Cycle News

Cycle News 2022 Issue 36 September 7

Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles

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Springfield Mile: What Could've Been T he 2022 Progressive Ameri- can Flat Track season was dealt a cruel blow by Mother Nature, (largely) raining out the series' crown jewel event. A Labor Day weekend dirt track ex- travaganza that was intended to showcase six main events at the Illinois State Fairgrounds—each one promising significant title implications—was reduced to a single Mission Production Twins presented by Vance & Hines race before inclement weather brought Saturday's Springfield Mile I to an early conclusion and washed out Sunday's Springfield Mile II before it ever got rolling. No rider was impacted by this development on the same magnitude as reigning Mission SuperTwins presented by S&S Cycle Champion Jared Mees, who came into the weekend as both the leader of a tight title fight and the event's new co-promoter alongside wife Nichole. Mees the promoter was no doubt left hugely disappointed. Mees the racer almost certainly was as well, although it's debat- able what it means for his title defense going forward. The factory Indian ace came into the weekend as the winner of five of the last six Springfield Miles. Last year, he took a timely double win which played a critical role in his reclaiming the crown back from rival/teammate Briar Bauman. A similar performance this season would have put him in an excep- tionally strong position heading into the season's final two rounds. If no replacement races are added to the schedule (the pos- sibility of which is still unknown), Mees loses a pair of advanta- geous opportunities to pad his nine-point lead on Bauman before the season concludes at two venues where Bauman stands to prove hyper competitive. And with 25 points going to the winner and IN THE WIND P36 James Rispoli (43) won the first Production Twins main event at the Springfield Mile before the rains came and washed out the rest of the weekend's racing. PHOTO: BRIAN J. NELSON Mile specialist Jared Mees was hoping to pad his modest points lead at the two Springfield Mile races over the weekend, but rain ruined his plans.

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