PressBox, Author at NXTbets Inc

June 4, 2026

Quartararo says Yamaha abandoned V4 development, halting upgrades

Fabio Quartararo has openly accused Yamaha of abandoning development of its new V4 MotoGP machine and said the bike remains “the same as it was in September 2025,” blaming a lack of reaction from the factory for his slide in form and a growing strain in relations. He said he does not expect a meaningful response from Yamaha this season after the late switch to the V4 layout, conceded “there is no point in always being angry,” and also downplayed any permanent damage to his relationship with the manufacturer while expressing gratitude toward Yamaha.

Quartararo identified grip and persistent front-end feel problems as the central factors undermining his results, and also flagged issues with turning, top speed, acceleration, cornering and aerodynamics. He said he had been faster at Le Mans and Catalunya when using Yamaha’s earlier front wing but expects few short-term fixes, adding “it’s going to be a long six months.” The criticism followed a difficult Mugello weekend where Quartararo scored no points and finished 18th, Jack Miller was 15th, Toprak Razgatlıoğlu 16th and Alex Rins crashed after qualifying for Q2. Reports vary on his championship position, with sources placing him 14th or 15th in the standings and one report listing 37 points, and he is on course for his lowest-ever season finish.

Yamaha has reallocated many resources toward a 2027 development project and the incoming 850cc era, a shift the factory says helps explain the dip in current-season competitiveness. Team principal Paolo Pavesio said “Balaton Park will reveal a lot about our potential,” casting the Hungarian round as a near-term test of whether Yamaha can stabilise performance while its long-term programme advances. Media reports also link Quartararo to a move to Honda next season, but that transfer has not been officially confirmed.
More
June 4, 2026

Teams exploit FIA actuator-loophole after active-aero ban at Monaco

F1 teams exploited the rear-wing actuator housing loophole at the Monaco Grand Prix to add fixed winglets after the FIA banned active aero and straight mode for the weekend. With movable aero unavailable for an entire race weekend for the first time since DRS was introduced in 2011, teams turned the small rectangular actuator housings into packaging zones for fixed aerodynamic elements aimed at recovering downforce on the tight, high-downforce Monte Carlo layout.

Teams replaced or reworked conventional rear-wing actuators with clusters of small winglets and cascading elements that fit inside FIA-defined legality boxes, effectively reusing the actuator housing to regain some aerodynamic control while remaining lawful. Mercedes and Red Bull led visible examples: Mercedes removed its actuator and fitted a radical arrangement that included a mainplane-mounted pylon with a trio of cascading winglets, additional banks of winglets and Gurney flaps, while Red Bull retained its actuator pod and modified it to carry two winglets enclosed by endplates. Cadillac removed the actuator entirely, Racing Bulls converted the housing into a single tab with an added Gurney flap, and McLaren deployed a comparable approach. Reports vary on Ferrari’s role, with some accounts saying it had not yet taken advantage of the actuator-housing area and others listing Ferrari among teams with cascading elements.

The added winglets were intended to produce cleaner incoming airflow and increased upwash, enlarging the low-pressure field and, when linked to the diffuser, increasing suction and underfloor airflow to boost downforce. Because Monaco’s low cornering speeds reduce the drag penalty, teams chased so-called “dirty downforce” to improve traction and acceleration. Technical commentators framed the work as classic marginal-gain engineering: a tactical, rapid response to a one-off rule change that exploited permitted packaging zones and actuation points rather than a wholesale rewrite of aerodynamic rules. PlanetF1 described the installations as aerodynamic workarounds prompted by the temporary ban, and teams across the grid adapted quickly to optimize lap time for Monaco’s low-speed, tight-circuit environment.
More
June 4, 2026

Rear tyre degradation forces Bagnaia, Marquez to ease off late Mugello

Francesco Bagnaia and Ducati reported clear technical progress this season, driven by electronics tweaks and balance changes that improved starts and front-end feeling. Bagnaia said Ducati were “getting closer” to fixing poor race starts and credited a package of changes introduced since the start of the season, including modified electronics and substantial balance adjustments. He welcomed the removal of some launch-control devices on safety and electronics grounds and said electronics tweaks at Mugello improved off-the-line pace, though he added that starts had weakened compared with 2024. He described the team as having “lost their way” last year and said Ducati had steadily progressed since the Jerez tests. He expected other teams to follow similar development paths but cautioned Ducati remained vulnerable compared with Honda, which he identified as having the best race starts, and acknowledged Aprilia’s systems progress.

