Rounds three and four of the AMA Arenacross series presented by Kicker Audio held at the Idaho Ford Center in Boise, Idaho, lived up to all the hype and then some, delivering a weekend full of intense bar-to-bar racing, unforgettable moments, and enough drama to rival a Hollywood blockbuster. Here’s the latest on the second weekend of the season in Arenacross.
Text and photos by Lucky Foster. Main image above courtesy Honda.
Friese Dominates Round 3
Vince Friese, on his MotoConcepts Racing Honda, has taken no time to get up to speed in AMA Arenacross. He’s been fast, his trademark starts are there, and his aggressive riding style is making him a force to be reckoned with. Friese dominated Round 3 in Boise, finishing the night with a flawless 1-1-1 performance. However, his dramatic block pass on fellow MCR Honda teammate Ryan Breece in the final turn sparked a wave of intrigue and speculation within the paddock. While the move undoubtedly displayed Friese’s veteran craftiness, it also raised a few eyebrows among fans and insiders alike. Is it the beginning of an internal struggle? With Team Manager Tony Alessi overseeing both riders, some are wondering whether his approach of having two strong, highly competitive riders could backfire.
For now, it seems like Friese’s tactics have worked—he walked away with the win and a perfect night—and Breece took the high road in the post-weekend press conference. He wants to win, though!
“Yeah we’re just focused on trying to bring my A game to the table,” said Breece. “Obviously Vince, my teammate, he killed it and I’m just piggybacking off of that, and I don’t like it. I see his number in front of me and I don’t like that. We’re going to go back, we have a lot of work to do and also get in some rest and recovery. The bike is good but I just need to adapt to it and get more control. I want to rise to the challenge. Vince is dominating and we need to get back to work. I just need a little more seat time.”
Rivalry Intensifies: Breece and Peters Collide
The long-standing rivalry between Breece and defending AMA Arenacross Chamnpion Kyle Peters of Phoenix Honda reached a boiling point on Friday. The race started with both riders battling for position in what quickly became a fast-paced, high-risk contest. Midway through the race, after clearing the finish line jump, Peters took a hard inside line on the left-hander, attempting to make an aggressive move on Breece. The pass, however, went awry as Peters made contact with Breece's bike, sending both riders crashing to the dirt. The incident left the crowd gasping as both competitors scrambled to their feet, determined to finish the race.
Tempers flared as Breece and Peters exchanged words while exiting the track, the heated confrontation adding fuel to the already intense rivalry. The fans were on the edge of their seats, eager to see how the drama would unfold in Round 4 the following night.
Breece ended his night with a 1-2-6 performance, while Peters followed up with a solid 2-4-7 finish. But it was clear that the tension between the two was far from resolved. The rivalry had only deepened, and as the series heads into the next round, fans are left wondering: what will happen when these two meet again?
Michael Hicks’ Triumphant Return: A Contender to Watch in 2025
After a season sidelined by injury, Michael Hicks has come back with a vengeance, quickly reestablishing himself as one of the most promising riders in the AMA Arenacross series. His return to competition has been nothing short of remarkable, as the talented rider has been consistent and aggressive, showcasing the skill and determination making him a fan favorite.
What has been most impressive about Hicks’ comeback, however, is his ability to compete at the highest level across multiple classes. Hicks has been running both the X-PRO (electric) and AX-PRO classes, a feat that demands not only physical endurance but mental toughness. Battling in two intense series has proven no easy task, but Hicks has managed to hold his own and stay competitive in both.
His 2-2 performance in X-PRO and 2-2-3 in AX-PRO showed just how far he’s come since his injury. Whether it was his relentless pace in the X-PRO or his resilience in the AX-PRO, Hicks was on the gas all night, proving that he’s back and ready to challenge for the championship. His consistency across both classes suggests that this season could be his breakout year, and with every round, he’s becoming a rider to watch.
As the series progresses, the question isn’t whether Hicks is a contender—it’s how far he can push himself, and how much of a threat he’ll pose to the championship leaders.
Round 4: Saturday Night Delivers Even More Thrills
If Round 3 was a masterclass in drama and intensity, Round 4 on Saturday night took things to an entirely new level, delivering yet another action-packed spectacle that had fans on the edge of their seats.
Ryan Breece Stays in the Hunt: A Championship Contender in the Making
Ryan Breece delivered another consistent and fast performance in Round 4.He clinched victory in the highly competitive Clash for Cash, while also maintaining his podium presence throughout the evening with a solid 2-2 finish in the main events.
With a long season ahead, Breece is setting himself up for a strong new year push. If he continues to make strides with his bike setup and maintains the level of aggression and consistency he’s shown so far, there’s no doubt he’ll be in the conversation when the championship battle heats up.
