Bauman, Tadman Repeat Ventura Heroics in Front of a Sold Out Crowd

Briar Bauman (No. 3) leads the field into turn one during the Memphis Shades Ventura Short Track presented by 805 Beer. [Photo: Tim Lester for AMA Pro Racing]

DAYTONA BEACH, FL – April 26, 2026 – (Motor Sports NewsWire) – Briar Bauman (No. 3 RWR/Jacob Construction/Parts Plus Harley-Davidson XG750R) formally announced his arrival as a 2026 Grand National Championship contender with a dominant performance in Saturday’s Memphis Shades Ventura Short Track presented by 805 Beer. 

Even after a somewhat-slower-than-expected start to his ‘26 Mission AFT SuperTwins campaign, Bauman’s one-sided victory at Ventura Raceway came as little surprise. The win was his third straight at the ocean-side venue and served as a stark reminder to the rest of the field the type of performance the two-time premier-class champion is capable of when on his game. 

Bauman blasted into the lead from the start and soon after eliminated the threat of all but fellow Harley-Davidson ace Kody Kopp (No. 12 Latus Motors Racing Harley-Davidson XG750R). 

The rookie points leader did all he could just to keep Bauman in sight as they raced away from the pack. But despite his best efforts, Bauman ultimately proved too strong.  

Kopp was given a glimmer of hope late when Bauman got hung up behind a three-rider group waging fifth position as he lapped his way up the order. However, Bauman’s hard work and big lead paid off, as he held on to grab the checkered flag with a 1.373-second margin of victory.  

After earning his first win of the season, Bauman admitted, “I got a little bit greedy the first three rounds. I kind of led the team in a difficult direction. We wanted to bite off more than we could chew, and we got a little ahead of ourselves. So apologies to Rick Ware Racing and the whole family, but this is where we belong. 

“I love coming here. I see my friends. I see my family where I grew up. I’m a pretty good Short Tracker, so I enjoy riding this track in general… I’m so proud of my guys. We did something massive tonight.”   

Dallas Daniels (No. 1 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07) finished third but required a good deal of luck to claim his usual spot on the podium.  

Earlier, the reigning class king engaged in a bar-banging battle with a motivated Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing KTM 790 Duke). But just as Fisher looked to have gotten the better of Daniels, he was dealt a cruel hand of mechanical misfortune with less than a minute remaining on the clock.  

Fisher’s disappointment also elevated part-timer Bronson Bauman (No. 37 Dick Ford Racing/Mission/Roof Systems Yamaha MT-07) to a hugely impressive fourth in his 2026 debut. 

Fisher’s teammate, Ben Lowe (No. 25 Rackley Racing/Roof Systems KTM 790 Duke), rounded out the top five, finishing just ahead of Aidan RoosEvans (No. 26 FRA Trust Advisors Harley-Davidson XG750R) and Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods Honda CB750 Hornet).  

Logan Mcgrane (No. 14 Schaffers MotorSports/Ryan Varnes Racing KTM 790 Duke), Jacob Lehmann (No. 16 Weirbach Racing Kawasaki Ninja 650), and Evan Renshaw (No. 95 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650) finished eighth through tenth, respectively. 

Four races into his Mission AFT SuperTwins career, Kopp continues to lead the Grand National Championship with 84 points courtesy of two wins and two runners-up. Daniels is second at 77, followed by Bauman with 62.  

KICKER AFT Singles 

Kage Tadman (No. 28 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) did it again, scoring a scintillating KICKER AFT Singles victory in the return to the scene of his shock maiden win at Ventura Raceway one year ago. 

This one was arguably even more tense than the first if possible, coming by just 0.034 seconds following a race-long showdown with reigning class champion Tom Drane (No. 1 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F).  

However, it was an on-form Jared Lowe (No. 63 Big R Racing/Vinson Construction Honda CRF450R) who actually grabbed the holeshot. 

Lowe led in the opening stages before Tadman came railing around the outside. Soon after, Drane pushed his way up the inside of Lowe, desperate to keep the Californian from running away at the front. The Australian then proceeded to apply heavy pressure, taking full advantage of the fact that Tadman’s high line kept the door open for an inside lunge throughout.   

The Estenson Racing Yamaha star finally made a go with just over a minute to go, but Tadman countered by crossing up his line and immediately reclaiming the position.  

Drane’s bike bucked and weaved as he attempted to mount another charge, but he never got quite close enough to edge ahead again. The closest he came was on the final lap, coming up a wheel short as the two stormed past the stripe.  

Tadman’s victory makes him the fourth different KICKER AFT Singles winner in four races this season. He said, “It’s been a roller coaster. I can’t thank the Turner Racing team enough for everything they do for me. We had a couple bad rounds; I’ve been struggling with some things, but we got it figured out when it mattered. Right now, this is a dream come true – again.” 

Prior to the Main, Senoia winner Brunner thought he had another win coming his way. A less-than-ideal start dropped him from realistic contention for the win, but he still managed to track down Lowe in order to collect third.  

