MotoAmerica previews round four, scheduled for June 26-28 at Ridge Motorsports Park in Shelton, Washington.
Photos by Brian J. Nelson
This is a press release/race preview from MotoAmerica…
Irvine, CA (June 18, 2026) – A state famous for craft coffee roasters, grunge music, and volcanoes is about to experience a different kind of energy and seismic rumble. The Quad Lock Superbike Championship makes its highly anticipated annual stop at Ridge Motorsports Park on June 26-28, bringing 200-plus horsepower machines to the dense coniferous forests of Shelton, Washington.
The 2.47-mile counter-clockwise layout delivers a relentless, technical workout, packing 16 turns and 300 feet of elevation change into each lap. The circuit demands ultimate precision, highlighted by a blistering half-mile-long front straight, heavy braking zones, a sweeping edge-grip-challenging carousel, and rapid transitions with elevation change.
Quad Lock Superbike & Superbike Cup
Success at the Washington circuit demands an impeccable chassis setup. Unlike the wide-open nature of the previous round, this is a track that throws a massive challenge directly at the top speed merchants, shifting the advantage to those who can carry immense rolling momentum through the corners.
The unique layout alters the dynamic for current championship points leader, Sean Dylan Kelly. While the Floridian and his OrangeCat Racing BMW M 1000 RR have optimized their high-speed stability to muscle ahead in the standings, they must now adapt to a tighter, faster-steering environment. To defend his narrow advantage, Kelly will need to lean on a smooth, calculated approach to perfectly spot hidden apexes and manage the Beemer’s brute force out of the technical exits.
Hot on his heels in the standings is South African standout Mathew Scholtz, sitting in a prime striking position in second place, just a single point back. Competing for Strack Racing aboard the Yamaha YZF-R1, the multi-time Superbike race winner feels right at home on layouts that favor nimble handling over outright horsepower. Scholtz’s fierce corner-entry style and extensive history with the R1 platform make him a devastating threat on a circuit that heavily rewards side-grip and momentum.
Mathew Scholtz struggled slightly at the previous round and aims to reclaim the points lead at Ridge Motorsports Park. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Much like Scholtz, the powerhouse teammates of Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing will be looking to capitalize on the handling prowess of the Yamaha YZF-R1 in the technical sectors. Currently third in points, Bobby Fong brings an explosive, aggressive riding style that could yield high rewards over the track’s dramatic crests. Right behind him in fourth is JD Beach, whose dirt-track heritage gives him a masterful ability to back his Yamaha YZF-R1 into tight corners and slide through rapid transitions.
Sitting fifth in the championship hunt is Cameron Petersen, who looks to assert himself at the sharp end of the field aboard the Wrench Motorcycles Ducati Panigale V4 R. Coming off a race one win at Road America, the South African is the only active rider in the class with a Ridge win to his name, and he has podiumed a total of five times in his career at the circuit.
The deep grid features plenty of spoiler talent capable of turning the weekend upside down. The hungry pack includes M4 ECSTAR Suzuki teammates Richie Escalante and Brandon Paasch, both pushing their Suzuki GSX-R1000R Superbikes to find maximum consistency.
One of the big stories heading into round four is that Warhorse HSBK Ducati Flo4Law rider Cameron Beaubier, who underwent shoulder surgery after his Road America race one crash, will be out for an indefinite amount of time. Already at a 59-point deficit, it likely spells the end of his championship defense in 2026, even if he does return to racing later this season. The team has enlisted the services of their former Superbike rider Loris Baz, beginning with the upcoming round in the Evergreen State.
Rahal Ducati Moto with XPEL rider PJ Jacobsen is another rider who has had a challenging start to his season. The 32-year-old New Yorker reversed his fortunes at the previous round by capturing his first podium of the season. The breakthrough performance signals a dramatic turnaround in luck and velocity. Expect Jacobsen to maintain this upward trajectory at Ridge Motorsports Park, acting as a prime championship disruptor as he fights for wins.
Showing upward momentum, the red wing of the Real Steel Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP ridden by Hayden Gillim is beginning to take flight. Watch for the Kentuckian to continue his rise towards a podium finish as he has continuously improved the package and is knocking on the door of the top five.
Meanwhile, Superbike Cup leader Andrew Lee will try to continue his success and keep his Real Steel Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP at the top of the Superbike Cup standings.
Chandler Named Grand Marshal
As the season-long celebration of “50 Years Of Superbike Racing” continues, MotoAmerica is honoring three-time AMA Superbike Champion Doug Chandler as the Grand Marshal for the race weekend at Ridge. An absolute legend of American motorcycle racing, “DC-10” is one of only four riders in history to achieve the prestigious AMA Grand Slam—capturing national victories across a mile, half-mile, short track, TT, and a road race. Best known for his clinical execution aboard his iconic, green #10 Muzzy Kawasaki ZX-7RR, Chandler claimed his titles in 1990, 1996, and 1997 before representing the United States at the absolute pinnacle of the sport in the 500cc Grand Prix World Championship. The AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame inductee is a perfect selection to usher in the Superbike podium celebrations over the weekend, cementing his legacy not just as a champion, but as one of the most versatile and respected icons the sport has ever known.
