AFT Finale at DAYTONA II/American Flat Track

DAYTONA ST

Daytona Beach, Florida

October 17, 2020

Provisional AFT SuperTwins Free Practice 1 Results (all on Dunlop tires):

1. Briar Bauman (Ind), 18.333 seconds

2. Bryan Smith (Har), 18.450

3. Dan Bromley (Ind), 18.501

4. Robert Pearson (Ind), 18.529

5. JD Beach (Yam), 18.551

6. Brandon Robinson (Ind), 18.554

7. Sammy Halbert (Ind), 18.604

8. Davis Fisher (Ind), 18.607

9. Jake Johnson (Ind), 18.665

10. Jared Mees (Ind), 18.710

11. Dalton Gauthier (Har), 18.712

12. Jeffrey Carver Jr. (Ind), 18.792

13. Bronson Bauman (Ind), 18.827

14. Jarod Vanderkooi (Har), 18.894

15. Andrew Luker (Ind), 18.982

16. Brandon Price (Ind), 18.990

17. Jay Maloney (Ind), 19.314

 

 

Provisional AFT Production Twins Free Practice 1 Results (all on Dunlop tires):

1. Patrick Buchanan (Kaw), 18.536 seconds

2. Johnny Lewis (Roy), 18.547

3. Jeremiah Duffy (Kaw), 18.591

4. Cory Texter (Yam), 18.748

5. James Rispoli (Har), 18.796

6. Cody Johncox (Yam), 18.891

7. Danny Eslick (Kaw), 18.979

8. Ben Lowe (Yam), 19.062

9. Ryan Varnes (Kaw), 19.079

10. Shelby Miller (Kaw), 19.183

11. Jimmy McAllister (Kaw), 19.984

12. Chad Cose (Har), no time recorded

 

 

Provisional AFT Singles Free Practice 1 Results (all on Dunlop tires):

1. Andrew Luker (Yam), 18.499 seconds

2. Dylan Bell (Hon), 18.523

3. Michael Rush (Yam), 18.546

4. Blake Lomas (Hon), 18.592

5. Michael Inderbitzin (Hon), 18.597

6. Chad Cose (Suz), 18.605

7. Max Whale (Kaw), 18.634

8. Henry Wiles (Hon), 18.659

9. Dallas Daniels (Yam), 18.704

10. Jesse Janisch (Hus), 18.706

11. Brandon Kitchen (KTM), 18.750

12. Jacob Lehmann (Hon), 18.811

13. Shayna Texter (KTM), 18.828

14. Cameron Smith (Hon), 18.840

15. Aidan RoosEvans (KTM), 18.859

16. Tanner Dean (Hon), 18.870

17. Brian McRoberts (Hon), 18.889

18. Trent Lowe (Hon), 18.908

19. Shane Narbonne (Hon), 18.913

20. Morgen Mischler (KTM), 18.933

21. Cole Zabala (Hon), 18.953

22. David Wiggin (KTM), 18.986

23. Kasey Sciscoe (Hon), 18.998

24. Shelby Miller (Hon), 19.031

25. Trevor Brunner (Hon), 19.054

26. James Ott (KTM), 19.095

27. Kevin Stollings (Hon), 19.118

28. Aaron Kennedy (Hon), 19.201

 

 

Provisional Royal Enfield BTR Free Practice 1 Results (all on Dunlop tires):

1. Jillian Deschenes (Roy), 20.965 seconds

2. Melissa Paris (Roy), 21.127

3. Malary Lee (Roy), 21.833

4. Trisha Dahl (Roy), 24.397

 

 

Provisional AFT SuperTwins Qualifying 1 Results (all on Dunlop tires):

1. Sammy Halbert (Ind), 18.363 seconds

2. Briar Bauman (Ind), 18.398

3. Brandon Robinson (Ind), 18.504

4. Davis Fisher (Ind), 18.536

5. Dan Bromley (Ind), 18.537

6. Jared Mees (Ind), 18.576

7. Robert Pearson (Ind), 18.662

8. Dalton Gauthier (Har), 18.663

9. Jarod Vanderkooi (Har), 18.734

10. JD Beach (Yam), 18.771

11. Jeffrey Carver Jr. (Ind), 18.793

12. Bryan Smith (Har), 18.822

13. Jake Johnson (Ind), 18.835

14. Andrew Luker (Ind), 18.869

15. Bronson Bauman (Ind), 18.872

16. Jay Maloney (Ind), 18.974

17. Brandon Price (Ind), 19.010

 

