Texter makes AFT Singles history at Lima Half-Mile
Fan favorite Shayna Texter (No. 52 Husqvarna Motorcycles/JCS Racing FC 450) made history on Saturday night at the Indian Motorcycle Lima Half-Mile by delivering Husqvarna’s first American Flat Track victory.
Texter, who holds the all-time win record for the AFT Singles class, had been repeatedly knocking on the door of that momentous achievement for weeks now. Coming into Lima she had logged four podiums aboard her rapidly developing Husqvarna FC 450, including a pair of runner-up finishes.
Those results lent the long-awaited maiden Husqvarna triumph a certain sense of inevitability, but when she finally did break through, she did so with panache. Texter pulled a disappearing act on the opening lap and piled it on from there in an AFT Singles Main Event that was never really in doubt.
After taking the checkered flag with a full 4.765 seconds in hand to become the class’ seventh different winner in 10 races this season, a jubilant Texter said, “It’s so cool… It’s so awesome! To get Husqvarna their first win in American Flat Track is a dream come true… Hats off to my entire team and everyone who has been behind me. It’s been a long year, and I’m so happy to finally get this one.
Shayna Texter not only scored her first win of the 2018 season, she gave sponsor Husqvarna its first-ever American Flat Track victory – and in convincing fashion.
“It’s incredible to win Lima. Never in a million years would I imagine I’d win this race — it’s such a rough track. But I think spending a whole year with [boyfriend] Briar [Bauman] talking about Lima every single day since he won it last year, it kind of rubbed off on me. I tried to do what he did last year — hold it wide open and hope for the best!”
2016 AFT Singles Champ Ryan Wells (No. 94 RMR/Al Lamb’s Dallas Honda CRF450) finished second on Saturday night. Wells battled for the position with defending class champ Kolby Carlile (No. 1 Estenson Racing/McCandless Truck Center Yamaha YZ450F) before Carlile saw his race end early due to a mechanical.
Dan Bromley (No. 62 KTM North America/Bromley Motorsports 450 SX-F) earned the final spot on the podium following Carlile’s premature exit by slashing his way forward throughout the contest. Bromley was mired in tenth off the start but rebounded nicely to claim his eighth podium of 2018.
Reigning Flat Track Canada Champion Brodie Buchan (No. 149 Buchan Racing/Parts Canada Honda CRF450R) took fourth, followed by last year’s race runner-up Kevin Stollings (No. 99 Roof Systems Honda CRF450R) in fifth.
Bromley continues to have a firm grasp on the AFT Singles title fight as it enters its second half. Following tonight’s result Bromley has 178 points to Wells’ 135 and Texter’s 134.
American Flat Track will be back in action next weekend for the Harley-Davidson New York Short Track at Weedsport Speedway, in Weedsport, N.Y., on Saturday, July 7. Live coverage can be viewed on FansChoice.tv beginning at 4:00 p.m. ET with Opening Ceremonies scheduled to kick off at 6:45 p.m. ET. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at New York Short Track Tix.
And don’t forget there’s a free Kickoff Party happening at the track on Friday night, with a very special Trading Places event involving Jared Mees and Weedsport GM Jim Phelps, who will trade race vehicles for some entertaining laps – Mees in Phelps’ Dirt Mod racecar and Phelps on Mees’ backup Indian FTR racer.
