Indian Motorcycle Racing continued its dominance of the 2021 American Flat Track SuperTwins series at Weedsport Speedway, NY, taking both wins in an exciting doubleheader August 13-14. Privateer Sammy Halbert rode his FTR750 to his first checkered flag of the season on Friday night, and Wrecking Crew Rider Jared Mees took Saturday’s checkered flag with his third win this year.
Friday the 13th proved lucky for ‘Slammin’ Sammy Halbert. After a close and aggressive battle, Halbert managed to build up a lead over the two-time reigning SuperTwins Champion, Briar Bauman, leaving Bauman to fend off Wrecking Crew factory teammate, Jared Mees, who was threatening to take second place. Bauman fought off Mees to take his eighth straight podium.
“Sammy has been battling an injury over these last several weeks, so to see him come back and battle with Bauman and get his first win of the season says a lot about his competitive nature and drive to win,” said Gary Gray, Vice President – Racing, Technology & Service for Indian Motorcycle. “Hats off to him, Kenny and the entire Coolbeth-Nila Racing team. He knew he could have his way with this track, and that’s exactly what he did. For Jared, there’s plenty of racing to make a run at this year’s championship, but he knows each race is extremely critical.”
Mees started the second race on Saturday in a determined fashion, leading for most of the race. The racing line changed dramatically throughout the weekend, and Mees showed his experience taking the high line in the first lap to get himself out in front and stay there. Brandon Robinson took note and used the same line to overtake first-leg winner, Sammy Halbert, and move into second position. Halbert wasn’t about to give up without a fight, and by the last lap, Jarod Vanderkooi had joined the fray as all three approached the final corner side-by-side. Vanderkooi split his adversaries to take second place from Robinson in a photo finish.
The victorious Mees said, “I always have a lot of passion and heart for what I do, but getting a win is always a good thing. I said it earlier, going to win a Mile. it’s like, ‘Oh yeah, he should,’ because I’ve got a really good package for a Mile, and I’m older and really experienced. I always had really great success on these slippery, small car tracks, but the last couple [of] years, I kind of lost touch with that and Briar has been killing us with that. So to come out here and actually win a clay Short Track, it feels really phenomenal to get that mojo back again.”
Following the doubleheader at Weedsport Speedway, Bauman maintains his lead in the standings with 197 points, while Mees sits in second with 175. Indian Motorcycle privateer, Brandon Robinson is third with 168 points. The 2021 AFT season continues on August 21 at the Peoria Motorcycle Club for the Law Tigers Peoria TT.
For more information on the American Flat Track SuperTwins series visit: americanflattrack.com
American Flat Track SuperTwins – Weedsport Speedway Doubleheader Results
Race One – August, Friday 13
- 69, Sammy Halbert, Coolbeth-Nila Racing, Indian FTR750
- 1, Briar Bauman, Indian Motorcycle, Indian FTR750
- 9, Jared Mees, Indian Motorcycle, Indian FTR750
- 3, Bronson Bauman, Indian Motorcycle, Indian FTR750
- 20, Jarod Vanderkooi, Mission Foods,Indian FTR750
- 95, JD Beach, Estenson Racing, Yamaha MT-07
- 44, Brandon Robinson, Mission Foods, Indian FTR750
- 92, Brandon Price, Mission Foods, Indian FTR750
- 67, Davis Fisher, BMC Racing, Indian FTR750
- 36, Kolby Carlile, Estenson Racing, Yamaha MT-07
- 27, Robert Pearson, Rackley Racing, Indian FTR750
- 43, James Rispoli, Latus Motors Racing, Harley-Davidson XG750R Rev X
DNS 72, Larry Pegram, Mission Foods, Indian FTR750
Race Two – August, Saturday 14
- 9, Jared Mees, Indian Motorcycle, Indian FTR750
- 20, Jarod Vanderkooi, Mission Foods, Indian FTR750
- 44, Brandon Robinson, Mission Foods, Indian FTR750
- 69, Sammy Halbert, Coolbeth-Nila Racing, Indian FTR750
- 95, JD Beach, Estenson Racing, Yamaha MT-07
- 1, Briar Bauman, Indian Motorcycle, Indian FTR750
- 67, Davis Fisher, BMC Racing, Indian FTR750
- 36, Kolby Carlile, Estenson Racing, Yamaha MT-07
- 37, Bronson Bauman, Indian Motorcycle, Indian FTR750
- 92, Brandon Price, Mission Foods, Indian FTR750
- 27, Robert Pearson, Rackley Racing, Indian FTR750
- 72, Larry Pegram, Mission Foods, Indian FTR750
Harley should make a race 750 version of the new Sporty motor, get rid of that loser from the Street 750