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/1498809
"It feels good. These past couple weeks coming up sec- ond was starting to get old. I was getting a little bit annoyed. To get this win, I feel like I've got a monkey off my back. I just re- ally wanted to get the job done." SINGLES The Parts Unlimited AFT Singles contest shared some obvious similarities with its premier-class counterpart. Here too one of the key figures previously identified as a major player in the future of the sport secured a third win of 2023 to add to what's becoming a sizable title advantage. One big difference, however, is that Red Bull KTM's Kody Kopp is already established as the class' defending champion and heavy favorite rather than an aspiring usurper. The other is how the win actually came about—and that's only following a rollicking, two- wheeled brawl with another emerging ace in Turner Racing Honda's Chase Saathoff. Saathoff made no effort to hide his growing desperation to finally get his maiden Progressive AFT victory—an ambition only made hotter after his teammate, Trent Lowe, accomplished that same feat last time out in Dallas. The second-year pro was fast and aggressive all day long, twice hitting the dirt but otherwise con - sistently scrapping up front. Saathoff threw everything he had at Kopp in their main event matchup, evening lunging through momentarily with less ROUND 6 / MAY 6, 2023 VENTURA RACEWAY / VENTURA, CALIFORNIA FLAT TRACK I PROGRESSIVE AMERICAN FLAT TRACK P94 CLARK CLAIMS WIN Tyler Clark out-dueled Tony Alves for the win in the Hooligans main event. The Grizzly Harley-Davidson/ Montgomery Distillery-backed rider ended up pulling out a small lead at the end to take the checkers 1.157 seconds ahead of Tony Alves, on the Lindy Roofing/ Dead Center Cycles/Big Diel Racing Harley-Da- vidson. KTM-mounted Same Cover (Savage Custom/DG Contracting) rounded out the podium. LUKER'S ROYAL WIN Kenzie Luker captured the win in the Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race. main event. Just 0.592 sepa- rated her from runner-up Morgan Monroe. Zaria Martens was right there in third. Makenna Hiatt and Shasta L'Heureux rounded out the top five. Briefly... Kopp now has a 19-point lead over Daulton Gauthier in the championship. Gauthier had an off night, placing 10th in the Singles main.