MotoAmerica racers and their teams are preparing for the iconic WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca round on July 10-12.
Photos by Brian J. Nelson
This is a race preview from MotoAmerica…
Where Legends Rise: MotoAmerica’s 50-Year Superbike Celebration Rolls Into Monterey Peninsula
Quad Lock Superbike Championship Heats Up At Halfway Point
The legendary hills of WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca come alive once again as MotoAmerica returns to the Golden State for the next round of the Quad Lock Superbike Championship. Fresh off the United States’ 250th anniversary celebration, MotoAmerica continues its season-long salute to “50 Years of Superbike Racing” at one of the championship’s most historic venues and a bucket-list destination for motorsports fans around the world.
The world-renowned 11-turn, 2.238-mile road course carved into the scenic hills of the Monterey Peninsula has hosted generations of legendary battles and now serves as the next proving ground in one of the closest Quad Lock Superbike title fights in recent memory. Laguna Seca’s relentless sequence of corners demands precision from start to finish. From the technical Andretti Hairpin to the dramatic plunge through the Corkscrew and the sweeping Rainey Curve, every section challenges riders physically while rewarding absolute commitment.
Quad Lock Superbike And Superbike Cup
Mathew Scholtz heads into Laguna Seca holding a slim five-point championship lead aboard his Strack Racing Yamaha YZF-R1. Renowned for his high corner speeds and fluid riding style, the South African has a proven track record of success at the iconic California circuit. Maintaining the title lead marks a resilient campaign for Scholtz and his crew, who have already overcome an opening-round mechanical failure and a challenging weekend at Road America.
Sean Dylan Kelly surrendered the championship lead following Race 1 at Ridge Motorsports Park but answered in spectacular fashion by charging from seventh to victory in Race 2, taking the lead in the closing corners of the final lap. Now just five points behind Scholtz, the 24-year-old arrives with momentum aboard the OrangeCat Racing BMW M 1000 RR, a machine well suited to Laguna Seca’s demanding layout.
Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing’s JD Beach continues to build momentum. After suffering a mechanical DNF in the season opener at Road Atlanta, the 33-year-old has not finished outside the top five. With three podiums, including one victory, Beach sits third in the championship, 34 points behind Scholtz as the series approaches its halfway mark.
Beach’s teammate Bobby Fong remains firmly in contention, holding fourth in the standings while consistently adding podium finishes entering his home state round.
Wrench Motorcycle’s Cameron Petersen hopes Laguna Seca provides the spark following a difficult weekend at Ridge Motorsports Park. While the South African’s Ducati Panigale V4 R is an older package, it remains the only Ducati to have claimed a Quad Lock Superbike victory this season.
An intrasquad battle continues at M4 Ecstar Suzuki as Richie Escalante holds sixth in the championship with 65 points, narrowly ahead of teammate Brandon Paasch at 59. Although they share the same team transporter, neither rider is willing to surrender championship positions—or team bragging rights.
In Superbike Cup, Real Steel Honda’s Andrew Lee has dominated aboard the Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP. The Californian has been the top Superbike Cup finisher in seven of the eight races this season, with his only runner-up result coming in Race 2 at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta. Lee carries an 84-point championship lead into his home round.
Eddie Lawson And Bubba Shobert Named Co-Grand Marshals
MotoAmerica’s celebration of “50 Years of Superbike Racing” continues with two of the sport’s greatest champions serving as co-grand marshals for Laguna Seca. Eddie Lawson and Bubba Shobert represent two defining eras of American Superbike competition, combining for three AMA Superbike championships while helping shape one of the richest legacies in motorcycle racing.
A true icon of world championship racing, Eddie Lawson returns to the Monterey, California circuit as a two-time AMA Superbike champion after capturing consecutive titles in 1981 and 1982. Known around the world as “Steady Eddie” for his remarkable precision and consistency, Lawson used his domestic success as the launching pad to four 500cc Grand Prix World Championships. The AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer remains one of the most accomplished American riders in history, making his return to Laguna Seca a fitting tribute during Superbike racing’s golden anniversary.
