Mile Master Mees Makes Magic
Reigning Grand National Champion Jared Mees (No. 1 Rogers Racing/SDI Racing/Indian Motorcycle FTR750) demonstrated his Mile mastery yet again with a victory at the Memphis Shades Illinois DuQuoin Mile, Round 10, of the 2024 Progressive American Flat Track season on July 6, 2024 …
Mission AFT SuperTwins
The Mission AFT SuperTwins Main Event at the “Magic Mile” was a race-long struggle of nerves and consistency. Mees attempted throughout to shake loose at the front while a three-rider pack of pursuers consisting of Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT), Brandon Price (No. 92 Memphis Shades/Sody Ent/OTBR Yamaha MT-07) and Briar Bauman (No. 3 Rick Ware Racing/KTM/Parts Plus KTM 790 Duke) did everything in their collective power to prevent that eventuality from playing out.
Daniels’ early strategy was to keep Mees corralled the best he could, continually running underneath him on corner entrance in hopes of limiting the Indian star’s opportunity to run with clear air in front of him.
Ultimately though, once Mees finally managed to maintain the lead for a full lap, he stretched open those crucial couple of tenths he needed to grasp a firm grip on the race. While he was unable to make an escape, the trio of contenders behind were also unable to draw back near enough to make any further assaults from that point forward.
Behind Mees, Dallas Daniels brought it home second, Brandon Price third, Briar Bauman fourth, with Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing Indian FTR750) edged rookie Declan Bender (No. 70 GOMR/BriggsAuto.com/Martin Trucking Indian FTR750) fifth.
In addition to Mees' winning FTR750, there were five more Indian riders in the Top 10 as the mile race length change changed the profile of the Main Event-winning bikes, with two Yamaha MT-07 and two KTM 790 Dukes.
Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER
Chase Saathoff (No. 88 JPG Motorsports Honda CRF450R) finally pulled it off. After finishing less than 0.1 seconds from victory in the most recent five Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER Mile Main Events, the JPG Motorsports pilot took the DuQuoin win by an official 0.001 seconds following ten minutes and two laps of epic pack-war action.
Double defending champion Kody Kopp (No. 1 Rick Ware Racing/Parts Plus KTM 450 SX-F) lost his chain during the citing lap, threatening his participation in the race while promising to leave his hard-earned points lead in tatters - but after frantic crew activity he pulled it back and ultimately scored second spot in the Main Event.
James Ott (No. 19 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450) was third; Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F fourth. Fifth was taken by impressive rookie Evan Kelleher (No. 131 Schaefers Motorsports/South Shore Design KTM 450 SX-F), who slugged it out with the best riders in the class to finish just 0.204 seconds off the win.
There were three more Honda CRF450 riders in the Top 10, in addition to the winner, four KTM 450 SX-F (plus the Husqvarna badged FC 450) and one Yamaha YZ450F.
Next Up is the July 28 Peoria TT. The series will then head west again - for a unique Double Header at the 85th Sturgis Rally.
First up will be the Black Hills Half-Mile at the Black Hills Speedway, Rapid City, SD, on August 6 and then the all-new, innovative Sturgis TT on a Half-Mile course in downtown Sturgis, on August 11 - the final day of the Rally. Starting and finishing at the Harley-Point between Lazelle and Main Street, the race will see the debut of a new concept - a Tracker Class for production based ADV bikes.
After Sturgis it is back to Illinois for a Springfield Mile Double Header on August 31 and September 01, with the final race now confirmed as a September 14 series debut Short Track at the Lake Ozark Speedway at Eldon, Missouri, during the Lake of The Ozarks Bike Week.