MX338 - Southwick, MA Pre-Race Notes:

Welcome to Cycle News' live Virtual Grandstand coverage (sponsored exclusively by Yamaha) of today's Round #3 of the AMA / Chevrolet Motocross Championship Series from the sandy Motocross 338 course in Southwick, Massachusetts.

The track is rough - left whooped-out from the previous weekend of amateur racing - and the day is perfect for racing. Southwick is just over 1 mile in length, composed of a rich mix of sand and clay. Temps are in the mid-70s, low humidity, and excellent conditions.

TV Time - Be sure to set your VCR or Tivo to catch today's tape-delayed racing on ESPN2. The show from the Southwick 125 race will air first on Sunday, June 20th at Noon EST, with the 250 race immediately following at 1pm EST. Both shows will be repeated on ESPN2 on Saturday, June 26th at 12:30am EST for the 125 race and 1:30am EST for the 250 race. Check your local listings.

Today's race has been dedicated to the memory of the late Bernie Yelin, who was instrumental in developing the Southwick facility into a National-caliber motocross facility.

There's little question about the level of dominance that Ricky Carmichael has stamped on this track. RC won here twice during his 125 career (in '97 and '99), and has won every race he's entered here on a 250 (2000 through 2003). Yesterday & today's practice times show no change in the forecast, with Carmichael fastest, followed by Chad Reed and then James Stewart the 3rd fastest overall - on his 2-stroke KX125.

The only rider to beat Carmichael at Southwick? That would be local hero John Dowd, in 1998, in the 125 class. Dowd actual beat a number of name riders at the warm-up race here last weekend, but is off racing the Canadian National MX series, and not here today.

Carmichael comes into Massachusetts on a 4-moto tear, unbeaten so far in the motos that have taken place at the first two races at Hangtown and Hi Point. James Stewart has also matched that performance in the 125 class, unbeaten in the 125 class so far this season.

125cc Moto One:

The holeshot goes to...Gosselaar followed by Ramsey and Roncada...

Lap 1 - Ramsey is all over Gosselaar trying to take over the lead...Stewart isback in 6th place trying to move through the pack...

Lap 2 - Ramsey has taken over the lead and Roncada followed him by Gosselaar and now moves into 2nd place...

Lap 6 - Stewart has taken the lead and is pulling a lead on the rest of the field...He's leading by about 22 seconds now on the two-stroke...

Lap 7 - Running order is Stewart, Ramsey, Tedesco, Hepler, Brown, Smith, Gosselaar, Schnell and Metcalfe...

Lap 8 - Stewart's lead is about 28 seconds now over every one else...

125 Moto 1 Results (Unofficial) 1. James Stewart (Kaw); 2. Nate Ramsey (Hon); 3. Mike Brown (Yam); 4. Broc Hepler (Suz); 5. Ivan Tedesco (Kaw); 6. Ryan Hughes (KTM); 7. Danny Smith (Yam); 8. Brett Metcalfe (KTM); 9. Josh Grant (Hon); 10. Kelly Smith (Yam); 11. Brian Gray (Suz); 12. Greg Schnell (Hon); 13. Daryl Hurley (Suz); 14. Paul Carpenter (Kaw); 15. Robby Kiniry (Suz); 16. Matthew Goerke (Suz); 17. Michael Blose (Yam); 18. Richie Owens (Kaw); 19. Levi Reid (Suz); 20. Brock Sellards (Yam); 21. Sean Collier (Hon); 22. Justin Buckelew (Hon); 23. Gavin Gracyk (Kaw); 24. Rodrig Thain (Suz); 25. Evan Laughridge (Suz); 26. Davi Millsaps (Suz); 27. Ryan Mills (Hon); 28. Ty Conner (Yam); 29. John Ober (Hon); 30. Troy Adams (Kaw).

250cc Moto One:

OK - we're back online (new computer meltdown)...the holeshot goes to Ricky Carmichael followed by Wey & Anderson...the #4 Honda leads the way around pursued by Wey, Anderson, Reed, now Reed to 3rd, then behind it's Lewis, & Jeff Gibson...

Lap 2 - Reed moves to 2nd, it's RC, CR, Wey, Anderson, Lewis, Gibson, Windham...

Lap 3 - Reed trying to reel in Carmichael before the defending champ can try to check out...Carmichael leads Reed by approximately 8 seconds...Carmichael, Reed, Wey, Windham now 4th, then Gibson, Anderson, Lewis, Vuillemin, Hamblin, Ferry, Burris, Stratton...

