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Oct 01
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Monster Energy®/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki Race Team Announces 2020 Roster

By General Posts

Foothill Ranch, Calif. (October 1, 2019) – The upcoming 2020 racing season marks 27 years of winning for Kawasaki and Pro Circuit. This successful combination boasts an impressive resume of accolades including the most combined supercross/motocross wins in the 125/250 class and industry-leading 28 championships.

Returning to the Monster Energy®/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki race team for 2020 aboard their new KX™250 motorcycles are long-time Team Green™ race team ambassadors Austin Forkner and Garrett Marchbanks. The duo will be accompanied by the fresh faces of Jordon Smith and Cameron McAdoo.

“We have a great team for the 2020 season,” said Mitch Payton, Pro Circuit owner. “It is a great balance of veterans, combined with youth and new talent to our team, and we will provide all the necessary tools to help them reach their full potential. The Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki team has high expectations and I know they will all perform their best each weekend.”

Forkner will enter the new season as the most experienced rider on the team. The multi-race winner has high hopes of capturing multiple championships after his successful 2019 season was cut short due to injury. As a young gun, Marchbanks completed his first full year as a pro, earning the Monster Energy AMA Supercross “Rookie of the Year” award along with 14 top-10 finishes between both series. The team is excited about the added depth to their roster with class veteran Smith, while fellow newcomer McAdoo will return to the brand that he once found great success on as a Kawasaki Team Green rider throughout his amateur career.

The 2020 Pro Circuit squad will make their debut as the Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM Championship drops the gate on Saturday, January 4th, 2020 at Angels Stadium in Anaheim, California.

Aug 05
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Another Successful Year at Loretta Lynn’s for Kawasaki Team Green

By General Posts

Foothill Ranch, Calif. (August 5, 2019) – Kawasaki Team Green™ wrapped up the 37th Annual AMA Amateur National Motocross Championships at Loretta Lynn’s Dude Ranch, in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee with plenty to celebrate. Team Green left the ranch with five championships, 11 overall podium finishes, and 14 moto wins.

The Team Green squad of Krystian Janik and Drew Adams contested the 85cc (10-12) and the 85cc (10-12) Limited classes aboard their KX™85 motorcycles. The Team Green duo occupied the podium throughout the week, however, one bad moto for each of them would ultimately hinder their overall results, but they showed they had the speed to compete with the best in the country in the 85cc class. Adams was able to secure second place overall in the 85cc (10-12) Limited class with fellow Team Green rider Thor Powell rounding out the top-5 in fifth.

Ryder DiFrancesco donned the No. 1 on his KX™85 for Team Green in the Mini Sr. 1 class as reigning champion and No. 99 in Mini Sr. 2 class. In the last Mini Sr. 2 moto, DiFrancesco looked poised to grab the championship with his 2-1 moto scores, and rocketed out of the gate to the first corner grabbing the holeshot, but he fell in the ensuing corner. From last position, the California native scratched and clawed his way back to the front of the pack. At the half way point of the race, DiFrancesco had brought the crowd to their feet as he ran the fastest lap of the week in the Mini Sr. classes, four seconds faster than any rider. After moving into third place, a crash on the last lap ultimately dropped him to fifth where 2-1-5 moto scores placed him third overall in the championship standings. Coming into the final moto of the week after suffering some misfortune in the Mini Sr. 1 (12-14) class, DiFrancesco made a statement to his competitors by winning the final moto in dominant fashion.

Stilez Robertson led the charge for Monster Energy Team Green big bike riders aboard his KX™250, battling for wins and championships in both the 250 B and Schoolboy 2 (12-17) B/C divisions. Robertson set the tone early in the week by winning the first 250 B moto and made it known that he was one of the fastest at the ranch in 2019. His consistency throughout the week was what ultimately earned him the championship in the 250 B class with 1-2-2 scores, and 3-5-2 scores in the Schoolboy 2 class that were good enough for second place overall in the championship battle.

Just as he has done all year long at other major amateur nationals, the No. 55 green machine of Dylan Cunha won in dominant fashion throughout the week. In the 250 C class he was able to remain perfect the entire week by sweeping the class with 1-1-1 moto scores. In the 250 C Jr. (12-17) class, a bad crash in his second moto hindered his overall results but was still able to manage a 10th place overall finish in the class.

