American Flat Track heads to Sturgis, South Dakota, for the Jackpine Gypsies Short Track I & II doubleheader August 4-5. The Jackpine Gypsies Super TT is August 8. Here is the preview for the doubleheader:
AFT previews the Sturgis rounds….
Pivotal Week Awaits Grand National Championship at Sturgis Motorcycle Rally
Daytona Beach, FL (July 30, 2025) – The superstars of Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, are preparing to undertake a full-scale invasion of the 85th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, with three rounds to be contested in a five-day span. The first two of those three come in the form of the Jackpine Gypsies Short Track I & II doubleheader, which will take place at the Jackpine Gypsies Motorcycle Club in Sturgis, South Dakota on Monday, August 4, and Tuesday, August 5.
History Lesson
Over the decades, the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally has grown to become a cultural phenomenon of global proportions, attracting some half-million two-wheeled enthusiasts on an annual basis. Somewhat obscured in that rise, however, is the rally’s intrinsic, founding relationship to racing.
Progressive AFT has done much to reconnect the rally to those roots in recent years, and reconnecting with the Jackpine Gypsies Motorcycle Club is an important step in furthering that mission.
The rally was first launched in 1938 by local racer, dealer, and race promoter J.C. “Pappy” Hoel by way of the Jackpine Gypsies Motorcycle Club which he’d founded just a couple years prior. The rally was based around a Half-Mile dirt track race that was won by Johnny Spiegelhoff, who would later go on to win the Daytona 200 and earn himself a slot in the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame.
Approximately two hundred people attended that first year, which was enough to convince Hoel and the Jackpine Gypsies that it was an event worth continuing.
The Grand National Championship too, has important historical ties to Sturgis. The series raced in Sturgis in its first two years as a season-long endeavor. The victory in ‘54 was taken by six-time Grand National race winner Al Gunter on a BSA, while Bob Tindall rode his Harley-Davidson to the ‘55 win – the first and only triumph of his premier-class career.
Of course, there was much racing history made between 1938 and 1954, with even more added since, especially in recent years.
Who will be the next to add their name to Sturgis racing immortality?
Moving Triple Time
Don’t forget, this week’s Sturgis triple will kick off with the second-ever Mission Triple Challenge, which will be featured in the Jackpine Gypsies Short Track I.
The format – which ramps up the intensity, pressure, and drama via three increasingly lengthy and important Main Events to determine the night’s ultimate victor – proved a smashing success in its Lima debut.
Can you imagine just how intense it’ll be when utilized in the close confines of a Short Track?
Well, we won’t have to imagine for much longer.
Standing Tall at Short Tracks
Briar Bauman (No. 3 RWR/Parts Plus/Latus Motors Harley-Davidson XG750R) comes into the week with a narrow Mission AFT SuperTwins title lead built in large part on his Short Track prowess.
Bauman has stated that Rick Ware Racing elected to field the Harley-Davidson XR750R in 2025 in part due to their estimation that it would prove a strong mount for this year’s Short Track-heavy calendar. They’ve been proven prescient in that regard, with the team racking up four ST victories already this season.
Those wins have shot Bauman’s career tally up to nine Short Track wins (earned at seven different venues, by the way), putting him equal with ST masters Chris Carr, Henry Wiles, and Jared Mees for most all time in the discipline.
Considering his current form and the fact that he has two cracks at it in Sturgis, it would almost be an upset if Bauman leaves this year’s rally not standing alone atop that particular career leaderboard.
While career achievements are nice, Bauman’s focus is obviously on the championship fight at hand. Fortunately, those two go hand-in-hand, as the three-race run in Sturgis will no doubt have massive title implications.
And if he doesn’t take those wins, it’s a pretty strong bet they’ll instead go to the rider currently four points behind him.
Roller Reversal
Between them, Bauman and Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) have accounted for all nine wins in 2025.
The most recent went to Bauman by 0.329 seconds over Daniels, although that short summary does a poor job of conveying how things actually played out at Lucas Oil Speedway.
Over the past two-and-a half-seasons, it’s been Bauman who has endured more than his fair share of roller-coaster days, struggling to find pace only to pull it all together at the last minute and salvage whatever he might in the Main Event (note: he’s salvaged outright victory on more than one of those occasions).
