Progressive AFT Returns to Missouri for Inaugural I-70 Half-Mile presented by Indian Motorcycle of Kansas City
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (April 19, 2022) – The 2022 Progressive American Flat Track season resumes this weekend with the inaugural I-70 Half-Mile presented by Indian Motorcycle of Kansas City on Saturday, April 23 in Odessa, Missouri.
The stop at the newly revived I-70 Motorsports Park represents Progressive AFT’s long-awaited return to Missouri, some 17 seasons after the championship last visited Sedalia. To celebrate that return, along with Saturday’s championship round, Kansas City-area fans are invited to come out to the venue on Friday, April 22 from 3:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. local time to attend the day’s test session free of admission.
The young ‘22 season has already taken on an interesting shape. It was widely expected that the premier Mission SuperTwins presented by S&S Cycle class would once again be a battle for supremacy waged by reigning champion Jared Mees (No. 1 Indian Motorcycle/Progressive Insurance FTR750) and his great rival, Briar Bauman (No. 3 Indian Motorcycle/Progressive Insurance FTR750).
That has proven true to an extent, as the Indian Wrecking Crew superstars have split the season’s two available wins and are currently separated by a single point atop the championship standings.
However, the efforts to level the playing field have yielded early dividends, as five different riders out of a possible six, representing three different manufacturers, have stood upon the podium already in 2022.
In fact, it’s Yamaha-mounted JD Beach (No. 95 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) who stands as the only rider with a perfect podium record thus far. And his teammate, heralded rookie Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT), has proven nearly as successful, and the two threaten to collect race wins in the near future.
That sort of parity and unpredictability has added an extra dimension to the season’s title fight, and promises to continue this weekend on a track new to the tour.
Bronson Bauman (No. 37 Latus Motors Racing Harley-Davidson XG750R), who put Harley-Davidson back up on the box in the season opener, Mission Roof Systems teammates Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750) and Jarod Vanderkooi (No. 20 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750), and last year’s finale winner, Davis Fisher (No. 67 Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing Indian FTR750), are just a sampling of the riders with the potential to factor up front this weekend.
Mission Production Twins presented by Vance & Hines
Defending Mission Production Twins presented by Vance & Hines king Cory Texter (No. 1 G&G Racing/Yamaha Racing Yamaha MT-07) rebounded like a champion at the Texas Half-Mile following a difficult opener. Despite tricky conditions and a series of stoppages, Texter controlled the Main Event at Texas Motor Speedway to remind everyone exactly why he’s the one brandishing the #1 plate on his machine.
That said, Nick Armstrong (No. 60 Competitive Racing Frames/Lessley Brothers Yamaha MT-07) provided evidence that his virtuoso performance at the opening round was no fluke, logging a fourth-place result as an encore. That result puts him in front of the early-season championship chase heading into Odessa.
Meanwhile, a number of the category’s usual suspects – Ben Lowe (No. 25 Helipower Racing/Mission Foods Harley-Davidson XG750R), Jesse Janisch (No. 33 Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson XG750R), Kolby Carlile (No. 36 KC36 Las Vegas Harley-Davidson XG750R), and Dan Bromley (No. 62 Vinson Construction, Viper Air Yamaha MT-07) – have already marked up podium finishes this season.
Some others have yet to break into the top three, but it’s likely only a matter of time before the likes of multi-race winners Chad Cose (No. 49 DPC Racing/Voodoo Ranger Harley-Davidson XG750R), Johnny Lewis (No. 10 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650), and Ryan Varnes (No. 68 Schaeffer’s Motorsports/Rausch Fuel & Oil KTM 890 Duke) make their presences felt in a major way.
Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER
Top honors Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER are seemingly always up for grabs, as the class features a deep pool of both hard-charging youngsters and battle-proven veterans aboard a range of equipment backed with factory support from multiple manufacturers.
However, while the list of potential winners extends into the double digits, an early pecking order headlined by the preseason favorites is already starting to take shape.
