Cycle News Staff | December 5, 2023
The AMA Arenacross Championship kicked off this weekend in Boise, Idaho, December 1-2, with a doubleheader for rounds one and two of the 2023-24 season. Four-time series champ Kyle Peters carried the red number-one plate into and out of the weekend by finishing on the podium in every main event.
Two equally exciting nights of racing took place inside the Ford Idaho Center with over 50 pros entering. The Arenacross format offers two main events with a two-row start line that flips after each race. Night one saw Ryan Breece jump out to an early lead with the series favorites in tow. The privateer Yamaha rider, Breece, easily took the opening main-event win.
After a slow start to the day, Peters worked his way up to second. Kyle Bitterman, an Arenacross veteran, claimed the final spot on the box.
Race two flipped the grid and put both Peters and Breece on the second row. Peters showed his Arena expertise as he navigated through the field and made his way into the lead. A 2-1 gave Peters the overall win, while Breece only made it as far up as fourth.
Anthony Rodriguez raced his Yamaha into second place, with Supercross-regular Robbie Wageman taking third. Breece’s 1-4 earned him second overall, with Rodriguez’s 4-2 giving him third.
Night two saw the same competitors fight their way into podium contention. Breece and Peters again duked it out in main one. Breece patiently waited to make a pass and finally pounced late in the race. On the same lap, a red flag came out to assist a downed rider, and the race ended with the lead and the win credited back to Peters. Peters, Breeze and Austin Politelli filled out the podium.
Breece seemed fired up at the start of race two and looked to take back the final win of the weekend. He made his way up from the second row and stalked early race leader Bryton Carroll. Carroll hit the deck hard while leading, which allowed Breece to take the lead that he never relinquished. A 2-1 gave him the night two overall.
Wageman again battled for the podium and passed Peters late in the race for second. Peters claimed second overall with a 1-3 ahead of Wageman’s 4-2. The defending champ, Peters, leaves Idaho with the points lead, just one up on Breece.
“I knew what I had to do coming into the night show,” Peters said. “I feel like I’m a better racer anyways, so there was really no hesitation. Ryan and I haven’t really raced before on a close circuit like that. I know he’s a good dude and isn’t going to come in and kill me. I have a lot of respect for him and hope he does for me, too. I’m looking forward to the battles.”CN
OVERALL (Night One)
- Kyle Peters (Hon) 2-1
- Ryan Breece (Yam) 1-4
- Anthony Rodriguez (Yam) 4-2
- Robbie Wageman (Yam) 5-3
- Kyle Bitterman (Hon) 3-8
OVERALL (Night Two)
- Ryan Breece (Yam) 2-1
- Kyle Peters (Hon) 1-3
- Robbie Wageman (Yam) 4-2
- Bryton Carroll (Yam) 5-8
- Austin Politelli (GG) 3-10