Rounds 7 & 8, Williams Grove Speedway Half-Miles I & II, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, September 11 & 12
AFT SuperTwins presented by Vance & Hines
Briar Bauman (No. 1 Indian Motorcycle/Progressive Insurance FTR750) fought back against Jared Mees' win last time out in the Springfield Mile II and showed just what an AFT Grand National Champion at the peak of his powers is capable of by taking dominating wins in both the Williams Grove Half-Miles in Friday evening's Williams Grove Half-Mile I.
Bauman flat-out crushed the opposition in Race I, in what runner-up Brandon Robinson (No. 44 HCRR Racing/Ben Evans Racing Indian FTR750), who picked up his second consecutive second place, described a "demoralizing" performance while accepting his second-place trophy. The result did not come as much of a shock - it was the third year running Bauman proved his superiority at the Williams Grove Speedway.
Bronson Bauman (No. 37 Indian Motorcycle/Progressive Insurance FTR750) took third, with his brother's principal championship rival Jared Mees (No. 9 Indian Motorcycle/Progressive Insurance FTR750) bringing it home fourth (despite having stolen the holeshot), ahead of Dan Bromley (No. 62 Roof Systems of Dallas, Texas Indian FTR750) in fifth.
Jarod Vanderkooi led the H-D Vance & Hines XG750Rs home in ninth, ahead of Bryan Smith in tenth and Dalton Gauthier in 16th place.
In Race II the following evening, Briar Bauman backed it up with a tape-to-tape win.
Jeffrey Carver Jr. (No. 23 Happy Trails Racing FTR750) took second ahead of Jared Mees, with Sammy Halbert (No. 69 Coolbeth-Nila Racing Indian FTR750) fourth and Dan Bromley fifth.
In Race II it was Dalton Gauthier who led the Harleys home (ninth), with Jarod Vanderkooi 12th and Bryan Smith 15th.
Briar Bauman's wins pushes him back ahead of Mees in his quest to repeat as Grand National Champion as the rebuilt season officially reached its midpoint. Bauman will carry a slim five-point advantage (169-164) into what promises to be an epic four-weekend, eight-race stretch run to the throne.
AFT Singles presented by Russ Brown Motorcycle Attorneys
In the Friday night AFT Singles Race I, 2019 championship runner-up Mikey Rush (No. 15 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) finally broke through to claim his first Main Event victory of 2020.
It didn't come easily, as he had to defeat his second-ranked teammate Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) and 2016 GNC2 champ Ryan Wells (No. 94 Waters Autobody Racing/D&D PowerSports KTM 450 SX-F) who finished third to make it happen. Morgen Mischler on another KTM 450 SX-F was fourth, with Max Whale fifth on a Kawasaki KX450F.
In Saturday's Race II, Dallas Daniels went one better with a win on his Yamaha, ahead of Trent Lowe second, Tanner Dean third, Kevin Stollings fourth and Trevor Brunner fifth on Honda CRF450Rs.
AFT Production Twins
James Rispoli (No. 43 Latus Motors Racing Harley-Davidson XG750R) continued his recent tear, scoring his third AFT Production Twins victory in the class' most recent four Main Events.
"The Rocket" tracked down reigning champion Cory Texter (No. 1 G&G Racing/Roof Systems Yamaha MT-07) early and eventually held him off for second, with Ryan Varnes (No. 68 RVR/RoyBuilt Don's Kawasaki Ninja 650) third, Indy Mile winner Ben Lowe (No. 25 Roof Systems of Dallas/Bruce Lowe Excavating Yamaha MT-07) fourth and Rispoli's fellow multinational championship-winning road racer Danny Eslick (No. 64 Scott Powersports/R&D Machine Kawasaki Ninja 650) in fifth.
It is of note that Johnny Lewis (Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield Twin FT & Harris Performance) brought the Royal Enfield 650 home in sixth spot in the Royal Enfield's maiden event.
In the Saturday night Singles Race II it was a repeat for the first four, with Jeremiah Duffy fifth on the Kawasaki Ninja 650.
Next up the action shifts to the Dallas Half-Mile double-headers at the Devil's Bowl Speedway (September 25 and 26), the Atlanta Short Tracks (October 2nd and 3rd) and Charlotte Half-Miles.