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The 2026 motoamerica season opened with a notable commercial and sporting convergence: UK-based R&G confirmed its return as the series’ official protection partner, a relationship announced in MotoAmerica’s March 11, 2026 press release. R&G began as a precision engineering firm in 1999 and has since built a reputation for creating purpose-built crash protection for motorcycles. Through this renewal, the company continues to place its products and personnel in front of the paddock, while also maintaining targeted team and rider support across categories.
Beyond the corporate announcement, the partnership connects directly to on-track moments. R&G’s protective coverage extends to Rahal Ducati Moto—including rider Kayla Yaakov, who made history by becoming the first woman to stand on the podium in the Daytona 200 on March 7, 2026. That achievement underlines how equipment suppliers like R&G influence not just bike durability after a fall but also the confidence of teams and athletes competing at the highest level.
What R&G brings to the paddock
R&G’s product and support offering blends engineering with racetrack experience. The brand is known for a portfolio that protects vulnerable parts of motorcycles: items such as frame sliders and engine covers are core to their line-up. In addition to impact protection, R&G provides performance-focused accessories including tail tidy kits, tank grips, swingarm spools, and paddock stands. MotoAmerica’s commercial lead highlighted the company’s hands-on involvement throughout the series, noting the value of a supplier that not only sells hardware but actively supports teams in the paddock.
Product scope and defined roles
When we describe items like frame sliders or engine covers, we are referring to components designed to absorb and redirect crash energy, limiting damage to the chassis and mechanicals. R&G also serves as the sole protection supplier for development pathways: the company will supply the MotoAmerica Talent Cup and the Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race. program, ensuring consistent protection standards for emerging riders. The partnership further extends to selective rider-level backing, including support for Nolan Lamkin’s Honda in the Superbike Cup.
Teams and riders supported by R&G
R&G’s paddock footprint covers several factory and privateer efforts. For 2026 the supplier protects members of Team Hammer, where notable names include Superbike regular Richie Escalante and fellow M4 ECSTAR Suzuki competitor Brandon Paasch. The company also backs the team’s Supersport contender Tyler Scott and Twins Cup entrants Matthew Chapin and Bodie paige. On the Ducati side, Rahal Ducati Moto benefits from R&G coverage across classes, with riders such as Superbike entrant PJ Jacobsen and Supersport riders Kayla Yaakov, Alessandro Di Mario, and Josh Herrin receiving equipment and technical support.
Why that support matters
Series-level supplier relationships are more than logos on a banner: they translate into standardized safety components, spares access, and on-site technical help that reduce repair times after incidents. For teams pushing for championship points, that reliability can be decisive. R&G’s managing director emphasized the company’s excitement about returning for 2026 and its enthusiasm for the sport’s growth, while MotoAmerica welcomed the continuity and paddock involvement the brand provides.
Daytona highlights and the season ahead
The competitive backdrop to the commercial news was the season-opening action at Daytona. Across the marquee Daytona 200 and support races, several R&G-backed riders—directly or indirectly—figured prominently. Tyler Scott secured pole and a runner-up finish in the 84th running of the Daytona 200, delivering a strong points haul for his Supersport title bid. Richie Escalante ran in contention before a late crash ended his race, illustrating how quickly fortunes can change over the endurance-style event.
The Twins Cup also produced breakout moments: young Australian Sam Drane shone in his debut, collecting a win and a second place to lead the early standings, while Bodie Paige and Matthew Chapin delivered podium performances and close finishes that set the tone for a competitive class. Other Yamaha-backed competitors such as Dominic Doyle and Blake Davis recorded solid results in the longer-distance Daytona test. The championship now moves on, with the premier Superbike category set to resume on April 17-19 at Road Atlanta, and the MotoAmerica Talent Cup appearing at Circuit of the Americas on March 27-29.
For fans and teams alike, the combination of renewed supplier partnerships and an explosive opening weekend creates momentum. Between the technical guarantee of a trusted protection supplier and the on-track results already emerging, the early chapters of the 2026 MotoAmerica season promise competitive racing and continued attention on rider development programs.