John Grewe would once again win the Masters 50+ championship for the fourth consecutive year. Grewe also placed his Babbitt’s Online Kawasaki KX™450 on the podium with a second overall in the Senior 40+ class with 2-2-2 scores, while fellow Team Green riders Gregory Pamart and Ryan Valade rounded out the top five behind Grewe.

In the vet classes it was not only about Team Green’s Grewe who had success, in the Senior 45+ class there was a first time Loretta Lynn’s champion crowned by the name of John Bowlin aboard his KX™450. Bowlin sat with a 1-1 score heading into the final moto of the week and was put to the test as the Tennessee skies darkened and the rain began to engulf the track. Despite the conditions, Bowlin was bound and determined to capture his first ever championship and did just that by sweeping the Senior 45+ class with perfect scores. Fellow Team Green rider Don Boespflug joined Bowlin on the podium with 3-5-2 scores, earning a second place overall in the class.

Joining Grewe and Bowlin in the vet championships was Nicholas Hayes who captured the Vet 30+ championship with consistent riding throughout the week. But much like his competitors, he would be forced to overcome adversity. After finishing first and third in his first two motos, Hayes pulled into “Greenville” seeking the aid of the Kawasaki Trackside Support team. The team quickly got him and his machine back to race ready. Hayes went on to win the final moto and the championship, stating “none of this would have been possible without the help yesterday from Kawasaki Team Green’s Trackside support crew. I can’t thank those guys enough!” Fellow Team Green rider Taylor Painter joined in on the action with a third place overall finish in the Vet 30+ class.

“It’s always great coming to Loretta Lynn’s,” said Team Green Manager, Ryan Holliday. “We enjoy catching up with so many of our Kawasaki racers and families from coast to coast. We strive to give them the best experience and support that our Team Green staff can provide. It was awesome to have some of our new lineup of 2020 KX™ and KLX® models out on display all week long for people to come check out.”

Kawasaki Championships and Top-5 Finishes
Loretta Lynn’s AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship:

250 B
1st – Stilez Robertson

250 C
1st – Dylan Cunha

Masters (50+)
1st – John Grewe

Vet (30+)
1st – Nicholas Hayes
3rd – Taylor Painter

Senior (45+)
1st – John Bowlin
2nd – Don Boespflug

Senior (40+)
2nd – John Grewe
4th – Gregory Pamart
5th – Ryan Valade

SchoolBoy 2 (12-17) B/C
2nd – Stilez Robertson

85cc (10-12) Limited
2nd – Drew Adams
5th – Thor Powell

Mini Sr. 1 (13-15)
3rd – Ryder DiFrancesco

Girls (11-16)
4th – Landrey Hazen

Jul 08
Love0

Monster Energy® Kawasaki Thrills Passionate RedBud Fans

By General Posts

Foothill Ranch, Calif. (July 7, 2019) – Round 7 of the 2019 AMA Pro Motocross Championship returned to Buchanan, Michigan for the 45th annual RedBud National over the 4th of July weekend. With arguably the most energetic crowd of the entire series, the RedBud faithful donned their red, white and blue attire while chanting Monster Energy® Kawasaki rider Eli Tomac’s name after he captured his third overall 450MX victory of the season, and the fans continued on for Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki rider Adam Cianciarulo as he earned second overall in the 250MX class.

As the rowdy crowd lined the fence for 450MX Moto 1, Tomac fired out of the gate in third and began his mission to take over the lead. On Lap 3, Tomac capitalized on the momentum of an outside line to make the move around his competition into second and then followed up with another pass for the lead in that same section of the track on the very next lap. Tomac went on to lead the remaining 13 laps to grab the checkers with a 6.3-second gap on the rest of the field for his sixth moto win of the season.

As the gate dropped on the second moto, Tomac began his charge from seventh position. After reaching fourth by Lap 5, Tomac found himself stuck behind one of his competitors for the next seven laps before catching a second wind and laying down the fastest lap time (2:08.3) of the moto. With two laps remaining, Tomac managed to pass one other rider before crossing the finish line in second, earning the overall victory (1-2) and further extending his lead in the 450MX championship points standings to 34.

