Drane denied by 0.034s at Ventura as Bauman rules SuperTwins

2026 Progressive American Flat Track

Round Four – Ventura Short Track

KICKER AFT Singles

Kage Tadman returned to the scene of his 2025 breakthrough and did it again at Ventura Raceway, edging reigning KICKER AFT Singles champion Tom Drane by just 0.034s in a tense, race-long scrap at Round 4 of the 2026 Progressive American Flat Track season. The win made Tadman the fourth different winner in four Singles races this year.

Kage Tadman and Tom Drane – 2026 American Flat Track – Round Three – Ventura Short Track – Image by Tim Lester

Jared Lowe was the early leader after taking the holeshot, but Tadman soon worked around the outside to take control. Drane then forced his way past Lowe and immediately went after the Honda rider, repeatedly threatening on the inside as Tadman’s preferred outside line left a narrow opening. With a little over a minute remaining, Drane finally made a move stick, only for Tadman to square the corner off, cross back underneath and reclaim the lead almost immediately.

Kage Tadman – 2026 American Flat Track – Round Three – Ventura Short Track – Image by Tim Lester

From there, Drane kept the pressure on to the flag. The Australian’s Yamaha bucked and moved around underneath him as he searched for one final opportunity, and he came closest on the last lap, but still finished a wheel short at the stripe. Tadman’s second Ventura victory was enough to deny Drane while Trevor Brunner recovered from a poor start to snatch third after reeling in Lowe late. Lowe’s fourth-place finish matched his career best, while Tarren Santero charged from the back of the field, having qualified through the Last Chance Qualifier, to take fifth.

Kage Tadman – 2026 American Flat Track – Round Three – Ventura Short Track – Image by Tim Lester

Kage Tadman

“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.”

Chase Saathoff came home sixth ahead of Walker Porter, Justin Jones, Justin Anselmi and Skylar Sentell, while the points picture tightened further after four rounds. Drane now leads the standings on 75 points from Brunner on 66, with Tadman up to third on 61 after his Ventura success.

The next round of the 2026 Progressive American Flat Track season is the Silver Dollar Short Track in Chico on May 2.

KICKER AFT Singles  – Ventura Short Track Results

KICKER AFT Singles Standings

Mission AFT SuperTwins

Briar Bauman fired a warning shot in the 2026 Grand National Championship with a commanding victory in the Mission AFT SuperTwins main at Ventura Raceway, taking his third straight premier-class win at the coastal venue. Bauman controlled the race from the front and eventually beat Kody Kopp by 1.373s, while Dallas Daniels completed the podium in third.

Bauman launched straight into the lead and quickly broke the contest down to a two-rider affair with fellow Harley-Davidson rider Kopp. The rookie points leader did what he could to stay in touch as the pair edged clear of the field, but Bauman had the pace covered throughout and looked increasingly comfortable out front.

Kopp was briefly handed a late opportunity when Bauman encountered traffic while lapping riders battling over fifth, but the Californian had already done the hard work. Even with that delay, Bauman still had enough in hand to secure a convincing win and put a sluggish start to his season firmly behind him.

Briar Bauman – 2026 American Flat Track – Round Three – Ventura Short Track – Image by Tim Lester

Briar Bauman

“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.”

Daniels’ run to third was rather less straightforward. The reigning champion had been locked in a fierce scrap with Davis Fisher, and it appeared Fisher had the upper hand until mechanical trouble struck the KTM rider with less than a minute remaining. That misfortune opened the door for Daniels to claim another podium, while Bronson Bauman capitalised as well to finish an impressive fourth in his 2026 debut.

Ben Lowe rounded out the top five ahead of Aidan RoosEvans and Trent Lowe, with Logan McGrane, Jacob Lehmann and Evan Renshaw completing the top ten.

Four rounds into his full-time Mission AFT SuperTwins career, Kopp continues to lead the standings on 84 points after two wins and two runner-up finishes. Daniels sits second on 77, while Bauman’s Ventura victory lifts him to third on 62. The next round is the Silver Dollar Short Track in Chico on May 2.

Mission AFT SuperTwins – Ventura Short Track Results

Mission AFT SuperTwins Standings

AFT ProSport 450

Californian Jett Katarzy 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.

Jett Katarzy

“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 from second, no one managed to make a move stick.

Meanwhile, Ryder Bitz-Hay finished close behind Nantz in third to up his perfect AFT ProSport 450 podium record to three-for-three.

Adam Costan-Wood and Kensei Matsudaira registered with top-five debuts, finishing fourth and fifth, respectively.

AFT ProSport 450 Main Results

AFT ProSport 450 Standings

Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race. (BTR)

Emma Gottsch extended her 2026 Royal Enfield Build.Train.Race. win streak to three following an early back-and-forth battle with top qualifier Julia Heess.

Despite Heess’s determined challenge, Gottsch shook free to take 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 broke Madicela Rodriguez’s stranglehold over third by edging her to claim the final spot on the box.

Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race. Results

Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race. Standings

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.