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/956070
FLAT TRACK 2018 AMERICAN FLAT TRACK SERIES ROUND 1 / MARCH 18, 2018 DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY / DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA P100 banging and shoving going on. The 18-rider field was led into turn one by part-time dirt tracker JD Beach (Team95/G&G Rac- ing, Yamaha FZ-07) but, the day's fast qualifier Brad Baker (Indian Motorcycle/Allstate In- surance, Indian Scout FTR750) muscled his way to the front at the exit of turn two. Beach was in the eye of an Indian storm as Mees and fellow The redesigned Daytona TT track featured a bigger jump, and bigger and wider turns resulting in more speed and pos- sibly a more technical racetrack. For most of the day there were few incidents, but once the rac- ing got tight there were several major accidents. The 25- lap Grand National ran clean from green to check- ers; however, there was a lot of 31 AND COUNTING Jared Mees repeat Daytona win was the 31st of his Grand National career as he attempts to back up his record setting 2017 campaign. The three time GNC Champion is not one to rest on his accomplishments. "The last 10 days there's been a lot of time and effort put in testing and getting prepared," said Mees. "A big shout out to my entire team. We put another win out there for Indian Motorcycle. To come out and win the Daytona TT two years in a row is just huge. I've got to thank Indian Motorcycle for all the support and backing. It's a phenomenal company to work with." MORE INDIANS With the Indian Motorcycle Company making the Indian Scout FTR750 avail- able to the privateer teams the Scout accounted for nine of the 37 entries. Six of the nine qualified for the 18-rider Grand National main. Yet there were three different brands on the podium: Indian, Yamaha and Kawasaki. 3-2-? JD Beach was a rising star on the GNC scene when he got his opportu- nity to go full time road racing in what has now become MotoAmerica. His road race contract with Yamaha limited his dirt racing to a few "singles" races, but with the emergence of the Yamaha FZ-07 in the AFT Twins class there have been more chances for him to cross over. Beach also rode the last race of 2017 in Perris, California. "I got third at Perris and second here," said Beach. "I am hoping to go to Atlanta (round two) where I can win one." READY FOR ANYTHING Another team looking to challenge the powerful Indian brigade, Esten- Briefly... Jared Mees opened the 2018 AFT season just like he did last year, but this time he's defending the number-one plate.