| DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (September 13, 2025)
– Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) fulfilled his
lifelong ambition of becoming Grand National Champion as a thrilling
2025 Progressive American Flat Track season, sanctioned by AMA Pro
Racing, came to its conclusion in tonight’s Arby's Lake Ozark Short
Track presented by Arrowhead Brass at Lake Ozark Speedway in Eldon,
Missouri. Competing before packed grandstands as a featured attraction
of the 19th Annual Lake of the Ozarks Bikefest, Daniels needed to
finish seventh or better to lock up the title in the event of a victory
on the part of his Mission AFT SuperTwins title rival, Briar Bauman
(No. 3 RWR/Parts Plus/Latus Motors Harley-Davidson XG750R). And as
expected, Bauman did all he could to pile the pressure on Daniels,
locking down the top spot on the charts all day long. Daniels grabbed
the lead early but the potential for disaster was quickly made evident.
With multiple riders dicing for the lead and only inches separating
them, James Ott (No. 19 G&G Racing Yamaha MT-07) crashed following
contact with Bauman. Ott’s bike caromed off the wall in the incident,
creating a chain reaction that also collected Billy Ross (No. 29
Mission Foods/Digitrace Kawasaki Ninja 650), Dalton Gauthier (No. 79
Racing Unlimited/Parts Bros Kawasaki Ninja 650), and Logan McGrane (No.
14 Schaeffer's Motorsports KTM 790 Duke). While Daniels came into the
night having finished inside the top five in 47 consecutive races, the
collective misfortune of his fellow competitors and subsequent red-flag
delay forced him to sit and contemplate what might possibly go wrong.
When the race was restarted, Daniels resumed in the lead temporarily.
However, he was quickly overhauled by Bauman, who subsequently raced
off to victory. Bauman was followed home by Brandon Robinson (No. 44
Mission Roof Systems Harley-Davidson XG750R) to give Harley-Davidson a
season finale 1-2 and the 2025 Mission AFT SuperTwins Manufacturer
Championship. Daniels, meanwhile, held off a charging Trent Lowe (No.
48 American Honda/Progressive Insurance Honda Transalp) – fresh off his
Springfield stunner – to secure the final spot on the box and his first
Grand National Championship in the process. Just behind, Bronson Bauman
(No. 37 Mike Butler Racing/Mission Foods Yamaha MT-07) finished fifth,
with Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing KTM
790 Duke), Declan Bender (No. 70 Memphis Shades/Luczak Racing Yamaha
MT-07), Max Whale (No. 18 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650),
Dan Bromley (No. 62 Memphis Shades/Vinson Construction Suzuki GSX-8S),
and Ben Lowe (No. 25 Mission Foods/Roof Systems Yamaha MT-07) rounding
out the top ten. This season marks the culmination of the first stage
of Daniels’ professional career. The Estenson Racing Yamaha star was
widely projected as a future premier-class king as early as his amateur
days, in which he became the first rider to win the Nicky Hayden AMA
Horizon Award in both flat track and roadracing. He’s only continued to
accumulate accomplishments since joining the pro ranks. Daniels became
the first-ever two-time AFT Singles champion and followed that up by
authoring a run that ranks as among the greatest first four seasons the
Mission AFT SuperTwins category has ever witnessed. In winning the 2025
crown, Daniels now stands as the seventh youngest rider to earn a
first-career Grand National Championship, both as measured by age and
experience. He’s been a title contender throughout the entirety of his
time in the class, proving himself a historically relentless and
constant threat at the front of the pack, regardless of time or place.
Additionally, Daniels joins “King” Kenny Roberts (1973 & 1974) to
become just the second rider to win the sport’s greatest prize aboard
Yamaha racebikes exclusively. The new champ said, “The emotions are
overwhelming. It’s been a bit of an overwhelming season. Last year, I
really had a breakout season and was doing really good. I had a nice
little points lead and then had a huge heartbreak. When we came into
this year, we did really good at Daytona, and from then on the season
was super tough for a lot of reasons. A lot of it was on me, trying to
come back from an injury, and Briar was firing on all cylinders
immediately. “When I look at this season – it was kind of like today –
just a grind. We struggled with a lot of stuff, and it was such a tough
season, but the whole Estenson Racing Monster Energy Yamaha team never
gave up, and I never gave up on them. We believed in each other. “I
don’t even know how to put this into words… I’ve got to thank my
parents and my whole family, who have sacrificed so much. I’ve dreamed
of this my whole life. I’d go to sleep at six years old wanting to be
Grand National Champion. It almost slipped away at times this year, but
I never lost belief in myself, and I never lost belief in my team. I
worked my whole life to be here.” While ultimately unable to overcome Daniels’ peerless consistency, Bauman closed out a spectacular season that only further enhanced the reputation of the two-time Grand National Champion. In ‘25, Bauman and his Rick Ware Racing team took the previously winless Harley-Davidson XG750R and won more races than any other rider this season (eight) while giving Daniels and the Estenson Racing squad all they could handle until the very end. Bauman said, “I’ve got to give a huge thanks to the Rick Ware Racing/Parts Plus/Latus Motors team. I ask so much of these guys. We had high hopes and a lot of heart. Congrats to Dallas Daniels and the whole Estenson Racing team. They are so good. This was the best year of my career statistically, and it wasn’t good enough. That’s crazy.” Daniels won the 2025 Mission AFT SuperTwins title with 313 points. Bauman ended up second with 307, followed by Robinson at 217. Meanwhile, Lowe secured Mission AFT SuperTwins Rookie of the Year honors by finishing a superb fourth overall with 186 points. Briar Bauman (3) and Dallas Daniels (32) congratulate each other immediately following the Mission AFT SuperTwins Main Event Saturday night. [Photo: American Flat Track / Tim Lester] AFT Singles presented by KICKER While Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) locked up the 2025 AFT Singles presented by KICKER title two rounds early, there was still much in play at the ‘25 finale. Even with the remainder of the field seeking both personal milestones and momentum to carry into the offseason, Drane continued to own the spotlight. However, earlier in the contest, the rider of ‘25 found himself chasing a couple of riders of the future. Second-year pilot Bradon Pfanders (No. 83 Hannum’s HD/Pfanders Racing KTM 450 SX-F) took the early advantage before being displaced by rookie ace Kage Tadman (No. 288 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450). At half-distance, newly crowned champ Drane switched up his line, cutting down low entering Turn 1 and making up big chunks of ground in the process. Once in striking distance, he used the same line to dive under Pfanders to take control of second before attempting to do the same to Tadman in first. The Californian had an answer the first time around, squaring Drane back up to reclaim the lead. However, the Estenson Racing star made it stick on his second attempt. A curveball was thrown moments later in the form of a red-flag reset with just 59 seconds remaining on the clock following a crash on the part of Trevor Brunner (No. 21 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R). Even though that development put Tadman back out in front for the staggered restart, Drane immediately slung it low entering Turn 1 to snatch the lead right back. The restart still had significant implications as it thrust a previously quiet Tarren Santero (No. 75 Mission Roof Systems Honda CRF450R) back into the fray near the front. Given new life, Santero nudged ahead of Tadman to take over second. He then subsequently gave Drane a scare to the checkered flag before finishing as the race’s runner-up. Drane’s victory closed out his historic ‘25 campaign with a record-tying eighth win on the season, equaling the previous best marks of Dallas Daniels and Kody Kopp. It also represented his 19th-career win in the class, tying him with Shayna Texter-Bauman for second all-time. His victory also sealed the 2025 AFT Singles Manufacturer crown for Yamaha. Afterward, Drane said, “I can’t thank my whole Estenson Racing Monster Energy team enough. They worked their butts off all year and gave me a great bike. That race, I got to the front earlier, but for the restart, I had to reset my mind. I had to get out there, get the start, and take the lead as quick as I could. Once I was there, I felt I could lead and be comfortable at the front. It was really good.” Tadman held on for third, with Pfanders and Chad Cose (No. 49 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450) completing the top five. As a result of tonight’s order, Tadman and Santero ended the season equal with 175 points apiece in their battle for fourth in the final rankings, trailing only the previously decided 1-2-3 of Drane, Brunner, and Chase Saathoff (No. 88 RWR/Parts Plus Honda CRF450R). That position ultimately went to Tadman via the tiebreaker due to his race-winning Progressive AFT debut. Build. Train. Race. Royal Enfield’s Build. Train. Race. (BTR) program, which serves to highlight, celebrate, and encourage the involvement of women in flat track racing, closed out its 2025 season with a double finale at Lake Ozark Short Track. Main Event 1 saw Madicela Rodriguez (No. 113 Royal Enfield/Parts Unlimited) fend off Taia Little (No. 11 Royal Enfield/Parts Unlimited) by a narrow 0.009 seconds at the checkered flag with Emma Gottsch (No. 5 Royal Enfield/Parts Unlimited) less than a second in arrears in third. Little got her revenge in Main Event 2, shaking loose to win ahead of Gottsch and Rodriguez and secure the 2025 BTR championship. |
AFT Results
| DAYTONA
BEACH, Fla. (August 31, 2025) – Trent Lowe (No. 48 American
Honda/Progressive Insurance Honda Transalp) scored Honda’s first
twin-cylinder premier-class victory in more than a quarter century in a
momentous and pivotal Springfield Mile II presented by Drag
Specialties, the penultimate round of the 2025 Progressive American
Flat Track season, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing. Lowe dove past long-time leader Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) entering Turn 3 on the race’s final lap and then held off the Mission AFT SuperTwins title contender by a scant 0.026-second margin at the checkered flag. Despite that minor disappointment, it was still a huge day for Daniels at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Illinois, when taking the bigger picture into consideration While seven riders finished within a second of the win, three of the race’s most significant figures weren’t included among them. Early leader Jeffrey Carver, Jr. (No. 123 Happy Trails Racing, Carver's BBQ Kawasaki Ninja 650) was the first to pull out with mechanical issues. He was joined a few minutes later by AFT Singles champ Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT), who was ensconced in the lead pack in his premier-class debut before being forced out with problems of his own. Moments later – and most consequentially of all – then-Grand National Championship leader Briar Bauman (No. 3 RWR/Parts Plus/Latus Motors Harley-Davidson XG750R) was black-flagged while racing up front as a result of smoke that billowed from his machine. Daniels’ runner-up, combined with Bauman being credited in 14th, completely alters the championship outlook with just a single race remaining. The Estenson Racing Yamaha rider now leads his Rick Ware Racing Harley rival by 13 points with only 23 points left in play. That means even if Bauman wins the finale, Daniels needs to finish just seventh or better in order to defeat him for the ‘25 Mission AFT SuperTwins crown. Despite that shift, this day belongs to Lowe, who delivered the Big Red SuperTwins program its first win since kicking off the initial development of a Honda Transalp-based racebike ahead of the 2024 season. It was also the first for Lowe, who had already made a strong impression in his first full premier-class season. The Indiana native’s win was the first for a Honda twin-cylinder since Rich King claimed victory at the 1998 Joliet Half-Mile aboard a Honda RS750. It was also the first such podium since King finished second at the Springfield Mile later that same year. Honda’s last win of any kind in the premier-class came back in 2016 with Jake Johnson riding a Honda CRF450R at the DAYTONA Short Track II. Afterward, Lowe said, “First and foremost, I want to thank my whole team. I’ve been a little bit of a pain, but there has to be a little bit of conflict in the pit area just to kind of get everything going. I’m serious, they’re serious. We all want to figure this out. “I have to give a huge shout out to Mission Foods, Jerry Stinchfield, Mike Turner and the whole Turner family, Steve Watt, Kenny Coolbeth, Randy Triplett, Mike Lozano, the whole Maxwell Industries crew, and Al Lamb’s Dallas Honda… I’m just so thankful for this. These guys put so much into this. It just means a lot to finally get one here.” Meanwhile, Brandon Price (No. 92 HRP Racing/Duffs Speed Machine Yamaha MT-07) closed out a remarkable comeback weekend with a third to add to yesterday’s runner-up. He was followed closely to the line by Declan Bender (No. 70 Memphis Shades/Luczak Racing Yamaha MT-07), Henry Wiles (No. 911 1st Impressions Racing KTM 790 Duke), and Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Harley-Davidson XG750R). Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing KTM 790 Duke) was the last rider to finish in the lead pack, just 0.548 seconds off the win yet relegated to seventh in the final order.  AFT Singles presented by KICKER With the 2025 championship already decided, the AFT Singles presented by KICKER category simply delivered a Springfield Mile classic. A huge pack of riders went bar-to-bar for ten minutes plus two laps, with 11 riders taking the checkered flag within a second of victory. But despite the extraordinarily close margin, victory once again belonged to the newly crowned class king, Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F). The Australian cemented his reputation as a young master of the Springfield Mile, now boasting five wins in the last six AFT Singles Main Events contested at the venue (and that’s even after compacting yesterday’s 1-1-1 into a single victory). Other than a single, momentary stint outside the top five, Drane factored heavily at the front throughout, trading the lead with fellow front-row runners Trevor Brunner (No. 21 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), Chad Cose (No. 49 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450), and polesitter Kage Tadman (No. 288 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450). Meanwhile, Jared Lowe (No. 63 Big R/Little Debbie Racing Honda CRF450R), Bradon Pfanders (No. 83 Hannum’s HD/Pfanders Racing KTM 450 SX-F), and Tyler Raggio (No. 55 Raggio/Sluggo/Unsettled Racing KTM 450 SX-F) poked at them from meters behind, with Walker Porter (No. 100 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), Aidan RoosEvans (No. 26 FRA Trust/ATV’s and More Yamaha YZ450F), Hunter Bauer (No. 24 Vinson Construction/Reel Medics Yamaha YZ450F), and Ryder Reese (No. 244 Mission Foods Roof Systems) a double draft away from pulling the upset. Despite the seeming unpredictability of the contest, Drane calmly positioned himself where he needed to be on the final lap, pulling in behind late leader Brunner as the pack negotiated the race’s final two corners. The Estenson Racing star pulled out at just the right moment, soaring past in time to grab the checkered flag by 0.028 seconds over the Turner Honda pilot. “I’ve had a really good run here,” Drane said. “Ever since we first came here in ‘22, I’ve always done well here. I had a great bike underneath me, which really helped. Big thanks to my whole Estenson Racing Monster Energy team. They’ve put in a lot of work and given me a really fast bike. It’s been amazing. We’ve had a really good year.” Cose edged teammate Tadman once again for third, the two taking the stripe 0.086 and 0.150 seconds behind Drane, respectively. Raggio edged Lowe and Pfanders for fifth, while Porter, RoosEvans, and Bauer rounded out the top ten. Rookie Reese missed out on a third-career top ten despite finishing just 0.892 behind race winner Drane. Speaking of Drane, he now has seven race wins on the season and 18 for his career, putting him in position to tie Dallas Daniels and Kody Ko pp for most single-season wins and Shayna Texter-Bauman for second in career AFT Singles Main Event wins in two weeks at the ‘25 season finale. |
AFT Results
| DAYTONA
BEACH, Fla. (August 30, 2025) – The Grand National Championship is now
separated by just two points following an epic and unpredictable
Springfield Mile I presented by Drag Specialties, Round 14 of the 2025
Progressive American Flat Track season, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing. Home-state hero Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) fought through adversity to come up huge in the clutch and reignite his Mission AFT SuperTwins title hopes at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Illinois. Last Chance Qualifier Things got mighty serious even before the first Main Event of the Mission Triple Challenge. A deep field packed with some high-profile recent retirees and part-timers – including the legendary Jared Mees (No. 1 Howerton Motorsports Kawasaki Ninja 650), Jeffrey Carver, Jr. (No. 123 Happy Trails Racing, Carver's BBQ Kawasaki Ninja 650), Brandon Price (No. 92 HRP Racing/Duffs Speed Machine Yamaha MT-07), and Henry Wiles (No. 911 1st Impressions Racing KTM 790 Duke) – pushed some of the class’ leading riders into the Last Chance Qualifier during qualifying. That list included title leader Briar Bauman (No. 3 RWR/Parts Plus/Latus Motors Harley-Davidson XG750R), who managed to survive that near scare with a narrow victory over Max Whale (No. 18 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650) in the LCQ. Fifth-ranked Jarod VanDerKooi (No. 20 Fastrack Racing/Wally Brown Racing KTM 790 Duke) wasn’t so fortunate, dropping out of a qualifying position with mechanical woes on the race’s final lap. Even worse, he was soon joined by fourth-ranked Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing KTM 790 Duke), who had dibs on the lone provisional starting slot due to his superior championship positioning. That advantage was awarded via the tiebreaker, as both riders came into Springfield all even at 158 points. Main Event 1 The new-for-‘25 Mission Triple Challenge format, which features three successive Main Events – a 10-lap sprint, a 15-lapper that pays double points, and a final 20-lap Main which concludes the meeting with triple points – was employed for the third and final time this season on Saturday at Springfield. However, it didn’t include one of its designers – 10-time Grand National Champion Mees – as his day ended prematurely; transmission issues encountered during qualifying ruled him out before he could even take the grid for Main Event 1. With the modern-day Springfield master removed from the equation – as well as Fisher, whose backup bike went up in smoke early in Main Event 1 – Daniels jumped into first off the line. However, Carver and Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Progressive Insurance Honda Transalp) soon took control at the head of a seven-rider pack. But just when it looked like they might escape into a fight of their own, they were tracked down by James Ott (No. 19 G&G Racing Yamaha MT-07) who promptly beat them both to the checkered flag. Daniels held on for fourth, followed by Price, and Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Harley-Davidson XG750R). Bauman finished seventh despite crossing the stripe just 0.836 seconds behind Ott. Main Event 2 Main Event 2 brought the action early and never relented. From the start, a four-rider lead pack formed featuring Carver, Ott, Lowe, and Price, followed by a heavy-hitting next pack consisting of Daniels, Bauman, Robinson and Declan Bender (No. 70 Memphis Shades/Corbin/OTB Racing Yamaha MT-07) about a second behind. The race’s shape was upended when Carver bumped the elbow of Ott while attempting to take the lead, instantly transforming the contest into an eight-rider battle for the win. At that point, title leader Bauman made his move, working his way up to the lead on the final lap. While he was ultimately unable to fend off Lowe – who put the Honda Transalp on top of the box – he did hold on for second while rival Daniels could only manage seventh. Price finished third, followed by Bender, Ott, and Robinson. Following his moment with Ott, Carver came home behind Daniels in eighth. Main Event 3 A tense and enthralling Main Event 3 closed things out with massive championship implications. Once Main Event 2 winner Lowe dropped out with a mechanical, the 20-lapper took shape as a five-rider fight at the front with Harley-Davidson-mounted Bauman faced up against the Yamahas of Daniels, Bender, Ott, and Price. Bauman repeatedly featured in first, slicing his way back through whenever Bender and Ott – and later Daniels and Price – clawed their way forward. However, Bauman’s brilliant riding was overmatched by sheer speed when it mattered the most. Despite leading with two laps to go, Bauman lost out in the final shuffle; he was dropped all the way down to fifth at the flag while rival Daniels blasted up to hit the stripe in first. Price finished second (0.092 seconds), followed by Ott (0.146), Bender (0.183), and Bauman (0.194). And with triple points in effect, that re-racked the day’s Overall results in nearly in that same order, with Bauman ahead of Bender for fourth the only alteration. As a result, Bauman’s championship lead has been reduced to just two points (280-278) with just only races remaining. Robinson remains third at 186. An emotional Daniels said, “The beginning of the day today has just been the story of the season. It’s been tough, but I’ll tell you one thing, it’s making us a helluva lot stronger. We proved that we don’t give up. That’s the motto for sure. I kind of had my head down after the second Main Event, and my dad grabbed me and said, ‘Hey dude, we’re not out of this.’ “Briar was so good in (Turns) 3 and 4, I was just nervous. I didn’t know where to place myself. But when Brandon (Price) got up there, I knew it was time to go. On the last lap, I knew I had to cut the best Turns 3 and 4 I did all day, and I really felt I did. Winning the Springfield Mile is pretty cool.” AFT Singles presented by KICKER Australian Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) became the first non-American champion in any class in the long history of Progressive American Flat Track, securing the AFT Singles presented by KICKER title a full two rounds early today in Springfield. He did so by being both faster and more consistent than any other rider, racking up podiums at a historic rate while rapidly climbing his way up the career victory ranks. Even in the event of a Trevor Brunner (No. 21 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) victory, the Estenson Racing Yamaha ace needed just a ninth-place finish on Saturday to wrap up his first AFT Singles crown. But finishing ninth isn’t really Drane’s style…  Main Event 1 Drane made his intentions clear from the start, grabbing the holeshot to open Main Event 1 with Brunner slotting in behind him. They were joined by 1st Impressions teammates Kage Tadman (No. 288 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450) and Chad Cose (No. 49 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450) and Bradon Pfanders (No. 83 Hannum’s HD/Pfanders Racing KTM 450 SX-F) to create a five-rider breakaway at the front. Try as they might, no one could move Drane out of first for long, and the Estenson Racing star grabbed the checkered flag with relatively little drama. Tadman edged Brunner for second, followed by Cose and Pfanders. Main Event 2 Tadman powered by Drane on the opening lap, signaling the start of a very different race for top honors in Main Event 2. The two shook free of the pack almost immediately, with the lone exception of Cose, who managed to reel the two back in and join the fight for the win. With Cose lurking just behind, Tadman and Drane went back and forth throughout. Tadman registered his final pass for the lead with two to go, while Drane returned the favor entering Turn 1 on the final lap. Drane’s task was then made a bit easier when Cose slipped up the inside of his young teammate as they negotiated Turns 3-4 for the final time. Behind the Drane-Cose-Tadman 1-2-3, Brunner picked up fourth after coming out on top of a massive melee for the position with just 0.643 seconds separating fourth from tenth. Main Event 3 The decisive Main Event 3 saw its lead pack ebb-and-flow – eight to three back up to seven as packs split and merged. All the while, Drane, Brunner, and Tadman dominated the front three positions, repeatedly trading first position. The 20-lap Main was red flagged with eight laps to go when fourth-placed Pfanders crashed after getting sucked up in the draft just as Tadman closed down in front of him. The resultant staggered restart changed what was a long haul into a sprint race with the championship on the line. From there a big pack stuck tight to the flag, but the end result was still the same; Drane had a counter for every move Brunner and Tadman threw at him, and he took the checkered flag – and the 2025 title with it – via a 0.017-second victory over Brunner. After earning the #1 plate with his sixth win of the season, Drane said, “I’ve got a great team behind me. I can’t thank any of them enough. Tommy (Hayden) and Tim (Estenson) gave me this opportunity, and I wouldn’t be here without them. The whole Estenson Racing team worked hard all year to get this bike underneath me. And I can’t thank my family enough. All the sacrifices my mum and dad have made for me to be here is just awesome. It’s amazing.” Despite getting edged by Drane, Brunner jumped up to second in the Overall results. Meanwhile, Cose again pipped teammate Tadman for third, both in Main Event 3 and the event at large. Pfanders, who fought his way back up into contention from the back of the pack, came home fifth in Main Event 3 and Overall. While the title is now taken care of, Drane still has a chance to tie Dallas Daniels and Kody Kopp for most wins in an AFT Singles season (eight) and Shayna Texter-Bauman for second all-time class race wins (19) before the year is out. |
AFT Results
| DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (August 16, 2025)
– Briar Bauman (No. 3 RWR/Parts Plus/Latus Motors Harley-Davidson
XG750R) claimed his third victory at the Peoria Motorcycle Club Race
Park in this year’s 78th World Famous Peoria TT to add to his
incredible 2025 Progressive American Flat Track season, sanctioned by
AMA Pro Racing. Bauman now hopes this triumph will pave the way to a
third Grand National Championship as he extended his Mission AFT
SuperTwins title advantage over rival Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson
Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) with just three rounds remaining. The opening
lap of the Main Event actually played out in favor of Daniels with the
partisan fans in Peoria, Illinois, cheering on the home state hero.
