Jared Mees Comes Up Just Shy of Getting Around 2014 Superprestigio Dirt Track Race Champion Marc Marquez During Yesterday's Event in Barcelona, Spain

2014 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Champion Jared Mees ended up with the best finish of the American contingent of riders that headed across the pond to contest the 2nd annual Superprestigio Dirt Track Race held in Barcelona, Spain yesterday. Mees won all of his heats races in order to punch his ticket to the main event, but came up just shy of equaling 2013 AMA Grand National Champion Brad Baker's inaugural win in the event held in January. Double MotoGP World Champion Marc Marquez was able to take the win after crashing out of last January's event while battling with Baker for the lead.

Mees, Shayna Texter and Baker were all great representatives at the event for the American-based AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship series, but Baker crashed early in the day during one of the practice sessions that saw the former champ take a nasty highside and dislocate his shoulder. Texter wasn't able to qualify through the hectic system in order to represent the Americans in the main event, but American Kenny Noyes, fresh off winning the 2014 FIM CEV International Superbike Championship, was able to bring his ride home in 3rd-place to round out the podium and show the world his title in Spain's high-ranking road racing series was not only not a fluke for the popular rider, but that he hadn't forgotten his flat track skills along the way.

In the shot above, Mees and tuner Kenny Tolbert put the finishing touches on changes to The Jammer's Honda CRF450R 'A' bike in the #1 Montgomeryville Cycle Center/National Cycle/Rogers Racing-sponsored pit area between the practice session and qualifying sessions held at the Peoria TT on August 11, 2013.

You can check out the final of the Superprestigio event here thanks to YouTube and you can also view all of the results here on the official website of the Superprestigio Dirt Track Race. AMA Pro Racing's press release can also be checked out below.

A big congrats to The Jammer, Jared Mees for a stellar 2nd-place finish, to 2013-14 MotoGP World Champion Marc Marquez for taking the victory in Barcelona yesterday, and to all of the contestants and representatives of the United States for giving it their all in one of the premier 'off-season' events of the year!

Jared Mees, Marc Marquez thrill international audience in Superprestigio flat track event

BARCELONA, Spain (Dec. 13, 2014) - The world was able to witness the excitement of flat track racing on Saturday, and it was able to see reigning AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Champion  Jared Mees come up just short in a thrilling battle with Spanish road racing superstar and two-time defending MotoGP champion Marc Marquez. Barcelona, Spain played host to the Superprestigio short track exhibition race, featuring some of the best riders from nearly every form of motorcycle racing in the world, including an American contingent representing AMA Pro Flat Track, the world's preeminent flat track racing series. Marquez held off a hard charge from Mees in the showcase's main event, the Superfinal. Mees settled for second in the race, which was broadcast around the world. 2014 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Champion Jared Mees displays his 2nd-place trophy after coming up just short of the win in yesterday's 2nd annual Superprestigio Dirt Track Race in Barcelona, Spain. Photo courtesy of AMA Pro Racing. "I had an amazing time, it was my first time in Spain," Mees said. "I can't say enough for everybody that invited me, Marc Marquez and everybody that put the event on. It was amazing, I had a lot of fun. ... I hope I can come back next year." Mees dominated both heat races and all three finals to win his Open class. But in the Superfinal, Mees got caught up behind a downed rider in the first corner and nearly stalled his bike while running wide to avoid the crash. He was in the middle of the pack for the first time all night and one spot in back of Marquez. Methodically and impressively, the two picked off riders before they found themselves in front. Mees drew even with Marquez's back tire by the final lap, but ran out of time before being able to make a move for the lead. He settled for a hard-fought and well-deserved second." Marquez is a large supporter and fan of flat track racing, and uses it, like many top road racers, to train. In January, the 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Champion, Brad Baker, won the Superprestigio after a thrilling battle with Marquez. This time around, the practice Marquez put in specifically in hopes of winning the Superprestigio really showed. "He kept his wheels in line very well," Mees said. "Keeping the wheels in line is the faster way to go around the race track, so hat's off to him. He definitely had amazing style for being a road racer (primarily)." Baker suffered a shoulder injury in practice on Saturday morning and was unable to compete. Leading up to the event, he had been the fastest rider in practice. "First and foremost, I would like to say thanks to Jared. He came from America to here, and also Brad," Marquez said. "I was worried for (Brad) because the crash this morning was scary." AMA Pro Flat Track's Shayna Texter, the only female rider in the event, crashed in her first heat race and found herself in unlucky spots on the track during later heats. She eventually bounced back and finished fourth in her Last Chance Qualifier. Fellow American and 2014 FIM CEV SBK International Superbike champion Kenny Noyes was third in the Superfinal. All three riders on the podium are current champions in their respective series. Additional AMA Pro Flat Track flare was provided by flagger Kevin Clark, who was invited to return for a second time to the event. The thrilling exhibition stoked plenty of interest in the sport, and fans only have to wait until March 12-13 for the 2015 AMA Pro Flat Track season to get underway with a doubleheader at DAYTONA Flat Track. Like the Superprestigio, every AMA Pro Flat Track race in 2015 can be seen live atFansChoice.tv.

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.

Jared Mees & Rogers Racing Crowned 2014 Grand National Champions at AMA Pro Flat Track Banquet

After 16 rounds and 15 races were completed, the 2014 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship season came to an exciting end last weekend with the season finale at the LA Fairplex-hosted Pomona Half-Mile Flat Track Finals, where Jared Mees and his #9 Rogers Racing team fought hard to come home in the 4th-place spot to clinch the 2014 AMA Grand National Championship.

