Cycle News Staff | February 15, 2022
Kyle Peters wrapped up the 2022 Kicker AMA Arenacross Championship in style by sweeping all four main events over the February 11-12 weekend at the National Western Complex Arena in Denver, Colorado.
Kyle Peters wrapped up his third consecutive Arenacross Championship after sweeping the final two rounds in Denver.
Photos by Jack Jaxson
Peters started his winning weekend off in the first 250cc main event on Friday night, where he overtook Kyle Bitterman (Lasting Impression Race Team) for the lead on the second lap then never looked back. The Phoenix Honda-backed rider took the checkered flag 2.5 seconds ahead of the GasGas-mounted Bitterman, who returned to the series after the birth of his son.
Honda rider Cullin Park, Peters’ teammate, was another three seconds back in third.
Ben Lamay (KTM) and Wristin Grigg (GasGas) rounded out the top five.
In the 450cc main, Peters had to work a little harder after starting off the race in fourth. By lap three, however, he was already in the lead and pulling away. Peters took the win with a comfortable seven-second lead over Park.
Lamay was third, followed by Bitterman and Kawasaki rider Mitchell Gifford (Kawasaki) of Colorado Springs.
Kyle Bitterman returned to the series and had a couple of second-place finishes. He also finished out the championship in second.
The final round of the series took place Saturday night. Once again, it was Peters and Bitterman battling for the 250cc win. Peters, however, maintained control throughout, crossing the finish line just two seconds ahead of Bitterman.
Lamay was again third, followed by Park and Grigg.
In the 450cc main, Peters started off in fifth but would run down and pass Park (who ran off the track) for the lead and eventual win.
Lamay had his best finish of the weekend with second place while Bitterman, who started the race in sixth, took third.
Gifford and Park went 4-5.
“This is what we have been working so hard for,” said Peters. “It’s an incredible feeling to win my third consecutive championship. We are not done yet and are already looking forward to defending again in 2023!”
Peters finished out the championship with 517 points, followed by Bitterman with 295 and Grigg with 265.
Wristin Grigg ended the season third in the championship.
KTM rider Nate Mason took fourth in the championship on 239 points, while Park rounded out the top five just five points behind Mason.
Brendan Sipple (KTM) was sixth in the championship, four points by Park. CN
FRIDAY
250 Main:
-
- Kyle Peters (Hon)
- Kyle Bitterman (GG)
- Cullin Park (Hon)
- Ben Lamay (KTM)
- Wristin Grigg (GG)
450 Main:
-
- Kyle Peters (Hon)
- Cullin Park (Hon)
- Ben Lamay (KTM)
- Kyle Bitterman (GG)
- Mitchell Gifford (Kaw)
SATURDAY
250 Main:
-
- Kyle Peters (Hon)
- Kyle Bitterman (GG)
- Ben Lamay (KTM)
- Cullin Park (Hon)
- Wristin Grigg (GG)
450 Main:
-
- Kyle Peters (Hon)
- Ben Lamay (KTM)
- Kyle Bitterman (GG)
- Mitchell Gifford (Kaw)
- Cullin Park (Hon)
Cody Webb Crosses Over
Some might have figured multi-time EnduroCross/SuperEnduro Champion Cody Webb was lost as he lined up on the start of the Kicker AMA Arenacross Series at the National Western Complex in Denver, Colorado. With his FactoryONE Sherco proudly adorned with an 18-inch rear wheel, handguards and a headlight, the extreme off-road specialist was ready for battle, only there were no rocks, logs or concrete culverts on the floor of the National Western Complex for him to show his real talents on the weekend of February 11-12. But Webb was invited to come out of his comfort zone by Kicker Arenacross promoters (the same crew that now promotes AMA EnduroCross) at the final stop of the 2022 championship. The exhibition by Webb marked a first for off-road and trials manufacturer Sherco. Until now, the brand had never been represented at an AMA Arenacross event.
Old dog, new tricks? Hard enduro specialist Cody Webb tried his hand at Arenacross at the series final in Denver, Colorado. Photo by Jack Jaxson
“I figured I would give it a go and help cross promote the two series and get the Sherco name where it hasn’t been before,” said Webb.
“I did the best I could to set up my EnduroCross practice bike at the last minute. I bought an 18-inch motocross tire on Wednesday from my local dealer and adjusted the clickers almost all the way in. I had never hit a set of whoops before in my life but I was more than willing to give it a try. I think I impressed some of the other riders on my ‘enduro’ bike, so I was pretty stoked about that.”
Webb qualified for both the 250 and 450 main events on Friday (round 9) and ran inside the top-10 for much of the 250 race. But yielding the blue flag for the leaders inadvertently cost him several positions in the race, leaving him 14th. He fared slightly better in the 450 main with 12th, but bad luck and small mistakes kept his results modest throughout the weekend.
“I don’t know what I’m doing out there with these guys, but it sure is fun,” Webb commented. “I had an absolute blast and would honestly probably try and give it a go when they come into town next year.” CN
