The Mahindra Tractors/Tuf Racing Team Wins First Championship
Thomasville, NC. (March 24, 2009) - When the snow was blowing in Grand Rapids, Michigan on January 2nd of this year, little thought was on racing except for Rick Ware Racing's AMA Arenacross rider Jeff Gibson.
The Thornville, Ohio native has competed in motocross for nearly 15 years and the thought of winning his first National Championship was on his mind. Many riders dream of winning a championship but this time it was different, as Gibson was chosen among many to be the next rider for RWR/Tuf Racing.
RWR/Tuf has won back-to-back Championships in the AMA Arenacross and four in the series short history... all with different riders.
"This was a dream for me to race for RWR/Tuf Honda. This team has dominated over the past several years and the pressure was on me, but that's what I like", stated Jeff Gibson.
Gibson cruised through Grand Rapids with two podium finishes of 2nd and 3rd and left the weekend with a slight points lead, and that is as close as it got.
Aboard his Mahindra Tractors/Interush Honda, Gibson went on a terror, winning a total 6 Main Events, 13 Heat races and a podium finish in all but 2 events in the 17-race schedule.
One rider always kept Gibson humble. Enter teammate Josh Demuth. The Two-Time AMA Arenacross Champion returned to the series and looked for his series tying 3rd title.
Demuth, on the Mahindra/Interush Honda, showed the world he was a threat, winning 2 Main Events, 2 AMA Lite Main Events and winning 8 heat races. If it wasn't for a mishap in Grand Rapids, the final points may have been closer. When the two stood on the podium at the First Bank of Kentucky Arena with a 1-2 finish in the event, Demuth stood just 2 mere points away from the runner-up title in the Championship points.
"This was a great year for me. I have been out of racing for little over a year and I am just now getting warmed up. I would like to congratulate my teammate, Jeff Gibson, on winning his first Arenacross Championship and thank our sponsors Mahindra Tractors and Interush", claimed Demuth.
Gibson and Demuth closed the season out with back-to-back 1-2 finishes and completing the 4th Mahindra Tractors/Interush sweep of the season. Gibson takes a deep breath. "That's three in a row for RWR/Tuf. I look forward to making it four and becoming the first repeat Champion for the team", snickered Champion Jeff Gibson.
