The following is from AMA Pro Racing…
Detroit’s Ford Field will host the Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross Series for the first time this Saturday, March 25. The Detroit area has a strong tradition of AMA Supercross racing with the Pontiac Silverdome hosting races dating back to 1976. This year the event moves to the heart of downtown Detroit for round 12 of the 16-race series.
Floridian Ricky Carmichael leads the championship coming into the Detroit Supercross. Carmichael is attempting to earn his fifth AMA Supercross Series title. Suzuki’s top rider last won the race in Pontiac in 2001. Carmichael finished second to Kawasaki’s James Stewart last weekend in Orlando, but scoffs at the suggestion that he may be simply riding to protect his points lead now with the series entering the final stages.
“I gave it my all in Orlando,” said Carmichael. “James was just too good and I couldn’t keep his pace. My points lead over Chad and James is not that great. Both of them are still in the championship picture so there’s no way I’m going to back off now.”
Carmichael looks forward to racing in Ford Field for the first time.
“It’s always exciting to race in a new venue,” he said. “It looks like a great facility and the fans in Michigan are some of the best in the country. I hope I can work a little harder this week and come to Detroit to give them a good race to watch.”
Stewart dominated this past Saturday in Orlando to win his fourth AMA Supercross of the year. He hasn’t given up hope on the championship even though he’s in third place coming into Detroit and 23-points behind leading Carmichael.
“I’m going to give it all I’ve got every weekend,” Stewart said. “All I can do is keep trying to win races. Anything can happen in the championship, you only need to look at the St. Louis race to see that.”
A month ago in St. Louis, both Carmichael and Stewart suffered crashes and opened the way for Australian Chad Reed to take the series lead at that point. Reed is riding hurt, having separated his right shoulder in practice a few weeks ago. Being in second place, only eight points down to Carmichael, the Yamaha ace is hoping to heal enough to make a push for the championship in the final rounds.
Just two rounds remain in the AMA Supercross Lites East class. Honda’s Davi Millsaps could clinch the support class title with a victory in Detroit.
Tickets for the Detroit Supercross are available at all Ticketmaster outlets, all participating Yamaha Dealers, at the Ford Field Box Office, or charge by phone at 248-645-6666. A special Family Section is also available in Ford Field for non-alcoholic family fun. When ordering tickets through Ticketmaster, request the Family Section for an alcohol-free atmosphere.
The Detroit round will receive next-day coverage on SPEED Channel, on Sunday, March 26 at 6:00 pm EST.
