A trio of Harley-Davidson racers filled the medal podium as Harley-Davidson® Flat-Track racing opened 2016 ESPN X Games Austin. Jared Mees rode a Harley-Davidson XR750 motorcycle to the win and an X Games gold medal following a race-long battle with Harley-Davidson Screamin’ Eagle Wrecking Crew rider Kenny Coolbeth Jr., who finished second to claim the X Games silver medal. Harley-Davidson Screamin’ Eagle Factory Team rider Brad Baker won X Games bronze for a third-place finish.
“That’s a sweet gold-medal win for Jared Mees and a great performance by all of these talented flat-track racers,” said Dino Bernacchi, Harley-Davidson U.S. Marketing Director. “Flat-track racing is America’s original action sport. What a great way to kick off the X Games.”
Mees was the fast qualifier for the race, staged on a challenging Circuit of The Americas half-mile dirt oval, but it was Baker aboard the Factory Harley-Davidson® XR750 motorcycle who led the early laps of the main. Mees got past Baker and opened a gap on the pack only to have Coolbeth chase him down on his Zanotti Racing Harley-Davidson XR750. Coolbeth was able to pull even with Mees on several passing attempts but never took the lead. Mees roared across the finish line on his Rogers Racing/Las Vegas H-D XR750 motorcycle just 0.369 seconds ahead of Coolbeth.
Onsite for the weekend at X Games Austin, Harley-Davidson will be in the Galleria area with X Games athletes, its new 2016 motorcycles and the H-D JUMPSTART riding experience. Harley will also host appearances and autograph sessions with X Games athletes and a lounge area to stay cool with free giveaways and more. Fans can enter a sweepstakes to win Harley-Davidson Riding Academy training, a VIP experience and a 2017 Harley-Davidson motorcycle.
