Memphis Shades Ventura Short Track
AFT 2025 R4 – April 26, Ventura, California
It took the Harley-Davidson XG750R more than eight Progressive American Flat Track seasons to at last earn its maiden Mission AFT SuperTwins victory, then it took just one more race to get its second.
Both wins came courtesy of two-time Grand National Champion Briar Bauman (No. 3 RWR/Parts Plus/Latus Motors Harley-Davidson XG750R), who was again in spectacular form at the Ventura Raceway in California on April 26, en route to a second consecutive victory in the Memphis Shades Ventura Short Track presented by Law Tigers.
While Bauman ended the night in glory, the spotlight panned back and forth throughout the day. Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) held the upper hand for the bulk of the event with his stiffest challenge arguably coming from Suzuki-mounted Dan Bromley (No. 62 Memphis Shades/Vinson Construction Suzuki GSX-8S).
Max Whale (No. 18 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650), Logan McGrane (No. 14 Schaeffer's Motorsports/Rick Canode KTM 790 Duke), and James Ott (No. 19 G&G Racing Yamaha MT-07) jockeyed for podium positions after Daniels took the holeshot, but Bauman pounced on Daniels in the opening handful of laps.
Daniels took second, Jarod VanDerKooi (No. 20 Fastrack Racing/Wally Brown Racing KTM 790 Duke) third with Brandon Robinson fourth on the second XG750R ahead of Bromley in fifth.
In addition to the two Harleys, there were two Yamaha MT-07 riders in the Top 10, with three KTM 790 Dukes, a Suzuki GSX-8S, a Royal Enfield 650 and a Honda Transalp.
In the AFT Singles presented by KICKER, Kage Tadman took the win on a KTM 450 SX-F, ahead of Chase Saathoff and Tarren Santero on Hondas. In total there were five Honda CRF450R riders in the Top 10, and as well as the winner's KTM there were three Yamaha YZF450Rs and a Husqvarna badged FC450.
Next Up: Two more Short Tracks take the 2025 series first to the Silver Dollar Speedway at Chico in northern California on May 3 before the Lucas Oil Speedway at Wheatland, Missouri on June 7. After that the longer distances start-up with the two Lima Half Miles in Ohio at the end of June.
Then it's to Illinois for the DuQuoin Mile on July 5 before heading for the Black Hills of South Dakota for three Sturgis races – two Jack Pine Short Tracks on August 4 and 5 before wrapping the Rally up with a downtown TT on August 10.
