Author Archives: PressBox

April 6, 2026

Eli Tomac’s dip in form tightens 450SX title fight

Eli Tomac’s recent dip in form and health has become a central story in the 450SX title race after a string of subdued outings. At a recent press day Tomac said, “Physically I’m fine. I’m good,” while also acknowledging he’d been “a little bit under the weather” in Birmingham and was “just not great riding” in Detroit.

He finished third in Birmingham, fifth in Detroit and sixth in St. Louis; in St. Louis he was passed by Justin Cooper and Cooper Webb. Commentators described St. Louis as his third straight “off” outing following a strong earlier run and a midseason crash in Glendale, noting his riding looked subdued on the rough, rutted St. Louis layout and that he did not visibly fight back after those passes.

Despite those results, Tomac remains a four-time race winner this season and was arguably the fastest rider through the first nine rounds. Reports differ on his points status: one account said he retook the championship points lead, while KTM’s post-race release called St. Louis tougher, said the team “didn’t lose too many points” and said the team remained tied for the lead. The standings are tighter — Ken Roczen has won two in a row and closed a 31-point gap to six points — and Roczen and Hunter Lawrence have joined Tomac in a three-rider title fight with five races remaining. Tomac’s ability to regain the early-season form his team pointed to will be decisive in whether he can hold the red plate to the end of the championship.
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April 4, 2026

Ducati moves Aldeguer to VR46, increasing Gresini tensions

Ducati has decided to move 21-year-old Fermin Aldeguer from Gresini to Valentino Rossi’s VR46 squad for 2027, a manufacturer-driven reshuffle that includes factory machinery, a new livery and a contract option extended through 2028. Aldeguer, the 2025 Rookie of the Year who finished eighth overall and scored a Grand Prix victory in Indonesia, was reportedly denied a promised factory bike for 2026 and is said to have preferred to stay at Gresini. VR46 team principal Uccio Salucci confirmed interest at the United States GP, calling Aldeguer “a fantastic rider,” while Ducati’s activation of VR46’s factory-supported option for 2027 was a decisive factor in the move.

Gresini owner Nadia Padovani reacted strongly to the transfer, with sources saying the switch left her team needing two riders for 2027 after Alex Márquez’s expected departure to KTM. Padovani publicly rejected the idea that Ducati could force Nicolo Bulega onto Gresini, saying she would only sign Bulega if he were the best option; Bulega has been linked to MotoGP interest and is noted as a 26-year-old World Superbike front-runner with a dominant start to his season. Faced with a constrained pool of suitable replacements and limited manufacturer alternatives, Gresini briefly considered leaving Ducati and held talks with Honda and Aprilia, but after assessing realistic options moved toward renewing its Ducati deal.

Reports name Enea Bastianini and Moto2 prospect Daniel Holgado among riders linked to Gresini’s reorganization. The episode underscored the growing influence of manufacturers in shaping satellite-team lineups and the strategic value of factory support: Ducati reportedly mediated the rivalry between the teams as shifting alliances and contract timing reshaped bargaining power, and observers noted that a single high-profile rider movement can force rapid strategy changes in a market where top-level riders are scarce and factory backing remains a decisive advantage in MotoGP’s satellite ecosystem.
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April 4, 2026

Aprilia leads riders, constructors & teams after three wins

Aprilia has made a commanding start to the 2026 MotoGP season, emerging as the biggest improver and shifting the championship balance away from Ducati. The RS-GP26’s race pace, Aprilia Racing’s three consecutive grand prix victories — all by Marco Bezzecchi — and the team leading the riders’, constructors’ and teams’ standings have underlined the turnaround; Aprilia CEO Massimo Rivola even declared the marque has “the best bike.” Sprint races and qualifying have remained tighter, but Aprilia’s race pace and consistency have quickly made the team a serious championship threat.

Marco Bezzecchi has been the standout performer, leading every lap of the three grands prix he contested and scoring 81 of a possible 111 points through the first three rounds — a 57-point increase on his 2025 tally. That total places him four points clear of Jorge Martin (81 to 77) heading into the Spanish GP at Jerez (April 24–26), although some reports listed Martin as the points leader on 77 after three rounds. Jorge Martin has nonetheless shown strong race form, collecting 59 points across the last two rounds, recording one Sprint win and two second-place finishes. KTM’s Pedro Acosta sits an early third with 60 points, up 44 on 2025, while Trackhouse Aprilia’s Raul Fernandez produced a double rostrum at Buriram and is +35 year‑on‑year; Ai Ogura is +12 despite a mechanical retirement in Austin and a technical problem at COTA that denied what would have been an Aprilia one‑two‑three. Aprilia have taken four of the six races so far when sprints are included.

