AURORA,
Ill. (November 3, 2011) – With the first round of the 2012 AMA
Arenacross Series in the books, the tone for the championship battle has
been set. After misfortune befell his closest competitors, reigning
Arenacross class champion, and Babbitt’s Monster Energy/AMOSIL Kawasaki
presented by Maxxis rider, Tyler Bowers made the first statement of the
2012 season, taking the win at Des Moines last Saturday.
Ill. (November 3, 2011) – With the first round of the 2012 AMA
Arenacross Series in the books, the tone for the championship battle has
been set. After misfortune befell his closest competitors, reigning
Arenacross class champion, and Babbitt’s Monster Energy/AMOSIL Kawasaki
presented by Maxxis rider, Tyler Bowers made the first statement of the
2012 season, taking the win at Des Moines last Saturday.
As the series heads to Baltimore’s 1st Mariner
Arena this weekend, signifying the first two-night round of the
championship, another rider is looking to bounce back and put his name
in the mix for the early title fight. Fellow Babbitt’s Monster
Energy/AMSOIL Kawasaki rider Chad Johnson was consistent throughout the
night in Des Moines, and after grabbing the holeshot in the main event,
looked ready to make an early statement. However, on the ninth lap of
competition, Johnson came in contact with Bella’s Cupcakes/Club MX
Kawasaki’s Zach Ames, who was looking to make a pass for the lead. The
aggressive move took both riders to the ground, and ultimately forced
each out of competition for the evening.
Arena this weekend, signifying the first two-night round of the
championship, another rider is looking to bounce back and put his name
in the mix for the early title fight. Fellow Babbitt’s Monster
Energy/AMSOIL Kawasaki rider Chad Johnson was consistent throughout the
night in Des Moines, and after grabbing the holeshot in the main event,
looked ready to make an early statement. However, on the ninth lap of
competition, Johnson came in contact with Bella’s Cupcakes/Club MX
Kawasaki’s Zach Ames, who was looking to make a pass for the lead. The
aggressive move took both riders to the ground, and ultimately forced
each out of competition for the evening.
With
an 18-point deficit to Bowers heading into Baltimore, Johnson will have
his work cut out for him to bounce back. We caught up with him to get
his thoughts on the opening weekend.
an 18-point deficit to Bowers heading into Baltimore, Johnson will have
his work cut out for him to bounce back. We caught up with him to get
his thoughts on the opening weekend.
Arenacross:
You were at the front of the field throughout the evening in Des
Moines, and it looks like you are ready to battle for this championship.
How do you feel after one round?
You were at the front of the field throughout the evening in Des
Moines, and it looks like you are ready to battle for this championship.
How do you feel after one round?
Chad
Johnson: I was pumped on the preseason, testing in Illinois. The bike
is working great, and (team manager) Denny Bartz has done a lot to get
us in the right position to go out and do well. I’m feeling real
comfortable on the bike. I went into Des Moines feeling good. I was
getting good starts and running right at the front of the pack. The heat
race went well, finishing second, and I also finished second in the
Dash for Cash. I pulled the holeshot in the main and was leading for a
bit, and then Zach (Ames) came in a little earlier than he probably
should have. You want to make that move and get out front as quick as
you can, but you also have to use your head a little bit and be smart
about when you make the pass. He didn’t quite have enough room and when
he went for it, he knocked us both down. That’s arenacross. That stuff
happens. No hard feelings against him. We spoke later that night and all
is good. But, things definitely didn’t turn out like I would have liked
them to.
Johnson: I was pumped on the preseason, testing in Illinois. The bike
is working great, and (team manager) Denny Bartz has done a lot to get
us in the right position to go out and do well. I’m feeling real
comfortable on the bike. I went into Des Moines feeling good. I was
getting good starts and running right at the front of the pack. The heat
race went well, finishing second, and I also finished second in the
Dash for Cash. I pulled the holeshot in the main and was leading for a
bit, and then Zach (Ames) came in a little earlier than he probably
should have. You want to make that move and get out front as quick as
you can, but you also have to use your head a little bit and be smart
about when you make the pass. He didn’t quite have enough room and when
he went for it, he knocked us both down. That’s arenacross. That stuff
happens. No hard feelings against him. We spoke later that night and all
is good. But, things definitely didn’t turn out like I would have liked
them to.
