Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1499289
ROUND 7 / MAY 13, 2023 CAL EXPO / SACRAMENTO MILE, CALIFORNIA FLAT TRACK I PROGRESSIVE AMERICAN FLAT TRACK P96 Bubba Shobert and Bryan Smith for third. "I was a little nervous coming into the miles after what hap- pened last year," Mees admitted. "It was tough to run with those Yamahas last year. But the track was a lot different tonight; we could carry a lot of momentum through the corners, which really helped the straightaway speed. "Man, my corner speed was phenomenal all day long. It was really hooked up. It felt good to come into a mile and do what we've done in the past and win one in a little bit of dominance. We'll go to the Red Mile and hopefully continue the success." SINGLES The Parts Unlimited AFT Singles contest saw the sport's biggest names and likely title contend - ers go at it in a big pack of talent that grouped together the likes of defending champion Kody Kopp, his Red Bull KTM teammate Max Whale, former class champ Dalton Gauthier on the D&D/Certified KTM, three- time Sacramento Mile winner Trevor Brunner, and the class' all-time winningest rider Shayna Texter-Bauman. And yet that group was only battling for fifth. The shootout for the win was waged by a somewhat less likely crew of similarly talented pilots who successfully stole the spotlight in Sacramento. This didn't come as a huge upset, however, as Brunner's Estenson Racing Yamaha team - mate, Tom Drane, figured to be a serious contender for the win (159-139) as the season closes in on its midpoint. While there was a spectacular fight for third (ultimately won by second Estenson rider JD Beach in a draft pass of G&G Racing's Kolby Carlile at the stripe with Mission Roof Systems' Brandon Robinson and Rackley Racing's Davis Fisher just feet behind), the second-biggest story of the day was the up-and-down tale of Briar Bauman. Already riding a rollercoaster as he comes to grips with his Parts Plus/Jacob Companies- backed KTM 790 Duke in 2023, the peaks and valleys were at their extremes in Sacramento with his home fans watching on. The powerful machine's raw speed allowed Bauman to lead a qualifying session and then lead the main in its early stages. Its rawness in other areas also caused him to crash in another qualifying session and then drop off the chase more than once in the main due to persistent gearbox issues. In the end, he finished sev - enth, but fired a warning shot in doing so that suggested he's got a shot to return to the top of the box in the very near future should a few things fall his way. Bauman's brother Bronson Bauman finished eighth on the Fastrack KTM, while Rackley Racing's Ben Lowe and JMC Motorsport's Jarod Vanderkooi rounded out the top 10. But Saturday belonged to Mees, who moved out of a tie with Ricky Graham for fifth all- time with his 24th mile win and is now just one shy of equaling time we've built a mile engine, and we were really close. We were right there, but I think we can be better. I think this track suited their bikes better, and at these other miles and half-miles coming up, we're going to be very competitive. It's all coming together. Happy but not content." MYOWNRACE 36 KOLBY CARLILE 4TH SUPERTWINS G&G Racing Yamaha's Kolby Carlile was overjoyed to be rewarded for his persistence with his best-ever pre- mier-class finish, even if a potential podium was stolen away by former teammate JD Beach by a miniscule 0.021 seconds. Carlile said, "It was great. After the past couple years, it's been tough. I haven't been the same rider. I got hurt so bad and spent so much time in bed, not being able to walk and stuff. That took a toll on me, mentally. In qualifying, everything clicked, and I feel I got my confidence back out there, just being able to do the basics. My bike was great today. There was not much I could do with JD there. I couldn't get by him at the line. I had to run it in deep in the corners to pass him. I finally got a good run down the back stretch on the last lap and took a shot at him, but I spun up a bit off of four. He was able to get a draft on me and grab third. But fourth is my best finish ever in the SuperTwins class, and I'm really, re- ally happy. I feel like my old self and am looking forward to these next couple of miles."