Bryan Smith #42 Pomona and Championship Bound

No one could be more motivated to win the Pomona Half Mile National and the No.1 Plate than Bryan Smith. He has to be still smarting and remembering last seasons final race at Pomona where he went bar to bar with Brad Baker for 25 laps and came up a couple of bike lengths short, after what was an epic battle. The Villa-Esparza, Crosley, Howerton Kawasaki is remarkably strong on the Paperclip Pomona track. Long straights suit it well and the tight corners, not so much but, Smith throws it into those tight turns keeping his momentum up. Last year he battled Brad Baker on the The Dodge Bros Harley which was the class of the field by miles and Bryan was almost his equal. This year I don't think there is a Harley capable of keeping up with him. Zanotti Racing's Kenny Coolbeth Jr would be the most likely competitor but he suffers from injuries inflicted upon him at Calistoga. Jake could come alive on the Ramspur Winery Harley and Mees is leading the points and the most likely competitor. Baker surely wants to repeat last years result and is on a roll with some nice wins, Calistoga and Willow Springs. No one however ,in my opinion, has the will or the machine to match Smith. How the finishing points pan out through the top contenders is hard to tell. I have not seen all the possible combinations but, one thing for sure, it is going to be a fantastic end to an incredible season of Grand National Flat Track Racing.