Flat-track racing has been an integral part of motorsports in America, and Scott Parker is the greatest of all time in the business. With nine championships to his name, Parker’s dominance in flat track has never been equaled, let alone beaten for 25 long years. It’s about time that happens, though, and Indian Motorcycles’ factory racer Jared Mees is on the cusp to do just that in 2023.
Jared Mees Currently Has Eight American Flat Track Titles
Jared Mees won his first American Flat Track (AFT) championship in 2009 and has since collected seven more. Four of these (2017, 2018, 2021, 2022) came with the Indian Factory team where he currently races under the #1 number plate. So with eight titles to his name, 2023 is Mees’ first chance to equal the legendary Scott Parker’s nine championship record.
It’s easier said than done, however, as the first two AFT rounds haven’t gone to plan for the racer. The #1 struggled at the season opener - held at the Daytona Speedway - and only managed to finish fourth at both Daytona rounds. He jumped back to the top step of the podium at Georgia’s Senoia Short Track (round two) to win the race, but once again struggled for pace at the Arizona TT. This, coupled with his latest win at Dallas Half-Mile, puts him in second place in the championship, 17 points behind championship leader (and rising star) Dallas Daniels.
It’s safe to say the #1 has a target on his back this year, as all youngsters want to beat the eight-time champion to show their craft in the sport. But if the above-embedded documentary is any proof, Mees is set for the challenge. It’s not something new to him either, as the eight-time champion made an epic comeback in 2021 to take home the title. Plus, Jared says he’d rather be respected and feared than liked, so we don’t think he’ll hold anything back in the future rounds.
Jared Mees Rides An Indian Scout FTR750
Credit also goes to Jared’s steed - an Indian FTR750. The flat-track-only racer employs a ~110-HP, 750cc, V-twin powerhouse, plonked inside bespoke steel chassis. Also part of the package is a central airbox and carbon fiber bodywork, paired with telescopic forks and an adjustable swingarm built solely for flat tracking. In the meantime, it rolls on big steel crank wheels with adjustable weights to alter the unsprung rotational mass for smooth power delivery. Finally, as you’d expect, the FTR isn’t on sale for us to own, but it did have a $50,000 price tag back when it debuted in 2017.