What should be happy hunting grounds as Yamaha’s home circuit, Senoia Raceway has long proven something of a bogey track for reigning Grand National Champion Dallas Daniels.
By Chris Martin | Photography by Tim Lester & Kristen Lassen
It’s not that Estenson Racing Yamaha’s Daniels had performed poorly in past visits to Senoia; the opposite, in fact. In three previous attempts, he’d always battled for victory before securing a podium finish to leave Georgia with his championship lead intact.
However, he hadn’t yet won there. And that’s despite coming in each time with the momentum of a victorious Daytona opener on his side and a huge contingent of Yamaha employees on site to urge him on.
Those relative hardships had also proven microcosmic previews of the season ahead. 2023 and ’24 saw Daniels go head-to-head with Jared Mees before Mees ultimately claimed top honors. And while he at last secured his maiden premier-class title a year ago, the showdown at Senoia foreshadowed the immense challenge presented by Rick Ware Racing’s Briar Bauman and, to a lesser extent, Mission Roof Systems’ Brandon Robinson, on their emergent Harley-Davidson XG750Rs.
But 2026 would prove different, even in its lead-up. Rather than arriving satisfied with recent Daytona domination, Daniels was hungry after twice being humbled there, again by an XG750R, but this time under the control of Latus Motors Racing’s superstar rookie Kody Kopp.
Saturday in Senoia proceeded promisingly enough. Daniels won his heat and followed that up with a victory in the four-lap Mission #2Fast2Tasy Challenge. But he’d done similar things in the past before coming up just short in the main event.
There was no disguising the challenge he faced. Lined up alongside his polesitting MT07 were the respective Harleys of Bauman, Kopp and Robinson. The bikes served as a reminder that the track was the scene of the XGs’ first-ever triumph, earned in resounding 1-2 fashion here 12 months back, a race that kicked off an active nine-race Short Track win streak for the machine.
Daniels accomplished his initial goal of grabbing the lead off the line. From there, he held on down low, established a scintillating pace, and dared anyone to try to find a faster line and come around the outside.
Kopp was the only rider who proved capable of sticking with him in his getaway attempt. But rather than experiment with his lines, the three-time 450cc champ elected to instead apply pressure from directly behind and see if he couldn’t get Daniels to wilt under the immense expectations of his position and the setting.
But the champion did not crack; he was quick and consistent to the end, securing his and Yamaha’s first Mission AFT SuperTwins win in Senoia.
“What a great night,” Daniels said. “I’m so pumped to get this win for Yamaha. We went to the plant and the headquarters these last few days. And everyone there is so invested in their racing program and to us. And their love for flat track and their passion for it is so strong. The essence and our racing partnership with Yamaha just seems right.
“It’s amazing to get this win for them. This place has been a little bit of a struggle for me the last several years. I’ve been on the podium but never won. And I’ve been close. Tonight was another close battle, but it was a win. And it’s very special to get that for them, the whole team, and all of our supporters. It was an amazing night.”
The reversal places Kopp in Daniels’ former place, clinging tight to a slim title lead built upon his Daytona success. His continued stellar form at two very different Short Tracks suggests he could be in this championship fight for the long haul.
“I want to give it up to my team,” Kopp said. “That was not our greatest day. I mean, we just had some adversity. We fought through a little bit, but by the main, Dave [Zanotti], Michelle [Disalvo], and the whole team gave me a bike that was rideable. I rode my butt off out there. Dallas, you can’t break him. He’s a champion for a reason. I was just trying to sit there, stalk him, and make him make a little mistake. I was hopeful he would, but he didn’t. But I’m super happy. If anything, it took a little pressure off. I’m still a rookie, and we’re here to learn.”
Third went to Bauman following a major and semi-contentious fight with Rackley Racing’s Davis Fisher, who took some exception to his adversary’s defensive tactics.
Fisher stormed up from behind by way of a higher line, but once he arrived and started looking for a way past, Bauman pinched off Fisher’s overtake attempt via the wall. The two went back and forth from there, squaring each other up before Bauman ultimately solidified the position.
Despite finishing third at a track where he won a year ago, it was still a promising outing for Bauman, who is still learning to gel with new crew chief Bryan Bigelow. The uptick in form comes at an opportune time with two more victorious venues from ’25 (Ventura Raceway and Silver Dollar Speedway) up next on the season’s slate.
