(February 11, 2013) – Round 6 of AMA Arenacross set the stage for the Race to the Championship at Mohegan Sun Arena in Wilkes-Barre, Penn. Team Babbitts Monster Energy/Amsoil Kawasaki presented by Maxxis riders Tyler Bowers and Zach Ames finished on the podium on both nights and solidified their spots as the top two riders in the Race to the Championship. Bowers finished third overall on Friday night after a crash, but bounced back on Saturday to take both main event wins. Ames was consistent all weekend finishing second overall on both nights. With the new format for Arenacross, the points have been reset for the final four rounds creating the Race to the Championship led by Bowers.

Bowers came into Wilkes-Barre with a 60-point lead and was confident he would extend that lead to establish himself as the one to beat for the championship. On Friday, Bowers easily won the first main event and drew zero for the inversion, meaning he would have first gate pick for the second main. Bowers looked to have the holeshot in the second main event but his front end started to wash out as the pack came together and he went down. Remounting at the back of the field, he was able to climb back to eighth place, giving him third overall. The following night Bowers rebounded to convincingly win both main events, placing him first in the Race to the Championship.

“It was a solid weekend for the team,” said Bowers. “It was looking like I would have a clean sweep on Friday, but going into the first turn my front end started to wash out and I saved it, until I got hit from behind as the pack funneled in and I went down. It was super tough to pass out there and everyone was doing the same rhythm, so I just rode smart and stayed on two-wheels. Saturday was much better and we’ll stick to the same plan going into Little Rock next weekend.”

Ames started the weekend with a heat race win and headed into the main events with a good gate pick. He rounded the first turn just outside the top five and began to charge for the front. With two laps remaining he caught his teammate and tried to challenge for the lead, but couldn’t find a place to make the pass. In the second main, he ran into Bowers on the start which forced him to come through the pack and finish sixth, giving Ames second overall. On Saturday, Ames took another heat race win, but bad starts kept him from the front of the pack. He finished with a 4-5 score to take second overall for the second consecutive night. 

“I was excited to finish second on both nights,” said Ames. “I didn’t have the best rides on Saturday, but was still able to finish second overall which is great. I’m not worried about the points. I know if I ride like a can, I can win races and the points will be there.”

The new structure of AMA Arenacross for 2013 features a new Race to the Championship. With six of 10 rounds complete, the points are now reset for the final four rounds with only the top-10 in points eligible to win the championship. Bowers’ dominance had built him an outstanding 60-point lead since the start of the season, which unfortunately will now disappear. With the points reset, Bowers will enter Round 7 with six points followed by Ames in second place with five points.

Bowers won each of the night’s head to head bracket races taking every holeshot along the way on his KX™250F. He had planned to not take any risks in the bracket races, but after getting the start in each race, he was able to continue on to the checkered. 

“The bracket races often can get a little dirty,” said Bowers. “My plan was to just take it easy and not make anyone upset by being over-aggressive. But once I got the starts I was able to ride hard and take the win.”

With the points reset, the AMA Arenacross series heats up and heads to Verizon Arena in Little Rock, Ark., for Round 7 of 10.

AMA Arenacross – Round 6
Mohegan Sun Arena – Wilkes-Barre, Penn.
February 8-9, 2013

Arenacross Class Results – Friday
1. Jeff Gibson, KTM (3-1)
2. ZACH AMES, BABBITTS MONSTER ENERGY/AMSOIL KAWASAKI (2-6)
3. TYLER BOWERS, BABBITTS MONSTER ENERGY/AMSOIL KAWASAKI (1-8)
4. Nathan Skaggs, KTM (7-2)
5. Daniel Blair, Suzuki (6-3)
6. Steven Mages, KTM (5-5)
7. GARED STEINKE, KAWASAKI (8-4)
8. Kelly Smith, KTM (4-10)
9. Willy Browning, KTM (9-7)
10. Dave Ginolfi, KTM (12-9)

Arenacross Class Results – Saturday
1. TYLER BOWERS, BABBITTS MONSTER ENERGY/AMSOIL KAWASAKI (1-1)
2. ZACH AMES, BABBITTS MONSTER ENERGY/AMSOIL KAWASAKI (4-5)
3. MICHAEL MCDADE, KAWASAKI (8-2)
4. Willy Browning, KTM (7-3)
5. Dave Ginolfi, KTM (3-7)
6. Jeff Gibson, KTM (2-9)
7. Kelly Smith, KTM (9-4)
8. Nathan Skaggs, KTM (5-8)
9. GARED STEINKE, KAWASAKI (6-10)
10. Kyle White, Honda (10-11)

Arenacross Class Race to the Championship Points
1. TYLER BOWERS, BABBITTS MONSTER ENERGY/AMSOIL KAWASAKI, 6
2. ZACH AMES, BABBITTS MONSTER ENERGY/AMSOIL KAWASAKI, 5
3. Jeff Gibson, KTM, 4
4. Kelly Smith, KTM, 4
5. Nathan Skaggs, KTM, 3
6. MICHAEL MCDADE, KAWASAKI, 3
7. Willy Browning, KTM, 2
8. GARED STEINKE, KAWASAKI, 2
9. Daniel Blair, Suzuki, 1
10. Dave Ginolfi, KTM, 1