Short Wait to Get Back on Track at Inaugural Senoia Short Track

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 21, 2023) – The 2023 Progressive American Flat Track season resumes just two weeks after its thrilling Bike Week double-opener with the inaugural Yamaha Senoia Short Track at Senoia Raceway in Senoia, Georgia, on Saturday, March 25.

All eyes will be on second-year Mission SuperTwins presented by S&S Cycle star Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT), who comes in with a perfect 50-point score after orchestrating back-to-back virtuoso rides at the DAYTONA Short Track I & II.

Daniels will have some additional motivation to keep his hot streak going at Yamaha’s home round, as will teammate JD Beach (No. 95 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT). Combined, the Estenson Racing pairing have collected the last three Short Track victories in succession (and four of the last six), dating back to last season.

The two figure to face stiff challenges from last year’s other ST winners, Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750), and Briar Bauman (No. 3 Parts Plus/Jacob Companies KTM 890 Duke).

Speaking of Bauman, the two-time Mission SuperTwins champ’s initial outing aboard his new KTM 890 Duke was one of the opener’s biggest stories. He didn’t disappoint in his Rick Ware Racing debut, claiming a podium in his first attempt, despite losing his brakes early in the contest.

The overall KTM premier-class presence will be further bolstered at Senoia where Bauman and his brother, Bronson Bauman (No. 37 Fastrack Racing/2 Wheelz KTM 890 Duke), will be joined by reigning Mission Production Twins champion Jesse Janisch (No. 33 KTM/Haversack/Z-Max 890 Duke), who will make his Wally Brown Racing debut this weekend.

Meanwhile, no one should ever overlook defending Mission SuperTwins king Jared Mees (No. 1 Indian Motorcycle/Rogers Racing/SDI Racing FTR750). Mees had a bit of a quiet opener – at least by his standards – but he still managed to collect a pair of valuable fourths. And while he may not have won on a Short Track a year ago, he has taken multiple ST wins over his career and landed on the box in the close-quarters showdowns on more than one occasion in ‘22.

Along with Mees and the aforementioned Robinson, two other Indian-mounted pilots in Jarod Vanderkooi (No. 20 JMC Motorsports/Fairway Ford Indian FTR750) and Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing Indian FTR750) got their ‘23 campaigns off to impressive starts, the two finishing 2-3 behind Daniels the last time out.

Johnny Lewis (No. 10 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650) clearly demonstrated that he and his bike are capable of running up front with the best riders and equipment in the world in the opener. He and teammate Ryan Wells (No. 94 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650) will look to follow up a promising opener with an even stronger performance on Saturday.

Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER

A year ago, Kody Kopp (No. 1 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-F) kick-started his runaway Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER title triumph with six wins over the season’s opening nine races.

Therefore, it should be a serious concern for any prospective class title hopeful that Kopp is off to an even better beginning in ‘23, sweeping the first two rounds after going 1-2 to open ‘22.

While slowing Kopp is a daunting task, the field is loaded with hungry and skilled riders across several manufacturers.

Besides the defending champion, KTM is represented by with some of the category’s most decorated riders, headlined by the likes of Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 D&D Racing/Certified KTM 450 SX-F), Max Whale (No. 18 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-F), and Shayna Texter-Bauman (No. 52 Parts Plus/Jacob Companies KTM 450 SX-F).

The American Honda-backed Turner Honda effort has been a powerhouse since its earliest days, and ‘23 looks to be no different with the talented trio of Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), Chase Saathoff (No. 88 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), and Morgen Mischler (No. 13 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R).

Yamaha, meanwhile, will see its home turf defended by the talented Trevor Brunner (No. 21 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) and Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F).

And Husqvarna has a 1-2 punch of its own in James Ott (No. 19 1st Impressions Race Team/Husqvarna Racing FC450) and Chad Cose (No. 49 1st Impressions Race Team/Husqvarna Racing FC450).

Along with joining the premier class in underlining the depth of manufacturer parity and diversity of Progressive AFT, the 2023 opener also showcased some riders who may be poised to step into the spotlight this season. Travis Petton IV (No. 82 ECG Racing/3 Bros KTM 450 SX-F), Justin Jones (No. 91 NRC Racing/Elder Trucking KTM 450 SX-F), and Andrew Luker (No. 11 Rackley Racing/Keeran Racing Yamaha YZ450F) all flashed eye-opening speed in Daytona, while rookies Logan Eisenhard (No. 166 Scotts Powersports/The Cycle Lab LLC KTM 450 SX-F) and Clark Morian (No. 133 Morian Racing/Wells Tuned KTM 450 SX-F) didn’t take long to prove they belonged.

This weekend’s action actually kicks off on Friday with some top-flight amateur racing at Senoia Raceway. The added value trend carries over into Saturday, when Progressive AFT will again welcome the inclusion of the Grand National Hooligan Championship on the evening’s bill.

There will be plenty to keep fans entertained off the track as well, including numerous vendors, plenty of food and beverage options, music, and extensive motorcycle parking.

General Admission tickets are just $40 (kids 12 and under just $5), while Reserved Grandstand tickets are $50 (all ages). Reserved Trackside Parking (add-on only) is also available for $60 per vehicle while Multi-Day Camping Passes (add-on only) are $75.

Pit Pass Upgrades are also available for purchase, which provide all-day access to the pits where fans can scope out the world’s fastest dirt track motorcycles and get up close and personal with the stars of the sport.

Visit https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack/events/yamaha-senoia-short-track-61409 to purchase your tickets today!

Gates will open for fans at 3:00 p.m. ET (12:00 p.m. PT) with Opening Ceremonies scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m. ET (4:00 p.m. PT).

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, featuring in-depth features and thrilling onboard cameras, will premiere on FS1 from the Yamaha Senoia Short Track on April 1 at 7:00 a.m. ET (4:00 a.m. PT).

For more information on Progressive AFT visit https://www.americanflattrack.com.

About Progressive American Flat Track

Progressive American Flat Track is the world’s premier dirt track motorcycle racing series and one of the longest-running championships in the history of motorsports. Sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing in Daytona Beach, Fla., the series is highly regarded as the most competitive form of dirt track motorcycle racing on the globe. For more information on Progressive American Flat Track, please visit us on the web, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, check us out on Instagram and catch all the Progressive American Flat Track racing action on FOX Sports.