14-Race Championship Kicks Off Saturday from Tulsa’s BOK Center
AURORA, Ill. (January 3, 2011) –
The days are winding down to the start of the 2011 AMA Arenacross
Series and with each passing hour, the tension increases as the world’s
fastest arenacross riders prepare to battle for a newly-vacant national
championship.
Just
a few weeks ago, the news of three-time and reigning AMA Arenacross
Series Champion Josh Demuth’s premature end to defending his crown hit
headlines. After putting forth an exceptional effort to fend off his
Babbitt’s Monster Energy/TiLube Kawasaki presented by Maxxis teammates
in addition to leading the most dominant performance by a single team
in series history, Demuth suffered a wrist injury during preparation
for his 2011 defense.
With
only a handful of weeks to the start of the season, Demuth’s return
before this Saturday’s premiere round from the BOK Center in Tulsa,
Okla., is out of the question. In fact, his return to racing at all in
2011 is currently up in the air. As a result, last year’s championship
podium finishers in Chad Johnson and Tyler Bowers, in addition to 2009
Champion Jeff Gibson, assumed the role of title favorites.
This
trio of riders are no strangers to success. Johnson is a two-time AMA
Arenacross Series Champion in his own right and returns to the
Babbitt’s stable for a chance at tying his good friend Demuth with a
threesome of number one plates.
With
a series-leading nine victories, Bowers appeared well on his way to the
2010 title, but misfortune struck the future star with just two rounds
remaining. As a result, he was unable to compete in the final two
rounds, instead watching his pair of teammates battle for the crown
from the sidelines. There isn’t a rider in the AMA Arenacross Series in
2011 with more unfinished business than Bowers.
Just
one year after bursting onto the AMA Arenacross Series scene with an
incredible championship run during his first full season on the
circuit, Gibson found frustration in 2010. While he managed to be the
only rider in the series to challenge the Babbitt’s powerhouse on a
weekly basis, it was a down season by Gibson’s standards. However,
after a full season of adjustment to the 450cc bike, he is back with
TUF Honda ready to rebound.
In
addition to Johnson, Bowers and Gibson, a bevy of talented up and
comers combined with series veterans are all eager to throw their names
into the mix. Nathan Skaggs and Zach Ames of the Foremost
Insurance/Spinechillers/Honda Fairfield Racing team have been breakout
stars over the past two seasons. Both have captured coveted victories
in the AMA Arenacross class and alongside a fully healthy teammate in
Willy Browning, should be able to make a serious run for the title.
Several
other veterans will also look to be in the mix, including Demuth’s
replacement at Babbitt’s for the 2011 season in experienced rider Gray
Davenport. His familiarity with Kawasaki is longstanding and he should
adjust to the bike well. Joining Davenport are fellow well known riders
like Jim Neese, Robbie Reynard and the 2011 Team Faith lineup of Kevin
Johnson and Kelly Smith.
A
new team could potentially make some noise in the premier division
thanks to a pair of talented brothers. Both Daniel and Vincent Blair
have made a name for themselves as talented privateer riders on the
Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, schedule, but
for 2011, they are shifting their focus to the AMA Arenacross Series.
The newly-formed MainEventRock.com Honda team will give the California boys a chance to translate their skills onto the intimate confines of arenacross.
As
always, the exciting AMA Arenacross Lites class will accompany the big
bikes at all 14 stops of the championship. Divided into West and East
regions, the AMA Arenacross Lites championships pit the youngest and
most talented arenacross riders in the country head-to-head. Last
season, a pair of new faces in Daniel Aulsaybrook and A.J. Catanzaro
grabbed their first taste of glory at the professional level by taking
the respective regional crowns for MMCR/GPF Kawasaki. This season,
MMCR/GPF Kawasaki will be focusing its efforts on the AMA Arenacross
class title with Aulsaybrook and its newest addition of former AMA
Arenacross Lites Regional Champion Dave Ginolfi leading the way. With a
new lineup of future talent ready to bring fans to their feet, it will
be interesting to see who comes out on top on season’s end in each
region of the AMA Arenacross Lites class.
No
matter how things play out over the course of the next three and a half
months, it is sure to be exciting. The AMA Arenacross Series is one of
the most unique forms of racing on the planet and it is guaranteed to
produce fireworks. It all kicks off in just a few days from the BOK
Center in Tulsa, Saturday, January 8 starting at 7:30 p.m. ET!
For more information on the 2011 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!
Feld Motor Sports®, Inc. is the world leader in specialized arena and
stadium-based motor sports entertainment. Feld Motor Sports, Inc. productions include 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.
1/4/2011 10:47am
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