SPEED with Harvick and Buxton
SPEED with Harvick and Buxton

JUSTIN MARKS: Ai Ogura’s Historic MotoGP Win, SVG’s NASCAR Rise & Connor Zilisch's Trackhouse Future

July 29, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

"One of the only forms of motorsport where you can truly watch the athlete play the game," says Trackhouse Racing founder Justin Marks, describing MotoGP. In a wide-ranging conversation on SPEED with Harvick and Buxton, Marks explains how his team's rapid success in motorcycle racing mirrors its NASCAR rise, why Shane van Gisbergen's North Wilkesboro performance was his best work yet, and what it takes to build a global motorsport brand that thrives on storytelling.

The MotoGP Playbook: Speed, Culture, and the Athlete in Motion

Trackhouse’s entry into MotoGP has been a breakout success, with the team consistently on the podium and winning the Dutch Grand Prix at Assen. Marks attributes this to a combination of factors: a strong group of people, a "really good manufacturer partnership" with Aprilia, and timing. "We got lucky with Aprilia because they're really sort of taking it to Ducati right now," he notes. The bikes are among the fastest in the world, and the team has capitalized on that momentum.

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What you'll learn

  • 1 (01:00) **MotoGP's Explosive Growth at Trackhouse** - Justin Marks describes how quickly Trackhouse's MotoGP program has become a podium contender.
  • 2 (03:33) **Why MotoGP is a Unique Athlete's Sport** - Marks explains the physical, visible athleticism that makes MotoGP different from other motorsports.
  • 3 (04:41) **Translating the Trackhouse Brand to Two Wheels** - How Justin Marks' creative approach to sponsorship and storytelling was received in the MotoGP paddock.
  • 4 (07:05) **The Mindset for Entering a New Discipline** - Marks outlines his open-minded, conviction-based approach to learning MotoGP from scratch.
  • 5 (07:54) **The Rider Market and Losing Ai Ogura** - How Trackhouse handles losing a historic winner and the process of finding a replacement.
  • 6 (10:00) **SVG's Best Work at North Wilkesboro** - Why a top-five run at a short track is more impressive than a road course win for Shane van Gisbergen.
  • 7 (11:26) **Maturity vs. Raw Talent: SVG and Connor Zilisch** - The difference between SVG's veteran experience and Zilisch's rapid ascent in the Cup Series.

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Show Notes

Trackhouse OwnerJustin Marks joins the show for a wide-ranging interview! Justin breaks down Trackhouse’s historic MotoGP breakout—including Ai Ogura’s historic win at Assen, the 1-2 finish with Raúl Fernández, and back-to-back double podiums in Germany. On the NASCAR side, Justin addresses Connor Zilisch’s future amidst rumors connecting him to the Hendrick Motorsports No. 48 in 2028, Shane van Gisbergen’s growth into a complete driver, Ross Chastain’s season performance, and how he balances running premier teams across Cup and MotoGP. Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 00:30 - Trackhouse's MotoGP Breakout Season 08:58 - SVG's Transformation Into a Complete NASCAR Driver 14:31- What's Next for Project 91 17:45 - Trackhouse's 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Struggles 20:00 - Will SVG Make The Chase? 23:20 - Connor Zilisch's Future at Trackhouse

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