Bryan Smith Wins Fourth Sacramento Mile In-a-Row in Round 8 of the 2014 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship

Bryan Smith accomplished last Saturday night what no other rider has ever been able to do in winning his fourth race in-a-row at the Sacramento Mile in round 8 of the 2014 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship. Taking his #42 Villa-Esparza/Crosley Radio/Howerton Products-sponsored Kawasaki EX650 to the win in front of a huge crowd, Flyin' Bryan managed to win again and make history in winning the second mile event of the season, at the season's halfway point.

The 25-lap National main saw four lead changes, with Smith leading the bulk of the laps (22 laps) at the stripe, with Jake Johnson, Henry Wiles and Jared Mees each leading a lap, although Smith's advantage never grew to more than .145 seconds and on a couple of laps as small as .003 seconds.

In the shot above, Smith can be seen talking with AMA Pro Flat Track official announcer Barry Boone after winning the Dash for Cash event on the #42 Villa-Esparza/Crosley Radio/Howerton Products-backed Kawasaki at the Springfield Mile I on May 25 in round 3 of the 2014 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship season.

The Sacto event was covered by several outlets, and some of the best coverage of the event, as always, came from Cycle News.com, with Andrea Wilson putting in a great story of the event in this write up.

The local newspaper, The Sacramento Bee, had this write up of round 8 of the 2014 season at Cal-Expo.

And Cory Texter, National #65 put this story together for Cycle World.com from Saturday night's Sacramento Mile. Also, a big congrats to Cory for his best-ever finish in an AMA Grand National Championship main event with a 10th-place finish on the Racing Unlimited Kawasaki!

Full results can be found here thanks to AMA Pro Flat Track.

AMA Pro Flat Track's official photographer, Dave Hoenig, shot these pics from Sacto.

With his third win of the season, Smith now leads the championship hunt over Jared Mees by just two points (150-148), with Jake Johnson still in the 3rd-place spot another 6-points back (142), early season leader Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. (5th-place at Sacramento) in the 4th-place spot (129 points) and Sammy Halbert (7th-place) in the 5th-place spot in the championship battle (123 points).

The series heads to the Castle Rock TT for Saturday night's running of round 9 of the 2014 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship.

Smith's narrow victory just another exciting chapter
in history of the Sacramento Mile

