AURORA, Ill. (Jan. 9, 2008) – Riding high off his Saturday night Toyota AMA Arenacross Series main event win in Grand Rapids (Mich.), FiberWise Pasta/Rock River Powersports/Fly’s Keith Johnson was rolling back to his home in Albuquerque, N.M., catching call after call congratulating him on his win.

 

The veteran of many Toyota AMA Arenacross Series and Monster Energy® Supercross battles, Johnson is actually on a double high in that his wife, Jennifer, is just a couple short months away from giving birth to their first child.

 

If the Toyota AMA Arenacross Series had a stand-up comedy division, Keith Johnson would be on the podium every night. Given that, it’s no funny matter that he’s also got the speed to smoke the world’s fastest arenacross racers – especially now that his knee (MCL) is pretty much healed up.

 

After a bit of a slow start coming out of the 2007-’08 Toyota AMA Arenacross Series gate in Des Moines (Iowa), Johnson is now hitting on all cylinders. Johnson took some time out of his busy schedule to do an interview for arenacross.com. 

 

Arenacross.com: Keith, first off, congrats on your win in Grand Rapids. That’s got to have you pumped considering how the first portion of the Toyota AMA Arenacross Series went for you.

 

Keith Johnson: “Yeah, no doubt. What’s it been, since Reno or Charlotte last year, since I’ve won? That holeshot definitely helped.”

 

Arenacross.com: Not many people are aware of the extent you injured your knee. Tell us what happened.

 

Keith Johnson: “Well, I’d been riding a bunch. Wait. Rewind that. In 2006 I broke my lower leg and I’m pretty sure that weakened my MCL. So towards the end of September (2007) I crashed right before the U.S. Open and that’s when I really hurt it. Ended up getting an MRI and the doc said ‘No riding for six to eight weeks.’”

 

Arenacross.com: Yeah, but wasn’t Des Moines three weeks later?

 

Keith Johnson: “It was. And I pretty much sucked. I went 8/11 which, after all the time I put in riding this summer, was really disappointing. But I knew that in the Toyota AMA Arenacross Series all the rounds are important, so I got what points I could and just dealt with the pain.”

 

Arenacross.com: You picked it up and did better at Albany with a 6^th, then dipped at Reno (12^th/15^th) before almost making the podium at Rockford (4^th/5^th). At that point you had to be one of the racers loving the holiday break for the Toyota AMA Arenacross Series.

 

Keith Johnson: “The break gave me a good opportunity to recover and come back strong. Kevin and I would ride every day, no matter if it was cold, raining or what. We did that last summer, too. Just went out and ran‘er hard, and I’d work hard to not let Kevin pull me. So riding with him helped a lot.”

 

Arenacross.com: So what clicked for you then in Grand Rapids?

 

Keith Johnson: “In Grand Rapids I had a feeling that I was faster than I was in Rockford – and I had raced  pretty well in Rockford. Not spectacular, but I was riding better than I had earlier in the year. So all I thought about was the holeshot and making the Triple/Triple – which I was able to do on about 20 of the 25 laps. It was definitely a good win. Reminds me I can win on a 250F with somebody like Brock (Sellards) pressuring me the whole race. That showed my endurance is up and I’m definitely expecting to be up on the podium more now.”

 

Arenacross.com: Did you put away a lot of FiberWise pasta over the holidays to help with your endurance?

 

Keith Johnson: “Yeah, that and a lot of holiday cookies (laughter). For real, though, the FiberWise pasta is good stuff. I buy it at the store all the time. Keeps my endurance up.”

 

Arenacross.com: So is the knee 100-percent?

 

Keith Johnson: “It hasn’t been bothering me as much, but I didn’t have surgery or anything. I had an MRI and it showed a 3^rd degree tear. I wasn’t released to race until Reno and the doc said it’d heal up on its own if I didn’t re-injure it training. So I’d say it’s about 90-percent good-to-go now.”

 

Arenacross.com: Keith, good luck in Baltimore this weekend.

 

Keith Johnson: “Thanks, man. Look forward to seeing everybody at the races.”

 

2007-’08 Toyota AMA Arenacross Point Standings

1.       1.       Chad Johnson, Hon, 163

2.       2.       Brock Sellards, Kaw, 158

3.       3.       Kelly Smith, Kaw, 155

4.       4.       Jim Neese, Suz, 135

5.       5.       Kevin Johnson, Yam, 132

 

Tickets for the Jan. 11-12 Toyota AMA Arenacross at Baltimore’s 1^st Mariner Arena are available through www.arenacross.com, at the 1^st Mariner Arena Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets including Baltimore Tickets on Lake Street, Hechts at Security Square Mall, Hechts at White Marsh Mall, Record and Tape Traders, Sound Garden, online at www.ticketmaster.com or charge by phone at (800) 551-7328. Fees and handling may apply. Show time is Friday at Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Sunday (amateurs) at 12:00. Doors open Friday and Saturday at 6:30 p.m., Sunday at 11 a.m. Friday and Saturday advance tickets are $18 to $20 for adults, $8 for kids ages 2-12. Sunday’s tickets are $18 for adults, $5 for kids. All tickets $2 more day of show.

