Brandon Pfanders (No. 83) leads the Last Chance Qualifier at Silver Dollar Speedway in 2026. [Photo: Tim Lester for AMA Pro Racing]

Download high-resolution photo from AMA Pro's Digital Asset Management system

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (May 13, 2026) – 450cc racebikes will feature prominently over four days of ThrottleFest, including in amateur flat track, motocross, endurocross, hare scrambles, and stunt shows. That single-cylinder showcase in Mechanicsville, Maryland, will reach its zenith on Saturday, May 16, when the KICKER AFT Singles and AFT ProSport 450 series resume at ThrottleFest for the sixth round of the 2026 Progressive American Flat Track season, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing.

The Drane Remains the Same

The opening four rounds injected some serious intrigue into the KICKER AFT Singles class with four different riders standing atop the box.

Round 5 saw its first repeat winner – reigning champion Tom Drane (No. 1 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) – and brought the title fight into tight focus along with it.

While multiple riders have taken their turn in the spotlight, Australian Drane has been the constant all throughout, reeling in a points haul via two firsts, two seconds, and a fourth. As a result, the preseason title favorite has further locked down that status as he’s opened up a bit of space at the top of the order.

The upcoming run of Half-Miles only stands to play more heavily in his favor. He’s currently tied for third in class history in HM wins and is perfectly positioned to continue that climb up the charts.

Staying Power

Record-book revisions have become an annual story in KICKER AFT Singles as of late – a story that predates Drane’s ongoing assault on the sport’s annals.

Prior to Dallas Daniels, no rider in class history had earned more than a single class crown.

But then Daniels did it twice. He was immediately succeeded by Kody Kopp, who proceeded to do it three times in a row. And now there’s Drane, who is looking like a very strong bet to become the category’s third consecutive multi-title winner.

Unsurprisingly, Daniels, Kopp, and Drane have wreaked some serious damage on the record books as a byproduct of their unusually lengthy reigns. Kopp stands as its all-time winningest rider, and Drane is likely to overtake him for that honor yet this season. Daniels boasts the longest-ever win streak – followed by Drane and Kopp, while Drane owns the two longest podium streaks, followed by Kopp.

Why the recent trend?

As the class has risen in prominence, as well as in importance to the manufacturers, there’s been greater incentive to keep potential championship winners in play – along with enhanced financial rewards and increased prestige for those who do.

Moreover, the jump up to Mission AFT SuperTwins is a precarious transition. If a rider leaps too early, it can be difficult to find their footing – and the transition back to 450s often proves equally difficult once they’ve left the nest.

While KICKER AFT Singles champs formerly graduated to Mission AFT SuperTwins upon winning the title almost as a rule, the examples of Daniels and Kopp – the defending Grand National Champion and its current points leader, respectively – have demonstrated the wisdom of waiting until a rider has a bit more seasoning and maturity before they step up to the premier ranks.

Drane projects in a similar manner – a forecast for success further solidified by his ‘25 Springfield one-off in which he immediately ran up front on the Yamaha MT-07 DT.

If he continues to stretch open his points advantage, that’s a sight we may see again this year . Prior to the season, Estenson Racing’s Team Owner, Tim Estenson, noted that the rulebook allows Drane to take part in as many as six Mission AFT SuperTwins races this season as a wild card.

That’s an option they may consider taking advantage of depending on the status of his active title defense.

A High Bar to Clear

The successive extended runs of Daniels, Kopp, and Drane has also made it more challenging for aspiring aces to make a big impression. No doubt it would have been easier for newcomers to win races and championships had those three all immediately vacated their thrones.

But it’s also provided those up-and-comers a realistic measure of their skills and readiness. Their continued presence has set a bar that makes clear to a rider exactly how they match up with what they can reliably believe is one of the very best riders in the paddock.

That in turn gives them valuable insight into their relative strengths and weaknesses, allowing them to actively improve before advancing rather than making a blind leap into the deep end.

Second-ranked Trevor Brunner (No. 21 KMA Racing/March Equipment Yamaha YZ450F) has measured himself up against Daniels, Kopp, and Drane, whereas third-ranked Chase Saathoff (No. 88 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450) has gone head-to-head with Kopp and Drane.

Both riders have taken their share of wins in those match-ups. They’ve also taken some lumps along the way.

