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On April 20, 2026, OrangeCat Racing announced a confidence-boosting start to the 2026 QUAD LOCK Superbike Series at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta. The team, which fields the No. 40 BMW M 1000 RR ridden by Sean Dylan Kelly alongside teammate Jayson Uribe on the No. 36 machine, left the opening round with two podiums and several important lessons. The weekend also coincides with the series’ milestone year—50 years of Superbike racing in the United States—and demonstrated both the potential of the program and the resilience of its riders.
OrangeCat Racing arrived at Road Atlanta as the defending 2026 Stock 1000 champions and as an official BMW Motorrad Motorsport team for 2026. Kelly, new to the squad this season, immediately translated practice speed into race results, while Uribe overcame a practice crash that left him carrying an injured wrist. The pair collected valuable season points and data for a long championship campaign, and the team now sets its sights on Barber Motorsport Park for the next round on May 15-17.
Race one: restart drama and a solid recovery
The opening Superbike contest on Saturday at the 2.55-mile Road Atlanta circuit was interrupted mid-race by a situation that triggered a red flag and forced a restart. Under the revised 12-lap sprint format, Kelly and Uribe rejoined the grid well placed—Kelly in third on the grid and Uribe starting ninth—and both riders made decisive moves after the restart. Kelly chased from fourth and clawed his way back into the podium positions with a late-race pass that secured third, while Uribe methodically advanced to finish fifth. That result provided important championship points and underscored OrangeCat’s race pace under pressure.
Race two: consistency pays off despite challenges
Sunday’s race unfolded as a test of consistency and tire management. Kelly again started from third, held position through traffic, and crossed the line in third to claim his second podium of the weekend. Uribe, who began race two ninth, battled through physical pain from his wrist injury to finish ninth and retain crucial points. Both riders demonstrated the team’s ability to respond to varying race conditions and to extract performance from the BMW M 1000 RR package across consecutive race distances.
Standings and immediate impact
After round one, Kelly sits second in the MotoAmerica QUAD LOCK Superbike Championship standings while Uribe occupies eighth. Those placings reflect a strong start for a team integrating a new lead rider and managing injury recovery. The points haul also provides a platform for development work the crew will pursue ahead of Barber, focusing on setup consistency, tire life, and race-start procedure to convert pace into victories.
Round context: what else happened at Road Atlanta
Beyond OrangeCat’s headline results, the opening weekend produced dramatic finishes and standout performances across the field. Bobby Fong surged late to win race two after polesitter Mathew Scholtz encountered a technical problem in the closing laps, while seasoned competitors like JD Beach and Cameron Beaubier salvaged hard-fought points after setbacks. The weekend also highlighted depth in the series: Superbike Cup riders such as Deion Campbell ran competitively among the premier entries, showcasing the field’s strength and the fine margins between classes.
Supersport and support classes
Support-class action was equally compelling. In Supersport, Josh Herrin claimed a race two victory and set a new class lap record, while riders like Darryn Binder and Tyler Scott pushed pace and lap-time benchmarks. These results emphasize how track characteristics at Road Atlanta reward precise tire and chassis management—areas OrangeCat will refine as the season progresses.
Looking ahead: Barber and the season’s arc
OrangeCat Racing will head to Barber Motorsport Park for the next MotoAmerica round on May 15-17, armed with data and momentum. The team aims to convert podium consistency into wins by dialing in race-start launches, tire degradation strategies, and ergonomic settings for both riders. Kelly expressed satisfaction with the weekend while acknowledging areas to improve, and Uribe reinforced his commitment to recovery and to helping the team score strong results throughout the year. As an official BMW Motorrad Motorsport entry, OrangeCat will continue developing the BMW M 1000 RR platform while also campaigning in other classes, including the Super Hooligan electric Lightfighter, to broaden its technical and competitive footprint.
The opening round at Road Atlanta provided a compact summary of what the 2026 championship promises: tight competition, mechanical dramas, and rapid learning curves. For OrangeCat Racing, two podiums and resilient point-scoring represent a successful launch, and the team now turns attention to Barber with the goal of building on early momentum and chasing race wins across a demanding season.