Bauman Returns to Winning Form at New York Short Track
Briar Bauman (No. 3 Indian Motorcycle/Progressive Insurance FTR750) delivered a timely performance to win Round 8 of the 2022 AFT Season - the Mission New York Short Track presented by Mad Max Indian Motorcycle at Weedsport Speedway in Weedsport, New York, on July 2nd.
Mission SuperTwins presented by S&S Cycle
The victory was the two-time champion's first since the '22 season opener. However, it was Jared Mees (No. 1 Indian Motorcycle/Progressive Insurance FTR750) and Jarod Vanderkooi (No. 20 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750) who delivered the early action, but a minor mistake saw him nearly collide with the Airfence.
Eventually Bauman took the win from Vanderkooi in second, with Mees third ahead of JD Beach (No. 95 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) in fourth and Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750) in fifth.
Headed towards the second half of the season, the Indian FTR750 is in first and second spots, Mees heading the standings, and Briar Bauman second. Dallas Daniels is third so far on the much-improved Yamaha MT-07.
Mission Production Twins presented by Vance & Hines
Defending Mission Production Twins champion Cory Texter (No. 1 G&G Racing/Yamaha Racing Yamaha MT-07) came from behind to secure his third victory of 2022, grabbing control of the title fight in the process.
The Main Event was red flagged after Ryan Varnes (No. 68 Schaeffer's Motorsports/Rausch Fuel & Oil KTM 890 Duke) was involved in an on-track incident. He was transported to the hospital by on-site first responders and the terrible news that came through later was that he had died from his injuries.
When racing resumed following the stoppage, Texter and rival Jesse Janisch (No. 33 Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson XG750R) anticipated a head-to-head showdown for supremacy at the front, but Cameron Smith (No. 34 Thee Cathy Gray/Al Barker Royal Enfield 650) had other plans in his debut ride aboard the Royal Enfield Twins FT while riding in place of the injured Johnny Lewis.
Texter eventually took the win on the Yamaha MT-07 from Cameron Smith in second on the Royal Enfield and Jesse Janisch third on the H-D XG750R.
Nick Armstrong (No. 60 Competitive Racing Frames/Lessley Brothers Yamaha MT-07) won out in a five-rider scrap for fourth, ahead of Ben Lowe (No. 25 Mission Foods/Roof Systems Harley-Davidson XG750R) in fifth, Billy Ross (No. 109 Mission Foods/Roof Systems Harley-Davidson XG750R) in sixth, James Rispoli (No. 43 Wally Brown Racing/Haversack KTM 890 Duke) in seventh and Ryan Wells (No. 94 McGrane Racing/Scott Powersports Kawasaki Ninja 650) in eighth.
Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER
For the third consecutive race weekend, Kody Kopp (No. 12 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-FFE) stormed out at the start, quickly establishing a second-plus advantage, which he nurtured right the way to the checkered flag.
Trevor Brunner (No. 21 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) emerged from a seven-rider pack to contest and eventually take second - his first podium of the season - with third place taken by Hunter Bauer (No. 24 NKR Canada/KTM/Vance & Hines KTM 450 SX-F), who sliced his way up from the fourth row to claim his first-career Progressive AFT podium.
Trent Lowe (No. 48 Mission Foods/Al Lamb's Dallas Honda CRF450R) took fourth ahead of Morgen Mischler (No. 13 American Honda/Progressive Insurance CRF450R) in fifth.
With five wins under his belt already, Kopp extended his title lead to a mammoth 42 points (180-138) from Mischler in second with two wins and Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 American Honda/Progressive Insurance CRF450R) in third spot with one win to his name so far.
Next up the series heads to Pennsylvania for the Port Royal Half-Mile (Round 9) on July 17 before starting its swing West, stopping in Illinois for the Peoria TT (July 30 - Round 10). Then it is Sturgis Rally time with the Black Hills Half-Mile at the Black Hills Speedway, Rapid City, on August 6, before heading to Castle Rock for the last TT of the season in Washington and then on to the Sacramento Mile, California, at the end of August.
September sees the Springfield Miles I & II on the first weekend and the Cedar Laker Short Track at New Richmond, Wi., at the end of the month. The season wraps up back in Florida for the Volusia Half-Mile III on October 15 during Biketoberfest.
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Standings
Mission SuperTwins Presented by S&S Cycle
Mission Production Twins Presented by Vance & Hines
Parts Unlimited AFT Singles Presented by KICKER
