(February 25, 2013) – The AMA AMSOIL Arenacross Race to the Championship heated up on Saturday at INTRUST Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas as Babbitt’s Monster Energy/AMSOIL Kawasaki presented by Maxxis rider Tyler Bowers took his ninth win of the season and reclaimed the points lead. Bowers won the first main event and recovered from the 16-rider inversion in the second main event to finish third, giving him the overall win. Teammate Zach Ames rounded out the podium in third with a 2-9 score and now sits third overall in the championship standings just three points behind Bowers. In the Arenacross Lites class, Tyler Villopoto was victim to misfortune, but still holds fifth overall in the points standings.

After taking a commanding lead in the points standings leading up to the Race to the Championship, Bowers was robbed of his massive lead as the points were reset leading into last weekend. Taking third place in the first round of the Race to the Championship, he was motivated to get back on top. Bowers got a great start on his KX™250F in the first main event and made a move on his teammate for the lead just before the halfway point. He maintained control of the race from that point on to take the win. After selecting a 16-rider inversion for the start of the second main event, Bowers had to recover from a back row start. He made aggressive moves early on but ran out of laps, crossing the line in third. His 1-3 score gave him the overall victory and his ninth win of the season. Bowers now holds a two-point lead in the Race to the Championship with two rounds remaining. 

“The track was really good for me,” said Bowers. “There were no whoops and extra rhythm lanes so it was a nice change. Zach and I pushed each other and I don’t think anyone had anything for us. We diced back and forth in the first main, so it was a great first main. I picked the 16-rider invert, which was horrible, but I was able to pick guys off pretty well and ended up third. The plan is to continue getting good starts and go for the win every time.”

Ames came into Wichita as the points leader and after seven rounds of arenacross this season, he knew that consistency is what is important. Ames finished runner-up to Bowers in the heat race and but got the better of him in the head-to-head bracket races so he felt confident going into the main events. He rocketed off the start in the first main event and took the early lead. Ames battled back and forth with Bowers for the lead, but ultimately finished second behind his teammate. Starting from the back row for the second main event, Ames did not get the start needed to stay with the leaders and ended up getting caught behind a crash early on, but fought his way to a ninth place finish. His 2-9 score gave him third overall and kept him in the championship hunt.

“I tried to keep the pressure off myself from the red plate,” said Ames. “I got really good starts in the heat and in the first main event. I was glued to Tyler’s rear tire the whole race and tried to make a move before the checkered flag and nearly took the win. The second main I was stuck behind some slower guys, and got caught up in a crash that I had nowhere to go. I was able to get a few guys and salvaged the best finish I could.”

Villopoto has been battling with injury through the last few rounds but like his brother, two-time supercross champion Ryan Villopoto, he is never one to back down. Villopoto transferred to the main event, but was unable to challenge for the win. Villopoto now sits fifth overall in the Arenacross Lites Western Region points standings.

This weekend Team Babbitt’s was on another level. In the heat race and the first main event, Bowers and Ames were 1-2 on the first lap and continued to push each other up until the checkered flag. The two riders live and train with each other during the week, so when it comes time to race they are not scared to get close while battling. In the first main event, the two crossed the finish line nearly side by side, with Bowers taking the win by a wheel.

With only two rounds remaining in the Race to the Championship, it’s beginning to come down to the wire. The Race to the Championship moves on to the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo., where Bowers and Ames will continue their battle for the top spot.

AMA Arenacross – Round 8
INSTRUST Bank Arena – Wichita, Kansas
February 23, 2013

Arenacross Class Main Events
1. TYLER BOWERS, BABBITT’S MONSTER ENERGY/AMSOIL KAWASAKI (1-1)
2. Jeff Gibson, KTM (3-4)
3. ZACH AMES, BABBITT’S MONSTER ENERGY/AMSOIL KAWASAKI (2-9)
4. MICHAEL MCDADE, KAWASAKI (6-6)
5. Michael Lang, Honda (11-2)
6. Daniel Blair, Suzuki (4-10)
7. Nathan Skaggs, KTM (8-8)
8. Kelly Smith, KTM (16-1)
9. Willy Browning, KTM (7-11)
10. Cory Green, KTM (12-7)

Arenacross Class Race to the Championship
1. TYLER BOWERS, BABBITT’S MONSTER ENERGY/AMSOIL KAWASAKI, 58
2. Jeff Gibson, KTM, 56
3. ZACH AMES, BABBITT’S MONSTER ENERGY/AMSOIL KAWASAKI, 55
4. MICHAEL MCDADE, KAWASAKI, 48
5. Kelly Smith, KTM, 40
6. Willy Browning, KTM, 39
7. Nathan Skaggs, KTM, 37
8. Daniel Blair, Suzuki, 34
9. Dave Ginolfi, KTM, 33
10. GARED STEINKE, KAWASAKI, 31

Arenacross Lites Western Region Points Standings
1. Michael Lang, Honda, 71 
2. Maxx Malatia, Honda, 65 
3. Kyle White, Honda, 57 
4. Steven Mages, KTM, 56 
5. TYLER VILLOPOTO, BABBITT’S MONSTER ENERGY/AMSOIL KAWASAKI, 45
6. Tanner Moore, KTM, 41 
7. Devin Reed, Honda 29 
8. BRANDON GLENN, KAWASAKI, 24 
9. Travis Merrill, KTM 21 
10. Zack Williams, KTM, 16