On track, balance changes helped immediately. Bagnaia said shifting his weight forward restored front-end feeling, a set-up tweak he highlighted in an Inside Ducati video and in parc fermé comments to crew chief Cristian Gabarrini. The change helped him lead the opening half of the Italian Grand Prix at Mugello, including ten laps at the front, and secure a third-place finish — his first on-track podium of the season and his first consecutive podiums in nearly 12 months. He held off late pressure from Ai Ogura after Ogura posted a rapid penultimate lap, and he battled Aprilia riders Marco Bezzecchi and Jorge Martin during the race.

Bagnaia and others suffered high rear-tyre wear late in the race. He described rear grip as “the only thing I’m lacking,” and reports from Mugello showed rear degradation forced both Bagnaia and Marc Marquez to drop pace, with Marquez saying he “gave up with 10 laps to go.” The pattern underlined that front-end gains boosted early race pace but rear tyre life remained a limiting factor.

The Mugello result and the technical steps set up a challenging run of races. Ducati sporting director Gigi Dall’Igna praised Bagnaia’s aggressive early pace on LinkedIn, calling him a “braveheart,” and framed Ducati as resilient despite Aprilia’s early dominance this season. Bagnaia arrived at the Balaton round off the Mugello podium but called Balaton Park unfavourable, saying the circuit was “from riches to rags” and “by far the ugliest one that exists,” and noted the event would not return there next season. Balaton was identified as a test of race craft and strategy after a ninth-place finish there the previous year. Ducati’s recent technical progress had closed some gaps, but persistent rear-tyre wear and grip shortfalls remained the key hurdles to consistent victories.
More
June 4, 2026

Aston Martin frames Newey’s Monaco visit as short-term return

Adrian Newey is expected to return to the Monaco Grand Prix paddock this weekend, a development that Aston Martin framed as a near-term resumption of his visible leadership after an extended absence. The 67-year-old technical chief and team principal was due to arrive in Monaco on Thursday evening and rejoin team activities during the race weekend. Aston Martin has said Newey will not attend every round and has already delegated most trackside team-principal duties to chief trackside officer Mike Krack, who said, “I think we’ll see him this weekend.” Team owner Lawrence Stroll publicly reaffirmed Newey’s team principal and Managing Technical Partner role in March, and PlanetF1 reported Newey would attend additional events later in the season.

Newey had been absent from the paddock since the season-opening Australian Grand Prix in March and remained at the Aston Martin factory working on debugging the AMR26 during that time. His prolonged absence prompted varying reports about his health, with widespread coverage suggesting a stress-related illness, some reports saying the illness required hospitalization, and the Daily Mail claiming he had been hospitalized with pneumonia. Aston Martin declined to confirm the Daily Mail report, saying it does not comment on personal matters. The team has described the Monaco visit as a short-term return to trackside rather than a definitive full-time comeback.

The timing of Newey’s return carries performance and leadership implications for Aston Martin. Newey has taken a prominent presence in his new role since his appointment ahead of the 2026 season and has led the search for a long-term technical successor, with Jonathan Wheatley identified as the prime candidate. Aston Martin and new engine partner Honda struggled early in the season with severe vibrations and lack of pace; Honda introduced countermeasures that eliminated the vibration issue and helped the team finish at least one car in each of the last three races. Krack said Newey’s experience and past success at Monaco could offer useful advice, but the update does not settle questions about the underlying illness reports or Newey’s long-term attendance plans.
More
June 4, 2026

Larson’s 3.411s Red Cedar win is 4th-largest in series

Kyle Larson added a dominant feature win at Red Cedar Speedway in Menomonie, Wisconsin, taking the 30-lap 410 sprint car main after starting on the front row beside Brent Marks and getting around pole sitter Marks at the start. Larson worked through lapped traffic beginning on Lap 4, extended his margin during a 19-lap green-flag stretch and had built roughly a 10-second lead with 13 laps remaining. Accounts differ on what erased that advantage: one reported a caution on Lap 24 that set up a six-lap dash, while another said a flat tire for Aaron Reutzel earlier in the running removed Larson’s cushion. Larson held off the late restart to win by 3.411 seconds — the fourth-largest margin in series history.

