Racing, Riding, and the Return of Moto Culture
Some weekends remind us exactly why we all fell in love with motorcycles in the first place. MotoFest 2026 was one of those weekends.
What started as a vision to bring racing, riding, music, and moto culture together at Glen Helen Raceway turned into one of the most memorable weekends the track has seen. From gate drops and bar-banging battles to dual sport rides through the mountains and late-night bench racing with friends, MotoFest 2026 delivered everything we hoped it would be, and more.
Racing Under the Glen Helen Lights
The weekend kicked off Friday with the Stopwatch National before rolling into Saturday’s 250/450 Showcase, bringing together stacked pro fields all chasing their share of the $100,000 purse.
Representing Troy Lee Designs Red Bull Ducati Factory Racing, both Dylan Ferrandis and Justin Barcia put the Ducati Desmo450 MX at the front of the field throughout the weekend. Ferrandis showed serious speed during Friday’s Stopwatch National, grabbing a moto win and looking comfortable out front before an unfortunate crash ended his weekend early.
Saturday belonged to Justin Barcia. “Bam Bam” delivered a dominate 1-1 sweep in the 450 class during the Showcase, putting the Ducati on top and reminding everyone exactly what he’s capable of outdoors. The energy around the track when Barcia hit the front was unreal, the kind of moment that felt bigger than just another race.
The First-Ever Great Escape Ride
But MotoFest was never meant to be only about racing. Saturday also marked the debut of the first-ever Troy Lee Designs Great Escape Dual Sport Ride, and the response exceeded every expectation. With 98 riders entered, the non-competitive ride rolled directly out of Glen Helen and into the hills of the San Bernardino National Forest for nearly 50 miles of Southern California terrain.
Personally mapped out by Troy Lee, the ride brought together an incredible mix of riders, racers, legends, and friends of the brand, including Chris Fillmore, Jeff Ward, and Marvin Musquin.
A special thank you goes out to WLF Enduro and onX Offroad for their support in helping lay out the route and bringing the ride experience to life. Their knowledge of the terrain and dedication to the off-road community helped make the Great Escape Ride something truly special.
The goal for the Great Escape Ride was simple: get people riding together. No pressure. No results sheet. Just good terrain, good bikes, and good people.
After the ride, everyone rolled back into Glen Helen where the evening shifted into tacos, cold beer, live music, and stories from the trail. Exactly the atmosphere MotoFest was built to create.
More Than Racing
More than anything, MotoFest 2026 was a reminder of what this sport is really about. It’s about bringing every corner of moto culture together. Racing at the highest level. Riding with your friends. Meeting legends in the pits. Exploring new trails. Sharing stories after the helmets come off.
Thank you to everyone who came out to race, ride, support, and help make the second annual MotoFest such a success.
We’re already looking forward to the next one.
