Bauman Triumphs in Lima Instant Classic

Defending Grand National Champion Briar Bauman (No. 1 Indian Motorcycle/Progressive Insurance FTR750) scored arguably the most critical victory yet of the 2021 Progressive American Flat Track season following an epic showdown with Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750) in Saturday evening’s Johnny K’s Indian Motorcycle Lima Half-Mile powered by Drag Specialties at Allen County Fairgrounds in Lima, Ohio.

“What a battle,” Bauman said. “This was an incredible event… I didn’t really think we had anything for Brandon there today -- he was so fast all day. He smoked us in the heat race and smoked us in the dash. But Dave (Zanotti) got dialed in for the Main Event, so I’m really, really happy with that one.

Jared Mees WINS 2019 LIMA HALF-MILE

Jared Mees and Briar Bauman had an awesome battle. Bauman started off with the whole shot and Mees and Bauman went back and forth for several laps keeping the crowd on their toes until the red flag came out.

On the restart Mees gets the whole shot and Jeffery Carver and Henry Wiles enters the mix with Bauman and Mees. Eventually Bauman has a mechanical and the battle heats up with Mees and Carver.

While it wasn't an easy win for the 5X grand national racer he ended up coming out on top having an amazing battle with both Carver and a hard charging Wiles.

Jared Mees WINS 2018 LIMA HALF-MILE

Jared Mees made a miraculous recovery after not making the main event at the Lima Half-Mile last year! The 5X GNC Champion dominated the main event, storming around the pea-gravel on the high line with apparent ease.

Mees got the whole shot and lead every lap of the Main Event. However, Carver rode and amazing race and started gaining on Mees the last 5 laps after getting around around a few riders and going through some lapped traffic.

The victory was the 38th of Mees's premier-class career.

BRIAR BAUMAN WINS 2017 LIMA HALF-MILE

Briar Bauman delivered a virtuoso performance to reign supreme at the Lima Half-Mile. The 2012 GNC Rookie of the Year crushed the competition in both his Heat and Semi, storming around the pea-gravel on the high line with apparent ease.

Bauman then set about doing the same right from the start of the Main Event. After he had worked up an advantage of more than three seconds, a red flag gave his battered foes a shot at redemption.

Undeterred, Bauman promptly tore open a near-identical advantage following the restart, eventually backing down to a 2.793-second margin of victory after tangling with a lapper on the final lap.

The victory was the third of Bauman's premier-class career and his first taken aboard a fire-breathing twin. In a touching display of sportsmanship, practically the entire field came by to offer their heartfelt congratulations to the winner.

BRANDON ROBINSON WINS 2016 LIMA HALF-MILE

In front of a full house on Saturday night at the Allen County Fairgrounds in Lima, Ohio, Brandon Robinson piloted his Harley-Davidson XR750 to his first win since 2013 in the GNC1 class. The Lima Half-Mile, a longstanding staple on the AMA Pro Flat Track calendar now promoted by Jared and Nichole Mees, was another successful 2016 event for the sport.

Mees bolted from the start to take the holeshot for the GNC1 Main Event, but quickly encountered a number of challenges from the rest of the field. "Mile Specialist" Bryan Smith and Factory Harley-Davidson rider Brad Baker each took the lead before the field completed the first lap, with Smith officially taking the point. Robinson showed that he wanted the win, however, and began to pull away from the pack after taking the lead on Lap 2.

Despite two red-flag periods, Robinson refused to surrender the lead. The Pennsylvania-native made the Kennedy Racing team proud as he led the GNC1 class for 24 of the evening's 25-lap Main Event, finishing ahead of reigning GNC1 champion, Mees, by a margin of 0.403 of a second.

Photo: Ken Kerr

Photo: Tim Handrich

33rd LIMA HALF-MILE TO RUN LAST SATURDAY IN JUNE, 2016

The 2016 Lima Half-Mile will take place at the Allen County Fairgrounds on Saturday, June 25.

Factory Harley-Davidson rider Brad Baker dominated Lima in 2015, as he not only won the Main but was flawless throughout the entire day, qualifying fastest, winning his Heat and the 4 lap Dash.

"It was an amazing race," said Baker about the 25 lap Main. "From the get go, I put the hammer down. Henry Wiles was doing really well and keeping me on my toes the entire race. I was pretty nervous at the beginning. I switched to the awesome factory suspension and since then, everything has been working really well."

At 2016 Lima Half-Mile, Baker will be going for his 2nd straight win on the Lima pea gravel cushion, with stiff competition from a slew of fast racers including former Lima winners Henry Wiles, Jared Mees, Bryan Smith and Sammy Halbert.

Tickets are going fast. Get yours by calling 419-991-1491 today.

Photo: Dave Hoenig

JARED AND NICHOLE MEES BUY RIGHTS TO LIMA, OHIO HALF-MILE

2015 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Champion Jared Mees and wife Nichole entered the race promotion business for the first time today, buying rights to the historic Lima, Ohio Half-mile. Lima, which runs on the last Saturday in June each year, is one of the most highly attended and historic races on the AMA Pro Flat Track circuit, dating back to 1984. The venue has sentimental value to Mees, who won his first AMA Pro Flat Track GNC1 race at Lima in 2005. Mees also won Lima in 2007 and again in 2014, on the way to his 3rd Grand National Championship.

“I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to buy rights to Lima,” said twenty-nine year old Mees who lives in Clio, Michigan. “It’s an old school fairgrounds cushion half-mile with a passionate, loyal fan base just a few hours from our house. Nichole and I couldn’t be more excited to take this on. Nichole is retiring from racing after this season and I don’t plan on racing forever. Promoting Lima is a business venture that will keep us involved in flat track for many years.”

“Lima is such a great event, I wanted to make sure I found the right people to hand the torch to now that I’m retiring,” said longtime Lima promoter Dean Gallup. “Jared and Nichole Mees are the perfect people to take over. They’re hard working and have a vested interest in the sport. I can now retire knowing the event is in good hands."