This Week in Powersports Racing – the week of September 13, 2026

This week in US Powersports racing.

FMF KTM FACTORY RACING’S JASON TINO CROWNED NE PRO2 AMERICAN NATIONAL ENDURO CHAMPION

Jason Tino and FMF KTM Factory Racing clinched the 2026 American National Enduro Championship (ANEC) NE Pro2 title at the Burning Rock National Enduro over the weekend, with the New Jersey native finishing the round with a measured second-place result.
AMERICAN NATIONAL ENDURO CHAMPIONSHIP – ROUND 8

Tino entered the West Virginia event looking to continue his strong ANEC campaign, with the 22-year-old having claimed five podium finishes – as well as two victories – throughout the 2026 season.

Equipped with the KTM 250 XC-F, Tino topped Saturday’s Super Test in the NE Pro2 Class, carrying confidence into Sunday’s six-test format. Finding the podium in three of those six tests, he finished the weekend in P2 – a result that was enough to secure the championship.

The title comes in his first full National Enduro season with FMF KTM Factory Racing, with Tino and the team enjoying a convincing year to date to secure the NE Pro2 number one plate with a single round remaining.

Jason Tino: “Man, I don’t even know what to say right now! This is my first full season racing these National Enduros, and we were able to lock [the title] up a round early, which is awesome. Jhak [Walker] was riding really well this year, and I started today just super-reserved, sitting around fourth place. The last three tests I needed to get after it and make it happen, and we were able to move up to second place in the final test, and that’s all I needed to earn the championship one round early. It feels amazing to earn this number one plate for both myself and the team!”

NE Pro2 Class Results

Jhak Walker, Beta
Jason Tino, FMF KTM Factory Racing
James Jenkins, Husqvarna

JORGE PRADO LEADS 450SMX STANDINGS AFTER COLUMBUS PLAYOFF PODIUM

Playoff 1 – SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX)

Following a pair of dry on-track sessions during Friday practice, heavy rain in the region interrupted proceedings early on this morning, as the track crew worked tirelessly to prepare the circuit for the afternoon’s race schedule at SMX Playoff 1.

When the gates dropped for 450SMX Moto 1, Prado powered his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION to the holeshot, holding the lead through the opening moments of the race. The Spaniard prioritized consistency in the mud, successfully navigating the conditions to secure a third-place result.

The four-time world champion executed another strong start in Moto 2, battling for the final podium position during the race, and eventually crossed the line in P4. That saw him claim third overall for the round, taking charge of the 450SMX red plate entering Los Angeles next weekend.

Jorge Prado:I mean, I really don’t know what to say! Like I said after Moto 1, my worst races came in the mud this year, and now I finish up here on the box, which is amazing for me. It’s a big improvement, so I am super-happy, and proud of my progress, and the work from the whole team – if you look back a year ago to where I am now, it’s a huge difference. Now we are leading the SMX series and I can’t be more happy than this.”

Also up front off the start of Moto 1, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Aaron Plessinger crashed soon afterward, but displayed strong pace aboard his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION as he fought his way through the field to 10th place. Sixth in Moto 2 marked a convincing outing for ‘The Cowboy’ in his home state of Ohio, taking seventh overall and climbing to eighth in the 450SMX standings.

Aaron Plessinger:”I feel like Columbus was a pretty big missed opportunity for me, since we had lots of rain and lots of mud, which is usually my cup of tea. We got off to a really good start in Moto 1, but then Jorge [Prado] slid and kind of jumped into my wheel, but no blame on him – it was a racing incident. I ended up going down, and then it was a struggle from that point on, getting up to ninth and then going down again. Moto 2, I got off to a horrible start and went to the inside of turn one, which worked out, and then ended up battling Joey [Savatgy] for fifth pretty much the whole time. I just feel like I should’ve been better all around – there were a lot of moments that I should’ve capitalized on. We’ll focus on Los Angeles now and look for a stronger round.”

The retiring Eli Tomac raced to 15-13 results in 450SMX across the shortened double-race format aboard his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION in SMX Playoff 1, with his sights now shifting toward next weekend’s second round of the post-season, where double points will be on offer. He’s currently ninth in the championship, with only two race weekends remaining in his decorated career.

Eli Tomac: “It was a long day in Columbus. The conditions were tough, and I had a hard time getting going today when it counted, but the positive is that we were able to salvage some points, and it was an enjoyable weekend outside of the weather today. I’m looking forward to LA next week and fighting back toward the front in these next two races coming up.”

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 250SMX contender Julien Beaumer crashed out of a top-five position on the opening lap of Moto 1, before mounting a comeback ride in challenging conditions to finish 16th on his KTM 250 SX-F FACTORY EDITION. Another difficult outing in race two saw Beaumer finish 18th, placing him 10th in the standings heading into Playoff 2.

Julien Beaumer:“It was a terrible day for me in the mud. We got a lot of rain – I felt great yesterday in the dry – but today was rough. It is what it is, we have double and triple points at the next two, so I need to execute across the next two rounds in what are hopefully some better conditions, and give myself a chance.”

Next Race: September 19 – Los Angeles, California

Results 450SMX Class – SMX Playoff 1

Haiden Deegan (Yamaha)
Ken Roczen (Suzuki)
Jorge Prado (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)
Aaron Plessinger (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)
Malcolm Stewart (Husqvarna)
Eli Tomac (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)
RJ Hampshire (Husqvarna)

Standings 450SMX Class 2026 after Playoff 1

Jorge Prado, 42 points
Haiden Deegan, 40
Cooper Webb, 38
Aaron Plessinger, 22
Eli Tomac, 22
RJ Hampshire, 19
Malcolm Stewart, 16

Results 250SMX Class – SMX Playoff 1

Levi Kitchen (Kawasaki)
Daxton Bennick (Husqvarna)
Ryder DiFrancesco (Husqvarna)
Julien Beaumer (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)

Standings 250SMX Class 2026 after Playoff 1

Levi Kitchen, 47 points
Ryder DiFrancesco, 42
Cole Davies, 37
Daxton Bennick, 34
Julien Beaumer, 21

Daxton Bennick and Ryder DiFrancesco score double podium in SMX Playoff 1

A double podium in 250SMX marked a strong start to the 2026 SMX World Championship post-season for Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Daxton Bennick and Ryder DiFrancesco, with the pair delivering impressive results – including a breakout victory for Bennick in Moto 1 – in rain-soaked conditions at Historic Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.

Both 250SMX and 450SMX qualifying sessions were canceled at SMX Playoff 1 today, with inclement weather surrounding the region as the track crew worked to salvage the circuit for the racing schedule.

Equipped with the Husqvarna FC 250 Factory Edition, Bennick launched to a solid start in 250SMX Moto 1, holding second place for the majority of the race before taking the lead on Lap 12. He maintained the position until the checkered flag to claim a popular victory.

Another fast start to Moto 2 saw Bennick run as high as second place, scoring third in the race and claiming second overall for the weekend. As a result, he was able to rise to P4 in the standings with two rounds remaining.

“Man, I’ve got to be happy with today,” commented Bennick. “We had two solid motos, and yeah, I had it [the overall] with two laps to go, but Levi [Kitchen] was riding good. But wow, what a start to this thing, and a big thank you to the whole Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing team for supporting me and believing in me. It was a good day!”

250SMX teammate DiFrancesco took the green flag for race one in 13th on board his Husqvarna FC 250 Factory Edition, charging hard across all 15 laps to advance to an impressive third – making the move for a podium finish on the final lap. Fourth position in race two was enough to secure third overall for the weekend, and elevates him to P2 in the championship.

“Consistency is crucial on a day like today,” said DiFrancesco. “We got off to a decent start [in Moto 2], and I just rode my laps. I want to win one of these things, but last year these guys were super-consistent, and that’s my goal for this year so we can show up at Missouri and have a shot at [the title].”

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing 450SMX pairing Malcolm Stewart and RJ Hampshire were also in action in Columbus on board their Husqvarna FC 450 Factory Editions, with Stewart finishing sixth and Hampshire 19th in Moto 1.

A crash during the early stages of race two while again running P6 saw Stewart tumble down the order, with his 6-21 scorecard earning him 11th overall for the round and he is currently 14th in the 450SMX standings.