While the holeshot went to Max Whale (No. 18 Moto Anatomy X Powered by
Royal Enfield 650), Daniels crucially edged Bauman as they negotiated
Turn 1. Daniels then immediately looked to place Whale between him and
his adversary to gain some early separation. Instead, Bauman executed
off a pair of clutch maneuvers in rapid succession, diving under
Daniels and then soaring past Whale over the jump as they powered down
the subsequent straight. While Daniels followed Bauman through on
Whale, he was unable to work out a way to reel the Rick Ware Racing
star back in. Instead, the gap slowly stacked up to almost two seconds
before Daniels finally made a late run to make it somewhat interesting
in the end. However, Bauman’s lead was never put in serious jeopardy,
and he took the race by 1.204 seconds at the checkered flag. The
victory was Bauman’s seventh of the season and puts Daniels up against
the wall in their championship battle. Bauman now leads 266-255,
meaning the Estenson Racing ace needs to win out to assure himself the
crown. Bauman said, “I felt really good all day. Once again, huge
thanks to Dave (Zanotti) and Michelle (Disalvo). They worked their
tails off. I’ve been (tough on them). We have a high standard because
Dallas and his team are so darn good. We didn’t really think we’d be
here at this stage, so now all the sudden, I’m like, ‘We’ve got to
figure this out.’” After previously finishing inside the top five on
five separate occasions at Peoria, Jarod VanDerKooi (No. 20 Fastrack
Racing/Wally Brown Racing KTM 790 Duke) at last got his first podium in
the fabled TT by finishing a lonely third. He was followed home by wild
card and Peoria resident Bronson Bauman (No. 37 Mike Butler Racing
Mission Foods Yamaha MT-07), who worked his way past Whale to snatch
away fourth. Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems
Harley-Davidson XG750R) finished sixth, one spot ahead of Trent Lowe
(No. 48 American Honda/Progressive Insurance Honda Transalp), who had
been the story of the race outside of Bauman and Daniels until a
mechanical issue spoiled what had been a stirring charge. Davis Fisher
(No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing KTM 790 Duke), Dan
Bromley (No. 62 Memphis Shades/Vinson Construction Suzuki GSX-8S), and
Declan Bender (No. 70 Memphis Shades/Luczak Racing Yamaha MT-07)
completed the top ten. AFT AdventureTrackers™ Dan Bromley (No. 62 Big Momma and Daddy Deep Pockets Suzuki V-Strom 1050) added yet another accolade to his already decorated flat track career by securing the 2025 AFT AdventureTrackers championship. Bromley came into Peoria with a healthy points advantage after collecting two wins and a runner-up finish during the 85th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. As a result, he only had to keep it smart, safe, and on two wheels to successfully close out his title campaign on Saturday. And that’s exactly what he did. After rival Jesse Janisch (No. 33 WFOracingonline.com/Öhlins Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250) grabbed the holeshot, Bromley momentarily tussled with Danny Eslick (No. 164 Saddlemen Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250) for second before thinking better of it. Instead, he chose to sit safe in third and watch the showdown for the win transpire in front of him. There, Janisch did everything he could to keep it neat and tidy, while Eslick was happy to do the opposite, sending it over the jump with major air while bucking and sliding his way around the corners in hot pursuit. Eslick’s aggression put him in position to attempt a last-corner, last-lap pass on Janisch. However, it also saw him run off into the grass in that attempt. Janisch powered to the win while Bromley inherited second. Despite the mishap, Eslick recovered quickly enough to round out the podium. The victory was Janisch’s fifth overall at Peoria and in his third class (AFT Singles in 2015, 2016, and 2018, Mission Production Twins in 2022, and AFT AdventureTrackers in 2025). Janisch said, “It was a lot of fun. The track was a little bit nervous after the track prep. I was trying to ride really cautiously, and then I got way too cautious with two to go. Danny decided to send her, but luckily I heard him and saw it coming. I was able to square him up and get the win. Congrats to Dan. It was a little bit of a coulda-woulda-shoulda, but he won it. He was so good in Sturgis, and we just had that little fault.” Meanwhile, the championship is the second of his Progressive AFT career, adding to his 2017 AFT Singles title. Dan Bromley (62) clearing the jump during the World Famous Peoria TT Saturday. [Photo: American Flat Track/Tim Lester] “It feels good,” Bromley said. “We had a lot of success (in Sturgis). Me and Jesse were going to come here and fight tooth-and-nail, but unfortunately, he had an issue at the last race. That’s a bummer, but I know he gave it everything he had and he won today. But to be able to win this championship is pretty cool. It’s going to go up on the wall next to my Singles championship. And hopefully, there’s more to come.” Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 Triumph Racing Triumph Tiger 900 GT Pro) finished fourth with Henry Wiles (No. 911 Walter Bros. Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250) rounding out the top five. AFT Singles presented by KICKER AFT Singles presented by KICKER title leader Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) closed out a monster day at the Peoria TT with an eight-second-plus blowout victory. The win checked off a handful of achievements for the Australian, including becoming just the sixth rider in class history to complete the Grand Slam while also equaling his own AFT Singles record for most consecutive podiums at nine. A huge twist in the fight for today’s checkered flag – as well as the 2025 championship – occurred well before the riders ever gridded up for the Main. ‘24 Peoria TT winner Chase Saathoff (No. 88 RWR/Parts Plus Honda CRF450R) suffered a big crash during qualifying, landing the jump awkwardly and being thrown over the high side of his machine just moments after claiming the top spot on the charts. The RWR star hit the ground hard in the fall and was transported to a local hospital for further evaluation, bringing his day at the track to an early conclusion. Drane’s path was further cleared when triple champion Kody Kopp (No. 1 Bob Lanphere/KTM/Fastrack Racing KTM 450 SX-F) – who had consistently ranked among the three fastest riders along with Drane and Saathoff throughout practice and qualifying – lost a chain landing the jump on the opening lap of his heat race. That forced him to the back row of the LCQ where he had to claw his way to a similarly disadvantageous starting slot in the Main Event. In the Main, Drane was momentarily dropped to second by ‘23 Peoria winner Trevor Brunner (No. 21 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R). But the Estenson Racing ace had an answer entering Turn 1 on Lap 2. Once back into the lead, Drane immediately stretched open a gap and continued to rip it open ever wider for the remainder of the contest. Drane later admitted that his 8.148-second margin of victory could have been even more lopsided if he hadn’t called off the dogs. He said, “Towards the end of that one, I looked back and saw I had a huge gap so I rolled it off a little. I didn’t need to do anything stupid at the end. I can’t thank my whole team enough with all the effort they put in. They had the bike working great all day. It’s been so easy for me just to get on and ride it because they had it set up so good. I hope Chase is doing all right. You don’t like to see that happen to anyone.” Despite starting from the back row, Kopp made himself a factor with an awesome start that saw him rail around the outside of the pack and slot into sixth coming out of Turn 2. From there, he quickly made his way up to third but was then stymied by Brunner in his repeated bids to steal away second. Their duel became a three-way scrap with the arrival of Tarren Santero (No. 75 Mission Roof Systems Honda CRF450R), who established himself as the master of the jump. Kopp and Santero then went back and forth while simultaneously looking for a way into second that never opened up. A bevy of inside and outside moves were executed (including one run through the grass by Santero) in the action-packed melee. In the end, Brunner held on for the runner-up position with Santero third and Kopp fourth. Just behind, the rolling Aidan RoosEvans (No. 26 FRA Trust/ATV’s and More Yamaha YZ450F) closed in and nearly made it a four-way fight before accepting a strong fifth. Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 Parts Bros Worldwide/D&D Cycles KTM 450 SX-F), Kage Tadman (No. 288 1st Impressions Racing Husqvarna FC450), Chad Cose (No. 49 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450), Thomas Herrick (No. 314 Davies Motorcycles Husqvarna FC450), and Jared Lowe (No. 63 Big R/Little Debbie Racing Honda CRF450R) finished sixth through tenth, respectively. As a result of his fifth win of 2025 combined with Saathoff’s DNS, Drane now boasts a commanding championship advantage of 39 points (253-214) with just three rounds remaining. Brunner is third at 195. |
AFT TT Results
| DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (August 8, 2025)
– Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) got his
revenge in the form of a convincing victory at the Jackpine Gypsies
Super TT to close out an epic three-round week for Progressive American
Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, during the 85th Sturgis
Motorcycle Rally in Sturgis, South Dakota. Daniels and his Mission AFT SuperTwins title rival Briar Bauman (No. 3 RWR/Parts Plus/Latus Motors Harley-Davidson XG750R) appeared set on another collision course at the Jackpine Gypsies Motorcycle Club after their high-profile Tuesday clash. The two were again the riders to beat heading into the Main Event without much between them in terms of lap times. However, the sport’s all-time winningest TT rider, Henry Wiles (No. 911 DL Racing/HYMMC Yamaha MT-07), flashed his old form throughout the day and stood as the ultimate wild card. And that proved true, as he slotted between Daniels and Bauman as the race got underway. But less than two laps in, Wiles hit a neutral, allowing Bauman to slip past with relatively little effort. At that point the chase was on. While largely processional, it was still a rather tense affair, with Daniels opening up a couple tenths here and Bauman stealing them back there. Eventually, however, the Estenson Racing star outlasted the RWR title leader’s pursuit and expanded that lead to a massive 5.781-second advantage by the time he took the checkered flag. After the race, Daniels said, “(After Tuesday), I was just thinking I wanted to get to the next race, and I wanted to win. I knew that this track would kind of be in my wheelhouse; it’s what I grew up on. I felt like on Monday and Tuesday I was riding really good. Things were gelling, and this year we really haven’t been gelling like we did last year. We were starting to find our groove, and… well, everybody knows what happened. I don’t need to sit up here and talk about it. But a great rebound. It’s a good win. I just can’t thank my whole Estenson Racing Monster Energy Yamaha team enough. They stick behind me no matter what.” Wiles tagged on behind Bauman for a time before fading from that pace to find himself haunted by Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing KTM 790 Duke). Unfortunately for Fisher, he encountered mechanical issues before he could make a move, and his potential podium was transformed into a disappointing 11th. It also cost him a golden opportunity to make up serious ground on third-ranked Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Harley-Davidson XG750R), who had earlier encountered issues of his own to wind up 12th. That left Wiles safe in third, and he earned a second premier-class podium this season despite taking part in only half the races to date. Jarod VanDerKooi (No. 20 Fastrack Racing/Wally Brown Racing KTM 790 Duke) inherited fourth with Dan Bromley (No. 62 Memphis Shades/Vinson Construction Suzuki GSX-8S) adding yet another top five to his collection. Declan Bender (No. 70 Memphis Shades/Luczak Racing Yamaha MT-07), Max Whale (No. 18 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650), James Ott (No. 19 G&G Racing Yamaha MT-07), Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Progressive Insurance Honda Transalp), and Logan McGrane (No. 14 Schaeffer's Motorsport KTM 790 Duke) rounded out the top ten. Following 12 of 16 rounds, Bauman leads the tightened title chase over Daniels by seven points (243-236). Robinson remains third at 164, followed by Fisher at 148, and VanDerKooi at 142. AFT AdventureTrackers™ Dan Bromley (No. 62 Big Momma and Daddy Deep Pockets Suzuki V-Strom 1050) claimed a big win and grabbed a commanding title lead in AFT AdventureTrackers action with just next Saturday’s race in Peoria remaining to determine the championship. The contest was expected to be another shootout between Bromley and Jesse Janisch (No. 33 WFOracingonline.com/Öhlins Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250), and that’s how the race initially took shape. While Bromley held down first off the line, Janisch was looking racy in second, repeatedly attempting to square up his rival to steal away first. However, that bid ended in unconventional fashion, with pieces of Janisch’s machine, including the rear seat, falling loose moments before he crashed from contention. Bromley then cruised on to claim an easy win of some 3.596 seconds. He said, “Not saying there was a lot of development that went into this bike, but there are a lot of great people who came behind (this program). Seat Concepts came through and gave us a tall seat that was a huge help, and Drew Smith at Works Enduro went through the suspension and made sure it wasn’t a pogo stick. Big shout out to those guys, my parents, and my family watching back at home.” Janisch’s fall put Austin Luczak (No. 188 Memphis Shades/Black Hills Powersports Honda Africa Twin) in second but only momentarily, as he found himself immediately under fire by a big crew of big names. Ultimately, he gave way, with Danny Eslick (No. 164 Saddlemen Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250) working his way through to take second. Third went to TT legend Henry Wiles (No. 911 Walter Bros. Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250) after he fought up from the back of the field after crashing early in an incident that brought out the red flag. Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 Triumph Racing Triumph Tiger 900 GT Pro) passed up to fourth, while Luczak followed up his first career Progressive AFT podium with a third top five in five days. Following three of four rounds, Bromley leads Janisch 65-51. Eslick is third at 45, followed closely by Luczak (43), Wiles (42), and Gauthier (41). AFT Singles presented by KICKER Chase Saathoff (No. 88 RWR/Parts Plus Honda CRF450R) closed out a bountiful trip to Sturgis with his second AFT Singles presented by KICKER victory this week. Even better for the Rick Ware Racing runner, his title hopes were further boosted by the efforts of fellow Illinois native Aidan RoosEvans (No. 26 FRA Trust/ATV’s and More Yamaha YZ450F), who held off Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) to score his maiden Progressive AFT podium in second. However, before aiding Saathoff’s championship chances, RoosEvans had proven a huge thorn in his side. The two- and four-wheel ace hounded Saathoff deep into the contest, utilizing some creative lines in an attempt to uncover a path around the leader. Once it became clear that wasn’t going to happen, RoosEvans did what he needed to in order to keep the hard-charging Drane behind him to the checkered flag. As a result, Saathoff reduced his title deficit from 23 points to a more manageable 16 (230-214) as he prepares to defend his home turf next weekend at the fabled Peoria TT where he won a year ago. “It was a tough one,” Saathoff said. “I could feel (RoosEvans) the whole time. I was a little bit slower in (Turns) 1 and 2 in the Short Track (section). I tried not to bobble and that’s about it. I just stayed consistent and held my line. I can’t thank the whole team enough. We started off this day super slow. I got really good starts, which is pretty rare for me. And every time I got in the lead, I just held my line and did what I know how to do.” Bradon Pfanders (No. 83 Hannum’s HD/Pfanders Racing KTM 450 SX-F) overtook Tarren Santero (No. 75 Mission Roof Systems Honda CRF450R) for fourth just before half-distance and stayed in that position for the duration. Santero, however, continued to go backwards. Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 D&D Certified Racing KTM 450 SX-F), Trevor Brunner (No. 21 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), Jared Lowe (No. 63 Big R/Little Debbie Racing Honda CRF450R), and Kage Tadman (No. 288 Roof Systems/Old Oak Ranch KTM 450 SX-F) all took advantage of a difficult last couple of laps for Santero (who’d looked like a potential winner earlier in the day) to finish fifth through eighth, respectively. FIM Supermoto ace Bronson Pearce (No.132 A1R Racing, FRA Trust Yamaha YZ450F) finished one position behind Santero to complete the top ten. |
AFT TT Results
| DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (August 5, 2025)
– It was a win years in the making. Following multiple seasons in the
attempt, Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Harley-Davidson
XG750R) at last got his first victory aboard the Harley-Davidson XG750R
in Tuesday’s Jackpine Gypsies Short Track II, Round 11 of the 2025
Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing. And it couldn’t have come at a more fitting location, with legions of H-D faithful descending on Sturgis, South Dakota, for the 85th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, and the Jackpine Gypsies Motorcycle Club for the night’s race action. Robinson’s triumph was the first win for any rider this season other than Mission AFT SuperTwins title contenders Briar Bauman (No. 3 RWR/Parts Plus/Latus Motors Harley-Davidson XG750R) and Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT). Not surprisingly, there was more to that story. Much more. In what is almost certainly destined to rank as among the most dramatic and consequential moments of the ‘25 Grand National Championship fight, the championship rivals collided during the Main Event with Daniels taking the brunt of it. With both pilots actively seeking a way past race leader Robinson, Bauman attempted to square up Daniels to steal away second. However, Daniels did not drift up the track the way Bauman appeared to expect. As a result, rather than run under, he ran into his adversary, dumping him in the dirt. A red flag immediately flew, after which both riders were placed at the back of the field for the restart. The two then battled one another as they sliced and diced their way forward. Bauman again came away better, finishing in third behind Robinson and second-place finisher Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing KTM 790 Duke). Daniels, meanwhile, saw his historic podium streak snapped at 23 when he finished in fifth position, 0.134 seconds behind fourth-place finisher Dan Bromley (No. 62 Memphis Shades/Vinson Construction Suzuki GSX-8S). A heated Daniels promptly engaged in an animated discussion with Bauman during the cool down lap, while the RWR pilot later repeatedly expressed his apologies for the incident from the podium. By contrast, Robinson was all smiles. The Mission Roof Systems ace – who campaigned the XG750R full time in 2017 and 2018, and for parts of 2019 – was absolutely thrilled to finally celebrate a victory with the machine. “Hell yeah!” he said. “There were a couple heartbreaking years in ‘17 and ‘18; we got our butts whipped on these things. I always said when the rules went production(-based), the XGs were going to be really good motorcycles. It’s just awesome it’s come full circle – from the Vance & Hines Factory Harley days with Terry Vance helping me, to now with Jerry Stinchfield and the Roof Systems/Mission Foods team. I absolutely love this crew. This is awesome.” Jarod VanDerKooi (No. 20 Fastrack Racing/Wally Brown Racing KTM 790 Duke) was the last rider to get overhauled by both Bauman and Daniels and was relegated to sixth in the process. He was followed home by Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Progressive Insurance Honda Transalp), Henry Wiles (No. 911 DL Racing/HYMMC Yamaha MT-07), Justin Jones (No. 91 1st Impressions Race Team KTM 790 Duke), and James Ott (No. 19 G&G Racing Yamaha MT-07) to complete the top ten. Bauman’s championship lead was expanded to 11 points in the clash, as he now leads Daniels 224-213. Robinson sits third at 158, followed by Fisher with 141. AFT AdventureTrackers™ After suffering a pair of near misses in the first two races in class history, Dan Bromley (No. 62 Big Momma and Daddy Deep Pockets Suzuki V-Strom 1050) finally raced his way to the top of the AFT AdventureTrackers podium. Dan Bromley (62) leads the pack during the AFT AdventureTracker Main Event during Round 11 in Sturgis Tuesday night. Second-place went to Monday winner Jesse Janisch (No. 33 WFOracingonline.com/Öhlins Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250), who was forced to fight his way out of a huge pack tussling for second. But by the time he did, Bromley was long gone. As a result, the two are now tied after trading 2-1 and 1-2 finishes at the Jackpine Gypsies Short Track as the four-race series hits its halfway point. Race winner Bromley said, “I put that bad boy in low gear and just put it on the bottom. Yesterday, I led the Main Event and Jesse got by me. When he passed me, I was like, ‘How did he do that? He passed me so fast on the inside…’ And I was like, ‘Oh wait, we’ve got front brakes!’ So today I remembered to use it, and it worked out good.” Outside of Janisch, Austin Luczak (No. 188 Memphis Shades/Black Hills Powersports Honda Africa Twin) succeeded in keeping that big group of heavy hitters corralled behind him to earn his maiden Progressive AFT podium finish. Daytona 200 legend Danny Eslick (No. 164 Saddlemen Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250) finished fourth with the heavily decorated Henry Wiles (No. 911 Walter Bros. Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250) taking the last spot in the top five. AFT Singles presented by KICKER Feeling under the weather and confronted with a tight and physical racetrack, Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) was forced to dig deep on Tuesday night. And in doing so, he left his AFT Singles presented by KICKER title rivals in an even deeper hole with just five rounds remaining to determine the season’s championship. Rookie hero Kage Tadman (No. 288 Roof Systems/Old Oak Ranch KTM 450 SX-F) jumped out to the early advantage and held down first for the opening couple of minutes. Monday winner Chase Saathoff (No. 88 RWR/Parts Plus Honda CRF450R) then stole the momentum, first slinging around the outside of Drane to grab second and then using the same line to storm past Tadman for the lead. Saathoff threatened to shake free at that point. Drane, however, wasn’t willing to give up, diving under Tadman and then reeling in his rival at the front. The Estenson Racing star snuck under the RWR pilot with just 30 seconds left on the clock, timing the strike just as they came upon lapped traffic. The Australian successfully maneuvered through the slower riders to score his fourth victory in the most recent six races. Despite having very little voice with which to speak, Drane said, “That race was pretty tough at the start. I can’t thank my whole team enough for all the effort they’ve been putting in. And we’ve been training hard back home to make sure we had the pace we needed at the end of the race to come back through.” Runner-up Saathoff finished just 0.230 seconds back, while Tadman settled into a lonely third to claim the fourth podium of his spectacular rookie season. Chad Cose (No. 49 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450) finished fourth, while Trevor Brunner (No. 21 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) rounded out the top five after breaking free of a huge 10-plus-rider pack late. Following 11 of 16 races, Drane leads Saathoff 214-191. Brunner is third at 164, while Tarren Santero (No. 75 Mission Roof Systems Honda CRF450R) is the only other rider within even 100 points of Drane at 118. |
| DAYTONA
BEACH, Fla. (August 4, 2025) – They say good things come in threes.
That is certainly the case at the 85th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, as
this week in Sturgis, South Dakota, includes three Progressive American
Flat Track rounds, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing. And the first of those
three – tonight’s Jackpine Gypsies Short Track I – both featured the
Mission Triple Challenge format and added a third class to the mix with
the much anticipated return of the AFT AdventureTrackers™. Meanwhile, two-time Grand National Champion Briar Bauman (No. 3 RWR/Parts Plus/Latus Motors Harley-Davidson XG750R) is currently on a mission to up his Mission AFT SuperTwins title tally to match the #3 on his number plate. He took another step in that direction with his sixth victory of the season, which came following a(nother) knock-down, drag-out battle with chief rival Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT). Main Event 1 For the second time this season, the series used the new-for-‘25 Mission Triple Challenge format. Three successive Main Events – a 10-lap sprint, a 15-lapper that paid double points, and a final 20-lap Main which concluded the night with triple the points – determined the evening’s overall winner. All of this action was somehow contained by the Jackpine Gypsies Motorcycle Club’s ultra-tight Short Track, which at 1/5-mile is claimed to be the shortest ever negotiated by twin-cylinders throughout the long history of the Grand National Championship. The first Main Event barely gave the combatants a chance to breathe, taking just over two minutes to complete. But despite the diminutive track and short duration, Bauman still had enough room and time to deliver a relative blowout. The RWR ace grabbed the holeshot and immediately pulled clear of the frantic melee behind. Daniels found himself an early fourth, overtaken at launch by ST master Henry Wiles (No. 911 DL Racing/HYMMC Yamaha MT-07) and Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Harley-Davidson XG750R). It took Daniels just two laps to drive up the inside of both, but by then Bauman was nearly a second out in front. But even with clear air in front of Daniels, Bauman would eventually work that advantage up to 1.329 seconds by the time he took the checkered flag. Robinson came home third, followed by a charging Max Whale (No. 18 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650) and Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing KTM 790 Duke). |
| Main Event 2 Daniels nearly pulled off the holeshot, but that merely put him in a position for Bauman to push him wide and allow a resourceful Robinson through into second. Undeterred, the Estenson Racing pilot quickly regrouped and powered under Robinson to close right in on Bauman’s rear wheel. Before he could attempt a strike, however, the race was red-flagged as a result of a crash on the part of Declan Bender (No. 70 Memphis Shades/Luczak Racing Yamaha MT-07). While Bauman and Daniels picked their battle back up after the restart, Whale joined the party with the impressive utilization of an high-risk, high-reward, high line. But before the shootout could really take shape, another red was shown, this time due to a crash that involved Bender (again) and Fisher. While Bauman grabbed the lead off the start for a third time, he got extremely loose and Daniels instantly pounced. Bauman would go on to survive scares in the same corner on the subsequent two laps as well, allowing his rival to earn the win with more than a half second to spare. Despite the repeated bobbles, Bauman maintained second, followed by Whale, Robinson, and Jarod VanDerKooi (No. 20 Fastrack Racing/Wally Brown Racing KTM 790 Duke). Main Event 3 Bauman and Daniels saved the best for last, going back and forth down to the final lap. The two swapped first place multiple times on the opening handful of laps before Daniels finally established himself in first and locked down the inside. Unlike the earlier fights, the title fighters didn’t have this one all to themselves with Robinson,Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Progressive Insurance Honda Transalp), and Whale in close contention, eagerly awaiting any mistake that would allow them to potentially pull off an upset. And that opportunity seemed almost likely, with Bauman riding on the ragged edge in hopes of finding a way – any way – past Daniels. But rather than make a mistake, Bauman made it happen, ripping through with six to go. Robinson followed him past Daniels, but the Yamaha rider put himself right back into second and looked to turn the tables once again. However, try as he might, Daniels couldn’t work out a path to the win and was forced to watch from close behind as Bauman claimed his sixth overall win of the year. Bauman said, “Dallas took me to school in the second Main Event. To come back and get him… he usually just builds momentum and gets better throughout the night. My Rick Ware Racing/Part Plus/Latus Motors team worked really, really hard. We changed quite a bit of stuff even though we’ve been fast all day… Dallas is so good. I’ve never been this stressed out all the time, but we’re out here, baby, and we’re working for it.” Robinson finished third in Main Event 3 and the overall results. Lowe finished fourth in Main Event 3 to move up to sixth in the final round results, while Whale took fifth in the race and fourth overall. Wiles was awarded fifth overall following his 7-6-6 night. Bauman now leads the Mission AFT SuperTwins championship fight over Daniels by just eight points (208-200). Robinson is a distant third at 135. AFT Singles presented by KICKER The Mission Triple Challenge delivered another barnburner in AFT Singles presented by KICKER action, with three different riders earning a win, including the round’s overall victor, Chase Saathoff (No. 88 RWR/Parts Plus Honda CRF450R). Main Event 1 The night’s first Main Event saw Trevor Brunner (No. 21 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) overcome a determined challenge from Saathoff, who stormed by at one point only to be quickly dropped back to second. Saathoff made another last-lap stab at the win, but Brunner held strong to grab the win by 0.230 seconds. Aidan RoosEvans (No. 26 FRA Trust/ATV’s and More Yamaha YZ450F) slipped free from the big pack behind him to earn a fairly safe third a little over a second back of the win. Rising stars Kage Tadman (No. 288 Roof Systems/Rice's Rapid Motorsports KTM 450 SX-F) and Walker Porter (No. 100 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) came home fourth and fifth, with Tadman fighting past his fellow rookie on the final circulation. Meanwhile, title leader Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F), who was feeling under the weather throughout the day, could only manage a sixth-place result Main Event 2 Under the weather or not, Main Event 2 saw Drane revert to his more typical form, blasting up to second off the start and then sailing past Brunner to capture the lead just two laps in. With the Australian walking off at the front, Brunner turned his attention to locking down second with Saathoff and Tadman in hot pursuit. That is until the race was red-flagged due to a bizarre crash that saw RoosEvans yanked clear of his bike when his left leg was somehow snared by the machine of Bradon Pfanders (No. 83 Hannum’s HD/Pfanders Racing KTM 450 SX-F). Following the staggered restart, Drane resumed his position at the front. However, this time he found himself under serious fire from Tadman. The rookie tapped back into his California style, railing around the outside of both Saathoff and Brunner to zero in on Drane. While he even nosed ahead at one point, Tadman couldn’t quite make a move stick and Drane went on to claim the victory. Brunner finished third ahead of Saathoff, while Tarren Santero (No. 75 Mission Roof Systems Honda CRF450R) – who made his way into the Main Event program via the LCQ – finished fifth. Main Event 3 After twice being denied, Saathoff pulled it all together when it mattered the most. The RWR pilot switched up his tactics to employ a Tadman-like high line and used it to work his way past Brunner, Tadman himself, and, soon enough, Drane to grab the lead. Even when all alone in the lead, Saathoff continued to ride high, moving more than a second out in front of archrival Drane in the process. Behind, Tadman and Brunner went back-and-forth for several laps while contesting third before up-and-comer Tadman finally established himself in the position. A late charge from Drane saw him pull back alongside Saathoff with just two laps to go. However, Saathoff simply refused to allow him through as the two waged yet another epic final-lap clash. Tadman came home in third followed by Brunner and RoosEvans. The overall podium mirrored that of Main Event 3, with Saathoff earning his second win of the season, Drane scoring his sixth consecutive podium, and Tadman picking up the third podium of his stellar rookie season. Brunner finished fourth in the race as well as the overall results, while RoosEvans was fifth in Main Event 3 and sixth overall. Fifth place overall went to Pfanders thanks to the combined points added up from his 8-6-6 evening. Saathoff said, “This is very meaningful. I took a chance in that race off the start, and I just rolled with it. Man, I didn’t want to have to close the door on Tom that hard, but I was there for the win, and I wasn’t giving it up on the last lap. Hats off to my whole team. I can’t thank everybody enough. I’m so happy to have done it here.” Despite suffering the narrow defeat, Drane continues to lead the title fight quite comfortably, boasting 191 points to Saathoff’s 172. Brunner is third at 151. AFT AdventureTrackers™ While the Mission AFT SuperTwins and AFT Singles utilized the Mission Triple Challenge format, the AFT AdventureTrackers determined its first winner of the season in a single 10-lap Main Event, with 500-pound, near-stock Dual Adventure bikes going bar-to-bar in a two-wheeled cage match The sky-high capabilities of these versatile bikes – some of which were either ridden on the streets or sourced from dealer showroom floors as recently as yesterday – was expertly demonstrated by a field stacked with elite racers. None did so more effectively than Jesse Janisch (No. 33 WFOracingonline.com/Öhlins Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250). The 2022 Mission Production Twins champion leveraged a low line to cut under early leader Dan Bromley (No. 62 Big Momma and Daddy Deep Pockets Suzuki V-Strom 1050) with eight laps remaining. 2018 AFT Singles champ Bromley spent the remainder of the race muscling his bike around in a fruitless bid to square up Janisch. Afterward, Janisch said, “We’ve been having a blast. I got to ride the thing all day yesterday out in the hills, enjoying the scenic views of Sturgis, which was amazing. I’ve got to thank everyone who helped us out. I had a good battle with Dan, and I’m stoked to get the first one.” 2019 AFT Singles champion Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 Triumph Racing Triumph Tiger 900 GT Pro) claimed the final spot on the box following a three-way scrap that also included fourth-place finisher Hunter Bauer (No. 24 Vinson Construction/Memphis Shades BMW F 900 GS) and fifth-place finisher Henry Wiles (No. 911 Walter Bros. Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250). In fact, Wiles appeared to have third all but sewn up, however, a mechanical issue on the final lap allowed Gauthier to steal back the position at the last possible moment. |
AFT Jack Pine Results
| DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (July 18, 2025)
– The world’s elite motorcycle dirt trackers put on quite the show in
the inaugural Short Track at Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Missouri,
to open the second half of an intense 2025 Progressive American Flat
Track season, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing. The “Diamond of Dirt Tracks” was properly introduced to two-wheeled action on the night, playing witness to the two best riders in the world performing at the top of their games. In the end, Briar Bauman (No. 3 RWR/Parts Plus/Latus Motors Harley-Davidson XG750R) overcame the valiant effort of a relentless Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) to score his fifth victory of the season and break their points tie atop of the Mission AFT SuperTwins standings. Prior to the race, Bauman’s victory felt nearly preordained considering both his form on the season and throughout the day. That seemed especially true once he got the holeshot and Daniels languished down near tenth after struggling uncharacteristically and qualifying on the third row. However, Daniels locked onto an extreme low line and made it work, leaping up to fifth in short order and then sitting on the back of a fight for third waged by Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing KTM 790 Duke) and Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Progressive Insurance Honda Transalp). That became a four-rider dispute for second once Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Harley-Davidson XG750R) dropped his pursuit of Bauman and fell into the clutches of Fisher, Lowe, and Daniels as the contest approached half-distance. A minute later, Daniels used that ultra-low route to dive past all three and jump up from fifth to second in one extended swoop. By that point, however, Bauman held an advantage of 1.354 seconds and seemed safe on his way to victory. Daniels made it less and less safe, however, ultimately closing to within 0.329 seconds by the time they arrived at the checkered flag. Bauman’s triumph was his ninth-ever Short Track win, elevating him into a four-way tie with Chris Carr, Henry Wiles, and Jared Mees for the career lead in the discipline. It was also his 31st overall premier-class win, moving him into the all-time top ten in terms of career victories. Bauman said, “(Daniels) just figured it out halfway through the Main Event and was clicking laps. I thought I was hitting my marks, but he’s so good and this is so tight, that I’m just numb to it at this point… “I’m fired up. When Jared Mees stepped away, I said I need to be the guy to fill his shoes. I know there are a lot of people who want to see us succeed, and I can feel that. That gets me fired up. Once again, Rick Ware Racing, Parts Plus, Latus Motors… Rick (Ware) and George (Latus) came together to put this thing together. I never thought I’d have five wins. This Harley-Davidson XG750R is working really good.” Meanwhile, Fisher held off the impressive Lowe to get his season back on track with a third podium result of ‘25. Unfortunately for Robinson, he was a non-finisher; he pulled off with a mechanical issue just as Lowe overtook him for fourth with under a minute-and-a-half remaining on the clock. Jarod VanDerKooi (No. 20 Fastrack Racing/Wally Brown Racing KTM 790 Duke) won out in a scrap for sixth with James Ott (No. 19 G&G Racing Yamaha MT-07) and Declan Bender (No. 70 Memphis Shades/Luczak Racing Yamaha MT-07). Max Whale (No. 18 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650), Bronson Bauman (No. 37 Mission Foods/Roof Systems Yamaha MT-07), and Billy Ross (No. 29 Racing Unlimited/Bel Ray Kawasaki Ninja 650)rounded out the top ten. Bauman now leads Daniels 185-181 in what’s truly taken shape as a two-rider battle for the Grand National Championship. Despite his misfortune on the evening, Robinson remains ranked third, albeit 66 points back of the lead at 119. AFT Singles presented by KICKER Trevor Brunner (No. 21 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) pulled off an epic final-lap, final-corner pass on AFT Singles presented by KICKER title leader Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) to claim his first victory of the season. After Drane made quick work of the fast-starting Bradon Pfanders (No. 83 Hannum’s HD/Pfanders Racing KTM 450 SX-F), it looked as if the Australian might simply march off to his fourth consecutive victory. And Drane did in fact open up a second-plus advantage before championship rival Chase Saathoff (No. 88 RWR/Parts Plus Honda CRF450R) and Brunner finally made their way into second and third with right around three minutes remaining on the clock. From that point forward, Saathoff and Brunner couldn’t decide who should lead the charge in their joint attempt to track down Drane. Instead, they battled it out all non-stop but somehow continued to reel in the Estenson Racing ace all the while. The two finally moved to within striking distance as the clocks hit zero; Brunner and Saathoff flanked Drane from close behind with the Turner Honda pilot perched on his right shoulder and the RWR rider there on his left. Just when it looked like it was all too little, too late, Brunner threw in a last-gasp Hail Mary maneuver and was rewarded for his audaciousness, stealing the checkered flag from Drane by a scant 0.069 seconds. “It feels amazing,” Brunner said. “I feel like I’ve got like 300 pounds lifted off my chest. I knew I could get it done, but we were just missing the little things, and I think it’s a lot mentally from myself. But, man, this facility is awesome, the fans are awesome, the whole experience here at Lucas Oil Speedway has been awesome.” Three seconds behind Brunner, Drane, and Saathoff, Jared Lowe (No. 63 Big R/Little Debbie Racing Honda CRF450R) completed a charge of his own to fight his way into fourth. Early leader Pfanders equaled his career-best finish of fifth, while car track expert Aidan RoosEvans (No. 26 FRA Trust/ATV’s and More Yamaha YZ450F) came home sixth. Chad Cose (No. 49 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450), Tarren Santero (No. 75 Mission Roof Systems Honda CRF450R), Walker Porter (No. 100 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), and Evan Kelleher (No. 31 Schaeffer's Motorsports KTM 450 SX-F) finished seventh through tenth, respectively. Despite the narrow defeat on the night, Drane actually extended his points lead. He now leads Saathoff by 23 points (172-149), while Brunner closed in just a bit, upping his tally to 137. |
AFT Lucas Results
| DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (July 5, 2025)
– The “Magic Mile” lived up to its nickname by delivering yet another
last-lap stunner as Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07
DT) claimed a scant-yet-pivotal victory in Saturday night’s Memphis
Shades DuQuoin Mile, Round 8 of the 2025 Progressive American Flat
Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing. Daniels’
win at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds in DuQuoin, Illinois, wasn’t
assured until the checkered flag flew, which confirmed an official
0.037-second margin of victory following a hectic five-rider showdown
to the very end. An early
eight-rider scrap whittled down to six after a few minutes of fighting.
It then took its final form of five – which included Daniels, title
rival Briar Bauman (No. 3 RWR/Parts Plus/Latus Motors Harley-Davidson
XG750R), James Ott (No. 19 G&G Racing Yamaha MT-07), Declan Bender
(No. 70 Memphis Shades/Corbin/OTB Racing Yamaha MT-07), and Brandon
Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Harley-Davidson XG750R) – after
Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing KTM 790
Duke) was forced out due to mechanical issues. Bauman
kept himself relevant with some impressive cornering and line choice,
but as the laps wound down, it became more and more apparent that the
Yamahas of Daniels, Ott, and Bender had the steam on this night. With less than two minutes left on the clock, Bauman dropped back from first to fifth and then struggled mightily in his attempts to claw his way back into winning contention from that point forward. Ott, meanwhile, gave Daniels all he could handle, while Bender looked more than capable of springing a massive upset with a perfect final lap. But Daniels did what aspiring championship winners do, countering Ott’s final lap Turn 2 pass with a counter of his own, running back up the inside entering Turn 3. He then put his head down and narrowly outraced his challengers’ draft-pass attempts as the three completed a Yamaha lockout of the podium. Ott earned his maiden Mission AFT SuperTwins podium 0.037 seconds off the win while Bender claimed the first of his Progressive AFT career a further 0.092 seconds adrift. Daniels said, “That was huge… Not even just the win, but how we felt on the motorcycle today. It’s no secret that at the beginning of the season we’ve been struggling a little bit, just with some stuff. It’s not for lack of effort. My team has been busting their butts so much. This track – with the way that the corners are – is one where we’ve always lacked on the Yamaha the last few years. We’ve been making headway, and last year we were close to Jared (Mees), but not that close. This morning, I didn’t really feel the greatest, but I had a quiet confidence. I knew we were going to figure it out. I can’t give a big enough of a thanks to my whole Estenson Racing Monster Energy Yamaha team… “It was an amazing day. It’s the first time I’ve won a Grand National in my home state. It’s something special.” Robinson, meanwhile, held Bauman off for fourth just back of the top three. As a result, Daniels and Bauman now boast 162 points and four wins apiece, with Bauman technically in the championship lead as a result of his three runners-up to Daniels’ two. It doesn’t get much closer than that with the Grand National Championship fight now officially at its halfway point. Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 Racing Unlimited/Parts Bros/D&D Kawasaki Ninja 650) finished a lonely sixth, while Jarod VanDerKooi (No. 20 Fastrack Racing/Wally Brown Racing KTM 790 Duke), Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Progressive Insurance Honda Transalp), Dan Bromley (No. 62 Memphis Shades/Vinson Construction Suzuki GSX-8S), and Max Whale (No. 18 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650) rounding out the night’s top ten in that order. AFT Singles presented by KICKER In just over the span of a week, Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) took a protracted wins drought and vulnerable AFT Singles presented by KICKER championship position and transformed them into a three-race victory streak and a commanding 20-point advantage. The Australian did so in an intense Main Event that saw an eight-rider lead freight train storm past the checkered flag separated by a combined 0.342 seconds. As it went, the heated rivalry between Drane and Chase Saathoff (No. 88 RWR/Parts Plus Honda CRF450R) got that much hotter Saturday night. Saathoff came up just 0.020 seconds short of defeating Drane after spending the entire race in a struggle just to prevent the Estenson Racing ace from making an escape and instead forcing him to fight it out in a pack war. The two gestured angrily at one another following the conclusion of the race after being locked in ultra close quarters combat, including one particularly perilous moment in which Saathoff’s boot contacted Drane’s handlebar as they railed around a corner in tight proximity. Afterward, Drane said, “I just wanted to get out there straight to the front and do everything I could to win that one, because that was dangerous coming off the last corner doing that. It is what it is, and I guess I just have to put my head down and do what I did and come out on top.” In response, Saathoff said, “I thought I set myself up good (on the final lap), but it seems to me that Tom Drane doesn’t know how to go in a straight line sometimes. But, that’s okay. We’re going to look past it and move on to the next (race).” Saathoff was joined in the joint attempt to overcome Drane’s day-long speed advantage for the bulk of the Main by eventual third-place finisher Trevor Brunner (No. 21 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) and Bradon Pfanders (No. 83 Hannum’s HD/Pfanders Racing KTM 450 SX-F), who was shuffled back to sixth at the flag despite finishing just 0.252 seconds back of the win. Despite his impressive form, Pfanders was displaced in that final rush to the stripe by Hunter Bauer (No. 24 Vinson Construction/Reel Medics Yamaha YZ450F) and Evan Renshaw (No. 65 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450), who rounded out the top five. Meanwhile, Chad Cose (No. 49 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450) and Tarren Santero (No. 75 Mission Roof Systems Honda CRF450R) were rewarded with just seventh- and eighth-place results despite being in with a shot at the win as late as the race’s final corner. Drane's recent surge has granted him a significant advantage over Saathoff at the title fight’s halfway point, as he now leads 153-133. Brunner sits third at 114, while Santero is well back in fourth with 87 points. |
AFT Lima Results
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (June 28, 2025) – Briar Bauman (No. 3
RWR/Parts Plus/Latus Motors Harley-Davidson XG750R) immediately stole
the initiative back from Mission AFT SuperTwins title rival Dallas
Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) in the tense rematch
that was Saturday evening’s Lima Half-Mile II, Round 7 of the 2025
Progressive American Flat Track season, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing.
