Toyota AMA AX Notebook: Youngstown and Hampton
AURORA, Ill. (Jan. 31, 2008) – With a HUGE 1-1 performance in Louisville last weekend, Bad Boy/TUF/Honda’s Chad Johnson has made a break for the lead in a three horse race that’s coming up on the final straightaway of the 2007-’08 Toyota AMA Arenacross Series.
Johnson rode flawlessly this past weekend at Broadbent Arena, dominating the race on Friday night, then reeling in, passing, got passed back, then made a final pass on Brock Sellards (Monster/Babbitt’s/Kawasaki) to win the race and complete the sweep on Saturday.
How big were the wins? With a 25-point lead over Sellards’ teammate, Kelly Smith (282-257) and three more points on Sellards (254), Johnson can afford a DNF and still be in the lead – or tied for it.
“These guys (Smith & Sellards) are definitely riding well,” said Johnson. “I had a weekend that went my way and they didn’t. But that can happen to anybody racing the Toyota AMA Arenacross Series.”
Johnson said the key to his success was his starts – something he has not had going his way for much of the season. “Good starts, riding well and staying focused on things through 25 laps have been key,” he said. “My starts haven’t been the greatest, so I’ve been working on them a lot.”
Staying at Underground MX in
As for the final five races of the season, Johnson would like to have that 25-point DNF cushion heading into Saturday night (March 16th) in
“That’d be awesome,” he said of the idea. “But realistically, it’s going to be a dogfight with Kelly and Brock to the end.”
Word on the street in
All the guys have dirt bikes and might even ride amateur day, says X Games/Dew Tour star Allan Cooke. Among those potentially attending with Mirra and Cooke will be: Scot Ashton, Alister Whitton, Stephen Lilly, Jeff Neely and Scott Wirch.
Live Nation Motor Sports, Inc’s., Robert Hansen checked in with this: “Well here we are again with a split weekend,
Hansen continued: “Think about it – the cost of travel is unbelievable. So splitting some of the weekends gives team mangers two options when looking at the budget and the points. If you’ve got a kid that just turned expert and has limited funds, he’s now got a chance to find an event close to his hometown and get in there and mix it up with the pros. So anyway you look at it the Toyota AMA Arenacross Series is doing what it’s intended to do – and that is developing the future stars of Monster Energy® Supercross.”
This is a pretty cool promotion going on in
ALERT…MEDIA ALERT…MEDIA ALERT…MEDIA ALERT…MEDIA ALERT…MEDIA
Interesting Story Developing @ the
What: Engineering students from
When: Thursday evening, Jan. 31st, from
Who: Old Dominion engineering students will test the acceleration, speed, travel, climbing power, suspension and frame articulation levels of their custom Baja Buggy project on a punishing track designed exclusively for competition dirt bike racing – with jumps that shoot racers some 30 feet into the air and moonscape surface features that’d tear an ordinary car apart!
WILL THE OLD DOMINION STUDENTS’ ENGINEERING PROJECT BE UP FOR THE TEST…
…OR WILL THE
Where:
More Information: Building Contact: Old Dominion Baja
2007-’08 AMA Arenacross Class Standings
1.
2. Kelly Smith, Kaw, 257
3. Brock Sellards, Kaw, 254
4. Teddy Maier, Hon, 210
5. Keith Johnson, Yam, 205
6. Kevin Johnson, Yam 199
7. Tommy Hofmaster, Yam, 167
8. Jim Neese, Suz, 164
9. Nathan Skaggs, Hon, 164
10. Danny Smith, Hon, 149
Tickets for the Feb. 1-3 Toyota AMA Arenacross Series at the Chevrolet Centre are available through www.arenacross.com, at the Chevrolet Centre Box Office, at select SPARKLE locations in Cochran, Columbiana, Cornersburg, Niles and Union Square, online at www.gettix.net Action Sports Cycles, Gollans Honda or charge by phone at 1-866-4GETTIX. Fees and handling may apply. Show time is Friday at Saturday,
Tickets for the Feb. 1-3 Toyota AMA Arenacross Series at the Hampton Coliseum are available through www.arenacross.com, at the Hampton Coliseum Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets, online at www.ticketmaster.com or charge by phone through Ticketmaster. Fees and handling may apply. Tickets are also available at
