Bryan Smith
2016 Grand National Champion Bryan Smith is widely recognized as one of the preeminent Mile magicians in dirt track’s illustrious history. He enters the 2021 season with 25 career Mile wins to his name, equal for third all-time with Bubba Shobert, and just five short of eclipsing Chris Carr for second.
Smith is perhaps the best strategist and tactician in the paddock and, as a result, is consistently able to outthink, outfox, and outmaneuver his opponents in drafting wars. That proven track record and well-earned reputation also grants him a mental edge he can work to his advantage in late-race duels.
Besides his Mile mastery, Smith also boasts several career Half-Mile wins and can hold his own on TTs and STs even if neither are his strong suit.
Among the Michigan native’s many achievements beyond the aforementioned ‘16 GNC are a pair of GNC1 Twins titles (2012 and 2013), the 2015 X Games gold medal, and a run of seven straight victories at the Sacramento Mile from 2011 to 2017.
Smith has worked in tandem with crew chief Ricky Howerton for several seasons. The two first set the dirt track world on fire together with Kawasaki-powered dirt trackers from ‘12-16, then claimed seven combined wins on factory Indian Motorcycle equipment in ‘17 and ‘18.
2019 proved a more difficult season as the pairing attempted to take down the Indian juggernaut with a resurrected Crosley-Howerton Kawasaki effort. Despite coming up well short of that goal, they still managed to challenge for wins and concluded the season on a high note in the form of two consecutive runner-up finishes.
The two joined forces with Vance & Hines and the factory Harley-Davidson team for 2020. Despite a difficult overall campaign, they demonstrated their Mile magic yet again with a podium performance at the Indy Mile II.
Smith is a brash, old-school racer. The “Mile Master” first cut his teeth racing BMX bikes at six before moving on to ice racing and dirt track a year later, putting him on an early path for eventual superstardom.
Howerton and Smith will return to the Indian Motorcycle FTR750 as factory-backed privateers in 2021.
| Note: Scroll to view full information. | ||||||||||||||
| Year | Cls | Stnd | Pts | St | Wins | Best Fin | Worst Fin | Avg Fin | Poles | Best Qual | Worst Qual | Avg Qual | Laps Led | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | AFT SuperTwins | 13 | 44 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 16 | 10.8 | 0 | 5 | 16 | 10.0 | 0 | |
| 2020 | AFT SuperTwins | 13 | 104 | 16 | 0 | 3 | 18 | 12.2 | 0 | 2 | 18 | 11.1 | 1 | |
| 2019 | AFT Twins | 13 | 140 | 12 | 0 | 2 | 17 | 7.9 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 7.7 | 1 | |
| 2018 | AFT Twins | 5 | 191 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 4.1 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 4.0 | 25 | |
| 2017 | AFT Twins | 2 | 298 | 18 | 4 | 1 | 15 | 4.6 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 4.0 | 53 | |
| 2016 | GNC | 1 | 240 | 14 | 4 | 1 | 14 | 4.2 | 0 | 0.0 | ||||
| 2016 | GNC1 | 1 | 210 | 11 | 4 | 1 | 10 | 2.9 | 6 | 1 | 8 | 2.4 | 106 | |
| 2016 | GNC1 | 7 | 30 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 14 | 9.0 | 0 | 8 | 19 | 13.7 | ||
| 2016 | XGames | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 11 | 11.0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 3.0 | ||
| 2015 | FTSuper | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | ||||||
| 2015 | GNC1 | 1 | 170 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 14 | 3.9 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 4.6 | 81 | |
| 2015 | GNC1 | 21 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 11 | 16 | 13.5 | 0 | 7 | 19 | 13.0 | ||
| 2014 | GNS | 10 | 34 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 10 | 8.3 | 0 | 6 | 13 | 10.0 | ||