The Red Cedar victory was Larson’s second straight in the Roto-Rooter Midweek Series, his fourth High Limit Racing win of the season and the 13th High Limit Racing victory of his career. Brent Marks finished second for the third straight night, Justin Peck was third after a poor late restart, and Tyler Courtney and Giovanni Scelzi completed the top five. Earlier at Davenport Speedway, Larson recorded a similar dominant effort, celebrated in victory lane, paid tribute to Kyle Busch and fended off late challenges from Marks, Brady Bacon and Aaron Reutzel. The Davenport finish featured a four-wide parade lap with Larson, Marks, Bacon and Reutzel, and the event drew a deep field that included Rico Abreu, Giovanni Scelzi, Daison Pursley, Tyler Courtney and West Coast entrants Tanner Holmes and Joel Myers Jr.
More
June 3, 2026

USAC, Midwest Thunder Co-Sanction Two-Night Run to Red Hill

The USAC AMSOIL Sprint Car National Championship (USAC) Sprints will race at Red Hill Raceway in Sumner, Illinois, over two nights, June 5–6, promoted under the banner “Run to Red Hill!” The two-night event is the centerpiece of a new Illinois Sprint Car Championship and will be co-sanctioned by USAC and the Midwest Thunder 410 Sprints.

The initial announcement emphasized dates and location and did not include race times, ticketing or entries; a subsequent notice provided the program format, payouts and fan information. Promoters set a split-format program and payouts: Friday will follow the Midwest Thunder format with a $6,000-to-win purse, and Saturday will run the traditional USAC format with a $10,000-to-win purse. Pits will open at 3:00 p.m. Central both nights. Grandstand admission is $30 for ages 13 and up and pit passes are $40. Both nights will stream live on FloRacing, and Friday’s program will also be available on Amazon Prime.

Entering the weekend, Kyle Cummins leads the USAC standings with 1,195 points, followed by Justin Grant (1,107) and Mitchel Moles (1,068). Justin Grant won at Red Hill on April 3, and Mitchel Moles set the Red Hill one-lap USAC record of 14.327 seconds on the same date. Logan Seavey is a past Red Hill winner and holds the eight-lap record of 2:00.261. Expected entries include C.J. Leary in the Hunter Maddox Racing No. 24m and multi-time Red Hill winner Jadon Rogers. Robert Ballou, who led 16 laps in April, is seeking his first win this season. Rookie Cale Coons leads the rookie standings and tops the Parallax Group Passing Master list with 49 passes this season.
More
June 3, 2026

BKFC 8th Anniversary: Henry vs. Lane Finalized at Hollywood Weigh-Ins

Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship is marking its eighth anniversary with BKFC Fight Night Hollywood at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida, an event that will stream live worldwide on the BKFC App. The promotion held official weigh-ins Thursday ahead of the event, which finalized fighters’ eligibility and produced the official weights for the announced matchups.

The main event pairs undefeated Bryce “Baba Yaga” Henry, who has finished all six of his BKFC fights by stoppage, against former BKFC world champion Julian “Let Me Bang” Lane, who is pursuing his 10th professional bare-knuckle victory. At the official weigh-ins Henry came in at 161.4 pounds and Lane at 165.2 pounds. The co-main features former champion Gorjan “GoGo” Slaveski against Johnny “El Toro” Tello, each at 165.6 pounds.

