This Week in Powersports Racing – the week of May 31, 2026

This week in US Powersports racing.

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SETH HAMMAKER TAKES CAREER-FIRST PRO MOTOCROSS VICTORY AT SEASON OPENER 

Monster Energy® Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider Seth Hammaker stole the show at Round 1 of Pro Motocross with a historic moto victory to take the 250 class overall win. Teammate Levi Kitchen put on an impressive race win in Moto 1 to add to his score for fourth overall (1-13), while Nick Romano put on an outstanding Top 5 performance in Moto 1 for ninth overall (5-11). Monster Energy Kawasaki rider Chase Sexton put in a solid day of racing to claim sixth overall (7-5), and teammate Garrett Marchbanks rebounded for a strong finish in Moto 2 for 14th overall (28-8). In the 250 Class, the Monster Energy® Pro Circuit Kawasaki riders showcased their consistent speed early in qualifying, with Kitchen topping the charts in both sessions to take the overall fastest qualifier and set the tone for the day. Hammaker was slotted right behind his teammate in second overall, while Romano put in solid laps to sit 19th overall after both sessions. In 250 Moto 1, Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki riders got off to a picture-perfect start as Hammaker grabbed a commanding holeshot aboard his KX™250, while Romano followed closely behind his teammate in second and Kitchen charged into third by Lap 2. A few laps later, Kitchen made the pass for second on Romano, as the Kawasaki trio continued to control the pace, setting the Top 3 fastest lap times of the moto.  Hammaker maintained control and looked poised to lead wire-to-wire until a small mistake sent him off the track, opening the door for Kitchen to take over the lead. Kitchen went on to claim the Moto 1 victory, while Romano held fourth for much of the race before a pass on the final lap would leave him in fifth to end the moto. Making both his outdoor debut with the team and his first motocross start in two years, Romano capped off an impressive ride with a fifth-place finish.In 250 Moto 2, Hammaker backed up his strong day with another excellent start, rounding the first turn in third before quickly moving into second. Romano railed the outside line through Turn 1 to emerge in sixth. Kitchen, however, endured a challenging opening lap after a rider to his left cut across his line off the start, forcing him to check up and enter the first turn deep in the pack. Misfortune struck again moments later when he became tangled up with a downed rider at the top of the hill, dropping him even farther back. Undeterred, Kitchen remounted and immediately began charging through the field. Up front, Hammaker was on the move as well, making an aggressive pass for second before reeling in the leader and taking over the top spot midway through the moto. Kitchen put together an impressive recovery ride, passing more than 25 riders on his way to a 13th-place finish, which was enough to tie for second overall, but he was credited fourth overall on the day. Romano delivered a steady and consistent performance, finishing 11th in the moto and ninth overall. Hammaker went on to claim his first career moto win in commanding fashion, along with his first overall victory, leaving the weekend with the championship red plate and a 13-point lead in the standings. Kitchen now sits tied for second in the championship, while Romano holds ninth in the points standings. In the 450 Class, Marchbanks showed impressive speed during qualifying. Utilizing Fox Raceway as a regular practice track during the outdoor season, the No. 36 Kawasaki used his familiarity with the technical layout to take fifth overall in qualifying. Sexton started qualifying third in the first session and continued to better his lap times as the day went on to secure seventh overall. In 450 Moto 1, Sexton got off to a strong start, launching out of the gate in fourth, while Marchbanks followed closely behind in an impressive sixth-place position. Unfortunately, Marchbanks’ promising start came to an abrupt halt on the opening lap when he was involved in a racing incident exiting a turn and collided with another rider, resulting in a hard crash. The force of the impact knocked the wind out of him, forcing him to take a moment before remounting and rejoining the race. Despite his bike being a bit mangled and dealing with the effects of the crash, Marchbanks dug deep and worked his way through the field, salvaging as many positions as possible to finish 28th in the moto. Up front, Sexton rode a steady and consistent race while running fourth for much of the moto. However, a small tipover in the closing laps cost him several positions, ultimately dropping him to seventh at the checkered flag. In 450 Moto 2, Sexton put himself in a favorable Top 10 position off the start, while Marchbanks was forced to work from midpack after his Moto 1 finish resulted in a less-than-ideal gate pick. Despite the setback, Marchbanks mounted an impressive charge to move inside the Top 10 by Lap 5. As the race unfolded, Sexton was battling inside the Top 5 when he tipped over at the top of the hill shortly after the track had been watered, leaving the surface slick. The mistake cost him valuable time, but he regrouped and fought his way back to fifth by the checkered flag, securing sixth overall on the day. Meanwhile, Marchbanks continued to showcase his speed throughout the moto, steadily climbing through the field and closing in on his teammate before ultimately finishing eighth. His strong recovery ride earned him 14th overall for the weekend.

“Being the first outdoor national of the year and my first Pro Motocross overall win, it feels amazing for it all to happen on the same day. Practice went pretty well, and we made a few bike adjustments to get more comfortable with the track conditions. In Moto 1, I grabbed the holeshot and led for a while, but made a mistake and lost the lead. In Moto 2, I got another good start, made a couple quick passes, and got into the lead. From there, I just focused on hitting my marks and being consistent. It feels great to get the first overall win, and hopefully we can keep this momentum rolling.”  – Seth Hammaker

“The team has been working really hard, and we feel really good about the progress we’ve made. Honestly, I’m frustrated because I know what we’re capable of. This sport has its highs and lows, and today was one of those days. I put myself in a tough position in Moto 2 and had to fight back from way behind, which made things difficult. At the same time, there are a lot of positives to take away. My Moto 1 victory showed that the speed is there, and the bike is great. We’ll keep building, keep working, and come back ready for Hangtown.”  – Levi Kitchen

“Round 1 was a fun day for me. Going 5-11 for ninth overall isn’t too bad, especially considering I haven’t raced outdoors in two years. I accomplished my goal for the weekend and learned a lot. I feel like Top 5 consistency is right there in front of me, and we’re going to keep working until we get there. I’m excited for the rest of the season.”  – Nick Romano

“Today wasn’t where I was hoping to be, but I put myself in a tough position being on the ground twice. I felt good in Moto 1 and was running in a good spot before a small mistake cost me a few spots late in the race. In Moto 2, I got a decent start and was battling up front, but another small tipover set me back. I was able to salvage sixth overall, but I expect myself on the podium. We’ll regroup this week to get ready for Hangtown, as I’ll be staying out in California to do some testing with the team.”  – Chase Sexton

“I thought today went really well with starting out fifth overall in qualifying. Went into Moto 1, felt like we had some things really going with the bike, and practice starts were going really well this week. I was super pumped to rip a Top 10 start. Three-quarters of the way through the first lap Eli [Tomac] and I were sprinting. He made a pass on me, and I went to make a pass back, and we got together in a racing incident. Neither of us let off the gas and just ended up coming together. I feel bad for what happened and hope he’s doing alright. My bike was a bit bent up after that, so it needed some work after the race. I went from 28th in Moto 1 to eighth in Moto 2, so to be able to move through the field against this level of competition was a solid effort.”  – Garrett Marchbanks

Justin Cooper Earns Fourth Overall, Deegan Impresses with Top-Five in 450MX Debut

Anticipation was high for the Pro Motocross season opener, with a stacked premier-class field and plenty of storylines, including six-time 250 class champion Haiden Deegan making his highly anticipated 450MX debut at his home outdoor national in Southern California.

