AUSTIN, Texas (June 4, 2015) - For the first time ever, the X Games will feature the original extreme sport, flat track motorcycle racing, as a medal event. Harley-Davidson Flat Track Racing at X Games will kick off ESPN's extreme sports showcase tonight at 8:30 p.m. ET (5:30 p.m. PT) from Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. The 24-athlete field is composed of AMA Pro Flat Track stars, all of which compete in the elite Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines class.

Here is a rundown of all 24 athletes invited to participate in Harley-Davidson Flat Track Racing at X Games with links to full spotlights:

• No. 1 Jared Mees:
  

  The reigning Grand National Champion will join wife Nichole Mees as the first husband and wife to compete against each other at the X Games. Mees is considered one of the favorites for gold.

  Bike: Harley-Davidson

  Full spotlight:http://home.amaproracing.com/ft/news/index.cfm?cid=62779

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  No. 2 Kenny Coolbeth Jr.

  At 38 years old, Coolbeth is the veteran in the field, but he's also the active rider with the most AMA Pro Flat Track wins to his name and his experience should pay dividends in the X Games.

  Bike: Harley-Davidson

  Full spotlight: http://home.amaproracing.com/ft/news/index.cfm?cid=62768

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  No. 5 Jake Johnson

  Former back-to-back Grand National Champion is one of the most consistently fast riders in AMA Pro Flat Track. He finished inside the top 10 in every AMA Pro Flat Track event in 2014.

  Bike: Harley-Davidson

  Full Spotlight: http://home.amaproracing.com/ft/news/index.cfm?cid=62865

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  No. 6 Brad Baker

  The 2013 Grand National Champion will be carrying the flag for Harley-Davidson as the company's Factory rider. No stranger to the spotlight, Baker is considered one of the favorites for gold.

  Bike: Harley-Davidson

  Full spotlight: http://home.amaproracing.com/ft/news/index.cfm?cid=62765

• No. 7 Sammy Halbert

  One of the most popular and talented riders in the AMA Pro Flat Track ranks, Halbert has a proven ability to win on any track and any surface. He's with a new team in 2015 and has shown promise heading into the X Games.

  Bike: Kawasaki

  Full Spotlight: http://home.amaproracing.com/ft/news/index.cfm?cid=62789

• No. 10 Johnny Lewis

  A Ducati in the X Games? Lewis is riding one, and it's fast. More than just representing the iconic Italian brand, Lewis should be considered among the favorites to bring home some hardware.

  Bike: Ducati

  Full spotlight: http://home.amaproracing.com/ft/news/index.cfm?cid=62780

• No. 14 Briar Bauman

  One of the brightest young stars in AMA Pro Flat Track, at just 19 years old, Bauman already has a win in the premier Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines class and he's looking to put his name among the sport's elite.

  Bike: Kawasaki

  Full spotlight: http://home.amaproracing.com/ft/news/index.cfm?cid=62828

• No. 15 Nichole Mees

  Mees is a true trailblazer for female flat track riders, and she's just flat-out fast. Along with Jared Mees, she'll make history as the first husband and wife to compete against each other in the X Games.

  Bike: Harley-Davidson

  Full spotlight: http://home.amaproracing.com/ft/news/index.cfm?cid=62780

• No. 16 Wyatt Maguire

  Maguire was the GNC2 class champion in 2013 before moving up to GNC1 and scoring Saddlemen Rookie of the Year honors in 2014. He's finding his stride in the elite class.

  Bike: Kawasaki

  Full spotlight: http://home.amaproracing.com/ft/news/index.cfm?cid=62862

• No. 18 Jarod Vanderkooi

  Youngest rider in the field, Vanderkooi has been spectacular since joining AMA Pro Flat Track in 2014. He won four GNC2 races before making the jump to the elite Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines class in 2015.

  Bike: Kawasaki

  Full spotlight: http://home.amaproracing.com/ft/news/index.cfm?cid=62901

• No. 27 Robert Pearson

  A consistent competitor who would like nothing more than to take the next step in his career and score an X Games medal. Pearson always seems to be in the mix in AMA Pro Flat Track races and the X Games should be no different.