Daniels, meanwhile, has traditionally been historically steady, at or near the front throughout. On his good days, he wins. On his bad days, he finishes second, or… (gasp…) third, with little indication the result will be anything less than that in the lead up to the Main.
In fact, almost all of his race-related drama took place out of sight when a training accident most likely cost him the 2024 Grand National Championship.
Ignoring the races missed to injury, he’s racked up a nearly unthinkable 22-race podium streak.
Even if you don’t like being charitable and consider that streak null and void due to the rounds him missed while healing up, it still splits into a ten-race streak (which would rank as the fifth longest of the reunification era (2010-present)), and an active twelve-race streak (which would be third best and just two short of Mees’ alt-history record of 14).
However, Daniels saw that streak (whichever one you view as legitimate, 22 or 12) put in serious jeopardy at Lucas Oil Speedway. There he was well off his usual pace, hovering around tenth throughout qualifying, finishing fifth in his heat, and opening the Main Event from Row 3.
Daniels pulled a Bauman, however, slicing and dicing his way to the front and very nearly running Bauman down at the checkered flag.
While he’d likely want to avoid a repeat of that day, he also probably feels comforted knowing that he and his Estenson Racing crew can pull it off if necessary.
As he said after the race, “The way I look at it is, we took a day where we should have been probably 9th or 10th, and we put it on the podium. That’s what teams like ours do.”
H.O.G. Wild
The once-maligned Harley-Davidson XG750R now leads the 2025 Grand National Championship fight with five victories in nine races.
Of course, all have come courtesy of Bauman, while Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Harley-Davidson XG750R), who has an extensive history with the machine, is still gunning for a first on the bike.
He’s come awfully close, but now he’s starting to feel the rounds tick away as he aims to finally accomplish a goal nine years in the making.
Robinson, who has scored two or more wins in five of the previous six seasons, has no intention of going winless in 2025. And a victory in Sturgis would be hugely popular with the droves of Harley faithful expected to arrive in town, generally, and at the racetrack, specifically.
A win or two would also do the Mission Roof Systems pilot quite a bit of good in the battle for third in the championship standings, a struggle that tightened up considerably after he ran into mechanical issues last time out.
He’s now just seven points clear of Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing KTM 790 Duke), and 15 points up on Jarod VanDerKooi (No. 20 Fastrack Racing/Wally Brown Racing KTM 790 Duke) after the KTM-mounted duo enjoyed bounce-back weekends at Lucas Oil Speedway.
Breakthrough Breakdown
Mission AFT SuperTwins rookie James Ott (No. 19 G&G Racing Yamaha MT-07) and sophomore Declan Bender (No. 70 Memphis Shades/Luczak Racing Yamaha MT-07) enjoyed simultaneous breakthroughs when they flanked fellow Yamaha ace Dallas Daniels to earn their first-career premier-class podiums together at DuQuoin.
Now the two seek to really make their mark in the record books, each still on the quest to secure their maiden Progressive AFT wins in any class.
They’re not alone in hunting for milestones.
Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Progressive Insurance Honda Transalp), who finished fourth at Lucas Oil Speedway, is zeroing in on both his first-career Mission AFT SuperTwins podium and Honda’s first premier-class twin-cylinder podium since Rich King rode the RS750 to the box in ‘98.
Dan Bromley (No. 62 Memphis Shades/Vinson Construction Suzuki GSX-8S), who finished fourth at the Lima Half-Mile I, could earn his first-ever Mission AFT SuperTwins podium and give Suzuki its first premier-class twin-cylinder podium since Briar Bauman got his first-ever premier-class podium on the SV1000 in 2013.
And Max Whale (No. 18 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650), who finished fifth at the Lima Half-Mile I, could earn his first-ever Mission AFT SuperTwins podium and take Royal Enfield to the premier-class podium for just the second time in its history.
It’s Adventure Time at Jackpine Gypsies Short Track Doubleheader
(July 31, 2025) – The Jackpine Gypsies Short Track I & II will see the AFT AdventureTrackers make their long-awaited return and play host to an evolving AFT Singles presented by Kicker championship fight as Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, kicks off an action-packed week at the 85th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally with the Jackpine Gypsies Short Track I & II, on Monday, August 4, and Tuesday, August 5, at the Jackpine Gypsies Motorcycle Club in Sturgis, South Dakota.
