Beta
- Daemon Woolslayer, Husqvarna
Scholtz And Strack Sweep Up Competition In Birmingham
Strack Racing Yamaha’s Mathew Scholtz stole the show again in The Magic City, disappearing from the field, leading all 20 laps of Sunday’s Quad Lock Superbike race two, and winning by over six seconds.
The South African took the lead from Rahal Ducati Moto with XPEL rider PJ Jacobsen in the final corner of the first lap and checked out from there, taking the first double win of his Superbike career and extending his championship lead to 34 points in dominating fashion.
Mathew Scholtz celebrates with his crew on pit wall as he crosses the line to take the race two victory. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Behind Scholtz, Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing’s JD Beach quickly moved into second on lap three with Warhorse HSBK Ducati Flo4Law’s Cameron Beaubier and his Ducati Panigale V4 R moving into third behind him.
Beaubier worked his way past Beach for second, but it was short-lived as the Ducati rider crashed one lap later entering Charlotte’s Web, ending his bid for a second straight podium and handing the position back to the Yamaha YZF-R1 rider.
Beach capitalized to secure another podium finish in race two, propelling himself to third in the championship standings, 46 points behind the leader.
JD Beach (#95) moved into second as Cameron Beaubier (#1) chased him down in third. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Fresh off a hard crash on Saturday, birthday boy Sean Dylan Kelly rebounded with a composed ride aboard his OrangeCat Racing BMW M 1000 RR to finish third. The newly turned 24-year-old moved into the final podium position at the halfway mark and rode a calculated race to maintain second in the championship standings, 34 points behind the leader.
Sean Dylan Kelly (#40) made an inside move on Bobby Fong (#50) on lap nine to take the final podium spot. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Richie Escalante delivered an impressive charge through the field aboard his M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R1000R to secure fourth place, marking his best finish of the season. The Mexico native started ninth and briefly dropped to 10th before methodically working his way forward on the #54 machine, while also climbing to sixth in the championship standings.
Wrench Motorcycles rider Cameron Petersen was out for redemption aboard his Ducati Panigale V4 R after a race one DNF. The South African shook off the tough Saturday, was locked in for the early mid-pack battle, and followed Escalante’s rise through the pack, but dropped from fifth to seventh in championship points.
Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing’s Bobby Fong put his Yamaha YZF-R1 sixth in race two and managed to hang on to fourth in the season standings.
Race two was a mixed bag for the Real Steel Honda team. On the positive side, Andrew Lee once again topped the Superbike Cup category to maintain his points lead, while teammate Hayden Gillim suffered mechanical issues with his CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP that forced the Kentuckian to retire from race two, holding him to 11th in the points standings.
Andrew Lee (#14) landed himself on the top step of the Superbike Cup podium in both of the weekend’s races. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Richie Escalante delivered an impressive charge through the field aboard his M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R1000R to secure fourth place, marking his best finish of the season. The Mexico native started ninth and briefly dropped to 10th before methodically working his way forward on the #54 machine, while also climbing to sixth in the championship standings.
Wrench Motorcycles rider Cameron Petersen was out for redemption aboard his Ducati Panigale V4 R after a race one DNF. The South African shook off the tough Saturday, was locked in for the early mid-pack battle, and followed Escalante’s rise through the pack, but dropped from fifth to seventh in championship points.
Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing’s Bobby Fong put his Yamaha YZF-R1 sixth in race two and managed to hang on to fourth in the season standings.
Race two was a mixed bag for the Real Steel Honda team. On the positive side, Andrew Lee once again topped the Superbike Cup category to maintain his points lead, while teammate Hayden Gillim suffered mechanical issues with his CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP that forced the Kentuckian to retire from race two, holding him to 11th in the points standings.
#14 Andrew Lee took the win in Superbike Cup over BPR Racing Yamaha’s Deion Campbell (#194). Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Six-time Superbike champion Cameron Beaubier’s crash relegated him to a 17th-place finish, dropping him to fifth in the championship standings with 47 points.