 

Provisional AFT Production Twins Qualifying 1 Results (all on Dunlop tires):

1. Johnny Lewis (Roy), 18.409 seconds

2. Cory Texter (Yam), 18.528

3. James Rispoli (Har), 18.618

4. Jeremiah Duffy (Kaw), 18.625

5. Patrick Buchanan (Kaw), 18.648

6. Cody Johncox (Yam), 18.653

7. Ben Lowe (Yam), 18.714

8. Danny Eslick (Kaw), 18.735

9. Ryan Varnes (Kaw), 18.916

10. Shelby Miller (Kaw), 19.184

11. Jimmy McAllister (Kaw), 19.430

12. Chad Cose (Har), no time recorded

 

 

Provisional AFT Singles Qualifying 1 Results (all on Dunlop tires):

1. Andrew Luker (Yam), 17.998 seconds

2. Max Whale (Kaw), 18.078

3. Dylan Bell (Hon), 18.082

4. James Ott (KTM), 18.123

5. Tanner Dean (Hon), 18.132

6. Chad Cose (Suz), 18.134

7. Dallas Daniels (Yam), 18.151

8. Jesse Janisch (Hus), 18.158

9. Michael Inderbitzin (Hon), 18.193

10. Blake Lomas (Hon), 18.205

11. Michael Rush (Yam), 18.232

12. Henry Wiles (Hon), 18.246

13. Jacob Lehmann (Hon), 18.271

14. Trent Lowe (Hon), 18.279

15. Brandon Kitchen (KTM), 18.316

16. Morgen Mischler (KTM), 18.319

17. Cameron Smith (Hon), 18.339

18. Brian McRoberts (Hon), 18.351

19. Kevin Stollings (Hon), 18.354

20. Aidan RoosEvans (KTM), 18.358

21. Shayna Texter (KTM), 18.422

22. Cole Zabala (Hon), 18.448

23. David Wiggin (KTM), 18.589

24. Shane Narbonne (Hon), 18.606

25. Shelby Miller (Hon), 18.685

26. Kasey Sciscoe (Hon), 18.755

27. Aaron Kennedy (Hon), 18.968

28. Trevor Brunner (Hon), no time recorded

 

 

Provisional Royal Enfield BTR Qualifying 1 Results (all on Dunlop tires):

1. Melissa Paris (Roy), 20.414 seconds

2. Jillian Deschenes (Roy), 20.446

3. Malary Lee (Roy), 21.639

4. Trisha Dahl (Roy), 23.601

 

 

Provisional AFT SuperTwins Qualifying 2 Results (all on Dunlop tires):

1. Brandon Robinson (Ind), 17.841 seconds

2. Briar Bauman (Ind), 17.877

3. Jeffrey Carver Jr. (Ind), 17.927

4. Jared Mees (Ind), 17.930

5. Davis Fisher (Ind), 17.935

6. Sammy Halbert (Ind), 17.981

7. Robert Pearson (Ind), 18.074

8. Dan Bromley (Ind), 18.095

9. Jarod Vanderkooi (Har), 18.127

10. Brandon Price (Ind), 18.194

11. Bronson Bauman (Ind), 18.272

12. Jake Johnson (Ind), 18.277

13. Andrew Luker (Ind), 18.302

14. Dalton Gauthier (Har), 18.323

15. JD Beach (Yam), 18.329

16. Jay Maloney (Ind), 18.468

17. Bryan Smith (Har), 18.526

 

 

Provisional AFT Production Twins Qualifying 2 Results (all on Dunlop tires):

1. Johnny Lewis (Roy), 17.965 seconds

2. Cory Texter (Yam), 17.976

3. James Rispoli (Har), 18.198

4. Ben Lowe (Yam), 18.231

5. Patrick Buchanan (Kaw), 18.318

6. Danny Eslick (Kaw), 18.360

7. Jeremiah Duffy (Kaw), 18.396

8. Ryan Varnes (Kaw), 18.426

9. Cody Johncox (Yam), 18.436

10. Shelby Miller (Kaw), 18.790

11. Jimmy McAllister (Kaw), 19.069

12. Chad Cose (Har), no time recorded

 

