Reynard, K. Johnson Split Albany
| November 13, 2006
It was a interesting weekend in Albany, New York, for rounds three and four of the Toyota AMA Arenacross Series. Friday night had two veteran racers, Robbie Reynard and John Dowd, successfully negotiating the rut-filled track to claim the top two spots on the podium, with Reynard getting the holeshot and Dowd settling into second. They exchanged the top spot once or twice before Reynard solidified his finish.
Defending champion Chad Johnson took third place behind Dowd in the main after having poor starts all night, and having to qualify from the LCQ, where he took the third and final qualifying spot to make it into the main event. Chad had to start from the second row in the main event. Chad’s teammate Greg Schnell was fourth and Justin Buckelew rounded out the top five.
In Saturday night’s main event, Teddy Maier took a commanding holeshot over Kevin Johnson and Reynard. Maier and Johnson battled closely for a few laps until they came together in a berm, and Maier ran out of room and tumbled off the track. Kevin Johnson took the victory over a hard-charging Danny Smith, who overcame a poor start to make a late-race charge, passing several riders to finish second for the night after his bad luck Friday night, where he crashed into a fallen rider in the whoops and finished 12th. Jim Neese had anther great ride to finish third after a late-race pass on John Dowd, who ended up in fourth, and Reynard rounded out the top five.
Suzuki/Junior Jackson teammates Chad Johnson and Greg Schnell both had to go to the LCQ Saturday night. Chad Johnson won the LCQ but finished out of the top five in the main. Schnell had another bad start and didn’t make the main event.
Toyota AMA Arenacross Main Results:
Friday
AX: 1. Robbie Reynard (Hon); 2. John Dowd (Suz); 3. Chad Johnson (Suz); 4. Greg Schnell (Suz); 5. Justin Buckelew (Hon).
AX LITES: 1. Jim Neese (Suz); 2. Cory Green (Hon); 3. Phillip Nocoletti (Hon); 4. Braden Barnes (Hon); 5. Kavin Hoge (Suz).
Saturday
AX: 1. Kevin Johnson (Yam); 2. Danny Smith (Hon); 3. Jim Neese (Suz); 4. John Dowd (Suz); 5. Robbie Reynard (Hon).
AX LITES: 1. Robbie Smith (Hon); 2. Jim Neese (Suz); 3. Patrick Boyle (Hon); 4. Ryan Poulter (Suz); 5. Chad Cook (Kaw).
