Reigning Kicker American Flat Track Singles Champion Tom Drane is back to defend his crown at the Royal Enfield Short Track at Daytona I & II.
Read the Cycle News 2026 American Flat Track Season Preview HERE
This is a press release from AFT…
Daytona Beach, FL (March 3, 2026) – The Grand National Championship is far from alone in opening its title fight when the 2026 Progressive American Flat Track season, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, get underway with this week’s Royal Enfield Short Track at Daytona I & II on Thursday, March 5, and Friday, March 6.
The week will be consequential across categories, as Kicker AFT Singles, AFT AdventureTrackers, AFT ProSport 450, and Royal Enfield BTR join Mission AFT SuperTwins in launching their respective ’26 campaigns at the Daytona Flat Track during Bike Week in Daytona Beach, Florida.
Can Anyone Contain Tom Drane?
Reigning Kicker AFT Singles Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) is back to defend his crown. A ’25 season that opened with an uncharacteristic five-race wins drought was transformed into a display of outright domination by the Australian.
Once Drane rounded into midseason form, he was nearly unstoppable. When he saw his record-setting nine-race podium streak snapped, Drane stormed back with a (still-active) 12-race podium streak.
The final four of those podiums came in victorious fashion, tying him with three-time class champion Kody Kopp for the second-longest win streak in class history and leaving him just a Daytona double away from equaling two-time Kicker AFT Singles king Dallas Daniels for the most ever recorded in succession.
When the dust had settled, Drane claimed the 2025 title by a resounding 86-point margin. As a result, he opens his title defense viewed as the unquestioned favorite.
Leading the Chase
Despite Drane’s apparent position of strength, three riders in particular can provide compelling arguments why 2026 should pose a considerably stiffer challenge.
Drane’s fierce rival, Chase Saathoff (No. 88 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450), is back for another run at the title, now teamed up with 1st Impressions Race Team. Saathoff and Drane have proven well-matched over the years, leading to several memorable (and heated) moments due to repeated last-race clashes. Saathoff missed the final four races of ’25 due to injury, but prior to that, he picked up three wins and remained within striking distance of Drane in the championship fight.
Trevor Brunner (No. 21 KMA Racing/March Equipment Yamaha YZ450F) took up the chase in Saathoff’s absence and ultimately finished as runner-up. Following a season aboard a big twin, Brunner’s 450cc muscle memory came back to him as the season developed. By the end of the year, he was back to his typical front-running standard.
Like Saathoff, Brunner has switched teams for ’26, joining KMA Racing, which puts him back on Yamaha equipment. The last time he rode a YZ450F, he went tooth-and-nail with then-teammate Drane for runner-up honors behind Kopp.
Super sophomore Kage Tadman (No. 28 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) comes into the season with new surroundings as well, joining the factory-backed Turner Racing squad. Last year, Tadman finished fourth in the points in what was a breakout rookie season – highlighted by two mind-boggling wins – despite running only a partial season.
Armed with a year of experience and an offseason of training, Tadman is primed to make a big leap forward.
Breakthrough Candidates
Kicker AFT Singles is a star-maker, a class where riders break out and break through every year. There’s a deep list of candidates with the potential to do the same in 2026. It’s difficult to predict exactly who it might be – few foresaw the rise of Tadman at this time last year. That said, a handful have already shown considerable promise and just a minor uptick in form would put them right in the fight.
Tarren Santero (No. 75 Roof Systems/Vinson Construction Honda CRF450R) earned four podiums a year ago as he continued his gain in momentum and confidence.
Bradon Pfanders (No. 83 Memphis Shades/Corbin Seats Yamaha YZ450F) earned his first professional podium late last season after demonstrating the pace required to do so pretty much from the time he first joined the tour in an injury-shortened 2024.
2024 Nicky Hayden AMA Flat Track Horizon Award winner Walker Porter (No. 10 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) fought his way to a top-five race result as a rookie despite not being eligible to compete until turning 16 midway through the season.
And Jared Lowe (No. 63 Big R Racing/Vinson Construction Honda CRF450R) continues to knock on the door of a maiden podium, gaining strength and speed along the way.
Here Come the Rookies
To the surprise of absolutely no one, there’s another healthy crop of rookies entering Kicker AFT Singles competition in 2026.
Among those to keep an eye on include a pair of young guns supported by strong teams in Jack Brucks (No. 113 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450) and Jackson Sangals (No. 210 BigR Racing/Vinson Construction Honda CRF450R). And don’t overlook Gabriel Boisvert (No. 112 Waters Autobody Racing KTM 450 SX-F), a proven commodity on the Canadian scene who is now set to make his Progressive American Flat Track debut.
450/650/850+
The week will be jam-packed with race action at the Daytona Flat Track.
Thursday’s Royal Enfield Short Track at Daytona I will formally introduce the AFT ProSport 450 class to the festivities, while itself introducing fans to the next-generation of Progressive AFT heroes, several of whom will gain entry to the class with a successful run in Wednesday’s 450 Road to AFT clash at the AMA-sanctioned Mission Foods CTR Showcase Event held at the same venue.
Meanwhile, Friday’s Royal Enfield Short Track at Daytona II will launch the 2026 AFT AdventureTrackers title fight with reigning class champ Dan Bromley (No. 62 Big Momma and Daddy Deep Pockets Suzuki V-Strom 1050) set to pilot Suzuki V-Strom once again. The big-bore Dual Adventure showdown will prove quite the show with these versatile 500+ pound machines banging bars in the close confines of the Daytona Flat Track.
And both nights will feature Royal Enfield’s massively popular and successful and popular Build. Train. Race. (BTR) program. Now entering its seventh season, BTR has served to highlight, celebrate, and encourage the involvement of women in flat track racing since its inception.
Read the Cycle News 2026 American Flat Track Season Preview HERE
For more information, visit www.americanflattrack.com
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