The Colorado Motorsports Hall of Fame has announced that Dan “Otis” Turner is one of the 12 inductees to be honored during the 2023 Colorado Motorsports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.
With a career spanning almost 40 years including eight Motorcycle Roadracing Association (MRA) Race of the Rockies Championships and #1 plates, 1994 AMA Superbike Rookie of the Year, and one of only a few MRA racers to ever podium at an AMA National Event, Turner will be inducted along with Bill Yalotz, Dave Savage, Dick Heikes, Doris Reimer, Frank Denning, Jack Nugent, Junior Reeder, Patrick Bourke, Sherry Graham, Robert Sutherland, and Stacey Cook.
Turner will join previous motorcycle racing inductees Ricky Orlando, Korry Hogan, Davey Durrelle, Donnie Hough, Bruce Sass, Shannon Moham, Arlo Englund, Jim Cole, Dennis Durmas, the Vickery Family, and the MRA.
Hall of Fame inductees come from all facets of motorsports: drivers, builders, mechanics, owners, facility operators and non-profit organizations. And, whether they come from being involved with racing on land, air or water, they all have the same pedigree: a passion for speed, competition, and perfection.
The induction ceremonies will be at the Infinity Park Event Center in Glendale, Colorado, on October 13, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. MST. Tickets for the 2022 Colorado Motorsports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony are now available at https://coloradomotorsportshalloffame.com/
Pirelli is satisfied with the first Moto2™ and Moto3™ test
At the Barcelona-Catalunya circuit, the riders and teams of the two World Championships were able to test the Pirelli tyres – which they will use from 2024, for the very first time
Today the Circuit of Barcelona-Catalunya hosted the first ever Pirelli test for Moto2™ and Moto3™. The riders of the two World Championships, considered to be the most important breeding ground for talent in two-wheeled motorsport on a global level, were able to test for the very first time the tyres that they will use starting from next season, when Pirelli will become the official and exclusive supplier for both classes.
A Pirelli technician listening to American Moto2 rider Joe Roberts (not visible in photo) at Catalunya. Photo courtesy Pirelli.
Testing began at 10 in the morning and ended at 5.30 pm and the riders of each of the two classes completed three sessions for a total of over three hours on the track with asphalt temperatures between 30 and 50 degrees Celsius and sunny weather.
Both the Moto2™ and Moto3™ riders used DIABLO™ Superbike slick tyres in soft and medium compounds for both the front and rear. In Moto2™ in size 125/70 R17 front and 200/65 R17 rear, in Moto3™ 100/70 R17 front and 120/70 R17 rear.
No official lap times were provided but the sensors on the start/finish straight were active and each team was therefore able to record their own times.
Giorgio Barbier (right) with Loris Capirossi (left) at Catalunya. Photo courtesy Pirelli.
Giorgio Barbier
Motorcycle Racing Director
“For Pirelli, the balance of this first test with Moto2™ and Moto3™ teams and riders is certainly very positive. The Montmelò circuit is quite demanding for the tyres, therefore, it was an excellent testing ground to carry out the first test and immediately verify the goodness of our product. Even in the absence of official lap times, we have seen that we are already very fast and that the wear levels are very good, above all if we consider that today was a very first test in plug&play conditions, i.e. without the possibility of setting the bike also in consideration of the race that will take place at Misano over the weekend. We know we have a very high performance and solid product and the positive comments we received today from riders and insiders confirmed this. In addition to the grip and pure performance, the extremely intuitive behaviour, the immediate ease of use and the feeling of confidence expressed by the front thanks also to the good balance between the two axles were appreciated. The riders were able to push hard right from the start thanks to the control and precision that our tyres were able to guarantee, in other words they immediately perceived a feeling of great safety. And these were unanimous comments, there were no dissenting voices. An excellent start and I am convinced that when the machines will be set up for our tyres in the best possible way, they will be able to fully exploit their full potential”.
Jonathan Rea to Race for Yamaha in WorldSBK from 2024
Yamaha Motor Europe is pleased to announce that six-time FIM Superbike World Champion Jonathan Rea will race alongside Andrea Locatelli in the Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK Official Team in 2024, having secured a two-year agreement with the Ulsterman.
Rea is the most successful WorldSBK rider of all time, winning six consecutive titles in an incredible period of dominance between 2015 and 2020. The records don’t stop there, as he also holds the highest number of victories in the class with 119, the most podiums (256), and fastest laps (102), all from a history-making 401 starts.
The Northern Irishman has also scored more points than anyone else in WorldSBK and has amassed over 6,000 since stepping up to the premier production class in 2008. On top of this, Rea also holds the record for the longest time between his first (Misano 2009) and last (Most 2023) wins, has 41 pole positions to his name and has been ever-present in the top three in the final WorldSBK Championship standings since 2014.
Despite his phenomenal career, Rea’s hunger for success has not diminished, and his aim is clear, to add to his record-breaking tally of victories and become the first rider to win seven WorldSBK titles.
Yamaha Motor Europe is delighted to have secured his services in a two-year deal. The new agreement will see Rea form a formidable partnership alongside Italian teammate Andrea Locatelli, with the duo competing onboard the highly competitive Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK R1 together until 2025.
Eric de Seynes: President & CEO, Yamaha Motor Europe
“We are very happy to welcome Jonathan to the Yamaha family and we are very much motivated to collaborate with him for the future. We have the same motivation to win, and the same passion for WorldSBK. Like him we have been world champions in recent years and we want to be back on the top of the box once again. Jonathan’s drive, determination and hunger for success have been constants throughout his career and these attributes will contribute to our future common success. We truly believe that Jonathan can add to his world championship tally, writing his name even larger in the history books, and we are equally confident that he can achieve this together with us. We are working hard to improve further our race proven Yamaha R1, to ensure that we provide Jonathan with exactly what he needs to achieve his and Yamaha’s goals in 2024 and 2025.”
More, from a press release issued by Kawasaki:
Jonathan Rea To Leave KRT
Six time WorldSBK Champion, Jonathan Rea, will leave the Kawasaki Racing Team at the end of the 2023 season
Formally contracted for both the current and 2024 seasons, Rea will be released from this agreement by mutual consent at the end of the racing season. During his time riding for the official factory team, 36 year old Rea achieved an unprecedented haul of six WorldSBK titles as well as accruing a slew of other records including all-time WorldSBK records for Championships, Race Wins, Podiums, Fastest Laps and Overall Points Scored.
Speaking of Rea’s departure, Guim Roda, Team Manager of KRT, said:
“In life as well as racing, priorities define the path to follow. I am very happy and proud that during these nine years Johnny has defined his priorities with KRT and has given us so many successes. I consider myself, our team, Kawasaki and all our fans worldwide, privileged to have been part of this journey. Whichever direction he goes in the future, I hope he can continue to grow as a rider. The task we have now is to finish the 2023 season as best we can with the tools we have been able to forge this year. As always, we will continue to look for improvements and seek advantage wherever possible. KRT is committed to putting on a good show with Johnny during his last four races on the formidable and impressive Ninja ZX-10RR that he has become synonymous with”.
Jonathan Rea reflected on his time at KRT saying:
“I want to thank everyone at KMC and KRT for believing in me and giving me the opportunity to prove myself at the highest level. I have learnt and grown so much as a person and a rider since the first day throwing my leg over the factory Ninja ZX-10R superbike.
Winning six consecutive WorldSBK Championships will always be the most obvious highlight of my time with Kawasaki; but it will also be the amazing memories, the life lessons and the laughs that I will take with me into the future. And, for sure, it’s our mission to complete the 2023 season as strongly and with as much commitment as we have always shown.
Now, looking back on our journey, it fills me with pride at the joy and happiness we have brought Kawasaki fans and Kawasaki owners around the world. This is not a goodbye, because you don’t say goodbye to family, but it is simply the end of this incredible chapter. I wish everyone at KRT the best of luck for the chapters that will surely follow. See you at the track”
Power cruisers started hitting the market right about the time I started riding motorcycles,. At first, they were standard-style Inline-4s with higher bars and a lot more power out of the box than traditional V-Twin cruisers. Then came a wave of V-4s, with even more power. They all followed a similar theme: Street style and reasonable handling, with big chunks of tire-shredding torque. Lap times weren’t the goal. The idea was to make the rider feel like they were launching off the line at the drag strip–and to look totally badass while doing it.
The Indian FTR R Carbon is long and low, and its big V-Twin engine generates considerable thrust. Premium suspension components from Öhlins are adjustable. Photo courtesy Indian Motorcycle.
Indian lists its 2023 FTR R Carbon in its Standards lineup, but riding it reminded me of those days when it was all about the kick in the butt caused by a twist of the wrist. To be sure, it handles, brakes, and generally behaves way better than those beasts of yesteryear. But get on the gas on the Indian, pretty much in any gear, at any rpm, and fun stuff starts to happen. The fact that the FTR successfully blends retro and modern styling, that it makes all the right sounds, and that it comes with advanced electronic rider aids that make riding the bike more fun is all great, to be sure. But an Indian FTR is really all about a surge of speed, accelerating with enough grunt to make the rider grin.
Technical Details
Indian engineers didn’t dumb it down when it came to the FTR. The engine is a liquid-cooled, four-valves-per-cylinder 1,203cc V-Twin with a bore and stroke of 102mm x 73.6mm, dual overhead cams, and a compression ratio of 12.5:1. A pair of 60mm throttle bodies handle intake chores, while a 2-1 exhaust with a catalytic converter routes the exhaust gasses to the rear. Indian marketeers claim the engine makes 120 horsepower, which with typical losses to the rear wheel on the dyno is right in the ballpark with the 112.07 bhp we found at 7,870 rpm on the dyno at Mickey Cohen Motorsports (1961 E Miraloma Ave Unit B, Anaheim Hills, CA 92870, (714) 993-5000, www.cohenmotorsports.com). Of more importance is the torque, which peaks at 82.16 lbs.-ft. at 6,000 rpm and comes on strong from the very bottom of the rpm range.
