American Honda’s Ricky Carmichael marked the halfway point in the AMA Supercross Championship season with a convincing win before a crowd of 63,749 inside Atlanta’s Georgia Dome.
The win, Carmichael’s fifth of the year, allowed the defending champion to stretch his points lead over Yamaha’s Chad Reed, second today, to 17 points, 185 to 168 with eight rounds to run. Reed’s teammate David Vuillemin, third tonight, is third with 147 points.
As soon as Carmichael took over the lead from fast starter Larry Ward (MotoXXX Honda) on the third lap, it was clear he was the fastest rider on the track. Carmichael was noticeably faster in a few whoop sections, which was how he was able to pull away and win by 6.227 seconds.
“Those whoops were my strong point,” Carmichael, who lapped through eighth place, said. “I made one mistake in those small whoops and figured out what I was doing wrong.
“Once the lappers diminished I could pull away. I feel like I had a level head this weekend and it feels good.”
Reed got bottled up at the start and finished the first lap in sixth. With the track rutting up as the night wore on, and lappers in play from early on, he had a hard time making his way to the front. The Australian passed teammate Vuillemin on the ninth lap, but by then Carmichael had cleared out and wasn’t making mistakes.
“That’s what you get when you start last,” Reed said. “I apologize for not getting a better start and making a race of it. I’m learning each week as I go along.”
Vuillemin said he was happy to be on the podium, but needed to spend more time at the front with Reed and Carmichael. “I feel confident. I just need to ride with those guys,” Vuillemin said.
American Honda’s Ernesto Fonseca survived to take fourth, his best finish of the season. Fonseca was still beat up from his crash last week in Minneapolis, on top of which he contracted a stomach bug.
A week after finishing on the podium, Yamaha’s Tim Ferry was fifth. Ferry’s start was worse than Reed’s-he was 13th after the first lap-and he spent the duration making amends.
Mach 1 Yamaha’s Nick Wey was sixth, then came Team SoBe Suzuki’s Sean Hamblin, in his first 250cc Supercross. Hamblin and his Team SoBe Suzuki 125cc West Regional teammate Danny Smith-10th tonight-were subbing for the injured Team SoBe Suzuki trio of Travis Pastrana, Sebastien Tortelli, and Stephane Roncada.
Amsoil/Chaparral/Honda’s Mike LaRocco struggled to an eighth place finish, his right shoulder still bothering him. “I was done on the parade lap,” LaRocco said.
Team Chevy Trucks Kawasaki’s Ezra Lusk, the hometown crowd favorite, finished three laps down after crashing out of sixth place on the fourth lap. The Georgian’s Kawasaki KX-250 was so bent up he had to stop and have his mechanic, Randy Lawrence, straighten it out so he could continue.
Boost Mobile Yamaha/Troy Racing’s Brock Sellards made short work of the 125 East final, taking the lead on the first lap en route to his second career Supercross win, and the overall points lead.
Team Pro Circuit/Chevy Trucks Kawasaki’s Mike Brown made a run at Sellards mid-race. He closed the gap to less than three seconds, then Sellards inched away, winning the 15 lap main by 3.959 secs.
“I seen (Mike) Brown coming,” Sellards said. “He rode a good race. I just picked it up and didn’t make any mistakes. I think that’s what pulled it through for me.”
Brown, who finished fourth in the Eastern Regional opener last week, said, “I’m still not happy with second. I came up two places this weekend.”
Third went to last week’s winner Branden Jesseman, of American Suzuki.
“I had a little bad luck today,” Jesseman said. “It was just a little bit of an off day. I just tried to make the best of it. I came away with a third and a podium.”
After two of eight rounds of the Eastern Regional Supercross Championship, Sellards leads Jesseman 47 to 45, with Brown third at 40.
Georgia Dome
Atlanta, Georgia
Results: February 22, 2003 (Round 10/8)
250 HEAT 1 (8 laps, 1-4 transfer): 1. Chad Reed (Yam); 2. David Vuillemin (Yam); 3. Mike LaRocco (Hon); 4. Sean Hamblin (Suz); 5. Danny Smith (Suz); 6. Travis Preston (Hon); 7. Tyler Evans (Suz); 8. Keith Johnson (Yam); 9. Damon Huffman (Hon); 10. Jason Thomas (Hon); 11. James Povolny (Hon); 12. Scott Davis (Suz); 13. Joseph Oehlhof (Yam); 14. Brandon Butler (Suz); 15. Kris Swaney (Hon); 16. Kyle Garro (Yam); 17. Forest Butler (Suz); 18. Jimmy Wilson (Yam).
