Round 3- Madison, WI

Irvine, Calif. (November 14, 2011) – Babbitt’s Monster Energy Amsoil Kawasaki’s Tyler Bowers led the second all-Kawasaki podium sweep of the season at Round 3 of the 2012 AMA Arenacross series at Alliant Energy Center in Madison, Wis. Over the course of the two-day race weekend, Bowers finished second on Friday, but came out swinging on Saturday to command the win aboard his KX™250F by eight seconds. On Friday, Chad Johnson finished third on the box and took runner-up on Saturday’s all-green podium. Josh Demuth finished fifth on Friday and rounded out Babbitt’s podium sweep on Saturday with third.

On Friday night, Bowers got a mid-pack start and immediately went to work picking off riders. Although the track was very one-lined and provided little room to pass, Bowers managed to work his way into second before the finish. In the main event on Saturday, Bowers powered his KX250F out front early and checked out for the win. The victory marked Bowers third win of the season and team Babbitt’s second podium-sweep in five races.

“The track was too easy this weekend,” said Bowers. “On Friday night the track was too dry, they didn’t pack enough moisture into it so everything got blown out. There was a big rut right down the center of the whoops. If you were in the rut, you were in the straightaway, if you were out of the rut, you were riding whoops. It was difficult to make passes as a result since the guy in front of you was always in the rut. I was able to get it done anyway and finished on the podium in second. For the main on Saturday, I got a good jump off the gate, but missed a shift on the straightaway and fell to the middle of the pack going into the first corner. I muscled my way into fifth coming out of the first corner, and passed a couple more guys in the whoops that followed. I kept picking off riders until I was out front and just kept charging until the checkers. I ended up gapping the field by eight seconds. No matter what they do to make this series easier for everyone else, I am still going to find a way to win.”

Back in his home state of Wisconsin, Johnson was excited to put on a good show for the hometown crowd. Both days of the weekend, Johnson got great starts and powered his KX250F to the podium, finishing third on Friday and second on Saturday.

“I had a pretty good weekend,” said Johnson. “I just tried to put my head down and ride consistent. On Friday, I came out of the first corner in third and made my way into second. I stayed in second pretty much the whole race, but near the end Bowers got around me, and I finished third. On Saturday, I got a great jump off the start and came out of the first corner in second. After the first corner we entered a rhythm section which is where I made my move around the leader. I was leading for a while and felt good on track, but Bowers got by me and just checked out. The track was better this weekend, but it was still pretty easy. I am still getting used to the KX250F versus the KX™450F. I think you have to work a lot harder to race a KX450F and you don’t have to train as much to race the lighter bike. The biggest difference I’ve noticed since switching bikes is that the guys who couldn’t hang last year are doing better this season. I’m feeling confident on my KX250F now and hope to keep finishing on the podium.”

On Friday night, Demuth got off to mid-pack start and tried to battle his way toward the front of the field on the one-lined track. He was unable to close the deal before the checkers and finished seconds off the box in fifth. On Saturday, Demuth came around the first lap in fifth and began looking for an opportunity to get on the podium. When the racers in front of him, who were battling for third, came together around a corner, Demuth made his move. Once in third, Demuth continued to defend his position until the checkers ensuring the second Kawasaki podium sweep of the season.

In four weeks, Babbitt’s Monster Energy Amsoil Kawasaki’s team heads to Round 4 of the 2012 AMA Arenacross series at Mohegan Sun Arena in Wilkes Barre, Pa. Determined to earn his second-consecutive championship, Bowers will be doing everything in his power to take over the top of the podium. Feeling more confident on his KX250F, Johnson hopes to continue grabbing podiums and moving up the leaderboard. Currently sitting second in the points, Demuth looks to grab his first win of the season and move into the number one spot on the leaderboard.