Indian routes that power through a six-speed transmission with an assisted/slipper clutch, and helps the rider manage it with a comprehensive suite of electronic rider aids. The machine comes with three ride modes (Rain, Standard, Sport), and Lean Angle Sensitive anti-lock brakes and stability control are standard. Traction control is standard, as is front lift (or wheelie) control plus rear wheel lift control and cruise control. The styling may be traditional, but the electronics are modern-spec for a street bike. For those who want a little more retro in their riding experience, the TC and the “wheelie mitigation” systems can be switched off.
The Indian FTR’s 1203cc V-Twin builds torque from the bottom of the rpm range and pulls strongly to redline. Photo courtesy Indian Motorcycle.
Speaking of retro, the chassis is about as retro as it comes among modern motorcycles. It’s a steel-tube trellis frame with a steel swingarm as well. In the tradition of the power cruiser, the wheelbase is long, at 60 inches (1,524mm). And the seat height is a moderate 30.7 inches, not cruiser-low, but comfortably low among modern machines.
The carbon-fiber front fender may attract attention, but equally impressive are the Öhlins forks and Brembo brakes. Metzeler M9 RR tires provide excellent grip for anything on the street. Photo courtesy Indian Motorcycle.
Braking is top-shelf, with 320mm (12.6-inch) dual discs in the front and a single 260mm (10.2-inch) rotor in the rear. Brembo four-piston calipers are mounted up front, with a twin-piston Brembo caliper operating on the back wheel.
Öhlins makes a custom feedback reservoir rear shock for the Indian FTR. Photo courtesy Indian Motorcycle.
Suspension is a high specification as well. Up front, the 43mm inverted Öhlins cartridge forks are adjustable for spring preload plus compression and rebound damping. In the back, a single Öhlins shock with a piggyback reservoir is equally adjustable. Wheel travel is 120mm (4.7 inches) front and rear.
The ancillaries are all thoroughly modern, including the four-inch touchscreen display screen, the Bluetooth compatibility, the LED lighting all the way around. And the carbon-fiber components are stylish and set the FTR apart from other machines in its class, if, really, there are any. There are big V-Twins and sport-naked machines, but none really combine these elements the way the FTR does.
A round dash says retro, the touch screen capability and array of information that the rider can customize to their needs says modern. Photo courtesy Indian Motorcycle.
The Riding Experience
Fire it up, and the FTR is remarkably civil at idle. The exhaust note is distinctive and speaks the language of power, but it is not obnoxious. It’s easy to throw a leg over the reasonable seat height. The riding position, Indian says, is derived from its FTR750 flat track racer. I call it Modern Hooligan; the bars are low but not clip-ons; the pegs far enough back that the rider is canted a bit forward, as though prepared for the wheelie that they know is coming!
While its looks may be derived from the flat track world, it’s clear that Indian’s engineers have done their job on making the FTR rideable in the real world. The vibration is what you’d expect and want from a big V-Twin, more a rumble rather than a buzz. It’s actually a pleasant part of the riding experience, and the mirrors remain clear and usable. The clutch pull is reasonable, the brakes effective without being touchy. There’s no excessive heat, and little in the way of mechanical noise. It’s a pretty civil place to operate from around town and in traffic.
The FTR isn’t a lightweight, but the trellis frame keeps it flickable and stable at enthusiastic street speeds. Photo courtesy Indian Motorcycle.
Twist the throttle hard, and the FTR remains civil–but stuff is hurtling back at you, fast. It’s like everyone else on the road suddenly slowed! The response from the torquey engine is immediate, ample, and satisfying. And the electronic rider aids work as intended, keeping the party from going out of bounds unless you decide that’s what you want to happen.
Metzeler Sportec M9 RR tires provide plenty of traction for anything reasonably responsible on the street, and the Öhlins suspension performs as expected. The tubular bars provide good leverage, but the bike isn’t overly heavy to begin with, so flicking it from side to side is relatively easy and precise. If I had any complaint, it’s that the seating position sort of crouched me into the wind blast, and the combination of wind and seating position wore on me more quickly than I’d have liked on a longer ride.
But let’s face it: Nobody will buy this thing to cover continents. It’s for short bursts of motorcycling madness, and it absolutely delivers thrills when you get, shall we say–enthusiastic!. Whether it’s firing off the line at an intersection or whipping through a twisty road, the bike accelerates hard, handles well, and brakes with alacrity. The best part, though, is that the bike tells the rider, loudly and clearly, that it is doing all of these things. The rider feels the riding experience on the FTR, and for the type of riding most FTR owners will be doing, that is exactly what they want.
To the non-motorcyclist, the FTR looks retro. To the informed eye, the FTR screams up-to-date. Indian has done a remarkable job in hitting both targets and, of bringing new life into the power cruiser category. How could that possibly be anything other than awesome?
A swingarm-mounted license plate holder makes the FTR look like a custom, but is not everyone’s preferred style. For non-fans of that look, Indian offers a kit to relocate the license plate underneath the seat. Photo courtesy Indian Motorcycle.
P.S. For some, Indian’s decision to hang the license plate off the end of the swingarm is aesthetically unpleasant. For those customers, Indian offers a kit for $299.99 that, along with the $99.99 accessory mounting kit, allows the owner to relocate the license plate and rear turn signals under the seat. It’s nice when a manufacturer offers that kind of styling flexibility…
Progressive Insurance American Flat Track (AFT) Championship Series
Springfield Mile II
Springfield, Illinois
September 3, 2023
Provisional Mission SuperTwins Main Event Results (all on Dunlop tires):
1. Briar Bauman (KTM), 25 laps
2. Jared Mees (Ind), -0.075 second
3. Davis Fisher (Ind), -5.575 seconds
4. Dallas Daniels (Yam), -5.599
5. Brandon Robinson (Ind), -5.836
6. JD Beach (Yam), -6.132
7. Bronson Bauman (KTM), -15.726
8. Ben Lowe (Ind), -15.960
9. Henry Wiles (Ind), -15.973
10. Jarod Vanderkooi (KTM), -17.949
11. Johnny Lewis (Roy), -18.055
12. Kolby Carlile (Yam), -31.672
13. Jeffery Lowery (Yam), -33.460
14. Dan Bromley (Yam), -35.279
15. Kevin Stollings (Kaw), -1 lap
16. Kasey Sciscoe (Har), -13 laps, DNF
17. Brandon Price (Yam), -15 laps, DNF
18. Cody Johncox (Yam), -17 laps, DNF
19. Cameron Smith (Yam), -25 laps, DNS
Provisional Parts Unlimited AFT Singles Main Event Results (all on Dunlop tires):
1. Tom Drane (Yam), 18 laps
2. Chase Saathoff (Hon), -0.043 second
3. Kody Kopp (KTM), -0.159
4. Trevor Brunner (Yam), -0.203
5. Morgen Mischler (Hon), -0.325
6. Trent Lowe (Hon), -0.481
7. Declan Bender (KTM), -0.587
8. James Ott (Hus), -0.603
9. Max Whale (KTM), -0.637
10. Cole Zabala (Hon), -2.934 seconds
11. Tarren Santero (Hon), -4.637
12. Shayna Texter-Bauman (KTM), -10.671
13. Travis Petton (KTM), -10.751
14. Chad Cose (Hus), -14.048
15. Tyler Raggio (Hon), -14.272
16. Dalton Gauthier (KTM), -14.305
17. Hunter Bauer (Hon), -14.356
18. Jared Lowe (Hon), -15.864
19. Landen Smith (KTM), -24.075
More, from a press release issued by American Flat Track (AFT):
Bauman Wins Springfield Mile II, Mees Adds to His Legend with Ninth Grand National Championship
Briar Bauman (3) held off Jared Mees (1) to win the AFT SuperTwins race at the Springfield Mile II. Photo by Tim Lester, courtesy AFT.
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).
Next Up:
For those that didn’t catch the live action from the circuit, FansChoice.tv is the live streaming home of Progressive AFT. Sign up now and catch every second of on-track action from the entire season, which is available to watch on demand at https://www.fanschoice.tv.
FOX Sports coverage of Mission Springfield Mile I & II presented by Drag Specialties featuring in-depth features and thrilling onboard cameras, will premiere back-to-back on FS1 on Sunday, September 10, starting at 10:00 a.m. ET (7:00 a.m. PT).
More, from a press release issued by KTM Factory Racing:
TWO-TIME CHAMPION KODY KOPP FINISHES 2023 AFT SINGLES SEASON WITH SPRINGFIELD PODIUM
Round 18 – American Flat Track Championship
Kody Kopp (1). Photo courtesy KTM Factory Racing.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Newly-crowned two-time champion Kody Kopp has concluded the 2023 American Flat Track Championship by securing a third-place result in the AFT Singles Class at the final round of the season at Springfield Mile II, just one day after clinching back-to-back titles in the penultimate round.
The championship pressure was lifted from Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Kopp as he entered Round 18, going on to record the fifth-fastest qualifying time. Third place in his Heat Race earned him a transfer into the Main Event, where the number one would battle hard all race long, crossing the line in third position, just 0.159s outside of victory.
Kopp’s 2023 campaign marked an ultra-successful outing onboard his KTM 450 SX-F, with the 18-year-old defending his AFT Singles Championship, while also racing to eight race wins across the season, marking one of the more dominant seasons in AFT Singles Class history.
Kody Kopp: “The season comes to an end here in Springfield! We pulled another podium finish, which is pretty crazy considering how we started the year with the Miles, so it’s a testament to how hard the team has worked throughout the year to get us to where we are now. The pressure was lifted today after the championship was wrapped up yesterday, so it was a fun race to enjoy, and we ended up just a little short in third place. Stoked on the season though and already looking forward to defending this thing next year!”
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing teammate Max Whale sat one position ahead of Kopp in qualifying by posting the fourth-fastest time, before racing to third place in his Heat Race. A stacked Main Event with the top 10 fighting for position saw Whale conclude his 2023 season with a ninth-place ride in Springfield, completing the season P5 in the final AFT Singles Class standings.
Max Whale: “All in all things went fairly well this season, as it’s the first time in a while I’ve made it through all rounds healthy. Lots of learnings and takeaways this year, but I feel like I have a lot more to give, so we’ll come back next year stronger and faster. My race here was good, first through 10th were in a super-tight battle, we were all there at the front of the pack, and I ended up ninth. Congratulations to Kody and the whole team, job well done to those guys, and we’ll be up for the fight again next year.”
