Carmichael Dominates Daytona

Henny Ray Abrams | March 10, 2001

Team Chevy Trucks Kawasaki’s Ricky Carmichael continued his dream season by convincingly winning the Daytona Supercross for the second year in a row. More importantly, he was able to stretch his championship points lead over Mazda Yamaha’s Jeremy McGrath, who finished sixth.

“I’ll tell you, it’s nice to win a Supercross in front of the hometown,” the Floridian said. “You guys are great.”

Carmichael’s win was never in doubt. On the roughest track of the season, and one of the toughest at Daytona, Carmichael got the holeshot and ran away from the 30-rider field. He stretched his lead with impunity and slowed to win by 6.20 seconds.

Carmichael’s sixth win in a row put him in elite company. Only three other riders have done it, Bob Hannah in 1978, Rick Johnson in 1988, and McGrath in 1996.

Second went to Amsoil/Doc Martens/Competition Accessories Honda’s Mike LaRocco who had to make up for his usual bad start. Away seventh on the first lap, LaRocco passed American Honda’s Ezra Lusk with three laps to go.

Yamahas took the next three spots, the factory team of David Vuillemin and Tim Ferry, fourth and fifth respectively, then McGrath.

With seven of 16 races to run, Carmichael leads McGrath by 26 points, 217 to 191. LaRocco is third with 171.

250cc Main:

1. Ricky Carmichael (Kaw); 2. Mike Larocco (Hon); 3. Ezra Lusk (Hon); 4. David Vuillemin (Yam); 5. Timmy Ferry (Yam); 6. Jeremy McGrath (Yam); 7. Kevin Windham (Suz); 8. Sebastien Tortelli (Hon); 9. Heath Voss (Hon); 10. Damon Huffman (Yam);11. Kyle Lewis (Yam); 12. Jean-Sebastien Roy (Hon); 13. Steve Lamson (Hus); 14. Jason Thomas (Hus); 15. Keith Johnson (Yam); 16. Michael Byrne (Kaw); 17. Doug Dehaan (Hon); 18. Ryan Clark (Yam); 19. Macro Dube (KTM);20. Brian Stone (Kaw); 21. James Povolny (Hon); 22. Jimmy Wilson (Yam); 23. Casey Johnson (Kaw); 24. Ted Campbell (Suz); 25. Clark Stiles (KTM); 26. Grant Langston (KTM); 27. Robbie Reynard (Yam); 28. Kevin Crine (Hon); 29. Michael Craig (Hon); 30. Stephane Roncada (Kaw).

250cc Point Standings:

1. Ricky Carmichael (217/7 wins); 2. Jeremy McGrath (191/2); 3. Mike LaRocco (171); 4. Kevin Windham (145); 5. Ezra Lusk (142); 6. David Vuillemin (134); 7. Stephane Roncada (108); 8. Tim Ferry (101); 9. Sebastien Tortelli (19); 10. Nicholas Wey (62)