Three-way tie for first in Advanstar's BooKoo Arenacross Series
Santa Ana, CA November 5, 2005 – Advanstar – a leading provider of
print, event and online media for the powersports, off-road and
automotive aftermarket industries – concluded it’s first weekend of
professional racing in the new K&N Filters presents BooKoo
Arenacross Championship Series Powered by Toyota with the same
intensity as night one.
FRIDAY
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Opening Ceremonies hosted a tribute to all the former Arenacross Champions with Dennis Hawthorn 1986-1990, Jason Langford 1991, Robbie Reynard 1993, Jimmy Gaddis 1995-1996, Buddy Antunez 1997-2001 and Josh Demuth the 2002 and 2003 champion all in attendance to see the inaugural series kickoff.
The 250 main was filled with lots of action, none of which Team Babbitt Kawasaki’s Brad Ripple was aware of as he took an early lead and never looked back winning his first-ever Arenacross main event. Babbitt Kawasaki’s Josh Demuth, after a mid-pack start, made his way into second and challenged the leader all the way down to the checkered flag but ran out of time to make a pass on his teammate for the win. Tommy Hofmaster finished an impressive third on his Sano System, PPG, Showgun Motorsports Yamaha.
For the 450 class, it was much of the same intense down to the flag racing with Suzuki/
Damien Plotts took home the money for Dash for Cash on board his Rossini Racing Products Crossroads Powersports backed Kawasaki.
The racing in Ft. Worth was met with a terrific track and a very competitive layout. With the results as they are, the record championship purse can land in anyone’s hands and the competition is sure to be just as stiff tomorrow night as the BooKoo Arenacross Championship hosts the second night of the professional Arenacross racing in the Ft. Worth Convention Center Arena.
SATURDAY
Racing continued from the Fort Worth Convention Center Arena and
offered the fans more of the close racing that was featured on Friday
night with a talent-stacked field of riders chasing the payout in the
Advanstar series. The track crew made some minor changes to the track
that added a little different flavor and provided some additional line
options. The sandy first turn made for a great spot to pass or be
passed with a little kicker leading into it.
In the 250 Main Event Team Babbitt Nexus Kawasaki’s Brad Ripple let
everyone know that his Friday night 250 main win was not a fluke as he
held off the BooKoo Honda Proton Oils Tiger Lacey to take top honors
once again. Lacey had incredible speed through the whoop section where
he would make up ground on the leader but it just wasn’t enough tonight
for the blistering pace Ripple set. Lacey would end up with an
impressive second.
There was a major battle for the 4th place spot between Keith Johnson
on the Subway Coca Cola Honda and Babbitt Kawasaki’s Josh Demuth, who
was riding with an injured wrist that he suffered on Friday. Demuth was
hungry for the spot but just couldn’t find the right groove to try and
overtake the Honda rider but took home the Dash for Cash money on the
night.
The 450 main was similar to the 250 as Josh Woods on the Fun Center
Suzuki once again took the victory and set the pace with teammate Shane
Bess on his heels. This set Suzuki up with a one-two punch in
Saturday’s action. Tiger Lacey would finish third for the night and
take the final spot atop the podium.
The Championship Points Standings are in a three-way tie with Woods,
Lacey and Bess all even as the series heads to St. Charles and The
Family Arena for round two of the BooKoo Arenacross Championship Series.