The first race of Progressive AFT 2024 is just around the corner, and it’s promising to be an exciting year for the Mission SuperTwins class. The schedule has a mix of disciplines and tracks that are sure to keep racers and fans on their toes, and the teams are shaping up to provide some thrilling competition.
Related: 2024 Progressive AFT Schedule Released
In latest news, Kolby Carlile returns to the G&G Racing/Yamaha Racing team after his maiden year in 2023 aboard a Yamaha MT-07 (see press release below for more info). More new blood comes in the form of 2023’s Rookie of the Year Declan Bender signing on to the GORM team to race an Indian FTR750.
The top of the crop also shows some changes from last year. Jared Mees, the 2023 champ, will surely re-up with the Indian factory team after a record-breaking season. Last year, he claimed his third consecutive Grand National Championship and the ninth of his career, matching legendary Scott Parker for most of all time.
Related: Progressive AFT Finale Springfield Mile I and II Results: Mees Makes it Nine!
We also know Dallas Daniels has signed on again with Estenson Racing Yamaha. Daniels finished second in the standings in 2023 with 15 podium finishes out of 18 races, and he was leading in points for over half of the season, making stiff competition for Jared Mees. However, Daniels’ teammate JD Beach, who finished third in the standings, has left the Estenson team and AFT to race in MotoAmerica’s roadracing series this year.
Related: Dallas Daniels Re-Ups with Estenson Yamaha AFT Team
In other AFT news, a new event has been added to the schedule for this season: the Spirit of Sturgis TT. This event will have competitors racing down the streets of Sturgis toward the end of the 84th annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, and it’s free to the public. The Spirit of Sturgis TT will also debut the new AdventureTrackers class for production-based ADV bikes.
Related: Progressive AFT Introduces Spirit of Sturgis TT and new AdventureTrackers ADV Class
The 2024 Progressive AFT series kicks off March 7-8 with a double-header at the Daytona International Speedway during Daytona Bike Week. Tickets are on sale now.
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SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA (January 15, 2024) – G&G Racing/Yamaha Racing announced today that Kolby Carlile will return to the team for the 2024 Progressive American Flat Track season to again compete in the Mission SuperTwins class.
Now entering its ninth year in partnership with Yamaha Racing, G&G Racing has enjoyed a run of success that has seen the team garner 19 victories, 40 podiums, 51 top fives, and 79 top tens across classes throughout that collaboration. With Carlile at the controls of the team’s Yamaha MT-07 racebikes, the squad enters the ’24 campaign from a position of strength.
The 2017 Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER champion and a multi-time Mission Production Twins race winner, Carlile registered an impressive maiden season with G&G Racing/Yamaha Racing a year ago. He notched up eight top tens – including seven in a row – enroute to a tenth-place championship standing. In the midst of that run of top tens, Carlisle scored a career-best premier-class finish of fourth at the Sacramento Mile, where he also earned a front-row starting position and qualified for the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge.
Kolby Carlile – G&G Racing/Yamaha Racing
“I’m ecstatic to have the opportunity to ride for G&G Racing one more year at the highest level. LJ and John have provided me with great Yamahas every time we went to the track, and having a full year under my belt has allowed us to build a notebook of setups for me. Getting to know those guys all last year has grown a great friendship and trust in one another. Going into 2024, I feel as confident as ever and have made some adjustments off track to help my performance on track. I’ll look to build upon what we were able to accomplish last year. I really want to get that top-three finish we were so close to last season, and I feel I am more prepared for that coming into 2024.”
Jim Roach – Yamaha Racing Department Manager
“Yamaha Racing is looking forward to the return of G&G Racing to the Mission SuperTwins class for their ninth year. After taking a year to get acclimated with Kolby, 2024 is looking good!”
L.J. Gronek – Team Owner
“We are excited for Kolby to return for 2024. Kolby showed speed and demonstrated the ability to be up front. With a year on the bikes, notes, and the hard work he has put in the off season, we believe he can continue to push to show that he can be a contender. Also, we are thrilled to continue our partnership with Yamaha Racing. We could not have accomplished all we have without their help. The Yamaha MT-07 is a very capable platform with great power and delivery.”
G&G Racing would like to thank its sponsors who help make this happen: Yamaha Racing, Yamaha Motor Corporation, Yamalube, JMR, Twisted Development, Graves Sports, AIM, Fontana Radiators, Metalartopia, Motion Pro, and Rosa Plates.
