Bauman Takes Ventura Short Track in 'Beachside Blowout'
Round 5 - May 11, 2024
Briar Bauman (No. 3 Rick Ware Racing/KTM/Parts Plus KTM 790 Duke) scored his first victory of 2024 in Round 5 of the Progressive AFT sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing season, with an utterly dominant performance alongside the Pacific Ocean in the Memphis Shades Ventura Short Track at Ventura Raceway in Ventura, California, on May 11, 2024.
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Mission SuperTwins
Two-time Grand National Champion Bauman came into the weekend seeking not just his first Mission AFT SuperTwins win of the year, but his first podium of any kind. He ended that uncharacteristic drought in most convincing fashion, backing up a stirring win in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge with a wire-to-wire runaway in the Main Event.
Bauman’s superiority finally brought order to what had been a chaotic affair in the early going. A red flag flew moments after the initial start due to a terrifying incident that saw Johnny Lewis (No. 10 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650) bounce off the wall and crash back into the crowded pack.
That triggered a chain reaction that also collected Ben Lowe (No. 25 Rackley Racing/Mission Foods KTM 790 Duke), Declan Bender (No. 70 GOMR/BriggsAuto.com/Martin Trucking Indian FTR750), and Morgen Mischler (No. 13 Big Red Super Twins/Al Lamb’s Dallas Honda Transalp), who completed a full forward flip in the air after contacting the downed Lewis and his machine. Miraculously, all four returned to their feet, with Lowe managing to return for the staggered restart.
A second red was issued just as quickly following a spill by hometown hero Kayl Kolkman (No. 98 Yamaha MT-07), who would also return for the subsequent restart.
A third red flag was narrowly avoided when Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing Indian FTR750) bounced back up from a crash and immediately remounted, allowing the race to continue and at last find its rhythm.
And the beat it drummed up was a victory march for Bauman, who was never challenged on his way to a 4.613-second margin of victory.
The only rider who could even come close to keeping Bauman in sight was title hopeful Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT). The Estenson Racing pilot actually started his push from fifth, slicing underneath Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750), Jared Mees (No. 1 Rogers Racing/SDI Racing/Indian Motorcycle FTR750) and Jarod VanDerKooi (No. 20 JMC Motorsports/Fairway Ford Ohio Indian FTR750) before putting himself in a position to make an honest try at reeling in Bauman.
After that challenge proved insurmountable, Daniels had to be content with second, Mees took third, VanDerKooi fourth and Brandon Robinson fifth.
There were three Indian FTR750 riders in the Top 10, with three on the KTM 790 Duke, two on the Yamaha MT-07, Dan Bromley in ninth on the Honda Transalp and Max Whale on the Harley XG750R.
Parts Unlimited AFT Singles Presented by KICKER
Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) secured his second victory of the ‘24 season in an action-packed Main Event that saw the tables turned more than once.
Polesitter, points leader and double defending champion Kody Kopp (No. 1 Rick Ware Racing/Parts Plus KTM 450 SX-F) was immediately shuffled back to fifth off the line while Chase Saathoff (No. 88 JPG Motorsports Honda CRF450R) jumped at the opportunity to potentially run away with a second career victory after finally earning his maiden win last time out in Texas.
However, it wasn't to be, with Drane eventually taking the win ahead of Dalton Gauthier in second (No. 79 D&D Racing/Certified KTM 450 SX-F) and Trent Lowe third (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), with Kody Kopp fourth and Saathoff fifth.
There were four Honda CRF450R and four KTM 450 SX-F riders in the Top 10, with one each on the Husqvarna FC 450 badged KTM and Drane taking the win on the sole Yamaha YZ450F.
Next Up is the rescheduled Silver Dollar Short Track (Silver Dollar Speedway - Chico, CA) May 19 (now Round six and the last of the early season run of six Short Tracks). Then comes the Orange County Half-Mile (Middleton, NY), June 15; Bridgeport Half-Mile (Swedesboro, NJ), June 22, and the Lima Half-Mile on June 29 (Lima, OH). After two race weekends in Illinois in July, Rapid City and Sturgis, SD, in August and the Springfield Mile Double Header on August 31 and September 01, there'll be a final race on September 06 at a venue TBC.
