20.03.2022

RED BULL KTM TEAMMATES SHARE PODIUM HONORS AT TEXAS HALF-MILE

KODY KOPP EDGES OUT TEAMMATE MAX WHALE TO CLAIM SECOND IN AFT SINGLES CLASS
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Round 2 - American Flat Track Championship
FORT WORTH, Texas – Following 1-2 finishes at the opening round, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing teammates Kody Kopp and Max Whale once again shared podium honors at Round 2 of the American Flat Track Championship, delivering strong 2-3 results at the Texas Half-Mile.
 
Australian native Max Whale came out swinging from the start as he powered his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION to the front in Semi 2. Sweeping all eight laps in dominant fashion, Whale secured pole position for the AFT Singles Main Event. Kopp also had a strong performance in Semi 1, where he raced in third from start to finish to secure a second-row start for the main.
 
In the Main Event, Whale once again asserted himself at the front of the pack with a second-place start, while Kopp worked his way into fifth and battled just outside podium contention early on. A red flag came out to re-set the field after a downed rider and this time it was Kopp who established a good jump off the re-start. Overtaking Whale for second, the 17-year-old chased down the race leader and the Red Bull KTM duo held on the pressure late into the race. Despite being within striking distance of the win, Kopp made the decision to play it safe and bring home a second-place finish, crossing the line only 0.123 seconds behind the leader. 
 
Kody Kopp: “Texas was a very big weekend for me, I learned a lot and felt like I made a lot of progress throughout the day. I qualified 11th and then to come out with second was a win in itself. We changed a decent amount of stuff and it all came together in the Main Event. We narrowly missed a collision on the back straightaway and that allowed me to keep fighting through the pack. I got a killer re-start after the red flag and was up to second but just couldn’t make the move for the lead. I knew I had the speed and the bike to do it but it was such a sketchy track that if I went for it, I didn’t think I was going to finish on two wheels. We stuck it out and got some good points with second for a 1-2 to start the season.”
 
Whale, charging hard, finished another 0.210 seconds back for third.
 
Max Whale: “Texas was good, it went well for me personally and another double-podium for the team, which is great! I felt awesome all day but the track was hard to pass on and I struggled with that. All-in-all, it was a good weekend and I’m looking forward to the next one.”
 
Next Race: I-70 Half-Mile – Odessa, Missouri – April 23, 2021
 
Round 2 Results – Texas Half-Mile
 
AFT Singles Main Event 
1. Morgen Mischler, Honda
2. Kody Kopp, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
3. Max Whale, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
OTHER
7. Hunter Bauer, KTM
9. Ryan Wells, KTM
14. Logan McGrane, KTM
17. Tanner Dean, KTM
 
AFT Singles Point Standings (After Round 2)
1. Kody Kopp, 45 points
2. Morgen Mischler, 39
3. Max Whale, 37
OTHER
10. Ryan Wells, 15
12. Hunter Bauer, 12
14. Tanner Dean, 11
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Images (5)

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing - Round 2 AFT
2 048 x 1 365 © AMA Pro Racing
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing - Round 2 AFT
2 048 x 1 365 © AMA Pro Racing
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing - Round 2 AFT
2 048 x 1 365 © AMA Pro Racing
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing - Round 2 AFT
2 048 x 1 365 © AMA Pro Racing
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing - Round 2 AFT
2 048 x 1 365 © AMA Pro Racing

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