MotoSport riders rode loud and proud for Round 12 of the 2015 AMSOIL Arenacross season held on Saturday at Spokane Arena in Spokane, WA.
A sold-out crowd watched Gared Steinke win his first career Main event and Daniel Blair win the 2015 West Coast Lites Championship, a first career title for the veteran rider even if it came with little competition. Meanwhile, Kyle Regal won the overall for the second straight week and now leads the "Race to the Championship" field by six over Chris Blose.
The "Race for the Championship" format of Arenacross reset the points for those riders in the Top 10 after Round 9 who contest for the Championship over the course of the final six rounds. The reset gave the rider in first place with six points, second place got five points, third and fourth place started with four points, fifth and sixth got three points, seventh and eighth got two points and ninth and 10th started with one point.
Blose swept Round 10 to start the "Race for the Championship" format and took the early lead in points but Regal took the overall in Round 11 and grabbed the lead back which he had before the points reset.
This time around, Jacob Hayes, who led the field in points early in the season, grabbed the holeshot in Moto 1 and was followed by Matt Goerke, Blose, Gavin Faith and Regal. The Top 5 raced together without changing much position until three laps remained and Goerke went to the inside of Hayes on Lap 12, the two banged bars, and Hayes' lead evaporated when he crashed. Goerke stayed upright and held on for the win with Blose in second. Regal managed a third-place effort after passing Faith near the finish. Hayes rebounded well with a sixth-place finish considering he had just three laps remaining after hitting the dirt.
Gared Steinke - All Photos: AMSOIL Arenacross
In Moto 2, Steinke took the holeshot and led wire to wire for his first career win. He fended off a charging Regal who started third and passed East Coast Lites Champion Dave Ginolfi on Lap 4 when Ginolfi's chain broke and he bowed out of competition. As a result Kiniry slotted into third but on Lap 8 Goerke hit Kiniry trying to pass causing both riders to crash which allowed Faith to get into podium contention. Cory Green took fourth and Blose who started the race outside the Top 10 finished fifth.
"It felt really good to get my first career win, I'm feeling confident and ready to get more wins," said Steinke, who rides for the MotoSport.com/Lauerman MX team. "I can't wait for this weekend in Tacoma and finish on the podium."
Steinke's first place result helped make up for his 10th place finish in Moto 1 giving him sixth overall. He didn't move up from ninth in the standings but is now just three points back from Travis Sewell in eighth and 12 points from the Top 5.
Regal's (3-2) night added two points to his cushion in first-place and Hayes, who entered the night in third, dropped to fourth after a (6-8) night. Faith who took second overall with a (4-3) night moved from sixth to third and is six points back from Blose.
In the West Lites class, Blair entered the evening with a 35 point lead and three wins in four West Lites rounds. Blair also kept sharp by racing in the East Lites class, but not for points, and took home a win in that class two rounds ago.
Daniel Blair celebrates West Lites Championship
Blair trailed seven riders at the end of the first lap to start his Moto as Steven Mages grabbed the holeshot leading wire to wire with Ginolfi in tow. Blair slowly worked his way to the podium getting into seventh on Lap 2, then sixth on Lap 4 and finally the Top 5 a lap later. On Lap 11 he took fourth and then on Lap 13 he took third-place and the Championship.
"I'm so happy to wrap up the championship early," Blair said. "I wasn't happy with the way I rode but I'm looking forward to the last three rounds. The bike is working perfect and I'm ready to finish the season with a bang."
Cody Vanbuskirk entered the race in second and finished 16th for no points which meant Blair needed third-place or better to clinch the Championship. Three rounds remain in the West Lites class and Jake Locks who finished eighth is now tied in points with Brandon Glenn for third.
Arenacross Round 13 is Saturday at the Tacoma Dome. Buy tickets online or at the box office, 2727 East D Street in Tacoma, WA.
2015 Spokane Arenacross Results
Arenacross Class Results - Overall
- Kyle Regal (3-2)
- Gavin Faith (4-3)
- Chris Blose (2-5)
- Cory Green (7-4)
- Matt Goerke (1-10)
- Gared Steinke (10-1) - MotoSport rider
- Jacob Hayes (6-8)
- Travis Sewell (8-7)
- Steven Mages (9-6)
- Bobby Kiniry (5-12)
Western Regional Arenacross Lites Class Results
- Steven Mages
- Dave Ginolfi
- Daniel Blair - MotoSport rider
- Scott Zont
- RJ Wageman
- Kinser Endicott
- Jason McConnell
- Jake Locks
- Jonah Locks
- Collin Jurin
2015 Race to the Championship Standings
- Kyle Regal (91)
- Chris Blose (85)
- Gavin Faith (79)
- Jacob Hayes (76)
- Matt Goerke (75)
- Cory Green (72)
- Bobby Kiniry (71)
- Travis Sewell (66)
- Gared Steinke (63) - MotoSport rider
- Steven Mages (53)
Western Regional Arenacross Lites Class Points
- Daniel Blair (99) - 2015 West Lites Champion
- Cody VanBuskirk (51)
- Brandon Glenn (48)
- Jake Locks (48)
- Clay Elliott (34)
- Jason McConnell (33)
- Josh Struebig (30)
- Jonah Locks (27)
- Mason Wharton (24)
- Dalton Oxborrow (18)
- Benjamin Nelko (18)
