One night after his history-making Mission AFT SuperTwins debut, Kody Kopp (Latus Motors Racing Harley-Davidson XG750R) raised the bar that much higher with an even more convincing repeat performance in the Royal Enfield Short Track at II.
Kopp’s remarkable Daytona Flat Track double victory adds fuel to an already scorching hot Grand National Championship landscape, laying the early groundwork for what should prove to be a scintillating 2026 Progressive American Flat Track season, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing.
Main Event 1
The series brought back the high-stakes, high-intensity Mission Triple Challenge format first introduced in ‘25 for the second night of the Daytona doubleheader. Under those rules, three successive Main Events – a 10-lap sprint, a 15-lapper that pays double points, and a final 20-lap Main which concludes the night with triple the points – combined to determine the evening’s overall winner.
And with lap times in the 17-second range, that first 10-lap battle immediately threw the contenders into the fire.
Reigning Grand National Champion Dallas Daniels (Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07) lunged ahead of surprise polesitter Aidan RoosEvans (FRA Trust Advisors Harley-Davidson XG750R) off the line, but both riders were immediately overtaken by Davis Fisher (Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing KTM 790 Duke).
After a bit of back-and-forth, Daniels settled in on Fisher’s tail, while RoosEvans turned his attention to fending off Briar Bauman (RWR/Jacob Construction/Parts Plus Harley-Davidson XG750R).
Everything was reset on lap 6 of 10, however, when LCQ winner Logan Mcgrane (Schaffers MotorSports/Ryan Varnes Racing KTM 790 Duke) crashed, bringing out a red flag.
Fisher resumed his advantage off the staggered restart and successfully held Daniels at bay to the checkered flag. RoosEvans retained his position in third as well, leaving the major happenings behind the top three.Brandon Robinson (Mission Roof Systems Harley-Davidson XG750R) got a flier of a restart, storming around the outside of Bauman for fourth. While Bauman fought back through, Thursday winner Kopp powered forward, pushing his way past Sammy Halbert (Martin Trucking/OnlyFans/Castrol Yamaha MT-07) and then closing in on Robinson for fifth.
Kopp made good on that threat, overtaking Robinson on the final lap to claim a spot inside the top five.
Meanwhile, Trent Lowe (American Honda/Mission Foods Honda CB750 Hornet), who was forced to burn his provisional start just to make the Main, fought his way up to eighth to secure himself a better starting position and brighter prospects for the subsequent Mains.
Main Event 2
Momentum from Main Event 1 carried over for the aforementioned pair of rising stars. Starting on the inside of Row 2, Kopp continued his aggressive push up the order, first forcing his way under Daniels and then doing the same to Bauman to climb into second on the race’s opening lap. One lap later, the Latus Motors Racing ace slipped past Main Event 1 winner Fisher to take the lead and promptly escape at the front.
Lowe, too, picked up where he left off. Starting from the outside of Row 2, Lowe followed Kopp through the field, moving into second on lap 3. From there, the American Honda-backed Lowe was the only rider who could even keep Kopp honest – finishing just under a second back – while a field packed with proven premier-class heroes was left to tangle for third.
Daniels and Bauman crossed each other up for position on more than one occasion before the Estenson Racing star got a firm hold on fourth. Once there, he reeled in third-placed Fisher. But yet again, he was unable to find a way through at the stripe.
Bauman held on for fifth, followed by Robinson, Henry Wiles (J&M Logging/Ray C’s Harley-Davidson Kawasaki Ninja 650), and Halbert.
Main Event 3
Kopp hustled his Harley-Davidson XG750R into the lead at the start of the third and decisive Main with Lowe and Fisher in close contention. While those three streaked away at the front, Daniels was shuffled down to eighth, trailing Brandon Price (Memphis Shades/Vinson Construction Yamaha MT-07), Halbert, Robinson, and Bauman, in addition to the leading trio.