Amid all the hype surrounding the opening round, Justin Cooper quietly went to work, kicking off his title campaign with a podium in Moto 1 and finishing fourth overall, while his rookie teammate joined him in the top five at Fox Raceway in Pala, California.

Cooper continued his upward trend outdoors with a strong outing at the opener. He qualified fourth and got to work early in Moto 1, charging from seventh to third in the opening four laps. From there, he maintained a strong pace to secure a podium finish in the opening moto. In the second moto, Cooper had his work cut out for him after starting in 17th. Undeterred, he put his head down and steadily made his way through to sixth to secure fourth overall.

“Round 1 of the Pro Motocross series was good,” said Cooper. “Qualifying went well. I felt comfortable on the bike all day, so overall it was a solid day. I didn’t get the best of starts in the second moto, so that hurt me, but the first moto was good. I got third. Then the second one, I worked my way up to sixth and got fourth overall, which is a good start to the season. I’ve got to dial in those starts a little bit better and be up there in the beginning. But we’ll take it. It’s not my favorite track, so we’ll move on to next week.”

It was an impressive debut for Deegan in front of the home crowd. He had a solid qualifying effort in sixth. Then Moto 1 got off to a chaotic start, with Deegan nearly going down in the first turn and finding himself deep in the field. The 20-year-old put in a determined ride, fighting all the way to the finish to cross the line fifth. In the second moto, he was 15th after the start and once again launched an impressive charge, advancing to fourth by the halfway mark and holding the position to secure fifth overall on the day.

“Today was good,” said Deegan. “I qualified sixth and then Moto 1 had a good start until I tucked it in the first turn. I saved it, but man, it was sketchy. I came from 25th to fifth, so that was a good ride. I had good battles with all these guys in the top 10, who are champions. So it was a fun time learning and battling those guys. Then Moto 2, I got a little better start, but obviously we’ve got to work on that, because if we can start up front, I think we’ll have a better chance of getting on the podium. I made my way back up to fourth from 15th on the start. So a 5-4 on the day, for fifth overall. I’d definitely say it was a good first-round rookie debut. We’ll go back to work this week, get the bike dialed in, do great starts, and come out swinging in Hangtown.”

Fox Raceway wasn’t on Webb’s list of favorite venues, but despite having the 14th gate pick, he had a decent start and quickly made his way to the top 10, but ultimately finished 13th in the first moto. The three-time 450SX champion had a much better start to Moto 2, slotting into fourth, but as the race wore on, he dropped back to 13th, ending the day 12th overall with the pair of 13th-place finishes.

“It was a pretty uneventful day for me at Pala,” said Webb. “I was around 12th and 15th all day. The second moto was a little better, though. I got a better start and rode pretty well in the first half, and then just shuffled back. So we definitely have some work to do. This isn’t my favorite track, but I’m looking forward to enjoying the rest of them.”

“Overall, it was a pretty good day,” said Rich Simmons, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s 450 Team Manager. “It was a good first round for Justin and Haiden, coming away with fourth and fifth overall. Justin got on the podium in that first moto. Then both he and Haiden had bad starts in Moto 2, which didn’t help, but Haiden did a really good job coming through the pack. Webb had a good start in the second one, but just didn’t have the results I’m sure he wanted. I think there were a lot of positives to take away from here. The guys are happy with their bikes. We’ll just keep building off this.”

Next weekend, the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing squad heads to Rancho Cordova, California, for the Hangtown Motocross Classic – Round 2 of the Pro Motocross Championship and Round 19 of the Monster Energy SuperMotocross World Championship on June 6.

RJ Hampshire leads Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing at Pro Motocross opener

Seventh overall in 450MX at Fox Raceway for RJ, as Ryder D takes 250MX Moto 2 podium

Hampshire and his Husqvarna FC 450 Factory Edition posted the 13th-fastest qualifying time during the morning sessions, before charging to a hard-fought sixth-place finish in Moto 1 after spending much of the race in a closely-contested battle.

In Moto 2, the 30-year-old ran inside the top-five from the outset and climbed as high as fourth during the race’s middle stages, before ultimately crossing the finish line in seventh position. His 6-7 moto scorecard was enough to secure seventh overall at the season-opener.

“Fox Raceway was positive for me,” commented Hampshire. “I was in the fight around that top-five area for most of the day – I wish I could’ve finished the motos off a little better, but this was one of my better Pala results. I’m leaving here pretty happy knowing that we have a lot more to give next weekend and in the upcoming races. We learned a lot this weekend under race conditions, which is something you can’t replicate at home, and we made positive changes with both the bike and my riding.”

Alongside Hampshire in the 450MX Class was teammate Malcolm Stewart, who entered Round 1 eyeing a strong result equipped with the Husqvarna FC 450 Factory Edition. Stewart went on to claim a hard-fought 12th in Moto 1, before withdrawing from Moto 2 after dabbing his leg early in the race.

“Pala is always an interesting track,” said Stewart. “Practice, I struggled a little bit, but I felt I had some good momentum going into Moto 1, and actually rode a pretty solid race. And then in Moto 2, the first lap, I dabbed my knee in a corner a little bit, which was frustrating. It’s nothing to be too concerned about – I pulled off for the rest of the race just to make sure that nothing was too crazy, and now we’ll re-evaluate and hopefully line up in Sacramento.”

DiFrancesco, meanwhile, qualified seventh in the 250MX category, with a strong start in Moto 1 unfortunately impacted by a costly first-lap crash. He recovered to 19th by race’s end, before responding with a standout third-place finish aboard the Husqvarna FC 250 Factory Edition in Moto 2 to salvage 10th overall for the round.

“It was a good weekend for me overall!” recalled DiFrancesco. “Qualifying was okay, but I improved as the day developed, which was encouraging. My first moto crash meant that I had to salvage as much as I could, so then in Moto 2, I was up there in the fight to finish third, which makes me excited heading into next weekend.”250MX teammates Daxton Bennick and Casey Cochran were also in action for Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing at Fox Raceway onboard their Husqvarna FC 250 Factory Editions, qualifying 16th and 10th, respectively.

Bennick delivered an encouraging seventh-place score in Moto 1 before unfortunately withdrawing from the second moto after an incident while running inside the top-five early on. Cochran was credited with a 40-17 scorecard across the day’s two motos – suffering a DNF in the opening race – to claim 21st overall.

