Mathew Scholtz won the abbreviated MotoAmerica Quad Lock Superbike Race 2 Sunday at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio. The race was called early after multiple stoppages, and Scholtz was declared the winner according to official MotoAmerica red-flag rules, becoming the first rider to reach four wins in the 2026 season.
The race was halted twice due to incidents on the track, leading to an early conclusion after nine laps, according to the official MotoAmerica red-flag rules. At the time of the second stoppage, Mathew Scholtz was leading aboard his Strack Racing Yamaha YZF-R1 and was declared the winner based on the running order at the red flag, MotoAmerica officials said. Scholtz finished just 0.177 seconds ahead of Sean Dylan Kelly, who rode for OrangeCat Racing on a BMW, with Bobby Fong completing the podium on another Yamaha.
Scholtz?s fourth Superbike win of the 2026 season and his narrow margin over Kelly.
The final classification reflected the shortened race distance, with Loris Baz on a Ducati placing fourth, followed by Cameron Petersen (Ducati) and Jayson Uribe (BMW) in fifth and sixth, respectively. The top ten was rounded out by Brandon Paasch (Suzuki), JD Beach (Yamaha), Ashton Yates (Honda), and Andrew Lee, who competed in the Superbike Cup category on a Honda, MotoAmerica?s race report showed. Notably, PJ Jacobsen, initially competitive on a Ducati, was demoted to 17th place after Race Direction applied a time adjustment following the red-flag procedures.
Scholtz acknowledged in post-race comments that the red-flag scenario ?worked out? in his favor, noting that his front tire was beginning to ?drop off? and that the early stoppage likely prevented further tire degradation. He described the victory as ?hard-fought? and credited the physical and strategic efforts required during the abbreviated contest, according to statements released by MotoAmerica. The official race broadcast confirmed the result, highlighting
The Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course event marked the start of the second half of the MotoAmerica Quad Lock Superbike season, with the top three riders separated by only 14 points entering the weekend, sources confirmed. Prior to the race, Scholtz and JD Beach were tied with three wins each, while Kelly led the championship standings. Scholtz?s victory on Sunday elevated him as the first rider in 2026 to reach four wins, solidifying his position as the season?s winningest competitor to date, according to MotoAmerica?s official statistics.
Race 1 at Mid-Ohio, held Saturday, had seen Sean Dylan Kelly take the win over Bobby Fong and JD Beach, establishing a competitive dynamic that carried into the Sunday race. The alternating victories between Kelly and Scholtz at Mid-Ohio continued a pattern observed in earlier rounds such as The Ridge Motorsports Park, where the championship contenders exchanged wins. Scholtz entered Mid-Ohio holding a five-point lead over Kelly following the previous round, with 145 points to Kelly?s 140, records show.
The shortened Race 2 at Mid-Ohio was marked by multiple interruptions, with officials deciding to call the contest after the second red flag in accordance with MotoAmerica regulations. This procedure entails that if a race is stopped after a specified number of laps, the results are taken from the running order at the time of the red flag rather than restarting the race. The application of these rules ensured Scholtz?s victory and the final podium placements without a full-distance run.
Scholtz?s win at Mid-Ohio was his ninth career Superbike victory, underscoring his experience and success in the premier class, MotoAmerica coverage noted. Earlier in the 2026 season, at Barber Motorsports Park, Scholtz secured a dominant win by approximately four seconds over Cameron Beaubier, contributing to his points advantage and momentum in the championship race. The Mid-Ohio round?s results further tightened the title fight among Scholtz, Kelly, and Beach as the series progressed.
Officials and commentators consistently recognized the competitiveness of the Mid-Ohio weekend, with the Quad Lock Superbike championship battle intensifying as the season advanced. The combination of Kelly?s Race 1 win and Scholtz?s Race 2 victory maintained the rivalry that has defined much of the 2026 season, according to MotoAmerica?s mid-season preview and race analyses. The championship standings and point differentials remained close, setting the stage for continued competition in upcoming rounds.
Did you miss our previous article...
https://formulaone.news/motorcycle-racing/worldsbk-eyes-china-for-2027-with-ningbo-in-the-spotlight
Mathew Scholtz won the abbreviated MotoAmerica Quad Lock Superbike Race 2 Sunday at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio. The race was called early after multiple stoppages, and Scholtz was declared the winner according to official MotoAmerica red-flag rules, becoming the first rider to reach four wins in the 2026 season.
