Jared Mees Rides Off into Sunset, Announces Retirement After Setting New Career Championship Record & Completing FTR750’s Perfect Championship Run

Mees Caps Off Historic Career with Win at Lake Ozark Short Track, Sets All-Time Career Grand National Championship Record with 10 Titles & Secures FTR750’s 8th Consecutive American Flat Track Championship in as Many Seasons

Indian FTR750 Leaves Behind Unprecedented Legacy, As New 2025 Rule Changes Render Indian Motorcycle’s Premier Flat Track Race Bike Ineligible

MINNEAPOLIS – The 2024 American Flat Track season began with Jared Mees seeking an unprecedented 10th-career Grand National Championship. In a triumphant and emotional conclusion to an unparalleled career, Mees stood on top of the box one final time – closing out the most successful career in the sport of professional flat track racing. Mees’ final win not only secured his record-setting 10th-career championship but closed the book on the sport’s most dominant race bike, the Indian FTR750.

“This victory is more than just another championship—it’s the perfect way to honor everything we’ve achieved with the Indian FTR750,” said Mees, “We’ve had an incredible journey with this bike, and to go out on top, knowing it’s the last time, makes this win even more special.”

Racing for the final time aboard the FTR750, Mees showcased his relentless determination and elite skill, outpacing a field of talented riders, including fierce competitors Dallas Daniels and Brandon Robinson. Only needing three points to secure the historic title, Mees grabbed the holeshot and battled until the end – beating Robinson by a mere 0.423 seconds. The win is a testament to the historic partnership between Mees and Indian Motorcycle, who have dominated the American Flat Track series since 2017.

“In 2017, at the Daytona TT, Jared secured the FTR750’s first win, as he and Bryan Smith went 1-2 in our first race as a factory team,” said Gary Gray, Vice President Racing and Service for Indian Motorcycle. “Back then, none of us knew it was the start of a historic run of eight consecutive championships. We’re extremely proud of our accomplishments and want to thank all our factory riders and privateers that contributed to the FTR750’s success.”

The 2024 AFT SuperTwins championship marks an end of an era for Indian Motorcycle, as new 2025 rules will render the flat track race bike ineligible. Since its debut, the FTR750 has not only revived the storied tradition of the original Indian Wrecking Crew, but it revolutionized the landscape of flat track racing – quickly earning a reputation as the most dominant machine in the AFT paddock. The FTR750 retires with 75%-win ratio, winning 104 of the 138 races it competed in. The FTR750 has a perfect championship record, winning all premier class titles since 2017.

For more information on Indian Motorcycle Racing, visit IndianMotorcycle.com and follow along on Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube.

ABOUT INDIAN MOTORCYCLE

Indian Motorcycle is America’s First Motorcycle Company. Founded in 1901, Indian Motorcycle has won the hearts of motorcyclists around the world and earned distinction as one of America’s most legendary and iconic brands through unrivaled racing dominance, engineering prowess and countless innovations and industry firsts. Today that heritage and passion is reignited under new brand stewardship. To learn more, please visit  www.indianmotorcycle.com.

More, from a press release issued by Dunlop:

Progressive American Flat Track 2024 Champions on Dunlop DT4!

Rancho Cucamonga, CA: It is with utmost honor that Dunlop marks over a decade as the official Progressive American Flat Track tire across all categories! Every year, the anticipation grows as North America’s premier flat-track racing series keeps reaching new heights. The exhilaration of the 2024 American Flat Track Series culminated in a spectacular finale at the Lake Ozark Short Track in Eldon, Missouri. Both the 2024 American Flat Track SuperTwins and Singles Series reached a season culmination, with record books on the line and reigning champions in control until the very end.

As the final round approached, the gap in the Mission SuperTwins championship stood at an adequate twenty-two points. Returning multi-time champ Jared Mees on his Indian Motorcycle/Rogers Racing/SDI Racing FTR750 had to only score three points to break a tie with the legendary Scott Parker and become the only rider in the seven-decade existence of the series to claim a tenth Grand National Championship!

The always competitive SuperTwins racers, Brandon Robinson on his Mission Roof Systems, Hudson Roofing, Liqui Moly Indian FTR750 and the Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 racer, Dallas Daniels were not going to let Mees win effortlessly. Unfortunately, Dallas Daniels missed out on three races during the season due to a broken femur and just about put him out of contention for the championship.

The decisive moment came when Jared Mees decided to put his head down, grab the holeshot, battling it out in the early stages of the race then never look back, winning by nearly half a second! Mees clinched the title with a margin of thirty-one points while racing on his reliable and trustworthy Dunlop DT4 tires. This makes it his fourth championship in a row and a total of ten championships for Mees, beating Scott Parker for most of all time!

On another front, in the Parts Unlimited AFT Singles class presented by Kicker, reigning champion Kody Kopp entered with a significant twenty-two-point advantage as well. With a dramatic main event that included a red flag restart, the Rick Ware Racing, Parts Plus, Jacob Construction Kopp, rode conservatively to finish third on the night and locked in his third consecutive championship, surpassing Tom Drane by fifteen points.

Mike Buckley, Senior VP of Sales and Marketing at Dunlop Motorcycle Tires, remarked, “The 2024 American Flat Track races have offered some of the most exhilarating moments in recent memory. With new records being made, it proves the competitiveness is at an all-time high. The continued progress across series, categories, motorcycles, and the outstanding performance of DT4 tires stands as a testament to AFT’s unwavering commitment and the collective efforts of all racers, teams, and supporters. Next year will see some major changes in the series, but our privilege being the official tire partner of American Flat Track will continue.”

About Dunlop Motorcycle Tires: Dunlop stands tall as the premier provider of original and replacement motorcycle tires in the U.S. For further details, navigate to www.DunlopMotorcycleTires.com. Stay updated with the latest from Dunlop by following @ridedunlop on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and X. Celebrate your Dunlop experiences using #RideDunlop or #RaceDunlop