The motorcycle racing landscape sees a significant roster move as orangecat racing announced that Bobby Fong, the reigning MotoAmerica Quad Lock Superbike champion, will join the team for the 2027 and 2028 seasons. Fong is set to campaign the No. 1 BMW M 1000 RR and will share the garage with Sean Dylan Kelly, who finished the 2026 championship as runner-up. This pairing brings together the top two finishers from 2026 under one official team banner and raises expectations for OrangeCat’s Superbike program.
The move was confirmed by the team leadership and partners involved in the effort. OrangeCat Racing will continue its association with BMW Motorrad Motorsport and the arrangement includes support for both riders as they aim at front-running results in the MotoAmerica Superbike field. The announcement emphasizes a focus on development, intra-team competition, and providing both riders with the equipment and resources they need to contend for wins and the championship.
2026 title run: how Fong earned the No. 1 plate
Bobby Fong captured the 2026 MotoAmerica Quad Lock Superbike crown with a late-season surge that turned the points battle in his favor. Notably, he collected two wet-condition victories during the final tripleheader at New Jersey Motorsports Park, performances that proved decisive in the title chase. Fong sealed the championship in the very last race of the season, finishing ahead of his soon-to-be teammate Sean Dylan Kelly. Those closing-round results—demonstrating both pace and adaptability in changeable conditions—underline why OrangeCat targeted Fong for their factory-supported program.
Team dynamics, departures, and leadership comments
Jeff Connors, Team Principal of OrangeCat Racing, described the signing as a pivotal development for the squad, noting a long-standing relationship with Fong and an appreciation for his work ethic and competitive mindset. Connors highlighted how pairing two proven front-runners can accelerate the evolution of their superbike package, saying the riders will push each other and contribute to bike development. The team also thanked outgoing rider Jayson Uribe for his role in advancing the BMW M 1000 RR customer racing program and for his broader contributions off-track, acknowledging his status as a committed brand ambassador.
On joining OrangeCat, Bobby Fong expressed gratitude to team management and enthusiasm about defending his No. 1 plate aboard the BMW M 1000 RR. Fong emphasized the strength of the program he is entering and his readiness to begin working with engineers and crew to prepare for the title defense. Sean Dylan Kelly welcomed Fong back as a teammate, recalling their shared history on Supersport machinery in 2019 and projecting a competitive but collaborative relationship in the superbike class for 2027.
Season calendar note and media access
The MotoAmerica Superbike championship opens its 2027 campaign with the Superbikes at Road Atlanta event scheduled for April 16–18, 2027. That weekend will be the first opportunity to see the OrangeCat Racing BMWs lined up together, with attention focused on how the newly assembled duo perform in testing and the opening races. Fans and followers can expect pre-season testing updates as the team prepares the BMW M 1000 RR platform for competitive running across the calendar.
Beyond the paddock, OrangeCat Racing’s 2026 season is documented in a short docuseries titled The Hunt, produced by BMW Motorrad USA. The series offers behind-the-scenes access to the team’s debut year in the Superbike class and is available across BMW Motorrad USA’s social platforms, including Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. The docuseries serves as a reference point for how OrangeCat has developed as an operation and provides fans with extra context ahead of the 2027 campaign.
About OrangeCat Racing and BMW Group involvement
OrangeCat Racing is a professional team headquartered in Chicago that competes nationally in the MotoAmerica series. The team focuses on rider development, technical progress, and promoting motorcycle racing to broader audiences. For 2026, OrangeCat raced in the Superbike class as an official BMW Motorrad Motorsport team and also campaigned in the MotoAmerica Super Hooligan class with an electric Lightfighter entry. The organization’s stated aim is to give riders a professional environment in which to concentrate on performance and to expand the sport’s reach.
The wider BMW Group presence in the United States supports the manufacturer’s motorsport and customer racing efforts, including motorcycle programs and media initiatives. The collaboration between OrangeCat Racing and BMW Motorrad Motorsport will be central to the team’s ambitions in 2027 as they field two competitive entries and pursue race wins and championship points with Bobby Fong and Sean Dylan Kelly.
