AFT previews the upcoming Ventura Short Track, round four of the 2025 American Flat Track series, scheduled for April 26.
AFT Singles Head West for Californian Swing
This is a press release from AFT…
Daytona Beach, FL (April 23, 2025) – The hierarchy of power in AFT Singles presented by Kicker competition finds itself very much in flux as the 2025 Progressive American Flat Track season, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, picks back up with the Memphis Shades Ventura Short Track presented by Law Tigers on Saturday, April 26, at Ventura Raceway in Ventura, California.
The Chase is On
The class’ new reality was effectively delayed until Round 3, as the Daytona double opener served as an extended, glorified victory lap for reigning triple champion Kody Kopp (No. 1 Bob Lanphere/KTM/Fastrack Racing KTM 450 SX-F), who took both wins in a one-off appearance before switching his focus to pavement.
With Kopp not in attendance in Senoia, this year’s fight began in earnest with Chase Saathoff (No. 88 RWR/Parts Plus Honda CRF450R) claiming a stirring victory from row three.
The win saw Saathoff become just the fifth rider in class history to complete the AFT Singles Grand Slam, now boasting one win apiece in the Mile, Half-Mile, TT, and Short Track disciplines after repeated near-misses in his attempt to earn a first-career victory.
Despite Saathoff’s heroics, the points lead belongs to archrival Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F), who continues to rack up podiums at a record pace. Drane’s runner-up finish in Georgia was his ninth consecutive top three, the most strung together in the history of the category.
Still, a pair of seconds and a third is probably not exactly how the Australian envisioned his ‘25 getting underway. He’ll be plenty motivated to back up his win at Ventura Raceway one year ago with another this weekend.
Room for More
Last season, Kopp, Drane, and Saathoff accounted for every single victory and the vast majority of podium finishes.
With Kopp not defending his #1 plate, there was reason to believe this year could wind up a two-rider show at the front – and there’s still reason to believe that. However, there’s also more than a glimmer of hope for those wanting to see a bit more unpredictability in the quest for both race wins and championship honors.
Lurking there next in line in the early-season points standings is Trevor Brunner (No. 21 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), who ranks among the most decorated riders in class history. He’s still finding his way to top 450cc form following a 2024 campaign spent earning the Mission AFT SuperTwins Rookie of the Year award, but there is no doubt he can go bar to bar with any rider in AFT Singles competition when fully up to speed.
There’s also the strong possibility that some newer faces fight their way to the top of the box. That chance was made all the more real when second-year ace Evan Renshaw (No. 65 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450) earned his first-career class podium at Senoia.
There’s also Bradon Pfanders (No. 83 Hannum’s HD/Pfanders Racing KTM 450 SX-F), who looks every bit the part of a race winner and title contender should his luck finally turn around and allow him to show what he’s capable of on a more consistent basis.
California Crew
AFT Singles’ strong second group is California heavy, and back-to-back races in the Golden State will no doubt see them do everything in their power to join the first group.
Tyler Raggio (No. 55 Raggio/Sluggo/Unsettled Racing KTM 450 SX-F) leads that pack in the points. After claiming a career best finish of fourth last season, Raggio will look to score his first-ever Progressive AFT podium in front of his home state fans.
Tarren Santero (No. 75 Mission Roof Systems Honda CRF450R) broke through with a runner-up ride in last year’s Sturgis TT. The next step for him is to move up one more rung on the podium.
Meanwhile, the ‘Cali Kid’ himself, Chad Cose (No. 49 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450) boasts the most recent podium and most recent win among Californians in the class. Cose is a threat to add to his trophy collection in any given start.
View to a Thrill… and More
Incredible racing and spectacular beachside viewing won’t be the only attractions for fans, who can also expect a multitude of vendors, big screen viewing, designated motorcycle parking, and a variety of food and beverage options.
AFT SuperTwins
Daytona Beach, FL (April 22, 2025) – Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, returns to stunning Ventura Raceway for the Memphis Shades Ventura Short Track presented by Law Tigers this Saturday, April 26, with an enthralling Grand National Championship fight taking form.
That clash has a new look with Mees retired and will take center stage before a breathtaking backdrop this weekend, with previous stops at Ventura Raceway boasting grandstands packed with fans to take in both the incredible race action and the unrivaled views provided by a beach-set venue less than two hundred meters removed from the Pacific Ocean.
Void? What Void?
The sport has been extraordinarily fortunate to witness intense Mission AFT SuperTwins championship rivalries in recent seasons, with the last six title fights remaining undecided until the final race of the year.
