Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1268930
IN THE WIND P30 dominator enters the 2020 fight rebuilt, refocused and more pow- erful than it's been in years. Now overseen by title-winning crew chief Ricky Howerton, the Harley Factory Flat Track Team is loaded with talent. Former Grand National Champion Bryan Smith (Harley-Davidson/Vance & Hines XG750R Rev X) spearheads the effort, flanked by the up-and- coming Jarod Vanderkooi and supremely gifted rookie Dalton Gauthier. Yamaha has its own pair of aces in 2019 two-race winner JD Beach (Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) and '17 AFT Singles champ Kolby Carlile (Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT). In addition to the Wrecking Crew, Indian Motorcycle will again be represented by a deep bench of potential race winners on private FTR750s, including the likes of Brandon Robinson (HCRR/Ben Evans Racing Indian FTR750) and Sammy Hal- bert (Coolbeth-Nila Racing/Roof Systems of Dallas, Texas Indian FTR750). The 2020 Roof Systems AFT Singles presented by Russ Brown Motorcycle Attorneys class is once again a wide-open affair with reigning champion Gaultier, '18 champ Dan Bromley (Roof Systems of Dallas, Texas Indian FTR750), and '17 champ Carlile all graduating to the AFT SuperTwins class for 2020. The schedule reshuffle should seriously elevate the title chanc- es of the category's all-time winningest rider, Shayna Texter (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-F). But even without a bevy of TTs to bring her back to the pack, Texter figures to be pushed to the brink by a pair of former premier class standouts in Mikey Rush (Estenson Rac- ing Yamaha YZ450F) and Henry Wiles (RMR Honda/Honda Talon CRF450R). Rush made his transition to AFT Singles competition a year ago with the RMR squad and came through in a huge way, scoring four wins and finishing as the championship runner-up, just six points removed from the title. With Rush moving over to the Estenson Racing outfit for '20, his slot at RMR has been filled by Wiles. That's a monumental development for the class' bal- ance of power, as Wiles—who boasts the 2009 and 2010 GNC1 Singles crowns and 26 career premier-class victories aboard four-stroke singles—is arguably the greatest single-cylinder racer in AFT history. While Texter, Rush and Wiles have been doing business at the sharp end for years, the class has historically been a venue for young riders to showcase their abilities at the professional level. And it will remain so in 2020 if 17-year-old prodigy Dallas Dan- iels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) has anything to say about it. In just a half-season of competition, Daniels lit the class up a year ago, explod- ing onto the scene with a win, three podiums, and five top-five finishes in the final seven races of '19. Reigning AFT Production Twins king Cory Texter (G&G Racing/Roof Systems Yamaha MT-07) is back to defend his title. Texter opened his '19 campaign in scintillating form, tearing off three straight wins to start the year and then rode the wave of fast starts to the throne. He was pushed down the stretch by four challengers who each won two races apiece. While two of them, Gauthier and Carlile, have since moved on to the premier class, 2019 runner- up Ryan Varnes (Varnes Racing/ RoyBuilt Don's Kawasaki Ninja 650) and fifth-ranked Chad Cose (Wally Brown Racing Harley- Davidson XG750R) are back for another shot at the title. The versatile James Rispoli (Latus Motors Racing Harley- Davidson XG750R) promises to be a factor as well. After suc- cessfully transitioning back to dirt track racing following a decade focused on pavement, Rispoli should only be that much stronger in 2020 with 2000 GNC Champion Joe Kopp serving as his crew chief. For more information on American Flat Track visit www. americanflattrack.com. CN