Shayna Texter, American Flat Track Singles Racer, Teams Up with Red Torpedo

We're super excited to announce that we've just teamed up with American Flat Track singles racer Shayna Texter. 

Texter becomes our second USA flat track brand ambassador following our signing of AFT Twins 2017/18 back-to-back Champion Jared Mees at the start of last season. The two flat track stars join a roster of world class road racers that Red Torpedo sponsors in the UK - John McGuinness, Conor Cummins, Lee Johnston and Guy Martin - to form a unique posse of motorcycle racing talent on both closed public roads and dirt tracks.

Bill Gordon, CEO of Red Torpedo said, "I saw the final round of the American Flat Track season last year - the Meadowlands Mile in New Jersey, and was blown away by Shayna Texter's gutsy ride. She won the singles race by 0.006 seconds in a hard fought battle with Kolby Carlile. She's a phenomenal talent in a tough, high adrenaline extreme motorcycle sport and we're over the moon to have her on board."

Shayna Texter was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania USA into a motorsport and dirt track racing family. Her grandfather was a five time URC sprint car champion and her late father was a pro Grand National flat track racer. Cory Texter, her brother, has been a professional flat track racer for over ten years - mainly in twins but last season, in singles - alongside his sister. She was riding a motorcycle by the age of three and started racing at twelve. One of only two female pro riders currently in American Flat Track, (Sandriana Shipman also races in singles), Texter is the first female rider to win an American Flat Track National Main event. The first win at Knoxville, Iowa Raceway was a game changing moment. Since turning professional in 2008, she's bagged fifteen career American Flat Track Singles wins - the highest number achieved by any other rider in the class. A fan's favourite in the paddock and on the ovals, she has become an inspirational figure and strong role model for young girls and women aspiring to enter the world of motorsports.

Career Background

Texter raced in the GNC2 class, now AFT singles, for several years before moving to the premier GNC1 class in 2014, now AFT Twins. She raced for three years in this class but at five feet and weighing in at under 100 pounds, she seemed more at home with singles compared to the additional weight and power of the twin. Returning to the singles class in 2017 with Richie Morris Racing, she immediately found her mojo again on board a Honda CRF450R racking up a total of nine podium finishes with five wins, two 2nds and two 3rds. She finished the season in third place.

In 2018, Texter again finished the AFT Singles Championship in overall third place with eight podium finishes: three wins, three 2nds and two 3rds on board a FC 450 Husqvarna. She also ran her own team - ST52 Racing along with factory support from Husqvarna.

2019 Season: Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Flat Track Team

For 2019, Texter has been signed by the newly formed Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Flat Track team - the first time there's been a full factory effort launched in the class.

 Shayna Texter beside her new Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-F

Shayna will partner last year's singles Champ Dan Bromley riding KTM 450 SX-F factory editions. The team is managed by ex AMA Supermoto and Superbike racer Chris Fillmore. He's an immensely experienced motorcycle racer and a "Big Orange" man to the core having helped to develop and raced the KTM RC8. He has also worked for KTM North America in an ambassadorial / media relations role. Fillmore holds the outright lap record at Pikes Peak International Hill Climb set in 2017 on a 1290 Super Duke R and last year took a 790 Duke to a middleweight class record and outright third place - against all the 1290s! It's a very strong team set-up that's been put together - although nothing less than would be expected from a Red Bull backed entry into the sport. It's no secret that we may see the 790 Duke ripping it up in the twins class over the next couple of years.

Testing the new Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-F

Red Torpedo's New Official Shayna Texter "Queen of Hearts" Tee

Red Torpedo has released the first new official Shayna Texter tee shirt with the launch taking place at Ace Cafe Orlando's Thursday "Bike Night." Shayna was  there in person rocking her new design which has been called "Queen of Hearts." It's the work of Red Torpedo's in-house designer, Robin Leishman.

Talking about the background to the design Robin said, "I had a lot of discussion with Shayna before arriving at this final design and was bowled over that she took such a personal interest in working up something she felt would be unique to her.

"We initially had so many ideas that we went through various iterations before we distilled it into one overall design - the "Queen of Hearts." The idea came from the juxtaposition of motorcycle racing and gambling's combination of risk, adrenaline and excitement. The Queen of Hearts ties in that card in the pack with the fact that she's such a popular rider with the fans. With this design, I think we finally arrived at something that I feel represents both Shayna's outstanding abilities as a racer and everything that Red Torpedo stands for: striking original artwork on top deck quality garments."

Men's and women's Shayna Texter "Queen of Hearts" tees are now available to purchase on Red Torpedo's USA website. Click the link here.

Shayna on board the 450 KTM in her new Red Torpedo tee

Daytona Bike Week: The Daytona TT

The 18 round American Flat Track season kicks off for 2019 with the Daytona TT on March 14. Racing is always a big a part of Daytona Bike Week in the "Sunshine State" and offers bike race fans a 'triple header' of AMA Supercross, AFT flat track and the world famous Daytona 200 held at the International Speedway. This year, the AFT Daytona TT will partly be raced on the asphalt of the main circuit taking the action even closer to the fans.

Checking out the Red Bull KTM 450 - that Akrapovic looks wicked.

Shayna Texter's bid for the 2019 American Flat Track Singles Championship commences on March 14 at Daytona Beach, Florida, USA. We wish her well for the Daytona TT and hope that she has a really successful year with the new Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Flat Track Team.

Photography: Cole Kirkpatrick & Carlos Amoedo