DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Following the high-speed battles of the early season, the Progressive American Flat Track will head straight to its first short track at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Saturday, June 11.
The round will mark the second occasion in which Progressive AFT has served as a premiere attraction of the fabled Laconia Motorcycle Week, related to the Progressive Laconia Short Track.
The historic rally is celebrating its 99th running this year by hosting a number of motorcycle-themed activities throughout the surrounding areas from June 11 to June 19.
Jared Mees enters the weekend as both the reigning Mission SuperTwins champion and its current points leader.
Mees, who rides the No. 1 Indian Motorcycle FTR750, was challenged at the Red Mile and still ended up on top of the podium. The ride is not likely to be any easier at the quarter-mile short track this weekend.
When the series visited the track back in 2019, Mees finished in 15th due to mechanical issues — his worst result in the past three years.
While he’ll be looking to make amends during his second opportunity at the venue, there is a lineup of adversaries hoping to chip away at his early-season points lead.
That group is headlined by two-time, premier-class champion Briar Bauman who is in need of a bounce-back effort following a relatively quiet weekend in Kentucky.
Dallas Daniels and JD Beach are also expected to be in the mix again. The teammates have established themselves as frontrunners as they rapidly develop into both podium regulars and championship contenders.
One rider who fondly looks back on the ‘19 visit to New Hampshire is Bronson Bauman, who took a hard-earned maiden victory on that occasion. Bauman has flashed the strength and speed to vie for top positions early in the season and looks to return his Harley-Davidson to the top of the box this weekend.
A number of privateer Indians could factor into the fight as well, most notably Davis Fisher, Brandon Robinson and Jarod Vanderkooi.
In the Mission Production Twins class, Jesse Janisch has pulled off a successful career reinvention.
Once regarded primarily as a TT specialist in singles competition, the Wisconsin native is now viewed as a week-to-week threat and serious title fighter in the class.
Ever since getting the call by Vance & Hines to fill in as an injury sub during the middle of last season, Janisch has emerged as a solid contender in the series.
Janisch enters the Progressive Laconia Short Track as the winner of two of the last three rounds and the new championship leader.
However, only one point separates him from defending class champion Cory Texter who continues to salvage strong results on his bad days. Texter attempts to close out a decorated career by adding a third Mission Production Twins title to his name.
And despite encountering some misfortune last time, Nick Armstrong continues to remain well within striking distance of the championship chase.
Several others still have the potential to take the top step of the podium, including Ben Lowe, Ryan Varnes and Johnny Lewis.
In the Parts Unlimited AFT Singles season, it has become a showdown of sorts between the factory-backed KTM and American Honda outfits.
Collectively, they’ve scored all five wins and have taken 14 of the 15 possible podiums.
The class has still remained unpredictable, with Kody Kopp, Morgen Mischler and Dalton Gauthier all having a chance on top of the podium.
As is the nature of the class, another list of riders are more than capable of reaching the podium, led by the likes of Trent Lowe, Trevor Brunner, Chase Saathoff and Chad Cose.