MOTOGP - Ahead of this weekend's Red Bull Grand Prix of San Marino and the Rimini Riviera there have been some rider announcements. On Wednesday, September 9th Ducati Corse and the Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team announced that Nicolo Bulega will ride for the Independent Ducati team beginning next season. The Italian rider will make his debut in MotoGP with the Tavullia-based Team abroad a Ducati Desmosedici GP alongside Fermín Aldeguer, completing Valentino Rossi's team lineup for next season. 

For Bulega, this will mark his debut in the premier class as a full-time rider; however, he has already experienced MotoGP as a Ducati MotoGP test rider and racing the last two races of last season as a replacement rider in the Official Team. 

It is a return of sorts for Bulega to the VR46 Racing Team, where he raced in Moto3 with the team for three years, before moving to his first year in Moto2 in 2019.

Nicolo Bulega: “Making it to MotoGP is a dream, because I will make my debut with the Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team. I chose this team because I’ve always been linked to them: I was in the VR46 Riders Academy when I was a child, so I know everyone very well. So, making this step with people I know is easier from a human perspective. Moreover, they are all extremely professional.

"When I started to race, I had the dream of arriving to MotoGP. Then, for many reasons, my career took a different path: I moved to WorldSBK, when I focused to build a successful career. But these years have gone far beyond my expectations, so we thought about making this step up to the premier class. I’m happy to reach this goal, even if it took me a little longer and I did a different journey compared to the usual one. For sure, it’s amazing and I’m very proud. Now, I don’t want to set any goals, I want to try to do well, take it one race at a time, especially at the beginning, and do the best job possible. I want to thank the entire VR46 Racing Team, Ducati Corse and Aruba for making this possible.”

Monster Energy Yamaha's Alex Rins has announced that he will leave MotoGP and step away from two-wheeled racing at the end of the 2026 season.

Rins had been linked with a move to WorldSBK, but has ruled out that possibility after deciding to pursue a different project, which he says is not yet ready to be announced.

Alex Rins: “I will not go to Superbike next year. I had two possibilities there. I really want to say thanks to them because they were quite interested in me. But I found another thing that really motivates me more. I have a really interesting project in mind that I can’t reveal because it’s not done 100%."

Rins, hinting that he may be heading to a form of racing with more than two wheels continued: "I'm really happy. For sure it was difficult to choose, because all my life in MotoGP, in this championship, many fights, many races, many wins. 14 years, more or less. So yeah, I will stop with two wheels. So yeah, I will stop with two wheels."

MotoGP is in place at Italy's Adriatic as the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli gears up for the Red Bull Grand Prix of San Marino and the Rimini Riviera. The grid arrives in Misano with the top three in the championship split by just 24 points. It is a home round for Aprilia Racing's Marco Bezzecchi, who is P3 in the title chase.

Marco Bezzecchi: "I’m extremely happy to be going to Misano. It will be fantastic to finally see all our fans again, although it will undoubtedly be a demanding weekend. I can’t wait to get back on the track on my RS-GP26."

Marc Marquez is P2, 19 points behind Aprilia Racing's Jorge Martin after his weekend haul at Aragon of 37 points. It is truly game on now in Misano and next weekend at Austria's Red Bull Ring, before a string of flyaway races. They then return to Europe for the final two rounds in Portugal and Spain.

Aragon is one of those counterclockwise circuits where Marc Marquez excels, even though Misano is a more traditional clockwise orientation, MM93 still owns six MotoGP victories at the circuit. Last season he and Marco Bezzecchi had a tremendous fight at Misano. This weekend the stage is set for another repeat.

Last time out Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team's Fabio Di Giannantonio endured one of his toughest weekends of the season to surrender valuable points in the championship. A Misano podium would be very much welcomed from the Italian, who needs some big results soon if he’s going to drag himself back into serious title contention.

There are 48 points between Martin and Di Giannantonio, with 'SuperFile Trackhouse Racing's Ai Ogura now 53 away from the championship lead after his hand injury kept him out of MotorLand.

