MOTOGP - Marc Marquez is truly one of the most sensational road racers in history. Enduring injury and adversity, he has experienced both success and failure, but he has risen more than once and now he has overcome a title-leading deficit of over 100 points seven rounds ago to lead the 2026 MotoGP Riders' World Championship.

MM93 is riding a Ducati that has not been the match of the Aprilia RS-GP this season. Marquez has five of Ducati's seven Sunday wins this season. His brother Alex and VR46's Fabio Di Giannantonio are the only other riders who have won on a Bologna bike. The Spaniard has almost singlehandedly turned the balance of power back in Ducati's favor.

Four Aprilia-mounted riders have won seven GPs. Marquez has six Sprint wins in 2026, which has tipped the Constructors' battle towards Ducati - 412 points to Aprilia's 410. The Spaniard has swept the two previous rounds, with Sprint and Sunday race wins in Aragon and Misano, where he took his 78th MotoGP victory at the Red Bull Grand Prix of San Marino and the Rimini Riviera.

Former World Championship leader Marco Bezzecchi, who won the season's first three rounds, made yet another mistake and crashed out at Misano from the front on Lap 1. Second place went to BK8 Gresini Racing's Alex Marquez at the team's home round. Alex came from P9 on the grid riding a beautiful Marco Simoncelli tribute Ducati.

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing's Pedro Acosta made it a Spanish sweep, proving his is worthy of his 2027 Factory Ducati ride alongside Alex's big brother Marc. Fermin Aldeguer made it two Gresini machines in the top five. Surely "SuperSic" was smiling down from above.

Aprilia's Jorge Martin entered Misano as pre-race championship leader. He finished fifth and now heads to Austria second overall. Although he and Marc Marquez each have 274 points, Marc has five Sunday victories to go with six Saturday wins to Martin's single GP victory, plus three Sprint wins.

Marc Marquez: “We had a good race and I'm happy, especially since Misano is the home race for Ducati, but it was a tough one. When you race with this kind of pace, it's easy to make a mistake. This is the reason why, when I saw Bezzecchi's crash, I planned the race in a different way and maybe I relaxed a bit too much. Little by little, I went back to my best pace and recovered the feeling I had yesterday. In the second part of the race, I tried to manage my lead and when Alex got closer, I started to push again. At this track, if you aren't a lot faster than the rider ahead, it is hard to overtake.”

MotoGP wraps up the European summer season at the Red Bull Ring this weekend's Qatar Airways Grand Prix of Austria. Jorge Martin and Marc Marquez are deadlocked at the top on points, with Marquez ahead based on wins. The top three are split by less than a weekend's total points - Marco Bezzecchi in P3, 33 points behind Marquez.

Austria has been Ducati territory, with nine Austrian Grand Prix wins, the most recent coming from Marc Marquez in 2025 when he took his lone Austrian win. Jorge Martin also has one Austrian victory in 2021, while riding for Prima Pramac Ducati. It was his maiden MotoGP victory in his rookie season during the 2021 Styrian Grand Prix. However, it has been revealed the Jorge Martin is exeriencing arm pump issues, which need attention after this weekend.

Jorge Martin: "Misano did not go exactly as we expected. Despite this, we’ll hold onto the positive aspects, because in the long race, I had a good feeling, a good pace, and I was riding the way I like to up until I began to feel my forearm tightening up. After Austria, we’ll evaluate how to tackle this physical problem, and we’ll examine the possible solutions. Aprilia continues to do an outstanding job to help me find the right feeling and go into the weekend with as few doubts as possible. Now we need to focus on Austria, which is a track I like. I’d like to thank the team for the work they’re doing and the fans who supported us for the entire weekend in Misano. The atmosphere was spectacular."

The Qatar Airways Grand Prix of Austria is this Sunday, September 20th. 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 FS1 Saturday, September 12th at 8:55 AM ET.

WORLDSBK - The MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship returns to action next weekend for the EICMA Italian Round at the Cremona Circuit. If not for Iker Lecuona's P2 at the French Round, his teammate would have been crowned WorldSBK Champion in France. Now Nicolo Bulega will have the opportunity at his home round.

Holding a 146-point lead with 186 points remaining pre-Cremona, not only can ‘Bulegas’ win the title in Race 1 if he can outscore Lecuona by 15 points, but the Italian will be crowned in Sunday’s Tissot Superpole Race if he outscores his teammate by just three points cumulatively over the two races. In other words, among the potential winning scenarios, Bulega could be crowned as early as Race 1 if he wins the race and Lecuona falls to sixth or lower, or if the Iker finishes P2 while Nicolo takes P11 or worse.

FORMULA 1 - Starting from the rear of the field. Winning on a new circuit. Victories on iconic circuits, like Monza, Monaco, Suzuka, Spa and Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. These are the marks of a World Champion and so far Andrea Kimi Antonelli has checked all the boxes.

The latest of the young Italian's eight race wins came at last weekend's Tag Heuer Gran Premio de Españaon on a new circuit in Madrid. Kimi Antonelli increased his title chances last weekend by beating out Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and McLaren’s Lando Norris.

