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Jared Mees ( No . 1 Indian Motorcycle / Rogers Racing / SDI Racing FTR750 ) delivered a " performance for the ages " in the All Seasons Powersports West Virginia Half-Mile ( July 1 , 2023 ), in what proved to be a memorable return for Progressive American Flat Track to Mineral Wells , West Virginia , after nearly two decades away .
Mission SuperTwins presented by S & S Cycle Mees arrived at the West Virginia Motor Speedway for the first time since 2006 with an opportunity to match fellow legend Scott Parker ' s mark for most Half-Mile wins in the long history of the Grand National Championship . To do so he was going to have to overcome the combined challenge of title leader Dallas Daniels ( No . 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT ), Lima Half-Mile conqueror Briar Bauman ( No . 3 Parts Plus / Jacob Companies KTM 790 Duke ), and Mission # 2Fast2Tasty Challenge winner Davis Fisher ( No . 67 Rackley Racing / Bob Lanphere ' s BMC Racing Indian FTR750 ), after the four went bar-to-bar minutes earlier in the fourlap dash for cash . The potential adversaries whittled down almost immediately , however , as Fisher wheelied away his prime starting slot from pole and dropped to sixth . Meanwhile , Daniels was only one position further up the order and slotted in behind fellow Yamaha runners JD Beach ( No . 95 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT ) and Dan Bromley ( No . 62 HRP Racing / Memphis Shades / Mike Vinson / Corbin Yamaha MT-07 ).
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That left just Briar Bauman alone to prevent Mees from escaping at the front . The Rick Ware Racing hero did well to demonstrate his recent success was down to more than simply capitalizing on a series of racetracks well suited to his bike ' s strengths , tracking the factory Indian ace down to show him a wheel at half-distance . However , Mees ' relentless excellence ultimately won the day , allowing him to stretch open some breathing space late . In the end , he secured his recordtying 35th-career HM win with a 0.609-second margin of victory with Bauman second , Daniels maintaining his perfect top-three run in third , with JD Beach forth and Fisher fifth ahead of Dan Bromley ( MT-07 ), Vanderkooi ( FTR750 ), Johnny Lewis ( Royal Enfield 650 ) and Henry Wiles ( FTR750 ) in tenths spot . There were four Indians and four Yamaha MT-07s in the top-10 , plus one Royal Enfield and one KTM 790 Duke .
Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER Defending class champion Kody Kopp ( No . 1 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-F ) once again showcased his Half-Mile mastery by scoring the seventh victory of his young career at the distance and , like the prior weekend ' s win , this one did not come easily . From the start , Kopp was embroiled in an evolving melee with Trevor Brunner ( No . 21 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F ) and James Ott ( No . 19 1st Impressions Race Team / Husqvarna Racing FC450 ). With multiple race lines working , the three moved up and
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down the track as they exploited their preferred angles of attack while looking for any possible edge over one another . Brunner pushed into the lead at middistance and held a half-second advantage at one point . However , the KTM star put his head down , reeled the Estenson Racing pilot back in , and kept up the momentum once he stormed past on the high line , taking the win over Brunner by 0.612 of a second - his first podium since the season opener . He was followed by Ott , who faded slightly late en route to his third top three of the season , with Trent Lowe ( No . 48 American Honda / Mission Foods CRF450R ) fourth and Turner Racing Honda teammate Chase Saathoff ( No . 88 American |
Honda / Mission Foods CRF450R ) fifth . Max Whale ( KTM 450 SX-F ) took sixth , with Tom Drane ( Yamaha YZ450F in seventh , Chad Cose ( Huqvarna FC450 ) in eighth , Dalton Gauthier ( KTM 450 SX-F ) ninth and Jared Lowe ( Honda CRF450R ) tenths . There were three KTMs in the top-10 ( five if you count the two Husqvarna FC450 badged KTMs ) three Hondas and two Yamahas . Kopp left West Virginia with five wins so far to his name in 2023 and a commanding lead in his title defense , ahead of Whale in second with Brunner and Saathoff tied for third spot . www . americanflattrack . com |