After a respectable qualifying result of fifth to start the day, Joey Savatgy faced adversity in both motos, finishing the day 38th overall (38-34). Despite his best efforts and starting within the top-10 in both motos, Savatgy was forced to withdraw early from both races; in Moto 1 after colliding with another competitor and again in Moto 2 following a crash with a few laps remaining while running in sixth.

Not only were the fans displaying their American pride, but the entire Monster Energy Kawasaki team sported special team hats, graphics on the race bikes, and riding gear, while Savatgy took it to the next level by arriving to the pits with red, white and blue hair.

The defending back-to-back champion and the rest of the Monster Energy Kawasaki team will take a week off, as Round 8 of the 2019 AMA Pro Motocross Championship will pick up on July 20th in Millville, Minnesota for the Spring Creek National.

DEALER OPEN HOUSE / AUTOGRAPH SIGNING
Friday, July 26, 2019
6:00pm – 7:00pm
Pro Caliber Motorsports
10703 NE Fourth Plain Blvd.
Vancouver, WA 98662

Moto 1 in the 250MX class saw Cianciarulo wedged off the track in the opening lap of the moto but he managed to stick it out and reenter the track quickly. By Lap 7, Cianciarulo reached third just before dropping to fourth a few laps later. With just two laps remaining, Cianciarulo capitalized on a competitor’s misfortune with their bike, allowing him to finish third. At the conclusion of the moto, Cianciarulo was penalized two positions by race officials for not decelerating when running off the track on the opening lap, moving him back to fifth.

As the gate dropped on 250MX Moto 2, Cianciarulo shot out of the gate aboard his KX™250, positioning himself in fifth. At the halfway point of the moto, Cianciarulo had reached third but wouldn’t stop there and made his final pass on Lap 12 to reach the finish line in second. Cianciarulo’s 5-2 score placed him on the podium with second overall and he continues to lead the 250MX Class standings with a 25-point advantage.

After riding through the morning practice session and qualifying 11th, Martin Davalos and the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki team decided he would not line up for motos that afternoon. Davalos has been struggling with lingering injuries throughout the season and after reevaluating his condition that morning, the group decided it was best he sit out in order to focus on the healing process. Davalos will follow up with the doctor later in the week for an updated status.

Jul 01
Love0

Monster Energy® Kawasaki Finds Success in the Sands of Southwick

By General Posts

Foothill Ranch, Calif. (June 30, 2019) – Monster Energy®/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki rider Adam Cianciarulo conquered the sandy hills of Southwick at Round 6 of the 2019 AMA Pro Motocross Championship as he captured his fifth overall win of the season finishing 1-2 in the motos, while Monster Energy Kawasaki rider Eli Tomac earned his sixth overall podium finish in third (2-3), both extending their lead in the championship points standings.

As the gate dropped on 250MX Moto 1, Cianciarulo kicked off his conquest by grabbing his first holeshot of the season aboard his KX™250 and taking off with the lead. Having yet to win the first moto at any round this season, Cianciarulo went on to lead every lap and capture his first Moto 1 victory with an 11-second margin of victory.

Moto 2 saw another solid ride from Cianciarulo as he grabbed his second holeshot of the day and began his charge. After fiercely defending the lead for the first half of the moto, the Florida native played it safe to cross the finish line in second, knowing a 1-2 moto score awarded him the overall and extended his points lead in the championship to 23. Veteran rider Martin Davalos had a rough day at The Wick and was unable to complete the second moto following a crash on Lap 4 and finished the day 33rd overall (22-40).

The win marks Cianciarulo’s sixth overall victory of his career, five of which have come this season alone.