For a moment, Kopp actually looked vulnerable. He was displaced by both Fisher and Lowe in quick succession with 16 of 20 laps remaining. However, rather than get discouraged, the heralded premier-class rookie regrouped, adjusted, and retaliated. He reclaimed his position out front with 11 laps to go and continued to build upon his advantage, taking the checkered flag with a healthy 1.195-second margin in the end.
That distance was actually Daniels, who made a characteristic charge late. This time, he finally found a way past Fisher, slipping through on the final lap of the final Main. That move also saw him edge ahead of Fisher in the combined results with Kopp (5-1-1) finishing first, followed by Daniels (2-4-2) and Fisher (1-3-3).
While Robinson passed Lowe late in Main Event 3, Lowe (8-2-5) wound up fourth in the combined order, followed closely by Robinson (6-6-4). Title hopeful Bauman (4-5-7) was credited with sixth overall.
As a result, Kopp leads the championship chase following the opening two rounds with a perfect 46 points. Defending champ Daniels ranks second at 38, followed by Fisher with 29.
Kopp said, “I knew what I had to do, and I know what I’m capable of – that’s all I’ve got to say. I work my butt off for this, and this is what I want to do for my life. To have this opportunity with George Latus, Bob Lanphere, Dave Zanotti, Michelle Disalvo… this whole team has been unreal to work with.”
SINGLES
The Kicker AFT Singles class delivered an absolute stunner for an encore to Thursday’s opener.Friday’s wild Main Event saw the emergence of a maiden winner in Bradon Pfanders (Memphis Shades/Corbin Seats Yamaha YZ450F). However, deep into the contest it appeared that distinction would actually go to rookie Jordan Beaulac (Picotte Motosport/Dofralex gasGas MC 450F).
The race-shattering moments came early and often with Tom Drane (Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) and Chase Saathoff (1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450) adding yet another chapter to their rivalry in the race’s opening stages. While actively disputing the lead, Drane ran up the inside of Saathoff and the two made contact, leaving Saathoff on the ground in a reversal of their clash here in ‘24.
Saathoff picked up his bike and continued on at the back of the pack, while Beaulac picked up the pieces of the incident to steal away the lead in the melee.
From there the young Canadian ripped open a gap of more than a second, with Logan Eisenhard (Eisenhard Racing/Pags Powersports KTM 450 SX-F) in second and Drane in third.
The race took another massive turn with just under two minutes to go when Saathoff suffered his second fall of the Main, this one bringing out the red flag.
Once back underway, Beaulac and Eisenhard jumped back into first and second off the line but made simultaneous mistakes while working the opening lap of the restart, stalling their bikes and splitting the field.
Original polesitter Tarren Santero (Roof Systems/Vinson Construction Honda CRF450R) came out of the chaos with lead, followed closely by Pfanders. Meanwhile, Drane found himself in fifth, trailing Justin Jones (Fairway Ford Chevy GMC Yamaha YZ450F 450) and Trevor Brunner (KMA Racing/March Equipment Yamaha YZ450F).
A five-way fight for first played out for several laps with Pfanders at last securing the lead with just two to go.
An undeniable Drane then forced his way up to second, creating an opportunity for Kage Tadman (American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) to grab the final spot on the box while following in the Aussie’s wake.
Santero came home fourth, with 2015 Daytona winner Jones fifth. Saathoff somehow made his way up to sixth, while the unfortunate duo of Eisenhard and Beaulac could do no better than 12th and 14th, respectively, after earlier looking like a strong bet to land the top two spots on the box.
The win is the first of Pfanders’ AFT Singles career after previously demonstrating front-running on multiple occasions since making his Progressive AFT debut in 2024.
“This is unreal,” Pfanders said. “I never had a real, legitimate podium, and to do it with a win is insane. My whole family is here. I got to give (my) little sister a victory lap that’s been promised for three years. I can’t thank everybody behind me enough. I’m glad I can repay their faith in me.”
