2013 Pomona Half-Mile - Expert Twins FULL Race (HD) - AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship

Closing out the 2013 AMA Pro Flat Track presented by J&P Cycles season with a bang, the top dirt track racing talent in the world converged on the LA County Fairplex for the Pomona Half-Mile on October 12, 2013.
With the Grand National Championship Championship undecided heading into the night's main event, the Expert riders mounted their twin-cylinder motorcycles for the final time and put on a spectacular show for the California fans.
Brad Baker started from pole position on his twin-cylinder Harley-Davidson and was joined on the front row by Kenny Coolbeth, Jr., Bryan Smith, Sammy Halbert, Briar Bauman and Jared Mees. A total of five manufacturers were represented on the grid: Harley-Davidson, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Ducati and Triumph. And -- perhaps more impressive -- when the dust settled and the 25-lap main event ended, three different manufacturers made it to the podium.
Watch now to see how the battle unfolded and to find out which Grand National Champion was crowned in California.

[@mattholm3363]

I have no idea how Brad hung onto that harley in turn two! Wow! What a race!

[@sanfranciscobay]

I'd like to see close up slow motion video of these riders drifting their bikes through the turns. So much is lost when they travel at the speeds they do. Your eyes and brain cannot comprehend the drifting skills these riders have.

[@marvinmoore9026]

Brad was the Man that night and is still the Man.

[@dag221]

@ Jame Elsberry - the race is stopped for safety reason as there was a bike in the middle of the track. In this racing the race is either going wide opened or stopped. There is no yellow flag racing. Also someone mentioned these bikes had no brakes. They do have rear brakes just no front brakes.

[@PaulincrediblypleasingSmith]

Would love to have been around in the sixties for this style of racing.

[@BarryAir]

I was there that night and I want to thank you for posting this. Excellent job!

[@juanapalomino1669]

3218624101gustavoadofo motomyohofredadeshoy

[@trouty65]

Real Men riding real Bikes with "NO FRONT BRAKE" !!! Drifting at INSANE speeds. People don't appreciate the skill these guys display let alone the ize of their BALLS ! I'm 48 and have my first flat track taster coming up in a few weeks here in the UK. I'm hoping to start racing soon but won't be anything like that LOL They are NUTZ !!! :-)

[@donniebaker5984]

Paul Trew and the rich millennials killed the "INDY MILE" ,, I used to go every year and in the 80's back to back Saturday night and Sunday .. but the millennials don't even ride motorcycles ...what's next the Indy 500 ? the us nationals ....most likely since Harley win the championship 10 years in a row ..if they can not beat the harleys they just close the race

[@aaronmosey3637]

@@donniebaker5984 I was at the last one. Sure do wish it would come back. We do have Mid-America though.

[@dag221]

First time seeing this track. That huge hedge obstructing the view in the turns is an interesting design element.

[@pipemkr]

They run horses at pomona. Bikes were just a bonus for us (and looked down on by the horse people). i figure the horses are taller and can be seen in the corners and maybe they snack on the bushes at halftime... I wouldn't know..

[@stephendenton3209]

The last flat tracker race I attended was in 1980 something, when I was just a kid. I enjoyed your vid in 2020.

[@sanfranciscobay]

What are the top end speeds in the straights and the turns on the half mile and mile tracks? Which do the riders prefer?

[@stevefowler1787]

I remember back in the 70's when Kenny Roberts showed up with a flat track Yamaha TZ-750 4 cyl. 2 stroke for the Milwaukee Mile...the thing had so much power even he could hardly get traction with it...on the last corner he finally got some grip and passed about 5 harley's to win by one foot.

[@stevefowler1787]

My bad...it was the Indy Mile...Kenny said it was his greatest ride ever.

[@billm1601]

Ya that Tz750 is wicked, what a beast

[@Stalicone]

I go back to the 60s. Gary Nixon, Triumph and BSA. My dad had a BSA Rocket III.

[@tommccallan8802]

He was in last place for the first three laps. Did the AMA after that race band that motorcycle you think Harley-Davidson like that motorcycle? That's why that motorcycle was banned

[@ccrider00]

Looks way bigger than 1/2 mile--- more like 3/4 mile at least!

[@timsauer3376]

They are gladiators on 2wheels I have total respect for them especially with no brakes been going to speedway for 40 years now

[@deconteesawyer5758]

Then you will be delighted to know you have just witnessed flat track, with rear brakes.

[@donniebaker5984]

@@deconteesawyer5758 they have handle bars and wheels on them too , imagine that !?

[@DanBlackRacing]

awesome race

[@sanfranciscobay]

Are these the same bikes they use in the Mile Flat Track? What are there top end speeds?

