The 2015 Amsoil Arenacross Championship kicks off this weekend in the US Bank Arena in Cincinnati, Ohio. And like its Monster Energy Supercross brethren, arenacross lost its four-time champion, Tyler Bowers, who moved to Mitch Payton’s Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki team and is racing the 250SX West Region in supercross. His departure has left a void that a number of riders are hoping to fill in 2015. #Whosnext in AX? Let’s take a look at some title hopefuls.
Team Babbitt’s/Monster Energy/Amsoil Kawasaki
#2 Jacob Hayes | Birth Date: December 16, 1993 | Residence: Liberty, NC | Height: 6’0” | Weight: 155 lbs.
Notes: The former Team Green rider moved to Arenacross full-time in 2014. Hayes won six main events his rookie season, and finished second to Bowers in the championship chase.
#3 Zach Ames | Birth Date: July 11, 1988 | Residence: Prospect, OH | Height: 5’10” | Weight: 175 lbs
Notes: The AX veteran won five main events and 2014, and finished third in points.
#36 Matt Goerke | Birth Date: May 1, 1986 | Residence: Lake Helen, FL | Height: 6’0” | Weight: 170 lbs.
Notes: Goerke joins the team following two seasons with BTOSports.com KTM in Monster Energy Supercross.
#63 Chris Blose | Birth Date: December 13, 1987 | Residence: Phoenix, AZ | Height: 5’9” | Weight: 165 lbs.
Notes: This season will mark the first full-time year for the longtime Monster Energy Supercross veteran.
Rockstar/TiLube Husqvarna
#4 Kyle Regal | Birth Date: May 14, 1991 | Residence: Dallas, TX | Height: 5’11” | Weight: 180 lbs.
Notes: Regal won one main event and finished fourth in his first full arenacross season a year ago.
ThermoTec Yamaha FMC Racing
#9 Mike McDade | Birth Date: September 1, 1987 | Residence: Edinburg, PA | Height: 5’9” | Weight: 145 lbs.
Notes: The former Areancross Lites Champion dealt with injuries a season ago but won two main events.
# TBD Bobby Kiniry
Notes: The longtime supercross rider moves to arenacross in 2015.
Team Babbitt’s Online/AJ Oilfield Racing
#5 Cory Green | Birth Date: June 22, 1989 | Residence: Nowata, OK | Height: 5’11” | Weight: 160 lbs.
Notes: Green was in the mix with podiums a season ago but wasn’t able to pull down a win.
Spinchillers Racing
#6 Willy Browning | Birth Date: June 15, 1984 | Residence: Pleasantville, OH | Height: 5’7” | Weight: 135 lbs.
Notes: Browning, an arenacross veteran, made a few podiums last year on his way to sixth in points.
#13 Dave Ginolfi | Birth Date: Lake Hopatcong, NJ | Residence: Boonton, NJ | Height: 5’9” | Weight: 160 lbs.
Notes: Ginolfi had a number of podiums in 2014 but couldn’t lock down a win.
MotoSport.com/Haeseker Racing
#8 Gared Steinke | Birth Date: July 26, 1991 | Residence: Woodland, CA | Height: 6’0” | Weight: 145 lbs.
Notes: Steinke pulled down a Lites West win in 2014 and finished eighth in Arenacross Class points.
TUF Racing Husqvarna
#617 Gavin Faith | Birth Date: May 31, 1992 | Residence: Tallahassee, FL | Height: 6’0” | Weight: 173 lbs.
Notes: The two-time Australian Supercross Champion moves over from Monster Energy Supercross in 2015.
Woodstock KTM-TZR
#7 Travis Sewell | Birth Date: May 29, 1987 | Residence: Westville, IN | Height: 6’1” | Weight: 180 lbs
Notes: Another podium performer that fell short of a win last year.
TBD Scott Zont
TBD Erik Utech
TBD Cody VanBuskirk
Slaka Wear KTM
TBD #12 Steven Mages | October 12, 1990 | Residence: Buford, OH | Height: 5’7” | Weight: 150 lbs.
Notes: Mages won a Lites West main event but wasn’t able to do the same in the Arenacross Class.
Others:
As the Ricky Carmichael Road to Supercross comes of age, you can expect some top amateurs to cycle in and out of the races and possibly mix it up with the front-runners. Kawasaki Team Green’s Darian Sanayei, fresh off some strong rides at the Mini Os during the Thanksgiving week, will give AX a crack. GEICO Honda’s Jordon Smith will race a few rounds before heading off to 250SX East (he would have done the Road to SX last year but was injured at the time). Yamaha’s BluCru will send Lorenzo Locurcio, a B class champ at Loretta’s last year, into action. Expect a bunch more top amateur names to show up, because AX starts are now required to earn a supercross license. You can find out more on RC’s Road to Supercross here.
2015 AMSOIL Arenacross Schedule
| Dates | Venue | City |
| Jan. 10-11 | US Bank Arena | Cincinnati, OH |
| Jan. 16-18 | Van Andel Arena | Grand Rapids, MI |
| Jan. 23-25 | Broadmoor World Arena | Colorado Springs, CO |
| Jan. 31-Feb. 1 | Bridgestone Arena | Nashville, TN |
| Feb. 6-8 | Mohegan Sun Arena | Wilkes-Barre, PA |
| Feb. 21-22 | Amalie Arena | Tampa, FL |
| Feb. 28-Mar. 1 | Sprint Center | Kansas City, MO |
| Mar. 6-8 | Mid-America Center | Council Bluffs, IA |
| Mar. 13-15 | Landers Center | Southaven, MS |
| Mar. 21-22 | Smoothie King Center | New Orleans, LA |
| Mar. 28-29 | Frank Erwin Center | Austin, TX |
| April 11-12 | Spokane Arena | Spokane, WA |
| April 18-19 | Tacoma Arena | Tacoma, WA |
| April 25-26 | Save Mart Center | Fresno, CA |
| May 1-3 | South Point Arena | Las Vegas, NV |
2015 AMSOIL Arenacross Broadcast Schedule
|
Television Air Date |
Venue |
City |
Start Time (EST/PST) |
|
Sun, February 8 |
U.S. Bank Arena |
Cincinnati |
1:00 p.m./10:00 a.m. |
|
Sun, February 22 |
Van Andel Arena |
Grand Rapids, Mich. |
9:00 a.m./6:00 a.m. |
|
Sun, March 1 |
Bridgestone Arena |
Nashville, Tenn. |
1:00 p.m. / 10:00 a.m. |
|
Sun, March 8 |
Amalie Arena |
Tampa, Fla |
12:30 p.m./ 9:30 a.m. |
|
Sun, March15 |
Sprint Center |
Kansas City, Mo |
11:00 a.m./ 8:00 a.m. |
|
Sun, March 22 |
Landers Center |
Southaven, Miss. |
1:00 p.m. / 10:00 a.m. |
|
Sun, March 29 |
Smoothie King Center |
New Orleans |
10:30 a.m./7:30 a.m. |
|
Sun, April 5 |
Frank Erwin Center |
Austin, Texas |
1:00 p.m. / 10:00 a.m. |
|
Sun, April 19 |
Spokane Arena |
Spokane, Wash. |
2:00 p.m./ 11:00 a.m. |
|
Sun, April 26 |
Tacoma Dome |
Tacoma, Wash. |
12:00 p.m./ 9:00 a.m. |
|
Sun, May 3 |
Save Mart Center |
Fresno, Calif. |
10:30 a.m./7:30 a.m. |
|
Sun, May 10 |
South Point Arena |
Las Vegas |
12:00 p.m./9:00 a.m. |