Lap 4 - Carmichael leading Reed by some 11+ seconds, & running about a second a lap faster, then Windham up to 3rd now, then Wey, Gibson, Anderson, Vuillemin, Hamblin, Lewis, Ferry, Burris, Byrne, Stratton...

Lap 5 - Carmichael's doing exactly what Reed doesn't want: checking out. Already a huge amount of distance between the top 4 riders, Carmichael, Reed, Windham, Wey, then Gibson, Vuillemin, Hamblin, Anderson, Lewis, Ferry, Byrne, Burris, Stratton, Voss...

Lap 6 - Carmichael's blazing around the sandy Southwick track - he's running well over 3 seconds per lap faster than Reed on the last time around...16 second gap over Reed, who's 19 seconds ahead of Windham...

Lap 7 - 18 second lead for Carmichael now...order is now Carmichael, Reed, Windham, Wey, Hamblin, Vuillemin, Ferry, Lewis, Anderson, Byrne, Gibson, Rodrigues, Burris, Voss...

Lap 8 - Carmichael's lead continues to extend to just under 20 seconds...Reed and Windham running a distant 2nd & 3rd...

Lap 9 - Brian Mason has pulled out of the moto...Carmichael's lead is about the same, but Reed is now matching RC's lap time this last time around, at about 2 minutes even...Windham's last lap about 5 seconds off that pace...

Lap 10 - As the laps wind down, the running order is Carmichael, Reed, Windham, Wey, Hamblin, Ferry, Vuillemin, Lewis, Byrne, Gibson, Anderson, Rodrigues, Voss, Hadsell, Jason Thomas, Stratton, Burris, Povolny, Fonseca, and Aubert...

Lap 11 - Carmichael has wicked it back up again, running 3 seconds faster than Reed this last time, putting him 23 seconds in the lead...still huge gaps between the top 6 riders, the closed race right now is for 7th between Byrne and Lewis...with the temps in the high 70s, the riders are mostly focused on battling the already brutally rough Southwick course...

Lap 12 - Four or five laps remain, with Carmichael still the same 23 seconds ahead of Reed...Carmichael has lapped his way past Gibson, who's still holding down 9th place...order is mostly unchanged - Carmichael, Reed, Windham, Wey, Hamblin, Ferry, Lewis, Byrne, Gibson, Rodrigues, Voss, Anderson, Hadsell, Thomas, Stratton, Fonseca, Aubert, Povolny, Burris, Stiles, Carsten, Corder, Squires, and Vuillemin way back in 24th...

Lap 13 - Carmichael has lapped past Lewis and Byrne, that has RC lapping up to 7th now...3 laps remain...

Lap 14 - RC's lead is now over 27 seconds...

Lap 15 - the signal for 2 laps remaining is shown to Carmichael...Ferry has closed up behind Hamblin to make it a race for 5th...the dice brings them both right up to Wey as well, making that a 3-way battle for 4th...Wey goes off the track, Hambline inherits the spot and then Ferry blasts his way roun to get into 4th now...

Lap 16 - Carmichael now up by over 28 seconds, no change for Reed and Windham...all the excitement is in the race for 4th, Ferry, Hamblin and Wey still going at it to the finish...

Lap 18 / Last Lap - Carmichael laps Hamblin and crosses the line with his 5th consecutive moto win so far this season...followed in by Reed, Windham, Ferry, Wey, Hamblin, Byrne, Lewis, Gibson, Voss, Rodrigues, Thomas, Anderson, Hadsell, Fonseca, Stratton, Stiles, Aubert, Povolny, Burris, Carsten, Squires, Corder, Ginolfi, and Pepoon.

250 Moto 1 Results (Unofficial) 1. Ricky Carmichael (Hon); 2. Chad Reed (Yam); 3. Kevin Windham (Hon); 4. Tim Ferry (Yam); 5. Nick Wey (Suz); 6. Sean Hamblin (Suz); 7. Michael Byrne (Kaw); 8. Kyle Lewis (Hon); 9. Jeff Gibson (Yam); 10. Heath Voss (Yam); 11. Joaquim Rodrigues (KTM); 12. Jason Thomas (Hon); 13. Craig Anderson (Hon); 14. Tyson Hadsell (Yam); 15. Ernesto Fonseca (Hon); 16. Bruce Stratton (Hon); 17. Clark Stiles (Hon); 18. Johnny Aubert (Suz); 19. James Povolny (Hon); 20. Matthew Burris (Hon); 21. Barry Carsten (Suz); 22. Austin Squires (Kaw); 23. Mike Corder (Hon); 24. David Ginolfi (Hon); 25. Daniel Pepoon (Suz).

