Bowers Brings Momentum into AMA Arenacross Series This Weekend from Baltimore’s 1st Mariner Arena

Second Round Features Two Nights of Pro Action

AURORA, Ill. (November 1, 2011) – Last Saturday, the 2012 AMA Arenacross Series kicked off its 12-race championship from Des Moines, Iowa’s Wells Fargo Arena. After a dramatic main event in the premier Arenacross class, reigning series champion Tyler Bowers picked up where he left off last season, taking the win for Babbitt’s Monster Energy/AMSOIL Kawasaki presented by Maxxis. Now, as the series invades Baltimore, Md., for the second round of the championship, Bowers leads the way into 1st Mariner Arena, looking to build upon his early points lead.

This weekend will mark the first time during the 2012 season that the professional stars of the AMA Arenacross Series will be featured on back-to-back nights. On Friday, November 4, the second race of the championship will set the tone for a memorable weekend. The tension and drama from opening night is sure to carry over into Saturday, November 5, as the Arenacross and Arenacross Lites classes leave their mark on Baltimore one final time this season.

Tyler Bowers - 2011 - AMA Arenacross
Tyler Bowers started his title defense in a dominant fashion.

Bowers’ victory in Des Moines marked his third straight, dating back to last season. Since joining the series full time in 2010, Bowers has garnered 22 victories in 39 races, meaning he has stood atop the podium 57 percent of the time. His aggressive style has worked to is advantage on the intimate layouts, historically, but Bowers has also proven to be very tactical in his approach, as evidenced last Saturday night.

In the early stages of the 25-lap Arenacross class main event in Des Moines, Bowers’ Babbitt’s Monster Energy/AMSOIL Kawasaki teammate Chad Johnson established himself as the rider to beat. Bowers was forced to overcome a mid-pack start, and eventually positioned himself into third behind Johnson and Bella’s Cupcakes/Club MX Kawasaki’s Zach Ames. As a battle for the lead began to unfold, Bowers waited patiently, looking for any opportunities to attack. Eventually, Johnson and Ames came together, and hit the dirt. Bowers, who had maintained a safe distance in the event of such an incident, slipped by both riders and ran away from the field for the remainder of the race.

AMA Arenacross - 2011 - Tyler Bowers - Chad Johnson - Zach Ames
Bowers took over the lead after his Babbitt’s Monster Energy/AMSOIL Kawasaki teammate Chad Johnson and Bella’s Cupcakes/Club MX Kawasaki’s Zach Ames got together and went down.

The victory gives Bowers valuable momentum in the championship, but after just one round, he is by no means in a safe position. The AMA Arenacross Series is known for its unpredictability, and Bowers wasn’t void of his own tense moments last weekend. With teammate, and 2010 champion, Josh Demuth just three points back in second, and 2009 champion Jeff Gibson in third aboard his FMF Power/Poynt TUF Honda, Bowers will need to be on his game over the course of two nights in Baltimore.

The last time the AMA Arenacross Series paid visit to 1st Mariner Arena during the 2010 season, Bowers swept both nights of competition with a pair of convincing performances. It was this round that established Bowers as a major player in the AMA Arenacross Series, from which he has never looked back, amassing numbers that have already put him in the upper echelon of the series record books.

In addition to the fireworks that will be produced in the premier Arenacross class, the Eastern Regional Arenacross Lites class championship will host its opening round of the season. The Lites division is full of some of the youngest and most talented riders in the sport, looking to establish themselves in the elite level of the AMA Arenacross Series. There is a never a dull moment when Arenacross Lites is on the track, and the competition is sure to bring fans to their feet.

The Baltimore Arenacross kicks off back-to-back nights of professional action from 1st Mariner Arena on Friday, November 4, before coming to a dramatic conclusion on Saturday, November 5. Opening ceremonies for both nights begin at 7 p.m. ET.

Previous Round Results:

Wells Fargo Arena – Des Moines, Iowa

October 29, 2011

Round 1 of 12

Arenacross Class Results: (Des Moines, Iowa)

1. Tyler Bowers, Danville, Ky., Kawasaki
2. Josh Demuth, North Richland Hills, Texas, Kawasaki
3. Jeff Gibson, Blacklick, Ohio, Honda
4. Nathan Skaggs, Chillicothe, Ohio, Honda
5. Michael Willard, Newark, Ohio, KTM
6. Willy Browning, Pleasantville, Ohio, KTM
7. Shawn Rife, Mechanicsburg, Ohio, Honda
8. Kurt McCabe, Marion, Iowa, Honda
9. Kelly Smith, Ludington, Mich., KTM
10. Cory Green, Nowata, Okla., Suzuki

Arenacross Lites Class Results: (Des Moines, Iowa)

1. Michael Willard, Newark, Ohio, KTM
2. Aaron Gulley, Jonesburg, Mo., Kawasaki
3. Dave Ginolfi, Lake Hopatlong, N.J., KTM
4. Adam Gulley, Jonesburg, Mo., Kawasaki
5. Daniel Blair, Lodi, Calif., KTM
6. Tanner Moore, Auburn, Kan., KTM
7. Kevin Markwardt, Freeport, Ill., KTM
8. T.J. Phillips, New Castle, Pa., Kawasaki
9. Maxx Malatia, Itasca, Ill., Honda
10. Aviery Hickey, Southlake, Texas, Honda

Current Point Standings:

Arenacross Class Points (After Race 1 of 19)

1. Tyler Bowers, Danville, Ky., Kaw – 25
2. Josh Demuth, North Richland Hills, Texas, Kaw – 22
3. Jeff Gibson, Blacklick, Ohio, Hon – 20
4. Nathan Skaggs, Chillicothe, Ohio, Hon – 18
5. Michael Willard, Newark, Ohio, KTM – 16
6. Willy Browning, Pleasantville, Ohio, KTM – 15
7. Shawn Rife, Mechanicsburg, Ohio, Hon – 14
8. Kurt McCabe, Marion, Iowa, Honda – 13
9. Kelly Smith, Ludington, Mich., KTM – 12
10. Cory Green, Nowata, Okla., Suz – 11

Western Regional Arenacross Lites Class Points: (After Race 1 of 9)

1. Tanner Moore, Auburn, Kan., KTM – 15
2. Kevin Markwardt, Freeport, Ill., KTM – 14
3. Aviery Hickey, Southlake, Texas, Honda – 11
4. Dalton Carlson, Dayton, Minn., KTM – 10
5. Brandon Marley, McEwen, Tenn., KTM – 9
6. Shawn Rife, Mechanicsburg, Ohio, Honda – 7
7. Devin Reed, Indianola, Iowa, Honda – 6
8. Chad Cook, Oklahoma City, Okla., Kawasaki – 5

2012 Dash for Cash Winners:

Des Moines – Zach Ames

Live timing and scoring from each round of the AMA Arenacross Series returns for the 2012 season! To follow the intense racing action live, log onto www.Arenacross.com.

For more information on the 2011/2012 AMA Arenacross Series, log on to www.Arenacross.com.

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Author

Dan Lamb is a 12+ year journalist and the owner of MotoXAddicts.