BAKER BRINGS FACTORY HARLEY HOME FOURTH AT VIRGINIA MEGA-MILE
Harley Wrecking Crew Rider Jared Mees is Fifth, Drops to Second in Season Points Battle
NEW KENT, Va. (August 24, 2014) – Harley-Davidson® Screamin’ Eagle® Factory Team rider Brad Baker finished fourth after leading early laps in the AMA Pro Grand National Twins main on the Virginia Mega-Mile at Colonial Downs. The race was won by Bryan Smith on the Crosley Radios/Villa-Esparza Kawasaki.
Harley-Davidson® Wrecking Crew rider Jared Mees started the race from the fourth row and finished fifth on the Rogers Racing/Las Vegas H-D/Blue Springs H-D Harley-Davidson® XR750 motorcycle.
Baker, riding the Factory Harley-Davidson XR750 motorcycle, finished second in his heat race, was fourth in the Dash for Cash bonus sprint race, and qualified on the front row for the 15-lap main.
“We had a really strong Harley-Davidson all night,” said Baker. “But I had to ride the wheels off it in the main. I had the throttle pinned all the way, and on this big track that really stresses the engine. The track surface and length here are a real challenge.”
Smith jumped the start of the main on the 1.25-mile dirt oval and was forced to line up in the fourth row for the restart. Baker took the lead on the restart and held the point for the first four laps of the race until he was passed by Smith, who had raced his way through the field in five laps. Smith opened a three-second gap on Baker, Montgomeryville Cycle Center Kawasaki rider Jake Shoemaker and GE Capital KTM rider Johnny Lewis. Lewis dropped out with a mechanical problem on lap 12 as Baker and Shoemaker engaged in a fierce battle for second place.
On the last lap of the race, Baker’s motorcycle suffered a mechanical problem coming out of the final turn and he was passed by Jake Johnson on the Ramspur Winery/Lloyd Brothers Motorsports Kawasaki as he coasted across the finish line. Shoemaker finished second.
The win and five bonus points for winning the Dash for Cash boosted Smith past Mees in the series standings. After 12 of 15 events on the AMA Pro Grand National schedule, Smith leads with 224 points. Mees is second with 218 points, followed by Johnson with 206 points. Zanotti Racing/Moroneys H-D rider Kenny Coolbeth Jr., who finished eighth at Colonial Downs, is in fourth place with 171 points. Baker is sixth with 149 points.
AMA Pro Grand National Twins racing resumes on August 31 on the Springfield Mile at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Ill.
About Harley-Davidson Motor Company
Harley-Davidson Motor Company produces 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’s website at www.h-d.com.