Progressive American Flat Track Championship Series
Yamaha Senoia ST
Senoia, Georgia
March 24, 2024
Provisional Astro Invitational Main Event (10 Laps) Results (all on Dunlop tires):
1. Charlie Roberts (Bul), 10 laps
2. Wyatt Campbell (Bul), -3.825 seconds
3. Lance Jones (Bul), -4.217
4. David Aldana (Bul), -4.584
5. Jamie James (Bul), -9.107
6. Sonya Lloyd (Bul), -10.739
7. Perry Deeke (Bul), -12.989
8. Jerry Lacy (Bul), -1 lap
9. Charlie Williams (Bul), -1 lap
10. Joe Bonanno Bonanno (Bul), -7 laps, DNF
11. Kris Weiss (Bul), -8 laps, DNF
12. Garth Brow (Bul), -10 laps, DNF
Provisional Parts Unlimited AFT Singles Al Lamb’s Dallas Honda Challenge Results (all on Dunlop tires):
1. Dalton Gauthier (KTM), 4 laps
2. Tom Drane (Yam), -0.232 second
3. Chase Saathoff (Hon), -0.705
4. Kody Kopp (KTM), -1.048 seconds
Provisional Mission SuperTwins Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge Results (all on Dunlop tires):
1. Dallas Daniels (Yam), 4 laps
2. Jared Mees (Ind), -0.577 second
3. Johnny Lewis (Roy), -0.650
4. Brandon Robinson (Ind), -1.141 seconds
Provisional Parts Unlimited AFT Singles Main Event (6 Minutes + 2 Laps) Results (all on Dunlop tires):
1. Kody Kopp (KTM), 22 laps
2. Tom Drane (Yam), -1.522 seconds
3. Chase Saathoff (Hon), -2.726
4. Aidan RoosEvans (Yam), -3.662
5. Dalton Gauthier (KTM), -4.539
6. James Ott (Hus), -7.306
7. Hunter Bauer (Yam), -8.271
8. Trent Lowe (Hon), -8.898
9. Travis Petton (KTM), -8.971
10. Bradon Pfanders (KTM), -10.193
11. Tarren Santero (Hon), -10.716
12. Tyler Raggio (Hon), -11.365
13. Shayna Texter-Bauman (KTM), -11.576
14. Evan Renshaw (Hon), -11.833
15. Landen Smith (KTM), -12.332
16. Logan Eisenhard (KTM), -13.748
17. Justin Jones (Hus), -13.791
18. Jared Lowe (Hon), -14.307
19. Chad Cose (KTM), -18.021
Provisional Mission SuperTwins Main Event (10 Minutes + 2 Laps) Results (all on Dunlop tires):
1. Jared Mees (Ind), 36 laps
2. Dallas Daniels (Yam), -1.591 seconds
3. Brandon Robinson (Ind), -3.211
4. Briar Bauman (KTM), -3.371
5. Jarod VanDerKooi (Ind), -7.706
6. Johnny Lewis (Roy), -9.482
7. Brandon Price (Yam), -10.689
8. Davis Fisher (Ind), -11.984
9. Trevor Brunner (KTM), -17.031
10. Max Whale (Har), -17.191
11. Dan Bromley (Hon), -17.324
12. Ben Lowe (KTM), -17.720
13. Bronson Bauman (KTM), -17.930
14. Declan Bender (Ind), -18.432
15. Kolby Carlile (Yam), -1 lap
16. Cameron Smith (KTM), -1 lap, 9.245 seconds
17. Kevin Stollings (Kaw), -2 laps, -7.366
18. Michael Hill (Yam), -15 laps, DNF
More, from a press release issued by AFT:
Mees Responds with Statement Ride at Yamaha Senoia Short Track
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 24, 2024) – Reigning Mission SuperTwins champion Jared Mees (No. 1 Rogers Racing/SDI Racing/Indian Motorcycle FTR750) turned to his successful ‘23 script, once again rebounding from a quiet season opener with a statement performance in the Yamaha Senoia Short Track at Senoia Raceway in Senoia, Georgia, Round 3 of the 2024 Progressive American Flat Track season, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing.
