Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1541867
WIND IN THE P40 Mission Foods Winter Throwdown To Award Mini Cup Qualifying Points M otoAmerica has added a new path for young flat track racers aiming to qualify for the Mission Mini Cup National Finals, announcing that the Mission Foods Winter Throwdown will now award qualifying points for the 2026 champion - ship. The Throwdown, set for January 15-17 at Callahan Speedway in Florida, is billed as the world's largest amateur flat track event and regularly draws interna - tional talent. Youth riders who compete in any of the Throwdown's classes will earn 10 champion- ship qualifying points toward the Mini Cup National Finals, sched - uled for August 7-9, 2026, at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wis - consin. The move gives flat-track racers a chance to transition to road racing without starting the season at a points disadvantage. The Winter Throw - down has become a cross-discipline gather- ing point, attracting Mo- toAmerica names like Brandon Paasch, JD Beach, Hayden Gillim, Tyler Scott, and a deep roster of emerging Mini Cup racers. "History has proven that flat track racers generally make good road racers," said Mo - toAmerica COO Chuck Aksland. "With the Win- ter Throwdown now an official qualifier, riders can enter the National Finals on equal footing. We're excited to see the continued growth of the Mission Mini Cup." CN Racing in the Mission Foods Winter Throwdown will now award the riders qualifying points for the MotoAmerica Mini Cup. A man dressed in KTM clothing stole Jorge Martin's custom bicycle at the Valencia MotoGP, but the bike has been recovered. Martin Gets Pinarello Back S panish authorities have arrested a 44-year-old man accused of stealing Jorge Mar- tin's high-end Pinarello training bike during the Valencia Grand Prix weekend. The custom bi - cycle, valued at $23,000 and one of only a few ever produced, was taken from the reigning 2024 MotoGP cham - pion's motorhome. According to Span- ish outlet TodoCircuito, the Guardia Civil identi- fied the suspect after reviewing CCTV foot- age from the circuit and surrounding areas. Investigators say the man gained access to the paddock by wearing KTM team clothing and posing as a mechanic, allowing him to move through restricted areas unnoticed. He allegedly entered the truck area and accessed Martin's personal belongings before leaving with the rare bicycle. Footage later cap - tured the same indi- vidual at a nearby gas station, still dressed in KTM-branded gear and carrying the bike. Police subsequently tracked him to his residence in Madrid, where he was arrested. Reports indi - cate the suspect has a lengthy criminal history involving theft and had recently been released from prison. He is also being investigated for an unrelated car theft. The incident has prompted renewed concerns about security inside the MotoGP pad - dock, which has seen sporadic cases of stolen personal items from staff and media over the years, though targeted thefts involving top rid - ers are extremely rare. MotoGP officials have not issued a statement regarding the Valencia paddock breach. CN