The following is from Jared Mees…
JARED MEES REPORT:
GAS CITY IN – 19 June 2010
Hey Everyone: Well, we finally got this race in at Gas City, IN., the fourth time trying. In 2008 a Hot Shoe was scheduled there but got rained out. The same thing in 2009. This year they stepped up and wanted to make it a Grand National event, only to get rained out two weeks ago. They brought us back this past weekend to try it again and –we got it in !!!
The race track looked a lot faster than it actually was. When I was in practice and qualifying I would look back at the track and ask myself: “did I just ride on the same track I am looking at?” It seemed so different looking at it versus riding it. Well, qualifying wasn’t too bad, we were 19th after the first round and ended up stepping it up for round 2 and getting 9th.
We were in the 3rd Heat in the middle of the starting line. I got a good jump and was leading. I noticed that the gearing choice I had made for the Heat race wasn’t the right one as everyone moved up on the track. I was geared more for the bottom of the track. Matt Weidman got around me with one lap to go. I ended up 2nd, which put me on the front row for the Main and also into the Dash for Cash. In the Dash I got another good jump but Joe Kopp got me quickly and Henry Wiles got the hole shot. I was still struggling with a couple of things and Robbie Pearson got me on the last lap.
For the Main Event we made some more adjustments. I got a good start off the bottom and was running 3rd. Joe and Henry were about eight bike lengths ahead. I couldn’t get to them but they weren’t running away from me either. Then there was a red flag as Don Taylor got off hard. He ended up breaking his shoulder, needing surgery. I wish him a speedy recovery and hope he gets back soon.
On the restart I got Joe right away and was on Henry. I made a couple of good laps that brought me closer to him but then I would get excited and mess up and he would pull back out. It felt like a game of cat and mouse. I came up short and ended up in 2nd place.
Henry rode a strong race and he earned the win. We made a good roll towards the points.
I was happy with the day and with the fact that we got finally got to race at this track.
We head to Lima OH this coming weekend, so we’ll see what that one holds.
Thank you to all the fans and to all my sponsors for the great support.
Jammin’ Jared Mees # 1/21
