It all started with a bet between two friends and eventually morphed into one of the highest-profile rider appearances in American Flat Track history.
Travis Pastrana, who’s scarcely raced a motorcycle professionally for more than a decade, decided to take up the $1 bet he was challenged to by friend and fellow racing star Ryan Sipes. Pastrana showed up to race in the Atlanta Super TT, round three of the American Flat Tack championships.
Sipes bet Pastrana that he would not be able to beat him. Sipes, who races predominantly off-road events these days for GasGas, was also making one of his rare flat-track appearances.
And with that challenge, Pastrana went to work.
“I called Chris Fillmore at Red Bull KTM, who I used to race against, and he told me they didn’t have a motor, but maybe I could call Ian (Harrison) or Roger (DeCoster),” Pastrana explained. “I called up Ian and got a motor. I haven’t raced professionally for well over a decade, so to be able to come back here and race a factory bike, it was beyond my expectations and I’m having a blast.”
Pastrana’s longtime mechanic, Ron Meredith, was called in to spin the wrenches and make sure Pastrana’s factory machine was perfectly tuned and set up.
Once AFT officials got word Pastrana was coming to race the AFT Singles class during the Super TT at Atlanta Motor Speedway, the PR machine kicked into high gear and the race suddenly became one of the must-see motorcycle events of the season.
The very idea that a semi-retired racer, even one with the mega-talent of Pastrana, could just show up at an American Flat Track national event and have a hope of qualifying was ludicrous to some. Social media discussions about whether or not Pastrana would qualify got hot and heavy. Those who felt Pastrana had no chance had some history to cite.
In 2006, Pastrana attempted to race the Daytona Short Track National and didn’t even qualify for the evening program. It was the only other time he tried to race in an American Flat Track event.
“I didn’t even qualify in the top-50,” Pastrana recalled. “Me and no front brake just didn’t work out for some reason,” he added, referring to the fact that AFT Short Track machines run only a rear brake.
Even Pastrana didn’t have high expectations for the Atlanta Super TT.
“I have no idea if I can do this or not,” he admitted. “My goal isn’t to win, qualify for the national, top-10, nothing like that. My goal is to finish ahead of Ryan Sipes and win that dollar. That’s it. If I do that, I’ll be a happy man.”
While Pastrana seemed to intentionally set low expectations, on race day the competitor in him came to life and it was game on.
While Pastrana was at a distinct disadvantage coming into a flat-tracker’s turf at the Daytona Short Track 15 years ago, the great equalizer in Atlanta was the Super TT track itself. Flat tracking used to be called dirt tracking, because that what these riders did — raced on dirt.
The Super TT is a relatively new twist on the flat- track genre — part pavement and part dirt, the track had elements of road racing, flat track and even motocross. Super TT racing may have more in common with Supermoto racing than it does with pure flat track. And Pastrana had years of Supermoto experience in his background.
Despite that experience, it was still a stunner when the times sheets from the first AFT Singles practice session were posted, Pastrana was seventh.
After that session, which even surprised Pastrana, one would think the goals for the entire evening had shifted. Yet talking with Pastrana after the session, he was beaming. Not because he was seventh, but that Sipes was 10th.
“So far, so good,” Pastrana grinned.
Pastrana qualified 12th and rallied during his semi to finish seventh and earn a spot in the evening’s AFT Singles main event.
In the AFT Singles finale, Pastrana got caught up in a traffic jam going through the first couple of turns and found himself near the back of the pack. But even on the first lap he made a couple of quick passes and was just outside of the top 10 during the early going.
From there he ran a steady race, survived one scary moment where he was nearly pushed off the track when he tangled bars with another competitor, and then made his way forward.
In the closing laps, he passed a few others and there in front of him was, of all people, Ryan Sipes. The goal of beating his buddy was in reach, but it was not to be. Sipes was too strong and maintained his gap over his buddy to the checkered flag. Sipes finished a very credible eighth with Pastrana six seconds behind in ninth.
Afterward, it was all smiles.
“I didn’t beat my buddy, but I still had a blast,” Pastrana said. “To be able to make the main and get a top 10 against the talent in this series? OK, I said it wasn’t important where I finished, but I have to admit that feels pretty good.