Spinechillers Racing AX Team Report
January 11, 2011, 4:30pm
AURORA, Ill. – After two years of breakout performances from both Nathan Skaggs and Zach Ames, the young, talented Foremost Insurance/Spinechillers/Honda Fairfield Racing team is ready to take the next step and challenge for a championship in the 2011 AMA Arenacross Series.
Heading the lineup for the upcoming season are the team’s aforementioned riders who have both captured wins in the highly competitive series. Also returning to the AMA Arenacross class lineup is arenacross veteran Willy Browning while Team Manager Dallas Avery is also calling for the services of Patrick Massie in the AMA Arenacross Lites class after a solid first year with the team.
"I hope everyone on the team can up their championship result from last season by one,” said Avery. “I have a lot of confidence that both Willy and Patrick will be able to accomplish that, but at the top of the field is a pretty tough team. I’d obviously like to win (the championship), but we’ll see what happens.”
For Zach Ames, 2010 meant his maturation into a legitimate title contender. Despite a season that saw Babbitt’s Monster Energy/TiLube Kawasaki win all but one race in the championship, Ames proved to be the rider to break the dominance with his first career win in Youngstown. The victory served notice that Ames and the Spinechillers team are to be taken seriously.
“We’re really excited about Zach’s prospects for this season,” added Avery. “He has been working harder than last year and has a lot more mental focus. In his mind he knows he can win rather than hoping he can win and he knows what it takes to get there.”
While Ames finished sixth in the championship by season’s end, his teammate and breakout star of 2009, Nathan Skaggs stood just ahead in fifth. By comparison, Skaggs’ 2010 season wasn’t what he had hoped for, but he showed considerable consistency through great starts and running up front.
“Nathan knows he needs to do better,” mentioned Avery. “He started up front consistently, but had some trouble staying there. However, I know his focus is a lot stronger this season. He’s also had some time to get used to the 450 and is riding better than he was at this point last season. Ultimately, it just comes down to comfort for him.”
Willy Browning’s year in 2010 got off to a slow start after suffering an injury prior to the first round. However, he enters 2011 fully healthy and ready to prove that as the senior member of the Spinechillers stable, he has the ability to lead his team and threaten for the AMA Arenacross Series championship.
“It’s going to be a battle for Willy this season because we are putting him on a 250 in the AMA Arenacross class,” Avery explained. “Willy isn’t a big guy and we felt like it would be better to put him on something he feels more comfortable with. He likes that bike better and he has the advantage of riding more heading into the season than he did last year. He’ll have his work cut out for him, but as the season gets going, I think you’ll see him move up.”
Last season, Patrick Massie posted a solid fifth-place finish in the AMA Arenacross Lites Eastern Regional Championship during his first year with Spinechillers. Even more impressive was his strong results despite missing the first two races of the season. Now with a clean bill of health, he will be a threat to capture the title.
“Last year Patrick still finished in the top five after sitting out the first two rounds and on top of that, he had just jumped right on a bike into racing after being hurt,” said Avery. “He’ll have a good run in the Lites class and I’m excited to see what happens.”
With some additional support from new series sponsor Kenda Tire, the Spinechillers team is prepped and ready to take the Babbitt’s powerhouse head on.
Avery concluded, “Ultimately we are all racers and at the end of the day, we’re going to go out there and give it our all. Everything else will just fall into place from there.”
New for 2011! Live timing and scoring from each round of the AMA Arenacross Series. To follow the intense racing action live, log onto www.Arenacross.com. For all media requests, please contact Brandon Short brandon@nextlevelsportsinc.com or 949-365-5750.
Never miss out on the latest news! Follow the AMA Arenacross Series on Facebook and Twitter!
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 Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam®, Monster Energy Supercross, AMA Arenacross Series, Nuclear Cowboyz℠, 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.
Heading the lineup for the upcoming season are the team’s aforementioned riders who have both captured wins in the highly competitive series. Also returning to the AMA Arenacross class lineup is arenacross veteran Willy Browning while Team Manager Dallas Avery is also calling for the services of Patrick Massie in the AMA Arenacross Lites class after a solid first year with the team.
"I hope everyone on the team can up their championship result from last season by one,” said Avery. “I have a lot of confidence that both Willy and Patrick will be able to accomplish that, but at the top of the field is a pretty tough team. I’d obviously like to win (the championship), but we’ll see what happens.”
For Zach Ames, 2010 meant his maturation into a legitimate title contender. Despite a season that saw Babbitt’s Monster Energy/TiLube Kawasaki win all but one race in the championship, Ames proved to be the rider to break the dominance with his first career win in Youngstown. The victory served notice that Ames and the Spinechillers team are to be taken seriously.
“We’re really excited about Zach’s prospects for this season,” added Avery. “He has been working harder than last year and has a lot more mental focus. In his mind he knows he can win rather than hoping he can win and he knows what it takes to get there.”
While Ames finished sixth in the championship by season’s end, his teammate and breakout star of 2009, Nathan Skaggs stood just ahead in fifth. By comparison, Skaggs’ 2010 season wasn’t what he had hoped for, but he showed considerable consistency through great starts and running up front.
“Nathan knows he needs to do better,” mentioned Avery. “He started up front consistently, but had some trouble staying there. However, I know his focus is a lot stronger this season. He’s also had some time to get used to the 450 and is riding better than he was at this point last season. Ultimately, it just comes down to comfort for him.”
Willy Browning’s year in 2010 got off to a slow start after suffering an injury prior to the first round. However, he enters 2011 fully healthy and ready to prove that as the senior member of the Spinechillers stable, he has the ability to lead his team and threaten for the AMA Arenacross Series championship.
“It’s going to be a battle for Willy this season because we are putting him on a 250 in the AMA Arenacross class,” Avery explained. “Willy isn’t a big guy and we felt like it would be better to put him on something he feels more comfortable with. He likes that bike better and he has the advantage of riding more heading into the season than he did last year. He’ll have his work cut out for him, but as the season gets going, I think you’ll see him move up.”
Last season, Patrick Massie posted a solid fifth-place finish in the AMA Arenacross Lites Eastern Regional Championship during his first year with Spinechillers. Even more impressive was his strong results despite missing the first two races of the season. Now with a clean bill of health, he will be a threat to capture the title.
“Last year Patrick still finished in the top five after sitting out the first two rounds and on top of that, he had just jumped right on a bike into racing after being hurt,” said Avery. “He’ll have a good run in the Lites class and I’m excited to see what happens.”
With some additional support from new series sponsor Kenda Tire, the Spinechillers team is prepped and ready to take the Babbitt’s powerhouse head on.
Avery concluded, “Ultimately we are all racers and at the end of the day, we’re going to go out there and give it our all. Everything else will just fall into place from there.”
New for 2011! Live timing and scoring from each round of the AMA Arenacross Series. To follow the intense racing action live, log onto www.Arenacross.com. For all media requests, please contact Brandon Short brandon@nextlevelsportsinc.com or 949-365-5750.
Never miss out on the latest news! Follow the AMA Arenacross Series on Facebook and Twitter!
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 Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam®, Monster Energy Supercross, AMA Arenacross Series, Nuclear Cowboyz℠, 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.
