DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Progressive American Flat Track makes its return to the Johnny K’s Indian Motorcycle Lima Half-Mile powered by Drag Specialties at the Allen County Fairgrounds on Saturday in the midst of a titanic three-way title fight.
Between them, Briar Bauman, Brandon Robinson and Jared Mees have accounted for five of six Mission SuperTwins presented by S&S Cycle victories on the year along with 13 of 18 possible podiums.
As a result, the talented trio currently rank 1-2-3 in the standings with just nine points separating first from third. All three are previous premier-class winners at the Lima Half-Mile, setting the stage for another epic battle on the venue’s fabled pea-gravel cushion.
As even as the Mission SuperTwins racing has been at the front in 2021, any psychological advantage this weekend must surely go to Mees, who comes into the weekend as the season’s most recent winner, the winner of the previous two Lima Half-Miles, and as the event’s promoter (along with his wife, Nichole).
Behind the leading three, Ohio-native Jarod Vanderkooi rolls into Lima having strung together finishes of second, second, fourth, and fourth. That form has allowed Vanderkooi to supplant early-season championship leader J.D. Beach to take over fourth in the points.
Estenson Yamaha’s Dallas Daniels dominated the 2020 AFT Singles season, winning more than half the races and locking up the championship fight early. Thanks to remarkably consistent finishes, Daniels has placed himself in good strategic position to defend his title. However, seconds, thirds, and fourths are quickly losing their allure to the newly 18-year-old.
Daniels has a real fight on his hands this season with both factory KTM pilots, Max Whale and Shayna Texter-Bauman, boasting more wins, rival Henry Wiles finding his form and teammate Mikey Rush demonstrating similar consistency.
Lima’s surface should suit the styles of Daniels’ major challengers quite well – none more so than Texter-Bauman, who has won the last two AFT Singles Main Events at the venue.
Another rider who has fared well at the track in the past is 2016 class champion Ryan Wells, who is due for a big weekend.
Cory Texter has separated himself from his AFT Production Twins presented by Vance & Hines competition with four of six race wins to assemble an imposing 35-point championship advantage.
2019 AFT Singles champion Dalton Gauthier and 2018 AFT Singles champion Dan Bromley are the closest riders to Texter in the points and remain threats to break into the win column on any given weekend.
Fourth-ranked Chad Cose will be motivated to make up for a deeply disappointing weekend in Oklahoma in which he was forced out of action due to mechanical issues on Friday night. While a loaner from Latus Motors and help from Vance & Hines enabled Cose to return to the podium on Saturday, he’s still hungry to make amends.
As such, the Lima Half-Mile couldn’t be better timed for the Californian. The last time the series visited the circuit, Cose overcame the challenge of Texter in the evening’s AFT Production Twins Main to claim his first-career Progressive AFT race victory after more than a decade trying.
Another rider to watch is third Mission Roof Systems pilot Brandon Price. Price has finished sixth or better in four of the last five races and earned an eye-opening fourth at Lima back in 2019 as a class rookie.