Briar Bauman (No. 3), Dallas Daniels (No. 1), and Chad Cose (No. 49) celebrate their podium finish at Part Unlimited ThrottleFest presented by Carter CAT. [Photo: Anthony Watt for AMA Pro Racing] The rolling Briar Bauman (No. 3 Super.com/RWR Harley-Davidson XG750R) upped his win streak to three with yet another dominant outing, the latest coming at the Budds Creek Half-Mile in the inaugural Parts Unlimited ThrottleFest presented by Carter CAT, Round 6 of the 2026 Progressive American Flat Track season, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing.  The Main Event of the four-day event hosted by Budds Creek Motocross Park in Mechanicsville, Maryland, was expected to be a showdown involving Bauman, reigning Grand National Champion Dallas Daniels (No. 1 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07), and Mission AFT SuperTwins points leader Kody Kopp (No. 12 Latus Motors Racing Harley-Davidson XG750R).  And arguably it was, in a sense, albeit one effectively decided in the opening seconds of the race.   Bauman and Daniels went elbow-to-elbow as they disputed the holeshot. Bauman ultimately had the superior positioning aboard his Rick Ware Racing Harley-Davidson XG750R, which not only forced Daniels to accept second but resulted in him getting shuffled back to third by an opportunistic Chad Cose (No. 49 PRO Roofing/Parker Racing Yamaha MT-07).  The Estenson Racing Yamaha ace would spend the next six minutes attempting to uncover a path back around Cose. And by the time he finally managed to do so, Bauman was more than three seconds clear at the front.  Bauman negotiated his way through heavy traffic over the final couple of laps, allowing Daniels to slash the deficit down to 2.208 seconds, but the outcome was never truly put in doubt.  After Daniels worked his way past and disappeared in second, Cose shifted his attention to Kopp, who was creeping up from fourth. Despite Kopp’s late push, the Californian held on to the spot by a nerve-wracking 0.210 seconds, securing Cose’s first premier-class podium in eight seasons.  Hunter Bauer (No. 24 G&G Racing Yamaha MT-07) and Aidan RoosEvans (No. 26 FRA Trust Advisors Harley-Davidson XG750R) joined Kopp to put rookies fourth, fifth, and sixth.   Meanwhile, Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods Honda CB750 Hornet), Morgen Mischler (No. 13 IFS Waste Services/D&D Cycles Aprilia Tuareg 660), Cameron Smith (No. 34 Fredericktown Yamaha/Thee Kathy Gray Yamaha MT-07), and Declan Bender (No. 70 Memphis Shades/Vinson Construction Yamaha MT-07) closed out the top ten.  Bauman’s surge has shifted the Grand National Championship outlook, closing the margin separating the top three dramatically in recent weeks.  While Kopp continues to lead with 117 points, Daniels (110) and Bauman (108) are now both well within striking distance in second and third.  After scoring the 37th Mission AFT SuperTwins win of his career, the two-time Grand National Champion said, “There’s something about doing it with a crew you thoroughly enjoy doing it with… We just work at it. We weren’t the quickest all day. We were a bit off. But they turned that thing upside down. I’ll be upfront – we didn’t change a clicker on the motorcycle the last two Nationals except for gearing. And today we threw the toolbox at that thing, and we found it. I’m just proud of my whole Rick Ware Racing team.”  KICKER AFT Singles  It took three starts to make it happen, but Kage Tadman (No. 28 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) ultimately ripped into the lead from pole position and powered his way to his fourth-career KICKER AFT Singles victory.  The two prior starts were quickly nullified by early-race red flags – both times removing Chase Saathoff (No. 88 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450) from the lead and erasing less-than-ideal launches for the otherwise on-form Tadman.  The second of those reds was thrown following a lowside crash on the part of Tarren Santero (No. 75 Roof Systems/Vinson Construction Honda CRF450R), a fall that sparked a chain reaction that also claimed Evan Kelleher (No. 31 Schaeffer’s Motorsports KTM 450 SX-F) and Logan Eisenhard (No. 66 Eisenhard Racing/Pags Powersports KTM 450 SX-F).  Tadman finally nailed the third start and was further blessed with the added good fortune of teammate Walker Porter (No. 10 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) slotting into second behind him.  Saathoff, meanwhile, was fourth off the line, stashed behind both Turner Hondas and the cagey Trevor Brunner (No. 21 KMA Racing/March Equipment Yamaha YZ450F).  The race’s drama largely unfolded behind Tadman, who pulled clear at the front.  Saathoff fought his way by Brunner into third and then moved Porter out of the way to seize control of second with just over a minute remaining on the clock. He was then, however – and incredibly – overhauled by Santero, who somehow managed to slash his way up through the field after being forced to the back of the grid due to his earlier crash.  