PHOTOGRAPHY BY SHAN MOORE
Dodge Bros. Suzuki’s Stevie Bonsey ended his win drought—Calistoga 2010—and took home the first win of the 2015 AMA Grand National Championship at the Daytona Beach Short Track. And the former 125cc GP racer did so on a borrowed bike that he brought from California in a borrowed van.
“I’m on top of the world,” Bonsey said. “It’s been a real struggle to get out here. I drove out by myself. Thank god for Travis Smith for helping me put this together and Frankie Garcia for loaning me the bike… It’s been a long deal to try and get ready for this season but it’s paying off and I’m hungry now.”
Right on Bonsey’s rear wheel for most of the race trying to get the Californian to succumb to the pressure was reigning Grand National Champion Jared Mees on the Montgomeryville CC Rogers Racing Honda.
“I was just glued to his [Bonsey] rear wheel was hoping for a mistake out of Stevie and he’s a phenomenal rider; he didn’t make one,” Mees said. “I played it very, very safe. I held back and the checkered flag came out early.
In third was Dash For Cash winner, Zanotti Racing’s Kenny Coolbeth ahead of another Honda rider, TJ Burnett Farms’ Brandon Robinson. After the three Hondas was a pair of Yamahas—R&R Racing’s Robert Pearson in fifth and Fredricktown Yamaha’s Sammy Halbert in sixth.
Jake Johnson finished in seventh on a Hart Racing Kawasaki ahead of teammate Briar Bauman on a Honda. Rounding out the top 10 was Doug Lawrence on a Honda Jake Shoemaker, also on a Honda.
The Brothers Powersports Boughner Racing Honda’s Brad Baker on ended the night 12th. The former champ was looking to try and salvage as much points as possible after having his second surgery to repair a broken radial head replacement just six weeks prior to the season opener.
Also trying to salvage points was Oasis Homes Crosley Radio Honda’s Bryan Smith. Smith who’s been known to struggle at the Daytona Short Track had to use one of his provisional cards to make the main and finished 16th.
In the GNC 2 class Andrew Luker took home his first win in what was only his second GNC2 race ever. Joining Luker on the podium was John Vanderlaan in second and Dan Bromley in third.
2015 Daytona Short Track I
AMA Pro Flat Track GNC1 Results
1. Stevie Bonsey (Suzuki)
2. Jared Mees (Honda)
3. Kenny Coolbeth Jr. (Honda)
4. Brandon Robinson (Honda)
5. Robert Pearson (Yamaha)
6. Sammy Halbert (Yamaha)
7. Jake Johnson (Kawasaki)
8. Briar Bauman (Honda)
9. Doug Lawrence (Honda)
10. Jake Shoemaker (Honda)
AMA Pro Flat Track GNC2 Results
1. Andrew Luker (Honda)
2. John Vanderlaan (Honda)
3. Dan Bromley (KTM)
4. Nick Armstrong (Honda)
5. Justin Jones (Honda)
6. Jamison Minor (Honda)
7. Dalton Gauthier (Yamaha)
8. Hayden Gillim (Kawasaki)
9. Brandon Wilhelm (Honda)
10. Michael Inderbitzin (Honda)