125cc Moto Two:

The 30-second board goes sideways, the gate drops, and the 2nd-moto 125 holeshot goes to Greg Schnell, followed by Kelly Smith, then as they come around it's Schnell, K. Smith, Ramsey, Walker, Danny Smith, Brown, and Hurley...Roncada and Mills went down before the first turn...Roncada unable to get the bike restarted...

Lap 2 - Stewart gated around 10th but is on the move forward, the order is Schnell, Ramsey, Walker, Brown, K. Smith, D. Smith, Tedesco, Stewart...

Lap 3 - Stewart shot straight through the middle of Kelly and Danny Smith to move to 5th...Schnell continues to lead Ramsey, the two Honda riders gitting a small lead over Walker...Walker getting big pressure from Brown, and Stewart is looking for a way around both of them...Stewart got together with Walker, they collide, and Stewart moves into 3rd...

Lap 4 - Schnell, Ramsey, Stewart, Brown, Tedesco, D. Smith, Goerke, K. Smith, Grant, and Hughes...Schnell and Ramsey at battling for lead, while Stewart moves up to blaze right past both Honda riders...

Lap 5 - Stewart tries to put a gap on Ramsey and Schnell (now 3rd), Brown is moving up - Brown goes to 3rd now putting Schnell back to 4th, then D. Smith, K. Smith, Goerke...

Lap 6 - Stewart pulling away from Ramsey, now 4 seconds ahead...Brown is gradually reeling in Ramsey...Mills and Roncada eventually got back underway, both circulating way down...Mills pulls out of the moto...

Lap 7 - Stewart leads Ramsey about 12 seconds now, Ramsey getting real pressure from Mike Brown ready to try a bid for the 2nd place spot...then it's Schnell, Tedesco, Goerke, D. Smith, Hughes...Broc Hepler is running way back this moto...

Lap 8 - Brown passes Ramsey to take the 2nd place position, Tedesco still holding down 4th...Hughes is up to 7th, looking for a way past Goerke...

Lap 9 - Stewart continues to increase his lead over the rest of the pack, currently 24 seconds ahead of Brown...Brown is trying to split from Ramsey, but the Honda rider is hanging in there and not letting the 2nd place spot get away with out battle...

Lap 10 - Running order is Stewart, Brown, Ramsey, Tedesco, Schnell, Goerke, Hughes, D. Smith, K. Smith...

Lap 11 - Brown still only about 1.5 seconds ahead of Ramsey, good run for the runner-up spot...

Lap 12 - Stewart is continuing to gap the field, around 27 seconds ahead of Brown...Brown getting just a few more bikelengths ahead of Ramsey...

Lap 13 - Running order is Stewart, Brown, Ramsey, Schnell, Tedesco, Goerke, Hughes, D. Smith, K. Smith, Grant, Hurley, Metcalfe, Adams, Sellards, and Blose...

Lap 14 - Matt Goerke is putting a move on Schell, trying to get into 4th...Hughes is right with him, and the two put Schnell back 2 spots...Goerke to 5th, Hughes 6th, Schnell in 7th...Hughes sets his sights on Goerke, and starts to turn up the screws to the young Suzuki rider...

Lap 15 - Stewart leads over Brown by 28 seconds, Ramsey still not too far back off from Brown...then a long gap back to 4th which is Tedesco alone, then Hughes now ahead of Goerke...

Lap 16 - Order is Stewart, Brown, Ramsey, Tedesco, Hughes, Goerke, D. Smith, Schnell, K. Smith, Grant, Hurley, Troy Adams, Metcalfe, Sellards, and Blose...

Lap 17 - Last lap, Stewart is shown the white flag...Stewart works his way around to the cheers of the Southwick fans and crosses the line with his 6th consecutive outdoor moto win for this season, and third overall 125 MX National victory...after that at the line, it's Mike Brown, Nate Ramsey, Ivan Tedesco, Ryan Hughes, Danny Smith, Greg Schnell, Kelly Smith, Josh Grant, Matt Goerke, Troy Adams, Daryl Hurley, Brett Metcalfe, and Brock Sellards.