As a result of his opening week 1-2, reigning champ Drane holds an early advantage in the ‘26 title fight with 42 points. Pfanders is second at 33, followed by Saathoff with 31.
AFT AdventureTrackers
The 2026 AFT AdventureTrackers opener was a test of patience, determination and toughness.
The contenders were clearly caught off guard by the changing track conditions at the start of the Main Event, with William Harris (OTB Racing/Memphis Shades BMW F 900 GS), Austin Luczak Memphis Shades/Corbin/Sody Concrete BMW F 900 GS), and class champion Dan Bromley (Big Momma and Daddy Deep Pockets Suzuki V-Strom 1050) all crashed while still on the race’s opening lap.
Bromley’s fall was particularly brutal and prevented him from re-entering the fray in the restart.
Incredibly, with all the riders tiptoeing their way around as they searched for grip, the two who pushed the hardest were remounted crashers Harris and Luczak.Harris worked into to the lead early and held it until nearly the very end, with Luczak fighting his way through with just seconds to go on the clock.
While Luczak and Harris completed the BMW 1-2, Matt Beland (Memphis Shades/Corbin/Sody Concrete Honda Africa Twin) made a late pass on Michael Hill (Weirbach Racing/Berry Bros Triumph Tiger 1200) to complete the podium.
Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race. (BTR)
Emma Gottsch (Royal Enfield/Parts Unlimited/Arai/Alpinestars) finished off her Daytona double in Friday’s Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race. (BTR) Main Event.
Gottsch was again the class of the field, breaking away to secure her third career win at the venue after going 1-2 in last year’s opener.
She was followed to the flag by Julia Hess (Royal Enfield/Parts Unlimited/Arai/Alpinestars) and Madicela Rodriguez (Royal Enfield/Parts Unlimited/Arai/Alpinestars) to complete a repeat of last night’s podium. CN
FRIDAY NIGHT
SUPERTWINS (Top 10 Overall)
| 1. | Kody Kopp | (H-D) |
| 2. | Dallas Daniels | (Yam) |
| 3. | Davis Fisher | (KTM) |
| 4. | Trent Lowe | (Hon) |
| 5. | Brandon Robinson | (H-D) |
| 6. | Briar Bauman | (H-D) |
| 7. | Henry Wiles | (Kaw) |
| 8. | Sammy Halbert | (Yam) |
| 9. | Aidan RoosEvans | (H-D) |
| 10. | Brandon Price | (Yam) |
SINGLES (Top 10)
| 1. | Bradon Pfanders | (Yam) |
| 2. | Tom Drane | (Yam) |
| 3. | Kage Tadman | (Hon) |
| 4. | Tarren Santero | (Hon) |
| 5. | Justin Jones | (Yam) |
| 6. | Chase Saathoff | (Hus) |
| 7. | Trevor Brunner | (Yam) |
| 8. | Jack Brucks | (Hus) |
| 9. | Ryder Reese | (KTM) |
| 10. | Jared Lowe | (Hon) |
https://www.americanflattrack.com/results/default
Thursday Night (March 6)
The 2026 Progressive AMA American Flat Track season kicked off in unforgettable fashion on Thursday night’s season-opening Royal Enfield Short Track at Daytona I as Kody Kopp (Latus Motors Racing Harley-Davidson XG750R) became the only rider in Mission AFT SuperTwins history to claim victory in their very first attempt.
While widely expected to contend as a rookie, Kopp’s unprecedented achievement at the Daytona Flat Track still served to put the established powers of the Grand National Championship on notice. Perhaps most impressively, Kopp’s triumph didn’t even come as an upset by the time the main rolled around, as the triple Kicker AFT Singles king was in dominant form much of the night; Kopp posted the fastest time in qualifying, won his heat with relative ease, and then took the checkered flag in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge.
Despite that stirring lead-up performance, however, the main itself proved a brutally tense affair.