 

Provisional AFT Singles Qualifying 2 Results (all on Dunlop tires):

1. Max Whale (Kaw), 17.531 seconds

2. Henry Wiles (Hon), 17.555

3. Andrew Luker (Yam), 17.654

4. Trent Lowe (Hon), 17.686

5. Tanner Dean (Hon), 17.698

6. Brandon Kitchen (KTM), 17.720

7. Morgen Mischler (KTM), 17.742

8. Michael Rush (Yam), 17.763

9. Chad Cose (Suz), 17.829

10. Michael Inderbitzin (Hon), 17.829

11. Jacob Lehmann (Hon), 17.852

12. Dylan Bell (Hon), 17.856

13. Dallas Daniels (Yam), 17.905

14. Jesse Janisch (Hus), 17.928

15. James Ott (KTM), 17.947

16. Shayna Texter (KTM), 17.975

17. Blake Lomas (Hon), 17.987

18. Kevin Stollings (Hon), 17.995

19. Aidan RoosEvans (KTM), 18.129

20. David Wiggin (KTM), 18.138

21. Cameron Smith (Hon), 18.147

22. Brian McRoberts (Hon), 18.181

23. Trevor Brunner (Hon), 18.241

24. Shelby Miller (Hon), 18.270

25. Shane Narbonne (Hon), 18.409

26. Kasey Sciscoe (Hon), 18.612

27. Cole Zabala (Hon), no time recorded

28. Aaron Kennedy (Hon), no time recorded

 

 

Provisional Royal Enfield BTR Race Main Event Results (all on Dunlop tires):

1. Jillian Deschenes (Roy), 10 laps

2. Melissa Paris (Roy), -0.360 second

3. Trisha Dahl (Roy), -1 lap

4. Malary Lee (Roy), -10 laps

 

 

ON RAIN DELAY

 

 

Provisional AFT SuperTwins Main Event Results (all on Dunlop tires):

1. Brandon Robinson (Ind), 28 laps, race time 8 minutes 40.885 seconds

2. Jared Mees (Ind), -1.659 seconds

3. Sammy Halbert (Ind), -2.090

4. Briar Bauman (Ind), -2.710

5. Dan Bromley (Ind), -4.642

6. Robert Pearson (Ind), -8.579

7. Jeffrey Carver Jr. (Ind), -9.035

8. Jarod Vanderkooi (Har), -9.355

9. Dalton Gauthier (Har), -9.617

10. Brandon Price (Ind), -11.192

11. Bronson Bauman (Ind), -11.951

12. JD Beach (Yam), -12.105

13. Andrew Luker (Ind), -12.864

14. Bryan Smith (Har), -13.223

15. Jake Johnson (Ind), -14.206

16. Jay Maloney (Ind), -17.194

17. Davis Fisher (Ind), -12 laps

 

 

Provisional AFT Singles Main Event Results (all on Dunlop tires):

1. Henry Wiles (Hon), 15 laps

2. Max Whale (Kaw), -0.142 second

3. Trent Lowe (Hon), -0.396

4. Michael Rush (Yam), -1.283 seconds

5. Andrew Luker (Yam), -3.098

6. Morgen Mischler (KTM), -3.275

7. Jacob Lehmann (Hon), -3.952

8. Tanner Dean (Hon), -4.300

9. Dallas Daniels (Yam), -4.845

10. Michael Inderbitzin (Hon), -5.356

11. Chad Cose (Suz), -6.105

12. Dylan Bell (Hon), -6.448

13. Shayna Texter (KTM), -6.634

14. Brandon Kitchen (KTM), -6.743

15. Aidan RoosEvans (KTM), -6.984

16. James Ott (KTM), -7.577

17. Jesse Janisch (Hus), -8.023

 

 

Provisional AFT Production Twins Main Event Results (all on Dunlop tires):

