American Flat Track: 2022 Laconia Short Track Through The Lens Of John Owens

American Flat Track: 2022 Laconia Short Track Through The Lens Of John Owens

© 2023, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc. By David Swarts.

Longtime road racing photographer John Owens hadn’t been to a professional dirt track race in a long time, so he decided to attend the American Flat Track (AFT) Laconia Short Track at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in 2022. Here are some photos he shot.

 

Robert Pearson rode a Rackley Racing Harley-Davidson XR750 in the Laconia Short Track and finished 12th in AFT SuperTwins. Photo by John Owens.
Robert Pearson rode a Rackley Racing Harley-Davidson XR750 in the Laconia Short Track and finished 12th in the AFT SuperTwins main event. Photo by John Owens.

 

The factory Progressive Insurance Indian FTR750s of defending AFT SuperTwins Champion Jared Mees in the pits. Photo by John Owens.
The Progressive Insurance Indian FTR750s of defending AFT SuperTwins Champion Jared Mees in the pits. Photo by John Owens.

 

Former factory road race technician Dave "Woo" Pressler now works for the Estenson Racing Yamaha team alongside another former factory road race wrenches Joey Lombardo and Davey Jones. Photo by John Owens.
Former factory road race technician Dave “Woo” Presler now works for the Estenson Racing Yamaha team alongside former factory road race wrenches Joey Lombardo and Davey Jones and former factory road racer Tommy Hayden, who is the Team Manager of Estenson Racing. Photo by John Owens.

 

Jarod Vanderkooi (20) and Davis Fisher (67) are both seen riding Indian FTR750s on the rough surface at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Photo by John Owens.
Jarod Vanderkooi (20) and Davis Fisher (67) are both seen riding Indian FTR750s on the rough surface at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Photo by John Owens.

 

Shayna Texter-Bauman (52) at speed on her factory Indian FTR750. She is married to her teammate Briar Bauman and sister to 2021 AFT Production Twins Champion Cory Texter. Photo by John Owens.
Shayna Texter-Bauman (52) at speed on her factory Indian FTR750. She is married to her teammate Briar Bauman and is the sister of 2021 AFT Production Twins Champion Cory Texter. Photo by John Owens.

 

Jarod Vanderkooi (20) and Davis Fisher (67) are both seen riding Indian FTR750s on the rough surface at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Photo by John Owens.
Cory Texter (1) is a two-time AFT Production Twins Champion, brother to Shayna Texter-Bauman, and the new MotoAmerica Mini Cup Series Manager. Photo by John Owens.

 

Johnny Lewis (10) at speed on his Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield AFT Production Twins racebike. Photo by John Owens.
Johnny Lewis (10) at speed on his Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield AFT Production Twins racebike. Photo by John Owens.

 

Kody Kopp (12), the son of 2000 AMA Grand National Champion Joe Kopp, won the AFT Singles race at Laconia and the 2022 AFT Singles Championship on his Red Bull KTM 450 SX-FFE. Photo by John Owens.
Kody Kopp (12), the son of 2000 AMA Grand National Champion Joe Kopp, won the AFT Singles race at Laconia and the 2022 AFT Singles Championship on his Red Bull KTM 450 SX-FFE. Photo by John Owens.

 

The next three photos allow some observations to be made on the sizes and seating positions of different motorcycles in AFT. This is Jared Mees (1) on his Indian FTR750. Photo by John Owens.
The next three photos allow some observations to be made on the sizes and seating positions of different motorcycles in AFT. This is Jared Mees (1) on his Indian FTR750. Photo by John Owens.

 

JD Beach (95), the winner of the AFT SuperTwins race at Laconia, on his Yamaha MT-07-based machine. Photo by John Owens.
JD Beach (95), the winner of the AFT SuperTwins race at Laconia, on his Yamaha MT-07-based machine. Photo by John Owens.

 

Jaycee Jones (33) on her Royal Enfield INT650 flat track bike, which is very closely based on the streetbike. Jones won the Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race. (BTR) race at Laconia and the 2022 Championship. Photo by John Owens.
Jaycee Jones (33) on her Royal Enfield INT650 flat track bike, which is very closely based on the streetbike. Jones won the Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race. (BTR) race at Laconia and the 2022 Championship. Photo by John Owens.

 

The Roadracing World Action Fund provides inflatable barriers to AFT to help prevent injuries to its riders. The barriers are so effective that top riders have crashed into the barriers at over 100 mph and been able to make restarts on the same motorcycle they crashed. Photo by John Owens.
The Roadracing World Action Fund provides inflatable barriers to AFT to help prevent injuries to its riders. The barriers are so effective that top riders have crashed into the barriers at nearly 100 mph and been able to make restarts on the same motorcycle they crashed. Photo by John Owens.

 

 

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