Team Babbitt's Tyler Bowers Wins 2011 K&N Sponsored AMA Arenacross Crown

13 May 2011

Bowers goes to great heights to display his 2011 number one plate.

"I can't explain it. I've said before that it's been two years coming. I worked really hard last year just to get the points lead I had and get close to winning the title, then it just slipped through my fingers. I had to work all summer to just recover and get back on the bike, go to rehab, and then come back to try and win it this year. I started off a little slow, but once I got that ball rolling, it was rolling good... I'm just happy to finally get it this year and just wrap it up. All the hard work for two years straight has finally come together." That was what the 2011 Arenacross Champion, Tyler Bower, from team Babbitt's Kawasaki had to say after overcoming last year's heartbreak.

Tyler Bower used last season's heartbreak as a motivator, capturing his series-leading 12th win of the season and the Arenacross Championship in Des Moines.

The 2011 K&N sponsored AMA Arenacross Series wrapped up inside Well Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa. Concluding weeks of frenzied, bar-banging, shenanigans, Tyler Bowers, the picture of consistency all year long, finally put the exclamation point on his championship winning season by capturing his series-leading 12th win of the season.

For Bowers, 2011 has been year of redemption, and he came into it with a clear understanding of what he left up for grabs in 2010. Last season, the rising star established himself as the rider to beat in the championship hunt, winning nine victories and holding a strong advantage heading into the final month of competition.

One of the happiest guys at Des Moines was Team Manager Denny Bartz who said "I'm very happy with tonight's race, it was great to have two guys on the podium."

However, a broken leg suffered during practice during the week ended Bowers' title hopes. Bowers was in his hospital bed as teammates Josh Demuth, the eventual 2010 champion, and Chad Johnson surpassed him in the standings. Gray Davenport, team Babbitt's other team rider finished the season in seventh.

Bowers put his heartbreak to good use though, using it as motivator to attack the championship with even more aggression and commitment than ever. Said Bowers about last season, "It was crazy. I laid in the hospital bed for two weeks just to get everything dialed in so I could be released to go home to Kentucky. By that point Josh had already wrapped up the championship and Chad (Johnson) ended up second in points, while I was third. They're two good guys, Chad and Josh both. I respect them both a lot and I think that they are even two of my favorite riders to be beat by. It wasn't that bad when that happened - I guess that kind of cushioned the blow a little bit . . . They called me in the hospital to see how I was doing. It sucks, but at the same time, what can you do? Its motocross racing and you're going to get hurt. At least I got beat by guys that I like."

After the wrapping up the championship and the season in Des Moines, Bowers raced the final three AMA Supercross rounds in preparation for his next attack of that series.

"We want to reward the new 2011 AMA Arenacross Champion for his outstanding performance this year and taking the championship in dominating form," said Team Owner Eddie Babbitt. We also want to give our sponsors more than what they had planned on. We truly hope to have a Supercross Team in the future; as well as have the top team in AMA Arenacross! The team has put what we feel is the best product possible under Tyler, and are both excited and grateful for some added involvement from Kawasaki"

Team Manager Denny Bartz added " Eddie and I are both on the same page with getting additional exposure for our sponsors, as well as giving Tyler a bit of a reward for doing so well in Arenacross, and winning the 2011 Championship. Someday we would fully like to be in Supercross, so it will be very fun for us to dabble with it a bit this year. Kawasaki has really stepped up some support; along with a few other sponsors. I think that it's going to be good for us - Kawasaki, Tyler, and our other sponsors!"

The final thoughts regarding the 2011 AMA Arenacross season come from Babbitt who said, "I am excited about Tyler doing the final three Supercross rounds - then it's on to next year!" I want to thank all of our sponsors for another unbelievable season, without all of your help we could not do what we do at this caliber."

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