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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1476305
ROUND 12 / AUGUST 14, 2022 CASTLE ROCK RACE PARK / CASTLE ROCK, WASHINGTON P96 FLAT TRACK I PROGRESSIVE AMERICAN FLAT TRACK last Estenson Racing Yamaha's Trevor Brunner for his second win of the year. Kopp's teammate, Max Whale, rounded out the podium after holding off Gauthier's young Turner Racing Honda teammate, Chase Saathoff for the position. Despite his costly crash, Kopp managed to claw his way for- ward to tenth. He still extended his points lead, however, with rival Morgen Mischler finishing behind in 12th. Kopp now leads 243-197 with just five races re- maining on the calendar. PRODUCTION TWINS The Mission Production Twins class took a winding road in get- ting there, but it ultimately ended up about where both data and iels' '21 effort. That season the Yamaha ace suffered through something of a midseason slump, including crashing at the home-state TT he so desperately wanted to win. Regardless, Daniels was crowned Parts Unlimited AFT Singles Champion at the end of both seasons, and Kopp likely will as well. The speed to grab further wins is still obvious and his points lead immense. There are additional reminders of his remarkable talent in the days ahead, but at least for a spell, the spotlight has shone else- where. At Castle Rock, it lit up '19 class champion Dalton Gauthier, who kept his wits through three red flags and four starts to out- Perhaps he just suspects he's got something hidden up his sleeve and was merely executing the latest twist in their long-form mental game with his impromptu concession speech. AFT SINGLES The comparisons linking Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Kody Kopp's '22 title campaign and Dallas Daniels' dominant '20 season were obvious. Were. In fact, with six wins in the first eight rounds, Kopp seemed des- tined to smash Daniels' single season record of eight victories taken during that magical year. Three races following the conclusion of Kopp's four-race win streak, his season is starting to more closely resemble Dan- Gauthier (79) had his hands full with runner- up Trevor Brunner (21).