KTM-supported racer Briar Bauman finished the 2023 American Flat Track Championship by claiming an impressive SuperTwins Class victory at Springfield Mile II, which marks his second win of the season and ninth podium finish equipped with the KTM 790 DUKE. Bauman was ranked P4 in the final championship standings.
American Kayla Yaakov, age 16, dominated Yamaha R7 bLU cRU Cup Race Two Sunday at Circuit de Navarra, in Spain.
Heavy rain and flooding on Saturday forced the entire program to be run on Sunday.
Yaakov was fourth in the wet qualifying session Sunday morning.
Race One was then run in wet-but-drying conditions. Yaakov was fighting for a podium position when she was “taken out,” according to her father, former racer David Yaakov.
Then in Race Two, Kayla Yaakov checked out. She won the 13-lap race by 9.5 seconds.
American Kayla Yaakov with her team in Spain. Photo courtesy David Yaakov.
Aleix Espargaro won the FIM MotoGP World Championship race Sunday at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, in Spain. Riding his factory Aprilia RS-GP, the Spaniard won the restarted 23-lap race by just 0.377 second.
Espargaro’s Aprilia teammate Maverick Vinales was the runner-up, and Jorge Martin finished third, 2.831 seconds behind Espargaro, on his Prima Pramac Racing Ducati Desmosedici.
The race was marred by two incidents on the original start. First, several riders crashed in a chain-reaction incident in Turn One. Then seconds later, Francesco Bagnaia highsided coming out of Turn Two and his right leg was run over by another rider.
Crashers between the two incidents included Bagnaia, Enea Bastianini, Marco Bezzecchi, Brad Binder, Fabio Di Giannantonio, Alex Marquez, and Johann Zarco.
Bagnaia and Bastianini did not make the restart. Bagnaia was taken to a local hospital to get more detailed scans of his injured leg.
Aleix grabs victory in an Aprilia duel after early drama in Barcelona
The “Captain” overhauls Viñales, Martin takes third after early race drama sees Bagnaia suffer huge highside out the lead but escape relatively unscathed
Aleix Espargaro (41) and Maverick Vinales (12). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Sunday, 03 September 2023
Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) made history at the Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya as he led a historic Aprilia 1-2 over the line. Teammate Maverick Viñales led for much of the race before being caught, stalked and then passed by his teammate, but it marked a milestone day for the Noale factory. Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) completed the podium.
Before that, drama on a first start saw a multiple-rider crash at Turn 1, right before a highside out the lead for reigning Champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team). Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) couldn’t avoid the #1 fully but after examination at the medical centre and the General Hospital of Catalunya, Bagnaia was confirmed to have suffered no fractures in the incident.
Unfortunately, teammate Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) was found to have injured his hand and ankle in the Turn 1 crash, and he was penalised for his part in the incident too. Bagnaia’s highside and the incident at Turn 1 saw the Red Flag come out and the race restart with neither lining up on the grid.
A dramatic first start
As the lights went out for the first time, Bastianini went a bit too hot into Turn 1 and had nowhere to go as the field tipped in. The Italian caught the rear end of Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing) seeing them both go down and ending in a multi-rider pile-up at the Turn 1 gravel trap, including Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) and both Gresini machines of Alex Marquez and Fabio Di Giannantonio.
Just seconds later Bagnaia’s crash happened just a few metres ahead. On the exit of Turn 2 the Italian highsided out, with most avoiding both man and machine and only Binder caught up, also crashing out. That confirmed a red flag for the first start as both Bagnaia and Bastianini were then taken to the medical centre.
Pressing the reset button
With pole position empty and no Bagnaia, Martin took the holeshot this time around but Viñales came out the blocks guns blazing too, hitting the front quickly with a firm first-lap move. The number 12 led the way ahead of Martin, with Aleix Espargaro sitting in third with his hands full with Miguel Oliveira (CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP™ Team).
Viñales began to stretch out a few bike lengths on Martin as Aleix Espargaro was determined to make sure his teammate didn’t break away and proceeded to push his way past Martin with 21 laps to go. Oliveira then decided to strike whilst the iron was hot and followed, moving up into third to create a historic Aprilia 1-2-3.
Lap by lap, Aleix Espargaro bridged the gap to his teammate, stalking him once he arrived on the scene.
Just behind, Oliveira was unable to hold onto the factory duo, and the Portuguese rider started to fade back into the clutches of Martin. The Pramac rider pounced on the RNF machine with 14 laps remaining.
After piling on the pressure, Aleix Espargaro then dropped back a few tenths after a mistake with 12 laps to go. But the number 41 dug back in and inched his way back onto the rear wheel of Viñales up ahead, setting up another shot at taking over in front.
With four laps to go, Aleix Espargaro then made his move. Side by side along the main straight, he then pounced on Maverick at Turn 1 and parked his RSGP up this inside of the #12. Brutal, fair, or both at once, Viñales was sent wide and through the long lap loop as Aleix pulled away in the lead.
The roles were now reversed, with Viñales on the back foot once back on track and looking to home back in on the lead. It looked impossible, then implausible, but by the final lap the number 12 was starting to get close enough to cause his teammate a sweat if he’d had a rear view mirror. But the metres were running out, and Aleix Espargaro kept it cool and collected under the pressure to shoot over the line and make some serious amends for his 2022 lap count mistake. Viñales, although not on the top step, made it a truly historic day for Aprilia as he came up just 0.377s short in second for that 1-2.
Martin crossed the line in a lonelier third place, off the Aprilias but ahead of his teammate Johann Zarco two seconds back in fourth. Oliveira slipped down to fifth place by the time the chequered flag came out, with a battle for sixth place being won by Alex Marquez a further 3 seconds back.
The Spaniard got the better of Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) and Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) who finished in seventh and eighth respectively. Augusto Fernandez (GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3) bagged P9 with a last gasp move on Fabio Di Giannantionio (Gresini Racing MotoGP™), who rounded out the top 10.
Luca Marini won a duel against teammate Bezzecchi for P11, just ahead of Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team). Binder was a notable retirement, suffering a technical issue and DNF after the restart.
At the head of the field, it was a weekend to remember for Aleix Espargaro and for Aprilia Racing. Not only did Aleix take both the Tissot Sprint and Grand Prix victories, but the Noale manufacturer came away with both their factory machines securing top 3 finishes in both events. MotoGP™ now turns its attention to the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli in Italy for the Gran Premio Red Bull di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini from the 8th – 10th of September.
Jake Dixon (96) held off Aron Canet (40) to win the Moto2 race. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Dixon fends off Canet for statement win
The duel for the win goes to the wire as Moto2™ delivers a classic in Catalunya
Jake Dixon (Asterius GASGAS Aspar Team) showed he means business in the title fight as he put in a Moto2™ masterclass to take victory at the Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya. The Brit was involved in a race-long tussle with Aron Canet (Pons Wegow Los40) and Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo), but Acosta dropped back from the podium fight as Albert Arenas (Red Bull KTM Ajo) emerged in a late charge to take third in the closing stages.
The lights went out in Barcelona and it was Dixon who held the lead through the first sector from pole. The Brit led the opening laps as he had Manuel Gonzalez (Correos Prepago Yamaha VR46 Master Camp) and Canet for company. Gonzalez then took over the lead with 17 laps remaining whilst Acosta was climbing up the order after starting from ninth on the grid.
Acosta joined the leading trio with twelve laps to go. Canet then took the lead from Gonzalez into Turn 1 as Acosta snatched third from Dixon. However, it wasn’t long before the Championship leader made his move on Gonzalez with Dixon following pursuit shortly after.
Whilst the top three continued to scrap it out, Gonzalez had fallen into the clutches of Arenas, who demoted his compatriot to fourth and latched on to the leading trio.
The gloves were off with five laps remaining as Acosta, Canet and Dixon swapped and changed positions. Acosta then began to fade as the Spaniard dropped back to fifth behind Gonzalez and Arenas, but it soon went from bad to worse for the Championship leader as the Spaniard ran off at Turn 1 and was forced to run go through the long lap loop and rejoin behind Sergio Garcia (Pons Wegow Los40), down in sixth.
The group had stretched out on the penultimate lap as Dixon led Canet, with Arenas in a distant third, and as the last lap started, it was clear it would be a straight shoot-out for victory between Dixon and Canet.
The Brit went defensive into Turn 1 as he could feel the Spaniard breathing down his neck, and held it round the first sectors. He also had his line covered into Turn 10 as they barrelled into the final sector, with Canet then getting squiggly and losing a few metres. The Spaniard seemed to consider a move at the final corner, but Dixon had it covered once again for a second Grand Prix win.
Canet was forced to settle for second, with Arenas taking third and that first podium in the class. Garcia made serious progress to make it up to fourth, with Gonzalez then managing to fend off Acosta for fifth. The Championship leader took sixth.
Closest rival Tony Arbolino (Elf MarcVDS Racing Team), however, concluded a tougher weekend with no points. Acosta now leads the Italian by 22 points with Dixon another 22 back in 3rd.
The attention now turns to Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli in Italy where Acosta will be fully aware of title threats coming from both the home hero Arbolino and the on-form Dixon. Get ready for more Moto2™ action at the Gran Premio Red Bull di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini from the 8th – 10th of September!
David Alonso (80) beat a swarm of Moto3 riders to the finish line. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Alonso back on top as Holgado crashes and Öncü gets into a final corner tangle
The Colombian bounces back in style ahead of Masia, with Rueda taking a maiden podium as key title contenders suffer drama in Barcelona
Moto3™ delivered an absolute barnstormer in Barcelona as there was action everywhere you looked on the final lap, and plenty of drama too. David Alonso (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team) took the spoils by just 0.076s after an incredible final corner overtake saw three riders squeezed up onto the apex, with Jaume Masia (Leopard Racing) taking second but bringing home 20 crucial points as Championship leader Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Tech3) crashed out earlier on the last lap.
Classified third, Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) picked up his first Grand Prix podium after a final corner clash ahead saw Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo) make contact with David Muñoz (BOE Motorsports), earning the Turkish rider a penalty dropping him from P3 to P12. Amidst it all, Ayumu Sasaki’s (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) podium run may have come to an end as he took P4… but given Holgado’s crash the Japanese rider is now just 13 points off the top.
