One night after winning the AMA Grand National Championship, Jared Mees earns the inaugural Suprestigio of Americas win in Las Vegas.
It was a dream weekend for Jared Mees. One night after winning the 2015 AMA Pro Grand National Championship, the 29-year-old from Clio, Michigan, came through to score victory in the first ever Superprestigio of the Americas presented by Yamaha, Saturday night at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas. Mees, riding a Honda CRF450R, proved to be the toughest rider among the eight-rider field on the rough-and-tumble, Chris Carr-designed short track.
Brad Baker and Kenny Coolbeth Jr., both on Hondas, rounded out the podium finishers of the special race that brings together riders from various motorcycle racing disciplines. All three of the podium finishers are former or current AMA Pro Grand National Champions.
“It was just an unbelievable weekend for me,” Mees said. “To win the Superprestigio was icing on the cake. There was a lot of bumping and banging going on out there, but it was the kind of racing that leaves you with a huge smile on your face. The track was really racy, and if you bumped someone off the line, you pretty much knew they were going to come right back at you. I was impressed with how everyone rode tonight, and taking this win against some of the best racers in the world, guys I’ve looked up, makes me pretty proud.”
Mees battled with early leader Baker for the first four laps. The pivotal moment in the race came on lap five when the lead duo made contact coming out of turn four and Baker’s motorcycle nearly climbed the outside retaining wall. Somehow Baker managed to keep from crashing, but he lost touch with Mees, who cruised home with a 1.514-second margin of victory in the 15-lap race.
The top non-flat-track finisher was former AMA and World Superbike competitor Larry Pegram, of Hebron, Ohio, who finished fourth on a Honda. Racing prodigy Joe Roberts, from Los Angeles, also a road racer, rounded out the top five.
NBC Sports Network (NBCSN) will televise the 2015 Superprestigio of the Americas presented by Yamaha motorcycle race on Sunday, November 29, at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.
Superprestigio of the Americas
Orleans Arena
Las Vegas, Nevada
Results: November 21, 2015
Superprestigio Final
1. Jared Mees-Hon
2. Brad Baker-Hon
3. Kenny Coolbeth-Hon
4. Larry Pegram-Hon
5. Joe Roberts-Yam
6. Oliver Brindley-Kaw
7. Roger Lee Hayden-Suz
8. Bryan Smith-Kaw
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