Areno-cross Update
March 2, 2010 6:43pm
AURORA, Ill. – The Babbitt’s Monster Energy/Ti Lube Kawasaki team made it clear they are the team to beat in the 2010 AMA Arenacross Series last Saturday night, posting the squad’s fourth podium sweep of the season as Tyler Bowers reclaimed control of the AMA Arenacross class championship in Fresno. This weekend, the series makes its annual visit to the Biggest Little City in the World, Reno, Nev., for the 11th annual Reno Arenacross, affectionately known as ArenOcross.
Bowers’ win on Saturday night was a bit of a statement for the seven-time winner. Over the last three races, the Kentucky native had failed to grab the checkered flag while teammate Josh Demuth won two of those three main events. As a result, Demuth had closed to within 12 points of his fellow Babbitt’s rider and appeared to be on his way to making the title fight much closer than originally expected. However, Bowers came out of the gates in Fresno with a determination to reassert his dominance on the class and did so by dominating the 25-lap main event.
While Demuth didn’t falter much, claiming the third and final spot on the podium, he lost valuable points to Bowers and now sits 17 points out of the lead while the third member of the Babbitt’s stable Chad Johnson inches closer from the third spot in the standings, 21 points out of the top spot. The trio’s gap to fourth place in the standings, Nathan Skaggs, sits at a remarkable 47 points, nearly two full races. With four rounds and seven races remaining, the battle for the premier class crown will come down to one of the Kawasaki-mounted riders.
In the AMA Arenacross Lites Western Regional Championship GPF Babbitt’s Kawasaki’s A.J. Catanzaro and Reynard Mods Kawasaki’s Cory Green are engaged in a highly-competitive battle. While Green was the first to stake claim to the title, Catanzaro has made a methodical push to into the championship, taking the top spot away from Green on Saturday night by virtue of his second-career victory. While the gap sits at just three points, Catanzar has the enviable momentum, but Green is keeping pace and with a 41-point advantage over third, it will come down to one of these two young riders.
The Reno Livestock & Events Center has served as the host of ArenOcross since its inception in 1991. This season’s visit will mark the AMA Arenacross Series’ final visit to the West Coast and will feature the largest track of the season. The more supercross-oriented layout will give the riders more space to work with and will also create more on-track excitement as the larger 450cc machines of the premier AMA Arenacross class will have the chance to run faster than usual.
Advance tickets are available for this weekend’s ArenOcross at the Livestock & Events Center Box Office, Ticketmaster charge by phone and ticketmaster.com. Tickets cost $2 more the day of the race.
Tickets are available online at www.arenacross.com and www.ticketmaster.com. For more information on the AMA Arenacross Series log on to www.arenacross.com.
AMA Arenacross Class Points (After Race 12 of 19)
1. Tyler Bowers, Danville, Ky., Kawasaki – 256
2. Josh Demuth, North Richland Hills, Texas, Kawasaki – 239
3. Chad Johnson, Rhinelander, Wis., Kawasaki – 235
4. Nathan Skaggs, Chillicothe, Ohio, Honda – 188
5. Jeff Gibson, Thornville, Ohio, Honda – 184
6. Zach Ames, Prospect, Ohio, Honda – 183
7. Kevin Johnson, Spring, Texas, Kawasaki – 138
8. Dave Ginolfi, Lake Hopatlong, N.J., Suzuki –137
9. Gray Davenport, Lehi, Utah, Kawasaki – 136
10. Brock Sellards, Sherodsville, Ohio, Honda – 119
AMA Arenacross Lites Class Western Regional Points (After Race 4 of 10)
1. A.J. Catanzaro, Middlefield, Conn., Kawasaki – 87
2. Cory Green, Nowata, Okla., Kawasaki – 84
3. Parker Eckman, Tustin, Calif., Honda – 43
4. Jim Neese, Clinton, N.C., Yamaha – 37
5. Ricky Draper, Bellevue, Neb., Honda – 36
6. Ryan Eppers, Stephenville, Texas, Kawasaki – 35
7. Brandon Jones, Denair, Calif., Kawasaki – 33
8. Travis Merrill, Quincy, Ill., KTM – 31
9. Travis Smith, Lancaster, Calif., Yamaha – 30
10. Tanner Moore, Auburn, Kan., KTM – 25
About Feld Motor Sports?
Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is the world leader in specialized arena and stadium-based motor sports entertainment. Feld Motor Sports, Inc. productions include Monster Jam®, SuperBull?, Monster Energy Supercross, AMA Arenacross Series, Nuclear Cowboyz?, Gravity Slashers?, and IHRA® Nitro Jam®. Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is a division of Feld Entertainment, the world’s largest producer of live family entertainment. For more information on Feld Entertainment, visit www.feldentertainment.com.
Bowers’ win on Saturday night was a bit of a statement for the seven-time winner. Over the last three races, the Kentucky native had failed to grab the checkered flag while teammate Josh Demuth won two of those three main events. As a result, Demuth had closed to within 12 points of his fellow Babbitt’s rider and appeared to be on his way to making the title fight much closer than originally expected. However, Bowers came out of the gates in Fresno with a determination to reassert his dominance on the class and did so by dominating the 25-lap main event.
While Demuth didn’t falter much, claiming the third and final spot on the podium, he lost valuable points to Bowers and now sits 17 points out of the lead while the third member of the Babbitt’s stable Chad Johnson inches closer from the third spot in the standings, 21 points out of the top spot. The trio’s gap to fourth place in the standings, Nathan Skaggs, sits at a remarkable 47 points, nearly two full races. With four rounds and seven races remaining, the battle for the premier class crown will come down to one of the Kawasaki-mounted riders.
In the AMA Arenacross Lites Western Regional Championship GPF Babbitt’s Kawasaki’s A.J. Catanzaro and Reynard Mods Kawasaki’s Cory Green are engaged in a highly-competitive battle. While Green was the first to stake claim to the title, Catanzaro has made a methodical push to into the championship, taking the top spot away from Green on Saturday night by virtue of his second-career victory. While the gap sits at just three points, Catanzar has the enviable momentum, but Green is keeping pace and with a 41-point advantage over third, it will come down to one of these two young riders.
The Reno Livestock & Events Center has served as the host of ArenOcross since its inception in 1991. This season’s visit will mark the AMA Arenacross Series’ final visit to the West Coast and will feature the largest track of the season. The more supercross-oriented layout will give the riders more space to work with and will also create more on-track excitement as the larger 450cc machines of the premier AMA Arenacross class will have the chance to run faster than usual.
Advance tickets are available for this weekend’s ArenOcross at the Livestock & Events Center Box Office, Ticketmaster charge by phone and ticketmaster.com. Tickets cost $2 more the day of the race.
Tickets are available online at www.arenacross.com and www.ticketmaster.com. For more information on the AMA Arenacross Series log on to www.arenacross.com.
AMA Arenacross Class Points (After Race 12 of 19)
1. Tyler Bowers, Danville, Ky., Kawasaki – 256
2. Josh Demuth, North Richland Hills, Texas, Kawasaki – 239
3. Chad Johnson, Rhinelander, Wis., Kawasaki – 235
4. Nathan Skaggs, Chillicothe, Ohio, Honda – 188
5. Jeff Gibson, Thornville, Ohio, Honda – 184
6. Zach Ames, Prospect, Ohio, Honda – 183
7. Kevin Johnson, Spring, Texas, Kawasaki – 138
8. Dave Ginolfi, Lake Hopatlong, N.J., Suzuki –137
9. Gray Davenport, Lehi, Utah, Kawasaki – 136
10. Brock Sellards, Sherodsville, Ohio, Honda – 119
AMA Arenacross Lites Class Western Regional Points (After Race 4 of 10)
1. A.J. Catanzaro, Middlefield, Conn., Kawasaki – 87
2. Cory Green, Nowata, Okla., Kawasaki – 84
3. Parker Eckman, Tustin, Calif., Honda – 43
4. Jim Neese, Clinton, N.C., Yamaha – 37
5. Ricky Draper, Bellevue, Neb., Honda – 36
6. Ryan Eppers, Stephenville, Texas, Kawasaki – 35
7. Brandon Jones, Denair, Calif., Kawasaki – 33
8. Travis Merrill, Quincy, Ill., KTM – 31
9. Travis Smith, Lancaster, Calif., Yamaha – 30
10. Tanner Moore, Auburn, Kan., KTM – 25
About Feld Motor Sports?
Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is the world leader in specialized arena and stadium-based motor sports entertainment. Feld Motor Sports, Inc. productions include Monster Jam®, SuperBull?, Monster Energy Supercross, AMA Arenacross Series, Nuclear Cowboyz?, Gravity Slashers?, and IHRA® Nitro Jam®. Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is a division of Feld Entertainment, the world’s largest producer of live family entertainment. For more information on Feld Entertainment, visit www.feldentertainment.com.