DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — From August 7-16, the eyes of the motorcycling world will be firmly focused on the 86th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally and its half-million or so hardcore enthusiasts in attendance.
And at the center of the action the superstars of Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, will celebrate that burning bright spotlight with two rounds of the Grand National Championship.
With just eleven points separating the three primary Mission AFT SuperTwins title contenders and 40% of the year’s remaining races slotted into a three-day span, the upcoming week is destined to be intense.
First up is the first TT of the 2026 season – the Caterpillar Jackpine Gypsies Super TT – which will take place at the historic Jackpine Gypsies Motorcycle Club in Sturgis, South Dakota, on Saturday, August 8.
Numbers Game
Even by Sturgis’ standards, this edition is destined to be an especially patriotic affair. Having evolved into an iconic showcase of Americana, the 86th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally will take place just over a month after the United States celebrated its 250th birthday and just over a month prior to 9/11, the nation now 25 years removed from that fateful day in 2001.
While the rally has grown far beyond its initial ambitions, Progressive AFT has done well to remind the world that it was originally launched in 1938 by the Jackpine Gypsies Motorcycle Club as a way of promoting a Half-Mile dirt track race.
Its racing heritage once again prominent via its renewed ties to the venerable-yet-vibrant Grand National Championship, Sturgis may just see another historic number recognized this weekend.
700
Another icon of Americana – Harley-Davidson – comes to Sturgis boasting 698 GNC Main Event victories, putting the brand within reach of scoring No. 699 and No. 700 in front of the legions of Harley faithful that will descend upon Sturgis by the hundreds of thousands this week.
And 700 is not just a mathematical possibility – it’s a very real one indeed. H-D has zeroed in on that number in rapid fashion in ‘26 with rookie title leader Kody Kopp (No. 12 Latus Motors Racing Harley-Davidson XG750R) and wins leader Briar Bauman (No. 3 Super.com/RWR/Rocket Doctor Harley-Davidson XG750R) combining to tally up nine victories already this year.
Both riders are blessed with the requisite all-around skills to stand atop the box at a TT and a ST, while being further fueled by their respective championship ambitions in a scorching hot title fight that’s racing toward its conclusion.
The Harley-Davidson contingent will be further bolstered by the presence of Aidan RoosEvans (No. 26 FRA Trust Advisors Harley-Davidson XG750R). While RoosEvans earned his first official Progressive AFT podium earlier this season, fans will remember that he held off KICKER AFT Singles king Tom Drane to cross the stripe as the runner-up in the class’ Main Event at the Super TT a year ago before later being disqualified for a technical infraction.
While the result was ultimately scratched, that performance certainly demonstrated his potential at the venue.
TT Defense
But to hit No. 700 in Sturgis, H-D is going to have to go through reigning Grand National Champion and defending Caterpillar Jackpine Gypsies Super TT winner Dallas Daniels (No. 1 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07).
Daniels – another all-around ace with especially sublime TT chops – took the honors last season in a state of extreme motivation following a controversial clash with rival Bauman days prior.
While emotions aren’t running that hot (at least not yet), Daniels understands that he needs to come up big down the stretch to overcome the formidable duo of Kopp and Bauman. And to realistically do so, it’s vital that he capitalizes on each and every occasion in which he holds the upper hand – as he arguably does at a Super TT.
Saturday’s race is the fifth all-time to carry the Super TT moniker, which is reserved for layouts that go beyond the usual TT addition of a righthand corner and a jump. The Jackpine Gypsies Super TT meets that threshold and then some by way of multiple right-handers, multiple jumps, and a pavement section.
Yamaha has won every previous premier-class Super TT, courtesy of Daniels and former Estenson teammate JD Beach, both of whom happen to be elite-caliber flat trackers and roadracers.
The Fight for Fifth
Following an uneven start to the season, Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing KTM 790 Duke) has things rolling nicely now. The Oregonian is well clear in fourth place, thanks to an active run of four consecutive podium finishes.
Fisher has it in him to up that number to five on Saturday; he was hunting a podium finish here a year ago, hounding TT legend Henry Wiles (No. 911 DL Racing/HYMMC Yamaha MT-07), before a mechanical issue dropped him from contention.
While Kopp, Daniels, Bauman, and Fisher have a firm grasp on the top four positions in the standings, a coveted top-five ranking in the Grand National Championship is still up for grabs.
Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods Honda CB750 Hornet) achieved that honor in his very first attempt, securing fourth overall in his rookie campaign last year. Lowe is well positioned to back that up with another top-five, as he currently ranks fifth.
However, the aforementioned RoosEvans is just eight points back in sixth (117-109), and Fisher’s teammate and noted TT expert, Ben Lowe (No. 25 Rackley Racing/Roof Systems KTM 790 Duke), is just a further 13 points adrift and not out of top-five contention just yet.