“Overall, there are positives to take away,”mentioned Cochran. “It was decent to start with 10th in qualifying, and then unfortunately we weren’t able to finish Moto 1, which was a bummer. Moto 2, I didn’t feel super-comfortable out there, so I struggled a little bit all moto. It was good to get some gate drops, though, and we’ll come back firing next weekend.”

Next Race: June 6 – Hangtown, California

Results 450MX Class – Fox Raceway National1. Hunter Lawrence (Honda)2. Jorge Prado (KTM)3. Jett Lawrence (Honda)7. RJ Hampshire (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing)8. Aaron Plessinger (KTM)17. Malcolm Stewart (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing)

Standings 450MX Class 2026 after 1 of 11 rounds1. Hunter Lawrence, 50 points2. Jorge Prado, 443. Jett Lawrence, 387. RJ Hampshire, 318. Aaron Plessinger, 2717. Malcolm Stewart, 10

Results 250MX Class – Fox Raceway National1. Seth Hammaker (Kawasaki)2. Caden Dudney (Yamaha)3. Cole Davies (Yamaha)5. Julien Beaumer (KTM)10. Ryder DiFrancesco (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing)14. Daxton Bennick (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing)21. Casey Cochran (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing)

Standings 250MX Class 2026 after 1 of 11 rounds1. Seth Hammaker, 47 points2. Levi Kitchen, 343. Cole Davies, 345. Julien Beaumer, 3310. Ryder DiFrancesco, 2314. Daxton Bennick, 1521. Casey Cochran, 5

RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING’S JORGE PRADO FINISHES P2 OVERALL AT FOX RACEWAY NATIONAL

Round 1 – AMA Pro Motocross Championship

Equipped with the KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION, Prado posted the second-fastest qualifying time of the day with a 2:17.461 lap-time, immediately finding comfort on the hard-packed Southern Californian circuit.

The Spaniard then launched to a strong start in Moto 1, crossing the holeshot line inside the top-three and maintaining P2 throughout the race to claim an impressive runner-up finish. Another strong start in Moto 2 saw Prado again battling for the lead, eventually claiming another hard-fought second for the moto.

In his first Pro Motocross appearance with the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team, the four-time world champion claimed an impressive second overall at the first of 11 rounds.

Jorge Prado:”This is a great start to the season with second overall! It was a good day of racing – we were battling up front, and even got into the lead during the opening stages of Moto 2, so I am happy. I think we can build from here – we will learn from it and just be a little sharper once the gate drops next time.”

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450MX teammate Aaron Plessinger made his racing return at the Pro Motocross opener aboard his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION, with an eighth-place finish in the opening race. ‘The Cowboy’ featured inside the top-three early in Moto 2, before eventually claiming ninth in the moto and eighth overall at Fox Raceway.

Aaron Plessinger:”I’m happy with today – I was a little stagnant in the first moto, which irritated me a little bit. But in Moto 2, we made some positive changes to the setup, we got a good jump out of the gate, and I was up there in the mix for a little bit. Overall, it was a good day – I just need more motos under my belt. I think I have around seven 35-minute motos under my belt coming into this race, so I knew it was going to be tough. We’ll work into it, though. I’m feeling better, so we’ll keep trusting the work that we are doing.”

Four-time 450MX Champion Eli Tomac qualified 10th on his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION this morning, however, an unfortunate crash on the opening lap of Moto 1 brought an early end to his day. Initial on-site scans revealed no broken bones after straining his neck in the incident, and he will undergo further evaluation during the week.

Fox Raceway also marked a welcome return to competition for Beaumer in the 250MX category, with the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider having been sidelined since last September’s SMX playoffs. He qualified third this morning, before recording an 11th-place finish in Moto 1 aboard his KTM 250 SX-F FACTORY EDITION after recovering from a Lap 1 crash.

Beaumer then powered to the holeshot in Moto 2, building a lead of more than three seconds during the opening stages of the race before surrendering the position around the midway point of the moto to claim second position in the race and a solid fifth overall.

Julien Beaumer:”Today was a really good day overall – I rode well in qualifying, and then in Moto 1 I got off to a solid start, and then just tipped over on Lap 1. I came back to 11th in that one, so my riding was good, and then I got off to another really good start in the second moto and rode my laps. I rode to what I know I’m capable of, and that was good enough for a second in that race, so I am happy with where we are at, and the team did an amazing job with the bike. I think that overall we are in a good spot.”

Next Race: June 6 – Hangtown, California

Results 450MX Class – Fox Raceway National

1. Hunter Lawrence (Honda)
2. Jorge Prado (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)
3. Jett Lawrence (Honda)
4. RJ Hampshire (Husqvarna)
5. Aaron Plessinger (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)
6. Dante Oliveira (KTM)
7. Malcolm Stewart (Husqvarna)

Standings 450MX Class 2026 after 1 of 11 rounds

1. Hunter Lawrence, 50 points
2. Jorge Prado, 44
3. Jett Lawrence, 38
4. RJ Hampshire, 31
5. Aaron Plessinger, 27
6. Dante Oliveira, 10
7. Malcolm Stewart, 10

Results 250MX Class – Fox Raceway National

1. Seth Hammaker (Kawasaki)
2. Caden Dudney (Yamaha)
3. Cole Davies (Yamaha)
4. Julien Beaumer (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)
5. Ryder DiFrancesco (Husqvarna)
6. Daxton Bennick (Husqvarna)
7. Casey Cochran (Husqvarna)

Standings 250MX Class 2026 after 1 of 11 rounds

1. Seth Hammaker, 47 points
2. Levi Kitchen, 34
3. Cole Davies, 34
4. Julien Beaumer, 33
5. Ryder DiFrancesco, 23
6. Daxton Bennick, 15
7. Casey Cochran, 5

BRANDY RICHARDS EXTENDS WITH U.S. SPRINT ENDURO VICTORY AT ROUND 6

KTM Offroad Update

U.S. SPRINT ENDURO SERIES – ROUND 6
Following two days of competition at the Honda Hills MX Sprint Enduro, Richards emerged victorious in the Pro Women’s class after powering her KTM 350 XC-F FACTORY EDITION to the fastest time in nine of the 12 tests contested, and recording a total time of 1:18:08.

With her Round 6 result, Richards extends her championship advantage to 30 points with a single round remaining, as the series heads to The Old Gray Sprint Enduro on June 13-14.

Brandy Richards:“It was a super-fun weekend! I was ripping in the enduro test the first day, so I was trying to send it and make up some time on the cross test. I had a lot of fun on the cross test with a little bit of a moto track, some jumps, and some grass track. Super fun and flowy. The enduro track was good too – it definitely got tricky towards the end, a little rough, but it was a fun weekend.”

Also on the line in Ohio was Davis, who captured second place in the Pro 1 Class after taking 10 of 12 test wins aboard his KTM 450 XC-F. A difficult final test, however, impacted his overall score, with Davis now holding a 62-point advantage in the standings with one round left.

Grant Davis:“Not that great of a race for me in Ohio, honestly. I struggled to get comfortable and had a pretty bad crash – but we’ll rebound for the next one!”

