Building A Yamaha YZ 450 F Flat Track Bike
Flat Track Champion Using AS3 Performance Parts Upgrades For 2026
Leon Bennett is one of the UK's most promising young flat track talents and was crowned 2025 DTRA Youth Senior Champions (British U19 Champion). For the 2026 campaign, he is stepping up to the adult leagues with a serious programme - racing a 2025 Yamaha YZ450F and using AS3 Performance parts upgrades on the bike. His schedule includes a USA tour in March where he heads to Florida to compete against top American talent at events including the Winter Throwdown and races around Daytona. In the UK, Leon has signed with the Dead Good Race Team for the 2026 season, competing in the DTRA Adult Intermediate Championship and the ACU British Flat Track Championship, while also awaiting confirmation of a wild card entry into the FIM Flat Track World Series. Below, we showcase the AS3 Performance parts that Leon will use on his YZ 450 F Flat Track bike throughout the 2026 season and we finish the article with info on how to turn a motocross bike into a Flat Track bike.
Ignition Cover
The OEM ignition cover on the left hand side of the engine has been upgraded with our Factory Series ignition cover. Like our clutch covers, these are CNC-machined from high-strength 6061-T6 aluminium for a precise fit and offer greater durability than standard OEM ignition covers. All of our covers are hard anodised to resist wear from boots and debris rubbing against the outer surface. They provide a striking factory look to the bike and this particular ignition cover is designed to fit 2023–2025 Yamaha YZ 450 F models. As you can see in the picture below, Leon has married the ignition cover with our blue anodised engine plug kit and this really makes a statement. Ignition plugs are a really good way to customise a bike's engine.
Rear Brake Pedal & Gear Lever
Our rear brake pedal and gear lever kit has replaced the OEM setup, with ours providing a stronger, lighter upgrade. Made from cold-forged aluminium, AS3 Performance levers offer added strength with slight flex to help prevent snapping on impact. Each lever features a CNC-machined, spring-loaded tip - knurled on the gear lever (see picture above) and fitted with nine replaceable stainless-steel teeth on the brake pedal (see picture below) - for superior grip and durability. The anodised blue tips really catch the eye and add to that factory look.
Oil Filter Cover
Leon has upgraded the OEM oil filter cover with our blue anodised aluminium version. AS3 Performance oil filter covers are CNC-machined from lightweight, high-strength 6061 billet aluminium for a precise fit and long-lasting durability, offering a stronger and more visually striking upgrade over OEM covers. They install easily using standard mounting bolts and remain fully compatible with OEM seals and gaskets. In a similar vein and matching the look, our blue anodised oil filler plug has replaced the black OEM plug - a real eye catcher on the top-left of the Suter clutch cover, as we look at the picture below.
Foot Pegs
AS3 Performance blue Factory Series foot pegs have been fitted to the YZ 450 F Flat Tracker. Our Factory Series pegs are CNC-machined from aluminium and feature sharp, integrated “teeth” mounted on a stainless-steel plate, rather than the removable pins - featured on our Racing Series foot pegs that we also offer. With a 55 mm-wide platform that increases boot contact compared to OEM pegs, they deliver a noticeable boost in grip and control. Also available in black for Yamaha YZ 450 F models, these pegs provide a bold visual upgrade alongside improved performance.
Skid Plate
Our skid plate, made from 4mm thick aluminium, has been fitted, as can be seen in the pictures above and below. Flat track bikes run extremely low and sideways on loose dirt, so a skid plate is essential protection: it shields engine cases, oil lines, and frame rails when the bike is leaned hard over and skimming the surface; its smooth shape lets the bike slide instead of catching and high-siding; it helps deflect debris and, in some classes, contain fluids for safety. In Pro series like American Flat Track, protective belly pans are often required to reduce track damage and risk. Because flat trackers skip bulky fairings, a light aluminium or composite skid plate delivers durability without extra weight, provided it’s mounted flush and securely so it won’t hook on the surface. Our Skid plate fits perfectly on Leon's YZ 450 F.
Front Brake & Rear Brake Master Cylinder Covers
The OEM plastic front brake and rear brake master cylinder covers have been replaced with our blue anodised billet aluminium versions. As can be seen in the picture of the rear brake reservoir cover below, these have provide a huge visual upgrade compared to the standard reservoir covers. They are not just for looks either - to learn about the performance benefits, you can read our Billet Aluminium Reservoir Covers Feature.
What Parts Do You Need To Turn A Motocross Bike Into A Flat Track Bike?
Turning a motocross bike into a flat track machine is quick straight forward - everything is already there - you just need to change how it grips, steers, and delivers power. The biggest change are the wheels and tires: flat track setups run 19-inch wheels front and rear, with hard, smooth-compound tires for dirt oval grip. So, MX bikes that normally use a 21-inch front get converted to 19 inches using flat track hubs or replaced rims, which completely changes how the bike slides and hooks up. Most classes run no front brake, so riders either remove it entirely or install a delete kit, keeping only the rear brake for speed control. Suspension gets lowered, stiffened, and re-valved, because MX travel is too soft and long for oval racing - the goal being a planted, predictable slide, rather than jump absorption. Ergonomics shift to a long, flat bench-style seat for body movement, side number plates instead of MX fenders and lower-bend handlebars for better corner leverage. Gearing is shortened for acceleration with sprocket changes and a heavy-duty chain. A lot of riders add a slipper clutch for smoother corner entry. Protection includes skid plates, engine case guards, axle sliders, a kill switch tether and often hand guards. Engine tuning focuses on control over peak power, typically with smoother throttle mapping, a flywheel weight for traction and an exhaust tuned for strong mid-range torque! Leon Bennett's Yamaha YZ 450 F is a perfect example of a 450cc mx bike converted to flat tracker.
