A rookie shaking up the AFT Singles class

On Saturday, May 3^rd, Kage “The Rage” Tadman blew away the AFT Singles class at the Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico over the race weekend. After a restart, Tadman led the pack and didn’t look back, taking his 2nd win as a new American Flat Track professional rider. This young man has everyone’s attention and yet is humble and friendly as always.

Kage Tadman (228) on the back straight at Silver Dollar Speedway. Photo by Geoff Nickless.

Kage Tadman has been riding motorcycles since he was a toddler of 2 years old. Introduced to riding at a neighbor’s house on a Yamaha PW50, Kage took to two wheels and a motor immediately, and soon grew into 65cc, 85cc, and up. The kid was a natural, from a young age. Hailing from Salinas, California, Tadman burst onto the AFT scene as a 17-year old rookie this season, taking his first win in his first race in April at Ventura. Within those first rounds he rode in, “The Rage” had snagged his initial Ventura Heat 1 win, a win in the Singles 1st Impressions Challenge that same weekend, then a dramatic win at the Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, CA. Tadman is off to a spectacular start.

Kage even took a win at the Lodi Cycle Bowl early in May, in a 35 bike field comprised of 19 pro AFT riders. No small feat for the new rising AFT star.

Kage Tadman (28), leading the pack through turn 4 the night before the Sacramento Mile, 2023. Photo by Geoff Nickless.

Geoff and I have had the pleasure of watching Kage come up through the ranks since he was 13 years of age. I asked Kage about his strategy for racing. He replied, “I take it one session at a time and ride hard, without over-riding. It’s important in practice to do my best, just as it is in the qualifying and heats. I want to be up front.” I asked him about riding at Ventura and his taking the high line. “It was longer,” he stated, “but I was smoother and could go faster with no mistakes.” Whether it’s a quarter mile short track and TT, a mile track, or an indoor flat track, Kage is entertaining to watch.

Kage (28) at the Santa Rosa Indoor Flat Track. Photo by Geoff Nickless.

If you are looking for a new AFT Singles rider to support and cheer for, #228 Kage Tadman might be the one for you. We think that he’s the “real deal” and wish him all the best in his professional career. He’s certainly off to an amazing start.

Link to Kage’s bio (which we also wrote) at the AFT site:

www.americanflattrack.com/riders/view/tadman

Barb Nickless
Photos by Geoff Nickless

*Top Featured Photo: Kage at the Lodi Cycle Bowl.