Bauman Runs Away with 77th World Famous SC2 Peoria TT

DAYTONA BEACH, FL – July 29, 2024 – (Motor Sports NewsWire) – Briar Bauman (No. 3 Rick Ware Racing/KTM/Parts Plus KTM 790 Duke) left no doubt in Sunday’s World Famous SC2 Peoria TT presented by Backroads Saloon, Round 11 of the 2024 Progressive American Flat Track season, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing.

For three years running, the Rick Ware Racing ace had come second in the fabled race held annually in the Peoria Motorcycle Club Race Park’s natural amphitheater, each time watching as TT maestro JD Beach (No. 95 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) left Peoria, Illinois, with top honors.

The two-time series champion was provided with an unexpected opportunity for revenge when Beach was made a late addition to the entry list, riding in place of injured Mission AFT SuperTwins championship leader Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT).

However, it was reigning Grand National Champion Jared Mees (No. 1 Rogers Racing/SDI Racing/Indian Motorcycle FTR750) who grabbed the early lead, securing the holeshot with a full-throttle trip up the grass banking leading to the jump on the race’s opening lap.

Bauman didn’t take long to make his move, slashing through in Turn 2 on the race’s second lap. Beach was desperate to work through himself, hoping to prevent Bauman from clearing off. And he in fact lost a few tenths in the handful of laps it took him to find his own way by Mees.

Even when Beach did have clear air in front of him, it was evident this was Bauman’s day. While the Estenson Racing super sub was undeniably impressive to finish second after jumping on a dirt track machine for the first time all season long, Bauman managed to open up more than eight second’s padding at the front while threatening to lap his way into the top five. He ultimately claimed a 4.569-second margin-of-victory over Beach, a gap that narrowed considerably on the final lap due to an extended victory wheelie to take the checkered flag.

The win was Bauman’s second at the Peoria TT, backing up his 2019 triumph. He said, “First and foremost, my heart goes out to Dallas Daniels right now. I’ve been through it myself and I know Jared has been through it too. I don’t have any words… I’m sorry. And beating JD today… you want it to count, but I don’t think it does. He hasn’t been on a flat track bike all year, so I could tell he was a little bit uncomfortable.

“But no matter what, huge thanks to Rick Ware Racing. The team deserves this. I…