Cycle News

VOL. 54 ISSUE 30 AUGUST 1, 2017 P71 ish, after a five-race slump, finishing a solid seventh just two-tenths of a second behind Carver. Chad Cose (Richie Reynolds Racing/G&G Racing) made an im- pressive debut on a Yamaha FZ-07 finishing a solid eighth just ahead of Brandon Robinson (Harley-Davidson Motor Company/Vance & Hines XG750R), Ryan Wells BriggsAuto. com/Martin Trucking Harley-Davidson XR750) and Davis Fisher (Bob Lan- phere Beaverton Motorcycles Kawa- saki). AFT SINGLES Coming into the 11th round of the AFT Singles Championship the major news was a points leader pulling away from her main challengers, who were in the midst of changing teams and motor- cycle brands, but it was a youngster from Tacoma, Washington, Tanner Dean making the news. Dean survived two restarts to lead the 15-lap main event wire to wire on his Walrath Racing/Hovey Racing- backed Honda. Even though he led every lap, the race was far from easy. While never having more than a half- second lead, Dean was just able to hold off Brandon Price. Price, who taking his first ride on the Parkinson Brothers Racing Honda, pressed the rookie the whole race, but couldn't take it away. Just a heartbeat back was Kolby Carlile who was also aboard new equipment, as he has taken over the vacant Estenson Racing Yamaha. Ben Lowe (Bruce Lowe Excavating/Low- Life Performance Honda) was fourth. Current points leader Shayna Texter (Richie Morris Racing/McElroy While AFT Singles points leader Shayna Texter limited the damage by working her way from ninth to a fifth place finish, the championship is moving on to two TT races with a half mile in the middle, followed by a short track—not exactly Texter's strong suit in three of the four events. She does hold a 29-point lead over Kolby Carlile, and Brandon Price is just one back of Carlile. With 25 points going to the winner, the next couple of races could prove pivotal to the 2017 Singles Championship. As part of the opening ceremo- nies the Joe Leonard Dash for Cash was held. It was a six-rider, four-lap race for the six fastest AFT Twins riders in qualifying. Using qualifying times to set the field saw some interesting entrants, but it was Indian Motorcycles' Brad Baker who won over fast quali- fier and pole sitter JR Addison (Troy Butts Personal Training/ Smith Racing Kawasaki) and Kenny Coolbeth (Harley-Da- vidson/Vance & Hines Harley- Davidson XG750R). Jarod Vanderkooi, Sammy Halbert and Scooter Vernon (Hovey Racing/Walrath Trucking Kawasaki) filled out the field. "There was a flag start in the dash and he was just holding it down the whole time and all of a sudden he just threw [the flag] up," said Halbert. "I wasn't ready for the dash start. I tried the high line, which wasn't there. The dash went poorly." Jared Mees' 2017 season-long dominance is heading into a stretch where he has to be considered a favorite with two TT races and another half mile before a three week break. Among those that are look- ing to upset the former Grand National Champion is Brad Baker. "We'll keep going back to the drawing board and try to come back stronger," said Baker. "We've got two TTs coming up. I feel like that's going to fall into my favor a little bit more over some other riders. Jared's going to be really strong. Jared is strong everywhere, especially on TTs, but so am I." Mees has been on the podium 10 times out of the 11 races thus far, including a win in the only other TT this year. Mees has six wins, three seconds and a third. The only time he has not been on the podium is when he jumped the start in his semi, was penalized and failed to make the main. He owns an 18-point lead over Bryan Smith. The American Flat Track ver- sion of "Hell Week" continues as many of the teams make the over-1400-mile trek to South Dakota for a TT at the world famous Buffalo Chip Camp- ground, quickly followed by a half-mile at Rapid City, S.D. The traveling show moves another 900 miles east to the fabled Peoria TT and the much- anticipated return of the twins to the "Thunder Valley" TT. Briefly...

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