The race was halted twice due to incidents on the track, leading to an early conclusion after nine laps, according to the official MotoAmerica red-flag rules. At the time of the second stoppage, Mathew Scholtz was leading aboard his Strack Racing Yamaha YZF-R1 and was declared the winner based on the running order at the red flag, MotoAmerica officials said. Scholtz finished just 0.177 seconds ahead of Sean Dylan Kelly, who rode for OrangeCat Racing on a BMW, with Bobby Fong completing the podium on another Yamaha.
Scholtz?s fourth Superbike win of the 2026 season and his narrow margin over Kelly.
The final classification reflected the shortened race distance, with Loris Baz on a Ducati placing fourth, followed by Cameron Petersen (Ducati) and Jayson Uribe (BMW) in fifth and sixth, respectively. The top ten was rounded out by Brandon Paasch (Suzuki), JD Beach (Yamaha), Ashton Yates (Honda), and Andrew Lee, who competed in the Superbike Cup category on a Honda, MotoAmerica?s race report showed. Notably, PJ Jacobsen, initially competitive on a Ducati, was demoted to 17th place after Race Direction applied a time adjustment following the red-flag procedures.
Scholtz acknowledged in post-race comments that the red-flag scenario ?worked out? in his favor, noting that his front tire was beginning to ?drop off? and that the early stoppage likely prevented further tire degradation. He described the victory as ?hard-fought? and credited the physical and strategic efforts required during the abbreviated contest, according to statements released by MotoAmerica. The official race broadcast confirmed the result, highlighting
The Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course event marked the start of the second half of the MotoAmerica Quad Lock Superbike season, with the top three riders separated by only 14 points entering the weekend, sources confirmed. Prior to the race, Scholtz and JD Beach were tied with three wins each, while Kelly led the championship standings. Scholtz?s victory on Sunday elevated him as the first rider in 2026 to reach four wins, solidifying his position as the season?s winningest competitor to date, according to MotoAmerica?s official statistics.
Race 1 at Mid-Ohio, held Saturday, had seen Sean Dylan Kelly take the win over Bobby Fong and JD Beach, establishing a competitive dynamic that carried into the Sunday race. The alternating victories between Kelly and Scholtz at Mid-Ohio continued a pattern observed in earlier rounds such as The Ridge Motorsports Park, where the championship contenders exchanged wins. Scholtz entered Mid-Ohio holding a five-point lead over Kelly following the previous round, with 145 points to Kelly?s 140, records show.
The shortened Race 2 at Mid-Ohio was marked by multiple interruptions, with officials deciding to call the contest after the second red flag in accordance with MotoAmerica regulations. This procedure entails that if a race is stopped after a specified number of laps, the results are taken from the running order at the time of the red flag rather than restarting the race. The application of these rules ensured Scholtz?s victory and the final podium placements without a full-distance run.
Scholtz?s win at Mid-Ohio was his ninth career Superbike victory, underscoring his experience and success in the premier class, MotoAmerica coverage noted. Earlier in the 2026 season, at Barber Motorsports Park, Scholtz secured a dominant win by approximately four seconds over Cameron Beaubier, contributing to his points advantage and momentum in the championship race. The Mid-Ohio round?s results further tightened the title fight among Scholtz, Kelly, and Beach as the series progressed.
Officials and commentators consistently recognized the competitiveness of the Mid-Ohio weekend, with the Quad Lock Superbike championship battle intensifying as the season advanced. The combination of Kelly?s Race 1 win and Scholtz?s Race 2 victory maintained the rivalry that has defined much of the 2026 season, according to MotoAmerica?s mid-season preview and race analyses. The championship standings and point differentials remained close, setting the stage for continued competition in upcoming rounds.
Did you miss our previous article...
https://formulaone.news/motorcycle-racing/worldsbk-eyes-china-for-2027-with-ningbo-in-the-spotlight
The World Superbike Championship (WorldSBK) outlined plans to explore new markets, including China, for its 2027 season as part of a strategic roadmap approved July 31, 2026. According to officials, the roadmap aims to balance manufacturer costs with performance while expanding the championship?s global footprint, with Ningbo emerging as a potential venue.
