“Things In MotoAmerica Change So Fast. You Could Be First Or Seventh In No Time” – PJ Jacobsen

Of all the riders in top teams in the MotoAmerica Quad Lock Superbike Championship, PJ Jacobsen has more experience of the highs and lows that racing can produce than most.

The New Yorker turned Floridian has enjoyed a career that has taken him across the globe in the WorldSBK paddock, to British Superbike and in various classes in MotoAmerica, the last two years seeing him engage in some ultra-fierce battles with arch-rival Mathew Scholtz in the Supersport category.

Much was expected of Jacobsen when news of the Rahal Ducati Moto with XPEL team’s appointment to the 2026 Quad Lock Superbike grid broke, and that Jacobsen—the man who finished third in the 2023 series on the Tytler’s BMW—would lead the charge on the all-new 2026 Ducati Panigale V4 R.

“This season we struggled a little bit with some things on the bike because it’s so new, and the team was still learning it as well,” Jacobsen says. “There were some things where we had more questions than answers. 

“Being put under the Rahal umbrella definitely comes with a lot of pressure because it’s such a well-established organization with great backing in IndyCar. Graham Rahal has a huge name, so to ride for him is awesome.”

Jacobsen’s 2026 campaign was one of gradual building blocks. Following a devastating crash during qualifying for round one in which he suffered a heavy concussion as well as myriad bumps and bruises, Jacobsen set about rectifying his season by going fourth at Barber Motorsports Park’s race two and upping that to second in race two at Road America. But his season was peppered with too many big crashes—including a heartbreaking one while leading Race 1 in the wet at Ridge Motorsports Park—as Jacobsen tried to stay ahead of the fastest riders in the country on proven machinery.

“If you’re consistently getting podiums, that’s not a bad thing,” Jacobsen says. “The win isn’t going to come because you’re putting too much pressure on yourself. You have to keep fighting, stay mentally tough and keep training at home so you’re prepared when that opportunity finally comes. It’s about having a more consistent bike. We just have to keep working to get this thing dialed in and make me more comfortable. 

“There was so much talent in MotoAmerica Superbike this year. You could be first or seventh very quickly, and things can change in no time. If your bike setup or your confidence isn’t there, you can go from first to seventh in no time.”

The 2026 Rahal Ducati team was an eclectic bunch, with three riders competing in Supersport—Josh Herrin, Kayla Yaakov and Alessandro Di Mario—and the lone Superbike for Jacobsen. Over the years, Jacobsen and Yaakov have become firm friends, to the point where Yaakov has moved in with Jacobsen with the latter taking on a mentoring role for the fastest female rider in the country.

“The main thing is being a great role model,” Jacobsen says.

“Everything I do, whether it’s my results on track or just the way I am around people, I want to show her (Kayla) how to be a good role model.

“I’ve been there myself, and I’m still there every weekend. The main thing is not putting too much pressure on yourself. The hard work you keep putting in will eventually be rewarded.

“I wanted to show her things I didn’t do in my career, mistakes I made or things that worked better for me. I’ve tried to help her and see how far she can go. For the past couple of years, especially since she moved in with me in Florida, I’ve been training her and trying to coach her. She really wants to be in the World Championship. She’s absolutely got the talent to be there, so I’d love to help her with that goal.”

With many teams still working out their 2027 plans, Jacobsen hopes the hard work put in during a grueling 2026 campaign will pay dividends with a renewed contract. While nothing is confirmed for next season, a racer must always look ahead. Jacobsen spoke theoretically about the competitive advantages of a second year on the bike—especially after debuting the heavily redesigned 2026 Ducati Panigale V4R, which departed from traditional Ducati engineering with a new swingarm and chassis.

Ever the competitor, Jacobsen had this to say about the value of year-one data:

“For sure, when you go into a second year, you have all the data and everything you’ve done with suspension, forks, engine-brake settings and things like that. Those are all good starting points,” Jacobsen said. “Testing over the winter is also super important for next year. Having all the information we’ve collected this year should transfer into a much stronger year for next year.”