FLAT TRACK
2017 AMERICAN FLAT TRACK CHAMPIONSHIP
FINAL ROUND / OCTOBER 7, 2017
PERRIS AUTO SPEEDWAY / PERRIS, CALIFORNIA
P46
order remained tight, but unchanged until lap 19.
Bauman tried to take advantage of a small opening,
but tangled with Lewis and both ended up off the
groove and losing ground and positions rapidly.
Suddenly Carver was in second with Bonsey,
Halbert and Beach following along. Carver closed
on Mees, as the leader got conservative. The lead
went from over three seconds to just over half a
second when the checkered flag fell. Bonsey,
Beach and Halbert were fighting over third and
Beach made the big move in the last turn of the last
lap. Beach was able to move Bonsey just enough
to beat him to the finish line by less than 0.05 of a
second. Halbert was just a tick back in fifth.
Lewis regrouped to finish sixth just ahead of Rob
Pearson (Harley-Davidson of Staten Island/CR
Motorsports/Harley-Davidson XR750) and Davis
Fisher (Bob Lanphere Beaverton Motorcycles/Ka-
wasaki Ninja 650).
got the holeshot and led every lap. On the last five
laps, I looked back and I had such a big lead that I
let way off, because I didn't want to screw up. Not
that I screwed up much this year, but I just knew I
had a big gap and that I should take advantage of it."
Mees was under heavy pressure the first few
laps as Johnny Lewis (Team Nila/John Wise/Indian
Scout FTR750) and Sammy Halbert (Estenson Rac-
ing/TruLine/Yamaha FZ-07) were right with him.
As Mees pulled away, previous round winner,
Jeffrey Carver (Ben Evans Racing/Carver's BBQ/
Harley-Davidson XR750), Briar Bauman (Zanotti
Racing/Rod Lake Racing/Kawasaki Ninja 650),
Stevie Bonsey (CR Motorsports/6D Helmets/Har-
ley-Davidson XR750) and JD Beach (Team95/G&G
Racing/Yamaha FZ-07) all joined Lewis and Halbert.
Early in the race Bauman was the only rider able
to gain any positions and jumped into third when
Halbert slipped off the groove on lap seven. The
