Race Rotax and Karting Solutions Group is set to host the inaugural event for the RMC America’s Trophy championship. The opening event is scheduled for March 20-22 at the Musselman Honda Circuit. The Tucson, Arizona facility will welcome Rotax and FZ Shifter competitors for three days of action in what is forecasted to be over 100 degree weather.

The Musselman Honda Circuit in Tucson 
(Photo: Musselman Honda Circuit)

The Musselman Honda Circuit will be the site of the first two rounds of racing for the five Rotax divisions while the two FZ Shifter classes will complete one round of action in Tucson. All seven categories will hit the track on Friday with six rounds of practice. Saturday includes warm-up, qualifying, Prefinal and Final for all Rotax divisions with a repeat format on Sunday. FZ Shifter is scheduled for warm-up, qualifying, Heat 1 and Heat 2 action before a warm-up, Prefinal and Final on Sunday.

The Rotax Max Challenge categories begin the ‘Path to Portugal’ as four tickets to the 2026 Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals are to be awarded following the two events, and four rounds of racing. Champions in the ‘best three of four’ format for Mini MAX, Junior MAX and Senior MAX, along with the vice-champion in Senior MAX will earn tickets to represent their country at the ‘Olympics of Karting’, scheduled for November 21-28 at the Kartodromo Internacional do Algarve in Portimão, Portugal. Champions in Micro MAX and Masters MAX will receive a paid entry toward the RMC Trophy Final this summer, as will the champions in the two FZ Shifter divisions in their two round format. The second event for the RMC America’s Trophy is scheduled for June 5-7 at the Motorsports Country Club of Cincinnati in Batavia, Ohio with the RMC Trophy Final slated for July 31-August 2.

Oliver Hodgson is among the favorites in the stacked Senior MAX field (Photo: EKN)

The Senior MAX division will welcome 19 drivers in Tucson, led by the top two drivers from the 2025 US Trophy Final. Four-time race winner Oliver Hodgson (Factory Karts) calls Arizona home, and this event in Tucson could be considered a home race with previous victories at the Musselman Honda Circuit and plenty of testing laps completed. Pauly Massimino (REM-BJR / LN Kart) made his Rotax debut at New Castle last year and went to the Rotax Grand Finals as the lone USA driver in DD2. The North Carolina driver is back, seeking a return trip to the RMCGF. Nearly half the field is made up of Canadians with Ayden Ingratta (REM / Kosmic), William Bouthillier (REM / Kosmic), Gianluca Savaglio (REM / Kosmic), Alexis Baillargeon (Premier / Tony Kart) and Griffin Dowler (Ruthless / Redspeed) are all looking for a spot on Team Canada. Former Team USA driver Cooper O’Clair (Factory Karts) and Senior rookie Isaac Malcuit (MDR / LN Kart) are both looking to be a factor in the championship with Ohio driver James Overbeck (BJR / LN Kart) making his Rotax debut in Tucson.

The largest division of the event is Junior MAX at 29 drivers. Many of the top young drivers from across North America will be in the field, including 10 from Canada. Ashton Woon (SCR / CS55), Travis Pettit (RPG / Kosmic) and Nathan Golseth (SCR / CS55) are among the top drivers thus far in 2026. All three will be making their Rotax 2026 debuts coming off success at the winter programs. Colton Schniegenberg (RPM / Tony Kart) is a winner in Europe in OK-N Junior action already in 2026, returning back to the USA. Nico Orbezo (IRM / Tony Kart) has wins and championships already in 2026 as well, coming in as the EKN Driver of the Month for February. Former Team USA driver Marco Sammut (BJR / LN Kart), Tristan Murphy (RPM / Tony Kart) and Junior rookie Enzo DiGennaro (Parolin USA) will be factors as well. Coming in from the top 10 of the RMC Winter Trophy program are Round Four winner Alex Chandler (IRM / Tony Kart), William Vetor (JHDD / Kart Republic) and Canadian Antoine Bazinet (Pfaff / Gillard). Also among the contingent from Canada includes RMCGF 2026 ticket holder Leo Da Silva (REM / Komsic), Brandon Ng (Factory Karts), Asher Pavan (SCR / CS55), Hudson Urlin (Tony Kart) and Joshua Wheeler (Ruthless / Kosmic).

Several drivers will be in the mix including former Team USA driver Marco Sammut (Photo: EKN)

Twenty drivers are set to battle in the Mini Max division, with four different countries represented – USA, Canada, Poland and Costa Rica. The lone driver from Costa Rica that won the 2025 US Trophy Final is Samuel Chaverri (PSL / Birelart). In his Mini debut, Chaverri took the victory at New Castle and is seeking a return back to the Rotax Grand Finals. Five drivers from the top 10 of the RMC Winter Trophy standings are in the field, including Round Four winner Yousef Adi (JHDD / Kart Republic), Mason Brody (RPM / Nitro Kart), Dutch Westbrook (Team Benik), Hudson Howard (JHDD / Kart Republic) and Mateo Pai (Premier / OTK). Lucas Tarango (Ruthless / Nitro Kart) has wins from Challenge at the Americas in Tucson and Forrest Blair (Ruthless / GFC) is coming off wins at the Challenge opener.

A total of 10 drivers are set to battle in the Micro MAX division that features three different countries – USA, Canada and Mexico. All three countries are represented with the three drivers competing from the top 10 of the RMC Winter Trophy standings, Tre Sanders (RPM / Nitro Kart), Zackary Losier (Premier / Parolin) and Max Santana (Team Benik). Dusty Strayer (Parolin USA) and Beau Wyatt (Team Benik) are expected to battle at the front with Kip Knaus (Team Nitro Kart) making his Rotax debut.

Yousef Adi is coming off victory at the final round of the RMC Winter Trophy program (Photo: EKN)

Only two drivers are slated to compete in the Masters MAX division. Veteran Billy Cleavelin (REM / Kosmic) will be joined by Arizona driver Ken Simonelic (CB / CompKart).

The FZ Shifter platform will be making its major event debut with the RMC America’s Trophy championship offering up the FZ125 Senior and FZ85 Junior divisions. Seven drivers will make the debut in FZ125 with Gage Korn (Kornbred / Maranello) set to be the frontrunner of the weekend. A rookie in Pro Shifter last year, Korn has the most shifterkart experience in the field. Kaleb Brown has one year of FZ85 racing under his belt racing at the ProKart Challenge program. The FZ85 division will feature five drivers, including Dante Rodrigues (Birelart), the PKC FZ65 champion in 2025. Brandon Ng (Factory Karts) and RJ Brown (Factory Karts) are also making the move up from Cadet racing in 2025 with Wyatt Kroeger (Factory Karts) running double duty with both FZ85 and Junior MAX.

Be sure to follow EKN on social media as we will be trackside for the inaugural RMC America’s Trophy event at Musselman Honda Circuit.

Provisional Senior MAX Entry List

Provisional Junior MAX Entry List

Provisional Mini MAX Entry List

Provisional Micro MAX Entry List

Provisional Masters MAX Entry List

Provisional FZ1215 Senior Entry List

Provisional FZ85 Junior Entry List

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