FLAT TRACK
AMERICAN FL AT TRACK CHAMPIONSHIP
ROUND 11/AUGUST 4, 2019
BUFFALO CHIP CAMPGROUND/STURGIS, SOUTH DAKOTA
P74
It appeared for all the world
that Jake Johnson (Estenson
Racing/Monster Energy, Ya-
maha MT-07) was going to do
precisely the same thing in the
AFT Twins race, only to come up
short when his bike failed just
feet short of the finish line.
Instead, it was Johnson's
teammate, JD Beach capturing
his second come-from-behind
win of the year.
"I'm heartbroken for Jake.
He rode an amazing race," said
Beach. "I came from like fifth
and caught him, but we only had
a lap to go. I was trying to find a
way by him, but there just wasn't
any room. Coming out of the last
turn, I heard his bike blubber,
and I knew I was hooked up and
going. It's awesome to get a win,
but to get a win like that, espe-
cially with Jake, because he's
such a good guy, it feels good,
but it doesn't."
Johnson got a great start in
the 25-lap main and pushed
his way to what looked to be an
insurmountable advantage of
over three seconds. In hindsight,
Johnson was left with thoughts
of what might have been as he
limped across the finish line in
second place.
"At this place, you can be on
top of the world or in the pits
in a heartbeat," said Johnson.
"I knew I had a gap, and I was
not going to throw the thing
away with a three-second lead.
I figured I would let him run me
down and race it out. Maybe that
wasn't a good plan."
IIIMY OWN RACE:
95 JD BEACH
1ST AFT TWINS
"I got a decent start, but I got shuffled
back to fi h, I think," said JD Beach. "It
was really hard to pass. I just stayed calm
and tried to find stuff open. The jump
on a twin is weird. You had to jump it
hard, but you really had to be careful. I
was trying to get by Jared, but I didn't
want to rush it over the jump and break
something. I knew I had to do something,
so I pushed it and got by him. I got into
second. Jake had a gap, but I kept my
head down and kept pushing. I got on
Johnson was out front
at the white flag, but a
mechanical on the final lap
allowed his teammate JD
Beach (95) get the win.
