Toyota AMA National Arenacross Series Throttles Into the Holiday Season
Fans still buzzing over start of AMA National Arenacross Series’ most competitive season to date!
AURORA, Ill., (Dec. 8, 2005) – With four races in the books, the
2005-’06 Toyota AMA National Arenacross Series will take a bit of a
break to let its race warriors heal up and spend some time over the
holidays with their families before getting right back after it when
the season picks up again at Dallas’ Reunion Arena (Jan. 6-7).
This past weekend in Rockford (Ill.) was a burner. Yamaha’s “Rad” Chad
Johnson, who’d all but dominated the season thus far, proved to be
invincible as Thor/Honda/TUF Racing’s Brock Sellards showed on Friday
he’s got the ‘Right Stuff,’ rocketing through the pack to take the AMA
Arenacross class win. Johnson was back at it on Saturday, winning an
exciting heat race battle with namesake rival “Revin’” Kevin Johnson
and parlaying that energy into a convincing win on Saturday night.
So, with Sellards taking an eight-point bite out of Johnson’s lead at
the break – which now stands at 25 points – here is a look at how the
season’s shaped up so far and what Toyota AMA National Arenacross
Series fans can expect for ’06:
“As good as any race I’ve seen in Arenacross” - Those were the words of
longtime AX announcer Tim Cotter regarding the heat race between the
series’ two Johnsons – Rad Chad and Revin’ Kevin. Said Chad Johnson of
the battle: “Man, we had about five to six lead changes in that one.
Kevin was haulin’ and it took all I had to get out in front of him.
That race definitely helped fire me up for the main. That and the fact
I had a ton of fans there.”
Sellards’ momentum - The only guy to beat Chad Johnson to the top of
the podium this year has been Sellards. According to the likeable
veteran racer, it’s taken a bit of time to adjust to this ‘Microwave
Supercross’ style of racing. But now that he has – and has pulled off
two premier AMA Arenacross class wins in the last four races (Charlotte
& Rockford) – the stage is now set for what will no doubt be a
down-to-the-wire finish in Denver (Feb. 10-11). Said Sellards on his
season thus far: “If I wasn’t crashing all the time I’d probably be
leading this thing. My bike’s finally dialed-in and I’m for sure
looking forward to every race. This has definitely been a lot of fun.”
Little behind-the-scenes action - Though nothing escalated on the
track, tempers flared a bit behind the curtain at Rockford. While no
big punches were landed, word in the pits was that there was some
pushing and shoving going on – a direct result of some of the world’s
best tight quarters racers all wanting to ‘get there first!’ Reportedly
half the Kody & Cody Show – Kody Molitor – was not terribly excited
about getting bounced on the track and stuck up for himself afterwards.
Added Cotter: “Friday night at Rockford was like a pinball game. Even I
got hit – and I haven’t been hit in 28 years!”
A couple Jims - Suzuki-backed teammates Jim Neese and Jim Chester have
been on it as of late. Said Cotter of the veteran racers: “I don’t
recall saying their names much, but by golly both of them were right up
on the box at Rockford!” Neese finished third in the AMA Arenacross
class on Saturday while Chester won the AMA Lites class on Saturday.
“Patience and finesse pays of and some of our young guys should pay
attention to that.”
Rock & Roll & Arenacross - Race promoters added a new twist to
liven up the action during the down time between motos. CCE Promotion
Manager Nicole Champagne brought in the rock band “Detagoh” to jam for
the fans when the bikes weren’t on the pipe. The plan was to add a new,
fun dimension to the race, mix things up a bit while always striving to
find the formula that makes the Toyota AMA National Arenacross Series
that much better for everybody in attendance.
Schnell’s back - Don’t look now Johnson and Sellards, but
Rockstar/Suzuki’s Greg Schnell is back and on a rail. With two great
starts to go with two second-place finishes in Rockford, the
now-healthy preseason favorite will be right in the hunt come Dallas
through Denver.
Carmichael’s # 4 jersey retired at Rockford? - Sure enough it was. Only
difference, and it’s a biggie, was that this was the Rockford
Lightning’s No. 4 “Brent” Carmichael, a hockey player, who’s motocross
skills we’re sure don’t match up to RC’s.
Benefiting from the Christmas break will be… - According to Toyota AMA
National Arenacross Series Event Manager Pam Lambert, the break effects
different racers in different ways. “Traditionally, the guys who stand
to benefit the most are the ones that return home for the holidays to
regions that still allow for riding. So in that case, Greg Schnell
returning to California is more of a benefit than Chad Johnson
returning to Wisconsin. The break is also a time for the guys who
haven’t quite figured it out yet to work on some things in order to
catch up, which will for sure make the second half of the season a barn
burner.”
So who’s the favorite to start the second half of the season? - “After
the last two races the whole field knows that Chad’s (Johnson)
vulnerable,” said Cotter. “We’re out of Chad’s backyard now (Des Moines
& Rockford) so it’s going to be a little more difficult on him
because, as far as I know, he’ll be driving to all the races with
Junior Jackson (team owner/mechanic). And those road trips are going to
take their toll.” Cotter added that Jeff Northrop, Sellards’ teammate,
and Schnell both have an advantage in that they can ride during the
break and said that Chad Johnson “better look to get out west to train
and practice” during the next several weeks.
Toyota AMA National Arenacross Series points standings (AMA Arenacross class), number of race wins in parentheses -
# Name (wins) Points
1. 3 Chad Johnson (6) 180
2. 18 Brock Sellards (2) 155
3. 4 Kevin Johnson 139
4. 2 Jeff Northrop 137
5. 40 Greg Schnell 134
6. 10 Jim Neese 130
7. 9 Shawn Clark 108
8. 15 Cody Gilmore 88
9. 296 Zach Ames 87
10. 44/ Jim Chester 62
11. 150 Scott Metz 60
12. 14 Roy Horton 43
13. 16 John Dowd 42
14. 501 Travis Hodges 41
15. 312 Kevin Markwardt 35
Tickets are available online at www.arenacross.com, www.ticketmaster.com, www.tickets.com (Guthrie and Green Bay only).
For more information on the Toyota AMA National Arenacross Series log on to www.arenacross.com.