A cruiserweight rankings matchup will see Stephen “Tomahawk” Townsel face Mike Jones, with Townsel weighing 206 pounds and Jones 205.2. Heavyweights Brandon Alfano and Alex Govea weighed 249 and 248 pounds respectively. Other fighters listed on the card include Ashton “No Chance” Caniglia, who weighed 153.4 pounds, Peter “D2G” Peraza, Mike “Mighty Mouse” Hansen at 142.2 pounds, Gee “The Cutman” Perez at 139.4 pounds, Julio “The Cuban Horse” Perez Rodriguez at 205.8 pounds, Lamont “KO King” Stafford at 205 pounds, Rohan “Headline Ro” Prado and James Rodriguez. Organizers noted the fight card is subject to change, and BKFC described the night as both a competitive fight card and a celebration of the promotion’s eight years in operation.
More
June 3, 2026

Eli Tomac to miss AMA rounds after Fox Raceway neck injury, comeback timeline unclear

Eli Tomac will miss upcoming AMA Pro Motocross rounds after suffering neck injuries in a first-moto crash at the season opener at Fox Raceway, Red Bull KTM said. On the opening lap he collided with Garrett Marchbanks of Monster Energy Kawasaki; Tomac was stretchered from the track in a neck brace, removed on a medical cart and scored zero points in both motos.

Scans and follow-up evaluation showed a hyperextended anterior longitudinal ligament and a partial tear of the left sternocleidomastoid muscle. Team medical staff said surgery is not expected and advised rest and compliance with his doctor’s orders; he has not been given a firm timeline for a comeback.

Red Bull KTM described the move as a short-term, precautionary withdrawal in one release; in a separate statement the team said he would miss the remainder of the season. He sat 41st in 450MX points after Fox Raceway while remaining fifth in the combined SuperMotocross (SMX) standings.

Tomac said he was “really bummed” to be sidelined, intends to return aboard his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION once fully fit, and Red Bull KTM said it will keep him on the roster while he recovers.
More
June 3, 2026

Brady Bacon Chases Eastern Storm Title, Hockett Classic $6K

The Yokohama USAC Eastern Storm non-wing 410 sprint car tour will open at Grandview Speedway on Tuesday, June 16, as the six-night, week-long Eastern Storm presented by Levan Machine & Truck Equipment runs June 16–21. The announcement named Broken Arrow’s Brady Bacon as the headliner; Bacon leads all drivers with eight Eastern Storm feature wins, including four at Grandview. Defending Eastern Storm champion Justin Grant has seven series feature wins. Multiple past Eastern Storm winners listed include Chris Windom, Levi Jones, Bryan Clauson (six wins), Robert Ballou and Kevin Thomas Jr. The tour visits Bridgeport Speedway, Big Diamond Raceway, Williams Grove, Port Royal Speedway and closes at Action Track USA, under USAC sanction and backed by sponsors Yokohama and Levan Machine & Truck Equipment, and it was promoted for its concentrated schedule and substantial purse structure.

Alpine Building Supply will present the Levan Machine & Truck Equipment Thunder on the Hill Racing Series at Grandview on June 16, pairing the Yokohama Eastern Storm USAC Amsoil Non-Wing Sprint National Tour with a 358 Modified doubleheader. Gates will open at 5:00 p.m. and Will Call at 4:30 p.m., with heat qualifying set for 7:30 p.m. The 40-lap Jesse Hockett Classic at the event pays $6,000 to the winner, and Bacon will chase that race while competing for the Eastern Storm season title. Expected USAC sprint entries include Kyle Cummins, defending champion Justin Grant and Logan Seavey.

Eastern Storm carries a $12,000 championship prize for the season title, with payouts of $6,000 for second, $3,000 for third, $2,000 for fourth and $1,000 for fifth. Each feature awards a $6,000 top prize. The 30-lap 358 Modified feature pays $3,000 to the winner, and Alpine Building Supply is offering a $2,000 Alpine bonus for any first-time Thunder on the Hill modified winner, creating a potential $5,000 payday. Keystone Racing’s No. 126 with Dominick Buffalino is pre-entered in the 358 Modified field, with other contenders named as Eddie Strada, Logan Watt and Tim Buckwalter. Advance tickets are available by phone, and Alpine will sell commemorative shirts at the event with proceeds to benefit the Big Impact Group of Schuylkill County.
More