Briar Bauman Wins Port Royal Half-Mile
Briar Bauman (No. 3 Indian Motorcycle/Progressive Insurance FTR750) scored his second straight victory at the Mission Port Royal Half-Mile presented by Appalachian Harley-Davidson thanks to a virtuoso performance at Port Royal Speedway in Port Royal, Pennsylvania, on July 16 (Round 9).
Mission SuperTwins presented by S&S Cycle
The two-time champion had suffered through something of a win-drought by his standards after taking last year's Port Royal Half-Mile, claiming just one triumph in the following 15 races. However, Bauman looks to be well and truly back to peak form - the 22nd premier-class win of Bauman's career carried some extra significance, coming on an evening in which the paddock earlier paid tribute to Ryan Varnes by donning his number #68 en masse for a memorial lap led by the late rider's family.
After taking the checkered flag in the Main Event, Bauman took Varnes' girlfriend, Jennifer Hoshauer, for the victory lap.
"Honestly, it's an emotional day for the sport of flat track," Bauman said. "I can't thank everyone who participates in flat track enough right now. I can't believe how strong the Varnes family is … all the fans were supporting us during our lap of honor. I don't normally do burnouts - I don't know if I've ever done one - but I just felt like we needed to do it. It was for Ryan."
Jarod Vanderkooi (No. 20 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750) took second, ahead of reigning Mission SuperTwins champion Jared Mees (No. 1 Indian Motorcycle/Progressive Insurance FTR750) third; Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) was fourth, ahead of Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750) in fifth.
Mission Production Twins presented by Vance & Hines
Jesse Janisch (No. 33 Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson XG750R) outlasted Dan Bromley (No. 62 Memphis Shades/Corbin/Vinson Yamaha MT-07) in second to score his third win of the Mission Production Twins presented by Vance & Hines season.
Bromley announced at Port Royal that he was back for the remainder of the season and proceeded to prove in the Main Event that he was back in a big way. The home-state hero stormed to the holeshot and worked up a gap of nearly a half second over Janisch by the race's mid-distance, but Janisch mounted a comeback.
With title rival Cory Texter (No. 1 G&G Racing/Yamaha Racing Yamaha MT-07) finishing a couple more seconds back in third, the win saw Janisch retake the championship lead by a single point.
2020 class champion James Rispoli (No. 43 Wally Brown Racing/Haversack KTM 890 Duke) finished in fourth, with Mikey Rush (No. 15 Hellipower Racing/Las Vegas Harley-Davidson XG750R) in fifth.
Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER
For the fourth consecutive round, runaway Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER title leader Kody Kopp (No. 12 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-FFE) went wire-to-wire to victory.
Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 American Honda/Progressive Insurance CRF450R) was second, ahead of Kopp's teammate Max Whale (No. 18 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-FFE) in third, with Gauthier's rookie teammate Chase Saathoff (No. 106 American Honda/Progressive Insurance CRF450R) taking fourth and Trent Lowe (No. 48 Mission Foods/Al Lamb's Dallas Honda CRF450R) in fifth.
Next up the series starts its swing West, stopping in Illinois for the world-famous Peoria TT at the Peoria Motorcycle Club 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 (August 13) and then on to the Sacramento Mile, California, August 20.
September sees the Springfield Miles I & II on the first weekend (September 3 and 4) and the Cedar Laker Short Track at New Richmond, Wi., at the end of the month (September 24). 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