 

Tickets for the Jan. 12 Toyota AMA Arenacross at Dallas’ Reunion Arena are available through www.arenacross.com, in advance at American Airlines Center Box Office and day of show at the Reunion Arena Box Office. Charge by phone at (214) 373-8000, fees and handling may apply. Show time is at Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Sunday (amateurs) at 12:00. Doors open Saturday at 6:30 p.m., Sunday at 11 a.m. Saturday advance tickets are $18 to $25 for adults, $5 for kids ages 2-12. Sunday’s tickets are $18 for adults, $5 for kids. All tickets $2 more day of show.

 

FiberWise Pasta/ Rock River Powersports/ Fly’s  Keith Johnson took a wire to wire win at round five of the Toyota AMA Arenacross series this past weekend in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

                Aboard a Rock River Powersports Yamaha YZ250F, Johnson grabbed the $750 Toyota Certified Used Car holeshot award and never looked back during the Arenacross class main. Although challenged by Brock Sellards for much of the race, Johnson focused ahead and took his first win of the series.

                “I’ve been wanting this for a while and I really need to thank my team, mechanic, sponsors and Andy Moore,” Johnson later commented. “We still have a ways to go, but this is a great start to the new year.”

                Coincidentally, Johnson was wearing the SPEED TV helmet cam which will be seen on Arenacross television on SPEED later in the year.

                Team owner Andy Moore said, “It’s been a tough season with a down economy and I want to thank all the sponsors that have supported us through thick and thin. We could use all the help we can get right now and with Keith getting us his first win, we couldn’t be more excited for the remainder of the series and then Supercross.”

The team is proudly sponsored by the following fine companies: Fiber Wise Pasta, Rock River Powersports, Fly Racing, Sano Systems, Yamaha, Pro Circuit, Bridgestone, Silkolene, Utopia, VisionMotocross.com, Wiseco, Braking USA, K&N Filters, MC Motopark, Renthal, Hinson, VP Racing Fuels,  Regina, UFO, Shoei, ASV, Pro-Wheel, Devol, EVS Sports, Ogio, Kicker, Tamer, Buttpatches.com, DC Auto Wraps and MX Culture. The team is owned by Moore Racing and the team website is www.TKRmx.com . It is operated and maintained by www.MXwebsites.com . The team is currently and actively pursuing a drink sponsor of any kind.

 

Monster Energy/ Babbitt’s Kawasaki Rider Sellards Finishes Second

AURORA, Ill. (January 5, 2008) – The tight Toyota AMA Arenacross Track proved to be an advantage for Fiberwise Pasta Yamaha rider Keith Johnson tonight at the Van Andel Arena.  Johnson blasted off the starting line to win the $750 Toyota Certified Used Vehicle hole shot award and went on to lead every lap. 

"It feels great to be back on top of the box,” said Johnson.  “I wasn't able to spend a lot of time on the bike before the season due to my MCL injury. But now after working out the kinks through the first few races I feel good. The track crew did a great job with the track, it was great for racing."

Friday night’s winner, Brock Sellards piloted his Monster Energy/Babbitt’s Kawasaki to a second place finish. 

Defending Toyota AMA Arenacross Champion, Danny Smith, had one of his best starts of the year running second early.  His night started to falter in lap three when he fell to fifth behind Tommy Hofmaster’s Yamaha.  Smith worked the field eventually finishing on the podium in third place.

Michigan’s Kelly Smith kept the packed house on their feet for most of the night trying to crack the top three.  Kelly’s Monster Energy/ Babbitt’s Kawasaki finished the night fourth.

Points leader, Chad Johnson, had a difficult night finishing 6^th overall, thus loosing valuable point in his quest for a second championship.

Travis Sewell out lasted Tyler Bright and Tanner Reidman for the Arenacross Lites North win.

 

Arenacross Main Event Results

1.       Keith Johnson, Yamaha

2.       Brock Sellards, Kawasaki

3.       Danny Smith, Honda

4.       Kelly Smith, Kawasaki

5.       Kevin Johnson, Yamaha

6.       Chad Johnson, Honda

7.       Tommy Hofmaster, Yamaha

8.       Travis Sewell, Suzuki

9.       Robbie Reynard,  Suzuki

10.   Jim Neese, Suzuki

 

Arenacross Points  (Pending Kansas City Arenacross Results)

1.      Chad Johnson (2)        163

2.      Brock Sellards (3)      158

3.      Kelly Smith             155

4.      Jim Neese               135

5.      Kevin Johnson           132

6       Danny Smith             131

7.      Josh Demuth (3)         127

        Keith Johnson (1)       127

9.      Teddy Maier             112

10.     Robbie Reynard          96

Arenacross Lites North Main Event Results

1.       Travis Sewell, Suzuki

2.       Tyler Bright, Suzuki

3.       Tanner Reidman, Suzuki

4.       Patrick Boyle, Kawasaki

5.       Dave Ginolfi, Kawasaki

6.       Shane Sewell, Kawasaki

7.       Gray Davenport, Kawasaki

8.       Roy Horton, Honda

9.       Cory Green, Suzuki

10.   Patrick Massie, Kawasaki

 

Tickets for the entire Toyota AMA Arenacross Series are available online at www.Arenacross.com, www.Ticketmaster.com, www.Tickets.com. For more information on the Toyota AMA Arenacross Series log on to www.Arenacross.com.