14.03.2021
TEAMMATE MAX WHALE HAS A SUCCESSFUL DEBUT WITH THE TEAM
Rounds 1 & 2 - American Flat Track Championship - March 14, 2021
BARBERVILLE, Fla. – Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Shayna Texter-Bauman had an incredible start to the 2021 American Flat Track Championship, sweeping both rounds of the Volusia Half-Mile double header to put herself at the top of the AFT Singles class heading into a new season of racing. Her teammate, Max Whale, debuted his new ride with the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team where he finished 4-6 at the opening rounds with a positive performance throughout the weekend.
Texter-Bauman was strong from the start, earning a third-place qualifying position on Friday to kick off the winning weekend. She lined up in AFT Singles Semi 1, where she got off to a top-five start aboard her KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION. She steadily worked her way through the pack and with two laps to go, she moved into second, finishing just behind her teammate, Whale. In the Main Event, Texter-Bauman managed to ace two consecutive holeshots with a red-flag restart and she assumed control of the race right away on the opening lap. Leading all 27 laps from start to finish, the Pennsylvania native rolled her way to a season-opening victory in Florida.
On day two, Texter-Bauman picked up right where she left off on Friday as she qualified third overall to enjoy a front row start in AFT Singles Semi 1. With a fourth-place start, she charged her way into the lead halfway through the race and held strong to secure her first semi win of the season. In the Main Event, Texter-Bauman shot off the line to capture the holeshot and once again established herself out front on the opening lap. She maintained control for the first 12 laps before engaging in a heated battle for the lead spot. She dropped back a few positions halfway through the race but she bounced back with an impressive charge through the latter part of the race. Reclaiming the lead with eight laps to go, the all-time winningest AFT Singles rider finished strong to add a 21st career victory to her long list of accomplishments.
Texter-Bauman: “It was two great nights of racing and to go back-to-back is a great way to end a double header at Volusia, I’m speechless. All week I’ve been struggling on the starting line so to get the holeshot as many times as I did this weekend was unbelievable. The team has worked so hard in the last year and half to get us back up front and to leave here with the points lead is an incredible feeling, it’s motivating for the whole team to head into Atlanta for Round 3.”
Australian rider Max Whale delivered great results in his first race weekend aboard the KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION. On Friday, Whale earned pole position after an impressive qualifying time on opening day. In AFT Singles Semi 1, he got off to a third-place start and he quickly worked his way up to second on lap two. He kept the momentum rolling as he passed into the lead on lap three, putting in a solid ride to claim the first semi win of the season. In the Main Event, Whale shot off the line and into second on the opening lap, where he raced behind his teammate for the first 11 laps before getting passed for second. He put up a hard fight for the final podium position but he finished just off the box in fourth.
On day two, Whale showcased his speed once again by claiming second overall in the day’s qualifying, which set him up for a favorable start to the race day. In AFT Singles Semi 2, Whale was involved in an unfortunate situation that ultimately sent him to the back of the grid in a red-flagged restart and he fought his way through the chaos to put himself into 12th on the opening lap. He put his head down and quickly climbed through the field to reach seventh with two laps to go, locking in a transfer to the Main Event. Starting on back row once again for the main, Whale did his best to battle through the opening lap and put himself into the top-10 by lap two. From there, he continued to charge his way forward to ultimately secure an impressive sixth-place finish by the end of the 26-lap race.
Whale: “Overall, it was a strong weekend for the team and a good first outing for me on the KTM. I had a tough semi but I came from the back row in the main and ended up sixth. We never gave up in the main and moved forward a lot, so I’m happy about this weekend but onto the next. I’m confident, I feel good and I’m ready to go.”
Next Race: Atlanta Super TT – Atlanta, Georgia – May 1, 2021
AFT Singles Main Event (Round 1 – Volusia Half-Mile I)
1. Shayna Texter-Bauman, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
2. Dallas Daniels, YAM
3. Michael Rush, YAM
4. Max Whale, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
OTHER
7. Morgen Mischler, KTM
12. James Ott, KTM
16. Jayson Bloss, KTM
AFT Singles Main Event (Round 2 – Volusia Half-Mile II)
1. Shayna Texter-Bauman, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
2. Michael Rush, YAM
3. Morgen Mischler, KTM
OTHER
6. Max Whale, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
14. James Ott, KTM
AFT Singles Point Standings (After Round 2)
1. Shayna Texter-Bauman, 50 points
2. Michael Rush, 37
3. Dallas Daniels, 35
4. Morgen Mischler, 29
5. Max Whale, 28