A sold out, standing room only crowd braved the triple digit heat wave to attend the Oklahoma City Mile presented by Indian at the Remington Park mile oval in Oklahoma City Saturday night. So far in the 2017 season the question has been “Which Indian rider will come away with the win?” This time it was Jared Mees.
AFT Twins
For 23 laps it appeared it would be Brad Baker’s turn aboard his Indian Motorcycle/Allstate Motorcycle Insurance-backed Scout FTR750. His co-teammates, defending Grand National Champion Bryan Smith (Indian Motorcycle/Allstate Motorcycle Insurance) and Jared Mees (Indian Motorcycle/Rogers Racing) have split all the class wins thus far, leaving Baker chomping at the bit, looking for his first win.
When Baker got the holeshot and pulled to a comfortable (by mile racing standards) lead of over three seconds, it looked like the race would be for second. But then Mees began to come on strong late.
“I got a really bad start and had to fight my way back,” Mees said. “In the very beginning I thought it was going to be a race between me and Bryan [Smith]. I just put my head down and just started slowly catching Brad.”
Baker’s blistering pace had him moving into lapped traffic by lap 14 and heavy traffic by lap 18.
“I took a couple peaks back over my shoulder before I got to the lappers,” Baker said. “It seemed like I was maintaining my gap on Jared. “So I thought, ‘Alright, that’s cool.’ I thought, ‘Man, I’ve got to get through these lappers good.’ I did the exact opposite.”
With his lead gone, Baker was still struggling to get through the lapped riders.
“I was thinking this is going to be a dog fight,” Baker said. “He [Mees] seemed to find a little bit better line. Sometimes following is better than leading. I think he was able to find a little better line riding up top, and I was getting it turned and coming off on the bottom. I was just spinning up too much in the center there at the end as well. Lappers were the biggest key in the outcome.”
Mees made his bid for the lead, but Baker fought back. Mees led officially for the first time at the white flag, but Baker once again tried to take the lead going into turn one. He got it but went just high enough to let Mees square up and dive back underneath him. Baker was unable to strike back and the win, which, for the second race in a row went to Mees.
Coming home a lonely third was Smith, who was well ahead of Sammy Halbert and the Estenson Racing Yamaha. Halbert was over 23 seconds behind Mees. Shawn Baer (McNews Automotive/Schaeffer’s Motorsports KTM) was closing on Halbert, who seemed on cruise control after losing the lead draft. Briar Bauman (Zanotti Racing/Bill Werner Racing Kawasaki) came all the way from the penalty line to finish a solid sixth, edging JR Addison (Lube-Power/Smith Racing Kawasaki) as they were the last riders on the lead lap.
The hardfought win gives Mees an eight-point advantage over Smith as the season hits the halfway mark next week in Lima, Ohio, for the Lima Half Mile.
AFT Singles
In the AFT Singles class it was also the points leader, Shayna Texter (Richie Morris Racing/McElroy Packaging Honda) who came away with the win, but it was far from easy. After suffering a disqualification in her heat (her motorcycle failed to pass a post-race sound test), she was forced to ride the Last Chance Qualifier. She won the LCQ and started her semi from row two. Texter worked her way to third in the eight-lap semi and wound up with a front-row start for the 15-lap main.
Tristan Avery (Ron Ayers Racing Honda) got off the line first and attempted to gap the field, but Kevin Stollings (Ben Evans Racing/Dave’s Cycles Honda) was looking to back up his Lexington, Kentucky, win, and pushed his way to the front. Texter had her own agenda and battled Stollings tooth and nail until with just two laps left, Stollings coasted to a smoky halt with a blown engine.
Texter was still not home free, however, as Avery was back in the picture. When the checkered flag fell, Texter held on to the narrow win. Parker Norris (Goodroe Racing/Team G Honda) was over seven seconds back in third. Kolby Carlile (Parkinson Brothers Racing Honda) and Brandon Price (Don’s Kawasaki/DPC Racing Kawasaki) crossed the line together to finish fourth and fifth respecively.
2017 American Flat Track Series
Oklahoma City Mile presented by Indian
Remington Park
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Results: June 17, 2017 (Round 8 of 18)
AFT Twins Main
1. Jared Mees-Ind
2. Brad Baker-Ind
3. Bryan Smith-Ind
4. Sammy Halbert-Yam
5. Shawn Baer-KTM
6. Briar Bauman-HD
7. J.R. Addison-Kaw
8. Ryan Wells-Kaw
9. Jeffrey Carver Jr.-Kaw
10. Chad Cose-Kaw
11. Danny Eslick-HD
12. Cory Texter-Kaw
13. Brandon Robinson-HD
14. Don Taylor-Yam
15. Bronson Bauman-HD
16. Davis Fisher-Kaw
17. Ryan Varnes-Kaw
18. Nick Armstrong-Yam
AFT Singles Main
1. Shayna Texter-Hon
2. Tristan Avery-HOn
3. Parker Norris-Hon
4. Kolby Carlile-Hon
5. Brandon Price-Kaw
6. Ben Lowe-Hon
7. Jesse Janisch-Yam
8. Morgen Mischler-Hon
9. Parker Lange-Hon
10. Shane O’Banion-Hon
11. Chad Kenyon-Hon
12. Dylan Bell-Hon
13. Oliver Brindley-Kaw
14. Jeremy Orr-Hon
15. Jay Newton-Yam
16. Jeremiah Lindberg-Hon
17. Ian Washburn-Hon
18. Kevin Stollings-Hon
For more results, visit www.amaprolive.com/ft
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