AFT

Briar Bauman gives Indian Victory at Daytona Season Opener

Briar Bauman (No. 14 Indian Motorcycle/Progressive Insurance FTR750) kicked off his 2019 AFT Twins presented by Vance & Hines championship campaign in front of AFT's largest crowd at the Daytona International Speedway with a statement victory in the season opener, the third annual Daytona TT presented by Russ Brown Motorcycle Attorneys.

Bauman went handlebar-to-handlebar with brother Bronson Bauman (No. 37 Indian Motorcycle/Progressive Insurance FTR750) on the opening lap of the 25-lap Main Event under the lights at Daytona International Speedway to secure the lead. Once established, Bauman systematically stretched out an imposing advantage at the front, winning ahead of TT legend Henry Wiles (No. 17 Bandit Industries/DPC Racing/Wilco Racing Indian FTR750) with a 5.149-second margin of victory.

Photo by: Scott Hunter/American Flat Track

Bauman’s win brings the Daytona TT win streak of reigning Grand National Champion Jared Mees (No. 1 Indian Motorcycle/Progressive Insurance FTR750) to a halt at two. Mees crashed twice in the Semi and then retired with a mechanical issue in the Main race while running fifth.
Jake Johnson (No. 5 Estenson Racing/Monster Energy Yamaha MT-07 DT) gave Yamaha’s new flat track machine a podium debut by finishing in third behind Bauman and Wiles.
Meanwhile, Jarod Vanderkooi (No. 20 Harley-Davidson Factory Flat Track Team XG750R Rev X) registered the 'hero ride' of the evening, finishing an eventual fourth. Bronson Bauman rounded out the top five.
In the Roof Systems AFT Singles presented by Russ Brown Motorcycle Attorneys, Jesse Janisch (No. 132 Roof Systems Dallas TX/Öhlins Yamaha YZ450F) added yet another blowout TT victory to his burgeoning résumé with a wire-to-wire win, taking the checkered flag with a comfortable 2.577 seconds to spare.
Dalton Gauthier (No. 122 D&D Cycles/FlatTrack.com KTM 450 SX-F) was second, with defending class champ Dan Bromley (No. 1 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-F) third. Long-time AFT Twins competitor Mikey Rush (No. 15 RMR Honda, Red Riders Rewards Honda CRF450R) was fourth with up-and-coming Australian Max Whale (No. 18 Weirbach Racing Kawasaki KX450F) fifth.
Next up is the Atlanta Short Track presented by Cycle Gear at the Dixie Speedway in Woodstock, Ga., on Saturday, March 23; followed by the Texas Half-Mile at the Texas Motor Speedway, Fort Worth on April 20, the Wild Horse TT at the Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park, Chandler, AZ., April 27, So-Cal Half-Mile at Perris Auto Speedway, Perris CA., May 11 and the legendary Sacramento Mile at Cal Expo, Sacramento, CA., May 11 before the first of two visits to the Illinois State Fairgrounds this season for the Springfield Mile I on May 26.