“Mother Nature definitely threw a wrench in some things today!” reflected Stewart. “The first moto was great, ending up in P6, which was good, and then in Moto 2 I ended up going down with another rider, but that happens in mud races. You can kind of misjudge things, we came together, and that was all she wrote. We’re leaving here healthy, and I think we will have a complete opposite experience next weekend in California, as I’m pretty sure it should be dry out there. The next round is also double points, so whatever was lost today we can definitely make back next weekend.”

Hampshire worked his way to 10th in 450SMX Moto 2 after battling for the final positions inside the top-10, with the result earning him 16th overall at Playoff 1 and he’s aiming to rebound in Los Angeles next weekend.

“It was a brutal round,” began Hampshire. “The track was really tough, and if you didn’t stay clean – or at least have your grips and gloves clean – it was hard to hang on. The first moto I crashed pretty much 20 times, so we got through that, and then the second moto was a little better with a 10th. But yeah, lucky this one is only single points, and we’ll look forward to LA next weekend.”

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna amateur prospect Landon Gibson contested the SMX Next World All-Stars division in Columbus, taking a well-earned fourth-place finish on board his Husqvarna FC 250 Factory Edition in the single Main Event.

Next Race: September 19 – Los Angeles, California

Results 450SMX Class – SMX Playoff 1

1. Haiden Deegan (Yamaha)

2. Ken Roczen (Suzuki)

3. Jorge Prado (KTM)

7. Aaron Plessinger (KTM)

11. Malcolm Stewart (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing)

14. Eli Tomac (KTM)

16. RJ Hampshire (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing)

Standings 450SMX Class 2026 after Playoff 1

1. Jorge Prado, 42 points

2. Haiden Deegan, 40

3. Cooper Webb, 38

8. Aaron Plessinger, 22

9. Eli Tomac, 22

12. RJ Hampshire, 19

14. Malcolm Stewart, 16

Results 250SMX Class – SMX Playoff 1

1. Levi Kitchen (Kawasaki)

2. Daxton Bennick (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing)

3. Ryder DiFrancesco (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing)

18. Julien Beaumer (KTM)

Standings 250SMX Class 2026 after Playoff 1

1. Levi Kitchen, 47 points

2. Ryder DiFrancesco, 42

3. Cole Davies, 37

4. Daxton Bennick, 34

10. Julien Beaumer, 21

Winning ways continue for Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Korie Steede at Burning Rock National Enduro

Newly-crowned NE Pro Women’s Champion now eight-for-eight in ANEC for the 2026 season

American National Enduro Championship – Round 8

Equipped with the Husqvarna FC 250 Factory Edition, Steede arrived in West Virginia looking to continue her unbeaten run in the NE Pro Women’s category after wrapping up the class championship at the previous event.

Victory in Saturday’s Super Test was followed by wins in the opening four tests on Sunday, before podium speed in the final two outings saw her claim an eighth victory of the season in technical conditions.

One round remains in the 2026 ANEC season, with the Bob Reese Memorial National Enduro set to take place in Geneseo, Illinois, on October 31-November 1 – where Korie will be aiming to complete what has been a perfect run of results to date. “The first three tests here, I found a good flow – I was gelling with the course,”reflected Steede.“Test five kind of bit me as I was stuck on a hill for around a minute, so I saw my gap evaporate before closing in again. But all-in-all it was a solid day, I did have a couple crashes and mistakes, but I’m glad to come away with another win!”

Round 8 marked a consistent outing for NE Pro1 contender Craig DeLong, who secured fifth in class aboard his Husqvarna FX 350 after recording P5 finishes in five of the six tests.

“It was a tough one here at Round 8!”said DeLong.“I struggled to stay off the ground at the start, but over the course of the event we made some good adjustments, and I felt better and better. I just need to work on myself and get better – the track was slick here and was a pretty nice ride.”

NE Pro1 Class Results1. Josh Toth, Kawasaki2. Liam Draper, Yamaha3. Steward Baylor Jr, Kawasaki5. Craig DeLong, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

NE Pro Women Class Results

Korie Steede, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing2. Rachel Gutish, Reiju3. Shelby Turner, Triumph

West Hare Scrambles – Round 7

Also in action over the weekend was two-time West Hare Scrambles (WHS) Pro Class Champion Mateo Oliveira, who recently wrapped up his second title at the previous round in Washington.

The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rider got off to a strong start at the season-finale Rocky Mountain Hare Scramble in Colorado, holding the race lead for the opening four laps aboard his Husqvarna FE 450.

A crash while out front, however, led to a technical issue that forced the 24-year-old out of the race, with Oliveira eventually credited 35th position. In his first season with the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna team, he has successfully defended his WHS Pro Class crown – earning victories at Rounds 3 and 4, while scoring P2 results on a further four occasions.

“I got a good start at the finale and was feeling good while figuring out the track,”commented Oliveira”I was letting both the circuit and race come to me and had a decent flow before having a pretty big crash, which allowed Zane [Roberts] to close in. I knew it was going to be hard for him to pass, so I tried to regroup and breathe. Through the pit stops, we managed to open up a little gap, and then I tucked the front-end and had a small issue from what. It’s part of racing, but I actually felt really good, and the track was cool – I’m pretty thankful we did a lot of good work at the beginning of the year!”

Pro Class Results

Zane Roberts, Beta
Layton Smail, Kawasaki
Jaden Dahners, KTM
Mateo Oliveira, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing

Monster Energy® Kawasaki Claims Victories at SMX Playoff #1

Kelly Extends Superbike Championship Points Lead With Series Headed To Final Round

OrangeCat Racing’s Sean Dylan Kelly showed up at the Circuit of The Americas with a 17-point lead in the MotoAmerica Superbike Championship. After two races in searing Texas heat, Kelly leaves the Lone Star State with a 26-point lead with one round and three races left in the championship.

Kelly’s teammate Jayson Uribe continued his late-season surge with sixth- and seventh-place finishes in extremely difficult conditions as near 100-degree heat swamped CoTA for the penultimate round of the 20-race MotoAmerica Superbike Championship.

Kelly and the team didn’t have the easiest of weekends in Texas, but he took what he could and fought to the bitter end of both races, ending the weekend with his 13th podium of the season.

Kelly and Uribe got the weekend off to a solid start on their BMW M 1000 RRs with Kelly second and Uribe ninth in the opening practice session on Friday. Kelly slid back to third in final qualifying with Uribe improving to eighth.

Although he finished just off the podium in Saturday’s race one, the day was a hugely successful one for Kelly and the OrangeCat Racing team as two of his closest rivals in the chase for the championship failed to score any points. The first to go was Mathew Scholtz, with the South African’s motorcycle suffering a mechanical issue that took him out of the battle early. The next to lose valuable points to Kelly was JD Beach, with the Kentuckian crashing out the race just a few laps later.

When the sun set on Circuit of The Americas on Saturday, Kelly was 30 points clear of Scholtz and 35 ahead of Bobby Fong, who moved past Beach in the series points standings with his third-place finish. Kelly had arrived in Texas with a 17-point lead on Scholtz.

Uribe, meanwhile, continued his late-season charge with the Californian beating Hayden Gillim to the finish line by just .070 of a second for sixth place.

On Sunday, the heat continued and so did Kelly’s attack on the 2026 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship. Kelly grabbed the holeshot on his BMW M 1000 RR, slid back to second and ultimately found himself in a battle for the final podium spot with six-time Superbike Champion Cameron Beaubier.

Despite finding himself behind Beaubier with just a few laps to go, Kelly kept fighting, taking the spot from Beaubier on the 10th of 12 laps. Scholtz again had the misfortune of a mechanical DNF.

Uribe, however, continued his late-season charge, finishing seventh and scoring points for the 15th time in 17 races. His 128 points puts him sixth in the championship, and he’ll be out to defend that spot in the final three races at New Jersey Motorsports Park in two weeks.

After 17 races, Kelly leads the title chase by 26 points over Fong, the winner of race two at Circuit of The Americas, 279-253, heading to New Jersey and the three-race finale.

Jayson Uribe/No. 36

Overall, we had a pretty good weekend at COTA. We struggled with some confidence issues on the first day, but the team worked hard and gave me a package I could really push with for the races. Qualifying was a mixed bag, had some bad luck dealing with traffic but still managed P8. Had a hard-fought battle for P6 in race 1 that I was able to come out on top of and was able to check out and race with the top group for a while in race 2 before finishing P7. Huge shoutout to my mechanics and crew members for getting my bike back together after a mechanical issue in the Sunday warmup! They got the bike fired up with 15 minutes to spare and it ran perfectly. Couldn’t do it without the whole OrangeCat Racing crew!

