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FLAT TRACK AMERICAN FLAT TRACK CHAMPIONSHIP

ROUNDS 3-4 / AUGUST 21-22, 2020INDIANA STATE FAIRGROUNDS / INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA P82

BRIAR BAUMAN DOUBLES UP IN INDIANAPOLIS

BAUMAN BACK ON TOP

BY DAVE HOENIGPHOTOGRAPHY BY DAVE HOENIG/FLAT TRAK FOTOS

Motorcycle racing returned to the fabled Indiana State Fair-grounds mile oval for the

first time since 2015, as Ameri-can Flat Track made a last-minute addition to their 2020 schedule. Due to health con-cerns and local regulations a 20% capacity limit was placed on the fans, but the AFT stars were finally back in action for a Friday-Saturday doubleheader.

The AFT SuperTwins class found Factory Indian teammates Jared Mees (Indian Motorcycles/Progres-sive Insurance, Indian FTR750) and defending class Champion Briar Bau-man (Indian Motorcycles/Progressive Insurance, Indian FTR750) picking up their battle where they left off over a month ago in Florida.

Coming off a dominating season on mile tracks in 2019 and sweeping both half mile races in July,

Briar Bauman is the new points leader after winning both Indy Miles.

VOLUME 57 ISSUE 34 AUGUST 25, 2020 P83

Saturday’s race found Briar Bauman leading the first lap by inches over Mees, Jeffrey Carver (Happy Trails Racing/DPC Racing, Indian FTR750), Smith and Brandon Robinson (HCRR/Ben Evans Racing, Indian FTR750).

While Bauman and Mees fought over the lead, Smith pushed his Harley into the mix and he actually led lap 14. On lap 20, Bauman once again took the lead and never gave it back, win-ning by just over a second over Mees. Smith was one more sec-ond back as Robinson cruised home alone in fourth.

Sammy Halbert had been forced to his backup bike after

for the last podium spot with Mees coming out on top by just two-hundredths of a second. Brandon Price (Roof Systems of Dallas TX/Astec Metal Works, Indian FTR750) held off Bryan Smith (Harley-Davidson/Vance & Hines, Harley-Davidson XG750R) for fifth after Smith had run with the leaders early.

Bauman held over a two-second lead at the end as he captured his first Mile win ever. Coupled with his Half Mile, Short Track and TT wins he joins the Grand Slam club. “This place is really special and it’s cool to get the Grand Slam here,” said Bau-man. “It’s also Indian’s 50th win. It all means a lot to me.”

Mees shot to the lead in Friday’s main event. Briar Bauman was camped on Mees’ rear wheel, and when Mees opened the door slightly on the narrow groove, Bauman took full advan-tage.

The third member of the Indian Wrecking Crew, Bronson Bau-man (Indian Motorcycle/Progres-sive Insurance, Indian FTR750) also slipped by along with Sammy Halbert (Coolbeth-Nila Racing/Roof Systems of Dal-las TX, Indian FTR750). Halbert moved into second on lap ten, but never was able to catch the champ.

Bronson and Mees had the best race-within-the-race

FLAT TRACK AMERICAN FLAT TRACK CHAMPIONSHIP

ROUNDS 3-4 / AUGUST 21-22, 2020INDIANA STATE FAIRGROUNDS / INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA P84

Jared Mees (9) and Bronson Bauman (37) battled for the final spot on the podium in Friday’s main event. Mees edged out Bauman for third.

Bryan Smith (4) leads Brandon Robinson (44), Sammy Halbert (69) and Brandon Price (92). Smith got on the podium Saturday night.

the primary bike failed in his semi. He started the 18-rider main in last, but worked his way into fifth, just edging out Bronson Bauman.

AFT SINGLESThe AFT Singles class is

quickly becoming a fan favorite as the class has an assortment of machinery and talent.

Friday’s race found some of the veterans at the front of the lead pack that fluctuated between eight to 10 riders most of the race. Henry Wiles (RMR Honda/Honda Talon, Honda CRF450R) and Mikey Rush (Estenson Racing/Yama-ha Racing, Yamaha YZ450F) held the first two positions with

VOLUME 57 ISSUE 34 AUGUST 25, 2020 P85

Sammy Halbert finished a lonely second in Friday

night’s main event.

Chad Cose (Wally Brown Rac-ing/Suzuki Motor of America, Suzuki RM-Z450), Ryan Wells (Waters Autobody Racing/D&D Powersports, KTM 450 SX-F) and Michael Inderbitzin (RMR Honda/Honda Talon, Honda CRF450R) right behind.

As the leaders battled away, youngster Brandon Kitchen (Donley Excavating/Certified Plumbing, Honda CRF450R) was carving his way to the front. “I came from the third row and didn’t think I had a shot at the win,” said Kitchen. “Then the last five laps I thought, ‘I might have a shot.’”

The lead pack had shrunk to three, Wiles, Rush and Inderb-itzin on the last lap. “I got a real good draft around all three of them and then got a good drive off turn four,” said Kitchen. “I knew I had to sweep down the front straight so they couldn’t draft me. I could hear them com-ing around the outside, but I got it done.”

Wiles finished just 19-hun-dredths of a second back. Rush, Inderbitzin and Wells rounded out the top five.

