The folks behind Monster Energy Arenacross, e22 Sports, has today announced that the popular tour will be back for 2017 and we’ve got the dates and venues. Plus a tasty AX rumour.
AX will visit a number of the UK’s leading arenas and the series kicks into life on Saturday, January 7, 2017 at the Manchester Arena. The bar-bangin’ tour then rocks up in Glasgow, Birmingham, Belfast and Sheffield, with the grand finale – do you remember last year’s final pro race, it was insane! – again blasting into the nation’s capital city at The SSE Arena in Wembley, London.
Each arena will host a single Saturday night-time show, with the exception of Belfast which will be a Friday and Saturday double-header.
This year’s Monster Energy Arenacross Tour was incredibly successful. Bums on seats went past the 50,000 mark in the seven weekends, making it arguably the most attended motocross series in the UK. And our sources tell us that 2017 will take the tour to another level.
The 2016 Arenacross Tour hit an incredible climax at the final round in London. To say that the Pro Main Event was tension-fuelled and controversial is an understatement – it was racing carnage! Watch the edit below, it’s a not-to-be-missed epic race.
When the dust settled Thomas Ramette became the first-ever back-to-back Monster Energy Arenacross Tour champion. His nemesis and fellow Frenchman, Cedric Soubeyras, finished runner-up in his first-ever British Arenacross championship. Flying the flag for the UK, and himself a former Arenacross champ, Adam Chatfield blasted to the final round win and secured third place in the championship in the process.
Away from the racing line, the Freestyle motocross boys never failed to impress with their electrifying, high-air whips and flips forty feet above the arena floor, which kept the audience hollering for more. In its four-year stint, the UK Arenacross series has been revered for showcasing FMX at its very best and that’s why the big-hitters of the sport, the FMX royalty, have made the series a must-do affair and worked it into their busy schedules.
When it comes to Freestyle, X-Games gold medallists, and Nitro Circus superstars abound with Spaniard Edgar Torronteras and the UK’s very own Jamie Squibb at the fore, together with arguably the most spectacular double-flipper in the world, 6′ 4″ Czech uber-cool superman, Petr Pilat. Let’s not forget the Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalists and the only full-time FMX team in the country, namely Dan Whitby, Samson Eaton and Arran Powley who make up the Lings Bolddog Honda crew.
In the Youth classes, Joe Clayton cleaned up in the Pro Lites (ages 15 – 23), Harry Kimber won the SuperMinis (age 11 – 15) for the second year running and Kiean Boughen was crowned Youth 65 (7 – 10-year-olds) champ on his Arenacross debut.
“Who would have thought that just four years ago the UK would have the strongest indoor motocross series in Europe with over 50,000 fans attending,” said e22 Sports boss Matt Bates. “I’m massively proud of what we’ve achieved so far, but all I can say is that this is just the beginning – I believe we have a massive future! We’re looking at extending into Europe next year and I’m set on making sure we develop both the riders’ rewards, team support and take the entertainment of AX to a whole new level.”
Below you’ll find all the dates and venues for the 2017 Monster Energy Arenacross Tour.
- 7th January – Manchester Arena, Manchester
- 14th January – The SSE Hydro, Glasgow
- 21st January – The Genting Arena, Birmingham
- 27th January – The SSE Arena, Belfast
- 28th January – The SSE Arena, Belfast
- 11th February – Sheffield Arena, Sheffield
- 18th February – The SSE Arena, Wembley
2017 Arenacross tickets are on sale now via The Ticket Factory 0844 3380338 and the individual Arena box offices.