Never a Doubt
Was there ever any doubt?
At Lucas Oil Speedway, Trevor Brunner (No. 21 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) managed to extend his career-long streak of winning at least one race in each of his AFT Singles campaigns. And he did so in thrilling last-lap, last-corner fashion following an epic clash with title fighters Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) and Chase Saathoff (No. 88 RWR/Parts Plus Honda CRF450R).
Okay, maybe there was just a hint of doubt – especially pulling off that win after Drane jumped out the early lead.
Brunner continues to establish himself as among the sport’s most decorated 450cc riders. Since joining the pro ranks after winning Nicky Hayden AMA Flat Track Horizon Award honors in 2019, Brunner has been named AFT Singles Rookie of the Year, finished inside the championship top five on four occasions, climbed his way up to seventh all-time in career race wins, and stands as one of just five riders to achieve the Grand Slam in the category.
Really, the only major achievement thus far eluding him is the #1 plate.
With former class rivals Dallas Daniels and Kody Kopp no longer a concern, 2025 was expected to be his best shot yet.
Brunner is still in the hunt, but the road to the title is looking steeper by the round.
Second-ranked Saathoff is well within reach, now 12 points ahead and seven rounds remaining.
Drane, however, is a relatively distant 35 points out. And worse yet, Drane shows very few signs of making things easy on Brunner – or Saathoff for that matter.
When the Australian saw his class-record nine-race podium streak halted earlier this year, he immediately went about assembling an active five-race streak that ranks tenth best all-time.
While time is running out for those in pursuit of Drane, there’s plenty of opportunity for movement this week. With three races in five days, a full 69 points will be up for grabs in Sturgis.
Three Races in Five? Make That Five in Five
Three rounds in five days is correct, but five races in five days is more accurate, as the Jackpine Gypsies Short Track I will utilize the Mission Triple Challenge format.
In its debut, Brunner proved himself capable of beating Drane to the checkered flag – teasing what was to come – even if Drane ultimately walked away with overall top honors and maximum points in Lima.
But one small mishap in any of the three Main Events on Monday could prove pivotal in this year’s championship battle.
New to All
Kage Tadman (No. 288 Roof Systems/Old Oak Ranch KTM 450 SX-F), Walker Porter (No. 100 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), and the rest of this year’s standout rookie class will find themselves on somewhat more leveled ground this week in Sturgis.
The Jackpine Gypsies Motorcycle Club’s Short Track will be new to all, offering the first-year riders a chance to compete while not also facing the additional challenge of coming to grips with a venue at which their opponents are already well acquainted.
Even minus that help, Tadman has scooped a pair of wins this year and seemed to have a realistic shot at a third at Lucas Oil Speedway before a mechanical problem knocked him out of the running in the Main Event’s opening lap.
Porter, meanwhile, is motivated to get on the podium and do so as quickly as possible.
Could the rookies turn the class’ power dynamics upside down again this week?
Happy Hunting Grounds
Even if the tracks are different, a return to the city where he earned his first-career AFT Singles podium one year ago is likely a welcome one for Tarren Santero (No. 75 Mission Roof Systems Honda CRF450R).
Santero is in the midst of something of a mini-slump, having finished 17th, eighth, and eighth, in his most recent three races. That said, he still ranks fourth in the standings, thanks in large part to grabbing his second- and third-career podium finishes earlier in the year.
But he’s going to have to return to that form in a hurry if he wants to remain in fourth and hold off the big pack of riders currently embroiled in a rapidly advancing fight for fifth.
Gimme Five
Just ten points separate Aidan RoosEvans (No. 26 FRA Trust/ATV’s and More Yamaha YZ450F), Evan Renshaw (No. 65 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450), and Bradon Pfanders (No. 83 Hannum’s HD/Pfanders Racing KTM 450 SX-F), who rank fifth through seventh.
And as mentioned above, that scrap is effectively one for fourth, with RoosEvans now just six points back of Santero.
But while fourth may be the goal (at least considering how far out in front Drane, Saathoff, and Brunner are), eleventh isn’t out of the question for any of them either.
Tadman and Jared Lowe (No. 63 Big R/Little Debbie Racing Honda CRF450R) are just four points back of Pfanders and within single-race striking distance of Santero.
