RISPOLI STUNS, TAKES SUPER HOOLIGAN CROWN ON H-D PAN AMERICA ST

James Rispoli has done what few thought possible.

Riding the KWR Harley-Davidson Pan America ST, the multi-discipline veteran stormed to victory at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, securing not just the race win but his first-ever Mission Foods Super Hooligan National Championship powered by Harley-Davidson.

It’s the kind of story racing fans live for: the underdog season that turns into a title run.

For much of 2025, Rispoli was the man in the middle: fast enough to make the frontrunners nervous, consistent enough to keep himself in mathematical contention, but not the odds-on favorite to take the crown.

That all changed this weekend.

THE RIDGE: A TURNING POINT

Late June’s trip to Ridge Motorsports Park proved pivotal.

Rispoli scored back-to-back second-place finishes, pushing West to the absolute limit in a Race 2 showdown that was decided by a razor-thin 0.027 seconds.

Those podiums kept his championship hopes alive while the title fight between West and Lewis dominated headlines.

The Ridge also showed just how dialed-in the KWR Pan America ST had become.

Powered by Harley-Davidson’s Revolution Max 1250 and tuned for the unique demands of short, technical road courses, Rispoli’s bike gave him the confidence to attack in every braking zone, even against seasoned titleholders.

DOUBLE GLORY AT LAGUNA SECA

Then came Laguna Seca in July. It was the weekend that would redefine his season.

In front of a packed crowd at WeatherTech Raceway, Rispoli claimed his first-ever Super Hooligan race win on Saturday.

He followed it up with another victory on Sunday, completing a weekend sweep that vaulted him firmly into the championship conversation.

The double win made one thing clear: James Rispoli was no longer a sideline threat. He was a genuine contender.

THE UNDERDOG'S CHALLENGE

Despite his late-season surge, Rispoli entered the Mid-Ohio finale trailing both Lewis and West in the standings.

For him to win the championship, the math was brutal: he needed to take the race win and hope the points fell perfectly in his favor.

It was a tall order. West had the experience. Lewis had the momentum. And both were riding Harley-Davidson Pan America STs fielded by the powerhouse Saddlemen team.

Rispoli would need to have a flawless weekend at Mid-Ohio to make this happen.

MID-OHIO: ALL OR NOTHING

Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course proved the perfect backdrop for a championship showdown.

By the end of the event, he had exactly what he needed. Solid performances throughout the weekend translated into the points required to leapfrog both rivals in the final tally, securing his first Mission Super Hooligan National Championship.

For Rispoli, it was the ultimate payoff to a season built on persistence, adaptability, and an unwavering belief that the underdog could come out on top.

ROUGH ROADS MAKE STRONG RACERS

This season wasn’t without its challenges.

Rispoli faced setup struggles early in the year, particularly adjusting to the mid-season rules change that increased the Pan America ST’s minimum race weight by a significant amount.

The added mass meant rethinking suspension, braking markers, and corner exits, while trying to keep pace with the fastest riders in the class.

He also endured the mental grind of chasing two championship-caliber opponents all season.

West, the defending champion, rarely made mistakes.

Lewis, the rising star, was relentless in his pursuit of wins. Every podium Rispoli scored felt like a small victory, and every missed opportunity was a reminder of how steep the climb was.

That’s what makes this win so remarkable: the odds were against him from the start, but he never stopped believing in the possibility of a championship.

A CHAMPION'S FIRST

This is Rispoli’s first Super Hooligan National Championship, and it comes in a season many thought would belong to someone else.

He unseats not one, but two of the sport’s biggest names, and he does it in a year that saw the deepest, most competitive grid the series has ever fielded.

For Harley-Davidson, the result adds another chapter to a fast-growing Super Hooligan legacy. The Pan America ST—originally engineered as an adventure touring machine—has now powered three different riders to championships in as many seasons.

In the hands of the independent KWR crew, it became a weapon sharp enough to take on and beat factory-level opposition.

For fans who’ve followed his career across multiple racing disciplines, the win is part vindication, part celebration, and definitive proof that Rispoli’s relentless work ethic, adaptability, and fearless racecraft can carry him to the very top.

LOOKING AHEAD TO 2026