|
AFT Lima Results
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (June 27, 2025) – Dallas Daniels (No. 32
Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) claimed tophonors on what proved to be
a huge night for Estenson Racing in a historic Lima Half-Mile I, Round
6 of the 2025 Progressive American Flat Track season, sanctioned by AMA
Pro Racing.
|
| DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (May 3, 2025)
– Briar Bauman’s (No. 3 RWR/Parts Plus/Latus Motors Harley-Davidson
XG750R) 2025 Progressive American Flat Track season, sanctioned by AMA
Pro Racing, has quickly transformed from a feel-good story to an epic
tale of domination as he stormed to a third consecutive convincing
Mission AFT SuperTwins victory in Saturday’s night’s Silver Dollar
Short Track. That said, even amidst the transformation of the Harley-Davidson XG750R from a winless racebike to a week-in, week-out powerhouse, the feel-good story behind it remains; Bauman and wife, Shayna Texter-Bauman, made the announcement that they are expecting their first child earlier this morning at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, California. That news didn’t inspire any of his rivals to take it easy on him in the evening, however, as title contender Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) and the emerging James Ott (No. 19 G&G Racing Yamaha MT-07) took the early initiative in the premier-class Main. Those two waged a contest of contrasting lines and styles aboard their respective Yamahas, with Daniels locked down low and Ott railing up high as they shook free from the pack. Ott’s bolder approach eventually gave him the upper hand, as he assumed the lead some three minutes into the eight-minute and two-lap affair. Daniels’ subsequent experiments with a higher line only resulted in him getting swallowed up by a charging Bauman, who would also go on to overwhelm Ott less than a minute later. Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing KTM 790 Duke) was the next to power up the outside of Daniels. The Estenson Racing star regrouped and responded, and their fight saw them track Ott back down and flow past him to turn their scrap into one for second. Fisher seemed relatively safe in that position late, but one last charge from Daniels made it interesting – to the tune of a 0.061-second differential at the flag. Still, the Rackley Racing rider managed to hold on to earn his best result of the year after earlier finishing third at Daytona. While Daniels upped his podium streak to 18, he also saw his championship deficit expand as Bauman powered on to stack a third successive victory on his pair of opening week seconds. As a result, the Rick Ware Racing pilot now leads by ten points (107-97) with five races down and 11 to go. Asked to explain his seeming return to peak Grand National Champion form, Bauman said, “Getting back with Dave (Zanotti) and Michelle (Disalvo), and George Latus giving myself, Shayna, and Rick Ware Racing this opportunity… Look, I know how incredible Dallas is and all of these guys are. I spent the last two years on the downer a little bit; we had a couple wins, but there was no rhythm. It was hoping to finish the Main Events. “I'm going to ride this high for a little while. It's been a little bit of time, and I know what it feels like to not be in this position. I'm going to keep it going. I'm going to love it. And to announce that we're having our first child this morning.... All the credit to my wife, she's been going through lately. Thank you so much to my whole team for everything. I know I'm on a roll right now, and I'm not going to take it for granted, but I feel really good.” The fast-starting Ott lost one additional position – that to fourth-place finisher Jarod VanDerKooi (No. 20 Fastrack Racing/Wally Brown Racing KTM 790 Duke) – to close out the race’s top five. Ott narrowly avoided fading to sixth, with Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Harley-Davidson XG750R) just another 0.180 seconds in arrears at the stripe. Dan Bromley (No. 62 Memphis Shades/Vinson Construction Suzuki GSX-8S) continued to demonstrate the promise of his developing Suzuki platform in seventh while Max Whale (No. 18 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650), Logan McGrane (No. 14 Schaefer’s Motorsport KTM 790 Duke) and Nick Armstrong (No. 160 Competitive Racing Frames Yamaha MT-07) rounded out the top ten just behind. AFT Singles presented by KICKER One week ago at Ventura Raceway, Kage Tadman (No. 288 Old Oak Ranch/Roof Systems KTM 450 SX-F) became just the fourth rider in AFT Singles presented by KICKER history to win in his debut. Quite naturally, the big question coming into this weekend was what he might possibly do for an encore at Silver Dollar Speedway. The answer was emphatic: Tadman became the first to ever immediately back up that debut victory with another triumphant performance. If possible, his unprecedented feat was even more impressive in action than the record books will ever show. Tadman isn’t just two for two in AFT Singles Main Events, he’s six for six in Progressive AFT races of any type, standing undefeated following a second consecutive event in which he swept the heat, the Helmet House Challenge, and the Main Event. And once again, he did so in loose style and breakaway fashion, rendering the competition one for runner-up honors less than a minute into Saturday’s Main. Last week, Tadman admitted to having exploited something of a home track advantage in Ventura. There was none this time around at what was an unfamiliar circuit and surface to him, and yet the result was identical. After a second dominant showing, the class’ newest star said, “It was about getting used to a new track. I’ve never been here and don’t really ride these types of tracks much. But I was just trying to get used to it and adapt to the size of the track and the dirt. And I was able to pull off a good win.” While Tadman again commanded the spotlight, the six-rider battle for second behind him was hugely entertaining as well. Once it became evident this was another one-rider race for victory, Trevor Brunner (No. 21 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) defended second position vigorously with Australian Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) initially in pursuit. By mid-distance, Canadian Hunter Bauer (No. 24 Vinson Construction/Reel Medics Yamaha YZ450F) slung his way around the high line and into the catbird seat, even displacing Brunner in second for a brief spell. Once Brunner re-established himself in second, Drane slotted back up to third and the two stayed in that order to the checkered flag. The runner-up was Brunner’s first podium since returning to both the AFT Singles category and the American Honda-backed Turner Racing outfit. Despite finding himself in the midst of his longest winless streak since going seven races before earning his first-career AFT Singles victory, Drane also finds himself even more solidly in control of the points race with finishes of 2-3-2-4-3 to kick off his ‘25 campaign. Today’s third edged him three points further ahead of rival Chase Saathoff (No. 88 RWR/Parts Plus Honda CRF450R), who finished in fifth just behind Bauer. Ventura podium finisher Tarren Santero (No. 75 Mission Roof Systems Honda CRF450R) came home sixth, despite finishing closer to Brunner on track than Brunner did to Tadman. Following five rounds, Drane leads Sathoff 84-79, with Brunner still within striking distance at 70. Santero is fourth at 57, followed by the night’s seventh-place finisher, Aidan RoosEvans, (No. 26 FRA Trust/ATV’s and More Yamaha YZ450F) (52), and Tadman, who stands side-by-side with three-time class king Kody Kopp (No. 1 Bob Lanphere/KTM/Fastrack Racing KTM 450 SX-F), who similarly boasts 46 points for going two-for-two in ‘25. |
https://results.americanflattrack.com/
| DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (April 26, 2025)
– It took the Harley-Davidson XG750R more than eight Progressive
American Flat Track seasons, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, to at last
earn its maiden Mission AFT SuperTwins victory. It took just one more
race to get its second. Both wins came courtesy of two-time Grand
National Champion Briar Bauman (No. 3 RWR/Parts Plus/Latus Motors
Harley-Davidson XG750R), who was again in spectacular form at Ventura
Raceway en route to a second consecutive victory in the Memphis Shades
Ventura Short Track presented by Law Tigers. While Bauman ended the night in glory, the spotlight panned back and forth throughout the day. Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) held the upper hand for the bulk of the event with his stiffest challenge arguably coming from Suzuki-mounted Dan Bromley (No. 62 Memphis Shades/Vinson Construction Suzuki GSX-8S), who actually came out on top of the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge. Meanwhile, the likes of Max Whale (No. 18 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650), Logan McGrane (No. 14 Schaeffer's Motorsports/Rick Canode KTM 790 Duke), and James Ott (No. 19 G&G Racing Yamaha MT-07) jockeyed for podium positions in the early going of the Main after Daniels took the holeshot, but the genuine shape of the race would quickly be made evident. Despite demonstrating largely pedestrian speed in the lead-up to the Main, once there Bauman pounced on Daniels in the opening handful of laps. While the Estenson Racing star attempted to work out a way in which to counter, he also had to contend with the charging Jarod VanDerKooi (No. 20 Fastrack Racing/Wally Brown Racing KTM 790 Duke), who powered his way into third where he set his sights past Daniels and on Bauman. A red flag provided both Daniels and VanDerKooi with a second chance at corralling Bauman, but neither were able to take advantage. Little changed after the restart, and the checkered flag eventually saw Bauman sail by with a 0.881-second margin of victory, while Daniels came out on top of a seesawing fight with VanDerKooi for second. Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Harley-Davidson XG750R) found his way into contention as he so often does to claim fourth, while Bromley closed out a standout day with a top-five Main Event showing. Whale was also rewarded with a strong sixth, while Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing KTM 790 Duke), Ott, Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Progressive Insurance Honda Transalp), and McGrane rounded out the top ten. Bauman’s back-to-back victories not only put him level with Daniels in terms of wins on the season, it also catapulted him past the preseason title rival favorite in the early-season championship chase (84-81). Bauman said, “I’m just proud of everyone on this Rick Ware Racing team. We’re just digging on this thing. I don’t know if it's a renaissance or a fairy tale, but we’re just doing our thing. I’m still so green on the bike – and when I show up and qualify ninth or tenth or whatever it was – it’s tough to think (that we’re the championship favorite). “We’re still putting one foot in front of the other, and Dallas has an incredible motorcycle and he’s an incredible racer. He’s got an insane team, and right now I think he’s going to win this championship. He’s heir to the throne, but I have worn the crown a few times, and I’m going to do my job and try to get it back. . Final Results can be found HERE. . AFT Singles presented by KICKER The AFT Singles presented by KICKER class has a long and illustrious history of generating new stars for the sport. And yet, it has perhaps never done so as immediately nor so convincingly as it did on Saturday night at Ventura Raceway. Making his professional debut on the evening, Kage Tadman (No. 288 Old Oak Ranch/Roof Systems KTM 450 SX-F) came in with the admirable goal of simply making the Main Event. Remarkably, the 17-year-old Californian managed to accomplish that goal by setting the pace in qualifying, winning his heat, taking top honors in AFT Singles 1st Impressions Challenge, and then dominating the Main Event. And he did it all in extreme style, running an ultra-wide line throughout with his front and rear wheels appearing desperate to break free of his control all the while. Chase Saathoff (No. 88 RWR/Parts Plus Honda CRF450R), who carried the momentum of his first-career Short Track win into Ventura Raceway, did everything in his power to prevent Tadman from pulling off the stunner. The RWR ace combated Tadman’s wide and wild line with a more controlled and conservative inside tour of the beach-side circuit. That strategy allowed Saathoff to make the occasional inroad, but Tadman’s sheer pace ultimately proved too much as the rookie pulled to a near one-second margin of victory to open his career with a perfect 100% winning percentage. He said, “It all starts in practice. I felt really good in practice. I knew there were a few things we needed to work on to get a little bit quicker. After practice, qualifying rolled around and we did super well there, and then heats, dash, and especially the Main… this is a dream night. I would never have thought this could have happened in my rookie debut.” Tarren Santero (No. 75 Mission Roof Systems Honda CRF450R) made it two Californians on the podium in third. Santero, who was in need of a strong result after getting his ‘25 campaign off to a slower-than-anticipated start, worked his way past and then shook free of points leader Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) to grab his second career AFT Singles top three. And thus the Australian’s record-setting podium streak came to an end at nine with his fourth-place finish. However, it was good enough to maintain his place atop the championship order, albeit by a slim two-point margin over rival Saathoff (68-66). Trevor Brunner (No. 21 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) completed the top five after battling with the hungry Jared Lowe (No. 63 Big R/Little Debbie Racing Honda CRF450R) and Aidan RoosEvans (No. 26 FRA Trust/ATV’s and More Yamaha YZ450F). Justin Anselmi (No. 15 Leblanc Family Farms Yamaha YZ450F), Evan Renshaw (No. 65 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450), and Reece Pottorf (No. 46 Diamond Auto Body Honda CRF450R) completed the top ten. Earlier in the evening, Madicela Rodriguez (No. 113 Royal Enfield/Parts Unlimited) held off a charging Emma Gottsch (No. 5 Royal Enfield/Parts Unlimited) to secure her first-career Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race. Main Event victory. Taia Little (No. 11 Royal Enfield/Parts Unlimited) grabbed the final spot on the podium. |
| DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 29, 2025)
– History was made in Saturday night’s Yamaha Senoia Short Track when
Briar Bauman (No. 3 RWR/Parts Plus/Latus Motors Harley-Davidson XG750R)
hustled the Harley-Davidson XG750R to its maiden Mission AFTS uperTwins
victory. Bauman twice teased that possibility earlier this month at the 2025 Progressive American Flat Track double season opener, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, but he still somehow managed to pull it off in stunning fashion at Senoia Raceway in Senoia, Georgia. In fact, Bauman appeared out of sorts prior to the Main Event, finishing an uncharacteristic fifth in his heat race, while title leader Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) and fast qualifier Jarod VanDerKooi (No. 20 Fastrack Racing/Wally Brown Racing KTM 790 Duke) stole away the pre-race the momentum. But as it played out, the Main delivered non-stop drama that actually started prior the race itself. VanDerKooi went from pole position to the back of the grid – along with Brandon Price (No. 92 Memphis Shades/Vinson Construction/OTBR Yamaha MT-07), Henry Wiles (No. 911 J&M Logging/Ray C’s Harley-Davidson Kawasaki Ninja 650), and Billy Ross (No. 29 Mission Foods/Roof Systems Kawasaki Ninja 650) – after arriving late to the staging area. That development resulted in a frantic opening several laps in which Daniels, Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Harley-Davidson XG750R), and Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing KTM 790 Duke) ran three wide in their clash for the lead, followed closely by an on-form James Ott (No. 19 G&G Racing Yamaha MT-07)... and soon enough, a charging VanDerKooi. Right around the time the race hit the halfway point, Robinson took command. And then with three minutes to go, Bauman made his move. Lurking just behind the leaders to that point, the two-time Grand National Champion snaked his way up to second before making a strike for first with less than two laps remaining. Robinson reactively countered but Bauman was better positioned and reasserted his claim. All the while, Daniels was in their immediate wake, desperately seeking a way around both Harleys at Yamaha’s home round. Ultimately, Bauman edged Robinson at the stripe to take the XG750R – which originally debuted back in 2016 – to its first-ever premier class victory with an emphatic 1-2 finish. Bauman was understandably ecstatic afterward. He said, “It’s so much, right? It means the world to me, to my Rick Ware Racing/Parts Plus/Latus Motors team. It means so much to Dave (Zanotti) and Michelle (Disalvo) and everyone behind us. I struggled in our heat race pretty badly, but the whole group came together and said, ‘Hey, what do we need to do to make this thing better?’ “This means so much to me, and it means so much to my family. And, like I said, I have a phenomenal team.” Daniels came up 0.028 seconds short of breaking up the Harley first and second but still managed to up his record-breaking podium streak to 16 in the attempt. Fisher finished fourth another half-second behind Daniels, while VanDerKooi ended his blitz up through the field in fifth. Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Progressive Insurance Honda Transalp) continued his rather seamless transition to Mission AFT SuperTwins competition and the Honda Transalp with a fine sixth only two seconds removed from the win. Ott followed him home in seventh with Dan Bromley (No. 62 Memphis Shades/Vinson Construction Suzuki GSX-8S), Price, and Max Whale (No. 18 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650) completing the top ten. Daniels continues to lead the early-season championship chase but only by a single point over Bauman (62-61). Robinson and Fisher are tied for third at 44. AFT Singles presented by KICKER While the season opener in Daytona effectively served as a recap of the past three years of AFT Singles presented by KICKER domination by triple champion Kody Kopp (No. 1 Bob Lanphere/KTM/Fastrack Racing KTM 450 SX-F), the Senoia Short Track properly set the stage for the season ahead. What it delivered was what was widely expected – a showdown featuring preseason title favorites Chase Saathoff (No. 88 RWR/Parts Plus Honda CRF450R) and Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) – but it took the entire day and a portion of the Main to arrive at that inevitability. The front row was held down by just two riders – Aidan RoosEvans (No. 26 FRA Trust/ATV’s and More Yamaha YZ450F) and Tyler Raggio (No. 55 Raggio/Sluggo/Unsettled Racing KTM 450 SX-F) – after heat race winners Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 D&D Certified Racing KTM 450 SX-F) and Bradon Pfanders (No. 83 Hannum’s HD/Pfanders Racing KTM 450 SX-F) were unable to participate after colliding while running 1st and 2nd in the AFT Singles 1st Impressions Challenge. RoosEvans and Raggio shot off into the lead and took full advantage of their turn in the spotlight, at least until Drane and Saathoff finally came good when it mattered the most. Saathoff utilized a high line to work his way from Row 3 and into the lead less than two minutes into the Main. Aussie Drane forced his way through to prevent his rival from executing his planned escape. The Estenson Racing star then spent the remainder of the race showing the Rick Ware Racing ace his front wheel, but he could never quite make the inside angle stick. Saathoff took the checkered flag by 0.312 seconds over Drane to earn his first career Short Track win and become just the fifth rider in AFT Singles history to complete the class Grand Slam. He said, “I struggled all day long out here, and I told (Crew Chief) Bryan (Bigelow) before that Main Event, ‘Dude, I might be on the third row, but if you fix the problems that I'm having, it's a guaranteed win.’ And I never think like that; I'm very humble about that type of stuff, but I definitely let the dog off the leash in the Main.” Despite falling short of his bid to win, Drane took his ninth consecutive podium, most ever in the class. Completing a podium stacked three deep with significance was Evan Renshaw (No. 65 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450), who sailed his way from 12th to 3rd thanks to an adventurous high line to secure his first-career pro podium. Meanwhile, RoosEvans equaled his career best AFT Singles finish in fourth, matching the result he claimed here one year ago. Trevor Brunner (No. 21 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) took fifth, followed by Declan Bender (No. 70 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450), who impressed mightily in last-minute substitute duty filling in for Chad Cose (No. 49 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450). Jared Lowe (No. 63 Big R/Little Debbie Racing Honda CRF450R), Raggio, Evan Kelleher (No. 31 Schaeffer's Motorsports KTM 450 SX-F), and Hunter Bauer (No. 24 Vinson Construction/Reel Medics Yamaha YZ450F) rounded out the top ten. Drane now leads the championship with 54 points, followed by Senoia winner Saathoff. Kopp continues to hold down third at 46 despite making his roadracing debut in Texas today.
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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 7, 2025)
Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) opened his 2025
Grand National Championship campaign in perfect double-victory fashion
by completing the Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA I & II sweep
on Friday night. However, he was forced to do so in a manner that yet
again promised an incredible Progressive American Flat Track season,
sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, to come. After stealing Thursday’s victory from Briar Bauman (No. 3 RWR/Parts Plus/Latus Motors Harley-Davidson XG750R) despite struggling pretty much all day long, Daniels was more in his expected Mission AFT SuperTwins title favorite form throughout Friday’s program. Daniels continued that trend by breaking free early in the Main Event while Bauman found himself caught up in a four-rider melee that also included Henry Wiles (No. 911 J&M Logging/Ray C’s Harley-Davidson Kawasaki Ninja 650), Sammy Halbert (No. 69 OnlyFans/Castrol Kawasaki Ninja 650), and Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing KTM 790 Duke). By the time Bauman established himself in second, Daniels had a cushion of nearly 1.4 seconds at the front. But just when Bauman started to whittle away at that advantage, he was forced to play defense after Fisher came charging up in third. That chase/defend accordion continued to play out in both directions, with Bauman freed up again when Wiles closed on Fisher from fourth. But Bauman’s golden opportunity to give the XG750R its maiden premier-class win didn’t come until the leaders hit traffic – the exact situation that cost him Thursday’s win with their positioned swapped. And in fact, the RWR star managed to momentarily grab the lead with just 20 seconds remaining on the clock. However, his Estenson Racing Yamaha-mounted rival countered in the very next turn and managed to hold his adversary at bay over the final two laps to prevent the reversal of fortunes. Daniels said, “Man, I thought last night was the toughest I ever had to ride, but I think tonight beat that. I had a really good night going – won the heat race, won the (Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge). I was feeling really good. I got a really good start and was out front. But I could just feel the pressure coming in. I was keeping an eye out, and I knew he was getting closer and closer… It was just such a nailbiter. Brian rode a hell of a race, gave me a good battle, and it was super fun.” Fisher came home in third, equaling his ‘24 podium total in the season’s opening week. Combined with his Thursday fourth, Daytona proved a seamless transition for Fisher who was expected to take more time to come to grips with his Rackley Racing KTM after spending the previous seven seasons on an Indian. The experienced duo of Wiles and Halbert earned fourth and fifth, respectively, pushing down a handful of strong title contenders in the process. That list was headlined by Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Harley-Davidson XG750R), who took sixth, and Jarod VanDerKooi (No. 20 Fastrack Racing/Wally Brown Racing KTM 790 Duke), who finished seventh. Dan Bromley (No. 62 Memphis Shades/Vinson Construction Suzuki GSX-8S) returned to action after suffering a laceration to his foot on Thursday and did so most impressively with an eighth-place result aboard his Suzuki. Meanwhile, Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Progressive Insurance Honda Transalp) and Max Whale (No. 18 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650) made it a remarkable seven different manufacturers in the race’s top ten as the premier class’ new production-only ruleset shine in their debut. Daniels has the early title advantage following Rounds 1 & 2 after grabbing the maximum of 46 points in Daytona. He’s followed by Bauman at 38 with Fisher and Wiles locked even in third at 30. AFT Singles presented by KICKER 24 hours spent by the field hoping to find a solution to combat the Thursday form of reigning-but-not-defending AFT Singles presented by KICKER champion Kody Kopp (No. 1 Bob Lanphere/KTM/Fastrack Racing KTM 450 SX-F) ultimately proved fruitless. In fact, the class’ three-time champ was even more dominant on Friday night. An increase in the level of difficulty with the track’s surface and visibility only served to widen the margin separating Kopp from his would-be challengers. Operating on another level, the new Talent Cup competitor was quite easily the fastest rider in every practice and qualifying session and then won both his heat and the 1st Impressions AFT Singles Challenge going away. The only hitch in his evening was a shock crash he suffered while working the sighting lap ahead of the Main Event. No worries – Kopp popped back up, straightened out his handlebars, grabbed the holeshot, and pulled an immediate gap at the front. Up by 1.5 seconds in the race’s opening minute, Kopp continued to pile it before finally taking the checkered flag with nearly five seconds in hand. Already the all-time winningest rider in AFT Singles history, Kopp came into the week with 21 wins to his name and leaves Daytona with a career tally of 23. That puts him four victories up on second-ranked Shayna Texter-Bauman and a full ten ahead of the next closest riders (premier-class ace Daniels and ‘19 class champ Gauthier). Five of those wins came here in Daytona. After earning the latest of those triumphs, he said, “I’ve never won a race after crashing on the sight lap! There’s a first for everything. That start was hectic because my lever was bent to the moon, so I couldn’t really feel anything. But we straightened it out and went for it. I couldn’t ask for a better week to come back and have some fun with the boys. Now it’s time to go lean on the asphalt and keep learning over there.” Even beyond Kopp’s runaway, the contest was a rather processional one; the entire top five – Chase Saathoff (No. 88 RWR/Parts Plus Honda CRF450R), Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F), Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 D&D Certified Racing KTM 450 SX-F), and Bradon Pfanders (No. 83 Hannum’s HD/Pfanders Racing KTM 450 SX-F) – ran their own races pretty much throughout. There was more significant (and more typical) fighting further down the field. Tyler Raggio (No. 55 Raggio/Sluggo/Unsettled Racing KTM 450 SX-F) held off Trevor Brunner (No. 21 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), while Tarren Santero (No. 75 Mission Roof Systems Honda CRF450R) slashed his way up from the back of the field after being forced to burn his provisional start in the season’s opening week. Evan Renshaw (No. 65 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450) was the final rider remaining on the lead lap in ninth, while rookie Ethan Kitchen (No. 105 Lucky Thumb M/C Yamaha YZ450F) rounded out the top ten. Even though Kopp technically leads with a perfect 46-point opener, the effective title lead falls to Drane, who put together a solid effort to open his ‘25 title campaign with 35 points. Gauthier is next with 30, one point up on championship hopeful Saathoff at 29. Meanwhile, in the Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race. (BTR) Main Event, Taia Little (No. 11 Royal Enfield/Parts Unlimited) got her revenge in the rematch, narrowly fending off Thursday winner Emma Gottsch (No. 5 Royal Enfield/Parts Unlimited) to take the checkered flag first. Mya Maffei (No. 28 Royal Enfield) completed the podium in third. Next Up: The 2025 Progressive American Flat Track season will resume in three weeks’ time with the Yamaha Senoia Short Track on Saturday, March 29 at Senoia Raceway in Senoia, Georgia. Visit https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack/events/senoia-short-track-122449 to secure your tickets today. For those that can’t catch the live action from the circuit, FloRacing is the live streaming home of Progressive AFT. Sign up now and catch every second of on-track action starting with Practice & Qualifying and ending with the Victory Podium at the end of the night at https://flosports.link/aft. FOX Sports coverage of the Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA I, featuring in-depth features and thrilling onboard cameras, will premiere on FS1 on Saturday, March 15, at 12:00 p.m. ET (9:00 a.m. PT), with the Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA II set to air the following day, Sunday, March 16, at 1:00 p.m. ET (10:00 a.m. PT). |
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| DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 6, 2025)
The first Progressive American FlatTrack, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing,
round of the post-Jared Mees era saw preseason Mission AFT SuperTwins
title favorite Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT)
do what many expected and claim victory under the lights of the Flat
Track at Daytona Speedway in Thursday’s season-opening Royal Enfield
Short Track at DAYTONA I. How it was achieved, however, came as a genuine surprise. In fact, it was anything but a day of domination for Daniels, despite the fact that he’d won three of the previous four Main Events at the venue. If anything, the Estenson Racing ace was relatively quiet throughout practice and qualifying, starting the Main Event from Row 2 after failing to qualify for the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge. Instead, the star of the show for all but the final minute of the Main Event was Briar Bauman (No. 3 RWR/Parts Plus/Latus Motors Harley-Davidson XG750R), who appeared on the verge of guiding the Harley-Davidson XG750R to its maiden premier-class victory. New to the bike but reunited with crew chief Dave Zanotti and mechanic Michelle Disalvo at Rick Ware Racing, Bauman was smooth and in control on a very tricky track. He put his name atop the charts during practice, qualifying, and the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, before storming off into the lead at the start of the Main. Daniels showed renewed signs of life as soon as the race that mattered most got underway, diving under front-row qualifiers Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing KTM 790 Duke), Henry Wiles (No. 911 J&M Logging/Ray C’s Harley-Davidson Kawasaki Ninja 650), and Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Harley-Davidson XG750R) in rapid succession to move into second However, even with clear air in front of him, Daniels didn’t appear to have the measure of Bauman, who stretched the gap out to over a second deep into the contest. That all changed as the two encountered lapped traffic, which allowed the Yamaha pilot to erase the distance and then execute a pass for the lead with just 35 seconds remaining on the clock. A rare bobble on Bauman’s part then provided Daniels with the breathing space he needed to make it four wins in his last five tries at Daytona. The victory also marked Daniels first win since before the training accident that ended his title chances a season ago. He said, “I hate that everybody has to hear my sob story again, ‘I broke my leg leading the championship (last year).’ I mean, it sucked. It sucked so bad. It sucked so bad for me, but even more for the team. It’s one of those things when you’re lying at home, and you wonder if you’ll ever be able to do it again. Even though I was on the podium those last three races, you still wonder. “And then I show up here at Daytona – a place that I love and do well at usually – and I was just on the struggle bus all day long. No matter what changes we made, I just could not get comfortable. But my team… this win is because of the team. They just kept working and kept working. When I went out there for that warm-up lap, I knew I had something for them. But how impressive was Briar? The dude gets on a different bike that has never won, and he was the toughest competition. He’s going to be tough all year.” Third place went to 40-year-old Wiles, who was brandishing the unfamiliar #911 instead of his usual #17, which was unavailable to him due to not competing last season. The time away didn’t steal any of his speed or aggression, a fact he proved convincingly while overcoming Fisher in an intense mid-race scrap for the final podium position. Still, Fisher held on for a strong fourth-place debut on the KTM, while Robinson made it two XGs in the top five. Brandon Price (No. 92 Memphis Shades/Vinson Construction/OTBR Yamaha MT-07), who finished as the runner-up in last year’s opener, came home sixth. Meanwhile, Jarod VanDerKooi (No. 20 Fastrack Racing/Wally Brown Racing KTM 790 Duke), Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Progressive Insurance Honda Transalp), Max Whale (No. 18 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650), and James Ott (No. 19 G&G Racing Yamaha MT-07) finished seventh through tenth, respectively. Those results meant that six different makes of equipment (Yamaha, Harley-Davidson, Kawasaki, KTM, Honda, and Royal Enfield) were represented in the top ten in the first race featuring the new all-production based ruleset. A seventh (Suzuki), clocked the second fastest time in practice before a promising event met a premature end for Dan Bromley (No. 62 Memphis Shades/Vinson Construction Suzuki GSX-8S), who was unable to compete after suffering a deep cut that required medical attention. AFT Singles presented by KICKER Not that any of them needed it, but three-time AFT Singles presented by KICKER king Kody Kopp (No. 1 Bob Lanphere/KTM/Fastrack Racing KTM 450 SX-F) provided the class’ current crop of championship hopefuls a reminder of exactly whose #1 plate they were chasing. While Kopp is committed to proving himself a national-caliber roadracer this season, his talents on dirt remain elite. With an open weekend in his preseason pavement prep, Kopp pulled together a last-minute effort to participate in the Progressive AFT opener and didn’t miss a beat. A less-than-ideal start allowed Kopp to underline that message as he worked his way past the up-and-coming Tarren Santero (No. 75 Mission Roof Systems Honda CRF450R), ‘24 title rival Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F), and finally ‘19 class champ Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 D&D Certified Racing KTM 450 SX-F) on his way to the front. Once there, Kopp set sail en route to his fourth career triumph in Daytona. However, his eventual trip to the top step of the podium was momentarily delayed due to a late-race red flag. That stoppage could be traced all the way back to a disastrous start saw title hopeful Chase Saathoff (No. 88 RWR/Parts Plus Honda CRF450R) left standing still at the green light with his arms waving while the rest of the grid powered by. His subsequent charge up through the field eventually saw him clash with Chad Cose (No. 49 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450), leaving both riders on the ground. Kopp survived the staggered restart without suffering any unwanted drama, while Drane managed to steal second from Gauthier in the shuffle. After the race, Kopp said, “It feels awesome. I just can’t stay away from it. I’m transitioning to roadracing, and it’s a big step. It’s challenging, and I’m really excited about the challenge. But I couldn’t stay away. I live 15 minutes away from here now, and Bob Lanphere wanted to put this thing together, and we got it done. Huge thanks to Bob, and Kenny (Roberts) and Arney (Wick) from my roadrace program for giving me the go ahead to do this.” Fourth was taken by the returning Trevor Brunner (No. 21 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), who edged young Bradon Pfanders (No. 83 Hannum’s HD/Pfanders Racing KTM 450 SX-F) and Santero for the position. Evan Renshaw (No. 65 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450) finished seventh in his first race with 1st Impressions Husqvarna while Saathoff managed to slash his way up to eighth to salvage a decent result after being forced to restart from the back of the grid. Aidan RoosEvans (No. 26 FRA Trust/ATV’s and More Yamaha YZ450F) and Jared Lowe (No. 63 BigR/Little Debbie Racing Honda CRF450R) rounded out the top ten. Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race. Earlier in the evening, Emma Gottsch (No. 5 Royal Enfield/Parts Unlimited) opened the Main Event program with a victorious performance in her Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race. debut. She was flanked on the podium by Taia Little (No. 11 Royal Enfield/Parts Unlimited) and Mallory McGill (No. 58 Royal Enfield/Parts Unlimited). Next Up: The world's premier dirt track motorcycle racing series will return to the track tomorrow night for the second half of the season-opening Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA doubleheader. Visit https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack/events/daytona-short-track-ii-119108 to secure your tickets today. For those that can’t catch the live action from the circuit, FloRacing is the live streaming home of Progressive AFT. Sign up now and catch every second of on-track action starting with Practice & Qualifying and ending with the Victory Podium at the end of the night at https://flosports.link/aft. FOX Sports coverage of the Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA I, featuring in-depth features and thrilling onboard cameras, will premiere on FS1 on Saturday, March 15, at 12:00 p.m. ET (9:00 a.m. PT), with the Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA II set to air the following day, Sunday, March 16, at 1:00 p.m. ET (10:00 a.m. PT). https://www.americanflattrack.com/results/default |
| DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. September 14, 2024
– Jared Mees (No. 1 Rogers Racing/SDI Racing/Indian Motorcycle FTR750)
put the finishing touches on what may prove the final and most
convincing argument in support of his claim as the greatest rider in
the history of Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro
