AORC: Ciaran Naran crowned motorcycle champion at Laughlin
The newsroomUpdated on October 22, 20263 minCiaran Naran wins the Laughlin Desert Classic and the first motorcycle title of the American Off-Road Racing Championship, 42 points clear of Shane Logan.
Key point
Ciaran Naran won both days of the Laughlin Desert Classic and is the first motorcycle champion of the American Off-Road Racing Championship, with four wins this season.
Ciaran Naran has won the Laughlin Desert Classic, the final round of the 2026 American Off-Road Racing Championship (AORC), and with it the motorcycle title of this inaugural season. The race ran on 17 and 18 October 2026 in Laughlin, Nevada, on the banks of the Colorado River.
Naran wins both days in Laughlin
According to Cycle News, Ciaran Naran, teamed with Cody Simpson on a Ducati, was fastest on both days. On Saturday he won by about 30 seconds over Shane Logan; on Sunday his margin topped two and a half minutes, as Logan did not start. Over the weekend the team built an advantage of about eight minutes.
Provisional (unofficial) motorcycle overall results:
- Ciaran Naran / Cody Simpson (Ducati)
- Nic Colangeli (Beta)
- Hayden Hintz / Trevor Hunter (Honda)
- Caleb Tate / Gunnar Smith (Husqvarna)
- Caiden and Gregory Fenstermaker (Kawasaki)
A motorcycle title built on four wins
Cycle News notes that Naran's team won four events this season. According to 131 Off-Road, Naran, in the Open Pro class on a Ducati Desmo450, is overall motorcycle champion with a 42-point margin over Shane Logan. In the overall ranking published by the site, Caleb Tate (Open Expert) and Matthew Grant (Open Pro) complete the podium behind him.
The other AORC champions
131 Off-Road also publishes the titles for the other vehicle families. Phil Blurton (UTV Pro) is the best of the Limited category, and Tracy Graf (Unlimited Truck 4WD) of the Unlimited category. Robby Gordon, in the same class as Graf, finishes seven points short of the Unlimited Truck 4WD title. The site also lists the champions of dozens of classes, from quads to trucks. Among the motorcycles, it names for example Caleb Tate in Open Expert, Patricio Cabrera in Ironman Pro and Jeffrey Wells in Lites Expert. The weekend's results remain unofficial for now.
What comes next
The 2027 AORC season opens early in the year with the Parker 400 in Parker, Arizona. It will be the first of five rounds on the calendar.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the 2026 AORC motorcycle champion?
Ciaran Naran, in Open Pro on a Ducati Desmo450, 42 points clear of Shane Logan according to 131 Off-Road.
When was the Laughlin Desert Classic run?
On 17 and 18 October 2026 in Laughlin, Nevada, as the fifth and final round of the season.
When does the AORC return?
Early 2027 with the Parker 400 in Parker, Arizona, the first of five rounds.
Sources
- 131 Off-Road — Inaugural AORC champions decided at the Laughlin Desert Classic
- Cycle News — 2026 Laughlin Desert Classic results
Written by the Karrazmotorsport newsroom, proofread before publication. For settings, always refer to your vehicle's manual. Our charter.
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