12.03.2023

RED BULL KTM’S KODY KOPP SWEEPS DAYTONA AFT SINGLES DOUBLEHEADER

Round 1 & 2 – American Flat Track Championship
This press release has: 8 Images
DAYTONA, Fla. – Reigning AFT Singles Champion Kody Kopp made a perfect start to his American Flat Track title defense in Daytona this week, winning both rounds of the 2023 Daytona Short Track doubleheader, as Red Bull KTM Factory Racing teammate Max Whale delivered 8-5 finishes to open his campaign.
Thursday saw the season open in style with Daytona Short Track 1 at the famed Daytona International Speedway Short Track course, where 18-year-old Kopp was near unstoppable in qualifying quickest, before going on to take victory in his Heat race, the Dash-for-Cash and season-opening, 22-lap Main Event by an eventual margin of 3.370 seconds.

A rain delay saw Friday’s proceedings rescheduled for Saturday evening and Kopp picked up exactly where he left off two days prior onboard his 2023 KTM 450 SX-F. The Daytona Short Track 2 was again dominated by Kopp, qualifying in P1 and repeating with controlled wins in the Heat, Dash-for-Cash, and Main Event of round two. This time around he took the checkers by a commanding 5.439 seconds.

Kody Kopp: "Round one was near perfect for us and that's one way to start the season, for sure! We swept both rounds, Daytona Short Track 1 and 2, for a perfect 50 points. A huge thanks to my Red Bull KTM team, they've been working hard this off-season and so have I – it shows that hard work pays off. This is just the start of what will be a great season, so we're really excited with the results this weekend!"

Australian standout Whale displayed a front-running pace throughout the Daytona Short Track rounds despite enduring his share of challenges across both nights of competition, going on to earn a strong haul of points with eighth position on night one and fifth on Saturday.

Thursday saw 21-year-old Whale affected by unfortunate crashes in both his Heat race and the LCQ, although he was still able to qualify in the final transfer position and that placed him toward the rear of the field at the beginning of the Main Event. From there he put on a spirited charge forward, climbing inside the top 10 for a hard-fought eighth place at the opening round of the 2023 season.

The rescheduled second round went smoother for Whale, going on to record third position in his Heat race and, after constantly pushing forward in the 22-lap Main Event, he claimed a top-five result of P5 on Saturday evening to conclude the week. He's now sixth in the point-standings following Daytona.

Max Whale: "Thursday was a roller-coaster! Top-five during qualifying and then I went down in both the Heat and LCQ, but thankfully managed to take the final transfer into the Main and we pushed to eighth from there. Round two still wasn't what I wanted, but I fought really hard and had a lot better pace today. We had podium speed and ended up fifth in the Main, so it was better and I want to give it up to my Red Bull KTM team because they put in a huge effort and I want to reward them a little more for that, but onwards and upwards from here. We'll come back better at the next one."

Next Race: Senoia Short Track – Senoia, Georgia – March 25, 2023

Round 1 & 2 Results – Daytona Short Track Doubleheader

AFT Singles Main Event (Round 1)
1. Kody Kopp, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
2. Dalton Gauthier, KTM
3. Trevor Brunner, Yamaha
OTHER KTM
8. Max Whale, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
9. Logan Eisenhard, KTM
12. Justin Jones, KTM
14. Hunter Bauer, KTM
17. Travis Petton IV, KTM
19. Clarke Morian V, KTM

AFT Singles Main Event (Round 2)
1. Kody Kopp, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
2. Dalton Gauthier, KTM
3. Chase Saathoff, Honda
OTHER KTM
5. Max Whale, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
6. Justin Jones, KTM
10. Logan Eisenhard, KTM
15. Travis Petton IV, KTM
16. Hunter Bauer, KTM
17. Clarke Morian V, KTM
18. Tanner Dean, KTM

2023 AFT Singles Point Standings
1. Kody Kopp, 50 points
2. Dalton Gauthier, 42
3. Trent Lowe, 32
OTHER KTM
6. Max Whale, 27
10. Justin Jones, 22
11. Logan Eisenhard, 21
13. Hunter Bauer, 10
16. Travis Petton IV, 8
19. Clarke Morian V, 4
20. Tanner Dean, 2
Get all contents of this press release as .zip: Direct download Save to Lightbox

Images (8)

KODY KOPP PODIUM
1 652 x 1 101
KODY KOPP PODIUM 02
5 795 x 3 261
KODY KOPP - RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING
2 048 x 1 365
KODY KOPP 02 - RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING
2 048 x 1 365
KODY KOPP 03 - RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING
6 047 x 4 031
KODY KOPP AND MAX WHALE
5 497 x 3 665
MAX WHALE - RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING
2 048 x 1 365
MAX WHALE 02 - RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING
6 000 x 4 000

Contact

USA - Marketing
KTM North America, Inc.
Media and Public Relations

30125 KTM Way
Murrieta, CA 92563

T +1 951 600 8007 
E ktmmarketing@ktmnorthamerica.com