2010 AMA Arenacross Notes: Kansas City

Courtesy of Feld Motorsports
AURORA, Ill. – As the 2010 AMA Arenacross Series enters its fourth round of the season this weekend and makes its return to Kansas City’s Kemper Arena, the headlining story a quarter of the way through remains Babbitt’s Monster Energy/TiLube Kawasaki’s Tyler Bowers. After a total of six races, Bowers has grabbed the win all but one, including the last five in a row.

Currently, the Kentucky native holds a 24-point lead over his teammate Chad Johnson, who coincidentally is the only other race winner in 2010, and appears to be in no hurry to slow down the momentum. Johnson has without a doubt been the second-best rider in the series, working his way through the field on more than one occasion en route to a solid podium result. If the two-time champion can garner some consistency on his starts, he could give Bowers a run for his money.

Despite the nearly full-race advantage over the field, Bowers still has a full nine rounds and 13 races before the season comes to an end, meaning there are 325 main event laps in which he needs to avoid trouble. In a discipline where the racing is so tightly contested and on-track space is at a premium, trouble tends to find a rider at some point. However, if Bowers continues to capitalize on his strong starts, it will be hard to catch him.

Saturday night’s showdown also marks the opening round of the 2010 AMA Arenacross Lites Western Regional Championship. After six exciting races of Eastern Regional competition that produced a parity-heavy five different winners, the youth movement from the West Coast takes center stage in what is sure to be an equally unpredictable title fight.

The AMA Arenacross Series’ last visit to Kemper Arena was in 2008. After a year hiatus, the world’s most intimate form of dirt-bike racing returns with one of the most talented fields in history and the resurgence of the 450cc motorcycle in the premier AMA Arenacross class.

Located in the heart of the country, Kemper Arena has been a staple of the AMA Arenacross Series for many years. As one of the most well-known venues in the country, it is also one of the largest in terms of capacity on the series schedule, capable of holding 19,500 fans.

The arena rose to fame thanks to its illustrious résumé of college basketball competitions. The nearby University of Kansas Jayhawks call Kemper Arena their second home while the NCAA has hosted the Final Four at the arena as well.

Since opening in 1974, Kemper Arena has become one of the landmark venues in the middle portion of the United States. In addition to numerous sporting events, it has also played host to several of the world’s most famous musical artists like Elvis, Kiss, AC/DC, Michael Jackson and Garth Brooks. On Saturday night, it will transform into a man-made dirt battleground, showcasing some of the most exciting racing on the planet.

The first gates drop on the Kansas City Arenacross Saturday, January 30 beginning at 7:30 p.m. The action concludes with Amateur Day on Sunday, beginning at 10 a.m.

Advance tickets are available for this weekend’s Kansas City Arenacross at the Sprint Center Box Office, Ticketmaster charge by phone and ticketmaster.com. Tickets cost $2 more the day of the race.

Fans in attendance also can take part in the Track Party on Saturday from 5-6 p.m. for the chance to meet the riders and get autographs. Simply recycle any MONSTER ENERGY can at the gate entrance for FREE admission. Must have valid Saturday event ticket to enter.

Tickets for all rounds of the 2010 season can be purchased at www.ticketmaster.com and www.arenacross.com.

For more information on the AMA Arenacross Series log on to www.arenacross.com.

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 Monster Jam®, SuperBull?, Monster Energy Supercross, AMA Arenacross Series, Nuclear Cowboyz?, Gravity Slashers?, 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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2010 Arenacross Schedule Announced

Image via Wikipedia

Courtesy of AMA Arenacross

Reigning Series Champion Jeff Gibson Defends Title Against World’s Best Arenacross Racers

Feld Motor Sports? announced today the 12-stops on the 2010 AMA Arenacross Series schedule that will crown a champion at the Denver Coliseum in Denver, Colo. on March 27.

The season’s prequel race will take place at the Des Moines’ Wells-Fargo Arena (non-points paying), foreshadowing the highly anticipated season and giving the sport’s top racers an opportunity to compete on an official AMA Arenacross Series track. The first points-paying race of the 2010 championship is January 8 at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Mich.

The AMA Arenacross Series will travel to six new cities in 2010, each of which have previously hosted AMA Arenacross Series races in the past including Hampton, Va. (January 22-24), Kansas City, Kan. (January 30-31), Youngstown, Ohio (February 12-14), Council Bluffs, Iowa (March 12-14) and Denver (March 26-28).

“This season is building up to be another great year of racing with many of the greatest AMA Arenacross Series racers returning to fight for the title,” said Jayme Dalsing, director of Arenacross, Feld Motor Sports. “We have a solid schedule this year, and there will not be any breaks once the season starts in January. It is going to be a test for our top riders to come out strong and never let up.”

Reigning AMA Arenacross Series champion Jeff Gibson, of Westerville, Ohio, will defend his championship in 2010 against the world’s top competitors on the intimate AMA Arenacross Series circuit. Gibson was the picture of consistency throughout the entire 2009 season, finishing inside the top 10 all but once throughout the 12-race season. He kicked-off the year with seven consecutive podium finishes, including two victories in that stretch and continued his impressive run by garnering four additional wins. Once he moved into the points lead, Gibson never relinquished his hold atop the standings. The championship also marked the third straight title for the Tuf Honda team, featuring three different riders during that span.

“It’s going to be different this year with the number one plate on my bike, it hasn’t quite hit me yet,” said Gibson. “When I hit the track, that’s when the reality of being the defending champ will sink in, and racing in front of new crowds at new venues is going to make for an exciting 2010 AMA Arenacross Series. Defending my title is going to be tough as the top racers in the world will be gunning for my number-one plate.”

2010 AMA Arenacross Series Schedule:
November 7-8 Des Moines, Iowa Wells Fargo Arena
January 8-10 Grand Rapids, Mich. Van Andel Arena
January 15-17 Baltimore, Md. 1st Mariner Arena
January 22-24 Hampton, Va. Hampton Coliseum
January 30-31 Kansas City, Mo. Kemper Arena
February 6-7 Tulsa, Okla. BOK Center
February 12-14 Youngstown, Ohio Covelli Center
February 20-21 San Antonio, Texas Alamo Dome
February 27-28 Fresno, Calif. Save Mart Center
March 5-7 Reno, Nev. Livestock Event Center
March 12-14 Council Bluffs, Iowa Mid America Center
March 20-21 Dayton, Ohio Ervin J. Nutter Center
March 26-28 Denver, Colo. Denver Coliseum

For more information on the 2010 AMA Arenacross Series, please contact Denny Hartwig at dhartwig@feldinc.com or by phone at 630-566-6305.

For more information or tickets for the 2010 AMA Arenacross Series log on to www.Arenacross.com.