X Games Harley-Davidson Flat Track Athlete Spotlight - Henry Wiles

Note: AMA Pro Racing will be highlighting all 24 of the athletes racing in X Games Harley-Davidson Flat Track, which will take place Thursday, June 4 at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, and be shown live on ESPN at 8:30 p.m. ET, 5:30 p.m. PT.

Death, taxes and Henry Wiles winning the Peoria TT. All things that are guaranteed – well, Wiles’ dominance at the Peoria TT has been pretty much a lock for the last decade at least.

The rider of the No. 17 Zanotti Racing machine in AMA Pro Flat Track competition will look to score an X Games Harley-Davidson Flat Track medal to hang near his massive collection of Peoria trophies on June 4 at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.

Wiles has been a front-running flat track racer for some time, but simply owning one of the most historic races on the schedule has been his calling card. The Peoria TT dates back to 1947. The race, being a TT (or tourist trophy) is unique in flat track for having a right turn and a jump.

Wiles credits his motocross background for his success at Peoria, but the streak is impressive because of everything that can go wrong when racing on dirt at over 100 mph, especially with a jump thrown in. Wiles has managed to avoid mechanical issues, changing conditions and bad luck in terms of getting mixed up with other riders for a decade.

Sure, Wiles doesn’t mind being known for his excellence at Peoria, but it’s noteworthy that while he’s won 15 total TTs, he owns 11 other AMA Pro Flat Track victories, including two on Half-Miles. He’s the second-winningest active rider on the circuit.

It’s hard to say if excellence at Peoria will carry over the track where riders will race for the X Games. Peoria is longer by a couple tenths of a mile, but Wiles has nine wins on Short Tracks. A 3/8-mile oval with long straights and tight corners might have Wiles’ name written all over it.

Name: Henry Wiles

Home: Winn, Mich.

Age: 31

Ride: No. 17 Zanotti Racing Harley-Davidson XR-750

In their words: “As big as the X Games is, it would mean a lot for myself and my sponsors (to win). It’s definitely what we’re going to be going for. It’s going to be a good thing. I hope the track is good for us to put on a good show.”

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