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/1531887
2025 Mission Foods CTR Flat Track Series Takes Off M ore than 800 flat track racers were at Florida's Callahan Speedway on January 16-17 for the annual AMA Winter Throwdown, which was also points-paying rounds one and two for the 2025 Mission Foods CTR Flat Track Series. The growl of a Florida Panther can be intimidating, but every January in Callahan, a louder roar echoes through the ether. Flat track motorcycles erupted to life for the annual Mission Foods Cory Texter Promotions Winter Throwdown. Hosting north of 800 entries across the weekend, the event took on an added level of prestige this year. Already an AMA Major Event, in 2025, the Winter Throwdown would also kick off a new AMA Major Cham - pionship: The Mission Foods CTR Flat Track Series. Racing began on Thursday night with the King of the Throw- down 1v1 bracket race, in which three-time American Flat Track Singles Champion Kody Kopp took top honors over Chad Cose. The Mica, Washington, rider is set for a change of scenery in 2025, competing in the MotoAmerica Talent Cup, but Kopp showed he has not lost a step on the dirt. With inclement weather loom - ing, race and track officials made the decision to move the races planned for Saturday to Friday. Thus, the 16 hours of Callahan commenced. Nicknamed "Shark Bait," Cruise Texter morphed into the apex predator of the 50cc classes, sweeping the two days of rac - ing in the 50cc Air Cooled and 50cc Chain classes. Not to be outdone, Bakersfield, California's Jackson Joiner added a double sweep of his own in the 65cc and 85cc classes. Several other riders would "break out the broom" and clean up at the Throwdown. Davey Durelle collected four total wins in the 50+ and 60+ classes. Shawn Raggio was dominant on the Hooligan while William Cato (30+) and Greg Boyle (40+) also left Callahan Speedway with two race wins. Logan Higgins claimed a victory and the overall championship in the SuperMini class but was bested by Cash Carter in the sec - ond main event of the Winter Clas- sic. Eli Block and Jackson Settle would split Open Novice wins, with Block leaving as the overall winner. After finding success in the first Vintage main event, Benjamin Miller went down in his heat race for the second program, opening the door for Alex Childs to take the WIND IN THE P58 Cruise Texter swept both days of racing in the 50cc Air Cooled and 50cc Chain classes. PHOTOS: ERIN FAY