(Pictured: Chase Saathoff #88)

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 03, 2025) – Similar to the situation in the Mission AFT SuperTwins class, this year’s AFT Singles presented by KICKER title fighters are preparing to battle to claim a vacated throne. 

With back-to-back-to-back class king Kody Kopp leaving his crown undefended, the AFT Singles class is destined to have its power dynamic remade, a process that will begin in earnest this week as the 2025  Progressive American Flat Track season, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, opens with the Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA I & II at the Flat Track at Daytona International Speedway on Thursday, March 6, and Friday, March 7, in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Rivalry 

The preseason co-favorites to assume the mantle are a pair of the sport’s most acclaimed rising stars, Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) and Chase Saathoff (No. 88 RWR/Parts Plus Honda CRF450R). 

Adding to the natural drama that results from any championship contest – and making matters that much more entertaining – is the fact that they already share something of a budding rivalry.  

At least some degree of animus is likely unavoidable due to just how evenly they are matched on track. In the series’ most recent 27 races, Drane and Saathoff have finished one position in front of the other on 14 separate occasions. 13 of those were for at least one podium position. 12 of those saw them both land on the box. And six times they finished first and second, including in the final three races of 2024. 

However, their rivalry is perhaps best defined by two occasions on which they did not finish one in front of the other. 

At last season’s DAYTONA Short Track opener, the two clashed on the final lap while disputing third. The resultant contact dropped Saathoff to fourth, while Drane hit the ground and would ultimately be scored down in 15th position. 

And then at the Silver Dollar Short Track, Drane again came out the worst of an incident that occurred while the duo ran second and third that brought a red flag. Saathoff carried on to a second-place finish, while Drane was forced to claw his way up from the back of the field to secure sixth. 

Simple mathematics delivers a follow-up gut punch to Drane. Had he managed to take even third in both races (with second seemingly a realistic possibility each time), he would have accumulated 17 more points toward his championship efforts ((18-5)+(18-14)). 

Why is that so important? Well, as a quick reminder, Drane lost the championship to Kopp by 15 points (339-324). 

Drane returns with the same powerhouse Estenson Racing Yamaha team that’s fielded him the past two seasons. Saathoff, meanwhile, continues his long association with Bryan Bigelow and Honda, but now takes over for Kopp in the championship-winning slot at Rick Ware Racing. 

Their joint presence alone makes for a fascinating title outlook. But they are not alone nor has the class’ reigning king disappeared altogether. 

Kody Kopp #1

Don’t You Forget About Me 

Even though he will not defend his title with a full season effort in 2025, Kody Kopp (No. 1 Bob Lanphere/KTM/Fastrack Racing KTM 450 SX-F) never ruled out making select Progressive AFT appearances this season. 

And that possibility becomes a reality already this week, with Kopp a late addition to the entry list. 

It’s both a dream and nightmare for Drane and Saathoff, who have a chance to snatch the baton away from Kopp by vanquishing him in head-to-head competition. The alternative, of course, is to live in the shadow of a defeat cast by his hands. 

And beating Kopp this week will not be easy. He is a certified DAYTONA Short Track master, having been victorious in three of the last four races at the venue. Should he repeat that sort of performance, he’ll simply push his career marks that much further out of reach. 

Career Main Event Wins 

1. Kody Kopp: 21 

2. Shayna Texter-Bauman: 19 

3. Dalton Gauthier/Dallas Daniels: 13 

5. Tom Drane: 11

Short Track Wins 

1. Kody Kopp: 8 

2. Dallas Daniels: 6 

3. Dalton Gauthier: 5 

4. Brad Baker/Gerit Callies/Dan Bromley/Tom Drane: 3 

It’s worth recalling that the most recent of those four races did, however, go to Drane by a near two-second margin. 

Trevor Brunner #21

Brunner Is Back 

Trevor Brunner (No. 21 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) returns to AFT Singles competition in 2025 with a new addition to his sparkling résumé.