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing's Pedro Acosta went toe to toe with Marc Marquez in Aragon for the majority of the Grand Prix, Acosta showed exactly why Ducati signed him to partner Marc Marquez in 2027. Acosta is a frontrunner in almost every race he enters and could have a big say on where the 2026 crown ends up.

The Red Bull Grand Prix of San Marino and the Rimini Riviera is on Sunday, September 13th. The GP is on FS1, with a broadcast start time of 7:30 AM ET, with the race at 8:00 AM Eastern. The Saturday Sprint airs on FS2 Saturday, September 12th at 8:55 AM ET.

Looking past this season, MotoGP confirmed dates for the first track action of the 2027 season. There are two pre-season tests before Rio de Janeiro hosts the Season Launch on the 21st of February, then it’s into the first race weekend of the year as the Thai GP takes place at Buriram March 5th to the 7th.

The Shakedown Test – for factory test riders and rookies – will take place at Petronas Sepang International Circuiton on January 29th and 30th. This year, it’s back-to-back with the first official test of the season for all riders, the Sepang Test, which will be held on January 31st and the 1st of February. That’s two days per event for 2027.

The paddock then heads for Buriram in Thailand for the second official two-day test, which takes place February 6th and 7th.

MotoGP moves west for the Season Launch as Brazil beckons for the 2027 edition. Botafogo Beach in Rio de Janeiro provides the backdrop for the event, taking MotoGP into the heart of one of the world’s most iconic cities on February 21st.

Here’s the full rundown:

SHAKEDOWN TEST: JANUARY 29th - 30th

SEPANG TEST: FEBRUARY 31st JANUARY – 1st

BURIRAM TEST: FEBRUARY 6th – 7th

SEASON LAUNCH: FEBRUARY 21st

All that is preceded by the very first look at the new era – the Valencia Test on December 1st 2026. There, the new rider lineups will head out on their all-new 850cc machinery for the very first time.

WORLDSBK - The MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship returned to action last weekend at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours for the Acerbis French Round. Nicolo Bulega added another triple race weekend to his tally and can clinch the title at the next round in Cremona.

Sunday's Race 2 was a red flag disrupted affair. The race was shortened to 19 laps, but with Bulega already more than five seconds clear of Lecuona, there was little doubt about the outcome at the front of the field. For the first time in last weekend's three races, Bulega converted his pole position into the Lap 1 lead and from that point onwards was able to control the pace and build a commanding advantage.

Aruba Ducati's Iker Lecuona finished behind his teammate, ensuring the Championship moves to Italy at the end of September. Barni Spark Racing's Yari Montella was once again the best of the rest, rounding out the podium again in Magny-Cours.

Bulega completed his eighth hat-trick of the season and scored 62 points across the French Round, extending his championship advantage over Lecuona to 146 points. The next round at Cremona could provide Bulega with his first opportunity to clinch the WorldSBK Riders' Championship.

FORMULA 1 - The mark of a true champion is that of one who can make the best of a bad situation and turn it into victory. Max Verstappen has excelled in comeback victories. Now add Andrea Kimi Antonelli's name to that list.

The 20-year-old from Bologna, Italy came from the back of the field to win his home race and send Italy into a frenzy last weekend at Monza. Staring from 19th on the grid due to an engine penalty, the Mercedes driver executed 26 overtakes on his way to his seventh win of 2026. He now leads the Drivers' World Championship by 66 points over teammate George Russell, who finished 3.857 seconds behind the young Italian.

Max Verstappen took P3 and finished ahead of the two McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in fourth and fifth. A mid-race Virtual Safety Car played its part in the outcome, when Antonelli opted to pit under caution for a fresh set of Medium tires, and Russell stayed out on used Hard compound tires, which gradually faded and made his life more difficult.

The Monza weekend cannot be talked about without mentioning Pierre Gasly's out of the blue pole position. Alpine chassis upgrades and Mercedes power saw the Frenchman shock the grid. He topped Russell, Piastri, Leclerc and Hamilton to take a popular first starting position. He gradually slid back, finishing P7.