Sean Dylan Kelly/No. 40

“Even though we had some tough races this weekend, I’m proud of the work we did. I had high expectations coming into the weekend, so my final results might not be something I’m the happiest with, but in the big picture we had an important weekend in terms of points for the championship. We head to the last round of season leading, so we’re where we want to be. Time to focus on showing up 100% ready for New Jersey! Thank you to the entire team for such a special weekend, between the hospitality and all the guests, it was incredible.”

Jeff Connors – Team Principal

“Saturday was a mixed day. Sean Dylan Kelly finished fourth. That was disappointing, because we always expect to be on the podium. He struggled for grip at both ends of the bike, especially on the edge of the tire. Jayson Uribe took sixth. It was a solid result, but we wanted a top five, and he was a long way back from fifth. We always seem to struggle when a track is hot and greasy. That is exactly what we had at COTA.

Sunday was better. Sean came home third after a tough battle with Cameron Beaubier. It was a good result, but the bike had the same problems. Jayson’s day started badly with an engine failure in morning warmup. The crew swapped the motor and got him on the grid in time. He finished seventh, dealing with the same grip issues from race one. We did extend our points lead, and that is the positive. Even so, we go into the final round at New Jersey as if we are zero points ahead. We have a test before then, and we will look for grip.

The team did a great job all weekend. Beckhoff Automation was on the bike at COTA, and we hosted some of their employees and partners at the track. Thank you to Beckhoff Automation. Finally, none of this happens without BMW Motorrad and alpha Racing.

Saturday was a mixed day. Sean Dylan Kelly finished fourth. That was disappointing, because we always expect to be on the podium. He struggled for grip at both ends of the bike, especially on the edge of the tire. Jayson Uribe took sixth. It was a solid result, but we wanted a top five, and he was a long way back from fifth. We always seem to struggle when a track is hot and greasy. That is exactly what we had at COTA.

OrangeCat Racing’s promotional and technical partners for the 2026 MotoAmerica season include BMW Motorrad Motorsport, Lightfighter, Motoworks Chicago, Ohlins USA, Farasis, and alpha Racing.

For full results of the eighth round of the 2026 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship, click Saturday (race one) and Sunday (race two).

The ninth and final round of the MotoAmerica Superbike Championship will be held at New Jersey Motorsports Park in Millville, New Jersey, September 25-27.

Beaubier Back To Winning Ways, Lee Is Superbike Cup Champion

Cameron Beaubier marked his return to MotoAmerica Quad Lock Superbike competition with a dramatic victory on Saturday at Circuit of The Americas, capturing his first win of the 2026 season. Beaubier, who had been sidelined for four months following a crash at Road America, capped off his comeback by reclaiming the lead on a jaw-dropping final lap of a hard-fought 12-lap battle in Texas.

After securing pole position in Final Qualifying with a lap time of 2:07.343, Beaubier launched his Warhorse HSBK Ducati FLo4Law machine from the front row. Points leader Sean Dylan Kelly (OrangeCat Racing) grabbed the initial lead on lap one before Beaubier swept past on lap two to control the pace. Beaubier led through lap seven until Wrench Motorcycles’ rider Cameron Petersen made his move on lap eight, taking over the top spot.

Petersen, who recorded the fastest lap of the race (2:08.284) on lap two, led for four laps before Beaubier mounted a decisive final-lap pass to take the win by 0.862 seconds. Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing’s Bobby Fong completed the podium in third, 1.964 seconds back.

The trio of Petersen (#45), Beaubier (#1), and Fong (#50) were in a race-long battle for the podium. *Photo by Brian J. Nelson.*

Sean Dylan Kelly placed fourth on his BMW (+2.914s), while Rahal Ducati Moto with XPEL’s PJ Jacobsen finished fifth (+6.069s). Jayson Uribe placed sixth on his OrangeCat Racing BMW, while Real Steel Honda’s Hayden Gillim crossed seventh, followed by Warhorse HSBK Ducati Flo4Law’s Benjamin Smith in eighth.

Championship points leader, Kelly (#40), pushes the pace ahead of other 2026 race winners (Beaubier, Beach, Fong, and Scholtz). *Photo by Brian J. Nelson.*

M4 ECSTAR Suzuki teammates Brandon Paasch and Tyler Scott – who made his Quad Lock Superbike debut this weekend – rounded out the top 10 in ninth and tenth respectively.

The 12-lap contest saw notable early retirements, including title contender Mathew Scholtz (Strack Racing) on lap three and JD Beach (Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing) on lap four.

Kelly’s fourth-place finish extended his lead in the 2026 Quad Lock Superbike Championship standings to 263 points. Following his early DNF, Scholtz remains second in points at 233 (30 points back), while Fong’s third-place finish brings him to 228 points (35 points off the lead). With 100 points total left up for grabs across the four remaining races of the season – tomorrow’s Race 2 at COTA and a season-ending triple-header at New Jersey Motorsports Park – the title chase remains wide open with eyes on Sunday’s action.

Superbike Cup – Four Is The Score For Lee On Literbikes

In the Superbike Cup class, Real Steel Honda’s Andrew Lee delivered a championship-defining performance. Lee finished 11th overall in the Superbike field to take the Superbike Cup Race 1 victory over Danilo Lewis (Team Brazil Honda, 12th overall) and Deion Campbell (BPR Racing Yamaha, 13th overall). The victory officially locked down the 2026 MotoAmerica Superbike Cup Championship for Lee.

Andrew Lee adds to his literbike legend, securing his fourth championship in MotoAmerica: 2018 & 2019 Stock 1000 (Kawasaki), 2025 Stock 1000 (BMW), and 2026 Superbike Cup (Honda).

Real Steel Honda’s Andrew Lee celebrates his 2026 Superbike Cup Championship victory. *Photo by Brian J. Nelson.*

Quad Lock Superbike Race 1 Results

1. Cameron Beaubier (Ducati)

2. Cameron Petersen (Ducati)

3. Bobby Fong (Yamaha)

4. Sean Dylan Kelly (BMW)

5. PJ Jacobsen (Ducati)

6. Jayson Uribe (BMW)

7. Hayden Gillim (Honda)

8. Benjamin Smith (Ducati)

9. Brandon Paasch (Suzuki)

10. Tyler Scott (Suzuki)

Superbike Cup Race 1 Results

1. Andrew Lee (Honda)

2. Danilo Lewis (Honda)

3. Deion Campbell (Yamaha)

The following quote is from Quad Lock Superbike Race 1 Winner Cameron Beaubier:

“At the beginning, I got in there up front, and I just tried to tick off some good, smooth laps, and, honestly, five laps into the race, I started getting pretty tired. Cam (Petersen) came by me, and kind of gave me a second win, and I was able to latch onto him and roll through the track, and he was riding awesome.

I don’t know what he’s doing in the first section, but he was gapping me every lap, so hats off to him. Hats off the Bob (Fong), man, I feel so good to get this win. First win of the season. Honestly, I was on the couch the last four months, not having this inside at all, so… thank you. to Dr. Brian, Travis, for getting my shoulder back, back together. Thanks Alpinestars, all this, this amazing Warhorse team, Flo, just everything… I gotta go try to try to do it again tomorrow.”

The following quote is from Superbike Cup Race 1 Winner & 2026 Superbike Cup Champion Andrew Lee:

“I’m feeling really grateful. I think I said it earlier, but like, I’m just really grateful to be in the paddock still, you know, it’s hard to get here sometimes, and, you know, the Real Steel Honda team really welcomes you with open arms. It’s a big family. The bike’s great, the team’s great, and to be able to win quite a few races and a championship for them. You know, it’s an honor, Honda USA have been behind us the whole season. So, you know, just kind of puts a nice cap on the whole year. And so, looking forward to the future.”

For the full 2026 MotoAmerica schedule and tickets, CLICK HERE

For information on how to watch the MotoAmerica series, CLICK HERE

Binder Wins Again In Supersport, Extends Lead As Herrin Suffers Mechanical

Feature classes completed day two of MotoAmerica Superbikes at Texas action at Circuit of The Americas, with four Race 1 battles unfolding in brutal conditions as track temperatures peaked at 114 degrees Fahrenheit and ambient temps neared triple digits for the second straight day.

Saturday brought a stunning series debut in Supersport, a demolition-derby Bagger race that fast-tracked a now possible Sunday Champion, a Talent Cup mechanical nightmare that flipped the series lead, and a Hooligan result that sets up a winner-take-all finale on Sunday. Here’s how the day unfolded, class by class.