• 2019 Nicky Hayden AMA Flat Track Horizon Award 

• 2019 AMA Athlete of the Year 

• 2020 AFT Singles Rookie of the Year 

• 2020 AFT Singles Race Winner 

• 2021 AFT Singles Race Winner (x2) 

• 2022 AFT Singles Race Winner (x2) 

• 2023 AFT Singles Race Winner (x2) 

• 2024 Mission AFT SuperTwins Rookie of the Year 

Despite the consistent acquisition of accolades year after year, Brunner is sometimes overlooked when stacking the field. Why? It’s probably simply down to the fact that he’s yet to put it all together and make a serious push for a national title. 

Target set. 

Brunner has repeatedly proven that, on his day, he can beat anyone on any type of circuit. In case you need evidence of that fact, consider that he ranks as one of just four riders in AFT Singles history to have completed the Grand Slam in the category: 

 AFT Singles Grand Slammers 

• Dalton Gauthier 

• Max Whale 

• Trevor Brunner 

• Kody Kopp 

However, Brunner has typically taken a half season or so to find his form, by which point the title is effectively already out of his grasp.  

Drane and Saathoff are unlikely to offer much more slack in that regard than the likes of Dallas Daniels and Kody Kopp before them; Brunner needs to come out swinging this week and signal his championship ambitions from the outset. 

While Brunner looks to match Drane and Saathoff on a week-to-week basis, Drane and Saathoff will both have their opportunities to match Brunner in Grand Slam honors. 

Drane now has wins on a Mile, Half-Mile, and Short Track, requiring just a TT victory at this point. Considering his roadracing background, the layout of Australian dirt track venues, and his prior Progressive AFT results, a TT win is a strong possibility. However, he’ll only have two chances this season, and the first won’t come until relatively late in the season. 

Saathoff, meanwhile, has a win each on a Mile, Half-Mile, and TT. And with five consecutive Short Tracks to start the season – including two this week – the Illinois native is perfectly positioned to bump that list up to five and in a hurry. 

Dalton Gauthier #79

Are You Experienced 

While Brunner, at 22 years old, has a few years of experience on the teenaged title favorites, he’s still a relative newcomer on the pro scene compared to the likes of 26-year-old Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 D&D Certified Racing KTM 450 SX-F) and 34-year-old Chad Cose (No. 49 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450). 

No one has yet questioned the willingness of either Gauthier or Cose to throw it in and mix it up with the class’ hungry young lions, and both could prove to be genuine championship threats in 2025. 

Gauthier has finished first or second in the AFT Singles championship race on three occasions, including his successful 2019 title run. 

Like Brunner, Cose has yet to make a serious challenge for the class crown, but he certainly has the ability and a strong team backing his bid. 

In 2025, with the chaos created by the absense of a reigning three-time champion, it may just come down to experience. 

Who Will Step Forward? 

Last season, the class featured a healthy middle class of riders who regularly went toe-to-toe with one another just behind the established front group. 

Tarren Santero (No. 75 Mission Roof Systems Honda CRF450R), Tyler Raggio (No. 55 Raggio Racing/Sluggo Racing KTM 450 SX-F), Evan Renshaw (No. 65 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450) and Jared Lowe (No. 63 BigR/Little Debbie Racing Honda CRF450R) ranked fifth, sixth, eighth, and ninth, respectively in last year’s AFT Singles championship. 

Together, they combined to earn 40 top-ten finishes along with seven top fives. 

However, there was just one podium among them, that one earned by Santero, who finished as runner-up in a breakthrough performance at the Sturgis TT. 

That performance may make him the most likely candidate to move up to regular podium contender status, although one could also argue Renshaw is poised to make a big jump in his sophomore campaign.

There are several others who could emerge from a bit further back after flashing electric speed a year ago. While none of Aidan RoosEvans (No. 26 FRA Trust/ATV’s and More Yamaha YZ450F), Evan Kelleher (No. 31 Schaeffer's Motorsports KTM 450 SX-F), or Bronson Pearce (No. 132 Mike Helm/Scott Cason @ USA Mortgage Yamaha YZ450F) finished inside the championship top 15 a year ago, all three managed to claim a finish of fifth or better. 