SACRAMENTO Calif., (July 29, 2014) - Four consecutive wins hint that Bryan Smith has been dominant at the Sacramento Mile, but a closer look tells a different story, that Smith needed every ounce of talent and every bit of muscle from his Villa-Esparza/Crosley Radio Kawasaki to pull off the feat, which he completed Saturday at the Cal Expo in Round 8 of the AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship season.   Smith won the Expert main by just .030 seconds over Jake Johnson for his record fourth straight win in the heralded event. His four victories have been by 0.192 seconds - combined.   Bryan Smith #42 leads Jake Johnson #5 and Jared Mees #9 to the checkers to take his fourth win in-a-row at the Sacramento Mile on Saturday, July 26. AMA Pro Flat Track photo by Dave Hoenig.   The back-and-forth affair drew the crowd to its feet on early every lap, and hit a fever pitch the final time around the mile oval. Johnson, on his No. 5 Ramspur Winery Kawasaki, made one last attempt to get by Smith, but wound up a half-bike short. Jared Mees came home in third on his Rogers Racing Harley-Davidson, just .056 seconds back of Smith in a finish no one will soon forget.   "The whole 25 laps boiled down turn four, the last lap," Smith said. "That four seconds, I just had to really dial the power on and not break the tire loose, luckily, obviously, it worked out. It was cool, not only to have a dogfight and come out on top of it - if I hadn't of won, it wouldn't have been so cool obviously - but it's awesome for me that I know the crowd enjoyed it and it kept everybody on their toes. I would rather just win by a straightaway, but from a fans standpoint, I can respect what they like."   Although it was four in a row for Michigan's Smith, and he was considered the favorite coming into the event, the result was far from a foregone conclusion. "It wasn't sure to me, it was a dogfight," Smith said. "Jake and Jared were right there the whole time. The way the track was, it made it so no one could really jump out there. ... It was a scrap the whole race, it felt like to me. I was just as little looser in the corners than them guys, and, luckily, I was able to hold onto it."   Johnson was the biggest thorn in Smith's side all night, powering by Smith in turns one and three multiple times. But on the final lap, the Pennsylvania rider elected to sit back and make one final attempt to take the checkered flag first. "If the straightaway was maybe 30 feet longer..." Johnson said. "It's fun, it's definitely stressful. ... It was a dogfight the whole way, I didn't know what was going to happen, really. I just knew Bryan was kind of controlling the race. I knew he was going to be the toughest to beat. I just tried to latch onto him and try a last-second draft pass at the line and I came up a bit short."   Smith walked away from California with the points lead over second place Mess. Johnson is right on their tails in third, eight points behind Smith and six in back of Mees (150-148-142).   "We're in it, we're consistently on the box, waiting for that win to happen," Johnson said. "It'll come. We're doing what we need to do, staying up front, staying on the podium. We just gotta keep rolling."   Mees had spots on the track where he was fastest and even put down the race's best lap, but ultimately he was third in the mad dash down the final stretch. "It was a good race, it was a lot of fun out there battling with these guys," Mees said. "I just had a little mistake on my end here and there and I just couldn't get there at the very end."   Brandon Robinson took fourth on his No. 44 USC Kawasaki and was one of a half dozen riders who ran out front at one point in the night. Robinson sits sixth in points, 40 in back of Smith, and certainly not out of title contention. Kenny Coolbeth and his No. 2 Zanotti Racing Harley-Davidson sit fourth in points following his fifth place showing Sacramento and Sammy Halbert is sixth in points following his seventh place finish aboard his No. 7 South East Harley-Davidson. Defending GNC champion Brad Baker was sixth on his Factory Harley-Davidson and is eighth in points as the AMA Pro Flat Track season enters a crucial span of three races in seven days.   What's being called the 2-5-8 starts with the Castle Rock TT in Castle Rock, Wash., on Saturday, Aug. 2, followed by the Black Hills Half-Mile by Dunlop in Rapid City, S.D. on Aug. 5, then the Indy Mile in Indianapolis on Aug. 8.   The championship hunt is sure to take a completely different form over just a week's time.   AMA Pro Flat Track Pro Singles   Davis Fisher looked to be the rider to beat Saturday night in the AMA Pro Flat Track Pro Singles main event at the Sacramento Mile. Fisher and his 67M T.J. Burnett Farms Honda built a comfortable lead on the pack through most of the race - then Kyle Johnson broke free of that group.   