In fact, Santero nearly did the unthinkable, reeling in Tadman from multiple seconds back before at last crossing the stripe only 0.377-seconds off the victory.  A visibly frustrated Saathoff finished third, while Porter regrouped from being punted up the track to claim his second consecutive fourth-place finish.  The triumph marked Tadman’s first to come outside his home state and away from a Short Track venue. He said, “We came out of the trailer perfect. We haven’t really made many changes to the bike today, and we’ve been P1 all day. I can’t thank the team enough – the bike was perfect. The track was so sick too. This definitely feels good. I’m excited.”  Reigning champion Tom Drane (No. 1 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) was unusually quiet en route to fifth.   He was followed by Jack Brucks (No. 113 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450), Ryder Reese (No. 41 Fasthouse/Smoking Butcher Coffee KTM 450 SX-F FE), Brunner, Dylan Cunningham (No. 252 Scott Stump/Joel Laub KTM 450 SX-F), and Jared Lowe (No. 63 Big R Racing/Vinson Construction Honda CRF450R), as they rounded out the back half of the top ten in that order.  Despite registering his worst result of the season, Drane still holds a sizable 16-point advantage over Tadman (111-95), with Saathoff and Brunner right there in third (94) and fourth (92), respectively.   AFT ProSport 450  Bayne Nantz (No. 313 Nantz Bros Racing KTM 450 SX-F) became the fourth different rider to claim victory in AFT ProSport 450 action with a wire-to-wire win at Budds Creek.  The AFT ProSport 450 Main packed in significantly more excitement than that brief summary may suggest. Nantz was hounded early by Camlin Durelle (No. 27 Durelle Racing Yamaha YZ450F), who didn’t even plan to enter the qualifying Road to AFT class in Friday’s AMA-sanctioned Mission Foods CTR Showcase Event, and only finished 11th when he did.  But Durelle found his form on Saturday, looking like an early contender for the win before making contact with Nantz’s rear-end. That incident sent him up the track and down the order.  Loic Nadeau (No. 21 Racine Racing KTM 450 SX-F), Adam Costan-Wood (No. 88 Turner Racing Honda CRF450R), and Brody Hanson (No. 99 Hanson Racing KTM 450 SX-F) picked up the chase in Durelle’s absence, transforming the race into a tight four-way scrap for the win.  Silver Dollar winner Costan-Wood dove under Nadeau for second and then attempted to displace Nantz on the final lap with the same maneuver – a plot that came up 0.163 seconds short of success at the checkered flag.  14-year-old Nantz said, “The track changed a lot since the heat. It got a lot more moisture. When I first got on it (for the Main), it was a totally different track. It was tricky at first, but I got it down towards the end.”  Nadeau held on to earn a close third, while Hanson and Matéo Racine (No. 23X Picotte Motosport KTM 450 SX-F) came home fourth and fifth, respectively.   Next Up  Progressive American Flat Track will leave Mechanicsville, Maryland, and go directly to Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, for the Appalachian Harley-Davidson Williams Grove Half-Mile at Williams Grove Speedway on Saturday, May 23. Visit https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack/events/2026-williams-grove-half-mile-185952 to purchase your tickets today.    How to Watch  FloRacing  For those that can’t catch the live action at the track, FloRacing is the live streaming home of Progressive American Flat Track. Motorsports fans can subscribe to FloRacing to enjoy over 1,000 live motorsports events in 2026. FloSports is available by visiting https://flosports.link/AFT2026 or by downloading the FloSports app on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire and Chromecast.  FS1  FOX Sports coverage of Parts Unlimited ThrottleFest, featuring in-depth features and thrilling onboard cameras, will premiere on FS1 on Sunday, May 24, at 11:30 a.m. ET (8:30 a.m. PT). The full listing of American Flat Track’s television premieres can be found at https://www.americanflattrack.com/events-foxsports.  The post Bauman Rolls to Third Consecutive Victory at Inaugural ThrottleFest appeared first on Bikernet.com - Online Biker Magazine.

