Mees Gets His Revenge in Sacramento Mile Rematch
AFT 2023, Round 7 - Sacramento Mile, Ca., May 13
Jared Mees (No. 1 Indian Motorcycle/Rogers Racing/SDI Racing FTR750) furthered his claim as the preeminent Mile rider currently competing in the AMA Pro Racing sanctioned Progressive American Flat Track with a "pivotal victory" in the 57th Legendary Mission Sacramento Mile powered by Law Tigers at Cal Expo in Sacramento, California.
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Mission SuperTwins presented by S&S Cycle
After losing out in the 2022 Miles by 2-1 to then-rookie Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT), their first Mile showdown of the season carried even greater significance than it otherwise would have, with Daniels having arguably emerged as the title favorite so far this year and leading reigning champion Mees in the points.
The race went to script with the two separating at the front and settling into a one-on-one fight to the flag. Just past mid-distance, Mees railed around the corners with his helmet down in an attempt to break Daniels' challenge. While unable to sink Daniels' hopes completely, it gave Mees a few tenths, which he successfully held on to all the way to the end.
The victory was the 24th Mile triumph of Mees' illustrious career. That moves him ahead of Ricky Graham and into sole possession of fifth place on the all-time order and just one away from joining Bubba Shobert and Bryan Smith in a tie for third.
The result also drew Mees a bit closer to the championship lead. That said, Daniels is not doing him any favors in that regard, extending his season-long streak of top-two finishes. The gap is now 20 points (159-139) as the two continue to distance themselves from the remainder of a talented pack of contenders.
Daniels' teammate JD Beach (No. 95 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) claimed the remaining podium spot, following a final-lap duel with Kolby Carlile (No. 36 G&G Racing/Yamaha Racing Yamaha MT-07), taking third spot by just 0.021 seconds ahead of Carlile at the line. Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750) finished fifth, with Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere's BMC Racing Indian FTR750) in sixth.
Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER
Australian phenom Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) scored his maiden Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER victory in breathtaking fashion in Sacramento.
The battle for the win took its final shape with just over a minute remaining when three-time Sacramento Mile winner Trevor Brunner (No. 21 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) fell away from the lead group and into the clutches of a second group bursting with big names and title contenders.
With Brunner out of the fight, the checkered flag was set to be decided between Drane, Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), Chase Saathoff (No. 88 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) and Chad Cose (No. 49 1st Impressions Race Team/Husqvarna Racing FC450).
Lowe stormed past Drane as they opened the final lap, but the diminutive 17-year old Australian stormed back by on the back straight, confident he could out-run any and all slingshot attempts in the decisive drag race to the line - winning by just 0.005 seconds over Lowe and 0.036 seconds over Saathoff; Cose finished fourth just another 0.065 seconds back. Drane took his first career Main Event win at what was just his eighth Progressive AFT Main Event. Fifth went to Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 D&D Racing/Certified KTM 450 SX-F).
Next Up: The series now moves East to Kentucky for the Red Mile at Lexington, on May 27. After another three-week gap, Round 9 will mark the half-way point in the 2023 Championship, with the last in the sequence of Mile races at DuQuoin, Il., on June 17. After which the first of a four-race run of Half-Miles kicks-off with the popular Lima, Ohio Half-Mile on June 24, followed by the West Virginia Half-Mile at Mineral Wells, WV, on July 1st and the Orange County Half-Mile at Middletown, NY, a week later (July 8).