Ferrari's home race started in controversy with its two drivers fighting over space in the first chicane where there was only room for one. Charles Leclerc took a wide line, which sent Lewis Hamilton through the gravel and into the mid-pack.

On Lap 2, drama then struck for Leclerc, who held a couple of slides in the middle sector and fell behind Verstappen, before losing control of his Ferrari exiting the Curva Alboreto and slamming into the barriers. Race Control initially deployed the Safety Car, before throwing a red flag. It was a high-speed, hard hit into the barriers. Leclerc emerged shaken and stirred, but was able to walk away.

When the race went green, Antonelli, who was already 12th when the race was stopped, rapidly dispensed of more cars and was shortly running seventh.

Max Verstappen briefly led George Russell at the front, before the Mercedes got by the Red Bull. Then it was Kimi who passed Max, who was complaining about his car being completely broken on the rear axle.

On Lap 18, Antonelli completed his back-of-the-grid charge by taking the lead from Russell into Turn 1 as the Monza fans erupted. When Lance Stroll stopped on track with a hydraulic issue, the ultimate outcome was decided when Antonelli pitted under a VSC for Mediums, with George Russel staying out on used Hard Compound rubber.

Antonelli Wins His Home GP

Antonelli and Verstappen, who also stopped during the VSC were soon into fourth and fifth. Hamilton made a mistake, with Kimi gaining another position. He soon passed Piastril for P2 and was rapidly closing in on his teammate. Max Verstappen slotted back into the podium places with overtakes on Hamilton and Piastri.

With three laps remaining Kimi finally made the pass for the win between Lesmo 2 and the Ascari chicane midway through Lap 50. After passing Russell he surged away with Mercedes urging him to not take chances, while he let the rear of his Mercedes drift with glee.

Hamilton salvaged sixth on a difficult day for Ferrari, Gasly was P7, followed by Arvid Lindblad, Franco Colapinto and Yuki Tsunoda.

Kimi Antonelli: "This is a day that I will remember forever! It is for sure the most special win of my career so far. It is the best podium of the season and to see the full pit straight packed with people cheering and showing their support was a dream. The team did an incredible job today; they gave us an amazing car, and I can't say thank you enough to everyone that has supported me and helped get me to this point.

"Even starting P19, I believed that this might be possible. On the first start, I made up a lot of positions and then realized we would get another good chance to gain positions after the red flag. That gave us a good chance, and I felt that I had the speed to fight for the win. We obviously gave up some positions under the Virtual Safety Car, but we had the pace on the Medium tire to come back through and take the victory."

The Formula 1 grid is in place at the new Circuito de Madring for this weekend's Tag Heuer Gran Premio de España. The 22-turn, 3.35-mile course, purpose built for the race, is set to be an awesome new challenge for every team on the grid as it hosts its first event, and the first race in Madrid in over 40 years.

The first and final sector of the lap have a traditional street circuit feel, using public roads surrounding the IFEMA exhibition center. The free-flowing second sector features the track's standout corner, the aptly named 'La Monumental' [Turn 12]. The turn is a daunting, steeply banked bend, over half a quarter mile long and featuring a maximum gradient of 24%, equivalent to 13.5° of banking. The corner has been earmarked as the most impressive on the circuit and will be taken at extremely high speeds.

Team preparation has centered on simulator work, allowing engineers to establish an initial direction for car set-up and familiarize the drivers with the layout. However, the true demands of the circuit, including grip levels, tire behavior, energy deployment, overtaking opportunities and how the track evolves during the weekend, will only become clear once the cars run in real conditions. That places an emphasis on adaptability and efficient learning throughout the weekend.

The Tag Heuer Gran Premio de España is this Sunday, September 13th. The race broadcast will begin at 7:50 AM Eastern in the States on Apple TV. For Free Practice and Qualifying times, refer to the Jay Geils Memorial TV Links.