Tough Night for 5-Time Champion Kyle Peters: Injury Derails Consistency
Kyle Peters, the five-time AMA Arenacross champion, had a night to forget in Round 4. After that drama-filled crash with Ryan Breece in Round 3, many wondered if the rivalry would spill over into Saturday’s race. However, it wasn’t the tension between the two riders that took center stage, but rather a physical setback that hindered Peters' performance.
Peters, known for his consistency and ability to adapt under pressure, struggled throughout the night, finishing with a disappointing 2-7-DNS (Did Not Start) in main 2. After being a front-runner in the series so far, the unexpected results raised questions as to what went wrong for the Phoenix Honda rider.
Post-race, Peters' mechanic, Heath Harrison, revealed that the champion was dealing with an injury that affected his performance. According to Harrison, Peters had felt discomfort in his neck, with tingling sensations running down his arm mid race forcing him to fall off pace. After the race the call was made to send him to the ER to get checked out, which is why he didn’t line up for Main 2," Harrison explained.
We texted with Peters on Monday morning and he indicated he felt a pop in his neck while riding and the majority of his left side went numb. Now he’s looking at an MRI to try to get answers. Peters told us the "pop" in his neck and the numbness came randomly, and wasn't related to any of the collisions or incidents over the weekend.
Peters, by the way, suffered a devastating neck injury a few years back but eventually returned to racing to nail down more AMA Arenacross titles. The injury, though still to be fully diagnosed, certainly threw a wrench into Peters’ attempts at a record sixth championship. The DNS in Main 2 was an unfortunate turn of events for the title, but Peters’ health is the top priority.
Austin Politelli: A Rider on the Hunt
Austin Politelli is quickly proving he’s not just a contender in the 2025 AMA Arenacross series—he’s a rider on a mission. After a tough start to the season in Reno, where mechanical issues derailed his performance in Round 1, Politelli has bounced back with a vengeance, delivering consistent lap times and showing that he’s ready to fight for a championship.
Politelli's speed was undeniable in Boise. He was on the gas all weekend, putting in fast laps and landing on the podium in both rounds. The depth of talent in the Arenacross field is undeniable, but Politelli’s performance over the weekend sent a clear message: he’s here to win.
In a post-race interview, Politelli shared the motivation driving him to push so hard this season. “My daughter’s got a lot of third-place trophies in her room,” he said with a smile. “It’s time for daddy to get her a first-place one. I’m working hard for it, and every race I’m getting closer. It’s a grind, but I’m here to win.”
Politelli says his starts will need work to get to Friese and Breece. He spent time on a GasGas with a hydraulic clutch and is now adapting back to the cable clutch. He’ll keep working at it, saying the races are “95 percent starts” for him.
With riders like Politelli and his teammate Michael Hicks pushing the pace, the 2025 AMA Arenacross season is shaping up to be one of the most competitive yet, and Politelli is firmly establishing himself as a key player in the championship race.
Vince Friese Dominates, But Drama With Wageman Stirs the Pot for Upcoming Rounds
Vince Friese once again proved his dominance in Round 4, capping off the night with a perfect 1-1-1 performance that left no doubt about his skill. The most intense moment of the night came during Main Event 2, where Friese was passed mid-race by Robbie Wageman, the Newhall, California, native. Wageman, fresh off his strong performances earlier in the weekend, appeared poised to make a play for the win. But Wageman then went wide in a corner, and Friese went inside. With neither willing to give an inch, Wageman’s attempt to hold off Friese ended abruptly when they hit the same line on the exit of the corner, and Wageman went down. The crowd erupted, and the drama didn’t stop there. Wageman, a lapped rider, tried to make his presence felt on the track again, he took a shot at Friese, putting the already simmering tension between the two into overdrive. The crowd went wild, and post-race, the two riders exchanged some heated words, adding fuel to what could be an explosive rivalry moving forward.
During the podium ceremony, fans began chanting Wageman’s name in support. But Friese, ever the professional, took it all in stride. As champagne bottles popped and the celebrations continued, he remained composed, knowing full well that the target was now squarely on his back.
“It’s crazy, I thought this was arenacross,” said Friese of the crowd response. “I barely bumped the guy, but I guess he’s a fairly little guy on a big bike so he went down. He came back as a lapper and tried to take me out a few times which is crazy, and I’ve got to think these guys are going to do something about that. I’m all about banging bars but to do that, it’s crazy. It’s arenacross racing. You saw what Ryan and Kyle had going on last night and this was nothing compared to that.”
As for the post-race exchange between them, Friese explained:
"I just said, ‘You can’t do it when you’re a lap down.’ We’ve got more racing to do and if he didn’t like the move I did come back at me in the next race. I have a full main event worth of points now, so if he wants to play that game lets go and lets see how it goes for him.”
With Round 4 behind him, Friese’s perfect night has set the stage for an even more intense battle as the
By the end of the night, the fans were left in awe, with Round 4 proving that Boise had become the epicenter of high-stakes racing in the 2025 season. With so many storylines still unfolding, the series has never been more exciting, and all eyes will be on the riders as they head into the next round.