Bowers Brings Momentum into Hometown Race as AMA Arenacross Series Debuts from Lexington’s Rupp Arena
AURORA, Ill. – A new winner stood atop the podium last Friday night as Team Faith KTM’s Kelly Smith became the fourth different rider to claim victory during the 2012 AMA Arenacross Series. The veteran rider’s triumph helped kick off two nights of action for the inaugural Cedar Park race, but by the end of the weekend, it was Babbitt’s Monster Energy/AMSOIL Kawasaki presented by Maxxis’ Tyler Bowers who left Texas with all the momentum.
Bowers, the reigning AMA Arenacross Series Champion and current Arenacross Class points leader, grabbed his ninth win of the season on Saturday to close out the weekend and extend his advantage to 16 points over FMF Power/Poynt TUF Honda’s Jeff Gibson. Now, the championship heads to another new venue, Lexington, Ky., and Rupp Arena, for one night of action this Saturday, February 4.
Bowers experienced a rare falter on the first evening of competition last weekend, but despite being forced to work his way through a talented field of riders, he still salvaged a third-place finish, losing just two points to Gibson, who finished second.
The following night, Bowers bounced back in resounding fashion, taking the holeshot and leading wire-to-wire to still walk away from Cedar Park with a point in his favor towards the championship after Gibson posted another runner-up effort.
The AMA Arenacross Series enters its final month of competition this weekend inside Rupp Arena. The state of Kentucky is no stranger to the sport of Arenacross, and with Bowers’ hometown of Danville a mere 35 miles from Lexington, fans are sure to come out in droves to support their tremendously successful local star.
As the premier class title fight continues to soldier on, a champion will be crowned on Saturday night in the Eastern Regional Arenacross Lites Championship, which will host its 2012 season finale inside Rupp Arena. Motostar Kawasaki’s Michael McDade has established himself as the favorite heading into the weekend, by virtue of consistent efforts and one victory, throughout the course of the nine main events.
McDade currently holds a 17-point lead over Dragon Racing Fuels/AG Motorsports KTM’s Michael Willard, the winningest rider in the Eastern Region.
The AMA Arenacross Series will make its debut from Rupp Arena on Saturday, February 4, with opening ceremonies beginning at 7 p.m. ET.
Previous Round Results:
Cedar Park Center – Cedar Park, Texas
January 27-28, 2012
Round 8 of 12
Arenacross Class Results – Night One (Cedar Park, Texas)
Kelly Smith, Ludington, Mich., KTM
Jeff Gibson, Blacklick, Ohio, Honda
Tyler Bowers, Danville, Ky., Kawasaki
Cole Siebler, Emmett, Idaho, Honda
Zach Ames, Prospect, Ohio, Kawasaki
Chad Johnson, Rhinelander, Wis., Kawasaki
Michael Willard, Newark, Ohio, KTM
Nathan Skaggs, Chillicothe, Ohio, Honda
Willy Browning, Pleasantville, Ohio, KTM
Brad Ripple, Cypress, Texas, Honda
Arenacross Class Results – Night Two (Cedar Park, Texas)
Tyler Bowers, Danville, Ky., Kawasaki
Jeff Gibson, Blacklick, Ohio, Honda
Chad Johnson, Rhinelander, Wis., Kawasaki
Zach Ames, Prospect, Ohio, Kawasaki
Kelly Smith, Ludington, Mich., KTM
Willy Browning, Pleasantville, Ohio, KTM