Racing: an unprecedented tenth Grand National Championship. Mees did exactly what he needed to – and then some – at Lake Ozark Speedway to secure this crowning achievement as the 2024 season came to its conclusion with the inaugural running of the Parts Plus Lake Ozark Short Track presented by Arrowhead Brass & Arby’s in Eldon, Missouri. Racing before a packed house with some 125,000 motorcycle enthusiasts flooding the area for the 18th Annual Lake of the Ozarks Bikefest, the Mission AFT SuperTwins Main Event was loaded with talented riders motivated to end their respective ‘24 campaigns on a high note. And yet still no one could compare to Mees on this night, just like so many other nights before it. Despite requiring just three points to clinch his record tenth title, the Indian Motorcycle hero grabbed the holeshot and battled it out over the race’s opening stages with second-ranked Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750), the only rider retaining even the slimmest mathematical chance of stealing away the #1 plate. But by the contest’s halfway point, Mees had shook free at the front, shifting the race’s epicenter of drama back to Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT), whose season-long podium streak was in serious threat after the Estenson Racing ace found himself mired down in ninth. However, Daniels systematically worked his way forward while Robinson duked it out with Jarod Vanderkooi (No. 20 JMC Motorsports/Fairway Ford Ohio Indian FTR750) for second. Daniels eventually made his way up to their scrap, displacing Robinson and then Vanderkooi, all the while drawing shockingly near to Mees as the contest reached its final circulation. But that’s as far as Daniels’ charge would carry him. Mees held on to finish the season – and potentially his career – on top in practically every sense, winning the season finale by 0.423 seconds over his young rival. Vanderkooi earned the final spot on the podium, with Robinson and Briar Bauman (No. 3 Rick Ware Racing/KTM/Parts Plus KTM 790 Duke) rounding out the top five. Rookie Declan Bender (No. 70 GOMR/BriggsAuto.com/Martin Trucking Indian FTR750) finished sixth, followed by Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing Indian FTR750), Sammy Halbert (No. 69 OnlyFans/Castrol/Kings Kustoms/LZ Racing Harley-Davidson XR750), Trevor Brunner (No. 21 Mission Foods/Zanotti Racing Indian FTR750), and Bronson Bauman (No. 37 Fastrack Racing Mission Foods KTM 790 Duke) to complete the top ten. Mees’ résumé is far too extensive to list here in full, but in brief, tonight’s championship triumph updates his Grand National Championship victory tally to now include 2009, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. He also ranks first or second in the career wins rankings for Half-Miles, Short Tracks, Miles, and total GNC Main Event victories. Mees, who elevated an already Hall-of-Fame-worthy career to stratospheric heights once he joined forces with Indian Motorcycle in 2017, sent the marque’s remarkable FTR750 out in appropriate fashion this season. Tonight’s championship secures the bike a perfect eight-for-eight record in Grand National Championship battles in what will go down as one of the most dominant eras the sport has ever witnessed from both man and machine. In the end, Mees earned the 2024 Mission AFT SuperTwins title with 311 points, followed by Robinson at 280 and Daniels at 276. After claiming an unprecedented tenth Grand National Championship, Mees said, “It was a goal. Everybody would say it was a dream, but it was a goal. I made my dream my goal and worked hard at it. It hasn’t even sunk in yet. I had a big points lead coming in here, but there was only one way to go out the way I want to go out, and that was by winning this damn race. “I can’t say enough for my entire team. Kenny (Tolbert), Bubba (Bently), Jimmy (Wood), you guys have won me a lot of races and a lot of championships. I definitely wouldn’t be as successful without you three and all my sponsors. Indian Motorcycle – I took their very first win in 2017, I opened that book for them, and tonight I got to close it for them. I can’t say enough for that company… “So many people contributed to my program over these years. I feel like I could have this microphone until tomorrow morning and talk about my career and all the people who were in it to make me successful. I just want to say thank you.” Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER As if Mees’ record-breaking achievement wasn’t enough to secure the ‘24 finale’s place in the sport’s annals, Kody Kopp (No. 1 Rick Ware Racing/Parts Plus KTM 450 SX-F) closed out the Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER season by securing the 450cc equivalent. Needing to merely avoid catastrophe, Kopp actually jumped out into the lead to open the decisive final contest. However, once Chase Saathoff (No. 88 JPG Motorsports Honda CRF450R) and then Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) drove underneath him, Kopp seemed to reevaluate his strategy, dropping down to fifth before settling back in. With Saathoff powering away out front, Kopp wicked his pace back up, pouncing on Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) and Evan Renshaw (No. 265 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) in rapid succession to slot back into a podium position. He then carried that momentum past Lowe and began the difficult task of closing the gap to Saathoff when a red flag flew as a result of a Travis Petton IV (No. 82 ECG Racing/A.M Ortega KTM 450 SX-F) fall with less than a minute remaining on the clock. That development changed the complexion of the race completely, transforming it into a wild bar-to-bar affair to the flag. Lowe led initially before Saathoff and Drane took their season-long rivalry to the front of the pack. Kopp was again shuffled back to fifth where he could have easily stayed to collect his third #1 plate, but instead he made a final push to claim third ahead of Renshaw and Lowe. Meanwhile, the season’s final victory went to Drane over Saathoff by 0.061 seconds, handing the Australian bragging rights for most wins on the season at seven in the process. Drane said, “I was able to bounce back (after a bad start). That restart really helped me there at the end. I was able to fight back and had a good battle with Chase. It was good to finally get something back on him after all the stuff he’s done to me this year. I can’t thank my team enough for all their effort all year.” Kopp ultimately took the crown with a grand total of 339 points to Drane’s 324 and Saathoff’s 318. And like Mees in the premier class, he now stands alone in the Parts Unlimited AFT Singles record books. Following the completion of his third successive title run, the Rick Ware Racing star now owns more championships (three) and more race victories (22) than anyone in the category’s history, while also holding either sole possession or a share of first place all-time in terms of Short Track, Half-Mile, and single-season victories. The conquering Kopp said, “I couldn’t be more proud of my Rick Ware Racing team. It’s been a dream season. I would have loved to get a win there, but those guys at the front were riding a little over the top, and I wasn’t going to play that game. We had a championship to win, and that was way more important… It’s a dream come true. Who knows what will be after three?” Finally, Shasta L'Heureux (No. 67 Royal Enfield) completed the 2024 season for Royal Enfield’s successful and popular Build. Train. Race. (BTR) program by claiming her first-career victory in the class with perpetual frontrunners Kenzie Luker (No. 17 Royal Enfield) and Taia Little (No. 11 Royal Enfield) rounding out the podium. FOX Sports coverage of the Lake Ozark Short Track, featuring in-depth features and thrilling onboard cameras, will premiere on FS1 on Sunday, September 22, at 12:00 p.m. ET (9:00 a.m. PT). |
https://www.americanflattrack.com/results/default
| DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (September 1, 2024) –
The Springfield Mile I & II presented by Drag Specialties lived up
to its billing as one of the most significant events in the series’
modern history as two of the final three rounds of the 2024 Progressive
American Flat Track season, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, played out
over the course of a single day at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in
Springfield, Illinois. When the dust settled at the conclusion of the Super Sunday doubleheader, reigning Grand National Champion Jared Mees (No. 1 Rogers Racing/SDI Racing/Indian Motorcycle FTR750) emerged the big winner… again. A day of domination for the all-time great ended with his third Springfield Mile double – this one leaving him just three points away from the immortality granted by a record tenth premier-class crown. Mission AFT SuperTwins Main Event 1 Mission AFT SuperTwins Main Event 1 was a contradictory concoction of unpredictability and inevitability courtesy of the sport’s primary protagonists, Mees and Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT), who made a shock return to action just six weeks removed from surgery to repair a broken femur. Despite hobbling around the paddock on a crutch, Daniels didn’t look to have missed a step once he threw his leg over a racebike. Starting from pole, the Estenson Racing ace mixed it up for the lead with the likes of Mees, Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750), and Brandon Price (No. 92 Memphis Shades/Sody Ent/OTBR Yamaha MT-07) for the race lead. But a moment of near catastrophe transpired in still in the contest’s early stages when the still-mending Daniels got well sideways, clipped Price’s rear wheel and then Robinson’s, before being sent up the track and down the order… but most crucially, all while somehow remaining upright. The drama allowed Mees to break the draft and subsequently check out, piling up a monster lead before cruising to a 2.137-second margin of victory at the flag. The win was both his ninth-career victory at the Springfield Mile and his 29th in the Mile discipline overall, tying him with Chris Carr for second on the all-time order. Mees said, “So many people have contributed to our program. My guys worked so hard just to try to fine-tune it all day. And I needed that in the Main. You don’t really get perfect motorcycles every race, but that Main Event, the thing was really, really close to perfect. It was awesome and came together when we needed it.” Rather than cower and fold following his near fall, Daniels clawed his way back up from seventh to third, finishing behind only Mees and fellow charger Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing Indian FTR750) to resume his run of podiums at 11. Robinson pulled off a final-lap pass on Price to lock down fourth, limiting the extent of the damage done to his championship chances. While less than ideal, he got off easy compared to fellow title hopeful Briar Bauman (No. 3 Rick Ware Racing/KTM/Parts Plus KTM 790 Duke), who retired from the race and was credited in 19th position. Mission AFT SuperTwins Main Event 2 Minus a second moment of terror for Daniels, the day’s second scheduled Mees disappearing act proved considerably more difficult to execute. While largely controlling the race from the front, Daniels, Bauman, Robinson, and Fisher kept the champion firmly in their sights over the race’s opening half. However, Fisher then faded from the lead pack, destined to ultimately finish fifth behind Price. A short while later, Bauman was removed from the equation as well, forced to pull off a second time due to mechanical issues, leaving only Daniels and Robinson to give chase. With his conditioning left wanting after sitting on the couch for the past month, Daniels eventually had to shift his focus from pursuing Mees to fending off Robinson, which allowed the factory Indian superstar to at last stretch open a bit of padding with a couple minutes to go. The champ stormed past the checkered flag with almost a second-and-a-half in hand, securing his 10th Springfield Mile win and a Carr-surpassing 30th-career Mile victory. Now on the verge of an unprecedented tenth Grand National Championship, Mees said, “Total domination all day. We came in super focused but kind of had some jitters and some nerves, just because the pressure was on me because I’ve done so well in the past. I had the target on my back, but I do well with that. A huge shout out to my entire team.... I wanted to get Indian Motorcycle their last couple wins here, I really did. That burnout was for Indian Motorcycle. I’m so happy they put me on board in 2016 and ‘17 – a phenomenal company to ride for. ”We came into the Springfield Mile needing to do this… We’ve got one more to go, but we have a little bit of cushion now.” Daniels managed to successfully hold off Robinson for second, upping his podium streak to 12 in the process. Robinson, however, did just enough to keep his title hopes alive – if just barely – now 22 points back of the title lead (286-264) with only the finale to go. Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER Main Event 1 Defying pre-race expectations for another of the Parts Unlimited AFT Singles class’ standard ten-plus-rider Mile track pack wars, a four-pilot breakaway featuring title fighters Kody Kopp (No. 1 Rick Ware Racing/Parts Plus KTM 450 SX-F), Chase Saathoff (No. 88 JPG Motorsports Honda CRF450R), and Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F), along with savvy vet Chad Cose (No. 49 1st Impressions/Media HT Husqvarna FC450), quickly took shape in the day’s opening Main Event. However, eight minutes of final-lap trial runs and strategic formulations was undone in an instant when a red flag was thrown just as the clocks hit zero. The potential for a pack battle was again on the table with the field bunched back up for a frantic two-lap dash to the checkered flag. But somehow, Saathoff, Drane, Cose, and Kopp instantly shook free yet again, relegating everyone else to an outsized fight for fifth. Saathoff appeared to be in prime position to claim his third straight home-state win when he powered into Turn 3 for the final time with the lead and Drane displaced to third by Cose. Instead, the Australian immediately countered and leapt out of 4 with a near-perfect launch, enabling him to blast by Saathoff at the stripe by 0.048 seconds. Cose held on for third another 0.048 seconds back, followed by championship leader Kopp in fourth. “It was definitely a hard race out there,” Drane said. “There was a big battle at the front, and then that red flag made it real dicey towards the end. I was able to just get through on Chad, which gave me a good run on Chase and was able to get him at the line. I couldn't have done it without my whole Estenson Racing Monster Energy crew; they’ve put in a lot of work, and it paid off.” Miler extraordinaire Shayna Texter-Bauman (No. 52 Rick Ware Racing/Parts Plus KTM 450 SX-F) took full advantage of the race reset to secure her season’s best result by far in fifth. Parts Unlimited AFT Singles Main Event 2 After Cose was forced to line up at the back of the grid for jumping the start and Drane, Saathoff, and Kopp stretched open a healthy gap in less than a lap, Parts Unlimited AFT Singles Main Event 2 seemed destined to be a three-contender affair. Instead, Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) bridged the gap from the second group and then Cose arrived to conclude his torrid climb up the order. The development of a five-rider freight train at the front was not in the plans for Kopp, especially when he was shuffled down to fifth while seeking a finish of second or better in order to clinch the championship early for the third consecutive season. A back-and-forth scrap saw Drane and Saathoff cross the line with two laps to go separated by nothing – 0.000 seconds apart – and Cose, Kopp, and Lowe tucked tight in their tow. The Estenson Racing star moved into the lead to open the final lap while Cose pushed Saathoff down to third. The JPG Motorsports runner responded by overhauling both opponents entering Turn 3. Cose then got completely sideways while holding onto second, allowing Drane and Kopp through as they navigated the final corner. In the decisive sprint to the flag, Drane replicated his Main Event 1 trick to zap Saathoff for the win once again – this time by an even slimmer 0.019 seconds. Meanwhile, Cose edged ahead of Kopp by 0.045 seconds to keep the championship fight a three-rider affair heading into the season finale. Lowe took fifth, less than a second removed from the race win. “That was a really good one,” Drane said. “We had a really good race with me, Chad, and Chase. We were all putting in really good laps and swapping back and forth throughout the race. I got a little bit lucky in that last corner, Chad slipped up a little bit, allowing me to go underneath him and then get Chase to the line.” Despite failing to end this one early, Kopp remains in a very strong position to claim an unprecedented third class crown. With just 25 points left on the table, the Rick Ware Racing star now leads Drane by 22 points (321-299) and Saathoff by 24 (297). |
https://www.americanflattrack.com/results/defaultmerica F
| DAYTONA
BEACH, Fla. (August 11, 2024) – Neither pavement, dirt, rain, nor
restart could prevent JD Beach (No. 95 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT)
from putting on yet another exhibition of all-around motorcycle mastery
in Sunday’s Arrowhead Brass Sturgis TT presented by Rick Ware Racing
& The CAT Rental Store, Round 13 of the 2024 Progressive American
Flat Track season, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing. While inclement weather pushed the planned proceedings back several hours, the event proved every bit the spectacle that was promised once the world’s elite dirt trackers finally locked handlebars on the unique hybrid racetrack laid out in the Streets of Downtown Sturgis, South Dakota. And while the combination of pavement turns, dirt jumps and switchbacks put the talents of even the greatest Mission AFT SuperTwins riders to the test, world-class dirt tracker/roadracer Beach looked to be in his natural environment. Beach powered into the lead from pole and immediately threatened to sap all tension right from the race’s opening lap. However, despite Beach’s best efforts, reigning Grand National Champion Jared Mees (No. 1 Rogers Racing/SDI Racing/Indian Motorcycle FTR750) managed to inject the Main Event with an abundance of drama soon after. The nine-time series king sank down the order at the light due to a poor launch, getting clipped and nearly taken out by Sammy Halbert (No. 69 OnlyFans/Martin Trucking Yamaha MT-07) as he was swallowed up by the pack. Trapped down in eighth early, Mees threw in a hard overtake on Brandon Price (No. 92 Memphis Shades/Sody Ent/OTBR Yamaha MT-07) entering the dirt section. That attempt resulted in contact, which knocked his opponent over and brought a stop to the race. But the red flag only temporarily delayed Beach’s escape to victory. Peoria TT winner Briar Bauman (No. 3 Rick Ware Racing/KTM/Parts Plus KTM 790 Duke) got away well in second following the restart and hounded Beach for a time, but in time, the Estenson Racing substitute rider systemically eked away, one and two tenths per circulation, before finally working his way to a 1.715-second margin of victory. The triumph was Beach’s second in the week, backing up his Tuesday night win at the Black Hills Half-Mile. It also increased his career TT wins total to nine, equal to Steve Eklund for third all-time and now training only Henry Wiles and Chris Carr. It also saw him set the new standard for wins at the most different TT courses at six. “It’s been a great three rounds, but this round was amazing,” Beach said. “I’ve got to give it up to the whole fansbase. All of the fans were going crazy all day long, and so many people stuck it out despite all the rain. I think this race was awesome. And I’ve got to thank the Estenson Racing Monster team for letting me come out and do these three rounds to fill in for Dallas (Daniels). I’m bummed he’s not here because I know he would have given me a run for my money too, but it’s been a real good three races.” Bauman, meanwhile, held on for second; this despite the late-race charge of Jarod Vanderkooi (No. 20 JMC Motorsports/Fairway Ford Ohio Indian FTR750), who finally earned his first podium of the ‘24 season by finishing third after several near misses along the way. Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing Indian FTR750) limped his way to fourth after injuring his foot in the Mission #2Fast#Tasty Challenge, colliding with the wall while harrying Beach for the win. And for all the excitement, Jared Mees (No. 1 Rogers Racing/SDI Racing/Indian Motorcycle FTR750) completed what must be considered a successful evening in fifth, as that result pulled him further clear of second-ranked (and tenth-placed) Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750) in the title chase. Meanwhile, Sammy Halbert (No. 69 OnlyFans/Martin Trucking Yamaha MT-07), Max Whale (No. 18 Latus Motors Racing/Liqui Moly Harley-Davidson XG750R), Trevor Brunner (No. 21 Mission Foods/Zanotti Racing Indian FTR750) and Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650) sandwiched between the championship leaders in sixth through ninth, respectively. Mees’ advantage now sits at a healthy 22 points (251-229) with three rounds remaining, with Bauman closing in on second at 224. Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER Kody Kopp (No. 1 Rick Ware Racing/Parts Plus KTM 450 SX-F) did his part in ensuring the historic nature of the Arrowhead Brass Sturgis TT. The double defending class champion earned his first career TT victory at the event, which upped his record-setting tally of wins to 21, completed his quest for a Singles Grand Slam, and moved that much closer to an unprecedented third Parts Unlimited AFT Singles crown. Kopp figured to be in for a serious fight when rival (and experienced roadracer) Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) grabbed the holeshot. But rather than let that become a problem, Kopp executed an aggressive pass as the two transitioned onto the dirt section for the first time. Once through, Kopp simply set sail at the front. Drane might have liked to formulate a plan to strike back at Kopp but was instead forced to worry about what was behind him as a pack of five riders closed in on his rear wheel – a group headed by an on-form Tarren Santero (No. 75 Vinson Construction/P&M Motorcycles Honda CRF450R). Drane and Santero then two carried their fight for second to the checkered flag as Bronson Pearce (No. 132 Scott Cason @ USA Mortgage Honda CRF450R), Chad Cose (No. 49 D&D Cycles/DG79 Husqvarna FC450), and Justin Anselmi (No. 115 Team TDR/Unsettled Racing Yamaha YZ450F) retreated from the podium battle even as Chase Saathoff (No. 88 JPG Motorsports Honda CRF450R) marched his way forward. Saathoff’s climb merely gave him a front-row seat from fourth to witness Santero pull off a final-lap acing of Drane in order secure his first career Progressive AFT podium with a runner-up result. Supermoto specialist Pearce was right at home on the pavement-heavy circuit and it showed with a fifth-place finish just ahead of Cose, who finished sixth while sitting in for former teammate James Ott (No. 19 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450). Rookie Anselmi took seventh followed by another first-year pilot in Evan Renshaw (No. 265 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R). Olin Kissler (No. 40 JCM Construction KTM 450 SX-F) and Jared Lowe (No. 63 BigR/Little Debbie Racing Honda CRF450R) completed the top ten. Kopp’s victory puts him in strong position to lock up a championship early for the third time. He now leads by 34 points over Saathoff and 40 over Drane as the series next heads to Springfield with the #1 plate both on his bike and in his sights. He said, “It’s awesome to get a TT (win) finally. It took a lot of starts and a lot of days on TTs where we were fastest all day and just didn’t finish the job… We’re on track for a third championship and this break coming up is much needed.” |
lat Track
| DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (August 6, 2024)
– Consider the rust sufficiently shaken off. In just his second race
back, super sub JD Beach (No. 95 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT)
claimed a hugely impressive victory on Tuesday night in Rapid City,
South Dakota, winning the Black Hills Harley-Davidson Black Hills
Half-Mile presented by The City of Sturgis, Round 12 of the Progressive
American Flat Track season, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing. Beach blasted into the lead at the green light of the Mission AFT SuperTwins Main Event at Black Hills Speedway, followed closely by full-time Grand National Championship contenders Jared Mees (No. 1 Rogers Racing/SDI Racing/Indian Motorcycle FTR750), Briar Bauman (No. 3 Rick Ware Racing/KTM/Parts Plus KTM 790 Duke), and Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750), along with the day’s fastest rider in qualifying, Chad Cose (No. 49 Indian Motorcycle of Oklahoma City/G&G Racing Indian FTR750). Robinson found an outside line to his liking and used it to rip around Cose, Bauman, and Mees in rapid succession. However, his attempt to do so for first tipped the leader off and Beach promptly used the same line himself to secure his position at the front. Mees stuck with the low line and made it work well enough to counter Robinson and then take the fight to Beach. Beach again adapted, running high in Turns 1-2 and low in Turns 3-4, a combination that gradually broke the challenge of the nine-time series king. Beach’s victory was his first-ever Half-Mile triumph, moving him to within just a Mile victory of the elusive old-school Grand Slam. His performance also makes him a good bet to sweep Progressive AFT’s 84th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally doubleheader, as he comes armed with a skillset that seems perfectly suited for Sunday’s race in the Streets of Downtown Sturgis. Beach said, “A goal of mine since I was a kid was to get a Grand Slam; I’ve got a Superbike win, I’ve got a Short Track win, I’ve got a TT win, and now I’ve got the Half-Mile. I can’t thank the team enough. We chipped away at it all day long. In the race, I knew I was going to stick to the bottom until someone tried to go around the outside of me. I saw Brandon go up top so I did too and I saw Jared going to the bottom in 3 and 4, so I was going up top, down low, up top, down low. It was working so good. To get this win is just amazing.” Mees kept Beach honest to the checkered flag and was rewarded with his fifth consecutive podium. Tuesday’s second was more than enough to push him past the injured Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) and put Mees at the head of the Mission AFT SuperTwins title fight for the first time all season long. Robinson was unable to keep up his early heroics, eventually dropping to nearly five seconds back of the win. However, that still kept him on the podium and firmly in the championship fight, where he now ranks second, 17 points back of Mees (236-219). Rookies Declan Bender (No. 70 GOMR/BriggsAuto.com/Martin Trucking Indian FTR750) and Trevor Brunner (No. 21 Mission Foods/Zanotti Racing Indian FTR750) continued their impressive second halves, claiming career-best results of fourth and fifth, respectively. Jarod Vanderkooi (No. 20 JMC Motorsports/Fairway Ford Ohio Indian FTR750) was fractionally behind the up-and-coming duo in sixth, while Cose closed out his head-turning day in seventh. Brandon Price (No. 92 Memphis Shades/Sody Ent/OTBR Yamaha MT-07) came home eighth, Bauman ended his fade down the order in ninth, and Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing Indian FTR750) rounded out the top ten. Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) was in imperious form while notching up the fourth victory of his 2024 Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER campaign. The Australian got away in second, one spot behind defending champion and current points leader Kody Kopp (No. 1 Rick Ware Racing/Parts Plus KTM 450 SX-F),but wasted little time in deposing his highly decorated rival for the lead. Meanwhile, Chase Saathoff (No. 88 JPG Motorsports Honda CRF450R) – winner of the most recent two races coming into Rapid City – dropped to fifth from pole off the line. Once in third, he found the fight harder than did Drane to move through on Kopp and claim second, the champ rebuffing multiple attempts by Saathoff to squeak by up the inside. That constant pressure finally worked in Saathoff’s favor, however, as Kopp eventually made a mistake in defense of the position. Saathoff pounced the moment Kopp ran slightly off line, allowing him to turn his attention to the escaping Drane. But even with clear air ahead of him, the JPG Motorsports pilot could do nothing but watch the Estenson Racing runner continue to clear off at the front. Drane ultimately claimed a 1.999-second margin of victory over Saathoff with Kopp another 1.601 seconds back in third. “We’ve just been working our butts off all day, trying to learn different things throughout the day,” Drane said. “We finally found a setting that really worked for us and were able to use it out there. I just couldn’t have done it without my whole Estenson Racing Monster Energy team, who put in all this hard work to get us back on the top step.” Behind the lead trio, Tyler Raggio (No. 55 Raggio Racing/Sluggo Racing KTM 450 SX-F) worked his way past veteran frontrunners James Ott (No. 19 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450) and Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) to secure a career-best finish of fourth. Tarren Santero (No. 75 Vinson Construction/P&M Motorcycles Honda CRF450R) rounded out a strong day with a run to seventh, with Evan Renshaw (No. 265 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), Jared Lowe (No. 63 BigR/Little Debbie Racing Honda CRF450R), and Travis Petton IV (No. 82 ECG Racing/A.M Ortega KTM 450 SX-F) completing the top ten. While Drane and Saathoff continued to inch their way closer in the championship hunt with each successive win, Kopp is still well and firmly in control. He continues to lead by a full race haul of 25 points with 264 to Saathoff’s 239. Drane is eight points further adrift at 231, while Lowe is a distant fourth, now nearly 100 points back of Kopp at 168. Earlier, Taia Little (No. 11 Royal Enfield INT650) fought her way to a second victory of the season at the conclusion of a four-rider scrap at the front of the Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race. (BTR) Main Event. |
https://www.americanflattrack.com/results/default
| DAYTONA
BEACH, Fla. (July 28, 2024) – Briar Bauman (No. 3 Rick Ware
Racing/KTM/Parts Plus KTM 790 Duke) left no doubt in Sunday’s World
Famous SC2 Peoria TT presented by Backroads Saloon, Round 11 of the
2024 Progressive American Flat Track season, sanctioned by AMA Pro
Racing. For three years running, the Rick Ware Racing ace had come second in the fabled race held annually in the Peoria Motorcycle Club Race Park’s natural amphitheater, each time watching as TT maestro JD Beach (No. 95 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) left Peoria, Illinois, with top honors. The two-time series champion was provided with an unexpected opportunity for revenge when Beach was made a late addition to the entry list, riding in place of injured Mission AFT SuperTwins championship leader Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT). However, it was reigning Grand National Champion Jared Mees (No. 1 Rogers Racing/SDI Racing/Indian Motorcycle FTR750) who grabbed the early lead, securing the holeshot with a full-throttle trip up the grass banking leading to the jump on the race’s opening lap. Bauman didn’t take long to make his move, slashing through in Turn 2 on the race’s second lap. Beach was desperate to work through himself, hoping to prevent Bauman from clearing off. And he in fact lost a few tenths in the handful of laps it took him to find his own way by Mees. Even when Beach did have clear air in front of him, it was evident this was Bauman’s day. While the Estenson Racing super sub was undeniably impressive to finish second after jumping on a dirt track machine for the first time all season long, Bauman managed to open up more than eight second’s padding at the front while threatening to lap his way into the top five. He ultimately claimed a 4.569-second margin-of-victory over Beach, a gap that narrowed considerably on the final lap due to an extended victory wheelie to take the checkered flag. The win was Bauman’s second at the Peoria TT, backing up his 2019 triumph. He said, “First and foremost, my heart goes out to Dallas Daniels right now. I’ve been through it myself and I know Jared has been through it too. I don’t have any words… I’m sorry. And beating JD today… you want it to count, but I don’t think it does. He hasn’t been on a flat track bike all year, so I could tell he was a little bit uncomfortable. “But no matter what, huge thanks to Rick Ware Racing. The team deserves this. I want to get better on the ovals, but we took advantage of the TT and strengths of the KTM. And we’re going to keep working, that’s all I can say.” Nine-time series king Mees closed to within a single point of Daniels (216-215) with his eighth podium of the season. Due to Daniels’ continued absence, the focus will soon shift to Mees versus Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750). On that front, Robinson did well to minimize the damage, finishing one position behind fourth-placed Jarod Vanderkooi (No. 20 JMC Motorsports/Fairway Ford Ohio Indian FTR750) to earn his first-career Peoria top five. As a result, Robinson has collected 201 points on the season and the gap that separates him from Mees is just 14 points with five races left to go. Meanwhile, Bauman has quietly (or not so quietly) snuck back into contention at 192 points, less than a single-race points haul behind Mees. Trevor Brunner (No. 21 Mission Foods/Zanotti Racing Indian FTR750) bolstered his Rookie of the Year campaign in sixth, followed by fellow class newcomer Max Whale (No. 18 Latus Motors Racing/Liqui Moly Harley-Davidson XG750R). Meanwhile, Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing Indian FTR750) came home eighth, followed by third rookie Declan Bender (No. 70 GOMR/BriggsAuto.com/Martin Trucking Indian FTR750) and Cameron Smith (No. 34 RVR/KTM/Schaefer’s Motorsport KTM 790 Duke). Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER Chase Saathoff (No. 88 JPG Motorsports Honda CRF450R) outdueled double defending Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER champion Kody Kopp (No. 1 Rick Ware Racing/Parts Plus KTM 450 SX-F) to claim a second consecutive victory in his home state of Illinois. Fresh off his triumph at the high-speed DuQuoin Mile, Saathoff did the business under very different circumstances on Sunday at the twisty Peoria TT. An aggressive Saathoff first worked his way into the lead with a bucking overtake of Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) and then appeared fully capable of clearing off en route to victory. However, a red flag following a fall by Hunter Bauer (No. 24 Vinson Construction/American Harley-Davidson Yamaha YZ450F) reset the order and gave the champ another shot at victory. Kopp took full advantage of the second chance, diving up the inside of Saathoff with less than four minutes remaining and then pulling an immediate gap of his own. The race’s complexion shifted yet again when Kopp made a minor mistake with less than a minute left on the clock. Back within striking distance, Saathoff struck at the first available opportunity, reclaiming first place with only 30 seconds to go. That back and forth also brought Drane back into the fight. But even with Kopp and Drane lurking, Saathoff was perfect over the final two laps to close out a Saathoff-Kopp-Drane 1-2-3. Saathoff said, “I don’t even know what to say. I came to Peoria the last two years and couldn’t even make it on the podium. I knew I had the speed to go run up front at this track; it was so hard to figure out my corner speed here, and we finally got it done today. I’d like to give a huge shout out to my mom and dad for everything they’ve done for me. I’ve been coming to this track since I was a 65(cc). I remember doing the exhibition race here in 2015.” Some seven seconds in arrears, Tarren Santero (No. 75 Vinson Construction/P&M Motorcycles Honda CRF450R) came out on top of a four-rider scrap for fourth. He edged Evan Renshaw (No. 265 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) for the position with brothers Jared Lowe (No. 63 BigR/Little Debbie Racing Honda CRF450R) and Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) close behind in sixth and seventh, respectively. James Ott (No. 19 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450), Tyler Raggio (No. 55 Raggio Racing/Sluggo Racing KTM 450 SX-F), and Travis Petton IV (No. 82 ECG Racing/A.M Ortega KTM 450 SX-F) completed the top ten. While winless since Bridgeport, three consecutive runners-up have allowed Kopp to maintain a healthy advantage in the championship chase, now with 246 points to Saathoff’s 218 and Drane’s 206. |
| DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (July 6, 2024)
– Reigning Grand National Champion Jared Mees (No. 1 Rogers
Racing/SDIRacing/Indian Motorcycle FTR750) demonstrated his Mile
mastery yet again with a victory in Saturday night’s Memphis Shades
DuQuoin Mile, Round 10 of the 2024 Progressive American Flat Track
season, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing. The Mission AFT SuperTwins Main Event at the “Magic Mile” was a race-long struggle of nerves and consistency. Mees attempted throughout to shake loose at the front while a three-rider pack of pursuers consisting of Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT), Brandon Price (No. 92 Memphis Shades/Sody Ent/OTBR Yamaha MT-07), and Briar Bauman (No. 3 Rick Ware Racing/KTM/Parts Plus KTM 790 Duke) did everything in their collective power to prevent that eventuality from playing out. Daniels’ early strategy was to keep Mees corralled the best he could, continually running underneath him on corner entrance in hopes of limiting the Indian star’s opportunity to run with clear air in front of him. Ultimately, the Estenson Racing ace was riding a tightrope in those efforts, and once Mees finally managed to maintain the lead for a full lap, he stretched open those crucial couple of tenths he needed to grasp a firm grip on the race. While he was unable to make an escape, the trio of contenders behind were also unable to draw back near enough to make any further assaults from that point forward. That nearly changed when Dalton Gauthier’s (No. 79 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650) bike broke with less than a minute remaining, resulting in a thick cloud of smoke that settled in across the track. The lack of visibility forced Mees to check up ever so slightly, allowing Daniels to close from more than a half-second back to just 0.234 seconds with only two laps remaining to decide the winner. Mees stayed calm and regrouped to eked back out to a 0.389-second margin of victory at the flag. While unable to pull off the upset, Daniels did execute his secondary mission of minimizing any damage done to his championship hopes by holding on for second. The victory was the 75th of Mees’ record-breaking career, moving him to within three of second-placed Chris Carr. It also elevated his career Mile wins mark to 28, just one behind Carr for second in the discipline as well. “It felt really good, just to feel good again, honestly,” Mees said. “The bike worked really good from the start, and we knew coming in here we were going to be a big player. The Rogers Racing/SDI Insulation/Progressive Insurance Indian Motorcycle was really strong tonight. Big thanks to everyone… So many great people are big contributors to our success. I had a lot of fun tonight, for sure.” Price earned his second podium of the season in third, just 0.055 seconds back of Daniels, while Bauman finished fourth less than a quarter of a second further in arrears. Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing Indian FTR750) edged rookies Declan Bender (No. 70 GOMR/BriggsAuto.com/Martin Trucking Indian FTR750) and Trevor Brunner (No. 21 Mission Foods/Zanotti Racing Indian FTR750) for fifth in a fight that took place approximately six seconds behind the lead group. Meanwhile, Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750) suffered a blow to his title efforts in eighth, with Cameron Smith (No. 34 RVR/KTM/Schaefer’s Motorsport KTM 790 Duke) and Jarod Vanderkooi (No. 20 JMC Motorsports/Fairway Ford Ohio Indian FTR750) rounding out the top ten. The race served as a fitting conclusion the week-long celebration of motorcycle dirt track racing at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds in DuQuoin, Illinois, that also saw the sport’s future stars crowned at the 2024 Mission Foods AMA Flat Track Grand Championship, sanctioned by the American Motorcyclist Association, before the greatest riders of today took centerstage to put on a show. 2018 Nicky Hayden AMA Flat Track Horizon Award winner Daniels now leads 2001 Nicky Hayden AMA Flat Track Horizon Award winner Mees 216 to 197 in the fight for the 2024 Grand National Championship. Robinson was relegated to third at 186. Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER Chase Saathoff (No. 88 JPG Motorsports Honda CRF450R) finally pulled it off. After finishing less than 0.1 seconds from victory in the most recent five Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER Mile Main Events, the JPG Motorsports pilot took Saturday’s win by an official 0.001 seconds following ten minutes and two laps of epic pack-war action. The high drama actually got underway even before the race itself did. Double defending champion Kody Kopp (No. 1 Rick Ware Racing/Parts Plus KTM 450 SX-F) lost his chain during the citing lap, threatening his participation in the race while promising to leave his hard-earned points lead in tatters. While Kopp’s Rick Ware Racing crew frantically worked to fit a new chain in the Turn 4 area, the field blasted off and worked its way around to complete the opening lap. Kopp was finally released into the fray one lap down, but his incredibly bad luck was swapped out for some incredibly good luck when a red flag was thrown as a result of debris on the racing line. That led to a complete restart, which put Kopp back in the fight and back on the lead lap, albeit forced to start from the back of the pack after failing to line up on the grid for the original start. At the restart, Saathoff resumed his battle for first with the likes of Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F), James Ott (No. 19 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450), and Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), among several others. However, Kopp made the most of his second opportunity, powering his way all the way up from 18th and into the lead in the span of seven laps. A 12-rider lead pack slowly whittled its way down to six by the time the clock hit zero. That was immediately reduced to five when race leader Lowe encountered a mechanical issue of his own moments after taking the two-to-go flags. On the decisive final circulation, Kopp blew up pre-race favorite Drane’s last-lap strategy, pushing him up the track ever so slightly where the Aussie lost his drive and drifted back to fourth. Kopp then zeroed in on Saathoff, and the KTM-mounted champ very nearly pulled off the last-to-first win, coming up mere millimeters short of edging ahead of his opponent’s Honda as they stormed over the line. While it was technically Saathoff’s second career victory, it was the first time he actually did so under live action with the checkered flag waving. Afterward, he said, “The main thing for me was to focus on my job, and I had to have a gameplan the whole day. But that entire Main Event, I didn’t know what the heck was going on. I didn’t know if I should try to lead or make a pass at the finish. Towards the end, I came around Turn 3 and I was leading, and I thought, ‘I’m just gonna do it!’ It was a crazy race. I can’t thank everyone enough… I’m so happy I got to take the victory lap with Bryan (Bigelow). That meant the world to me.” Third place went to Ott – his first podium of the season – just 0.044 seconds off the win and 0.044 seconds ahead of Drane. Fifth was taken by impressive rookie Evan Kelleher (No. 131 Schaefers Motorsports/South Shore Design KTM 450 SX-F), who slugged it out with the best riders in the class to finish just 0.204 seconds off the win. Kopp’s potential championship catastrophe was not only avoided, he actually maintained his pre-race advantage of 32 points, only now with Saathoff back in second (225-193) and Drane falling to third at 188. |
https://www.americanflattrack.com/results/default
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (June 29, 2024) – Grand National Championship leader Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) checked off another career goal with a peerless performance in this year’s edition of the Lima Half-Mile presented by Indian Motorcycle and Drag Specialties, Round 9 of the 2024 Progressive American Flat Track season, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing,Despite lining up for Saturday’s Main Event as the only rider among the leading Mission AFT SuperTwins title contenders without a prior win at the Allen County Fairgrounds to his name – and despite Yamaha similarly being without a premier-class victory in the history of the fabled event in Lima, Ohio – Daniels was simply unstoppable from start to finish.The Estenson Racing hero immediately leapt out into the lead and set about executing his escape. Ripping off a series of laps quicker than anyone had managed all day long, Daniels stretched out his advantage by big chunks over the race’s opening half. With some three seconds separating him from Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750) and five from Jared Mees (No. 1 Rogers Racing/SDI Racing/Indian Motorcycle FTR750), Daniels was already deep into traffic by the race’s halfway point. Even after easing up late, he would go on to lap more than half the field before at last taking the checkered flag with nearly six-and-a-half seconds in hand. Despite the one-sided nature of the win, there was still a fair amount of drama near the front. Reigning champion Mees reeled Robinson in from a couple seconds back, ultimately moving through with an inside-outside-inside maneuver as the clocks hit zero. That development was actually to Daniels’ benefit – at least for the time being – as it allowed him to open his championship lead over second-ranked Robinson that much further. He now leads by 21-points over the Mission Roof Systems pilot (195-174) with the factory Indian ace two points further adrift in third (172). Daniels said, “When you’re a little kid, there are just certain tracks you dream of winning. As soon as I got on that twin, something clicked (here), but I just got nipped by some really great riders. It was a tough pill to swallow because both years I was fast… I just knew I had to get the job done tonight. “I got a good start, and I just put my head down those first few laps, and the rest is history. We made a little bit of a change before the Main Event, and I was a little bit skeptical on it. But (my crew) sat me down and said they trusted it, and whatever they trust, I trust. Things were just clicking; I felt like I was on a cloud just riding. What a night.” Last year’s Lima HM winner, Briar Bauman (No. 3 Rick Ware Racing/KTM/Parts Plus KTM 790 Duke), got away in fourth but proved unable to match the torrid early pace at the front. Instead, he found himself fighting a losing battle in his attempt to keep Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing Indian FTR750) pinned behind him to hold the position to the end. Brandon Price (No. 92 Memphis Shades/Sody Ent/OTBR Yamaha MT-07) finished five seconds back of the Fisher-Bauman fight in sixth, followed by Jarod Vanderkooi (No. 20 JMC Motorsports/Fairway Ford Ohio Indian FTR750) and Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650), who was actually the final rider still on the lead lap despite taking eighth. Chad Cose (No. 49 CTR/Indian Motorcycle Of Oklahoma City Yamaha MT-07) and Cameron Smith (No. 34 RVR/KTM/Schaefer’s Motorsport KTM 790 Duke) completed the top ten. Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) overcame the best efforts of a motivated Kody Kopp (No. 1 Rick Ware Racing/Parts Plus KTM 450 SX-F) to win the Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER Main Event at Lima. While Chase Saathoff (No. 88 JPG Motorsports Honda CRF450R) took the holeshot from pole, Drane cut up underneath him to snatch away the lead exiting Turn 2 on the opening lap. Even though Drane gapped the field by nearly one-and-a-half seconds by the time the race hit halfway, Kopp charged like a champion once he finally overhauled Saathoff and fixed his sights on the Australian. The Rick Ware Racing star proceeded to eat up tenths per lap, closing to within a quarter of a second as the two encountered thick swaths of lapped traffic with just over a minute remaining. Just as Kopp was attempting to execute a decisive move, the two stormed past a downed rider and then negotiated another pack of slower traffic that kicked up a wave of pea gravel. Whether Kopp expected a red flag, simply lost out through the lappers, or some combination of the two, Drane took full advantage of the chaos to emerge with his grip on the race resecured. The Estenson Racing ace sailed on to earn his third victory of the season by just under a half second, snapping Kopp’s three-race win streak in the process. Drane said, “(Lima’s) definitely similar to what we race back home… To be able to get this win feels so good. I can’t thank my whole team enough for all the effort they’ve put in and all the training we’ve done so we can race so hard the whole race. I could feel Kody coming towards the end there, and I had to really put those last laps together.” Saathoff took a lonely third, but his sixth podium of the season wasn’t enough to prevent Drane from seizing control of second in the standings. Kopp still leads both challengers by a significant margin, 204-172-168. The championship’s fourth- and fifth-ranked riders, Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) and James Ott (No. 19 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450), finished in those same positions on Saturday but only after chasing down promising rookie Evan Renshaw (No. 265 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), who equaled his best-career Progressive AFT finish in sixth. Aiden RoosEvans (No. 26 FRA Trust/ATV’s and More Yamaha YZ450F), Tyler Raggio (No. 55 Raggio Racing/Sluggo Racing KTM 450 SX-F), Travis Petton IV (No. 82 ECG Racing/A.M Ortega KTM 450 SX-F), and Logan Eisenhard (No. 66 Hannum’s Harley-Davidson KTM 450 SX-F) rounded out the top ten. |
| DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (June 22, 2024)
– Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750) served
up a timely reminder that remains a genuine contender for this season’s
Grand National Championship with an inspired performance in the Arai
Bridgeport Half-Mile presented by Drag Specialties, Round 8 of the 2024
Progressive American Flat Track season, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing. And his victory at Bridgeport Speedway in Swedesboro, New Jersey, couldn’t have come under much more demanding circumstances, with Mission AFT SuperTwins title leader Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) breathing down his neck and desperate to fight through after charging his way forward the bottom of the top ten. Earlier, Daniels had made quick work of a big swath of riders to slot ahead of Briar Bauman (No. 3 Rick Ware Racing/KTM/Parts Plus KTM 790 Duke) and into fourth. Meanwhile, Robinson was busy clearing off in front as Jarod Vanderkooi (No. 20 JMC Motorsports/Fairway Ford Ohio Indian FTR750) and Jared Mees (No. 1 Rogers Racing/SDI Racing/Indian Motorcycle FTR750) scraped it out for second. Once Daniels worked past Vanderkooi, he and Mees prodded each other forward, closing the gap back to first position in the process. Mees would eventually fall off that chase, but Daniels would not. He successfully reeled in Robinson and then slung his Estenson Racing Yamaha into first with approximately half of the Main Event still to go. However, in his bid to break free in first, Daniels ran wide, providing Robinson with a golden opportunity to reclaim the position. Daniels proceeded to stalk the Mission Roof Systems rider from that point forward, but his intended quarry had an answer for every late-race attempt to snatch away the win. Robinson’s triumph saw him become the first rider to claim a third win this season just as it reached its halfway point. It also catapulted him ahead of Mees and into second in the points, some 14 back of title leader Daniels (170-156). Robinson, who originally hails from nearby Oxford, Pennsylvania, said, “This is awesome. That’s the stuff dreams are made of right there. It’s just awesome to have my parents, my grandparents, my mother-in-law, my wife’s family, and all our friends here. That means the world to me. This win is my favorite right now. A super huge thank you to Jerry Stinchfield with Roof Systems and Juan Gonzalez at Mission Foods. Without those guys, this program wouldn’t be possible… Third win of the season? Let’s keep this ball rolling.” Mees managed to hold off Bauman to earn the final spot on the podium despite still riding at less than 100% after getting beaten up in a mountain bike crash suffered a little over a week earlier. Vanderkooi was a late-race DNF, allowing Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing Indian FTR750) to break into the top five. He was followed by Brandon Price (No. 92 Memphis Shades/Corbin/OTBR Yamaha MT-07), rookies Trevor Brunner (No. 21 Mission Foods/Zanotti Racing Indian FTR750) and Declan Bender (No. 70 GOMR/BriggsAuto.com/Martin Trucking Indian FTR750), and Bronson Bauman (No. 37 Fastrack Racing Mission Foods KTM 790 Duke). Tenth place went to Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650), who added a second top-ten result to his stint with Royal Enfield after earning the squad its first premier-class podium last weekend. Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER There was hardly a moment to catch a breath while witnessing the latest masterpiece of double defending Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER champion Kody Kopp (No. 1 Rick Ware Racing/Parts Plus KTM 450 SX-F) take shape under the lights of Bridgeport Speedway. Returning to a venue where he finished outside the top five a year ago, Kopp once again looked more like an interested observer than a potential winner for a significant portion of the contest. While the Rick Ware Racing ace spent much of his race swapping position with Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) and James Ott (No. 19 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450) over third, last year’s winner, Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F), traded haymakers and handlebars with Chase Saathoff (No. 88 JPG Motorsports Honda CRF450R) as they waged war for first. But with two minutes remaining, Kopp turned up the heat and closed in on that fight. He then made his move to steal away the lead with less than a minute remaining and carried that momentum forward to a 0.703-second margin of victory over runner-up Drane. The win was not only Kopp’s third in succession, it was the 20th of his Progressive AFT career, handing him sole possession of the all-time victory mark in the category. He said, “That’s why we train through the week because that’s the hardest I’ve ever pushed on a flat track bike. I had a big moment when I was back in third watching Tom and Chase duke it out, and they were going at it. I thought I had no chance. I had a big moment and almost highsided. But this one is huge to come from that far back. Wow. Big thanks to my dad for always being there. This is an awesome one to get 20 career wins. And thanks to everyone behind me. This one means a lot to them and to me.” Saathoff finished third less than a second off the win, while Ott and Lowe settled into fourth and fifth respectively after factoring into the podium mix until the waning stages of the race. Logan Eisenhard (No. 66 Hannum’s Harley-Davidson KTM 450 SX-F) registered his third finish of sixth or better, while Tyler Raggio (No. 55 Raggio Racing/Sluggo Racing KTM 450 SX-F), Hunter Bauer (No. 24 Vinson Construction/American Harley-Davidson Yamaha YZ450F), Aiden RoosEvans (No. 26 FRA Trust/ATV’s and More Yamaha YZ450F), and Tarren Santero (No. 75 Vinson Construction/P&M Motorcycles Honda CRF450R) completed the top ten. The rolling Kopp now boasts a commanding 33-point advantage over Saathoff (183-150) in his quest for an unprecedented third Parts Unlimited AFT Singles crown. Drane is another three points back in third with 147. |
| DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (June
15, 2024) – Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) was
precise to the point of perfection in Saturday night’s blowout win of
the Orange County Half-Mile, Round 7 of the 2024 Progressive American
Flat Track season, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing. While slippery conditions and continually altering lines at Middletown, New York’s Orange County Fair Speedway kept the world’s elite motorcycle dirt track racers guessing all day long, Mission AFT SuperTwins championship leader Daniels was composed and in control throughout. After sitting atop the leaderboard in practice and qualifying, and then winning his heat and the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, Daniels merely needed to get off the line clean and then do his thing in the Main. Once he did, the end result was a drama-free 5.293-second margin of victory. Daniels’ second triumph of the season also saw him build upon his Grand National Championship advantage on a what was by contrast a frustratingly off day for nine-time champion Jared Mees (No. 1 Rogers Racing/SDI Racing/Indian Motorcycle FTR750), who was forced to rally just to finish inside the top five. Daniels, who now leads the championship chase 149-133 over Mees, said, “To come here and do what we did all day… These are the days you dream of. It was one of those days when you’re just on, and you feel it no matter what. Man, we’ve been working behind the scenes, and it’s starting to pay off. We put on a clinic, and it feels good. The Estenson Racing Monster Energy Yamaha motorcycle is handling so good. Just a big thanks to everyone. What a day… What a day.” While Mees battled his way forward from outside the top ten, Briar Bauman (No. 3 Rick Ware Racing/KTM/Parts Plus KTM 790 Duke) got away in second and was the only rider who managed to catch even a fleeting glimpse of Daniels’ immediate escape. While unsuccessful in his bid to keep pace, the effort to do so catapulted Bauman into the clear himself where he ultimately took second with more than four seconds to spare. Meanwhile, third place had major ‘Cinderella story’ potential with Billy Ross (No. 29 Mission Foods/Digitale Kawasaki Ninja 650) desperate to fend off Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750) in search of a first career premier-class podium in what was his ‘24 debut after suffering an injury shortly before the season opener. However, that Cinderella story was swapped out for another when the fight for fourth, featuring Mees and Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650), converged with the scrap over third as the contest neared its conclusion. Gauthier, in just his first race on the Royal Enfield in substitute duty, pulled off a final-corner overtake to steal away third and grab what was instead his first career premier-class podium by an impossibly slim 0.002 seconds. Ross held on for fourth, while Mees pushed Robinson down to sixth by a similarly tight 0.045 seconds at the checkered flag. Positions seventh through ten went to Brandon Price (No. 92 Memphis Shades/Corbin/OTBR Yamaha MT-07), Jarod Vanderkooi (No. 20 JMC Motorsports/Fairway Ford Ohio Indian FTR750), Trevor Brunner (No. 21 Mission Foods/Zanotti Racing Indian FTR750), and Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing Indian FTR750) in that order. Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER Reigning Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER champion Kody Kopp (No. 1 Rick Ware Racing/Parts Plus KTM 450 SX-F) etched himself yet another prominent position in the history books. Already with a strong claim as most decorated rider the category has ever seen, Kopp furthered his argument by equaling Shayna Texter-Bauman (No. 52 Rick Ware Racing/Parts Plus KTM 450 SX-F) for most career Parts Unlimited AFT Singles wins by scoring his 19th triumph in just his 58th attempt. While Kopp has authored his fair share of runaway wins, #19 ranked among the most lopsided. The Rick Ware Racing star shook free of an early four-rider melee and promptly checked out. Despite cruising to the checkered flag, the Washington native still hit the stripe with more than three-and-a-half seconds in his favor. Kopp said, “I feel like I’m really focused on this sport in general. I want to keep checking off goals and climbing up the list. Huge shout out to my Rick Ware Racing team. This one is huge for sure. And with four weekends in a row racing, it’s good to start it off with a win. We want to keep working towards that end goal of a championship.” Second-ranked Chase Saathoff (No. 88 JPG Motorsports Honda CRF450R) and third-ranked Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) finished in their championship standing order at the conclusion of a relatively processional affair despite some early fireworks. Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) extended that championship mirror to fourth after tracking down New Yorker Justin Jones (No. 91 J&H Racing Husqvarna FC 450). Even with that disappointment, Jones played a starring role throughout the day and actually looked like the rider beat after winning his heat and the Al Lamb’s Dallas Honda Challenge with style. Jones led the opening two laps and didn’t go away easily after being dispatched by Kopp, countering momentarily and then tussling with the title fighters for the opening half of the race. While Jones wouldn’t earn a second-career win nearly a decade after taking his first, he did give the home state fans plenty to cheer about en route to a top-five result. Behind, Travis Petton IV (No. 82 ECG Racing/A.M Ortega KTM 450 SX-F) came home sixth with Hunter Bauer (No. 24 Vinson Construction/American Harley-Davidson Yamaha YZ450F), Jared Lowe (No. 63 BigR/Little Debbie Racing Honda CRF450R), Tarren Santero (No. 75 Vinson Construction/P&M Motorcycles Honda CRF450R), and Evan Renshaw (No. 265 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) completing the top ten. Kopp continues his march towards an unprecedented third Parts Unlimited AFT Singles title. He now leads by 26 points – more than a full race haul – over second-ranked Saathoff (158-132). Drane is third at 126, followed by Lowe with 108. |
| DAYTONA
BEACH, Fla. (May 18, 2024) – Nine-time Grand National Champion Jared
Mees (No. 1 Rogers Racing/SDI Racing/Indian Motorcycle FTR750) reigned
supreme in the inaugural Silver Dollar Short Track, Round 6 of the 2024
Progressive American Flat Track season, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing. The big crowd that turned out at in Chico, California, to see the world’s elite motorcycle dirt trackers compete at the historic Silver Dollar Speedway were treated to a virtuoso performance on the part of one of the sport’s all-time greats. Mission AFT SuperTwins king Mees was fastest in both practice sessions and both qualifying sessions, and then proceeded to win his heat, the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, and the night’s Main Event. If it sounds clear cut, it was anything but. Mees grabbed the early lead from holeshotter Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) but then came under heavy pressure from Sammy Halbert (No. 69 Dodge Bros. Racing/Castrol Harley-Davidson XR750). In fact, Halbert actually worked his way into the lead after the two broke free from the pack at the front. They then proceeded to dice it out for several laps, all the while Daniels settled in and upped his pace. Mees finally broke Halbert’s challenge and set about building up a big lead at the front. Halbert in turn shifted his attention to harrying Daniels over second. But even with that delay, the Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07-mounted ace quickly closed in on Mees’ factory Indian FTR750 after dispatching of Halbert and his venerable Harley-Davidson XR750. The title rivals would spend the contest’s final three minutes dueling for victory with Mees ultimately holding strong after his young challenger’s last-lap, last-corner bid came up just short. “It definitely feels good to get that win,” Mees said. “Dallas got the holeshot, but I was able to get by him. And then here comes Sammy on the ole Hog, and he was giving me a run. He actually stretched it out a little bit, but I was able to get back up to him. I felt like I had a good pace and was maybe checking out, but I lost my rhythm in the lappers. I peeked back and there was Dallas. We went back and forth, and I had to get a little aggressive a couple of times. He’s been riding so good. It feels like every week I have to dig deeper and deeper.” Halbert completed the podium in third, but only after reclaiming the position from Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750) on the race’s final lap. Last week’s winner, Briar Bauman (No. 3 Rick Ware Racing/KTM/Parts Plus KTM 790 Duke), completed the top five. He was followed to the stripe in sixth through tenth by Jarod Vanderkooi (No. 20 JMC Motorsports/Fairway Ford Ohio Indian FTR750), Dan Bromley (No. 62 Memphis Shades/Vinson/Al Lamb’s Dallas Honda Transalp), Bronson Bauman (No. 37 Fastrack Racing Mission Foods KTM 790 Duke), Max Whale (No. 18 Latus Motors Racing/Liqui Moly Harley-Davidson XG750R), and Declan Bender (No. 70 GOMR/BriggsAuto.com/Martin Trucking Indian FTR750). Despite being bitterly disappointed by Saturday’s result, Daniels continues to lead the points chase with 124 points to Mees’ 118. Robinson is one point further adrift at 117, followed by Bauman’s 99. Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER Kody Kopp (No. 1 Rick Ware Racing/Parts Plus KTM 450 SX-F) continued his march toward a third Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER championship by scoring his third Short Track victory of the ‘24 season on Saturday night. While Kopp would eventually take hold of his customary position out front, the opening stages of the contest saw his primary challengers, Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) and Chase Saathoff (No. 88 JPG Motorsports Honda CRF450R), wage their own battle over first, trading the lead back and forth with intersecting lines. Saathoff’s strategy proved superior in that early fight, and he then put his head down to break free at the front. Meanwhile, Kopp closed in on Drane’s rear wheel in second. A bobble on the Australian’s part gave Kopp the small opening he needed. Once through, he not only shook Drane but instantly reeled back in Saathoff after trailing him by as much as 1.5 seconds a small handful of laps earlier. In fact, the Rick Ware Racing pilot’s momentum barely stalled upon catching Saathoff; he merely rode around the outside and continued to walk away in the lead. However, with the top three seemingly settled at that point, a lapped rider went down upon Saathoff’s overtake as the leaders negotiated traffic. Drane became collateral damage in the crash, going down in a two-part incident that summoned the red flag. Kopp and Saathoff lined back up in first and second, respectively, while Drane was forced to the back of the pack after looking as if he might not be fit enough to continue. There was little drama at the front once the action resumed. Kopp powered away in the same fashion he had prior to the red flag. Saathoff completed his run to second, while Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) claimed the final step on the podium. “We worked hard for that one,” Kopp said. “We were fast all day, but I was one of the only ones shifting out here today. It was fast, but would it have been consistent in this whole Main when we were running up on the top? Probably not. So we made a game-changing call right before the (Al Lamb’s Dallas Honda Challenge), and I had to go out and learn how to ride the bike again because we weren’t shifting all of a sudden. Thanks to my team. This was a big one for us.” Californians Tarren Santero (No. 75 Vinson Construction/P&M Motorcycles Honda CRF450R) and James Ott (No. 19 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450) rounded out the top five. As for Drane, he not only gritted his way to the finish, he actually charged all the way up to sixth to keep his championship hopes very much alive. Kopp now leads with 133 points, followed by Saathoff at 111 and Drane at 108 |
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| DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. May 11, 2024 Briar Bauman (No. 3 Rick WareRacing/KTM/Parts Plus KTM 790 Duke) scored his first victory of the 2024 Progressive American Flat Track season, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, with an utterly dominant performance in Saturday night’s Memphis Shades Ventura Short Track at Ventura Raceway in Ventura, California. The two-time Grand National Champion came into the weekend seeking not just his first Mission AFT SuperTwins win of the year but his first podium of any kind. He ended that uncharacteristic drought in most convincing fashion, backing up a stirring win in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge with a wire-to-wire runaway in the Main Event. Bauman’s superiority finally brought order to what had been a chaotic affair in the early going. A red flag flew moments after the initial start due to a terrifying incident that saw Johnny Lewis (No. 10 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650) carom off the wall and crash back into the pack that had not yet separated. That triggered a chain reaction that also collected Ben Lowe (No. 25 Rackley Racing/Mission Foods KTM 790 Duke), Declan Bender (No. 70 GOMR/BriggsAuto.com/Martin Trucking Indian FTR750), and Morgen Mischler (No. 13 Big Red Super Twins/Al Lamb’s Dallas Honda Transalp), who completed a full forward flip in the air after contacting the downed Lewis and his machine. Miraculously, all four returned to their feet with Lowe managing to return for the staggered restart. A second red was issued just as quickly following a spill by hometown hero Kayl Kolkman (No. 98 Yamaha MT-07), who would also return for the subsequent restart. A third red flag was narrowly avoided when Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing Indian FTR750) bounced back up from a crash and immediately remounted, allowing the race to continue and at last find its rhythm. And the beat it drummed up was a victory march for Bauman, who was never challenged on his way to a 4.613-second margin of victory. Bauman, who lapped his way inside the top ten, said, “First and foremost, I can’t thank Shayna (Texter-Bauman) and Kenny Coolbeth enough, along with everyone else with Rick Ware Racing. We could write a novel about what’s gone on this season. We had quite the offseason, let me tell you. This might have been a bigger change for me, going to a new group of guys, than it was going from an Indian to a KTM last year. It was so big. I kept telling myself all week long that no one understands how long I’ve been waiting on this, and my team deserves it more than I do.” The only rider who could even pretend to keep Bauman in sight on this evening was title hopeful Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT). The Estenson Racing pilot actually started his push from fifth, slicing underneath Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750), Jared Mees (No. 1 Rogers Racing/SDI Racing/Indian Motorcycle FTR750), and Jarod Vanderkooi (No. 20 JMC Motorsports/Fairway Ford Ohio Indian FTR750) before putting himself in a position to make an honest try at reeling in Bauman. After that challenge proved insurmountable, Daniels had to be content to solidify his grip on second while Vanderkooi, Mees, and Robinson disputed the final spot on the box behind. Reigning champ Mees raced his way to that honor as he so often does, with Vanderkooi and Robinson completing the top five. Sixth and seventh went to twin chargers Bronson Bauman (No. 37 Fastrack Racing Mission Foods KTM 790 Duke) and Kolkman, who battled their way up from 15th and 16th, respectively. Meanwhile, rookies Trevor Brunner (No. 21 Mission Foods/Zanotti Racing KTM 790 Duke) and Max Whale (No. 18 Latus Motors Racing/Liqui Moly Harley-Davidson XG750R) finished eighth and tenth, with Honda-mounted Dan Bromley (No. 62 Memphis Shades/Vinson/Al Lamb’s Dallas Honda Transalp) splitting the two up by claiming the new machine’s second top ten in ninth. Daniels now leads the Mission AFT SuperTwins title fight by two points over Robinson (103-101) with Mees third at 93 and Bauman closing to within striking distance at 84. Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) secured his second victory of the ‘24 season in an action-packed Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER Main Event that saw the tables turned more than once. Polesitter, points leader, and double defending champion Kody Kopp (No. 1 Rick Ware Racing/Parts Plus KTM 450 SX-F) was immediately shuffled back to fifth off the line while Chase Saathoff (No. 88 JPG Motorsports Honda CRF450R) jumped at the opportunity to potentially run away with a second career victory after finally earning his maiden win last time out in Texas. While Saathoff built up an early second-plus advantage at the front, Drane, Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 D&D Racing/Certified KTM 450 SX-F), Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), Kopp, and Logan Eisenhard (No. 66 Hannum’s Harley-Davidson KTM 450 SX-F) formed a big second group, each one trying to find a way to respond to the leader’s immediate pace. Gauthier was the first to find it, slowly closing the gap to first, taking back approximately a tenth each time around the tight circuit. But by the time he found his way onto the Honda pilot’s rear wheel, he found himself under assault by a charging Drane. Gauthier was unable to provide much resistance, giving way to the Australian ace in short order, a fate Saathoff would suffer himself moments later with Drane slamming through to grab the lead. Saathoff attempted to counter but Drane rebuffed the attempt and then proceeded to make his escape; the Yamaha runner ultimately worked up a 1.394-second margin by the time he took the checkered flag. “At the start of the race, I had to really work hard and figure a few things out,” Drane said. “Toward the end I started finding some lines that really worked. (Once in front) I wasn’t letting (Saathoff) him back through. I was making sure I was making that move happen. I can’t thank my whole team enough. We had that bike dialed from the start of the day. We continued to chip away at it and got it better and better. The team put in a really big effort and we’re here now.” While Drane cleared off, Gauthier jumped on Saathoff and promptly created his own separation on the way to second. Lowe and Kopp piled on from there with the Turner Honda rider stealing away the final spot on the box and Rick Ware Racing star pushing his title rival down to the fifth in the final order. As a result, Kopp continues to lead the championship chase, now by 14 points over Drane (108-94) with Saathoff now far behind in third (90). |
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| DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (April 27, 2024)
– Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750)
successfully defended his team’s home turf in a spectacular Mission
SuperTwins Main Event to headline Saturday night’s Mission Texas
Half-Mile presented by Al Lamb’s Dallas Honda and Roof Systems of
Dallas, Round 4 of the 2024 Progressive American Flat Track season,
sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing. A victory at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas, was always the dream result for the locally-based Mission Roof Systems outfit, but Robinson would have to go through both nine-time Grand National Champion Jared Mees (No. 1 Rogers Racing/SDI Racing/Indian Motorcycle FTR750) and premier-class phenom Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) to do so. Estenson ace Daniels blasted into the lead off the launch and Mees dove up the inside as the two threatened another 1-2 breakaway at the front. Robinson was having none of it, however, tracking the duo down to transform the lead pack into a three-piece before they could shake free. For the next few minutes, the trio traded positions in a flurry of moves before Robinson grasped command as the contest approached half distance. His thoughts of making an escape were upended by brake issues and Mees – the greatest Half-Miler in the history of the series and the winner of the previous three Texas Half-Miles – stormed back alongside Robinson with two to go. Mees attempted an around-the-outside bid to steal away the win on the race’s final corner, but Robinson held firm, edging the factory Indian pilot to the checkered flag by a narrow 0.120-second margin. Daniels came home in third another 0.676 seconds back. “When we unloaded, I was definitely uncomfortable to start the day,” Robinson admitted. “Huge shout out to Ben Evans and Kayl Kolkman – they got me dialed-in. That race was epic. I’ve never really had a firm grasp on this place in the past, but tonight was awesome. I was able to use the high line in the beginning to make some moves and get around the guys. From there, I felt really good, but with about four minutes to go, I lost brakes, which was not fun. But we weathered that storm. It’s awesome to start the season the way we have. Big thanks to Mission Foods and Jerry Stinchfield at Roof Systems – they make our program happen.” Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing Indian FTR750) came out on top of a two-rider fight for fourth that also included two-time Mission SuperTwins champ Briar Bauman (No. 3 Rick Ware Racing/KTM/Parts Plus KTM 790 Duke). Jarod Vanderkooi (No. 20 JMC Motorsports/Fairway Ford Ohio Indian FTR750) crossed the line clear in sixth, while Max Whale (No. 18 Latus Motors Racing/Liqui Moly Harley-Davidson XG750R), Brandon Price (No. 92 Memphis Shades/Corbin/OTBR Yamaha MT-07), Johnny Lewis (No. 10 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650), and Declan Bender (No. 70 GOMR/BriggsAuto.com/Martin Trucking Indian FTR750) completed the top ten in that order. After failing to win a race in 2023, Robinson became the first rider to claim a second Mission SuperTwins victory in 2024. He also took control of the championship lead in the process, as Robinson now leads Daniels by four points (86-82). Mees remains well within striking distance at 75 points in his quest to secure an unprecedented tenth GNC. Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER It turns out 13 was the lucky number for Chase Saathoff (No. 88 JPG Motorsports Honda CRF450R) in his protracted, often excruciating, pursuit of a maiden Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER win. After having previously notched up 12 podiums – half of those runners-up – Saathoff at last secured that elusive win, even if it didn’t play out quite the way he had envisioned. In fact, the Parts Unlimited AFT Singles Main Event felt as if it was actively attempting to derail Saathoff’s luck as opposed to indulging it. After showcasing race-winning speed throughout the day, Saathoff’s bid was pushed until the end of the day when inclement weather forced a reshuffling of the schedule. And when it did finally take place, the Main was red-flagged no less than three times – each one with Saathoff in the lead – due to a combination of precipitation and crashes. The race was ultimately called complete with just over one minute remaining on the clock. As a result, Saathoff was awarded the win despite being robbed of the satisfaction of crossing the finish line in first. Saathoff said, “It was crazy for sure. Every time there was a red flag, I’d just try to go over and control my thoughts. I pulled through with like four holeshots and can’t be more stoked with this, I would say, ‘win.’ I got the holeshot and led all of the race, but I would have liked to have taken the checkered flag. But I’ll take it. I’m not ashamed of it. I’d like to thank everybody so much for all their support.” Title fighters Kody Kopp (No. 1 Rick Ware Racing/Parts Plus KTM 450 SX-F) and Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) were credited in second and third after charging their way forward – Kopp in particular after running as low as eighth in the early going. Kopp still holds a commanding lead with 92 points, while Saathoff’s breakthrough win elevated him into second (75) followed by Drane in third (69). |
