IN
THE
WIND
P30
MEES WINS X
GAMES GOLD
M
otorcycle flat track racing
returned to the X Games for
the Harley-Davidson Flat Track and
Harley-Davidson Hooligan races. It's
the fourth year of the event and 2018
marked the first time for a repeat
winner—2016 gold medalist Jared
Mees claimed that honor, as he has
most everything else this year.
For the first time, the event was
held indoors, inside U.S. Bank
Stadium, the home of the Minne-
sota Vikings. Last year's race was
also in Minnesota, but at the Mall of
America with room for a larger track.
The track inside the stadium was
much smaller (around one-eighth
of a mile). As expected, the racing
featured a lot of pushing, shoving
and bar banging.
A series of heat races and semi
finals whittled the 24-rider field down
to six riders for the 20-lap main
event. The quick heat races were
won by fast qualifier Kenny Coolbeth
(Nila Racing/Columbia Avionics, In-
dian Scout FTR750), Jeffrey Carver
(Roof-Systems of Dallas TX/Ben
Evans Racing, Kawasaki Ninja 650),
Sammy Halbert (Harley-Davidson
Motor Company/Vance & Hines,
Harley-Davidson XR750) and Mees (Indian Motor-
cycle/Rogers Racing, Indian FTR750).
Two semi finals would decide the starters.
Carver got a great start in the first semi and led
Coolbeth and Briar Bauman (Roof-Systems of
Dallas, TX/Zanotti Racing/Indian Scout FTR750)
into the main. In semi two Mees took control right
from the drop of the gate and led Halbert and Jake
Johnson (Estenson Racing/McCandless Truck
Center, Harley-Davidson XR750) home.
When the gate dropped for the final it was
Carver first into turn one. Coolbeth, Halbert and
Mees were right behind, but Mees' inside starting
position gave him the perfect spot to grab second
as Halbert, Coolbeth and Johnson were forced
wide. Bauman, who had started on the outside,
Jared Mees (9) leads Briar
Bauman (14), Sammy Halbert
(1), Jeffrey Carver Jr. and Jake
Johnson (5) at the X Games.
PHOTOGRAPHY
BY
DAVE
HOENIG
