BALTIMORE – After an incredible first night of action inside Baltimore Arena, the second round of the 2014 AMSOIL Arenacross, featuring Ricky Carmichael’s Road to Supercross, came to a dramatic conclusion on Saturday with a historic outcome. One night after finishing on the Arenacross Class podium in his first career race, MyPlash/Star Racing Yamaha’s Aaron Plessinger emerged victorious to make history as the first Road to Supercross competitor to ever take an overall victory. In the Eastern Regional Arenacross Lites Class, Triangle Cycle Yamaha’s Keith Tucker captured his second win of the season.
The Ricky Carmichael Road to Supercross program is the official feeder system of Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, providing a formal platform of progression to the elite level of the sport for today’s rising stars. Plessinger garnered the attention of the entire sport last night by going toe-to-toe and after his performance tonight has established himself as a star of the future.
Motosport.com/Spinechillers Racing Kawasaki’s Michael McDade was gunning for his third straight win as the gate dropped on the first Arenacross Class Main Event and he put himself in position to do so by grabbing the holeshot. However, on the opening lap the championship points leader experienced misfortune, ultimately failing to finish. McDade’s hard luck allowed Brewer Cycles Kawasaki’s Jacob Hayes to assume the lead with reigning three-time champion Tyler Bowers on his rear fender aboard his Babbitt’s Monster Energy/AMSOIL Kawasaki presented by Maxxis machine. Bowers continued to pressure Hayes but couldn’t find a way by throughout the duration of the 15-lap Main Event. Hayes crossed the line first, followed by Bowers and his teammate Zach Ames. Plessinger, who started deep inside the top 10, fought his way through the field to finish fourth.
Hayes selected the inversion for the second Main Event, picking eight.
In the second Main Event, Plessinger moved to the front of the field and was chased by Motosport.com/Spinechillers Racing KTM’s Willy Browning and Babbitt’s Monster Energy/AMSOIL Kawasaki’s Colt Nichols. While he attempted to assert himself in the lead pack, Bowers experienced misfortune and fell to the tail end of the field, losing a lap in the process. Plessinger went on to lead every lap of the Main Event to secure his first career premier class victory. Browning held on to the runner-up spot while Mcdade rebounded from his heartbreaking first Main Event to finish third.
Plessinger’s 4-1 results edged out Ames (3-4) for the overall win by just two points. Browning claimed the final spot on the overall podium (7-2).
In Head-to-Head Bracket Racing, Honda rider Kyle Regal captured the additional bonus point for the second straight night.
Ames’ consistent effort helped him reclaim the championship points lead one night after losing it to McDade. He’ll carry an eight-point advantage into the third round.
In the 18-lap Arenacross Lites Class Main Event, Plessinger looked to sweep both classes but experienced trouble on the opening lap and pulled off. In his absence, Motosport.com/Spinechillers Racing KTM’s Lane Staley led the field with BWREngines.com Honda’s Maxx Malatia and Gateway Cycles Kawasaki’s Steven Mages close behind. Tucker moved into second place on Lap 7 and then took over the lead just one lap later and led the final 10 laps. Mages followed in second, with Malatia rounding out the podium in third.
Maryland native Tony Archer finished sixth in the Main Event aboard his Traders Racing Kawasaki and maintained his Eastern Regional Arenacross Lites Class points lead. He holds a five-point lead over second.
AMSOIL Arenacross continues next weekend with the third round of the season from Louisville, Ky., and the Freedom Hall for the first one-night round of the season. Action kicks off on Saturday, January 18th, at 7 p.m. ET.