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| DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 8, 2024)
– Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof SystemsIndian FTR750)
successfully defended his adopted home turf to reign in Friday’s
Mission SuperTwins Main Event to conclude a hugely entertaining Royal
Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA II at the Daytona International Speedway
Short Track. Robinson had to overcome potential Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, history in order to do so, forced to chase down an in-form Sammy Halbert (No. 69 Dodge Bros. Racing/Castrol Harley-Davidson XR750) to get the win. Halbert actually led the opening six-and-a-half minutes of the Main Event after earlier winning his heat race and the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge a full 53 years, 10 months, and five days after Mert Lawwill took the iconic Harley-Davidson XR750 to its maiden win at the Cumberland Half-Mile. Following an extended pursuit, the Mission Roof Systems pilot finally dove up the inside of Dodge Bros.-backed Halbert, who then was thrown out of his saddle after encountering a bump while off his usual line. Undeterred, Halbert nearly clawed his way back within striking distance before at last conceding the race to Robinson in its final minute. The victory was the fourth of Robinson’s career at the DAYTONA Short Track, moving him equal with Friday adversary Halbert for most all-time at the event. Afterward, Robinson, who originally hails from Pennsylvania but now resides just fifteen minutes from the World Center of Racing, unsurprisingly professed his affection for the track. He said, “This feels amazing. It feels like forever since I’ve won a race. Going winless last year really (made me angry) to be honest. I came to the Main with a chip on my shoulder. I love this place. I love Daytona. Something about this dirt – it’s the greatest dirt in the world as far as I’m concerned… This is a dream ending to the week.” Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT), himself the winner of the three prior premier-class showdowns at the venue, battled with Robinson and hunted Halbert over the Main’s opening half before falling into the clutches of the resurgent Briar Bauman (No. 3 Rick Ware Racing/KTM/Parts Plus KTM 790 Duke). The two then traded third multiple times – a melee complete with crisscrossing lines and squared-up counters – before Daniels laid claim on the spot for good. He finished a little more than a second ahead of Bauman with reigning Grand National Champion Jared Mees (No. 1 Rogers Racing/SDI Racing/Indian Motorcycle FTR750) not far behind in fifth. Sixth went to Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing Indian FTR750) a short distance ahead of Jarod Vanderkooi (No. 20 JMC Motorsports/Fairway Ford Ohio Indian FTR750) in seventh. Premier-class rookies Trevor Brunner (No. 21 Mission Foods/Zanotti Racing KTM 790 Duke) and Max Whale (No. 18 Latus Motors Racing/Liqui Moly Harley-Davidson XG750R) finished eighth and tenth, respectively, with Thursday runner-up Brandon Price (No. 92 Memphis Shades/Corbin/OTBR Yamaha MT-07) sandwiched in between. Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) rebounded from his Thursday disappointment to claim a dominating win in Friday’s Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER rematch. The young Australian ripped out to the holeshot in the restart that followed an early red flag and immediately stretched out a second-plus advantage at the front. Meanwhile, triple Daytona ST winner and double defending class champion Kody Kopp (No. 1 Rick Ware Racing/Parts Plus KTM 450 SX-F) moved up from third into second after working past impressive sophomore Logan Eisenhard (No. 66 Hannum’s Harley-Davidson KTM 450 SX-F) with five of the race’s scheduled six minutes still on the clock. With clear air in front of him and plenty of time to work with, Kopp’s attempts to close the gap saw him make minor inroads on Drane’s advantage for a spell. But despite the determined effort, the Yamaha ace’s speed and consistency ultimately won out to the tune of a 1.951-second margin of victory at the checkered flag. The victory was Drane’s first in the Short Track discipline, after previously winning three Miles and a Half-Mile. He said, “This means so much to finally get a Short Track win. I’d struggled a lot with these, but I just kept working and chipping away. I put all that effort in to try to become good (at them) so I can fight for the title this year.” Eisenhard kept his head down in search of a maiden Progressive AFT podium and very nearly pulled it off. However, he was swallowed up and then pushed aside in rapid succession by a pair of the category’s established stars, Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 D&D Racing/Certified KTM 450 SX-F) and Chase Saathoff (No. 88 JPG Motorsports Honda CRF450R) with just 30 seconds still on the clock. Gauthier then fended off Saathoff to secure his second podium of the young ’24 season. Despite losing out on his podium bid, Eisenhard did hold on to finish inside the top five even with Justin Jones (No. 91 J&H Racing Husqvarna FC 450), Aiden RoosEvans (No. 26 FRA Trust/ATV’s and More Yamaha YZ450F), and James Ott (No. 19 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450) running just behind in close formation. Heralded rookie Evan Renshaw (No. 265 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) finished ninth, one spot in front of his charging Turner Honda teammate, Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), whose early-race crash prompted the aforementioned red flag. In the Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race Main, Kenzie Luker (No. 17 Royal Enfield/Parts Unlimited) edged Thursday winner Taia Little (No. 11 Royal Enfield/Parts Unlimited) by 0.275 seconds for the Friday victory. Next Up: The 2024 Progressive American Flat Track season will resume on Saturday, March 23, with the Yamaha Senoia Short Track at Senoia Raceway in Senoia, Georgia. To secure your tickets today, please visit https://www.americanflattrack.com/events/2024/view/senoia-short-track-2024. For those that can’t catch the live action from the circuit, FloRacing is the live streaming home of Progressive AFT. Sign up now and catch every second of on-track action starting with Practice & Qualifying and ending with the Victory Podium at the end of the night at http://flosports.link/aft. FOX Sports coverage of the Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA I will premiere on FS1 on Saturday, March 16, at 9:30 a.m. ET (6:30 a.m. PT), while the Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA II will air the following day, Sunday, March 17, at 12:00 p.m. ET (9:00 a.m. PT). For more information on Progressive AFT visit https://www.americanflattrack.com |
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| DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 7,
2024) – The opening Mission SuperTwins victory of the 2024 Progressive
American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, season went to
Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) in a Royal
Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA I that contained far more drama than
Daniels’ final 3.769-second margin of victory would seem to indicate. For much of the night – including the opening half of the Main Event – the fans that packed the Daytona International Speedway Flat Track grandstands thought they just might just witness Sammy Halbert (No. 69 Dodge Bros. Racing/Castrol Harley-Davidson XR750) give the iconic Harley-Davidson XR750 its 503rd Grand National Championship race win more than five decades after its first. In fact, Halbert topped a session in both practice and qualifying, won his heat race, and then proved victorious in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge aboard the venerable machine. He followed that up by grabbing the holeshot in the Main Event and then stretching open more than a second’s worth of padding at the front. That advantage was further aided by the stiff fight Brandon Price (No. 92 Memphis Shades/Corbin/OTBR Yamaha MT-07) provided all comers while running second despite the likes of Daniels, Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750), and Briar Bauman (No. 3 Rick Ware Racing/KTM/Parts Plus KTM 790 Duke) all seeking a way through. Daniels finally managed to make a pass that stuck a little over six minutes remaining on the clock and immediately went about eating up the gap to Halbert. However, what promised to be a thrilling dogfight for victory was spoiled when Halbert’s machine began to smoke heavily with half of the race still remaining. The Estenson Racing Yamaha ace dove through to steal away first. Moments later, the black flag was (first) shown to Halbert, who continued to push for several laps before finally heeding the instruction. Halbert’s misfortune saw Price move back up into second with Bauman third, while Daniels weaved his way through traffic out front en route to victory. After the contest, Daniels – who will now look to equal last year’s season-opening double victory at the venue – said, “This track was so technical. It was nothing like last year where you could just kinda go in and get it on. What a ride for the team. We kind of struggled all day, and I was just chipping away. I started catching up to Sammy, and he started to blow up and coolant was getting in my face. (Once in front), I started looking back a lot. For some reason I got nervous, but the last five laps, I really buckled down and those were my fastest laps of the race. “After Springfield, we left a little bitter. It didn’t feel good. That whole offseason we worked hard. To get three in a row at Daytona feels good. That Main Event, I had so much fun plugging away. I would prefer to get the holeshot and be out front but being able to come through and dig my way to the front felt good.” Price held on for a most welcome runner-up finish in his all-new team’s maiden outing, while Robinson moved through on a fading Bauman to earn the final spot on the podium. In fact, Bauman’s tumble down the order wouldn’t end there, as he was also displaced by Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing Indian FTR750), nine-time Grand National Champion Jared Mees (No. 1 Rogers Racing/SDI Racing/Indian Motorcycle FTR750), and Jarod Vanderkooi (No. 20 JMC Motorsports/Fairway Ford Ohio Indian FTR750) before finishing seventh in the end. Cameron Smith (No. 34 RVR/KTM/Schaefer’s Motorsport KTM 790 Duke) picked up eighth, one spot ahead of Dan Bromley (No. 62 Big Red Super Twins/Al Lamb’s Dallas Honda Transalp), who took ninth in the new Honda-powered effort’s debut. Mission SuperTwins rookie Trevor Brunner (No. 21 Mission Foods/Zanotti Racing KTM 790 Duke) completed the top ten. Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER Double defending Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER champion Kody Kopp (No. 1 Rick Ware Racing/Parts Plus KTM 450 SX-F) opened his quest for an unprecedented third class crown in near-perfect fashion, walking away with the Main Event after earlier winning both his heat and the Al Lamb’s Dallas Honda Challenge. It was a fine way to not just start his title defense but also an all-new partnership after joining the Rick Ware Racing outfit just days prior to the opener. While Kopp claimed the checkered flag running alone in the end, it wasn’t quite that simple in the doing. Despite grabbing the holeshot, he was actually overhauled by former class champ Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 D&D Racing/Certified KTM 450 SX-F) before completing the first lap. Gauthier then pulled some space at the front while Kopp had his hands full with projected title rivals Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) and Chase Saathoff (No. 88 JPG Motorsports Honda CRF450R). But Kopp found his groove at mid-distance, putting in a charge that allowed him to reclaim the lead and power forward to secure the victory by 1.502 seconds over Gauthier. “We just kept our heads on straight the whole offseason,” said Kopp. “I love this track, and I love Daytona. Huge shout out to Rick Ware for coming on the program a little over a week ago. We pulled it together, and we got a win tonight. Wally Brown built one heck of a KTM 450 – arguably even better than the factory bikes I might say.” Meanwhile, the final spot on the box went to neither Drane – who crashed on the last lap and was ultimately credited in 15th – nor Saathoff. Rather it was Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), who finished third by battling his way back through the pack after being pushed wide and well down the order in the early stages of the Main. Saathoff finished fourth another 0.309 seconds back with Justin Jones (No. 91 J&H Racing Husqvarna FC 450) rounding out the top five. Tyler Raggio (No. 55 Raggio Racing/Sluggo Racing KTM 450 SX-F), James Ott (No. 19 1st Impressions/Media HT Husqvarna FC450), Travis Petton IV (No. 82 ECG Racing/A.M Ortega KTM 450 SX-F), Jared Lowe (No. 63 BigR/Little Debbie Racing Honda CRF450R), and Logan Eisenhard (No. 66 Hannum’s Harley-Davidson KTM 450 SX-F) finished sixth through tenth, respectively. Earlier in the evening, Taia Little (No. 11 Royal Enfield/Parts Unlimited) kicked off the Main Event program by winning the Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race. season opener in runaway fashion. Next Up: The world's premier dirt track motorcycle racing series will return to action tomorrow night with the second half of the double opener, the Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA II. Visit https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack/events/daytona-short-track-ii-86992 to secure your tickets now. For those that can’t catch the live action from the circuit, FloRacing is the live streaming home of Progressive AFT. Sign up now and catch every second of on-track action starting with Practice & Qualifying and ending with the Victory Podium at the end of the night at http://flosports.link/aft. FOX Sports coverage of the Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA I will premiere on FS1 on Saturday, March 16, at 9:30 a.m. ET (6:30 a.m. PT), while the Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA II will air the following day, Sunday, March 17, at 12:00 p.m. ET (9:00 a.m. PT) |
| DAYTONA
BEACH, Fla. (September 3, 2023) – Jared Mees (No. 1 Indian
Motorcycle/Rogers Racing/SDI Racing FTR750) strengthened his case for
consideration as the greatest rider in the history of Progressive
American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, securing a third
consecutive Grand National Championship in Sunday’s season-ending
Mission Springfield Mile II presented by Drag Specialties at the
Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Illinois. Mees’ hopes of ending his spectacular 2023 atop the podium were foiled, however, by two-time Mission SuperTwins presented by S&S Cycle champ Briar Bauman (No. 3 Parts Plus/Jacob Companies KTM 790 Duke), who edged his great rival to the season’s final checkered flag by 0.075 seconds. Bauman and Mees slipped free first from title challenger Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) and then Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750) to settle into a two-rider duel for the contest’s second half. The back-and-forth affair remained in question right up to that last charge to the stripe where Bauman earned his first-career Springfield Mile victory and Mees added to his legend. While the season belonged to Mees, Bauman’s stunning finale served as an enticing sneak preview of what could be in store for the series in 2024. Bauman said, “The team had a never-quit attitude. It’s always different when you’re in a position to wrap up a championship, which Jared was, so he might have been doing things a little bit different, but nonetheless, it’s a win to me. Life has been a little bit different recently. We lost my mom eight months ago and she hasn’t missed a race in five years. Lima kind of snuck up on me – I was surprised we won – but today when I came across the checkered flag, the emotions rolled out of me.” Despite having been pit up against multiple generations of dirt track titans over the past two decades – from Chris Carr to Kenny Coolbeth to Jake Johnson to Brad Baker to Bryan Smith to Bauman and now Daniels – Mees has stacked up a résumé that stands alongside any previously assembled in the 70-year history of the championship. The factory Indian superstar now boasts an incredible nine Grand National Championships (2009, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022, and 2023), equaling the great Scott Parker for most all time. Mees said, “It’s what you wake up for every day. It’s what you train for. Hats off to Scottie Parker – that’s the guy that keeps me going. He kept me going year after year, race after race. He’s still the best in my book, and it’s an honor to match something that he did. “So many people contributed to this. I’m a little lost for words for once. I had a really good feeling we were going to get it – we were really fast all weekend long. I wanted to try to win that last one. But I went into that last lap and when Briar ran up underneath me, I was like, ‘Dude, I’m bringing it home.’ I just followed him right off the corner and he brought me to the line, and that was good enough for me. We’re going to let this one soak in.” Some five seconds back, Daniels tracked down Robinson while simultaneously being reeled in by JD Beach (No. 95 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) and Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing Indian FTR750). From there a four-rider fight for third was waged to the end. The same way a tenth victory would have been a fitting conclusion to Mees’ season, a 16th podium would have been a natural way to end Daniels’ remarkable sophomore campaign. Of course, the racing gods aren’t often supporters of such contrivances, and thus Fisher earned the last step on the podium by 0.024 seconds ahead of Daniels with Robinson and Beach just behind in fifth and sixth, respectively. Fisher’s second top three of the season allowed him to secure a spot in the championship top five (257) behind Mees (388), Daniels (372), Beach (301), and Bauman (299), and end the year as the top independent Indian. Daniels, meanwhile, completes 2023 with a five-win, 15-podium runner-up season and now armed with plenty of motivation and hard-earned experience heading into 2024. Bronson Bauman (No. 37 Fastrack Racing/2 Wheelz KTM 790 Duke) finished seventh on Sunday, with Ben Lowe (No. 25 Rackley Racing/Mission Foods Indian FTR750), Henry Wiles (No. 17 BriggsAuto.com/Martin Trucking Indian FTR750), and Jarod Vanderkooi (No. 20 JMC Motorsports/Fairway Ford Indian FTR750) completing the finale top ten. Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER Even though Kody Kopp (No. 1 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-F) locked up a repeat Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER crown a day early, the class did not lack for drama in its final outing of the year. Nine riders ran in contention for victory for the full ten laps and two minutes of the epic finale, running five wide and swapping positions all the while. As unpredictable as it was, throughout it all the top three positions were dominated by the usual suspects: Kopp, Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F), and Chase Saathoff (No. 88 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R). Drane took the white flag in the lead with Kopp on his rear wheel. But before any Saturday flashbacks could fully materialize, Saathoff blew past Kopp and dove under his Aussie rival entering Turn 3 for the final time. The Honda ace leapt out of Turn 4 with his maiden victory in his sights, but his ascension to Progressive AFT winner status was cruelly delayed once again when Drane powered ahead to steal the win at the line by 0.043 seconds. The victory was Drane’s fourth of the season and more than enough to leapfrog his teammate and Sunday fourth-place finisher Trevor Brunner (No. 21 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) for second position in the final standings. Drane said, “This means a lot to do it here, at Springfield, with some Aussie fans out there. My career pretty much started at this track. I can’t thank my whole team enough for all their effort to get us here.” The near miss was Saathoff’s ninth podium of the season and his sixth runner-up. Meanwhile, two-time champion Kopp finished third to round out his incredible eight-win season with an 11th podium. Morgen Mischler (No. 13 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), Declan Bender (No. 216 Killer Bee Racing/Luczak Racing KTM 450 SX-F), and James Ott (No. 19 1st Impressions Race Team/Husqvarna Racing FC450) finished fractions of a second back in fifth through eighth, respectively. Kopp’s teammate, Max Whale (No. 18 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-F), crossed the stripe as the final rider in the lead pack, registering a ninth-place result despite finishing only 0.637 seconds off the victory. The result was still stout enough to hold onto a championship top-five ranking, however, with an ultimate class order of Kopp (351), Drane (310), Brunner (305), Saathoff (291), and Whale (266). |
| DAYTONA
BEACH, Fla. (September 2, 2023) – Reigning Grand National Champion
Jared Mees (No. 1 Indian Motorcycle/Rogers Racing/SDI Racing FTR750)
took a huge step toward yet another premier-class crown with a
triumphant performance in the Mission Springfield Mile I presented by
Drag Specialties. While fans of Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, flocked to the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Illinois, in anticipation of a showdown for Mission SuperTwins presented by S&S Cycle supremacy featuring Mees and challenger Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT), Saturday’s contest instead delivered a flashback to Grand National Championships past. As it was, Mees was pushed to the checkered flag by long-time rival Briar Bauman (No. 3 Parts Plus/Jacob Companies KTM 790 Duke) after the two shook free from a six-rider pack to decide the race between them. The factory Indian star dug in with two laps remaining and ripped open a late 0.340-second margin as he moved that much closer to completing another successful title defense. Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750) finished third after coming on strong in the early going, running around the outside of Daniels, JD Beach (No. 95 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT), Bauman, and Mees in quick succession to briefly claim the lead three minutes into the race. Robinson then ran in close formation with Mees and Bauman before fading to a distant third over the final five minutes, ultimately surviving a last-gasp assault from Beach to claim final place on the podium. Meanwhile, for the first – and least opportune – time this season, Daniels simply lacked podium pace. He did what he could to cling on to the lead group but was dropped from contention by the race’s halfway point. From there forward, it became all about damage limitation, which he managed by fending off Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing Indian FTR750) for fifth position. Even so, what had been a one-point championship deficit is now 11 (367-356). As Mees holds the tiebreaker, that means even if Daniels turns his fortunes around overnight and wins on Sunday, Mees needs only finish sixth or better to add yet another championship trophy to his already expansive collection. While nothing is guaranteed, that seems like a relatively modest task for the winner of six of the last Springfield Miles. After claiming his ninth victory of the year, Mees said, “It was the most technical Springfield Mile I’ve ever raced. There wasn’t much grip out there, and you really had to let the motorcycle hook up. If you got just a little bit excited you buzzed it up. Honestly, it’s probably the very first Springfield Mile that you were better off leading the race because you could be timid, and if the guy behind you wanted to wick it up, it would spin up. “I’ve got a phenomenal team, and we’re working really hard to get this thing done… It feels really good, but there’s one more tomorrow. Anything can happen, and we’ve got to bring it.” Ben Lowe (No. 25 Rackley Racing/Mission Foods Indian FTR750) finished seventh just ahead of KTM-mounted Jarod Vanderkooi (No. 20 Wally Brown Racing/JMC Motorsports KTM 790 Duke), while Henry Wiles (No. 17 BriggsAuto.com/Martin Trucking Indian FTR750) and Johnny Lewis (No. 10 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650) completed the top ten. Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER Kody Kopp (No. 1 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-F) had every opportunity to cruise around to a safe fifth, which is all he needed to do to successfully defend his Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER title. Instead, he orchestrated a breathtaking 0.010-second victory to lock down the #1 plate for the second consecutive year in supreme style. Kopp ran third for much of the race, tucked in close behind a back-and-forth dogfight waged by fellow prodigies Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) and Chase Saathoff (No. 88 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R). The reigning champ began to slot into second here and there as the minutes ticked away. With two minutes to go, the race bunched up to a six-rider affair as second-ranked Trevor Brunner (No. 21 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F), rookie ace Declan Bender (No. 216 Killer Bee Racing/Luczak Racing KTM 450 SX-F), and veteran pilot Morgen Mischler (No. 13 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) all closed to within striking distance. But even in close quarters, the battle for victory still looked to be decided between Drane and Saathoff. Drane led to open the final lap, Saathoff powered by as they navigated Turn 2, and Drane dove back into the lead entering 3. But right there was Kopp in the shadow of the Australian, perfectly positioned to pounce as they sprinted to the line. Kopp pulled out of the draft and nudged ahead by inches at the last possible moment. The 0.01-second victory saw the factory Red Bull KTM star simultaneously become just the category’s second two-time champion, earn his first-career Mile triumph, and match Dallas Daniels’ class single-season victory record with his eighth win on the year. “I don’t even know what to say,” said Kopp. “It’s no secret that the KTM team was struggling on the Miles this year, but we’ve got some guys in our corner that don’t give up. The guys on the team want to win as badly as I do, and they built us a heck of a runner this weekend. Second championship… I’m speechless. It’s insane.” Drane came away with his ninth podium in his last 11 attempts in second, while Saathoff will carry his pursuit of a maiden victory over to Sunday after finishing third, just 0.092 seconds off the Saturday win. Brunner and Mischler rounded out the top five, finishing just ahead of Bender, who made a huge push for Rookie of the Year honors by finishing sixth, less than seven-tenths back of Kopp in first. While Kopp has now clinched the crown with 333 points, the fight for second is yet to be decided. Brunner stands a mere four points ahead of his Estenson Racing teammate Drane (289-285) for the honor, while Saathoff holds an outside shot himself at 270. |
| DAYTONA
BEACH, Fla. (August 12, 2023) – Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing
Yamaha MT-07 DT) closed the 2023 Grand National Championship battle to
a single point with a clutch victory in Saturday’s CertainTeed Castle
Rock TT presented by Law Tigers as Progressive American Flat Track,
sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, put on a show before another massive
crowd at Castle Rock Race Park in Castle Rock, Washington. Mission SuperTwins presented by S&S Cycle title hopeful Daniels needed a win in the worst way and he got it the unexpected way. His Estenson Racing teammate, JD Beach (No. 95 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) – winner of eight of the series’ previous nine TTs – took the holeshot and immediately checked out at the front. Daniels, meanwhile, was briefly shuffled back to fourth, running alongside Briar Bauman (No. 3 Parts Plus/Jacob Companies KTM 790 Duke) and, more crucially, reigning champion Jared Mees (No. 1 Indian Motorcycle/Rogers Racing/SDI Racing FTR750). Daniels dove in front of Bauman almost immediately and then set his sights on Mees as Beach continued to disappear. The rising star didn’t wait long to make his move, pouncing on his title rival with more than eight minutes remaining on the clock to take control of second position. Moments later, Bauman crashed while disputing fourth. That shock twist was merely a teaser for the race-shaking drama set to come, however, as race leader Beach lost the front entering the switchback section approximately 30 seconds later. Daniels inherited the lead and went about building his own insurmountable advantage at the front. The focus of the contest then shifted to Beach’s comeback after picking up his fallen machine. Beach stormed around the outside of Johnny Lewis (No. 10 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650) with little delay to elevate himself back into a podium position. He then looked to reel in Mees, who was nearly four seconds in front of him. The TT titan finally arrived on the rear wheel of Mees’ factory Indian with just a minute remaining. However, what felt like an inevitable pass became an impossible one after Beach made a minor slip just as the clocks hit 0:00. That small miscue provided the defending champ with just enough breathing space to survive the final two laps and retain second to the stripe. Mees’ effort to hold on was every bit as critical as Daniels’ to win – and arguably as critical as any of his eight wins this season. As a result, Mees goes into the Springfield doubleheader finale holding both a one-point lead (342-341) and the tiebreaker, shifting the lion’s share of the pressure to his young adversary. The victory saw Daniels complete the elusive Grand Slam in just his second premier-class season, adding a TT win to his prior Mile, Half-Mile, and Short Track triumphs. Afterward, he said, “As a little kid, I dreamed of being in this position. Just having a chance going into these last two (races) is amazing. I’m not like super excited because I didn’t want to win my first TT that way; obviously I know you’ve got to get to the finish line first. If I was going to beat JD, I wanted to do it straight up. I was so bummed to see him go down just because I don’t want to win that way. “But I’m so pumped to get that win. It was a crazy Main Event… I was so nervous. I was looking back a whole lot. I know Earl Hayden is up there, reaming me right now. If he could call me after this, he’d be yelling at me. But it was good. The Estenson Racing Monster Energy Yamaha was working great. We knew what we had to do coming in here and we wanted to win.” The sport’s all-time TT master, Henry Wiles (No. 17 BriggsAuto.com/Martin Trucking Indian FTR750), charged his way up to fourth with Oregonian Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing Indian FTR750) coming home in fifth. Three-time Castle Rock TT winner Sammy Halbert (No. 69 Martin Trucking/Castrol Yamaha MT-07) took sixth, followed by Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750), Lewis, and Ben Lowe (No. 25 Rackley Racing/Mission Foods Indian FTR750), while local hero Scooter Vernon (No. 274 Hovey Racing/Stace Richmand KTM 790 Duke) rounded out the top ten. Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER Trevor Brunner (No. 21 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) earned his second win of the 2023 Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER season in a tense ride that saw him on the defensive from green light to checkered flag. Brunner got the launch off the line to grab the lead entering the opening corner and then spent the next eight minutes and two laps doing everything possible to hold onto that position despite the application of relentless pressure from last year’s Castle Rock TT winner, Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 D&D Racing/Certified KTM 450 SX-F). But their duel was not theirs alone. At half-distance, what had been a four-rider stack at the front that also included Tanner Dean (No. 38 Walrath Racing/Hovey Racing Honda CRF450R) and Max Whale (No. 18 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-F) became a five-rider affair with the addition of Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F). And then with a minute remaining, Chase Saathoff (No. 88 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) arrived to transform it to a tight six-rider fight for the victory. With less than 30 seconds to go, Brunner finally made the mistake Gauthier was desperately attempting to force. But rather than pounce, he responded by nearly losing the front himself and was instead displaced to third by Dean. However, Gauthier somehow willed a path right back past into second and did so in time to line up a last-corner overtaking attempt on Brunner – a bid that came up 0.202 seconds short. Brunner, who also won the Peoria TT, said, “We just trusted the process. The lines we were doing all day were working really well. I heard (Gauthier) the entire race, just breathing down my neck. But I just remained consistent and held my lines. I had one bobble going into the tight left and just about lost it. But I gathered it back up real quick and put in some more smooth laps and got it done. It feels so good. This is probably my favorite track on the circuit so it really feels good to get a win here.” Home state hero Dean held on in third to go from retirement to the podium, while Whale, Drane, and Saathoff followed close behind in fourth, fifth, and sixth, respectively. 1st Impressions Husqvarna teammates James Ott (No. 19 1st Impressions Race Team/Husqvarna Racing FC450) and Chad Cose (No. 49 1st Impressions Race Team/Husqvarna Racing FC450) finished in seventh and eighth in that order, followed by Aiden RoosEvans (No. 26 A1R Racing/FRA Trust Honda CRF450R). Meanwhile, defending Parts Unlimited AFT Singles champion Kody Kopp (No. 1 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-F) finished an uncharacteristic tenth in front of his home fans. While he came in with visions of locking up the championship, it was a fitting end to a difficult day that saw Kopp advance to the Main Event through the LCQ and then spend the bulk of the Main running just outside the top ten. But despite matching his worst finish of the season, Kopp continues to dominate the points standings, now 35 points up on second-ranked Brunner (308-273) with just 50 points left in play. |
| DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (July 30, 2023)
– JD Beach (No. 95 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) strengthened his
claim as one of the greatest TT riders in the long history of
Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing on Sunday
afternoon. The Estenson Racing hero was his spectacular self in the
76th running of the World Famous SC2 Peoria TT presented by Country
Saloon, once again dominating at the Peoria Motorcycle Club in Peoria,
Illinois. While obvious in hindsight, that end result wasn’t quite so easy to predict while the day unfolded. Reigning Mission SuperTwins presented by S&S Cycle king Jared Mees (No. 1 Indian Motorcycle/Rogers Racing/SDI Racing FTR750) was fastest in practice, Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) took control during qualifying, and Briar Bauman (No. 3 Parts Plus/Jacob Companies KTM 790 Duke) won the four-lap Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, but come the Main Event it was all Beach. Beach then seemingly robbed the race of all drama from the start, slotting into the lead off the line and clearing off at the front. Even the race behind Beach settled into a seemingly processional affair – emphasis on “seemingly” – as Daniels held down second, followed by Bauman and Mees. But with Beach several seconds out in front and just one lap and one corner to go, the championship chase was thrown with a wicked curveball. Positioned to stretch out his points lead, Daniels lost the front and crashed from the race, bringing out a very late red flag. However, when presented with the threat of a title-sinking disaster, his crew rose to the occasion, repairing the #32 bike’s broken shifter with just seconds to spare before the restart. Having lapped all the way up to sixth, Daniels was gifted a most fortunate position on the staggered restart grid. Once back underway, race-long leader Beach survived the three-lap shootout to secure his eighth TT win in his last nine attempts, with Bauman collecting second and Mees taking third. Beach said, “I’ve just got to thank my crew. This day was hard. I felt good all day but my times were only okay. I was sitting third or fourth pretty much all day. In the Main, I was just like, ‘I’ve got to do my work.’ I got a great start and I just kept doing my laps. I messed up once over the jump and I messed up once in Turn 3. I could hear my bike so I thought it was Dallas right on me. It’s a bummer for him and the team for him to go down with two laps to go, but it was a great race.” Bummer, yes, but ultimately, Daniels didn’t just salvage enough points to stay alive, he came home with a solid fifth-place result behind Jarod Vanderkooi (No. 20 JMC Motorsports/Fairway Ford Indian FTR750). Despite losing his title lead and seeing his season-long 13-race podium streak come to an end, the championship hopeful walked away from Peoria facing just a one-point deficit to Mees (296-295) even after the near catastrophe. Peoria TT legend Henry Wiles (No. 17 BriggsAuto.com/Martin Trucking Indian FTR750) was the final rider remaining on the lead lap in sixth, while Johnny Lewis (No. 10 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650), Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing Indian FTR750), Ben Lowe (No. 25 Rackley Racing/Mission Foods Indian FTR750), and Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750) rounded out the top ten, respectively. Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER Trevor Brunner (No. 21 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) scored his first victory of ‘23 in a surprising conclusion to a topsy-turvy Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER Main Event. Prior to a mid-race red flag, teammates Kody Kopp (No. 1 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-F) and Max Whale (No. 18 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-F) had put themselves in first and second. Kopp took the lead after successive overtakes of Estenson Racing teammates Brunner and Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F), while, Whale had a bigger job for himself after slipping back to sixth early despite starting from the front row. By the time Whale stormed around the outside of Drane to move into second, Kopp had opened up nearly a one-second-plus lead at the front. Whale’s uphill climb was made substantially less steep due to the red flag, which resulted in a staggered restart with just over three minutes remaining on the clock. With all of the focus on the reset Red Bull KTM brawl for the win, red-hot Drane had another idea. The up-and-coming Aussie jumped out into the lead and displayed renewed strength, actually pulling away from Kopp, Brunner, and Whale with relative ease. But Drane’s cruise to the checkered flag was interrupted, due to the appearance of a second red flag, which resulted in one final restart with just three laps to determine the winner. This proved to be Brunner’s golden opportunity, after previously looking to be out of victory contention. The Indiana native blasted off the line and won out in the opening-corner melee, seizing the lead ahead of Drane and Kopp. He then held on in the brief showdown to claim the win before his rivals had a chance to mount an effective counter. Drane picked up his seventh podium in his last eight outings by finishing 0.230 seconds behind in second position while Kopp solidified his championship advantage in third. “This is awesome,” Brunner said. “We were pulling starts really well today, but we were having trouble getting out of the ‘flat track’ corners. We were kind of struggling with traction getting out of there, so each restart really benefited me a lot because I was able to come back. The last one, I got a great start and really pulled it out.” Two-time Peoria TT winner Whale came home fourth a little over a second off the win with Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 D&D Racing/Certified KTM 450 SX-F) nipping at his rear wheel in fifth. Meanwhile, Chase Saathoff (No. 88 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) finished sixth with Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), Chad Cose (No. 49 1st Impressions Race Team/Husqvarna Racing FC450), Morgen Mischler (No. 13 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), and Jared Lowe (No. 63 Mission Foods/Helmet House Honda CRF450R) completed the top ten. Kopp still leads by a healthy 40 points over Brunner (273-233) as Drane continued his climb up the order, now ranked third at 228. |
| DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (July 22, 2023)
– Rising star Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT)
claimed a cathartic victory in the Drag Specialties Bridgeport
Half-Mile as Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro
Racing, made an unforgettable debut at Bridgeport Speedway in
Swedesboro, New Jersey. Daniels’ triumph came by a scant 0.095 seconds over his Mission SuperTwins presented by S&S Cycle title rival, Jared Mees (No. 1 Indian Motorcycle/Rogers Racing/SDI Racing FTR750), with JD Beach (No. 95 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT), Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing Indian FTR750), and Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750) all in contention for a win. The victory couldn’t have been better timed for the Estenson Racing ace, as he simultaneously halted Mees’ momentum and reclaimed the title lead, if only by two points (280-278). The outcome was arguably even more important for his psyche after he’d wound up second in a series of prior head-to-head matchups with the legendary rider. Mees, who controlled the middle portion of the race after getting past early leader Beach, was unable to drop the pack the way he did last time out. That’s in part due to the fact that Beach, Daniels, and Fisher – all desperate to prevent that escape from transpiring – continued to attempt to slide underneath Mees. Those attempts would occasionally see a rider other than Mees sneak into first momentarily but never in a way that the lead change stuck. That is until Daniels worked out a high line that allowed him to roll through the corners and power down the straights. That line eventually allowed him to storm past Mees and immediately open a small advantage. But the cagey Mees adapted and closed back in for one last strike. That came in the race’s final corner, where the champ attempted a slide up on the leader’s flank, but Daniels kept it pinned and held Mees at bay by just fractions of a second at the line. The win was Daniels’ first-ever Half-Mile triumph in the premier class, moving him to within a TT win of the Grand Slam. It also saw him up his season-long podium streak to 13 in the process. “It’s been one heckuva year,” a jubilant Daniels said. “These Half-Miles are kind of the kryptonite for the Yamaha and for me on a twin. I remember on the 450, I won like six Half-Miles in a row in 2020, but when I got on a twin, it was kind of difficult. “Jared has just been kicking our butt. He won every Mile and almost all the Half-Miles. This is his forte right here. I had to reach back and grab that one. I was so nervous. That top – you’ve really got to roll it. It’s all about momentum. For a couple laps, I was just trying to get in the lead so I could do it. I knew once I cleared their front, I could roll. It just feels so good. It’s so awesome.” Beach, Fisher, and Robinson finished third through fifth, respectively, with Briar Bauman (No. 3 Parts Plus/Jacob Companies KTM 790 Duke) leading the second half of the top-ten in sixth. Jarod Vanderkooi (No. 20 JMC Motorsports/Fairway Ford Indian FTR750) came home in seventh, followed by Henry Wiles (No. 17 BriggsAuto.com/Martin Trucking Indian FTR750), Ben Lowe (No. 25 Rackley Racing/Mission Foods Indian FTR750), and Cameron Smith (No. 34 Martin Trucking/Fredericktown Yamaha MT-07). Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) continued the torrid start to his Progressive AFT career, scoring a third Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER victory in just 14 attempts. After dominating his heat and Al Lamb’s Dallas Honda Challenge, the young Aussie came into the Main Event as the strong favorite to end the evening atop the box. And while that ultimately proved true, he had to earn it. Drane found himself mired in fifth following a less than ideal opening lap. He then had to work to erase the gap and systematically fight his way through Jared Lowe (No. 63 Mission Foods/Helmet House Honda CRF450R), Chad Cose (No. 49 1st Impressions Race Team/Husqvarna Racing FC450), and Chase Saathoff (No. 88 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) before finally shifting his sights to the race-long leader. That happened to be his teammate, Trevor Brunner (No. 21 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F), who had pulled more than a second on the field in his bid to secure a first win of the season. Drane pushed Brunner’s hope back at least another weekend. He reeled in his Estenson Racing stablemate and then threw a series of slide jobs at him before finally overhauling him in a pass that saw the two make contact mid-corner. Once out front, the Drane freight train continued full steam ahead and he took the checkered flag with nearly a second in hand. Drane said, “I was just working the whole race, trying to catch up. And then right towards the end I got close enough to make the move – I didn’t mean to run into him, but that’s just racing. I can’t thank the whole team for all the work they put in throughout the day. Their work makes this all possible. I’m going to keep it going, keep the confidence up, and go into the next race just like this one.” Max Whale (No. 18 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-F) made it two Aussies in the top three, finishing off his charge up from seventh with a last-corner overtake of Saathoff to steal away the final spot on the podium. Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) executed an impressive climb of his own, battling his way from the LCQ and an early 13th-place position to round out the top five. Lowe’s run up through the field came at the expense of reigning class champion Kody Kopp (No. 1 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-F), who was a tick off his usual form most of the night. The Red Bull KTM star finished sixth after winning the previous three races. But despite the minor dip in form, Kopp still boasts a commanding championship lead, which now stands at 45 points (255-210) over Saathoff. Brunner is a close third with 208 points, while the surging Drane has closed to within striking distance of second as well at 207. |
| DAYTONA
BEACH, Fla. (July 8, 2023) – Jared Mees (No. 1 Indian Motorcycle/Rogers
Racing/SDI Racing FTR750) claimed sole possession of the career Grand
National Championship Half-Mile wins record with a showcase performance
in Saturday night’s Orange County Half-Mile as Progressive American
Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, returned to Orange County
Fair Speedway in Middletown, New York, for the first time in 35 years. The combination of Mees’ immense ability, experience, and support provided the reigning Mission SuperTwins presented by S&S Cycle champion with a decisive edge on a hyper-slick surface that tested the upper limits of the field’s collective skill. Even a late red flag that wiped out the multi-second lead Mees had diligently assembled did little to dent the factory Indian star’s dominance on the evening. He simply powered off the staggered start and marched away while his primary rivals waged war for second behind him. The last time the series visited the century-old venue, the legendary Scott Parker earned one of his record-setting 35 career Half-Mile wins. Mees’ victory tonight was his 36th HM win, which established the new all-time mark. Mees’ monumental night also saw him wrest the points lead away from Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) for the first time this season. Prior to the red flag, the young title hopeful was caught up in a heated scrap for second with the rolling Briar Bauman (No. 3 Parts Plus/Jacob Companies KTM 790 Duke). After the restart, his season-long podium streak came under serious threat with the additions of Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750) and JD Beach (No. 95 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) to the fray. Bauman slashed up to second and controlled the spot to the flag. Afterward, the Rick War Racing ace proclaimed himself a contender from here on out now that the bike is properly dialed, a sentiment backed up by a win, two seconds, a third, and a fourth in his last five attempts. Daniels, meanwhile, had to hustle his way back past Robinson over the race’s final two laps to narrowly finish third, upping his active podium streak to 12 in the process. Still, it wasn’t quite enough to retain his championship standing, as Mees now leads the chase 257-255. After claiming his seventh victory of the season, Mees said, “We’ve just got to keep plucking away. Dallas has been riding phenomenally all year. It’s almost underrated how consistent he’s been this season. It’s making me dig down as deep as I can, and I’m really enjoying the battle. We’ve got a lot of racing to go, and I’ve got a couple tracks coming up that are more his forte than mine with the TTs. It’s an honor to keep the ball rolling, really.” Robinson and Beach completed the top five, while Billy Ross (No. 109 Mission Foods/Roof Systems Kawasaki Ninja 650) took the best finish of his premier-class career in sixth. Jarod Vanderkooi (No. 20 JMC Motorsports/Fairway Ford Indian FTR750) finished seventh, followed by Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing Indian FTR750), Henry Wiles (No. 17 BriggsAuto.com/Martin Trucking Indian FTR750), and Bronson Bauman (No. 37 Fastrack Racing/2 Wheelz KTM 790 Duke), in that order. Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER Kody Kopp (No. 1 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-F) claimed the 13th victory of his Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER career in Saturday’s Orange County Half-Mile, and this one may have been the best yet. The entire evening felt as if it was shaping up as a collision course between Kopp and Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F). While that initially proved true, what wasn’t expected was that their clash would be for second with Chase Saathoff (No. 88 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) blasting away a couple second out in front. Saathoff’s long-awaited maiden Progressive AFT victory was delayed yet again, however. Once in the clear after shaking free of Drane, Kopp set about tracking the Turner Honda pilot down. The KTM star quickly gobbled up the gap and then searched for a way into first. He found one quickly enough although perhaps not exactly as scripted. The defending champ caught a rut in the middle of the corner and was sent wide, forcing Saathoff to chop the throttle to prevent contact. Once into first, Kopp flexed his sheer pace advantage and walked away with his sixth victory of the season. “In clay car-track racing you have to go for those little sliders,” Kopp said of his overtake for the lead. “It worked out. My bike just wheelied and put me straight into the wall. I reached out on the straightaway – put a hand out apologizing. But that’s racing. He’s in the pro class. I guess he was mad about it, but all right.” Drane held on for third ahead of Sathoff’s teammate, Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R). Fifth went to a strong-running Aiden RoosEvans (No. 26 A1R Racing/FRA Trust Honda CRF450R), who pushed his way into the early podium battle before settling in for his best career Parts Unlimited AFT Singles finish to date. Trevor Brunner (No. 21 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) ended up sixth with Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 D&D Racing/Certified KTM 450 SX-F), Tarren Santero (No. 75 Vinson Construction/Eric Hoyt Honda CRF450R), Hunter Bauer (No. 24 BigR Racing/Little Deb Racing Honda CRF450R), and Travis Petton IV (No. 82 ECG Racing/3 Bros KTM 450 SX-F) rounding out the top ten. Kopp’s big title lead got that much bigger with his triumph. He now leads Saathoff by nearly two full races (241-194). |
| DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (July 1, 2023)
– Jared Mees (No. 1 Indian Motorcycle/Rogers Racing/SDI Racing FTR750)
delivered a performance for the ages in Saturday night’s All Seasons
Powersports West Virginia Half-Mile, in what proved to be a memorable
return for Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro
Racing, to Mineral Wells, West Virginia, after nearly two decades away. Mees came to West Virginia Motor Speedway for the first time since 2006 with an opportunity to match fellow legend Scott Parker’s mark for most Half-Mile wins in the long history of the Grand National Championship. But to do so, he understood that he was going to have to overcome the combined challenge of Mission SuperTwins presented by S&S Cycle title leader Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT), Lima Half-Mile conqueror Briar Bauman (No. 3 Parts Plus/Jacob Companies KTM 790 Duke), and Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge winner Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing Indian FTR750) after the four went bar-to-bar minutes earlier in the four-lap dash for cash. The potential adversaries whittled down almost immediately, however, as Fisher wheelied away his prime starting slot from pole and dropped to sixth. Meanwhile, Daniels was only one position further up the order and slotted in behind fellow Yamaha runners JD Beach (No. 95 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) and Dan Bromley (No. 62 HRP Racing/Memphis Shades/Mike Vinson/Corbin Yamaha MT-07). That left just Bauman alone to prevent Mees from escaping at the front. The Rick Ware Racing hero did well to demonstrate his recent success was down to more than simply capitalizing on a series of racetracks well suited to his bike’s strengths, tracking the factory Indian ace down to show him a wheel at half-distance. However, Mees’ relentless excellence ultimately won the day, allowing him to stretch open some breathing space late. In the end, he secured his record-tying 35th-career HM win with a 0.609-second margin of victory. Afterward, Mees said, “It feels really good – this is like my favorite one so far this year. I didn’t feel like we were the fastest guy lining up for that Main Event. We made some game-changing decisions after the dash with the Öhlins rear shock. With not trying something like that all day, you don’t know exactly what to expect, but I have a lot of faith in my team. It was a super finesse-y track – it was really easy to make a mistake and lose your momentum. I thought Briar and Davis were the guys to beat. But I hit my marks every lap, moved around to figure out where Briar was catching me, got my spot and felt the motorcycle hook up and move forward.” Behind, Daniels’ season-long podium streak came under serious threat. He was pressed hard to work his way around Beach and Bromley before being forced to fight his way back up to third after Bromley contacted his rear wheel with four minutes remaining. Both riders came close to hitting the dirt following the incident, which allowed Beach to steal third and Fisher to close in to make for a four-way sprint for the final spot on the box. Daniels ultimately rebounded to keep his perfect top-three run intact. In doing so, he also held on to his points lead, albeit by a slim five-point margin over reigning champion Mees (237-232). Beach followed his teammate home fourth. Fisher picked up fifth, while part-timer Bromley only had a sixth-place finish to show for his impressive outing. Jarod Vanderkooi (No. 20 JMC Motorsports/Fairway Ford Indian FTR750) charged the entire distance in an attempt to make it a five-way scrap for the podium before earning a relatively close seventh. Likewise, Johnny Lewis (No. 10 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650) slashed up to eighth, despite starting from the back of the pack after suffering a mechanical issue during his heat race. Henry Wiles (No. 17 BriggsAuto.com/Martin Trucking Indian FTR750) and Jeffery Lowery (No. 223 Lowery Racing/Gray Hogs Yamaha MT-07) rounded out the top ten. Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER Defending Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER champ Kody Kopp (No. 1 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-F) once again showcased his Half-Mile mastery by scoring the seventh victory of his young career at the distance on Saturday night. And like last week’s win, this one came with considerable effort. From the start, Kopp was embroiled in an evolving melee with Trevor Brunner (No. 21 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) and James Ott (No. 19 1st Impressions Race Team/Husqvarna Racing FC450). With multiple lines working, the three moved up and down the track as they exploited their preferred angles of attack while looking for any possible edge over one another. Brunner pushed into the lead at mid-distance and held a half-second advantage at one point. However, the KTM star put his head down, reeled the Estenson Racing pilot back in, and kept up the momentum once he stormed past on the high line. With a minute remaining on the clock, Kopp held a similar gap of his own, which he then managed to the checkered flag. Kopp said, “The goal all day was to get a good start and try to split… we didn’t do that. Trevor got a great start, and he had a pace that was hard to keep up with. He had this line through 3 and 4 that had us skimming the Airfence every lap. I couldn’t figure that corner out, but I felt like we had him covered in 1 and 2. By the end of it, we kept digging and figured some things out and charged hard. This was a fun track and a fun race.” Brunner finished as the race’s runner-up to earn his first podium since the season opener. He followed by Ott, who faded slightly late en route to his third top three of the season. Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), who joined the battle for the lead momentarily, took a lonely fourth. Meanwhile, his Turner Racing Honda teammate, Chase Saathoff (No. 88 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), won out in a scrap for fifth over Max Whale (No. 18 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-F) and Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F). With five wins to his name in ‘23, Kopp has rebuilt a commanding lead in his title defense, now leading by 40 points (216-176) over Whale. Brunner’s big night sees him move into a tie with Saathoff for third at 173 points. |
| DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (June 24, 2023) –
Two-time Grand National Champion Briar Bauman (No. 3 Parts Plus/Jacob
Companies KTM 790 Duke) took an emotional and historic victory in
Saturday night’s Mission Lima Half-Mile presented by Indian Motorcycle
and Drag Specialties at the Allen County Fairgrounds in Lima, Ohio. Following an often challenging half-season spent developing an all-new racebike for an all-new team, Bauman kicked off the second half of 2023 by claiming the first premier-class victory for a KTM twin in the history of Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing. And that win came at the conclusion of a thrilling Mission SuperTwins presented by S&S Cycle Main Event. Bauman, who earned the crown in 2019 and 2020, spent all ten minutes plus two laps embroiled in a non-stop dogfight with the rider who currently has the inside track on this year’s title, Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT). Bauman and Daniels alternated high and low lines as theft continually swapped the lead, running side-by-side when one or the other wasn’t making a futile attempt to shake loose at the front. And all the while, their engagement threatened to transform the race for the win into a three-rider affair with reigning king Jared Mees (No. 1 Indian Motorcycle/Rogers Racing/SDI Racing FTR750) lurking right around one second back and just waiting for his chance to strike. Finally, with less than minute to go, Bauman seized the upper hand and then refused to allow Daniels a last-gasp bid to steal away his hard-earned win for Rick Ware Racing. The emotion of the victory was further amplified as Bauman reflected on both the recent passing of his mother as well as his triumphant performance at the scene of his maiden Mission SuperTwins win. He said, “I think these guys are probably going to start making fun of me because I think I cry every time I win. But aside from all that, my brother (Bronson) and I lost our mom six months ago last Sunday, and this is where I got my first Twins win. The love that everyone gives in this sport no matter how hard you’re going up against one another… We’re fighting for everything we can get. I just appreciate all these guys a lot more than maybe I used to. “There are so many people who have supported us. To actually get this done… It’s an honor to be a part of this program. I’m just proud, and I know my mom is proud. We did it.” Last year’s Lima HM winner, Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750), outlasted JD Beach (No. 95 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) as the two finished fourth and fifth, respectively, just over eight seconds behind the fight for the win. Sixth went to Bronson Bauman (No. 37 Fastrack Racing/2 Wheelz KTM 790 Duke), who quietly earned his best result yet aboard the Fastrack KTM. Just behind in seventh and eighth were Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing Indian FTR750) and Jarod Vanderkooi (No. 20 JMC Motorsports/Fairway Ford Indian FTR750). Kolby Carlile (No. 36 G&G Racing/Yamaha Racing Yamaha MT-07) finished ninth, while Johnny Lewis (No. 10 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650) completed the top ten in his return to action even after suffering an ugly heat race crash earlier in the evening. Despite falling short of victory, Daniels maintained his season-long perfect podium record and picked up some points in the title fight in the process. He now leads Mees by 12 points (219-207), while Bauman has moved ahead of Beach to take control of third (166-161). Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER Reigning Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER champ Kody Kopp (No. 1 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-F) notched up a timely victory on a night that proved to be a huge boon for his title defense. Kopp came to Lima as the odds-on favorite due to his performance here a year ago, along with his general Half-Mile mastery, but this one did not come easily. Kopp took the holeshot but soon found himself in second and losing ground to rising star Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F). The KTM ace regrouped and successfully countered Drane’s bid to shake free, clawing his way back to the Australian at mid-distance. The two then wove the lead back-and-forth with around three minutes remaining on the clock before Kopp finally got a firm grip on the position. He then stretched open his advantage as the two slithered through lapped traffic, ultimately claiming his fourth victory of the season with more than two seconds in hand. “That was a tough one,” Kopp said. “I got a good start and led it for a couple laps, but Tom is so fast on this stuff, it’s really underrated. We had a heck of a fight, and it was really fun. A lot of hard work went into this one. Those last three Miles were really frustrating as a team in general, but we never gave up and we’re here to fight for a championship.” Kopp and Drane were joined on the podium by the resurgent James Ott (No. 19 1st Impressions Race Team/Husqvarna Racing FC450), who fought off second factory KTM pilot Max Whale (No. 18 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-F) to register his second trophy-earning ride of the season. Drane’s teammate, Trevor Brunner (No. 21 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F), rounded out the top five. Kopp’s championship outlook was further enhanced by the misfortune of Chase Saathoff (No. 88 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), who entered the weekend having closed to within ten points of the title leader. That advantage is significantly greater now, as Saathoff’s momentum was slammed to a halt by a mechanical DNF suffered while running in third position. Kopp’s lead more than tripled as a result, expanding from just nine points to 29 (191-162). His closest challenger shifted as well, with Whale taking over second from Saathoff, who is now ranked third with 158 points after being credited with 19th place in the Main |
| DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (June 17, 2023) –
The man, the myth, the Mile legend; Jared Mees (No. 1 Indian
Motorcycle/Rogers Racing/SDI Racing FTR750) notched up his third
consecutive Mile victory in thrilling fashion at the conclusion of
Saturday night’s DuQuoin Mile. Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, finally made its much-awaited return to DuQuoin State Fairgrounds in DuQuoin, Illinois, and the “Magic Mile” did not disappoint. Reigning Mission SuperTwins presented by S&S Cycle king Mees was forced to pull another rabbit out of his helmet after going back and forth for 12 minutes plus two laps with the superstar trio of Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT), Briar Bauman (No. 3 Parts Plus/Jacob Companies KTM 790 Duke), and Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750). The four swapped positions throughout with none showing an obvious edge. And all four were within touching distance as they exited Turn 2 for the final time, operating almost as if a single entity. But somehow, someway, Mees once again put his name at the top of the results sheet after the pack stormed past the checkered flag. Adding to Mees’ joy was the fact that runner-up Robinson slotted between the winner and points leader Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT), with the Estenson ace pushed outside the top two for the first time all season long despite taking the checkered flag just 0.097 seconds behind Mees. The victory was the 26th Mile win of Mees’ career, breaking a tie with icons Bubba Shobert and Bryan Smith to claim sole possession of third place on the all-time order. He said “This track is so much fun. At the start of the race and in the mid-part, I wasn’t really in my groove; I was spinning it up bad, and I just didn’t have good roll corner speed. I just kind of sat back and saw Briar had some really good lines. I kind of copied some of his stuff and moved around and found home. Hats off to my entire crew for working their butts off and giving me the best motorcycle possible. “I’m really stoked to have won the DuQuoin Mile. I’m happy to have gotten this one off the list.” It was almost unfair, then, that Bauman wasn’t rewarded with a trip to the podium. Despite finishing fourth, the Main Event was his most competitive ride to date on the developing Rick Ware Racing KTM, having led multiple laps and been in with a shot at victory to the very end. Fifth place, meanwhile, was taken in a close fight by JD Beach (No. 95 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) over Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing Indian FTR750), the two finishing just under six seconds back of Mees. They had done all they could to make it a six-rider tilt at the front during the race’s early stages, with Fisher momentarily joining the lead pack before falling back into the clutches of Beach. Seventh went to Jarod Vanderkooi (No. 20 JMC Motorsports/Fairway Ford Indian FTR750) in another duel for position, this one with Bronson Bauman (No. 37 Fastrack Racing/2 Wheelz KTM 790 Duke), while Dan Bromley (No. 62 Memphis Shades/Corbin/Vinson Construction Yamaha MT-07) and Kolby Carlile (No. 36 G&G Racing/Yamaha Racing Yamaha MT-07) rounded out the top ten. Daniels’ perfect podium record still has him leading in the points, but the streaking Mees is now within single digits in second, moving to within nine points of the first (198-189) as the season reaches its halfway point. Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER The prodigious Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) came out on top of a race-long six-rider dogfight for top honors in an unforgettable Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER Main Event. From the very beginning of the contest, it was evident the checkered flag would be decided between Drane, Chase Saathoff (No. 88 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), Max Whale (No. 18 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-F), Kody Kopp (No. 1 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-F), and Trevor Brunner (No. 21 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F). The six factory-backed pilots immediately separated at the front and just as quickly determined they could not separate from one another. Saathoff controlled the pace from the bottom-line for much of the race. But as the minutes ticked away, that control became more and more tenuous as Lowe, Drane, and Whale all took their turns at the front of the group. Drane actually ran in sixth with less than a minute to go but blasted past fellow Aussie Whale to reclaim the lead as the decisive final two laps kicked off. The Estenson pilot managed to hold that position to open the final lap but saw Saathoff dive underneath entering Turn 3, while Lowe powered by both exiting 4. But Drane nudged back ahead as the pack swarmed to the checkered flag, beating Saathoff to the line by a mere 0.011 seconds, followed fractionally by Lowe in third. Whale was just 0.081 seconds off the win but relegated to fourth, with Kopp and Brunner completing the top six in that order and meters away from victory themselves. After the race, Drane said, “It’s so good… We’ve been working so hard all season and to get my second win is awesome. All these people from Australia are here tonight, and they’ve all been helping me. It’s so cool.” Third Turner Racing pilot Morgen Mischler (No. 13 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) registered a lonely race to seventh. He finished some three-and-a-half seconds off the win after coming up short in an early bid to track the lead pack down. Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 D&D Racing/Certified KTM 450 SX-F) won out in a three-rider battle for eighth waged another six seconds back of Mischler. The ‘19 class champ narrowly defeated 1st Impressions Husqvarna teammates Chad Cose (No. 49 1st Impressions Race Team/Husqvarna Racing FC450) and James Ott (No. 19 1st Impressions Race Team/Husqvarna Racing FC450), who rounded out the top ten, respectively. Reigning champ Kopp continues to lead the way in his title defense. However, Saathoff has drawn that much closer thanks to a fifth consecutive podium finish and is now just nine points behind in second (166-157). |
https://www.americanflattrack.com
| DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (May 27,
2023) – Jared Mees (No. 1 Indian Motorcycle/Rogers Racing/SDI Racing
FTR750) earned his 25th-career Grand National Championship Mile victory
in split-second fashion in Saturday night’s Red Mile presented by
Indian Motorcycle of Lexington at the Red Mile in Lexington, Kentucky. The triumph proved to be the latest round in a season of Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, that has taken shape as a heavyweight title fight between reigning Mission SuperTwins presented by S&S Cycle champ Mees and his ascending challenger, points leader Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT). The two broke free from the start and spent the next 14 minutes plus two laps testing each other in preparation for the decisive final lap. The cagey Mees sat in tight formation behind his young rival during the waning laps before finally striking as the two sprinted into Turn 3 for the final time. He then struck and, despite suffering a couple small slides on exit, had the steam to hold on to the checkered flag by a minuscule 0.042 seconds. The victory was Mees’ fifth in six attempts at the Red Mile. It also saw him join legends Bubba Shobert and Bryan Smith for third all-time in career Mile wins. Mees said, “We were playing cat-and-mouse a little bit, and he was definitely strong in some areas…I just knew what I wanted to do there on the last lap and made it work, really. It’s good to win those Miles like old school where it’s there right at the line.” For Daniels, it was the fourth time this season he’s finished a close second to Mees. But any sense of frustration that may have otherwise started to creep in was overcome by the reality that he continues to hold the points advantage due to a season-long run of firsts and seconds that he kept intact. The fight for third was a spirited four-way affair, involving Briar Bauman (No. 3 Parts Plus/Jacob Companies KTM 790 Duke), Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing Indian FTR750), JD Beach (No. 95 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT), and Jarod Vanderkooi (No. 20 JMC Motorsports/Fairway Ford Indian FTR750). Bauman again showed off an ideal pace nearly on par with that of Mees and Daniels when everything worked just perfectly aboard an unruly machine that made that perfection impossible to attain with any consistency. Still, its impressive motor provided him with the tools necessary to secure a third podium of 2023 with Beach fractionally behind in fourth, followed by Fisher and Vanderkooi. Kolby Carlile (No. 36 G&G Racing/Yamaha Racing Yamaha MT-07), who ran third on the opening laps, rebounded from an early mistake to overhaul Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750) for seventh by 0.050 seconds at the stripe. Jeffrey Lowrey (No. 223 Lowery Racing/Gray Hogs Yamaha MT-07) and Bronson Bauman (No. 37 Fastrack Racing/2 Wheelz KTM 790 Duke) completed the top ten. While Mees chipped off another four points, Daniels still boasts a 16-point advantage (180-164). Third-ranked Bauman is nearly two full races back of first at 131. Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) added more evidence to support the old racing adage that a rider’s second win comes a whole lot easier than their first with a triumphant run in Saturday’s Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER pack war. A seesawing battle that expanded to a nine-rider lead pack as the pivotal final two laps opened, the race for the win appeared almost certain to be decided amongst Turner Honda teammates Lowe and Chase Saathoff (No. 88 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) and the Estenson Racing Yamaha duo of Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) and Trevor Brunner (No. 21 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F). Sacramento winner Drane looked like the odds-on favorite due to his optimal blend of high-speed chops, low-pro aerodynamics, ultra-light weight, and big-time horsepower. However – despite repeatedly demonstrating the capacity to blast up to first from three or four positions back seemingly at will – the Aussie’s last-lap strategy was blown up by a lapped rider as the huge lead group dove into Turn 3 for the final time. As a result, Drane could finish no better than third with Lowe and Saathoff handing Honda a hard-earned 1-2. Whether or not Drane might have been able to run the Hondas down with a cleaner run is as impossible to guess as it is irrelevant at this point. Ultimately, Lowe put himself in the perfect position to capitalize in the chaos and scoop his second-career victory. “It feels so great to come out on top,” Lowe said. “I knew I had to keep my corner speed up and that was the one thing I had going for me. Leading and going into (Turn) 3 was definitely my best option. I’m happy for the whole Turner Racing team. Everyone has put in so much effort. It’s unreal to think about the time that people put in and the dedication that they have.” Brunner finished just 0.057 seconds back off his teammate but once again came up just short of the podium He was followed home by Red Bull KTM teammates Max Whale (No. 18 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-F) and Kody Kopp (No. 1 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-F) – Kopp closing in from a distant ninth to make himself a factor late. Kopp continues to lead in his title defense with 151 points to his credit. However, Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 D&D Racing/Certified KTM 450 SX-F) was shuffled back to seventh in the melee, a development that allowed Saathoff to join him level at 136 points. Whale is fourth at 130, followed by Brunner (123), Lowe (117), and Drane (105). |
| DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (May 13, 2023)
– Jared Mees (No. 1 Indian Motorcycle/Rogers Racing/SDI Racing
FTR750)furthered his claim as the preeminent Mile rider currently
competing in Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro
Racing, with a pivotal victory in Saturday night’s 57th Legendary
Mission Sacramento Mile powered by Law Tigers at Cal Expo in