This roadmap, published on the official WorldSBK website, sets the framework for the championship?s technical and sporting evolution while explicitly linking regulatory stability to a broader plan for global expansion, including the exploration of new markets, according to official statements from Dorna, the series? commercial rights holder.
The SBK Commission, comprising the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM), Dorna Sports, and the Motorcycle Sports Manufacturers Association (MSMA), formally approved a strategic roadmap for World Superbike Championship (WorldSBK) regulations covering 2027 to 2030 on July 31, 2026.
While the roadmap does not explicitly name China or the Ningbo International Circuit, it serves as the current reference document guiding medium-term calendar and market-expansion decisions, officials said. The plan emphasizes balancing manufacturer costs with performance as a prerequisite for adding new venues and regions to the calendar.
A provisional outline of the 2027 WorldSBK calendar, as reported by specialist media, indicates a schedule of approximately 12 to 13 rounds with several open slots for additional events. The traditional European core of Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, and Portugal is expected to remain intact. However, sources confirmed that Dorna is actively evaluating additional destinations in Asia, leaving some calendar slots unassigned to accommodate potential long-haul events.
The official WorldSBK ticket platform currently lists several countries for the 2027 season, including Australia, Portugal, the Netherlands, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Aragón, but does not yet include any Chinese venues. The platform notes that the full 2027 calendar is ?coming soon,? reflecting that the schedule has not been finalized.
Phillip Island Circuit in Australia has officially announced it will host Round 1 of the 2027 WorldSBK season from February 19 to 21, 2027. This confirmation is among the first fully verified calendar entries and underscores WorldSBK?s ongoing commitment to the Asia-Pacific region, which historically has included multiple long-haul stops beyond Australia. Scheduling experts note that with Phillip Island fixed in late February, a logical window exists for another Asia-based event either immediately before or after, which would optimize transport and logistics for teams. Any future Chinese round at Ningbo would likely be evaluated within this Asia-Pacific cluster, sources said.
As of the latest official communications and public calendars, China is not listed as a confirmed host country for any 2027 WorldSBK round. No official FIM or Dorna press release has designated Ningbo International Circuit or any other Chinese facility as a confirmed or provisional venue for 2027. WorldSBK and FIM documents do not mention Ningbo in the approved roadmap or calendar listings, and any suggestion that WorldSBK targets Ningbo for 2027 is currently prospective and under negotiation rather than confirmed fact, according to official sources.
Media speculation and expert analyses have noted that WorldSBK promoters are looking to expand beyond Europe for the 2027 season and beyond, with Asia identified as an under-exploited region. China, due to its market size and manufacturer presence, is considered a logical candidate for future expansion. However, experts highlight that any new rounds, including those in China, depend on track homologation, local promoter agreements, financial guarantees, and approvals by FIM and Dorna before a calendar slot can be awarded.
Under the 2027?2030 roadmap, new circuits must meet updated technical and sporting regulations, including safety standards, run-off areas, and infrastructure requirements. The SBK Commission has emphasized the need for stability in regulations to facilitate long-term planning by manufacturers and teams. New venues like Ningbo would be required to offer sufficient paddock, pit, and support facilities capable of handling modern WorldSBK machinery.
Dorna typically requires multi-year promoter contracts, robust local organization, and guarantees on track availability, broadcast rights, and spectator capacity for any new event. Calendar experts note that adding a long-haul event such as Ningbo would necessitate careful freight planning, including sea and air freight timelines and cost-sharing mechanisms, which are key logistical considerations for WorldSBK teams.
The confirmed 2027 regulatory roadmap and the official confirmation of Phillip Island as the season opener provide a structural basis for integrating new events, including potential Asian rounds, if homologation and commercial conditions are met. However, as of the latest public documents, China and Ningbo remain absent from the official 2027 calendar and ticketing listings.
WorldSBK officials and Dorna representatives have reiterated their commitment to global expansion, with Asia, including China, identified as a key market for growth. Nonetheless, no formal announcement has been made regarding a WorldSBK event at Ningbo in 2027. The championship?s calendar and venue decisions will continue to evolve as homologation, contractual, and logistical conditions are finalized in the coming months.
The World Superbike Championship (WorldSBK) outlined plans to explore new markets, including China, for its 2027 season as part of a strategic roadmap approved July 31, 2026. According to officials, the roadmap aims to balance manufacturer costs with performance while expanding the championship?s global footprint, with Ningbo emerging as a potential venue.
