I can not believe how quickly the series has gone by. We only have one more weekend left in the 2007 Toyota Arenacross Series. I am on my way home from Saginaw, MI and it was another chilly weekend. Much like last year, the points race for the championship is close and there have been 9 more different riders who have won a main event; However, Danny Smith still went into this weekend with 22 points separating him and Robbie Reynard. It is Arenacross and anything could happen at any time. There has been a lot of talk about the spilt weekends, where there are two races a weekend and you can earn the same amount of points at either race. But up until this weekend most of the top contenders were all in one location. So Speed TV, myself, Robbie Reynard, Keith Johnson, Kevin Johnson and Teddy Maier were all in Saginaw, MI, but Danny Smith and the Tuf Cernic’s Honda team and the Carolina Xpress went a couple of states over in Wheeling, WV to race for the smaller purse but the same points.
Saginaw had some of the softest dirt Arenacross has ever seen. The track was set up a little similar to the track in Charlotte, NC only modified to accommodate the sponge like dirt. It was a test of the rider’s ability to remain consistent and calm in ruts. The track crew, as well as our Hertz rental equipment, was being tested at their ability to maintain a track that could handle the power of the bikes.
On Friday night when I was watching the Heats all I could think about was how rough the Main events were really going to be. The ruts were throwing the bikes all over the place, but the dirt almost seemed tacky. The Lites class is always first out on the track. The smaller bikes were not doing as much damage as the big bikes, but they seemed to not handle quite as well! The boys were lined up on the gates and down they dropped. The bikes charged down the straight to take a hard left. It was Nick Vaughn out in front but it was not long before he got stuck in a rut and Shane Sewell, Cameron Hasting, Cory Green, and Kurtis McCabe were able to round out the top 4. The track was disintegrating every lap and it was getting really hectic towards the end. The lappers were hard to pass, and the bikes were sticking in every rut. But patience paid off for Shane Sewell being able to maintain his lead and get his first win! He had a grin from ear to ear; Kurtis McCabe was able to put his Ti-lube/ Storm Lake Honda on the podium again coming in second, and Cameron Hasting going home with 3 rd. These boys were tired and they all had to get right back on the start line for the Arenacross Class Main Event with the big bikes.
22 points is all that separated Danny Smith and Robbie Reynard. With Danny being in Wheeling WV, Robbie knew it was his chance to be able to make up points. The big bikes jumped out of the gate and Teddy Maier was out front with Kevin and Keith Johnson right behind him. Robbie Reynard got a terrible start and was having a hard time catching up. But once again, he did what he does best and rode his Honda around the track and was gaining on Teddy Maier very quickly. However, Teddy was riding a mistake free race; he looked very confident out there and was a section ahead of Robbie. You could tell that Robbie was gaining on him and trying to set up the perfect pass, noticing Teddy’s weak spots on the track. It was a really good battle, Teddy Maier was riding really well and Robbie was keeping him honest up until the last lap. Robbie looked as though he was going to be able to pass Teddy Maier and get the win. But with half a lap left, Robbie went in for the pass and Teddy brake checked him, insuring his second win of the season. The final was Teddy Maier 1 st, Robbie Reynard 2 nd and the always smiling Kevin Johnson in 3 rd. Lucky for Robbie Reynard, Danny Smith did not win at the other race either, and they both ended the night with 2 nd and remained 22 points between them.
The track almost seemed worse on Saturday. To me, it had dried up a little bit, but the ruts were really getting the best of the bikes and their riders. Friday night’s show was intense; the races were chaotic and very entertaining. Saturday is always fun because we get to start off the night a little early with the Toyota Certified Used Car track party, where the fans get the opportunity to come onto the track and meet the riders. They also get to experience the track from the riders’ point of view and feel the dirt they are feeling. We had a good turn out and the people in Saginaw were all about racing! It was fun to talk to them and listen to the stories of riding around the country in the summertime. The clock hit 7:30pm and we were ready to go racing.
The track was testing the rider’s skill from the second they left the gate. It was a sticky one and there were a lot of riders going down. The Booty Shaker, Cory Green, was able to pull of a nice holeshot coming out in the Lites Class Main Event. But Kevin Markwardt was not too far behind, leaving little to no room for error from Cory Green. They were swapping places every lap, but Kevin Markwardt was able to pass Cory Green and put himself out front.
Cory Green, #480, was not quick to give up. He deserved that win, and he was going to get it. However, he did not get too aggressive and just kept his patience. It paid off because Kevin Markwardt fell down in the first corner coming into the whoops section, sending Cory “Booty Shaker” Green out in front. Once Cory got the lead you could tell he had his confidence back and he sailed through the rest of the race, coming across the finish line with one hand in the air and a huge smile. Winning is where The Booty Shaker likes to be. Holding onto 2 nd was Shane Sewell and coming into 3 rd was Cameron Hasting. It was a sad finish for the rookie of the year last year, Kevin Markwardt, as he rolled his bike off the track realizing he could have just won.
It was time once again for the big bikes to line up and get ready to go racing. Robbie Reynard, Kevin Johnson, Keith Johnson and Teddy Maier were all next to each other when the gates dropped. Robbie jumped out of the gate and the race was on. Robbie Reynard was out front with the holeshot. It looked like he was just going to run away with the lead and never look back. Teddy Maier was not too far behind in 2 nd and the Johnson brothers were battling it out for 3 rd. At the half-way mark, the track was so full of ruts the bikes would almost come to a complete stop in the corners. It was Nick Adams on his Rockstar Suzuki who took the fall that almost changed the race. Nick Adams crashed hard on the landing of the catapult and out came the Red Cross flag. Just as Reynard was coming into the catapult, he saw the flag in mid acceleration and put on the brakes. He didn’t jump it but he completely cased into the front of the landing and we all thought his bike would stick and he was going over the bars. But somehow he was able to hold onto it and still keep his lead. Teddy Maier was closing the gap and waiting to make the pass, but the lap traffic was incredibly congested and made it impossible to stick with your original lines. Robbie Reynard was able to maneuver around the lappers smoothly, where Teddy Maier got stuck a couple of times. Robbie Reynard was able to once again show his skills on a dirt bike and take home his 7 th win of the season. He also gained 3 points on the championship because Danny Smith only ended up 2 nd in Wheeling, WV. Teddy Maier was still happy coming in 2 nd, especially on a track that was so difficult to ride. Kevin Johnson held off his other brother once again taking the final podium spot in 3 rd.
Saginaw had a track that was not easy to ride and tested every rider’s ability to adapt and overcome some really rutted and sticky situations. We are finishing off the series next weekend in the “ Music City” of Nashville, TN. I have never been to Nashville, and also both my sisters and my Mom are coming along to finish off the series with me. It is going to be a weekend of Celebration for one rider. Either Danny Smith or Robbie Reynard will walk away with a 2007 Toyota AMA Arenacross Championship title and a brand new 2007 Toyota Tacoma. Nashville’s racing is going to be a show to remember. Don’t forget to tune into Speed Channel our series began this week, the schedule is posted on Arenacross.com. I will see you all in Nashville, TN at the races. Until then, remember to always keep your smile!!
XOXO
Ashley Miss Arenacross