Meanwhile, Bradon Pfanders (No. 83 Hannum’s HD/Pfanders Racing KTM 450 SX-F) showed serious potential early in his rookie season before his debut campaign came to a premature conclusion due to injury. He’ll no doubt be looking to make up for lost time in ‘25. 

Finally, reigning Nicky Hayden AMA Flat Track Horizon Award winner Walker Porter (No. 100 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) has a chance to make waves as a rookie the same way fellow Horizon Award winners Brunner, Daniels, Kopp, and Saathoff did before him. If he does, however, it won’t be this week. Porter won’t become eligible to compete until he turns 16 in May. 

Shasta L'Heureux #67

Build. Train. Race. 

Royal Enfield’s hugely successful and popular Build. Train. Race. (BTR) program returns in 2025 and will be featured on both days of the Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA.  

Since its inception, BTR has injected new talent and excitement into the series as it highlights, celebrates, and encourages the involvement of women in flat track racing. 

This year’s roster includes names familiar and new, with ’24 two-race winner Taia Little (No. 11 Royal Enfield/Parts Unlimited/Arai) among the favorites to shine this week. 

Other Attractions 

There will be plenty to keep fans entertained off the track this week, including numerous vendors, plenty of food and beverage options, DJ’d music, and extensive motorcycle parking. 

There will be a fireworks display at the conclusion of Thursday's Main Event program, while Friday will feature Jeep Beach. 

The double opener will also be graced by a pair of celebrity custom bike builders as Grand Marshals, with the renowned Billy Lane of Choppers Inc. serving in that capacity on Thursday, followed by Paul Teutul Jr. of American Chopper fame on Friday. 

Get Your Tickets Here 

Progressive AFT has taken fan engagement to a whole new level by including paddock access with every event ticket purchase. 

Upper Rim Road Standing Room Only tickets are just $30 (kids 12 and under free with the purchase of an adult ticket) each day, while Reserved Grandstand and Premium Reserved Grandstand tickets are only $10 and $20 more (All Ages), respectively, per day. There’s also a Military/First Responder Discount available, allowing GOVX fans to purchase up to two Reserved Grandstand tickets for $20 each. 

The Opening Ceremonies Trackside Fan Experience offers reserved seating, a guided tour of the infield podium and start/finish line complete with photos ops, and up-close viewing of Opening Ceremonies for $125 per day. 

Fans can save $10 by purchasing Thursday and Friday tickets together via the Multi-Day Discount. 

Finally, fans planning to attend both the Progressive American Flat Track and MotoAmerica season openers at Daytona International Speedway can do so for a combined $99 via the American Super Ticket. 

To purchase Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA I tickets, visit: https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack/events/daytona-short-track-i-118986. 

To purchase Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA II tickets, visit: https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack/events/daytona-short-track-ii-119108. 

To receive the Multi-Day Discount for the Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA I & II, visit: https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack/events/daytona-short-track-i-and-ii-118862.

To purchase the American Super Ticket, visit: https://bit.ly/4eBHQ1N 

Gates will open for fans at 4:00 p.m. ET/1:00 p.m. PT with Opening Ceremonies scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m. ET/4:00 p.m. PT on both days. 

 How to Watch 

FloRacing 

For those that can’t catch the live action from the circuit, FloRacing is the live streaming home of Progressive AFT. Motorsports fans can subscribe to FloRacing to enjoy over 1,000 live motorsports events in 2025. FloSports is available by visiting https://flosports.link/aft or by downloading the FloSports app on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire and Chromecast. 

FS1 

FOX Sports coverage of the Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA I, featuring in-depth features and thrilling onboard cameras, will premiere on FS1 on Saturday, March 15, at 12:00 p.m. ET (9:00 a.m. PT), with the Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA II set to air the following day, Sunday, March 16, at 1:00 p.m. ET (10:00 a.m. PT). 

For more information on Progressive AFT visit https://www.americanflattrack.com.