FLAT TRACK
2018 AMERICAN FLAT TRACK SERIES
ROUND 1 / MARCH 18, 2018
DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY / DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA
P104
get by anyone you had to make aggres-
sive moves in turn one, out-brake some-
one. That was about the only choice
you had and after that you had to try to
make the corner, too. "
Baker eventually settled into a lonely
fifth place, well ahead of Jake Johnson
(Estenson Racing/McCandless Truck
Center, Yamaha FZ-07). "I just got a bad
start," said Johnson. "I was just kind of
out towards the outside and kind of got
hung out on the first corner. Once I got
done battling the first couple of laps and
got lined out, the front five were kind of
checked out on me."
Johnson's first ride on the Estenson
mount, however, was far from unevent-
Briar Bauman was caught up in the
early race, frantic stop-and-go pace
of the race. "I started out in sixth and
had to go by Bryan Smith. I don't even
remember what row he started on, but
he was up to fourth at one time, said
Bauman. "I had to get by him and I had
to get by Baker. At one point I was half
a bike length from third, but I was still in
sixth or seventh place."
"We were all so close to each other.
It was just a lot of fun having a bunch
of guys that you can really trust rid-
ing with," added Bauman. "Everybody
was really going into turn one hot, on
the front brake and bouncing off each
other, but in a respectful manner. Jared
Mees was the only person I saw pass-
ing anyone in the right hander. He was
getting into there better than anyone. To
TT specialist Henry
Wiles was hoping
for a win but had
to settle for the
podium at the end
of the night.
(L-R) Beech, Mees and Wiles
celebrate on the first AFT Twins
podium of the year.
