The eighth round of the American Flat Track Twins series presented by Vance & Hines, the OKC Mile presented by Indian Motorcycle in Oklahoma City, Ok., June 17, saw Jared Mees score a second consecutive win on his No. 9 Indian Motorcycle Rogers Racing Scout FTR750.
Brad Baker (No. 6 Indian Motorcycle Racing backed by Allstate Scout FTR750) had dominated the early laps (of 25 in total) with Grand National Champion Bryan Smith (No. 1 Indian Motorcycle Racing backed by Allstate Scout FTR750) in second, holding Mees back to third.
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| Photo credit American Flat Track/Brian J. Nelson |
Having eventually worked his way into second, behind Baker, but with lapped riders cramping Baker’s style, Mees was able to close in on Baker and take the lead from him on lap 24.
“The Indian Wrecking Crew again made good on its moniker at the OKC Mile as Smith secured the fourth Indian Motorcycle podium sweep of the 2017 season by finishing a lonely third. In fact, Indian's nearest challenger on the evening, fourth placed Sammy Halbert (No. 69 Estenson Logistics Yamaha FZ-07), came home more than 23 seconds behind the win and over 17 seconds off the podium.”
Following four straight wins on the part of primary rival Smith – including three straight on the Miles – Mees now boasts a two-race Mile win streak of his own. To tilt matters even more in favor of the suddenly hot Mees, the series now prepares to go heavy on his preferred battleground – the Half Mile.
Mees now sits all alone on top of the championship fight at 177 points to Smith's 169. Shawn Baer (No. 32 McNews Automotive KTM LC8 950) picked up his first top five of the season in fifth.
The Harley-Davidson XR750 riders continued to struggle to keep up with the pace of the Indians with Briar Bauman 6th (Zanotti Racing/Rod Lake Racing/WPS), Danny Elsick 11th (H-D Statten Island/CR Motorsports), Brandon Robinson 13th (H-D/Vance & Hines/Speed & Strength), and Bronson Bauman 15th (H-D Statten Island/CR Motorsports).
Having just completed five consecutive Mile races in six weeks, the AFT Twins series presented by Vance & Hines will now head for three consecutive Half Mile races – the Lima, Ohio Half-Mile presented by Indian Motorcycle on June 24; the Rolling Wheels Half Mile at Elbride, New York, on July 8, and the Harley-Davidson Calistoga, California, Half Mile on July 29.
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