Brandon Robinson changed the stakes at the Progressive AFT Bridgeport Half-Mile race on June 22 with a victory that moved him up to the second spot in the points standings, displacing nine-time Grand National Champion Jared Mees.
Robinson, aboard an Indian FTR750 on the Mission Roof Systems team, took control of the front of the pack early on, while Jarod Vanderkooi, Jared Mees, Briar Bauman, and current points leader Dallas Daniels battled for position behind him. About halfway through the race, Daniels pulled ahead and got in front of Robinson.
However, when Daniels ran wide, Robinson took his opportunity to gain the lead back, holding onto it until the checkered flag. This victory marked Robinson’s third of the season, while both Daniels and Mees have two victories each.
Dallas Daniels currently leads the points standings with 170, followed by Brandon Robinson with 156 and Jared Mees with 151. Next up is the Lime Half-Mile at Allen County Fairgrounds in Lima, Ohio, on June 29.
Read the press release below for more information.
Find all of American Rider‘s racing coverage here
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (June 22, 2024) – Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750) served up a timely reminder that remains a genuine contender for this season’s Grand National Championship with an inspired performance in the Arai Bridgeport Half-Mile presented by Drag Specialties, Round 8 of the 2024 Progressive American Flat Track season, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing.
And his victory at Bridgeport Speedway in Swedesboro, New Jersey, couldn’t have come under much more demanding circumstances, with Mission AFT SuperTwins title leader Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) breathing down his neck and desperate to fight through after charging his way forward the bottom of the top ten.
Earlier, Daniels had made quick work of a big swath of riders to slot ahead of Briar Bauman (No. 3 Rick Ware Racing/KTM/Parts Plus KTM 790 Duke) and into fourth. Meanwhile, Robinson was busy clearing off in front as Jarod Vanderkooi (No. 20 JMC Motorsports/Fairway Ford Ohio Indian FTR750) and Jared Mees (No. 1 Rogers Racing/SDI Racing/Indian Motorcycle FTR750) scraped it out for second.
Once Daniels worked past Vanderkooi, he and Mees prodded each other forward, closing the gap back to first position in the process. Mees would eventually fall off that chase, but Daniels would not. He successfully reeled in Robinson and then slung his Estenson Racing Yamaha into first with approximately half of the Main Event still to go.
However, in his bid to break free in first, Daniels ran wide, providing Robinson with a golden opportunity to reclaim the position. Daniels proceeded to stalk the Mission Roof Systems rider from that point forward, but his intended quarry had an answer for every late-race attempt to snatch away the win.
Robinson’s triumph saw him become the first rider to claim a third win this season just as it reached its halfway point. It also catapulted him ahead of Mees and into second in the points, some 14 back of title leader Daniels (170-156).
Robinson, who originally hails from nearby Oxford, Pennsylvania, said, “This is awesome. That’s the stuff dreams are made of right there. It’s just awesome to have my parents, my grandparents, my mother-in-law, my wife’s family, and all our friends here. That means the world to me. This win is my favorite right now. A super huge thank you to Jerry Stinchfield with Roof Systems and Juan Gonzalez at Mission Foods. Without those guys, this program wouldn’t be possible… Third win of the season? Let’s keep this ball rolling.”
Mees managed to hold off Bauman to earn the final spot on the podium despite still riding at less than 100% after getting beaten up in a mountain bike crash suffered a little over a week earlier.
Vanderkooi was a late-race DNF, allowing Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing Indian FTR750) to break into the top five.
He was followed by Brandon Price (No. 92 Memphis Shades/Corbin/OTBR Yamaha MT-07), rookies Trevor Brunner (No. 21 Mission Foods/Zanotti Racing Indian FTR750) and Declan Bender (No. 70 GOMR/BriggsAuto.com/Martin Trucking Indian FTR750), and Bronson Bauman (No. 37 Fastrack Racing Mission Foods KTM 790 Duke).
Tenth place went to Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650), who added a second top-ten result to his stint with Royal Enfield after earning the squad its first premier-class podium last weekend.
Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER
There was hardly a moment to catch a breath while witnessing the latest masterpiece of double defending Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER champion Kody Kopp (No. 1 Rick Ware Racing/Parts Plus KTM 450 SX-F) take shape under the lights of Bridgeport Speedway.
Returning to a venue where he finished outside the top five a year ago, Kopp once again looked more like an interested observer than a potential winner for a significant portion of the contest. While the Rick Ware Racing ace spent much of his race swapping position with Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) and James Ott (No. 19 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450) over third, last year’s winner, Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F), traded haymakers and handlebars with Chase Saathoff (No. 88 JPG Motorsports Honda CRF450R) as they waged war for first.
But with two minutes remaining, Kopp turned up the heat and closed in on that fight. He then made his move to steal away the lead with less than a minute remaining and carried that momentum forward to a 0.703-second margin of victory over runner-up Drane.
The win was not only Kopp’s third in succession, it was the 20th of his Progressive AFT career, handing him sole possession of the all-time victory mark in the category.
He said, “That’s why we train through the week because that’s the hardest I’ve ever pushed on a flat track bike. I had a big moment when I was back in third watching Tom and Chase duke it out, and they were going at it. I thought I had no chance. I had a big moment and almost highsided. But this one is huge to come from that far back. Wow. Big thanks to my dad for always being there. This is an awesome one to get 20 career wins. And thanks to everyone behind me. This one means a lot to them and to me.”
Saathoff finished third less than a second off the win, while Ott and Lowe settled into fourth and fifth respectively after factoring into the podium mix until the waning stages of the race.
Logan Eisenhard (No. 66 Hannum’s Harley-Davidson KTM 450 SX-F) registered his third finish of sixth or better, while Tyler Raggio (No. 55 Raggio Racing/Sluggo Racing KTM 450 SX-F), Hunter Bauer (No. 24 Vinson Construction/American Harley-Davidson Yamaha YZ450F), Aiden RoosEvans (No. 26 FRA Trust/ATV’s and More Yamaha YZ450F), and Tarren Santero (No. 75 Vinson Construction/P&M Motorcycles Honda CRF450R) completed the top ten.
The rolling Kopp now boasts a commanding 33-point advantage over Saathoff (183-150) in his quest for an unprecedented third Parts Unlimited AFT Singles crown. Drane is another three points back in third with 147.
Next Up for Progressive AFT
Progressive American Flat Track completes its run of three Half-Miles in as many weeks with the fabled Lima Half-Mile at the Allen County Fairgrounds in Lima, Ohio on Saturday, June 29. Secure your tickets today.
For those who can’t catch the action from the circuit, FloRacing is the live streaming home of Progressive AFT. Sign up now and catch every second of the on-track action, from the first practice to the victory podium.
FOX Sports coverage of the Arai Bridgeport Half-Mile presented by Drag Specialties, featuring in-depth features and thrilling onboard cameras, will premiere on FS1 on Saturday, June 29, at 2 p.m. ET (11 a.m. PT).
For more information, visit the Progressive AFT website.
