07.08.2023

KODY KOPP RACES TO THE TOP STEP OF THE AFT SINGLES PODIUM AT BLACK HILLS HALF-MILE

Round 15 – American Flat Track Championship
This press release has: 5 Images
RAPID CITY, S. Dak. – Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider Kody Kopp has returned to the top step of the podium in Round 15 of the 2023 American Flat Track Championship at the Black Hills Half-Mile, where teammate Max Whale charged to a fourth-place result in the AFT Singles Main Event.
After piloting his 450 SX-F to the third-fastest qualifying time, Kopp took a P4 finish in the opening Heat of the round as he initially struggled to find comfort on the Rapid City layout. The defending champion flipped a switch as the Main Event arrived, however, with the number one racing to a hard-fought victory and securing his seventh AFT Singles win of the season.

With his Black Hills Half-Mile victory, Kopp extends his advantage in the AFT Singles Championship to 49 points with three rounds remaining.

Kody Kopp: "This Black Hills Half-Mile was one of the toughest races of my career. Qualified on the front row for the Heat, but I really had to dig myself out of a hole – I was too nice, because I had the speed, but just rode around in fourth, and really needed to find that comfort and aggression. In the Main Event, I got myself really hyped up and that result was huge for my championship! I wanted to win today's race so bad after the difficulties of last weekend, so I'm ready to keep it rolling into the next race and finish strong."

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing teammate Whale opened his race day with a time that saw him qualify in second position. The momentum would continue for the determined Australian, as he notched another P2 result in his Heat, which earned him a spot into the Dash-For-Cash, where he claimed fourth.

In making improvements throughout the event, Whale entered the Main Event with confidence on his side, though a steady opening few laps placed him in the mid-field. Coming alive in the mid-part of the race, he began his charge to the front, running the pace of the leaders and managing to place his 450 SX-F into P4 by race's end. That result now sees him ranked fifth in the point-standings.

Max Whale: "It was a decent day here at Black Hills. I qualified second, which adds to my run of good qualifiers over the last few rounds, so had a front row start, made it into the Dash, though felt I was chasing something all day long. The team and I made great changes throughout the round and by the Main Event, I felt great, just a slow opening few laps put me back, unfortunately. I charged hard from there and by the mid-point I was running the times of the leaders, but I just gave up too much time to begin with. Overall, I'm stoked with how I feel on the bike, I just need to be better early on."

Next Race: Castle Rock TT – Castle Rock, WA – August 12, 2023

Round 15 Results

AFT Singles Main Event
1. Kody Kopp, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
2. Tom Drane, Yamaha
3. Trent Lowe, Honda
4. Max Whale, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
OTHER KTM
7. Declan Bender, KTM
8. Dalton Gauthier, KTM
9. Travis Petton IV, KTM
17. Logan Eisenhard, KTM
18. Landen Smith, KTM

2023 AFT Singles Point Standings
1. Kody Kopp, 298 points
2. Tom Drane, 249
3. Trevor Brunner, 248
OTHER KTM
5. Max Whale, 228
7. Dalton Gauthier, 214
11. Travis Petton IV, 97
14. Shayna Texter-Bauman, 69
19. Logan Eisenhard, 43
21. Declan Bender, 36
24. Landen Smith, 15
26. Hayden Gillim, 14
28. Clarke Morian V, 12
29. Olin Kissler, 10
30. Tanner Dean, 9
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Images (5)

KODY KOPP 02 - RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING
2 000 x 1 333 © Tim Lester
KODY KOPP - RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING
2 700 x 1 800 © Tim Lester
KODY KOPP 03 - RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING
2 000 x 1 333 © Tim Lester
MAX WHALE - RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING
2 000 x 1 333 © Tim Lester
MAX WHALE 02 - RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING
2 500 x 1 667 © Tim Lester

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