AMA Arenacross continued its heated battle with Round 17 in Dayton, Ohio where the 450 and 250 classes both saw podium sweeps by Kawasaki. Tyler Bowers is now out of the championship picture after suffering an injury late last week. The Babbitt’s monster Energy Kawasaki rider will forfeit the remainder of the season and what looked to be a sure title. Anxious to take his place at the top of the season standings are his Babbitt’s teammates, Chad Johnson and Josh Demuth, and with only a single round remaining next week, the windfall couldn’t have come at a better time.

Saturday night featured a new energy inside Wright State University’s Nutter Center as Bower’s absence left the field wide open for the 25-lap main event. Johnson, hailing from Rhinelander, Wisconsin, was able to capitalize best with a victory that had him out front all night. Demuth was second and inherited the championship lead. The Kawasaki KX450F riders are first and third, respectively, with Demuth enjoying a 351-329 point advantage. The injured Bowers separates them with 348 points.

Honda-mounted Jeff Gibson is fourth with 278 points, meaning the top three are guaranteed to finish out of reach. The podium order is still capable of being shuffled, however, as the series concludes with two races in Denver, Colorado on March 26-28.

In the Lites division, the Eastern Regional Championship concluded its nine-round series with Daniel Ausleybrook taking the title behind a solid runner-up finish. He was one of seven Kawasaki riders inside the top-10. Cory Green topped the evening with Devon Pilkington joining on the final podium step. Chad Wages and Tyler Bright are second and third, respectively, in the final championship standings.

The Western Regional Championship will resume at Denver for its final contest.

AMA Arenacross Saturday Results:
1. Chad Johnson, Kawasaki
2. Josh Demuth, Kawasaki
3. Gray Davenport, Kawasaki
4. Jeff Gibson, Honda
5. Zach Ames, Honda
6. Tyler Bright, Yamaha
7. Cory Green, Kawasaki
8. Nathan Skaggs, Honda
9. Willy Browning, Honda
10. Devon Pilkington, Kawasaki

AMA Arenacross Overall Standings (After Race 17 of 19): 1. Josh Demuth, Kawasaki – 351
2. Tyler Bowers, Kawasaki – 348
3. Chad Johnson, Kawasaki – 329
4. Jeff Gibson, Honda – 278
5. Nathan Skaggs, Honda – 265
6. Zach Ames, Honda – 250
7. Gray Davenport, Kawasaki – 213
8. Dave Ginolfi, Suzuki –186
9. Tyler Bright, Yamaha – 175
10. Willy Browning, Honda – 150

AMA Arenacross Lites Saturday Results:
1. Cory Green, Kawasaki
2. Daniel Aulseybrook, Kawasaki
3. Devon Pilkington, Kawasaki
4. Jim Neese, Yamaha
5. A.J. Catanzaro, Kawasaki
6. Chad Wages, Suzuki
7. Patrick Massie, Honda
8. Jake Locks, Kawasaki
9. Auston Albers, Kawasaki
10. Dan Petrie, Kawasaki

AMA Arenacross Lites Eastern Regional Overall Standings (After Race 9 of 9):
1. Daniel Aulseybrook, Kawasaki – 148
2. Chad Wages, Suzuki –145
3. Tyler Bright, Yamaha – 142
4. Devon Pilkington, Kawasaki – 142
5. Patrick Massie, Honda – 85
6. Taylor Futrell, Honda – 74
7. Davey Sterritt, Kawasaki – 64
8. Kurt McCabe, Honda – 43
9. Kyle White, Honda – 38
10. Ryan Zimmer, Honda – 36