IN
THE
WIND
P32
HAYES WINS WILKES-BARRE
ARENACROSS
J
acob Hayes swept both motos to win
the Amsoil Arenacross 250AX event
at Mohegan Sun Arena in Wilkes-Barre,
Pennsylvania, January 20. It marked the
first win of the season for the Babbitts/
Monster Energy Kawasaki Team rider
and moved him to within four points of
two-time and defending champion Gavin
Faith.
Faith finished second overall ahead of
Honda rider Chris Blose.
Kawasaki Team Green's Garrett
Marchbanks won the AX Lites race.
Due to wintry conditions in the area
leading up to the event, the dirt was
wet and quickly tacked up, making
the whoop sections extremely difficult.
Passing was tough on the tight and
rough track. A huge crowd, sick with
cabin fever after a snowstorm early in
the week, filled the arena.
Hayes qualified first and finished sec-
ond in his heat on his Kawasaki. In the
first moto, Faith was leading the race
when he bobbled on the final lap. Hayes
capitalized and took the moto win.
In the second moto, Hayes charged
into the lead from third early on and held
the point to the checkered flag for the
victory.
"The track was brutal," Hayes said.
"My teammate Gavin Faith and I really
went at it tonight. He kept me honest
the whole main event. This track could
(Above) Jacob
Hayes, here leading
runner-up Gavin
Faith, nabbed
his first win of
the season after
winning both main
events in Wilkes-
Barre. (Left) Chris
Blose got on the
podium in third.
