Words With AFT Singles Champion Dan Bromley

Red Bull KTM announced its first-ever factory effort in American Flat Track Singles class last week at Perris Raceway in Southern California, and I was stoked to meet defending Singles National Champion Dan Bromley as he watched members of the press try their hand at flat tracking from the infield of the Perris short track. Imagine my surprise when I introduced myself to the champ, and he said, enthusiastically, “Swapmoto Live! I’m a fan!” Needless to say, it’s always humbling when someone outside the bubble of motocross knows of me, and it was even more flattering as it was the baddest dude on a 450cc single!

Truth be told, I started by motorsports journalism career at Cycle News on the Grand National Championship Flat Track Series, so the thrill that this type of racing is no new news to me. Having transitioned into a job at a motocross magazine several years later, though, I must admit that I had lost touch with the sport, and especially so after my great friend, two-time Grand National Champion Ricky Graham passed away.

The sport has changed drastically since I last attended a National filled with Harley-Davidson XR750s, a few Honda RS750s, and Wood-Rotax 600s filling the support classes. I explained my roots to Bromley, then asked him for a brush up on the ways of the steel shoe series these days…

How has the sport changed since the days of the 750 twins ?

It’s almost like Supercross, where there are two main classes; the 450 singles and the 750 twins, which is the premier class. The twins get all of the money, where as the singles class is basically a stepping stone. However, with the re-branding of the singles class, a lot of twins racers are moving down to make it more cost efficient. Now the CEO is bringing more money and companies into the sport, and RedBull KTM Factory Racing is a prime example of that. Riders coming up are also more enticed to pursue racing longer. A lot of the fun was taken out of the sport for a while but things are turning around and a lot more money is coming in.  
Wouldn't you agree that the barrier to enter this sport is much lower with a 450 singles bike, rather than building a big twin bike. Has the singles class helped the sport grow?

I believe it has. It is a lot easier for an individual to basically go to a motorcycle shop, buy a bike, and simply lower the suspension and put on a 19-in front wheel.  Last year, I was racing on a stock rear wheel and making it work with a lower budget, and a lot of people are doing that. Last year, I rode for myself at Daytona out of a van and on a bone-stock bike, but I ended up winning. That’s just how easy it is to get involved in the sport with this 450 singles class. 

Last year, I was told you did a privateer deal with some unofficial help from KTM. Would you say your championship inspired them to jump into the sport head first?

No, from the impression I received, they were actually looking into getting involved and I was a good stepping stone into it. KTM has helped me throughout my entire career with a small dealership sponsor, and with me leading the points last year, they were encouraged even more to put together a team. Coming into the sport with a championship having already been earned definitely helped. 

This has to be a really exciting time for you, so what does it feel like to be one of the first factory riders for the team?

It feels amazing. Today, I got to see my first ever painted helmet and I almost teared up. Every once in a while, it hits me when I see that red number-one plate or the RedBull logo. It’s definitely special. Last year, I came into Daytona with mom and dad being my title sponsors and now I’ll go into the season as a RedBull KTM rider. It’s a life changing experience, and I'm grateful to be the one to lead the way. 

How did you end up being a flat track racer instead of another motocross guy?

My whole family has been into flat track racing, my grandfather raced in the late 1950s, and my dad, as well as his brothers raced locally. They really encouraged me to race flat track from a young age, so I grew up racing flat track and also some hare scrambles here and there. When I was about 14 years old, my dad asked what I would rather do and after thinking about having to wash bikes and clean air filters so often, with the hare scrambles, I decided to stick with flat track racing. And to now be here today it just unreal, I couldn't be happier. 

Is the American Flat Track Series an AMA championship or is it something separate?

With my dad being a director at AMA, I actually know a lot about this. DMG purchased the rights of AMA Pro Racing, and with doing that AMA Ohio still owns the rights to give away the number-one plate. So, it is still an AMA pro racing number one-plate and they have to be there to present it. There are a lot of different variables in there. 

Tell me about the series, how many rounds are there and does it still hit all of the old tracks?

There are still 18 rounds in the series; there’s five TTs, four short tracks, and about four or five half-mile to mile tracks. Hagerstown is one of my favorite tracks, but it is unfortunately not on the schedule this year... maybe one day. However, a lot of the older venues are still in the series, along with some newer facilities. We will be racing on some new tracks this year, so I'm excited.

What’s a 450 like on the mile?

We pretty much run a 14-42, fifth gear just wide-open. It’s pretty hard on the bikes. When I won Oklahoma City mile last year, we actually had to change the oil before the main event because of how thin and watery the oil got. I was actually scared of blowing up the bike (laughs).