INDIAN MOTORCYCLE DOMINATES DAYTONA, KICKING OFF 2022 RACE SEASON IN DRAMATIC FASHION WITH WINS AT KING OF THE BAGGERS & AMERICAN FLAT TRACK SEASON OPENERS
Indian Challengers Go Un-Challenged at Round 2 of King of the Baggers with Podium Sweep Led by Jeremy McWilliams, While Tyler O’Hara Goes Last to First for Dramatic Win in Round 1 –
Finishes Weekend with Early Points Lead for the Series
Indian Motorcycle Flat Track Wrecking Crew Rider Briar Bauman Secures 20th Career Win at Volusia Half-Mile
Minneapolis, MN. – Indian Motorcycle Racing dominated Bike Week in Daytona Beach and kicked off its 2022 race season in dramatic fashion. With factory teams competing in flat track and bagger racing, Indian Motorcycle captured two wins and four of six podium spots at the King of the Baggers opening double-header at Daytona International Speedway, along with a victory at the 2022 American Flat Track season opener at the Volusia Half Mile.
Intent on reclaiming the title of King of the Baggers for its Indian Challenger, Round 2 saw an all-Challenger podium sweep led by new factory rider, Jeremy McWilliams, with Tyler O’Hara and Bobby Fong taking 2nd and 3rd respectively. In Round 1, it was all about inaugural King of the Baggers Champion O’Hara who put the Indian Challenger on top of the box with a dramatic last-to-first victory. O’Hara finished 1st and 2nd in the opening rounds to take an early lead in the 2022 series points race. Meanwhile, the opening round of the 2022 American Flat Track season saw Indian Motorcycle Wrecking Crew rider Briar Bauman deliver a masterful performance on his Indian Motorcycle FTR750 to take the win at the Volusia Half-Mile.
“This weekend was a dramatic display of the incredible level of preparation, determination and skill that powers our teams and riders every time we line up on the grid,” said Gary Gray, Vice President Racing, Service & Technology for Indian Motorcycle. “Considering the stiff competition and unique challenges we’re facing in both flat track and bagger racing this season, we’re certainly happy to get off to such a positive start, but we know full well that this is merely the beginning. There’s a lot more racing ahead of us, and we expect every race weekend to be a dogfight to the finish.”
KING OF THE BAGGERS
Opening weekend of MotoAmerica’s King of the Baggers was nothing short of exhilarating.
In his third year piloting the Mission® Foods S&S® Indian Challenger, O’Hare overcame considerable obstacles in Round 1 to capture his third bagger racing victory. Thanks to a penalty imposed during post-qualifying inspections, O’Hara was forced to start the race at the back of the grid in 13th position. Seemingly unphased by the misfortune, O’Hara literally catapulted off the start, launching his way past more than half the field before entering turn one. From there, he smoothly made his way into third, where he ran for the majority of the race until perfectly timing an incredible move in the final lap, drafting out of the chicane to slingshot his Indian Challenger into first place and take the checkered flag.
“We took a lot of motivation from the disappointing outcome in 2021 and poured it into intensive off-season testing and preparation with the S&S team to ensure we came back strong in 2022, and this weekend was a testament to the dedication, expertise and commitment of our entire team,” said O’Hara. “We’re confident we have the best bike in the paddock, and we intend to prove that again in 2022. We’re off to a good start; but our competition is fierce, and our work has only just begun.”
Powered by its Round 1 victory, Indian Motorcycle Racing took its success to an even higher level in Round 2 with an all-out Indian Challenger podium sweep. After just missing the podium in his Round 1 bagger racing debut, veteran road racer and newest Indian Motorcycle factory rider Jeremy McWilliams battled head-to-head with fellow Mission® Foods S&S® Indian Challenger teammate, O’Hara, ultimately edging him out by mere .025 seconds to capture his first King of the Baggers win and first career win at Daytona.
But O’Hara wasn’t the only threat in this race, while leading into the final lap, McWilliams went high, leaving the door open for Indian Motorcycle privateer Bobby Fong, piloting Steve Delorenzi’s S&S-built RSD Indian Challenger. Fong took full advantage and led most of the final lap, and it wasn’t until the final sprint when McWilliams, along with O’Hara, drafted Fong and made a last-minute pass. While both McWilliams and O’Hara were able to slingshot past Fong, it was McWilliams who was able hold off O’Hara and cross the finish line by slightly less than a bike length.
