WOODSTOCK, Ga. – Brandon Robinson accomplished what few riders have in recent American Flat Track history in Saturday night’s Yamaha Atlanta Short Track presented by Cycle Gear.
Robinson successfully tracked down, and ultimately dispatched, dominant double defending Grand National champion Jared Mees to win the 25-lap AFT Twins presented by Vance & Hines main event at Dixie Speedway
Prior to Robinson’s heroics, Mees appeared set to issue a stark reminder of that dominance when he broke free early and worked up a gap to separate him from the remainder of the field. However, Robinson slowly reeled Mees in throughout the main, finally arriving on the champ’s rear wheel with just over five laps remaining.
On lap 22 of 25, Robinson made the race’s decisive maneuver, pulling off a skillful outside overtake to steal away the position. Mees had no response, as Robinson immediately dropped him en route to a .621-second margin of victory.
The victory marks Robinson’s first AFT Twins triumph since he won the Lima Half-Mile midway through the 2016 season.
“Timing was everything,” Robinson said. “Jared is one of the smartest, toughest competitors on the circuit. I knew if I showed my cards too early, he could make a countermove and try to get me back. I just waited. He had a little mishap, and I was able to roll around the outside of him. I just put my head down and set sail those last couple laps and tried to be as smooth as possible and everything just played out perfectly. I’m stoked right now — this is awesome.”
Heading into the Main Event, Daytona TT winner Briar Bauman appeared capable of carrying that season-opening momentum like a freight train. He ranked near the top of the charts all day and won his semi with relative ease. However, a difficult start in the main threw him into a frenetic fight for position.
At the end of the evening, he emerged on the podium with a hard-earned third after running as low as eighth early in the race. However, Bauman was never in contention for the win and finished nearly three seconds back of Robinson.
Jarod Vanderkooi pulled off a second consecutive charge up through the field to finish fourth, while ST master Henry Wiles completed the top five.
In the Roof Systems AFT Singles class, Dalton Gauthier took the final step in completing a comeback story two years in the making.
Returning to the scene of his last Roof Systems AFT Singles presented by Russ Brown Motorcycle Attorneys victory before being forced to serve a suspension for violating the sanctioning body’s substance abuse policy for the better part of the 2017 and 2018 seasons, Gauthier registered a towering victory in Saturday night’s 15-lap Main Event.
Gauthier leapt out to the lead early and was never seriously challenged, upping his advantage to over a second before easing off slightly to secure the checkered flag.
If Gauthier’s runner-up result in the season-opening Daytona TT didn’t serve as warning enough to the AFT Singles field for what they were up against in his return, they understand now.
“It’s a crazy feeling – I was out for two seasons,” Gauthier said. “I won here in 2017, and thought I could do some damage today, honestly. I was fast qualifier, won the heat race, won the semi – just like 2017. And then I got the holeshot, led every lap, and won the Main. It’s a pretty awesome feeling. I can’t thank (tuner) Rob Mclendon enough for everything he’s done for me.”
If anyone had any hope of beating Gauthier on this night, it was Morgen Mischler. That is until he was swamped leaving the line and found himself buried in the pack as they stormed into turn one.
Mischler was in astonishing form from there, making quick work of some of the best flat trackers on the planet to slash his way up to second. However, running down Gauthier was simply too big of a task.
The last rider Mischler made his way past on his way to second was reigning AFT Singles champion Dan Bromley. Bromley just continued to do what he does — collecting yet another podium result to put toward his title defense. After earning last year’s crown on the strength of 13 podiums in 18 races, Bromley is now two for two in 2019.
Ryan Wells, who originally finished fourth, was disqualified for exceeding the maximum allowable weight for a rear wheel assembly following post-race technical inspection.