Double points will be on offer for the seventh and final round of the series, taking place in Tennessee later this month.

Pro 1 Class Results

1. Gavin Simon, Husqvarna
2. Grant Davis, FMF KTM Factory Racing
3. Ryan Amancio, KTM

Pro Women Results

1. Brandy Richards, FMF KTM Factory Racing
2. Danielle McDonald, Yamaha
3. Rachel Gutish, Rieju

ELI TOMAC TAKING TIME OUT TO RECOVER FOLLOWING FOX RACEWAY INJURIES

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider Eli Tomac will sit out the upcoming rounds of the 2026 AMA Pro Motocross Championship while recovering from injuries sustained at last weekend’s Fox Raceway National.

Following further medical evaluation this week, the four-time 450MX Champion has been diagnosed with a hyperextended anterior longitudinal ligament and partial tear of the left sternocleidomastoid muscle in his neck. While Tomac’s injuries are not anticipated to require surgery, he has been advised to take time out in order to heal properly, with the intention of resuming competition onboard his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION once he is fully fit and in a position to return. A timeline for Tomac’s return to racing during the current SMX World Championship season – including Pro Motocross – has yet to be determined. Further information on his status will be released once it becomes available.

Eli Tomac: “I’m really bummed to get injured early on at the opening round. Since the end of last year when I first threw my leg over the KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION, I said I couldn’t wait to ride this thing outdoors because the engine package is unreal and I felt it would be a lot of fun racing motocross on it. It’s just a shame that a racing incident early on in Moto 1 has really put a dampener on my outdoors season right now, but I will follow my doctor’s orders and rest up with every intention of getting back out there sometime this season.”

Flawless AMA Pro Motocross Opener for Hunter Lawrence

Honda HRC Progressive opened the 2026 AMA Pro Motocross Championship in impressive fashion at Southern California’s Fox Raceway, with Hunter Lawrence delivering a dominant 1-1 performance to claim the overall victory in the 450MX class. The Australian’s perfect day
extended the Lawrence family’s success at the Pala venue, where brother/teammate Jett had taken all the 450 moto wins for the previous three years. This weekend saw Jett return to competition with a strong third-place overall finish, following an extended absence due to injury. In the 250 division, Jo Shimoda and Chance Hymas also both returned to racing following injury setbacks and showed resilience throughout the day. Despite difficult starts in both motos, the duo consistently moved forward and demonstrated strong pace against a highly competitive field, ultimately earning overall results of sixth and eighth, respectively.

Fresh off a standout AMA Supercross campaign, Hunter carried his momentum outdoors and showcased exceptional consistency and pace, quickly seizing control of the opening moto and then pulling away to secure the win by nearly nine seconds. Moto 2 saw him grab the holeshot aboard his CRF450RWE and successfully manage pressure before winning by over six seconds and completing the perfect sweep to leave Pala with the championship points lead.

Making his first race appearance of the year after badly injuring his ankle five months ago, Jett delivered a strong performance, with 4-3 moto finishes for third overall, despite having to work his way forward in both motos. The result secured a double podium for Honda HRC Progressive and reaffirmed Jett’s place among the frontrunners.

Shimoda recorded 4-7 250-class finishes to secure sixth overall, highlighted by an impressive charge through the field in the opening moto. Hymas built momentum throughout the day, posting 10-5 scores for eighth overall. In the second moto, the teammates worked through the pack in tandem, gaining positions throughout the race and ending the day with valuable championship points.

With Hunter carrying the red plate into round 2 and all four Honda HRC Progressive riders motivated for success, the team leaves Fox Raceway with strong momentum heading into next weekend’s Hangtown Motocross Classic in Rancho Cordova, California.

NOTES

• For the opening round of the 2026 AMA Pro Motocross Championship, a formal press conference was hosted on Friday at Pala Casino Spa and Resort. All four Honda HRC Progressive riders—Jett and Hunter Lawrence, Jo Shimoda and Chance Hymas—were invited to speak on stage and participate in TV broadcast interviews, after which they took part in a riding session on the Fox Raceway track.
• This weekend marked the return of three of the four Honda HRC Progressive riders following injuries sustained before and during the 2026 AMA Supercross campaign. Only Hunter Lawrence rode the entire stadium series, and he enjoyed having his teammates back in the pits at Pala.
• Perris, California, dealership Langston Motorsports enhanced the Fox Raceway fan experience, with a pop-up activation booth in the Honda HRC Progressive pit area. Staff engaged directly with fans and customers at the display, which featured a CRF110F and newly announced 2027 CRF250R HRC WORKS EDITION.
• All four Honda HRC Progressive race bikes sported new SKDA tricolor graphics, mimicking the look of Honda’s 2027 CRF Performance lineup, which was announced two days before the race. The liveries are meant to unify the appearance of HRC teams in various forms of motorcycle racing, including MotoGP, World Superbike, Rally and MXGP. Even Honda’s satellite teams ran similar looks.
• A 2027 CRF450R was also displayed in the Honda HRC Progressive pits, as was Ricky Brabec’s factory Monster Energy Honda HRC CRF450 RALLY, SLR’s race-winning CRF450X and a Team Raceco Honda Talon 1000R side-by-side.
• During the opening ceremony, Honda HRC Progressive test rider Trey Canard took a parade lap on the 2027 CRF450R, while Honda Two-Wheel PR Coordinator Ryan Dudek was interviewed about the significantly improved new model.
• All four Honda HRC Progressive riders participated in a paddock autograph session on Saturday morning, giving fans an opportunity to meet their heroes.
• During Race Day Live, SLR Honda rider Mikayla Nielsen (SLR Honda) was interviewed by Jason Thomas ahead of the 2026 WMX Championship, which will kick off at Hangtown June 6.
• During the Peacock broadcast, a segment highlighted Jett Lawrence’s comeback from his serious ankle injury. Interviewed for the piece were the Lawrences’ trainer, Johnny O’Mara, and physiotherapist, H. Rey Gubernick (“Doc G”), who both spoke about Jett’s injury, recovery and return.
• Hymas was sixth in 250 combined qualifying, with Shimoda 14th. Other Red Riders included Phoenix Racing Honda riders Gavin Towers and Aden Keefer (making his pro debut) in 24th and 38th, respectively. Tim Jaunin of Honda Switzerland AGMX Racing was 60th and The McGinley Privateer Program’s Kyle Czworkowski was 65th. Towers finished 26th overall in the race, with 31-21 moto scores.
• Hunter Lawrence topped both 450 qualifying sessions, with Jett third. Quad Lock Honda riders Christian Craig and Kyle Webster were 15th and 16th, respectively. SLR Honda’s Justin Rodbell was 22nd, Sage Powers (Limited Decal) was 41st, Blake Hoag (Hoag Racing) was 44th, Ryan Surratt (JCR Honda) was 46th, KC Clinton (Clinton Racing) was 52nd, Ty Freehill (Western Honda) was 54th, Gavin Tiflord (Feine Tune Racing) was 56th, and Rocco Morse (Morse Racing) was 66th. Surratt advanced to the motos by finishing third in the LCQ. Craig posted a respectable top-10 overall finish in the race.
• With Hunter’s win this weekend, Honda now has six premier-class overall victories at Fox Raceway (four more than the next-closest manufacturer), with the Australian joining Jett (three wins) and Chase Sexton (two wins) on the winners’ list. Hunter also earned
  an overall win in the 250 class at the venue, with a 1-1 performance in 2023.
• Amazingly, in his 24 450-class moto starts thus far in his career, Hunter has never finished a moto outside the top five. This was the second time he has earned an overall victory in the division, and his first moto sweep.
• Honda HRC Progressive heads to Rancho Cordova, California, for the Hangtown Motocross Classic this Saturday, with Hunter carrying the red plate on his CRF450RWE. The event will also mark the opening round of the WMX Championship, in which SLR Honda’s Mikayla Nielsen and Quad Lock Honda’s Charli Cannon will compete.

