Carmichael Aces Anaheim II

| January 22, 2005

Don’t look now, but Team Makita Suzuki’s Ricky Carmichael is on a roll.

After bagging his third main event holeshot in as many THQ AMA Supercross Series rounds, Carmichael earned his second win in as many rounds, before a sellout crowd of 45,050 at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California, tonight.

Carmichael battled Team Yamaha’s Chad Reed for the Butterfinger Holeshot Award, with Carmichael pulling in front of Reed and Team Kawasaki’s Michael Byrne, who ran third, ahead of an early battle for fourth between Team Yamaha’s Tim Ferry and American Honda’s Jeremy McGrath. Team Yamaha’s David Vuillemin then passed Ferry to dog McGrath for the fourth spot.

Carmichael held Reed a couple bike lengths at bay until lap six, when Reed crashed over the jump that separated the two whoop sections in the infield section of the course. Reed managed to get restarted without losing second place, but he lost 10 seconds on Carmichael in the process.

“I hate to win that way,” Carmichael said. “When he fell that way, it kind of took the wind out of my sails. I was ready to do battle, and he was all over me. He made a mistake and I was able to capitalize on it.”

Nobody would catch Carmichael, who extended his lead over Reed to 20.751 seconds before the finish to capture his 35th career AMA 250cc Supercross victory and take over the series points lead as he hunts for his fourth AMA Supercross title. Carmichael holds that lead over Kevin Windham, 70-67.

“I got a little present tonight,” Carmichael said. “I’m happy that I got the win. It was a good night. Anaheim owed me one, and it’s nice to finally win here.”

McGrath battled his way past Byrne just before the first whoop section on lap seven to take over third place. Byrne then fell into a battle with Vuillemin and Amsoil/Chaparral/Napster Honda’s Mike LaRocco, who passed both Vuillemin and Byrne to come after McGrath on lap 10. LaRocco passed McGrath just after the first whoop section on lap 11 to take over the third spot.

Amsoil/Chaparral/Napster Honda’s Windham, who may have been detuned after crashing out of his heat race and having to transfer to the main event through a semi, got going halfway through the main event to pass Byrne and Vuillemin to take over the fifth spot by lap 12. He then made his way past McGrath and LaRocco to run third by lap 16. LaRocco finished fourth, followed by McGrath.

In 125cc Western Region action, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawsaki’s Ivan Tedesco made his way to the top of the podium for the first time this season. The defending AMA 125cc Western Region Supercross Champion overcame a seventh-place start to run down American Honda’s Andrew Short on lap nine. Tedesco passed Short by taking a tight inside line in the left-hander that followed the double jump just past the mechanics’ straightaway. From there, Tedesco pulled away to finish 2.227 seconds ahead of Short.

Red Bull KTM’s Nathan Ramsey, the Anaheim I winner, rebounded from his disastrous last-place finish at the Phoenix Supercross to finish third, 4.217 seconds behind Ramsey.

Amsoil/Chaparral/Napster Honda’s Tommy Hahn crossed the finish line fourth, but AMA officials penalized him five seconds for failing to heed the flashing red lights on one of the triple jumps. That put Butterfinger Holeshot Award winner and early race leader Ryan Sipes fourth and Hahn fifth.

The red lights were for Team Makita Suzuki’s Broc Hepler, who crashed after colliding with Sipes while attempting to pass him for the lead over the big triple on lap four. Hepler was down on the track for a few minutes before exiting under his own power. Hepler was credited with 21st place.

By Freelance