As the MotoAmerica Superbike Championship heads next to the high-speed confines of Road America, the long straights and fast-flowing layout are expected to favor the outright horsepower of the Ducati Panigale V4 R and the high-revving Suzuki GSX-R1000R. But, after a commanding weekend in Birmingham, Scholtz and the Strack Racing Yamaha squad arrive with momentum firmly on their side, as the South African continues to show supreme confidence aboard his Yamaha YZF-R1 in the early stages of the championship fight.
The following quote is from Quad Lock Superbike race two winner Mathew Scholtz:
“Yeah, I mean, I think it’s the first double on the Superbike for me. You know, just kind of still shocked with how things went. And I got out front, maintained a pretty decent pace. I knew that I had to get past PJ as soon as I could and kind of pulled out to a 1.5-second gap, and it stayed there for three or four laps, and then it suddenly jumped by one-and-a-half seconds, so I kind of knew something happened then. I saw Beaubier pulling it into the pits, and then, I just kind of settled into a pretty decent rhythm out there. The gap just got bigger and bigger, and, you know, brought it home in first place. I’m still just shook with how this year’s gone so far, but we’re gonna start to head west, to some tracks that aren’t my favorite, so I’m sure that we’re going to have our work cut out for us there. But overall, I’m just really pumped with how things have gone so far.”
The following quote is from Superbike Cup race two winner Andrew Lee:
“This weekend, we kind of came in not fully up to speed after Atlanta, so we used Friday as a bit of a test. My whole crew has been working their butts off to try to get the platform underneath me so that I feel 100% confident in it. We’re nearing it. We went ‘1 and 1’ this weekend, so that’s obviously a really big positive. We closed the gap to the Superbike boys a little bit today. too. I think that’s kind of my main goal throughout the season: to keep closing that gap, and today was, like, a really good step in that direction. So I’m ecstatic.”
For the full 2026 MotoAmerica schedule, and to purchase tickets for MotoAmerica events, CLICK HERE
For information on how to watch the MotoAmerica series, CLICK HERE
For photos and full results, CLICK HERE
All Balls Racing Signs on as Swap Meet and Racing Sponsor for AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days
All Balls Racing will return as a major sponsor of Permco AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days presented by Turn 14 Distribution, backing both the swap meet and racing programs at the three-day event July 24-26 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio.
As the 2026 Swap Meet and Racing Sponsor, All Balls Racing extends a growing partnership with the AMA and reinforces its commitment to the vintage motorcycling community.
“All Balls Racing understands what makes AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days special — it’s a celebration of the bikes, the culture and the community,” AMA Business Development Manager Michael Kula said. “Having them sponsor both the swap meet and racing programs means their support touches the heart of what brings people to motorcycling’s biggest vintage event every year.”
All Balls Racing is one of the leading global suppliers of aftermarket powersports parts and accessories. Learn more about All Balls Racing at www.allballsracing.com/ .
At AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, event-goers can take part in the Mohawk Crawl by visiting all three All Balls Racing booths and scanning the QR codes to be entered into the Your Ride, Your Parts giveaway. Those who participate in the Mohawk Crawl will also have a chance to receive an autograph or photo opportunity with motorcycling phenom Carson Brown, who was on hand at VMD last year with All Balls Racing and took to the motocross track to showcase his skills.
All Balls Racing will also sponsor the Bagger Racing League Suburban Harley-Davidson Race Team during the event. The team will be comprised of sponsored riders Joey Robinson, Brendan Foley and Jake Masters.
“AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days is a one-of-a-kind event, with the motorcycling community coming out in full force to enjoy life on two wheels,” All Balls Racing Marketing Manager Matt Wilson said. “We love attending this event and getting to interact with our riding community firsthand, and we look forward to heading back out to Mid-Ohio to support the swap meet and racing programs during VMD!”
The swap meet at Permco AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days is the largest vintage motorcycle swap meet in North America, with hundreds of vendors bringing retro motorcycles, parts and memorabilia to be sold throughout the three-day event. Stay up-to-date with the latest swap meet news at VintageMotorcycleDays.com/swap-meet/.
There are near-endless vintage racing opportunities at Permco AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, with competition in a variety of motorcycle racing disciplines, including motocross, trials, hare scrambles, road racing and pitbike racing. Sign up to race atVintageMotorcycleDays.com/racing/.