Sacramento, California. Those bragging rights were brought into question after Mees was outscored 2-1 in Mission SuperTwins presented by S&S Cycle Mile wins a year ago by then-rookie Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT). Their first Mile showdown of the season carried even greater significance than it otherwise would have with Daniels having arguably emerged the title favorite and leading reigning champion Mees in the points. The race went to script with the two separating at the front and settling into a one-on-one fight to the flag. Just past mid-distance, Mees railed around the corners with his helmet down in an attempt to break Daniels’ challenge. While unable to sink Daniels’ hopes completely, the ploy granted Mees a few tenths which he successfully guarded all the way to the end. The victory was the 24th Mile triumph of Mees’ illustrious career. That moves him ahead of Ricky Graham and into sole possession of fifth place on the all-time order and just one away from joining Bubba Shobert and Bryan Smith in a tie for third. The result also drew Mees a bit closer to the championship lead. That said, Daniels is not doing him any favors in that regard, extending his season-long streak of top-two finishes. The gap is now 20 points (159-139) as the two continue to distance themselves from the remainder of a talented pack of contenders. “I honestly was sweating coming into the Miles – last year I felt like we were a little down,” Mees admitted after earning his fifth-career Sacramento Mile win. “I didn’t know what to expect. But Kenny (Tolbert) worked really hard this winter to get us back some ponies, and Jimmy Wood really had that thing hooked up with the Öhlins suspension. I don’t think I’ve ever been that hooked up before. I could just go into the corner and mash the throttle. The Indian Motorcycle was phenomenal tonight.” Daniels’ teammate, JD Beach (No. 95 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT), solidified his hold on third in the championship order with his third podium of the season. It only came about following a final-lap duel with Kolby Carlile (No. 36 G&G Racing/Yamaha Racing Yamaha MT-07), however, when Beach poked ahead by 0.021 seconds at the line. Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750) and Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing Indian FTR750) each had a shot at the box on the final lap as well, ultimately finishing fractionally behind in fifth and sixth, respectively. Briar Bauman (No. 3 Parts Plus/Jacob Companies KTM 790 Duke) earned a lonely seventh, although that description fails to adequately express the contour of his race. Bauman actually led more than once early in the contest before running wide on the powerful-yet-brutish KTM and dropping to fifth. He worked his way back up to third at one point before going off the groove again and fading out of podium contention. Bauman was followed home by his brother, Bronson Bauman (No. 37 Fastrack Racing/2 Wheelz KTM 790 Duke), while Ben Lowe (No. 25 Rackley Racing/Mission Foods Indian FTR750) and Jarod Vanderkooi (No. 20 JMC Motorsports/Fairway Ford Indian FTR750) completed the top ten. Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER Australian phenom Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) scored his maiden Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER victory in breathtaking fashion in Sacramento. A huge early train of 450s connected to the front slowly whittled away as the race progressed. The battle for the win at last took its final shape with just over a minute remaining when three-time Sacramento Mile winner Trevor Brunner (No. 21 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) fell away from the lead group and into the clutches of a second group bursting with big names and title contenders. With Brunner out of the fight, the checkered flag was set to be decided between Drane, Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), Chase Saathoff (No. 88 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), and Chad Cose (No. 49 1st Impressions Race Team/Husqvarna Racing FC450). Lowe stormed past Drane as they opened the final lap, but the diminutive Aussie stormed back by on the back straight, confident he could out-run any and all slingshot attempts in the decisive drag race to the line. He was proven correct, albeit only by just 0.005 seconds over Lowe and 0.036 seconds over Saathoff. Meanwhile, Cose finished just another 0.065 seconds back yet found himself left off the podium altogether. Drane came into the season with serious hype and had endured something of a quiet start to the year when judged based on those lofty expectations. However, tonight’s victory put everything back in its proper perspective. Ultimately, the Estenson Racing Yamaha prodigy earned his first win just a month after turning 17 and competing in what was just his eighth Progressive AFT Main Event. Perhaps even more remarkably, it was the first Main Event at a Mile in Drane’s career. He said, “I just can’t thank the team enough for all the work they do, all the hours. It’s amazing. This has boosted my confidence heaps, showing I can do it. I’m so happy.” Fifth went to Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 D&D Racing/Certified KTM 450 SX-F), who clawed his way up from outside the top ten after earning his slot on the grid via the LCQ. He placed Brunner between himself and his primary title rivals in the process. Max Whale (No. 18 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-F) crossed the stripe in seventh, followed by Sacramento Mile legend Shayna Texter-Bauman (No. 52 Parts Plus/Jacob Companies KTM 450 SX-F) and the impressive Travis Petton IV (No. 82 ECG Racing/3 Bros KTM 450 SX-F). The final position in the top ten went to defending class champ Kody Kopp (No. 1 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-F). Despite the uncharacteristic result, Kopp continues to lead in the standings with 137 points. Gauthier closed to within 14 points at 123, while Whale and Saathoff are now tied for third at 115. |
https://www.americanflattrack.com/results/default
| DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (May 6, 2023)
– The dream season of ascending Progressive American Flat Track star
Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) continued with
his convincing victory in Saturday night’s inaugural Ventura Short
Track at Ventura Raceway in Ventura, California. As impressive as he was a year ago as a Mission SuperTwins presented by S&S Cycle rookie, Daniels has taken his game to the next level in 2023. The prodigious teenager extended his unblemished run of firsts and seconds this season with a calm and controlled performance en route to the top step on the box at the scenic ocean-adjacent venue. Daniels’ teammate, JD Beach (No. 95 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT), shot off the line in first but held the position for less than a single quick circulation of the 1/5-mile clay oval. Beach did well to keep Daniels honest after being dropped to second and even reeled him back in at one point. But the relentless perfection of the title leader gradually stacked up to a near one-second advantage by the time the Main Event was seven minutes deep, with reigning champion Jared Mees (No. 1 Indian Motorcycle/Rogers Racing/SDI Racing FTR750) significantly further back in third. Just when the podium order seemed all but academic, a red-flag reset occurred after Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750) came out the worst of an accordion-style crash that marred the multi-rider fight for fourth. Jarod Vanderkooi (No. 20 JMC Motorsports/Fairway Ford Indian FTR750) got into the back of Johnny Lewis (No. 10 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650), leading directly to Robinson’s spill. The fallen Robinson was subsequently clipped by Sammy Halbert (No. 69 Dodge Bros. Racing/Martin Trucking Harley-Davidson XR750) forcing a stoppage in the action. But even after Beach, Mees, and the field being given a second chance, little changed at the front following the staggered restart. Daniels simply went back to piling up his advantage, ultimately scooping up a third win of the year to go with his three runner-ups. Beach completed the Estenson Racing Yamaha 1-2, while Mees managed to score podium points on a night he never really felt at home on the track. Likewise, two-time Grand National Champion Briar Bauman (No. 3 Parts Plus/Jacob Companies KTM 890 Duke) came away with fourth after running as low as ninth early. Lewis held on for his second top five of the season in fifth, followed closely to the line by Halbert and Bauman’s younger sibling, Bronson Bauman (No. 37 Fastrack Racing/2 Wheelz KTM 890 Duke). Kolby Carlile (No. 36 G&G Racing/Yamaha Racing Yamaha MT-07) picked up his best result of the season in eighth, while Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing Indian FTR750) and Vanderkooi rounded out the top ten. As a result of the third triumph of his sophomore campaign, Daniels tightened his grip on the title fight. He opened his lead to 24 points over Mees (138-114) a third of the way into the season, while Beach moved back ahead of Bauman for third (97-94). Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER Like Daniels, Kody Kopp (No. 1 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-F) earned the third win of his 2023 season as he continued his Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER title defense in stellar fashion. However, in contrast to his twin victory cruises at the DAYTONA double opener, Kopp was pushed to the brink by a hungry Chase Saathoff (No. 88 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) under the lights at Ventura Raceway. After a handful of hectic early laps, the two shook free from Saathoff’s Turner Racing teammates, Morgen Mischler (No. 13 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) and Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R). From that point on, the race became a two-rider duel for top honors. While Kopp controlled the bulk of the tense contest from the front, the Honda pilot threw in a few late haymakers, including a skittering, crisscrossing double lead change that got the fans on their feet with less than 30 seconds remaining on the clock. But a last-lap encore wasn’t in the cards, as a minor moment on Saathoff’s part with two laps to go allowed Kopp just enough air to power to the checkered flag firework-free. Kopp said, “Chase is a helluva competitor. He was my fiercest rival and competitor growing up on 85s, 250s, and 450s. Man, that was probably the most fun race I’ve ever had – we were squaring each other up. I hope it was a fun one to watch.” Mischler held off Kopp’s charging teammate, Max Whale (No. 18 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-F), to pick up his second consecutive podium, while Estenson Racing Yamaha’s Trevor Brunner (No. 21 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) charged his way forward to fifth after getting off the line in ninth. Dallas winner Lowe came home sixth, while Brunner’s Estenson Racing Yamaha teammate, Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F), took seventh. Cole Frederickson (No. 151 Lehmann Racing/Miller Tree Service Honda CRF450R) fifth eighth, followed by Justin Jones (No. 91 NRC Racing/Elder Trucking KTM 450 SX-F). Kopp’s closest title rival, Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 D&D Racing/Certified KTM 450 SX-F) was the final rider in the top ten. That allowed Kopp to press his advantage up to a healthy 19 points (127-108) with Whale third at 102 and the on-form Saathoff fourth with 97. |
https://www.americanflattrack.com
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (April 22, 2023) – Reigning Grand National Champion Jared Mees (No. 1 Indian Motorcycle/Rogers Racing/SDI Racing FTR750) penned the latest chapter of a career of Half-Mile heroics with a victorious run in Saturday night’s Mission Dallas Half-Mile presented by Roof Systems at Devil’s Bowl Speedway in Mesquite, Texas.The premier-class king was one-fourth of an early scrap for the lead in the Mission SuperTwins presented by S&S Cycle Main Event, along with a trio of Yamaha-mounted challengers in JD Beach (No. 95 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT), Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT), and Dan Bromley (No. 62 Memphis Shades/Corbin/Vinson Construction Yamaha MT-07).The opening stages of the contest proved to be a battle of extreme high and low lines. The high line showed itself to be the fast track up the order initially before giving way to a high-risk, high-reward tight-rope line at the bottom. Just prior to half-distance, Mees and Daniels exploited that tricky low line to break free and settle into a rematch of their Senoia shootout. Meanwhile, Beach and Bromley fell into a five-rider fight for the final spot on the podium after being reeled in by the charging Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750), Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing Indian FTR750), and Briar Bauman (No. 3 Parts Plus/Jacob Companies KTM 890 Duke). Daniels made a couple of determined attempts to zero in on Mees but never got quite close enough to make a serious attempt at an overtake. A small bobble on the part of Daniels with less than a minute remaining gave the champ a bit of breathing space. He was then ceded even more as his young rival called off the assault to accept second. The triumph was the 34th Half-Mile win of Mees’ historic career, placing him just one shy of the all-time record held by Scott Parker. Afterward, Mees said, “Honestly, this was one of the hardest races to win. Going into Turn 1 and through Turn 2, you had to be so delicate going into the corners. You had to hit your brake mark right, get your throttle position right, and if you messed it up, it screwed your whole momentum up. It was definitely a hard race to win. “Hats off to my entire team. We had a little mess up in Arizona, but we came back pretty strong all day long.” Adding to Mees’ big evening was the misfortune of Beach, who crashed out of podium contention and dropped from second to fourth in the championship standings in the process. Robinson – who wasn’t even sure he’d be able to ride in Dallas after getting banged up in practice crashes at the previous two rounds – earned the final spot on the box. Bauman railed his way around the outside to climb to fourth in the end with Fisher behind in fifth. Bromley ended his impressive run in sixth, while positions 7-10 were filled by Jarod Vanderkooi (No. 20 JMC Motorsports/Fairway Ford Indian FTR750), Bronson Bauman (No. 37 Fastrack Racing/2 Wheelz KTM 890 Duke), Ben Lowe (No. 25 Rackley Racing/Mission Foods Indian FTR750), and Kolby Carlile (No. 36 G&G Racing/Yamaha Racing Yamaha MT-07), in that order. Daniels continues to hold down the championship lead with 113 points in his pocket following his 1-1-2-2-2 start. Mees now ranks second with 96 points, while two-time champ Bauman (78) also edged ahead of Beach (76) for third. Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKERTrent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) can finally call himself a Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER Main Event winner after repeatedly knocking on the door of that landmark achievement for years.Lowe’s maiden Progressive AFT victory headlined a race that represented a monumental reversal of fortune compared with the four that led into it. After getting off to a slower-than-expected start to the season, the American Honda-backed Turner Racing team entered the day with just one podium between its talented trio of Lowe, Morgen Mischler (No. 13 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), and Chase Saathoff (No. 88 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R). They tripled that number in a single outing in Dallas after fighting back in furious fashion at Devil’s Bowl Speedway. The three immediately went to the front and turned the first half of the race into a glorified poster shoot for the team, running side-by-side-by-side with the field struggling to stay in their wake. Lowe eventually shook free while the pack closed in on second-placed Saathoff and third-placed Mischler, but they ultimately held strong to secure the podium lockout. Lowe said, “I’m so happy, and I think the entire team is so happy – it’s going to be a party in our pit area tonight. The whole Turner Racing team pulled it together. We were kind of on the struggle bus at the beginning of the season, but we definitely made a big improvement on this one with the three of us on the podium. I can’t thank the team enough.” Meanwhile, the championship’s usual suspects struggled mightily before finally coming good in the end. Defending champ Kody Kopp (No. 1 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-F) ran as low as eighth, while Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 D&D Racing/Certified KTM 450 SX-F) and Max Whale (No. 18 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-F) found themselves buried outside the top ten. Kopp and Whale finally found their groove, weaving their way up through the field with Kopp earning fourth at the checkered flag, just 0.172 seconds short of the podium. Aussie Whale came home just behind his teammate, outdueling Trevor Brunner (No. 21 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) to complete the top five. Meanwhile, Gauthier executed a charge of his own to finish in seventh, while Chad Cose (No. 49 1st Impressions Race Team/Husqvarna Racing FC450), Shayna Texter-Bauman (No. 52 Parts Plus/Jacob Companies KTM 450 SX-F) and Brunner’s Estenson Racing Yamaha teammate Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) rounded out the top ten. As a result, Kopp continues to lead a tight title fight over Gauthier (102-98) with Whale third (86) and Brunner fourth (78). Not surprisingly, the Turner Racing entrants made a big push in the rankings, as they are now positioned fifth (Saathoff - 76), sixth (Lowe - 57), and seventh (Mischler - 56) and still very much in the hunt. https://www.americanflattrack.com |
| DAYTONA
BEACH, Fla. (April 1, 2023) – Progressive American Flat Track TT master
JD Beach (No. 95 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) added another chapter
to his legend by reigning supreme at Saturday’s ZO CBD Arizona Super TT
presented by RideNow Powersports at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park in
Chandler, Arizona. Beach,
who has now claimed victories in seven of the most recent eight Mission
SuperTwins presented by S&S Cycle TT Main Events, ultimately proved
worthy of his status as the heavy favorite coming into the weekend. But
that doesn’t mean he didn’t have to work for this one. That
work started in the race’s opening corner after initially getting
displaced to third behind reigning Grand National Champion Jared Mees
(No. 1 Indian Motorcycle/Rogers Racing/SDI Racing FTR750) and points
leader Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT). The
biggest danger moment for Beach came when Daniels took control of the
lead two minutes into the Main. The on-form Daniels – who actually
out-qualified Beach earlier in the day – looked to rip open an
advantage while his teammate was stuck behind Mees on a track that
presented few opportunities to pass and plenty of opportunities to mess
up. Almost
exactly a minute later, Beach (literally) flew by Mees over the
start-finish jump to slot into second. And almost exactly one minute
after that he pulled a carbon-copy of the high-flying move on Daniels
to take the lead for himself. Daniels
did well to keep Beach honest as they left the remainder of the field
in their wake. However, he ultimately gave up the chase with a couple
minutes remaining on the clock, content to cruise to second. When
asked how he managed to charge around a racetrack that almost everyone
else had to tiptoe around, Beach joked, “Growing up, I was told you
either had to be smart or dumb, and I chose dumb. I was going for it.
No, it was a great race. I knew Dallas had my number all day long. He’s
been riding so good. All season, he’s been hauling the mail. It’s been
frustrating for me because we’re on the same bike, and he’s been
whupping my butt. Today, I’ve got to thank my crew. They worked so hard
all day long. We were kind of on the back foot, but they didn’t give
up. They kept working, and that’s what I did in the Main Event too.” Behind
the Estenson Racing 1-2, Mees ran in third with Briar Bauman (No. 3
Parts Plus/Jacob Companies KTM 890 Duke) in determined pursuit. That is
until Mees’ machine became unsettled over the bumps and then lost the
rear. While Mees did an admirable job to pick up and remount his
factory Indian as quickly as was humanly possible, he still lost a few
positions in the aftermath of the mishap. That elevated Bauman to his second podium in four starts on the Rick Ware Racing KTM. It also rewarded Ben Lowe (No. 25 Rackley Racing/Mission Foods Indian FTR750) and Johnny Lewis (No. 10 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650) with fourth- and fifth-place finishes, respectively. Mees salvaged sixth and was joined by Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing Indian FTR750), Bronson Bauman (No. 37 Fastrack Racing/2 Wheelz KTM 890 Duke), Kolby Carlile (No. 36 G&G Racing/Yamaha Racing Yamaha MT-07), and Ryan Wells (No. 94 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650) in the bottom half of the top ten. Title hopeful Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750) was a Main Event scratch after suffering a fall during practice at the start of the day. Following four of 18 races, Daniels leads with 92 points, followed by Beach (73), Mees (71), and Bauman (62). Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER2019 Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER champion Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 D&D Racing/Certified KTM 450 SX-F) closed to within one point of the ‘23 points lead with a precise and patient ride to victory at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park.Gauthier established himself as the favorite going in with his strong pre-race performance but ended up corralled behind Chad Cose (No. 49 1st Impressions Race Team/Husqvarna Racing FC450) in the early going after Cose dove down from the outside of Row 1 to claim the lead coming out of the race’s opening corner. Gauthier sat close on Cose’s rear wheel as they circulated the slick, one-line track, hoping to either find or force a mistake from the leader. All the while, Gauthier faced similar heat from behind, with a long string of riders jammed up behind them, spearheaded by Kody Kopp (No. 1 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-F), who himself was flanked by Max Whale (No. 18 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-F) and Trevor Brunner (No. 21 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F). Just as the race approached mid-distance, Gauthier made his move, landing along- and inside of Cose as they completed a jump and slid into the subsequent left-hander. Kopp attempted to slip underneath Cose at the same time but was denied. While Kopp and co. regrouped to map out another assault, Gauthier opened a two second lead at the front. The reigning champ did finally push his way up the inside of Cose a couple minutes later and was joined in the overtake by Whale and Brunner. A late red flag added the potential for some unexpected drama to a race that appeared all but settled when Andrew Luker (No. 11 Rackley Racing/Keeran Racing Yamaha YZ450F) crashed with just 10 seconds remaining on the clock. That set the stage for a staggered restart and three-lap shootout. However, Gauthier successfully survived the second launch and cleared off to grab his first checkered flag of the season. The win was his third career TT victory and sees him remain the only rider in the field to have finished on the podium in every race this season. “We worked our butts off this offseason putting this program together,” Gauthier said. “It’s going great. I’ve been on the podium every round and KTM has won every race so far. I’ve got to thank my whole team… There’s so many people that help our program out. It’s only going to keep getting better, and I’m super stoked on this one.” Kopp held for second to retain his points lead over Gauthier (86-85) despite third-placed Whale and fourth-placed Brunner applying maximum pressure over the final laps. Chase Saathoff (No. 88 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) completed the top five, followed by Hayden Gillim (No. Comstock Energy/Vance & Hines KTM 450 SX-F), who made his way from a crash in his heat to the LCQ to an eventual sixth-place ride. Cose was the biggest loser in the red-flag reshuffle, winding up ninth after leading the opening half of the race and running in the top-two for the bulk of the contest. |
| DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. March 25, 2023
Reigning Grand National Champion Jared Mees (No. 1 Indian
Motorcycle/Rogers Racing/SDI Racing FTR750) came out victorious
following an epic showdown featuring two of Progressive American Flat
Track’s biggest stars in an epic Yamaha Senoia Short Track on Saturday
evening at Senoia Raceway in Senoia, Georgia. The Mission SuperTwins presented by S&S Cycle king entered the weekend with the knowledge that his place atop the pecking order was under threat from the fast-rising Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT), who opened his ‘23 title campaign in dominating fashion at Daytona International Speedway two weeks back. Following a quiet opener by his standards, Mees was at the top of his game in Senoia, locking down the top of the charts pretty much all day long. He then looked to exploit his prime starting position, planning to dart away early and eliminate any potential challenge before it could materialize. Daniels saw what the factory Indian ace was up to, however. He stuck a hard pass in on teammate JD Beach (No. 95 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) to slot into second and then put his head down in hopes of reeling Mees back in. Daniels ultimately arrived on Mees’ rear wheel and at last took the lead at half-distance, just as the two made their way into lapped traffic. The second half of the contest was relentless, with passes for the lead executed on nearly every lap, all the while slashing their way past slower riders. Mees reclaimed the lead with twenty seconds remaining on the clock and then leaned on his decades of experience advantage to formulate a way to cling on for the victory, as he held the Estenson Yamaha pilot off at the stripe by 0.174 seconds. “Man, that was a duel… a battle… a fist fight in a phone booth,” Mees said. “We rode super clean; we didn’t touch – we came really close – but I didn’t want to give that one up. I was fighting tooth-and-nail, and he was rolling so good. I felt if I could get in a rhythm early, I could maybe get a gap, but he hung tough. We want this championship bad. We want to keep the #1 plate. It’s going to be super tough. Dallas is super hungry, and you can see it in his riding.” While the Mees-Daniels showdown was the headliner (and quite possibly a preview of more to come), the battle for third was nearly as exciting. Beach fell into the clutches of Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750), losing the podium position late in the Main, only to snatch the spot back on the race’s final lap. Meanwhile, Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing Indian FTR750) earned his second top five of the year, outdueling Jarod Vanderkooi (No. 20 JMC Motorsports/Fairway Ford Indian FTR750) following an extended tussle of their own. Seventh went to Briar Bauman (No. 3 Parts Plus/Jacob Companies KTM 890 Duke), who spent the entire Main Event clawing his way forward after an early incident dropped him well down the order. He was followed home by his younger brother, Bronson Bauman (No. 37 Fastrack Racing/2 Wheelz KTM 890 Duke), in eighth, while Jesse Janisch (No. 33 KTM/Haversack/Z-Max 890 Duke) and Ben Lowe (No. 25 Rackley Racing/Mission Foods Indian FTR750) rounded out the top ten. Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER Two-time Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER championship runner-up Max Whale (No. 18 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-F) earned his first victory of the ‘23 season in convincing fashion at Senoia Raceway. While the field was desperate to slow Whale’s teammate, defending class champ Kody Kopp (No. 1 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-F) after his season-opening double victory at the DAYTONA Short Track, the Australian issued a clear reminder that the Red Bull KTM team boasts not one, but two genuine title contenders under its tent with a wire-to-wire run to the checkered flag. As Whale walked away at the front, a huge scrap played out behind for second. A hugely impressive James Ott (No. 19 1st Impressions Race Team/Husqvarna Racing FC450) jumped into the position from pole where he found himself under fire almost immediately from the likes of Trevor Brunner (No. 21 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F), Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F), Morgen Mischler (No. 13 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), Kopp, and Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 D&D Racing/Certified KTM 450 SX-F), among others. Drane pulled off a remarkable save of a near highside just to stay upright, but the resultant drama dropped him from podium contention to outside the top ten. Gauthier then started his charge, slicing his way up from seventh to third with relative ease. But try as he might, he was unable to work out a way past Ott and the two ultimately crossed the stripe the final time in second and third, respectively. Kopp did threaten to overhaul both late. However, he instead saw his bid for a top-three result foiled by a resurgent Brunner, who stole back fourth and then kept the championship leader corralled behind him in fifth to the flag by a 0.177-second margin. Mischler took sixth just behind, followed by his Turner Honda teammates, Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) and Chase Saathoff (No. 88 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R). Shayna Texter-Bauman (No. 52 Parts Plus/Jacob Companies KTM 450 SX-F) and Chad Cose (No. 49 1st Impressions Race Team/Husqvarna Racing FC450) completed the top ten. Race winner Whale said, “I needed a good race today. Obviously, as a racer you want to win every time. It feels good to do this coming here from Daytona, where my head was hanging low. You put in all the work before the start of the year, and to finish with a fourth and a ‘937th’ was tough. So to come out today and win? I can’t thank my team enough.” |
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 11, 2023) – Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) kicked off his 2023 Progressive American Flat Track championship campaign in near-perfect fashion, completing the second half of the season-opening double win with another sensational ride in Saturday night’s DAYTONA Short Track II presented by Daytona Dodge at the Flat Track at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida.Daniels was already a legitimate title contender as a rookie a year ago. Early indications suggest he’s that much stronger now with a year’s Mission SuperTwins presented by S&S Cycle experience under his belt.The Estenson Racing Yamaha ace got away off the line in third, running in close quarters behind early leader Jarod Vanderkooi (No. 20 JMC Motorsports/Fairway Ford Indian FTR750) and Jared Mees (No. 1 Indian Motorcycle/Rogers Racing/SDI Racing FTR750), with Thursday runner-up Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750) right in his tracks. Robinson made an early exit from the fight for the win, getting into the airfence and losing several positions in the process. Daniels slipped up the inside of Mees a little less than three minutes into the ten-minute-plus-two-lap Main to take over second, just as Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing Indian FTR750) closed in to make it four-rider fight at the front again. Daniels then spent the next four minutes stalking Vanderkooi, looking up the inside and around outside, while generally applying the sort of pressure that might just open a door straight through. He finally found the gap he was looking for with 3:30 minutes remaining on the clock, striking up the inside as the leaders encountered a wave of lapped riders. Daniels met little resistance once into the lead, stretching out an advantage that finalized as a 2.069-second margin of victory in the end. “It was tough – Jarod was running a really good race,” Daniels said. “He was being patient – he was really easy on the throttle and wasn’t making any mistakes. I had to search. I wanted to sit there for a little bit. After I got off the line, I was all right with where I was, and I was paying attention to everything. I wanted to stalk him for a while, but then it was time to go. “A double at Daytona is crazy. It’s unbelievable. A big thanks to the whole Estenson Monster Energy Yamaha team. We had a great year last year, and to start off the year with two wins in Daytona is insane.” Shortly after Daniels took over the lead, Fisher slashed his way past Mees to complete the “new guard” podium line-up in third, joining winner Daniels and second-placed Vanderkooi. Reigning champ Mees came away with his second fourth of the double-opener – a marked upgrade over how his prospects may have looked earlier in the week. Meanwhile, Daniels’ teammate, JD Beach (No. 95 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT), logged a second fifth. Robinson recovered well enough from his early drama to finish in sixth, one spot ahead of Briar Bauman (No. 3 Parts Plus/Jacob Companies KTM 890 Duke), who was forced to claw his way up to seventh from outside the top ten. Four-time DAYTONA ST winner Sammy Halbert (No. 69 Martin Trucking/Castrol Yamaha MT-07), privateer Kayl Kolkman (No 98 B&L Plumbing/Rod Lake Yamaha MT-07), and Royal Enfield factory man Johnny Lewis (No. 10 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650) completed the top ten. Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKERDefending Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER Kody Kopp (No. 1 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-F) doubled up in Daytona, delivering a second dose of domination on Saturday night.Clearly in a class of his own at the venue, Kopp pulled off another sweep, repeating his Thursday trick of topping practice, qualifying, his Heat, the Al Lamb’s Dallas Honda Challenge, and most importantly, the Main Event. Kopp successfully weaved his way through the opening lap chaos to secure the lead three turns into the race. And while Chase Saathoff (No. 88 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) did everything in his power to cling onto Kopp’s rear wheel, a little more than a minute in, the race for victory was effectively over. Kopp ultimately worked his advantage up to over five seconds before taking a drama-free checkered flag. “It’s just two for 18,” Kopp said. “We’ve got 16 more rounds, so there’s a lot more work to do. You can’t judge a season off two races at a track that really suits my style. I grew up riding a lot of indoors in the Pacific Northwest, and this was kinda like that. Thanks to my whole Red Bull KTM crew – this is a dream way to start the season for sure.” After losing touch with the leader, Saathoff was gradually reeled in by ‘22 championship runner-up Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 D&D Racing/Certified KTM 450 SX-F), who first had to fight his way past Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) and Justin Jones (No. 91 NRC Racing/Elder Trucking KTM 450 SX-F) to slide into third. Gauthier and Saathoff then swapped the second spot back and forth, squaring one another up in quick succession before the charging Gauthier finally stole the position away for good. Saathoff held on for the final spot on the box by a scant 0.084 seconds despite having to fend off a late challenge from new Turner Honda teammate Lowe. Kopp’s teammate, Max Whale (No. 18 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-F), battled past the impressive Jones to complete the top five. |
| DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 9, 2023) – Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) secured a nail-biting victory at the DAYTONA Short Track I presented by Daytona Dodge to open the 2023 Progressive American Flat Track season in dramatic fashion. A hectic opening several laps around the Flat Track at Daytona International Speedway featured the four riders on four different makes who lined the front row for the Mission SuperTwins presented by S&S Cycle Main Event. Johnny Lewis (No. 10 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650) raised more than a few eyebrows when he grabbed the early lead aboard the Royal Enfield while established Mission SuperTwins superstars Daniels, Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750), and Briar Bauman (No. 3 Parts Plus/Jacob Companies KTM 890 Duke) jockeyed for position just behind. After some back-and-forth, Robinson managed to work his way into the lead and then threatened to make an early escape. By the time Daniels and Bauman dispatched Lewis, the Mission Roof Systems rider had nearly a second in hand. Daniels put his head down at that point, stretching out an advantage over Bauman while eating away at Robinson’s. By half distance the two linked up at the front just as they made their way into lapped traffic for the first time. The Estenson Racing pilot began to actively search for a way into the lead with just over two minutes on the clock, nudging the front wheel of his Yamaha MT-07 DT up the inside of Robinson’s Indian FTR750 a few times before finally finding the gap he had been looking for. Once through, Daniels, Robinson, and Bauman appeared safe to open their 2023 campaigns a respective 1-2-3 as time expired. However, the Main Event delivered a final twist in the form of a waving red flag that came after Lewis’ crashed from fifth following a clash with another rider. Not only was Lewis’ hard-earned top five gone, but so seemingly was Bauman’s remarkable podium run in his debut aboard the all-new Rick Ware Racing KTM 890 Duke, his brake pedal disconnected during the Main Event melee. However, even with Bauman’s technical issues and the potential for chaos the top three were forced to negotiate, the trio locked down their positions as they powered away from the staggered start and held on to the checkered flag. The victorious Daniels said, “I tell you what – there’s nothing that makes you more nervous than that right there, leading the laps going away and a red flag comes out with two to go. My dad was talking to me (before the restart), saying “You’re good, you’re good.” And then he stopped talking, and I was like, “No, no, no, keep talking, I’m getting nervous! “These two guys on the podium with me – I grew up watching these guys win here. These guys are my heroes. And now I want to beat them. It’s an honor to win here.” Even if the podium went unaltered in the wake of the late stoppage, there was plenty of reshuffling as a result of the restart. Defending Mission SuperTwins king Jared Mees (No. 1 Indian Motorcycle/Rogers Racing/SDI Racing FTR750) was the biggest beneficiary, slashing up to a fourth-place finish after previously being mired as deep as 12th in the pack. He was followed home by Daniels’ teammate, JD Beach (No. 95 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT), who took fifth despite not faring much better than Mees to that point. Four-time DAYTONA ST winner Sammy Halbert (No. 69 Martin Trucking/Castrol Yamaha MT-07) took sixth, followed by Dan Bromley (No. 62 Memphis Shades/Corbin/Vinson Construction Yamaha MT-07) and the remounted Lewis. Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing Indian FTR750) – who had been fourth at the time of the red flag – ended up ninth, while Ben Lowe (No. 25 Rackley Racing/Mission Foods Indian FTR750) completed the top ten. Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER Reigning Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER champion Kody Kopp (No. 1 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-F) got his title defense off to what was effectively a perfect start. The fact that Kopp entered the season as the primary target of every other rider in the field seemingly did nothing but enhance the dominant streak he flashed so often a year ago. Despite contending with a slick track that demanded focus and invited mistakes, the factory KTM ace topped practice and qualifying, won his Heat and the Al Lamb's Dallas Honda Challenge, and then ultimately reigned supreme in the season’s opening Main Event. Kopp blasted off to the holeshot and basically put it out of reach a few short corners later. He systematically worked his lead up to around four seconds before cruising his way to an eventual 3.370-second margin of victory. Afterward, Kopp claimed the day didn’t come quite as easily as it appeared outwardly. He said, “The #1 plate definitely is a little heavy I think. There were some nerves and some Outlaw races this offseason where I was doubting myself if we were still good on a Short Track. But this is some way to start a season for sure. We pretty much had a clean sweep of the day.” Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 D&D Racing/Certified KTM 450 SX-F) held down second throughout, perfectly positioned to take advantage of a mistake that never came. Still, his runner-up effort sent a strong message that he’s still very much a threat despite returning to an independent effort in ‘23. Trevor Brunner (No. 21 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) rounded out the podium, coming out on top of a race-long fight after making an early strike on Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), the rider signed to fill Gauthier’s former seat at Turner Honda. Aussie sensation Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) made it two Estenson Yamahas in the top five with a nice start to his full-time Progressive AFT in fifth. Kopp’s teammate and expected title challenger Max Whale (No. 18 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-F) didn’t enjoy nearly as smooth an evening as his stablemate. Whale crashed in his Heat and the LCQ, but still just managed to advance into the Main, where he battled his way up to eighth in the end. |
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