Reigning class champion Dallas Daniels (No. 1 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07) entered the opener as the pre-event favorite, having won five of the last six races in Daytona Beach (incidentally, a record mirrored by Kopp in 450cc action). But the Estenson Racing superstar found himself nearly two seconds adrift of Kopp less than halfway into the main after getting caught up between Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods Honda CB750 Hornet) and Sammy Halbert (Martin Trucking/OnlyFans/Castrol Yamaha MT-07) as the race took its shape.
Daniels certainly fought back like a champion, however, slowly chipping away at that deficit once he established himself in second. He slashed the gap to 0.500 with a minute-and-a-half to go and then closed right on the Latus Motors Racing pilot’s rear wheel as they stormed past the two-laps-to-go flags while negotiating lapped traffic.
Despite coming under immense pressure, Kopp appeared set to hold strong when he took the white flag. Moments later, however, the race was stopped after third-place runner Lowe crashed, and his bike went up in flames.
By rule, the race was called complete at that point, locking up Kopp’s place in the record books. Daniels was awarded second, officially 0.150 seconds back, while Henry Wiles (J&M Logging/Ray C’s Harley-Davidson Kawasaki Ninja 650) – who finished third in this same race a year ago – was elevated to the final spot on the podium due to Lowe’s misfortune.
Wiles put himself in a position to earn that distinction after passing fellow series part-timer and ST ace Sammy Halbert (Martin Trucking/OnlyFans/Castrol Yamaha MT-07) with less than a minute on the clock.
Afterward, Kopp said, “I’ve dreamed of this since I was five years old, ever since I knew what flat track racing really was and understood it. By no means is this how I wanted to win my first national though – I want to come back tomorrow night and prove it with an actual checkered flag. Dallas kept me honest. It’s no joke racing against him – I haven’t raced against him really since my rookie year. I know the task at hand – or at least, I’m starting to learn it – because he’s a real challenge out there, for sure.”
While Kopp gave the Harley-Davidson XG750R its 10th-ever premier-class victory, the bike’s usual standard-bearers endured significantly more difficult outings.
Two-time Grand National Champion Briar Bauman (RWR/Jacob Construction/Parts Plus Harley-Davidson XG750R) crashed after being run up into the wall moments after the original start, forcing an immediate stoppage. Despite restarting from the back of the pack, Bauman snaked his way forward to an eventual seventh.
That was one position behind Brandon Robinson (Mission Roof Systems Harley-Davidson XG750R), who had to work his way into the main via the LCQ after encountering mechanical issues in his heat. Like Bauman, Robinson charged up through the field but fell 0.150 seconds short of a top-five result, ending his race just behind fifth-place finisher Davis Fisher (Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing KTM 790 Duke).
Dan Bromley (Memphis Shades/Lisa Niner Racing Suzuki GSX-8S) came home eighth, while Ben Lowe (Rackley Racing/Roof Systems KTM 790 Duke) and Dalton Gauthier (Parts Bros/D&D Cycles/Fairway Ford Aprilia Tuareg 660) rounded out the top ten.
Kopp won’t just have a chance to get that main checkered flag tomorrow – he’ll have three as Friday’s Royal Enfield Short Track at Daytona II Mission AFT SuperTwins rematch will be waged under the Mission Triple Challenge format.
AFT Singles
Tom Drane (Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) opened his 2026 Kicker AFT Singles title defense in the same victorious fashion by which he closed out the 2025 season to secure his shiny new #1 plate.
The Australian picked up right where he left off, carrying over his season-ending four-race win streak and upping it to five – but the fifth did not come easily.
A chaotic opening several laps saw Drane, archrival Chase Saathoff (1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450), an on-form Logan Eisenhard (Eisenhard Racing/Pags Powersports KTM 450 SX-F), and ‘15 Daytona winner Justin Jones (Fairway Ford Chevy GMC Yamaha YZ450F) swap positions relentlessly as they jockeyed for position.