Permco AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days presented by Turn 14 Distribution has several other exciting happenings throughout the three-day event, including vendor displays, demo rides, stunt shows and much more! Stay tuned to vintagemotorcycledays.com/ and the official VMD social media pages on Facebook and Instagram for all of the details.
Bauman Rolls to Third Consecutive Victory at Inaugural ThrottleFest
The rolling Briar Bauman (No. 3 Super.com/RWR Harley-Davidson XG750R) upped his win streak to three with yet another dominant outing, the latest coming at the Budds Creek Half-Mile in the inaugural Parts Unlimited ThrottleFest presented by Carter CAT, Round 6 of the 2026 Progressive American Flat Track season, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing.
The Main Event of the four-day event hosted by Budds Creek Motocross Park in Mechanicsville, Maryland, was expected to be a showdown involving Bauman, reigning Grand National Champion Dallas Daniels (No. 1 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07), and Mission AFT SuperTwins points leader Kody Kopp (No. 12 Latus Motors Racing Harley-Davidson XG750R).
And arguably it was, in a sense, albeit one effectively decided in the opening seconds of the race.
Bauman and Daniels went elbow-to-elbow as they disputed the holeshot. Bauman ultimately had the superior positioning aboard his Rick Ware Racing Harley-Davidson XG750R, which not only forced Daniels to accept second but resulted in him getting shuffled back to third by an opportunistic Chad Cose (No. 49 PRO Roofing/Parker Racing Yamaha MT-07).
The Estenson Racing Yamaha ace would spend the next six minutes attempting to uncover a path back around Cose. And by the time he finally managed to do so, Bauman was more than three seconds clear at the front.
Bauman negotiated his way through heavy traffic over the final couple of laps, allowing Daniels to slash the deficit down to 2.208 seconds, but the outcome was never truly put in doubt.
After Daniels worked his way past and disappeared in second, Cose shifted his attention to Kopp, who was creeping up from fourth. Despite Kopp’s late push, the Californian held on to the spot by a nerve-wracking 0.210 seconds, securing Cose’s first premier-class podium in eight seasons.
Hunter Bauer (No. 24 G&G Racing Yamaha MT-07) and Aidan RoosEvans (No. 26 FRA Trust Advisors Harley-Davidson XG750R) joined Kopp to put rookies fourth, fifth, and sixth.
Meanwhile, Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods Honda CB750 Hornet), Morgen Mischler (No. 13 IFS Waste Services/D&D Cycles Aprilia Tuareg 660), Cameron Smith (No. 34 Fredericktown Yamaha/Thee Kathy Gray Yamaha MT-07), and Declan Bender (No. 70 Memphis Shades/Vinson Construction Yamaha MT-07) closed out the top ten.
Bauman’s surge has shifted the Grand National Championship outlook, closing the margin separating the top three dramatically in recent weeks.
While Kopp continues to lead with 117 points, Daniels (110) and Bauman (108) are now both well within striking distance in second and third.
After scoring the 37th Mission AFT SuperTwins win of his career, the two-time Grand National Champion said, “There’s something about doing it with a crew you thoroughly enjoy doing it with… We just work at it. We weren’t the quickest all day. We were a bit off. But they turned that thing upside down. I’ll be upfront – we didn’t change a clicker on the motorcycle the last two Nationals except for gearing. And today we threw the toolbox at that thing, and we found it. I’m just proud of my whole Rick Ware Racing team.”
KICKER AFT Singles
It took three starts to make it happen, but Kage Tadman (No. 28 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) ultimately ripped into the lead from pole position and powered his way to his fourth-career KICKER AFT Singles victory.
The two prior starts were quickly nullified by early-race red flags – both times removing Chase Saathoff (No. 88 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450) from the lead and erasing less-than-ideal launches for the otherwise on-form Tadman.
The second of those reds was thrown following a lowside crash on the part of Tarren Santero (No. 75 Roof Systems/Vinson Construction Honda CRF450R), a fall that sparked a chain reaction that also claimed Evan Kelleher (No. 31 Schaeffer’s Motorsports KTM 450 SX-F) and Logan Eisenhard (No. 66 Eisenhard Racing/Pags Powersports KTM 450 SX-F).
