This is just getting sad. Not for Indian, mind you, but for all the other non-Indian factory racers and privateers who have to go out every weekend on their not-Indian-Scouts and get mangled by the unstoppable flat track golems of the Wrecking Crew.
MORE WRECKING CREW
Once again, Mees & Co. went out and destroyed all comers—this time at the Minnesota Mile. On the last weekend in September, Wrecking Crew rider Bryan Smith took first place—his second win of the 2018 American Flat Track season—and was joined on the podium by privateers Henry Wiles and Robert Pearson.
Notice that Flat Track Terminator Jared Mees isn't in that lineup. Unfortunately, he spent most of the race struggling until an unnamed mechanical issue sidelined him. That, and privateer Briar Bauman running out of fuel on the last lap after leading the entire race, made for a pretty interesting night of flat track racing.
“We’re thrilled to be hosting the Minnesota Mile in Indian Motorcycle’s backyard and it was great to see Bryan take the win after an exciting night of racing,” said Gary Gray, Vice President – Racing, Technology & Service for Indian Motorcycle. “Mees and Bauman fought hard and we look forward to seeing them back at the season finale at the Meadowlands Mile.”
The season's last race takes place on October 6, 2018, at the Meadowlands Mile in New Jersey. We assume Indian'll win that race, too. Hopefully, once the season is over and winter sets in, the other non-Indian flat track teams and OEMs can get their collective acts together. We definitely think it's awesome that Indian keeps winning races and stoking interest in Flat Track, but come on. It's time for Harley and Kawasaki and everyone else to put on their big boy pants, improve their bikes, and put together some better teams so maybe next year they can all give Indian a run for its money.
Indian Motorcycle Racing and the FTR750 swept the top five positions at the Minnesota Mile. Wrecking Crew rider Bryan Smith earned his second win of the season, while Indian privateers Henry Wiles and Robert Pearson rounded out the podium aboard their FTR750s placing second and third, respectively.
The main event kicked off with a heated battle for first between Wrecking Crew rider and 2018 Grand National Champion Jared Mees and Indian privateer Briar Bauman, who eventually got away from Mees in the first half of the race. Mees, who continued to trail Bauman for several more laps experienced a mechanical issue which took him out of the running, leaving Bauman to lead the pack with a comfortable gap. With a little over a lap to go, Bauman ran out of fuel, leaving the first-place position wide open for Bryan Smith who ultimately clinched the win.
“We’re thrilled to be hosting the Minnesota Mile in Indian Motorcycle’s backyard and it was great to see Bryan take the win after an exciting night of racing,” said Gary Gray, Vice President – Racing, Technology & Service for Indian Motorcycle. “Mees and Bauman fought hard and we look forward to seeing them back at the season finale at the Meadowlands Mile.”
Mees has already secured the 2018 Grand National Title and now has 346 points. He has the possibility of recording the highest single-season win percentage in American Flat Track history if he wins the final race of the season this weekend. Indian Motorcycle privateer Henry Wiles currently ranks second with 259 points, while Brian Bauman ranks third with 201 points. Jeffrey Carver Jr. and Chad Cose are fourth and fifth with 194 and 168 points, respectively.
The final race of the season takes place on October 6 at the Meadowlands Mile in New Jersey.