Following a thrilling fifth-to-second dive bomb into turn one, Johnson settled in and methodically cut down Fisher's lead, eventually reaching his rear tire on the final lap. Johnson made the pass in turns one and two, and held off a last-gasp draft pass attempt for his fourth victory in the last five races on his No. 77J Parkinson Brothers Racing Honda. "I really didn't think I would be able to catch him that fast," Johnson said. "I really had to make some perfect laps and just hit all my marks perfectly."   Once Johnson caught Davis and the crowd erupted in anticipation of a thrilling final mile, strategy came into play. With the draft playing such a large role, Johnson had to pick his spot and consider even sitting behind Fisher and making an attempt to draft by at the line. "I thought about it, I thought, 'Maybe if I get out front, he might draft back past me,'" Johnson said. "But I was out front, I just tried to make my corners perfect."   Fisher wasn't put off by being in second, knowing he'd have one more shot coming down the homestretch, but he was just short in that attempt. "I followed him into the corner in one, and just stayed in behind him and was hoping to draft by him on the front straightaway," Fisher said. "I was close."   While Johnson left California with the points lead, Fisher is right on his heels, 122-119, with three races slated over seven days starting with the Castle Rock TT on Saturday.   It was also a big points day for California's own Nick Armstrong, who rode his No. 44E Southland Racing Honda to a third place finish. "It feels awesome, California race, it's kind of like a home race for me," Armstrong said.   Dominic Colindres (No. 66Y Honda) and Brandon Wilhelm (No. 24J Honda) rounded out the top five in Sacramento.   While it's Johnson and Fisher in a dogfight atop the points standings just past the AMA Pro Flat Track's midpoint in the season, the battle behind them is tight, and the duo haven't left too many riders out of contention with seven races to go.   Ryan Wells and his No. 94B KTM are in third, 11 points back of Johnson, following a sixth place showing in California. Wilhelm and Bronson Bauman (No. 30Z Rod Lake Racing Honda) are fourth and fifth with 87 and 80 points, respectively. Jarod Vanderkooi is slowly creeping up the standings as well. The youngster on the No. 17F Johnny's Vintage Motorcycles Honda is eight after finishing seventh in Sacramento and he has two victories to his name this year - one at the Springfield Mile and a Pro Singles checkered flag at Grays Harbor.   AMA Pro Flat Track Expert top 10 finishers 1. Bryan Smith (Kawasaki) 2. Jake Johnson (Kawasaki) 3. Jared Mees (Harley-Davidson) 4. Brandon Robinson (Kawasaki) 5. Kenny Coolbeth (Harley-Davidson) 6. Brad Baker (Harley-Davidson) 7. Sammy Halbert (Harley-Davidson) 8. Stevie Bonsey (Harley-Davidson) 9. Briar Bauman (Harley-Davidson) 10. Cory Texter (Kawasaki)   AMA Pro Flat Track Expert top 10 points leaders 1. Bryan Smith 150 2. Jared Mees 148 3. Jake Johnson 142 4. Kenny Coolbeth 129 5. Sammy Halbert 123 6. Brandon Robinson 110 7. Stevie Bonsey 83 8. Brad Baker 82 9. Henry Wiles 76 10. Briar Bauman 63   AMA Pro Flat Track Pro Singles top 10 finishers 1. Kyle Johnson (Honda) 2. Davis Fisher (Honda) 3. Nick Armstrong (Honda) 4. Dominic Colindres (Honda) 5. Brandon Wilhelm (Honda) 6. Ryan Wells (KTM) 7. Jarod Vanderkooi (Honda) 8. Bronson Bauman (Honda) 9. Dan Bromley (KTM) 10. Ryan Foster (Honda)   AMA Pro Flat Track Pro Singles top 10 points leaders 1. Kyle Johnson 122 2. Davis Fisher 119 3. Ryan Wells 111 4. Brandon Wilhelm 87 5. Bronson Bauman 80 6. Dylan Morin 70 7. Dan Bromley 69 8. Jarod Vanderkooi 65 9. Kolby Carlile 52 10. Dominic Colindres 45   Next Up The stars of AMA Pro Flat Track will head to Castle Rock, Wash., and the Castle Rock Race Park on Aug. 2, 2014. Footage of the Sacramento Mile is available to view on AMA Pro Racing's YouTube portal at www.youtube.com/amaprovids.   How to Watch  FansChoice.tv will be the official home for live streaming coverage of AMA Pro Flat Track and AMA Pro Road Racing events in 2014. The site will also provide coverage of IMSA's development and single-make series, and NASCAR's touring and weekly series. About AMA Pro Flat Track AMA Pro Flat Track is a national motorcycle racing series in North America and is considered one of the oldest forms of motorcycle racing. Sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, the Series is highly regarded as the most competitive form of dirt track racing in the world. The 2014 schedule consists of 16 rounds on the country's finest flat track courses. For more information on AMA Pro Flat Track, please visit www.amaproracing.com/ft.

