ROUNDS 14-15 / SEPTEMBER 11-12, 2021
CAL EXPO / SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA
P118
FLAT TRACK I PROGRESSIVE AMERICAN FLAT TRACK
field (just like in Springfield, even
a red-flag reset did nothing to
bring him back to the clutches
of the pack), Smith closed in on
a multi-rider pack battling for the
podium.
The strategic genius of Smith
was on full display. He systemati-
cally worked his way forward and
put himself in perfect position
when the door opened after
Coolbeth-Nila Racing's Sammy
Halbert encountered a last-lap
mechanical issue one day after
finishing a close fourth. Smith
took full advantage of the op-
portunity, rushing up the inside
of Bauman to steal away second
at the flag.
Defending double cham-
pion Bauman was arguably the
second-best rider all weekend
long. But unlike Mees, he didn't
quite have enough extra speed
to overcome the effects of the
draft. Consequently, he kept
getting overhauled by Halbert on
the straights and subsequently
stalled in the corners, which
also forced him to mix it up with
the likes of BMC Racing's Davis
Fisher (eighth and fifth), Mission
Roof Systems' Jarod Vanderkooi
(second and fourth), and Esten-
son Racing Yamaha's JD Beach
(fifth and 10th) throughout the
course of the twin main events.
And, as a consequence, Bau-
MYOWNRACE
with a fourth on Sunday. "The electrical
gremlins kept us from star ng on our 'A'
bike early in the day, but we got it figured
out," he said. "We had a decent semi and
got off to a good start in the main. We just
kind of hung out right there with that next
group and somehow posi oned myself
in second at the end. We're happy with
this—it's my first podium on a mile."
(Below) Bryan Smith, who
will retire at the end of the
season, surprised everyone
by getting on the podium in
second place riding a bike
he borrowed from Mees.