1. Cory Texter (Yam), 15 laps

2. Johnny Lewis (Roy), -3.131 seconds

3. Ben Lowe (Yam), -3.556

4. Ryan Varnes (Kaw), -4.306

5. Patrick Buchanan (Kaw), -4.975

6. James Rispoli (Har), -5.361

7. Jeremiah Duffy (Kaw), -6.488

8. Cody Johncox (Yam), -7.359

9. Shelby Miller (Kaw), -15.104

10. Jimmy McAllister (Kaw), -17.244

11. Danny Eslick (Kaw), -1 lap

 

 

More, from a press release issued by American Flat Track:

Bauman Repeats as AFT SuperTwins Champion, Robinson Doubles Up at
Progressive AFT Finale at DAYTONA II

 

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (October 18, 2020) – Following 15 rounds of epic Progressive American Flat Track action, Briar Bauman (No. 1 Indian Motorcycle/Progressive Insurance FTR750) successfully completed his bid to repeat as AFT SuperTwins presented by Vance & Hines Champion in Saturday evening’s decisive Progressive AFT Finale at DAYTONA II.

Even with an extended pandemic-imposed pause, the highly anticipated 2020 showdown between Bauman and multi-time series king Jared Mees (No. 9 Indian Motorcycle/Progressive Insurance FTR750) proved more than worth the wait. The momentum swung back and forth on a nearly weekend-by-weekend basis, leaving both superstars still in control of their destiny heading into this weekend’s DAYTONA finale.

Bauman seized control of the title fight with a clutch runner-up finish on Friday, which seemingly made the final task before him relatively easy by his standards. All he needed to do at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday night was score an eighth-place finish to cap off a title defense that saw him rack up six wins, four seconds, three thirds, and one seventh along the way.

 

However, the level of difficulty was ratcheted up significantly due to weather; rainy conditions forced multiple delays in the program, the Semis were cancelled, and the AFT SuperTwins presented by Vance & Hines Main was pushed to the front of the pack once conditions allowed to ensure the season’s premier-class champ was crowned before the night was out. The changes and unpredictability of the day could have easily thrown an admittedly stressed Bauman out of his rhythm.

Instead he responded like a champion. Starting on the front row with Mees as a result of their qualifying performance, Bauman got away in third and glued himself to the rear wheel of his championship rival.

Meanwhile, Brandon Robinson (No. 44 HCRR Racing/Ben Evans Racing Indian FTR750) proved invincible around the Short Track at DAYTONA for a second consecutive night. He assumed the lead on lap one and held the position through the checkered flag.

Mees did well to keep Robinson in his sights, clinging on in hopes of a win that would give him the best possible shot at the championship should Bauman make a critical mistake.

Jeffrey Carver Jr. (No. 23 Happy Trails Racing FTR750) ran in fourth deep into the contest, holding back a racy Sammy Halbert (No. 69 Coolbeth-Nila Racing Indian FTR750) for a solid five minutes. Unable to find an opening, Halbert finally made one; he pushed up the inside of Carver to take over fourth, knocking his rival back to seventh in the process.

Halbert then reeled in the leaders, arriving within striking distance of Bauman and a potential podium finish just as the race entered its final two laps. Bauman saw what was happening and understood full well what could happen. Rather than risk getting similarly bumped down the order and out of the points lead, Bauman allowed Halbert by and then cruised to a title-clinching fourth-place finish.

After claiming his eighth-career victory, Robinson said, “This is amazing. Through the ups and downs we’ve had this season to come out of here with the DAYTONA double — there’s nothing better. This is insane. We’re going to be able to go into this offseason and get healthy and come out swinging in 2021. I’m ecstatic.”

“Obviously, things went really, really well,” back-to-back champ Bauman said. “I was able to do what we came for and what we set out to do all season for Jess Garcia and the whole Garcia family — win the championship. Jess was with me every step of the way. It means a lot to me to be able to fulfill what I showed up to do. He was one of my best friends. It’s just an honor to win for him, Indian Motorcycle, Progressive Insurance, and everyone else behind the team.”

AFT Singles presented by Russ Brown Motorcycle Attorneys

Henry Wiles (No. 17 RMR Honda/Honda Talon CRF450R) demonstrated once again why he’s widely considered one of the greatest Short Track riders in the history of the sport, holding off Max Whale (No. 18 Coondoo Cattle Co./Australian Road Services Kawasaki KX450F) and Trent Lowe (No. 48 Roof Systems of Dallas, TX/Shoei Helmets Honda CRF450R) to win an abbreviated AFT Singles presented by Russ Brown Motorcycle Attorneys Main Event.

