Cycle News Staff | July 5, 2022
Factory Indian pilot Briar Bauman entered this year’s New York Short Track in a radically different position than he did a year ago.
In 2021, Bauman arrived at Weedsport Speedway firmly atop the Progressive AFT mountain. He was the two-time defending Mission SuperTwins Champion and well on his way to making it three in a row, boasting a 25-point advantage after scooping up the season’s previous two wins in succession. And he was expected to only solidify that commanding position in New York after winning the series’ prior stop there in absolutely dominating fashion.
This year, however, Bauman arrived at Weedsport Speedway facing a very different landscape. His ’21 title defense ultimately proved unsuccessful as his great rival, Jared Mees, took back the crown with a last-season flourish. Mees carried that form over into ’22 and came into the weekend as the points leader with eight combined wins since the series’ last stop at the track, including a pivotal one last time at out Weedsport.
Bauman, by contrast, had only taken a single victory since, trailing not only Mees over that span, but also Estenson Racing Yamaha’s JD Beach (two), while sitting equal with series part-timer Sammy Halbert, privateers Davis Fisher and Brandon Robinson, and rookie Dallas Daniels.
As a result of that dip in form, Bauman came to New York just third in the points—and twice as close to fifth as he was to first. Perhaps most alarmingly, he hadn’t even finished on the podium in the prior four rounds after practically earning squatter’s rights on the box over the previous three seasons.
Put more succinctly, Bauman was in desperate need of a big result.
Weedsport Speedway’s 3/8-mile, D-shaped clay oval provided an extremely racy surface with multiple lines that practically promised an exciting attempt no matter the outcome.
However, it’s impossible to ignore the dark cloud that hung over the evening program. Third-generation racer Ryan Varnes crashed early in the Mission Production Twins main event and was immediately transported to Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse, where he would later succumb to his injuries.
Racing eventually resumed following a lengthy delay. But the paddock’s attention was admittedly more focused on Varnes’ condition, which was still unknown at that time, than on the subsequent on-track activities.
Acknowledging that, they still managed to deliver an outstanding show with Bauman playing the lead role.
It didn’t look so promising in the early going; the double Grand National Champion was shuffled back to fifth at the start while Mees rocketed away at the front.
However, Bauman’s biggest obstacle would ultimately prove to be his close friend, Jarod Vanderkooi, as the Mission Roof Systems team continues to enjoy a serious uptick in form.
Mees made a mistake that allowed Vanderkooi to close the gap and then reverse it a couple of minutes later. At that point, it was “VDK” who threatened to make an escape.
Bauman found a line to his liking and used it to charge forward, finally putting Vanderkooi in his sights with a little more than four minutes to go.
The combined pressure of a potential maiden premier-class win, heavy traffic, and a proven title winner on the chase ultimately undid Vanderkooi’s bid. He opened the door for Bauman to blast past with just 22 seconds and two laps remaining on the clock and Bauman didn’t look back.
The victory was huge, both for Bauman’s confidence and his championship positioning. However, considering the circumstances, he wasn’t in a particularly celebratory mood.
He said, “I was really anxious. I’ve had a little bit of a string [of down results], but to be honest with you, I didn’t really even want to line up for that one. That one, that one was tough. We’re thinking of Ryan right now. We’re a family. On the line I caught myself thinking about him rather than the light.”
Mees came home in third, followed by Beach, who worked past Lima winner Robinson late.
Daniels was uncharacteristically quiet in sixth—the worst result of his impressive rookie campaign. As a result, Mees continues to lead the title fight with 156 points, while Bauman now sits level with Daniels for second at 140 and with the tiebreaker for most wins in his corner.
Latus Motors Harley-Davidson’s Bronson Bauman was the top XG750R rider in seventh, one spot ahead of Mission Production Twins Challenger Jesse Janisch on the Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson.
Fisher and Halbert completed the top 10 aboard their respective independent Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing- and Mission Roof Systems-backed Indian FTR750s.
AFT SINGLES
The Kody Kopp domination tour continued unabated at Weedsport Speedway. For the third consecutive round, the 17-year-old star-in-the-making was nearly perfect and effectively beyond the reach of the rest of the Parts Unlimited AFT Singles field.
