After partial recent National events in Florida and Texas, the AMA road racing tour kicked off with the opening full round for MotoAmerica at Road Atlanta, GA. In the feature Superbike class, fastest in the main category was reigning No. 1 Cameron Beaubier on the Flo4Law/Warhorse/Ducati Factory Racing Desmo Panigale V4 entry, setting a best lap at 1:23.348.
Next best was Bobby Fong, the almost-champ from last season, just .17 of a second behind Beaubier on his Attack/Progressive works Yamaha, with returning Superbike racer and reigning Supersport Champ Mathew Scholtz third just a fraction behind for Strack Yamaha on another YZF-R1.
Fourth in the first Qualifier was Sean Dylan Kelly, now switched to BMW, also within three tenths of the best lap of the daunting 4.08 long, 13-turn venue opened in 1970. Fifth best effort belonged to Cameron Peterson, returning to Superbike on a Wrench Ducati Panigale V4.
Legendary local racer and former World Superbike Champion for Muzzy-Kawasaki, Scott Russell will be on hand to serve as Grand Marshal this weekend. as the event starts a season of celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Superbike category in the United States, the country that invented the street-oriented division.
Russell almost single handedly won a WERA Six Hour Endurance National at Shannonville Motorsport Park in miserable conditions in the fall of 1988.
The support class for more restricted “big bikes” that sometimes runs in conjunction with the MotoAmerica main event is now called Superbike Cup, and 2026 Canadian interest is focused on former CSBK National Superbike Champion Alex Dumas, returning to MotoAmerica after five years competing in the Feature division in Canada.
A two-time MotoA support class Champion, Quebec City’s Dumas, still just 23, made a last-minute deal to ride a BMW Superbike full time in the US, but a lack of support had Team Owner Steve Scheibe switch their program to a run a Honda in the Superbike Cup division for ‘26. Dumas tried the CBR1000RR-RR-R SP on Tuesday nearby at “Little Talladega” in Alabama and rode the Honda for the first time officially in Georgia on Friday morning.
Concerned with some details the machines performance at the test, Dumas was pleased with progress on Friday at Road Atlanta, and wound-up 15th overall, third in class, behind quickest “Cup” entry of BPR Yamaha’s Deion Campbell in 13th overall and 14th best Danilo Lewis aboard a Team Brazil Honda.
A podium would seem a reasonable goal for Dumas first career start on a Honda!
Reigning Canadian National Pro Supersport Champ Torin Collins of Alberta raced Suzuki and Ducati equipment to a No. 1 plate at home last year, and at Road Atlanta he was racing a Yamaha YZF-R9 triple for the first time, racing for the Altus squad that entered his Suzuki in the U.S.A. last season.
After working through gearing issues in the first session, Collins worked in Qualifying with his team-mates and earned ninth overall on the provisional grid after first Q for Supersport. Collins has a second Q session tomorrow morning at 9:45 Eastern Time, with his first of two races slated for 1 pm.
The first Quadlock Superbike National Feature race of 2026 takes place at 3 pm tomorrow.
One other Canadian had an important career day at Road Atlanta, perhaps the most significant. Ontario based Lightweight racer Emily Dickson has joined the Royal Enfield “spec” category for their British-designed, Indian produced GT650 Continental twin, the series called Build/Train/Race and aimed at developing female racing talent.
In her first day on her new job, Dickson scored a solid start, winding up fifth out of ten racers entered in her class. Her first career MotoA start will be tomorrow, just before noon.
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