Shortened to just four minutes plus two laps due to the numerous weather delays, Wiles shot out to the lead from the start, and protected the groove from there. Whale sought any way past Wiles but simply could not find one. Lowe closed in as well, but the experienced ST master ahead of them refused to give way.

After taking his second win of 2020, Wiles said, “I was stoked to get that start. I told myself I can’t not win now. It was my race to win. Max kept me honest, and I could see Trent was in the picture too. I put in smooth, consistent laps. I’d go just a touch easy on some laps, and then I’d pick it up a little bit on some other laps. I tried to ride the best that I could so I didn’t give Max a good shot at poking it up on me. I’m stoked my wife and daughter came out for this — it means a lot to me.”

Despite losing to Wiles on the night, Whale’s runner-up result was enough to beat him for second in their championship fight (215-208).

Mikey Rush (No. 15 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) set the fastest lap of the race en route to fourth with Andrew Luker (No. 11 Rackley Racing/Keeran Racing Yamaha YZ450F) completing the top five just behind.

2020 AFT Singles champ Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) was forced to start from Row 4 with no Semi to improve his starting position. He made up a couple positions to end his title-winning season with a run to ninth. Sandwiched between his opening round failure to qualify for the Main and his ninth-placed finale, Daniels packed in a remarkable eighth wins, nine podiums and twelve top fives.

AFT Production Twins

2019 AFT Production Twins champion Cory Texter (No. 1 G&G Racing/Roof Systems Yamaha MT-07) made the absolute most of his last chance to run the #1 plate before handing it over to the newly-crowned James Rispoli (No. 43 Latus Motors Racing Harley-Davidson XG750R), logging a blowout victory in the final race of the 2020 Progressive American Flat Track season.

Rispoli crashed and found himself trapped under his motorcycle after coming together with Friday-winner Johnny Lewis (No. 10 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield Twins FT) in the race’s opening corner. That incident brought out a red flag and moved Rispoli from Row 1 to the back of the field.

Texter ripped into the lead off the line at the restart and proceeded to assemble a massive advantage en route to his fourth triumph of a hard-fought yet ultimately unsuccessful title defense.

He said, “It feels amazing. I’ve wanted to win in DAYTONA my whole life. I was actually the first rider to ever ride this racetrack back in 2010. I helped test it out for them, but I’ve always sucked here. So this is awesome. I feel competitive everywhere right now. I wish the season could keep going or start over right now.”

Lewis backed up Royal Enfield’s maiden Progressive AFT victory with its second-ever podium finish the very next night.

Lewis was followed closely to the flag by third-place finisher Ben Lowe (No. 25 Roof Systems/Bruce Lowe Excavating Yamaha MT-07), while Ryan Varnes (No. 68 RVR/RoyBuilt Don’s Kawasaki Ninja 650) edged Patrick Buchanan (No. 175 Parkinson Brothers Racing/PRO 1 Industries Kawasaki Ninja 650) as the two completed the top five.

Meanwhile, despite being faced with an extremely difficult track to overtake on and very little time in which to do it, Rispoli made his way up to finish his season with an impressive sixth-place finish. The result was actually the worst of an incredibly consistent campaign, which also included seven wins, four seconds, two fourths, and a fifth.

The Progressive AFT Finale at DAYTONA I & II will air back-to-back on NBCSN on Saturday, October 31, starting at 11:00 p.m. ET/8:00 p.m. PT. The broadcasts will include exclusive features, cutting-edge aerial drone and onboard footage, and the expert commentary of Progressive AFT legend Chris Carr.

For more information on Progressive American Flat Track visit https://www.americanflattrack.com.

 

 

 

More, from a press release issued by Estenson Racing:

Estenson Racing Closes 2020 AFT Season in Daytona

Estenson Racing put the final touches on a championship-winning Progressive American Flat Track season on a Saturday night finale dominated by rain delays at the Daytona International Speedway. With the Semis canceled and Main Events shortened, Mikey Rush led the way for the team, finishing in fourth in the abbreviated AFT Singles main. New class champ Dallas Daniels ended his dominant season with an uncharacteristic ninth, while AFT SuperTwins pilot JD Beach rounded out his year with a run to 12th.

