09.25.2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Matt King (414) 343-7634
matt.king@harley-davidson.com
COOLBETH AND MEES READY TO MAKE FINAL BATTLE AS AMA
FLAT TRACK SEASON NEARS END
Screamin' Eagle Riders Will Race at Tucson and Las Vegas to Finish
Season
MILWAUKEE (Sept. 25, 2007) – Screamin' Eagle
Harley-Davidson rider Kenny Coolbeth has earned six victories this AMA
Flat Track Twins Ford Quality Checked Championship season. His Wrecking
Crew teammate Jared Mees has earned three wins this season.
With two races remaining this season, the two
Wrecking Crew riders are the championship contenders. Coolbeth – the
defending AMA Twins series champion – has a 19-point lead going into
this Saturday's AMA Twins event at USA Race Park in Tucson, Ariz.
It might scare the rest of the competition, but
Coolbeth said he's more excited about the last two events of this season
than he has ever been.
"If I had to pick the schedule, I would pick
Tucson and Las Vegas to race at to close out the season," Coolbeth
said. "I'm really anxious and excited about the last two races. I
just want our team to keep doing what we've been doing. We've worked
hard all year long to be in the position to defend our championship.
"I've been training so hard and I think I've
developed a good routine and I think that has really helped me be even
more mentally strong going into the end of the season. It's been such a
fun season and the battle with Jared has just made it a more exciting
season."
USA Race Park is a new addition to the AMA Flat
Track schedule. The clay surface fits right into Coolbeth's style of
riding.
"It's a three-eighth's mile clay facility
and I love that," Coolbeth said. "I am going there with a goal
of winning, but anyone can win on a new track. It's all about who can
figure out the best setup first and that creates great competition for
the race."
Only one other rider, Chris Carr, has earned a
win besides Coolbeth and Mees this season. Mees wants to keep it that
way and put his Blue Springs Harley-Davidson team in the win column two
more times this season.
"I want to win the last two races and finish
the season strong," Mees said. "No one has setup sheets for
this race but my team has proven to be able to come up with a great
setup quickly all season.
"It's going to be nice to be on the Western
side of the country. Hopefully we'll have some warmer weather and we can
have some great racing."
Coolbeth and Mees' idea of great racing is nearly
the same. They know they have to battle the entire field of qualifying
riders but they must really battle each other.
"Anyone can win any race out here because
the talent of the riders is so great," Coolbeth said. "I'm
surprised that Jared and I have won as many races as we have this season
but I guess we are just the most hungry riders out there and it shows.
The championship is on the line and I have to make sure I finish ahead
of Jared."
Mees is comforted that the worst situation puts
him in second place – matching his 2006 season results.
"It's been a heck of a battle between Kenny
and I this year," Mees said. "He won the first race, then I
won the next three and then Kenny just set sail from there. He has done
a great job and I'm thrilled that at least we wrapped up second place
and we so far have matched last season's finish. I always aim to do
better than the season before and we've done that on many levels."
With just two races left Coolbeth is focused on
maintaining his consistently successful season.
"I think I'm in a good position going into
the final two events," Coolbeth said. "The only pressure I
have right now is the pressure I place upon myself. Jared is right there
in the standings and I know it's not over by a long shot so I have to
just be confident and consistent. It's nice knowing we have a weekend
off so I can train some more before the final two races.
"My team has the equipment to a
near-flawless condition so it's up to me to do my job and hold up my end
of the bargain."
AMA Twins Top 10 Point Standings
(Following 10 of 12 events. Number of wins in parenthesis)
1. Kenny Coolbeth, Screamin' Eagle Harley-Davidson (6) 206
2. Jared Mees, Blue Springs H-D/ Screamin' Eagle H-D (3) 187
3. Bryan Smith, Pat Moroney's/Screamin' Eagle Harley-Davidson 141
4. Jake Johnson, Suzuki 131
5. Chris Carr, Quality Pre-Owned Ford Harley-Davidson (1) 127
6. Shaun Russell, Bartels' Harley-Davidson 113
7. Joe Kopp, Team Latus/Screamin' Eagle Harley-Davidson 106
8. Glen Schnabel, American Suzuki 99
9. Jethro Halbert, Harley-Davidson of Fresno 61
10. Nick Cummings, Harley-Davidson 53
All the action of this weekend's race and all AMA
GNC Twins events can be seen via web cast provided by Live I Sports (www.liveisports.com).
In addition to the direct team sponsorship,
Harley-Davidson will also provide support through professional flat
track contingency and the Rider Support Verification Program (RSVP).
Under the Screamin' Eagle banner the support will total more than
$140,000 throughout the 2007 season. This includes a contingency program
for qualified Harley-Davidson XR750 riders on the AMA Flat Track series.
Screamin' Eagle Performance Parts are inspired by
and built in the spirit of the raw adrenaline and power of motorcycle
racing. Screamin' Eagle Pro parts are specifically designed for race-use
applications, while Screamin' Eagle parts offer street-use performance
options for the Harley-Davidson motorcycle owner. Visit www.harley-davidson.com
for more information.
The Screamin' Eagle Flat Track team is sponsored
by Matco Tools.