Joining Lawson is 1988 AMA Superbike champion Bubba Shobert, whose remarkable versatility earned him a place among America’s all-time greats. The Texas native paired his Superbike championship with three consecutive AMA Grand National dirt track titles from 1985-1987, becoming one of the select few riders to complete the prestigious AMA Grand Slam.
Inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1998, Shobert’s achievements across multiple disciplines embody the fearless spirit that defined a generation of American motorcycle racing, making him an ideal co-ambassador.
Dunlop Hot Pit Walk And Autograph Session
The ever-popular Dunlop Hot Pit Walk and Autograph Session will feature an absolute powerhouse lineup of past Superbike Champions. From 1981 to 1988, these four icons completely dominated the sport, capturing every single Superbike title and passing the coveted number-1 plate exclusively among themselves.
Don’t miss this rare opportunity to get autographs and photos with MotoAmerica President and three-time 500cc World Champion Wayne Rainey, alongside three-time AMA Superbike Champion Fred Merkel as he returns to Monterey as a special guest. Joining them to sign autographs and complete this all-star quartet are co-grand marshals and fellow racing legends Eddie Lawson and Bubba Shobert.
Be sure to attend the Dunlop Hot Pit Walk and Autograph Session, located directly on pit lane, from 12:30 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. on Saturday, and from 10:45 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. on Sunday.
MotoAmerica Feature Classes Winding Up For The Corkscrew
Supersport, Mission King Of The Baggers, Talent Cup, and Mission Super Hooligan National Championship Set To Uncork Exciting Race Weekend
Monterey, CA (July 8, 2026) – Four highly competitive feature classes prepare to storm the iconic WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca on July 10-12, serving as the crucial feature class lineup beside MotoAmerica’s premier Superbike stars.
Racers and their teams are preparing for the legendary 2.238-mile natural road course cut directly into the coastal California hills. Success at this legendary racecourse demands flawless technical execution, extreme bravery, and absolute mastery of the world-famous plunge from the top of the Corkscrew.
Supersport
Middleweight racing arrives in Monterey with a rapidly tightening championship narrative. Josh Herrin completely halted the breakaway momentum of his primary rival by executing a spectacular double-victory performance at Ridge Motorsports Park. Driving a wedge into the standings, Herrin and his Rahal Ducati Moto with Desnuda Organic Tequila team maximized their Ducati Panigale V2 to close the gap to just 24 points.
Championship leader Darryn Binder remains the central target. Binder secured a pair of fighting second-place finishes at the previous round for the Celtic/Economy Lube + Tire/Warhorse squad. Meanwhile, M4 Ecstar Suzuki’s Tyler Scott sits third in the championship and is fresh off a brilliant Race 2 podium finish aboard his high-revving Suzuki GSX-R750.
Currently fourth in points with six podiums aboard her Rahal Ducati Moto with Droplight Ducati Panigale V2, Kayla Yaakov is still chasing her first Supersport win. Fresh off World Ducati Week in Italy, the female phenom is still buzzing from riding Marc Márquez’s MotoGP-spec Ducati Desmosedici GP26, Nicolò Bulega’s WorldSBK Panigale V4 R, and consulting with two-time MotoGP champion Casey Stoner. She aims to channel that world-class experience into a front-running performance this weekend.
Supersport Championship Top 3:
- Darryn Binder – 193 points | Celtic/Economy Lube + Tire/Warhorse (Ducati Panigale V2)
- Josh Herrin – 169 points | Rahal Ducati Moto with Desnuda Organic Tequila (Ducati Panigale V2)
- Tyler Scott – 136 points | M4 Ecstar Suzuki (Suzuki GSX-R750)
Mission King Of The Baggers
After sitting out the previous West Coast round, the thunderous giants of the Mission King Of The Baggers class make their highly anticipated return to action at Laguna Seca. This category features high-performance touring motorcycles delivering massive torque numbers that make them a true handful around the undulating Monterey asphalt.
