There’s no time to rest at the 85th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. With the dirt barely settled following this week’s dramatic Short Track doubleheader, the 2025 Progressive American Flat Track season, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, resumes tomorrow with the Jackpine Gypsies Super TT at the Jackpine Gypsies Motorcycle Club in Sturgis, South Dakota, on Friday, August 8.
As a result, there’s been almost no time for the tension to dissipate after the intensity of an already red-hot Grand National Championship battle was ratcheted up significantly at the Jackpine Gypsies Short Track II.
It’s a Bird… It’s a Plane… It’s… Super TT!
By definition, TTs tend to spice things up by adding a righthand corner and a jump in contrast to the series’ more conventional oval races. A “Super TT” uses that base as a starting point and adds from there.
Friday’s race marks the fourth race in Progressive AFT history to get the Super TT moniker. The three prior – the 2019 Arizona Super TT, 2021 Atlanta Super TT, and 2023 Arizona Super TT – set themselves apart by adding either extra jumps or rights or via the inclusion of pavement sections.
A couple of other TTs could have easily been adorned with the “Super” prefix (think the DAYTONA TT that incorporated the track’s high banks or last year’s Sturgis TT, which wove through downtown), so we won’t attempt to get overly scientific with our labeling. But just understand that it means this week’s track will not feature a run-of-the-mill layout by anyone’s definition.
Pavement sections, multiple righthanders, and a wide variety of corner radii will put the world’s elite motorcycle dirt trackers to the test.
All three prior Super TTs were won by JD Beach, who ranks as among history’s greatest TTers with an ideal blend of flat track and roadracing expertise.
While Beach will be an observer this time around, Super TTs also happen to be right in the wheelhouse of this year’s Mission AFT SuperTwins title fighters.
But really, what tracks aren’t?
Bauman vs. Daniels
At various points in the sport’s past, the TTs provided non-championship contenders a chance to step forward and shine. Versatile riders hailing from other two-wheeled disciplines, armed with serious experience negotiating righthand turns and passing under brakes, could sometimes steal the spotlight.
This is not one of the points.
The series’ leading oval racers also happen to be its most well rounded.
In the three prior Super TTs, championship leader Briar Bauman (No. 3 RWR/Parts Plus/Latus Motors Harley-Davidson XG750R) logged finishes of second, third, and third.
Meanwhile, second-ranked Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) finished as runner-up to teammate Beach at the ‘23 Arizona Super TT – his only attempt in the category as a premier-class pilot.
The ‘19 Arizona Super TT took place before he had turned 16. However, Daniels was able to properly showcase the skills that earned him both the 2018 Nicky Hayden AMA Flat Track and Road Race Horizon Awards at the ‘21 Atlanta Super TT. There the Estenson Racing star doubled up with wins in AFT Singles presented by KICKER and Mission Production Twins.
This week’s circuit also includes pavement sections, a fact that could make him tough to beat.
Head-to-head, Bauman and Daniels have proven well matched at TTs – just as they have virtually everywhere else.
Since Daniels stepped up to the premier class in 2022, he has the edge over Bauman in terms of wins (1-0) when pit against one another in direct TT competition. Bauman, meanwhile, owns the advantage in terms of podiums (4-3). Daniels missed both of last year’s TTs due to injury, and while he was away, Bauman snared 1-2 results.
Already considered the clear co-favorites who were likely to do battle at the Jackpine Gypsies Super TT, that likelihood carries all the more significance following their hugely consequential clash on Tuesday, which left Daniels with an expanded championship deficit to contend with and in serious need of turning the tables back in his favor.
Spoiler Alert
Just because Bauman and Daniels stand as the firm favorites, that doesn’t eliminate the possibility of a spoiler or two springing a surprise.
During the aforementioned span (2022-present), Jarod VanDerKooi (No. 20 Fastrack Racing/Wally Brown Racing KTM 790 Duke) is the only other rider competing this weekend in the premier class to have earned a TT podium (third at last year’s pavement-centric Sturgis TT). VDK has been a consistently strong TT contender, finishing in the top five on five occasions over that time period.
Of course, the field also includes the sport’s all-time winningest TT rider. Henry Wiles (No. 911 DL Racing/HYMMC Yamaha MT-06) boasts 19 career TT wins, albeit the vast majority coming at Peoria and the most recent of those seven years back. But Wiles was on the Mission AFT SuperTwins podium earlier this season and finished 4th in the 2023 Castle Rock TT, so there’s plenty of evidence to suggest he could be a player come Friday.
While not generally considered a TT standout, Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing KTM 790 Duke) did finish fourth in last year’s Sturgis TT.
A similar caveat can be made regarding Tuesday winner Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Harley-Davidson XG750R). TTs have long been considered the weak point in his otherwise championship-caliber game, however, Robinson has steadily improved in the discipline over the years to the point that he managed to break into the top five at last year’s race in Peoria.
And don’t forget about Max Whale (No. 18 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650) and Dan Bromley (No. 62 Memphis Shades/Vinson Construction Suzuki GSX-8S), a pair of riders who demonstrated strong TT skills prior to stepping up to the premier-class ranks.
AFT Singles Presented by KICKER
Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) continued his assault on the AFT Singles record books with an inspiring come-from-behind victory in Tuesday’s Jackpine Gypsies Short Track II despite competing while under the weather.
