Sean Dylan Kelly finished third in the MotoAmerica Superbike race Saturday at Barber Motorsports Park in Leeds, Alabama, extending OrangeCat Racing’s podium streak. Despite a crash during qualifying, Kelly rode the BMW M 1000 RR to a podium result in the team’s inaugural Superbike season, officials confirmed.
Kelly demonstrated strong pace throughout the weekend, topping both Friday practice sessions at Barber Motorsports Park, a 2.38-mile, 17-turn circuit in Leeds, Alabama. According to SPEED SPORT, he recorded a best lap of 1:23.372 in Free Practice and improved to 1:22.908 during Timed Practice, the only rider to break into the 1:22 range. Despite suffering a “massive crash” during the Quad Lock Superbike qualifying session, MotoAmerica officials confirmed Kelly was not seriously injured and remained in contention for the race.
He recorded a best lap of 1:23.372 in Free Practice and improved to 1:22.908 during Timed Practice, the only rider to break into the 1:22 range.
The third-place finish marked a continuation of OrangeCat Racing’s podium streak in its inaugural Superbike campaign with the BMW M 1000 RR. The team fields two of the BMW M 1000 RRs, with Kelly’s teammate Jayson Uribe also competing in the championship. OrangeCat Racing was established as BMW’s American flagship Superbike outfit following the folding of Tytler’s Cycle Racing, according to team announcements. Kelly’s crew chief for the season is Dave Weaver.
Kelly, born May 17, 2002, returned to the MotoAmerica Superbike class in 2024 and finished fourth in the championship standings, securing seven podium finishes and his first career Superbike victory at Circuit of the Americas, records show. Prior to joining OrangeCat Racing for the 2026 season, which was announced on December 9, 2025, Kelly was set to return to Team Hammer Suzuki for 2025, according to MotoAmerica and Suzuki press releases. His racing résumé also includes the 2021 MotoAmerica Supersport title.
Multiple sources, including SPEED SPORT and Roadracing World, identified Kelly as the fastest rider in Friday’s Superbike practice sessions at Barber. BMW Group USA provided photo coverage of the OrangeCat Racing team during the weekend, highlighting Kelly’s podium finish aboard the BMW M 1000 RR. MotoAmerica’s social media channels widely shared footage and updates on Kelly’s qualifying crash and race performance.
The Barber Superbike race was part of the 2026 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship weekend, where Kelly’s third-place result helped maintain OrangeCat Racing’s presence among the top competitors in the series. The team continues to develop the BMW M 1000 RR program in its first Superbike season, aiming to build on its early success.
