COOLBETH BRINGS FACTORY HARLEY HOME SIXTH AT POMONA
Brad Baker Wins Grand National Title on Dodge Brothers Harley-Davidson
POMONA, Calif. (October 14, 2013) – Harley-Davidson® Screamin’ Eagle® Factory Team rider Kenny Coolbeth finished sixth at the Law Tigers AMA Pro Flat Track Finals, the season-ending race of the AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles Grand National Twins series at the Los Angeles County Fairplex. The race and 2013 AMA Grand National championship were won by Brad Baker on the Dodge Brothers Racing Harley-Davidson.
Coolbeth won his heat race and was seeded second behind Baker for the start of the 25-lap National main on the Fairplex half-mile. After one lap the race was re-started following a red flag for a crash by Triumph rider Mikey Martin. On the restart Baker took the lead but was quickly passed by Crosley Radio Kawasaki rider Bryan Smith, the rider closest to Baker in the championship standings. On lap four Baker came close to crashing in turn two and backed off his pace, allowing Smith to gain a half-second advantage. Baker regained the lead on lap 14 as Rod Lake Racing Suzuki rider Briar Bauman and Rodgers Racing/Blue Springs Harley-Davidson rider Jared Mees also joined the lead pack. Coolbeth was in fifth place and gaining on the leaders when the race was stopped on lap 16 for a crash by South East Harley-Davidson rider Sammy Halbert.
On the ensuing staggered re-start, Baker took the lead and for the final 10 laps he and Smith engaged in a battle with Bauman also in the mix. Coolbeth could not regain his earlier momentum and slotted into sixth place. Baker picked up his pace in the final laps to lock up the AMA Grand National championship with his second victory of the season. The 20-year-old rider crossed the finish line 0.706 second ahead of Smith. Bauman was third, followed by Mees, Burnett Farms Racing Kawasaki rider JD Beach, and Coolbeth in sixth.
“Often a restart is an advantage if you are a little behind, but tonight it just killed us,” said Coolbeth. “I got behind a few riders in the ruts on turn two and then just couldn’t get my rhythm back. The track got really rough tonight, much worse than last year.”
The race was the last on the Screamin’ Eagle Harley-Davidson XR750 motorcycle for Coolbeth, who will not return as the Factory team’s primary rider for the 2014 season.
“I can’t thank Harley-Davidson enough for the opportunity to race with the factory team,” said Coolbeth. “Because of Harley I’m who I am today in the Grand National series. I hope I can continue racing on a Harley-Davidson next season.”
Coolbeth joined the Harley-DavidsonScreamin’ Eagle Factory Team in 2006 and won the Grand National championship in 2006, 2007 and 2008.
“We’d like to thank Kenny for eight years of great racing with the Harley-Davidson Factory team. He has been an outstanding champion and we hope to keep him racing in the Harley-Davidson family in the future,” said Harley-Davidson Racing Manager Kris Schoonover. “We will announce more details about our 2014 racing plans soon.”
Baker closed out his championship season with 219 points. Smith was second with 202 points. TJ Burnett Racing Kawasaki rider Brandon Robinson was third with 185 points. Mees, the defending Grand National champion, was fourth with 177 points, followed by Lloyd Brothers Motorsports rider Henry Wiles with 162 points and Coolbeth in sixth place with 147 points.
Baker becomes the third-youngest rider to win the AMA Grand National championship. Harley-Davidson rider Brad Andres (1955) and Harley-Davidson Factory Team rider Jay Springsteen (1976) were both 19 years old when they won their first titles.
Company Information
Harley-Davidson Motor Company produces heavyweight custom, cruiser and touring motorcycles and offers a complete line of Harley-Davidson motorcycle parts, accessories, riding gear and apparel, and general merchandise. For more information, visit harley-davidson.com.
The Harley-Davidson Screamin’ Eagle Factory Flat Track team is sponsored by Dunlop and Traxxas.