Travis Sewell: AMA AX Rookie Of The Year
Indiana native makes his mark on series with consistent overall performance in the AMA Arenacross class
AURORA, Ill., (Feb. 23, 2007) – Travis Sewell (GPF/Babbittsonline.com) of Westville, Ind., put up solid numbers for a 19-year-old rookie on the Toyota AMA Arenacross Series tour this year, making 14 of the 18 main events he entered and, more importantly, finishing within the top ten in the overall standings in 12 of those 14 events.
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“I’m pumped to win the award and, overall, I’m pretty happy with how the season went,” said Sewell. “At the start of the year all I wanted to do was get my 100 AMA points so I’d be eligible to race the Eastern Lites class for the Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross Series. I was able to do that and this weekend I’ll start the supercross series in Atlanta.”
Consistency played a major role in Sewell’s success on the year. Riding the competition Kawasaki KX450F for the first time indoors, Sewell adapted to the powerful 450 in the tight quarters of arenacross racing and quickly began stringing together main event top ten finishes against one of the most talented fields in the history of the Toyota AMA Arenacross Series.
“This year the talent level was really, really stacked,” said Sewell. “You’d line up with (Robbie) Reynard, (Danny) Smith, (Justin) Buckelew, the Johnsons (Chad, Kevin and Keith), (Brock) Sellards, (Matt) Barnes and (Teddy) Maier every night. Like ten guys that could win a main event any time. So for me, just to make the main was an accomplishment. That and you also made money to do so, which I’ve never really done before with motocross.”
And make the mains Sewell did – 14 in 18 attempts. And when he got to the show he also made the most of it, finishing in the top ten 12 times in those 14 mains.
“I didn’t win any, but I was close at Pikeville (Ky.),” said Sewell. “I got 2nd and a 5th at Pikeville, then a 4th at Saginaw (Mich.). And pretty much when I didn’t make a main it was because of bad luck.”
Sewell, who’s a bit of a legend at his local track, RedBud (Buchanan, Mich.), appreciated the hard effort all the riders put in on the Toyota AMA Arenacross Series tour, adding that he felt his training regiment was what ultimately led to him being named Rookie of the Year.
“There were a lot of new people that came into arenacross this year that were all fast and I guess I was able to do better,” said Sewell. “So all the hard work ahead of the season paid off. I started riding arenacross about two months before Des Moines (Iowa) at the Georgia Practice Facility (the “GPF” of GPF/Babbittsonline.com) and just rode areancross every day to get ready.” Sewell credits Michigan’s Josh Woods and Kelly Smith with helping his racing technique while training at the Georgia Practice Facility.
Also getting big props from Travis are his parents, Louie and Janyce Sewell. “I wouldn’t be able to do what I do if it wasn’t for my mom and dad,” he added.
This week Sewell, along with his brother Shane, are in Atlanta - and riding at a no doubt busy Georgia Practice Facility – preparing for the opening round of the Eastern Lites division of the Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross Series. Riding under the Team Pro Source of Illinois banner, Travis is stoked to be starting up the supercross season after a long haul with arenacross this year.
“We’ve been racing for like 10 weeks now and we’ll go to Atlanta and it’ll be just another race for us instead of having just practicing for a couple months,” said Sewell. “So I’m really not even that nervous.”
Also helping the #927 Sewell out with his supercross racing this year are: Factory Connection, Dunlop, MSR, Scott, Universal, FMF, Hi-Tech Horsepower, EVS, MXTime.com, One Industries, Twin Air and Frese Discount.
This weekend the Toyota AMA Arenacross Series wraps up with its Eastern Lites championship round in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. For more information catch the action in this down-to-the-wire title chase, the current series’ point standings and results, or the latest news on the series are all available at www.arenacross.com.
