Stewart and Carmichael Fastest During High Point MX Practice

Shan Moore | May 27, 2006

After a muddy opening round last week in California, the 2006 Toyota AMA Motocross Championship Presented by FMF moved to High Point Raceway, near Mt. Morris, Pennsylvania, for round two of the series and experienced record high temperatures during today’s practice rounds. Rain on Friday soaked the track, but it was in perfect shape after the sun came out today at noon. The temperatures are expected to reach the mid-nineties tomorrow for what will be the 30th running of the High Point National event.

James Stewart fell on the first lap of the combined seeded practice, but came back to set the fastest lap of the day in the later round, posting a 2:02.527 on his Team Kawasaki. Ricky Carmichael, riding his Makita Suzuki, registered the second fastest time of practice with a 2:02.986 that he turned during the first session.

Team Yamaha’s Chad Reed looked particularly sharp during the early practice session and turned the third fastest time of the day with a 2:05.667, while Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopotto was the fastest Lites rider and fourth-fastest overall with a 2:07.051.

Fifth fastest was MDK/Motosport/Honda’s Nick Wey, with a 2:07.576, while Team Honda’s Kevin Windham came next with a 2:08.223. Sobe/Samsung/Mobile/Honda CRF250R-mounted Josh Grant (Below) had the second fastest time in the Lites division with a 2:08.342.

Last week’s Lites winner KTM’s Mike Alessi was somewhat off the pace and posted a best time of 2:09.335 during the opening round of seeded practice.

Several riders are riding with injuries today, including Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Chris Gosselaar, who broke his lower leg at Hangtown, and his teammate Grant Langston, who is recovering from a broken wrist. Surprisingly, Lanston turned the sixth fastest time of the second practice session with a 2:08.825.

Shan Moore | Contributing Editor

Moore covers all facets of off-road racing for Cycle News – from AMA Supercross and Motocross to GNCC and National Hare Scrambles events.