AMA Grand National Championship Points Leader Jared Mees Hoping to Breakthrough at Today's Sacramento Mile

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Press release courtesy of SMI, the promoters of round 8 of the 2014 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship at the Sacramento Mile.

Mees Looking for Sacramento Mile Breakthrough

Showdown between series leader Jared Mees and three-time Sacramento winner Bryan Smith expected

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (July 24, 2014) – Jared Mees comes into this Saturday’s Sacramento Mile on a hot streak. Mees won two out of the three AMA Pro Grand National Series races leading up to this weekend’s event at Cal Expo. Mees holds a five-point series lead over three-time Sacramento Mile winner Bryan Smith. That not only sets up what could be one of the best showdowns of the season between the two favorites in the 49^th running of the Sacramento Mile, it also positions the race as a bout between Kawasaki vs. Harley-Davidson.

 

 

Jared Mees has finished fourth, then third and finally second in the previous three Sacramento Miles. He hopes to continue that progression and earn his first win at the track this Saturday at Cal Expo. Mees is leading the series and is considered the leading prospect to knock off three-time winner Bryan Smith. (Courtesy SactoMile.com)

 

 

Mees, 28, of Clio, Mich., is eager to carry his momentum into Sacramento Saturday and hopes to win for the first time at the historic race. If you look at the past results of Mees at the Sacto Mile you’ll see he’s heading in the right direction. In 2011 he finished fourth, then third in 2012 and finally Mees was runner up to Smith in last year’s race. "I’ve had a lot of success there, seconds and thirds, but I’ve never won it,” Mees said. “I always have a lot of fun there. I love the atmosphere, I love the track. It’s one of my favorite miles.”

This year the Harley-Davidson XR750 that Mees rides, no longer has to run intake restrictor plates, so his motorcycle will have more power this season to deal with the speedy  Villa-Esparza/Crosley Radio Kawasaki that Smith races. That should help Mees on the lengthy straights of Sacramento. “It’s pretty fast, with tight corners and long straightaways,” Mees explained. “It makes it a little different. It’s kind of one-lined in the corners. It’s definitely going to help the Harley-Davidsons having no restrictors, but it’s all about the same fundamentals as any race – (a good) start, stay consistent, stay smooth.”

Another Mees could be part of history at Sacramento as well. Jared’s racing wife Nichole Mees (formerly Cheza) has qualified in all three Sacramento Miles she’s appeared. This year Nichole is joined in the series by talented rookie Shayna Texter. Should Mees and Texter both qualify for the main at Sacramento, it would mark the first time two female riders raced in an AMA Grand National flat track race at the same time. Earlier this season Texter became only the third female rider ever to qualify for an AMA Grand National flat track event. Texter has a good history at Cal Expo. She won the Pro Singles support race there twice. This will be her first appearance at the track on a Grand National bike.

Practice for the Sacramento Mile begins at on Saturday, July 26 at 2:15 p.m. and opening ceremonies for the evening program kicks off at 6:15 p.m.

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*** 2014 Ticket Information: Ticket information is available for the July 26, 2014 Sacramento Mile at www.sactomile.com.

Fans can order tickets online  at https://secure.interactiveticketing.com/a/c84136, by calling 1-844 SAC MILE (1-844- 722-6453) or by visiting the Cal Expo Ticket Box Office in the Administration Building at 1600 Exposition Blvd., Sacramento, CA 95815 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. (PT) Monday through Friday. Tickets can also be purchased at any ticket window during the 2014 California State Fair.

Tickets for groups of 20 or more also are available. Contact the Cal Expo Group Sales Department at boxoffice@calexpo.com for more information.