Tadman finally nailed the third start and was further blessed with the added good fortune of teammate Walker Porter (No. 10 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) slotting into second behind him.
Saathoff, meanwhile, was fourth off the line, stashed behind both Turner Hondas and the cagey Trevor Brunner (No. 21 KMA Racing/March Equipment Yamaha YZ450F).
The race’s drama largely unfolded behind Tadman, who pulled clear at the front.
Saathoff fought his way by Brunner into third and then moved Porter out of the way to seize control of second with just over a minute remaining on the clock. He was then, however – and incredibly – overhauled by Santero, who somehow managed to slash his way up through the field after being forced to the back of the grid due to his earlier crash.
In fact, Santero nearly did the unthinkable, reeling in Tadman from multiple seconds back before at last crossing the stripe only 0.377-seconds off the victory.
A visibly frustrated Saathoff finished third, while Porter regrouped from being punted up the track to claim his second consecutive fourth-place finish.
The triumph marked Tadman’s first to come outside his home state and away from a Short Track venue. He said, “We came out of the trailer perfect. We haven’t really made many changes to the bike today, and we’ve been P1 all day. I can’t thank the team enough – the bike was perfect. The track was so sick too. This definitely feels good. I’m excited.”
Reigning champion Tom Drane (No. 1 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) was unusually quiet en route to fifth.
He was followed by Jack Brucks (No. 113 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450), Ryder Reese (No. 41 Fasthouse/Smoking Butcher Coffee KTM 450 SX-F FE), Brunner, Dylan Cunningham (No. 252 Scott Stump/Joel Laub KTM 450 SX-F), and Jared Lowe (No. 63 Big R Racing/Vinson Construction Honda CRF450R), as they rounded out the back half of the top ten in that order.
Despite registering his worst result of the season, Drane still holds a sizable 16-point advantage over Tadman (111-95), with Saathoff and Brunner right there in third (94) and fourth (92), respectively.
AFT ProSport 450
Bayne Nantz (No. 313 Nantz Bros Racing KTM 450 SX-F) became the fourth different rider to claim victory in AFT ProSport 450 action with a wire-to-wire win at Budds Creek.
The AFT ProSport 450 Main packed in significantly more excitement than that brief summary may suggest. Nantz was hounded early by Camlin Durelle (No. 27 Durelle Racing Yamaha YZ450F), who didn’t even plan to enter the qualifying Road to AFT class in Friday’s AMA-sanctioned Mission Foods CTR Showcase Event, and only finished 11th when he did.
But Durelle found his form on Saturday, looking like an early contender for the win before making contact with Nantz’s rear-end. That incident sent him up the track and down the order.
Loic Nadeau (No. 21 Racine Racing KTM 450 SX-F), Adam Costan-Wood (No. 88 Turner Racing Honda CRF450R), and Brody Hanson (No. 99 Hanson Racing KTM 450 SX-F) picked up the chase in Durelle’s absence, transforming the race into a tight four-way scrap for the win.
Silver Dollar winner Costan-Wood dove under Nadeau for second and then attempted to displace Nantz on the final lap with the same maneuver – a plot that came up 0.163 seconds short of success at the checkered flag.
14-year-old Nantz said, “The track changed a lot since the heat. It got a lot more moisture. When I first got on it (for the Main), it was a totally different track. It was tricky at first, but I got it down towards the end.”
Nadeau held on to earn a close third, while Hanson and Matéo Racine (No. 23X Picotte Motosport KTM 450 SX-F) came home fourth and fifth, respectively.
Next Up
Progressive American Flat Track will leave Mechanicsville, Maryland, and go directly to Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, for the Appalachian Harley-Davidson Williams Grove Half-Mile at Williams Grove Speedway on Saturday, May 23. Visit https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack/events/2026-williams-grove-half-mile-185952 to purchase your tickets today.
How to Watch
FloRacing
For those that can’t catch the live action at the track, FloRacing is the live streaming home of Progressive American Flat Track. Motorsports fans can subscribe to FloRacing to enjoy over 1,000 live motorsports events in 2026. FloSports is available by visiting https://flosports.link/AFT2026 or by downloading the FloSports app on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire and Chromecast.