Sponsors for Indian Motorcycle Racing’s King of the Bagger efforts include Mission® Foods, S&S®, Medallia, Drag Specialties and Parts Unlimited.
AMERICAN FLAT TRACK
After weather postponed, and ultimately cancelled, round one of the 2022 American Flat Track season, riders took to the track and kicked off the season at the Volusia Half-Mile II. In spite of significant off-season rule changes that impose restrictions specifically on the Indian FTR750, flat track Wrecking Crew rider Briar Bauman put on a technical clinic to capture the win, making a bold statement regarding his intention to claim his second Grand National Championship in 2022.
Having placed second in Semi 2 and earning a spot on the front row for the Main, Bauman jumped out to an early lead and never looked back – capturing his first win of the season and his 20th of his career. Bauman’s factory teammates, including reigning champion Jared Mees and the Wrecking Crew’s newest rider Shayna Texter-Bauman finished fifth and 13th respectively.
Sponsors for Indian Motorcycle Racing’s American Flat Track efforts include Progressive Insurance, S&S®, Indian Motorcycle Oil, Bell Helmets, Drag Specialties and Parts Unlimited.
The 2022 King of the Baggers season continues April 22-24, in the Braselton, GA, at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta. American Flat Track continues March 19 for the Texas Half-Mile at Texas Motor Speedway in Dallas-Ft. Worth, TX.
For more information on Indian Motorcycle Racing, visit IndianMotorcycle.com and follow along on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
ABOUT INDIAN MOTORCYCLE®
Indian Motorcycle is America’s First Motorcycle Company®. Founded in 1901, Indian Motorcycle has won the hearts of motorcyclists around the world and earned distinction as one of America’s most legendary and iconic brands through unrivaled racing dominance, engineering prowess and countless innovations and industry firsts. Today that heritage and passion is reignited under new brand stewardship. To learn more, please visit www.indianmotorcycle.com.
More, from a press release issued by Rodio Racing/Warhorse HSBK Racing:
Rodio Warhorse HSBK Racing Debuts at Daytona
Coming out of the gate strong on their Aprilia RS 660 machines in the MotoAmerica Twins Cup round at Daytona International Speedway, Rodio Racing/Warhorse HSBK Racing led the way with first and third fastest times in the first practice session. Anthony Mazziotto recorded a best time of 1:59.830 with teammate Gus Rodio dropping a 2:00.199 best on a drying track that was green from sustained rain. More rain on Thursday resulted in the first qualifying session being scratched, however, track activity resumed on Friday morning with the second qualifying session where Mazziotto managed eleventh position followed by Rodio in fifteenth.
In race one, intense close racing among the top seven riders saw Mazziotto run as high as second position, ultimately finishing third by only 0.124 seconds. Rodio was able to advance from the fifth row of the grid to finish seventh.
Race two on Saturday was reduced to six laps, and then to a five lap restart but produced even more extremely close racing with the top eight riders ultimately separated by only 0.634 seconds. Mazziotto ran as high as third but came across the finish line in fifth, missing the podium by 0.021 seconds.
Anthony Mazziotto – Coming into Daytona was very exciting, I’ve never ridden on any banking before and riding half of the track wide open creates some really intense racing. Things went fairly well despite making contact with the wall on the banking in the first race. I managed to recover myself and bring home a third place result as well as a fifth place in Saturday’s race two. I have solid third place championship points going into round two and I’m happy with my position, especially because I have experience at the rest of the tracks we will visit. Thanks to the whole Rodio family and crew for the help throughout the weekend and Bobby at Warhorse HSBK for building a solid motorcycle to ride this season. See you all at the next one!
Gus Rodio – It was definitely a tough weekend all around for us, but I’ll be taking away the positives and moving forward. We got two top-ten finishes and are leaving Daytona eighth in the championship. I’m going to do my work at home and be ready for Atlanta.
Rodio Racing/Warhorse HSBK Racing will continue at the next round at Road Atlanta April 22-24 in Braselton, Georgia.
More, from a press release issued by N2 Racing:
Blake Davis Wins Debut Twins Cup at Daytona!
Media, PA – March 2022 – Blake Davis takes his first MotoAmerica win on his debut performance in Twins Cup Race 1 on a Dunlop equipped N2 Racing/BobbleHeadMoto Yamaha YZF-R7 with the support of Westby Racing. The weekend was filled with difficult weather conditions, a constantly changing schedule, and first race weekend technical difficulties, but the N2 Racing team persevered to achieve some excellent results.
