2019 AMERICAN FLAT TRACK PREVIEW
P86
Feature
(Right) Veteran
racer Sammy
Halbert (69)
is expected to
lead the factory
Harley-Davidson/
Vance & Hines
Team charge.
Did H-D do its
homework during
the offseason? We
will soon find out.
PHOTO: DAVE HOENIG
T WINS ARE IN
Easily the most significant news over the
offseason was Bryan Smith's announce-
ment that he was leaving the factory
Indian squad to be reunited with owner/
tuner extraordinaire Ricky Howerton and
run Kawasaki machines with sponsorship
from Crosley Brands. Crosley Brands is
best known for making nostalgic radios,
turntables, and jukeboxes.
Even though flat track fans have to ap-
preciate at least the dominating fashion in
which Indian has come into American Flat
Track, many are looking forward to seeing
a little competition from other brands of
motorcycles. Smith and the Howerton-
built Kawasakis are a proven combination.
Smith won the AFT Twins National Cham-
pionship in 2016. The team is developing
a new machine for 2019, and, according
to Smith after testing the new bike, it's
already one of the fastest, best-handling
flat-track motorcycles he's ever ridden.
"Everything's going real good," Smith
said when asked about pre-season
preparations.
The heavy favorite coming into the
season has to be Indian factory's lead
rider, Jared Mees. Mees is the two-time
defending champ coming into 2019, and
this year he will be gunning for his sev-
enth AFT Twins Championship. Mees, a
rider who once earned titles by merely
being consistent while not winning that
many races, has become an absolute
beast at arriving at the checkered flag
first at a near-record clip over the last
couple of seasons. Mees is on course
to start eclipsing some of the long-held
records in the historic series. Behind him
is an all-star crew with Crew Chief Kenny
Tolbert, mechanic Bubba Bently and
suspension specialist Jimmy Wood.
We asked Mees how he's approaching
2019 after having been so successful in
last year's title run. "Pretty much the same
approach to the last couple," he said.
"Just put in the work in the off-season and
approach each race individually and do
the best I can in each race and move on.
The goal is to go and win as many races
as I can, but more importantly, it's to win
(Right) This is
the Kawasaki
that Bryan Smith
won the GNC
Championship
on in 2016.
He's back on
Kawasaki in 2019.
PHOTO: KIT PALMER
