Strong start to SuperTwins and Singles campaigns
The American Flat Track season kicked off during Daytona Bike Week, with a double header under lights featuring two Aussies. Max Whale has switched to the Royal Enfield 650 with the Moto Anatomy X team after campaigning a Harley-Davidson XG750 in his rookie SuperTwins season.
After a ninth and 10th in the two main event races, Whale believes there is plenty of potential in the Royal Enfield package despite setbacks. “I struggled getting comfortable with the track, having a crash in the heat and getting smashed around by the track. It’s nice to leave in one piece,” he said.
The Daytona short track is notoriously rough but the SuperTwins winner over both nights was Estenson Racing’s Dallas Daniels, his first wins since breaking his leg last year.
“I have always had a lot of love for this place even with how tricky it can be,” Daniels said. “Something about it is just electric. Both nights were super close battles going right to the end with Briar (Bauman). He rode great all weekend, and I had to dig deep to get those wins!”
Daniels had qualified on the second row for the opener and battled closely with the Latus Motors supported Harley-Davidson XG750 of Briar Bauman, who unexpectedly finished runner-up both nights.
In AFT Singles, Tom Drane rode his Estenson Yamaha YZ540F to a second and third place, behind none other than three-time champion Kody Kopp.
The veteran, who is making the switch to road racing this year, pulled together a bike at the last minute to contest Daytona. “It feels awesome. I just can’t stay away from it. I’m transitioning to road racing, and it’s a big step,” Kopp said.
Kopp finished almost two seconds ahead of Drane on the opening night after a late race red flag restart, but then crashed on the sighting lap of the main event the following night.
“I’ve never won a race after crashing on the sight lap! That start was hectic because my lever was bent to the moon, so I couldn’t really feel anything. But we straightened it out and went for it,” Kopp said.
He romped to a near five-second victory over Chase Saathoff (Honda) with Drane 3.5 seconds back in third.
The next round is the Senoia Short Track in Atlanta, Georgia, on March 29.
