Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/127607
eARENACROSS AMA ProLiteArenacross Series: Round 1 ! No stopping Gaddis at MetroCenter Arenacross rl ALE PHOTOBY KINNEY JONES By Pa m Lambert ROCKFORD, IL. DEC. :H immy Gaddis and his Splitfire/Hot Wheels/Pro Circuit-backed Kawasakis were undeniably the fastest rider /motorcycle combo at the opening round of the Mike Kidd -promoted ProLi te Arenacross Series at the Me troCentre in Rockford . The Western Regional 12Scc Supercross Champion from Las Vegas, Nevada, was unstoppable as he railed to victory in the 125 and 250cc main events on b oth Friday a nd Sa turday n ights . An d , if th a t wasn't enough, Gaddis also pocketed the big bucks in the Rad -n-Bad Dash for Cash. Gaddis' closest competitors were DGY Racing's Chad Pederson and Suzuki rider Greg Rand . Pederson finished second to Gaddis in the 250cc class on Friday and in the 125cc class on Saturday. Rand did the same as Pederson, only in reverse. The Honda of Rockford and Miller Genuine Draft-sponso red event offered a grand total of $15,000 in prize money, while $10,000 is being offered in the ProLite Series points fund, which will be awarded to the overall series' champion. J Friday Night The weekend's activities go underway Friday night, where si heats and three semis were needed t narrow down the 49 rider 125cc c1as field to 15 riders for the 20-lap fea ture. In the 250cc class. five heats an two semis were used, and those wh failed to qualify for the feature, wer given the opportuni ty to race again i a " B" main event, worth $625 in priz money. Billy Whitley, th e winner of th third hea t race , grabbed the early lea . in Friday's 125cc fea ture, but Gre Ra n d quickly m ad e h is mo ve a n passed Whitley for the lead. At thi point, Gaddis was the rider to kee an eye on as he worked his way up t third and began pressuring Whitley. By the halfway point, Ga ddis final Iy mo tored around Wh itley and too off after the leader, Rand. After sever al unsuccessful attem pis for the lead Gaddis finally got the momentum h needed in the whoops to ge t aroun Rand. Gaddis held on for the win while Rand followed in second. Whit ley landed third ahead of Kur McMillen and Chad Pederson. Sixteen riders lined the startin area for the 250cc feature . Whitley once again, grabbed the lead whil Gaddis was left in the pack. Whitle flew over the Miller double with Ped erson close behind . Gaddis quicklj picked up several positions when h ski mmed over the whoops. McMillen crashed; allowing Ran to move up a spot while Je ff Glass Andy Stacy and Robbie Skaggs dice close behin d . Gaddis a g a i n wa un beatab le th rough the wh oops an w ent past Wh itley to take the lead Pederson began his assaul t on Wh it 62 Jimmy Gaddis, the Western Regional 12See Supercross Champion, topped both the 125 and 250ec Expert classes both nights - at the Rockford, Illi nois, Arenacross.