Author Archives: PressBox

April 13, 2026

Hammaker penalty hands Devin Simonson first 250SX podium

AMA Race Direction’s post-race penalties at Round 13 in Nashville reshaped results and championship math after officials enforced track-cutting and red-cross rules. Seth Hammaker was assessed a two-position penalty after a late crash in the 250SX main, dropping him from third to fifth and costing him a podium and the guitar trophy that was later reclaimed. Hammaker had crashed twice, the first before the 180-degree turn leading into the whoops, and after remounting with his bike facing backwards he cut the turn; officials said they applied one penalty for the cut and a separate penalty for gaining a position while off the track, and the sanction was imposed after the checkered flag with Race Direction citing consistency with the rulebook. The demotion elevated Devin Simonson to his first career 250SX podium.

Race Direction issued additional penalties that altered placings and points. Dylan Ferrandis was penalized one position for a cut that moved him from fifth to sixth and promoted Justin Hill to a season-high fifth, though reports differ on whether that demotion was applied in the 250SX or the 450 main. The adjusted 250SX results extended Cole Davies’ championship lead to 29 points with three races remaining. Jeremy Hand, Marcus Phelps, Ryder Floyd, Drew Adams and Luke Clout were each docked five championship points and lost two purse positions for jumping under red cross flag or lights. Derek Kelley received a combined penalty of a one-position demotion, five championship points and a two purse-position deduction for gaining a position while jumping under a red cross flag or light.

Penalties in lower heats also followed track-cutting findings. In the 250 LCQ, Buccheri was penalized 12 positions, accounting for 11 positions gained plus one, and Hudson was penalized three positions for track cuts. Race Direction said it reviewed numerous other incidents from Nashville but did not assess penalties in those cases. The rulings altered immediate race placings and championship points as the series moved on from Round 13.
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April 13, 2026

Wolff considered sacking Hamilton and Rosberg in 2016

Toto Wolff said he had considered dismissing both Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg during Mercedes’ heated 2016 intra-team rivalry, even calling Mercedes CEO Dieter Zetsche to propose making the drivers redundant. He said he sent internal emails that would effectively remove the pair, briefly removed them from the squad by email, and warned that any repeat of the on-track clashes would cost one of them his seat. Wolff cited a sequence of avoidable incidents, including the opening-lap collision and double-DNF in Spain and a final-lap collision in Austria, as the flashpoints that prompted his contemplated action and his warning that “one has to go.”

Wolff framed the contemplated double-dismissal as a last-resort measure to protect the team rather than a personal vendetta, saying the rivalry threatened the Mercedes brand and the livelihoods of about 2,500 factory workers. He acknowledged that assigning sole blame could be difficult, saying “incidents can be nuanced or 50-50,” and that uncertainty led him to step back from sacking the drivers. He described the period as the “Silver War.”

The immediate crisis eased after Nico Rosberg won the 2016 world championship and then retired, while Lewis Hamilton remained with Mercedes.
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April 13, 2026

Hammaker penalty hands Devin Simonson first 250SX podium

AMA Race Direction’s post-race penalties at Round 13 in Nashville reshaped results and championship math after officials enforced track-cutting and red-cross rules. Seth Hammaker was assessed a two-position penalty after a late crash in the 250SX main, dropping him from third to fifth and costing him a podium and the guitar trophy that was later reclaimed. Hammaker had crashed twice, the first before the 180-degree turn leading into the whoops, and after remounting with his bike facing backwards he cut the turn; officials said they applied one penalty for the cut and a separate penalty for gaining a position while off the track, and the sanction was imposed after the checkered flag with Race Direction citing consistency with the rulebook. The demotion elevated Devin Simonson to his first career 250SX podium.

Race Direction issued additional penalties that altered placings and points. Dylan Ferrandis was penalized one position for a cut that moved him from fifth to sixth and promoted Justin Hill to a season-high fifth, though reports differ on whether that demotion was applied in the 250SX or the 450 main. The adjusted 250SX results extended Cole Davies’ championship lead to 29 points with three races remaining. Jeremy Hand, Marcus Phelps, Ryder Floyd, Drew Adams and Luke Clout were each docked five championship points and lost two purse positions for jumping under red cross flag or lights. Derek Kelley received a combined penalty of a one-position demotion, five championship points and a two purse-position deduction for gaining a position while jumping under a red cross flag or light.

Penalties in lower heats also followed track-cutting findings. In the 250 LCQ, Buccheri was penalized 12 positions, accounting for 11 positions gained plus one, and Hudson was penalized three positions for track cuts. Race Direction said it reviewed numerous other incidents from Nashville but did not assess penalties in those cases. The rulings altered immediate race placings and championship points as the series moved on from Round 13.
More
April 13, 2026

Wolff considered sacking Hamilton and Rosberg in 2016

Toto Wolff said he had considered dismissing both Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg during Mercedes’ heated 2016 intra-team rivalry, even calling Mercedes CEO Dieter Zetsche to propose making the drivers redundant. He said he sent internal emails that would effectively remove the pair, briefly removed them from the squad by email, and warned that any repeat of the on-track clashes would cost one of them his seat. Wolff cited a sequence of avoidable incidents, including the opening-lap collision and double-DNF in Spain and a final-lap collision in Austria, as the flashpoints that prompted his contemplated action and his warning that “one has to go.”

Wolff framed the contemplated double-dismissal as a last-resort measure to protect the team rather than a personal vendetta, saying the rivalry threatened the Mercedes brand and the livelihoods of about 2,500 factory workers. He acknowledged that assigning sole blame could be difficult, saying “incidents can be nuanced or 50-50,” and that uncertainty led him to step back from sacking the drivers. He described the period as the “Silver War.”

