
The 2026 MotoAmerica Superbike season just got a serious injection of factory firepower with the official announcement that OrangeCat BMW MOTORRAD Racing will make its full-time debut in the premier class. After three impressive seasons in the Stock 1000 category—racking up wins, podiums, and a championship—Chicago-based OrangeCat Racing levels up with full support from BMW Motorrad Motorsport and BMW Motorrad USA. This partnership cements OrangeCat’s status as a rising powerhouse on the American roadracing scene and brings the formidable BMW M 1000 RR into sharper focus as a serious Superbike weapon.
“BMW has been key to our success over the years, and we’re excited about what we can achieve with support from their team,” says Jeff Connors, Team Principal for OrangeCat Racing. “The passion and work ethic BMW Motorrad Motorsport brings to the table day-in and day-out are infectious. We feel more than up to the challenge of Superbike with BMW’s partnership.” That challenge is well in hand—OrangeCat BMW MOTORRAD Racing is entering the 2026 season with both momentum and a laser-sharp focus on podium contention.
OrangeCat BMW MOTORRAD Racing Locks in a Proven Rider Duo
For the 2026 season, OrangeCat BMW MOTORRAD Racing is fielding an exciting and battle-tested rider lineup. Headlining the team is 2021 MotoAmerica Supersport Champion Sean Dylan Kelly, whose impressive resume includes back-to-back Supersport seasons, a two-year stint in FIM Moto2, and a commanding Superbike victory aboard a BMW in 2024. With refined racecraft and international experience, SDK brings the perfect mix of youth and technical precision to the team’s new Superbike campaign.

Joining Kelly is the returning Jayson Uribe, who’s already become synonymous with the OrangeCat banner after back-to-back Stock 1000 podium seasons. In 2025, Uribe finished third overall in the Stock 1000 championship, backing up his 2024 runner-up season with consistency and grit. “I’m super proud of our whole team for continuing to embrace any challenge thrown our way, and BMW has been an outstanding partner for all of us,” said Andrew Sieja, Founding Principal of OrangeCat Racing. “We have a lot in common: from love of the sport, to a sense of adventure and trying new things, to striving for our best in anything we take on.”
BMW’s Kevin Philips, Head of BMW Motorrad Americas, echoed the sentiment: “This partnership brings together two organizations united by a passion for performance and racing excellence. The entire OrangeCat team, from the riders to the engineers and mechanics, has been absolutely first-class ambassadors for our brand and for the greater motorcycle community. We are excited about our future as we continue showcasing the winning capabilities of the BMW M 1000 RR in North America’s premier Superbike championship.”

OrangeCat BMW MOTORRAD Racing Banks on BMW M 1000 RR Pedigree
OrangeCat’s jump to Superbike couldn’t be better timed. The BMW M 1000 RR has been the most dominant force in global racing throughout 2025. From Toprak Razgatlioglu’s back-to-back WorldSBK Championships with the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team, to national-level victories like Kenny Foray’s French Superbike title with Tecmas BMW Motorrad France, the M 1000 RR has captured ten national and world championships, 164 race wins, and 225 podiums across global competition this year alone.
In the United States, BMW riders claimed both the MotoAmerica Stock 1000 and Superbike Championships in 2025, affirming the M 1000 RR’s capability under varying conditions, rider styles, and track layouts. At the legendary 2025 Isle of Man TT, BMW riders stood atop the podium in the Superbike TT and landed five additional podiums across three classes. With that pedigree, OrangeCat BMW MOTORRAD Racing has every reason to be bullish on their 2026 campaign.

The team’s own track record with the platform is stellar. In just three seasons in MotoAmerica Stock 1000, OrangeCat Racing collected 10 wins and 33 podiums, highlighted by a championship win with Andrew Lee in 2025. That momentum, combined with factory-level technical support, positions them as immediate contenders in a highly competitive Superbike field.

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