| 2014 | GNT | 1 | 242 | 10 | 5 | 1 | 7 | 2.1 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 3.3 | 131 | |
| 2013 | GNS | 8 | 41 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 17 | 9.0 | 0 | 4 | 18 | 10.3 | ||
| 2013 | GNT | 1 | 161 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 99 | 14.9 | 4 | 1 | 13 | 4.4 | 74 | |
| 2012 | GNS | 10 | 48 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 17 | 11.0 | 0 | 5 | 17 | 11.5 | ||
| 2012 | GNT | 1 | 180 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 14 | 4.8 | 0 | 2 | 14 | 5.1 | 83 | |
| 2011 | GNS | 19 | 28 | 5 | 0 | 8 | 19 | 13.6 | 0 | 4 | 18 | 9.8 | ||
| 2011 | GNT | 5 | 161 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 17 | 6.6 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 4.0 | 14 | |
| 2010 | GNS | 8 | 52 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 14 | 8.8 | 0 | 3 | 16 | 10.2 | ||
| 2010 | GNT | 7 | 138 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 17 | 7.3 | 1 | 1 | 17 | 8.6 | 34 | |
| 2009 | GNS | 18 | 17 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 19 | 13.7 | 0 | 7 | 8 | 7.5 | ||
| 2009 | GNT | 4 | 119 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 19 | 6.8 | 3 | 1 | 19 | 4.8 | 28 | |
| 2008 | GNT | 3 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 3.0 | 4 | 1 | 16 | 5.3 | 53 | |
| 2007 | GNS | 9 | 63 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 4.5 | 0 | 2 | 17 | 8.5 | 25 | |
| 2007 | GNT | 3 | 147 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 13 | 6.0 | 1 | 1 | 14 | 6.2 | 19 | |
| 2006 | GNS | 10 | 62 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 16 | 9.5 | 0 | 2 | 18 | 6.9 | 15 | |
| 2006 | GNT | 3 | 127 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 18 | 6.9 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 5.5 | 17 | |
| 2005 | GNC | 5 | 157 | 14 | 0 | 2 | 14 | 7.9 | 2 | 1 | 16 | 8.7 | 11 | |
| 2004 | GNC | 11 | 95 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 16 | 10.5 | 0 | 3 | 17 | 10.9 | 4 | |
| 2003 | GNC | 17 | 49 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 17 | 10.8 | 0 | 13 | 18 | 15.8 | ||
RELATED RIDER VIDEOS
The AFT Show: Episode 1
Behind the Scenes of the 2019 DAYTONA TT
2017 AFT Twins Recap - AFT on NBCSN
AFT on NBCSN: 2018 DAYTONA TT
2017 Ice Track Racing - American Flat Track Style
RELATED RIDER NEWS
2021 Threat Matrix, Part 3: Bauman on Those Who Would Take His Crown
Two-time champion Briar Bauman speaks honestly about the pack of wolves after his No. 1 plate.
Indian Motorcycle Racing Announces Factory Team & Contingency Program for 2021 Progressive AFT Season
Indian Wrecking Crew Returns with Briar Bauman & Jared Mees, While Bronson Bauman & Bryan Smith Join as Factory-Backed Privateers.
Bauman Doubles Up With Indy Mile II Masterclass
Smith’s characteristic Mile finesse earns Harley-Davidson's first Mile podium for XG750.
Ricky Howerton: The Man Behind the Machine
As Crew Chief to a juggernaut program in 2020, Ricky Howerton has set his expectations high for the coming AFT season.
Harley-Davidson Announces Stacked AFT SuperTwins Roster
Powerhouse effort has Grand National Champion Bryan Smith and AFT Singles Champion Dalton Gauthier joining H-D veteran Jarod Vanderkooi on the XG750R Rev X for 2020; Ricky Howerton to serve as crew ch...
Part II: Team Crosley Howerton: Reunited, Redesigned and Ready to Rock in 2019
A new bike, an old team and a champion rider … the band’s all back together! Part II of a two-part series
Team Crosley Howerton: Reunited, Redesigned and Ready to Rock in 2019
A new bike, an old team and a champion rider … the band’s all back together! Part I of a two-part series
Howerton, Smith and Crosley Reunite for 2019
Team Crosley/Howerton Aims to Repeat its Dramatic, Championship-Winning Performance of 2016
SERIES
PARTNERS
PARTNERS