The N2/Bobblehead team worked closely with Westby Racing to build the Yamaha YZF-R7 for fifteen-year-old Blake Davis. Though the team had worked closely to develop the Yamaha R3 in previous seasons, they collectively pulled out all stops to build Blake’s Yamaha YZF-R7 to compete in the very strong Twins Cup rider lineup.
Going into the weekend, Blake had little time on either the Yamaha R7 or Daytona and he had to work extra hard to learn the two quickly. According to Blake, “In the beginning, I didn’t have the pace and worked to find the best race line and I tended to run a little deep in some corners. About halfway through the race, I started putting it all together and worked hard to stay with the top 4 or 5 riders.”
The race had a few big moments, one of which was rider Anthony Mazziotto making contact with the wall and bouncing back into the lead pack. Blake adds, “When Anthony had his big moment, it disrupted the group and I took advantage of that moment. I had to work very hard to stay upfront with a few exchanges for lead before those final laps.”
In the off-season, Blake spent time training with Yamaha Champions Riding School’s Chris Peris and Kyle Wyman at the Inde Motorsports Ranch in Willcox, AZ. Blake adds, “I really worked on carrying my brakes longer into the corner, tactics I learned from Chris and Kyle during my training with them.”
N2/Bobblehead Crew Chief, Shiloh Salopek comments, “We had our share of technical issues dealing with tuning and data before the race, but Blake showed all of us what he and the Yamaha R7 are capable of.”
The win for Blake was a very emotional win for both the N2/Bobblehead and Westby teams. After the victory circle celebration and the dust had settled, Shiloh states, “This was one of the best days of my life.”
Chris Peris competed in the Daytona 200 aboard the N2 Racing/Bobblehead Moto Yamaha YZF-R6. Peris is no stranger to endurance racing and is a multi-time N2/WERA National Endurance champion. The team executed near-flawless pit stops with Chris showing some of his fastest laps towards the end of the race. Despite some gearing issues, Chris achieved a solid 11th place finish for the Daytona 200 race.
Kevin Olmedo, the N2/Bobblehead rider for the MotoAmerica Supersport class started running top 5 lap times but suffered a few mechanical issues that resulted in 2 additional pit stops costing Olmedo and the team precious time. Despite the extra stops, Kevin was able to finish in 18th position after the 200-mile race.
N2 – Ride, Race, Learn:
Founded in 2014, N2’s mission is to build a sustainable motorcycle community through safe, structured motorcycle track days, advanced rider training programs based on Yamaha Champions Riding School teaching methods, with a strong affinity for motorcycle road racing. N2 successfully resurrected Motorcycle Endurance Racing in America partnering with WERA Roadracing and creating the N2/WERA National Endurance Series by Dunlop. N2 is a premier participant in the MotoAmerica Pro Racing Series with a multi-rider team competing in several classes. N2 is also a major contributor to the Roadracing World Action Fund through fundraising efforts and support from its large member base.
N2 Racing is proudly sponsored by: Dunlop Motorcycle Tire, Yamaha Motor Corporation USA, Dainese, BobbleHeadMoto, Karnes Performance, Trading Paint, GB Racing, Westby Racing, Attack Performance, Robem Engineering, SBS Brakes, Puig, Eazi Grip, ProBolt, and Yamaha Champions Riding School.
More, from a press release issued by Hayden Schultz Racing:
Hayden Schultz and Cycle Tech Kick Off MotoAmerica Twins Cup Campaign with Daytona Victory
The Cycle Tech team came to Daytona with high hopes after a promising winter developing their Yamaha YZF-R7 machines. Their hard work would be rewarded with the teams first MotoAmerica victory after Hayden Schultz crossed the line first in Race 2.
Hayden Schultz would show promising pace from the opening practice session as the 2022 MotoAmerica season kicked off on the high banks of Daytona. The team would only get two shortened sessions to set up the bike before gridding up for race 1. After qualifying 5th on the grid, Hayden would go on to lead laps in race 1. While a potential podium or victory looked to be possible, a crash on lap 6 would derail hopes for a maiden victory on Friday
Heavy rains on Saturday morning would result in a rescheduled race 2 to start at nearly 6:00pm. The long wait would prove worth it. Schultz would utilize his experience and a strong Yamaha power plant to take the lead coming off of the banking and lead to the checkered flag. The victory at Daytona would be the first for Hayden and the Cycle Tech team.