Supersport

Darryn Binder (Celtic/Economy Lube + Tire/Warhorse) topped Q2 with a lap of 2:12.954 to claim pole position. Kayla Yaakov (Rahal Ducati Moto with Droplight) qualified second, 0.215 seconds back, with Josh Herrin (Rahal Ducati Moto with Desnuda Organic Tequila) completing the front row. Making his series debut, 2026 Australian Superbike Champion Harrison Voight (Liberty St. Yamaha) qualified fourth.

Voight wasn’t the only newcomer to make an immediate impact. 16 year-old Texas native Mikey Lou Sanchez (Celtic/V1 Moto/Warhorse) also made his series debut aboard machinery he had limited experience on — by the closing laps, both rookies were factoring directly into the fight up front.

Off the start, Yaakov powered through Turn 1 to lead the opening exchanges, with Binder in tow and Voight up to third ahead of Herrin. Binder reclaimed the point before the completion of Lap 1, and Voight worked past Herrin for third soon after, dropping the points leader to fourth. Binder, Yaakov and Voight began to break clear of the field, building a gap over a chase group that included Josh Hayes (BPR Racing Yamaha) and a fast-charging Sanchez, who worked his way up from further back into the top six.

With the laps winding down, Binder and Herrin,who had rejoined the lead battle, traded blocking passes as they fought for position. But Herrin’s race unraveled exiting Turn 11, when the pivot bolt on his shift lever came loose, sticking him in gear until he could pit and have it reinstalled. He rejoined but finished 20th, scoring no points — a result that promoted Sanchez to third in just his first series start.

On the final lap, it appeared the podium was set with Binder leading Voight, the pair still fighting for the position until Voight lowsided the Liberty St. Yamaha YZF-R9 in the esses and was unable to continue. That handed Sanchez his second promotion of the race, to second, while Yaakov held on for third ahead of Hayes. Aiden Sneed (3D Motorsports Suzuki GSX-R750) rounded out the top five.

Darryn Binder (#53) and Harrison Voight (#129) battled each other just ahead of the chasing Mikey Lou Sanchez (#551) and Kayla Yaakov (#19). *Photo by Brian J. Nelson.*

The following quote is from Supersport Race 1 Winner, Darryn Binder:

“Yeah, I mean, unfortunately, the race was a bit slower than what I expected. I thought I would have had a bit more pace, but it was a super good battle. From the beginning, we were going back and forth. And then for a while, I knew it was just Harrison (Voight), and the board showed me that he was much better in the back, so I just kept my head down, and I thought Harrison would try something on the last lap, so I pushed as hard as I could, and unfortunately, I think he ended up going down, so… Yeah, just so stoked to walk away with another 25 points, and looking forward to tomorrow.”

Mission King Of The Baggers

Hayden Gillim (J&P Cycles/Motul/Vance & Hines Factory Indian) topped Q2 with a lap of 2:12.560 to claim the Bagger pole. Bradley Smith (Harley-Davidson x Dynojet Factory Racing) qualified second, 0.517 seconds back, with Gillim’s teammate Troy Herfoss completing the front row. Two-time and defending Bagger champion Kyle Wyman (Harley-Davidson x Dynojet Factory Racing) qualified fourth.

In the Bagger Challenge, a three-lap sprint for $5,000 courtesy of series sponsor Mission Foods, Smith turned the tables on his qualifying result to take the win, with Herfoss second and Gillim third. Wyman, Rocco Landers and James Rispoli completed the results.

Race 1 was chaos from the drop. Herfoss grabbed the early lead with Wyman second and Smith third, while points leader Gillim slipped to sixth after a poor start. Smith’s Harley-Davidson Road Glide shook violently down the front straight on Lap 1 as grip issues took hold in the heat, and Gillim used the moment to begin his charge forward, working up to fourth and then third by Lap 2 as Herfoss led Wyman.

Gillim muscled past Wyman the following lap, the two making contact in the esses and dropping Wyman to fourth — a position he wouldn’t hold for long. One lap later, Wyman lost the front and lowsided out of contention. Gillim then dispatched Smith for second and set his sights on teammate Herfoss at the front. Herfoss’s bid ended when he lowsided in Turn 11, handing the lead — and eventually the win — to Gillim, who brought it home roughly a second clear.

*Gillim (#69) grabbed the win ahead of Smith (#38) in Baggers Race 1 and is on the cusp of clinching the 2026 Bagger crown as soon as tomorrow. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.*

Smith recovered from his early moment to finish second. Behind him, Rocco Landers (J&P Cycles/Motul/Vance & Hines Factory Indian) worked past SDI Racing’s Tyler O’Hara with four laps remaining and held on for third, his third podium of the season, with O’Hara fourth.

Gillim’s win extends his championship lead over Herfoss to 48 points, putting the points leader in position to clinch the 2026 Mission King Of The Baggers title on Sunday if he finishes two points ahead of his teammate.

The following quote is from Mission King Of The Baggers Race 1 Winner, Hayden Gillim:

“We went to the shop and burned up a couple of clutches the other week and got the starts dialed in pretty good, but on the start I was creeping a bit. The thing just died right when we took off. So I had to fight a little too hard and was able to make some passes. Unfortunately, I feel bad for hitting Kyle like I did. These things are so big. I thought I had got by and then all of a sudden I sit up and I see him. I didn’t see him so hopefully he finished but I saw Troy go down and a lot of stuff went through my head at that point so just really think the whole team the whole JP Cycles/Motul/Vance & Hines crew and my wife is on the way down here from the airport so yeah and Rocco‘s back up here on the podium and Bradley ran a really good race. He’s been running really good here lately and it’s not getting any easier that’s for sure.”

Talent Cup

Nathan Gouker (Quarterley Racing) topped the combined Q2 session with a lap of 2:25.627 to claim pole. Sam Drane (Yamaha BLU CRU Estenson Racing) qualified second, with Jake Paige (Team Hammer) completing the front row. Derek Sanchez (Real Steel Honda) qualified fourth, with points leader Kensei Matsudaira (Team Roberts) fifth.

Matsudaira’s day fell apart before the race even started. On the pre-race warmup lap, the entire left rear-set assembly on his machine — footpeg and shift lever included — came loose, and Matsudaira ripped the dangling assembly free entering the front straight and tossed it clear of the track. He dropped to last at the start and ran the entire race locked in whatever gear he was stuck in when the failure occurred, salvaging six points with a 10th-place finish.

At the front, Gouker led a group of three that included Paige and Drane, with Derek Sanchez chasing in fourth but unable to stay connected — the leaders had opened a gap of more than two seconds by Lap 2. From there, the trio swapped the lead multiple times per lap in a race that stayed unsettled until the final two laps. Gouker held the point as Paige and Drane both made a run at Turn 12, at the end of the back straight, but the polesitter held them off for his eighth win of the season.

Gouker (#19) took the win over Sam Drane (#59) in second and Jake Paige (#55) in third. *Photo by Brian J. Nelson.*

The result vaulted Gouker into the Talent Cup points lead, 14 points ahead of Matsudaira heading into Sunday’s Race 2.

The following quote is from Talent Cup Race 1 Winner, Nathan Gouker:

“Yeah it was definitely way closer than I thought it would be. I thought the track was definitely slower than it was in qualifying too. I mean the Quarterley Racing Powered by Warhorse supported by Wrench crew, they had the bike feeling substantially well and yeah I mean there was some pretty deep dive bombs that happened and yeah, I mean I looked back coming out of like nine or whatever that is and I saw I had a little bit of a gap and I was like I don’t know if I want to be leading onto the back straight away but yeah, I mean I just tried to brake as deep as I could in Turn 12 and defend as best as I could go across the line and yeah”

Mission Super Hooligan National Championship

Andy DiBrino (BPR Racing Yamaha) bested teammate Bryce Kornbau by 0.452 seconds to claim the Hooligan pole, with Gus Rodio (Rodio Racing) completing the front row.

DiBrino jumped into the early lead with ARCH Racing’s Jeremy McWilliams — up from seventh on the grid to second — and Kornbau third. Kornbau wasted little time working past McWilliams, while the two Saddlemen Race Development riders, James Rispoli and Jake Lewis, ran fourth and fifth. DiBrino and Kornbau soon checked out at the front, building a gap of more than four seconds over the rest of the field.

