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FRIDAY
125cc Racing
The Arenacross series came back to MetroCentre in Rockford, IL for Round 4. The weather was cool outside, but the action inside heated up the Arena. On Friday in 125cc Pro racing, Josh Demuth pulled off yet another 125cc win. "I was able to pull the holeshot and stay in the lead for the whole race to take the win. The track and the crowd were great. It was great to get another win too," said DeMuth.
Evan Laughridge got his first podium of the year by holding on to second place the whole race. "I had a good start and rode smart behind Demuth and held off Tommy the whole race. I was happy to finally get on the podium this year," said Laughridge.
Hometown-boy Tommy Hofmaster was able to take third overall in front of friends and family. "I had a good start in behind Evan and Demuth," Hofmaster comments, "Demuth checked out early in the race. Evan rode strong the whole time. I decided to pace myself and finish third overall."
Pedro Gonzalez took forth and Darcy Lange claimed fifth.
250cc Racing
In 250cc Pro racing, Darcy Lange took the overall. "I was third off the start" said Lange, "I passed Gavin and Phil for the lead and I started riding my own race and started to pull away to take the win."
Demuth and Phil Lawrence went bar to bar for most of the race. But Demuth captured second in the end. Demuth said, "I got an okay start and was able to work myself up to second and stay there. I battled with Phil most of the race."
Ending with third overall was Lawrence. "I started on the outside at the gate by Gavin--not a smart place to start--but we both came out one and two around the first turn. But Darcy got around us and felt better this weekend then the last two weeks and took third place. This is the first time I rode the YZ450F it is a great bike and has a lot of power. I like it a lot," Lawrence admits.
Just missing the podium was Laughridge as he settled with fourth in racing but made headlines in the Dash for Cask competition on Friday. "I had a good start and rode smart in the Dash for Cash for the win," said Laughridge. "It felt great getting a win."
Also taking the win in the Extreme jump off was Tom Kelley.
SATURDAY
125cc Racing
Saturday night racing was nonstop excitement from the Dash for Cash to the 125cc and 250cc Main Events. Rusty Holland and Hofmaster took the Dash For Cash race to another level. Racing times were so close, officials had to confirm the winning time on the timing and scoring transponder. A last-minute charge by Holland gave him the confirmed edge over Hofmaster and the official win.
In the 125cc pro race, Demuth was on top again for his ninth win this year. "I had to work harder for it," said Demuth. "I received third place from the start and was able to get around Darcy and then a rider was down and I was able to get by Buddy [Antunez]. He went high and I saw a chance to go inside to take the lead."
Also slipping past Antunez, Darcy Lange took second. "I feel great and I am glad to make the podium again," said Darcy. "I had problems Friday in the 125cc main but was able to take second over Buddy."
Though he led the fleet for awhile, he finished third overall. Five-time Arenacross Champion Antunez comments, "I got a good start and was able to get into the lead. Demuth got the pass on me when a rider was down. I went high because I was thinking that he would have a had his bike started but Josh went low and was able to get by me. Then Darcy got by me too because I was unable to jump the catapult jump, so I settled with a third."
Just missing the podium was Laughridge, who took fourth, and Lawrence took fifth.
250cc Racing
In the last part of the 250cc race the fans were on their feet as Hometown-boy Hofmaster battled for the top spot against Antunez to the last turn. In the end, it was a clean pass by Hofmaster that gave him his third win this year. "I was able to get around Holland in the turn after the whoops to take the lead. Buddy and I were 1, and then 2 and 1, then I got a good pass on him before the Catapult jump on the last lap," Hofmaster recounted. "It was the best race tonight, and I had so much fun."
Antunez took his second podium of the weekend with a second place finish in the 250 Main. "The 250 main was an awesome race," said Antunez. "I was able to make some time in the whoops section on Tommy and was able to get by him. I thought I had some room between him and I. But on the last lap, he was able to get a great pass on me for the lead. So I settled for a second overall. I felt great this weekend for the first time of the year."
The only rider to take a podium finish in all four podiums for the weekend was third place finisher Demuth. "I was able to get up behind Tommy and stayed in third to the finish. I almost had Antunez in the whoops section but I almost lost it in the end. So I had to settle for a third," Demuth said.
Lange held on to forth and Laughridge took fifth in racing. Local boy Ryan Poulter took the Extreme Jump Off Saturday win.
On a side note, Saturday all three Yamaha Sho-gun Motorsport riders had the top three fastest laps in practice in both the 125cc. This weekend we saw two riders comeback, Chad Pederson and Charley Bogard. The National Arenacross Series goes home for the holidays again. Merry Christmas. The next event will be on Dec 27, 28, and 29th the Series will be in Fort Worth, TX.
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FRIDAY
125cc PRO MAIN EVENT
1. Josh Demuth
2. Evan Laughridge
3. Tommy Hofmaster
4. Pedro Gonzalez
5. Darcy Lange
DASH FOR CASH
1. Evan Laughridge
2. Isaiah Johnson
3. Josh Demuth
4. Jeff Willoh
250cc PRO MAIN EVENT
1. Darcy Lange
2. Josh Demuth
3. Phil Lawrence
4. Evan Laughridge
5. Chad Johnson
FINISH EXTREME JUMP OFF CONTEST
1. Tom Kelley
2. Jadd Knox
3. Chadwick Johnson |
SATURDAY
125cc PRO MAIN EVENT
1. Josh Demuth
2. Darcy Lange
3. Buddy Antunez
4. Evan Laughridge
5. Phil Lawrence
FINISH DASH FOR CASH
1. Rusty Holland
2. Tommy Hofmaster
3. Buddy Antunez
4. Josh Demuth
FINISH 250cc PRO
1. Tommy Hofmaster
2. Buddy Antunez
3. Josh Demuth
4. Darcy Lange
5. Evan Laughridge
FINISH EXTREME JUMP OFF CONTEST
1. Ryan Poulter
2. Jadd Knox
3. Tom Kelley |
