2011 Arenacross
After a strong first night (Friday) in which he extended his points lead in the 2011 AMA Arenacross Series championship, Babbitt’s Monster Energy/TiLUBE Kawasaki presented by Maxxis’ Tyler Bowers, of Danville, Ky., made it a clean sweep in Reno after another convincing effort.
In the Arenacross Lites class, Kawasaki rider Tiger Lacey, of Spring Creek, Nev., maintained the momentum he gained from an opening-night win to join his Arenacross class counterpart with a weekend sweep.
Bowers’ fifth win of the season came on the heels of another strong start. TUF Honda’s Jeff Gibson, of Blacklick, Ohio, held the early lead, pacing the first third of the main event before a hard pass dropped him back.
That allowed Bowers to grab the lead and pull away from his competitors. While he received a challenge from his Babbitt’s Monster Energy/TiLUBE Kawasaki teammate Chad Johnson, of Rhinelander, Wis., who did his best to keep Bowers honest, there was no stopping the wave of momentum Bowers is carrying right now.
Johnson’s effort secured the runner-up spot while Gibson finished third. A hard fight by Team Faith Yamaha’s Kelly Smith, of Ludington, Mich., resulted in a fourth-place effort, but he was in the podium mix throughout the main event.
Bowers is in the midst of a four-race winning streak and now sits 12 points ahead of Gibson as the series hits the halfway point.
The Arenacross Lites class was a welcome return to action for Lacey, who took advantage of the chance to compete in front of family and friends. His back-to-back stellar efforts in his home race was a feel good story for all members of the arenacross community and his outstanding riding on Saturday night made him no match for his fellow riders, claiming a convincing win of his own.
Arenacross Lites Western Regional Championship points leader Chad Cook, of Oklahoma City, Okla., rebounded from a tough first night to secure the runner-up spot while Cycle Zone KTM’s Tanner Moore, of Auburn, Kan., brought home third.
The AMA Arenacross Series continues its west coast swing next weekend from ARCO Arena in Sacramento, Calif., beginning at 7 p.m. PT.
Arenacross Class Results (Reno, Nev.)
Tyler Bowers, Danville, Ky., Kawasaki
Chad Johnson, Rhinelander, Wis., Kawasaki
Jeff Gibson, Blacklick, Ohio, Honda
Kelly Smith, Ludington, Mich., Yamaha
Zach Ames, Prospect, Ohio, Honda
Gray Davenport, Lehi, Utah, Kawasaki
Nathan Skaggs, Chilicothe, Ohio, Honda
Kevin Johnson, Spring, Texas, Yamaha
Daniel Aulseybrook, Ortonville, Mich., Suzuki
Cory Green, Nowata, Okla., Suzuki
AMA Arenacross Lites Class Results (Reno, Nev.)
Tiger Lacey, Spring Creek, Nev., Kawasaki
Chad Cook, Oklahoma City, Okla., Kawasaki
Tanner Moore, Auburn, Kan., KTM
Patrick Massie, Washington Court, Ohio, Honda
Aviery Hickey, Decatur, Texas, Kawasaki
Joel Fittro, Elmira, Calif., Kawasaki
Tanner Young, Marland, Okla., Yamaha
Jake Locks, Dixon, Calif., Kawasaki
Travis Smith, Lancaster, Calif., Yamaha
Noa Quinabo, Riverside, Calif., Suzuki
Arenacross Class Points (After Race 10 of 19)
Tyler Bowers, Danville, Ky., Kawasaki – 227
Jeff Gibson, Blacklick, Ohio, Honda – 215
Chad Johnson, Rhinelander, Wis., Kawasaki – 198
Zach Ames, Prospect, Ohio, Honda – 160
Cole Siebler, Emmett, Idaho, Honda – 153
Gray Davenport, Lehi, Utah, Kawasaki – 153
Nathan Skaggs, Chillicothe, Ohio, Honda – 132
Kelly Smith, Ludington, Mich., Yamaha – 124
Kevin Johnson, Spring, Texas, Yamaha – 111
Cory Green, Nowata, Okla., Suzuki – 105
Arenacross Lites Class Western Regional Points (After Race 5 of 10)
Chad Cook, Oklahoma City, Okla., Kawasaki – 105
Tanner Moore, Auburn, Kan., KTM – 83
Aviery Hickey, Decatur, Texas, Kawasaki – 67
Travis Smith, Lancaster, Calif., Yamaha – 66
Tanner Young, Marland, Okla., Yamaha – 51
Tiger Lacey, Spring Creek, Nev., Kawasaki – 50
Bobby Fitch, Littleton, Colo., Honda – 44
Jeremy Huddleston, Eustace, Texas, KTM – 42
Noa Quinabo, Riverside, Calif., Suzuki – 36
Joel Fittro, Elmira, Calif., Kawasaki – 35
