American Flat Track's most successful AFT Singles racer #52 Shayna Texter, gave Red Bull KTM's Factory Racing Flat Track Team its first ever win at Forth Worth's Texas Motor Speedway in the first half mile of the season.
The Texas Half Mile victory raises Texter's win tally to a phenomenal sixteen career American Flat Track singles wins. It was a classic race in which the 28 year old delivered a super gutsy ride: the type of gritty performance that her legions of fans have come to expect of her and where she left off at the final round of last season - the Meadowlands Mile.
Texter had been in commanding form all day throughout qualifying and in her semi but when the final itself came round, she was momentarily left standing on the grid. That only seemed to make her even more determined and in heroic style, she scythed her way through from sixth place to take the lead with a number of decisive, hard charging killer passes and held on to take the win by 0.129 seconds over Mikey Rush (Honda CRF 450R) in 2nd and the 16 year old sensation James Ott (Honda CRF 450R) a further 0.255 seconds behind Rush in 3rd.
Shayna Texter KTM 450 SX-F
The Texas Half Mile turned out to be a double celebration for the Texter flat tracking 'clan.' Shayna's big bro Cory took victory in the first round of an eleven round AFT Production Twins season to make it an historic first ever "double win" in two different classes for the siblings.
Round Up
Four rounds have already gone this season and Texter's lying in 7th place in AFT Singles on 35 points. That's 44 behind leader Dalton Gauthier. She was 9th in Atlanta's short track race but didn't qualify for either of the two TTs so far (Daytona (rd 1) and Arizona (rd 4). The bad news is, there are three more TTs to run for the singles class - (Springfield, Buffalo Chip and Peoria).
An additional TT was added to this year's AFT schedule - for both singles and twins. The Arizona Mile of last year switched to the Arizona "Super TT." So five TTs for the singles class - not the best news for Shayna. Although she's been working hard with off-road guru / super trainer Aldon Baker, TTs are just not her thing. Talking to Scottie Deubler about the tracks she likes, Texter said:
"I like the racey type of tracks. I like the cushions because there's multiple lines that form and it becomes more of a rider's track and comes down to more fitness, ability and talent on a motorcycle and having that courage to hold it to the edge a little bit. So, I really like the cushion tracks. Obviously Knoxville, Iowa was always a special place to me and a track that had a lot of grip and fast. You can carry a lot of corner speed. So, as long as the tracks are racey - I'm not really that type of rider that enjoys the follow the leader, one line race tracks. I enjoy going out there and being able to put it on the line."
For the singles class there are three half miles (Laconia, New York and Springfield) and four mile races (Sacramento, Lexington, Minnesota and Meadowlands) to run and these are races that will suit ST #52. She's already proved that she's fast on the KTM 450 SX-F right out of the blocks.
Shayna Texter meets the fans on a paddock walk around
Next up is the So Cal Half Mile at the Perris Auto Speedway on May 11th followed by the Sacramento Mile on the 18th, then the Springfield TT (for singles) on the 26th and the Red Mile, Kentucky on June 1st. Three good races for Texter, one possibly not so good. But we'll be rooting for her in all four!
Check out Shayna Texter's "Queen of Hearts" tee shirt here. And remember, tees are now available for kids and youths from 6 - 16 years. Click here for youths' sizes.
Shayna Texter "Queen of Hearts" tee as modelled by.......#52
📷 Dave Hoenig and Carlos Amoedo
