2022 Kicker AMA Arenacross Loveland Results

Cycle News Staff | January 11, 2022

The 2022 Kicker AMA Arenacross Series kicked off the first two rounds in Loveland, Colorado, at the Budweiser Events Center, January 7-8. The series saw the return of the Phoenix Racing Honda team and its defending champion Kyle Peters, along with Cullin Park, Mike Alessi and Kyle Bitterman, to name a few. The opening rounds also debuted a handful of newcomers to the series, bringing a lot of talent with them.

Kyle Peters at 2022 Loveland Arenacross — **Defending Arenacross Champion Kyle Peters dominated the opening round of the 2022 season but did see his winning streak, which was carried over from last year, came to an end.**

Photography Jack Jaxson

Round one was held on Friday, and the first heat of the qualifying races for the 250 Pro class kicked off the event. Texan Lance Kobusch made his debut at the Kicker AMA Arenacross Series and took first place in the first heat, followed by newcomer Ben Lamay in second and Heath Harrison, the former mechanic for Phoenix Racing Honda, in third. Harrison finished ahead of teammate Cullin Park, who finished fourth in the heat.

Heat two was won by defending champion, Peters, followed by Michael Hicks and Kyle Bitterman. The final heat was a battle between Mike Alessi, Chase Marquier and newcomer, Izaih Clark. Alessi came out on top followed by Marquier and Clark.

The 450 Pro qualifying racers were up next which saw Peters win the first heat, followed by Lamay (second) and Marquier (third). Kobusch, Hicks and Matthew Curler went 3-4-5.

Alessi took another win in the final heat of the 450 Pro qualifier, with Park coming in second and Bitterman third.

The first main race of the season, the 250 Pro class, was stacked with talent. Peters continued his winning streak into 2022, but not as easily as he’d been doing in 2021. Ultimately Peters finished in first place, followed by Hicks and Kobusch.

When it came time for the round one for the 450 Pros, it was clear that the other competitors were ready to give Peters all they had to win the event. Kobusch took the early lead for the first few laps before Peters was able to pass him in a turn and take the lead for the next several laps, and it started to look like he was going to run away with it. But on the final turn before the white flag, Kobusch passed Peters and battled the last lap before going on to win the main. This marked Kobusch’s first main win in a pro class and ended Peters’ winning streak.

Lance Kobusch at 2022 Loveland Arenacross — **Amateur standout Lance Kobusch, who has been held back by injuries ever since turning pro, captured the first pro win of his career when he won the 450 main Friday night in Colorado.**

Round two kicked off with the qualifying races for the 250 Pro class. The first heat of the qualifier was won by Hicks, followed by Marquier and Lamay. Peters won the second heat, followed by Alessi and teammate Harrison. The final heat of the 250 Pro qualifying race was won by Clark, with Kobusch coming in second and Bitterman third.

The second qualifying event was the 450 Pro class. Hicks won the first heat followed by Lamay and Harrison. Kobusch won the second heat, followed by Alessi and Nate Mason. Peters won the final heat in front of Clark and Bitterman.

The round two main races were up next, and Bitterman pulled out to an early lead for the first three laps, before Peters pulled ahead and cruised to the top of the podium in the 250 Pro main class. Bitterman ultimately fell to fifth place after Hicks and Kobusch worked their way up from the middle of the pack to finish in second and third, respectively.

Mike Alessi at 2022 Loveland Arenacross — **Mike Alessi won a heat race but struggled in the main events.**

Bitterman pulled out to an early lead again in the 450 main before Peters took over on the third lap. Hicks started the race in fifth place and worked his way up to second by lap four, and from there it was a tight battle between Hicks and Peters for first place. On the final turn before the finish line, Hicks tried to cut inside Peters to take the win, hitting Peters’ bike during the effort, causing them both to briefly stop. Peters was able to narrowly escape with the win, a 10th of a second ahead of Hicks. CN