Kage Tadman: Learning the Trade

Watching a father-son duo unravel the mysteries of dirt track racing

 On Father’s Day, the heartbeat of a ‘racing family’ reverberates in the life of  American Flat Track rookie Kage Tadman. The potential he’s displayed invites comparison to young matadors like Jay Springsteen, Kenny Roberts and 16-year old novice Lance Jones, who appeared out of nowhere to blow experts away at Granite City in the 1970s. ‘Kage the Rage’ burst onto the AFT scene mid-season this year, when he showed up at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico May 3, and pulled off the amazing feat of clinching his second win in just two outings as a pro singles rider.  How did he do it?

To find out, I checked in with the AMA Grand Slam elite: Doug Chandler, a top competitor in Moto GP and three-time World Superbike Champion; sponsor-supporter extraordinaire Jerry Stinchfield; John Parker, unofficial dirt track talent scout and founder of Yeti Cycles; and premiere suspension guru, former racer Kayl Kolkman, who are all playing a role in Kage’s astonishing race to the top of AFT – and beyond.

Raising kids can be a challenge, but Kage’s father Keith Tadman must feel he’s had many a Father’s Day celebration, taken victory laps alongside his youngest son. He and Kage’s mother Barbara set young Kage up for success with a gift of his first dirt bike at age two, and opportunity to start winning flat track races near their Salinas, California home, beginning at four years of age.

From very early on, John Parker discovered what sets Tadman apart from so many other young flat trackers. Parker, a welder who worked on the backlots in the film industry back in the 70’s, once re-assembled a 1928 Indian Scout 101 he purchased for the princely sum of $3500. He sold it for $5000 and used that cash to start  mountain bike company, Yeti Cycles, which became the go-to for riders building endurance or recovering from injuries on the job. Yeti was an early career sponsor of several world class pro mountain bikers like a young Juli Furtado, who started cycling after her skiing career hopes were dashed by a knee injury. Going on to become an Olympian, Furtado, like a handful of pro cycling athletes Parker sponsored with bikes for endurance training or rehab, would eventually be lured away by others with even deeper pockets. “I had to learn to get up early and go watch the amateur classes and find young racers on their way up and try and grab them to come race on my team, until they were good enough that other teams would be motivated to steal them away.”

Eventually selling Yeti to Schwinn, Parker retired and began promoting short track races at Ventura Fairgrounds and scouting young motorcycle racers. “So along the path of doing that, I ran into what are called ‘Little League fathers.’ And I’ve seen some vicious Little League fathers that are straight from Hell. You’ve got two things going on with the young riders who are talented, but also they are so spoiled, they are so undisciplined, they lack honesty, they lack integrity and they absolutely are lacking in humility,” Parker observed. “I’ve learned that there’s so much below the water line with a racer, that involves the family relationship, how the kid talks to his mother and what’s really going on there.“

In 2017, while sponsoring National #98, Kayl Kolkman, Parker ventured down to Del Mar Fairgrounds for an indoor short track race.  He recalled, “I got a pretty good seat in the grandstands so I’m just gonna hang out and watch these 13- to 15-year old kids. They come to the line on 125s and there’s like six of them on the front row. They’re kind of dallying around and you can kind of tell they’re waiting for one more rider.  Well, at the last second here comes this little ‘sawed off Shorty.’ And I don’t know whether he was on a 65 or he was on an 85 with the smaller wheel size.  So, when he rolls to the line, I’m like thinking ‘this kid’s in the wrong class.’  But no, they go ahead and start. And these kids on the 125’s are burying this little kid from the start. Then, like a train leaving the station, all of a sudden, the kid starts building up speed and he has more in the corner than these kids on their 125’s. In five laps this kid came from last place and won the thing!”

Driven to investigate, Parker went to the pits and found the kid, Kage Tadman, who was tinier than he thought. “Here is this mother and father, and the love for their son just permeates beyond the paddock. It’s so strong, it’s so refreshing, and the kid is as nice as can be. What struck me right in the chest was, true to my own failed beginnings as an amateur dirt tracker, the Tadmans were privateers, paying for everything, even the decals on the toolbox. It was a Mom and Pop team on a shoestring budget with such a high level of love and devotion to what they do. Even when they find a broken exhaust spring 2 minutes before the main, they’re in a different orbit, they blend in, they complement each other and it’s a real nice thing to be a part of.“ Parker said. “The very next day, after witnessing what I saw in Del Mar, I called Troy Lee, who designs helmets for all the greatest in motorsports [Troy was the Legend of the Sport honoree at the Quail MotoFest in 2025 – ed]. I said, ‘You better learn how to spell this kid’s name. He’s going to be somebody’.” Lee and Parker have been sponsoring Kage ever since.

“In Kage, you’ve got a young Valentino Rossi. You’ve got a young Wayne Rainey. Does he go all the way? I don’t know. Does he stop and pick up golf? I don’t know. But I’ve never met a racer on the launchpad for greatness, who’s more dedicated and more humble, that I wanted to work with, than Tadman.” Lest you think it’s all pride and indulgence in Kage, who often brought home amateur titles and trophies taller than himself, here is the first thing Keith said about what he expects as a father,  “I tell my kids, in this house, after high school you can take a year off. Then you’re either going to college, going to trade school, or you get a job.”  The dynamics of their close father-son bond touched social media viewers in Bell’s 2021 Under the Helmet video, where Keith’s emotional testimony revealed the heart and soul values of a family raising an aspiring athlete with integrity and hard work.