Hunter Lawrence

“It was good—I’m really happy with where the bike’s at. Keeping the Lawrence streak of winning at Pala alive was special; I’ve seen Jett do plenty of those, so it was cool to finally get my first one, especially at round 1. We don’t usually love this track, but we always seem to do well here, which is pretty ironic. Having Jett on the podium too, after everything he had to come back from, was awesome. It was just a really happy day, and I’m stoked for the team. Results like this make all the hard work worth it for everyone involved. Every team in the paddock puts in so much effort and dedication, so it’s cool as racers to be able to share days like this with the people behind us.”

Jett Lawrence

“I’m always going to be hard on myself because the goal is to win, but considering where my foot’s at and how long I’ve been away from riding and racing, it was a solid day. We had a lot of cobwebs to shake off and just needed to get back into race mode, work through a few little hiccups, and build from there. We definitely need to improve the starts because mine weren’t very good today. We’ll go back, regroup, and come into Hangtown hoping to make life a little easier with better starts. Physically, it’s still tough—every jump, I’m landing with most of my weight on my left side. Some of those rough, edgy bumps out of the turns were hard on my foot, but riding the bike is actually easier than walking right now. Today I learned what Pala roost really feels like; most of my previous races here, I’ve grabbed the holeshot, so I never really had to deal with it before—that was something I had to learn today too. But it felt really good to be back: feeling that adrenaline again, lining up on the gate, getting those butterflies before the drop—it was good.”

Jo Shimoda

“The track is just extreme. The way they prepped it today, one side was really muddy and one side was perfect, then they funneled down to one line. If you look at the lap sheet, the top 15 were basically the same lap time, so track position was important. Unfortunately, I didn’t have good track position today, so we need to be better there. Physically, I had enough time to prepare and train, so I feel really fit and ready to go for more. In the first moto, I kind of flinched and messed up the start. The second moto was actually okay, but I got pushed wide in the second turn and got stuck in a mud area. Later I hit a rock or a sharp edge and almost did a 180 and was stuck on the uphill, so that didn’t help. If I would’ve made one more pass, I would’ve been third overall, so I’m happy with my effort overall; I just need to find a little bit more.”

Chance Hymas

“Round 1 at Pala, I was really happy to be back at the races—it’s been a long time. A couple of bad starts held me back a bit, but overall, the riding was good. We made good improvements on the bike throughout the day. I’m happy to be healthy coming out of this weekend, and we’re looking forward to Hangtown.”

Lars Lindstrom – Team Manager

“It was so much more fun today having all four guys back; there was a bit of planning and logistics to make sure each rider had what they needed, but the atmosphere was great. Hunter took such a big step in Supercross, I was expecting him to be this good. I think the biggest thing today was he nailed both those starts; with him and [Jorge] Prado getting good starts, no one else really had a chance. I’m really proud of Hunter, to see him step up and get that 1-1. He wasn’t really talked about much leading into today, which I thought was kind of funny—I imagine that fueled the fire for him a little bit. For Jett, there were a lot of question marks even on our end. We know how hard he’s been struggling with the injury and how much he limps and all those things—that wasn’t really a secret—but it was kind of difficult to know where he was going to stack up. Watching him walk around, you wouldn’t think he could do much, so for him to do as well as he did is a testament to his skill and talent. I’m hoping that this is going to be an exciting summer, with both of them battling. The 250 class is going to be so unpredictable. Our guys didn’t have a great day, but I think their riding is good. We’ll try to do what we can to help them get better starts; they just need to be in there every week, because it’s going to fluctuate quite a bit.”

Media contact:

Zoe Vargas // Jonnum Media // zoe@jonnummedia.com // 619-971-6440

450MX Overall Results

1. Hunter Lawrence (Hon)
2. Jorge Prado (KTM)
3. Jett Lawrence (Hon)
4. Justin Cooper (Yam)
5. Haiden Deegan (Yam)
6. Chase Sexton (Kaw)
7. R.J. Hampshire (Hus)
8. Aaron Plessinger (KTM)
9. Dylan Ferrandis (Duc)
10. Christian Craig (Hon)

—

13. Kyle Webster (Hon)
30. Justin Rodbell (Hon)
32. Ryan Surratt (Hon)

450MX Championship Points (after 1 of 11 rounds)

1. Hunter Lawrence: 50
2. Jorge Prado: 44
3. Jett Lawrence: 38
4. Justin Cooper: 36
5. Haiden Deegan: 35
6. Chase Sexton: 32
7. R.J. Hampshire: 31
8. Aaron Plessinger: 27
9. Dylan Ferrandis: 25
10. Christian Craig: 22

—

13. Kyle Webster: 16

250MX Overall Results

1. Seth Hammaker (Kaw)
2. Caden Dudney (Yam)
3. Cole Davies (Yam)
4. Levi Kitchen (Kaw)
5. Julien Beaumer (KTM)
6. Jo Shimoda (Hon)
7. Lux Turner (Yam)
8. Chance Hymas (Hon)
9. Nick Romano (Kaw)
10. Ryder DiFrancesco (Hus)

—

26. Gavin Towers (Hon)

250MX Championship Points (after 1 of 11 rounds)

1. Seth Hammaker: 47
2. Levi Kitchen: 34
3. Cole Davies: 34
4. Caden Dudney: 34
5. Julien Beaumer: 33
6. Jo Shimoda: 33
7. Lux Turner: 30
8. Chance Hymas: 29
9. Nicholas Romano: 28
10. Ryder DiFrancesco: 23

—

26. Gavin Towers: 1

Coker Pump to Support Legendary Hangtown Motocross Classic as Pro Motocross Championship Heads to Northern California

A captivating start to the 55th Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, kept the momentum of the 2026 season rolling into the summer component of the Monster Energy SMX World Championship. After a memorable opening afternoon in Southern California, the world’s fastest racers will now head north to the shadow of the state capitol, where Rancho Cordova’s Prairie City SVRA and the famed Dirt Diggers North Motorcycle Club (DDNMC) await to host Round 19 of the regular season. This year, homegrown Bay Area business Coker Pump & Equipment Company will partner with the DDNMC to provide title support of the oldest race in American motocross, the 57th Coker Pump Hangtown Motocross Classic.