Kornbau reeled in his teammate and took the win, with DiBrino second — a result that ties the two BPR riders atop the points standings and sets up a winner-take-all Mission Super Hooligan National Championship finale on Sunday.

Rispoli charged from fifth to capture the final podium spot ahead of his teammate Lewis in fourth, who was back with the team this weekend after competing in the Bagger World Cup series. Rodio finished fifth and was mathematically eliminated from title contention.

“The BPR Bros,” Kornbau (#74) and DiBrino (#62), will dice it out tomorrow for a sudden-death finale. *Photo by Brian J. Nelson.*

Both BPR riders broke the race lap record during the race — Kornbau set, then broke, his own mark — before DiBrino turned the fastest lap of the day late, a 2:14.890, to claim the new record.

The following quote is from Mission Super Hooligan National Championship Race 1 Winner, Bryce Kornbau:

“Just hats off to my wife Savannah for supporting me and helping me on the mend with my injuries and just all the BPR team that has been behind us and you know, I gotta give huge thanks to Andy (DiBrino) too because I know we can both say that neither one of us will be going this fast if it wasn’t for each other, I mean I broke the track record yesterday. He broke it again this morning. And I’m like oh man here we go. So, it’s been a good day. I’m looking forward to tomorrow. Someone’s got to win.

“I knew I needed to win today, and he (DiBrino) knew, probably, he still has tomorrow. So, we’ll see what happens. The strategy kind of came as the race went on. And there were some areas that I was surprised I was better than him in, but he was actually better in a couple corners that made him strong and hard to get past. So maybe we’ll sleep on that. Make a few changes on the bike. But when the green flag drops, I don’t know what’s going to happen but I’m going to try and win.”

For the full 2026 MotoAmerica schedule and to purchase tickets for MotoAmerica events, CLICK HERE.

For information on how to watch MotoAmerica, CLICK HERE.

For Feature Class photos and results, CLICK HERE.

Fong Victorious In COTA Race 2 As Superbike Title Chase Tightens; Lee Sweeps Superbike Cup

Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing’s Bobby Fong delivered a masterful performance at Circuit of The Americas on Sunday, claiming victory in Quad Lock Superbike Race 2. Fong’s result closes the championship gap to 26 points behind standings leader Sean Dylan Kelly as MotoAmerica heads to its season-ending triple-header weekend at New Jersey Motorsports Park on September 25–27.

Sunday’s action also featured another commanding performance by Andrew Lee (Real Steel Honda), who captured the Superbike Cup win in Race 2 after officially securing his fourth career MotoAmerica championship during Saturday’s Race 1.

Cameron Petersen (#45) found the front and pushed the pace in the early stages of Race 2, but Fong (#50) pushed through in final laps to win Race 2. *Photo by Brian J. Nelson.*

Quad Lock Superbike: Fong Battles To Victory In Texas

Following Saturday’s podium finish, Bobby Fong displayed speed from early stages, but navigated most of the race behind the wheel of Wrench Motorcycles’ Cameron Petersen who led nine laps of the 12-lap contest. Petersen set the overall fastest lap of the race on lap three with a 2:08.060 (96.311 mph average speed), and created a lead to the field of over two seconds, but Fong worked methodically to reduce the gap, finding himself in the lead with two laps to go, beating Petersen to the line by a second (+1.006s).

Quad Lock Superbike points leader Sean Dylan Kelly (#40) added to his tally, grabbing third place over Cameron Beaubier (#1). *Photo by Brian J. Nelson.*

Championship leader Sean Dylan Kelly (OrangeCat Racing) earned a crucial podium result in third (+6.332s), extending his season point total while minimizing the damage from Fong’s victory. Saturday’s Race 1 winner Cameron Beaubier (Warhorse HSBK Ducati FLo4Law), who made an incredible return to racing this weekend, crossed fourth (+6.412s) after a race-long battle with SDK. JD Beach (Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing) rebounded from an early DNF on Saturday to complete the top five.

Title contender Mathew Scholtz (Strack Racing), who suffered a DNF in Saturday’s opening race, finished outside the points in 17th after encountering trouble with his shift linkage on lap nine.

With 75 total points remaining up for grabs across the final triple-header weekend at New Jersey Motorsports Park (Sept. 25–27), the Quad Lock Superbike title chase remains unresolved: Sean Dylan Kelly leads the standings with 279 points. Bobby Fong sits second with 253 points (26 points off the lead). Mathew Scholtz holds third with 233 points (46 points back). JD Beach ranks fourth with 230 points (49 points back). Cameron Petersen rounds out the top five with 185 points, mathematically outside the championship title, but well within the mix to disrupt the odds with his consistent pace.

Fong begins to break away from SDK, Beaubier, Beach, Jacobsen and Scholtz in Race 2. *Photo by Brian J. Nelson.*

Superbike Cup: Lee Sweeps COTA Weekend

In the Superbike Cup class, Andrew Lee capped off a dominant weekend in Texas. After securing the 2026 Superbike Cup Championship title with a class victory on Saturday, Lee completed the weekend sweep by finishing 13th overall in the Superbike field to take Sunday’s Superbike Cup Race 2, putting an exclamation point on Lee’s champion status.

Joining Lee on the Superbike Cup Race 2 podium were Carl Soltisz (Super Carl Racing 57 Rider Development) in second (14th overall) and Christopher Durbin (Durbin Racing) in third (15th overall).

In the Superbike Cup standings, the crown champ, Lee, sits atop the table with 380 points, followed by Deion Campbell (BPR Racing Yamaha, 244 points), Soltisz (239 points), and Danilo Lewis (Team Brazil, 191 points).

Andrew Lee (#14) adds another notch in his Championship crown with Race 2 win. *Photo by Brian J. Nelson.*

Quad Lock Superbike Race 2 Results

1. Bobby Fong (Yamaha)

2. Cameron Petersen (Ducati)

3. Sean Dylan Kelly (BMW)

4. Cameron Beaubier (Ducati)

5. JD Beach (Yamaha)

6. PJ Jacobsen (Ducati)

7. Jayson Uribe (BMW)

8. Benjamin Smith (Ducati)

9. Hayden Gillim (Honda)

10. Tyler Scott (Suzuki)

Superbike Cup Race 2 Results

1. Andrew Lee (Honda)

2. Carl Soltisz (Honda)

3. Christopher Durbin (BMW)

The following quote is from Quad Lock Race 1 Winner Bobby Fong:

“Our strategy worked this weekend. It was good. We had a really good strategy we haven’t really done since I’ve been on the team, and it worked. I knew I had a little pace at the end. I just kept chipping away, slowly but surely. I was trying to hit my marks. A few times I was out there and I was overcharging the corners and having some big moments. I’m like, ‘Man, I better back this thing down.’ I saw Cameron coming back to me, so I had another lunge at the end. Hell of a race. It was great. My Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha, on rails as always. Looking forward to New Jersey and just keep the ball rolling.”

The following quotation is from Superbike Cup Race 2 Winner Andrew Lee:

“You know, I think that it’s been a challenge a little bit with the heat this weekend. I’m a little bit further away from those superbike guys than I think we should be. So, it leaves a little bit on the table, but I think ultimately, you know, we get the job done, and that’s what really matters. I think as a rider, you’re always gonna want a little bit more. So, in New Jersey, we got three more races. So, try to close that gap and put in a solid performance.”

For the full 2026 MotoAmerica schedule and tickets, CLICK HERE

For information on how to watch the MotoAmerica series, CLICK HERE

Binder, Gillim, And Kornbau Take Their 2026 Titles At Circuit Of The Americas

Circuit of The Americas delivered three of the four 2026 MotoAmerica feature class championships on hand Sunday. Darryn Binder’s Race 2 win clinched the Supersport title with a round to spare, Hayden Gillim’s runner-up finish secured his second career Mission King Of The Baggers Championship, and BPR Racing Yamaha’s Bryce Kornbau denied his own teammate in a last-lap battle to claim the Mission Super Hooligan National Championship. Only the Talent Cup title remains unresolved, with Nathan Gouker carrying an 18-point lead over Kensei Matsudaira into the season-ending round in New Jersey.

Supersport

Darryn Binder needed no drama in Race 2, checking out early for a flag-to-flag win while his closest championship rival could only manage seventh — a result that clinched the 2026 Supersport Championship for Binder with one round remaining on the schedule. The victory was his tenth of the season and 13th podium, completing a weekend sweep for the South African at COTA.

