The first AFM race of the 2013 AFM season was a big event for Texas Devil Racing. Miles had his first race as an expert and raced for the first time at Buttonwillow (hooray for no rain this year!) Evan’s new Minimoto Jr. bike was also delivered to the Buttonwillow Kart Track by Midsouth Minimoto. That gave Evan the chance to feel out his new bike at his favorite track—and he liked it!
Miles practiced both Friday and Saturday to get up to speed on a new track and to get back into the swing of things after the off season. By Sunday he was ready to get his first expert race underway. Formula IV was his first race of the day, and it turned out to be an interesting one. He got a decent start and found himself in a group of 4 riders duking it out for position. A few laps in he saw a little puff of smoke from the exhaust of the bike in front of him. That puff turned into a steady mist of oil when the bike hit the front straight. Miles did his best to stay off line and avoid the oil as much as possible until the turn workers were able to get the rider’s attention and pull them off track almost a lap later. Then Miles found himself right behind his pit-mate, Bill. Bill was trying to find a way around the leader of the now three rider pack. On the final turn, he took a tight line trying to get around them. Miles was able to get a good drive out of the final corner and had just enough room to pass him on the outside just before the finish line.
The next race of the day was 650 Production—Miles was amped up and ready to go. He was gridded dead last, but got a pretty good start and pushed hard for position. He had gained two positions through turn 1 and was pushing it hard up the hill on the exit of turn 2 when the back end slipped out from under him. Before he knew it he was rolling on the ground and felt the comforting pressure of his inflated Safermoto vest. Once he got up and ran off track, he saw his bike sitting in the middle of the track, which necessitated a red flag so the turn workers could clear it. That was the end of the day for Miles—he was out of the 650 Production race and 650 Twins was only two races away, and he didn’t have time to get the bike back and through tech for it. Miles walked away from his crash unscathed, but not everyone was as lucky that day. Our hearts go out to the Anderson family—we will always remember Kenny “Iceman” Anderson, Forever #12.