The Australian, who has opened up a rather commanding championship advantage – already ranks third in career class wins, fourth in Short Track wins, and has followed up the longest podium streak in AFT Singles history (eight) with another (six and counting) that stands third best all-time.
Besides the #1 plate, one of the few major accomplishments yet eluding Drane is his inclusion among the class’ Grand Slammers. He could rectify that as early as Friday, and his road racing background makes him a huge threat to do precisely that at the Jackpine Gypsies Super TT.
Standing In His Path…
If Drane succeeds in that achievement, he’ll become just the sixth rider to ever do it.
Looking to prevent him from joining the list is a field that includes more than half the riders to have already completed the AFT Singles Grand Slam: second-ranked Chase Saathoff (No. 88 RWR/Parts Plus Honda CRF450R), third-ranked Trevor Brunner (No. 21 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), and 2019 class champ Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 Parts Bros Worldwide/D&D Cycles KTM 450 SX-F).
They are far from the only riders who could make things difficult for Drane on Friday. Tarren Santero (No. 75 Mission Roof Systems Honda CRF450R), has shown himself to be an excellent TT rider, and Friday’s track should play to the strengths of Supermoto ace Bronson Pearce (No. 132 Mike Helm/Scott Cason Yamaha YZ450F).
And who knows what to expect from this year’s breakout crop of rookies, led by two-time winner and four-time podium finisher Kage Tadman (No. 288 Roof Systems/Old Oak Ranch KTM 450 SX-F)?
We will find out soon enough.
AFT AdventureTrackers™
Don’t look now, but the 2025 AFT AdventureTrackers championship race that only just left the starting blocks and is already halfway complete.
The title fight now comes down to two decisive TTs.
That’s good news for co-championship leader Dan Bromley (No. 62 Big Momma and Daddy Deep Pockets Suzuki V-Strom 1050) – a fine TTer – and even better news for the rider he’s tied with, Jesse Janisch (No. 33 WFOracingonline.com/Öhlins Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250), who stands as among the best TT riders to come up through the ranks in recent memory.
Despite their credentials, this is unlikely to be a two-rider show. The AFT AdventureTrackers field is loaded with certified and potential TT aces.
Right on their heels is third-ranked Austin Luczak (No. 188 Memphis Shades/Black Hills Powersports Honda Africa Twin), who backed up an impressive fourth on Monday by scoring his first-career Progressive AFT podium in third on Tuesday.
And as already stated, no one has won more TTs in the sport’s history than Henry Wiles (No. 911 Walter Bros. Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250), while Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 Triumph Racing Triumph Tiger 900 GT Pro) has proven he has the goods as well.
Meanwhile, Danny Eslick (No. 164 Saddlemen Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250) and Brandon Paasch(No. 196 Triumph Racing Triumph Tiger 900 GT Pro) might just have an edge on pavement and on the brakes due to their extensive roadracing backgrounds.
However it shakes out, with the spotlight shining down on 500+ pounds of versatile big-bore Dual Adventure equipment, it’s destined to be very interesting and highly entertaining.
There Ain’t No Party Like a Sturgis Party…
The 85th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally has already delivered, and Friday’s action at the track will only add to what’s been an incredible week of festivities.
Once again, the Jackpine Gypsies Motorcycle Club will host a Fan Party – complete with a Rider Q&A session – leading up to Opening Ceremonies each night. Friday’s spectators will also be treated to big-screen coverage of all the race action, DJ’d music to maintain the energy all day and night, numerous vendors, designated motorcycle parking, a variety of food and beverage options, and fireworks.
And don’t miss the Ride-In Bike Show hosted by V-Twin Daily. Show off your bike and see if you can’t claim some of the $2500 in cash put for grabs courtesy of Bell Helmets, with awards going out for Best of Show, Best Paint, Best Bagger, Best Clubstyle, and AFT Best Tracker.
Get Your Tickets Now
H.O.G. members can purchase a H.O.G. Membership Ticket for $45 (all ages), which grants access to both a dedicated parking area and reserved seating, along with a special event lanyard and H.O.G. “Championship Bell.”
Fans also have the option to select Portable Stadium Chair Seating for $70 (all ages), which includes a complimentary stadium chair complete with the event logo that can be used in a tiered seating area along the front stretch of the track.
Finally, the VIP Ticket ($99 all ages) provides access to a tented area that overlooks the track, complimentary snacks and non-alcoholic beverages, beer for purchase, and Reserved Grandstand seating.
Click HERE to secure your tickets today.
Gates will open at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT with Opening Ceremonies scheduled to begin at 10:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. PT.
How to Watch
- FloRacing
For those that can’t catch the live action from the circuit, FloRacing is the live streaming home of Progressive AFT. Motorsports fans can subscribe to FloRacing to enjoy over 1,000 live motorsports events in 2025. FloSports is available by visiting https://flosports.link/aft or by downloading the FloSports app on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire and Chromecast.
- FS1
FOX Sports coverage of the Jackpine Gypsies Super TT, featuring in-depth features and thrilling onboard cameras, will premiere on FS1 on Sunday, August 24, at 4:30 p.m. ET (1:30 p.m. PT).
For more information on Progressive AFT visit https://www.americanflattrack.com.