“I’m so pumped to get another overall win under my belt. Both motos started out perfectly after nailing the holeshots, and I was able to gap the field in the first moto. This competition is tough though, so I ended up losing the lead in the second moto. I’m proud of the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki team and what we’ve been able to accomplish so far this season. We’re all looking forward to keeping this momentum going into the last half of the season.” – Adam Cianciarulo

“This weekend was difficult for me for sure. The high physical demands of this track got the best of me and I had a few good get-offs, but I won’t give up. That’s not in my blood. Hopefully things come together next weekend at RedBud and we’ll keep pushing forward.” – Martin Davalos

In the 450MX class, Tomac and Joey Savatgy lined up at the gate side by side aboard their KX™450 motorcycles, ready to take on the 40-rider field. As the gate dropped on Moto 1, Tomac and Savatgy shot out in front in second and sixth, respectively. Tomac fell back a few positions after the first turn but quickly made moves into third by the end of the first lap, while Savatgy ran into some mechanical issues forcing him to pull out of the race. Tomac continued to charge for the front, eventually making a pass into second on Lap 8, where he would go on to cross the finish line.

In Moto 2 Tomac started just inside the top-10,. creating a greater challenge to find the front. The points leader didn’t let that slow him down as he quickly began to make his way around the other riders, reaching third place by Lap 7. Tomac worked hard to maneuver around lappers and continued on to finish third in the moto for third overall (2-3). Savatgy had a strong start to Moto 2 but struggled to find his pace on the challenging sand track. Once he found the lines he was comfortable with and established his flow, he was able to push forward from 10th to finish eighth for 13th overall (36-8).

Tomac entered the day with only a 6-point lead in the championship standings but his consistency continues to pay off and his strong rides in the sand this weekend earned him a 26-point cushion and marks the first time in 2019 a rider will sit atop the 450MX class standings for consecutive races.

“Today ended up being a little tougher than I anticipated. The heat combined with the tough demands of a sand track and constantly being pelted with sand and rocks wore me out. I’m happy to be leaving with another podium finish and the points lead. Now that we’re heading into the second half of the season, I’m going to remain focused on this championship and keep striving for those overall wins.” – Eli Tomac

“The first moto didn’t turn out the way we wanted but I’m glad things came together for the second. The team and I have been working so hard to get back to where we need to be and dial things in in order to be ready on race day, so I’m disappointed that my overall finish wasn’t better. We’ll regroup and give it another shot next weekend at RedBud.” – Joey Savatgy

May 27
Love0

Monster Energy® Kawasaki Sweeps Pala with a Pair of Wins from Eli Tomac and Adam Cianciarulo

By General Posts

Foothill Ranch, Calif. (May 26, 2019) – The second round of the 2019 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship continued in Southern California on Saturday to Fox Raceway in Pala, California for the first time in eight years. Monster Energy® Kawasaki’s Eli Tomac dominated the day in the 450MX class by sweeping the class with a 1-1 result and taking the championship points lead. In the 250MX class it was Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Adam Cianciarulo who fought hard for a 3-1 moto finish to earn him the overall win and increase his championship points lead.

Tomac, who was determined to regain the red plate and the 450MX points lead, lined up for the first moto and put on a performance that showed why his KX™450 machine is adorned with the No. 1 plate. A 13th place start had the two-time champion in tough spot with only one option, and that was to race forward as quickly as possible and not let his competition slip away. In true Tomac fashion, he had moved into fourth by the halfway mark of the first moto and was on a charge. Frustrated from taking roost, he dropped the hammer and went to work for the front of the field. After making a pass for third, he mounted a charge on the front two leaders, who appeared to be out of reach, but with three laps to go he passed into the lead and never looked back.

Tomac made it easier on himself in Moto 2 as he rocketed out to a third place start and quickly moved into second position. It was there where he would study his competition for the first 15 minutes of the race, and as a true hunter does he stalked his prey and at the half way mark of the race he moved into the lead. Tomac crossed the finish line 11-seconds ahead of the competition with a perfect 1-1 score for the day. Tomac now sits four points ahead of second place in the 450MX Championship Points standings.

The Colorado native returns home next weekend to defend his “home-town” race at the Thunder Valley National. Tomac proudly waved the Colorado flag in front of the Southern California race fans after going 1-1 on the day.

As the three-man Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki squad lined up for 250MX Moto 1 the 250MX Championship Points leader, Adam Cianciarulo found himself buried outside the top-10 in the opening laps. From there Cianciarulo showed why he had earned the red plate last weekend, charging the entire moto and on the last lap he passed into third place making it onto the podium.