Öncü took the holeshot as he snatched the lead from Ivan Ortola (Angeluss MTA Team) into Turn 1. Joel Kelso (CFMoto Racing Pruestel GP) stayed firm in P3 at first, until Masia eagerly pushed his way through as they barrelled into the final sector for the first time.
It didn’t take long for Masia to take the lead as he slotted up the inside of Öncü with 16 laps remaining to lead the freight train, and the battle for victory began to take shape with a gaggle of riders snapping at the Leopard rider’s heels.
The group proceeded to swap paintwork and bang handlebars as a mix of fresh talent and proven Moto3™ big hitters got their elbows out. Holgado hit the front with 12 laps to go and a pattern began to form as Öncü, Masia, and Holgado consistently kept themselves in the top 3 despite challenges from the chasing pack.
Alonso, Muñoz, and Rueda all fancied their chances as they kept themselves consistently in the hunt, making some big moves in the leading group, with Sasaki the key player in the title fight looking set to lose ground – at that point.
Holgado led across the line to begin the last lap before Masia charged through from fourth to the lead, but when the last sector came around, the gloves came off as chaos unfolded. They were four abreast down into the hard braking Turn 10, and Masia defended as Alonso, Muñoz, and Öncü were all looking for a way through.
Masia ran wide allowing Alonso and Muñoz past, meaning it was all down to the final corner. But disaster then came for Holgado as he lost the at front Turn 10, with his title rivals still very much in the leading battle.
Back at the front, Muñoz led into the last turn as they went three abreast into a corner once deemed impossible to make an overtake. Now, it was going to be a double.
Alonso dived up the inside of Muñoz as Masia also tried to squeeze through, and both riders did make it stick. Alonso came out on top and held the victory to the line ahead of Masia. But just behind came the drama.
After losing out in those moves, Muñoz lost drive onto the front straight and Öncü was coming through the final corner. The Turk kept in pinned and then made contact with Muñoz… seeing the Spaniard bumped off and out into the gravel on the outside of the corner. Rider ok, drama still not done. Öncü crossed the line in 3rd but a 6s penalty for the last-corner incident demoted the number 53 to 12th place… promoting Rueda, who’d been right on their tail, to his first Grand Prix podium.
Behind all that came Sasaki, who was ultimately classified fourth to move within just 13 points of Holgado’s lead, and a little further back, Masia moves above Öncü. Which way will the cards fall next time out? Find out at the Gran Premio Red Bull di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini next up from the 8th -10th of September!
Jake Dixon won the FIM Moto2 World Championship race Sunday at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, in Spain. Riding his Asterius GASGAS Aspar Team Kalex, the Brit won the 21-lap race by 0.205 second.
Aron Canet was the runner-up on his Pons Wegow Los40 Kalex, and Albert Arenas finished a close third, 1.027 seconds behind Dixon, on his Red Bull KTM Ajo Kalex.
American Joe Roberts placed 11th on his Italtrans Racing Kalex, 9.476 seconds behind the winner.
American Sean Dylan Kelly did not ride at Catalunya. He and his American Racing Team split up just before the weekend.
David Alonso won the FIM Moto3 World Championship race Sunday at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, in Spain. Riding his Gaviota Aspar Team GASGAS, the Colombian won the 18-lap race by just 0.076 second.
Jaume Masia was second on his Leopard Racing Honda, and Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Jose Antonio Rueda got third.
The top top 11 finishers were separated by just 1.3 seconds at the end.
Rueda’s teammate Deniz Oncu crossed the finish line third, but he was given a six-second penalty for irresponsible riding that dropped him from third to 12th.
Championship point leader David Holgado crashed his Red Bull KTM Tech3 machine, remounted, and finished 22nd, out of the points.
Progressive American Flat Track (AFT) Championship
Springfield Mile I
Springfield, Illinois
September 2, 2023
Provisional Mission SuperTwins Main Event Results (all on Dunlop tires):
1. Jared Mees (Ind), 25 laps
2. Briar Bauman (KTM), -0.340 second
3. Brandon Robinson (Ind), -4.348 seconds
4. JD Beach (Yam), -4.412
5. Dallas Daniels (Yam), -5.734
6. Davis Fisher (Ind), -5.992
7. Ben Lowe (Ind), -15.060
8. Jarod Vanderkooi (KTM), -15.371
9. Henry Wiles (Ind), -17.820
10. Johnny Lewis (Roy), -18.200
11. Bronson Bauman (KTM), -24.325
12. Kolby Carlile (Yam), -24.445
13. Brandon Price (Yam), -24.508
14. Dan Bromley (Yam), -35.357
15. Jeffery Lowery (Yam), -36.758
16. Jeremiah Duffy (Kaw), -9 laps, DNF
17. Cameron Smith (Yam), -10 laps, DNF
18. Ryan Wells (Roy), -12 laps, DNF
19. Nick Armstrong (Yam), -17 laps, DNF
Provisional Parts Unlimited AFT Singles Main Event Results (all on Dunlop tires):
1. Kody Kopp (KTM), 18 laps
2. Tom Drane (Yam), -0.010 second
3. Chase Saathoff (Hon), -0.092
4. Trevor Brunner (Yam), -0.486
5. Morgen Mischler (Hon), -0.638
6. Declan Bender (KTM), -0.676
7. James Ott (Hus), -5.500 seconds
8. Trent Lowe (Hon), -5.505
9. Max Whale (KTM), -5.609
10. Chad Cose (Hus), -5.742
11. Travis Petton (KTM), -7.605
12. Dalton Gauthier (KTM), -7.857
13. Shayna Texter-Bauman (KTM), -8.736
14. Tarren Santero (Hon), -8.947
15. Aidan RoosEvans (Hon), -14.359
16. Hunter Bauer (Hon), -14.571
17. Tyler Raggio (Yam), -14.692
18. Jared Lowe (Hon), -26.114
19. Jordan Jean (Hon), -8 laps, DNF
More, from a press release issued by AFT:
Mees Closes on Crown, Kopp Defends Title with Springfield Mile I Triumphs
Jared Mees (1) leading the field at Springfield Mile I. Photo courtesy AFT.
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.
Next Up:
The 2023 Progressive American Flat Track season will conclude with Sunday’s Mission Springfield Mile II presented by Drag Specialties at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Illinois. Visit https://www.tixr.com/groups/meespromotions/events/springfield-mile-ii-61313 to reserve your tickets now.
For those that can’t catch the live action from the circuit, FansChoice.tv 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://www.fanschoice.tv.
FOX Sports coverage of Mission Springfield Mile I & II presented by Drag Specialties featuring in-depth features and thrilling onboard cameras, will premiere back-to-back on FS1 on Sunday, September 10, starting at 10:00 a.m. ET (7:00 a.m. PT).
More, from a press release issued by KTM Factory Racing:
KODY KOPP AND RED BULL KTM CLINCH SECOND-STRAIGHT AFT SINGLES CHAMPIONSHIP WITH SPRINGFIELD MILE VICTORY
Round 17 – American Flat Track Championship
Kody Kopp, after winning his second straight AFT Singles Championship. Photo courtesy KTM Factory Racing.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Kody Kopp has clinched a second-consecutive AFT Singles Championship with a round to spare, after charging to his eighth American Flat Track Main Event victory of the 2023 season on Saturday at the Springfield Mile double-header.
In what has been a dominant season onboard his KTM 450 SX-F, Kopp has raced to a total of eight race wins across the 17 rounds contested, with one more race to run in Springfield tomorrow. This year’s title marks the Washington native’s second crown in just three seasons since stepping up to the AFT Singles ranks, with the 18-year-old once again displaying his winning form by sealing the championship on top of the podium.
Requiring a 10th-place finish or better to secure the 2023 title, Kopp demonstrated true championship caliber as he posted the third-fastest qualifying time, before racing to P3 in his Heat Race. After starting the Main Event from the second row of the grid, the defending champion put any pressure of earning back-to-back titles out of his mind, slicing his way through the field and eventually edging his way into P1, which is where he would take the checkered flag by just 0.010s for his eighth win of the season and another AFT Singles Championship.
Kody Kopp: “We were in the hunt all day long here in Springfield! We entered with a new motor that the team back at the shop have been working on and I’d say that’s the strongest Mile motor I’ve ever ridden with in my life. We put ourselves in a good position, I knew what was needed for the championship, although I wanted there to be no questions asked, so we ended up going out there and winning the thing. It feels amazing to match Dallas [Daniels] on total single season wins with eight, and then to also wrap up another championship. We’ll charge for another win tomorrow, but we will soak this in first! A massive thank you to the team for giving me all the tools necessary all season long to get the job done.”
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing teammate Max Whale endured a difficult day out in Springfield, with the Australian posting a P5 result in qualifying. After experiencing an unfortunate non-finish during his Heat Race, Whale qualified into the Main Event through the LCQ, which resulted in a poor starting position for the 18-lap affair.
Equipped with his KTM 450 SX-F, Whale put in an impressive charge through the pack, powering his way to ninth place by race’s end, despite the one-lined nature of the circuit, and he maintains fifth-place in the 2023 season standings.
Max Whale: “I felt really good here in Springfield. The bike was awesome as soon as we hit the track and I was running up front in all sessions, before an issue in the Heat Race sent me to the LCQ. I fought from the back of the grid in the LCQ to second, and then in the Main Event I was way back with the grid position, but tried as hard as I could and managed to come back to ninth place. We’ve been trying all season long, so we’ll line up and give it another shot tomorrow!”
Next Race: Springfield Mile II – Springfield, IL – September 3, 2023
Dan "Otis" Turner (1) leading Rob Christman (19) during a MRA race in 2013. Photo by Jim Browning, courtesy Colorado Motorsports Hall of Fame.
The Colorado Motorsports Hall of Fame has announced that Dan “Otis” Turner is one of the 12 inductees to be honored during the 2023 Colorado Motorsports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.
