Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
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FLAT TRACK 2017 AMERICAN FLAT TRACK CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 10 / JULY 8, 2017 ROLLING WHEELS RACEWAY PARK / ELBRIDGE, NEW YORK P112 With the heavy rains that hit the area on Friday, stretching into Saturday, rumors on social media were floating around that the races were canceled early on Saturday. That wasn't enough to keep the East Coast fans away and the Rolling Wheels Raceway Park's grandstand was filled when opening ceremonies took place right on schedule. The race program was altered to where there were two qualifying rounds with no practice. Then, because of a setting-sun issue, race activities were stopped to allow the sun to set because of visibility in turns three and four. A fan walk was held at this time. The win presented an opportu- nity for Jared and Nichole Mees to have their newborn, Hayden, on the podium for the first time. Hayden was so impressed she slept through it. "Hayden slept through her first podium," said Jared. "It's her bedtime right now, so she's on schedule." Shayna Texter is starting to build a little breathing room in the AFT Singles points race. Texter's win gives her a 32-point lead over Kolby Carlile with a win paying 25 points. Brandon Price is just four points behind Carlile and Ben Lowe an- other 25 points back. With a 13-point swing each way the last two races of the AFT Twins points race, Jared Mees regains the advantage he held after Okla- homa City, with eight points over Bryan Smith. "It was a good night. After my mishap at Lima, I needed to come back and redeem myself like this," said Mees. "It was nice to come here and be dominant. From the time we unloaded the truck until the time we put it in the truck, we were the fastest guy all day. I really wish I could get some of those points back from Lima, but it is what it is. We'll move on to Calistoga." Brad Baker's resurgence has put the whole "Indian Wrecking Crew" atop the leader board as he holds a four-point advantage over Sammy Halbert, but they are over 50 points behind Mees. "If it wasn't for the mechanical and the crash at the beginning of the year, I would be pretty tight in the points with Jared and Bryan," said Baker. "I've been making up points on Bryan every single race. I think I've finished in front of him four or five times in a row now. My hat's off to Jared for doing great. I feel good, but I haven't felt great this year; I need that win. The next national is Calistoga and that's a track that I've always liked. It's my closest race to home. Maybe I can bring it home there." The struggles of the Harley-Da- vidson Factory Race Team and the Harley-Davidson XG750R are well documented, but the New York event saw all three factory riders in the main event. That was the high point, however, as Jake Johnson dropped out while running in 11th. Kenny Coolbeth finished 10th and Brandon Robinson fared the best, finishing fifth. "We started off okay," said Robinson. "Basically, we just kept working and plugging away. My crew just kept putting in the work and making changes and got me more comfortable all night. It was like, 'We've changed enough and now it's up to you, you've got to get on the gas earlier or something.' It's beat into my head that I need to change things. I'm always open to ideas. Whatever it takes to go faster." Many of the riders are headed to the ESPN X Games for a midweek TV race, then a week off before another cross-country marathon begins. With a half-mile event in Calistoga, California followed by a TT in Stur- gis, SD, another half mile in Rapid City, SD and a TT in Peoria, Illinois, it's going to be a busy 16 days for the riders and crews of the 2017 AFT Series. AFT TWINS 1. Jared Mees (Ind) 2. Sammy Halbert (H-D) 3. Brad Baker (Ind) 4. Jeffrey Carver Jr. (Kaw) 5. Brandon Robinson (H-D) 6. Briar Bauman (Kaw) 7. Bryan Smith (Ind) 8. Ryan Wells (H-D) 9. J.R. Addison (Kaw) 10. Kenny Coolbeth Jr. (H-D) AFT SINGLES 1. Shayna Texter (Hon) 2. Wyatt Anderson (KTM) 3. Kolby Carlile (Hon) 4. Kevin Stollngs (Hon) 5. Cameron Smith (Hon) 6. Dan Bromley (KTM) 7. Ben Lowe (Hon) 8. Brandon Price (Kaw) 9. Oliver Brindley (Kaw) 10. Cole Zabala (Kaw) Briefly...