Sophomore ace Kody Kopp (No. 12 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-FFE) and his two-time class runner-up teammate, Max Whale (No. 18 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-FFE), currently sit first and third in the championship standings.
Meanwhile, American Honda teammates Morgen Mischler (No. 13 American Honda/Progressive Insurance CRF450R) and Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 American Honda/Progressive Insurance CRF450R) – the riders many would have pegged as the most likely to prevent this year’s title hunt from turning into a factory KTM intrateam affair – are currently ranked second and fourth.
While those four expect to continue to jockey for position as the championship campaign develops, a number of others could easily work their way into the mix as well.
Trent Lowe (No. 48 Mission Foods/Al Lamb’s Dallas Honda CRF450R), Michael Inderbitzin (No. 54 1st Impressions Services of Florida Honda CRF450R), Chase Saathoff (No. 106 American Honda/Progressive Insurance CRF450R), Trevor Brunner (No. 21 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F), and Brandon Kitchen (No. 80 Vance & Hines/Husqvarna Motorcycles Husqvarna FC450), among several others, all have the requisite speed and ability to walk away from I-70 Motorsports Park with the winner’s trophy.
There will be plenty to keep fans entertained off the track as well. Along with numerous vendors, food and beverage options, and the Kids Zone, the high-energy three-piece group Pompous Jack, will be performing their blend of ‘80s rock, blues, and country. And the night will conclude in fitting fashion thanks to a post-event fireworks display.
Along with the action at the track on Saturday night and the free test day on Friday, fans are invited to attend the I-70 Half-Mile American Flat Track Rider Meet & Greet at RideNow Kansas City in Olathe, Kansas, where fans can meet their favorite riders and enjoy Mission Foods chips and salsa, on Thursday, April 21, from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. local time.
Visit https://store.americanflattrack.com/ebooking/ticket/view/id/3775 to purchase your tickets for the I-70 Half-Mile presented by Indian Motorcycle Kansas City now.
General Admission Grandstand tickets are just $40 and kids 12 and under are free when accompanied by an adult. Fans who would like seating along the front stretch of the racetrack, including seat-backs in all sections, can select seats in the Reserved Grandstand for just $10 more. The Indoor Suite Reservation ticket provides exclusive viewing above the grandstand in private, climate-controlled accommodations for $150.
Paddock Access Upgrades are available for purchase (and come included with Indoor Suite Reservation tickets), which provide all-day access to the pits where fans can scope out the racebikes and get up close and personal with the stars of the sport.
Other options include the Party Deck Add-On for fans 21+ and a range of Multi-Day Camping Passes.
Gates will open for fans at 3:30 p.m. local time with Opening Ceremonies scheduled to begin at 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT ahead of the evening’s Main Event program. You can catch the livestream of all the weekend’s racing activities free via Facebook up until Opening Ceremonies. Fans can then purchase access to watch Opening Ceremonies, Semis, Main Events, and podium celebrations via Facebook Paid Online Events for $3.99 if purchased 24 hours or more in advance, or $4.99 if purchased on the day of the event.
The I-70 Half-Mile will premiere on FS1 on Sunday, May 1, at 10:00 a.m. ET/7:00 a.m. PT., including exclusive features, cutting-edge aerial drone and onboard footage, and expert commentary.
For more information on Progressive AFT visit https://www.americanflattrack.com. To score the latest gear for the Progressive American Flat Track fan, visit our official merchandise store at https://store.americanflattrack.com.
How to Watch:
FOX Sports and Facebook are the official homes for coverage of Progressive American Flat Track. For the 2022 season, all 18 races will premiere in one-hour telecasts on FS1 during highly desirable weekend time slots. The complete schedule can be viewed at https://www.americanflattrack.com/events-foxsports. Viewers can watch livestream coverage of every round in the Facebook mobile app, Facebook desktop site or on the Facebook Watch mobile app. To watch the livestream on TV, fans can download the Facebook Watch TV app, or cast to a TV from the Facebook mobile app. Facebook Watch is available through Apple TV, Samsung Smart TV, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, and Xbox One.
