Jared Mees Bio
Jared Mees (born April 16, 1986) is an American professional dirt track motorcycle racer. He is one of the most decorated riders in the modern era of American Flat Track, having built his reputation through multiple national titles, high-profile international invitations, and a long-running partnership with Indian Motorcycle. Over more than a decade of competitive racing, Mees has become closely associated with the GNC1 class and the larger Grand National Championship tradition.
Known for his consistency on ovals of every shape and from half-miles to short tracks and miles, Mees has combined steady season-long form with a knack for delivering in title fights. He rides for Factory Indian Motorcycles carrying the No. 1 plate and continues to be regarded as a benchmark rider within the American Flat Track paddock.
Early Life and Background
Jared Mees was born on April 16, 1986, and grew up in Honey Brook Township, Pennsylvania, in the heart of the Mid-Atlantic motorcycle racing scene. The region has long produced flat track talent, and Mees grew up close to active dirt ovals and county-fair short tracks that helped shape his early interest in the sport. Pennsylvania’s dirt track culture provided both a testing ground and a community of fellow riders and mechanics who helped nurture his development.
Like many American flat track riders, Mees began competing on smaller displacement machines at local tracks before moving into the amateur and semi-pro ranks. Those formative years on short tracks and half-miles gave him a broad base of experience across track types, an advantage that has carried through to his professional career. His progression through the amateur ranks set the stage for a full-time move into the national series.
Path to Professional Flat Track
Mees worked his way up through the developmental categories of American flat track, taking on increasingly competitive events against more experienced riders. His combination of smooth, controlled riding and mechanical sympathy with his equipment helped him graduate from regional racing to the national stage. Step by step, he earned opportunities to ride for established teams and to contest the premier Grand National classes.
By the late 2000s, Mees had established himself as a regular contender in the Grand National Twins class, where he secured the 2009 Grand National Twins Championship. That title confirmed his arrival among the top riders in the country and laid the foundation for further success in the headline GNC1 category over the following years.
Jared Mees Career
Early Career and First National Title (2009)
Mees broke through on the national stage in 2009 by winning the Grand National Twins Championship, signaling that he was ready to challenge for the sport’s biggest prizes. The Twins title was a demanding series contested on a mix of track types, and winning it required both speed and durability across a long season. The championship gave Mees a platform to step up into the more prestigious GNC1 class as a serious title threat.
Building on that momentum, Mees continued to compete at the front of the Grand National field while refining his approach to setup, starts, and race-long strategy. His early years at the top level were marked by steady improvement and a growing list of feature-event victories.
GNC1 Dominance (2012-2015)
The 2012 season was a defining one for Mees. He won the GNC1 title and added the Grand National Singles Championship, becoming one of the few riders to hold both premier national championships in the same year. That double title established him as the face of American flat track and set a new standard for consistency in the sport.
Mees successfully defended his GNC1 crown in 2014, navigating a competitive field that included several emerging talents. As the reigning Grand National Champion, he was invited to compete in the prestigious Superprestigio Dirt Track event on December 13, 2014, at the Palau Sant Jordi in Barcelona, Spain. There, he reached the final and finished second to MotoGP champion Marc Marquez, earning worldwide recognition for American flat track.
He added a third GNC1 title in 2015, cementing his status as the dominant rider of his era. The same year, he returned to the Superprestigio in Barcelona on December 12, 2015, lining up against a deep international field that included countryman Brad Baker. Earlier in 2015, Mees had also contested the X Games Harley-Davidson Flat-Track event, where he led until the final lap before his machine broke, denying him a podium finish in spectacular fashion.
Indian Motorcycle Era (2017-Present)
In 2017, Mees clinched the rebranded American Flat Track Championship with a victory at the Williams Grove Half-Mile, sealing the title with two rounds still left on the schedule. The championship was a landmark moment for both rider and manufacturer, as it came aboard the Indian Motorcycle FTR750 platform that Indian had developed to return to the sport. His success helped establish Indian as a force in the modern era of American flat track.