The immediate crisis eased after Nico Rosberg won the 2016 world championship and then retired, while Lewis Hamilton remained with Mercedes.
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April 13, 2026

Round 13 – Nashville Recap

Round 13 of the 2026 AMA Supercross 450 Class heads to Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee. Cooper Webb, riding for Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing, enters as the defending 450 Class champion, having secured his third title in the 2025 season. A key storyline revolves around Ken Roczen, who is just five points shy of the championship lead, intensely battling current frontrunners Eli Tomac and Hunter Lawrence. The 450 Main Event is scheduled from 4:29 PM to 4:51 PM local time.
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April 11, 2026

Yamaha signs Ai Ogura for 2027, pairs him with Jorge Martin

Yamaha has agreed to sign Ai Ogura for the 2027 MotoGP season, pairing the 25-year-old with Jorge Martin in the factory team and replacing Alex Rins, Motorsport reporter Oriol Puigdemont and other outlets have reported. Yamaha is delaying any public announcement while the Motorcycle Sports Manufacturers Association (MSMA) and MotoGP Sports Entertainment Group finalize a five-year commercial contract.

Ogura won the 2024 Moto2 title and is in his second MotoGP campaign with Trackhouse Racing (Aprilia) after making his premier-class debut in 2025. He sits seventh in the championship after three rounds, with best finishes of fifth in Thailand and fifth in Brazil; reporters say he lost a podium opportunity to a technical issue and a mechanical failure in Austin ended his most recent race.

The Yamaha decision has triggered a wider rider-market reshuffle. The signing reduces options for Luca Marini, his camp has been told he is effectively ruled out for Yamaha, and it increases the likelihood Raul Fernández will remain with Trackhouse as that team will have a vacancy to fill. Reports indicate Honda’s (HRC) works squad appears set to pair Fabio Quartararo with David Alonso, sources say LCR seats are effectively sealed, and Dani Holgado has confirmed a move to Gresini Racing on a Ducati. Yamaha had considered promoting Izan Guevara or calling up Toprak Razgatlioglu from Pramac, but Razgatlioglu’s reported reluctance to leave Pramac and other market movements left Ogura as the chosen signing. Guevara enters the season with strong recent form and Yamaha has described him as having “explosive” premier-class potential.
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April 11, 2026

Buddy Kofoid wins at I-55, cuts Gravel’s lead to 34

Buddy Kofoid won the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car feature at I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park. It was his third victory of the season and his second consecutive win, moving him up to third in the championship standings. At 24 years old, Kofoid became the 28th different driver to reach 25 World of Outlaws feature wins, and his three victories tied him with David Gravel and Big Game Motorsports for the most wins on tour this year. David Gravel retained the points lead, but his margin was cut to 34 points.

Kofoid started on the pole and led much of the race, holding off several late restarts. On the final green-white-checkered restart, after a Cole Macedo tip-over, Kofoid launched past the field to secure the victory.

Carson Macedo finished second in the Jason Johnson Racing No. 41, Spencer Bayston was third in the Stenhouse Jr./Marshall Racing No. 17, Donny Schatz finished fourth and Ryan Timms fifth. David Gravel flipped during the race but recovered to salvage a ninth-place finish.
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April 11, 2026

Brandon Sheppard sweeps Illini 100, earns 89th win

Brandon Sheppard completed a flag-to-flag sweep to win the Illini 100 opener at Farmer City Raceway, recording the 89th World of Outlaws Late Model Series victory of his career. Sheppard led all 40 laps of the feature and converted earlier on-track results into a clean sweep of practice, qualifying, his heat race and the main event.

The Illini 100 was part of the DIRTVision-presented World of Outlaws Late Model Series, and the victory came in Sheppard’s first home-state start of 2026. The win marked his fifth World of Outlaws victory at Farmer City Raceway.

Sheppard, who is from New Berlin, Illinois, posted the fastest lap in Thursday practice, earned the Simpson Quick Time Award in qualifying and won his Friday heat race before taking the feature.
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April 11, 2026

Coltrane Pursues Career Reset vs. Pitolo in Honolulu

BKFC Fight Night Honolulu is being cast as a proving ground for fighters seeking redemption and momentum, headlined by former title challenger Doug “ColdRed” Coltrane and co-headlined by light-heavyweight Joseph “Dark Knight” Creer. The event takes place this Saturday at the Neal S. Blaisdell Center and will stream worldwide on the BKFC App.

Coltrane, a Smithfield, North Carolina native, faces Maki “Coconut Bombz” Pitolo in the main event. He entered BKFC in 2022 riding a three-fight win streak that earned him the main slot at BKFC 53 in 2023, where he lost to champion David “The Redneck” Mundell. Coltrane said that defeat came from overthinking and pressure. Since then he has returned to enjoying training, focusing on being free and having fun in camp. He called fighting in Hawaii “icing on the cake,” pledged to represent BKFC and make the Coltrane name memorable, and the promotion has presented the matchup as a career reset and a marquee bout for the card.

Creer, a light-heavyweight from Columbus, Georgia, returns as the co-main event against local prospect Ke’ali’i “The Saint” Kanekoa. After losing to Jared “Captain Deadpool” Warren in May 2025, Creer has been unbeaten in his subsequent fights and is aiming for his third straight stoppage. He said personal setbacks, including the loss of his coach and friends, motivated him to rebuild and refine a distinct style he believes is showing in recent performances. Creer noted he previously beat Ty Gwerder at the same Honolulu venue in 2019 under Bellator and said another decisive win should put him in position to challenge reigning champion Lorenzo “The Juggernaut” Hunt. Both fighters have framed the night as an opportunity to reset their careers and stake claims to bigger opportunities in BKFC.
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