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/885168
FLAT TRACK 2017 AMERICAN FLAT TRACK CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL ROUND / OCTOBER 7, 2017 PERRIS AUTO SPEEDWAY / PERRIS, CALIFORNIA P52 The AFT Singles class only had 18 entries, the smallest turnout of the year. Once a hot bed of flat track motorcycle racers, only two riders from California were entered. Beau Thompson (Windsor, CA) finished 11th and Chris McDougal (Salinas, CA) finished 14th. Brad Baker was still on the shelf following his training accident that left him with a broken jaw. Baker, how- ever, was in the house, lending help to his fellow Washingtonian Tanner Dean as well as Cameron Smith, who was on Baker's personal Honda 450. Dean set fast qualifying time and finished 10th in the main. Smith was held up in traffic getting to the racetrack and only had one qualifying attempt, but as the day went on he settled into his new ride and finished a very strong fourth in the main. Jarod Vanderkooi took over Baker's Indian Scout FTR750, but clutch problems in his heat gave him a back-row start in the last chance race. He couldn't overcome that challenge, finishing ninth and failing to transfer to the main. Added to the evening's program was the Roland Sands Super Hooligan Series. It was round nine of a 10-race series that features the unique prize for the winner of the points title, a brand new Indian Scout FTR750. En- tering the night's race former Grand National Champion Joe Kopp was the points leader with Brad Spencer close behind. Kopp set fast qualify- ing time on his Triumph and won the fastest heat, but mechanical prob- lems stopped him almost immediately in the main. Jordan Baber (S&S Cycle, Harley-Davidson 1200) came away the winner on the night with Jordan Graham (Indian Motorcycle/ Fasthouse, Indian Scout) second. Andrew DiBrino (See See Motor Coffee Company, Harley-Davidson 750) survived a last-lap brush with the back straight wall to finish third. Kopp now holds a one-point lead over Spencer, who finished fourth, going into the last race next week at the Bolsa Chica Banzai, at the Bolsa Chica State Beach, California. Held in conjunction with the SoCal State Fair and using "Throwback to Ascot" ticket prices ($5 general admission and $20 reserved seats, including admission to the Southern California Fair) a very large crowd turned out on a hot October after- noon and evening. With the MotoAmerica road race season over, three of the series stars turned in their knee pucks for skid shoes. Besides JD Beach in the AFT Twins class, Toni Elias (Suzuki/Yo- shimura, Suzuki) and Hayden Gillim (Cycle World/Yoshimura, Suzuki) competed in the AFT Singles class. While Gillam has ridden two previ- ous times this year (both resulting in wins) it was Elias' first try in the class. Hayden was once again fast, posting the second fastest time in qualifying, only to be involved in a turn-two crash at the start of the main. Hayden was able to restart and worked his way up to a ninth place finish. Elias got faster and faster as the night went on and the Spaniard finished 12th in the main. The Indian "Wrecking Crew" pretty well dominated the 2017 AFT Twins season, sweeping the top three positions in the final point standings. Besides Jared Mees' record-breaking 17 podium finishes, Bryan Smith qualified for all 18 races posting four wins and nine podiums. Brad Baker had a spill end his night at Daytona, and then missed the final two rounds with his broken jaw. In the middle, he garnered 11 podium finishes. Finish- ing fourth in the points was Sammy Halbert along with Smith, the only riders to qualify at all 18 rounds. Jeffrey Carver talked about his plans for 2018. "We really need some help to make some things happen," Carver said. "I'm trying to get some help from some people. If we can, we'll pick and choose our battles. I want to win races, so whatever Briefly...