AX:
You grabbed the holeshot and looked like you had the speed to hold
everyone off and make an early statement in the championship, but Zach
had other plans. What are your thoughts in the heat of the moment when a
move like that ultimately takes you out of the race for good?
You grabbed the holeshot and looked like you had the speed to hold
everyone off and make an early statement in the championship, but Zach
had other plans. What are your thoughts in the heat of the moment when a
move like that ultimately takes you out of the race for good?
CJ:
I was definitely disappointed. I try not to get too mad about that
stuff. We’re all out there to win and we’re all trying our hardest. I’ve
been doing this for a long time now and I’ve done the same thing he
did. If he would have came in and knocked me over, and kept going, I
would have said ‘Well, it’s arenacross. Good job. I should have been
paying more attention.’ But we both went down and both didn’t finish the
main event. I mean, we talked about it, but even as we were both
pushing our bikes off the track and into the pits, we smiled at one
another and said ‘that’s racing.’ It’s not that big of a deal and
there’s always next weekend. Neither of us wanted to end the race, and
we both would have liked to have the first round go a little better than
that, but our speed is there. I’m feeling good on the bike, and he’s
obviously feeling good. I feel like I have the potential to go out there
and win some races and get back into this points battle.
I was definitely disappointed. I try not to get too mad about that
stuff. We’re all out there to win and we’re all trying our hardest. I’ve
been doing this for a long time now and I’ve done the same thing he
did. If he would have came in and knocked me over, and kept going, I
would have said ‘Well, it’s arenacross. Good job. I should have been
paying more attention.’ But we both went down and both didn’t finish the
main event. I mean, we talked about it, but even as we were both
pushing our bikes off the track and into the pits, we smiled at one
another and said ‘that’s racing.’ It’s not that big of a deal and
there’s always next weekend. Neither of us wanted to end the race, and
we both would have liked to have the first round go a little better than
that, but our speed is there. I’m feeling good on the bike, and he’s
obviously feeling good. I feel like I have the potential to go out there
and win some races and get back into this points battle.
AX:
Zach put his bike in there in previous laps to show you he was there.
When you are out front and riding your own race, do you have any
indication something like that is going to happen?
Zach put his bike in there in previous laps to show you he was there.
When you are out front and riding your own race, do you have any
indication something like that is going to happen?
CJ:
Oh yeah. Two laps prior to that he stuck his front wheel on me. He was
very nice about it. He put his front wheel in there to say ‘Hey, I’m
here. On the next lap, if you don’t let off, you’re going down.’ I came
in the next lap and checked up, but he wasn’t there. So, I kept going
and had a good bike length or two on him. I kept on racing and the lap
after, I thought I was clear, and he came out of nowhere. You can always
tell when someone is coming in on you, if they
have the room to do so. Unfortunately, he didn’t have the room to come
in, so by the time he got to me, it was too late and I couldn’t do
anything about it. There’s no shutting down. There’s nothing he can do.
There was really no chance of either of us saving it as he darted in
there.
Oh yeah. Two laps prior to that he stuck his front wheel on me. He was
very nice about it. He put his front wheel in there to say ‘Hey, I’m
here. On the next lap, if you don’t let off, you’re going down.’ I came
in the next lap and checked up, but he wasn’t there. So, I kept going
and had a good bike length or two on him. I kept on racing and the lap
after, I thought I was clear, and he came out of nowhere. You can always
tell when someone is coming in on you, if they
have the room to do so. Unfortunately, he didn’t have the room to come
in, so by the time he got to me, it was too late and I couldn’t do
anything about it. There’s no shutting down. There’s nothing he can do.
There was really no chance of either of us saving it as he darted in
there.
AX:
Tyler Bowers assumed the position in the lead after you and Zach went
down and now has the early advantage in the championship. Based on his
performances the last couple seasons, it’s safe to say it’s time to get
going. You can’t necessarily win or lose the championship in the first
round, but being behind the eight ball a bit, where does this put you in
the championship going into Baltimore?
