With the way Jared Mees and his Indian Motorcycle/Rogers Racing-backed Indian Scout FTR750 have dominated the American Flat Track AFT Twins class this year, things haven’t looked that good for the privateers out there, but the privateers scored a win for their side at the Fort Worth Half-Mile at Texas Motor Speedway in Forth Worth, Texas, Saturday night.
While even the other “factory” riders have struggled to slow down the newly crowned champion, privateer rider Jeffrey Carver gave all the riders struggling to get from race to race a reason for hope. The Ben Evans Racing/Carver’s BBQ-backed Carver teamed up with Goodwin Racing to ride their Harley-Davidson XR750 and led the 25-lap AFT Twins main event all the way.
AFT Twins
Mees was the only rider able to match Carver’s speed, and both riders pulled to nearly a half lap lead.
“I was trying to keep it as hooked up as possible and stay off the gas,” Carver said. “I was checking here and there, and I saw him (Mees). I was definitely trying to stay very smooth, but I was also on the edge of disaster a couple times. I just wanted to make sure that I wasn’t over pushing and over riding the motorcycle.”
Even Mees had to acknowledge Carvers excellent ride in Forth Worth.
“He got a good start and he had two or three quick faster laps than me and he just pulled away,” Mees said. “I finally was able to stalemate him and just kind of match his pace. I would push a little hard, and then I would make some little mistakes, and he would gap me. Then he would make some mistakes, and I would inch in. I needed him to make three or four mistakes in a row.”
And Mees was not merely riding like someone who had the championship wrapped up. He was still looking for his 10th win of the year. However, Mees was forced to settle for his 16th podium finish of the season (he now has 9 wins, 6 runner-ups and one third-place finish).
The leaders were well clear of a good race for third as Bryan Smith (Indian Motorcycle/Allstate Insurance Indian Scout FTR750) and Johnny Lewis (Team Nila/John Wise Indian Scout FTR750) fought over third. Lewis was making his first ride on the brand new privateer Indian, and even though he had never seen the bike before race day, he set fast time in qualifying, less than two tenths of a second faster than Carver.
On the last lap, Lewis tried to get inside Smith in turn two but could not make it work. The battle continued on into the last turn where Lewis was able to pull off the pass for the last podium spot.
Briar Bauman (Zanotti Racing/Rod Lake Racing Kawasaki) and Rob Pearson (Harley-Davidson of Staten Island/CR Motorsports Harley-Davidson XR750) were hot on the heels of Lewis and Smith as they finished fifth and sixth respectively. Jarod Vanderkooi (Richie Morris Racing/McElroy Packaging Kawsaki) and Davis Fisher (Bob Lanphere Beaverton Motorsports Kawasaki) were another three seconds back. Cory Texter (John Wise/Team Nila, Harley-Davidson XR750) was able to hold off Larry Pegram (Indian Motorcycle/Allstate Insurance Indian Scout FTR750) and Brandon Robinson (Harley-Davidson Motor Company/Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson XG750R). Pegram was aboard Brad Baker’s ride as Baker suffered a broken jaw in a training accident during the down time between races. Baker hopes to return for the series finale in two weeks.
AFT Singles
Shayna Texter (Richie Morris Racing/McElroy Packaging Honda) has had a roller coaster season to say the least. Texter’s early and mid-season results had given her a good points lead, but a mid-season slump coming into Fort Worth had left her clinging to a very long shot at winning the 2017 AFT Singles points race.
Texter did all she could as she rode a near perfect race to the win in the 15-lap Fort Worth AFT Singles main event. Unfortunately for Texter, current points leader Kolby Carlile (Estenson Racing Yamaha) moved through the field and shadowed her to the end. It wasn’t for the lack of effort from Carlile that he couldn’t take the win. Texter is now 24 points behind Carlile with one race remaining.
Dan Bromley (Big Momma and Daddy Deep Pockets Racing/Bromley Motorsports KTM) continued his good results after his return to the AFT Singles class and finished third. Jesse Janisch (West Bend Harley-Davidson/Rock River Yamaha Yamaha) got the holeshot but slipped to a fourth-place finish over Kevin Stollings (Roof Systems/Ben Evans Racing Honda) and Janisch’s traveling buddy, Morgen Mischler (Mischler’s Harley-Davidson & BMW/Steelhorse Law Honda).
2017 American Flat Track Series
Fort Worth Half Mile
Texas Motor Speedway
Fort Worth, Texas
Results: September 23, 2017 (Round 17 of 18)
AFT Twins Main
1. Jeffrey Carver JR.-HD
2. Jared Mees-Ind
3. Johnny Lewis-Ind
4. Bryan Smith-Ind
5. Briar Bauman-Kaw
6. Robert Pearson-HD
7. Jarod Vanderkooi-Kaw
8. Davis Fisher-Kaw
9. Cory Texter-HD
10. Larry Pegram-Ind
11. Brandon Robinson-HD
12.Jake Johnson-HD
13. Ryan Wells-Kaw
14. Kenny Coolbeth Jr.-HD
15. Chad Cose-Kaw
16. Sammy Halbert-Yam
17. James Monaco-Kaw
18. Jay Maloney-Kaw
AFT Singles Main
1. Shayna Texter-Hon
2. Kolby Carlile-Yam
3. Dan Bromley-KTM
4. Jesse Janisch-Yam
5. Kevin Stollings-Hon
6. Morgen Mischler-Hon
7. Oliver Brindley-Kaw
8. Cole Zabala-Kaw
9. Ben Lowe-Hon
10. Jeremiah Duffy-Hon
11. Dawson Schieffer-Yam
12. Dylan Bell-Hon
13. Jeremiah Lindberg-Hon
14. Matthew Guenther-Yam
15. Cody Chisham-Hon
16. Jay Newton-Yam
17. Mick Rice-Yam
18. Brandon Price-Hon
For complete Fort Worth Half Mile results, visit www.americanflattrack.com.
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