FS1
FOX Sports coverage of Parts Unlimited ThrottleFest, featuring in-depth features and thrilling onboard cameras, will premiere on FS1 on Sunday, May 24, at 11:30 a.m. ET (8:30 a.m. PT). The full listing of American Flat Track’s television premieres can be found at https://www.americanflattrack.com/events-foxsports.
Dunlop Motorcycle Tires Sets New Lap Records on Sportmax Slick Tires at Barber Motorsports Park
Dunlop Motorcycle Tires is proud to announce that multiple new lap records were established during MotoAmerica competition at Barber Motorsports Park. Riders across several classes pushed the pace to new levels on Dunlop Sportmax Slick tires, continuing a season filled with record-breaking performances.
Talent Cup:
Lap Record: 1:34.475 – Nathan Gouker, Qualifying 1
Race Lap Record: 1:34.791 – Nathan Gouker, Race 2
Supersport:
Lap Record: 1:25.278 – Kayla Yaakov, Qualifying 2
Super Hooligan:
Lap Record: 1:27.434 – Gus Rodio, Qualifying 2
Race Lap Record: 1:27.247 – Gus Rodio, Race 2
These record-setting laps once again demonstrate the performance, consistency, and confidence riders continue to find with Dunlop Sportmax Slick tires at the highest level of road racing competition. From qualifying sessions to race-day battles, Dunlop technology continues to help riders push beyond previous limits.
To learn more about Dunlop racing tires, please visit www.dunlopracing.com
Mathew Scholtz Strengthens Championship Lead with Barber Superbike Sweep
Strack Racing Yamaha’s Mathew Scholtz extends his MotoAmerica Superbike Championship lead with a pair of victories, while Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing’s JD Beach earns his first podiums of the season / May 18, 2026 /
After a strong debut aboard the Strack Racing Yamaha R1 at the MotoAmerica Superbike opener at Road Atlanta, Mathew Scholtz raised the bar at Round 2 at Barber Motorsports Park with a dominant weekend sweep. It was a statement ride from the back-to-back MotoAmerica Supersport champ, who thus far has three wins and a runner-up finish to give him a healthy 34-point lead early in the title chase.
It was also a strong weekend for fellow Yamaha BLU CRU rider JD Beach. Although the weekend didn’t start out smoothly, the Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing rider continued to make improvements, with Beach earning a pair of podium finishes in just his second full-time Superbike round with the squad.
Superbike Race 1 was an intense battle on the 2.38-mile circuit in Leeds, Alabama. Scholtz grabbed the holeshot, with the Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing duo of Bobby Fong and Beach also getting strong starts inside the top five despite not qualifying on the front row. The teammates battled throughout the opening laps before settling into fourth and fifth, respectively. Just before half-race distance, PJ Jacobsen crashed, moving them both up a spot before bringing out the red flag.
After the restart, Scholtz once again nailed the start and quickly began to distance himself from the field, putting in consistently fast laps to secure the win by a healthy four-second margin.
Behind him, Fong slotted into second and Beach third after the restart, with the duo remaining in the thick of a multi-rider fight for the podium positions. Beach battled with Cameron Beaubier and was shuffled back to fourth, while Fong was also passed by the reigning champion with around four laps to go. In the closing laps, Beach continued to push, making a decisive move in Charlotte’s Web on the final lap to secure third – his first podium of the season – with Fong finishing right behind in fourth.
Race 2 featured many of the same players, with Scholtz once again asserting himself early. After slotting into second off the start, the South African took over the lead on the opening lap and quickly began building a gap.
Beach once again showed a strong pace, quickly moving into podium contention after starting sixth. The Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing rider made his way into second on Lap 3 and once again found himself battling with Beaubier, who briefly passed him before crashing shortly after. From there, Beach settled into a strong pace and rode a lonely race in second.
In fourth after the start, Fong remained locked in a multi-rider battle for the podium position. He was shuffled back to fifth on that opening lap and continued to fight. Fong made his way back to fourth and then into third after Beaubier’s crash, but ultimately dropped back to sixth in the latter half of the race.
