Press Release

AMA Arenacross Series Notebook: Kicking it Into High Gear

AURORA,
Ill. (January 6, 2012) – The last time the AMA Arenacross Series took
to the track in Wilkes Barre, Pa., in December, it signified a pivotal
point in the championship. Not only did it mark the final race of the
2011 calendar year and brought the first quarter of the season to a
close, but it also led into the final break of the season before the
schedule kicks into high gear, beginning this weekend at Grand Rapids’
Van Andel Arena.

Currently,
the battle for the Arenacross Class points lead is heating up between
FMF Power/Poynt TUF Honda’s Jeff Gibson, the current front-runner, and
Babbitt’s Monster Enegry/AMSOIL Kawasaki presented by Maxxis’ Tyler
Bowers, the reigning series champion. Throughout the first four rounds
of the season, they’ve traded wins, and have also had the luxury of
dialing in their respective programs thanks to a pair of extended breaks
from competition.

Now,
as a mere six points separates the two riders, the schedule hits an
eight-week stretch of consecutive rounds to round out the 2012 season,
and ultimately crown a champion. This weekend’s fifth round of the
season from Grand Rapids is the first race of the New Year and will
ultimately set the tone for the intense run to the conclusion of the
championship.

Simply
put, it’s go time for all competitors in the premier Arenacross Class.
Mistakes are no longer an option, and time is of the essence. For any
riders who have gotten their 2012 season off to a slow start, the final
eight rounds of the championship presents an opportunity to turn things
around and carry the momentum through to the stretch run.

Momentum
plays a significant role in the world of arenacross, as any rider on a
hot streak has the potential to ride the wave to even greater success.
With little to no downtime between rounds, a mistake at any point from
now until the season finale could result in a huge hit to one’s title
hopes.

Through
the first two months of the season, Gibson and Bowers, in addition to
Babbitt’s Monster Energy/AMSOIL Kawasaki’s Chad Johnson and Team Faith
KTM’s Kelly Smith, have established themselves as the most consistent
riders in the series. However with nearly a month of additional time to
prepare for the most intense part of the championship, it will be
interesting to see how other front runners like Foremost
Insurance/Spinechillers/Storm Lake Honda’s Nathan Skaggs and Bella’s
Cupcakes/Club MX Kawasaki’s Zach Ames attack the remainder of the
schedule.

Regardless,
the intensity and excitement of the AMA Arenacross Series is set to
reach new heights. Every lap counts, every move has its consequence, and
tensions will be at a boil once the gate drops in Grand Rapids. The
championship is heating up and over the next two months, the premier
Arenacross Class will be a battleground of bar-to-bar action.

In
addition to the buzz surrounding the premier division, the Arenacross
Lites Class will receive a shot in the arm as the AMA Arenacross Series
welcomes the return of groundbreaking female rider Vicki Golden. The new
Babbitt’s Monster Energy/AMSOIL Kawasaki rider is on the best equipment
the series has to offer and following a recovery process for a broken
collarbone that delayed her start to the 2012 season, Golden is eagerly
awaiting her chance to get back out on the track against her male
counterparts. While this weekend will serve as an opportunity to get her
back into her groove, Golden has her sights set on becoming a player in
the Western Regional Arenacross Lites Class Championship, which resumes
next weekend.

Van
Andel Arena has long been a staple of the AMA Arenacross Series, and
following a one-year hiatus, the high-octane competition is back in one
of its most beloved cities.

The
fifth round of the 2012 AMA Arenacross Series kicks off tonight, with
an action-packed evening of competition, and concludes Saturday, January
7, with yet another captivating 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 live updates, also log on to http://www.facebook.com/AMAarenacross and http://twitter.com/arenacross.

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.

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.
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