After languishing for years, the sportbike market has made a comeback. The segment has seen double-digit growth since 2022. Sales have been particularly brisk for 501-750cc bikes, with annual growth exceeding 20% over the past couple of years. Right in the heart of that weight class is the Yamaha YZF-R7. Four years after its debut, Yamaha’s best-selling YZF-R7 has gotten a major update for 2026, including a new chassis, a full electronics package, fresh styling, and more. (Photos by Joseph Agustin) Launched for the 2022 model year, the R7 cracked the sportbike code by offering the supersport styling riders want, a level of performance they can handle, and a price they can afford. It quickly became Yamaha’s top-selling motorcycle of any size or segment. Then the Great Recession came along. Motorcycle sales tanked and the sportbike wars ended abruptly. Easy money became a thing of the past, and affordability became a higher priority. Small sportbikes, like the Yamaha YZF-R3 that debuted for 2015, became the popular choice. During the sportbike wars of the late 1990s and early 2000s, the Japanese Big Four updated their 600cc and 1,000cc sportbikes every couple of years. Most were track-oriented machines with high-rpm inline 4-cylinder engines. As they became more powerful and sophisticated, they also became more expensive. Manufacturers also focused on modularity, using a single engine across multiple model platforms. Yamaha’s FZ-07 (which became the MT-07), also introduced for 2015, was a naked sportbike powered by a versatile 689cc parallel-Twin with a 270-degree crank. That same engine was then used in the XSR700 retro roadster (launched for 2018) and the Ténéré 700 adventure bike (launched for 2021). The YZF-R7, built around the same 689cc CP2 engine, arrived for 2022 with a price of just $8,999. That same year the YZF-R6, which cost $12,199, was discontinued. With the R7, a middleweight supersport was again within reach of younger buyers. Yamaha says that since the R7 joined the lineup, the number of first-time buyers doubled, and the median age of R-series customers dropped from 33 to 27. Four years on, Yamaha’s best-selling bike needed a refresh. Updates to the 2026 YZF-R7 focused on handling, ergonomics, technology, and styling. To improve the R7’s handling, its tubular-steel frame and cast-aluminum swingarm were redesigned for more rigidity; its KYB 41mm inverted fork was given lighter aluminum rods (saving 0.75 lb) and revised damping; its wheels were made using Yamaha’s proprietary spin-forging process (saving more weight) and shod with Bridgestone’s latest Battlax Hypersport S23 tires; and its bodywork was revised to be more aerodynamic. Inspired by surf culture, Breaker Cyan/Raven is a new colorway this year. The Yamaha YZF-R7 is available in four colorways for 2026 (left to right): Team Yamaha Blue ($9,399), Breaker Cyan/Raven ($9,399), 70th Anniversary Edition ($9,699), and Raven ($9,399). GEAR UP Helmet: Shoei X-Fifteen Jacket: Cortech Revo Leather Airbag Vest: Alpinestars Tech-Air 5 Plasma Gloves: Cortech Revo ST V2 Pants: Cortech AA Dyneema Jeans Boots: Cortech Sport Lite Since most R7s will spend a majority of their time on the street, the riding position was revised for more comfort while still maintaining an active stance. The clip-on handlebars were made wider and moved up and closer to the rider. The seat is a tad lower, has a flatter angle, and is covered with a grippier material. The fuel tank is shorter where it meets the seat and has deeper knee cut-outs (capacity also increased by 0.3 gallon). Tech-wise, the R7 has taken a huge leap forward. It’s now equipped with throttle-by-wire and a 6-axis IMU, enabling the Yamaha Ride Control electronics suite. There are four normal ride modes (Sport, Street, Rain, and Custom) and four customizable track modes (which allow rear ABS and wheelie control to be disabled). Rider aids include cornering ABS, cornering traction control, slide control, wheelie control, launch control, engine brake management, and back slip regulator. An up/down quickshifter, cruise control, and variable speed limiter are also standard. The 5-inch color TFT display has five themes to choose from, including one for use on the track. Pairing several smartphone apps (Yamaha Y-Connect, Yamaha Y-TRAC Rev, and Garmin StreetCross) enable a full range of multimedia features, on-screen navigation, a virtual pitboard, and data logging. Upgrades include a revised KYB 41mm inverted fork, spinforged wheels, and Bridgestone Battlax S23 tires. New switchgear is easier to use, and the buttons on top actuate cruise control and the variable speed limiter. Looks are important to sportbike buyers. Even though the new YZF-R7 is priced well below 10 grand ($9,399 to be exact), its styling is on par with bikes that cost twice as much. Its sleek front end, LED position lights and headlight, and LED turnsignals embedded in the mirrors are derived from the top-of-the-line YZF-R1M. It also has a MotoGP-inspired triple clamp, black anodized clutch and brake levers, and updated handlebar switches. When Yamaha introduced the YZF-R7 in the summer of 2021, it hosted a track-only press launch at Atlanta Motorsports Park. Recognizing its primary use case, this go-round we tested the R7 on the street, including freeways, city streets, and canyon roads. Few of us are lucky enough to live at the