Meanwhile, Robinson locked down the final spot in the top five. He was followed there by yet another H-D pilot in class rookie Aidan RoosEvans, a two-and-four-wheel racer who has reliably flexed his aptitude around Senoia’s banked clay track over the years.
While Daniels successfully defended Yamaha’s home turf and Harley reeled in four positions in the top six, the bottom half of the top 10 served as a showcase for the series’ more eclectic nature following last year’s switch to the exclusive use of production-based race bikes.
Behind OTB Racing Yamaha’s seventh-placed Brandon Price, Trent Lowe came home eighth on the Turner Racing Honda CB750 Hornet, followed by Parts Bros/D&D Cycle’s Aprilia Tuareg 660-mounted Dalton Gauthier, and J & M Logging’s Kawasaki Ninja 650-armed Henry Wiles.
As previously referenced, Kopp now carries a four-point advantage over Daniels (65-61) into round four, followed by Fisher (43), Bauman (39) and Robinson (38).
AFT Singles
Daniels’ victory was actually the grand finale in what had already been a standout round for Yamaha at a home track where it had never previously won in any class.
While Daniels’ teammate and fellow defending champion, Tom Drane, seemed the most likely candidate to put Yamaha over the top in Senoia in Kicker AFT Singles action, the feat was actually accomplished by KMA Racing’s Trevor Brunner.
But it only came about after Brunner tracked down early leader Walker Porter, Turner Honda’s up-and-coming sophomore who earlier won his heat in convincing fashion.
But after Brunner diced him up, Porter’s line went away on him, and he quickly dropped several more positions down the order.
Brunner’s challenge came instead from Fairway Ford/Chevy/GMC Yamaha’s Justin Jones and 1st Impressions Racing Husqvarna’s Chase Saathoff, who finished a relatively close second and third, respectively.
“I missed the first practice, which threw me behind the eight ball,” Jones said. “But we got things turned in the right direction and just kept making good changes. I honestly didn’t feel any pressure. You know, I’m kind of a black sheep. Everybody kind of writes me off, and, you know, every now and then I pull a rabbit out of the hat and make something happen.”
While just fractionally behind in fourth, Drane was never a real contender for the win. However, the Aussie’s strong double opener sees him retain the championship lead over Brunner, Saathoff, and Jones (56-50-47-44), even though his podium streak was snapped at 14.
Porter was edged late by teammate Kage Tadman, who seized the final spot in the top five.
AFT ProSport 450
But it neither Daniels nor Brunner who actually handed Yamaha its first Senoia main-event win. That honor went to Estenson Racing’s junior ace Sam Drane (younger brother of AFT Singles champ, Tom), who dominated the AFT ProSport 450-powered Road to AFT Invitational race.
Drane tore open a sizable gap on the race’s opening lap and never looked back, with Paige Racing GasGas’ Jake Paige and Bitz-Hay Racing KTM’s Ryder Bitz-Hay finishing a distant second and third at the checkered flag.
It’s been quite a month for Drane, who scored a combined three wins and a runner-up across his Progressive AFT ProSport 450 and MotoAmerica Twins Cup duties in March. CN
2026 AMA American Flat Track Round 3 Results
AFT SuperTwins (Top 10)
- Dallas Daniels (Yam) 28 Laps
- Kody Kopp (H-D) +0.988
- Briar Bauman (H-D) +2.771
- Davis Fisher (KTM) +3.087
- Brandon Robinson (H-D) +4.970
- Aidan RoosEvans (H-D) +8.542
- Brandon Price (Yam) +8.620
- Trent Lowe (Hon) +10.434
- Dalton Gauthier (Apr) +12.953
- Henry Wiles (Kaw) +13.356
AFT Singles (Top 10)
- Trevor Brunner (Yam) 22 Laps
- Justin Jones (Yam) +0.721
- Chase Saathoff (Hus) +1.406
- Tom Drane (Yam) +1.703
- Kage Tadman (Hon) +5.488
- Walker Porter (Hon) +6.072
- Tarren Santero (Hon) +6.134
- Bradon Pfanders (Yam)+ 6.241
- Jared Lowe (Hon) +6.492
- Jordan Jean (Yam) +7.734