[@Miatacrosser]

16:55 that guys' heart just skipped a beat.

[@JJ-nq4sy]

Great Race ! People don't understand the speed they enter to corner shoulder to shoulder. Especially on mile track. Here in Europe we have too much attention on MotoGP but this motorsport is almost unknown - what a Pity! I had Great opportunity to be on site of the last San Jose Mile on 1993. I newer forget bikes blasting over 120 mph without brakes just few meter from you behind the fence. 1993 was the season Ricky Graham won 12 races, the record at that time. Returning to San Jose 1998 I heard the tragic death of him. RIP Ricky

[@mikeskidmore6754]

I know in the Past they had a Flat Track National Championship in Spain ..

[@antonwojt6040]

Here in Europe we have speedway

[@donniebaker5984]

At the Springfield Mile in Illinois is the fastest one mile track in the United States as they run 140mph down the back stretch and pitch it into turn three sideways to scuff off some speed down to 120mph through the turns and then tuck in and grab the front left fork hand pin the throttle and hit 130mph past the grandstands only the pitch it down sideways into turn one and do it all over again. I was at the Vance & Hines world headquarters here in brownsburg Indiana , I just live about 50 miles west asking Eddie krawiec if they had any race parts left over for the XR series and of course they're without but I had to make sure before I bought others and there's this xg750 Vance and Hines Harley-Davidson American flat Tracker sitting out in the parking lot with license plate and headlight and tail light on it I ask Eddie Krawiec who's was that and he said it was one of his mechanics who rides it back and forth to work everyday drive.google.com/file/d/17EcvRObyEyQeAA9AWxBFc1pW7FNLF0a2/view?usp=drivesdk drive.google.com/file/d/16xqY5Pt9eCfXCmC_DnVTfrCGRb1MwcJz/view?usp=drivesdk drive.google.com/file/d/16wSHXlPYGyJa_aeV_nmZ0eaWRGpYw3P-/view?usp=drivesdk drive.google.com/file/d/16vNta1OQh6x6M4NFDW05UaIZkFoI_CeL/view?usp=drivesdk

[@deconteesawyer5758]

??? Why would you think they would be on the brakes at 120 mph ??? Seems something is lost to you in translating metric to half mile.

[@victorheralded8201]

Its a great feeling there

[@allstate125]

Harley-Davidson #1 That’s so cool to see. 😀

[@dandowney685]

Like the conditions on that track.Nice dirt.

[@americangothic1313]

Congrats to Brad Baker - enjoy being #1.

[@Yaegermx]

what a save at 16:00

[@mikeschoeffter7420]

These dudes can ride

[@Buelligan88]

Why isn't this bigger than NASCAR!

[@sidefx996]

Because people are stupid...

[@mikeskidmore6754]

I stopped following NASCAR 1 year ago and started following Flat Track.. Since I did not like how the AMA always made rules to give Harley an advantage for 50 years .. I didn't follow Flat Track much in the past..

[@gregoryadkins2213]

Buelligan88 Because most people(in general)Can relate to cars more than motorcycles,One reason Moto GP is so popular in Europe is,unlike this and NASCAR,it's all different track configurations.Not just going in circles.

[@onepunchgeorge9251]

Thought I'd tried it all speedway.50hp. On a bicycle.But Holy Crap that kind of racing on a Harley???😎😈🎶

[@brianbelton3605]

Its not bigger than Nascar because ya can't put that many stickers on a motorcycle. Sad but true.

[@cosmiccharlie8294]

Love the half mile tracks!

[@ccrider00]

Pamona much larger than 1/2 mile so sorry to tell you❗👹😱🕳🤖👽🛸 👾😱🐙🥳---

[@ccrider00]

Looks much bigger than just a 1/2 mile!

[@BarryAir]

I was there that night with my wife. flew in from Louisiana just to see it.....

[@dansmolen1618]

I'd love to have an XR Harley-Davidson,built for racing!!

[@terryhubbard9267]

I know where there is one been there for yrs.

[@sacooper802]

more exciting than car racing no doubt, but back in the day of the 60,70,80, and early 90's was the best flat track racing to watch.

[@mikelyons7511]

Balls and finesse. Finesse and balls. But absolutely just twisted✊

[@Buelligan88]

High, wide, and handsome! 13:46

[@sanfranciscobay]

40:05 when the crew gets on the back of the winners bike, he knocks the gopro camera off the rear fender.

[@WearySteerer]

i raced flat track over twenty years ago. from 80cc up,i never statred my 125cc season, was there pro's doing this in the mid nineties?

[@americangothic1313]

They've been doing this since before the 1920's. Google Scott Parker sometime.

