TOYOTA AMA NATIONAL ARENACROSS SERIES RETURNS TO DALLAS
03 January 2006 - Amp'd Mobile

Reunion Arena features world’s top dirt bike racers

When the starting flag flies to begin the second half of the 2005-’06 Toyota AMA National Arenacross Series at Dallas’ Reunion Arena, Jan. 6-7, the great city of Dallas will be at the center of attention of the two-wheel motorsports racing. The world’s best motocross riders battle for the top spot in what will undoubtedly be one of Reunion Arena’s more unique and most talked-about events of the coming events season.

Leading the pack of riders converging on Dallas from all over the nation is Team Yamaha’s Chad Johnson. The Rhinelander, Wis., native shot out to an early lead this season, capturing overall wins at the first three rounds (Albany, N.Y., Des Moines, Iowa and Charlotte) and establishing himself as the ‘man to beat’ for the overall Toyota AMA National Arenacross Series title.

Hot on his tail is Ohio motocross legend Brock Sellards (Thor/Honda/TUF Racing). In the last race – prior to the mid-season break – in Rockford, Ill., Sellards took a giant bite out of Johnson’s lead, cutting the overall points deficit to 25 points with a ton of racing to go this season.

“Yeah, we’ve got a lot of racing ahead of us – beginning with Dallas,” said Sellards. “I always look forward to coming and racing in Texas. There’s a lot of great local racers from here and the fans are very knowledgeable. Always a great race when we roll into Dallas.”

One of the top racers from the Dallas area is Michael Thacker. Hailing from nearby Keller, Texas, Thacker, 17, will be competing in his first pro Toyota AMA National Arenacross Series race.

“I can’t wait,” said Thacker. “I’m nervous, but this is what I’ve worked hard for since I was a kid and turning pro is what I’ve always wanted to do.”

Racing since age six, Thacker has competed on the national level in amateur motocross and qualified for a number of major races – including the 2003 AMA Amateur National Championships held annually at Loretta Lynn’s ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tenn.

Unlike other forms of motorsports, the compact style of motocross that plays in arena-size venues – Toyota AMA Arenacross Series – can at times be as much of a gladiatorial contest as it can a race. The bar-to-bar racing action more often then not sends guys flying off the track and into the protective lane barriers (Tuff Blocks), only to have them re-mount and quickly get back into the hunt for the lead. Never a dull moment in arenacross, as the racers will attest.

“Better eat a good dinner because there’s so much action going on down on the floor that you’re not going to want to leave your seat!” said Johnson. “And when we’re not racing, the freestyle guys are doing tricks – live – that kids have a hard time pulling on their video games. It’s a night the entire family won’t soon forget for sure.”

The Toyota AMA National Arenacross Series is in its traditional one month break before returning to action on Jan. 6-8 at Dallas’ Reunion Arena. For more information on the Dallas race, check out www.reunionarena.org or contact Reunion Arena at (214) 800-3000.

Tickets are available online at www.arenacross.com, www.ticketmaster.com, www.tickets.com.

For more information on the Toyota AMA National Arenacross Series log on to www.arenacross.com.

Photo courtesy of Michael Sierens

www.arenacross.com

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