TULSA, Okla. – It was a memorable night for AMSOIL Arenacross, featuring Ricky Carmichael’s Road to Supercross, on Saturday as Ricky Carmichael, five time Monster Energy Supercross Champion, was on hand inside the BOK Center, in Tulsa, Okla., to watch a captivating night of action won by Babbitt’s Monster Energy/AMSOIL Kawasaki presented by Maxxis teammates Tyler Bowers, in the Arenacross Class, and Tyler Villopoto in the Arenacross Lites Class. Carmichael made his first AMSOIL Arenacross appearance of the 2013 season at the fourth stop of the championship, serving as the guest of honor for the sport’s first visit to Tulsa since the 2011 season.
Carmichael began his day by taking to the track alongside the stars of AMSOIL Arenacross in practice, laying down some hot laps and getting a sense of the highly technical abilities of these riders. After spending the afternoon in the pits with the riders and team personnel, Carmichael welcomed fans at the pre-race Monster Energy Track Party, signing autographs and taking pictures for those who attended. A little later, he brought the crowd to its feet when he officially welcomed Tulsa fans to the all new AMSOIL Arenacross with a lap around the track during opening ceremonies. After assisting with some broadcast duties during the races, Carmichael joined the riders at the post-race autograph session, thanking fans for their support of AMSOIL Arenacross.
“My weekend here in Tulsa has been great,” exclaimed Carmichael. “I’m impressed with how smooth everything is and being able to do an autograph signing on the track with the fans right there on the floor walking around was great. The interaction in general is really cool with how close the fans can get. The level of competition on the track was really high. I’m just excited that I’m a part of the new AMSOIL Arenacross.”
Carmichael’s Road to Supercross, which is exclusive to AMSOIL Arenacross, will serve as the official stepping stone for the future’s brightest stars on their path to Monster Energy Supercross.
“The Road to Supercross is going to be a great step for AMSOIL Arenacross and all the young riders coming up.,” Carmichael added. “I think as these young riders come up from the amateur ranks, into AMSOIL Arenacross will add excitement and make it even more competitive than it is now. I think it’s great for the future of Monster Energy Supercross, as AMSOIL Arenacross will serve as a great avenue for these young kids to come through and cut their teeth. In every other sport you have to put your time in, so this is a great step for this sport.”
On the track, the action inside the BOK Center didn’t disappoint. In the first Arenacross Class Main Event of the night, Bowers moved into the lead by the second lap and pulled away for a comfortable win to put him in position for the overall. It was the 10th Main Event win in 13 attempts this season for Bowers. Team Faith/FLY Racing KTM’s Kelly Smith followed in second, while Mosites Motorsports Kawasaki’s Michael McDade finished third.
Usually by virtue of his triumphant effort, Bowers would have the privilege of selecting the inversion for the evening’s second Main Event. However, on this night Carmichael chose how many riders would experience reversed gate selections, with eight riders ultimately being inverted.
In the second Main Event, McDade overcame his inverted starting position to emerge out of the first turn in the lead. Bowers, who chose to start on the second row, positioned himself behind his rival and looked to complete the Main Event sweep. The pair paced one another for the remainder of the 12-lap Main Event with McDade holding on for the win. Bowers was the runner-up while Villopoto captured his first podium result in the Arenacross Class on what ended up being a career night for the young rider.
In the overall classification, Bowers’ 1-2 results secured the overall win while McDade’s 3-1 effort resulted in a runner-up finish. Villopoto posted the best finish of his career in third.
Bowers once again extended his championship lead to 38 points over McDade with two rounds remaining before the start of the Race to the Championship.
In the Head-to-Head Bracket Racing, Bowers became the second repeat winner this season, adding another championship point to his healthy points lead.
In the 2013 debut of the Western Regional Arenacross Lites Class, KTM rider Lance Vincent found himself in the early lead, but Motosport.com/JBR/Spinechillers Racing KTM’s Steven Mages, BWRengines.com Honda’s Kyle White, and Villopoto quickly moved into the front of the field. Villopoto made an impressive move for the lead with two laps remaining and held on for his first career victory. Mages followed in second with White in third.
By virtue of his win, Villopoto is the early championship leader of the Western Regional Championship.
Coverage of tonight’s captivating action can be seen tomorrow, exclusively on SPEED, beginning at 6 p.m. ET.