That said, Sunday’s ride didn’t exactly get underway as he’d originally envisioned. The factory Indian star was involved in a minor pre-race dispute and was forced to line up on the far outside of Row 1 after believing he could select the slot at the bottom. Even if it went against his wishes, the swap either gifted him the ideal position or the motivation required to make it work, as Mees promptly blasted into the lead once the race got underway.
Even with the benefit of that prime launch, Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) was quickly looking for a way by and slid underneath to steal away first less than a minute into the Main Event. But Mees had an answer, reclaiming the position a short two laps later and then went about steadily working his way to what proved to be a 1.591-second margin of victory.
Afterward Mees said, “I fast qualified earlier in the day, but I didn’t really feel good. I was making some decent laps but also making a lot of mistakes. In the (Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge), Dallas ate my lunch – I was really worried about him; he and his team were rolling really good. He was really consistent and could get the bike turned, and that’s where I was struggling all day. We made some changes and went a direction we’ve never gone before with some things. And the motorcycle was phenomenal. It turned great and rolled good. Everything I needed it to do all day, it finally came to me.”
The fight for third was a hard-fought three-way affair for much of the race, led for a long spell by Johnny Lewis (No. 10 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650) with Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750) and Briar Bauman (No. 3 Rick Ware Racing/KTM/Parts Plus KTM 790 Duke) jammed up close behind.
Lewis did well to keep Robinson and Bauman corralled behind him for the majority of the contest, but their superior pace ultimately won out – at least once Bauman showed they could tap into the high line to find a path through.
Free of the Royal Enfield runner, Robinson then managed to keep two-time champion Bauman at bay by just over a tenth-of-a-second at the flag. Lewis, meanwhile, found himself also overtaken by a charging Jarod Vanderkooi (No. 20 JMC Motorsports/Fairway Ford Ohio Indian FTR750), who secured the final spot in the top five after circulating as low as ninth in the early going.
The remainder of the top ten consisted of a pair of premier-class veterans – Brandon Price (No. 92 Memphis Shades/Corbin/OTBR Yamaha MT-07) and Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing Indian FTR750) – and class rookies – Trevor Brunner (No. 21 Mission Foods/Zanotti Racing KTM 790 Duke) and Max Whale (No. 18 Latus Motors Racing/Liqui Moly Harley-Davidson XG750R).
Mees’ triumph elevated him from sixth to third in the points (54), but he continues to trail Daniels (64) and Robinson (61), the duo having upped their respective ‘24 podium streaks to a perfect three for three.
Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER
Reigning two-time Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER king Kody Kopp (No. 1 Rick Ware Racing/Parts Plus KTM 450 SX-F) continued to build his case as the most accomplished rider in class history, earning a record-tying sixth career Short Track win on Sunday afternoon.
While in the end, the victory proved a lonely one, that order first had to be forged in chaos.
Former class champion Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 D&D Racing/Certified KTM 450 SX-F) grabbed the holeshot with title fighters Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F), Chase Saathoff (No. 88 JPG Motorsports Honda CRF450R), and Kopp running alongside while sorting out second in shadow.
In one fell swoop, that fight for second became one for the lead as Drane and Saathoff both went under Gauthier at the same moment Kopp ringed around the outside, all despite no obvious mistake on Gauthier’s part.
Kopp continued to work the high line, using it to both overhaul Drane and make his escape in relatively short order.
At that point, the top three broke apart, while Gauthier lost one final position to Aiden RoosEvans (No. 26 FRA Trust/ATV’s and More Yamaha YZ450F), who ran just removed from the lead pack for the entirety of the race.
“I’m happy to be up here and be able to spin laps like that,” Kopp said. “Hats off to Tom, Chase, and Dalton – those first few laps were chaos. I got a terrible start and tried to roll ‘em around the outside. Huge shout out to my Rick Ware Racing team and everybody that’s behind me. We’re ready to get on a roll now.”
2023 Senoia Short Track podium finisher James Ott (No. 19 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450) took sixth, followed by Hunter Bauer (No. 24 Vinson Construction/American Harley-Davidson, Yamaha YZ450F), Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), and Travis Petton IV (No. 82 ECG Racing/A.M Ortega KTM 450 SX-F).
