DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (May
7, 2024) – Progressive American
Flat Track, sanctioned
by AMA Pro Racing,
is set to make its second-ever
stop at Ventura Raceway this
Saturday, May 11, for the
Memphis Shades Ventura
Short Track in Ventura,
California.
Last season’s inaugural visit
proved memorable for both the
race action and the setting.
With the stunning backdrop of
the Pacific Ocean just beyond
the fences that line the venue’s
1/5-mile dirt oval, the world’s
greatest motorcycle dirt
trackers put on a remarkable
show in front of a packed house.
Mission AFT SuperTwins
title aspirant Dallas
Daniels (No. 32
Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT)
ultimately came out on top
following a day that saw lines
and strategies continually
tested and re-evaluated.
Not surprisingly, Daniels was
joined on the podium by reigning
Grand National Champion
Jared Mees (No.
1 Rogers Racing/SDI
Racing/Indian Motorcycle FTR750)
as their double-digit podium
streaks overlapped in
California.
Meanwhile, 2024 championship
leader Brandon Robinson
(No. 44 Mission Roof Systems
Indian FTR750) missed out after
getting caught up in an
accordion-style crash that also
claimed Johnny Lewis
(No. 10 Moto Anatomy X Powered
by Royal Enfield 650),
Jarod Vanderkooi (No.
20 JMC Motorsports/Fairway Ford
Ohio Indian FTR750), and
Sammy Halbert (No. 69
Dodge Bros. Racing/Castrol
Harley-Davidson XR750).
Robinson is eager to not just
make amends but extend a title
advantage built upon four
consecutive podiums highlighted
by a pair of victories. Lewis,
Vanderkooi, and Halbert,
similarly, have the skills to
flip the script this weekend.
Uncharacteristically, two-time
series king Briar Bauman
(No. 3 Rick Ware
Racing/KTM/Parts Plus KTM 790
Duke) has yet to finish on the
podium this season. That feels
like a drought destined to be
corrected in short order,
perhaps as quickly and
convincingly as by way of a
victorious performance this
weekend.
This weekend will see
Kayl Kolkman (No. 98
Underground Suspension/Ohlins
USA Yamaha MT-07) race in a
Progressive AFT round for the
first time since the series’
last stop at Ventura Raceway.
For the past 15 years, Kolkman
has never raced more than a
limited schedule, but he’s a
threat to upset the established
order whenever and wherever he
turns up. That’s most definitely
true on his home turf, as the
Ventura native clocked the
fastest time in practice and
paced a qualifying session a
year ago.
Several others merit monitoring,
including the likes of
Davis Fisher (No. 67
Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s
BMC Racing Indian FTR750),
Brandon Price
(No. 92 Memphis
Shades/Corbin/OTBR Yamaha
MT-07), and Dan Bromley (No.
62 Memphis Shades/Vinson/Al
Lamb’s Dallas Honda Transalp),
along with premier-class rookies
Max Whale (No.
18 Latus Motors Racing/Liqui
Moly Harley-Davidson XG750R),
Trevor Brunner
(No. 21 Mission Foods/Zanotti
Racing 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).
Parts Unlimited AFT
Singles presented by KICKER
Last year’s Parts
Unlimited AFT Singles presented
by KICKER Main Event at
Ventura Raceway ranked as among
the most rollicking of the
entire season. On that night,
double defending champion
Kody Kopp (No.
1 Rick Ware Racing/Parts Plus
KTM 450 SX-F) took the honors at
the conclusion of a spectacular
showdown with fellow prodidy
Chase Saathoff (No.
88 JPG Motorsports Honda
CRF450R).
Kopp returns with the points
lead and a pair of early-season
Short Track wins working in his
favor, while Saathoff is fresh
off his long-awaited maiden
Progressive AFT win and
motivated to immediately claim a
second.
If the entertainment factor of a
prospective rematch wasn’t
enough on its own, throw in
Tom Drane (No.
59 Estenson Racing Yamaha
YZ450F), who wouldn’t fully find
his front-running form until the
round after Ventura one year
ago.
While Kopp, Saathoof, and Drane
come into the weekend ranked
first through third in the
points and the odds-on podium
favorites, the Parts Unlimited
AFT Singles class is famous for
springing surprises.
Trent Lowe (No. 48
American Honda/Mission Foods
CRF450R), Dalton
Gauthier (No. 79 D&D
Racing/Certified KTM 450 SX-F),
James Ott (No.
19 1st Impressions Race Team
Husqvarna FC450), and
Logan Eisenhard (No. 66
Hannum’s Harley-Davidson KTM 450
SX-F) are just a sampling of the
riders with the potential to
upset the plans of the top
three.
And don’t overlook the
contingent of quick Californians
hoping to impress in their home
state, a crew that includes the
likes of Travis Petton
IV (No. 82 ECG
Racing/A.M Ortega KTM 450 SX-F),
Tyler Raggio
(No. 55 Raggio Racing/Sluggo
Racing KTM 450 SX-F), and
Tarren Santero
(No. 75 Vinson Construction/P&M
Motorcycles Honda CRF450R).
Off-track attractions will be in
abundance as well, with numerous
vendors, designated motorcycle
parking, and a variety of food
and beverage options featured on
site.
General Admission
Grandstand tickets are
$45 (kids 12 and under $5),
while Reserved
Grandstand tickets are
only $10 more (All Ages). Back
this season, a Pit Pass
Upgrade provides
all-day access to the pit area
where fans can scope out the
world’s fastest dirt track
motorcycles and get up close and
personal with the stars of the
sport.
Tickets are going fast, so visit
https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack/events/ventura-short-track-85607
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 9:30 p.m. ET (6:30 p.m.
PT). You can catch the
livestream of all the weekend’s
racing activities on
FloRacing. Motorsports
fans can subscribe to FloRacing
to enjoy over 1,000 live
motorsports events in 2024.
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.
FOX Sports coverage
of the Memphis Shades
Ventura Short Track,
featuring in-depth features and
thrilling onboard cameras, will
premiere on FS1
on Sunday, May 19,
at 12:00 p.m. ET
(9:00 a.m. PT).
For more information on
Progressive AFT visit
https://www.americanflattrack.com.
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