Try turning the fuel on the fill the bowl, then turn it off and try to crank it. Will help to prevent it from flooding some. Maybe pull the air box lid off and give it another try. Have you tested the condition of the spark? Just and inline spark tester will help to tell the story. Or, ground the plug against the cylinder and watch the spark when you crank it. Could be week and the backfiring is from the fuel loading up in the cylinder, and the combo of extreme compression of so much fuel, and it gets off one good sprak and makes it backfire.