It wasn’t easy but Chevy Trucks/Kawasaki’s Ricky Carmichael recorded his fourth win of the 2001 AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. MX Championship Series after going 2-2 at New York’s Unadilla Valley Sports Center. The win was also the 38th National victory of his career, making him the winningest “outdoor” rider in AMA history. Carmichael broke the record formerly held by Bob Hannah.
At Unadilla, Carmichael was again a little bit lucky to get the win. Yamaha’s Tim Ferry passed and flat out beat Carmichael to the checkered flag in the first moto, while Team Honda’s Sebastien Tortelli finished fifth after crashing twice in the first two laps. Those two crashes ultimately cost Tortelli the overall victory, because the former World Champion came from behind to win the second moto, which wasn’t enough to beat Carmichael for the overall win.
Third overall in the 250cc class went to Ferry. After winning the first moto, Ferry was running third when his front brake came apart and he had to pit. The front brake was removed from his bike and he went back out and still finished a creditable seventh and third overall.
Fourth overall went to Suzuki’s Kevin Windham (4-3), while Honda’s Ryan Hughes (7-4) rounded out the top five overall.
The 125cc class had a bizarre finish. After winning the first moto handedly over KTM Red Bull’s Grant Langston and Moto XXX’s Larry Ward, Team Suzuki’s Travis Pastrana was headed to a sure win in the second moto when he crashed all alone on the last lap, giving the moto win and overall to, who else but, Langston. (Earlier in the year, Langston suffered a similar fate when he crashed on the last lap while leading a Supercross.) Langston’s 2-1 gave him the overall win.
Pastrana, unfortunately, suffered his second concussion of the year in the fall and was credited with 22nd place after eventually getting back on his bike and riding across the finish line.
Second overall in the 125cc class went to SplitFire/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Mike Brown (4-2), followed by Motoworldracing.com/Answer’s Damon Huffman (8-5) and Yamaha of Troy’s Nathan Ramsey (8-3). Amsoil/Dr. Martens/Journey’s/Competition Accessories’ Branden Jesseman rounded out the top five.
Pastrana still holds the 125cc series points lead with 271, and Langston is second with 249.
Results:
250: 1. Ricky Carmichael (Kaw); 2. Sebastien Tortelli (Hon); 3. Tim Ferry (Yam); 4. Kevin Windham (Suz); 5. Ryan Hughes (Hon); 6. David Vuillemin (Yam); 7. Mike LaRocco (Hon); 8. Stephane Roncada (Kaw); 9. John Dowd (KTM); 10. Jean-Sebastien Roy (Hon).
125: 1. Grant Langston (KTM); 2. Mike Brown (Kaw); 3. Damon Huffman (Yam); 4. Nathan Ramsey (Yam); 5. Branden Jesseman (Hon); 6. Travis Pastrana (Suz); 7. Greg Schnell (Yam); 8. Michael Brandes (Yam); 9. Ernesto Fonseca (Yam); 10. Brock Sellards (KTM).
