Hi everyone! It was a weekend to remember at the Toyota AMA Arenacross in Albany, NY. This weekend proved that you really never know what is going to happen during a race at Arenacross. It was the second round of the season and we had a different point’s leader every night. The weekend was full of guest appearances from some of the most well known riders in the Motocross world. John Dowd is a local guy and lives only 100 miles away, so he drove out to play in the dirt with the Arenacross boys! He is one of the most athletic and talented riders I have ever watched, and he is a really great guy! I remember last year it was my first show here in Albany and he came out to race. I was so excited to be able to talk with him. He definitely came out and gave all the guys a run for their money! It was great to watch how close the competition was on the track.

Friday was a beautiful day, sunny and much warmer than last year in Albany. The track was slick, and the dirt was easily rutted. By the time the mains came around it was complete chaos! The Lites class was an entirely different race than we saw last weekend. The riders came out of the start, had to take a left and go down the whoops, left to the rhythm section and the lines there were very important. However, as the laps went on the lines got really sketchy, and if you made one mistake you would be thrown all over the track! Also toward the middle of the race most of the riders couldn’t jump the catapult and had to roll over it, costing them a lot of vital seconds. Kody Molitor who was on the box both nights in Des Moines fell in the whoops and ended up coming in 15 th. But we did get to see some new faces on the podium, which is always great! Although the guy on top was not a new face, Jimmy Neese not only got his first podium of the year, he was the one on top! He has had a tough time warming up this year but he rode a clean, consistent race and was able to get the win. Cory Green #480 was not too far behind coming in 2 nd and Phillip Nicoletti, first year as a pro and first podium in 3 rd. It was incredible!

After a bit of track maintenance we brought out the U.S. Air Force freestyle team to show the crowd what freestyle is all about. These guys jump from the ramp to the catapult landing going 30+ feet in the air! It was awesome to watch. I have so much respect for them!

The Arenacross main event was going to be a hectic one; we all had no idea what was going to happen. The track got tore up just from the little bikes in the Lites class, I was curious to see what these 450s were going to do. The gates came down and Robbie Reynard, perhaps one of the most naturally talented riders to ever live came out strong. He got the holeshot and was able to keep himself safe in front. But behind him was the mess, the bikes were all over the track. Returning Champ Chad Johnson had to go all the way to the LCQ so he had no chance of getting a good start. Danny Smith was making some really smart moves on the track and was looking great. Until the very end, he was in the whoops and got tangled up with some lappers. Gregg Schnell was riding and working really hard, but the track just was not giving him any thing back. John Dowd also was riding great, he is so confident and makes really good decisions so he kept up with Robbie, actually passed him once to take the lead, however Robbie passed by him to take it back. It was a crazy race! But Robbie was able to pull it off for his second Arenacross win of the year! John Dowd fell in the last lap, but he had such a lead on 3 rd he was able to keep his 2 nd place spot, and finally Chad Johnson got his first podium of the season coming in 3 rd. It was awesome!

Saturday night they made some changes to help make the dirt more durable. They mixed in concrete and gave the catapult a couple more feet so it was easier for the Lites to jump. But it was still going to get worn down like every track does. I know I wasn’t alone when I was anxious about the mains. The Lites class was looking great and was able to jump the catapult no problem. There were a lot of riders going down, and it was making it difficult to keep your lines, you had to make smart decisions. That is exactly what Robbie Smith did! He came out got a fantastic start and kept him up in front away from trouble. However he did have some incentive! If he won the main event his team manager “Dirt Bike Mike” would shave his mustache that he has had for 30 years! Jimmy Neese was coming up strong and I thought he had it, but Robbie was riding so clean he was able to hold on to the lead and come out on top! Jimmy got 2 nd and Patrick Boyle came in 3 rd. Dirt Bike Mike all we have to say is bye bye mustache!! Maybe motivation was all he needed!

The Arenacross class was once again set up completely different. Gregg Schnell, who came into Saturday as the point’s leader, didn’t even qualify to be in the main event. Chad Johnson was all the way in the back, getting in the main during the LCQ again. Robbie Reynard was looking great during the heats, as well as John Dowd and Danny Smith. When the gates dropped the bikes shot out towards turn one and Teddy Maier got the whole shot!! He went quickly through the whoops but Kevin Johnson was not too far behind him. Kevin was catching him quickly. Teddy made a small mistake in the rhythm section and gave Kevin the opportunity to pass, and he did. He usually is Mr. Nice guy but he made the pass and got out front. For a while he was the only one jumping the triple in the rhythm section and it gave him a tremendous lead. But the others got smart and John Dowd was coming up on Kevin quick. There was a great battle with Danny Smith and Robbie Reynard for 3 rd. But Danny once again made some great decisions and made the pass on John to take over 2 nd. Robbie was back in 5 th just behind Dowd. But Jimmy Neese was right there on them. He was riding great! The track was holding up better than Friday night but the riders were getting tired. Arm pump was getting the best of Kevin and he was slowing down quite a bit every lap. It was a great race. Kevin was able to pull it off and get his first win of the season, Danny kept himself in 2 nd and rode awesome, and Jimmy Neese came out in 3 rd! Winning the lites must have given him a little confidence boost! Chad wasn’t in the top 5, and Robbie didn’t podium! Arenacross is never the same!

Next week we will be in my home town, Reno! I am so excited to be able to have a hometown crowd. The arena in Reno has a huge floor so the track is sure to be awesome! We will also be having X games bronze medalist Mike Mason there to do some freestyle, back flips and all! Remember to log into Moto talk during the race to get constant live updates on what is happening at the Toyota AMA Arenacross! Until next week be safe and remember to keep on smiling!

XOX

Ashley Miss AX