AURORA, Ill. (March 16, 2009) - With just one round remaining, two and a half months of high-intensity, bar-to-bar action will come to a close this weekend as the AMA Arenacross Series makes its debut at the Bank of Kentucky Center in Highland Heights, Ky. Points leader Jeff Gibson carries a 48-point lead into the series finale in search of his first career AMA Arenacross title while his team, Mahindra Tractors/Tuf Honda, is on the verge of claiming its third consecutive championship.
While Gibson sits in the driver's seat for the path to the championship, Triple Effect Kawasaki's Brock Sellards refuses to quit. The series' current second place holder has been impressive over the past few rounds and, after runner-up finishes in two of the past three years, is arguably the hungriest rider out there in search of a coveted AMA Arenacross Series title. And while the path for Sellards to win the title is a tough one, it is possible if Gibson does not finish this weekend's main events and Sellards captures two wins. This final weekend of action ignites on Friday night, March 20 with a second night of bar-banging excitement on Saturday, March 21. Both evenings kick off at 7 p.m. Tickets for the final round of the season are just $20 for adults and begin at $10 for kids. The weekend concludes on Sunday with amateur racing beginning at 10 a.m.
Last weekend in Wilkes Barre, Pa., new faces graced the top step of the podium on Friday and Saturday night. Series legend and Gibson's teammate Josh Demuth made his triumphant return to the winners circle on Friday with his first win of the 2009 season while Sellards' teammate Gray Davenport claimed his first career AMA Arenacross class victory on Saturday.
"It really feels great to get back on top of the podium," said Demuth following Friday night's big win. "It's been a little while since I was last up here but a good start really helped tonight. I really want to thank Tuf Honda for all of their help."
"It really helped to get a good start tonight," exclaimed Davenport on Saturday. "It put me up front and then it was up to me to put together solid laps throughout the main (event). Those guys were definitely behind me, but I was able to hold them off. I'd really like to thank Triple Effect Kawasaki for all their hard work."
In the chase for the AMA Arenacross Series title, Gibson brought home second and third place finishes to gain valuable points over Sellards and put him in firm control heading into this weekend.
The AMA Arenacross Lites Eastern Regional Championship came to a close in Wilkes Barre as Willy Browning garnered his first career AMA Arenacross Series championship aboard his Spinechillers/Suzuki City Suzuki despite not racing in the second night of action on Saturday. Browning took the win on Friday night while Foremost Insurance Suzuki's Jim Neese claimed victory on Saturday.
The AMA Arenacross Lites Midwest Regional Championship will conclude this weekend along with the premier class. Orient Express Suzuki's Dave Ginolfi currently leads the standings.
AMA Arenacross Class Results - Night One (Wilkes Barre, Pa.)
1. Josh Demuth, North Richland Hills, Texas, Honda
2. Jeff Gibson, Westerville, Ohio, Honda
3. Gray Davenport, Lehi, Utah, Kawasaki
4. Nathan Skaggs, Chillicothe, Ohio, Honda
5. Michael Willard, Thornville, Ohio, Kawasaki
6. Brock Sellards, Sherodsville, Ohio, Kawasaki
7. Keith Johnson, Albuquerque, N.M, Yamaha
8. Chad Johnson, Rhinelander, Wis., Kawasaki
9. Jim Neese, Julian, N.C., Suzuki
10. Tyler Medaglia, Ottawa, Canada, Kawasaki
AMA Arenacross Class Lites Results - Night One (Wilkes Barre, Pa.)
1. Willy Browning, Rushville, Ohio, Suzuki
2. Tyler Medaglia, Ottawa, Canada, Kawasaki
3. Devon Pilkington, Virginia Beach, Va., Yamaha
4. Ronnie Stewart, Easton, Pa., Suzuki
5. Kyle Brown, Lake Odessa, Mich., Kawasaki
6. Dave Ginolfi, Lake Hopatlong, N.J., Suzuki
7. Jim Neese, Julian, N.C, Suzuki
8. Kevin Johnson, Albuquerque, N.M., Yamaha
9. Matt Cottrill, Chillicothe, Ohio, Yamaha
10. Davey Sterritt, Athens, N.Y., Kawasaki
AMA Arenacross Class Results - Night Two (Wilkes Barre, Pa.)
1. Gray Davenport, Lehi, Utah, Kawasaki
2. Michael Willard, Thornville, Ohio, Kawasaki
3. Jeff Gibson, Westerville, Ohio, Honda
4. Brock Sellards, Sherodsville, Ohio, Kawasaki
5. Keith Johnson, Albuquerque, N.M, Yamaha
6. Chad Johnson, Rhinelander, Wis., Kawasaki
7. Codi Adams, Batavia, Ohio, Kawasaki
8. Jim Neese, Julian, N.C., Suzuki
9. Willy Browning, Rushville, Ohio, Suzuki
10. Tyler Medaglia, Ottawa, Canada, Kawasaki