Monster Energy/Team Babbitt’s Kawasaki dominated the Amsoil Arenacross season, going 1-2-3 in the standings. The only question left at the finale in Las Vegas was the order of the riders, and Gavin Faith pulled it off by logging solid second-place finishes in both main events. Teammate Chris Blose went 1-1 but that wasn’t enough to make up the gap Faith had coming in. Jacob Hayes was third.
You might remember Faith for showing great speed in 250SX with the MotoConcepts team a few years back, including a few heat race wins. Turns out those heat race wins were no fluke—he can absolutely fly in shorter races. We talked to him after he shook the champagne and held the first-ever RC Cup, given to the Amsoil Arenacross Champion.
Racer X: Were you nervous at all? Was it different? Now you can admit it if it’s true. Did you feel different?
Gavin Faith: Yeah, it was definitely different. This is the most pressure I’ve ever had on me. I’ve been in champion hunts in Australia and this is definitely more pressure and a little bit more stressful than those. I think my experience over there being in championship hunts helped me prepare for this short series with the reset and everything. I was nervous tonight but I was really stoked to be able to execute.
And it probably doesn’t help that it is arenacross where it’s just more chaos and it’s more intense in general. The chances of something crazy happening are bigger here.
Yeah, definitely, and especially with such tight lanes. When it comes down to the championship people are going for blood, and I knew that. That’s why I just had to put myself in good position and not give anybody the opportunity to put me on the ground or in a bad position. I feel like I executed pretty awesome tonight and just rode around Blose in second. I knew I had the championship. It was probably a boring race to watch but I had to do what I had to do.
You were in second in both mains and it looked like you could have even closed in, or you actually did close in on him a little bit. Were you just like, I don’t even want to go near anybody or were you trying to win?
No, I definitely wasn’t trying to win. I was just trying to stay consistent. Me and Blose got into it last weekend and I definitely didn’t want that happening again this weekend. So I kept my distance and played it safe, you can definitely say that.
I think people on the outside would say, “Well, nothing will happen because they’re all teammates.” But at this point in the season everybody’s just going for it, right?
Yeah, definitely. There’s a championship on the line, a lot of money on the line, so people are going for blood, teammates or not. I found that out last weekend. Kind of an eye opener for me. Coming into this weekend after the weekend before I knew what I was in for. I knew I had to put myself in good position. The most important thing tonight was just staying out of trouble.
We’ve always known how fast you are, even in supercross, so I would think this racing works for you, and you did well in Australia too. So what was the difference last year to this year making it work this time?
I’d say transitioning to the Carmichael farm. I’ve been working with Ricky and Jeannie and my trainer Clint. We got a solid program going there and I’ve put in the work. Not to mention moving to Team Babbitts/Monster Energy/Amsoil Kawasaki was a great change for me. I really like the bike and the suspension is working great. Just a combination of those two things and putting in the hard work. It ended up paying off.
So it’s full circle? You worked at the GOAT farm and collected the RC Cup.
Yeah. Some people might think it might have been somewhat rigged but definitely not. Just worked out well for us this year. Ricky definitely helped me out tonight. Whenever he’s at the races he gives me some pointers. It was cool to have him here and give me some pointers. Obviously he’s been in numerous situations like this so he had great experience. I listened to him and did what he told me to do. Just stoked to be able to bring the Ricky Carmichael Cup back home.
Is it different the program because you’re an arenacross guy? Or do you just do what Joey Savatgy does?
It’s a little bit different program. Me and Savatgy, we still ride together. I work on a little bit shorter lap times of a track cut down and a little bit more intensity because it’s between five and seven minute main events, so the intensity is through the roof. Supercross it can be up to a fifteen-minute main event. Not to say you have to pace yourself but you have to run a certain pace. In arenacross you can go a little bit harder. So it’s awesome riding with Joey Savatgy, and Josh Cartwright’s out there too. We’ve got some good guys coming up out there. It’s been working great. Obviously it showed.
You’ve had some ups and down. We saw how fast you can go in supercross. You won some heats and then that didn’t always work out in the mains. Australia was good and bad. What is this for you to get to this plateau right now? You’re solid and everything’s going your way.
Yeah, I feel at home at arenacross. I’ve always liked the shorter tracks and the shorter main events. I kind of struggled in the past with the 20 lap mains and stuff like that. I feel like arenacross really suits my style. I feel like I’ve got a great speed and good sprint intensity and that’s what you need for this. I’m a bigger guy. I feel really great in the whoops and I feel like that’s a big part of arenacross. That’s a quarter of the track most of the time. So I feel like it really suits me. I enjoy the racing and the whole arenacross community—it’s a pretty tight-knit group and everybody’s friends with each other. So I have a great time coming to the races.
Did I hear that you even had a physical ailment for long outdoors motos that you struggled with at one point? Is that even true?
I’m not real sure. I wish I knew!
You don’t even know exactly?
I’m not sure what the deal is. Arenacross suits my style. I’ll just say that much. It works great for me. I’m able to be successful. I’d rather be on the top step of the box in arenacross than be a top five guy in supercross. That said, if a good offer came for supercross I’d definitely look at it, but I’m older now and I have to make money and make a living racing—can’t do the just getting a bike and a ride for free and trying to prove myself thing anymore. It’s worked out great for me here. It fits great for me and it’s a fun group of people. It’s fun going to the races and we have a really good time.