[@KrustyKlown]

I have REAL signatures of EVERY AMA Grand National Champion from 1940-1980, 18 individual signatures ... all on the same page of my American Racer: 1940-1980 book (by Stephen Wright, signed by him too!!). And it's a Limited Book Edition with Gold Leaf Leather cover/binding. I often wonder what this is worth??? .. any guesses???

[@sanfranciscobay]

Watching these riders bounce around in the turn 2 area, how do they repair a track hole or do they force the riders to accept it and deal with it?

[@timryerson6733]

we deal with it and change our lines then after the race we change our shorts

[@111jkjk]

@@timryerson6733 🤣🤣🤣

[@pauldow1648]

How fast are they ?

[@melbourne-heat.69-71]

I raced flat track back in the 70s had a BULTACO we never stopped till the race was over if somebody went down they would pull out a yellow flag to slow down but we never stopped the race and start it all over again, I guess times have changed... we rode balls to the wall we rode nasty we would ram your back tire try to knock you off your bike they were the good old days...Then raced Motorcross.. add a Yamaha YZ it was okay.. but flat track gave you that adrenaline rush where you would go as fast as you can and never stopped..🤙🤙🤙🤙🎬📽👏👏

[@keeanmorishita8457]

Haha I love how he ripped his arm away from the announcer trying to hold on to him like WTF was that announcer doing!? 1:07

[@gdigaditch]

I was at this race we left early because it took to long for the restarts

[@keithlemoine4342]

your comment, I asked that question too.

[@trickrun]

all talking, need to be quiet and let the bikes roar.....why can't they learn? Same with drag racing

[@Chuckl881]

trickrun Back in the 60s and 70s, we had the best announcer ever; ... Roxy Rockwood, Tom Rockwood's dad. He knew what to say and when to say it, and best of all, he knew when to not say anything at all. He had a great voice, and he respected both the sport and the riders. When you were lining up for a race and heard Roxy announcing your name and number, you knew you had "arrived", and it always gave me a shot of adrenalin when i heard it. He was the best.

[@exb.r.buckeyeman845]

It’s called show biz.

[@edquier40]

D's Leathers! Best leathers made by hand!

[@hanuneken2629]

Super!! Heros

[@MrDevo5]

wish we had this in the uk

[@quentinjohnboyd]

Joel .p

[@rumerstain12]

I am shocked that you don't . Triumph is a English made motorcycle

[@j.ramone4116]

we got speedway though.thats good.especially when youre close to the track at start line

[@JonnyX2]

@@rumerstain12 I want an English Maid!

[@juanapalomino1669]

3218624101gustavoadolfo moto motomoyadolfo mtoyhoy

[@billyhinton9155]

NO#44 lets get going to the WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@illduitmyself]

whats with the guy in the green the 4th guy I think. he got an attitude

[@erikmhartley]

i noticed that too haha

[@DiegoRuiz1991]

Why did we miss so many rounds this year? Will you upload the missing ones? You started weird, became awesome and now it seems to be fucked up again... Don't get me wrong, I still appreciate this broadcast a lot but, you know, nothing better than having a good TV broadcast with a decent budget. I hope you can pull it back together for 2014 and for us to watch the rest of 2013 :-)

[@spishyofficial]

1:10 he jerks his arm away. Ahaha

[@pipemkr]

he was " slammin' " alright... slammin' into the hay bales.

[@sanfranciscobay]

Something must have happened before that to make Sammy react like that.

[@juanapalomino1669]

3218624101hgustaoadofo motomoyadolfo moto moyadolfoadesadesade hoy

[@ccrider00]

Pamona 1/2 mile looks a bit bigger than 1/2 mile!

[@mikesmith4468]

These guys have balls of steel !

[@matinsmith8697]

XR750s,,,love em,,,want one,,, n not a new one,,,M😎

[@daleolson3506]

Music ?too loud junked video

[@jaratt85]

it amazes me how differently these guys ride compared to the guys& girls that ride the Jawas on 1/8th mile tracks

[@jerrypeevey]

the announcer got half the bike correct LOL

[@James-tr9eg]

I don't know much about this kind of racing. Could anyone please explain to me why the race was restarted for everyone because of 1 rider? Thanks. @ Paul Trew Most people who race anything on 2 wheels never touch the front brake when going at high speed because it will usually lead to a horrible accident in most cases.

[@sanfranciscobay]

They stop the race probably because it is TOO DANGEROUS for the riders to continue racing while there is a down rider/motorcycle on any part of the track. 2 riders died at Santa Rosa, CA mile in 2016. It's an extremely dangerous sport even under clear conditions.