Time: 6 mins., 46.648 secs.
Margin of victory: 15.982 secs.
250 HEAT 2 (8 laps, 1-4 transfer): Ricky Carmichael (Hon); 2. Ezra Lusk (Kaw); 3. Ernesto Fonseca (Hon); 4. Tim Ferry (Yam); 5. Nick Wey (Yam); 6. Andrew Short (Suz); 7. Larry Ward (Hon); 8. Heath Voss (Yam); 9. Ryan Clark (Yam); 10. Clark Stiles (Hon); 11. Greg Schnell (Yam); 12. Doug Dehaan (Hon); 13. Dave Castillo (Yam); 14. Cory Young (Yam); 15. Whispern Smith (Hon).
Time: 6 mins., 43.725 secs.
Margin of victory: 13.533 secs.
250 SEMI 1 (6 laps, 1-5 transfer): 1. Tyler Evans (Suz); 2. Danny Smith (Suz); 3. Damon Huffman (Hon); 4. Keith Johnson (Yam); 5. Joseph Oehlhof (Yam); 6. James Povolny (Hon); 7. Jimmy Wilson (Yam); 8. Scott Davis (Suz); 9. Kris Swaney (Hon); 10. Jason Thomas (Hon); 11. Forrest Butler (Suz); 12. Travis Preston (Hon); 13. Brandon Butler (Suz).
Time: 5 mins., 19.466 secs.
Margin of victory: 0.207 secs.
250 SEMI 2 (6 laps, 1-5 transfer): 1. Nick Wey (Yam); 2. Heath Voss (Yam); 3. Clark Stiles (Hon); 4. Andrew Short (Suz); 5. Ryan Clark (Yam); 6. Chase Reed (KTM); 7. Greg Schnell (Yam); 8. Doug Dehaan (Hon); 9. Hans Neel (KTM); 10. Cory Young (Yam); 11. Whispern Smith (Hon); 12. Larry Ward (Hon); 13. Scott Metz (Suz); 14. Dave Castillo (Yam).
Time: 5 mins., 18.279 secs.
Margin of victory: 2.306 secs.
LCQ (6 laps, 1-2 transfer): 1. Larry Ward (Hon); 2. Travis Preston (Hon); 3. Greg Schnell (Yam); 4. James Povolny (Hon); 5. Doug Dehaan (Hon); 6. Jason Thomas (Hon); 7. Jimmy Wilson (Yam); 8. Scott Davis (Suz); 9. Chase Reed (KTM); 10. Brandon Butler (Suz); 11. Scott Metz (Suz); 12. Hans Neel (KTM); 13. Kris Swaney (Hon); 14. Cory Young (Yam); 15. Whispern Smith (Hon); 16. Forrest Butler (Suz).
Time: 5 mins., 16.705 secs.
Margin of victory: 0.865 secs.
250 MAIN (20 laps): 1. Ricky Carmichael (Hon); 2. Chad Reed (Yam); 3. David Vuillemin (Yam); 4. Ernesto Fonseca (Hon); 5. Tim Ferry (Yam); 6. Nicholas Wey (Yam); 7. Sean Hamblin (Suz); 8. Mike LaRocco (Hon); 9. Andrew Short (Suz); 10. Danny Smith (Suz); 11. Keith Johnson (Yam); 12. Heath Voss (Yam); 13. Travis Preston (Hon); 14. Tyler Evans (Suz); 15. Joseph Oehlhof (Yam); 16. Larry Ward (Hon); 17. Clark Stiles (Hon); 18. Ryan Clark (Yam); 19. Ezra Lusk (Kaw); 20. Damon Huffman (Hon).
Time: 17 mins., 15.180 secs.
Margin of victory: 6.227 secs.
250 AMA SUPERCROSS SERIES POINT STANDINGS (After 8 of 16 rounds): 1. Ricky Carmichael (185/5 wins); 2. Chad Reed (168/2); 3. David Vuillemin (147); 4. Tim Ferry (130); 5. Ezra Lusk (122); 6. Nick Wey (83); 7. Ernesto Fonseca (77); 8. (TIE) Michael Byrne/Heath Voss (75); 10. Mike LaRocco (73); 11. Stephane Roncada (70); 12. Sebastien Tortelli (63); 13. Keith Johnson (59); 14. Larry Ward (58); 15. Damon Huffman (43); 16. Ryan Clark (40); 17. Ivan Tedesco (36); 18. Brock Sellards (32); 19. Paul Carpenter (22); 20. Michael Brown (19).