At the front, Scholtz continued to control the race, securing his second dominant victory of the weekend by a margin of 6.6 seconds. Beach followed him home in second and moved to third in the championship standings, with Fong sitting fourth and trailing his teammate by a point.
“Coming into the Barber weekend, I was pretty excited,” said Scholtz. “It’s been a good track for me. After having a great outing with the team at the first race, I was excited to get back on it and carry on working on the development of the Yamaha R1. We definitely had some setbacks during the practice sessions, but when we needed to come through in the race, we did. To come out with a double win – I couldn’t be happier. I’m thankful for the situation that I’m in and looking forward to going to Road America. It’s been a bit of a difficult track for me in the past, but this season, everything feels different.”
In MotoAmerica Supersport, Scholtz’s teammate, Blake Davis, continued to show speed in the highly competitive class. After qualifying seventh, the young Virginian battled inside the lead group in both races. Race 1 featured multiple red flags and restarts, but Davis remained firmly in the mix throughout, running as high as third before ultimately finishing sixth. In Race 2, the Strack Racing Yamaha rider once again battled inside the top five before securing another sixth-place finish.
Liberty St. Yamaha Racing’s Dominic Doyle also continued to make progress in the Supersport class. After qualifying 11th, Doyle improved throughout the weekend and worked his way to seventh in Race 1. In Race 2, he was once again battling inside the top 10 before an unfortunate crash with around five laps remaining ended his race early.
Richard Gadson Advances to Semi-Finals at NHRA Route 66 Nationals in Chicago
Reigning Pro Stock Motorcycle world champion Richard Gadson battled gusty winds in the Windy City and maintained his championship lead by advancing to the semi-final round aboard his RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki Gen 3 Hayabusa at the Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, IL, on Sunday.
Race Highlights:
- Richard Gadson qualified fifth, advanced to the semi-final round and maintained his championship lead
- Gaige Herrera qualified third, won the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge and advanced to the second round of eliminations
Richard Gadson powered his Hayabusa to another semi-final appearance and kept hold of the championship lead.
Conditions at Route 66 Raceway near Chicago lived up to the Windy City’s reputation with blustery winds that proved challenging for many riders during the weekend, including both riders on the Vance & Hines Suzuki team.
Championship leader Richard Gadson qualified fifth with a 6.778-second/200.38 mph run on Saturday.
In round one, Gadson survived a scare against Steve Johnson (10.263 seconds/79.43 mph) after a gust of wind pushed his Hayabusa toward the centerline by prudently rolling off the throttle as Johnson’s motorcycle slowed behind him. Gadson, who still managed to run 8.086-seconds at 116.24 mph, was the first Vance & Hines rider to have a run affected by the windy conditions on Sunday but would not be the last.
Gadson rebounded in round two, knocking off championship contender John Hall (6.880 seconds/196.93 mph) with a solid 6.850-second/197.13 mph run to advance to the semi-final round for the fourth straight race this season.
In the semi-finals, Gadson carried a big starting line advantage in his matchup with Angie Smith (6.774 seconds/200.35 mph), but his 6.850-second/195.93 mph run was not enough to overcome the speed of the rider who qualified number one and had the quickest ET in each of the first three rounds.
After one win and advancing to at least the semi-final round in all four races so far, Gadson has a 44-point championship lead at the midway point of the Pro Stock Motorcycle regular season. The 8-round regular season concludes at the U.S. Nationals over Labor Day weekend in Indianapolis before points for the top 10 contenders in the class are reset for the 6-race Countdown to the Championship playoffs.
“It was full blown wrestling match with your motorcycle to get down the racetrack today. In my run against Steve, we had identical lights so I could see him in my peripheral when he shut off. I rode mine as long as I could before I had to shut off too. After I got it under control I looked back to make sure he didn’t get back on the throttle to catch me, and he wasn’t coming so I just cruised through for the win. I caught a break there, but everyone was battling the wind today. It was a tough, tough track to get down. A lot of shut off runs. They don’t call it the Windy City for no reason,” Gadson said. “This is the first race this year I didn’t go to the finals, but I still have the points lead, which is my highlight of the weekend. It’s a consistency game not a momentum one for me right now. I’m ready to go to the next race and hopefully keep turning on win lights and going rounds to hold on to this lead.”
