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/319200
FLAT TRACK AMA GRAND NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 3/MAY 25, 2014 INDIANA STATE FAIRGROUNDS/SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS P64 Four-Rider Breakaway In the closing stages of the Na- tional four riders broke away with Smith, Coolbeth, Mees and Johnson forming the lead group. Brad Baker, in his debut with the factory Harley-Davidson team, lost touch with the group in the final couple of laps, but he was solidly in fifth. Willie McCoy and Henry Wiles were battling over sixth when McCoy crashed his H-D of Wausau XR750 on the fi- nal lap after getting into turn three too hot. He lowsided and went into the air fence, but he was quickly up and walking. Wiles came home sixth in front of fellow Kawasaki rider and last year's winner Brandon Robinson. It marked the first ride for Wiles on his new Don's Kawasaki-spon- sored machine. Nichole Mees (Cheza), who is getting direct support from Harley-Davidson as part of the Wrecking Crew, fin- ished eighth. Briar Bauman was ninth on the Bill Werner/Monster Energy Kawasaki and Shawn Baer rounded out the top 10 on a Baer Racing Products KTM. CN Final 1. Bryan Smith (Kawasaki) 2. Kenny Coolbeth Jr. (Harley- Davidson) 3. Jared Mees (Harley-Davidson) 4. Jake Johnson (Ducati) 5. Brad Baker (Harley-Davidson) 6. Henry Wiles (Kawasaki) 7. Brandon Robinson (Kawasaki) 8. Nichole Mees (Harley-Davidson) 9. Briar Bauman (Kawasaki) 10. Shawn Baer (KTM) Briefly... nado Boot Camp. Baker's bone was shattered so badly that he actually had to have some of it replaced by stainless steel. Baker said he was happy just to be racing so soon after such a bad break. When asked how long it might be before he's fully fit Baker said. "I don't know how long it will be before I'm 100 percent. I don't know if I'll ever be 100 percent again. I don't if my arm will be like it was before I broke it, but I think I'll have all my strength back by Knoxville [in three weeks] and won't be having any pain. All the movement I need to race motorcycles is already here, so as long as I get all my strength back and aren't having to deal with any pain is the biggest deal." Seven-time AMA Grand National Champion Chris Carr was helping with the Zanotti Racing team and Ste- vie Bonsey. Bonsey suffered a tough outing at Springfield. He crashed twice, but the first one, according to Carr, was caused by Brad Baker cutting across and taking out Bon- sey's front wheel. Baker stopped to check on Bonsey as he crawled out from underneath the air fence. The second time Bonsey tucked the front end. He was bruised, but otherwise okay after the pair of high-speed get-offs. "I can't believe I'm walking away," Bonsey said. "The first crash was the gnarliest I've ever been in." Another fast female rider is making her way through the ranks. Pro Twins rider Molly Terry, of East Peoria, Illi- nois, was in a transfer position in the Last Chance Qualifier to make the Pro Twins Main when her bike blew up on the final lap. The Memorial Day weekend Springfield Mile podium with Jared Mees (3rd), Bryan Smith (1st) and Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. (2nd). Coolbeth took over the series lead.