125cc EASTERN REGIONAL SUPERCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP:
HEAT 1 (6 laps, 1-9 transfer): 1. Michael Byrne (Hon); 2. Ivan Tedesco (Yam); 3. Brock Sellards (Yam); 4. Matthieu Lalloz (Suz); 5. Troy Adams(Yam); 6. Travis Elliott (Yam); 7. Troy Carroll (Yam); 8. Ryan Mills (Hon); 9. Joshua Summey (Yam); 10. Shane Lusk (Hon); 11. Paul Currie (Yam); 12. Robbie Horton (KTM); 13. David Oettel (Yam); 14. Hans Neel (KTM); 15. Ty Conner (Hon); 16. Scott Metz (Suz); 17. Michael Graham (Yam); 18. Brett Metcalfe (KTM); 19. Kyle Garro (Yam); 20. Bryan White (Yam).
Time: 5 mins., 19.668 secs.
Margin of victory: 6.542 secs.
HEAT 2 (6 laps, 1-9 transfer): 1. Mike Brown (Kaw); 2. Steve Boniface (KTM); 3. Erick Vallejo (Yam); 4. Kelly Smith (Yam); 5. Branden Jesseman (Suz); 6. Derrick Bentley (Suz); 7. Kevin Johnson (Yam); 8. Ryan Morais (Suz); 9. Tiger Lacey (Yam); 10. Jeff Gibson (Suz); 11. Robert Kiniry (Suz); 12. Michael Blose (Yam); 13. Charlie Dagner (Yam); 14. Tommy Harrison (Suz); 15. Adam Mennenga (Yam); 16. David Hill (Suz); 17. Tyson Hadsell (Yam); 18. Justin Thompson (KTM).
Time: 5 mins. 22.986 secs.
Margin of victory: 16.669 secs.
LCQ (4 laps, 1-4 transfer): 1. Brett Metcalfe (KTM); 2. Paul Currie (Yam); 3. Jeff Gibson (Suz); 4. Shane Lusk (Hon); 5. Charlie Dagner (Yam); 6. Scott Metz (Suz); 7..David Oettel (Yam); 8. Kyle Garro (Yam); 9. Michael Blose (Yam); 10. Michael Graham (Yam); 11. Justin Thompson (KTM); 12. Hans Neel (KTM); 13. Ty Conner (Hon); 14. Robert Kiniry (Suz); 15. Robbie Horton (KTM); 16. Tommy Harrison (Suz); 17. Adam Mennenga (Yam); 18. David Hill (Suz); 19. Tyson Hadsell (Yam).
Time: 3 mins., 44.087 secs.
Margin of victory: 1.360 secs.
125cc MAIN (15 laps, 22 riders): 1. Brock Sellards (Yam); 2. Michael Brown (Kaw); 3. Branden Jesseman (Suz); 4. Erick Vallejo (Yam); 5. Michael Byrne (Hon); 6. Matthieu Lalloz (Suz); 7. Steve Boniface (KTM); 8. Kelly Smith (Yam); 9. Troy Adams (Yam); 10. Ryan Mills (Hon); 11. Tiger Lacey (Yam); 12. Ryan Morais (Suz); 13. Paul Currie (Yam); 14. Shane Lusk (Hon); 15. Jeff Gibson (Suz); 16. Troy Carroll (Yam); 17. Joshua Summey (Yam); 18. Brett Metcalfe (KTM); 19. Travis Elliott (Yam); 20. Shae Bentley (Suz); 21. Kevin Johnson (Yam); 22. Ivan Tedesco (Yam).
Time: 13 mins., 44.625 secs.
Margin of victory: 3.959 secs.
125cc EASTERN REGIONAL SUPERCROSS C’SHIP POINT STANDINGS (After 2 of 8 rounds): 1. Brock Sellards (47/1 win); 2. Branden Jesseman (45/1); 3. Michael Brown (40); 4. Michael Byrne (36); 5. Kelly Smith (29); 6. Erick Vallejo (26); 7. Steve Boniface (25); 8. Matthieu Lalloz (22); 9. Ryan Mills (21); 10. Jeff Gibson (18); 11. Brett Metcalfe (16); 12. Ivan Tedesco (15); 13. Joshua Summey (10); 14. Michael Blose (9); 15. Paul Currie (8); 16. Shane Lusk (7); 17. (TIE) Troy Carroll/Grant Langston (5); 19. Robert Kiniry (4); 20. Shae Bentley (3).