Hayden Gillim commands the division after delivering a dominant double victory during the series’ last outing at Road America. Piloting his J&P Cycles/Motul/Vance & Hines Factory Indian Challenger, Gillim leads the factory Indian one-two punch at the top of the points standings. He is closely pursued by teammate Troy Herfoss and Harley-Davidson x Dynojet Factory Racing’s Bradley Smith, who pilots the leading factory Harley-Davidson Road Glide entry.
King Of The Baggers Championship Top 3:
- Hayden Gillim – 132 points | J&P Cycles/Motul/Vance & Hines Factory Indian (Indian Challenger)
- Troy Herfoss – 107 points | J&P Cycles/Motul/Vance & Hines Factory Indian (Indian Challenger)
- Bradley Smith – 91 points | Harley-Davidson x Dynojet Factory Racing (Harley-Davidson Road Glide)
Talent Cup
The global stars of tomorrow bring their closely matched, spec-machinery dogfight to Northern California, where razor-thin margins dictate the championship path. Running identical lightweight platforms puts a premium on absolute corner speed, momentum, and unflinching braveness.
Nathan Gouker has broken clear of what was a deadlocked points tie. The Quarterley Racing standout put on a masterclass performance at Ridge Motorsports Park, securing a clean sweep of both races to stretch his margin at the top.
Team Roberts rider Kensei Matsudaira remains in second after keeping the pressure alive with a runner-up finish in Race 2, while Team Hammer’s Jake Paige rounds out the leading trio following a hard-fought Sunday podium appearance.
Talent Cup Championship Top 3:
- Nathan Gouker – 181 points | Quarterley Racing
- Kensei Matsudaira – 167 points | Team Roberts
- Jake Paige – 114 points | Team Hammer
Mission Super Hooligan National Championship
Wrestling big-bore naked bikes, streetfighters, and atypical twins through the elevation changes of Laguna Seca remains one of the ultimate tests of physical strength on the calendar. Managing the visceral torque and unique dynamics of these wide-handlebar street machines turns every lap into a pure survival drill.
Despite the challenge, Gus Rodio continues to steady the ship at the front of the title standings on his Rodio Racing Ducati Streetfighter V2. Defending champion James Rispoli maintains an extremely close second place for Saddlemen Race Development aboard the Harley-Davidson Pan America.
Pacific Northwest hero Andy DiBrino brought himself back into the title picture by capturing victory in Race 2 at his home round of Ridge Motorsports Park. The Oregon native looks faster at each round aboard his BPR Racing Yamaha MT-09 SP, and looks to continue the points climb in California.
Meanwhile, the Arch Motorcycle Racing team continues to showcase its growing competitive edge as the team prepares for the upcoming round. Following a milestone performance that yielded a double podium—highlighted by a Race 1 win from rider Corey Alexander—the team aims to further validate the capabilities of the American-built ARCH 2s-R motorcycle on the national stage.
The competitive intensity at Laguna Seca will be cranked up a notch this weekend as the Remix Racing Project, led by Super Hooligan racer Jeremy Taubman and co-founder Shanea Makinson, raise the stakes through a strategic partnership with Roland Sands Design and MotoAmerica.
Truth Be Told Apparel will back a lucrative cash purse for both Mission Super Hooligan National Championship races, awarding $1,000 for first, $750 for second, and $500 for third place. Beyond the podium, the initiative is leveraging the energy of the sport to launch its “Motorcycles & Mental Health” fan zone activation, connecting attendees directly with vital mental health resources.
Super Hooligan Championship Top 3:
- Gus Rodio – 93 points | Rodio Racing (Ducati Streetfighter V2)
- James Rispoli – 88 points | Saddlemen Race Development (Harley-Davidson Pan America)
- Andy DiBrino – 78 points | BPR Racing Yamaha (Yamaha MT-09 SP)
For more information, visit https://www.motoamerica.com/
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