CHAD JOHNSON & BROCK SELLARDS TRADE AX WINS @ GUTHRIE
23 January 2006 - AMA Pro Racing

Lazy E Arena’s the site of some awesome Toyota AMA National Arenacross Series racing in both the AMA Arenacross and AMA Lites class

The State of Oklahoma was “arenacross crazy” this past Friday and Saturday as the 2005-’06 Toyota AMA National Arenacross Series rolled through the central United States, continuing to gain fans and momentum. Before two sizable crowds at Guthrie’s Lazy E Arena top AMA pro racers turned in an amazing event.

On a giant track, considered by many of the riders on the Toyota AMA National Arenacross Series tour to be their favorite, series points leader Chad Johnson (Yamaha) and Thor/Honda/TUF Racing’s Brock Sellards were center stage in what is shaping up to be an overall title chase that will go right down to the wire at the final race of the season in Denver (Feb. 10-12).

In Friday night’s AMA Arenacross class final, Sellards pulled the Weekend Warrior holeshot, but was passed prior to completing the first lap by a post-flu, ‘rejuvenated’ Johnson. The two Midwest racers – 1 & 2 in the overall points – battled for several laps before the whoops came up and bit the Ohio native Sellards.

“I’m doing everything I can to win, but Brock is always right there,” said Johnson. “I’ve got a 17-point lead, which in Toyota AMA National Arenacross doesn’t mean much. I throw it away in one race, break something on my bike and aren’t able to finish, and the lead is Brock’s. It’s kind of unnerving for us, but great for the fans because the championship won’t be decided until we hit the Denver Coliseum.”

After sketching in the whoops in Friday’s final, Sellards was able to hold off his hard-charging teammate – Jeff Northrop – for second overall. Northrop would finish in third – his first podium finish since Dallas.

On Saturday Team Faith/Yamaha’s Kevin Johnson blasted out to the early lead – with Sellards in hot pursuit. The two put on an epic battle for the nearly sold out crowd at Lazy E with Johnson leading through 15 of the 18 scheduled laps. Sellards finally caught Johnson in the place where he lost the lead on Friday – the whoops – and got around the New Mexico native for first and the eventual win. Chad Johnson rode well, but looked to be content with filling the last spot on the podium in third.

“It’s been my story all year. When I don’t make mistakes I win,” said Sellards. “I felt fast on both nights, but on Saturday I didn’t have the problem in the whoops that I did on Friday and the results show that. I made up a couple points on Chad, but have to do even more at these next two races (Hampton & Memphis) before we hit the finals in Denver.”

Dominating the AMA Lites division on both nights, as he has pretty much all year, was Unbound Energy/VRM.com/Kawasaki’s Shawn Clark. Clark went 1-1 on the weekend at Guthrie. Travis Hodges (Honda) and Dennis Jonon (Suzuki) would go 2-3, respectively, on both nights.

The Toyota AMA National Arenacross Series returns to action this weekend when the world’s top arena-based motocross racers converge on the Hampton (Va.) Coliseum for Round 8 of the 10-round series. For more information on the Hampton race please visit www.arenacross.com or contact the Hampton Coliseum box office at (757) 838-4203.

Results

Friday

AMA Arenacross Lites AMA Arenacross

1.) Shawn Clark, Kawasaki 1.) Chad Johnson, Yamaha

2.) Travis Hodges, Honda 2.) Brock Sellards, Honda

3.) Dennis Jonon, Suzuki 3.) Jeff Northrop, Honda

4.) Chad Cook, Kawasaki 4.) Greg Schnell, Suzuki

5.) Joshua Schmitt, Honda 5.) Jim Neese, Suzuki

Saturday

AMA Arenacross Lites AMA Arenacross

1.) Shawn Clark, Kawasaki 1.) Brock Sellards, Honda

2.) Travis Hodges, Honda 2.) Kevin Johnson, Yamaha

3.) Dennis Jonon, Suzuki 3.) Chad Johnson, Yamaha

4.) Kody Molitor, Yamaha 4.) Greg Schnell, Suzuki

5.) Roy Horton, Honda 5.) Zach Ames, Suzuki

Arenacross Class Overall Points

1.) Chad Johnson 302

2.) Brock Sellards 285

3.) Kevin Johnson 252

4.) Greg Schnell 242

5.) Jim Neese 233

6.) Jeff Northrop 232

7.) Shawn Clark 193

8.) Zach Ames 167

9.) Scott Metz 135

10.) Jim Chester 123

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.

About Toyota AMA National Arenacross Series and Arenacross

In its 22nd year, the Toyota AMA National Arenacross Series is the premier indoor motocross series in the U.S. playing to sold-out arenas nationwide. In addition to the marquee national tour, the Toyota AMA National Arenacross Series is supported by a regionally based Arenacross tour which provides both professional and amateur motocross riders the opportunity to race in front of sold-out arenas. Information on the Toyota AMA National Arenacross Series and other Arenacross events may be found at www.arenacross.com.

About AMA Pro Racing

AMA Pro Racing is the leading sanctioning body for motorcycle sport in the United States. Its properties include the Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross Series, the AMA Motocross Championship presented by FMF, the AMA Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited, the AMA Ford Quality Checked Flat Track Championship and the AMA Supermoto Championship. For more information about AMA Pro Racing, visit www.amaproracing.com. Accredited media outlets can also access AMA Pro Racing''s online Press Room at www.amaproracing.com/pressroom.

www.amaproracing.com

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