Rush started the Main on Row 2 after qualifying in eighth position and having no Semi in which to improve his starting slot. Despite that disadvantage, he quickly picked up a handful of positions running up top to move into fifth. Fourth position didn’t come quite as easy on the single-line battlefield, but once through, Rush immediately shook free and closed in on the three-rider scrap for the win. With just a four-minute Main in which to work, he simply ran out of time in his attempt to join that fight despite clocking the race’s fastest lap. Still, Saturday’s fourth-place finish allowed Rush to lock down a fourth-place ranking in the final AFT Singles championship order.

Daniels was even unluckier than his Estenson Racing teammate with the cancellation of the Semis. That left him on Row 4 in a shortened Main Event on a track that provided few passing opportunities. He still managed to work up to ninth after qualifying 13th, ending his successful AFT Singles title campaign with one final top ten. Ultimately, the otherwise frustrating evening left Daniels’ reflective of his eight-win season and looking ahead to a stronger showing in Daytona in 2021.

Beach had hoped to build on his Friday eighth. The early returns were promising in that regard, as he posted the fifth-fastest time in the opening practice session. However, the changing conditions and subsequent delays worked against him. Starting on Row 4 in the Main, Beach got away in 16th. He charged forward from there, climbing his way up to 12th by the time he took the checkered flag. That finish paid seven additional points to a season in which he scored four top 10s and ended the year ranked 14th in the AFT SuperTwins standings.

 

Tommy Hayden – Estenson Racing Team Manager

“It was definitely a crazy day – much different from normal with no Semis and very minimal track time. I wish it had been more of a normal schedule, but I’m glad we were able to get some kind of race in with how bad the weather was. The Singles guys kind of shot themselves in the foot with bad qualifying and having to use that as their grid positions for the Main. They both rode hard and charged through the field. They did the best they could.

“JD’s day started off well. He showed some promise, but the qualifying thing didn’t work out so well for him either. He had to start from the back, which wasn’t ideal here – it was a hard track to pass on, but he rode hard and looked good on the bike. We’ve got a lot of work to do and plan to come back next year stronger.”

 

Mikey Rush – Estenson Racing AFT Singles

“It was crazy we actually got the race in with all the bad weather. I had to start from the outside of the second row, which wasn’t a terrible spot – at least it wasn’t all the way in the back. I made the most of it. I got a decent jump and made some passes early on the outside, but I couldn’t stay up there for long when the moisture went away. I dove to the bottom and worked on fourth for a while and ended up getting by. I started tracking the leaders down, but they shortened our race to four minutes which made it hard to get it done. I ran out of time, basically. It would have been nice to get on the podium, but I’m happy to get another top-five. Big thanks to Estenson Racing for giving me the opportunity this year. I have really enjoyed myself.”

 

Dallas Daniels – Estenson Racing AFT Singles

“For whatever reason, we struggled in qualifying. I was having some trouble with some grip and some front-end pushing. We made changes and were feeling good for the Semi, but then the rain hit. We sat here forever and ever, and then they said we were going to skip the Semi and go straight to the Main Event. I qualified 13th, so that gave me the first choice for the fourth row, which is a terrible spot to be in because it ended up being a one-line groove. I went up on the outside and made the best of it and ended up ninth.

“It wasn’t our worst finish of the year, but we just kind of struggled a little bit. But if we’re going to struggle, now is the time to do it after we already wrapped up the championship. We had an amazing year, and Daytona is an awesome place to wrap it up. But it’s also kind of a crapshoot — anything can happen here at the Daytona Short Track and they proved that this weekend. I hope we come back here to start the 2021 season. I’m looking forward to defending the championship next year.”

 

JD Beach – Estenson Racing AFT SuperTwins

“The day was definitely hard. We started off good but just kind of struggled with how the track changed. We were getting ready to go racing and then it rained. Then it stopped and they worked on the track and it rained again. It just dragged on and on. It wasn’t the night we had hoped for, and we didn’t finish the year the way we would have liked, but we’ll try again next season.”