Arenacross Class Results – Main Event 1
Jacob Hayes, Greensboro, N.C., Kawasaki
Tyler Bowers, Danville, Ky., Kawasaki
Zach Ames, Prospect, Ohio, Kawasaki
Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, Yamaha
Kyle Regal, Grand Prairie, Texas, Honda
Travis Sewell, Westville, Ind., KTM
Willy Browning, Pleasantville, Ohio, KTM
Colt Nichols, S. Muskogee, Okla., Kawasaki
Gared Steinke, Woodland, Calif., Kawasaki
Kyle White, Freeport, Ill., Honda
Arenacross Class Results – Main Event 2
Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, Yamaha
Willy Browning, Pleasantville, Ohio, KTM
Michael McDade, McDonald, Ohio, Kawasaki
Zach Ames, Prospect, Ohio, Kawasaki
Keith Tucker, Fuquay-Varina, N.C., Yamaha
Gared Steinke, Woodland, Calif., Kawasaki
Robby Marshall, Stow, Mass., KTM
Kyle White, Freeport, Ill., Honda
Jeff Gibson, Pataskala, Ohio, Honda
Travis Sewell, Westville, Ind., KTM
Arenacross Class Results – Overall (Main Event Finishes)
Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, Yamaha (4-1)
Zach Ames, Prospect, Ohio, Kawasaki (3-4)
Willy Browning, Pleasantville, Ohio, KTM (7-2)
Jacob Hayes, Greensboro, N.C., Kawasaki (1-12)
Keith Tucker, Fuquay-Varina, N.C., Yamaha (11-5)
Gared Steinke, Woodland, Calif., Kawasaki (9-6)
Tyler Bowers, Danville, Ky., Kawasaki (2-14)
Travis Sewell, Westville, Ind., KTM (6-10)
Michael McDade, McDonald, Ohio, Kawasaki (16-3)
Kyle White, Freeport, Ill., Honda (10-8)
Eastern Regional Arenacross Lites Class Results
1. Keith Tucker, Fuquay-Varina, N.C., Yamaha
2. Steven Mages, Sardinia, Ohio, Kawasaki
3. Maxx Malatia, Itasca, Ill., Honda
4. Jacob Williamson, Swartz Creek, Mich., Yamaha
5. Lane Staley, Chillicothe, Ohio, KTM
6. Tony Archer, Waldorf, Md., Kawasaki
7. Dylan Rouse, Verona, Ky., Honda
8. Brandon Glenn, Mesquite, Texas, KTM
9. Cheyenne Harmon, Olivia, Texas, Honda
10. Scott Zont, Algonquin, Ill., KTM
Arenacross Class Points (After Race 4 of 19)
Zach Ames, Prospect, Ohio, Kawasaki – 112
Michael McDade, McDonald, Ohio, Kawasaki – 104
Willy Browning, Pleasantville, Ohio, KTM – 96
Tyler Bowers, Danville, Ky., Kawasaki – 92
Jacob Hayes, Greensboro, N.C., Kawasaki – 83
Robby Marshall, Stow, Mass., KTM – 67
Kelly Smith, Ludington, Mich., KTM – 63
Colt Nichols, S. Muskogee, Okla., Kawasaki – 60
Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, Yamaha – 59
Gared Steinke, Woodland, Calif., Kawasaki – 54
Eastern Regional Arenacross Lites Class Points (After Race 4 of 9)
1. Tony Archer, Waldorf, Md., Kawasaki – 52
2. Jacob Williamson, Swartz Creek, Mich., Yamaha – 47
3. Keith Tucker, Furgacy-Varina, N.C., Yamaha – 32
4. Steve Roman, Apollo, Pa., Suzuki – 30
5. Brandon Glenn, Mesquite, Texas, KTM – 30
6. Michael Lang, Saugerties, N.Y., Honda – 29
7. Fredrik Noren, Sweden, KTM – 28
8. Scott Zont, Algonquin, Ill., KTM – 22
9. Dylan Rouse, Verona, Ky., Honda – 20
10. Travis Delnicki, Woodstock Valley, Conn., Suzuki – 20
The entire AMSOIL Arenacross season will air on FOX Sports 1, including re-airs on FOX Sports 2.
Live timing and scoring from each round of the AMSOIL Arenacross season returns for the 2014 season! To follow the intense racing action live, log onto www.Arenacross.com.