Hayden Schultz:
“I’m so happy to get redemption after the incident in race 1. I knew from practice 1 that we had a strong bike and had a great shot at coming away with a win. My team is incredible and Gene Burcham, Ron “Dink” Glidden, and Gary Jeffries have spent countless hours preparing for the season. They did such a great job preparing our Yamaha R7 and making sure we had the power to be competitive. I made a mistake that cost us a shot at the win in race 1. When race 2 came around I knew I needed to just make it to the final lap so I could use the draft and power of the Cycle Tech Yamaha R7. My plan was to come out of the final chicane in 4th and it worked out perfectly. I’m thrilled to get my first MotoAmerica win and I’m determined to keep this momentum going further into the season.”
The Cycle Tech Yamaha team is supported by: Yamaha, Vance & Hines, Glidden Racing, 1833-CJ-KNOWS Accident and Injury Law, aRacer USA, Ohlins USA, Blud Lubricants, Dreyer Motorsports, Full Spectrum Power, Sunstar, DP Brakes, Speigler Performance Parts, Magura, Dymag Wheels, Just 1 Helmets, RS Taichi, Robem Engineering, Dogwood Residential, Attack Performance.
More, from a press release issued by KTM North America:
RED BULL KTM’S KODY KOPP RACES TO A CAREER-FIRST VICTORY IN AFT SINGLES CLASS
TEAMMATE MAX WHALE FINISHES RUNNER-UP AT VOLUSIA HALF-MILE SEASON OPENER
Round 1 – American Flat Track Championship
BARBERVILLE, Fla. – Seventeen-year-old Kody Kopp made a statement debut with the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team on Friday as he delivered a career-first AFT Singles victory at Round 1 of the 2022 American Flat Track Championship. As his closest competitor in the Main Event, teammate Max Whale put up a hard fight to finish only 2.6 seconds behind, giving Red Bull KTM an impressive 1-2 podium sweep at the highly-anticipated Volusia Half-Mile.
With rainstorms blowing through the area all week, Thursday and Friday’s season-opening double-header was eventually condensed into one round, taking place later on Friday evening. The Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team was able to put in two solid sessions on-track during Wednesday’s test day but track conditions were wildly different at the start of Friday’s racing. For Kopp, the conditions didn’t seem to make a difference as he topped the final qualifying session and carried great momentum into Semi 2. Charging his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION into the lead early on, the young rider never looked back as he raced his way to a 3.5 second victory in the semi.
In the Main Event, it was once again Kopp who commanded the early lead and he fought off early pressure from his teammate, Whale, through the first five laps. The Red Bull KTM duo worked their way to a sizeable gap over the rest of the field until a red flag came out, causing a pause in the action. Kopp and Whale returned to battle for a few laps after the re-start but Kopp wedged another gap late in the race to come away with an impressive flag-to-flag victory at Round 1.
Kody Kopp: “What an amazing start to the season! I just want to thank the whole Red Bull KTM Team for allowing me to get my first professional win. They’ve been working their butts off this entire off-season and it really showed at this first round. I feel really comfortable on the bike lately, these conditions really suited my style and I was able to get some decent starts, work my way to the front and put in my laps. I just want to thank everyone – my family, every sponsor and all that people who go unnoticed, it wouldn’t happen without you guys!”
Entering his sophomore season with the team, Max Whale posted a great Main Event result at Round 1. With track conditions changing immensely throughout the day, the Australian rider struggled earlier in the day but he quickly adapted himself and the bike, making big strides from the start of qualifying.
Finishing third in Semi 1, Whale placed his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION on the second row for the Main Event and he quickly charged into second behind his teammate. Whale pressured Kopp early on as they created a battle of their own out front and the multi-time championship contender used the re-start as an opportunity to reset his charge on the leader. In a fighting attempt at the win, Whale maintained a solid pace to finish only 2.6 seconds behind Kopp for second-place.
Max Whale: “It was a good start to the season. I’m super pumped from where we started the day – 16th in the first qualifying – and we didn’t stop working all day. We made improvements to the bike and then I made improvements to my riding style and that made a big difference for me. Hats off to my teammate Kody, he rode awesome. I’m super happy with how myself and the team worked all night and I’m ready for Round 2 in Texas!”
