Australian teenager Tom Drane closed out his historic 2025 Progressive American Flat Track Singles campaign with another win at the Lake Ozark Short Track season finale in Missouri.
Despite wrapping up the AFT Singles championship two rounds early, the 17-year-old Estenson Racing Yamaha rider wasn’t content to play it safe. Drane worked his way past early leaders Bradon Pfanders and rookie Kage Tadman, using a low line into Turn 1 to edge into control before a late red flag forced a reset. On the restart, Tadman was put back in front, but Drane wasted no time diving under him to reclaim the lead.
He held on under late pressure from Tarren Santero to take the chequered flag, equalling the all-time single-season win record of eight shared by Dallas Daniels and Kody Kopp. The result also gave Drane 19 career victories in the class, tying him with Shayna Texter-Bauman for second on the all-time AFT Singles winners’ list.
Speaking after the race, Drane said, “I can’t thank my whole Estenson Racing Monster Energy team enough. They worked their butts off all year and gave me a great bike. That race, I got to the front earlier, but for the restart, I had to reset my mind. I had to get out there, get the start, and take the lead as quick as I could. Once I was there, I felt I could lead and be comfortable at the front. It was really good.”
Drane’s championship-winning season not only tied the record books but also sealed Yamaha the 2025 AFT Singles Manufacturer crown.
Fellow Australian Max Whale finished his first full year in the premier Mission AFT SuperTwins class with a top-ten result at Lake Ozark. The Moto Anatomy X Royal Enfield rider brought his 650 home in eighth place on the night, cementing a solid rookie campaign against the sport’s biggest names.
While Dallas Daniels claimed the SuperTwins crown ahead of Briar Bauman, Whale’s consistent performances across the season underlined his progress in adapting to the big bike category and provided a strong foundation to build on heading into 2026.