Gaige Herrera continued his strong form with a Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge victory in Chicago.
Gaige Herrera got off to a solid start in Chicago, a track where he was unbeaten in three previous appearances, by qualifying third with a 6.757-second/200.86 mph run and winning the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge. It was Herrera’s second victory this season and 11th overall in the specialty race-within-a-race held during Saturday’s qualifying sessions that carries a cash purse and championship bonus points.
Herrera, the 2023 and 2024 Pro Stock Motorcycle world champion, defeated Geno Scali (7.015 seconds/190.16 mph) in round one, running 6.790 seconds at 200.29 mph against the 2003 class champion.
In round two, Herrera was the second Vance & Hines rider forced to abort a run by wind. Herrera rolled off the throttle as his motorcycle drifted toward the centerline, slowing to 8.170-seconds at 114.54 mph against rival Matt Smith (6.832 seconds/197.57 mph), who himself had a dramatic brush against the track’s concrete barrier at the end of his run.
“The wind was very unpredictable in the grandstand area. It was hard to know what it was going to do. In the round against Matt, I got hit by a gust that pushed me in the opposite direction we thought it might go. When the front end is in the air it’s hard to steer,” Herrera said. “All in all, it was a good weekend. My Hayabusa ran well, and we got the #2Fast2Tasty win on Saturday. I always want to come out ahead when we go up against Matt, but it’s better to be safe than sorry. It’s not worth risking crashing. Today was just his day. There are plenty of races ahead.”
RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki crew chief Andrew Hines reiterated the unpredictability of the windy conditions that caught out both of his team’s riders.
“I don’t know if anybody has the stat, but it was probably the most aborted runs in a weekend I’ve ever seen. The way the stadium is built at this track just plays havoc when there is a cross wind. It goes in all different directions, like a tornado. Even though we got lane choice in both rounds we lost, which we thought would be crucial, it was just bad luck,” Hines said. “I’m looking forward to seeing these guys back on a less windy racetrack at the next race in Maryland so we can make some clean, consistent runs.
“It’s a track I’ve never been to myself, but Richard and Gaige have made thousands of runs there in other classes. We share track data with some of the nitro teams, so we have good information about the track surface, where the bumps are, what the crown is like and where the elevation changes,” he said. “That gives us a place to start for our chassis setup and tuning and we’ll take it from there to get the most out of what the traction gives us. Hopefully we’ll have good weather and put on a great show for the fans.”
After the fourth of 14 rounds in the 2026 Pro Stock Motorcycle season, Gadson and Herrera sit first and third in the championship standings with 393 and 324 points, respectively.
The RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines team returns to action May 29-31 at the NHRA Potomac Nationals at Maryland International Raceway in Mechanicsville, MD.
Please visit suzukicycles.com/racing/drag-racing/revzilla-motul-vance-and-hines-suzuki for more updates and be sure to support our riders as they embark on this exciting journey.
TY SCOTT ON THE PODIUM FOR M4 ECSTAR SUZUKI IN ALABAMA
Suzuki Motor USA and Team Hammer continued their trophy winning ways this weekend as the 2026 MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North American Road Racing Championship picked back up at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama. Over the course of the weekend, the factory-backed squad combined to tally six top fives, including a pair of podium finishes.
Race Highlights:
- M4 ECSTAR Suzuki
- Supersport
- Tyler Scott notched up his fourth podium finish of the season with another all-around impressive weekend.
- Superbike
- Richie Escalante charged his way to a pair of top fives.
- Brandon Paasch twice battled forward to fight his way into the top ten.
- Twins Cup
- Matthew Chapin picked up a second-place finish on Saturday and backed it with a close fourth on Sunday.
- Bodie Paige was ruled unfit following a qualifying crash on Friday.
- Supersport
Tyler Scott earned another hard-fought Supersport podium aboard the GSX-R750.
MotoAmerica Supersport title hopeful Tyler Scott finished off the podium aboard his next-generation GSX-R750 for the first time all season in Saturday’s contest, missing out on the box by just 0.067 seconds after taking the checkered flag only 0.296 seconds behind the winners.
