Muskegon, MI – The AMA Arenacross series stopped in Cedar Park, Texas this weekend for back-to-back nights of racing at Cedar Park Center. Babbitt’s Monster Energy Amsoil Kawasaki’s Tyler Bowers raced to a hard-earned third on Friday night after nearly landing on another rider and crashing early in the race. On Saturday night, Bowers could barely walk from the crash, but that didn’t stop him from grabbing the holeshot and leading every lap of the main event to take his ninth win of the season. Teammate Chad Johnson battled from the back of the field on Friday to finish sixth, but turned it around to finish on the podium Saturday. Johnson remains third in the points standings after a third-place finish on Saturday.

Bowers was looking to start a win streak this weekend in Cedar Park and grabbed a third-place start on Friday night. He was quickly making up time on the leaders until the second place rider came up short on the finish line jump and fell right into Bowers line. Manhandling the bike, Bowers was able to miss landing on the rider, but clipped his bike sending Bowers to the ground. Bowers remounted in 14th place and knew he had his work cut out for him to get anywhere near the front.

“I hit the finish line looking to set up for the pass, but the leader cased the landing and came to a dead stop,” said Bowers. “It looked like I was going to land right on him, but luckily he fell to the opposite side that I was coming down. I was hurting pretty good but the adrenaline kept me going and I just tried to stay consistent every lap, especially in the whoops. I didn’t even know I got third until they pulled me to the podium after the race.”

The hard Texas dirt made for a tough track in Cedar Park which all riders seemed to struggle with. Johnson was looking to get back to his winning ways and got off to a mid-pack start on Friday night, but could only manage to get to sixth on the slippery track.

“The track was rock hard and slippery in some spots which made it tough to get in a rhythm,” said Johnson. “We changed suspension settings throughout the night, but just couldn’t quite get comfortable enough to run the pace of the leaders.”

On Saturday night, Bowers was in a lot of pain after injuring his ankle in his get-off the night before and could barely walk around the pits. Luckily, riding was when it felt best and the pain didn’t faze him once the gate dropped. He knew in order to get the win, he would have to stay out of trouble.

“Saturday night I led every lap I completed,” said Bowers. “My KX™250F got me off to two great starts in the heat race and main event, which allowed me to get away early, that way I didn’t have to deal with anyone or push it on my sore ankle.”

Looking to bounce back from an off-night on Friday, Johnson worked to get back in tune with his KX250F during the heat race and felt comfortable and confident lining up for the main. Off the start he got shuffled back, but contrary to the previous night, Johnson was able to lay down smooth laps and make his way to the front. Johnson finished third on the night and remains third in the points standings.

“We had a much stronger main on Saturday night,” said Johnson. “I could comfortably push it lap after lap and was able to reach the podium. Arenacross is all about consistency, so if we stay on the box throughout the last few rounds we should be able to reel in the leaders in the points chase.”

The AMA Arenacross series heads east for the final time this season on February 4-5, 2012 at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Ky. For Bowers, Lexington is a hometown race so he’ll be looking to take his tenth win of the season in front of friends and family. Johnson excels in the loamy, rutted East coast dirt as well and will be looking to take his third win of the season.