Team Honda’s Ricky Carmichael and Chevy Trucks Kawasaki’s James Stewart Jr. proved today at the Hangtown National MX near Sacramento, California, that they can do it all, each winning a moto in good weather and another in the rain, securing an overall win and moving ahead in the points standings.
In the 250cc class, Chevy Trucks Kawasaki’s Stephane Roncada led the first lap before coming out on the losing end of a slamming match with Carmichael, who took over the lead and led every lap from then on, winning by a comfortable margin. (Roncada tweaked his knee in the scuffle, then failed to finish the second moto when his bike quit.) Carmichael had to work for it in the muddy second outing, completing lap one in fourth place and requiring a little over four laps to reach the front. He soldiered through the slop to keep his perfect moto-win record for the year intact. The other podium spots were filled by Team Yamaha cohorts David Vuillemin and Timmy Ferry, who had a couple of good, clean battles. Frenchman Vuillemin put a late pass on Ferry in the second moto to get secure second overall.
Team Honda’s Sebastien Tortelli was fourth overall, struggling with an off-ride in the first moto and the lack of a functioning front brake in the second race. Chevy Trucks Kawasaki’s Ezra Lusk was fifth over John Dowd, who won a muddy Hangtown race in 1991.
Stewart’s 125cc performance was similar to Carmichael’s day, as he led every lap of the first moto and then marched forward in moto two after completing lap one in sixth. The two and three positions went to a couple of foreigners who battled each other in both motos. Australian Chad Reed (of Boost Mobile/Yamaha/Troy Racing) had a better mud ride for second, while South African Grant Langston (of KTM Red Bull) struggled in the second moto but was still good enough for third.
Blimpie Suzuki’s Danny Smith led much of the second moto and finished fourth overall, and his teammate Branden Jesseman was fifth over National Champion Mike Brown, who suffered poor starts.
Also of note was a hard first-moto crash by SoBe Suzuki’s Travis Pastrana, who pulled out of the race and didn’t ride the second outing. Although he’ll have to wait for X-rays tomorrow, manager Roger DeCoster said it looks likely that Pastrana broke the navicular bone in his wrist in the crash.
250 Results: 1. Ricky Carmichael (Hon) 1-1; 2. David Vuillemin (Yam) 3-2; 3. Timmy Ferry (Yam) 2-3; 4. Sebastien Tortelli (Hon) 4-5; 5. Ezra Lusk (Kaw) 7-4; 6. John Dowd (KTM) 9-6; 7. Sean Hamblin (Suz) 6-9; 8. Kyle Lewis (Hon) 8-8; 9. Paul Carpenter (Hon) 11-7; 10. Robbie Reynard (Hon) 5-24.
250 Points: 1. Ricky Carmichael (100/2 wins); 2. Timmy Ferry (82); 3. Sebastien Tortelli (78); 4. David Vuillemin (75); 5. Ezra Lusk (62); 6. Kyle Lewis (55); 7. John Dowd (54); 8. Paul Carpenter (45); 9. Sean Hamblin (39); 10. Robbie Reynard (34).
125 Results: 1. James Stewart (Kaw) 1-1; 2. Chad Reed (Yam) 3-4; 3. Grant Langston (KTM) 2-6; 4. Danny Smith (Suz) 7-2; 5. Branden Jesseman (Suz) 8-3; 6. Michael Brown (Kaw) 4-8; 7. Ernesto Fonseca (Hon) 5-11; 8. Bobby Bonds (Kaw) 11-10; 9. Buddy Antunez (Suz) 6-15; 10. Matt Walker (Kaw) 12-13.
125 Points: 1. James Stewart (97/2 wins); 2. Grant Langston (77); 3. Chad Reed (75); 4. Danny Smith (68); 5. Michael Brown (67); 6. Ernesto Fonseca (54); 7. Matt Walker (48); 8. Bobby Bonds (43); 9. Damon Huffman (40); 10. Branden Jesseman (37).
