Double Race Weekend for Toyota AMA Arenacross Series
December 31, 2007
Live Nation news
The Toyota AMA Arenacross Series returns to Grand Rapids’ (Mich.)
Van Andel Arena for two nights of pro indoor arenacross racing action
beginning this Friday, Jan. 4, and running through Saturday, Jan. 5.
Kansas City’s Kemper Arena will host one night of arenacross racing
Saturday, Jan. 5 on another double race weekend. Honda’s Chad
Johnson holds the current points lead 130-127 over fellow Honda rider
Josh Demuth.
Featured in the racing line up in Grand Rapids is Michigan’s own
Kelly Smith (Ludington). Sponsored by a local motorcycle shop,
Babbitt’s Sports Center (Muskegon), Smith is currently 3rd overall
in the Arenacross point standings.
“I’m pumped to be racing back in Michigan,” said Smith. “I
grew up here, still live here and am raising my family in Ludington. I
plan on doing well at Van Andel Arena the first weekend in January.
I’m thinking we’ll have a real good turnout. Van Andel always
rocks when arenacross is in town – bringing out the dirt bikers and
snowmobilers from all over the Grand Rapids region.”
Note: Smith and the rest of the Babbitt’s Kawasaki team will be
appearing on Thursday, Jan. 3, at Babbitt’s Sports Center, 3712
Airline Road (Muskegon) from 4-6 p.m. on
Leading the Toyota AMA Arenacross Series heading into Grand Rapids
is Chad Johnson (Honda) from neighboring Rhinelander, Wis. Johnson,
the 2004-’05 Toyota AMA Arenacross Series champion, will in addition
have to deal with Smith’s Kawasaki-mounted teammate, Brock Sellards
(Sherrodsville, Ohio), who swept both Arenacross class main events at
Van Andel last year.
“I know Grand Rapids will have a lot of Kelly Smith fans, and
that’s fine with me because I’ll be bringing the Buckeye pride and
a few fans of my own from Ohio up north to the Wolverine State,”
said Sellards. “it should be a great weekend of dirt bike racing for
sure.”
Dennis Jonon, of Spring Hill, Kan., leads the way in Kansas City
this weekend as the local favorite.
“This is going to be pretty cool racing in my hometown,” said
Jonon, who races for the GPS Racing team. “I remember seeing some of
the Toyota AMA Arenacross Series greats here when I was a kid, now
it’s my turn to see if I can’t put a couple solid motos together
and pull off a podium finish in front of all my friends and family.”
Jonon, who has an issue with his hip that forces him to wear an
orthopedic boot and shoe, is a true “fighter” story in the
demanding sport of Toyota AMA Arenacross Series racing. This past
weekend at Rockford’s (Ill.) MetroCentre Jonon battled through the
afternoon qualifiers to make his first main event of the season –
something that’s been difficult for even some of the nation’s top
pro racers to accomplish.
“I feel like I’m on a bit of roll here, so brining the Toyota
AMA Arenacross Series action to my hometown will be some added
incentive for me,” added Jonon.
The last time the Toyota AMA Arenacross Series stopped at Kemper
Arena (2004), local Tommy Hofmaster (Pearl City, Ill.) swept the Lites
class races on both Friday and Saturday, scored an Arenacross class
main event podium finish (3rd) on Saturday and a 5th overall in the
Arenacross class on Friday. Also noteworthy: 2005-’06 Toyota AMA
Arenacross Series champion Chad Johnson was on the Lites class podium
both nights (3-3) with former champion Darcy Lange sweeping the
Arenacross class (1-1).
Last year at Van Andel Arena:
Friday AMA Arenacross Lites
Saturday AMA Arenacross Lites
1. Teddy
Maier, Honda
1. Kevin Markwardt, Honda
2. Nick
Vaughn, Kawasaki
2. Travis Hodges, Honda
3. Kevin
Markwardt, Honda
3. Brad Modjewski, Yamaha
Friday AMA Arenacross
Saturday AMA Arenacross
1. Brock
Sellards, Honda
1. Brock Sellards, Honda
2. Teddy
Maier, Honda
2. Teddy Maier, Honda
3. Matt
Barnes, Honda
3. Matt Barnes, Honda
2004 Kemper Arena Toyota AMA Arenacross
Series results:
Friday AMA Arenacross Lites
Friday AMA Arenacross
1. Tommy
Hofmaster
1. Darcy Lange
2. Brad
Hagseth
2. Justin Brayton
3. Chad
Johnson
3. John Dowd
Saturday AMA Arenacross Lites
Saturday AMA Arenacross
1. Tommy
Hofmaster
1. Darcy Lange
2.
Justin Brayton
2. John Dowd
3. Chad
Johnson
3. Tommy Hofmaster
2007-’08 Toyota AMA Arenacross Point
Standings
1. Chad Johnson, Hon, 130
2. Josh Demuth, Hon, 127
3. Kelly Smith, Kaw, 117
4. Jim Neese, Suz, 113
5. Brock Sellards, Kaw, 111