The M4 ECSTAR Suzuki ace made his amends in Sunday’s rematch, parlaying his front-row grid position into a third-place finish. Scott got his revenge for his Saturday fourth with a last-lap strike on Sunday that saw him nudge into third at the checkered flag by an impossibly close 0.009 seconds, while again finishing only a half second away from victory.
Scott said, “I felt really good this weekend. We’re not quite where we want to be yet, but we’re getting there. I can’t give my M4 ESCSTAR Suzuki crew enough thanks. They’ve got the bike dialed in, and I’m comfortable on the bike. I can really ride it the way I know how to ride it, and it’s going to battle on it now.”
Richie Escalante charged forward all weekend, earning a pair of strong top-five Superbike finishes.
Meanwhile, the M4 ECSTAR Suzuki duo of Richie Escalante and Brandon Paasch were on the charge aboard their GSX-R1000Rs at Barber Motorsports Park.
Despite qualifying on the outside of Row 3, Escalante twice fought his way into the top five. He took fifth – and only 1.5 seconds away from second – on Saturday. The Mexican star went one better on Sunday, racing up from the bottom of the top ten to come home in fourth.
“It was a nice weekend,” Escalante said. “We got two top fives, which is good for the championship. But the most important thing is that I have a really good feeling from the bike again. The crew did a great job, always pushing to improve and find more. I am really happy about our race pace. Qualifying has changed this year to just 15 minutes, so my focus at Road America will be to get up to speed and get a good flying lap. That puts us closer to the podium again. I am really happy with the weekend, the bike, and the team.”
Brandon Paasch fought through the field twice at Barber, charging to back-to-back top-10 finishes.
Paasch pulled a similar trick. He twice finished eighth after starting on Row 4, including a Sunday ride that saw him climb to that position from outside the top 15 after being forced to take evasive action to avoid a downed rider.
He said, “There were some nice positives from the weekend. It started out a little rough. I have never gone that great at Barber, which is no excuse, and we didn’t qualify very well. In Race 1, I was trying to stick with the top ten pack and was able to get a good result. I tried to do it in Race 2, but there was a crash in front of me. I had to avoid it and ended up last but was able to charge up to eighth by the end. I wasn’t really happy at the time, but we were able to run some people down and make passes. I didn’t crash all weekend, and we made the bike better, so we continued our forward momentum. I really like Road America so it should be good.”
M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Twins Cup squad was down a rider early after Australian Bodie Paige was ruled out following a Friday qualifying crash. Class title contender Matthew Chapin picked up the slack on the GSX-8R, winning out in a last-lap duel for second on Saturday. He narrowly missed out on a double-podium weekend by finishing a close fourth on Sunday.
Following his runner-up finish, Chapin said, “That was a fun race. I had a lot of fun battling and the pace was pretty good. I want to give a huge thanks to my M4 ECSTAR Suzuki team – we’ve struggled with small things all weekend, but together we were able to get it sorted for the race. I dropped like a second compared with my qualifying time in the race, and that’s absolutely absurd.”
The 2026 MotoAmerica season will resume in ultra high-speed fashion when it arrives at Road America, in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, on May 29-31.
For more Road racing news please visit suzukicycles.com/racing/road-racing.
Steward Baylor Back on Top at Powerline Park GNCC
Rocky Mountain Red Bear Kawasaki Team Green™ returns to the top step as Steward Baylor dominated Round 7 of the Grand National Cross Country series by taking the overall win.
Baylor had a near-perfect day from the moment the green flag flew on Sunday, getting off to a great start and entering the woods in third place. From there, he made a series of aggressive and strategic passes to make his way to the front of the pack on the first lap. After feeling the pressure from Craig DeLong, Baylor gave him the signal to go ahead at the midway point to study his fast lines. On Lap 4, he made his way back to the front, passing for the lead through traffic near the 10-mile marker. From there, Baylor dropped the hammer and increased the gap on his competition to over a minute as he cruised in to take the checkered flag and his second win of the season.
After a grueling three hours battling through the field, XC1 teammate Josh Toth finished 10th in the class.
Next up, the team heads to Georgia for the Cherokee National Enduro.
