OrangeCat Racing Secures Runner-Up Finish in 2026 MotoAmerica Quad Lock Superbike Championship at Rain-Soaked New Jersey Finale
BMW Motorrad USA congratulates OrangeCat Racing and its riders on a milestone debut season in the MotoAmerica Quad Lock Superbike Championship.
Sean Dylan Kelly finished second in the championship standings after recording three wins and 13 podium finishes, while teammate Jayson Uribe earned his first Superbike podium with a third-place finish in Round 3 at Virginia International Raceway and concluded the season seventh overall. OrangeCat Racing is the first official BMW Motorrad Motorsport team to compete in U.S. Superbike racing.
Kelly entered the season finale at New Jersey Motorsports Park leading the championship aboard the No. 40 OrangeCat Racing BMW M 1000 RR. Persistent rain and extremely wet track conditions forced MotoAmerica to cancel qualifying, setting the grid for all three races according to Free Practice times. Starting from the fourth row, Kelly worked his way forward to finish fourth in both Saturday races. In Sunday’s weather-delayed Race 3, he slid off the track while pushing to close on the leaders.
Uribe, completing his third season with OrangeCat Racing aboard the No. 36 BMW M 1000 RR, recorded his first MotoAmerica Superbike podium with a third-place finish in Race 3 at Virginia International Raceway. At the New Jersey finale, he added two fifth-place finishes as he advanced through the field in support of his teammate’s championship challenge.
The 2026 season also marks the 50th anniversary of BMW’s success in the inaugural AMA Superbike Championship in 1976, when Butler & Smith BMW R 90 S riders Reg Pridmore, Steve McLaughlin and Gary Fisher swept the top three positions in the final standings.
OrangeCat Racing entered the Superbike class in 2026 after winning the 2025 MotoAmerica Stock 1000 Championship with the BMW M 1000 RR. Building on the momentum of a successful debut season, the team and Sean Dylan Kelly now turn their focus to the 2027 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship, with the clear goal of capturing the title aboard the BMW M 1000 RR.
Jeff Connors, OrangeCat Racing Team Principal: "This weekend was a battle from the start. Friday was our toughest qualifying day of the year, with Sean starting 10th and Jayson 8th, so we knew we had work to do. The guys responded on Saturday. In Race 1, Sean charged all the way up to second before finishing fourth, with Jayson right behind him in fifth. In Race 2, Sean led the race, but the front tire didn't last as long as we needed and he came home fourth. Jayson set the fastest lap of the race before crashing in a tough section of the track. Going into Race 3, Sean knew what he had to do to beat Bobby Fong for the title, and he gave it absolutely everything. It didn't work out, and it's heartbreaking, but I would never ask him to ride any other way. Congratulations to Bobby on the championship. We pushed him right to the end. Thank you to BMW Motorrad, who stood with us in the middle of a hurricane, to Alpha for their partnership, and to our crew and their families, who sacrificed more than 100 days away from home this year. This group is family. We'll be back next year to finish the job.”
Sean Dylan Kelly, rider of the No. 40 OrangeCat Racing BMW M 1000 RR: ”Well, we unfortunately didn't have the last race weekend that we would have hoped for. We had a pretty tough weekend from FP1. Really difficult conditions. I think we were just a bit behind come race time. I’m pretty happy with the performances in the races but unfortunately, it wasn't enough and it came down to all or nothing for Race 3. There was heavy rain in Race 3 and I ended up on the floor and we finished 2nd in the championship. It’s difficult to really take it all in right now, but I know that this was a really positive season. And I was just getting better and better with my BMW, so I’m looking forward to keep on improving for next season and make a step in 2027.”
Jayson Uribe, rider of the No. 36 OrangeCat Racing BMW M 1000 RR: “Overall, my side of the garage had a very successful weekend. Going into Saturday, Sunday, everybody knew it was going to be pretty gnarly conditions. I think we were able to adapt quickly and go with the punches as they came at us. Finishing P5 twice and fighting for a podium before crashing out in Race 2, for me was a really good way to finish off the season. Obviously, the crash was unfortunate, but I was pushing and I had the fastest lap of the race, so it wasn't through lack of effort. It was just unfortunate timing. Overall, just a massive thank you to OrangeCat Racing and BMW Motorrad for their continued support. And I look forward to hopefully having the opportunity to work with you guys once again.
BMW Motorrad USA The Hunt Docuseries
Follow OrangeCat Racing’s pursuit of the 2026 MotoAmerica Quad Lock Superbike Championship through episodes of The Hunt, a docuseries offering an inside look at the team during its inaugural season in the premier Superbike class.
About OrangeCat Racing
OrangeCat Racing is a professional motorcycle racing team based in Chicago that competes nationally in MotoAmerica. Driven by competition, continuous improvement and teamwork, OrangeCat Racing is committed to expanding the reach of motorcycle racing, sharing the experience with a broader audience, and creating an environment in which its riders can focus fully on their craft. In 2026, OrangeCat Racing competes in the MotoAmerica Superbike class as an official BMW Motorrad Motorsport team. The team also competes in the MotoAmerica Super Hooligan class aboard the electric Lightfighter motorcycle.
BMW Group in the United States
BMW Group began operations in the U.S. over 50 years ago. In addition to the sales, marketing, and distribution of BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce, and BMW Motorrad vehicles, BMW Group’s business in the U.S. spans 30 locations in 12 states including BMW Group Financial Services, BMW Manufacturing, Designworks, BMW Technology Office USA, and BMW i Ventures. The company’s U.S. plant in South Carolina is the largest single BMW production facility in the world and the global center of competence for BMW Sports Activity Vehicles. The BMW Group sales organization is represented by a nationwide network of 359 BMW retailers, 139 BMW motorcycle retailers, 104 MINI passenger car dealers, and 38 Rolls-Royce Motor Car dealers. Taken together, BMW Group’s business activities in the U.S. provide and support over 120,000 jobs and contribute more than $43.3 billion to the U.S. economy annually.
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