The Daytona TT showed that change seems to be the operative word for 2017 at AMA Pro Racing. Change of the series name (American Flat Track). Change of class names (AFT Twins and AFT Singles). Change of race format (Four Heats, a Last Chance, Two Semis and a Main for each class). The biggest change however is that the AFT Twins class will run at all of the events, Half Mile, Mile, Short Track and TT.
Every year since 1989 the Grand National Series has kicked off in Daytona with a short track or two, first at Municipal Stadium then in the Daytona International Speedway parking lot. This year the opener was moved inside the Daytona International Speedway.
The speedway’s tri-oval that normally sees stock cars spinning or Supercross bikes hip hopping across it, was opened for the first time to the American Flat Track series on the purpose-built Daytona TT.
AMA Pro Racing’s Chief Competition Officer, Chris Carr assumed the mission of building a race track within the narrow confines between the banked front straight and pit road. “We’ve dedicated a lot of money and resources to building this track,” said Carr. “We’ve worked around the clock, bringing in special dirt and removing the Supercross track. They (Daytona International Speedway) have put a lot into this. The whole width of the track (outside to outside) is only 140 feet. The length is over 900 feet, but that is all the width we have to work with.”
The Daytona TT track’s long straights coupled with the tight turns and “roller” jump received “mixed” reviews from the riders ranging from “It is what it is” to “Everybody has to ride the same track”. However the track was hard on rider and machinery alike, with many run offs, slide downs and tip overs throughout the night. Lost brakes and chains also contributed to rider woes.
Also adding to the anticipation, for the first time in years, two full factory race teams are being fielded. Indian has hired three current or former Grand National champions to ride their Scout FTR750. Bryan Smith (2016), Jared Mees (2012, 2014 & 2015) and Brad Baker (2013) are the new Indian “Wrecking Crew”.
Not to be outdone, the Harley-Davidson Motor Company has hired their own champions to ride their XG750R. Kenny Coolbeth (2006, 2007 & 2008) and Jake Johnson (2010 & 2011) are joined by 26 year old Brandon Robinson, who finished third in last year’s point standings.
While the factory teams have received most of the attention, there are many very capable “privateer” teams waiting to see just how competitive and consistent the new teams will be.
The first test would be the unknown Daytona TT as everybody struggled to find the right combinations of go and whoa on the tight slippery track.
One of the strong privateer’s Briar Bauman set fast qualifying time on his Zanotti Racing Kawasaki, but troubles in his semi left him on the sidelines for the main. The Indian team looked strong, while Harley-Davidson struggled.
Indian’s Jared Mees and Bryan Smith won their heats, followed by second and third place finishes in their semis sending them into the final. Brad Baker was involved in a heat race crash that sent him to the hospital to be checked out. He was released later that evening.
Under the orange and black tent of Harley-Davidson Kenny Coolbeth was struggling to come to terms with the Daytona TT track and Jake Johnson was either taking soil samples or pushing his bike back to the pits. Brandon Robinson was doing fair until he lost a chain in his semi and that ended his night.
G&G Racing / Machete Energy backed Mike Rush had edged Mees in the first semi on his Yamaha while Rod Lake Racing / RKE / Hart Racing’s Bronson Bauman won the second semi on his Kawasaki.
When the 18-rider field blasted their way down the long “starting” chute they were greeted by an extremely tight 180 degree hairpin turn that led down the front straight passed the grandstands and what would become the finish line twenty five laps later.
“I knew if I could just get out there and ride my own race that I’d be fine. I nailed a badass start,” said Mees. “You come off the line and you go around a tight, tight, tight corner. You are waiting for a guy to just blow it up the inside of you and run you down. I got into the corner and thought, alright, get off the corner. I got off the corner smooth.”
Rush was able to shadow Mees for seven laps, but another young lion, Jarod Vanderkooi pushed his Kawasaki by first Don Mullen’s Kawasaki then Rush.
By the half way point the leaders were working their way through traffic and the finish positions looked to be set. Suddenly on lap 23 Vanderkooi coasted to a stop and the former Rookie of the Year was done. “Through the switchback it just fell on its face. I don’t know what to say. It’s just unbelievable what happened, but things happen,” said Vanderkooi.
Bryan Smith had steadily worked his way through the carnage and was in great position to take advantage of Vanderkooi’s misfortune. “I didn’t know that I was in second. I knew I had a decent run going because I didn’t crash,” said Smith. “I didn’t run off the track like some guys. To get second I’m more than happy. My goal was top five.”
The man who may be the “King” of the Peoria TT, Henry Wiles filled out the podium with a strong finish on his DPC Racing Kawasaki. Wiles bike was a special build that looked more like a DTX single than the rest of the twins. “I didn’t know what place I was running. I just saw a guy with a number one in front of me. I was trying to pass him if I could,” said Wiles. “Once I got behind him I was giving up way too much down the front. Not every lap, but I would catch right up through the switchback. I would be right there on him. It seemed like I could go well through the first corner but I gave up a little too much.”
Jake Johnson was able to salvage the day on his Harley-Davidson XG750R by fighting his way to a fourth place finish. “I hit the ground twice. I had a chain come off. Everything that could happen to me today happened,” said Johnson. “I ended up having to use my provisional, just to get into the semi. Once the semi came around was the first time I kind of got into a flow. All day was a challenge, I crashed early on and ripped my foot peg off. Something was always happening.”
Bronson Bauman (Kawasaki), Don Mullen (Kawasaki), Sammy Halbert (Yamaha), Jeffrey Carver (Kawasaki), Andrew Luker (Kawasaki) and Jake Shoemaker (Kawasaki) filled out the top ten.
The fifteen lap Daytona TT AFT Singles main was a four rider war with Wyatt Maguire (Waters Autobody) KTM, Jesse Janisch (West Bend Harley-Davidson) Honda, Kolby Carlile (K.C. Cycle / Team 95) Honda and Dalton Gauthier (Estenson Logistics) Yamaha all battling away.
In a great finish Gauthier came away with the win over Maguire, Carlile and Janisch. “I just charged the whole race,” said Gauthier. “It was a fight the whole race. We all battled hard. I’m just so pumped right now. I’m on a new team this year and I’m finally on good bikes. I can’t believe I just won that. It was amazing.”
“Definitely after the checkered flag was flown I was a little upset,” said Anderson. “We are on the first podium ever and it’s in Daytona. It’s pretty awesome. It hurts a little bit, they should have thrown the blue flag. That’s just racing I guess. I knew on the last lap that Dalton made a little mistake coming out of corner one. I knew that pass was coming. I almost got him back coming down the front stretch.”
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