With a career spanning almost 40 years including eight Motorcycle Roadracing Association (MRA) Race of the Rockies Championships and #1 plates, 1994 AMA Superbike Rookie of the Year, and one of only a few MRA racers to ever podium at an AMA National Event, Turner will be inducted along with Bill Yalotz, Dave Savage, Dick Heikes, Doris Reimer, Frank Denning, Jack Nugent, Junior Reeder, Patrick Bourke, Sherry Graham, Robert Sutherland, and Stacey Cook.
Turner will join previous motorcycle racing inductees Ricky Orlando, Korry Hogan, Davey Durrelle, Donnie Hough, Bruce Sass, Shannon Moham, Arlo Englund, Jim Cole, Dennis Durmas, the Vickery Family, and the MRA.
Hall of Fame inductees come from all facets of motorsports: drivers, builders, mechanics, owners, facility operators and non-profit organizations. And, whether they come from being involved with racing on land, air or water, they all have the same pedigree: a passion for speed, competition, and perfection.
The induction ceremonies will be at the Infinity Park Event Center in Glendale, Colorado, on October 13, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. MST. Tickets for the 2022 Colorado Motorsports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony are now available at https://coloradomotorsportshalloffame.com/
Pirelli tires being fitted during a test Monday at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Photo courtesy Pirelli.
Pirelli is satisfied with the first Moto2™ and Moto3™ test
At the Barcelona-Catalunya circuit, the riders and teams of the two World Championships were able to test the Pirelli tyres – which they will use from 2024, for the very first time
Today the Circuit of Barcelona-Catalunya hosted the first ever Pirelli test for Moto2™ and Moto3™. The riders of the two World Championships, considered to be the most important breeding ground for talent in two-wheeled motorsport on a global level, were able to test for the very first time the tyres that they will use starting from next season, when Pirelli will become the official and exclusive supplier for both classes.
A Pirelli technician listening to American Moto2 rider Joe Roberts (not visible in photo) at Catalunya. Photo courtesy Pirelli.
Testing began at 10 in the morning and ended at 5.30 pm and the riders of each of the two classes completed three sessions for a total of over three hours on the track with asphalt temperatures between 30 and 50 degrees Celsius and sunny weather.
Both the Moto2™ and Moto3™ riders used DIABLO™ Superbike slick tyres in soft and medium compounds for both the front and rear. In Moto2™ in size 125/70 R17 front and 200/65 R17 rear, in Moto3™ 100/70 R17 front and 120/70 R17 rear.
No official lap times were provided but the sensors on the start/finish straight were active and each team was therefore able to record their own times.
Giorgio Barbier (right) with Loris Capirossi (left) at Catalunya. Photo courtesy Pirelli.
Giorgio Barbier
Motorcycle Racing Director
“For Pirelli, the balance of this first test with Moto2™ and Moto3™ teams and riders is certainly very positive. The Montmelò circuit is quite demanding for the tyres, therefore, it was an excellent testing ground to carry out the first test and immediately verify the goodness of our product. Even in the absence of official lap times, we have seen that we are already very fast and that the wear levels are very good, above all if we consider that today was a very first test in plug&play conditions, i.e. without the possibility of setting the bike also in consideration of the race that will take place at Misano over the weekend. We know we have a very high performance and solid product and the positive comments we received today from riders and insiders confirmed this. In addition to the grip and pure performance, the extremely intuitive behaviour, the immediate ease of use and the feeling of confidence expressed by the front thanks also to the good balance between the two axles were appreciated. The riders were able to push hard right from the start thanks to the control and precision that our tyres were able to guarantee, in other words they immediately perceived a feeling of great safety. And these were unanimous comments, there were no dissenting voices. An excellent start and I am convinced that when the machines will be set up for our tyres in the best possible way, they will be able to fully exploit their full potential”.
Jonathan Rea (65) in action at Autodrom Most. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
Jonathan Rea to Race for Yamaha in WorldSBK from 2024
Yamaha Motor Europe is pleased to announce that six-time FIM Superbike World Champion Jonathan Rea will race alongside Andrea Locatelli in the Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK Official Team in 2024, having secured a two-year agreement with the Ulsterman.
Rea is the most successful WorldSBK rider of all time, winning six consecutive titles in an incredible period of dominance between 2015 and 2020. The records don’t stop there, as he also holds the highest number of victories in the class with 119, the most podiums (256), and fastest laps (102), all from a history-making 401 starts.
The Northern Irishman has also scored more points than anyone else in WorldSBK and has amassed over 6,000 since stepping up to the premier production class in 2008. On top of this, Rea also holds the record for the longest time between his first (Misano 2009) and last (Most 2023) wins, has 41 pole positions to his name and has been ever-present in the top three in the final WorldSBK Championship standings since 2014.
Despite his phenomenal career, Rea’s hunger for success has not diminished, and his aim is clear, to add to his record-breaking tally of victories and become the first rider to win seven WorldSBK titles.
Yamaha Motor Europe is delighted to have secured his services in a two-year deal. The new agreement will see Rea form a formidable partnership alongside Italian teammate Andrea Locatelli, with the duo competing onboard the highly competitive Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK R1 together until 2025.
Eric de Seynes: President & CEO, Yamaha Motor Europe
“We are very happy to welcome Jonathan to the Yamaha family and we are very much motivated to collaborate with him for the future. We have the same motivation to win, and the same passion for WorldSBK. Like him we have been world champions in recent years and we want to be back on the top of the box once again. Jonathan’s drive, determination and hunger for success have been constants throughout his career and these attributes will contribute to our future common success. We truly believe that Jonathan can add to his world championship tally, writing his name even larger in the history books, and we are equally confident that he can achieve this together with us. We are working hard to improve further our race proven Yamaha R1, to ensure that we provide Jonathan with exactly what he needs to achieve his and Yamaha’s goals in 2024 and 2025.”
More, from a press release issued by Kawasaki:
Jonathan Rea To Leave KRT
Six time WorldSBK Champion, Jonathan Rea, will leave the Kawasaki Racing Team at the end of the 2023 season
Formally contracted for both the current and 2024 seasons, Rea will be released from this agreement by mutual consent at the end of the racing season. During his time riding for the official factory team, 36 year old Rea achieved an unprecedented haul of six WorldSBK titles as well as accruing a slew of other records including all-time WorldSBK records for Championships, Race Wins, Podiums, Fastest Laps and Overall Points Scored.
Speaking of Rea’s departure, Guim Roda, Team Manager of KRT, said:
“In life as well as racing, priorities define the path to follow. I am very happy and proud that during these nine years Johnny has defined his priorities with KRT and has given us so many successes. I consider myself, our team, Kawasaki and all our fans worldwide, privileged to have been part of this journey. Whichever direction he goes in the future, I hope he can continue to grow as a rider. The task we have now is to finish the 2023 season as best we can with the tools we have been able to forge this year. As always, we will continue to look for improvements and seek advantage wherever possible. KRT is committed to putting on a good show with Johnny during his last four races on the formidable and impressive Ninja ZX-10RR that he has become synonymous with”.
Jonathan Rea reflected on his time at KRT saying:
“I want to thank everyone at KMC and KRT for believing in me and giving me the opportunity to prove myself at the highest level. I have learnt and grown so much as a person and a rider since the first day throwing my leg over the factory Ninja ZX-10R superbike.
Winning six consecutive WorldSBK Championships will always be the most obvious highlight of my time with Kawasaki; but it will also be the amazing memories, the life lessons and the laughs that I will take with me into the future. And, for sure, it’s our mission to complete the 2023 season as strongly and with as much commitment as we have always shown.
Now, looking back on our journey, it fills me with pride at the joy and happiness we have brought Kawasaki fans and Kawasaki owners around the world. This is not a goodbye, because you don’t say goodbye to family, but it is simply the end of this incredible chapter. I wish everyone at KRT the best of luck for the chapters that will surely follow. See you at the track”
The 2023 Indian FTR R Carbon looks traditional to the non-motorcyclist, but to the aficionado of modern motorcycling, evidence of sophistication and top-shelf equipment is everywhere one looks. Photo by Michael Gougis.
By Michael Gougis
Power cruisers started hitting the market right about the time I started riding motorcycles,. At first, they were standard-style Inline-4s with higher bars and a lot more power out of the box than traditional V-Twin cruisers. Then came a wave of V-4s, with even more power. They all followed a similar theme: Street style and reasonable handling, with big chunks of tire-shredding torque. Lap times weren’t the goal. The idea was to make the rider feel like they were launching off the line at the drag strip–and to look totally badass while doing it.
The Indian FTR R Carbon is long and low, and its big V-Twin engine generates considerable thrust. Premium suspension components from Öhlins are adjustable. Photo courtesy Indian Motorcycle.
Indian lists its 2023 FTR R Carbon in its Standards lineup, but riding it reminded me of those days when it was all about the kick in the butt caused by a twist of the wrist. To be sure, it handles, brakes, and generally behaves way better than those beasts of yesteryear. But get on the gas on the Indian, pretty much in any gear, at any rpm, and fun stuff starts to happen. The fact that the FTR successfully blends retro and modern styling, that it makes all the right sounds, and that it comes with advanced electronic rider aids that make riding the bike more fun is all great, to be sure. But an Indian FTR is really all about a surge of speed, accelerating with enough grunt to make the rider grin.
Technical Details
Indian engineers didn’t dumb it down when it came to the FTR. The engine is a liquid-cooled, four-valves-per-cylinder 1,203cc V-Twin with a bore and stroke of 102mm x 73.6mm, dual overhead cams, and a compression ratio of 12.5:1. A pair of 60mm throttle bodies handle intake chores, while a 2-1 exhaust with a catalytic converter routes the exhaust gasses to the rear. Indian marketeers claim the engine makes 120 horsepower, which with typical losses to the rear wheel on the dyno is right in the ballpark with the 112.07 bhp we found at 7,870 rpm on the dyno at Mickey Cohen Motorsports (1961 E Miraloma Ave Unit B, Anaheim Hills, CA 92870, (714) 993-5000, www.cohenmotorsports.com). Of more importance is the torque, which peaks at 82.16 lbs.-ft. at 6,000 rpm and comes on strong from the very bottom of the rpm range.