250MX Moto 2 saw Cianciarulo rocket off the gate to a fourth place start, but knowing what was on the line he moved forward fast and by lap three he had taken over the lead. On laps 11 and 12 a battle broke out and Cianciarulo was forced to go outside around a lapped rider and lost the lead. Cianciarulo would not be outdone as he regrouped and made a pass stick for the remaining four laps and added a three second gap to make sure the victory was his. Cianciarulo and his No. 92 KX™250 leaves Fox Raceway with 92 Championship Points after two rounds of racing and a six point lead in the 250MX class as they head to Colorado next weekend.

In just his seventh Pro Motocross race, the No. 61 machine of Garrett Marchbanks scored his highest career finish with a seventh place overall. In 250MX Moto 1, Marchbanks like his teammate Cianciarulo, had to fight for every single position after a difficult start and would cross the line in ninth place. In 250MX Moto 2, Marchbanks would rebound from Moto 1 with a better start and was able to increase his position to eighth in the second moto.

Last week Martin Davalos revealed that his second moto crash at Hangtown resulted in cartilage damage to his rib cage and was not sure how the weekend at Fox Raceway would go, but the veteran rider fought through the day, finishing with 18-9 moto scores which earned him 14th place overall.

The team over at Fox designed special retro inspired gear for the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki squad to wear this weekend at Fox Raceway. They collaborated with team sponsor Bell Helmets to match.

May 05
Love0

Monster Energy® Kawasaki’s Eli Tomac Dominates the Monster Energy Supercross Season Finale

By General Posts

Foothill Ranch, Calif. (May 5, 2019) – Round 17 of Monster Energy® AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship returned to Las Vegas, Nevada for the season finale where Monster Energy® Kawasaki rider Eli Tomac finished the season on high note with a dominant overall win and once again showed that he is the best in the Las Vegas conditions.

As the temperatures in the desert rose so did Tomac’s race pace as he rode blistering fast all day long and set the fastest time in qualifying aboard his KX™450. In Heat Race 2, Tomac had a fourth place start with his title contender ahead of him. Tomac quickly made his way into second and began to setting up a pass for the lead when he mistimed a rhythm section causing him to come to a complete stop on the track. Only losing one position, there would be no denying him from getting to the front of the pack, where he went on to win the heat race.

In the Main Event, Tomac turned up the heat even further, rocketing to the holeshot and never looked back, going on to win the main event by 12.061 seconds ahead of the competition. Tomac finished the season second overall in the 450SX Championship Points Standings and will now begin to turn his attention to defending his 450 Motocross Championship, looking to mark his place in the records books with a third consecutive title.

It was a tough day at the office for the No. 17 machine of Joey Savatgy as his night was cut short due to a crash in practice. Savatgy finishes out the season in eighth place overall and the highest scoring rookie in the championship points standings.

Savatgy took home honors on Saturday night as he was named the 2019 Rookie of the Year.

Monster Energy® Kawasaki’s race semi-truck driver, Brian “Big B” Barnhart was awarded the 2019 SX Transport Driver of the year award. Although an unofficial award, the award is nominated and agreed upon by fellow factory team’s semi-truck drivers and team managers in the paddock to acknowledge the hard work throughout the season.

#3 Eli Tomac
1st Place

“Man, what a season that was! Tonight we just gave it the beans and held it wide open all night long. Nights like tonight were just downright fun racing my motorcycle. I am proud of myself and the effort the whole Monster Energy Kawasaki crew put in all season long. We’ve got my 2019 KX450 dialed in right now, which has me excited to get outdoors started. I am already looking forward to the 2020 supercross season, but in the meantime, I plan to carry this momentum into outdoors and once again defend my title.”
– Eli Tomac

#17 Joey Savatgy
DNR

“Honestly, I am pretty darn proud of what the Monster Energy Kawasaki team and I accomplished in my rookie 450SX season. Today was one of those days where I made a minor mistake that caused me to have a pretty hard crash. Luckily it wasn’t anything too bad, but I am bummed I couldn’t give it a go for the last round here in Vegas. I think we showed a lot of consistency all season long, as well as showing that we belong up front and in the hunt. We accomplished a lot of the goals I set out for myself at the beginning of this season. To be named Rookie of the Year in the 450SX class is a huge honor and I could not have done it without my whole Monster Energy Kawasaki team. I am going to take the next two weeks to heal up and get ready for outdoors and once again show everyone what I am capable of.”
– Joey Savatgy

Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki rider Adam Cianciarulo came into the final race of the season poised and ready to wrap up the season with a championship with the additional challenges of the combined East/West Showdown format. Cianciarulo set the tone early as he qualified with the fastest lap time in the 250SX Western Region with teammate Garrett Marchbanks in seventh.

