Muskegon, MI. (January 17, 2012) – Although some consider Friday the 13th unlucky, Babbitt’s Monster Energy Amsoil Kawasaki’s Tyler Bowers left any superstitions in the dust on his way to earning his seventh win of the 2012 AMA Arenacross series at Kansas Expocenter in Topeka, Kansas. Chad Johnson started off the night on a positive note by grabbing the win in the Dash for Cash, but crashed in the main and finished seventh. On Saturday night, Johnson powered his Kawasaki KX™250F to the top of the podium earning his second win of the season, with Bowers finishing close behind in the runner-up spot. After going 1-2 over the weekend, Bowers maintained the number one spot in the series points standings.

Bowers came to Kansas tied for the points lead, but was determined to leave the event as the sole owner of the coveted red plate. On Friday night, Bowers powered his KX250F out front quickly, grabbed the holeshot, and checked out early to score his seventh win of the season. In the Saturday night main event, Bowers powered into fifth around the first turn and started picking off riders. He moved into second, but was unable to catch his teammate Johnson, who already had a comfortable lead. Bowers finished in the runner-up spot and ended the weekend with a 12-point lead in the standings.

“The tie for the lead wasn’t good enough,” said Bowers. “I came to Kansas with a plan to leave with the only red plate. In Friday’s main I clipped the gate with my front tire but still pulled the holeshot. The rest of the race went pretty flawless for me. During the Saturday heat race I was trying to make a move to the inside of a corner, skidded out, and went down. I got up and finished sixth, which left me in the second row for the main event start. In the main I got a great jump off the gate and came around the first corner in fifth. I got knocked around inside the tight pack pretty good before I pulled out front into second.”

Johnson got the weekend off to a great start on Friday, taking the win in the Dash for Cash. In the main event Johnson had to fight back from a second row start, but managed to battle his way into fifth by the final lap. On the last lap he tried to make a pass on fourth, but got pushed to the outside of a berm and went off the track. He quickly recovered, but lost a couple spots and finished seventh. On Saturday, Johnson had figured out the tricky, hardpacked track and took his second win of the season. Johnson currently sits third in the points.

“It was another great weekend for Team Babbitt’s,” said Johnson. “Friday night I got a rough start and had to battle most of the race. On Saturday I felt really good on the bike. I got a good start and moved into the lead right before the halfway mark. The dirt was pretty slick and I was sliding around the track pretty good. I knew Tyler was behind me and I tried to stay smooth and consistent for the remainder of the race.”

Bowers spent the past week in physical therapy focusing on the injuries he sustained in last weekend’s Dash for Cash crash in Grand Rapids, Mich. Despite being bruised and swollen, Bowers knew in order to stay on the championship trail he needed to win in Kansas. Like a true champion, Bowers fought through the pain to earn his seventh win of the season and took back control of the series points lead.

“I am still pretty sore from my wreck in Grand Rapids,” said Bowers. “Despite the pain I feel during practice, during in the main events it goes away when the adrenaline starts pumping.”

Since the AMA Arenacross series switched the arenacross class from 450Fs to 250Fs this season, riders have been divided on whether or not the decision was a good one. While the 250F is easier to ride, some feel the 450 is a better bike for the premier class. While the decision has not appeared to effect Bowers or Johnson negatively, they still hope some day that they will get to transition back to the KX450F.

“I miss the KX450F,” said Johnson. “I thought they were better for competition because they took more skill to ride. You also had to be in better shape to get them around those tight arenacross tracks. While the 250F is still a lot of fun to ride, I hope we can transition back to the 450F next year.”

Next weekend, Babbitt’s Monster Energy Amsoil Kawasaki’s Arenacross team heads to the Nutter Center in Dayton, Ohio for the next round of the 2012 AMA Arenacross series.