Toyota AMA Arenacross Series Ready To Rock Reno

Toyota AMA Arenacross Series Ready To Rock Reno

AURORA, Ill. (Nov. 12, 2007) – Last year at Reno’s (Nev.) Livestock Event Center Team TUF Racing/Honda’s Danny Smith finished 1-2 during the two-night performance to extend a points lead that he would never relinquish, eventually winning the 2006-’07 overall Toyota AMA Arenacross Series title. Smith was quoted later in the season saying “Reno was the turning point in the Toyota AMA Arenacross Series.”

This weekend in Reno will have to play out similar for Idaho’s Smith if he wants to dig out of the hole he dug himself this past weekend in Albany, N.Y., where he didn’t even qualify for the main event.

“This really leaves the door open for guys like Robbie Reynard (Suzuki) and Kelly Smith (Kawasaki) and Brock Sellards (Kawasaki) to move in on the lead,” said Toyota AMA Arenacross Series announcer Tim Cotter. “It also opens the door for points leader Chad Johnson (Honda) to blow this thing wide open.”

Heading into Reno, Johnson has a 15-point lead in the premier AMA Arenacross class. Last year Smith had a 28-point lead over Johnson (29-point lead over eventual Toyota AMA Arenacross Series runner-up Reynard) when they departed Reno. Much of this was due in fact to both Johnson and Reynard crashing or nearly crashing in their starts on Friday. The high-speed first turn at the Livestock Events Center is always a challenge to the riders, and the layout of the track is the largest on the circuit.

“Reno’s definitely turned out, year after year, to be one of the key stops on the Toyota AMA Arenacross Series circuit,” added Cotter.

Also keep in mind that former Toyota AMA Arenacross Series champion, Josh Demuth (Honda), is scheduled to race Reno. Along with former champions Chad Johnson, Danny Smith and Reynard, there could be four former champs lined up for the main events – provided they can even qualify in the star-studded field!

In its 16th year of competition at the Livestock Events Center, Round Three of the Toyota AMA Arenacross Series is brought to you locally by Michael’s Reno Powersports.

Last year’s Friday & Saturday night podiums at Reno:

2007-’08 Series Team Point Standings

 

1. Chad Johnson 63 pts
2. Brock Sellards 48 pts
3. Kelly Smith 47 pts
4. Jim Neese 46 pts
5. Robbie Reynard 43 pts

Tickets for the Nov. 16-17 Toyota AMA Arenacross at the Reno Livestock Events Center are available through www.arenacross.com, at the Reno Livestock Events Center box office, Silver Legacy Casino, any Ticketmaster location, including www.ticketmaster.com or charge by phone at (775) 787-TIXS. Fees and handling may apply. Show times are Friday and Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Sunday (amateurs) at 12:00. Doors open Friday and Saturday at 6:30 p.m., Sunday at 11 a.m. Friday and Saturday advance tickets are $20 for adults, $7 for kids ages 2-12. Sunday’s tickets are $12 for adults, $6 for kids. All seats are $2 more day of show. Note: Tickets for the 2008 Reno Toyota AMA Arenacross round will go on sale 11/18 at 6 p.m.

About Toyota AMA Arenacross Series
In its 24th year, the Toyota AMA Arenacross Series, owned by Live Nation, is the premier indoor motocross series in the U.S. playing to sold-out arenas nationwide. Information on the Toyota AMA Arenacross Series events may be found at www.Arenacross.com. Live Nation is the world's largest live music company. Our mission is to inspire passion for live music around the world. We are the largest promoter of live concerts in the world, the second-largest entertainment venue management company and have a rapidly growing online presence. We create superior experiences for artists and fans, regularly producing tours for the biggest superstars in the business, including The Rolling Stones, Barbra Streisand, Madonna, U2 and Coldplay. Globally, we own, operate, have booking rights for and/or have an equity interest in more than 160 venues, including House of Blues® music venues and prestigious locations such as The Fillmore in San Francisco, Nikon at Jones Beach in New York and London’s Wembley Arena. Our websites collectively are the second most popular entertainment/event websites in the United States, according to Nielsen//NetRatings. In addition, we also produce, promote or host theatrical, specialized motor sports and other live entertainment events. In 2006, we connected nearly 60 million fans with their favorite performers at approximately 26,000 events in 18 countries around the world. Headquartered in Los Angeles, California, Live Nation is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, trading under the symbol “LYV.” For more information regarding Live Nation and its businesses or concerts near you, please visit our website at www.livenation.com.

About AMA Racing
AMA Racing is the competition arm of the American Motorcyclist Association and is the leading sanctioning body for motorcycle sport in the United States. Its professional properties include the AMA Supercross Series, the AMA Toyota Motocross Championship presented by FMF, the AMA Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited, the AMA Ford Quality Checked Flat Track Championship, the AMA Supermoto Championship and the AMA Pro ATV Championship. In amateur and pro-am competition, AMA Racing sanctions over 4000 events in 24 different disciplines and supports over 110 thousand active members. For more information about professional racing, visit www.amaproracing.com. For amateur racing information visit www.amadirectlink.com/amrace/amasports.asp.