base of a fantastic motorcycle road. Most of us must ride a while to get to twisties. We have to escape the city or suburban sprawl, endure an hour or so on the interstate, or just drone along on flat, straight roads before things get interesting. This sort of riding is not the R7’s happy place. Sure, it now has cruise control, but even with the revised ergonomics the riding position puts a lot of weight on the rider’s wrists. Also, on the particular bike I was riding, the engine threw off excess heat, roasting my inner thighs. For the first 50 miles, I wasn’t a fan of the new R7. The R7’s asymmetrical swingarm is more rigid, and the shock linkage has been revised. The 5-inch TFT display has multiple themes, and it’s full-color graphics make it easy to understand and adjust settings. Then we turned onto California State Route 76. Stop lights and traffic gave way to smooth pavement and a series of nicely banked curves that ascended into the Peninsular Range of northern San Diego County. On the sides of its grippy tires, the R7 was in its element. A few miles later, we turned onto South Grade Road, which climbs to the top of Palomar Mountain. This is one of California’s premier motorcycle roads, particularly among sportbike aficionados. In less than 7 miles, South Grade Road gains 3,000 feet of elevation as it slithers around 50 curves, 21 of which are switchbacks. I forgot about ergonomics and engine heat and focused on smooth throttle control and correct steering inputs. The Yamaha YZF-R7 has the most aerodynamic bodywork of any R-series model. Yamaha’s R7 sells like hotcakes, which means they are used for all sorts of riding – commuting, canyon carving, urban prowling, trackdays, etc. Its ergonomics were made more comfortable, but it’s still not the best choice for long hours in the saddle. Here’s where the R7 shines like the North Star. What has always made Yamaha’s “crossplane concept” engines so appealing is their low-end torque and their rumbling sound and feel. Sure, you give up the top-end hit of an inline-Four, but on the street midrange is king. Even though the revised transmission internals, slip/assist clutch with a 14-way adjustable lever, and quickshifter make gear changes effortless, the tractable Twin allowed me to stay in 2nd or 3rd gear and just use the throttle for acceleration and engine braking for deceleration. Part of South Grade Road was repaved not long ago, and it’s silky smooth. But the upper section has older pavement with dips, cracks, and seams that feel destined to upset a motorcycle’s chassis. Not so on the R7. The reworked frame and swingarm were rock solid, and the revised suspension felt firm but not flinty. Regardless of lean angle or speed, the bike remained planted and responsive. The 2026 R7 has wider clip-ons, a flatter seat with grippier cover material, and deeper knee cut-outs in the tank. The R7’s footpegs are high and set far back, which allows for deep lean angles but puts a lot of bend in the rider’s knees, especially those with long legs. From the top of Palomar, we turned onto East Grade Road, which runs along a mountain ridge for a while before descending to SR-76 through a series of flowing curves. A small group of us rode nose-to-tail, like the cars of a train moving along a track, keeping a steady rhythm for the better part of 10 miles. The R7’s Bridgestones clung to the tarmac and allowed for easy transitions from one curve to the next. Its radial front calipers, with hydraulic fluid pushed through a Brembo master cylinder, scrubbed off speed confidently with a light pull of the lever. The fun continued on Mesa Grande Road and a few others that followed, the R7 shining brighter with each mile. No, I did not enjoy droning back to the hotel. But getting a chance to ride the R7 on good roads made it worthwhile. For just $200 over last year’s model, the 2026 Yamaha YZF-R7 offers a wish list of useful upgrades. It’s now the full package, a nicely refined sportbike that has all the features and capabilities you could want. No doubt it will remain at the top of Yamaha’s sales charts. The 2026 Yamaha YZF-R7 70th Anniversary Edition is priced at $9,699. It features two-tone paint, gold tuning fork emblems, and a 70th anniversary badge on the tank. Check out more new bikes in Rider’s 2026 Motorcycle Buyers Guide 2026 Yamaha YZF-R7 Specs Base Price: $9,399 Website: YamahaMotorsports.com Engine Type: Liquid-cooled, transverse parallel-Twin, DOHC w/ 4 valves per cyl. Displacement: 689cc Bore x Stroke: 80.0 x 68.6mm Horsepower: 72 hp @ 8,750 rpm (factory claim) Torque: 50.2 lb-ft @ 6,500 rpm (factory claim) Transmission: 6-speed, cable-actuated slip/assist wet clutch Final Drive: O-ring chain Wheelbase: 54.9 in. Rake/Trail: 24 degrees/3.6 in. Seat Height: 32.7 in. Wet Weight: 417 lb Fuel Capacity: 3.7 gal. The post 2026 Yamaha YZF-R7 Review appeared first on Rider Magazine.