And when Drane finally settled into the lead and stretched out nearly a second at the front, all that effort was erased due to a red flag that flew in response to an incident involving Tarren Santero (Roof Systems/Vinson Construction Honda CRF450R) and Kage Tadman (American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R).
Saathoff made the most of the do-over, immediately jumping on Drane and snatching away the lead with just over two minutes and two laps remaining to determine the winner.
The Aussie then sought long and hard for a way to claw back past and at last found it with only a half-minute to go.
“I wasn’t sure what was going to happen with the restart,” Drane admitted. “I got a decent start, but Chase put up a hell of a battle. It’s great to get the win. This is a great way to start the season, and I couldn’t have done it without my whole Estenson Racing Monster Energy Yamaha team. They put in an awesome effort in the offseason, and we’re here to do the job.”
The ever-present Trevor Brunner (KMA Racing/March Equipment Yamaha YZ450F) made his way up the order to grab the final spot on the box. Behind the usual suspects came rookie Jack Brucks (1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450), who made a head-turning class debut in fourth.
Eisenhard worked back past Jones with just over one lap remaining to earn the final spot in the top five. Canadian Jordan Beaulac (Picotte Motosport/Dofralex GasGas MC 450F) finished seventh, followed by Bradon Pfanders (Memphis Shades/Corbin Seats Yamaha YZ450F), Tadman, and Ryder Reese (Fairway Ford/JMC/Roof Systems KTM 450 SX-F).
AFT ProSport 450
Sam Drane (Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) joined his older brother in taking a win on the night by claiming the first victory of the AFT ProSport 450 era.
Drane overhauled Ryder Bitz-Hay (Bitz-Hay Racing KTM 450 SX-F) to earn the Road to AFT Amateur Invitational victory after finishing second to him in Wednesday’s 450 Road to AFT Main at the Mission Foods CTR Showcase Event, a contest that earned the riders their place on Thursday’s entry list.
Jed Fyffe (Thriller Motorsports/Yamaha Australia YZ450F) and Jett Katarzy (1st Impressions Husqvarna FC450) finished just behind Bitz-Hay in third and fourth, respectively, while Brody Hanson (Hanson Racing KTM 450 SX-F) completed the top five.
Drane said, “I had to work hard for that one. Ryder didn’t make a mistake the whole time until that one time, and I got through. It was a great race and very good fun.”
Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race. (BTR)
Emma Gottsch (Royal Enfield/Parts Unlimited/Arai/Alpinestars) repeated her season-opening feat of a year ago, once again securing the first win of the Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race. (BTR) season. Goottsch leapt out into the lead from the start and put her head down en route to a lopsided win.
She was followed to the checkered flag by BTR rookie Julia Heess (Royal Enfield/Parts Unlimited/Arai/Alpinestars), who just managed to keep second-year rider Madicela Rodriguez (Royal Enfield/Parts Unlimited/Arai/Alpinestars) at bay.CN
AFT SUPERTWINS (Top 10)
| 1. | Kody Kopp | (H-D) |
| 2. | Dallas Daniels | (Yam) |
| 3. | Trent Lowe | (Hon) |
| 4. | Sammy Halbert | (Yam) |
| 5. | Davis Fisher | (KTM) |
| 6. | Brandon Robinson | (H-D) |
| 7. | Briar Bauman | (H-D) |
| 8. | Dan Bromley | (Suz) |
| 9. | Ben Lowe | (KTM) |
| 10. | Dalton Gauthier | (Apr) |
AFT SINGLES (Top 10)
| 1. | Tom Drane | (Yam) |
| 2. | Chase Saathoff | (Hus) |
| 3. | Trevor Brunner | (Yam) |
| 4. | Jack Brucks | (Hus) |
| 5. | Logan Eisenhard | (KTM) |
| 6. | Justin Jones | (Yam) |
| 7. | Jordan Beaulac | (GG) |
| 8. | Bradon Pfanders | (Yam) |
| 9. | Kage Tadman | (Hon) |
| 10. | Ryder Reese | (KTM) |
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