The American Flat Track championship visited upstate New York for round 10 of the 18-race season. After a disastrous race weekend at his own race in Lima, Ohio, Jared Mees was looking for redemption at the Rolling Wheels Raceway Park in Weedsport, New York, a banked clay half mile where he was victorious in 2016. He definitely found it by scoring the AFT Twins main event.
“Lima was my mistake, my fault, and I needed to come back and do exactly this,” Mees said after the race. “I had two long weeks to think about my mistake.”
Mees and his Indian Motorcycle Rogers Racing backed Indian Scout FTR750 were the fastest all night, but barely. Mees had fastest qualifying time, fastest heat and fastest semi, but Sammy Halbert and his Estenson Racing Harley-Davidson XR750 were within hundredths of a second all day.
AFT TWINS
When the two finally went head to head in the twenty five lap AFT Twins main event the sparks flew. Brad Baker (Indian Motorcycle/Allstate Motorcycle Insurance Indian Scout FTR750) grabbed the holeshot from the outside. Halbert and Mees quickly took over, and after they exchanged the lead a couple of times on the first lap, Mees took control and pulled to a comfortable lead.
“Jared and I were bumping elbows before we even took off the line,” Halbert said. “We tried to squeeze each other out on the starting line. I put up a fight, but it only lasted one lap. That lap was intense, though.”
The lead duo had pushed Baker to the outside and he dropped all the way to seventh before starting his climb back. Almost lost in the shuffle, Brandon Robinson had his Harley-Davidson Motor Company/Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson XG750R up in third place.
“I’ve been feeling more comfortable on the bike for sure–we’re still learning, ” Robinson said. “Every race is a test for us right now. We’re still developing and finding little things here and there. We’re adding every single race. Hopefully we continue to get better, so that by the end of the year we’ll be contending.”
Robinson couldn’t hold off Baker and a hard-charging Jeffrey Carver (Ben Evans Racing/Carver’s BBQ Kawasaki). Carver came from way deep in the field and almost took the last podium spot from Baker on the last lap, but came up just short.
Robinson and Lima winner, Briar Bauman, had an exciting last lap also as Bauman grabbed fifth only to make a mistake coming off turn two and hand the position back.
Defending American Flat Track Twins Champion, Bryan Smith (Indian Motorcycle/Allstate Motorcycle Insurance Indian Scout FTR750) had a trying day as mechanical problems in his heat forced him into the Last Chance Qualifier, which he won. Smith then had to come from the back row in his semi to advance to the main on a very technical track. Smith never fully got the handle on the track and ended up in seventh place.
The 13-point difference in first to seventh is what Mees lost in Lima, so the title battle is back to where it was after Oklahoma City, with Mees up by eight points.
AFT SINGLES
Kevin Stollings (Ben Evans Racing / Dave’s Cycles Honda) got the hole shot in the fifteen lap AFT Singles Main Event, only to see the red lights flashing as he got to turn three. A rider had gone down in turn one and slid off the track, but was in a vulnerable place and the race was stopped.
On the restart it was Shayna Texter grabbing the lead and she was never seriously challenged. Wyatt Anderson (Waters Autobody Racing/ D&D Powersports KTM) had been fast qualifier and was able to stay close, but that was all. Kolby Carlile (K.C. Cycle/Team 95 Honda) held third all the way, but Stollings was closing fast after a disappointing restart.
There was a great five rider race for fifth with Cameron Smith (Carroll Motor Fuels Honda) taking the spot over Dan Bromley (Big Momma & Daddy Deep Pockets Racing KTM), Ben Lowe (Bruce Lowe Excavating Honda), Brandon Price (Don’s Kawasaki / DPC Racing Kawasaki) and Oliver Brindley (Kawasaki UK /Haith Group Kawasaki).
By virtue of her victory, Texter now holds more than a race points lead. Her lead has stretched to 37 over Carlile. Price is another four back. With two half miles and two TT races coming up on the schedule, Carlile and Price will be looking to make up some ground.
2017 American Flat Track Series
Rolling Wheels Half-Mile presented by Old Carriage House Apartments
Rolling Wheels Raceway Park
Weedsport, New York
Results: July 8, 207 (Round 10 of 18)
AFT Twins Main
1. Jared Mees-Ind
2. Sammy Halbert-HD
3. Brad Baker-Ind
4. Jeffrey Carver Jr.-Kaw
5. Brandon Robinson-HD
6. Briar Bauman-Kaw
7. Bryan Smith-Ind
8. Ryan Wells-HD
9. J.R. Addison-Kaw
10. Kenny Coolbeth Jr.-HD
11. Davis Fisher-Kaw
12. Robert Pearson-HD
13. Ryan Varnes-Kaw
14. Don Taylor-Yam
15. Justin Jones-Kaw
16. Chad Cose-Kaw
17. Jarod Vanderkooi-Kaw
18. Jake Johnson-HD
AFT Singles
1. Shayna Texter-Hon
2. Wyatt Anderson-KTM
3. Kolby Carlile-Hon
4. Kevin Stollings-Hon
5. Cameron Smith-Hon
6. Dan Bromley-KTM
7. Ben Lowe-Hon
8. Brandon Price-Kaw
9. Oliver Brindley-Kaw
10. Cole Zabala-Kaw
11. Parker Norris-Hon
12. Jeremiah Duffy-Hon
13. Shane Narbonne-Hon
14. Austin Luczak-Yam
15. Mick Rice-Yam
16. Nick Weimer-Hon
17. Jordan Harris-Hon
18. Jeremiah Lindberg-Hon
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