The early surge has coincided with a notable downturn for Ducati and several established riders. Sources describe Ducati as struggling to mount an immediate response despite recent championship success (Francesco Bagnaia 2022–23, Jorge Martin 2024 and Marc Marquez 2025). Fabio Di Giannantonio is the best-placed Ducati after three rounds in fourth and is +6 on his 2025 tally, while Bagnaia is roughly 50 points down year-on-year. Reigning champion Marc Marquez has lost about 41–42 points after a technical non-score in Thailand and a crash in the COTA Sprint; Alex Marquez’s decline is reported at roughly 58–59 points. With 19 races still to run, the standings can evolve, but Aprilia’s early consistency, the RS-GP26’s rideability and riders’ growing confidence have already reshaped the championship picture.
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April 4, 2026

Mammoth beat Desert Dogs 13-8, boost home-field bid

With five of eight NLL playoff slots still open, the late-season Week 19 meeting carried major Western Conference implications. Colorado, which had clinched a playoff spot in Week 17 and entered the weekend off in Week 18, hosted Las Vegas at Ball Arena on Friday and strengthened its bid for home‑field advantage with a 13-8 victory.

Colorado’s win featured a five-goal game from Will Malcom and strong support from Andrew Kew (two goals, four assists), Dylan McIntosh (three goals, one assist) and goaltender Dillon Ward, who made 43 saves and recorded two assists. The game was tied 5-5 at halftime before Colorado outscored Las Vegas 4-1 in the third quarter, a span that included two Mammoth power-play goals. For Las Vegas, Adam Poitras and Jonathan Donville each had two goals and two assists, Kevin Crowley scored twice, and former Mammoth Alex Buque made 40 saves.

Las Vegas entered the weekend 7-7 after climbing back to .500 with a 10-9 overtime win over Calgary the prior weekend, a game in which Mitch Jones had one goal and four assists, Chris Cloutier had three goals and three assists, Kevin Crowley added two points, and new defensive addition Tyson Bell collected 12 loose balls, three blocks and two caused turnovers. The Desert Dogs currently occupy the eighth seed and could fall out of the top eight if they lose and Rochester or San Diego win, though they can still clinch a postseason berth with favorable results in Weeks 20–21. Halifax (6-9) must win and hope for losses by Las Vegas and San Diego to keep its postseason hopes alive; Halifax was set to host Rochester on Saturday after Rochester beat Oshawa 18-11 in Week 18, a game in which Ryan Lanchbury and Connor Fields each recorded 11 points.

Both teams were scheduled next to play April 11: Las Vegas at Philadelphia at 7 p.m. ET and Colorado at Saskatchewan at 9 p.m. ET.
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April 3, 2026

Justin Grant Overtakes on Lap 17, Beats Mitchel Moles

Justin Grant won the USAC AMSOIL Sprint Car 30-lap feature at Red Hill, taking the lead on lap 17 and holding off Mitchel Moles for the victory. Jake Swanson led the early portion of the feature (laps 1–4) and Robert Ballou led from lap 5 through lap 16. Bryce Andrews flipped on lap 13; no injuries were reported.

Mitchel Moles set a new Red Hill qualifying record with a 14.327-second lap. Grant also topped the Dirt Draft Hot Laps with a 14.594-second time and earned the K&N Clean Air award for leading 14 laps.

After Red Hill the series standings showed Logan Seavey with 459 points, Kyle Cummins 454, Jake Swanson 439, Justin Grant 437 and Mitchel Moles 423. Moles had been listed eighth in an earlier weekend preview but moved to fifth in the standings after Red Hill. USAC resumed its national slate with a Midwest doubleheader — Red Hill and the Chuck Amati Classic at Paragon — with the Chuck Amati Classic run under USAC sanctioning for the first time. Logan Seavey entered the weekend as the points leader and remained the leader; he is the only multi-feature winner through six Florida rounds and was the most recent winner at Red Hill in June 2025, leading all 32 laps in the No. 57. Jake Swanson sits fourth in the standings after a Volusia win and six consecutive top-10 finishes and recently won the unsanctioned No Way Out 40 at Paragon.

Trey Osborne, who earned his first USAC victory in February at Ocala and sits ninth in points, recently left his full-time job to pursue the full national USAC schedule. C.J. Leary will run a 30-race program in the Fox Brothers–Brayden Fox No. 53, a car that carries 19 USAC feature wins in its history. Jadon Rogers recently returned from a broken fibula to finish third in a Midwest Thunder event. The series is next scheduled to race April 11 at Lawrenceburg Speedway.
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April 3, 2026

Pre-race clip highlights Dome at America’s Center sightlines

TransWorld Motocross published a preview video titled “Watch: First Look St. Louis Supercross 2026,” offering an early look at the Dome at America’s Center ahead of round 12 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross season and targeting fans who want impressions of the venue and track rather than race results or schedules.

