Cycle News Staff | January 26, 2021
The 2021 Kicker AMA Arenacross Series stopped in Guthrie, Oklahoma for rounds five and six of the series, January 22-23. The events were held at the Lazy E Arena on Friday and Saturday.
Phoenix Racing Honda Team’s Kyle Peters managed to keep his win streak going by winning all four Pro main events. Though with each passing round they appear to be coming a little harder.
Kyle Peters won all four Pro main events over the weekend at the Oklahoma Arenacross. He hasn’t lost a race so far this season. Photos: Jack Jaxson
Team Babbitt’s Monster Energy Kawasaki rider Mike Alessi is one of the few riders pressing hard to get that first win and knock Peters off the top of the podium. Alessi led for many laps during a few of the main events this weekend but hasn’t been able to make it happen yet.
On Friday, Isaac Teasdale (Team Babbitt’s Monster Energy Kawasaki) charged out of the gate to snag the holeshot and take the early lead the 250 Pro main event. Teasdale, who has been battling a shoulder injury all series, gave way to Peters.
Alessi then moved into second place after starting the race in the fourth spot.
Mike Alessi (800) is getting stronger with each round but hasn’t been able to finish ahead of Peters just yet. He’s currently second in the overall championship.
Michael Hicks (KTM) continued his impressive evening as he stayed in the top of the pack throughout the entire race and hung on to take the third spot by motos end.
The 450 Pro main was Alessi’s race to lose. Alessi started hot out of the gate with the holeshot and held onto the lead for the first nine laps over Peters. An unfortunate mistake on Alessi’s part opened the door for Peters to move into first place at the end of the race.
Honda rider Cullin Park took third, Teasdale fourth and Hicks fifth.
On Saturday, the 250 Pro main was another impressive showing by Peters. He finished the race the same way he started and that was in first place.
Zachary Butkiewicz (KTM) shot out the gate with his best start of the series but was unable to hang on for too long. A battle for the second and third broke out, involving Teasdale, Park and Dustin Winter (Yamaha). Alessi, who started the race in seventh place, got on the gas and worked his way into the second spot on the second-to-last lap. Park rounded out the final podium spot.
In a repeat of Friday night’s 450 Pro main, Alessi would start the race in the front of the pack, but Peters was able to take the lead back—a little sooner this time—passing Alessi on the fourth lap. Peters and Alessi rode solid, and the top two spots went unchallenged for the remainder of the race.
Park held the third spot throughout the main, withstanding constant pressure by Hicks and Winters.
Peters has a commanding lead in the championship in both classes, but the races for second and third are close. In the 250 class, Park holds a slim two-point lead over Bitterman, with Alessi another eight points back in fourth.
In the 450 class, Alessi is second but by only a point over Park. Another nine points back in fourth is Bitterman.
In the overall championship, Peters is alone at the top with 312 points, followed by Alessi with 251 and Park with 243 points. Teasdale (213) and Bitterman (209) round out the top five.
Rounds seven and eight are planned for February 5-6 in Tampa, Florida.
