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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1533905
Round three's follow-up stop in Senoia, Georgia, seemed like the ideal opportunity for him to bolster his status as the rider to beat. Daniels finished as runner- up at Yamaha's home round in 2023 and 2024, and now the rider (10-time Grand National Champion Jared Mees) and bike (Indian FTR750) that had beaten him both times out were no lon - ger a part of the proceedings. But the racing gods had an- other tale they wanted to tell. An initial feint was in the direction of the KTMs. Fastrack Racing's Jarod Vanderkooi quali - fied on top, only to be moved to the back of the grid (along with OTBR's Brandon Price, J&M Log - ging's Henry Wiles, and Mission Foods/Roof Systems-backed Billy Ross) after arriving late to staging before the main. Rackley Racing's Davis Fisher happily took up the reins for KTM, grabbing the early lead and battling up front for the majority of the contest. And, for a moment, the story looked like it might be one of the Cinderella variety when rookie James Ott challenged for the lead on the G&G Yamaha MT-07 during the opening laps of the race. However, the spotlight eventu - ally shifted to shine bright on Harley-Davidson. The narrative was seemingly too juicy for fate to ignore, especially with Mission Roof System's Brandon Robinson back on the once- maligned XG750R and finally ready to take it to checkered- flag glory. Robinson first announced his intention to become the bike's first-ever premier-class race win - ner in 2017 when he signed up as part of a star-studded factory lineup for the powerhouse H-D squad, which was attempting to replace the iconic XR750 with its production-based racer. That proved an arduous chal - lenge for all involved, shaking Robinson's confidence and setting the stage for Harley-Da - vidson's exit as a factory player in the sport. But the bike's continued development and this year's introduction of an all-produc- tion-based ruleset reunited Robinson with the bike at a time when both seemed ready to be winners together. At race half- distance, the Pennsylvanian ripped free from a three- and-four-wide scrap with Daniels, Fisher and Ott, and did what he could to give the bike its maiden win nearly a decade after its debut. That win would ROUND 3 / MARCH 29, 2025 SENOIA RACEWAY / SENOIA, GEORGIA FLAT TRACK I AMA PROGRESSIVE AMERICAN FLAT TRACK P102 Bauman battles KTM-mounted Davis Fisher, who was fourth on the night.