Team Babbitt's Gavin Faith Takes Back the Red Plates in Tampa

2016-02-23 17:42
On Saturday night, the AMSOIL Arenacross Championship made its return to the Amalie Arena in Tampa, FL. The night was all about Team Babbitt’s/Monster Energy®/AMSOIL/Kawasaki rider Gavin Faith as he kicked off the day by setting the fastest lap qualifying on pole position. Faith carried that momentum into Main Event 1 where he came around turn one out front. Unfortunately, his teammate Chris Blose was tangled up in the first corner and then involved in another incident shortly after. Faith lead for all 15-laps, taking the first win of the night and putting himself in a great position for Main Event 2. Teammate Blose put in a great ride, charging back up inside the top 10 to salvage valuable championship points.

At the start of Main Event 2, Faith’s KX™250F launched him to another great start, coming around lap one in second place. Faith’s consistency would pay off again as he capitalized on the leader’s mistake in the opening laps, allowing him to take over the lead. Another perfect 15-lap Main Event gave the Team Babbitt’s rider the overall (1-1). Blose got his Kawasaki back up inside the top-10 for eighth overall (10-7).

Faith did exactly what he set out to do Saturday night as points leader and teammate Jacob Hayes was forced to sit out Round 7 after a crash in practice. With these two wins tonight, Faith now takes back the red plate and a 14-point lead over his teammate Hayes who now falls to third in the Arenacross Class Standings.

“I had an awesome weekend in Tampa,” said Faith. “I started off the day qualifying first and feeling really good. In the first heat I grabbed the holeshot but was caught up in some lappers when another rider passed me, but I kept my head down and ended up taking the win. In Main Event 1 I came around turn one in first, rode solid laps and took the win. In Main Event 2 I came off the line second but the leader went down on Lap 3, which allowed me to move into the lead and take the win!”

“Going into Tampa I felt really good,” said Blose. “I qualified second in practice so I knew I was going to be strong. I was third heading into the first turn when another rider went down right in front of me and I had no where to go. I got back up at the back of the pack and started making moves when I tangled with another rider. I got back up and fought back as hard as I could. Starting from the back row in Main Event 2, the track was pretty one-lined so I made as many passes as I could. Overall, Tampa was good and bad for me. My speed is there, I just need some cards to fall my way!”

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