Indian routes that power through a six-speed transmission with an assisted/slipper clutch, and helps the rider manage it with a comprehensive suite of electronic rider aids. The machine comes with three ride modes (Rain, Standard, Sport), and Lean Angle Sensitive anti-lock brakes and stability control are standard. Traction control is standard, as is front lift (or wheelie) control plus rear wheel lift control and cruise control. The styling may be traditional, but the electronics are modern-spec for a street bike. For those who want a little more retro in their riding experience, the TC and the “wheelie mitigation” systems can be switched off.
The Indian FTR’s 1203cc V-Twin builds torque from the bottom of the rpm range and pulls strongly to redline. Photo courtesy Indian Motorcycle.
Speaking of retro, the chassis is about as retro as it comes among modern motorcycles. It’s a steel-tube trellis frame with a steel swingarm as well. In the tradition of the power cruiser, the wheelbase is long, at 60 inches (1,524mm). And the seat height is a moderate 30.7 inches, not cruiser-low, but comfortably low among modern machines.
The carbon-fiber front fender may attract attention, but equally impressive are the Öhlins forks and Brembo brakes. Metzeler M9 RR tires provide excellent grip for anything on the street. Photo courtesy Indian Motorcycle.
Braking is top-shelf, with 320mm (12.6-inch) dual discs in the front and a single 260mm (10.2-inch) rotor in the rear. Brembo four-piston calipers are mounted up front, with a twin-piston Brembo caliper operating on the back wheel.
Öhlins makes a custom feedback reservoir rear shock for the Indian FTR. Photo courtesy Indian Motorcycle.
Suspension is a high specification as well. Up front, the 43mm inverted Öhlins cartridge forks are adjustable for spring preload plus compression and rebound damping. In the back, a single Öhlins shock with a piggyback reservoir is equally adjustable. Wheel travel is 120mm (4.7 inches) front and rear.
The ancillaries are all thoroughly modern, including the four-inch touchscreen display screen, the Bluetooth compatibility, the LED lighting all the way around. And the carbon-fiber components are stylish and set the FTR apart from other machines in its class, if, really, there are any. There are big V-Twins and sport-naked machines, but none really combine these elements the way the FTR does.
A round dash says retro, the touch screen capability and array of information that the rider can customize to their needs says modern. Photo courtesy Indian Motorcycle.
The Riding Experience
Fire it up, and the FTR is remarkably civil at idle. The exhaust note is distinctive and speaks the language of power, but it is not obnoxious. It’s easy to throw a leg over the reasonable seat height. The riding position, Indian says, is derived from its FTR750 flat track racer. I call it Modern Hooligan; the bars are low but not clip-ons; the pegs far enough back that the rider is canted a bit forward, as though prepared for the wheelie that they know is coming!
While its looks may be derived from the flat track world, it’s clear that Indian’s engineers have done their job on making the FTR rideable in the real world. The vibration is what you’d expect and want from a big V-Twin, more a rumble rather than a buzz. It’s actually a pleasant part of the riding experience, and the mirrors remain clear and usable. The clutch pull is reasonable, the brakes effective without being touchy. There’s no excessive heat, and little in the way of mechanical noise. It’s a pretty civil place to operate from around town and in traffic.
The FTR isn’t a lightweight, but the trellis frame keeps it flickable and stable at enthusiastic street speeds. Photo courtesy Indian Motorcycle.
Twist the throttle hard, and the FTR remains civil–but stuff is hurtling back at you, fast. It’s like everyone else on the road suddenly slowed! The response from the torquey engine is immediate, ample, and satisfying. And the electronic rider aids work as intended, keeping the party from going out of bounds unless you decide that’s what you want to happen.
Metzeler Sportec M9 RR tires provide plenty of traction for anything reasonably responsible on the street, and the Öhlins suspension performs as expected. The tubular bars provide good leverage, but the bike isn’t overly heavy to begin with, so flicking it from side to side is relatively easy and precise. If I had any complaint, it’s that the seating position sort of crouched me into the wind blast, and the combination of wind and seating position wore on me more quickly than I’d have liked on a longer ride.
But let’s face it: Nobody will buy this thing to cover continents. It’s for short bursts of motorcycling madness, and it absolutely delivers thrills when you get, shall we say–enthusiastic!. Whether it’s firing off the line at an intersection or whipping through a twisty road, the bike accelerates hard, handles well, and brakes with alacrity. The best part, though, is that the bike tells the rider, loudly and clearly, that it is doing all of these things. The rider feels the riding experience on the FTR, and for the type of riding most FTR owners will be doing, that is exactly what they want.
To the non-motorcyclist, the FTR looks retro. To the informed eye, the FTR screams up-to-date. Indian has done a remarkable job in hitting both targets and, of bringing new life into the power cruiser category. How could that possibly be anything other than awesome?
A swingarm-mounted license plate holder makes the FTR look like a custom, but is not everyone’s preferred style. For non-fans of that look, Indian offers a kit to relocate the license plate underneath the seat. Photo courtesy Indian Motorcycle.
P.S. For some, Indian’s decision to hang the license plate off the end of the swingarm is aesthetically unpleasant. For those customers, Indian offers a kit for $299.99 that, along with the $99.99 accessory mounting kit, allows the owner to relocate the license plate and rear turn signals under the seat. It’s nice when a manufacturer offers that kind of styling flexibility…
The Springfield Mile, in Springfield, Illinois. Photo by Tim Lester, courtesy AFT.
Progressive Insurance American Flat Track (AFT) Championship Series
Springfield Mile II
Springfield, Illinois
September 3, 2023
Provisional Mission SuperTwins Main Event Results (all on Dunlop tires):
1. Briar Bauman (KTM), 25 laps
2. Jared Mees (Ind), -0.075 second
3. Davis Fisher (Ind), -5.575 seconds
4. Dallas Daniels (Yam), -5.599
5. Brandon Robinson (Ind), -5.836
6. JD Beach (Yam), -6.132
7. Bronson Bauman (KTM), -15.726
8. Ben Lowe (Ind), -15.960
9. Henry Wiles (Ind), -15.973
10. Jarod Vanderkooi (KTM), -17.949
11. Johnny Lewis (Roy), -18.055
12. Kolby Carlile (Yam), -31.672
13. Jeffery Lowery (Yam), -33.460
14. Dan Bromley (Yam), -35.279
15. Kevin Stollings (Kaw), -1 lap
16. Kasey Sciscoe (Har), -13 laps, DNF
17. Brandon Price (Yam), -15 laps, DNF
18. Cody Johncox (Yam), -17 laps, DNF
19. Cameron Smith (Yam), -25 laps, DNS
Provisional Parts Unlimited AFT Singles Main Event Results (all on Dunlop tires):
1. Tom Drane (Yam), 18 laps
2. Chase Saathoff (Hon), -0.043 second
3. Kody Kopp (KTM), -0.159
4. Trevor Brunner (Yam), -0.203
5. Morgen Mischler (Hon), -0.325
6. Trent Lowe (Hon), -0.481
7. Declan Bender (KTM), -0.587
8. James Ott (Hus), -0.603
9. Max Whale (KTM), -0.637
10. Cole Zabala (Hon), -2.934 seconds
11. Tarren Santero (Hon), -4.637
12. Shayna Texter-Bauman (KTM), -10.671
13. Travis Petton (KTM), -10.751
14. Chad Cose (Hus), -14.048
15. Tyler Raggio (Hon), -14.272
16. Dalton Gauthier (KTM), -14.305
17. Hunter Bauer (Hon), -14.356
18. Jared Lowe (Hon), -15.864
19. Landen Smith (KTM), -24.075
More, from a press release issued by American Flat Track (AFT):
Bauman Wins Springfield Mile II, Mees Adds to His Legend with Ninth Grand National Championship
Briar Bauman (3) held off Jared Mees (1) to win the AFT SuperTwins race at the Springfield Mile II. Photo by Tim Lester, courtesy AFT.
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).
Next Up:
For those that didn’t catch the live action from the circuit, FansChoice.tv is the live streaming home of Progressive AFT. Sign up now and catch every second of on-track action from the entire season, which is available to watch on demand at https://www.fanschoice.tv.
FOX Sports coverage of Mission Springfield Mile I & II presented by Drag Specialties featuring in-depth features and thrilling onboard cameras, will premiere back-to-back on FS1 on Sunday, September 10, starting at 10:00 a.m. ET (7:00 a.m. PT).
More, from a press release issued by KTM Factory Racing:
TWO-TIME CHAMPION KODY KOPP FINISHES 2023 AFT SINGLES SEASON WITH SPRINGFIELD PODIUM
Round 18 – American Flat Track Championship
Kody Kopp (1). Photo courtesy KTM Factory Racing.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Newly-crowned two-time champion Kody Kopp has concluded the 2023 American Flat Track Championship by securing a third-place result in the AFT Singles Class at the final round of the season at Springfield Mile II, just one day after clinching back-to-back titles in the penultimate round.
The championship pressure was lifted from Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Kopp as he entered Round 18, going on to record the fifth-fastest qualifying time. Third place in his Heat Race earned him a transfer into the Main Event, where the number one would battle hard all race long, crossing the line in third position, just 0.159s outside of victory.
Kopp’s 2023 campaign marked an ultra-successful outing onboard his KTM 450 SX-F, with the 18-year-old defending his AFT Singles Championship, while also racing to eight race wins across the season, marking one of the more dominant seasons in AFT Singles Class history.
Kody Kopp: “The season comes to an end here in Springfield! We pulled another podium finish, which is pretty crazy considering how we started the year with the Miles, so it’s a testament to how hard the team has worked throughout the year to get us to where we are now. The pressure was lifted today after the championship was wrapped up yesterday, so it was a fun race to enjoy, and we ended up just a little short in third place. Stoked on the season though and already looking forward to defending this thing next year!”
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing teammate Max Whale sat one position ahead of Kopp in qualifying by posting the fourth-fastest time, before racing to third place in his Heat Race. A stacked Main Event with the top 10 fighting for position saw Whale conclude his 2023 season with a ninth-place ride in Springfield, completing the season P5 in the final AFT Singles Class standings.