  Bike: Harley-Davidson

  Full spotlight: http://home.amaproracing.com/ft/news/index.cfm?cid=62872

• No. 42 Bryan Smith

  Smith won the last two AMA Pro Flat Track races before the X Games in compelling battles that proved his mettle as a competitor. Once a Mile specialist, Smith is now feared on almost any track.

  Bike: Kawasaki

  Full Spotlight: http://home.amaproracing.com/ft/news/index.cfm?cid=62767

• No. 44 Brandon Robinson

  Robinson has proven he has the ability to race with, and beat, the superstars of AMA Pro Flat Track. With his new Triumph team, he's looking to make an even bigger name for himself.

  Bike: Triumph

  Full spotlight: http://home.amaproracing.com/ft/news/index.cfm?cid=62829

• No. 49 Chad Cose

  The "Cali Kid" has a new team in 2015 and while he's been competitive in the past, he's looking to take his career to a new level. An X Games medal would certainly help achieve that goal.

  Bike: Kawasaki

  Full spotlight: http://home.amaproracing.com/ft/news/index.cfm?cid=62795

• No. 52 Shayna Texter

  The first female rider to win an AMA Pro Flat Track event. Along with Cory Texter, she'll become the first brother and sister pair to compete against each other at the X Games.

  Bike: Kawasaki

  Full spotlight: http://home.amaproracing.com/ft/news/index.cfm?cid=62831

• No. 54 Mikey Rush

  Rush has shown elite speed on Short Tracks, but he's also been competitive on longer circuits and he's being mentioned as a dark horse to medal, if not win in Austin.

  Bike: Suzuki

  Full spotlight: http://home.amaproracing.com/ft/news/index.cfm?cid=62873

• No. 55 Jake Shoemaker

  Shoemaker earned Saddlemen Rookie of the Year honors in 2013 and followed that up with an even more impressive season in 2014. Now he'll look to use a strong X Games showing to springboard his career to new heights.

  Bike: Triumph

  Full spotlight: http://home.amaproracing.com/ft/news/index.cfm?cid=62826

• No. 65 Cory Texter

  Cory Texter and sister Shayna make up the the first brother and sister duo to compete against each other in the X Games. Cory Texter contested a full season in road racing before returning to his dirt roots the last two years.

  Bike: Kawasaki

  Full spotlight: http://home.amaproracing.com/ft/news/index.cfm?cid=62830

• No. 69G Danny Eslick

  A champion road racer, Eslick is a wildcard entry, but he has an extensive dirt track background. He's the reigning back-to-back winner of the most prestigious road race in the country, the DAYTONA 200.

  Bike: Harley-Davidson

  Full spotlight: http://home.amaproracing.com/rr/news/index.cfm?cid=62841

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  No. 73 Doug Lawrence

  The lone Canadian in the field, Lawrence races a limited AMA Pro Flat Track schedule, but when he runs, he's certainly fast. The X Games should be no different.

  Bike: Harley-Davidson

  Full spotlight: http://home.amaproracing.com/ft/news/index.cfm?cid=62764

• No. 77 Kyle Johnson

  The 2014 AMA Pro Flat Track GNC2 champion makes the field late as an alternate. The Michigan rider boasts a hillclimb background but has been a quick study on high-speed ovals.

  Bike: Kawasaki

  Full Spotlight: http://home.amaproracing.com/ft/news/index.cfm?cid=62895

• No. 80 Stevie Bonsey

  Bonsey already owns an AMA Pro Flat Track win in 2015. His background includes an international road racing stint and an appearance in the X Games in Supermoto in 2009.

  Bike: Harley-Davidson

  Full spotlight: http://home.amaproracing.com/ft/news/index.cfm?cid=62824

• No. 87 Michael Kirkness

  Kirkness will be carrying the hopes of Australia as the lone Aussie in the field. Kirkness has raced sporadically in AMA Pro Flat Track in recent years. but has had plenty of past success that makes him a rider to watch.

  Bike: Harley-Davidson

  Full spotlight: http://home.amaproracing.com/ft/news/index.cfm?cid=62887

• No. 91 Mikey Martin

  Former GNC2 champion is reunited in 2015 with the team that helped him win that title. Martin has already shown speed in 2015 and seems hungrier than ever to take the next step in his career.

  Bike: Kawasaki

  Full spotlight: http://home.amaproracing.com/ft/news/index.cfm?cid=62805