VOL. 50 ISSUE 41 OCTOBER 15, 2013
Brad Baker did
more than what
he needed in the
season-finale
Pomona Half Mile.
He not only won the
championship, he
also won the race.
P61
Briefly...
This year the LA County Fairplex
track in Pomona had its cushion
back, compared to last year's hardpacked conditions. But whether it
had cushion or not, the one thing
that stayed the same was that as
time went on the 5/8 of a mile track
would get rough. "It was good," Jared Mees said of the track. "It was a
little rough. Had some spots in it, but
it's always like that here."
Even though a Harley-Davidson won
the championship, it's not just a Harley championship anymore. There
were three different OEM's on the
podium – Harley-Davidson, Kawasaki and Suzuki. In addition to those
three, Ducati and Triumph were also
in the mix in the top 10.
BY ANDREA WILSON
PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAVE HOENIG/FLAT
TRAK FOTOS AND STEVE COX
W
ith a 10-point lead, Brad
Baker and his Dodge
Brothers Racing team
came into the season finale at the
Pomona Half Mile holding all the
cards to the AMA Grand National
Championship. But in racing,
even though a 10-point lead is
nice, it doesn't necessarily mean
your hand will hold up in the end.
Especially when a veteran like
Bryan Smith is chasing you on
his fast Crosley Radio Howerton
Motorsports Kawasaki EX650.
And don't forget the third rider in
the mix - Brandon Robinson, who
trailed Baker by 13 points heading into Pomona.
Was the 20 year old from
Washington State nervous with
his first-ever Grand National
Championship at stake?
Whether it was youth or simply
knowing how to play your hand,
if he was it didn't show. In fact
the only thing Baker showed was
confidence and speed.
Baker hit the ground running at
the LA Fairplex in Pomona as the
Jake Johnson made the move to
the Lloyd Brothers team mid-season
as a replacement for Henry Wiles.
The two-time AMA Grand National
Champion said he was happy with
the new team and that while he was
still learning a few things about the
Ducati, it was nothing too crazy.
Johnson will remain with the team
next season, he said.
The biggest silly season development was the departure of Kenny
Coolbeth Jr. from the factory Harley-Davidson team, freeing up that
team's ability to sign someone new.
And who's more attractive than the
young Grand National Champion
Brad Baker. The newly crowned
champ also has an offer to remain
with his current Dodge Brothers
team.
On October 12, 2013 Brad Baker
secured the AMA Grand National
Championship and added his name
continued on next page