125 Moto 2 Results (Unofficial) 1. James Stewart (Kaw); 2. Mike Brown (Yam); 3. Nate Ramsey (Hon); 4. Ivan Tedesco (Kaw); 5. Ryan Hughes (KTM); 6. Danny Smith (Yam); 7. Greg Schnell (Yam); 8. Kelly Smith (Yam); 9. Josh Grant (Hon); 10. Matt Goerke (Suz); 11. Troy Adams (Kaw); 12. Daryl Hurley (Suz); 13. Brett Metcalfe (KTM); 14. Brock Sellards (Yam).

250cc Moto Two:

The 250 riders are lined up on the gate for today's final moto...the holeshot goes to Ricky Carmichael followed by Windham, Reed...Hamblin moves into 2nd now...it's Carmichael, Hamblin, Reed, Windham, Wey, Lewis, Rodrigues, Byrne, Fonseca, Vuillemin, Voss, Ferry, Corder, Stratton, adn Stiles...

Lap 2 - Over a 6-second lead for Carmichael after just one lap...Reed started better this time, but Carmichael is already out of his sight, several corners ahead...Hamblin getting pressure from Windham, almost went over the bars on some killer braking bumps, but held on for now...

Lap 4 - Carmichael is putting on a sand riding clinic, just destroying this race, railing his way all around the Southwick course...order is Carmichael, Reed, Windham, Hamblin, Wey, Lewis, Rodrigues, Fonseca, Byrne, Ferry, Vuillemin, Voss, Stiles, Stratton, Corder, Thomas...

Lap 5 - Reed still holding down 2nd, about 15 seconds adrift of Carmichael...3rd is Windham all alone as well...Hamblin with no company either...good battle for 5th between Wey and Lewis...

Lap 6 - No change among the front runners, Carmichael up 18 seconds on Reed - and Reed is riding exceptionally well here..Windham and Hamblin look strong too, while the race between Wey and Lewis is still racing...behind them Ferry's by himself, but then a big battle between Fonseca, Byrne, Vuillemin, Rodrigues and Voss...

Lap 7 - Carmichael, Reed, Windham, Hamblin, Lewis, Ferry, Fonseca, Byrne, Vuillemin, Rodrigues, Voss, Stiles, Jason Thomas, Stratton, Corder, and Burris...

Lap 8 - Carmichael now 20 seconds ahead of Reed...Wey still holding off Hemblin in their battle for 4th...Bryne and Vuillemin are going at it, racing for 8th...

Lap 9 - Jeff Gibson is out of the race...Wey's bike is not cooperating, and that's the end of his battle with Lewis...Wey's stopped on the track, and he's looking like his moto is over...

Lap 10 - Running order is now Carmichael, Reed, Windham, Hamblin, Lewis, Ferry, Byrne, Vuillemin, Fonseca...

Lap 11 - Carmichael leads Reed by 34 seconds now...after that, it's 27 seconds back to Windham, then 16 seconds to Hamblin...pretty spread out...good race right now between Voss and Fonseca for 9th...Carmichael has lapped up to 10th...

Lap 13 - Lewis (currently 4th) is being gained on by Vuillemin, Byrne and Ferry - that group is tightening up as the laps wind down, and shaping up to be a race for 5th...Ferry drops back off that group...

Lap 14 - Carmichael's still on the gas, about to lap his teammate Fonseca (currently 10th)...Vuillemin not getting any closer to Lewis now, but Byrne is gaining on the likeable Frenchman...

Lap 15 - Carmichael is shown the 2-lap sign...Vuillemin trying to gain on Lewis...

Lap 16 - Vuillemin continues to wick it up trying to close up on Lewis...Carmichael has lapped Fonseca and Ferry...

Lap 17 - Ricky Carmichael takes his 6th consecutive 2004 moto win, and 3rd overall 250 MX National victory...he's followed across by Chad Reed, Kevin Windham, Sean Hamblin, Vuillemin makes it in 4th, then Kyle Lewis, Michael Byrne, Ernesto Fonseca, and Tim Ferry.

