IRVINE, Calif. — MotoAmerica, North America’s premier motorcycle road racing series, is set to return to the high banks of Daytona International Speedway from March 5-7.
Headlined by the 84th running of the Daytona 200, the race weekend serves as a launchpad that celebrates 50 years of Superbike racing.
A landmark celebration of U.S. road racing heritage takes place as the world’s premier Supersport competitors vie for their own place in the AMA and MotoAmerica history books. Joining the Supersport headliners are Mission King Of The Baggers, Twins Cup, and the Mission Super Hooligan National Championship, collectively forming a high-octane drop of the green flag.
Josh Herrin celebrated his third consecutive Daytona 200 win in 2025 and is looking for a record fourth-straight win this year.
The 84th edition of the Daytona 200 will serve as the opening round for the 2026 MotoAmerica Supersport Championship. The change means the Daytona 200 will now pay critical Supersport points for the first time since 2014.
Supersport machines will also be limited to a 15.5L (4.09 U.S. Gal) fuel tank capacity, which amounts to a 4L (1.05 U.S. Gal.) decrease from previous years and represents a considerable fuel mileage challenge for each machine.
Daytona has historically been a “two-stop-race” where a pit crew will refuel the motorcycle and install fresh tires all in under 25 seconds, twice in 57 laps. This decreased fuel capacity means teams must now plan a third pit stop for fuel, which demands perfection from the technicians on pit lane.
With a record $250,000 purse, the financial stakes at the “World Center of Racing” match its prestige, headlined by a $50,000 winner’s prize and a $100,000 total podium payout.
Adding to the incentive, MotoAmerica’s Official Tire Supplier Dunlop—winners of 33 of the past 43 Daytona 200s—will cover the tire costs for the field’s top-finishing international rider.
This significant payout potential has drawn a global field of 49 elite Supersport riders representing seven different manufacturers. The grid showcases world-class talent from four continents and seven nations—including a strong contingent from the Americas, Europe, Australia, and South Africa—ready for a 57-lap showdown on the high banks.
Josh Herrin is playing a game of numbers at Daytona this year. Herrin’s number two machine returns to the Supersport class for the third time in his career as he rolls his Rahal Ducati Moto Panigale V2 into Daytona eyeing an historic fourth-consecutive Daytona 200 victory. A win this year would mark Herrin’s fifth career victory at the event and equal legends Scott Russell and Miguel Duhamel for most Daytona 200 wins.
Rahal Ducati Moto has two more threats in their pit box, as well. The roster features Superbike standout P.J. Jacobsen and 18-year-old phenom Kayla Yaakov, a candidate to become the first- female winner of the race.
Last year’s second- and third-place finishers, Richie Escalante and Tyler Scott return with the M4 ECSTAR Suzuki Team for the Daytona 200 on their Suzuki GSX-R750s. While Scott will remain in the Supersport class for the entire season, Escalante will return to the Superbike class following his appearance in the Daytona 200. After past disappointments at Daytona, both riders are looking for redemption.
Four-time Superbike Champion Josh Hayes storms into the raceone month shy of his 51st birthday. While Hayes remains a stone-cold threat—as evidenced by his legendary career and 89th career victory at Barber Motorsports Park in 2025—a spot remains in his massive trophy cabinet for the Daytona 200 trophy. He campaigns a 2026 BPR Racing Yamaha YZF-R9 alongside Daytona 200 rookie Brenden Ketelsen.
The Supersport class sees a significant influx of young riders this year, headlined by 2025 Twins Cup and Talent Champion Alessandro Di Mario making his debut with Rahal Ducati Moto on a Ducati Panigale V2. The 17-year-old will make his Daytona 200 debut and could become the first rider to win the race in his first try since Joey Pascarella in 2012.
Also joining the Supersport ranks is MP13 Racing’s Ella Dreher on the MV Agusta F3 RR, who will set a historic milestone. At just 16 years and 9 days old on race day, she is poised to make history as the youngest competitor ever to race in the Daytona 200.
Nineteen-year-old Blake Davis piloted his Yamaha YZF-R9 to three wins in Supersport last season, including a dominant WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca round. While this is not Blake’s first Daytona 200, it marks the inaugural trip to Daytona for the new Supersport machine from the tuning fork brand and the Strack Racing crew, who have experienced the pressures of “The 200” before.
Underscoring the global prestige of the event is an influx of elite world talent. Most noteworthy is former MotoGP star Darryn Binder, who makes his high-profile MotoAmerica Supersport debut with last year’s Daytona 200-winning team Celtic/Economy Tire + Lube/Warhorse HSBK Ducati.
Other international challengers include last year’s fourth-place finisher and Isle of Man TT legend Peter Hickman who will campaign a factory-supported PHR Performance Triumph effort with his compatriot and teammate Davey Todd in his first attempt at the 200.
Adding to the international roster is the extremely versatile British road racer and 2018 IRRC Superbike Champion Danny Webb on a Team Classic Suzuki GSX-R750.
