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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1524627
VOLUME ISSUE JULY , P69 finish-line straight for the final time and wheelied his way past the checkered flag to seal a 4.569-second margin of victory. Bauman said, "I got a good start, passed Jared, and took off. The bike was super good today. I wish we could find a little more consistency because I suck on the ovals, but we're going to take this where we can get it. "Beating JD today, you want it to count, but I don't think it does. He hasn't been on a flat track bike all year, so I could tell he was a little bit uncomfortable." In fact, it says plenty about Beach's TT brilliance that a flat track victory fresh from the pave - ment seemed even semi-realis- tic. As it was, a runner-up result in these circumstances is still a rather remarkable achievement. Mees held on for third to move to within a single point of Daniels in the title fight, 216-215. With Daniels certain to miss multiple edented 10th premier-class crown improved substantially in the wake of Daniels' misfortune, had plenty of motivation to win himself. A seven-time runner-up at the historic race, Mees had never stood atop the podium at Peoria, one of the very few of the sport's major milestones he'd yet to accomplish. And with all eyes on Beach and Bauman, Mees stormed into the lead off the line and held it for the opening lap, even after blasting up onto the grass bank - ing in the run to the jump. But the factory Indian ace couldn't hold off Bauman's Rick Ware Racing KTM for long, with his old rival striking early on the second lap and then putting his head down at the front. Beach was desperate to work his way around as well, lest Bau - man escape. It took him a few circulations before he managed to overhaul the champ, and once he did, Bauman had pulled several tenths at the front, not exactly ideal but still a manage- able day's work. However, even with only the carrot of Bauman's rear wheel in front of him, Beach's position became less and less ideal, and the gap more and more unman- ageable as the laps stacked. Three minutes in, Bauman had more than a second in hand. The lead was up to two seconds less than a minute later. It increased to over three by the race's halfway point, and expanded beyond eight seconds as the race reached its conclusion—at least until Bauman coasted onto the start- competitiveness presented by the pro ranks. The tracks themselves, however, were not entirely unfamil- iar, at least in type and style. That changed considerably with a visit to the Peoria Motorcycle Club Race Park. However, the Turner Honda rider not only acquitted himself nicely in his first attempt at the venue, he earned his maiden Progressive AFT top five. Renshaw said, "It was definitely something different. I really enjoyed hitting some jumps and turn- ing right. I struggled a little bit today to find that little extra speed I needed to be with those front guys. But short and sweet, I had a good time. It was a lot of fun, and I'm ready to come back next year." MYOWNRACE (Left) J.D. Beach filled in for the injured Dallas Daniels. Despite not having ridden flat track all year, the TT ace placed second in the final. (Below) Jared Mees (1) started off strong but ended up finishing third. The flat track legend still seeks his first win at the Peoria TT.