The Estenson Racing team heads to the Atlanta Short Track
with a triple threat in the AFT Twins class – Jake Johnson, JD Beach and Kolby
Carlile – for round two of American Flat Track, Saturday, March 23, at Dixie
Speedway in Woodstock, Georgia.
The first oval race of the season will present a different
challenge than the season opener was at the Daytona TT for the all-new Estenson
Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT. However, the team spent time in the winter testing on
similar clay short tracks, so everyone’s looking forward to seeing where they
stack up against a competitive field in the premier class.
Starting with Johnson, who is fresh off of his podium finish
in Daytona. It was a solid start for the new machine and the two-time Grand
National Champion. The veteran on the team is well aware that Daytona brings so
many unknown factors – the track, first race jitters, etc. – and he is eager to
race at Dixie Speedway, and hopefully make a return trip to the podium.
After a tough start in Daytona missing the Main due to a
first turn crash in his Semi, his teammate Beach is really looking forward to
another go this weekend in Woodstock. Last year, Beach got off to a great start
and was fastest in qualifying. He went on to have a decent finish in his Heat
in sixth, but unfortunately weather put a halt to racing action that Saturday
night. When racing resumed Sunday during the day, the track had changed and
unfortunately Beach did not advance to the Main due to a flat tire. This year, Beach
is on a new bike and with a new team and is looking for better.
Their teammate Carlile is also eager to get back to racing.
Although his night in Daytona ended early with a mechanical, the rookie had an
impressive showing, running among the top five in the Main. Although the
Daytona TT is completely different from the clay Short Track, Carlile comes
into the race with confidence and is looking to build on his forward progress.
Jake Johnson – AFT Twins #5:
“I’m excited to get on the first “oval” track of the year. Daytona is such a one-off race and with all the first-race jitters, it’s sometimes hard to get a true gauge on where everyone stacks up. This weekend will give us a better idea of where we stand and what we need to work on. I feel we have a pretty good package so far, so I’m anxious to see what we can do.”
JD Beach – AFT Twins #95:
“After the day that I had at Daytona, I can’t wait to get
back on the bike and race again. It definitely didn’t go the way I had hoped,
so I’m really looking forward to Atlanta. Going into this first race on an
oval, I’m excited. It’s a track that I really enjoyed last year, but towards
the end of the day, we struggled a bit when the track changed.
“We’re on a new bike this year and with a new team, so I
think we’ll be able to kind of stay ahead of that a little bit. My goal for
this weekend is for us to just make the Main, and then we’re going to kind of work
from there. I think we can put our bike in the top-five this weekend. That will
be a win for us.”
Kolby Carlile – AFT Twins #136:
“Coming off a debut race like we had in Daytona has definitely given me an extra push this week to train a little harder, and it just has me excited for what the future can hold. I am in love with how my MT-07 DT is handling and working.
“Going into the Atlanta ST is a way different story than the
TT we debuted at, but luckily, we have tested on these types of oval tracks
this winter, and I believe we are bringing a good setup into it. I’m learning
so much every time I go out on the track with these guys, and that’s what this
year is all about. Last year, I didn’t like the day racing so much, but the
weather looks better this year in Woodstock, so I look forward to battling it
out Saturday night at Dixie Speedway.”
The Atlanta Short Track is streamed live, Saturday, March 23, on FansChoice.TV starting with practice at 3:00 p.m. ET, followed by the Heat races at 5:30 p.m. ET. Opening Ceremonies kicks off at 7:00 p.m. ET, with Semis at 7:15 p.m. ET and the Main Events at 8:00 p.m. ET.
Catch the race on NBCSN March 31 at 4:30 p.m. ET. For tickets and additional information about the event: http://www.americanflattrack.com/events
