From ISRT Kawasaki
Round 3 of the 2026 Pro Motocross Championship brought the ISRT Kawasaki team to Thunder Valley MX Park, where the team
welcomed partners Quantum Upgrade trackside and unveiled special-edition Quantum Upgrade-themed race gear for the
weekend.
Thunder Valley’s high elevation presented an immediate challenge for teams throughout the paddock, but for a privateer effort
like ISRT Kawasaki, competing against the resources of the factory teams made the task even greater. Despite the obstacles, the
team stayed focused and continued working through setup changes and tuning adjustments throughout the day.
Coming off a strong performance at Round 2, Cornelius Tøndel arrived in Colorado determined to keep building momentum. The
Norwegian rider posted consistent qualifying laps throughout the morning and lined up for Moto 1 ready to fight near the front.
A strong start put Tøndel inside the top 10 early, but he struggled to find a comfortable rhythm during the opening laps and
slipped back to 17th. Refusing to settle, Tøndel adapted to changing track conditions, found fresh race lines, and charged his way
back to 14th while closing rapidly on 13th before the checkered flag.
Moto 2 presented a much tougher challenge. After rounding the first turn in 34th position, Tøndel had his work cut out for him. The Kawasaki rider immediately went on the attack, making passes throughout the moto and steadily working his way through the
field. His impressive charge to 13th place earned him 13th overall on the day and the distinction of being the highest-finishing
non-factory rider at the event.
For Vince Friese, the day proved more challenging. After encountering issues during the first qualifying session, Friese rebounded
in Q2 to secure the 26th gate pick. In both motos, Friese battled inside the top 20 and showed solid speed, but unrelated issues in
each race ultimately dropped him back in the running order and prevented him from capitalizing on his efforts.
While the final results only tell part of the story, Thunder Valley showcased the determination and resilience of the ISRT Kawasaki
program. Going head-to-head with factory-supported teams, the squad continued to prove it can compete despite operating
with a fraction of the resources.
With valuable momentum gained and lessons learned in Colorado, ISRT Kawasaki now turns its attention to Round 4 of the Pro
Motocross Championship at High Point Raceway next weekend.