Sacramento Mile    Expert Main Event Pro Singles Main Event Sacramento Mile Track Walk with Shayna Texter and Bryan Smith

AMA Pro Racing is the premier professional motorcycle racing organization in North America, operating a full schedule of events and championships for a variety of motorcycle disciplines.  Learn more about AMA Pro Racing at www.amaproracing.com.     For additional information contact: AMA Pro Racing Communications, (386) 492-1014, communications@amaproracing.com

Press release courtesy of SMI, the promoters of the Sacramento Mile

Bryan Smith Earns Record Fourth Consecutive Sacramento Mile Victory

Top four separated by just 4-10ths of a second at the flag

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (July 26, 2014) -- Bryan Smith said this was the toughest one yet, but in spite of enduring relentless pressure all the way to the finish, Smith, 31, of Flint, Michigan, managed to win a record fourth consecutive Sacramento Mile on his Villa-Esparza/Crosley Radio Kawasaki. Smith battled with as many as five other riders in the lead pack throughout the 25-lap main, in the end the race came down to a drafting war with Smith just holding off a surging Jake Johnson by 3-100ths of a second. Jared Mees and Brandon Robinson were in the hunt as well, the top four separated by just 4-10ths of a second.

The win not only gave Smith a record of consecutive wins at Sacramento, it also moved him to the series lead at the halfway mark in the season. He now holds a two-point advantage over Mees (150-148), who led coming into this race. Jake Johnson remains a very close third with 142 points.

Smith said he felt the pressure of trying to make history at Sacramento. "I was loose and the groove wasn’t as well defined as it has been in past years,” Smith said. “Definitely for whatever reason, maybe it was the added pressure of being four in a row I’m not sure, but Jake and Jared didn’t let me have it easy that’s for sure.”

Johnson ran a Ramspur Winery/Lloyd Bros Motorsports Kawasaki tonight. It marked the third brand of motorcycle he’s ridden in the Twins races this season. He did everything right on the final lap, but his slingshot move came up just short. “My strongest point of the track was going into three,” Johnson explained. “I tried to give Bryan a little bit of a lead so I could get a run on him. I got a good drive through three and came off of four and just… if the straightway was maybe 30 feet longer. We were close. It was good.”

This was the 49^th running of the Sacramento Mile and Smith was thrilled with putting his name in the history books. “It’s awesome,” Smith said of being the first to win four in a row. “Especially considering the guys I beat out. Scotty Parker is one of my best friends and an all-time hero of flat track. So to beat anything he’s accomplished is pretty awesome. It’s a proud day for me for sure.”

The top finishing Californian rider was Stevie Bonsey of Salinas, who was eighth. Briar Bauman , also of Salinas, was ninth in the 18-rider field.

Kyle Johnson took a come-from-behind win in the Pro Singles final on his Parkinson Brothers Racing Honda. He chased down and nipped Davis Fisher on the final lap, the TJ Burnett Farms Honda, by a scant 0.025 seconds. Nick Armstrong was third. The victory moved Johnson into the lead of the Pro Singles Series by three points over Fisher.

Jay Springsteen and Chris Carr brought the fans to their feet with their exhibition race. “Springer” drafted Carr at the line to win the exo and the two were running times within a half second of the leaders in tonight’s races.

Next up for the series is the Castle Rock TT on August 2.

Results of the Sacramento Mile – July 26, 2014

1 42 Bryan Smith Flint, MI Kawasaki EX650 25 Laps 38.425
2 5 Jake Johnson Coatesville, PA Kawasaki EX650 +00.030 38.448
3 9 Jared Mees Clio, MI Harley-Davidson +00.056 38.336
4 44 Brandon Robinson Oxford, PA Kawasaki EX650 +00.505 38.
5 2 Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. Morris, CT Harley-Davidson +01.923 38.689
6 1 Brad Baker Eatonville, Wa Harley-Davidson +06.361 38.419
7 7 Sammy Halbert Graham, WA Harley-Davidson +06.381 38.824
8 80 Stevie Bonsey Salinas, CA Harley-Davidson +06.393 38.846
9 14 Briar Bauman Salinas, CA Harley-Davidson +09.474 38.852
10 65 Cory Texter Willow Street, PA Kawasaki EX650 +13.899 39.025