The Western Region riders lined up for their heat race first as Cianciarulo shot out of the gate in a top-5 position, while Marchbanks was forced to charge from 11th. The teammates went to work aboard their KX™250 machines as Cianciarulo made his way to third before running out of time in the short, 8-lap heat race. Marchbanks was able to make a few passes of his own, finishing seventh.

The East/West Showdown Main Event marked Martin Davalos’ 101st and final 250SX race in the class. Davalos kicked off the day qualifying third in the 250SX Eastern Region and carried on the momentum into his heat race as he finished second.

As the gate dropped on the East/West Showdown, Cianciarulo positioned himself in fifth and started his push toward the front of the pack, while Davalos and Marchbanks were wedged outside the top-10, sitting 11th and 16th, respectively. Just as they approached the halfway point of the race Cianciarulo had made his way all the way up to third before making a costly mistake in a rhythm section, causing him to crash. Due to the severity of the crash, Cianciarulo was unable to ride at race pace and was forced to slowly roll through the rest of the race to finish 20th, finishing second overall in the 250SX Western Region Rider Point Standings. Davalos and Marchbanks rode consistently throughout the race to finish ninth and 10th, respectively.

Young gun Marchbanks wrapped up the season with a top-10 overall finish and was awarded Rookie of the Year in the 250SX Western Region, which gives the Kawasaki Team Green alumni some added confidence to come back as a strong contender for 2020. Davalos secured fourth overall in the 250SX Eastern Region Rider Point Standings, just a few points behind his injured teammate Austin Forkner, who managed to still clinch third overall without being able to compete in the last three main events.

Mar 15
Love0

Bauman & Janisch Dominate DAYTONA TT

By General Posts

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 14, 2019) – Briar Bauman (No. 14 Indian Motorcycle/Progressive Insurance FTR750) kicked off his 2019 AFT Twins presented by Vance & Hines championship campaign in front of AFT’s largest crowd at the Daytona International Speedway with a statement victory in Thursday night’s American Flat Track season opener, the third annual DAYTONA TT presented by Russ Brown Motorcycle Attorneys.

Bauman went handlebar-to-handlebar with brother Bronson Bauman (No. 37 Indian Motorcycle/Progressive Insurance FTR750) on the opening lap of the 25-lap Main Event under the lights at Daytona International Speedway to secure the lead. Once established, Bauman systematically stretched out an imposing advantage at the front.

TT legend Henry Wiles (No. 17 Bandit Industries/DPC Racing/Wilco Racing Indian FTR750) was desperate to give chase but found himself trapped behind Bauman’s brother and teammate as the leader made his escape.

Wiles finally made his way through near half distance, but at that point it didn’t make a difference. Bauman continued to race off into the distance, further opening the gap before finally cruising past the legendary tri-oval’s start/finish stripe for the final time with a 5.149-second margin of victory.

“To hop out there in the front — it’s all about trying to put in a gap in the beginning,” Bauman said. “I’ve been training hard this offseason. I tried to throw down as much as I could and get a little bit of a gap and maintain the rest of the race.”

Even before Thursday’s win, the ascending Bauman’s profile was rapidly on the rise. And now as the newest member of Indian’s Wrecking Crew, he’s well positioned to take the next step forward and make a run at the 2019 AFT Twins Championship — as evidenced by his stunning form in the season opener.

Besides handing him the (very) early title advantage, Bauman’s triumph also brings the DAYTONA TT win streak of reigning Grand National Champion Jared Mees (No. 1 Indian Motorcycle/Progressive Insurance FTR750) to a halt at two. Those prior victories served as springboards for dominant title runs in ‘17 and ‘18, but Mees’ ‘19 opener packed at least a half-season’s worth of drama into a single night. Mees crashed twice in the Semi and then retired with a mechanical issue in the Main while running fifth.