Mees, who had a career year in winning two races, capturing nine top-3s and 14 top-5s in route to winning his second overall Grand National Championship to go along with his 2009 AMA Grand National Twins Series Championship and the 2012 AMA Grand National Singles Championship.

Along with star rider and Michigan resident Mees, second year tuner for the team, Kenny Tolbert, won his eighth AMA Grand National Championship, second only to legendary tuner Bill Werner (13 championships with Gary Scott, Jay Springsteen and Scott Parker) and was awarded the Mechanic of the Year award along with fellow team member Sammy Sweet.

In the shot above, Mees and the #9 Rogers Racing/Las Vegas H-D/Blue Springs H-D-sponsored Harley-Davidson XR750 team of Kenny Tolbert and Sammy Sweet (partially hidden) are shown being introduced to the crowd by AMA Pro Flat Track official announcer Barry Boone at the Springfield Mile I during rider intros at round 3 of the 2014 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship season at the Illinois State Fairgrounds on May 25.

Read on to see who else copped the share of monies and awards for what was another great season of racing in The Rolling Thunder Show during the 2014 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship season.

2014 AMA Pro Flat Track champions honored

POMONA, Calif. (Oct. 13, 2014) - The 2014 AMA Pro Flat Track season came to a thrilling end, with both the Grand National Championship Expert and Pro Singles titles being claimed by the tightest of margins at the Flat Track Finals at the LA County Fairplex on Saturday.   Sunday, following the exciting night of races, the champions and other riders of note were lauded at the yearend awards ceremony held at Pomona Valley Mining Company.   Jared Mees poses with his Rogers Racing Harley-Davidson XR750 during the AMA Pro Flat Track banquet where he was officially crowned the 2014 AMA Grand National Champion. AMA Pro Flat Track photo by Dave Hoenig.     The voices of AMA Pro Flat Track Barry Boone and Scottie Deubler hosted a fun afternoon that included multiple looks back at the 2014 season in addition to the distribution of awards and checks.   GNC champion Jared Mees was awarded the No. 1 plate by the American Motorcyclist Association's Joe Bromley, and he was joined on stage by the Rogers Racing Harley-Davidson he rode to fourth place in the season finale to clinch the title by three points over Bryan Smith.   Pro Singles champion Kyle Johnson also received his No. 1 plate from Bromley after finishing second in Pomona and taking the championship by a single point over Davis Fisher.   Jarod Vanderkooi was awarded the No. 1 plate for winning both Pro Twins races this season, as well.   Johnson is awarded a national number for being the Pro Singles champion, but other riders who earned their national numbers were recognized, including; Jay Maloney, Danny Koelsch, Shayna Texter, Cody Johncox, Chaz Landers, Ronnie Jones and Colt Chebultz.   After 16 rounds, the winners of the Sunoco "Go The Distance Award" were honored and presented with checks for being the riders who completed the furthest distance over the course of the 2014 season. In Pro Singles, the $2,000 winner's check went to Bronson Bauman. Mees received a check for $3,000 for being the top Expert rider in terms of distance traveled. Mees also received $1,000 from Cortech for winning the "Performance Edge Award" as the rider who recorded the most fastest laps in main events in 2014.   Bryan Smith's Villa-Esparza/Crosley Radio team was recognized with the "Team Excellence Award' for their professionalism throughout the year, and Jeffery Carver Jr. was awarded the  "Outstanding Performance" award, mainly for riding so many different bikes and remaining competitive over the course of the season.   Saddlemen's Tom Seymour was on hand to congratulate the Saddlemen GNC Rookie of the Year, Wyatt Maguire, who made seven main event appearances in this first season in premier class.   Pro Singles runner-up Fisher was the recipient of a special award, the Brintlinger Award for Excellence in Sportsmanship, which was voted on by members of the AMA Pro Flat Track paddock. Craig Parkinson of Parkinson Brothers Racing, accepted his award for Pro Singles Mechanic of the Year, and Honda was named the Manufacturer of the Year in the class. In addition to Johnson and Fisher being honored, Pro Singles third place finisher Ryan Wells was given a check for $2,000 along with a trophy.   GNC Mechanic of the Year honors went to Kenny Tolbert and Sammy Sweet of Rogers Racing and Kawasaki was named the Manufacturer of the Year in GNC competition.   The largest checks were saved for last as the top three finishers in the GNC standings were honored. Jake Johnson was third and received $4,000 and a trophy. Smith took home a check for $6,000 with his trophy. Mees was awarded $10,000 in addition to the coveted No. 1 plate, and was also recognized with a stunning Rolex watch presented by Thom Duma of Thom Duma Fine Jewelers.   Thunder MultiMedia provided three excellent videos, including a fun look back at the personalities in the paddock and recaps of both the Pro Singles and GNC seasons.   A special No. 1 plate was presented to Dave and Kathy Hoenig for their many years of dedication to the sport of flat track. The couple has attended 444 Grand Nationals, including 369 consecutive.   The event served as a fitting end to an entertaining 2014 AMA Pro Flat Track Season with excitement already beginning to build for 2015.   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. For more information on AMA Pro Flat Track, please visit www.amaproracing.com/ft.

AMA Pro Flat Track awards banquet

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