The final spot in the top ten was earned by Bradon Pfanders (No. 288 Pfanders Racing/Scott Powersports KTM 450 SX-F), who made an extremely impressive Progressive AFT debut immediately after becoming eligible by turning 16.
Kopp already boasts an early 17-point advantage over Gauthier (71-54) with Drane (51) and Saathoff (50) placed third and fourth and desperate to prevent the double defending champ from executing another championship runaway.
Next Up:
The Progressive American Flat Track tour will compete on a Half-Mile for the first time this season with the Mission Texas Half-Mile presented by Al Lamb’s Dallas Honda and Roof Systems of Dallas at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas, on Saturday, April 27. Please visit https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack/events/texas-half-mile-86387 to secure your tickets today.
For those who can’t catch the action from the circuit, FloRacing 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 http://flosports.link/aft.
FOX Sports coverage of the Yamaha Senoia Short Track, featuring in-depth features and thrilling onboard cameras, will premiere on FS1 on Sunday, March 31, at 12:30 p.m. ET (9:30 a.m. PT).
For more information on Progressive AFT visit https://www.americanflattrack.com
More, from a press release issued by Indian Motorcycle:
INDIAN MOTORCYCLE RACING AND REIGHNING CHAMPION JARED MEESE SECURE FIRST VICTORY OF 2024 SEASON AT SENOIA SHORT TRACK
Mees Edges Out the Competition Aboard Indian FTR750, Moving into Third in Overall Standings
Fellow Indian FTR750 Rider Brandon Robinson Rounds out the Podium in Third
Minneapolis, MN. – Indian Motorcycle Racing had a stellar showing at round three of the 2024 American Flat Track series in Senoia, Georgia, for the Senoia Short Track. It was nine-time champion Jared Mees scoring his first victory of the year aboard his Indian FTR750, moving him into third in the championship. Fellow Indian Motorcycle-supported racer Brandon Robinson rounded out the top three aboard his Indian FTR750 privateer ride.
After a slow start to the season, Mees, the reigning champion, made a strong statement in Senoia that he’s still at the top of his game and the rider to beat. Despite an unwanted starting position, he used it as motivation to rocket his FTR750 off the line when the green flag waved to take over the lead quickly. Mees was overtaken a short time later but maintained his speed and stayed within striking distance to regain the lead a few laps later. Once out front, Mees didn’t look back throughout the remainder of the 36-lap race, taking the checkered flag and winning by 1.6 seconds.
“This was a solid showing for Jared and the Indian Motorcycle team, securing the win and keeping him within striking distance in the chase for his 10th-career championship,” said Gary Gray, Vice President of Racing & Service for Indian Motorcycle. “Although the weekend didn’t go completely how he’d like, it was important for him to get this win under his belt. There is still a lot of racing left this season, and this victory provide him and his team momentum going next month’s race in Texas.”
“It was a challenging start to the season so to come away with the win tonight is incredible,” said Mees. “I struggled throughout the day and during qualifying so was a little worried but after making some changes to the bike it performed phenomenally in the Main event. Everything I had been wanting it to do all day, finally came to me and it paid off. I can’t thank the Indian team enough for the support.
After three rounds, Mees sits third in the championship chase with 54 points, a mere 10 points off the lead. Currently tied with Scottie Parker with the most career championships, Mees is looking to secure his spot in the history books as the all-time greatest flat track racer with a 2024 championship, earning him 10-career titles. Of his nine-career championships, Mees has five while piloting the Indian FTR750, coming in 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022, and 2023.
The 2024 American Flat Track season continues on April 27 for the Texas Half-Mile in Fort Worth, TX.
For more information on Indian Motorcycle Racing, visit IndianMotorcycle.com and follow along on Facebook, X and Instagram.
ABOUT INDIAN MOTORCYCLE
Indian Motorcycle is America’s First Motorcycle Company. Founded in 1901, Indian Motorcycle has won the hearts of motorcyclists around the world and earned distinction as one of America’s most legendary and iconic brands through unrivaled racing dominance, engineering prowess and countless innovations and industry firsts. Today that heritage and passion is reignited under new brand stewardship. To learn more, please visit www.indianmotorcycle.com.