“The journey to begin the 2026 Pro Motocross Championship started in the proverbial home of the sport and now makes the near 500-mile trek through the heart of California for the oldest race in all of motocross. It’s an iconic one-two punch to open the summer and will set the tone for the battles that lie ahead,” said Tim Cotter, Director, MX Sports Pro Racing. “The legacy of the Hangtown Motocross Classic is unlike anything else in the championship and serves as one of the pillars of American motocross. The Dirt Diggers have become synonymous with this race and there’s always an added boost to the event’s success when a highly regarded local business joins as a partner, further strengthening the race’s deep ties to the community.”

The Hangtown Classic predates the Pro Motocross Championship and was first held in 1969 in the nearby town of Placerville, from which the event garnered its name. Since 1974, the race has been held within the confines of a California State Park as a cornerstone event on the West Coast. The track carries an old school feel, relying heavily on the dynamic natural terrain on which it sits, challenging riders with multiple uphill and downhill sections, off-camber corners, and dry, rutty soil. Those elements provide a demanding and often brutal racetrack that is often accompanied by a dry heat, providing an early test of endurance on the championship calendar.

The legendary natural terrain layout of Prairie City SVRA and the Hangtown Motocross Classic is poised to provide the first physical test of the 2026 season with weekend temperatures pushing 90 degrees.

Founded in 1956, Coker Pump & Equipment Company is a four-generation, family-run business built on passion and tradition, two traits that also define the foundation of Pro Motocross. Started by patriarch Jack Coker in Oakland, California, the Coker Pump distributes pumping equipment to the biotech, chemical, food processor, mining, and semiconductor sectors, among others. Their vast, diverse product line includes gear pumps, end suction and split cases, magnetic drives, metering products, and more. Additionally, the company provides pump fabrication, repair, assembly, retrofit, and engineering services. While Oakland remains the centerpiece of the business, it has expanded to include offices in Salida, California, and Fallon, Nevada. Today, Coker Pump is managed by third-generation president Erik Coker, who followed in the footsteps of his grandfather and his father, Craig Coker, and has already set the foundation for a fourth generation with his sons, Evan and Cole.

On the racetrack, the bar has been set in the 450SMX Class by Honda HRC Progressive’s Hunter Lawrence. Fresh off a runner-up finish in this year’s historically close Monster Energy Supercross Championship, Lawrence entered the outdoor season under the radar compared his champion teammate and sibling Jett Lawrence, highly touted Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing rookie Haiden Deegan, and the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing duo of Eli Tomac and Jorge Prado. However, it was the elder Lawrence who seized the moment and showed no semblance of a Supercross hangover in his single-most impressive performance to date with a dominant 1-1 effort. Another breakthrough ride came from Prado, the former FIM World Champion, who kept Lawrence honest all afternoon en route to his first podium finish in American motocross. Coming in on the mend from a career-threatening ankle and foot injury suffered in December, a hobbled Jett Lawrence saw his undefeated record at Fox Raceway come to an end. However, considering the uphill battle he still faces in his recovery, a podium result was surely welcome. Now, as the talent-laden premier class field prepares for an early test in the heat, Hunter Lawrence will carry the red plate for the first time since the 2024 season riding a massive wave of momentum into Hangtown.

Honda HRC Progressive’s Hunter Lawrence was dominant at the opening round
and will bring a wave of momentum into Hangtown.
MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc.

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jorge Prado kept Lawrence honest all afternoon
and even led a lap before settling for his best-ever performance on American soil.
MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc.

Honda HRC Progressive’s Jett Lawrence showed grit in his first start of the 2026 season
and begins his title defense well within reach of the championship lead.
MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc.

In the 250SMX Class, the wide-open nature of the division came to fruition at the season opener as Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Seth Hammaker prevailed for his maiden Pro Motocross victory and podium result. The Pennsylvania native was by far the most consistent rider in the field even though his Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki teammate Levi Kitchen may have been the fastest rider all afternoon, but when misfortune befell Kitchen in the second moto Hammaker was ready to seize the moment. As a result, Hammaker carries a double-digit points lead into Hangtown and will carry the red plate for the first time. Despite missing out on the podium, Kitchen is one of three riders currently tied for second, with the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing pair of Caden Dudney and Cole Davies who will both look to capitalize on their first career podium finishes.

The consistency from Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Seth Hammaker
has given him a 13-point cushion heading into Hangtown.
MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc.

Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing rookie Caden Dudney now has a podium on his résumé
and is one of three riders looking to chip away at the 13-point deficit.
MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc.

Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cole Davies largely flew under the radar at the opening round
and finds himself in a prime position to begin the season.
MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc.

Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Levi Kitchen showed he’s ready to fight with moto win
and a gritty come-from-behind performance that kept him within striking distance of the points lead.
MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc.

In addition to the next chapter of the 450SMX and 250SMX Classes, Hangtown will also host the opening round of the Women’s Motocross Championship Powered by Synchrony. Reigning back-to-back champion Lachlan “Lala” Turner will once again pilot her Altus Motorsports bLU cRU Yamaha in search of the three-peat but will be forced to contend with both Quad Lock Honda’s Charli Cannon and SLR Honda’s Mikayla “Kay Kay” Nielsen, her rivals and friends.

The 2026 Women’s Motocross Championship Powered by Synchrony will get underway at Hangtown.
MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc.

The Coker Pump Hangtown Motocross Classic will get underway this Saturday, June 6, with on-track action starting at 8 a.m. PT / 11 a.m. ET, followed by opening ceremonies at 12:15 p.m. PT / 3:15 p.m. ET then motos for the 450SMX Class and 250SMX Class starting at 1 p.m. PT / 4 p.m. ET. Live broadcast coverage will air exclusively on Peacock, beginning with Race Day Live at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET before coverage of the motos gets underway at 1 p.m. PT / 4 p.m. ET. A special network encore presentation will air on NBC on Sunday, June 7, at 1 p.m. PT / 4 p.m. ET.

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For information about the Pro Motocross Championship, please visit ProMotocross.com and be sure to follow all of the Pro Motocross social media channels for exclusive content and additional information on the latest news:

• Facebook: @americanmotocross
• Instagram: @promotocross
• X: @ProMotocross
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Dunlop Motorcycle Tires Sets New Lap Records on Sportmax Slick Tires at Road America

Dunlop Motorcycle Tires is proud to announce that multiple new lap records were established during MotoAmerica competition at Road America. Riders across several classes pushed the limits of performance on Dunlop Sportmax Slick tires, resulting in another record-setting weekend at one of North America’s most challenging road racing circuits.

