Keanu Reeves to Sponsor Racer in New Motorcycle Series

Keanu Reeves and Gard Hollinger are backing a racer in a TV series that debuts next month. The show, "Hooligans: The ARCH Racing Project," follows the pair as they build a motorcycle for rider Corey Alexander to race in the MotoAmerica Super Hooligan National Championship. The six-episode series premieres July 12 at 9 p.m. EDT on Samsung TV Plus, Samsung's free ad-supported streaming service.

The trailer, released Wednesday, shows Reeves and Hollinger in the workshop, dealing with mechanical problems. "There are a lot of issues," Reeves says. "I just feel so bad that we're letting Corey down." At one point, Reeves quotes "Hamlet" -- "To be or not to be" -- and Hollinger replies: "To be or not to be racing?"

Reeves and Hollinger founded ARCH Motorcycle in 2011. The company builds custom V-twin cruisers. The Super Hooligan class features stripped-down sportbikes with knobby tires, raced on a mix of pavement and dirt. Alexander, the rider, has competed in MotoAmerica since 2017.

The series is the latest example of celebrity-backed motorsports content. For Samsung TV Plus, it adds original programming to draw viewers to its free ad-supported tier. The streaming service has been expanding its library of channels and original shows, competing with other free platforms like Pluto TV and Tubi.

Alexander will race the ARCH-built bike in the Super Hooligan series, which includes rounds at tracks like Laguna Seca and Road America. The show covers the build process, testing, and race weekend. It offers a behind-the-scenes look at a small team trying to compete against factory-backed efforts.

The premiere date and release of the trailer gave a clearer picture of what the series will cover. The six episodes run through Aug. 16.