It was a race determined by strategy, and once again a fortuitous Virtual Safety Car. Lando Norris looked to have the pace of the field in Madrid, but P3 was all he got from it. The first laps on the new circuit were chaotic with cars running off the road in chicanes and drivers giving positions back, resulting in lead changes. Lewis Hamilton was among those whose race was impacted by luck. In his case; bad luck. The British driver was forced to retire his Ferrari with brake issues.

The GP plot point occurred when Lance Stroll was also forced to retire due to brake issues, however his Aston Martin AMR26 was stopped on the circuit. When the VSC was deployed Kimi was in the perfect spot to take advantage. What did polesitter Lando Norris get for being out front? It certainly wasn't the opportunity to take advantage of time gained by pitting under the VSC, since the leader of the race was already by pit in when the track was neutralized.

George Russell and Max Verstappen also pitted under the Virtual Safety Car. Making matters worse, when Norris took his pit stop under green, his McLaren team took seven seconds to complete a tire change. Lando eventually emerged in P5 behind Leclerc – who hadn’t pitted – Antonelli, Verstappen and Russell.

Ferrari were on a much different strategy as they continued to keep Leclerc out, in hopes of a podium finish, which would have required another Safety Car or red flag. Antonelli took that into consideration and hung back in P2, ahead of Verstappen and Norris, who spent multiple laps looking at the back of the Red Bull.

Leclerc was called into the pits at the end of Lap 48, leaving Antonelli, Verstappen and Norris to fight it out over the final nine laps. Having conserved his car and tires while biding his time behind the Ferrari, Antonelli now hit the jets in his Mercedes W17. As he edged away the Rad Bull of Verstappen got wider, with Lando's McLaren running out of room to claim P2. Thus the podium was set.

Antonelli Out Front and Up Top

Charles Leclerc and George Russell finished further back of the podium trio in P4 and P5. Liam Lawson finished sixth in his third weekend substituting for Isack Hadjar at Red Bull. Alpine's Franco Colapinto finished in front of the McLaren of Oscar Piastri in P8. Racing Bulls Arvid Lindblad took ninth, followed by Audi's Nico Hulkenberg, who took the final point in Madrid.

Kimi Antonelli: "It was great to get the victory today, but we know we were a little bit fortunate with the timing of the Virtual Safety Car. Lando (Norris) was in control at the front, but we were able to dive into the pits just as the Virtual Safety Car was deployed, make the cheap stop onto the Hard, get the net lead and run to the end. We probably didn't deserve to win therefore but we will of course take it.

"We can also be happy with our pace today. We know we are still out of step with other teams in terms of upgrades, but we have been able to win the last two races at very different circuits. That is encouraging as we continue the season; we have a good position in the championships but we know there is still a very long way to go."

The Formula 1 paddock takes a breather this weekend and head off to Azerbaijan next weekend before flyways in Asia, with the Bahrain GP being held in Sepang, Malaysia and Round 17 in Singapore. Then it is on to North America for a pair, followed by South America in Brazil for Round 20. Back to North America for Las Vegas, the Qatar and Abu Dhabi GPs are scheduled to complete the 2026 F1 calendar.

The Qatar Airways Grand Prix of Azerbaijan is on Saturday, September 26th. The race is run on Saturday to avoid conflicting with Azerbaijan Remembrance Day on September 27th, which is a solemn national day of mourning. The race broadcast in the States is at 5:50 AM Eastern Saturday morning on Apple TV.

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 - Alexander Rossi and Alex Palou drove the NTT INDYCAR SERIES’ next-generation car on the 2.439-mile, 14-turn IMS road course across three days in early August. Last week, they returned to the 2.5-mile oval for two days of testing in superspeedway configuration.

The two Dallara IR-28 validation tests at Indianapolis Motor Speedway delivered what INDYCAR was looking for. Information. Data from the tests will be used to refine and further develop the car that will be introduced for the 2028 season.

Rossi represented Chevrolet and ECR during both tests, Palou, a five-time series champion, represented Honda and Chip Ganassi Racing. Rossi won the 2016 Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge. Palou won the “500” in 2025.

Baselines have been set, with the road-course configuration generating the grip needed for heavy braking and cornering. The superspeedway configuration reduces drag so the car can move efficiently through the air and remain stable at high speeds.

Conditions on Wednesday, September 9th, when Alexander Rossi took to the 2.5 mile IMS oval with the superspeedway configuration of the IR-28 chassis, saw temperatures in the low 90s with high humidity, as Rossi completed the first day of superspeedway testing. INDYCAR and Dallara used the conditions to make significant setup changes and measure the car’s response.

Palou tested the following day in conditions roughly 10 degrees cooler, with less humidity. The weather more closely resembled the conditions teams typically encounter during the Month of May, giving INDYCAR another set of data. 

