08/18/2026
Solly Mervis and Ice Barn Racing Continue to improve at VIR
Sixth-place finish caps a weekend defined by oppressive heat, repeated restarts and renewed confidence
Race weekends are not always defined by where they begin.
Sometimes, they are defined by how a rider and team respond when the weekend immediately goes wrong.
At Virginia International Raceway, Solly Mervis and the Ice Barn Racing/Karns Performance team delivered exactly the kind of response they needed.
The weekend began with a broken shift linkage that cost Mervis nearly the entire first qualifying session. With track time already limited, the team worked quickly to repair the Suzuki GSX-8R and get Solly back on track for Q2.
He qualified 17th.
It was not the starting position Solly or the team wanted, but his response was markedly different. There was no frustration and no loss of concentration. He remained positive, trusted the process and stayed focused on getting better every time he went onto the racetrack.
That mindset would become increasingly important as the weekend progressed.
VIR was dealing with oppressive heat and humidity throughout the event. The conditions were physically exhausting for everyone in the paddock, and both Twins Cup races were scheduled at the end of long, brutally hot days.
Saturday’s Race 1 became a test of patience and composure.
The crash-filled race required three restarts, repeatedly forcing the riders to reset mentally and prepare to race again. Through every stoppage and restart, Solly maintained his concentration.
Starting 17th, he steadily moved forward and brought the Ice Barn Racing Suzuki home in 11th place—gaining six positions and giving the team a strong result after a difficult beginning to the weekend.
Sunday brought another full day of extreme heat, with Race 2 again scheduled at the end of the afternoon.
The race was stopped and restarted following a serious incident involving multiple motorcycles. Once again, Solly remained composed through the delay, regrouped and stayed focused on the job in front of him.
When racing resumed, he delivered the best Twins Cup performance of his career.
Solly finished sixth, improving 11 positions from his starting spot and earning his highest MotoAmerica Twins Cup finish to date.
The result was important, but the way it was achieved mattered even more.
VIR was an especially challenging weekend for Solly. The heat was abysmal, the racing was repeatedly interrupted and the weekend began with a mechanical problem that left him well behind the field.
But he never allowed any of those circumstances to dictate his approach.
Following a difficult weekend at Mid-Ohio, VIR represented a significant rebound in Solly’s attitude, concentration and confidence. He stayed positive, trusted the work being done around him and continued moving forward.
The team rebounded with him.
Throughout the weekend, the entire Ice Barn Racing/Karns Performance group worked together with renewed energy and purpose. Communication improved, everyone meshed more effectively, and the team performed at a much higher level when the pressure was greatest.
The sixth-place finish was the result of that collective effort.
More importantly, it demonstrated what this rider and team are capable of when everyone is pulling in the same direction.
There is still more work ahead.
Solly will next return to Italy to race at Cremona with the REVO Racing Project aboard an Aprilia RS 660 in the BK Corse CIV Trofeo Cup, September 18–20.
One week later, he will rejoin Ice Barn Racing/Karns Performance for the final MotoAmerica Twins Cup round of the season at New Jersey Motorsports Park, September 25–27.
VIR was not an easy weekend.
That is what made it meaningful.
Solly and the team were tested by mechanical trouble, extreme conditions, repeated stoppages and the pressure of needing to rebound.
They responded with patience, professionalism and their best finish together.
Now, they will carry that momentum into the final stretch of the season.
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