Arenacross Finale
Since the second weekend in January, the AMA Arenacross Series has been on an 11-week trek throughout arenas across the U.S., showcasing the world’s most intimate form of motorcycle racing with evenings of bar-to-bar, action-packed racing.
This weekend, the 2010 season comes to a climax at the year’s final race from Denver and the Denver Coliseum.
The premier AMA Arenacross class has been a showcase for the Babbitt’s Monster Energy/TiLUBE Kawasaki team and on Friday and Saturday night, arenacross veterans and two-time series champions Josh Demuth and Chad Johnson will duel it out for the coveted number one plate.
Currently, Demuth holds and 22-point advantage over Johnson thanks to his five victories, but last weekend Johnson claimed his second victory of the season and showed he won’t go down without a fight.
Regardless of who walks away with the title on Saturday night, both Demuth and Johnson will be proud to have the championship come down to one another. While they are fierce competitors on the track, the former champions are close friends off of it.
Not only are they teammates, but they often train together in preparation for the races each weekend. The bond between the two riders will only add to their motivation when the gates drop on Friday and Saturday night, as both will be eager to outride one another.
The Babbitt’s team has won 16 of the 17 races this season and have also had at least one rider on the podium along with five podium sweeps with the team’s third rider and most successful competitor this season, Tyler Bowers. Before suffering a season-ending injury, Bowers earned a total of nine race wins as they championship goes on without his involvement.
While an AMA Arenacross class champion will be crowned on Saturday night, so will an AMA Arenacross Lites Western Regional competitor. Currently, GPF/Babbitt’s Kawasaki’s A.J. Catanzaro leads the way by 20 points. Last weekend, the 16-year old rookie watched his teammate Daniel Aulsaybrook walk away with the Eastern Regional title and would love to share in the glory with his teammate and the potent GPF team. Both riders have showcased tremendous speed and exceptional talent to make them a threat in the premier class next season.
Additionally, the GPF team’s stellar season has put them at the forefront of the entry-level division. The team’s approach to the sport is admirable as they work diligently to groom future arenacross stars and this season, they have been rewarded for their efforts more than ever.
It’s been a great ride and for 17 races across 10 states, the world’s best arenacross riders have kept the thousands of American fans on their feet. 425 premier class main event laps and 306 AMA Arenacross Lites main event laps have produced the trademark high-contact racing that makes the AMA Arenacross Series so exciting and the most unique discipline in motocross racing.
The Denver Coliseum is arguably the most historic venue in the state of Colorado. Built in 1952, it is one of the most diverse arenas in the country hosting virtually any event imaginable over its six decades of existence. It’s capable of seating 10,200 spectators and provides an intimate environment that is ideal for the AMA Arenacross Series.
The action commences for the Denver Arenacross Friday at 7 p.m. and is followed by another night of pro action on Saturday at 7 p.m. Amateur Day concludes an exciting weekend on Sunday, beginning at 10 a.m.
Advance tickets are available for this weekend’s race at the Denver Coliseum Box Office, Ticketmaster charge by phone and ticketmaster.com. Tickets cost $2 more the day of the race.
