DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Following months of planning, preparation, and testing, the rubber is finally about to hit the dirt. The 2026 Grand National Championship will officially get underway when the stars of Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, kick off a brand-new campaign with the Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA I & II at the DAYTONA Flat Track on Thursday, March 5, and Friday, March 6.
More than two dozen of the world’s most elite motorcycle dirt trackers representing eight different brands will compete in the spotlight as a half-million enthusiasts flock to Daytona Beach, Florida, for the 85th annual Bike Week.
#1
For the first time since 2020, a Mission AFT SuperTwins pilot will be brandishing the #1 plate in the premier class for the very first time. Defending champion Dallas Daniels (No. 1 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07) has long imaged this day and admitted to putting considerable thought into crafting just the right look for his new number display.
And for good reason. While the #1 plate is a great honor, it can also be a heavy burden. However, it’s difficult to imagine a rider better prepared to accept that challenge. Daniels previously successfully defended a #1 plate when he became the first back-to-back KICKER AFT Singles champion in history in 2021. And while he was not defending the throne in ‘25, he did carry the pressure of being the heavy preseason favorite.
While he was pushed to the limit in order to make good on those lofty expectations, Daniels ultimately came through to earn what he hopes to be the first of many Grand National Championships.
And he will be all the stronger for the experience. Even though he won the crown in 2025, Daniels and his Estenson Racing crew were never 100% satisfied with the state of their racebike a season ago. By contrast, they come into 2026 confident in the package they’ve developed over the offseason.
If they live up to their own expectations, that could prove a scary proposition for the opposition.
As mentioned above, Daniels was given all he could handle a year ago – a challenge that was fronted by a pair of Harley-Davidson XG750Rs, a platform that met the opportunity presented by the shift to an all-production-based ruleset.
Piloted by two-time Grand National Champion Briar Bauman (No. 3 RWR/Jacob Construction/ Parts Plus Harley-Davidson XG750R) and perennial contender Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Harley-Davidson XG750R), the Harley led all bikes with nine wins a year ago. Bauman alone claimed a class-leading eight while Robinson at last scored the XG win he first set his sights on back in 2017.
The two finished second and third in the title fight and closed out the ‘25 campaign with a rousing 1-2 at the Lake Ozark finale, repeating the coup they pulled off while giving the bike its first victory earlier in the season on Yamaha’s home turf in Senoia.
Bauman and Robinson are armed with Harley-Davidsons again in 2026, and they’re bringing reinforcements.
Triple KICKER AFT Singles king Kody Kopp (No. 12 Latus Motors Racing Harley-Davison XG750R) is back in the series full time and at last making his Mission AFT SuperTwins debut. Supported by an all-star crew, Kopp has everything he needs to fight his way into the mix early and often.
Meanwhile, two-and four-wheel dirt track ace Aidan RoosEvans (No. 26 FRA Trust Advisors Harley-Davidson XG750R) will also graduate to premier-class competition in 2026 aboard a Harley-Davidson XG750R.
While the 2025 season was largely dominated by the battles waged by Daniels and Bauman – and to a lesser extent Robinson – they didn’t have things all their way.
That was most plainly evident when Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods Honda CB750 Hornet) powered Honda to its first twin-cylinder premier-class victory in more than a quarter century. That performance both marked the bike’s arrival as a full-blown SuperTwins threat and provided the team with added motivation to make the most of the offseason in order to prepare for bigger and better things in ‘26.
Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing KTM 790 Duke), meanwhile, collected multiple podiums in his debut season on the KTM en route to yet another top-five championship ranking. Fisher is well positioned to build on what was originally expected to be a learning season, returning to again pilot the Rackley Racing KTM alongside Ben Lowe (No. 25 Rackley Racing/Roof Systems KTM 790 Duke).
Brandon Price (No. 92 Memphis Shades/Vinson Construction Yamaha MT-07) and Declan Bender (No. 70 Memphis Shades/Vinson Construction Yamaha MT-07) have each notched up podium finishes for On The Box Racing in recent seasons. This year, they’ll be looking to do so as teammates, as the outfit expands to bring a 1-2 punch to the premier class in ‘26.
Nine-time premier-class Short Track Main Event winner Henry Wiles (No. 911 J&M Logging/Ray C’s Harley-Davidson Kawasaki Ninja 650) is back on the Kawasaki Ninja 650 that he hustled to the podium in last year’s season opener.
