When it comes to American Flat Track legend-in-the-making Jared Mees and Half-Miles, there are no half measures. The defending AFT Twins presented by Vance & Hines Champion Jared Mees won the fourth round of this year’s AFT series on May 5 at the Calistoga Half-Mile presented by Indian Motorcycle, beating Jeffrey Carver Jr. (No. 23 Roof-Systems/Indian of Metro Milwaukee Scout FTR750) to claim his third victory of 2018.
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| Photo Credit: American Flat Track/Scott Hunter |
Mees took the chequered flag from Carver by just 0.114 of a second. This was Mees’ seventh in the most recent eight Half-Mile races, dating back to the 2017 season - Carver being the only rider to break that sequence.
Mees now boasts 33 career premier-class victories, tying him with Kenny Roberts for seventh on the all-time wins list. It was also his 24th career Half-Mile win, just one short of equalling another legend - Chris Carr - for third all-time in that discipline.
Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. (No. 2 Nila Racing, Columbia Avionics Indian Scout FTR750) completed the Indian podium sweep in third, but that only scratched the surface of the marque’s one-sided success on the evening.
Brad Baker (No. 6 Indian Motorcycle Racing backed by Allstate Scout FTR750) and Davis Fisher (No. 67 Bob Lanphere Beaverton Motorcycles Indian Scout FTR750) came home fourth and fifth to lock down the entire top five for Indian Motorcycles, while sixth-placed Briar Bauman (No. 14 Zanotti Racing Kawasaki Ninja 650) was the only runner inside the top eight not aboard a Scout FTR750.
Even stripped of his Atlanta Short Track victory due to disqualification for doctored tires, Mees now leads the championship fight by 17 points over Saturday’s seventh-place finisher Henry Wiles (No. 17 Wilco Racing/Willy Built/Bandit Industries Indian Scout FTR750) 75-58. Bauman is third with 57.
In the AFT Singles, Ryan Wells (No. 94 RMR/Al Lamb’s Dallas Honda CRF450), who claimed the 2016 Singles title, took the Calistoga win after returning to Singles competition following his 2017 ‘Rookie of the Year’ performances in the 2017 Twins series.
For a second consecutive week, Shayna Texter (No. 52 ST52 Husqvarna/JCS Racing FC 450) came second, with title contender Dan Bromley (No. 62 KTM North America/Bromley Motorsports 450 SX-F) third. Last week’s breakthrough winner Morgen Mischler (No. 69 Cycle Craft Yamaha/Rohde's Sales & Service Yamaha YZ450F) was fourth with championship leader Brandon Price fifth; reigning class champion Kolby Carlile (No. 1 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) was sixth in a tight finish.
The 2018 American Flat Track season continues Saturday May 12 in Phoenix for the Law Tigers Arizona Mile presented by Buddy Stubbs Harley-Davidson, the first of five consecutive Miles for the AFT Twins contenders.