Arenacross is coming, Arenacross is coming!

It's the middle of October, the US Open, JMI, and MXdN are overwith and silly season talks are really starting to wind down. Most the riders seem to disappear for a couple of months at their homes and respected test tracks. However, the off season is almost over already for the minor leaguers. The Arenacross season(s) are set to kick off in just a couple of short weeks.

Last year, Mike Kidd, the founder of current day Arenacross turned the whole scene upside down by announcing a competing series. That's right, he decided he could beat his own creation and do even better a second time around. Everyone was concerned that Arenacross would be ruined with two competing series championships, and most figured one series would run the other out of business. However, thankfully this was not the case, both series' shared their points of success in 2005/6; and both are back for 2006/7. This means more racing, more rides, and more chances for riders to make a living racing dirtbikes... Good for anyone involved with motocross if you ask me.

Time to break down the two series.

Last year I was able to spectate live as the AMA Arenacross series closed it's doors in 2006 with the closest points championship finish ever in the history of Arenacross. Brock Sellards lost by one point to Arenacross verteran Chad Johnson. This year Johnson will be back, but Sellards will not. Although his closest nemisis from last season won't be back running his #2 plate, Johnson won't have an easy time of it. Johnson will be aboard a completely different machine for 2007, not only will he be riding a 450 instead of a 250 two stroke, but his color went from blue to Suzuki yellow for the new season. Switching bikes isn't going to be Johnson's only challenge, another Johnson is looking for blood. Kevin Johnson, that is. The Team Faith Yamaha rider was many times the fastest rider last season, but couldn't put it all together for the whole season, ending him 3rd in the title chase. This year KJ is back with the same team and is hoping he hasn't forgotten those few important pieces of luggage he forgot throughout the voyage of last season. Greg Schnell never earned a win in 2006, but he was consistently in the top 5. Greg will return with the experience earned in his rookie AX season last year aboard the #5 Suzuki. Schnell, like his new teammate Chad Johnson, is switching from the 2 stroke to the power of a 450 four stroke for the new season. If Schnell can get some better starts aboard a 450, everyone better watch out. Jim Neese showed the speed to win on various occasions last year, but could never put it all together. Neese and fellow northeastern Suzuki pilot, and good friend Jim Chester put together the Carolina Express team, and they will be looking to improve their 2006 season ending numbers 6 and 12 respectively. Zach Ames has an Arenacross victory and two years of experience under his belt coming into the 2007 season; look for the holeshot artist to throw himself head first into the title mix this season as the dark horse. You never know who will step it up big in Arenacross, maybe the likes of Scott Metz, Roy Horton, 2006 rookie of the year Kevin Markwardt, or rookie of the year runner up Braden Parks will find themselves near the front in 2007. Just the returning cast sounds like a pretty incredible dual, but more riders will be on the gate for the opener in Des Moines. Supercross veterans Danny Smith and Justin Buckelew are also gearing up to dive into the fishbowl of motocross. Both riders will be aboard Tuf Racing Hondas and aiming straight for the top step of the podium in their inaugural Arenacross seasons. Also, TiLube sponsored a rookie team in 2006, and they will be back twice the size for 2007. The team went out, got a bigger rig to haul more bikes, and they are cramming it full of talent for 2007. 2006 BooKoo Arenacross runner up Shane Bess will give up his #2 plate and heat things up across the wall for 2007 aboard a TiLube/StormLakeHonda.com 450. Teddy Maier returns to Arenacross after a year in the big show last season, where he finished up 8^th on the east coast. Maier got on the box with a 3^rd his first weekend ever racing Arenacross in Des Moines. Look for him to try and improve on that when the season opens just down the road from his home this season aboard his TiLube Hondas. Kurt McCabe found himself on the BooKoo Arenacross series podium once last season, he is a wild card contender for the top five in 2007 pitting out of the TiLube truck as well. The 2001 Arenacross rookie of the year Kody Molitor joined the season late last year when TiLube was formed. He is more prepared than ever this season and is feeling right at home on the CRF450. Look for a more focused Molitor to be a contender in both the Arenacross and Arenacross lites classes this winter. Yet another team is joining the AMA Arenacross series for the new year. Team Eternal Industries/AXO Suzuki will field two brothers from the band the Main Event who also go fast on dirtbikes. Daniel and Vincent Blair are teaming up with BooKoo Arenacross rookie of the year from last season Casey Hinson looking for an AMA Arenacross title for 2007. These are just the guys I know that are returning to the AMA Arenacross series, and as we all know Arenacross is a last minute thing, look for more contenders on the gate in Des Moines. I don’t think there are enough gates in the main event to fit all the guys mentioned above, look for it to be a challenge to even qualify in Des Moines.

To BooKoo we go. Although the BooKoo Arenacross series will be missing both the #1 and #2 plates (Defending champion Demuth is going to race Supercross for the BooKoo Honda team and runnerup Bess is racing the AMA Arenacross series for TiLube), the racing will still be intense. Two time Arenacross champion Darcy Lange is migrating back to the hockey arenas for 2007. Lange is rarely beaten in the tight confines of Arenacross, but a tough crew of challengers awaits him for the upcoming season. Darcy will be teamed up with former teammate and runner up finisher Jeff Northrop. Northrop will be right at home back aboard the Kawasaki, look for NorCal and Lange to be tough to beat on their Babbits green machines. Josh Woods got a last minute call last year to fill in for the Suzuki squad when Brad Hagseth was injured on press day before the opener. Woods drove through the night and found himself right up front when the season opened in Ft. Worth. Woods was on a roll looking like a sure title contender before he went down with an injury. He will be back aboard a Suzuki in 2007 and teamed up with Michael Blose. Last season Blose joined the series late and raced only the lites class, but he netted himself a bunch of wins and confidence for this season. If Blose rides a 450 anything like a 250f, he will be tough to beat. Tommy Hofmaster will be back on his Sano Systems Yamahas for the new year. The former runner up had a tough season last year and is looking for a brighter season come November. Who else will be a contender for the BooKoo crown in 2007? Will most improved rider for 2006 Travis Bannister be back and up front? Will Tiger Lacey and Colt Humphrey be back? Only time will tell in the last minute world of Arenacross racing!

So here are my predictions.

AMA Arenacross Series -- These are the 16 riders I know will be running the series.

Teddy Maier

Kevin Johnson

Justin Buckelew

Chad Johnson

Shane Bess

Zach Ames

Greg Schnell

Kody Molitor

Kurt McCabe

Jim Neese

Kevin Markwardt

Jim Chester

Braden Parks

Danny Smith

Roy Horton

Matt Maier

BooKoo Arenacross Series -- Only the guys I know running it…

Jeff Northrop

Darcy Lange

Tommy Hofmaster

Michael Blose

Josh Woods