JARED MEES – REPORT

HAGERSTOWN MD

I really needed to start getting into the Dash for Cash and on the podium for the Main Events. At Hagerstown I have always finished in the top 5 but never got on the podium. When we got there it was a typical Hagerstown… hot and muggy, the track was smooth and wet-looking. We tried a couple of things differently with the bike. I qualified 3rd overall after the two rounds, feeling good.

In my Heat race I had Hank Wiles, Chris Carr, Jethro Halbert, Bryan Smith and Matt Weidman among others. I got off the line second behind Wiles and in turns 3 and 4 had a big moment when I thought I had seen Jesus—major high side!! Luckily I was able to keep it on two wheels and then there was Weidman leading. There was a red flag with a complete re-start. This time it was Wiles again and I chased him around for a couple of laps, was able to get a pass on him going into turn 3, made it stick and started to tow away. I won the Heat, putting me in the Dash for Cash. Hagerstown felt awesome.

In the Dash for Cash Henry got the holeshot and led it off turn 2 but I was able to drive past him going into turn 3, making the pass. I led all four laps and won the Dash for Cash. THIS was what I had been looking for.

Now for the Main Event. I felt like I finally had something for these guys. I got a terrible start, and then there was a huge pile up in turn 1 with Jake Johnson, John Lewis and Mick Kirkness going down. Fortunately no one was hurt and all made the re-start. This start was better and I was running 3rd when Steve Bonsey got off, bringing out another red flag. We had to line up in a staggered formation since more than three laps had been completed. I was 3rd in line, got another terrible start and went back to around 7th. I started picking off the guys one by one and got back to 3rd…Joe Kopp and Kenny Coolbeth were long gone by then. I tried hard to catch them but the harder I rode and pushed, the worst I felt. The track was very easy to over-ride. You almost have to ride like you are on egg shells. I finally settled down and don’t know whether it was because Joe and Kenny were battling so hard that they were slowing one another down, but I did inch towards them. But no way did I have enough time to do anything else. Once Kopp broke away from Coolbeth at the end I made a little time on Kenny, but I pretty much finished a lonely 3rd. However, it was a big step in the right direction.

We have had consistent top 5 finishes but with the new Dash for Cash points system it has changed things, making it tougher.

PEORIA IL

So here we were at Peoria. This place got the best of me last year early in qualifying. I bailed off and had to go to the Emergency Room and get checked out. Last year the series was split between Singles and Twins and at the time for me, it wasn’t that big of a deal to walk away from Peoria to make sure I was ok for the Twins Championship. This year the series is again combined so every race counts.

I was ready for Peoria, having worked hard training for this race. I felt good in the first practice. The motorcycle ran really well and handled well. There was a long delay due to some transponder issues so we had to wait around for that to get resolved. In the meantime, the track dried out a lot and we had to ride on this slippery little groove. I didn’t feel too badly, but my times were not there. We made a few changes to the bike and went back out and felt a little bit better but my time was 9th overall. I knew I had a little more speed in me, but we would have to wait and see.

I was in the 3rd Heat with Joe Kopp, Chris Carr, Robbie Pearson, Mick Kirkness, Chad Cose and others. I got an awful start and then on the outside of me Pearson high sided off some one’s back wheel hard, going down. The red flag came out and we had a re-start. I got the hole shot this time and was able to set the pace. Someone was breathing down my neck the whole time and I figured it was Joe Kopp. My bike was working good off the corners and was fast down the straight away. The track was sketchy and I didn’t want to blow the corners and let Kopp go by. I was able to hold him off and win the Heat race, putting me in the Dash for Cash.

In the Dash I got off 3rd and ran 3rd the whole time, finishing behind Wiles and Jake Johnson. However, Jake’s team had replaced his tire with one of a softer compound than is specified and he was disqualified for the Dash, taking his point and cash away. I do believe it was an honest mistake on his team’s part.

