STURGIS - Jared Mees and Sam Halbert waged an epic lead-swapping struggle for the lead of the 450 Expert final at Tuesday's Jackpine Gypsies Half-Mile at the Sturgis Fairgrounds.
Then Mees, who had been clinging to a tenuous edge over Halbert in the 20-lap finale, suddenly noted with three laps left that Halbert wasn't there.
"I didn't know if I had pulled it out some, or if he had screwed up," said Mees.
Indeed Halbert of Graham, Wash., handed the win to Mees, of Clio, Mich., by sliding his Honda just beyond the brink of control in turn three.
Yet Halbert made the save of the day, righting himself and only losing two spots to finish fourth behind Mees, Robbie "Bugs" Pearson, of Morton, Ill, and Chris Carr of Fleetwood, Pa.
"I was able to push with my left leg really hard," said Halbert.
The win made it a three-for-four stop for Mees at Jackpine Gypsies Motorcycle Club-hosted races at the Sturgis rally.
Mees won the 450 Pro finale at the Hoel Short Track late Monday night, and also led green light-to-checkered flag in Tuesday's Open Pro main event on the half-mile.
Halbert trailed Mees in the Open Pro finale, with Carr making a daring last-lap move on Pearson for third place.
Halbert stalked Mees in the 450 Expert finale and pounced in turn four when Mees No. 21 Honda bobbled and slid high on the 11th lap.
Mees, however returned the favor with five to go, when Halbert's Number 43 Honda chattered out of the groove in rough turn three.
"A bump put my back wheel up in the air and pushed me wide," Halbert said.
Mees said consistency on the track made his stop in Sturgis a success.
"I just tried to get good starts, stay in the groove and be smooth," he said. "That's the secret."
Among local and area riders, Jamie Vollmer, of Summerset, and Duke Erickson and Clint Erickson, both of Sioux Falls, all failed to qualify for the 450 Expert and Open Pro finals.
Josh Koch, of Cedar, Minn., held off Sean Nesshoefer, of Arvada, Colo., to claim the 450 Pro Sport main event.
Wyatt McGuire, of Mead, Wash., was third, with Colt Chebultz of St. George. Kan., fourth.
"I finally got my bike hooked up," said Koch. "The track was kind of rough."
Justin Minnaert, of Madison, was a double-winner in the Open Amateur and 250-450 Amateur main events.
Other main event winners were Max Wilson, Sturgis, (125-250 Amateur), Mark Erickson, Nederland, Colo., (40-Plus Vintage), Davey Durelle, Fountain, Colo., (Vintage Pro Singles), Jerry Cheney, Bloomfield, Iowa, (Plus 40-Modern) andClint Erickson, Sioux Falls, (Vintage Pro Twin)
Today's schedule includes the All-Harley Drag Racing Association eliminations at Sturgis Dragway at
1 p.m., and first of two days of North American Hillclimbers Association hillclimbs at 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. today and Thursday at the Buffalo Chip Campground.
Jackpine Gypsies Short Track action is Thursday and Friday at 7 p.m.