With Binder gone up front, the real fight was for the remaining podium spots, where Harrison Voight (+3.440s), Joshua Hayes (+3.830s), Kayla Yaakov (+3.988s), and Mikey Lou Sanchez battled behind the runaway leader. Sanchez’s day nearly ended before it began — an ignition issue on the warm-up lap forced him to pit and start from the back of the grid. The 16-year-old Texan wasted no time working through the field on his home circuit, already up to eighth by the end of lap one after starting P26.

As the laps wound down, the lead group swapped positions repeatedly, with Voight and Hayes both running as high as second and Sanchez and Yaakov never far behind with Binder still over four seconds up the road.

At the white flag, Voight held second over Sanchez, with Hayes fourth and Yaakov fifth — the group covered by less than a second. Sanchez found a run through the Esses on the final lap and slipped past Voight down the back straight to cross the line second, with Voight recovering from a wiggle through the stadium section to hold third.

For Sanchez however, the result did not stand. Post-race technical inspection by FIMNA Stewards in Parc Fermé found Sanchez’s machine underweight, and his ensuing disqualification promoted Hayes to third — the BPR Racing Yamaha rider also turning the race’s fastest lap, a 2:13.047. Josh Herrin, Binder’s closest championship rival (+15.105s) finished seventh, ending his championship bid.

The following quote is from Race 2 winner Darryn Binder:

“Really happy. This morning I felt like I had the pace to try and get away. I got to the front as quick as I could and put my head down, opened up a little gap and just tried to manage it. I got my mom and dad here this weekend as well as my wife. To get the championship done with them here is extra special for me. I can’t thank the team enough. Everyone, Celtic, Economy Lube, Warhorse, HSBK. Thank you, guys, so much for everything this year. It’s been a real treat. Made racing fun again for me, so thank you, guys.”

Supersport Points Standings

Darryn Binder (Celtic/Economy Lube + Tire/Warhorse Ducati) — 368
Josh Herrin (Rahal Ducati Moto with Desnuda Organic Tequila) — 292
Kayla Yaakov (Rahal Ducati Moto with Droplight) — 218
Joshua Hayes (BPR Racing Yamaha) — 215
Blake Davis (Strack Racing) — 196

Mission King Of The Baggers

Harley-Davidson x Dynojet Factory Racing’s Bradley Smith won the battle in Race 2, but Hayden Gillim’s (+4.717s) runner-up finish on his J&P Cycles/Motul/Vance & Hines Factory Indian won the war for the championship. With only 50 points remaining across the final two races at New Jersey Motorsports Park, Gillim’s 54-point lead over Smith is more than the field can make up — clinching his second career Mission King Of The Baggers Championship and making him the first rider to win a title for two different manufacturers in the class.

Bradley Smith (#38) took the win in Bagger Race 2 over Hayden Gillim (#69). *Photo by Brian J. Nelson.*

SDI Racing’s Tyler O’Hara (+10.292s) rounded out the podium in third — his first podium of the season — with James Rispoli (+12.898s) fourth. Gillim’s closest championship rival on paper, teammate Troy Herfoss (+24.628s), ran with the leaders early but slid wide at Turn 16, a mistake that dropped him to fifth. Two-time and defending champion Kyle Wyman and Saturday’s third-place finisher, Rocco Landers, both went down and did not finish.

Gillim grabbed the early lead, with Smith and Herfoss forming up behind him. By the end of lap one, though, it was clear Smith had more in the tank than he’d shown a day earlier — he moved past Gillim and immediately began stretching a gap that grew past four seconds by the finish. Gillim held second the rest of the way, while O’Hara capitalized on the Wyman and Landers crashes to claim the final podium spot.

Hayden Gillim (#69) crosses the line in second place, enough to secure the 2026 Mission King Of The Baggers Championship. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.

The following quote is from 2026 Mission King Of The Baggers Champion Hayden Gillim:

“I just can’t thank the whole J&P Cycles, Motul, Vance & Hines guys enough. We didn’t get the bikes until late and got one test in before the season started, and we came out winning. To be able to finish it early is pretty special, especially against the guys that we’re racing against. Obviously, I want to win the championship right here in the middle, but Bradley — no matter if I was going for a championship or not — I think Bradley had me today. I can’t thank these guys enough. This is our second championship together, and my first one for Indian. Pretty pumped. It just shows how much work these guys put in and how good I can ride a motorcycle. I don’t like to toot my horn sometimes, but I feel like I can do a little bit right now. I can’t thank Terry and Steve and Byron and Mike — everybody enough. Man, it’s just incredible.”

The following quote is from Mission King Of The Baggers Race 2 winner Bradley Smith:

“First of all, huge shout-out to our sponsors, because I always forget — Dynojet, Rockford, K&N filters, Harley-Davidson. Second big shout-out, Vance & Hines, for the tremendous job — not only what they did at the end of last year, but when they got this product they stepped it up a level. They forced us to be better. They beat us, but we’re a hell of a lot further forward than we were this time last year. So big credit to all those guys over there — you deserve that number-one plate, enjoy it. That was awesome. To finish this way, winning out the race — I knew I could put Hayden under pressure because I knew he’d be thinking about the championship, so I stuck it in 13s for a little bit longer, got the brakes, and brought it home safe. We learned from yesterday — we made the bike a little more favorable for the hot conditions. I’m stoked. What a weekend. Going home happy.”

Mission King Of The Baggers Points Standings

Hayden Gillim (J&P Cycles/Motul/Vance & Hines Factory Indian) — 251
Bradley Smith (Harley-Davidson x Dynojet Factory Racing) — 197
Troy Herfoss (J&P Cycles/Motul/Vance & Hines Factory Indian) — 194
Kyle Wyman (Harley-Davidson x Dynojet Factory Racing) — 134
Tyler O’Hara (SDI Racing) — 132

Talent Cup

Sam Drane snapped a long dryspell in his first premier-class Talent Cup win of the year, out-dueling points leader Nathan Gouker (+0.131) in a back-and-forth battle to take Race 2 at Circuit Of The Americas.

Sam Drane (#59) held off a hard-charging Nathan Gouker in the closing laps to claim his first win of the year. *Photo by Brian J. Nelson.*

Gouker, starting from pole, jumped into the lead as the field sorted out positions through the opening laps. He began stretching a full-second gap over the chasing pack, which included Jake Paige in second and Sam Drane in third. Kensei Matsudaira (Team Roberts) ran fourth, with Sawyer Lafayette (Sawyer Lafayette Racing) fifth and Derek Sanchez (Real Steel Honda) sixth at the end of lap one. Gouker appeared to have broken clear of the group by 0.916 seconds while Drane moved past Paige for second.

In the closing laps, Drane clawed back the deficit and made the a move with four laps to go. Both riders dipped into new lap-record territory, with Gouker eventually setting the new benchmark at 2:26.001.

Gouker reclaimed the point with two laps remaining and looked set to hold on, but couldn’t find the drive out of Turn 11 on the final lap — Drane pounced before the braking zone at Turn 12 and held him off through The Stadium Section for his first win and sixth podium.

Despite missing out on the race win, Gouker’s second-place finish stretches his championship lead over Matsudaira to 18 points with one round to go. Drane’s win moves him into third overall, 79 points back, as the series heads to the season finale in New Jersey — the only title still up for grabs.

Talent Cup Points Standings

Nathan Gouker (Quarterley Racing) — 289
Kensei Matsudaira (Team Roberts) — 271
Sam Drane (Yamaha BLU CRU Estenson Racing) — 210
Jake Paige (Team Hammer) — 205
Derek Sanchez King (Real Steel Honda) — 129

Mission Super Hooligan National Championship

Championship Sunday lived up to its billing, as BPR Racing Yamaha’s Bryce Kornbau out-braked his own teammate, Andy DiBrino (+1.608), in the closing laps to win Race 2 and the 2026 title by five points. Edge Racing’s Jason Waters (+5.625) claimed his first career podium in third.

Bryce Kornbau captured the 2026 Hooligan crown at COTA. *Photo by Brian J. Nelson.*

DiBrino jumped from pole into the early lead, with Gus Rodio and Kornbau in tow — all three keenly aware the championship was on the line. The trio pulled clear of the field before Rodio made a small mistake that dropped him to seventh; he later crashed, remounted, and salvaged ninth (+35.419).

Up front, DiBrino led every lap but the one that mattered. Kornbau, who never let his teammate out of sight, set up a run onto the back straight off Turn 11. The two Yamahas ran side-by-side — each rider glancing over at the other before the drag race to Turn 12 — with DiBrino defending the inside line as long as he could. Kornbau came from the outside under braking, forcing him wide and sailing through to the win and the championship.