Kitchen’s confidence was overflowing as he set the fast time and sat on the pole for

Saturday’s main. Kitchen held an early lead over Tanner Dean (1st Impression Race Team/Florida Plumbing, Honda CRF450R) and Cole Zabala (Cornerstone Masonry/B&M Masonry, Honda CRF450R) while Henry Wiles worked his way to the front along with Dallas Daniels (Estenson Racing/Yamaha Racing, Yamaha YZ450F). Positions were chang-ing all around the race track as the top ten riders were all within a second of each other.

Wiles was able to take over on lap 14. The lead was never very large, but unlike Friday, he never gave it back. Zabala made one

FLAT TRACK AMERICAN FLAT TRACK CHAMPIONSHIP

ROUNDS 3-4 / AUGUST 21-22, 2020INDIANA STATE FAIRGROUNDS / INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA P86

Brandon Kitchen (105) squeaked out a win in Friday night’s Singles class.

FLAT TRACK AMERICAN FLAT TRACK CHAMPIONSHIP

ROUNDS 3-4 / AUGUST 21-22, 2020INDIANA STATE FAIRGROUNDS / INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA P88

Unfortunately, Armstrong’s race came to an end on lap 14 with mechanical problems. James Rispoli (Latus Motors Rac-ing/Probeam, Harley-Davidson

Sheet Metal, Yamaha MT-07) after they disposed of Chad Cose (Wally Brown Racing/Roof Systems of Dallas TX, Harley-Davidson XG750R).

last charge to the finish line but came up just short. His second-place finish is his best result ever. “Everybody has been saying I’m kind of a big boy and genetically at a disadvantage, but we got it done tonight,” said Wiles.

The shocker was Shayna Texter (Red Bull Factory KTM Racing/Motorex, KTM 450 SX-F) who came all the way from eighth to third in just six laps, just nip-ping Daniels at the finish. Wells was a close fifth.

AFT Production TwinsFriday’s AFT Production Twins

main event shaped up to be a battle between Ben Lowe (Roof Systems of Dallas TX/Bruce Lowe Excavating, Yamaha MT-07) and Nick Armstrong (Lessley Brothers Racing/Competitive

Henry Wiles (17) edged out Cole Zabala (51) for

Saturday night’s Singles victory.

James Rispoli won Saturday night’s Production Twins main event.

FLAT TRACK AMERICAN FLAT TRACK CHAMPIONSHIP

ROUNDS 3-4 / AUGUST 21-22, 2020INDIANA STATE FAIRGROUNDS / INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA P90

way up to second, but Rispoli was pulling away dramatically.

Cose and Nick Armstrong pushed Lowe lap after lap. While the three battled away Cory Texter moved into the fray. In very little time Texter grabbed second, but Rispoli was already over ten sec-onds ahead.

Armstrong was able to take the last podium position over Cose and Lowe.

“I’m so stoked! I’m so fired up,” said Rispoli. “It’s been so long since I won. I don’t know if I’ve ever had this big of a lead in my entire career. That’s what we want to do. We want to stamp our au-thority. They say it’s hard, but when everything is flowing it’s easy.” CN

XG750R) had his own problems in the semi and was forced to use his provisional start and was aboard his backup bike from the last row.

Rispoli charged to the front, but time would run out leaving him just a little over half a second behind Lowe. Cose made it two Harley-Davidsons on the podium as he finished almost four seconds ahead of Ryan Varnes (RVR/Roy-Built/Don’s Kawasaki, Kawasaki Ninja 650) and last year’s class champion, Cory Texter (G&G Rac-ing/Roof Systems of Dallas TX, Yamaha MT-07).

Saturday’s race saw James Rispoli back with a vengeance as he and Chad Cose pushed their Harleys to first and second. Fri-day’s winner, Ben Lowe worked his

Ben Lowe celebrates winning Friday night’s Production Twins class.

SUPERTWINS(FRIDAY)1. Briar Bauman (Ind)2. Sammy Halbert (Ind)3. Jared Mees (Ind)4. Bronson Bauman (Ind)5. Brandon Price (Ind)6. Bryan Smith (H-D)7. Jeffrey Carver Jr. (Ind)8. Davis Fisher (Ind)9. Dalton Gauthier (H-D)10. Robert Pearson (Ind)

(SATURDAY)1. Briar Bauman (Ind)2. Jared Mees (Ind)3. Bryan Smith (H-D)4. Brandon Robinson (Ind)5. Sammy Halbert (Ind)6. Bronson Bauman (Ind)7. Jeffrey Carver Jr. (Ind)8. Brandon Price (Ind)9. Robert Pearson (Ind)10. Jarod Vanderkooi (H-D)

SINGLES(FRIDAY)1. Brandon Kitchen (Hon)2. Henry Wiles (Hon)3. Michael Rush (Yam)4. Michael Inderbitzin (Hon)5. Ryan Wells (KTM)6. Chad Cose (Suz)7. Max Whale (Kaw)8. Shayna Texter (KTM)9. Andrew Luker (Yam)10. Dallas Daniels (Yam)

(SATURDAY)1. Henry Wiles (Hon)2. Cole Zebala (Hon)3. Shayna Texter (KTM)4. Dallas Daniels (Yam)5. Ryan Wells (KTM)6. Brandon Kitchen (Hon)7. Kevin Stollings (Hon)9. Tanner Dean (Hon)10. Andrew Luker (Yam)