Round Recap: Rounds 3 & 4

Tulsa, OK (January 17, 2021) – The 2021 Kicker AMA Arenacross Series headed to Lubbock, Texas for rounds three and four of the series. The events were held at the Mallet Events Center and Arena on Friday and Saturday. There were over 20 pro riders in each class, making for some tight and exciting race action.

Phoenix Racing Honda Team’s Kyle Peters fought his way to the top of the podium for all four classes over the weekend, but this weekend it was evident that his competitors were challenging him more than the opening weekend. There was also a lot of drama and a lot of action from the rest of the pack throughout rounds three and four.
Round Three of the 2021 Series took place on Friday, January 15th. The show kicked off in familiar fashion, with the 250 pro heats getting the first gate drop of the night. Mike Alessi of Team Babbitts Monster Energy Kawasaki took the holeshot, something he would do in almost every pro race over the weekend, but it was ultimately Peters who won the first heat. Followed by Kyle Bitterman (2nd) and Alessi (3rd). Heat two was won by Cullin Park, followed by Gared Steinke (2nd) and Isaac Teasdale (3rd).

The 450 Pro heat one was won by Kyle Peters, followed by his teammate, Park, and Bitterman in third. Heat two of the 450 Pro class brought out the battle everyone was watching for, Alessi versus Gared Steinke, and it looked like it was not going to disappoint. The two were neck and neck over the first few laps until Gared Steinke flipped over his bike coming out of the pro only whoops section during the sixth lap. The crash proved to be season ending as Steinke broke his collarbone. Not the ending we want to see for anyone’s season.

Alessi charged out to a holeshot after the gate dropped for the 250 Pro Main class. He would hold the lead for a few laps, but both Phoenix Racing Team Honda boys were hot on his tail, and they would ultimately go on to pass him. Peters took over the lead in lap four and Park started to bring the heat on Alessi in lap six. Peters came out on top of the podium, followed by Park (2nd) and Alessi (3rd).

The 450 Pro Main started with another holeshot grab by Alessi, but in unexpected fashion Kyle Peters came out of the first turn all of the way back in fifth place. Peters made quick work to catch up to his teammate in second place, but Park made it clear he wasn’t going to give up his spot without a battle, and battle they did for a few laps, before Peters managed to get the edge on him. It took some time, but Peters was able to pass Alessi during the 7th lap of the race and hang on to that to get the win. Alessi would take second place, followed by Park in third. Team Babbitts Monster Energy Kawasaki rider Isaac Teasdale came in fourth as he continues to battle it out with a shoulder injury. Bitterman came in last place on the event, after an unfortunate incident earlier in the race, with a tuff block cover getting stuck in his front wheel.
Round Four of the 2021 Series took place on Saturday, January 16th.

250 Pro Heat Results- Heat One: Kyle Peters (1st) Cullin Park (2nd) Kyle Bitterman (3rd) Zack Gurley (4th) Carlos Short (5th) Heat Two: Isaac Teasdale (1st) Mike Alessi (2nd) Greye Tate (3rd) Tre Fierro (4th) Adam Conway (5th)

450 Pro Heat Results – Heat One: Kyle Peters (1st) Kyle Bitterman (2nd) Mike Alessi (3rd) Zack Gurley (4th) Zach Butkiewicz (5th) Heat Two: Cullin Park (1st) Carlos Short (2nd) Isaac Teasdale (3rd) Greye Tate (4th) Adam Conway (5th)

The 250 Pro Main kicked off with another holeshot from Alessi. However, Peters made quick work of things this go around and had regained the lead by the second lap. Peters would ride to the finish in the first place spot. Park and Alessi would go on to fight for second place for the next few laps, with Park finding a way to pass Alessi on the sixth lap. But Bitterman, who started the race in fifth place, was consistently moving up the ranks throughout the race and by the ninth lap he would move into second place, and maintain that position through the finish. Park was able to maintain his edge over Alessi to snag the third spot on the podium.

Alessi continued his holeshot dominance in the 450 Pro Main, but much like the previous race, Peters was able to slide by Alessi in the second lap to get back in first and finish on top of the podium. Park went down during lap two and fell back to seventh place, but rode hard throughout the race and worked all the way back up to finish fourth overall. The best battle of the main was between Bitterman and Alessi for the second spot on the podium, with Alessi in front for much of the race, but Bitterman was never far behind. On the second to last lap of the race, Bitterman edged out Alessi and held on to finish in second place, and Alessi took third.

The pro classes continue to possess a lot of talented racers, hungry for a top spot on the podium. And with each passing race, these guys find ways to improve their game and make moves to contend for a top spot. We head to Guthrie, Oklahoma this next weekend for Rounds 5 & 6, we’ll be excited to see what this large layout track has in store for these guys.

You can find the full pro standings here: arenacrossusa.com/standings