Supersport:

Lap Record: 2:15.961 – Ty Scott, Qualifying 2 (5/30/2026)

Race Lap Record: 2:16.085 – Darryn Binder, Race 2 (5/31/2026)

King Of The Baggers:

Lap Record: 2:16.175 – Hayden Gillim, Qualifying 2 (5/30/2026)

Race Lap Record: 2:16.691 – Hayden Gillim, Race 1 (5/30/2026)

Twins Cup:

Race Lap Record: 2:23.909 – Jody Barry, Race 2 (5/31/2026)

These record-breaking performances further demonstrate the grip, consistency, and confidence that Dunlop Sportmax Slick tires provide at the highest levels of motorcycle road racing. From qualifying sessions to race-day battles, riders continue to rely on Dunlop technology to deliver championship-caliber performance.

To learn more about Dunlop racing tires, please visit www.dunlopracing.com

Binder Pinned Her In Supersport, Gillim Baggered Another One, It Was Joy For Local Boy Vossberg In Twins, And Noelle Notched The Win In BTR

 It’s early days for South African rider Darryn Binder racing in America, but he has certainly taken to U.S. racetracks like a Cape Shoveler to water (that’s a South African duck, by the way).

At Road America, Binder set a new race lap record aboard his Celtic/Economy Lube + Tire/Warhorse Ducati in Saturday’s race one, then he broke it in Sunday’s race two and reset it yet again on his way to getting his second win of the weekend, third win in a row, and fourth race victory in seven races so far. He has also reached the podium in every race this season except the DAYTONA 200.

Darryn Binder flashed the “number one” to his crew as he took his first MotoAmerica double win. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.

M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Tyler Scott, who set the overall Supersport lap record in Saturday’s Qualifying 2 session, got a great jump off the line in race two and grabbed the holeshot going into turn one.

Rahal Ducati Moto with Desnuda Organic Tequila rider Josh Herrin managed to overtake Scott for second, and he and Binder got into a prolonged skirmish for the lead. Unfortunately for Herrin, however, with five laps to go in the 11-lap event, he suffered a tipover. He was unhurt, but the crash ended his day.

Finally free of Herrin and with Scott battling against Rahal Ducati Moto with Droplight’s Kayla Yaakov and Strack Racing Yamaha’s Josh Hayes, Binder was able to run clean, fast laps and build a gap, which extended to more than eight seconds by the time the checkered flag flew.

Scott emerged from the fray with Yaakov and Hayes, and he finished as runner-up with Yaakov and Hayes following close behind in third and fourth, respectively. How close? Scott beat Yaakov to the stripe by just .032 of a second, and Yaakov rounded out the podium by just .076 of a second. Incidentally, Strack Racing Yamaha’s Blake Davis also got himself in the mix for that third podium spot, and he was a scant .005 of second behind Hayes.

“That was awesome,” said Binder. “That was the plan today, to get out front and try to put in as many fast laps as I could. Even though Josh and I were battling so much, the pace was still pretty decent. So, I was quite happy about that. Kept pushing. I got probably about two laps alone and I realized something is up, because he hasn’t come by in any straights. Then I looked over at my board and saw about plus five. I was like, ‘OK, I’ve just got to manage it until the end of the race.’ So stoked. Thank you to the Celtic/Economy Lube/Warhorse team. They’ve done an amazing job this weekend. My bike has been phenomenal. First double (win) here in the States. Super happy and looking forward to the next one.”

Mission King Of The Baggers: Gillim Is An Unstoppable Force

What a weekend it was for Hayden Gillim, who also races in Quad Lock Superbike, but it was the Mission King Of The Baggers Championship where he had a Road America round that he won’t soon forget.

Gillim, who was baptized on Friday night by Chaplains Raymond Rizzo and Mark Merical, broke the track record in Saturday morning’s Qualifying 2 and the race lap record on his way to getting the win in Saturday afternoon’s race one, racked up the double win with his victory in race two on Sunday for his J&P Cycles/Motul/Vance & Hines Factory Indian team.

Hayden Gillim stood tall while crossing the finish line after winning race two on Sunday.
Photo by Brian J. Nelson. 

Harley-Davidson x Dynojet Factory Racing’s defending class Champion Kyle Wyman tried to hang with Gillim for a while, but the Kentuckian was just too strong. Instead, Wyman and his teammate Bradley Smith enjoyed each other’s company as they pretended their Big Twin Road Glides were flat trackers and parried for position with their rear Dunlops sliding around with authority.

Smith ultimately got the best of Wyman, and finished second behind Gillim, while the rider of the #1 Road Glide, Wyman, had to settle for third.

Gillim, who was asked if racing a Superbike and a Baggers machine in the same weekend is a help or a hindrance, he responded, “I definitely think it helps. Being able to know what the track is like right before. What an awesome weekend. What an awesome start to the year. It’s going to be a long season. I know both of these guys are coming. I’m pumped for these guys. I’m pumped for myself.”

Twins Cup: Vossberg Victorious In The Friendly Confines

In the Twins Cup Championship, a little home cooking paid off for the pride of De Pere, Wisconsin, Hank Vossberg, who finished out the weekend on his home track with a narrow, and very exciting, victory on Sunday.

Wisconsinite Hank Vossberg (#31) won Twins Cup race two and has a trophy to show his classmates tomorrow for his last week of school before summer vacation. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.

The race started out with M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Bodie Paige getting an incredible jump off the start to put him at the front of the pack. Vossberg chased down Paige and overtook him after two laps, but then, Karns/TST Industries Racing’s Isaac Woodworth got around Vossberg on lap three.

Vossberg fought back and regained the lead, but then, it was Paige’s turn to lead as he overtook Vossberg.

On the penultimate lap of the seven-lap race, Vossberg put his Aprilia back in the lead and rode defensively, but he couldn’t keep Paige at bay. The Australian took the lead and, on the run up to the checkers, Vossberg slipstreamed past Paige to take the victory, Paige ended up second, and Woodworth completed the podium in third.

Vossberg, Paige, and Woodworth all finished within .165 of a second of each other.

“Bodie got another amazing start,” commented Vossberg. “I tried to just stay with him and see if we could break away. I was in the lead for a little bit and trying to put a heater in, but Bodie was ripping too. Same with Isaac. They were hounding me until the last lap. I knew I could draft Bodie to the line because I tested it out the lap before. Coming into the lead, I left the door open for him hoping he would take it, and then, I followed him right to the line and was able to get the win. I can’t give it up to the team enough for giving me such an amazing bike. And Tom at Containers 411 for being the local sponsor. Thank you so much, and everybody else.”

Royal Enfield Build.Train.Race.: Nobody But Noelle

Bryanna Everitt started from the pole position with a plan to repeat her flag-to-flag winning performance from Saturday’s race one. New Mexico rider Jasmine Noelle, however, had plans of her own. Getting the holeshot into turn one, Noelle took the lead with Everitt following close behind. Both riders raced in close formation, but on lap two, Everitt ran a little wide and slid off the track unhurt. That left Noelle uncontested at the front, and she held her lead all the way to the checkered flag to take her first win of the season. Brazilian rider Tati Paze, who also podiumed in Saturday’s race one, finished as runner-up, just .177 of a second behind Noelle. Third place went to Emily Dickson, who is from Canada. Dickson and Paze both had a good race and got to battle against each other for the majority of the five-lap event.