Max Whale: “All in all things went fairly well this season, as it’s the first time in a while I’ve made it through all rounds healthy. Lots of learnings and takeaways this year, but I feel like I have a lot more to give, so we’ll come back next year stronger and faster. My race here was good, first through 10th were in a super-tight battle, we were all there at the front of the pack, and I ended up ninth. Congratulations to Kody and the whole team, job well done to those guys, and we’ll be up for the fight again next year.”
KTM-supported racer Briar Bauman finished the 2023 American Flat Track Championship by claiming an impressive SuperTwins Class victory at Springfield Mile II, which marks his second win of the season and ninth podium finish equipped with the KTM 790 DUKE. Bauman was ranked P4 in the final championship standings.
American Kayla Yaakov on top of the Yamaha bLU cRU R7 Cup podium at Circuit de Navarra, in Spain. Photo courtesy David Yaakov.
American Kayla Yaakov, age 16, dominated Yamaha R7 bLU cRU Cup Race Two Sunday at Circuit de Navarra, in Spain.
Heavy rain and flooding on Saturday forced the entire program to be run on Sunday.
Yaakov was fourth in the wet qualifying session Sunday morning.
Race One was then run in wet-but-drying conditions. Yaakov was fighting for a podium position when she was “taken out,” according to her father, former racer David Yaakov.
Then in Race Two, Kayla Yaakov checked out. She won the 13-lap race by 9.5 seconds.
American Kayla Yaakov with her team in Spain. Photo courtesy David Yaakov.
Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Photo by Kohei Hirota.
Aleix Espargaro won the FIM MotoGP World Championship race Sunday at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, in Spain. Riding his factory Aprilia RS-GP, the Spaniard won the restarted 23-lap race by just 0.377 second.
Espargaro’s Aprilia teammate Maverick Vinales was the runner-up, and Jorge Martin finished third, 2.831 seconds behind Espargaro, on his Prima Pramac Racing Ducati Desmosedici.
The race was marred by two incidents on the original start. First, several riders crashed in a chain-reaction incident in Turn One. Then seconds later, Francesco Bagnaia highsided coming out of Turn Two and his right leg was run over by another rider.
Crashers between the two incidents included Bagnaia, Enea Bastianini, Marco Bezzecchi, Brad Binder, Fabio Di Giannantonio, Alex Marquez, and Johann Zarco.
Bagnaia and Bastianini did not make the restart. Bagnaia was taken to a local hospital to get more detailed scans of his injured leg.
Aleix grabs victory in an Aprilia duel after early drama in Barcelona
The “Captain” overhauls Viñales, Martin takes third after early race drama sees Bagnaia suffer huge highside out the lead but escape relatively unscathed
Aleix Espargaro (41) and Maverick Vinales (12). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Sunday, 03 September 2023
Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) made history at the Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya as he led a historic Aprilia 1-2 over the line. Teammate Maverick Viñales led for much of the race before being caught, stalked and then passed by his teammate, but it marked a milestone day for the Noale factory. Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) completed the podium.
Before that, drama on a first start saw a multiple-rider crash at Turn 1, right before a highside out the lead for reigning Champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team). Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) couldn’t avoid the #1 fully but after examination at the medical centre and the General Hospital of Catalunya, Bagnaia was confirmed to have suffered no fractures in the incident.
Unfortunately, teammate Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) was found to have injured his hand and ankle in the Turn 1 crash, and he was penalised for his part in the incident too. Bagnaia’s highside and the incident at Turn 1 saw the Red Flag come out and the race restart with neither lining up on the grid.
A dramatic first start
As the lights went out for the first time, Bastianini went a bit too hot into Turn 1 and had nowhere to go as the field tipped in. The Italian caught the rear end of Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing) seeing them both go down and ending in a multi-rider pile-up at the Turn 1 gravel trap, including Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) and both Gresini machines of Alex Marquez and Fabio Di Giannantonio.
Just seconds later Bagnaia’s crash happened just a few metres ahead. On the exit of Turn 2 the Italian highsided out, with most avoiding both man and machine and only Binder caught up, also crashing out. That confirmed a red flag for the first start as both Bagnaia and Bastianini were then taken to the medical centre.
Pressing the reset button
With pole position empty and no Bagnaia, Martin took the holeshot this time around but Viñales came out the blocks guns blazing too, hitting the front quickly with a firm first-lap move. The number 12 led the way ahead of Martin, with Aleix Espargaro sitting in third with his hands full with Miguel Oliveira (CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP™ Team).
Viñales began to stretch out a few bike lengths on Martin as Aleix Espargaro was determined to make sure his teammate didn’t break away and proceeded to push his way past Martin with 21 laps to go. Oliveira then decided to strike whilst the iron was hot and followed, moving up into third to create a historic Aprilia 1-2-3.
Lap by lap, Aleix Espargaro bridged the gap to his teammate, stalking him once he arrived on the scene.
Just behind, Oliveira was unable to hold onto the factory duo, and the Portuguese rider started to fade back into the clutches of Martin. The Pramac rider pounced on the RNF machine with 14 laps remaining.
After piling on the pressure, Aleix Espargaro then dropped back a few tenths after a mistake with 12 laps to go. But the number 41 dug back in and inched his way back onto the rear wheel of Viñales up ahead, setting up another shot at taking over in front.
With four laps to go, Aleix Espargaro then made his move. Side by side along the main straight, he then pounced on Maverick at Turn 1 and parked his RSGP up this inside of the #12. Brutal, fair, or both at once, Viñales was sent wide and through the long lap loop as Aleix pulled away in the lead.
The roles were now reversed, with Viñales on the back foot once back on track and looking to home back in on the lead. It looked impossible, then implausible, but by the final lap the number 12 was starting to get close enough to cause his teammate a sweat if he’d had a rear view mirror. But the metres were running out, and Aleix Espargaro kept it cool and collected under the pressure to shoot over the line and make some serious amends for his 2022 lap count mistake. Viñales, although not on the top step, made it a truly historic day for Aprilia as he came up just 0.377s short in second for that 1-2.
Martin crossed the line in a lonelier third place, off the Aprilias but ahead of his teammate Johann Zarco two seconds back in fourth. Oliveira slipped down to fifth place by the time the chequered flag came out, with a battle for sixth place being won by Alex Marquez a further 3 seconds back.
The Spaniard got the better of Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) and Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) who finished in seventh and eighth respectively. Augusto Fernandez (GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3) bagged P9 with a last gasp move on Fabio Di Giannantionio (Gresini Racing MotoGP™), who rounded out the top 10.
Luca Marini won a duel against teammate Bezzecchi for P11, just ahead of Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team). Binder was a notable retirement, suffering a technical issue and DNF after the restart.
At the head of the field, it was a weekend to remember for Aleix Espargaro and for Aprilia Racing. Not only did Aleix take both the Tissot Sprint and Grand Prix victories, but the Noale manufacturer came away with both their factory machines securing top 3 finishes in both events. MotoGP™ now turns its attention to the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli in Italy for the Gran Premio Red Bull di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini from the 8th – 10th of September.
Jake Dixon (96) held off Aron Canet (40) to win the Moto2 race. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Dixon fends off Canet for statement win
The duel for the win goes to the wire as Moto2™ delivers a classic in Catalunya
Jake Dixon (Asterius GASGAS Aspar Team) showed he means business in the title fight as he put in a Moto2™ masterclass to take victory at the Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya. The Brit was involved in a race-long tussle with Aron Canet (Pons Wegow Los40) and Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo), but Acosta dropped back from the podium fight as Albert Arenas (Red Bull KTM Ajo) emerged in a late charge to take third in the closing stages.
The lights went out in Barcelona and it was Dixon who held the lead through the first sector from pole. The Brit led the opening laps as he had Manuel Gonzalez (Correos Prepago Yamaha VR46 Master Camp) and Canet for company. Gonzalez then took over the lead with 17 laps remaining whilst Acosta was climbing up the order after starting from ninth on the grid.
Acosta joined the leading trio with twelve laps to go. Canet then took the lead from Gonzalez into Turn 1 as Acosta snatched third from Dixon. However, it wasn’t long before the Championship leader made his move on Gonzalez with Dixon following pursuit shortly after.
Whilst the top three continued to scrap it out, Gonzalez had fallen into the clutches of Arenas, who demoted his compatriot to fourth and latched on to the leading trio.
The gloves were off with five laps remaining as Acosta, Canet and Dixon swapped and changed positions. Acosta then began to fade as the Spaniard dropped back to fifth behind Gonzalez and Arenas, but it soon went from bad to worse for the Championship leader as the Spaniard ran off at Turn 1 and was forced to run go through the long lap loop and rejoin behind Sergio Garcia (Pons Wegow Los40), down in sixth.
The group had stretched out on the penultimate lap as Dixon led Canet, with Arenas in a distant third, and as the last lap started, it was clear it would be a straight shoot-out for victory between Dixon and Canet.
The Brit went defensive into Turn 1 as he could feel the Spaniard breathing down his neck, and held it round the first sectors. He also had his line covered into Turn 10 as they barrelled into the final sector, with Canet then getting squiggly and losing a few metres. The Spaniard seemed to consider a move at the final corner, but Dixon had it covered once again for a second Grand Prix win.
Canet was forced to settle for second, with Arenas taking third and that first podium in the class. Garcia made serious progress to make it up to fourth, with Gonzalez then managing to fend off Acosta for fifth. The Championship leader took sixth.
Closest rival Tony Arbolino (Elf MarcVDS Racing Team), however, concluded a tougher weekend with no points. Acosta now leads the Italian by 22 points with Dixon another 22 back in 3rd.
The attention now turns to Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli in Italy where Acosta will be fully aware of title threats coming from both the home hero Arbolino and the on-form Dixon. Get ready for more Moto2™ action at the Gran Premio Red Bull di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini from the 8th – 10th of September!
David Alonso (80) beat a swarm of Moto3 riders to the finish line. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Alonso back on top as Holgado crashes and Öncü gets into a final corner tangle
The Colombian bounces back in style ahead of Masia, with Rueda taking a maiden podium as key title contenders suffer drama in Barcelona
Moto3™ delivered an absolute barnstormer in Barcelona as there was action everywhere you looked on the final lap, and plenty of drama too. David Alonso (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team) took the spoils by just 0.076s after an incredible final corner overtake saw three riders squeezed up onto the apex, with Jaume Masia (Leopard Racing) taking second but bringing home 20 crucial points as Championship leader Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Tech3) crashed out earlier on the last lap.
