Carmichael And Stewart Hauling At Hangtown Practice

Kit Palmer | May 22, 2005

Makita Suzuki’s Ricky Carmichael and Kawasaki’s James Stewart are nearly dead even when it comes to lap times for today’s National at Hangtown. In the final 250-class practice session this morning, Carmichael edged Stewart for the quickest lap time, posting a 2:31.820 and Stewart a 2:31.940. Both riders are nearly a full three seconds faster than the third-best time turned in by Team Yamaha’s Tim Ferry with a 2:34.997. Ferry’s teammate David Vuillemin reeled off a 2:36.572 for the fourth-best time, and Amsoil/Chaparral Honda’s Kevin Windham is fifth best with a 2:36.949.

Off the pace slightly from yesterday is Team Yamaha’s Chad Reed, who suffered a hard get-off in the first practice session. Reed took his time to get going again after the fall but came back to post the sixth-best time in the second practice session with a 2:37.495.

This 125-class times are much tighter at the top. The top four riders are all within a second of each other. Heading the list is Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Grant Langston, followed by ECC Honda’s Ryan Hughes, Suzuki’s Davi Millsaps and Pro Circuit’s Ivan Tedesco. All posted times in the 2:37 range.

Red Bull KTM’s Mike Alessi was 11th fastest with a 2:39.

Conditions for today’s race could not be much better. The sky is clear and temperatures are expecting to reach the upper 80s.