Robinson Defeats Daniels in Bridgeport Thriller
Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750) served up a timely reminder that he remains a genuine contender for this season’s Grand National Championship with an inspired performance in the June 22, 2024, Arai Bridgeport, NJ, Half-Mile presented by Drag Specialties, Round 8 of the 2024 Progressive American Flat Track season, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing.
Mission AFT SuperTwins
His victory at Bridgeport Speedway in Swedesboro, New Jersey, couldn’t have come under much more demanding circumstances, with Mission AFT SuperTwins title leader Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) breathing down his neck and desperate to fight through after charging his way forward from the bottom of the top ten.
Earlier duels saw Briar Bauman (No. 3 Rick Ware Racing/KTM/Parts Plus KTM 790 Duke), Jarod Vanderkooi (No. 20 JMC Motorsports/Fairway Ford Ohio Indian FTR750) and Jared Mees (No. 1 Rogers Racing/SDI Racing/Indian Motorcycle FTR750) all scrapping it out at one stage or another.
Ultimately though, Robinson prevailed and became the first premier-class rider to claim a third win just as the season reached its halfway point. Daniels brought it home in second, ahead of Mees third, Briar Bauman in fourth and Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing Indian FTR750) in fifth.
The Indian FTR750 stood at the top of the podium again, for the first time in a few weeks, one of five in the Top 10; there were two Yamaha MT-07 riders in the Top 10, with two KTM 790 Dukes, and Dalton Gauthier tenth on the Moto Anatomy Royal Enfield 650.
Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER
There was hardly a moment to catch a breath while witnessing the latest masterpiece of double defending Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER champion Kody Kopp (No. 1 Rick Ware Racing/Parts Plus KTM 450 SX-F) take shape under the lights of Bridgeport Speedway.
That said, Kopp looked more like an interested observer than a potential winner for a large part of the race, spending much of his race swapping position with Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) and James Ott (No. 19 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450) over third, last year’s winner, Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F), traded haymakers and handlebars with Chase Saathoff (No. 88 JPG Motorsports Honda CRF450R) as they waged war for first.
But with two minutes remaining, Kopp turned up the heat and closed in on that fight. He then made his move to steal away the lead with less than a minute remaining and carried that momentum forward to a 0.703-second margin of victory over runner-up Drane.
The win was Kopp’s third consecutive and the 20th of his Progressive AFT career - handing him sole possession of the all-time victory mark in the category.
Saathoff finished third, less than a second off the win, while Ott and Lowe settled into fourth and fifth respectively after factoring into the podium mix until the final laps.
Kopp's was one of three KTM 450 SX-Fs in the Top 10 (plus the Husqvarna FC 450 badged KTM), and three each of the Yamaha YZF450F and Honda CRT 450R.
Next Up will be the June 29 Lima Half-Mile (Lima, OH), then on to Illinois for the Memphis Shades sponsored July 6 DuQuoin Mile and the July 28 Peoria TT. The series will then head west again - for a unique Double Header at the 85th Sturgis Rally.
First up will be the Black Hills Half-Mile at the Black Hills Speedway, Rapid City, SD, on August 6 and then the all-new, innovative Sturgis TT on a Half-Mile course in downtown Sturgis on August 11 - the final day of the Rally. Starting and finishing at the Harley-Point between Lazelle and Main Street, the race will see the debut of a new concept - a Tracker Class for production based ADV bikes.
After Sturgis it is back to Illinois for a Springfield Mile Double Header on August 31 and September 01, with the final race now confirmed as a September 14 series debut Short Track at the Lake Ozark Speedway at Eldon, Missouri, during the Lake of the Ozarks Bike Week.