Race Report: Night One Baltimore Arenacross

Tyler Bowers Goes Back-to-Back, Leading Babbitt’s Kawasaki Sweep with Night One Win in Baltimore.
Ryan Smith Grabs Secures Arenacross Lites Victory

BALTIMORE, Md. (November 4, 2011) – The opening night of the AMA Arenacross Series round from Baltimore’s 1^st Mariner Arena was greeted by an excited crowd who cheered on the stars of the sport, as they waged battle on the first of two evenings of racing. After grabbing the opening-round win of the 2012 season last weekend, Babbitt’s Monster Energy/AMSOIL Kawasaki presented by Maxxis’ Tyler Bowers, of Danville, Ky., made it two-in-a-row on Friday night in the premier Arenacross class. In the opening round of the Eastern Regional Arenacross Lites class, Suzuki rider Ryan Smith, of Axton, Va., took his first career victory.

Babbitt’s Monster Energy/AMSOIL Kawasaki’s Josh Demuth moved into the lead at the start of the 25-lap Arenacross main event. Behind him, Foremost Insurance/Spinechillers/Stormlake Honda’s Nathan Skaggs, of Chillicothe, Ohio, and Bowers jockeyed for position in second and third, respectively.

Demuth held a small, yet secure advantage at the front of the field for the majority of the race. Bowers was able to work his way by Skaggs for second, and then set his sights on his teammate. With about a third of the main event remaining, Bowers began to pressure Demuth, eventually making the winning pass through the whoops and carrying it through to the end, winning by a little over two seconds.

Demuth kept Bowers honest through to the finish, just missing out on his first win since his championship-winning 2010 campaign by posting a runner-up effort. Chad Johnson, of Rhinelander, Wis., helped give the Babbitt’s Monster Energy/AMSOIL Kawasaki team a sweep of the podium in third, bouncing back from his DNF one week prior.

In the Arenacross Lites class, Gateway Cycles Kawasaki’s Steven Mages, of Sardinia, Ohio, grabbed the holeshot and opened up an early lead in the 18-lap main event. Shortly thereafter, Airide KTM’s Daniel Blair, of Lodi, Calif., began putting the pressure on Mages, in search of his first taste of victory in the AMA Arenacross Series.

On Lap 12, Mages began to lose control of his motorcycle, putting him in Blair’s path and forcing the pair to come together, crashing out of the lead. Smith took over the lead, and maintained the position through to the end of the main event to win in front of family and friends.

Motocross Ministries Kawasaki’s Michael McDade, of Indiana, Pa., finished second, while South of the Border Kawasaki’s Cody Robbins, of Huntersville, N.C., rounded out the podium in third.

Bower’s capped of a near-perfect evening by also wining the exciting Dash for Cash.

The 2012 AMA Arenacross Series from Baltimore continues with a second night of action tomorrow, November 5, beginning at 7 p.m. ET.

Arenacross Class Results (Baltimore, Md.)

1. Tyler Bowers, Danville, Ky., Kawasaki

2. Josh Demuth, North Richland Hills, Texas, Kawasaki

3. Chad Johnson, Rhinelander, Wis., Kawasaki

4. Jeff Gibson, Blacklick, Ohio, Honda

5. Nathan Skaggs, Chillicothe, Ohio, Honda

6. Kelly Smith, Ludington, Mich., KTM

7. Zach Ames, Prospect, Ohio, Kawasaki

8. Travis Sewell, Westville, Ind., KTM

9. Shawn Rife, Mechanicsburg, Ohio, Honda

10. Willy Browning, Pleasantville, Ohio, KTM

Arenacross Lites Class Results (Baltimore, Md.)

1. Ryan Smith, Axton, Va., Suzuki

2. Michael McDade, Indiana, Pa., Kawasaki

3. Cody Robbins, Huntersville, N.C., Kawasaki

4. Dave Ginolfi, Lake Hopatlong, N.J., KTM

5. Daniel Blair, Lodi, Calif., KTM

6. Chad Cook, Oklahoma City, Okla., Kawasaki

7. T.J. Phillips, New Castle, Pa., Kawasaki

8. Maxx Malatia, Itasca, Ill., Honda

9. Tony Archer, Waldorf, Md., Suzuki

10. Kevin Markwardt, Freeport, Ill., KTM

Arenacross Class Points (After Race 2 of 19)

1. Tyler Bowers, Danville, Ky., Kawasaki – 50

2. Josh Demuth, North Richland Hills, Texas, Kawasaki – 44

3. Jeff Gibson, Blacklick, Ohio, Honda – 38

4. Nathan Skaggs, Chillicothe, Ohio, Honda – 34

5. Kelly Smith, Ludington, Mich., KTM – 27

6. Chad Johnson, Rhinelander, Wis., Kawasaki – 27

7. Shawn Rife, Mechanicsburg, Ohio, Honda – 26

8. Willy Browning, Pleasantville, Ohio, KTM – 26

9. Zach Ames, Prospect, Ohio, Kawasaki – 20

10. Tyler Bright, Hamer, S.C., KTM – 20

Eastern Regional Arenacross Lites Class Points (After Race 1 of 10)

1. Ryan Smith, Axton, Va., Suzuki – 25

2. Michael McDade, Indiana, Pa., Kawasaki – 22

3. Cody Robbins, Huntersville, N.C., Kawasaki – 20

4. T.J. Phillips, New Castle, Pa., Kawasaki – 14

5. Maxx Malatia, Itasca, Ill., Honda – 13

6. Tony Archer, Waldorf, Md., Suzuki – 12

7. Steven Mages, Sardinia, Ohio, Kawasaki – 8

8. Sean Lipanovich, Tallahssee, Fla., Suzuki – 7

9. Travis Sewell, Westfield, Ind., KTM – 6

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 2012 AMA Arenacross Series, log on to www.Arenacross.com . For all media requests, please contact Brandon Short brandon@nextlevelsportsinc.com or 949-365-5750.

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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 .