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/801507
FLAT TRACK 2017 AMERICAN FLAT TRACK SERIES ROUND 1 / MARCH 16, 2017 DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY / DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA P82 My Own Race: 9 JARED MEES 1ST AFT TWINS Proving all the testing that went on last year with the new Indian Scout FTR750 was worthwhile, Mees looked fast right out of the truck. "I struggled a little bit in my semi. I couldn't get the drive that I wanted," said Mees. "We came in and made a few small changes. The changes made the bike hook up better and drive forward and got Indian its first win in many years. I'm excited. Honestly, it was damn near a picture perfect day. We were fast qualifier pretty much every round. We won our first heat race and got second in the semi. I got the holeshot in the main event when it counted and got it done." 1 BRYAN SMITH 2ND AFT TWINS The defending AFT Twins Grand National Champion has had a history of leaving Day- tona (after the two short tracks) in a significant points hole, but this year was surpris- ingly different as Smith's consistency paid off. "I didn't know that I was in second. I knew I had a decent run going because I didn't crash," said Smith. "I didn't run off the track like some guys. To get second I'm more than happy. My goal was top five." 17 HENRY WILES 3RD AFT TWINS "I actually had a pretty good run, considering we came from the second row," Wiles said. "Once we got stuffed up behind Donnie [Mullen] I kind of figured once we saw halfway, that he would wear out a little bit, but he was running superb. I thought 'Holy Cow, he's running really well today.' He'll come out and he'll do that. He got a good start. I'm really happy for Donnie Mullen. He was starting to hold the train up and that allowed Little Bauman [Bronson] to come up and pass me. I passed him back, but you'd start to go and somebody would spin it up and you would bump them a little bit. Unless you made a really big mistake, there wasn't a whole lot that was separating guys out there today." 5 JAKE JOHNSON 4TH AFT TWINS Jake Johnson had a tough day, but came away with the best finish yet for the Harley- Davidson XG750R, now in it's second season. "I hit the ground twice. I had a chain come off. Everything that could happen to me today happened," said Johnson. "I ended up having to use my provisional, just to get into the semi. Once the semi came around was the first time I kind of got into a flow. All day was a challenge; I crashed early on and ripped my footpeg off. Something was always happening. I had the guys scrambling all day long making changes. We just kept plugging away." 20 JAROD VANDERKOOI 14TH AFT TWINS Poised to have the best finish of his young career Jarod Vanderkooi's day came to an abrupt end on lap 21. "The bike gave us a little heads up. The corner before the switchback right before the jump it gave a little blubber," said Vanderkooi. "Through the switchback it just fell on its face. I don't know what to say. It's just unbelievable what happened, but things happen. The team worked their butts off all day. I broke with three laps to go. I felt like I was running Mees down. I wanted to keep a good pace going. I didn't know where third place was. It's just unfortunate that it hap- pened. It would have been by far my best finish. The team is in good spirits. It just wasn't our day." 120 WYATT ANDERSON 2ND AFT SINGLES "I am a little upset. Definitely after the checkered flag was flown I was a little upset," said Anderson. "We are on the first podium ever and it's in Daytona. It's pretty awesome. It hurts a little bit; they should have thrown the blue flag. That's just racing I guess. I knew on the last lap that Dalton made a little mistake coming out of corner one. I knew that pass was coming. I almost got him back coming down the front stretch. We are happy. I want to thank Waters Auto- body. There are so many people that help this team out. They took a chance on me here in Daytona and I'm glad that I could perform."