Texter takes AFT Production Twins title
Limerick native wins first American Flat Track season championship in N.J.
Cory Texter always believed his years of work and commitment would pay off.
They did Saturday night for the Limerick native when he was crowned season champion of the American Flat Track Production Twins class in East Rutherford, N.J.
Texter, who has competed professionally since 2008, achieved his best season ever with three wins (Fort Worth, Texas; Perris, Calif.; Lexington, Ky.) and five podium finishes in the 11-race series.
After spending the bulk of his career running his own team, things came together for Texter in his first year with G&G Racing atop the Holeshot Powersports Yamaha MT-07.
“I had some tough years and for the G&G team to take a chance on me means everything,” Texter said post-race. “I stayed loyal to the team, and I couldn’t be happier with the bike they put underneath me. So many people sacrificed so much to make this happen.”
It was a momentous achievement for the Texter family, the first season championship for
“I had some tough years and for the G&G team to take a chance on me means everything. I stayed loyal to the team, and I couldn’t be happier with the bike they put underneath me. So many people sacrificed so much to make this happen.”
– Limerick native Cory Texter after winning AFT Production Twins season championship Saturday.
Cory and sister Shayna. Shayna finished seventh in the AFT Singles standings in 2019 with three victories.
“It feels good for a Texter to finally win a professional title,” Cory said. “This is for all the times Shayna got close and for all the sacrifices my dad (Randy Texter) made. I can’t even tell you how much he sacrificed to get us where we’re at.”
Cory Texter found a match in the 2-year-old AFT Production Twins class after running in American Flat Track’s top series, AFT Twins, most seasons since 2015.
The classification was added as a better bridge better the singles and faster, more powerful twins motorcycles. The AFT Twins presented by Vance & Hines class consists of custom-framed twin-cylinder motorcycles displacing no more than 900cc, all piloted by the world’s most talented motorcycle racing athletes on dirt. The AFT Production Twins class features production-based, twincylinder motorcycle engines from BMW, Ducati, HarleyDavidson, Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki and Yamaha street bikes with displacements between 649-800cc. The AFT Singles class consists of production-based 450cc off-road machines specially prepped for flat track competition and ridden by the sport’s rising stars.
Cory Texter had to sweat it out in the season and Saturday after huge early-season success.
After pulling nearly a second clear on the opening lap, Texter was overhauled around the outside by primary title rival Kolby Carlile on lap 2. However, Carlile broke just two laps later, handing the lead, and a seemingly easy path to the championship, back to Texter.
But with just two laps to go, Texter encountered mechanical issues of his own. He was left helpless as the field, led by Chad Cose and title hopeful Ryan Varnes, blasted past.
All Texter could do was continue forward at a snail’s pace, but that pace proved good enough to finish ninth and finish on 190 points, edging Varnes (182) and Carlile (173).
“I’ve been going to these races since I was two weeks old,” Texter said. “This is my life. For me to finally get this is a dream come true. It’s never been about making money or any of that stuff. It’s just been a lifelong goal for someone who grew up in this sport since they were a baby. This is awesome.”
Race winner Cose picked up Texter and took him on his victory lap. He said, “We’re brothers – it’s one big family and it’s great to see. Cory deserves it and his team deserves it. They worked really hard to get where they are.”
TV coverage of the season-ending Meadowlands Mile event can be seen on NBCSN on Saturday, Oct. 12 at 10:30 p.m.