American Motorcycle Dealer AMD 226 May 2018 | Page 10

RACE
NEWS
With fresh American Flat Track
contingency offerings from Suzuki
and KTM, AFT’s contingency pool is
now approaching $3 million, by far
the largest in series history. Suzuki’s
contingency for AFT Twins presented
by Vance & Hines is massive, totaling
just over $424,000, and includes the
V-twin power plants from the popular
SV/DL650 and SV/DL1000 models. In
AFT Singles they are offering
$171,500 in payouts, taking their
total contingency pool to $595,500 -
the largest combined OEM posting in
series history.
TCX Boots USA has posted
contingency support to AFT
Singles competitors for the 2018
season. The Italian-based
company produces a wide range
of motorcycle boots and has
been a long-time supporter of
AFT racers, including Harley-
Davidson factory rider Sammy
Halbert and Indian-mounted
privateer Kenny Coolbeth. TCX’s
contingency offering totals
$10,000.
Dainese has returned as AFT Official
Motorcycle Safety and Race Apparel
for 2018. Along with its 2007
acquired AGV helmets brand (whose
heritage goes back to 1947), Dainese
can list icons such as Giacomo
Agostini, the late Barry Sheene, Kenny
Roberts and Valentino Rossi among
its past riders. The Italian firm is
partnered with the Indian Motorcycle
Wrecking Crew - Dainese-wearing
riders were victorious in 14 of 18
races last season en route to securing
the top three spots in the AFT Twins
presented by Vance & Hines
championship. This season their
involvement includes continued
development of its breakthrough D-
Air intelligent airbag-based protection
systems.
Dillard Family Racing/Lloyd
Brothers Motorsports are racing
in the Indian and Harley
dominated Twins class with
three-time AFT race winner
Stevie Bonsey aboard a liquid-
cooled Ducati Testastretta 82.
Having debuted in Round 2 at
Atlanta, they will run in all eight
of the mile races and the Lima
half mile. Bonsey is racing again
after serious injury in 2016.
Lloyd Brothers “have game”
with Ducati – they ended
Harley’s near two-decade run of
uninterrupted dominance at the
series’ Miles with a victory at
the Arizona Mile in 2010.
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Mustang and Mees in
2018 AFT Sponsorship
Mustang Seats says it “will help ensure
Jared Mees continues to lead the pack
in the 2018” with its sponsorship of the
2017 AFT Champion, who will be
running a custom-designed Mustang
seat aboard his Indian Scout FTR750
race bike.
Additionally, Mustang is to introduce
an all-new line of Jared Mees Signature
Series Seats designed exclusively for
the Indian Scout platform, available in
solo or 2-up platforms.
Jared Mees Signature Series Seats
“showcase a race-inspired design and
streamlined profile that hugs the frame
to enhance the Scout’s flowing lines.
Features include carbon fiber vinyl
inlays blended with smooth outer
panels for contrasting style, and a
traditional hand-sewn tuck-and-roll
stitch pattern with black and gunmetal
grey thread color.
“A 10-inch wide, low profile driver area
and raised tail section keeps riders
settled in an aggressive riding position,
while Mustang’s proprietary
polyurethane based foam compound
provides the all-day comfort riders
expect from a Mustang seat.”
www.mustangseats.com
AFT to trial multi-platform Production
Twins support class at Springfield in May
A trial AFT Production Twins
support class will be held at
this year’s Harley-Davidson
Springfield Mile I and II events
on May 26 and September 1,
respectively.
The new class - AFT Production
Twins - will provide eligible
AFT Singles riders the
opportunity to gain valuable
experience aboard faster, more
powerful twin-cylinder
motorcycles.
The class is designed around
production-based twin-cylinder
machines with a displacement
between 649-850cc. Eligible
machines include BMW, Ducati,
Harley-Davidson, Honda,
Kawasaki, Suzuki and Yamaha
twin-cylinder street bike engines
Photo Credit: American Flat Track/Brian J. Nelson
displacing 649cc to 850cc. Race-
only engines from machines
such as the Harley-Davidson
XR750, Honda RS750 and Indian
Scout FTR750 are not allowed in
AFT Production Twins.
AFT Production Twins riders will
vie for $5,000 in purse money
at each of the Harley-Davidson
Springfield Mile events.
K&N is AFT Official Performance Filter
AFT has announced K&N as the series’
Official Performance Filter for 2018.
As part of their partnership, K&N will
award a $500 Holeshot bounty to the
rider grabbing the holeshot of each AFT
Twins main event throughout the 2018
campaign.
“K&N products are widely used by
teams in American Flat Track and we
welcome their support for the series,”
said Michael Lock, CEO of American Flat
AMERICAN MOTORCYCLE DEALER - MAY 2018
Track. “The Holeshot bounty should also
ensure some fierce action at the start of
each AFT Twins main event.”
Last season, K&N-backed riders such as
Brad Baker, Sammy Halbert and Shayna
Texter routinely battled for the
checkered flag in both AFT Twins
presented by Vance & Hines and AFT
Singles competition. Expect more of the
same in 2018!
“K&N is thrilled to join AFT as the Official
Filter,” said Ross Berlanga, K&N Brand
Manager. “K&N was born in the dirt, so
AFT is a natural fit for us to show how
well our products perform on the track.”
www.knfilters.com
www.AMDchampionship.com