And don’t forget about Bike Week legend Sammy Halbert (No. 69 Martin Trucking/OnlyFans/ Castrol Yamaha MT-07), who is tied with Robinson and trails only Daniels and Jake Johnson for most career DAYTONA ST victories with four prior wins.
Several other faces – both established and new – will look to enter into the podium mix.
2023 Nicky Hayden AMA Flat Track Horizon Award and 2024 Progressive AFT Rookie of the Year Evan Renshaw (No. 95 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650) has been drafted up to the premier class to contend aboard the official Royal Enfield entry.
And we know that bike is capable of finishing on the box because it did so a couple years ago in the capable of hands of Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 Parts Bros/D&D Cycles/Fairway Ford Aprilia Tuareg 660). Gauthier will now look to turn a similar trick on the Fairway/JMC Motorsports-developed Aprilia.
Dan Bromley (No. 62 Memphis Shades/Lisa Niner Racing Suzuki GSX-8S) repeatedly demonstrated that Suzuki can run inside the top five a year ago – a performance that seemingly tempted the talented Billy Ross (No. 29 Digitrace/Mission Foods/John Franklin Suzuki GSX-8S) to make a go on a GSX-8S as well.
And Yamaha further adds to its combined strength with the entries of Chad Cose (No. 49 Parker Racing/Pro Roofing Yamaha MT-07) and Cameron Smith (No. 34 Fredericktown Yamaha/Thee Kathy Gray Yamaha MT-07).
- Single-Minded. Doubleheader. Triple Challenge.
The 2026 Mission AFT SuperTwins title fight will open with all the usual fanfare and in its standard race format on Thursday night. Friday will then mix things up with the return of the Mission Triple Challenge, which first debuted at last season’s Lima Half-Mile.
The Triple Challenge format, which features three Main Events of increasing length, pressure, and stakes to determine the final results, is destined to deliver an incredibly tense and exciting night of racing when paired with the close confines of the DAYTONA Flat Track.
Per usual, Daytona Beach will be jam-packed with two-wheeled activities throughout Bike Week. And fans at the track will have plenty to keep them entertained beyond the on-track action, including a wide range of vendors, numerous food and beverage options, and extensive designated motorcycle parking.
Upper Rim Road Standing Room Only tickets are just $30 (kids 12 and under free with the purchase of an adult ticket) each day, while General Admission tickets are just $35 ($25 for students with a valid ID and $10 for kids 10 and under). Reserved Grandstand and Premium Reserved Grandstand tickets are only $45 and $55 more (all ages), respectively, per day. There’s also a Military/First Responder Discount available, allowing GOVX fans to purchase tickets at reduced rates.
The Practice Viewing and Opening Ceremonies Trackside Fan Experiences offer reserved grandstand seating, a guided tour of the infield podium and start/finish line complete with photos ops. The Practice Viewing Fan Experience is available for $100, while the Opening Ceremonies Trackside Experience, which also includes up-close viewing of Opening Ceremonies, can be purchased for $125 per day.
- To purchase Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA I tickets, visit:
https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack/events/2026-daytona-short-track-i-150573.
- To purchase Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA II tickets, visit:
https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack/events/2026-daytona-short-track-ii-150638.
- And to purchase Thursday and Friday tickets together via the Multi-Day Ticket for the Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA I & II, visit:
https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack/events/2026-daytona-short-track-i-and-ii-149220.
Gates will open for fans at 3:00 p.m. ET (12:00 p.m. PT) both days with Opening Ceremonies set to begin at 7:00 p.m. ET (4:00 p.m. PT) on Thursday and 6:30 p.m. ET (3:30 p.m. PT) on Friday.
FloRacing
For those that can’t catch the live action at the track, FloRacing is the live streaming home of Progressive American Flat Track. Motorsports fans can subscribe to FloRacing to enjoy over 1,000 live motorsports events in 2026. FloSports is available by visiting https://flosports.link/AFT2026 or by downloading the FloSports app on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire and Chromecast.
FS1
FOX Sports will provide in-depth coverage of the Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA doubleheader featuring rider features and thrilling onboard cameras. Stay tuned for an upcoming announcement regarding premiere airdates on FS1 and re-airs on FS2. The full listing of American Flat Track’s television premieres will be posted to the AFT website at https://www.americanflattrack.com/events-foxsports.