Michael Willard, Newark, Ohio, KTM
Dave Ginolfi, Lake Hopatcong, N.J., KTM
Kevin Johnson, Spring, Texas, KTM
Nathan Skaggs, Chillicothe, Ohio, Honda
Western Regional Arenacross Lites Class Results – Night One (Cedar Park, Texas)
1. Kevin Johnson, Spring, Texas, KTM
2. Nick Myers, Collinsville, Texas, Kawasaki
3. Dave Ginolfi, Lake Hopatcong, N.J., KTM
4. Kyle White, Freeport, Ill., Honda
5. Michael Willard, Newark, Ohio, KTM
6. Daniel Blair, Lodi, Calif., KTM
7. Steven Mages, Sardinia, Ohio, Kawasaki
8. Chad Cook, Oklahoma City, Okla., Kawasaki
9. Kevin Markwardt, Freeport, Ill., Honda
10. Patrick Massie, Washington Court House, Ohio, Honda
Western Regional Arenacross Lites Class Results – Night Two (Cedar Park, Texas)
Lance Vincent, Breaux Bridge, La., KTM
Kevin Johnson, Spring, Texas, KTM
Michael Willard, Newark, Ohio, KTM
Chad Cook, Oklahoma City, Okla., Kawasaki
Daniel Blair, Lodi, Calif., KTM
Kevin Markwardt, Freeport, Ill., Honda
Steven Mages, Sardinia, Ohio, Kawasaki
Kyle White, Freeport, Ill., Honda
Sean Hackley Jr., Orvila, Texas, KTM
Tony Archer, Waldorf, Md., KTM
Arenacross Class Points (After Race 14 of 19)
Tyler Bowers, Danville, Ky., Kawasaki (9 wins) – 305
Jeff Gibson, Blacklick, Ohio, Honda (2 wins) – 289
Chad Johnson, Rhinelander, Wis., Kawasaki (2 wins) – 253
Kelly Smith, Ludington, Mich., KTM (1 win) – 227
Zach Ames, Prospect, Ohio, Kawasaki – 198
Nathan Skaggs, Chillicothe, Ohio, Honda – 197
Willy Browning, Pleasantville, Ohio, KTM – 155
Josh Demuth, North Richland Hills, Texas, Kawasaki – 127
Travis Sewell, Westville, Ind., KTM – 116
Michael Willard, Newark, Ohio, KTM – 101
Eastern Regional Arenacross Lites Class Points (After Race 9 of 10)
Michael McDade, Indiana, Pa., Kawasaki (1 win) – 176
Michael Willard, Newark, Ohio, KTM (3 wins) – 159
Dave Ginolfi, Lake Hopatcong, N.J., KTM (2 win) – 150
Steven Mages, Sardinia, Ohio, Kawasaki (1 win) – 140
Kevin Johnson, Spring, Texas, KTM – 102
Travis Sewell, Westfield, Ind., KTM – 91
Austin Coon, Spencer, W. Va., Honda – 77
Daniel Blair, Lodi, Calif., KTM – 75
Kyle White, Freeport, Ill., Honda – 72
Maxx Malatia, Itasca, Ill., Honda – 58
Western Regional Arenacross Lites Class Points (After Race 5 of 9)
Chad Cook, Oklahoma City, Okla., Kawasaki – 78
Tanner Moore, Auburn, Kan., KTM – 63
Kevin Markwardt, Freeport, Ill., Honda – 63
Patrick Massie, Washington Court House, Ohio, Honda – 35
Lance Vincent, Breaux Bridge, La., KTM – 25
Cody Church, Grand Junction, Colo., Kawasaki – 25
Brandon Marley, McEwen, Tenn., KTM – 24
Nick Myers, Collinsville, Texas, Kawasaki – 22
Sean Hackley Jr., Orvila, Texas, KTM – 12
Jake Locks, Dixon, Calif., KTM – 12
2012 Dash for Cash Winners:
Des Moines – Zach Ames
Baltimore Night One – Tyler Bowers
Baltimore Night Two – Tyler Bowers
Madison Night One – Willy Browning
Madison Night Two – Jeff Gibson
Wilkes Barre Night One – Tyler Bowers
Wilkes Barre Night Two – Nathan Skaggs
Grand Rapids Night One – Zach Ames
Grand Rapids Night Two – Jeff Gibson
Topeka Night One – Chad Johnson
Topeka Night Two – Nathan Skaggs
Dayton – Jeff Gibson
Cedar Park Night One – Kelly Smith
Cedar Park Night Two – Tyler Bowers
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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