Rodio’s early misstep opened the door for Jason Waters and Rodio’s own teammate, Ben Gloddy (+5.662), to move into third and fourth. The two waged their own battle for the final podium spot, with Waters coming out ahead by just 0.037 seconds for his first career MotoAmerica podium. Saddlemen Race Development’s Jake Lewis (+14.154) was fifth, while ARCH Motorcycle Racing’s Michael Gilbert (+16.393) brought the bespoke machine home sixth in a strong fill-in ride to close out the team’s season. James Rispoli and Jeremy McWilliams were the race’s only DNFs.

The following quote is from 2026 Mission Super Hooligan National Champion and Race 2 winner Bryce Kornbau:

“I saw him look back on the first or second lap and I’m like, ‘Yup, I’m right here.’ Just from that moment on, I’m like, ‘How am I going to do this?’ I could tell he put in some good laps to try and break me, and I just maintained my pace and didn’t make mistakes. He dipped us back down into the 14s again. I’m like, even trying to pass him is not going to be easy. I could tell halfway through the race he started checking up a little bit — probably wanted to see if I was going to poke at him, but I was comfortable where I was at, and I decided to take my chances on the last lap to make that pass. I think we both went way, way too deep at the end of the back straight, and I was able to get it turned a little quicker and bring it home to the line. I can’t thank everybody enough — my wife, Savannah, for supporting me through all this, and my whole BPR Racing family. Hats off to Andy — he’s made me race harder than I have in a long time. I know it’s bittersweet for both of us, but I know this will help push both of us, and the team, forward. I’m just really happy with all of it.”

2026 Mission Super Hooligan National Championship Final Points:

Bryce Kornbau (BPR Racing Yamaha) — 213
Andy DiBrino (BPR Racing Yamaha) — 208
Gus Rodio (Rodio Racing) — 167
James Rispoli (Saddlemen Race Development) — 131
Jake Lewis (Saddlemen Race Development) — 122

For the full 2026 MotoAmerica schedule and tickets, CLICK HERE

For information on how to watch the MotoAmerica series, CLICK HERE

Cole Davies Stays in the 250SMX Title Fight with Moto 2 Victory at SMX Playoff 1

It was an eventful start to the SMX World Championship postseason for the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing 250 squad in Columbus, Ohio. After an unlucky first moto that saw his commanding race lead evaporate with an unfortunate DNF, Cole Davies answered back with an emphatic victory in Moto 2. Already a two-time champion this season, the 19-year-old came through with a clutch ride when he needed it, securing 10th overall with the second moto win and salvaging valuable points to keep himself firmly in the SMX title fight.

The team’s young guns also continued to impress, with Caden Dudney and Landen Gordon putting in strong rides in their first postseason appearances in the pro ranks, finishing sixth and eighth overall, respectively, to give the team three riders inside the top 10.

It was an up-and-down day for the rest of the 250 squad at Historic Crew Stadium, with Nate Thrasher rallying back from crashes in the mud to finish 12th overall. The conditions took their toll, with unlucky motos seeing Kayden Minear finish 15th overall and Pierce Brown 16th. Unfortunately, Michael Mosiman’s weekend ended early with an injury sustained in a crash during Friday’s Free Practice. And in SMX Next, a tough main event in the mud saw Carson Wood finish 19th.

After dry conditions on Friday, weather arrived on race day, wreaking havoc on the track and the schedule. With over an inch of rain on Saturday plus lightning in the area from the thunderstorms, the pro classes’ qualifying sessions were canceled and the moto lengths shortened. So the gate picks were set by the combined championship points from Supercross and Pro Motocross.

Cole Davies’ Moto 2 Victory Keeps Him in the 250SMX Title Fight

Fresh off his 250MX title, Davies entered the postseason as the top seed with 25 points and was looking to continue his championship-winning form. The New Zealander was well on his way, showing strength from the start by grabbing the holeshot in Moto 1 and quickly building a gap up front. Davies continued to set the pace in the tricky conditions, amassing a 19-second lead and lapping the field up to eighth. Then, with less than three minutes on the clock, misfortune struck. Something became lodged in his rear brake, causing a technical issue that ended his race early and left him with a 22nd-place finish.

Despite the adversity, Davies answered back with authority in Moto 2. In second after the start, he wasted no time, quickly claiming the lead and setting the pace up front in the punishing conditions. He went on to lead every lap, securing the victory by a commanding 16.5-second margin. His first SMX postseason moto win secured 10th overall and salvaged valuable points. With double the points on the line at the second playoff round, Davies is still firmly in the fight, trailing the leader by 10 points.

“Yeah, it was kind of a weird one for me today,” said Davies. “I was leading the first one by quite a bit, and unfortunately had a rock or something stuck in my rear brake, and I just fried my bike. So I DNFed that one, but I reset for Moto 2. I had the last gate pick on the far outside, but got a great start and the win in the second one. It was a good reset, and we were able to salvage what we could today. If you’re going to have something go wrong, this is the one to do it at. So we’ll reset. We have two good weekends coming up.”

Caden Dudney and Landen Gordon Earn Top-10 Finishes in SMX Playoff Debuts

A year ago, Dudney was racing SMX Next in the playoffs. This year, he was fighting for a podium finish in the pro ranks. The young rider from Texas had a strong start to the day. He was fourth after the start of Moto 1, and although he was shuffled back to sixth on the opening lap, he fought his way back through to third by the halfway mark and was in the fight for a podium finish. Unfortunately on the last lap, the rookie had a tip-over and crossed the line fifth. Then in Moto 2, Dudney found himself on the ground after the start, but showed grit and determination to charge back to eighth by the end of the 12-minute moto, securing sixth overall with his 5-8 score.

“It was a weird day, but I feel like I made the best of it,” said Dudney. “The first moto, I was up there in third and then went down on the last lap because I was trying to be cautious and just stay in third, but it ended up being worse. Then in the second moto, I was up there on the start as well, and then (Levi) Kitchen kind of hit my front tire, and I couldn’t see. I tucked the front and was dead last, but made it up to eighth and ended up sixth overall, so it was still a solid day.”

Gordon also made his pro postseason debut in Columbus, Ohio, putting in a good fight to end the day eighth overall. The Californian was 13th after the start of Moto 1 but made his way into the top five on Lap 5. Although he was shuffled back to ninth as the race wore on, Gordon kept pushing and moved up to seventh with three laps to go, where he would finish. In Moto 2, he had a good start in sixth, but a mistake dropped him back to 13th on the opening lap. He put his head down and once again worked his way forward, ultimately finishing ninth to earn a top-10 overall finish with his 7-9 score.

“It was a mediocre day in Columbus,” said Gordon. “I had a bunch of mistakes in the mud, but overall, I’m glad to come out with a few points. We’re ready for the home race next weekend!”

Challenging Conditions Make for an Eventful SMX Playoff 1 in Ohio

After getting a good start in sixth, Thrasher had a challenging first moto at SMX Playoff #1. A crash on the second lap dropped him to the back of the field and cost him time, but he rejoined the race and did what he could to work his way back through to 15th. Thrasher got another good start in Moto 2 and was eighth early. He moved into sixth in the opening laps and continued to battle but ultimately dropped back to 10th, ending the day 12th overall with a 15-10 score.

“It was a tough weekend in the mud,” said Thrasher. “There were a lot of ups and downs. I feel like my riding was okay, but I just couldn’t stay off the ground. We’ll regroup and be back next week. We’re still in the fight. We just have to bring everything we’ve got and come out swinging in LA.”

It was also an up-and-down day for Minear, who was making his postseason pro debut. The 2025 SMX Next World All-Stars Champion was 16th after the start of Moto 1 but put his head down and steadily made his way through the field, finishing eighth. Minear got a much better start in Moto 2 and was fourth on the opening lap, but a crash early in the race dropped him to the back of the field. With three laps to go, he was back through to 11th, but a technical issue in the punishing conditions ended his race, resulting in 15th overall.

“Round 1 of the SMX Playoffs was an exciting one with very hard conditions after the skies opened,” said Minear. “In the first moto, I charged from the back and got into the top 10. In the second moto, I got off to a really good start and unfortunately went down on the first lap and got stuck under the bike. I got back up and going, and the bike unfortunately had a problem, and I couldn’t finish the race.”