Jake Johnson (No. 5 Estenson Racing/Monster Energy Yamaha MT-07 DT) gave Yamaha’s trick new flat track machine a podium debut by finishing in third behind Bauman and Wiles.

Meanwhile, Jarod Vanderkooi (No. 20 Harley-Davidson Factory Flat Track Team XG750R Rev X) registered perhaps the hero ride of the evening. After being forced to use a Provisional Start just to make the Main, Vanderkooi battled his way up from the back of the pack to an eventual fourth.

Bronson Bauman rounded out the top five.

Roof Systems AFT Singles presented by Russ Browns Motorcycle Attorneys.

Jesse Janisch (No. 132 Roof Systems Dallas TX/Öhlins Yamaha YZ450F) added yet another blowout TT victory to his burgeoning résumé with a wire-to-wire win in the Roof Systems AFT Singles presented by Russ Brown Motorcycle Attorneys Main Event at the DAYTONA TT.

Janisch pushed hard on the race’s opening lap to corral the field behind him and then took full advantage of his superior speed with an open track in front of him. He ultimately wheelied past the checkered flag with a comfortable 2.577 seconds to spare.

“To start off Daytona with a victory… it’s amazing,” Janisch said. “Last year, we left here with a second, and that was a great way to start off the season. Just putting in all the work over the course of the winter and leaving here with a win is amazing. The Roof Systems team has really made a home for me. We’ve really built a great program.”

Janisch was followed to the line by Dalton Gauthier (No. 122 D&D Cycles/FlatTrack.com KTM 450 SX-F), who registered a remarkable ride to complete his “Road to Recovery” where he started it — on the podium.

Gauthier was victorious in the first AFT Singles DAYTONA TT Main Event back in 2017 and was stacking wins on top of that one before being suspended for violating the sanctioning body’s substance abuse policy. After sitting out the majority of the past two seasons, Gauthier only learned he would be eligible to compete again days ago. He made the most of his second chance.

And in an always merciless DAYTONA TT in which numerous AFT Singles title hopefuls don’t even make the Main Event due to the ocean deep field teeming with big name wild cards hailing from multiple nations and racing disciplines, defending class champ Dan Bromley (No. 1 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-F) just did what he does.

After earning last year’s crown on the strength of 13 podiums in 18 races, Bromley is now one for one in 2019 to open his title defense with a third-place result.

Long-time AFT Twins competitor Mikey Rush (No. 15 RMR Honda, Red Riders Rewards Honda CRF450R) and up-and-coming Australian Max Whale (No. 18 Weirbach Racing Kawasaki KX450F) completed the top five.

Be sure to tune into the feature broadcast of the DAYTONA TT on NBCSN with flag-to-flag coverage of both Main Events enhanced by in-depth coverage of the many dramatic storylines through exclusive athlete features and interviews. and onboard footage. It will debut on Sunday, March 24, at 4:00 p.m. ET/1:00 p.m. PT and will re-air on Thursday, March 28, at 12:00 p.m. ET/9:00 a.m. PT.

American Flat Track will be back in action for Round 2 of the 2019 season in just over a week’s time as the series travels to Dixie Speedway in Woodstock, Ga., for the Atlanta Short Track presented by Cycle Gear on Saturday, March 23. Live coverage can be viewed on FansChoice.tvstarting at 1:30 p.m. ET with Opening Ceremonies scheduled to get underway at 7:20 p.m. ET. Tickets are on sale and can be purchased at https://tickets.americanflattrack.com/.

How to Watch:
NBCSN and FansChoice.tv are the official homes for coverage of American Flat Track. For the 2019 season, NBCSN’s coverage of AFT moves to highly-coveted, weekend afternoon programming slots within two weeks of each event. The complete schedule for AFT on NBCSN can be viewed at http://www.americanflattrack.com/events-nbcsn/. FansChoice.tv remains a cornerstone of AFT’s digital strategy, providing live streaming coverage of every event on AFT’s live page while previous events and exclusive features are available on AFT’s VOD page.