Despite narrowly missing out on the box, Lowe equaled his career-best result in fourth.  

Tarren Santero (No. 75 Roof Systems/Vinson Construction Honda CRF450R) fought his way up to fifth after starting from the back of the pack due to earning his way via the Last Chance Qualifier.   

Chase Saathoff (No. 88 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450), who had factored into previous podium fights at Ventura, was an uncharacteristically quiet sixth. Meanwhile, Tadman’s teammate, Walker Porter (No. 10 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) came home seventh, with Justin Jones (No. 91 Fairway Ford Chevy GMC Yamaha YZ450F 450), Justin Anselmi (No. 15 Team TDR/Leblanc Family Farms Yamaha YZ450F), and  

Skylar Sentell (No. 60 Hoffer Performance/Stauffer Motors KTM 450 SX-F) rounding out the top ten. 

Drane now leads Brunner, 75-66, with Tadman right there in third with 61 points following his Ventura Short Track heroics. 

AFT ProSport 450 

Californian Jett Katarzy (No. 17 1st Impressions Husqvarna FC450) secured a popular first-career AFT ProSport victory in front of his home fans with a wire-to-wire victory.  

The AFT ProSport 450’s West Coast debut brought out a number of new contenders to race against the established frontrunners who made the trip out to Ventura. However, none of the talented amateurs who qualified for the event by way of the 450 Road to AFT Main Event in Friday’s AMA-sanctioned Mission Foods CTR Showcase Event had anything for home-state hero Katarzy. 

Prior to Ventura, the 1st Impressions Husqvarna had twice finished inside the top five but was yet to stand on the podium. The highly rated prospect rectified that by bolting out into the lead off the line and going unchallenged from that point forward.  

“It just feels so good,” Katarzy said. ”I know I get good starts, and I knew if I got out front, I could just stay calm and hold it for the win.” 

Behind Katarzy, a frenetic, multi-rider brawl broke out for second. While a revolving collection of challengers took their shot at displacing Bayne Nantz (No. 313 Nantz Bros Racing KTM 450 SX-F) from second, no one managed to make a move stick.  

Meanwhile, Ryder Bitz-Hay (No. 14 Bitz-Hay Racing KTM 450 SX-F) finished close behind Nantz in third to up his perfect AFT ProSport 450 podium record to three-for-three. 

Adam Costan-Wood (No. 88 Turner Racing Honda CRF450R) and Kensei Matsudaira (No. 74 Team Roberts Husqvarna FC 450) registered with top-five debuts, finishing fourth and fifth, respectively.  

Royal Enfield Build.Train.Race. (BTR)

Emma Gottsch (No. 5 Royal Enfield/Parts Unlimited/Arai/Alpinestars) extended her 2026 Royal Enfield Build.Train.Race. win streak to three following an early back-and-forth battle with top qualifier Julia Heess (No. 13 Royal Enfield/Parts Unlimited/Arai/Alpinestars). 

Despite the determined challenge from Heess, Gottsch shook free to grab control of the race shortly before a red flag reset things. Burdened with a renewed potential for upset, Gottsch shrugged it off, got away clean, and carried on to pick up a convincing victory.  

While Gottsch and Heess went 1-2 for the third consecutive race, Hanna Brewer (No. 39 Royal Enfield/Parts Unlimited/Arai/Alpinestars) broke Madicela Rodriguez’s (No. 113 Royal Enfield/Parts Unlimited/Arai/Alpinestars) stranglehold over third by edging her to claim the final spot on the box. 

Next Up 

Progressive American Flat Track will round out its back-to-back California swing in Chico next Saturday, May 2, with the Silver Dollar Short Track. Visit https://www.americanflattrack.com/events/2026/view/silver-dollar-short-track-2026 to secure your tickets today.  

How to Watch 

FloRacing 

For those that can’t catch the live action at the track, FloRacing is the live streaming home of Progressive American Flat Track. Motorsports fans can subscribe to FloRacing to enjoy over 1,000 live motorsports events in 2026. FloSports is available by visiting https://flosports.link/AFT2026 or by downloading the FloSports app on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire and Chromecast. 

FS1

FOX Sports coverage of the Memphis Shades Ventura Short Track, featuring in-depth features and thrilling onboard cameras, will premiere on FS1 on Saturday, May 2, at 10:30 a.m. ET (7:30 a.m. PT). The full listing of American Flat Track’s television premieres can be found at https://www.americanflattrack.com/events-foxsports. 

About AMA Pro Racing

AMA Pro Racing is the premier professional motorcycle racing organization in North America, operating a full schedule of events and championships across multiple disciplines. The organization is headquartered in Daytona Beach, Fla. More information is available at AMAProRacing.com. 

About Progressive American Flat Track

Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, is the world’s premier dirt track motorcycle racing series and one of the longest-running championships in motorsports history. 

Source: Progressive American Flat Track

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