Classified third, Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) picked up his first Grand Prix podium after a final corner clash ahead saw Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo) make contact with David Muñoz (BOE Motorsports), earning the Turkish rider a penalty dropping him from P3 to P12. Amidst it all, Ayumu Sasaki’s (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) podium run may have come to an end as he took P4… but given Holgado’s crash the Japanese rider is now just 13 points off the top.
Öncü took the holeshot as he snatched the lead from Ivan Ortola (Angeluss MTA Team) into Turn 1. Joel Kelso (CFMoto Racing Pruestel GP) stayed firm in P3 at first, until Masia eagerly pushed his way through as they barrelled into the final sector for the first time.
It didn’t take long for Masia to take the lead as he slotted up the inside of Öncü with 16 laps remaining to lead the freight train, and the battle for victory began to take shape with a gaggle of riders snapping at the Leopard rider’s heels.
The group proceeded to swap paintwork and bang handlebars as a mix of fresh talent and proven Moto3™ big hitters got their elbows out. Holgado hit the front with 12 laps to go and a pattern began to form as Öncü, Masia, and Holgado consistently kept themselves in the top 3 despite challenges from the chasing pack.
Alonso, Muñoz, and Rueda all fancied their chances as they kept themselves consistently in the hunt, making some big moves in the leading group, with Sasaki the key player in the title fight looking set to lose ground – at that point.
Holgado led across the line to begin the last lap before Masia charged through from fourth to the lead, but when the last sector came around, the gloves came off as chaos unfolded. They were four abreast down into the hard braking Turn 10, and Masia defended as Alonso, Muñoz, and Öncü were all looking for a way through.
Masia ran wide allowing Alonso and Muñoz past, meaning it was all down to the final corner. But disaster then came for Holgado as he lost the at front Turn 10, with his title rivals still very much in the leading battle.
Back at the front, Muñoz led into the last turn as they went three abreast into a corner once deemed impossible to make an overtake. Now, it was going to be a double.
Alonso dived up the inside of Muñoz as Masia also tried to squeeze through, and both riders did make it stick. Alonso came out on top and held the victory to the line ahead of Masia. But just behind came the drama.
After losing out in those moves, Muñoz lost drive onto the front straight and Öncü was coming through the final corner. The Turk kept in pinned and then made contact with Muñoz… seeing the Spaniard bumped off and out into the gravel on the outside of the corner. Rider ok, drama still not done. Öncü crossed the line in 3rd but a 6s penalty for the last-corner incident demoted the number 53 to 12th place… promoting Rueda, who’d been right on their tail, to his first Grand Prix podium.
Behind all that came Sasaki, who was ultimately classified fourth to move within just 13 points of Holgado’s lead, and a little further back, Masia moves above Öncü. Which way will the cards fall next time out? Find out at the Gran Premio Red Bull di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini next up from the 8th -10th of September!
Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Photo by Kohei Hirota.
Jake Dixon won the FIM Moto2 World Championship race Sunday at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, in Spain. Riding his Asterius GASGAS Aspar Team Kalex, the Brit won the 21-lap race by 0.205 second.
Aron Canet was the runner-up on his Pons Wegow Los40 Kalex, and Albert Arenas finished a close third, 1.027 seconds behind Dixon, on his Red Bull KTM Ajo Kalex.
American Joe Roberts placed 11th on his Italtrans Racing Kalex, 9.476 seconds behind the winner.
American Sean Dylan Kelly did not ride at Catalunya. He and his American Racing Team split up just before the weekend.
Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Photo by Kohei Hirota.
David Alonso won the FIM Moto3 World Championship race Sunday at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, in Spain. Riding his Gaviota Aspar Team GASGAS, the Colombian won the 18-lap race by just 0.076 second.
Jaume Masia was second on his Leopard Racing Honda, and Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Jose Antonio Rueda got third.
The top top 11 finishers were separated by just 1.3 seconds at the end.
Rueda’s teammate Deniz Oncu crossed the finish line third, but he was given a six-second penalty for irresponsible riding that dropped him from third to 12th.
Championship point leader David Holgado crashed his Red Bull KTM Tech3 machine, remounted, and finished 22nd, out of the points.
The Springfield Mile, in Springfield, Illinois. Photo by Tim Lester, courtesy AFT.
Progressive American Flat Track (AFT) Championship
Springfield Mile I
Springfield, Illinois
September 2, 2023
Provisional Mission SuperTwins Main Event Results (all on Dunlop tires):
1. Jared Mees (Ind), 25 laps
2. Briar Bauman (KTM), -0.340 second
3. Brandon Robinson (Ind), -4.348 seconds
4. JD Beach (Yam), -4.412
5. Dallas Daniels (Yam), -5.734
6. Davis Fisher (Ind), -5.992
7. Ben Lowe (Ind), -15.060
8. Jarod Vanderkooi (KTM), -15.371
9. Henry Wiles (Ind), -17.820
10. Johnny Lewis (Roy), -18.200
11. Bronson Bauman (KTM), -24.325
12. Kolby Carlile (Yam), -24.445
13. Brandon Price (Yam), -24.508
14. Dan Bromley (Yam), -35.357
15. Jeffery Lowery (Yam), -36.758
16. Jeremiah Duffy (Kaw), -9 laps, DNF
17. Cameron Smith (Yam), -10 laps, DNF
18. Ryan Wells (Roy), -12 laps, DNF
19. Nick Armstrong (Yam), -17 laps, DNF
Provisional Parts Unlimited AFT Singles Main Event Results (all on Dunlop tires):
1. Kody Kopp (KTM), 18 laps
2. Tom Drane (Yam), -0.010 second
3. Chase Saathoff (Hon), -0.092
4. Trevor Brunner (Yam), -0.486
5. Morgen Mischler (Hon), -0.638
6. Declan Bender (KTM), -0.676
7. James Ott (Hus), -5.500 seconds
8. Trent Lowe (Hon), -5.505
9. Max Whale (KTM), -5.609
10. Chad Cose (Hus), -5.742
11. Travis Petton (KTM), -7.605
12. Dalton Gauthier (KTM), -7.857
13. Shayna Texter-Bauman (KTM), -8.736
14. Tarren Santero (Hon), -8.947
15. Aidan RoosEvans (Hon), -14.359
16. Hunter Bauer (Hon), -14.571
17. Tyler Raggio (Yam), -14.692
18. Jared Lowe (Hon), -26.114
19. Jordan Jean (Hon), -8 laps, DNF
More, from a press release issued by AFT:
Mees Closes on Crown, Kopp Defends Title with Springfield Mile I Triumphs
Jared Mees (1) leading the field at Springfield Mile I. Photo courtesy AFT.
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.
Next Up:
The 2023 Progressive American Flat Track season will conclude with Sunday’s Mission Springfield Mile II presented by Drag Specialties at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Illinois. Visit https://www.tixr.com/groups/meespromotions/events/springfield-mile-ii-61313 to reserve your tickets now.
For those that can’t catch the live action from the circuit, FansChoice.tv 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://www.fanschoice.tv.
FOX Sports coverage of Mission Springfield Mile I & II presented by Drag Specialties featuring in-depth features and thrilling onboard cameras, will premiere back-to-back on FS1 on Sunday, September 10, starting at 10:00 a.m. ET (7:00 a.m. PT).
More, from a press release issued by KTM Factory Racing:
KODY KOPP AND RED BULL KTM CLINCH SECOND-STRAIGHT AFT SINGLES CHAMPIONSHIP WITH SPRINGFIELD MILE VICTORY
Round 17 – American Flat Track Championship
Kody Kopp, after winning his second straight AFT Singles Championship. Photo courtesy KTM Factory Racing.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Kody Kopp has clinched a second-consecutive AFT Singles Championship with a round to spare, after charging to his eighth American Flat Track Main Event victory of the 2023 season on Saturday at the Springfield Mile double-header.
In what has been a dominant season onboard his KTM 450 SX-F, Kopp has raced to a total of eight race wins across the 17 rounds contested, with one more race to run in Springfield tomorrow. This year’s title marks the Washington native’s second crown in just three seasons since stepping up to the AFT Singles ranks, with the 18-year-old once again displaying his winning form by sealing the championship on top of the podium.
Requiring a 10th-place finish or better to secure the 2023 title, Kopp demonstrated true championship caliber as he posted the third-fastest qualifying time, before racing to P3 in his Heat Race. After starting the Main Event from the second row of the grid, the defending champion put any pressure of earning back-to-back titles out of his mind, slicing his way through the field and eventually edging his way into P1, which is where he would take the checkered flag by just 0.010s for his eighth win of the season and another AFT Singles Championship.
Kody Kopp: “We were in the hunt all day long here in Springfield! We entered with a new motor that the team back at the shop have been working on and I’d say that’s the strongest Mile motor I’ve ever ridden with in my life. We put ourselves in a good position, I knew what was needed for the championship, although I wanted there to be no questions asked, so we ended up going out there and winning the thing. It feels amazing to match Dallas [Daniels] on total single season wins with eight, and then to also wrap up another championship. We’ll charge for another win tomorrow, but we will soak this in first! A massive thank you to the team for giving me all the tools necessary all season long to get the job done.”
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing teammate Max Whale endured a difficult day out in Springfield, with the Australian posting a P5 result in qualifying. After experiencing an unfortunate non-finish during his Heat Race, Whale qualified into the Main Event through the LCQ, which resulted in a poor starting position for the 18-lap affair.
Equipped with his KTM 450 SX-F, Whale put in an impressive charge through the pack, powering his way to ninth place by race’s end, despite the one-lined nature of the circuit, and he maintains fifth-place in the 2023 season standings.
Max Whale: “I felt really good here in Springfield. The bike was awesome as soon as we hit the track and I was running up front in all sessions, before an issue in the Heat Race sent me to the LCQ. I fought from the back of the grid in the LCQ to second, and then in the Main Event I was way back with the grid position, but tried as hard as I could and managed to come back to ninth place. We’ve been trying all season long, so we’ll line up and give it another shot tomorrow!”
Next Race: Springfield Mile II – Springfield, IL – September 3, 2023
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