After being sidelined for most of the season with injury, Brown had to qualify through the 250 Wildcard LCQ, where he had a strong runner-up finish. Then, with the less-than-ideal gate pick for the first moto in the mud, he was 19th after the start of Moto 1. The Utah rider quickly made his way to 10th on the opening lap and continued to fight all moto, but ultimately finished 13th. It was a tough Moto 2, with Brown 18th after the start. Then a tip-over dropped him to the back of the field, but he worked his way back to 17th to end the day 16th overall.

“It was a tough day with two bad starts and a bunch of mistakes,” said Brown. “I don’t have much to say for the day. I had some bike issues in Moto 2, and it was a struggle, but we’re going to put our best foot forward and really put our best effort into the last two. We’ve got double and triple points coming up.”

Unfortunately, Mosiman’s weekend ended early with a broken collarbone from a crash in Friday’s free practice. The Californian will undergo further evaluation, with an update to follow.

In SMX Next, Carson Wood qualified third, but after a bad start, it was a challenging main event for the young rider in the muddy conditions, and he ultimately finished 19th.

“Qualifying was fun while it was raining, and when it stopped, the track got gnarly for sure,” said Wood. “I had one too many dirt samples, but there’s no such thing as a bad day. There’s always something to learn. We’ll see you in LA.”

Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing leaves the opening playoff round with four riders inside the top 10 of the 250SMX Championship standings. Davies sits third in the points, with Thrasher sixth, and Dudney and Minear following in succession, sitting seventh and eighth, respectively.

“Overall, we’re pretty happy with the first round of the SMX Playoffs,” said Jensen Hendler, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s 250 Team Manager. “It’s pretty clear Cole Davies was the best guy. It was sad to see him have a rough Moto 1, but to come back out and win Moto 2 was amazing. And to leave here with three guys in the top 10 overall was awesome.

“Coming from a team that’s used to winning these races regularly, we know that the points structure in the playoff series makes it most important to be strong at the end. So to leave the first one with four guys in the top 10, we’re pretty happy.”

The Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing team heads west this weekend looking to make the most of double points on the line at SMX Playoff #2 held at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California, on September 19.

Haiden Deegan Earns First 450 Win in Dominant Fashion in Ohio

Haiden Deegan is accustomed to winning. So while the objective was to learn and build at each round this summer in his debut aboard the YZ450F, the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing rider wanted that first win. He continued to work towards it, and it was mission accomplished at the first SMX Playoff round in Columbus, Ohio. Deegan not only earned his first moto win, but followed it up with another one in Moto 2, securing his first premier-class overall victory in dominant fashion. His teammate Cooper Webb also had a strong finish, rebounding from ninth in Moto 1 to finish third in Moto 2 and end the day fourth overall.

Both riders showed strong pace from the start of the weekend, with Deegan and Webb 1-2 in the second free practice session on Friday, but a storm was coming. On Saturday, it was a completely different track inside Historic Crew Stadium. Thunderstorms soaked the track and ultimately canceled the qualifying sessions earlier in the day and shortened the motos. The gate picks were then set by the combined championship points from Supercross and Pro Motocross, with Webb third and Deegan getting the sixth gate pick.

After that first gate drop, Deegan got a great start in the runner-up spot. He then wasted little time to claim the lead, making the pass in those opening laps and setting the pace up front to build a comfortable gap. The rookie continued to lead the way, weaving his way through lapped riders in the tricky conditions and earning his first moto victory aboard the YZ450F by 17 seconds.

“I don’t think you guys understand how bad I wanted this,” Deegan said about that first moto win. “I’ve been working my butt off, grinding these last two weeks, and two weeks can make a lot of difference. I know it was a mud race, but man, I felt good. The job’s not finished. We’ve got one more; this is just the start.”

True to his word, Deegan went back out and got the job done. This time, he grabbed the holeshot, and despite being under pressure early from Ken Roczen, he rode his own race. The six-time 250-class champion led every lap and eventually rode away to another dominant victory, with the 1-1 moto score also securing his first premier-class overall win.

“Today was really good,” said Deegan. “The rain came in, so they canceled qualifying this morning. We went off the seeded positions, and due to not racing Supercross on a 450, I had the sixth gate pick. I got two amazing starts today, and just had to fight in a mud race.

“I can’t even express how happy I am right now. It’s such a weight off my shoulders. You dream of moments like this, and I’m so grateful to get it done.”

In the first moto, Webb was 11th after the start and made his way through to seventh by the second lap. He continued to battle for position inside the top 10, and ultimately finished ninth. In Moto 2, Webb was ninth after the start but charged to fourth early and moved into third on Lap 2. The three-time 450SX Champion continued to fight all moto, and although he was passed after the halfway mark, he regained third on the following lap and rode on to earn the podium finish and end the day fourth overall.

“The first SMX playoff was crazy,” said Webb. “It was beautiful yesterday, sunny and with an awesome track, then it dumped and rained all day, and it was an absolute mudder. So, it was a crazy day. The first one for me didn’t go that great. I just kind of missed the mark on some things and didn’t ride great in the moto, but it was a great rebound for the second one. I got a much better start and rode really well. I had a good battle with (Jorge) Prado and ended up on the podium that moto for fourth overall. So I’m happy with a solid day. And in the mud, you never know what can happen, so I’m happy we salvaged it. Hopefully, we can keep this momentum rolling and have a good series here. We’ll get back to Florida this week and keep working.”

“It was surreal with the weird schedule and everything going on, but fantastic for us to go 1-1 and with Coop getting on the podium in the second race,” said Wil Hahn, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s 450 Team Manager. “We’re in the fight and have a chance to go 1-2 in this series, and that’s what we want to do.”

Deegan heads to his home state ranked second in the 450SMX Championship, just two points from the top spot. His teammate Webb is right behind him in third, four points from the leader. With double points on the line at SMX Playoff 2, the team is looking to keep the momentum rolling as racing resumes on September 19 at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.

Wayne Matlock Wins Baja 400 in Polaris RZR Pro R Factory, Claims $50,000 Polaris SCORE Challenge

Polaris continued its dominance in SCORE series this past weekend, sweeping the UTV Overall podium at the 7th SCORE Baja 400. Piloting his Polaris RZR Pro R Factory to the UTV Overall win, Wayne Matlock claimed Polaris’ $50,000 SCORE Challenge prize purse. Joining Matlock on the podium with a second-place finish was RZR Factory Racing Team driver Ethan Groom and Dallas Gonzalez, who rounded out the all-RZR Pro R Factory podium sweep with a third-place finish.

Behind Matlock, Groom delivered another strong performance for the RZR Factory Racing Team. Starting third in Pro UTV Open, Groom battled throughout the day to secure second overall, while Gonzalez followed in third to give Polaris a clean sweep of the UTV Overall podium and further showcase the performance, durability and depth of Polaris’ purpose-built race platform.

Announced in July, the SCORE Challenge was created to raise the level of competition within the UTV Pro class, offering a $50,000 prize to any eligible UTV racer who could defeat the RZR Factory Racing team and capture the UTV Overall victory. Matlock answered the challenge, adding Baja 400 to his decorated off-road racing career.

“Wayne put together an incredible race, and we couldn’t think of a more deserving competitor to be the first to claim the Polaris SCORE Challenge,” said Alex Scheuerell, Polaris’ Director of Off-Road Motorsports. “We created this challenge to raise the stakes and fuel competition, and Wayne did exactly that. To see him earn the victory and the $50,000 prize aboard a RZR Pro R Factory, while Ethan and Dallas completed an all-RZR Pro R Factory podium, speaks volumes about the strength of this vehicle and the racers who continue to push it to its limits.”

The podium sweep further underscores the growing presence of the RZR Pro R Factory race vehicle across off-road racing, extending well beyond Polaris’ factory-backed RZR Factory Racing team. Developed from the same platform that has powered RZR Factory Racing to victories across the sport’s most demanding desert races, the purpose-built race vehicle is increasingly being chosen by independent racers looking to compete at the front of the field. That growing adoption was on full display at this year’s Baja 400, with RZR Pro R Factory machines securing five of the top ten finishing positions.

The Polaris RZR Factory Racing team will return to action at the Baja 1000, November 9-15, as it looks to finish the SCORE season with a win in arguably the toughest off-road race in the world.

To learn more, please visit Polaris.com/RZR or join the conversation and follow on Facebook sm, Instagram sm, YouTube sm and Xsm.

Additional menu