Jasmine Noelle (#711) started strong and led every lap to take her first win of the season.
Photo by Brian J. Nelson.

“That was a good race,” Noelle said. “I’ve been working, and working, and working to try to keep up at the top of the pack and look for my opening. Today was my lucky day. I really hope Everitt is okay. She’s a worthy opponent. She’s a great human. I’m really proud of all these girls that I’m surrounded by. I couldn’t be happier to see my girls up here on the podium with me. I want to thank everybody. K-Tech Suspension, Parts Unlimited, Dymag Wheels. We’ve got an amazing setup and people. Thank you so much to Freddie Spencer and Scott Rybarik for all that you guys are doing to help us. Hello and much love to all my family back home. Special thanks to Roger. He’s the one that started my road racing journey a year ago. I’m very thankful.”

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

MotoAmerica Superbikes At Road America Sets Another Attendance Record In Harley-Davidson Homeland

 America’s Dairyland continues to be a motorsports mecca when MotoAmerica comes to town. For the second consecutive year, MotoAmerica has set a new attendance record for a motorcycle event at Road America, as the Midwest continues to make the annual pilgrimage.

This past weekend, “America’s National Park of Speed” hosted the third round of MotoAmerica’s Quad Lock Superbike Championship. As always with Road America, the weekend was a celebration of speed, with tens of thousands of passionate fans helping to make the event the largest Superbike weekend in the track’s history, surpassing the 2025 attendance record. The event also marked 46 years of racing at Road America and 50 years of Superbike racing in the United States.

For those who could not attend this year, Road America has announced the return of MotoAmerica Superbikes and Vintage MotoFest in 2027. The premier motorcycle racing series in North America will descend upon the legendary 4.048-mile circuit from June 4-6, 2027. Tickets for next year are now on sale: https://www.roadamerica.com/article/road-america-announces-2027-motoamerica-dates-advance-tickets-june-4-6-2027-are-now-sale

With five classes of racing and the community that surrounds this historic venue, the event holds special significance for three motorcycle manufacturers that consider this round a home event: Harley-Davidson, Indian Motorcycle, and Royal Enfield, all of which have strong Midwestern roots.

Pleasant spring weather in Wisconsin helped draw campers and motorcycle enthusiasts in record-breaking numbers, marking the largest attendance in the 50-year history of Superbike racing.
Photo by Jacob Lynch.

The Mission King Of The Baggers Championship continues to grow local interest, with American Big Twins represented both on and off the track. The motorcycling community was on full display across Road America as the weekend featured several VIP package options, the popular Salute to Cycles Parade Lap and a large vendor village that also included motorcycle demo rides.

The following quote is from Chuck Aksland, COO of MotoAmerica:

“Each year, MotoAmerica at Road America gets better and better. The track continues to be a favorite for our teams, riders, and staff. The community that Road America has built around these events is incredible and we’re excited to come back in 2027.”

The following quote is from Mike Kertscher, President and General Manager of Road America:

“This weekend was a tremendous moment for Road America and for the motorcycle racing community. Since motorcycle racing first came here in 1980, fans have shown incredible passion for this sport and this facility. To see that enthusiasm reach a new record is a credit to MotoAmerica, the riders, the teams, our staff, and every fan who made the weekend so special.”

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

2026 Women’s Motocross Championship Set to Kick Off at Hangtown

The most anticipated season of the WMX in history of the sport will commence at the oldest race in American motocross.

After months of anticipation, the best and brightest female athletes in off-road motorcycle racing are ready to line up on the gate to begin the 2026 season. The Women’s Motocross Championship Powered by Synchrony (WMX) will consist of six rounds run in conjunction with the Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, beginning this Saturday, June 6, with the Coker Pump Hangtown Motocross Classic from Prairie City SVRA in Rancho Cordova, California. The oldest race in American motocross will provide a stiff challenge for the opening round, as reigning back-to-back champion Lachlan “Lala” Turner begins her pursuit of a three-peat.
 
“The 2026 WMX season is the most anticipated in the history of women’s motocross. A groundbreaking year awaits with unprecedented support from Synchrony, more than $150,000 in OEM contingency, and the deepest field of talent ever assembled. All of which will culminate in a special showcase at the SMX World Championship Final,” said Christina Denney, WMX Series Director. “While Lala Turner will once again be the one to beat this summer, her list of challengers continues to grow with the addition of new talent from around the world. It will be exciting to watch the action unfold with more eyes on the WMX than ever before.”

Each round of the 2026 season will consist of two days of racing, with Moto 1 held each Friday and Moto 2 held every Saturday as a captivating addition to the action-packed race day for a Pro Motocross National. With the WMX’s inclusion on Saturday, the broadcast audience will be treated to live coverage of every second moto on Peacock as well as SMX Video Pass for international subscribers.
 
Turner returns with the No. 1 plate on her Altus Motorsports bLU cRU Yamaha, as the 19-year-old looks to continue her ascension as not just the most elite women’s racer, but also one of the most talented young prospects in the sport. However, her two closest friends and fiercest rivals on the racetrack will likely provide even more competition than they did one year ago. Reigning WMX runner-up and multi-time Australian National Champion Charli Cannon returns for a second season of U.S. competition with Quad Lock Honda. Although Cannon missed out on a breakthrough win last summer, she gave Turner all she could handle on several occasions. With a full season in America under her belt and a clean bill of health coming into the season, Cannon is poised to take the next step. The only racer other than Turner to claim victory last season was SLR Honda’s Mikayla “Kay Kay” Nielsen. The dynamic, multi-talented racer may be an endurance off-road racer by trade, but her motocross skillset is equally exceptional. Her championship pedigree in desert racing means Nielsen knows what it takes to win and she’s made a concerted effort to gain even more comfort and confidence in motocross heading into the new season, where she is a fixture of the three-rider rivalry that will likely define the summer and the pursuit of the WMX crown.

With its old school layout filled with elevation changes, rutty terrain, and no shortage of highly technical obstacles, Prairie City SVRA is one of the most challenging tracks in the sport on its own. Combine that with the early summer heat that is commonplace in the greater Sacramento area, and the WMX field will be pushed to the limit at Hangtown, meaning it’s anyone’s race to win.

Following the action at Hangtown, the WMX will head to the mile-high altitude of Colorado for the Thunder Valley National (June 12-13) before traveling east to the Mason-Dixon Line for the High Point National (June 19-20). A midseason summer break will then set the tone for a three-round stretch run to crown a champion, beginning with the Unadilla National in Central New York (August 14-15), the Budds Creek National in Southern Maryland (August 21-22) and concluding with the Ironman National in Indiana (August 28-29).