Brunner and Saathoff remain the biggest threat to Drane’s title defense. Brunner already put in one season in Mission AFT SuperTwins where he proved himself a top-five finisher and the Rookie of the Year. Saathoff is now five years into his pro career, and he’s been a frontrunner the entire time. Should either overthrow Drane, their next move would be a fascinating one.

But for it to even be a question, they need to do everything in their power to prevent the Drane freight train from building up steam starting this weekend.

Mixing It Up

It’s up to everyone else to make this more than a three-rider fight. Fortunately, there’s plenty of talent in the ranks to make that a reality.

New Yorker Justin Jones (No. 91 Fairway Ford Chevy GMC Yamaha YZ450F) should be buoyed by the return back East, as will DAYTONA winner Bradon Pfanders (No. 83 Memphis Shades/Corbin Seats Yamaha YZ450F) after the Pennsylvanian endured a tough West Coast swing.

By contrast, Kage Tadman (No. 28 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) – and to a lesser extent, Tarren Santero (No. 75 Roof Systems/Vinson Construction Honda CRF450R) – may find some relief racing free of the expectations that came with the home-state pressure cooker faced in California.

Jared Lowe (No. 63 Big R Racing/Vinson Construction Honda CRF450R) and Walker Porter (No. 10 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) arrive full of confidence after Lowe enjoyed arguably his best round as a pro at Ventura Raceway and Porter did the same the following week at Silver Dollar Speedway.

And the KICKER AFT Singles class never has a shortage of promising would-be contenders. That long list includes the likes of Jack Brucks (No. 113 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450), Ryder Reese (No. 41 Fasthouse/Smoking Butcher Coffee KTM 450 SX-F FE), Evan Kelleher (No. 31 Schaeffer's Motorsports KTM 450 SX-F), and Logan Eisenhard (No. 66 Eisenhard Racing/Pags Powersports KTM 450 SX-F), any one of whom could strike for their maiden win on any given weekend.

Head East

Twelve amateurs will earn their place in the AFT ProSport 450 field with a successful run during the AMA-sanctioned Mission Foods CTR Showcase Event held on Friday at ThrottleFest.

Sam Drane (No. 7 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F), Jett Katarzy (No. 17 1st Impressions Husqvarna FC450), and Adam Costan-Wood (No. 88 Turner Racing Honda CRF450R) have all stood on top of the Progressive American Flat Track podium in the class to date.

The trip to the East Coast – and in the general neighborhood of some noted hotbeds of flat track talent – might just lure out some new faces who figure to factor in the sport’s not-too-distant future.

Full Throttle. Full Festival

ThrottleFest is a motorsports and music festival unlike any other. With Progressive American Flat Track at its center, Budds Creek Motocross Park will be loaded up with two-wheeled racing all day for four days, including amateur flat track, motocross, pit bike racing, endurocross, and hare scrambles.

And that’s only half the fun. ThrottleFest will also bring it with live music, contests, mechanical bull riding, Stacyc and RC racing, interactive games, food trucks, vendor areas, and more.

ThrottleFest is ready. Are you?

Don’t Miss This One

General Admission Standing Room Only tickets for Saturday start at $65 with Reserved Grandstand tickets available for $90 and Premium Reserved Grandstand tickets $120. Tickets for kids five and under are just $5 in any section, while children 6-12 get their tickets 60% off.

The Saturday VIP at ThrottleFest ticket can be had for $205, complete with Premium Reserved seating, complimentary food and refreshments, and paddock access to rub elbows with the best dirt trackers on the planet while getting a close-up view of their racebikes.

Fans can also purchase single day tickets for Thursday, Friday, or Sunday, as well as two-, three-, or four-day ticket packages.

Camping is available for $100 per vehicle (event passes sold separately), with free parking for all attendees.

Visit https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack/events/2026-throttlefest-saturday-184353 to choose your adventure today.

Gates will open for fans at 3:00 p.m. ET/12:00 p.m. PT on Saturday with Opening Ceremonies scheduled to begin at 7:10 p.m. ET/4:10 p.m. PT.

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 ThrottleFest, featuring in-depth features and thrilling onboard cameras, will premiere on FS1 on Sunday, May 24, at 11:30 a.m. ET (8:30 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.