American Flat Track Racer Chad Cose to Ride Privateer Indian FTR750 in 2018

Above: Chad Cose (right) chats with fellow AFT competitor Briar Bauman at a recent event.

American Flat Track competitor Chad Cose, who finished 14th in the AFT Twins Presented by Vance & Hines championship in 2017 aboard the national number 49 privateer Kawasaki, will ride an Indian Motorcycle FTR750 in 2018 with backing from Scott Conway’s Indian Motorcycle of Oklahoma City and tuner Tom Englehart.

“I couldn't be happier to have the support of Indian Motorcycle of Oklahoma City,” Cose says. “I visited the shop last week to get this deal done as well as meet the whole crew, and I was really excited to see how enthusiastic everyone was. The support system and following Scott Conway has developed there was really impressive, and these are exactly the type of people I strive to work with. Indian came into the sport swinging last year with the factory team and had a lot of success, so I’m really looking forward to partnering with Indian Motorcycle of Oklahoma City not only to further build the Indian brand, but also show what we can accomplish at a dealership level on the production-based bike.”

Left: Cose with Indian Motorcycle of Oklahoma City's Scott Conway. Right: Indian's Dean Young.

Bike tuning and setup will be in the capable hands of Tom Englehart of Englehart Research & Technology, who will serve as the team’s crew chief. The duo of Cose and Englehart has proven to be a recipe for success when the two have worked together previously.

“Teaming with Tom makes perfect sense,” says Cose. “I have 100 percent trust in him; he gives me the confidence to be able to win and that's what it takes to compete at a high level. We’ve developed a good working relationship over the last couple of years, and we’ve had some good success. Our goal is to duplicate that success and carry the momentum into 2018. Tom’s a smart and meticulous guy, and I know the bikes will be capable of winning races.”

Conway, who has owned Indian Motorcycle of Oklahoma City since 2014, seems every bit as excited about the team’s 2018 plans as his rider. “As I watched the 2017 AFT series progress through the season,” says Conway, “along with the success of the Indians, I also witnessed a growing interest in flat track racing in general. I not only wanted to benefit from that growth but contribute to the growth of the sport, so I ordered an FTR750.

“My plans for the bike,” adds Conway, “originally included a showroom display, motorcycle shows and local events, and maybe having a local rider run some Oklahoma races. Those plans changed for the better when I received a call from Chad – a young, fast and enthusiastic rider who was looking to ride Indian for the 2018 season wearing national number 49. After some thought I realized that this title sponsorship was absolutely the best way to accomplish my goals of supporting the Indian Motorcycle race program and increasing the brand strength and presence of Indian Motorcycle of Oklahoma City. We are a family owned and operated dealership and are all race fans, so we are planning to cheer Chad on at as many races as possible this year. I have to admit that purchasing the FTR was going to be the only way I would get a chance to ride one… so, sorry Chad, but company policy is that we test every bike before delivery! 2018 is going to be a great year for flat track racing, Indian Motorcycle, and Indian Motorcycle of Oklahoma City. I am very proud to be a part of it all.”

The Indian Motorcycle of Oklahoma City/Cose Racing/Englehart team is currently scheduling pre-season testing, and plans to update the AFT fan base and competitor network in the near future regarding its sponsors and partners, so stay tuned!

About Indian Motorcycles of Oklahoma City

Indian Motorcycles® of Oklahoma City was established in January of 2014 by Scott Conway. We are a family owned and operated business, dedicated to providing extraordinary customer service and delivering a high-quality American-built product. We are located in the heart of historical Automobile Alley in downtown Oklahoma City. We offer a full Indian® and Slingshot® lineup plus apparel, parts, and accessories. Our service technicians provide exceptional service each and every time, with a meticulous eye for detail on every bike that is serviced. We offer test drives Monday through Saturday during normal business hours, so stop by to check out the lineup and get out riding! Call us today at (405) 606-3615 and find out how our team can help you find the motorcycle you've been looking for. We look forward to the opportunity to serve you.

Next up for the stars of American Flat Track is the Bigger, Faster and Better DAYTONA TT on March 15, 2018, at Daytona International Speedway. Tickets start at just $29, and are on sale now via Daytona International Speedway’s website at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com/Events/2018/DAYTONA-TT/DAYTONA-TT.aspx or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.

SERIESPARTNERS