Showdown On The Sound: Four Feature Classes Join Superbike Stars In The PNW
Supersport, Talent Cup, The Mission Super Hooligan National Championship, And Royal Enfield Build.Train.Race. Coming To Ridge Motorsports Park
Four classes of racing set course for Ridge Motorsports Park to begin MotoAmerica’s critical mid-season, West Coast swing on June 26-28. The technical, 2.47-mile counter-clockwise road course shifts the paradigm for the feature class grids. Absent the sprawling drafting opportunities of the faster tracks, finding success in the Evergreen State demands razor-sharp handling and the pure bravery needed to negotiate the tricky, 50-foot “waterfall” known as the Ridge Complex.
Supersport
Middleweight racing at Ridge turns into an exhausting, high-G athletic workout where corner speed and tire management are paramount. Without the long straightaways to rely on a slipstream, success hinges on stringing together a highly technical rhythm through the track’s undulating turn sequences.
Following a dominant double-victory performance at Road America, South African star Darryn Binder has streaked clear at the top of the standings. Binder and his Celtic/Economy Lube + Tire/Warhorse team have displayed stellar form, but his Ducati Panigale V2 will face an immediate trial by fire from former champion Josh Herrin. The Californian, piloting the Rahal Ducati Moto with Desnuda Organic Tequila Ducati Panigale V2, is desperate to halt Binder’s momentum after a costly final-lap miscue at the previous round.
The chasing pack remains completely ruthless. Look for Rahal Ducati Moto with Droplight’s Kayla Yaakov to leverage her undeniable speed—bolstered by multiple pole positions—as the teenager hunts for her first career Supersport victory aboard her Ducati Panigale V2. Ready to crash the Ducati festa is M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Tyler Scott, whose high-revving Suzuki GSX-R750 is fully capable of carving through the inner loops, while Strack Racing Yamaha’s Blake Davis aims to maximize his YZF-R9’s chassis compliance to put himself right back on the podium.
MotoAmerica Talent Cup
The next generation of global road racing stars takes to the grid in Talent Cup, bringing a fiercely competitive field of young racers out West. Running on equal machinery, these riders leave zero margin for error in an environment that heavily values roll speed and fluid momentum.
Team Roberts’ Kensei Matsudaira is currently tied for the points lead with Quarterley Racing’s Nathan Gouker, who is coming off a double win in the most recent Talent Cup race at Barber and aims to turn that momentum into an outright championship lead.
Meanwhile, Team Hammer’s Jake Paige continues to show front-running race craft, preparing for a multi-rider dogfight where a single mistake on the technical asphalt can instantly derail a championship campaign.
Mission Super Hooligan National Championship
The Mission Super Hooligan National Championship brings its visceral presence to the Pacific Northwest. These are big-bore twins, triple-cylinder naked bikes, and high-performance streetfighters being wrestled around a track that was never meant for wide, flat handlebars. Managing the sheer torque and atypical front-end physics of these machines is a flat-out survival test.
Gus Rodio leads the class into Washington State following a dominant double-victory at Barber Motorsports Park. Riding the Rodio Racing Ducati Streetfighter V2, Rodio faces heavy pressure from a highly competitive chasing pack. Just seven points behind Rodio is defending class champion James Rispoli aboard his Saddlemen Race Development Harley-Davidson Pan America and veteran Josh Herrin gaining speed on the all-electric OrangeCat Racing Lightfighter V3-RH.
Robertino Pietri continues his upward climb aboard the COATZYMOTO-LATIN WE Yamaha XSR900. Meanwhile, BPR Racing Yamaha teammates Bryce Kornbau and Pacific Northwest-native Andy DiBrino are making significant progress aboard their triple-cylinder Yamaha MT-09 SP machines. Finally, ARCH Racing continues to advance its bespoke, V-twin 2s-R race machine, guided by the highly skilled duo of Corey Alexander and Jeremy McWilliams.
Royal Enfield Build.Train.Race.
The inspiring and highly competitive Royal Enfield Build.Train.Race. (BTR) program brings its unique flavor of grassroots engineering and high-stakes racing to Shelton. Highlighting the mechanical aptitude and racing talent of women who race-prepped their own Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 motorcycles before lining up on the grid, the program’s championship battle is tightening significantly after the midway point of the season.
Jasmine Noelle carries the points lead and maximum momentum into the weekend as the primary target for the field. Close on her heels is the tactically sharp Brazilian rider Tati Paze, while Brianna Cutler remains poised to disrupt the order at the front. Navigating Ridge on the twin-cylinder machines will require incredibly smooth, precise riding inputs to maximize mid-corner velocity and keep the momentum moving forward through the technical gaps.
For more information, visit www.motoamerica.com
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