(Chase Saathoff (88), Kage
Tadman (228), Evan Renshaw (65),
Tom Drane (59), and other Main
Event riders round turn one in
Ventura this past Saturday;
Photo: American Flat Track/Tim
Lester)
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.
(April 30, 2025) – The
AFT Singles presented by
KICKER class arrives at
Silver Dollar Speedway
in Chico, California, this
Saturday, May 3, for the
Silver Dollar Short Track,
Round 5 of the 2025
Progressive American
Flat Track season,
sanctioned by AMA Pro
Racing, with a renewed
sense of unpredictability.
This past weekend’s
Ventura Short Track not
only saw the category’s first
winner not named Kody
Kopp (No. 1 Bob
Lanphere/KTM/Fastrack Racing KTM
450 SX-F), Tom Drane
(No. 59 Estenson Racing
Yamaha YZ450F) or Chase
Saathoff (No. 88
RWR/Parts Plus Honda CRF450R) in
more than 23 months, that winner
was a rider making his
professional debut.
Encore! Encore!
Kage Tadman
(No. 228 Old Oak Ranch/Roof
Systems KTM 450 SX-F) became
just the fourth rider in AFT
Singles history to win in his
maiden attempt. Of those who did
it before him, only future
Grand National Champion
Brad Baker finished
better than 10th in his
follow-up performance, finishing
second in his next attempt.
Tadman’s performance this
weekend will be of keen interest
to the paddock and the sport’s
fans at large after he
thoroughly outshined a
talent-laden grid at Ventura
Raceway. The 17-year-old
Salinas, California, native was
clearly more comfortable with a
tricky surface than his new
adversaries, both willing and
able to exploit a higher line
and push in a way no one else
could.
Just how much of that was down
to his innate talent (which, as
a six-time Amateur National
Grand Champion is no doubt
considerable) and how much was
due to a familiar track
perfectly suited to his skill
set remains undetermined. This
weekend in Chico will shed a
great deal more light on that.
Championship Focus
While Tadman stole the spotlight
last weekend, Saathoff and Drane
continued to jockey for
championship positioning.
Saathoff continued his recent
roll, bettering his Australian
rival for the third consecutive
race after failing to do so in
the previous six races dating
back to last season. Despite the
shift, Drane continues to lead
in the title fight, albeit by
just two points (68-66) as they
resume their fight at Silver
Dollar Speedway.
Speaking of 2024, the Silver
Dollar Short Track was one of
two critical races that saw
Drane come out the worst of an
incident involving Saathoff that
ultimately cost him the #1
plate. That, combined with his
rival’s momentum, the end of his
record-setting nine-race podium
streak, and a winless 2025
campaign to date, likely has
Drane plenty motivated despite
his position atop the
standings.
Incidentally, the Estenson
Racing ace has not gone more
than four races without a
victory since the opening six
races of his first full
Progressive AFT season in 2023.
Re-establishing the
Established Order
While Tadman was the one to
finally succeed in toppling the
pecking order – for one weekend
at least – there have been hints
that others are ready to join
the party at the front.
Last weekend, fellow Californian
Tarren Santero
(No. 75 Mission Roof Systems
Honda CRF450R) joined Tadman in
success – both by finishing on
the podium and ahead of Drane.
The third-place result was much
needed after Santero struggled
to find his footing in the
opening three races of a ‘25
campaign saddled by lofty
expectations.
Senoia ST podium finisher
Evan Renshaw
(No. 65 1st Impressions Race
Team Husqvarna FC450) and fellow
class sophomore Bradon
Pfanders (No. 83
Hannum’s HD/Pfanders Racing KTM
450 SX-F) have the requisite
talent to push for wins as
well.
Meanwhile, it seems only a
matter of time before
Trevor Brunner (No. 21
American Honda/Mission Foods
CRF450R) strikes considering
he’s won races in all four of
his previous seasons in the
class.
There’s More…
If nothing else, Tadman reminded
the dirt track world that
anything can happen on any given
weekend in AFT Singles
competition.
Among the other riders to track
this weekend include
Jared Lowe (No. 63 Big
R/Little Debbie Racing Honda
CRF450R), who was consistently
strong this past weekend en
route to an eventual sixth, and
Aidan RoosEvans
(No. 26 FRA Trust/ATV’s and More
Yamaha YZ450F), who not only
featured near the top of the
leaderboards at Ventura but
whose four-wheeled background
has served him well at iconic
auto racing venues in the past.
Fun for the Family
The incredible race action won’t
be the only attraction for fans.
Along with the Fan Party,
complete with a Rider
Q&A session, that
directly precedes Opening
Ceremonies, attendees can also
expect a multitude of vendors,
big screen viewing, designated
motorcycle parking, and a
variety of food and beverage
options.
Step Right Up… Get Your
Tickets Here
General Admission
Grandstand tickets for
the Silver Dollar Short
Track are just $40
(kids 12 and under free) while
Pit Grandstand
tickets ($50, all ages),
Reserved Grandstand
tickets ($60, all ages), and
Trackside Box
tickets ($85, all ages) offer
premium viewing experiences. And
new for 2025, every level of
ticket automatically includes
paddock access.
Also available for purchase is
the Opening Ceremonies
Trackside Fan Experience
($105), which includes reserved
seating, a guided tour of the
infield podium and start/finish
line, photos opps included, and
up-close viewing of Opening
Ceremonies and a portion of the
night’s race action.
Visit
https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack/events/silver-dollar-short-track-123441
to reserve your seats today.
Gates will open for fans at 5:30
p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. PT with
Opening Ceremonies scheduled to
begin at 10:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m.
PT.
How to Watch
FloRacing
For those that can’t catch the
live action from the circuit,
FloRacing is
the live streaming home of
Progressive AFT. Motorsports
fans can subscribe to FloRacing
to enjoy over 1,000 live
motorsports events in 2025.
FloSports is available by
visiting
https://flosports.link/aft
or by downloading the FloSports
app on iOS, Android, Apple TV,
Roku, Amazon Fire and
Chromecast.
FS1
FOX Sports
coverage of the Silver
Dollar Short Track,
featuring in-depth features and
thrilling onboard cameras, will
premiere on FS1
on Sunday, May 11,
at 12:30 p.m. ET
(9:30 a.m. PT).
For more information on
Progressive AFT visit
https://www.americanflattrack.com.
