Silver Dollar Short Track - Bauman Wins Again
Briar Bauman's (No. 3 RWR/Parts Plus/Latus Motors Harley-Davidson XG750R) 2025 Progressive American Flat Track season has quickly transformed from a feel-good story to an epic tale of domination as he stormed to a third consecutive convincing Mission AFT SuperTwins victory at the Silver Dollar Speedway Short Track at Chico California on May 3, 2025.
In the brave new world of production bike racing, one that was designed to end the dominance of a single manufacturer, the early signs that the H-D XG750R will fill the vacuum - and it isn't even a current production motorcycle.
That said, even amidst the transformation of the Harley-Davidson XG750R from a winless racebike to a week-in, week-out powerhouse, the feel-good story behind it remains: Bauman and wife, former AFT racer Shayna Texter-Bauman, made the announcement that they are expecting their first child earlier this morning at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, California.
That news didn't inspire any of his rivals to take it easy on him though, as title contender Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) and the emerging James Ott (No. 19 G&G Racing Yamaha MT-07) took the early initiative in the premier-class Main.
With Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere's BMC Racing KTM 790 Duke) also on the charge, the end result was a Bauman win, with Fisher second, Daniels third, Jarod VanDerkooi (No. 20 Fastrack Racing/Wally Brown Racing KTM 790 Duke) fourth and James Ott fifth.
There were two Harleys in the top 10, three 790 Dukes, two Yamaha MT-07 riders and one each on the Royal Enfield 650 and the Suzuki GSX-8S.
In the AFT Singles presented by KICKER, Kage Tadman (No. 288 Old Oak Ranch/Roof Systems KTM 450 SX-F) became just the fourth rider in Singles history to win in his debut but became the first to back that up with a second successive win - in fact, it was the second consecutive event in which he swept the heat, the Helmet House Challenge, and the Main Event.
Trevor Brunner was second (No. 21 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) with Australian Tom Drane third (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F), Canadian Hunter Bauer fourth (No. 24 Vinson Construction/Reel Medics Yamaha YZ450F) and Chase Saathoff fifth (No. 88 RWR/Parts Plus Honda CRF450R).
There were two KTM 450 SXF and the Husqvarna FC 450 KTM clone in the top 10, four on the Yamaha YZ450F riders and three on the Honda CRF450R.
Next Up: one more Short Track takes the 2025 series to the Lucas Oil Speedway at Wheatland, Missouri on June 7. After that the longer distances start-up with the two Lima Half Miles in Ohio at the end of June.
Then it's to Illinois for the DuQuoin Mile on July 5 before heading for the Black Hills of South Dakota for three Sturgis races - two Jack Pine Short Tracks on August 4 and 5 before wrapping the Rally up with a downtown TT on August 10.