2026 FORMULA 1 CALENDAR.

Alboreto: Gasoline in the Veins - The story about the man who grew up to realize his childhood dream of driving a Formula 1 car for Enzo Ferrari is now available once more in the United States. Alboreto: Gasoline in the Veins is written by Michele Alboreto's brother Ermanno and details his early years and rise through the racing ranks. It also tells about his character outside the car and that is the contribution that we are most proud to be associated with. It began with an interview during Michele's Indy car career and a request to use it in his life story. We also contributed interviews with his teammates and racing legends like Giacomo Agostini. Listen to that interview HERE. For ordering info, reply to this update for details. There are a limited number of copies here in America, you will save international shipping prices by getting your copy directly. Visit the Facebook page HERE.

INDYCAR - Scott McLaughlin ended a long winless streak and the 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season in style, dominating the Mission Foods Grand Prix of Monterey for his first victory in more than two years.

Pole sitter McLaughlin drove the No. 3 DEX Team Penske Chevrolet to victory by 1.3739 seconds over the No. 27 Sam’s Club Honda of Andretti Global’s Kyle Kirkwood. The win was the eighth of McLaughlin’s INDYCAR SERIES career and his first since September 1, 2024, in the second race of a doubleheader weekend at the Milwaukee Mile. The win ended a drought of 36 races.

Alexander Rossi finished third in the No. 20 Java House ECR Chevrolet for his first podium finish since placing third at this event for Arrow McLaren in June 2024.

Felix Rosenqvist placed fourth in the No. 60 Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb Agajanian Honda. David Malukas put two Team Penske cars in the top five in the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet.

Alex Palou and the Chip Ganassi Racing team celebrated its record-tying fourth consecutive season title, with donuts on the front straightaway and post-race at the Astor Challenge Cup presentation.

Scott McLaughlin: "Well, firstly, my little girl hasn't seen me win yet, and she finally has. So, Dad's coming home with a trophy, baby. Let’s go! Karly, I love you, babe. It's been hard, I know. The DEX Chevy was unbelievable. These guys and girls on my team, Team Penske, have stuck behind me the whole time. Congrats, Alex, on his fifth. We're working hard to be better but today was a big step in the right direction, so... and I've been waiting six years to do donuts. They sucked, but I was like, let's go! I was really happy. We had to be solid. That's what it's gonna take to win a championship. So, yeah, bring it on 2027.”

On Wednesday, September 9th, Alexander Rossi took to the 2.5 mile IMS oval with the superspeedway configuration of the IR-28 chassis, beginning the next phase of INDYCAR’s development of its new-for-2028 car.

The test marked the first time the IR-28 has run on an oval after making its public track debut early last month on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. Rossi and Alex Palou shared driving duties during that initial outing, extended to three days because of rain.

Both drivers were back for this oval test, with ECR’s Rossi again representing Chevrolet teams and Chip Ganassi Racing’s Palou representing Honda teams, and learning how the car responds to the unique demands of an oval.

The IR-28 is designed to be lighter than the current car, with revised aerodynamics intended to improve stability and reduce the aerodynamic disadvantage of closely following another car. Wednesday’s laps at IMS provided the first indication of how those objectives translate to an oval.

Rossi’s test day was the first step. 2025 Indianapolis 500 winner Palou took over today, giving INDYCAR and Dallara another perspective on the car and its potential.

FORMULA E - After a podium winning rookie season, Pepe Martí is set to continue with the CUPRA KIRO squad into Formula E's all-new GEN4 era. The Spainish driver is managed by A14, the driver development group co-founded by former Formula 1 World Champion Fernando Alonso, impressed many in the paddock with his on track performances in the 2025/26 season. 

After scoring points in only his second E-Prix appearance, and leading his home race in Madrid, he achieved his maiden Formula E podium in Monaco - putting on a brilliant performance, after starting from 15th. Not only was the podium a significant milestone for Martí, but it also marked the first time a Spanish driver had reached the rostrum in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. 