The 2013 AMSOIL Arenacross season continues next weekend from Cedar Park, Texas, and the Cedar Park Center with two nights of action on Friday, February 1, and Saturday, February 2. Fifth round broadcast coverage can be seen on SPEED next Sunday, February 3, at 1 p.m. ET.
Arenacross Class Results – Main Event 1 (Tulsa)
Tyler Bowers, Danville, Ky., Kawasaki
Kelly Smith, Ludington, Mich., KTM
Michael McDade, Edinburg, Pa., Kawasaki
Cory Green, Nowata, Okla., Suzuki
Tyler Villopoto, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki
Lance Vincent, Youngsville, La., KTM
Steven Mages, Sardinia, Ohio, KTM
Nathan Skaggs, Chillicothe, Ohio, KTM
Willy Browning, Pleasantville, Ohio, KTM
Kyle White, Freeport, Ill., Honda
Arenacross Class Results – Main Event 2 (Tulsa)
Michael McDade, Edinburg, Pa., Kawasaki
Tyler Bowers, Danville, Ky., Kawasaki
Tyler Villopoto, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki
Cory Green, Nowata, Okla., Suzuki
Lance Vincent, Youngsville, La., KTM
Nathan Skaggs, Chillicothe, Ohio, KTM
Zach Ames, Prospect, Ohio, Kawasaki
Willy Browning, Pleasantville, Ohio, KTM
Kelly Smith, Ludington, Mich., KTM
Steven Mages, Sardinia, Ohio, KTM
Arenacross Class Overall (Main Event Finishes)
Tyler Bowers, Danville, Ky., Kawasaki (1-2)
Michael McDade, Edinburg, Pa., Kawasaki (3-1)
Tyler Villopoto, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki (5-3)
Cory Green, Nowata, Okla., Suzuki (4-4)
Lance Vincent, Youngsville, La., KTM (6-5)
Kelly Smith, Ludington, Mich., KTM (2-9)
Nathan Skaggs, Chillicothe, Ohio, KTM (8-6)
Willy Browning, Pleasantville, Ohio, KTM (9-8)
Steven Mages, Sardinia, Ohio, KTM (7-10)
Zach Ames, Prospect, Ohio, Kawasaki (12-7)
Arenacross Lites Class Results (Tulsa)
1. Tyler Villopoto, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki
2. Steven Mages, Sardinia, Ohio, KTM
3. Kyle White, Freeport, Ill., Honda
4. Michael Lang, Saugerties, N.Y., Honda
5. Jacob Knable, North Chesterfield, Va., Kawasaki
6. Devin Reed, Indianola, Iowa, Honda
7. Maxx Malatia, Itasca, Ill., Honda
8. Scott Zont, Algonquin, Ill., KTM
9. Tanner Young, Marland, Okla., Yamaha
10. Tanner Sisson, Lickskillett, Ohio
Arenacross Class Points (After Race 7 of 16)
Tyler Bowers, Danville, Ky., Kawasaki – 218
Michael McDade, Edinburg, Pa., Kawasaki – 180
Zach Ames, Prospect, Ohio, Kawasaki – 166
Kelly Smith, Ludington, Mich., KTM – 132
Jeff Gibson, Pataskala, Ohio, KTM – 125
Willy Browning, Pleasantville, Ohio, KTM – 125
Nathan Skaggs, Chillicothe, Ohio, KTM – 122
Gared Steinke, Woodland, Calif., Kawasaki – 114
Daniel Blair, Lodi, Calif., Suzuki – 104
Dave Ginolfi, Budd Lake, N.J., KTM – 86
Western Regional Arenacross Lites Class Points (After Race 1 of 8)
Tyler Villopoto, Murrieta, Calif., Kawasaki – 16
Steven Mages, Sardinia, Ohio, KTM – 15
Kyle White, Freeport, Ill., Honda – 14
Michael Lang, Saugerties, N.Y., Honda – 13
Jacob Knable, North Chesterfield, Va., Kawasaki – 12
Devin Reed, Indianola, Iowa, Honda – 11
Maxx Malatia, Itasca, Ill., Honda – 10
Tanner Young, Marland, Okla., Yamaha – 8
Tanner Sisson, Lickskillett, Ohio – 7
Tanner Moore, Auburn, Kan., KTM – 5
Live timing and scoring from each round of the AMSOIL Arenacross season returns for the 2013 season! To follow the intense racing action live, log onto www.Arenacross.com.