6D Helmets sponsored a first-look video that presented press day interviews and on-track footage. Filmed and edited by Tom Journet, the piece showcased Chase Sexton, Eli Tomac, Haiden Deegan, Cole Davies, Jo Shimoda and Hunter Yoder and also served as brand promotion by highlighting 6D’s Omni-Directional Suspension (ODS) technology and broader brain-protection messaging.

Both videos functioned as pre-race visual previews that emphasized track features, rider visibility and equipment technology rather than race outcomes, full schedules or personnel announcements.
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April 3, 2026

Perry Picks Diaz MMA Fight, Skips BKFC Offer

Mike Perry accepted an MMA bout with Nate Diaz — announced by Most Valuable Promotions for the undercard of Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano on May 16 — instead of a BKFC offer, a choice BKFC boss David Feldman said cost the promotion a major opportunity. Feldman said Perry turned down BKFC’s offer and that the organization had a “really big planned” fight for him, but that BKFC was not involved in the Diaz deal; he added their relationship “remains good” while saying he wished Perry had trusted BKFC’s plan.

Feldman argued the Perry–Diaz matchup would have been better as a bare-knuckle contest, saying it would have been “100 percent better,” that marketing it under bare-knuckle rules “would have got 10 times the hype,” and calling the potential pairing “a bloodbath.” He characterized Perry’s decision as a missed promotional opportunity for BKFC and highlighted the perceived commercial and spectacle advantages of bare-knuckle rules for that matchup.

The Diaz fight was promoted by MVP, with co-owner Jake Paul fronting the promotion and emphasizing that MMA fighters would be paid well; Perry was expected to receive a significant payday for the matchup. Observers noted a victory over Diaz would raise Perry’s market stock, while a loss likely would not destroy his appeal because he is known for delivering exciting fights. The episode underscored the promotional dynamics between BKFC and MVP and the implications of Perry’s choice for his short-term future, earning potential and public profile.
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April 3, 2026

Deegan can clinch 250SX West title in St. Louis

Haiden Deegan can clinch the 250SX West championship at the St. Louis Supercross Showdown on Saturday, April 4. He rides for Monster Energy/Yamaha Star Racing and enters the second 250SX East/West Showdown with a 42-point lead in the 250SX West standings, according to AMA Supercross standings. Only two West rounds remain after St. Louis — Denver and the season‑finale East/West Showdown in Salt Lake City — and 50 championship points will still be available; a Deegan victory with teammate Max Anstie finishing fifth or lower would mathematically secure the title. Levi Kitchen sits 47 points back, and a Deegan win in St. Louis would eliminate Kitchen and the rest of the field from contention.

The St. Louis Supercross Showdown is the 12th round of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship and will be held at The Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis. The event is the second of three 250SX East/West Showdowns and counts as round six for 250SX East and round eight for 250SX West.

Qualifying airs on Race Day Live at 1:00 p.m. ET / 10:00 a.m. PT on Peacock, and full live coverage of the night program — including heat races, LCQs and main events — begins just after 7:00 p.m. ET / 4:00 p.m. PT on Peacock. International viewers can follow the same live timing via the SMX Video Pass (Spanish and French audio tracks), and SiriusXM will carry the complete night-show audio feed. Anstie has five finishes outside the top five this year, including a seventh-place result at the first East/West Showdown in Birmingham. Deegan has said he plans to move up to the 450 class for Pro Motocross; clinching the 250SX West title before that move would allow him to focus his preparation on the transition.
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April 2, 2026

Supercross Live posts St. Louis lap; teams study lines

Jason Thomas previewed the track ahead of Round 12 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship, saying the layout and soil conditions at The Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis could be pivotal for the championship. Round 12 is scheduled for April 4, 2026, and the timing late in the season — combined with a familiar, rider-preferred St. Louis layout — was framed as having potential to influence the title race.

The series has returned to St. Louis after last visiting for the SMX Playoff round in September, and organizers and riders brought recent experience with the venue. Many riders noted they enjoy the St. Louis soil because it tends to be more predictable than the surface they encountered in Detroit, a characteristic Thomas highlighted in his track-focused preview of the impending showdown.

Supercross Live released a track-map video and images that take viewers on a lap around the St. Louis layout, giving fans visual context and offering competitors an early look at the lines, rhythm sections and overall flow. The layout preview was presented both as a promotional tool for Round 12 and as a practical resource for teams planning race-day strategy, helping attendees and remote viewers understand the stadium setup and the jump and turn sequences. Organizers and crews are positioned to use the video and images to prepare riders for the specific challenges of the St. Louis course ahead of the April 4 event.
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