Matt Goerke (36) and Gavin Faith (617) tied in points in Missouri, but the overall was awarded to Goerke on account of his win in the second main event. Photography by Josh Rud / ShiftOne Photography
The AMSOIL Arenacross, featuring Ricky Carmichael’s Road to Supercross made its seventh stop of the season at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri. After another wild night of racing, Babbitt’s Kawasaki rider Matt Goerke emerged victorious, taking his second overall victory of the season. Goerke’s win only came on account of a tiebreaker with Husqvarna TiLUBE TUF Racing’s Gavin Faith. After adding in an extra championship point earned from winning the RMATV/MC Head 2 Head Challenge, Goerke’s 3-1 tied him in points with Faith’s 1-2. Goerke’s second main event win ultimately tipped the scales in his favor, granting him the overall victory.
ThermoTec Yamaha’s Bobby Kiniry grabbed the holeshot in the first main event followed by Kyle Regal, Faith, Goerke and points leader Jacob Hayes. Kiniry and Regal came together in the sand section, which resulted in Kiniry going down and Faith slipping by both of them to steal the lead. Regal held on to second with Hayes following in third, while Kiniry re-mounted his Yamaha in sixth place.
Faith held on to the lead to the finish, taking the win ahead of Husqvarna-mounted Regal. Goerke eventually moved up to challenge Hayes for the final podium position, and made a pass stick on lap 10 to take third. Hayes and his Babbitt’s Kawasaki teammate Chris Blose rounded out the top-five.
Although he finished a disappointing 12th in the second main event, Babbitt’s Kawasaki’s Jacob Hayes still controls the points chase… barely. Photography by Josh Rud / ShiftOne Photography
In the second main event, it was Goerke’s turn to grab the holeshot and the early lead. Goerke’s clean getaway was all he needed in order to control the entire race. He led the charge from start to finish, leaving the TiLUBE Husqvarna duo of Regal and Faith to battle for second in his wake. Teammates or not, Regal and Faith both fought hard for runner-up honors, with Faith finally able to wrestle the position away from Regal. Faith finished second for a combined score of 1-2 – surprisingly not quite enough to give him the overall victory. Goerke’s single bonus point (from the Head 2 Head Challenge) ended up making all the difference in the world for the Babbitt’s Kawasaki rider.
Goerke’s teammate Jacob Hayes is also well aware of the value of a single championship point. Hayes struggled in the second main event with what appeared to be mechanical issues. He pulled off the track and into the mechanics area a few laps in, but rejoined the race and went on to finish a distant 12th. His sub-par finish cost him valuable points, but he still retains the lead in the championship – only one point ahead of Goerke.
Regal’s third-place finish in the second main event left him with a 2-3 on the night – enough for third overall. Bobby Kiniry collected fourth with a 6-4 while Steven Mages rounded out the top-five with a 9-5.
Mages was on point in Kansas City, and also took the win in the Lites class. Mages piloted his Slaka Wear KTM to a strong wire-to-wire win in the Lites class ahead of Dave Ginolfi and Scott Zont.
Scott Zont (923) jumps out to an early lead in the Lites main event. Photography by Josh Rud / ShiftOne Photography
Arenacross Class Results – Overall (Main Event Finishes)
1. Matt Goerke, Temecula, Calif., Kawasaki (3-1)
2. Gavin Faith, Fort Dodge, Iowa, Husqvarna (1-2)
3. Kyle Regal, Grand Prairie, Texas, Husqvarna (2-3)
4. Bobby Kiniry, Holland Patent, N.Y., Yamaha (6-4)
5. Steven Mages, Sardinia, Ohio, KTM (9-5)
6. Travis Sewell, Westville, Ind., KTM (7-6)
7. Gared Steinke, Temecula, Calif., KTM (8-7)
8. Jacob Hayes, Liberty, N.C., Kawasaki (4-12)
9. Dave Ginolfi, Boston, N.J., KTM (10-9)
10. Chris Blose, Phoenix, Ariz., Kawasaki (5-15)
Western Regional Arenacross Lites Class Results
1. Steven Mages, Sardinia, Ohio, KTM
2. Dave Ginolfi, Boston, N.J., KTM
3. Scott Zont, Algonquin, Ill., KTM
4. Cody VanBuskirk, Harvard, Ill., KTM
5. Brandon Glenn, Mesquite, Texas, KTM
6. Daniel Blair, Lodi, Calif., KTM
7. Jake Locks, Dixon, Calif., KTM
8. Benjamin Nelko, Aliquippa, Pa., KTM
9. Tanner Moore, Auburn, Kan., KTM
10. Clay Elliott, Buford, Ga., KTM