The Red Bull KTM Factory Racing ace has made it a habit of outclassing his rivals with both his lightning starts and sheer pace, infrequently providing them much hope for a rebuttal.
It was more of the same in New York. Estenson Racing Yamaha’s Trevor Brunner did make up some ground once he broke free of a multi-rider melee for second, but Kopp simply reasserted his control of the race in response.
Brunner would have to be content with second place, and it’s likely he was. The aggressive rider had demonstrated plenty of speed this season, but miscues and misfortune had dampened his actual results. The runner-up was his first podium of the season and a strong effort to build on.
The same was true for Canadian Hunter Bauer, who hustled his NKR Canada KTM up from the fourth row to claim a first-career Progressive AFT podium. Like Brunner, the second-year pro had flashed major league potential on multiple occasions and was finally rewarded with a top-three result.
Mission Foods/Al Lamb’s Dallas Honda’s Trent Lowe came home a close fourth, followed by American Honda-backed Morgen Mischler. Mischler continues to rank second in the points race even if the reality of the situation is starting to more closely resemble an exhibition than a genuine contest with Kopp boasting a 42-point advantage (180-138).
PRODUCTION TWINS
In the lead-up to the main, Ryan Varnes established himself a pre-race favorite on the Schaeffers Motorsports/Rausch Fuel & Oil KTM 890 Duke, topping both practice and qualifying. He earned a front-row start in his Semi but jumped the initial start. Varnes then lined up at the back of the grid in expectation of a long grind forward.
Tragically, Varnes crashed early in the main.
The racing eventually resumed with Mission Production Twins title leader Jesse Janisch and defending class champ Cory Texter running together in first and second aboard their respective Vance & Hines Harley Davidson and G&G Racing Yamaha race bikes.
That showdown was interrupted when Cameron Smith blasted between the two of them to take the lead in his debut aboard the Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield in place of the injured Johnny Lewis.
Smith actually opened up a gap and looked to take the bike to victory before Texter reeled him in late, pulling off the winning maneuver just as the two took the white flag.
Janisch finished in third, surrendering the points lead to Texter in the process (156-149).
Early-season title leader Nick Armstrong picked up his best finish aboard the Competitive Racing Frames/Lessley Brothers Racing Yamaha MT-07 in several races in fourth, while Mission Foods/Roof Systems’ Ben Lowe rounded out the top five on his H-D XG750R. CN
SUPERTWINS
1. |
Briar Bauman |
(Ind) |
2. |
Jarod Vanderkooi |
(Ind) |
3. |
Jared Mees |
(Ind) |
4. |
JD Beach |
(Yam) |
5. |
Brandon Robinson |
(Ind) |
6. |
Dallas Daniels |
(Yam) |
7. |
Bronson Bauman |
(H-D) |
8. |
Jesse Janisch |
(H-D) |
9. |
Davis Fisher |
(Ind) |
10. |
Sammy Halbert |
(Ind) |
SINGLES
1. |
Kody Kopp |
(KTM) |
2. |
Trevor Brunner |
(Yam) |
3. |
Hunter Bauer |
(KTM) |
4. |
Trent Lowe |
(Hon) |
5. |
Morgen Mischler |
(Hon) |
6. |
Max Whale |
(KTM) |
7. |
Dalton Gauthier |
(Hon) |
8. |
Chase Saathoff |
(Hon) |
9. |
Chad Cose |
(Hon) |
10. |
Aidan RoosEvans |
(Hon) |
PRODUCTION TWINS
1. |
Cory Texter |
(Yam) |
2. |
Cameron Smith |
(RE) |
3. |
Jesse Janisch |
(H-D) |
4. |
Nick Armstrong |
(Yam) |
5. |
Ben Lowe |
(H-D) |
6. |
Billy Ross |
(H-D) |
7. |
James Rispoli |
(KTM) |
8. |
Ryan Wells |
(Kaw) |
9. |
Michael Rush |
(H-D) |
10. |
Cody Johncox |
(Yam) |
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