And while there is some distance back to tenth-ranked Hunter Bauer (No. 24 Vinson Construction/Reel Medics Yamaha YZ450F) and eleventh-ranked Chad Cose (No. 49 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450), both riders have shown the ability to make up piles of points in a hurry when on their game.
Adventure Awaits
The AFT AdventureTrackers are back following their massively successful debut in Sturgis last year and will be here for the next four rounds.
A sneak peek at the bike of Dan Bromley (62) for the AFT AdventureTrackers class [Photo: Courtesy of Dan Bromley]
A showcase for near-stock Dual Adventure bikes, the AFT AdventureTrackers put on quite the show in ’24 when reigning FIM Flat Track World Champion Sammy Halbert took full advantage of the misfortune of Mission AFT SuperTwins star Dan Bromley to earn the class’ first-ever win ahead of a field stacked with big-name riders hailing from diverse backgrounds.
Over the next couple of weeks, these versatile machines will demonstrate their full capabilities on a Short Track, Super TT, and traditional TT.
First up are the twin Short Track rounds where there will be ample opportunities for them to lock horns.
The Contenders
The AFT AdventureTrackers’ entry list has yet to be unveiled in full, but the list of riders already confirmed features some heavy hitters.
Among those taking part are the aforementioned Dan Bromley (Memphis Shades/Suzuki V-Strom 1050), ST and TT legend Henry Wiles (No. 911 Walter Bros. Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250), 2022 Mission Production Twins champion Jesse Janisch (No. 33 WFOracingonline.com/Öhlins Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250), and AFT Singles top-five finishers Hunter Bauer (Vinson Construction BMW F900 GS) and Austin Luczak (No. 188 Memphis Shades/OTB Racing Honda Africa Twin).
Who else will jump into the fray? Let’s just say you can once again expect to see some notable names from dirt track and beyond.
A Party Inside a Party Inside a Party
The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally has a well-earned reputation for nonstop fun and excitement and both days at the track will prove no exception.
The Fan Party – complete with a Rider Q&A session – will take place leading up to Opening Ceremonies each night.
And those in attendance will also be able to enjoy big-screen coverage of all the race action, the Kids Zone with a bounce house and face painting, DJ’d music, designated motorcycle parking and a variety of food and beverage options.
Get Your Tickets Now
General Admission Grandstand tickets for the Jackpine Gypsies Short Track are just $25 (kids 12 and under free with a paid adult ticket) each day, while Reserved Grandstand tickets are available for $40 (all ages). Students can purchase a GA Grandstand ticket for just $20 at the gate the day of the event with a valid ID.
H.O.G. members can purchase a H.O.G. Membership Ticket for $45 (all ages), which grants access to both a dedicated parking area and reserved seating.
Fans also have the option to select Portable Stadium Chair Seating for $70 (all ages), which includes a complimentary stadium chair complete with the event logo that can be used in a tiered seating area along the front stretch of the track.
Finally, the VIP Ticket ($99 all ages) provides access to a tented area that overlooks the track, complimentary snacks and non-alcoholic beverages, beer for purchase, and Reserved Grandstand seating.
Click HERE to reserve your seats for the Jackpine Gypsies Short Track I.
Click HERE to reserve your seats for the Jackpine Gypsies Short Track II.
You can also take advantage of a discounted rate by purchasing tickets for both days together HERE.
Both days will see the gates open for fans at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT with Opening Ceremonies scheduled to begin at 10:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. PT.
How to Watch
FloRacing
For those that can’t catch the live action from the circuit, FloRacing is the live streaming home of Progressive AFT. Motorsports fans can subscribe to FloRacing to enjoy over 1000 live motorsports events in 2025. FloSports is available by visiting https://flosports.link/aft or by downloading the FloSports app on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire and Chromecast.
FS1
FOX Sports coverage of the Jackpine Gypsies Short Track I, featuring in-depth features and thrilling onboard cameras, will premiere on FS1 on Saturday, August 16, at 10:00 a.m. ET (7:00 a.m. PT), with the Jackpine Gypsies Short Track II set to air the following day, Sunday, August 17, at 1:00 p.m. ET (10:00 a.m. PT).
For more information on Progressive AFT visit https://www.americanflattrack.com.
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