Lange Takes Second Arenacross Title – Feature Review – Dirt Rider Magazine

After focusing his attention fully on the Arenacross circuit in 2001, Darcy Lange has had a relatively short ride to the top of the sport, this year claiming his second-straight National Arenacross Championship in very dominating fashion. Lange, from Courtenay, British Columbia, posted 28 wins in 40 starts during this year’s 10-city national tour, finishing the season a full 175 points ahead of the closest competitor, Richmond Racing/Team Green Kawasaki teammate, Jeff Northrop.The 2004/2005 season marked the 21st year for the Arenacross series, which has grown from its humble beginnings in Texas by former dirt tracker-turned-promoter, Mike Kidd. The series, now promoted by Clear Channel Entertainment, has turned into a full-blown, but miniaturized, version of the Supercross Series, and is the largest indoor motocross series in the world.Raced on tracks one-fourth the size of a normal Supercross track, riders must compete in both 125 and 250 classes. It rewards the rider who gets the best starts and has the ability to enter and exit the very tight horseshoe turns the quickest. And it also doesn’t hurt to have a good block-pass or stuff move.PPG/Motoworld Racing.com Suzuki’s Branden Jesseman is one exception to the “specialist” rule; the 2003 125 East Supercross Champion is equally good at Arenacross and Supercross, having finished this year’s Arenacross series in fifth overall, despite missing the final round to ride the opening round of the 125 East Supercross series.Finishing third overall was Shogun Factory Yamaha/Motion Cyclesports’ Chad Johnson, of Rhinelander, Wisconsin. After mediocre finishes during the mid-season, Johnson came on strong in the end, winning three of four main events at the penultimate round in Denver.This year’s series boasted a whopping $100,000.00 overall points fund, of which Lange pocketed $25,000.00 for winning the championship.