Up till now, Kage’s dad has been coach, mechanic, driver and sponsor, in the pits alongside his mom serving support and great meals. Because when Kage was young, money was always tight. “At one point we had four kids in the house, and we didn’t have a lot. As my career went on, then it became a little easier financially,” according to Keith. “I’m an electrician by trade. He has an older sister just graduating college, and a brother who works full time.” Kage may be interested in becoming a lineman or a welder but makes no secret of his love and passion for the trade of professional motorcycle racing. “If I’m outside school, I’m riding or hanging out with friends. I used to skateboard a lot.”

Kage-watchers have remarked on the level of maturity Tadman has shown, quickly progressing to sixth in the 450 Singles Class point standings, after entering only two races mid-season. “Its  just one of those things where you’re happy and you’re really proud for the first couple of days and then,’ Ok, let’s start focusing on the next race’,” Kage said. Tadman has been getting help from three main sponsors: Roof Systems of Dallas Texas, Old Oak Farms of Soledad, CA and Brian Vernon of BKB Ag Services. “Jerry Stinchfield was a big help in my amateur career and for him to step up in my pro career and help us get to the races this year is such a blessing. The Roof Systems riders were one of those teams that I’ve always looked up to. So, for Jerry to come on board it was kind of like a dream come true. That’s the least I could say.”

The feeling is mutual for Stinchfield, who recalled meeting Kage at age 12 or 13 at a little short track in Lodi, California. “I was wandering through the pits and saw this kid on a KTM 250. So I watched him go out for his heat and thought ‘Man, this guy’s fast’. And then in the main event, he jumped the start and had to go to the back row,” according to Stinchfield. “He lost the main event by inches, but he passed everybody on the outside. At Lodi you just don’t pass outside. Not usually. Only some good guys can do that.”

Stinchfield, who supports the AFT racing series, Roof Systems twins class rider Brandon Robinson, and singles rider Taren Santero, provided Kage with support for transportation, new leathers and canopies. “So when he shows up at Lima, (Ohio) he’ll be part of our 80 foot pit area like we’re the largest team in American Flat Track,” Jerry said.

“As part of our program, he has our suspension guy, Kayl Kolkman at his disposal, and a very good mechanic on our side of the paddock with Ben Evans. So we’re going to take care of him the best we can.” Stinchfield reflects, “I think Kage was raised right by his parents. His dedication to the sport he loves could win a Grand National title and make him a future world champion. I absolutely believe that.”

Beyond logistical support, Tadman is inspired by Doug Chandler who is opening the door for Kage to think about future road racing in the youth ‘Road to MotoGP’ program, along with MotoAmerica President, Wayne Rainey. Chandler, who is working with Kage to get his feet wet in Moto America’s Talent Cup, was dubbed the “New Fast Kid on the Block,” in an August 1983 Cycle World story.  His rise from a young flat tracker to Superbike champ was documented in Chris Carter and Gerald Foster’s book When Honda Went Flat Track Racing, a history of the Japanese machine’s impact in the 1980’s American racing scene. As someone who’s been there and done it, Chandler offers a lifeline of experience to guide Kage’s future. “I was in the same boat he is. Growing up as a kid, all I ever thought about was flat track, but realized if you ventured into road racing that potentially could get you over to Europe and World Superbike or Moto GP stuff.

As Kage said, “My whole life we’ve been dirt track racing and it’s always been a dream of mine to become a national champion. It’s something I’ve worked for, and if let’s say I get the opportunity to go road racing or Moto GP, I mean I would definitely not say no. It’s been crazy because I didn’t know what to expect from Doug. I mean, he’s a Hall of Famer and a great example of going from flat track to road racing — and same thing with Wayne Rainey. He’s been a big help and one of the greats, so to get to know those guys is incredible.”

Chandler can relate to the speed at which Tadman’s career is shining in the spotlight. “I mean, you kind of work, you pay your dues, and once you’re at the certain age that you can go pro, everything happens so fast. Kage has so much potential, he could go in multiple directions. You know he could still do it all.”

Along with Stinchfield, Chandler and Parker, former racer Kayl Kolkman is a part of Kage’s dream team, offering expert suspension and sound advice based on his own experience in the Roof Systems paddock. “I watched him race for a long time because I’m from California as well. I saw him race 50s all the way up to last year, when we actually got to race a little bit together. He’s always been like’ The Little Fast Kid.’  Just everything, from his passion and confidence to race craft has really put him in the spotlight right now. I think there’s a lot of people kind of waiting to see how he’s going to do. He’s a really well-rounded rider.“ Kolkman, a plumber who now operates his business Underground Suspension out of his garage, recalls his flat track days were before MotoAmerica’s Talent Cup was re-building interest in road racing in America. “More people are starting to go back overseas, like they did years ago. So, I think Kage is going to have opportunities and offers heading his way.”

With respect to his competitors, Kage has said, “It was my dream to be running with Chase (Saathoff), (Tom) Drane and (Trevor) Bruner. It’s crazy because I grew up watching all of those guys. And for my first ever 2 races, it was an awesome feeling. I’ve known Briar Bauman my whole life, growing up watching him and Bronson and all the Salinas boys. After going pro and talking  to Briar a little bit, I learned he’s a good guy. That’s for sure.”

The question on everyone’s mind is; Will Kage the Rookie rage on to a phenomenal three-peat, June 27^th at Lima, Ohio, in AFT’s Triple Challenge?

As Kage puts it, “Honestly, it’s so early in my pro career. I’ve tried my hardest to study the riders in certain situations and study the lines of the tracks, so I can just come out swinging.”