Mike O’Gara, INDYCAR’s vice president of competition and race engineering, compared the conditions of the two-day test to compressing an entire Month of May practice program into a much shorter window. The new car will use a 2.4-liter twin-turbocharged V6 internal combustion engine capable of producing up to 760 horsepower. The engine formula will increase torque and power compared to the current NTT INDYCAR SERIES engines.

An evolved low-voltage hybrid system will accompany the new engine. It will provide greater energy storage and expanded deployment options while reducing the power unit’s weight by approximately 20 pounds compared to the current generation. Chevrolet and Honda have committed to the new engine formula.

The additional power, combined with the lighter and more efficient IR-28 package, could bring one of the most recognizable records in INDYCAR SERIES history into range. Arie Luyendyk set the four-lap qualifying record at IMS on May 12, 1996, with an average speed of 236.986 mph. He also established the single-lap record that day at 237.498 mph.

The IR-28 was not chasing those records last week at IMS. INDYCAR was using the test to establish performance targets and validate the car’s design. But the early data provided encouragement.

The 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES Rookie of the Year Dennis Hauger has signed a multi-year contract beginning in 2027 with A.J. Foyt Racing.

Hauger, 23, joins AJ Foyt Racing after completing his first NTT INDYCAR SERIES season with Dale Coyne Racing. He will drive the No. 14 Homes For Our Troops Chevrolet.

The Norwegian came to the United States for the 2025 INDY NXT by Firestone season and made an immediate impact, winning six races and the championship with Andretti Global.

FORMULA E - Envision Formula E Team welcomes a new Title Partner (Paysafe) and a completely new driver lineup for the 2026/27 season - the first of the GEN4 era. Now known as Paysafe Envision Formula E Team, they have tapped the services of former DS PENSKE driver, and Formula E race winner, Maximilian Günther. The German has signed a multi-year contract to bring his wealth of experience to the Paysafe Envision squad. 

During his eight seasons in the championship, Günther has been no stranger to the top step of the podium, winning seven E-Prix’s, the first of which made him Formula E’s youngest-ever race winner - a record only recently beaten by Taylor Barnard. 

FIA WEC - On Monday, September 14th, the FIA WEC announced the entry list for the 6 Hours of Fuji next weekend; Round 6 of the 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship. Set in the shadow of the mysterious Mt. Fuji, the race has a visceral appeal for both drivers and teams. None more than Toyota Racing.

Of the 12 FIA WEC races to-date, nine have been won by the Japanese giant. However, just as they were about to celebrate their first win at Austin's Circuit of The Americas, they had the rug pulled out from beneath a sure victory.

Nyck de Vries was forced to retire the No. 7 Toyota TR010 HYBRID in the final minutes of Lone Star Le Mans with a hydraulic issue. That put the leader of the race, de Vries and teammates Kamui Kobayashi and Mike Conway to P17 in Hypercar finishing four laps down to the winning No. 51 Ferrari 499P.

Heading into their home round next weekend at Fuji, the drivers of the No. 7 Toyota are tied on points at the top of the Drivers’ Standings with Robin Frijns and René Rast, drivers of the No. 20 BMW M V8 Hybrid with 75 points each.

Victory at Fuji Speedway to complement its Le Mans win in June is the target for the team’s home event, at a venue with particular significance. The Higashi-Fuji Technical Center – where the TR010 HYBRID’s powertrain is designed, developed and built – is just a short drive from the circuit.

Fuji Shrouded in Mystery

Every year, many team members from Higashi-Fuji, as well as TOYOTA colleagues and team partners, visit Fuji Speedway to show their strong support. Since the start of its hybrid WEC project in 2012, the team has rewarded its home fans with results to celebrate, with nine wins from 12 races – including six one-twos.

Team Principal and driver Kamui Kobayashi: “We are expecting a lot of Japanese fans supporting us and we are very much looking forward to coming home. It’s an important race, not only for the World Championship, but because it’s our home race and the second most important of the season, after Le Mans. Obviously, we want to fight for the win, particularly in front of all our TOYOTA colleagues, partners and fans. It’s always a big target for us at the start of every season and we’ll give everything to achieve it.”

In the Manufacturers’ battle, Ferrari’s first success of its title-defending season has hauled the Prancing Horse firmly into the hunt for honors, setting the scene for a fascinating three-way fight over the closing stages of the campaign. They are P3, 17 points behind BMW, who trail Toyota by just nine points.

The only change in the entry list compared to COTA is the No. 12 Cadillac, which sat on pole last year at Fuji. The squad is back to two drivers for the event - Norman Nato and Will Stevens, with the anticipated return of Alex Lynn for the final two rounds in Italy and Spain.

In LMGT3, meanwhile, a difficult race for TF Sport in Austin coupled with a strong result for VISTA AF Corse has narrowed the gap at the summit of the standings. Corvette and Ferrari finished first and second 12 months ago in Japan. Corvette lead Ferrari by 22 points heading to Japan.

The 6 Hours of Fuji is on Sunday, September 27th. Follow the link for the entries of next weekend's 6 HOURS OF FUJI.

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