Mees has since continued to ride for Factory Indian Motorcycles, carrying the No. 1 plate and serving as a benchmark for the rest of the field. As an experienced Indian Scout FTR750 rider, he has played a key role in the development and refinement of the platform, providing ongoing feedback that has shaped its competitiveness across track types. His partnership with the team has produced consistent title-contending seasons and helped grow the visibility of the championship.
Driving Style and Strengths
Mees is known for a smooth, technically precise riding style that is well suited to a wide range of dirt oval shapes, from tight short tracks to fast half-miles and demanding miles. His strengths include race-craft in traffic, consistent lap times over long runs, and a calm approach to championship pressure. Working closely with his crew, he has built a reputation for extracting maximum performance from the Indian Scout FTR750 package and for converting season-long pace into titles.
Notable Races and Milestones
Signature moments in Mees’ career include his 2017 title-clinching win at the Williams Grove Half-Mile, his three GNC1 championships in 2012, 2014, and 2015, and his runner-up finish to Marc Marquez at the 2014 Superprestigio in Barcelona. He has also recorded a Grand National Twins title (2009) and a Grand National Singles title (2012), placing him among the most accomplished riders in the history of the championship.
Jared Mees Career Wins
Jared Mees’ victory list spans the most prestigious classes in American dirt track racing. He is a three-time GNC1 champion (2012, 2014, 2015), a Grand National Twins champion (2009), and a Grand National Singles champion (2012), in addition to his 2017 American Flat Track title on the Indian Scout FTR750.
Premier Class Highlights
Mees’ first major national title came in the 2009 Grand National Twins class, which he followed with a landmark 2012 season in which he won both the GNC1 and Grand National Singles championships in the same year. He added further GNC1 titles in 2014 and 2015 before sealing the 2017 American Flat Track Championship with a victory at the Williams Grove Half-Mile, locking up the crown with two rounds to spare.
International and Special Event Appearances
As the 2014 Grand National Champion, Mees represented American flat track on the global stage at the Superprestigio in Barcelona, where he finished second to Marc Marquez. He returned to the Superprestigio in 2015 and also competed in the 2015 X Games Harley-Davidson Flat-Track, leading the race into the final lap before mechanical issues ended his bid for a podium.
Jared Mees Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Jared Mees grew up in Honey Brook Township, Pennsylvania, a region with a strong tradition of dirt track racing. He is married to Nichole Cheza, a former professional motorcycle racer whose own career in the sport has given the couple a shared understanding of the demands of competition at the national level.
Personal Life
Mees is married to Nichole Cheza, a former professional motorcycle racer, and the couple shares a connection to motorcycle racing that extends beyond his own career. His longtime residence in Pennsylvania keeps him close to many of the tracks and events that have shaped his path in the sport.
2025 Season Performance
Entering the 2025 American Flat Track season, Jared Mees continues as a central figure in the championship with Factory Indian Motorcycles and the No. 1 plate on his Indian Scout FTR750. As one of the most experienced riders in the field, he remains a reference point for younger competitors and a focal point for the team’s development program. His season goals center on contending for another title and reinforcing Indian’s presence at the front of the grid.
The 2025 campaign is expected to feature the familiar mix of half-miles, short tracks, and miles that have defined Mees’ career, with key rounds at traditional venues that suit his smooth, consistent style. With deep data from previous seasons on the FTR750 and a long-standing relationship with his crew, Mees is well positioned to manage the long season and peak at the right moments. Title fights in American Flat Track often come down to consistency, an area in which he has built a strong track record.
Heading into the year, the broader storyline around Mees includes his pursuit of further championship hardware and his role in helping Indian Motorcycle remain a leading force in the series. Whether battling established rivals or a new generation of challengers, his 2025 efforts will be measured against a legacy that already includes multiple national titles and memorable international showings.
