The AMA Grand National Championship – now the American Flat Track Championship – used to be one of Grand Prix’s richest pipelines. Times and technology changes but the series is still the home of the United States’ fiercest motorcycle athletes and some phenomenal talent outside of Supercross stadiums and motocross national circuits. The 2017 competition will also re-stage one of the oldest manufacturing rivalries with Indian reinvigorated to go toe-to-toe with Harley Davidson and reignite a duel that pre-dates World War II. At the heart of the dispute across twenty rounds of mile, half-mile, TT (non-oval) and short track warfare will be 23 year old 2013 champion Brad Baker.

The Bullet has mainly competed with Harley and Honda machinery but will be Indian’s star signing on the Scout FTR750 along with ’16 champ Bryan Smith and Jared Mees; Smith triumphing in remarkable last lap, last corner style at Santa Rosa (watch it HERE).

A previous winner of the Barcelona Superprestigio (Marc Marquez’s pet winter project, the fourth edition taking place this weekend in the Catalan capital) Baker was spotted at the final fixture of MotoGP at Valencia before a period of training and riding that would see him trade roost with Marquez at the HRC man’s facility in Rufea in the depths of western Catalunya, taste some of Spanish Champion Ferran Cardus’ exhaust fumes as well as show Valentino Rossi a trick or two at 46’s Ranch in Tavullia. Monster Energy’s Baker will now put on a show for the fans at the Palau St Jordi before heading back to his home in Washington State prior to the Daytona TT on March 16 and the opening salvo of ‘AFT’.

“For a long time in the states Brad has been seen as the Marc Marquez of flat track,” says respected photo journalist Andrea Wilson, who has been working closely on the AMA series in 2016. “But his results fell off with the move to the factory Harley-Davidson team, with a mixture of injuries, mechanicals and bad luck. He has a lot of raw talent and I think with the right tuner, someone to mentor him a bit, and modern machinery, he could be unstoppable.

“It will be interesting to see how he fits in at Howerton Motorsports, because although Ricky Howerton is Bryan Smith’s tuner, Howerton runs the team and is one of the best in the business. As far as overseas, it’s actually surprised me this trip to see how big he is in Europe. They treat him like a MotoGP rider.”

Andrea kindly arranged for some press to spend time with Brad in the cosy confines of the Alpinestars hospitality in Valencia and where one of the major stars of the American scene gave his thoughts across a range of subjects…

On the state of Flat Track…

I think it is in pretty good shape right now. I think there is more momentum behind it than there has been for a long time. We’ve been in the X Games for the last few years and we’re scheduled again for 2017. We’ll be on national television with NBC Sports next year. We’ve got more rounds right now and it’s growing; so it is a good season. There are lots of OEMs and quite a few sponsors in the paddock and lots of good riders. So the outlook is positive and you go to the international side of things and it is growing here in Spain and through Europe.

On the reactions to the sport in the last few years…

Many younger fans; that’s something I’ve seen. 2011 was my first year as a rookie in Expert and 2009 was my first as a Pro and when I began I didn’t really see a load of kids at the track. Now there are more and young adults as well. That’s been one of the bigger changes at the fences and a really good one.

On whether Dirt Track is simple for kids and juniors to pick up…

I think it is easy. To road race you obviously have to have the facility and opportunity to do it; there are not many around while you can build a dirt track in your back yard if you have more than an acre. No jumps either! So it is simple to make a circuit. Having a kid involved in any level of motocross is dangerous. I trained in motocross a lot and I’m a pretty decent rider. I can qualify in the local Pro class – well, I’m a slower Pro but faster Intermediate and I’d rather be a slower Pro! – and get around the track safely without looking like a goon. Sometimes at the local tracks you see three guys getting carted off in the first half hour with broken collarbones, arms or legs. For a rider to go and be comfortable on a new motorcycle then it [dirt track] is a lot safer and easier than entry level at motocross at any age.

To read the rest of the article in the new OTOR click HERE

Photos by Andrea Wilson