[@llewvirtue861]

I wasn't there because they would not let me fly in from Australia

[@sanfranciscobay]

If the riders had a choice of motors for their bikes, what would they choose? What are their choices if they were free to choose?

[@joestephan1111]

Pomona is 5/8 mile, not half.

[@trickrun]

why can't these videos/camera crew get the sound of the race instead of just the annnouncer....horrible.....

[@mikelyons7511]

trickrun I was cranking Judas Priest headed out on the highway while watching the video. Excellent!!!

[@richardshane2080]

wow, restart, 42 12 1.... great race .... terrible camera person

[@sanfranciscobay]

16:00 The almost crash must have hurt.

[@patch33]

イン空けたまま曲がる人が多いのは何で？

[@Dallas-Nyberg]

They spend too much time to restart... should be like European or Australian speedway.. scrape the wrecks of the walls and get straight back to it...

[@tomtopping1817]

Yeah, well this is America, land of the litigators- BTW I was there watching on this night

[@death2pc]

Oprah holds the track record. Really.

[@mnzztntngl]

:-)

[@sanfranciscobay]

I wish these riders would receive more recognition for their skills. These guys face permanent type serious injuries like paralysis every race.

[@mikeskidmore6754]

Hey @SanFranciscoBay tragic you should say that as now Brad Baker does appear to be Paralyzed he had a crash in Practice in 2017 ...

[@sanfranciscobay]

@@mikeskidmore6754 2 riders died racing the big twins 2016 Santa Rosa, CA mile track. The other riders complained about excessive dust, but the race went on. Here is a list of all Flat Track Racers who have died racing Flat Track. Scary stuff. www.dairylandclassic.com/memorial.html

[@mikeskidmore6754]

@@sanfranciscobay Flat Track is on Horse race Tracks in most cases Often with a steel Guard Rails with 4"x4" posts. Very Dangerous .. Finally they are installing hay bales and air fences.. 1 mile is dangerous. 140 MPH Kenny Roberts went to race in Europe.. where the IMF treated the riders like Dirt.. Kenny Roberts was very vocal and lobbied for safer Track Conditions.. Well over 100 riders have died in the Isle of Man TT but they been doing it for 100 years tool A very dangerous 35 mile loop on Public roads.

[@sanfranciscobay]

@@mikeskidmore6754 I did not know about Brad's injury until your comment. He fractured 3 of his Thoracic Vertabrae and bone pieces were pushed into and damaging his spinal cord paralyzing his lower body including his legs. It's a very serious injury. He's in a wheel chair, unable to walk. He is able to use his arms. The accident occurred July 22, 2018 Minneapolis X Games. If you look at his facebook page, you can go back in time and see what happened what has happened since then. facebook.com/BradtheBullet/?eid=ARAq43RuDv6O1J2clU0px5bvf6nW4_9_rZ-wQRGTZFF5mCM-GBbvY4xg61_XmQYioYctCgHJelDoJzQf&fref=tag

[@sanfranciscobay]

@@mikeskidmore6754 Here is the video from the 2018 X Games in Minneapolis. Is this where Brad was injured? What was he doing when he was hurt? kzbin.info/www/bejne/mqHah6Gwfrl3nMk

[@dirkpitt5468]

Way, way too much standing around. What the heck? Let's get a pedicure between flags. I ain’t never seed such a thang.

[@Wheelie9341]

So rude and disrespectful for these guys to be talking with themselves, the trophy girls, the fans, while the announcer was interviewing the other riders.

[@howdafkshdino8902]

did ya see at the end where buddy drops his cell ph. and the other jacks it from him?Ya just cant trust anyone anymore.....funny but not.

[@pueblo3825]

howdafk shdino whered you see that? time?

[@Me-yh4uc]

OKAY...WHY WOULD YOU PLANT HEDGES ON THE CURVES IN THE INFIELD? OH IT IS CALI? MAKES SENSE NOW 💩

[@tommccallan8802]

This is a horse racing track motorcycles come once a year

[@marcopoulin1897]

Aliens bike should be baned from flat track racing in the 🇺🇸

[@YouTubePaysScammersToScamyou]

So only bikes made by Native Americans are allowed? 🤔

[@hofthem]

Yelling and metal music. Bye.

[@craigpennington1251]

Why on Earth are they using a horse track. This is extremely dangerous for the riders. Why would AMA even sanction it? Those riders need to stand up for themselves and demand better.

[@hammered0184]

Are you stupid?

[@tommccallan8802]

He used to race on wooden board tracks in horse tracks have always been the standard racing on dirt you need to learn about the sport before you complain about it

[@michaelkoxsolapov8523]

itse poweeeeerrrr nomberrrrrrr harllllleyy