The Top 10 riders in the 2015 AMSOIL Arenacross season have just three Rounds left to secure their spot in the "Race for the Championship" as the series stops in Kansas City on Saturday to help start the stretch run.
The races leading up to Round 10 in New Orleans offer more significance to those near the bottom or on the outskirts of the Top 10 including MotoSport rider Gared Steinke. After Round 9, those in the Top 10 for points move on to compete in the Championship run and points get wiped out. Steinke is 102 points behind the leader, Jacob Hayes, and all but out of any Championship hopes, if not for the points reset.
Steinke and Gavin Faith bring up the rear in the ninth and 10th spots, respectively, with seemingly comfortable leads over Cory Green in 11th, 14 points from the 10th spot and Daniel Herrlein is in 12th, 21 points from 10th.
Gared Steinke - Photo: Mike Vizer
But as many riders can attest no one is really safe to get in until the end of Round 9. Faith has two Main wins but crashes kept him from racing others. Chris Blose, in seventh place, has four Main wins and a couple of crashes helping to pop him in and out of the Top 10 all season. Matt Goerke on the other hand led the field early without any Main wins but has since slipped to second place despite winning twice. Kyle Regal won the overall last week after taking second-place in both Motos. There's been six overall winners in nine races.
Staying consistent and avoiding melees on the track which can either take a rider down or pose as significant roadblocks for a podium finish seems to be the key. Last week, the Top 8 overall riders finished both Motos in the Top 10. Steinke, who rides for the MotoSport.com/Lauerman MX Race team, had one of his best nights of the year, just missing the podium in Moto 1 and taking seventh in Moto 2 for a seventh overall. His performance gave him some insurance as he inched him up to ninth place in points.
Daniel Blair - Photo: Mike Vizer
Round 7 also represents just the second race for the West Lites class where MotoSport rider Daniel Blair leads in points. West Lites last competed in Round 3 at Colorado Springs. Blair took third in the first race and won the second race in the two-night event. His third-place result was behind two riders who contend the East Lites class so the point total wasn't drastically affected. He leads the West Lites field by six over Brandon Glenn.
"I'm feeling the best I've felt all year, the nagging injuries are gone and I feel very confident on the bike," Blair said. "I'm ready to get a win streak going."
Blair won his second race of the year last week in Tampa but since he doesn't compete in the East Lites class he received no points but still got the podium result. Chase Marquier, who rides for the MotoSport.com/GPI/Honda Racing team is third in points for the West Lites class after a fourth place finish in the first race.
Arenacross Round 9 starts at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Sprint Center. Buy tickets online or at the box office, 1407 Grand Blvd. in Kansas City, MO.
Arenacross Class Points
- Jacob Hayes (240)
- Matt Goerke (226)
- Kyle Regal (220)
- Bobby Kiniry (188)
- Steven Mages (178)
- Travis Sewell (177)
- Chris Blose (175)
- Willy Browning (156)
- Gared Steinke (138) - MotoSport rider
- Gavin Faith (131)
Western Regional Arenacross Lites Class Points
- Daniel Blair (30) - MotoSport rider
- Brandon Glenn (24)
- Chase Marquier (13) - MotoSport rider
- Cody VanBuskirk (13)
- Travis Bannister (12)
- Mason Wharton (12)
- Josh Struebig (12)
- Dalton Oxborrow (11)
- Tanner Sisson (10)
- Axell Hodges (9)