250 Moto 2 Results (Official) 1. Ricky Carmichael (Hon); 2. Chad Reed (Yam); 3. Kevin Windham (Hon); 4. Sean Hamblin (Suz); 5. Kyle Lewis (Hon); 6. David Vuillemin (Yam); 7. Michael Byrne (Kaw); 8. Ernesto Fonseca (Hon); 9. Tim Ferry (Yam); 10. Heath Voss (Yam); 11. Clark Stiles (Hon); 12. Joaquim Rodrigues (KTM); 13. Jason Thomas (Hon); 14. Bruce Stratton (Hon); 15. James Povolny (Hon); 16. Mike Corder (Hon); 17. Matthew Burris (Hon); 18. Austin Squires (Kaw); 19. Barry Carsten (Suz); 20. Daniel Pepoon (Suz).

Thanks for tuning in, and be sure to catch Virtual Grandstand next week at Round #4 from Budds Creek, Maryland, on Sunday, June 20th.

125cc Overall:

(Official) 1. James Stewart (Kaw); 2. Mike Brown (Yam); 3. Nate Ramsey (Hon); 4. Ivan Tedesco (Kaw); 5. Ryan Hughes (KTM); 6. Danny Smith (Yam); 7. Kelly Smith (Yam); 8. Josh Grant (Hon); 9. Greg Schnell (Hon); 10. Brett Metcalfe (KTM); 11. Broc Hepler (Suz); 12. Daryl Hurley (Suz); 13. Matt Goerke (Suz); 14. Troy Adams (Kaw); 15. Michael Blose (Yam); 16. Paul Carpenter (Kaw); 17. Brian Gray (Suz); 18. Brock Sellards (Yam); 19. Bobby Kiniry (Suz); 20. Tony Lorusso (Suz); 21. Evan Laughridge (Suz); 22. Richie Owens (Kaw); 23. Justin Buckelew (Hon); 24. Levi Reid (Suz); 25. Davi Millsaps (Suz).

125cc Point Standings:

1. James Stewart (150 / 3 wins); 2. Mike Brown (116); 3. Nate Ramsey (95); 4. Broc Hepler (93); 5. Ryan Hughes (77); 6. Ivan Tedesco (68); 7. Stephane Roncada (55); 8. Danny Smith (54); 9. Kelly Smith (53); 10. Eric Sorby (46); 11. (TIE)Matt Walker/Josh Grant (38); 13. Brock Sellards (37); 14. Steve Lamson (36); 15. (TIE)Brett Metcalfe/Ryan Mills (33); 17. Daryl Hurley (31); 18. Troy Adams (25); 19. Chris Gosselaar (24); 20. Greg Schnell (23); 21. Sean Collier (21); 22. Paul Carpenter (19); 23. Ryan Morais (17); 24. Matt Goerke (16); 25. Josh Summey (15).

250cc Overall:

(Official) 1. Ricky Carmichael (Hon); 2. Chad Reed (Yam); 3. Kevin Windham (Hon); 4. Sean Hamblin (Suz); 5. Tim Ferry (Yam); 6. Kyle Lewis (Hon); 7. Michael Byrne (Kaw); 8. Heath Voss (Yam); 9. Ernesto Fonseca (Hon); 10. Joaquim Rodrigues (KTM); 11. Jason Thomas (Hon); 12. Nick Wey (Suz); 13. David Vuillemin (Yam); 14. Clark Stiles (Hon); 15. Bruce Stratton (Hon); 16. Jeff Gibson (Yam); 17. James Povolny (Hon); 18. Craig Anderson (Hon); 19. Tyson Hadsell (Yam); 20. Matthew Burris (Hon); 21. Mike Corder (Hon); 22. Austin Squires (Kaw); 23. Johnny Aubert (Suz); 24. Barry Carsten (Suz); 25. Daniel Papoon (Hon).

250cc Point Standings:

1. Ricky Carmichael (150/3 wins); 2. (TIE)Chad Reed/Kevin Windham (124); 4. Sean Hamblin (92); 5. David Vuillemin (91); 6. Michael Byrne (77); 7. Heath Voss (68); 8. Nick Wey (60); 9. (TIE)Tim Ferry/Ernesto Fonseca (49); 11. Kyle Lewis (46); 12. Jason Thomas (42); 13. Craig Anderson (39); 14. Clark Stiles (37); 15. Jean Sebastien Roy (29); 16. (TIE)John Dowd/Ryan Clark (26); 18. Damon Huffman (24); 19. (TIE)K. Johnson/Pierrick Paget (21); 21. Joaquim Rodrigues (19); 22. Doug DeHaan (18); 23. James Povolny (16); 24. (TIE)Jeff Gibson/Rusty Holland (13).

Broadcast By: Kory Klinger, Mark Thome