LIMA – The Ohio National Championship American Motorcycle Association race at the Allen County Fairgrounds will have a new owner in 2016.
Owner and promoter Dean Gallup announced on Tuesday that national champion rider Jared Mees, of Clio, Mich., and his wife Nichole Cheza, also a motorcycle racer, have purchased the rights to the race, which has run every June since 1984 at the Allen Country Fairgrounds.
“The bottom line is I’m retiring and he’s going to take it over. I’ll stay with them for a year to kind of show and tell and show them the ropes,” Gallup said. “He’s a good young kid. It’s going to be a good transition.”
Gallup said there is a contract for the race to remain at the Allen County Fairgrounds for at least six more years.
Mees put a post about purchasing the rights on his Facebook page.
“I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to buy rights to Lima,” the 29-year-old Mees said on Facebook.
“It’s an old-school fairgrounds cushion half-mile with a passionate, loyal fan base just a few hours from our house. Nichole and I couldn’t be more excited to take this on. Nichole is retiring from racing after this season and I don’t plan on racing forever. Promoting Lima is a business venture that will keep us involved in flat track for many years.”
Mees has won three times in Lima. Next year’s race is scheduled for June 25, 2016.
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