The CUPRA KIRO driver finished the season as the highest-placed rookie in the Drivers’ Championship with 66 points.

In other driver news for the 2026/2027 season, Opel GSE has confirmed the signing of one of the most successful drivers in ABB FIA Formula E World Championship history with Mitch Evans joining the squad.

FIA WEC - Ferrari took what was available to them last weekend at Austin’s Circuit of The Americas. In this case it was an outright Lone Star Le Mans win for the No. 50 Ferrari AF Corse 499P of Antonio Fuoco, Miguel Molina and Nicklas Nielsen. The No. 7 Toyota was leading with just minutes to go, but a hydraulic issue forced the car's retirement allowing the No. 51 to drive to the win unchallenged.

Nyck de Vries, who was at the wheel of the No. 7 Toyota at the time of the technical failure was absolutely gutted. It seemed the Japanese automotive giant was finally set to conquer COTA – one of only four circuits in FIA World Endurance Championship history at which it has never won. But fate struck and with barely ten minutes left on the clock and an advantage of six seconds over the pursuing Ferrari, de Vries was forced into retirement.

Pitting early and running an offset strategy, the No. 50 Ferrari gained an advantage. That put them in the lead with the No 8 Toyota in pursuit. In a race punctuated by two Safety Car periods and three Full Course Yellow interventions, Fuoco maintained the momentum in the middle phase prior to ceding the cockpit back to Nielsen for the final hour.

Nielsen got past the Alpine Endurance Team’s Charles Milesi to climb from third to second, and then inherited the lead when de Vries ran into trouble. The result in Austin gives the 499P its eighth victory since its competitive debut in 2023, the first of the year and the second at the Texan circuit after the one achieved in 2024 by Yifei Ye, Robert Shwartzman and Robert Kubica. 

Having started from the front row of the grid, the No. 38 Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA V-Series.R of Jack Aitken, Sébastien Bourdais and Earl Bamber was a consistent contender on its way to inheriting second. The crew benefitted from a late penalty for the No. 35 Alpine due to an unsafe pit stop release that dropped Milesi, António Félix da Costa and Ferdinand Habsburg to third.

Aston Martin’s Valkyrie Hypercar matched its finest result to-date in FIA WEC’s top-tier with a fourth-place finish in the hands of British duo Harry Tincknell and Tom Gamble, ahead of the No. 36 Alpine, which finished fifth.

Ferrari Wins in Austin

Nicklas Nielsen: “It was a really unpredictable race that we eventually managed to win by making the most of our car’s potential and doing an excellent job in terms of strategy and tire management. It is fantastic to return to winning ways and bring home so many points for the World Championship standings.”

Seattle's The Heart of Racing Aston Martin squad put their two Aston Martin Vantage LMGT3 Evos onto the podium in the LMGT3 class. Ian James, Zach Robichon and Mattia Drudi, driving the No. 27, scored the team’s first LMGT3 victory for two years as the American team took its second win at the Lone Star Le Mans race in three years.

After Zacharie Robichon executed a strong couple of stints at the wheel and then handed over to Mattia Drudi, the home win for Heart of Racing started to form as the Italian was able to hammer in lap times that pulled away from the Porsche threat.

Drudi's pace after the last of two safety cars as the final hour approached gave a useful buffer of five seconds over the No. 91 Porsche, which claimed its best result of the 2026 campaign.

The No. 23 Aston Martin driven by Gray Newell, Eduardo Barrichello and Jonny Adam meant a first ever LMGT3 double Aston Martin podium was clinched.

Mattia Drudi: “That was probably one of the toughest stints of my life. The team did a very good job with the strategy, undercutting the cars in front when Zach and I swapped. After one and a half seasons trying to get this win, we’ve always been tripped up by something that stopped us from achieving our goal. Now, finally, it feels good to get our first win, and to have the No. 23 in third position. I’m really happy.”

Round 6 of the FIA World Endurance Championship comes from Japan in two weeks. The 6 Hours of Fuji is on September 27th.

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