Next Race: Texas Half-Mile – Fort Worth, Texas – March 19, 2021
Round 1 Results – Volusia Half-Mile
AFT Singles Main Event
1. Kody Kopp, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
2. Max Whale, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
3. Dalton Gauthier, Honda
OTHER
10. Tanner Dean, KTM
13. James Ott, KTM
14. Ryan Wells, KTM
AFT Singles Point Standings (After Round 1)
1. Kody Kopp, 25 points
2. Max Whale, 20
3. Dalton Gauthier, 17
OTHER
10. Tanner Dean, 9
13. James Ott, 6
14. Ryan Wells, 5
More, from a press release issued by Royal Enfield North America:
JOHNNY LEWIS KICKS OFF FULL-SEASON ASSAULT ON AFT PRODUCTION TWINS CHAMPIONSHIPS
Top-five for Lewis while Build. Train. Race. action begins with BTR Select at Volusia Half Mile
Milwaukee, WI – Inclement Florida weather during Daytona Bike Week delayed the start of the 2022 American Flat Track National Championship, but it didn’t stop the season from commencing for Royal Enfield’s Build. Train. Race. program and the Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield crew. Johnny Lewis, aiming for a full-season assault on the AFT Production Twins championship, carded a solid fifth-place finish at the Volusia Half-Mile while the BTR women gave a preview of the 2022 action to come.
After a landmark year in 2021, where Johnny Lewis and the Moto Anatomy X team took on selected rounds of the American Flat Track Championship aboard the Royal Enfield Twins FT motorcycle, even celebrating a historic win at Lima Half Mile, the crew is ready to take on the full Production Twins class season in 2022.
“With the progress made on the Twins FT, and with the dedicated team behind the Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield program, we’re ready to go all in,” said Breeann Poland, Marketing and Communications Lead – Royal Enfield Americas. “We’ll continue to learn and progress as we go and we’re all looking forward to another great season.”
Despite some setbacks during the 10-lap Mission Production Twins Main Event at Volusia Speedway Park, Lewis utilized his experience on the track to manage his way to a solid finish. What looked like a possible podium eventually gave way to a fifth-place on the night, a respectable start to the new season.
“That was a rough main event to manage,” Lewis said. “But we have our eye on the long game and we’re happy to be starting the championship with some points. We’re really looking forward to the next round, the Texas Half Mile this weekend. Everything is bigger in Texas, and I want the biggest trophy I can get.”
The official BTR Flat Track season has yet to commence, as many of the newcomers to the program are still in the Build and Train portions of the program. The Volusia Half-Mile served as a “BTR Select” prequel to the season, offering the ladies of BTR Flat Track returning from the previous season, and any racers ready to compete ahead of schedule, the opportunity to get on the track.
Return riders Jillian Deschenes, Jaycee Jones, Lanakila MacNaughton, Malary Lee, Erin Ferris, Nean Kiskela and Gabrielle Hughes were joined by newcomer Alex Bumpus McDonald for BTR Select at the Volusia Half Mile.
The 2022 season appears to have picked up right where it left off, with Jillian Deschenes and Jaycee Jones dueling for the win. Jones managed to turn the quickest lap time in the main event, but it was Deschenes who led when it mattered—at the checkered flag. The race also saw a surprise performance from Lanakila MacNaughton, who kept the lead duo in sight en route to a strong podium finish.
“It’s great to see the BTR women on the track again,” Poland commented. “It’s going to be even more exciting when we see the full field out there for the first official round, which will take place at the I-70 Half Mile in Missouri, April 23. We can’t wait to see what happens when we throw all this new talent in the mix; it’s going to be an amazing season for Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race.”
About Royal Enfield
The oldest motorcycle company in continuous production in the world, Royal Enfield made its first motorcycle in 1901. A division of Eicher Motors Limited, Royal Enfield has created the midsize motorcycle segment in India with its unique and distinctive modern classic motorcycles. With its manufacturing base in Chennai, India, Royal Enfield has been able to grow its production rapidly against a surge in demand for its motorcycles. Royal Enfield is a leading player in the global middleweight motorcycle market.
Royal Enfield North America (RENA) is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and is developing a growing network of more than 140 dealers in North America, including the contiguous U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico. RENA currently offers the all-new Meteor 350, Himalayan and the 650 Twins (INT 650 and Continental GT 650) motorcycles, along with a range of Genuine Motorcycle Accessories and apparel.
For more information on Royal Enfield North America, visit www.RoyalEnfield.com/us/en/, www.Instagram.com/RoyalEnfield_NA, www.Facebook.com/RoyalEnfieldNorthAmerica.