This roadmap, published on the official WorldSBK website, sets the framework for the championship?s technical and sporting evolution while explicitly linking regulatory stability to a broader plan for global expansion, including the exploration of new markets, according to official statements from Dorna, the series? commercial rights holder.
The SBK Commission, comprising the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM), Dorna Sports, and the Motorcycle Sports Manufacturers Association (MSMA), formally approved a strategic roadmap for World Superbike Championship (WorldSBK) regulations covering 2027 to 2030 on July 31, 2026.
While the roadmap does not explicitly name China or the Ningbo International Circuit, it serves as the current reference document guiding medium-term calendar and market-expansion decisions, officials said. The plan emphasizes balancing manufacturer costs with performance as a prerequisite for adding new venues and regions to the calendar.
A provisional outline of the 2027 WorldSBK calendar, as reported by specialist media, indicates a schedule of approximately 12 to 13 rounds with several open slots for additional events. The traditional European core of Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, and Portugal is expected to remain intact. However, sources confirmed that Dorna is actively evaluating additional destinations in Asia, leaving some calendar slots unassigned to accommodate potential long-haul events.
The official WorldSBK ticket platform currently lists several countries for the 2027 season, including Australia, Portugal, the Netherlands, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Aragón, but does not yet include any Chinese venues. The platform notes that the full 2027 calendar is ?coming soon,? reflecting that the schedule has not been finalized.
Phillip Island Circuit in Australia has officially announced it will host Round 1 of the 2027 WorldSBK season from February 19 to 21, 2027. This confirmation is among the first fully verified calendar entries and underscores WorldSBK?s ongoing commitment to the Asia-Pacific region, which historically has included multiple long-haul stops beyond Australia. Scheduling experts note that with Phillip Island fixed in late February, a logical window exists for another Asia-based event either immediately before or after, which would optimize transport and logistics for teams. Any future Chinese round at Ningbo would likely be evaluated within this Asia-Pacific cluster, sources said.
As of the latest official communications and public calendars, China is not listed as a confirmed host country for any 2027 WorldSBK round. No official FIM or Dorna press release has designated Ningbo International Circuit or any other Chinese facility as a confirmed or provisional venue for 2027. WorldSBK and FIM documents do not mention Ningbo in the approved roadmap or calendar listings, and any suggestion that WorldSBK targets Ningbo for 2027 is currently prospective and under negotiation rather than confirmed fact, according to official sources.
Media speculation and expert analyses have noted that WorldSBK promoters are looking to expand beyond Europe for the 2027 season and beyond, with Asia identified as an under-exploited region. China, due to its market size and manufacturer presence, is considered a logical candidate for future expansion. However, experts highlight that any new rounds, including those in China, depend on track homologation, local promoter agreements, financial guarantees, and approvals by FIM and Dorna before a calendar slot can be awarded.
Under the 2027?2030 roadmap, new circuits must meet updated technical and sporting regulations, including safety standards, run-off areas, and infrastructure requirements. The SBK Commission has emphasized the need for stability in regulations to facilitate long-term planning by manufacturers and teams. New venues like Ningbo would be required to offer sufficient paddock, pit, and support facilities capable of handling modern WorldSBK machinery.
Dorna typically requires multi-year promoter contracts, robust local organization, and guarantees on track availability, broadcast rights, and spectator capacity for any new event. Calendar experts note that adding a long-haul event such as Ningbo would necessitate careful freight planning, including sea and air freight timelines and cost-sharing mechanisms, which are key logistical considerations for WorldSBK teams.
The confirmed 2027 regulatory roadmap and the official confirmation of Phillip Island as the season opener provide a structural basis for integrating new events, including potential Asian rounds, if homologation and commercial conditions are met. However, as of the latest public documents, China and Ningbo remain absent from the official 2027 calendar and ticketing listings.
WorldSBK officials and Dorna representatives have reiterated their commitment to global expansion, with Asia, including China, identified as a key market for growth. Nonetheless, no formal announcement has been made regarding a WorldSBK event at Ningbo in 2027. The championship?s calendar and venue decisions will continue to evolve as homologation, contractual, and logistical conditions are finalized in the coming months.