A Season for the Ages: 2026 AMA Pro Flat Track in Review
The 2026 AMA Pro Flat Track Championship will be remembered as one of the most dramatic and unpredictable seasons the series has seen in over a decade. From photo-finish main events on the half-miles to record-breaking lap times on the miles, this year had everything fans could ask for. New champions were crowned, legendary names battled back from adversity, and a crop of rookie riders announced themselves to the world in emphatic fashion.
Across a 20-round schedule that took competitors from the classic dirt ovals of the Midwest to the purpose-built circuits on the East and West Coasts, no single rider was able to run away with the title until the very final rounds. That tension kept fans glued to their screens on Peacock and filling grandstands at a level the sport hasn't seen since its peak years.
Championship Standings: How It Played Out
When the dust finally settled at the season finale in New Jersey, it was Cody Bridges who stood atop the SuperTwins presented by Indian Motorcycle championship podium. Riding for the factory-backed Progressive Insurance/Indian Motorcycle team, Bridges accumulated 412 points over the course of the season, edging out defending champion Jared Mees by just 14 points in a finale that went down to the final transfer lap of the main event.
Mees, a perennial title contender and one of the sport's all-time greats, gave everything he had in pursuit of yet another championship. His seven wins across the season were actually more than Bridges' five, but a costly DNF at Springfield and a mechanical failure at the Du Quoin Mile ultimately cost him the title. Consistency, as always in flat track, proved to be the deciding factor.
Final SuperTwins Top 5 Standings
- 1. Cody Bridges – 412 points (Progressive Insurance/Indian Motorcycle)
- 2. Jared Mees – 398 points (Progressive Insurance/Indian Motorcycle)
- 3. Briar Bauman – 371 points (Estenson Racing)
- 4. Dallas Daniels – 355 points (Estenson Racing)
- 5. Jarod Vanderkooi – 318 points (Evans Brake/Harley-Davidson)
In the Sport Singles class, Tristan Adams dominated the season like few riders have before him, claiming nine victories on his way to a commanding points lead. His aggressive, calculated riding style drew comparisons to a young Bryan Smith, and his title win by over 60 points was a clear statement of intent heading into what many expect will be an imminent SuperTwins promotion.
Season Highlights: The Moments We'll Never Forget
Daytona Flat Track Opener
The season kicked off with electricity at the Daytona Short Track, held during Bike Week in March. Mees stormed to victory in the opening main event, but it was an unknown 19-year-old from rural Ohio named Ryker Holt who set social media ablaze by qualifying on the front row in just his second career Pro Singles start. Holt finished a creditable fifth, immediately putting the paddock on notice.
The Springfield Mile Double
No weekend on the flat track calendar carries more prestige than Springfield, and the 2026 edition delivered on every front. Briar Bauman swept both days of racing in dramatic fashion, winning Saturday's main event from third on the final lap and then leading wire-to-wire on Sunday. His performance on the historic Illinois State Fairgrounds mile was a masterclass in oval craft, reminding everyone why he remains one of the most complete riders in the paddock.
Lima Half-Mile Thriller
Perhaps the single greatest race of the season came at the Lima Half-Mile in August, where Bridges and Mees engaged in a five-lap duel that had 12,000 fans on their feet. The two swapped the lead four times before Bridges dove under Mees in the final corner of the final lap to claim the win by less than a tire's width. It was the kind of racing that reminds the world why flat track is called America's original motorcycle sport.
Rising Stars: The Future Is Fast
No season wrap-up would be complete without acknowledging the riders who are shaping the future of the sport. The 2026 season was particularly rich in young talent, with several names destined to challenge for SuperTwins titles in the years ahead.
Ryker Holt
The Ohio native turned what started as a promising debut into a full-blown breakout season. Holt claimed three Pro Singles wins, secured a SuperTwins wildcard start at Laconia (where he finished an astonishing eighth), and was named the series' Rookie of the Year by a wide margin. He has already confirmed a full-time SuperTwins ride for 2027.
Destiny Crane
Making history as only the second woman to compete in the Pro Singles class at a national level, Destiny Crane from Bakersfield, California earned two top-ten finishes and built a reputation for fearless, racecraft-driven riding. Her growing sponsorship portfolio and dedicated social media following suggest she is becoming one of the sport's most important ambassadors as well as a genuine competitive force.
Marcus Teller
The 22-year-old from Texas quietly put together one of the most consistent Sport Singles campaigns the class has seen in years. Without the fanfare of some of his peers, Teller finished inside the top five in 14 of 18 Sport Singles rounds and ended the year third in the championship standings — a result that earned him an Estenson Racing development contract for 2027.
Looking Ahead to 2027
With new television deals reportedly in discussion, growing attendance numbers, and one of the deepest fields of talent the series has assembled in a generation, the future of AMA Pro Flat Track has rarely looked brighter. The confirmed return of Indian Motorcycle's factory program, Harley-Davidson's continued commitment through satellite teams, and whispers of a new manufacturer entry make the off-season one of the most intriguing in recent memory.
For Cody Bridges, the work of defending a title begins immediately. For Jared Mees, the fire of a near-miss will burn all winter. And for riders like Ryker Holt, Destiny Crane, and Marcus Teller, 2027 can't come fast enough. One thing is certain: American flat track racing is in a very good place, and the 2026 season proved it beyond any doubt.