Story and photos from americanflattrack.com

Briar Bauman (No. 3 Rick Ware Racing/KTM/Parts Plus KTM 790 Duke) left no doubt in Sunday’s World Famous SC2 Peoria TT presented by Backroads Saloon, Round 11 of the 2024 Progressive American Flat Track season, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing.

For three years running, the Rick Ware Racing ace had come second in the fabled race held annually in the Peoria Motorcycle Club Race Park’s natural amphitheater, each time watching as TT maestro JD Beach (No. 95 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) left Peoria, Illinois, with top honors.

The two-time series champion was provided with an unexpected opportunity for revenge when Beach was made a late addition to the entry list, riding in place of injured Mission AFT SuperTwins championship leader Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT).

However, it was reigning Grand National Champion Jared Mees (No. 1 Rogers Racing/SDI Racing/Indian Motorcycle FTR750) who grabbed the early lead, securing the holeshot with a full-throttle trip up the grass banking leading to the jump on the race’s opening lap.

Bauman didn’t take long to make his move, slashing through in Turn 2 on the race’s second lap. Beach was desperate to work through himself, hoping to prevent Bauman from clearing off. And he in fact lost a few tenths in the handful of laps it took him to find his own way by Mees.

Even when Beach did have clear air in front of him, it was evident this was Bauman’s day. While the Estenson Racing super sub was undeniably impressive to finish second after jumping on a dirt track machine for the first time all season long, Bauman managed to open up more than eight second’s padding at the front while threatening to lap his way into the top five. He ultimately claimed a 4.569-second margin-of-victory over Beach, a gap that narrowed considerably on the final lap due to an extended victory wheelie to take the checkered flag.

The win was Bauman’s second at the Peoria TT, backing up his 2019 triumph. He said, “First and foremost, my heart goes out to Dallas Daniels right now. I’ve been through it myself and I know Jared has been through it too. I don’t have any words… I’m sorry. And beating JD today… you want it to count, but I don’t think it does. He hasn’t been on a flat track bike all year, so I could tell he was a little bit uncomfortable.

“But no matter what, huge thanks to Rick Ware Racing. The team deserves this. I want to get better on the ovals, but we took advantage of the TT and strengths of the KTM. And we’re going to keep working, that’s all I can say.”

Nine-time series king Mees closed to within a single point of Daniels (216-215) with his eighth podium of the season. Due to Daniels’ continued absence, the focus will soon shift to Mees versus Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750). On that front, Robinson did well to minimize the damage, finishing one position behind fourth-placed Jarod Vanderkooi (No. 20 JMC Motorsports/Fairway Ford Ohio Indian FTR750) to earn his first-career Peoria top five.

As a result, Robinson has collected 201 points on the season and the gap that separates him from Mees is just 14 points with five races left to go. Meanwhile, Bauman has quietly (or not so quietly) snuck back into contention at 192 points, less than a single-race points haul behind Mees.

Trevor Brunner (No. 21 Mission Foods/Zanotti Racing Indian FTR750) bolstered his Rookie of the Year campaign in sixth, followed by fellow class newcomer Max Whale (No. 18 Latus Motors Racing/Liqui Moly Harley-Davidson XG750R).

Meanwhile, Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing Indian FTR750) came home eighth, followed by third rookie Declan Bender (No. 70 GOMR/BriggsAuto.com/Martin Trucking Indian FTR750) and Cameron Smith (No. 34 RVR/KTM/Schaefer’s Motorsport KTM 790 Duke).

Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER

Chase Saathoff (No. 88 JPG Motorsports Honda CRF450R) outdueled double defending Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER champion Kody Kopp (No. 1 Rick Ware Racing/Parts Plus KTM 450 SX-F) to claim a second consecutive victory in his home state of Illinois.

Fresh off his triumph at the high-speed DuQuoin Mile, Saathoff did the business under very different circumstances on Sunday at the twisty Peoria TT. An aggressive Saathoff first worked his way into the lead with a bucking overtake of Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) and then appeared fully capable of clearing off en route to victory.

However, a red flag following a fall by Hunter Bauer (No. 24 Vinson Construction/American Harley-Davidson Yamaha YZ450F) reset the order and gave the champ another shot at victory. Kopp took full advantage of the second chance, diving up the inside of Saathoff with less than four minutes remaining and then pulling an immediate gap of his own.

The race’s complexion shifted yet again when Kopp made a minor mistake with less than a minute left on the clock. Back within striking distance, Saathoff struck at the first available opportunity, reclaiming first place with only 30 seconds to go.

That back and forth also brought Drane back into the fight. But even with Kopp and Drane lurking, Saathoff was perfect over the final two laps to close out a Saathoff-Kopp-Drane 1-2-3.

Saathoff said, “I don’t even know what to say. I came to Peoria the last two years and couldn’t even make it on the podium. I knew I had the speed to go run up front at this track; it was so hard to figure out my corner speed here, and we finally got it done today. I’d like to give a huge shout out to my mom and dad for everything they’ve done for me. I’ve been coming to this track since I was a 65(cc). I remember doing the exhibition race here in 2015.”

Some seven seconds in arrears, Tarren Santero (No. 75 Vinson Construction/P&M Motorcycles Honda CRF450R) came out on top of a four-rider scrap for fourth. He edged Evan Renshaw (No. 265 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) for the position with brothers Jared Lowe (No. 63 BigR/Little Debbie Racing Honda CRF450R) and Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) close behind in sixth and seventh, respectively.

James Ott (No. 19 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450), Tyler Raggio (No. 55 Raggio Racing/Sluggo Racing KTM 450 SX-F), and Travis Petton IV (No. 82 ECG Racing/A.M Ortega KTM 450 SX-F) completed the top ten.

While winless since Bridgeport, three consecutive runners-up have allowed Kopp to maintain a healthy advantage in the championship chase, now with 246 points to Saathoff’s 218 and Drane’s 206.

Next Up:

Progressive American Flat Track kicks off its 84th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally doubleheader with the Black Hills Harley-Davidson Black Hills Half-Mile presented by The City of Sturgis at Black Hills Speedway in Rapid City, South Dakota, on Tuesday, August 6. Visit https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack/events/black-hills-half-mile-86674 to reserve your seats 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, at https://flosports.link/aft.

FOX Sports coverage of the World Famous SC2 Peoria TT presented by Backyards Saloon, featuring in-depth features and thrilling onboard cameras, will premiere on FS1 on Sunday, August 4, at 1:00 p.m. ET (10:00 a.m. PT).

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