Cycle News Staff | January 13, 2021
Kyle Peters started off his title defense in the 2021 Kicker AMA Arenacross Championship on the right foot after winning all four Pro main events at the series opener in Starkville, Mississippi, January 8-9.
Rounds one and two were held Friday and Saturday nights at the Mississippi Horse Park Arena, where Peters, on the Phoenix Racing Honda, dominated both 250cc and 450cc Pro Sport classes, winning both main events (250 and 450cc) both nights.
The first main event of the season, the 250 Pro main on Friday night, saw Peters jump out to an early lead which he would never relinquish. He slowly but surely pulled away from the pack, eventually taking the checkered flag six and a half seconds ahead of his nearest rival Kyle Bitterman, aboard a privateer GasGas.
Bitterman started the race off in third but took over the runner-up position just past the halfway point and stayed there to the end. He finished four seconds ahead of third-place finisher Cullin Park (Honda), who was well ahead of fourth-place finisher Gared Steinke, who was running up front until bobbling and giving up positions to both Bitterman and Park.
Mike Alessi, on the Babbitt’s Kawasaki, finished behind his teammate, Steinke, in fifth.
Mike Alessi broke through for a podium finish in the 450 main Saturday night.
Photos by Jack Jaxson
For Peters, the 450 main went much like the 250 main. He blasted into the early lead and steadily pulled away for the win, but this time with a larger margin of victory. Peters took the win more than seven seconds ahead of Bitterman, who ran second the whole way.
Steinke took third right behind Bitterman. Park was a distant fourth and Alessi was again fifth.
On Saturday night, Peters had to work a little harder in the 250 main event. This time, the Honda riders completed the first lap in third behind early leader Steinke and Isaac Teasdale, on a Babbitts Kawasaki. Peters, however, showed that he could also make passes by getting around both Teasdale and Steinke after just four laps. Peters went on to take the win four seconds ahead of Steinke.
Park took third, two seconds behind Steinke, while Bitterman and Alessi rounded out the top five. Teasdale ended up sixth.
In the final race of the weekend, Steinke grabbed his second holeshot in a row but couldn’t hold off Peters, who shot into the lead on the second lap and pulled away for his fourth straight win. He crossed the finish line more than six seconds ahead of Park, who got around Steinke on lap six.
It was a good battle for the last spot on the podium, involving Betterman, Steinke and Alessi, who found his rhythm late in the race and broke through for third. Steinke held off Bitterman for fourth, while Teasdale finished out the weekend in sixth.
(L-R) Gared Steinke, Kyle Peters and Kyle Bitterman filled the 450 Pro podium Friday night at the 2021 Kicker AMA Arenacross opener in Mississippi. Peters swept all main events. Photos: Jack Jaxson
Peters left Mississippi with a 20-point lead in the championship, but things are close behind him. Park holds a one-point lead over Bitterman in second, with Steinke another point back in fourth. Alessi rounds out the top five in the championship, trailing Steinke by seven points.
Rounds three and four of the 2021 Kicker AMA Arenacross Championship are scheduled for January 15-16 at Mallet Event Center & Arena in Lubbock, Texas. The 2021 Kicker AMA Arenacross Series will be broadcast live on FloRacing. Live race action will begin at 1 p.m. local time (based on time zone and location of race) showcasing amateur qualifying races followed by the main show at 7 p.m. local time unless otherwise noted. The main show features the professional qualifying races and the main races for both the amateurs & professional classes.
Friday
250
- Kyle Peters (Hon)
- Kyle Bitterman (GG)
- Cullin Park (Hon)
- Gared Steinke (Kaw)
- Mike Alessi (Kaw)
450
- Kyle Peters (Hon)
- Kyle Bitterman (GG)
- Gared Steinke (Kaw)
- Cullin Park (Hon)
- Mike Alessi (Kaw)
Saturday
250
- Kyle Peters (Hon)
- Gared Steinke (Kaw)
- Cullin Park (Hon)
- Kyle Bitterman (GG)
- Mike Alessi (Kaw)
450
- Kyle Peters (Hon)
- Cullin Park (Hon)
- Mike Alessi (Kaw)
- Gared Steinke (Kaw)
- Kyle Bitterman (GG)
