AMA Arenacross Series Notebook: Back in Action

 AURORA,
Ill. (December 9, 2011) – It’s been a month since the familiar growl of
dirt bikes has reverberated through the stands of an arena, but in just
a matter of hours, the AMA Arenacross Series will be back in action for
its fourth round of the 2012 championship. Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey
Plaza, in Wilkes Barre, Pa., will welcome the world’s best arenacross
riders and their return to competition for the final time in the 2011
calendar year.

FMF
Power/Poynt TUF Honda’s Jeff Gibson has established himself as the
rider to beat at this point in the season, capturing a pair of victories
and showcasing impressive consistency throughout the first five main
events. He holds the coveted Arenacross Class points lead, by a scant
six points, and will look to keep the momentum rolling in search of his
second series crown.

Nipping
at Gibson’s heels are a pair of hungry Babbitt’s Monster Energy/AMSOIL
Kawasaki presented by Maxxis riders. The past two AMA Arenacross Series
Champions Josh Demuth (2010) and Tyler Bowers (2011) hold down second
and third in the standings, respectively. Moreover, they are separated
by a single point. While he has yet to win so far this season, Demuth
has relied on his many years of experience to keep him as a staple at
the front of the field and it is only a matter of time before he breaks
through for that checkered flag. As for Bowers, he’s put forth a strong
start to his title defense, leading the series in both wins and podium
finishes. Bowers’ aggressive style has helped him stay within seven
points of the championship lead, and he will no doubt look to continue
his upward climb over the course of two nights of action this weekend.

In
all, this trio of riders boasts an incredible résumé of both results
and accolades. They are also three veteran riders who know how important
give and take is within the world of the AMA Arenacross Series.

While
Gibson, Demuth and Bowers aim to pull away from their counterparts,
riders like Chad Johnson and Kelly Smith are also on the verge of
becoming legitimate players in the title hunt. Both equally as
experienced as their three rivals, Johnson and his Babbitt’s Monster
Energy/AMSOIL Kawasaki ride, along with Smith’s Team Faith KTM machine,
have been knocking on the door for wins throughout the first three
rounds of the season. Some misfortune has hindered the duo from being
podium fixtures week in and week out, but with Johnson sitting 20 points
out of the lead, and Smith looking at a 27 gap, there is still plenty
of time for both riders to make their presence felt, starting this
weekend.

The
competition throughout this early portion of the 2012 AMA Arenacross
Series season has been some of the best the sport has ever seen. With
less than a second separating the entire premier class field, it’s
anyone’s race to win on any given night. While the front runners have
made an early statement with their success, the nine remaining rounds
and 14 remaining main events offer a chance for anything to happen in a
sport where such unpredictability is the norm.

This
weekend, the AMA Arenacross Series returns to Wilkes Barre for the
first time since the 2009 season. The northeastern Pennsylvania town has
long been a presence in the series, and its return to the schedule is
an anticipated one. Opening in 1999, Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza is
one of the premier venues in the country. It currently serves as home
to the Wilkes Barre/Scranton Penguins of the AHL, and starting in 2012,
will be the new home of the Wilkes Barre/Scranton Shamrocks of the North
American Lacrosse League.

The
fourth round of the 2012 AMA Arenacross Series kicks off tonight, with
an action-packed evening of competition, and concludes Saturday,
December 10, with yet another night of action. The show, for both Friday
and Saturday, begins at 7 p.m. ET.

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.

Never miss out on the latest news! Follow the AMA Arenacross Series on Facebook and Twitter! Log on to http://www.facebook.com/AMAarenacross and http://twitter.com/arenacross today!

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