I was ready for the Main Event, and had third pick on the line. The light went green and bang! Henry and I were almost side by side going into turn 1. He had the nod so he led it going through. John Lewis had the inside advantage and was able to take 2nd away from me. Coming off turn 4 for the long straight away my Montgomeryville Cycle powered Honda was able to walk by Lewis. I heard him on my heels for a few laps until I finally settled down, I never heard him after that! By this time Henry was checked out – gone. He really has this place figured out. I was asked “where is he beating you?” I said: “everywhere but the straight away, ha ha ha.” At about half way through the race I didn’t hear anybody and looked back and man, I had a heck of a lead over 3rd!! With about 5 laps to go I looked back again and still had that comfortable lead so I toned it down a lot and brought it home to 2nd. Finishing 2nd to Henry in both the Dash and the Main Event is almost like a win without the cash and points. Henry is really in a class of his own at Peoria.

I had a lot of fun that day and feel that I still have a very good chance at the Championship….This weekend we are back to the Miles with the Indy Mile Saturday night..It should be a great weekend, as a lot of oversea’s fans will be there!

Thanks to everyone, fans and sponsors. Jammin’ Jared Mees

Twins:

Rogers Lake Racing, Blue Springs H-D, Rockysonline. com, Lucas Oil, Twisted Beverage CompanyTM, Saddlemen, Digger Helm 57, Rod Lake, Arai Helmets, Speed Strength leathers, KK Motorcycle Supply, A&A Racing, Steve & Cindy Vizzo, Battley Cycles, Kelly’s, Maxxis Tires, MTA, JE Pistons, Cometic Gaskets, VP Racing Fuels,Tsubaki, Motion Pro, TCX Boots, Troy Lee Designs, K&N Filters, Millennium Technologies, Vortex, Craig Pickett, Goodridge, Works Connection, Rekluse Clutches, Gene & Gail Cummings, Eddie Mulder, NGK, Z Gallerie, Dick Winters, Oakley, WestCoast Hot Shoes, Jupiter Wheels, EBC, Ogio, Mikuni, Web Cam, Ancra, J&M Racing Frames, Pro Plates, Kold Kutter, Turn 1 Distributing. Crank Works Crank Shafts, EZ-up, Twenty Six Suspension, Flash, G2, Penske Racing, Chicken Hawk, Ferrea Valves, J2 Motorsports, Royal Publishing Co., Applied Diamond Coatings, M&Z Anodizing, Brent Armbruster, Bristol Core, Universal Coatings, Hammer Head , Hot Rods, Decal Works, Dyno Jet,DVS Shoes, Xtremely Fit.

Singles:

Rockysonline. com, Lucas Oil, Rogers Lake Racing, Montgomeryville Cycle Center, Twisted Beverage CompanyTM, Saddlemen, Digger 57, Rod Lake, Arai Helmets, Speed Strength Leathers, KK Motorcycle Supply,A&A Racing, Steve & Cindy Vizzo, Battley Cycles, Kelly’s, Maxxis Tires, MTA, JE Pistons, Cometic Gaskets, VP Racing Fuels,Tsubaki, Motion Pro, TCX Boots, Troy Lee Designs, K&N Filters, Millennium Technologies, Vortex, Craig Pickett, E2 Voltage, Goodridge, Works Connection, RekluseClutches, Gene & Gail Cummings, Eddie Mulder, NGK, Z Gallerie, Dick Winters, Oakley, WestCoast Hot Shoes, Jupiter Wheels, EBC, Ogio, Mikuni, Web Cam, Ancra, J&M Racing Frames, Pro Plates, Kold Kutter, Turn 1 Distributing. Crank Works Crank Shafts, Ezup, Twenty Six Suspension, Flash, G2, Penske Racing, Chicken Hawk, Ferrea Valves, J2 Motorsports, Royal Publishing Co., Applied Diamond Coatings, M&Z Anodizing, Brent Armbruster, Bristol Core, Universal Coatings, Hammer Head, Hot Rods, Decal Works, Dyno Jet, DVS Shoes, Xtremely Fit