Tyler Bowers assumed the position in the lead after you and Zach went
down and now has the early advantage in the championship. Based on his
performances the last couple seasons, it’s safe to say it’s time to get
going. You can’t necessarily win or lose the championship in the first
round, but being behind the eight ball a bit, where does this put you in
the championship going into Baltimore?
CJ:
You know, I’m definitely down (in the championship). I think I’m down
18 points, so that’s not a good start. But, I just need to go out there,
try to get some good starts, and win some races. Its arenacross and
anything can happen. Everybody is bound to have a bad main event, and
unfortunately I had one right away, so that kind of uses up all my gimme
cards. But, hopefully, with a little luck, I won’t have any more. But,
we’ll see.
You know, I’m definitely down (in the championship). I think I’m down
18 points, so that’s not a good start. But, I just need to go out there,
try to get some good starts, and win some races. Its arenacross and
anything can happen. Everybody is bound to have a bad main event, and
unfortunately I had one right away, so that kind of uses up all my gimme
cards. But, hopefully, with a little luck, I won’t have any more. But,
we’ll see.
AX:
With two nights this weekend and two chances to get back into it, how
do you approach the Baltimore round? I know you’ve mentioned you are a
fan of the two-night rounds, so how does that play in to how you fight
your way back into the championship?
With two nights this weekend and two chances to get back into it, how
do you approach the Baltimore round? I know you’ve mentioned you are a
fan of the two-night rounds, so how does that play in to how you fight
your way back into the championship?
CJ:
Having the two nights gives you more track time, and gives you more
opportunity to gain points and make money. Just be a part of what’s
going on around the event. When you have one night, you’re in and out so
fast that when you do have something like this past weekend where you
have a bad night, there’s nothing to recompose yourself. You just go on
home and wait until the next weekend. Two nights gives you the
opportunity if one night goes bad, to redeem it with the next, or if you
have a good weekend, you can go home with two good nights.
Having the two nights gives you more track time, and gives you more
opportunity to gain points and make money. Just be a part of what’s
going on around the event. When you have one night, you’re in and out so
fast that when you do have something like this past weekend where you
have a bad night, there’s nothing to recompose yourself. You just go on
home and wait until the next weekend. Two nights gives you the
opportunity if one night goes bad, to redeem it with the next, or if you
have a good weekend, you can go home with two good nights.
AX:
There was a lot of attention given to the fact that four former
champions are battling against one another this season, in addition to a
lot of other strong riders. It seems like the field is really deep in
talent this year. After one night, how are you gauging the competition?
There was a lot of attention given to the fact that four former
champions are battling against one another this season, in addition to a
lot of other strong riders. It seems like the field is really deep in
talent this year. After one night, how are you gauging the competition?
CJ:
I think the talent definitely runs deep this year. With everyone being
on 250cc bikes, it makes it a little more even too. There are a lot of
fast riders out there. You can kind of see who has the speed after the
first round. Some riders have the speed, but aren’t quite in shape yet,
while some just aren’t quite there with the speed. But, I think there’s a lot more
riders with the speed that just need a little more time to get in shape
and get acclimated, than there is without. I think you’re going to see a
lot of people stepping up as the season goes on.
I think the talent definitely runs deep this year. With everyone being
on 250cc bikes, it makes it a little more even too. There are a lot of
fast riders out there. You can kind of see who has the speed after the
first round. Some riders have the speed, but aren’t quite in shape yet,
while some just aren’t quite there with the speed. But, I think there’s a lot more
riders with the speed that just need a little more time to get in shape
and get acclimated, than there is without. I think you’re going to see a
lot of people stepping up as the season goes on.
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.
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. For all media requests, please contact Brandon Short brandon@nextlevelsportsinc.com or 949-365-5750.
Never miss out on the latest news! Follow the AMA Arenacross Series on Facebook and Twitter! Log on tohttp://www.facebook.com/AMAarenacross and http://twitter.com/arenacross today!
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.
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.
11/3/2011 4:21pm
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