Kreece Elliott Wins MRA Race of the Rockies Open
Kreece Elliott clinched the 2026 MRA Race of the Rockies Open title at High Plains Raceway, finishing second in the final round to Mat Cunha, who won the
Kreece Elliott secured the 2026 Fay Myers Race of the Rockies Open championship on September 6. The Motorcycle Roadracing Association season finale was held on the two-mile West Course at High Plains Raceway for the first time since 2024.
Mat Cunha started the final race from pole position on his Alpha Racing BMW, just 0.339 seconds ahead of Elliott. Justen Behmer completed the front row. Elliott grabbed the lead into the first corner, but Cunha retook the position on the opening lap. By lap five, the leading trio were separated by just half a second after closing a 1.3-second gap.
A Tight Final Battle
Elliott applied relentless pressure to Cunha for the remainder of the race, with Behmer waiting closely behind. Cunha never provided an opening. He held on to win the final round. Elliott crossed the line in second place, which was enough to claim the season championship. Behmer finished third.
The championship battle swung back and forth all season. Cunha won the opening two rounds. Elliott then took victories in Rounds 3 and 4 to seize the points lead he would not relinquish. David Lambert Sr. Finished third in the final championship standings through consistent points scoring, while Behmer's strong season earned him fourth.
Middleweight Chaos and a Photo Finish
The Apex Autoglass Race of the Rockies Middleweight final was decided by a razor-thin margin. Phil Takahashi won the race by just 0.009 seconds over Geovanni Cruz after a race-long duel. Tim Ellis completed the podium in third.
The race began chaotically with a three-wide charge into Turn 1 involving Takahashi, Tyrel Diekmann, and Cruz. An early crash ahead forced Takahashi to check up, dropping him to third. Cruz took the lead from Diekmann on the first lap, with Takahashi soon following into second. Orkun Krand charged from fourth to third but later crashed out of contention in Turn 2.
| Position | Rider | Number |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Phil Takahashi | 807 |
| 2 | Geovanni Cruz | 21 |
| 3 | Tim Ellis | 915 |
Takahashi's victory sealed the 2026 Middleweight championship. Josh Radcliffe finished second in the standings, with Orkun Krand third, just one point behind.
Amateur Open Dominance
Tony Ewan overcame a poor start to win the final Rider Justice Amateur Open race, capping a dominant championship season. Ewan, who had already secured the title, struggled off the line and dropped to third. He recovered instantly, passing both Walt Vogl and Lee Denney on the back straight of the opening lap to retake the lead.
Once in front, Ewan controlled the race to the checkered flag. Denney finished second, with Vogl in third. Ewan's victory was another exclamation point on his 2026 campaign.