From 2019 through 2022, the main event was ten-time king Jared Mees versus double champ Briar Bauman (No. 3 RWR/Parts Plus/Latus Motors Harley-Davidson XG750R). And in 2023 and 2024, Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) stepped forward to emerge as Mees’ primary challenger.
With Mees now retired from championship competition, it seems only natural that Bauman and Daniels would be set on a collision course for supremacy in a budding rivalry that has the potential to define motorcycle dirt track racing for the next decade or longer.
While still early days, the post-Mees era is off to a thrilling start. Despite preseason concerns of a Daniels runaway, he leads Bauman by just a single point (62-61) through three races with two victories and a third to his adversary’s pair of seconds and breakthrough win.
That developing showdown promises to continue as a close-fought affair when it arrives in Ventura, California: Daniels and Bauman split top honors in the series’ two previous visits to the oceanside circuit.
Robbed
Bauman’s immediate and highly successful acclimation to the Harley-Davidson XG750R hasn’t only come at the expense of preseason title favorite Daniels. In fact, it was Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Harley-Davidson XG750R) who appeared well on his way to at last completing his long-held goal of becoming the racebike’s first-ever premier-class winner.
Bauman denied him both that night and in the history books, charging up through the top five to snatch the lead away from Robinson with less than two short laps remaining before the checkered flag.
That near-miss runner-up finish still served as clear indication that Robinson has already found his footing in his transition back to the Harley. And it merits mentioning that it was Robinson – not Daniels nor Bauman – who finished second to Mees in last season’s Mission AFT SuperTwins title battle.
Should Robinson bring his best every weekend, he has every chance to make this a season-long three-rider melee. But that best needs to come out again in Ventura to prevent his quarry from pulling away any further up front.
Beach Par(i)ty
The all-production-based ruleset introduced this season in hopes of encouraging greater parity has delivered.
Yamaha, Harley-Davidson, KTM and Kawasaki have all featured on the podium in the opening three rounds of the season, while Honda, Suzuki and Royal Enfield have also featured inside the top ten on multiple occasions.
Bauman’s victory last season at Ventura Raceway came aboard a KTM 790 Duke. And despite his defection to H-D, the bike remains a serious threat up front. Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing KTM 790 Duke) has led that charge to date, as he’s currently tied with Robinson for third in the points on the strength of a third and two fourths. And Jarod VanDerKooi (No. 20 Fastrack Racing/Wally Brown Racing KTM 790 Duke) is not far behind, nine points further adrift in fifth.
Meanwhile, Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Progressive Insurance Honda Transalp), Dan Bromley (No. 62 Memphis Shades/Vinson Construction Suzuki GSX-8S), and Max Whale (No. 18 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650) have flashed of the speed necessary to up the manufacturer podium count this season and do so early.
Daniels’ record-setting podium streak (now at 16 and counting) has helped ensure Yamaha remains in the spotlight week in and week out. But he isn’t the only rider representing the brand. Brandon Price (No. 92 Memphis Shades/Vinson Construction/OTBR Yamaha MT-07) still seeks that maiden premier-class victory that has narrowly eluded him for years, while Californian James Ott (No. 19 G&G Racing Yamaha MT-07) is motivated to shine in front of his home state fans after demonstrating impressive form a few weeks back in Atlanta.
View to a Thrill… and More
Incredible racing and spectacular beachside viewing won’t be the only attractions for fans, who can also expect a multitude of vendors, big screen viewing, designated motorcycle parking, and a variety of food and beverage options.
Visit https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack/events/ventura-short-track-121465 to reserve your seats today.
Gates will open for fans at 5:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. PT with Opening Ceremonies scheduled to begin at 10:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. PT.
How to Watch
FloRacing
For those that can’t catch the live action from the circuit, FloRacing is the live streaming home of Progressive AFT. Motorsports fans can subscribe to FloRacing to enjoy over 1,000 live motorsports events in 2025. FloSports is available by visiting https://flosports.link/aft or by downloading the FloSports app on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire and Chromecast.
FS1
FOX Sports coverage of the Memphis Shades Ventura Short Track presented by Law Tigers, featuring in-depth features and thrilling onboard cameras, will premiere on FS1 on Sunday, May 4, at 1:00 p.m. ET (10:00 a.m. PT).
Click here to see all the TV and Live-Stream Racing Listings on Cycle News.
For more information, visit www.americanflattrack.com
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