VOL. 55 ISSUE 19 MAY 15, 2018 P69
Motorcycles, Indian Scout FTR750)
who had a horrendous start and was
15th on lap one.
About two seconds back came an-
other pack of Indian Scout FTR750s.
Rob Pearson was able to hold off
Chad and Jeffrey Carver in a tight
battle for seventh. Mikey Rush filled
out the top 10, the last rider on the
lead lap, as Mees had started lapping
riders on lap 11.
BAKED TRACK
After two years of triple digit tem-
peratures, this years' version of the
Arizona mile was relatively "cool" with
temperatures in the upper 80's to low
90's. Steady winds and beating sun
still played havoc with the sand-based
track." I hate to be negative, but I'm
glad that this race is over," said Jared
Mees. "I'm glad that everybody is
walking out in one piece. I don't want
to sound like the track was so dan-
gerous, but it was beat up. I want to
give a hats-off to the whole American
Flat Track crew and Dennis Pearson,
because they really tried hard. There
was not a lack of effort by any means.
It is just the conditions you deal with
here with the sun, the heat and the
track surface being sand." The track
was super technical. I don't know if we
will get any more technical than that
this year," said Brad Baker. "Hats off
to everybody that just kept their head
down today. It's a sandy track with 90
degrees heat and wind… you can only
do so much. As a racer it was treach-
erous, it was just a long day. Every-
body came home safe, that's the most
important thing."
MOVING ON UP
Jared Mees' win (the 34th of his ca-
reer) moves him into a tie with Bubba
Shobert for most Grand National wins.
Mees now holds a full race points lead
at 25 over Henry Wiles (100-75) with
Briar Bauman just three points behind
Wiles. Jeffrey Carver and Brad Baker
are fourth and fifth with 63 and 62
points, respectively.
REJUVENATED
Henry Wiles' rejuvenated career
shows in his early season success.
"I can't thank my sponsors enough; I
Briefly...
The setting sun
blinded the riders
in turn four, which
eventually delayed
the start of the
main event.
