Even a hard crash on the second lap of the first practice session, at round five of the AMA National Motocross series, could not stop Team Makita Suzuki’s Ricky Carmichael (4) from clocking the fastest lap time. He got up from the crash, and from the looks of his lap times appears to be good for Sunday.
Carmichael was over three seconds faster than the second quickest rider, Team Amsoil/Chaparral/Honda’s Kevin Windham, on the tough Red Bud track in Buchanan, Michigan. Carmichael’s best time was 2:31.788 minutes, while Windham’s best was 2:35.061 minutes. Last round’s runner-up Team Yamaha’s Chad Reed was third fastest with a time of 2:36.150 minutes.
As for Team Kawasaki’s James Stewart, he completed the first practice session. In the second, however, he cased the enormous LaRocco’s Leap uphill triple. The subsequent impact broke Stewart’s rear shock, forcing him to pull out after only one lap. Stewart’s best lap time all day was 2:37.123 minutes.
In only his third race back since injuring his knee Team MDK’s Nick Wey was the fastest privateer. In the first practice session he turned in the fourth overall fastest lap time. In the second, Wey was seventh overall fastest and fifth 250 rider.
In the 125 class Team Honda’s Andrew Short and Jim’s Cycle Supply/Honda rider Mike Brown (3) were the fastest. Brown edged Short out with a time of 2:37.661 minutes. Short’s best time was 2:37.855 minutes. Mike Alessi was third quickest aboard his Red Bull KTM with a time of 2:39.743 minutes.
In other news, word in the pits is that the American team for the Motocross des Nations is going to be announced on Sunday. The popular candidates are, 125 points leader Brown and 250 points leader Carmichael. If asked both say they would like to go. A third rider is also likely to be announced, however, it is still uncertain who it will be.
