Dunlop Celebrates MotoAmerica Champions After Dramatic Finale
Dunlop honors the 2026 MotoAmerican champions after a season of record-breaking performances, while Aprilia weighs team orders in a tight MotoGP title fight.
Tire manufacturer Dunlop has congratulated the champions of the 2026 MotoAmerica season following a dramatic finale in New Jersey. Separately, Aprilia's MotoGP team is considering implementing manufacturer orders as the championship battle intensifies with five rounds remaining.
Dunlop's MotoAmerica Season
Dunlop Motorcycle Tires celebrated the 2026 MotoAmerica champions after the season concluded at New Jersey Motorsports Park on September 25-27. As the series' official tire supplier, Dunlop provided Sportmax Slick and Sportmax Rain tires alongside trackside support throughout the championship campaign.
Bobby Fong of Attack Performance Progressive Yamaha Racing secured the Quad Lock Superbike title in a dramatic wet finale. Arriving at the final round 26 points behind Sean Dylan Kelly, Fong won both Saturday races to cut the deficit to just two points. A fourth-place finish in Sunday's wet final race sealed his first championship with 316 points to Kelly's 305. Mathew Scholtz won that final race for Strack Racing. Dunlop's Chad Geer, Director of Motorcycle Products & Motorsports, congratulated the champions, stating the lap records set this season provide motivation for continued development.
The season saw numerous lap records fall on Dunlop's Sportmax Slick tires across multiple classes. Behind the scenes, the company's trackside crew offered tire mounting, setup guidance, and support, a service highlighted during the challenging wet conditions in New Jersey. Cori Maynard, Coordinator of Motorsports Logistics, emphasized the crew's close work with teams all season long. The Twins Cup title held special significance, as it was won by Hank Vossberg of Robem Engineering, a graduate of the Team Dunlop Elite Road Race program.
The full list of 2026 MotoAmerica champions is as follows:
Aprilia's MotoGP Dilemma
Aprilia is considering issuing team orders to bolster its chances in the tight MotoGP world championship fight. With five rounds left, the manufacturer must decide whether to prioritize Jorge Martin's title bid or continue giving equal support to factory rider Marco Bezzecchi.
Aprilia technical director Fabiano Sterlacchini confirmed the team is discussing "directive guidelines" to avoid problems between its riders. For now, riders remain free to race. After the Indonesian Grand Prix, Jorge Martin leads the standings by just two points over Marc Marquez. Bezzecchi sits third, 46 points behind Martin after a difficult summer involving injury and a race ban. The dilemma involves potentially backing Martin, who is leaving for Yamaha next season, over Bezzecchi, who is seen as the team's long-term future.
Sterlacchini said no deadline has been set, but a clear team strategy may be needed soon. The manufacturers' championship is also close, with Aprilia trailing Ducati by only 12 points. The need for clearer guidelines was underscored by a sprint race incident in Indonesia where both Raul Fernandez and Bezzecchi retired after a first-lap collision, a crash that handed a victory to rival Marc Marquez. Sterlacchini acknowledged that even with clarified roles, the risk of such incidents remains a part of racing.
